Thankful for our countries relative safety right now & remembering that crazy day 16 years ago...
{ Although we hear some crazy things from North Korea, and our new home seems kind of close to that crazy country, we know that we have a Good Good Father, who will protect us and watch over us.}
Thankful for some nitty gritty marriage moments this weekend. I know that we have these challenging times for God to use for redirection and His greater purpose. They are intense and painful and hard, but out of the trials comes forth Gold... {In hindsight we should have been more heavily armored. We should have seen it coming. On Wednesday Matt and a new friend were talking, and the Lord spoke to this new friend, Jason, and at the end of the convo, Jason was heaven bound! It was such a crazy event, such a crazy spiritual high, a crazy crazy encouragement, and we should have seen Satan running after us or next to us ... trying to hold our tongue from sharing more good God news... and we didn't see him- and he showed up on Saturday and sadly stayed for a day... entirely too long... when you know the enemy is there... kick him out... O U T... and here we go.. embracing a new week, with a new found love and respect for each other- continuing together for God ... letting go of garbage... trying to get out of the way & letting God work in our hearts - He needs to increase so so so much more in my heart... prayers appreciated for the heart work that needs to happen... I love me a little too much some times ...
Thankful for encouraging reads.
Thankful for my amazing principal. She granted my Amazon Wishlist, and all the items arrived last week! Magnatiles, Gear Legos, Little Legos, Toothpicks & Straws for Playdough structures, Rainbow White board markers and Water Beads make my class such a FUN engaged place each afternoon!
Thankful for a drive to Dunks this weekend.
Thankful for the crazy clouds out here. They are so puffy and huge, and then the sun streams down through them... the beauty can not be captured on my phone's camera!
Thankful for our zoo membership.
Thankful for Harrison playing in his 1st game on Saturday. He also came to the realization that he is not as into tackle football as he thought. Although he is good at what he does and enjoys his friends and the team vibe- he has crazy weeks & is just spent ... and may have a bit more of his momma's safety gene in him & doesn't want to break any bones like a fellow team mate did last week :/
We are praying about next steps- but with Matt's new potential job opp, we may have our answer.
Thankful for Matt acing an interview and for his potential new Principal being able to over ride some HR red tape, to get him into either a 6th or 8th grade classroom asap, as an Emergency Hire! This would be super exciting, when all the pieces fit ;)
Harrison would love to join Matt at the new middle school
( which is in Kapolei- where Target.Costco, movies etc is located, its our go to "nicer" area that's nearby).
The idea of Matt teaching is super exciting! The idea of the big boys in the same school all day, driving to and from work/school together... makes my heart super full...
However, the 1st idea of subbing and having a flex schedule, closer to home is also appealing- so we love how both options are good
We are hoping to have solid news by midweek.
<-- he is 28, orange helmet
<--- MELTING. It was so. so. hot.
Thankful for so many good reads in Romans.
A Living Sacrifice to God
12 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
“I will take revenge;
I will pay them back,”
says the Lord.
20 Instead,
“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
burning coals of shame on their heads.”
21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
