Moving From Dysfunctional to Functional

I feel bad for God because he has so much to change within me.
I have approximately 41 years of learning how to poorly react to others actions. He has to retrain my thinking. I get angry at the imaginative scenarios I think up, and expect things to go according to my daydreams. We have all heard, "Once a fighter; always a fighter", right? Wrong.
I cannot recall prayers that I've prayed about a year or more ago, but today I had a quick reminder that Papa in heaven is watching me, transforming me, and paddling me too.

When it comes to working on laundry, I have a system because I get overwhelmed with a pile of dirty clothes laying on the floor. I attempt to keep the dirty ones in a confined area until I'm ready to wash them.  If  I have clean folded clothes on the counter tops, I put them away before I begin to clean the dirty ones.
As a parent, you teach your kids how to do laundry and they usually drag their feet to help next time. Husbands are not usually real helpful, unless you are a lucky girl who has a helpful hubby.  Most of my experiences have been less than joyful when it comes to laundry.

Today, I had a quick lesson I'd like to share.  Now, here is a warning, if you want to keep a clean image of me in your mind; don't read this.  If you want to hear about my dirty image and laundry; continue at your own risk.

I did not ask my husband to take the dirty clothes up to the laundry room because I had clean ones still to work with. Being a loving helpful hubby,and in an effort  to help, Rodney took the dirty clothes up. I appreciated that, however, when I went upstairs the animosity welled up inside and I  became overwhelmed with the huge task at hand. I had no basket to for the clean, folded towels I needed to take downstairs and the dirty pile was staring me from the bottom of the floor to the counter top. UGH!
Well, in my unrighteous anger, I threw the clean, folded towels down the stairs. Yep, now you know who was going to have to pick them up, right?  Right, but I didn't think of that in the midst of my bad attitude.
I got the laundry room squared away and clean while at the bottom of the stairs was a mess waiting for me.

I slowly walk down the stairs and begun putting the clean half folded, half unfolded towels and sheets into the laundry basket. Now, Rodney comes in the door and I sweetly ask him to help me with the towels that I threw down the stairs. I imagined him saying no all the while the scenario was playing out in my mind as I expected it to happen; an argument was going to take place and I was going to win.
Oh no, my helpful hubby responds with "Sure." That threw me into a different kind of spin.
There came an arrow from heaven attached with these words, "Why didn't you take the basket upstairs in the first place?"
The next arrow that came down had a note on it; "Why did you get angry again?"
The last arrow had written on it; "You have a husband who will give you a loaf and not a stone, just as you have a heavenly Father who by His example your hubby is mimicking"
WOW!
Now before Rodney could even begin his task, I explained to him what had just happened between my actions and thoughts.  He kind of chuckled but was supportive.  We ended up folding the towels and sheets together and it became a joyful memory instead of an argument.

As we were talking I realized what had just happened. I went from my expectations becoming premeditated resentments to becoming ashes for beauty. I moved from dysfunction to function.

It doesn't matter how old you are, as long as you are a willing vessel, you can be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  God can do anything as long as we let Him.  I want peace and stability in my life. I didn't believe that I could have it in a marriage, as I've had 2 others fail. What I know now is; "Yes, Marjorie, you can."

~Be encouraged
If a son ask for bread from any Father among you, will he give a stone? Of if he ask for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?

I Need A Miracle

This morning I got on my knees to just cry out to God over my broken heart. I won't get into it because I am still tender.
When I came into the office this morning, Robin and I began talking about blessings. Then, we were followed up by a visit from Ed Killebrew coming to talk to us about the Adult Superstore. The movie theater has been permanently closed.  There were people who were walking and praying over this darkness in our community.
Today, we are experiencing a miracle.  There were times where we pray for what is laid heavy on our hearts, we go through trials thinking there is no way out, and our faith can sometimes run low.  You may think that you cannot go on anymore.  When you think that nothing is happening, remember God is under the water stirring it up.  He is working on a miracle while you are asking for one.

I Need A Miracle
by Third Day
It's number one on the charts this week.

There is Hope in Turning Over

I was reading a story about a young black woman, Brenda, who was born of a white woman.  Her mother was attacked and raped by a black man in an elevator. Brenda was born in the South so it didn't make sense to her why her mother didn't give her up.  As a result of her color and birth, her mother's husband hated her from the beginning. He mistreated Brenda from the start. This isn't about racism, but it is about love and more.
Brenda lived a life of abuse, torment, and struggles. she felt like her head was painted with the words "Pick on me," or "Kick me," or "Hit me," or "Here I am." because that is all she ever got. She didn't know what it was like to have someone give her encouraging words or words of love and edification.
She grew up tough and it appears by her story, that she hardened her heart. She began using drugs, having sex and became pregnant. Brenda ended up getting mixed up with the wrong people and making the worse decisions for herself and her son.  Needless to say, she was on a road to self destruction.
Brenda married a man who would not allow her to go anywhere accept to work and get groceries. One day while at home, she began watching Fred Price on the TV. She prayed to God and asked Him to get her out of this relationship;six month later she was free.  Brenda began attending church and gave her life to Christ. Two weeks later, she was raped.  Brenda held onto some truths during this hard time. One of those truths was "all good things are from above."  She recognized  that this event was a result from Satan.
Brenda was on a road to recovery. She opened up to herself, to God, and to someone she trusted about all the ugly things that had happened to her as a child. Brenda learned to recognize that the things that happened to her as child was not her fault, she was not guilty, she was not the terrible and horrible person that she was lead to believe she was. Brenda began to seek professional help as well as pressing into God's word. Her life began to change. She still has struggles, but she knows where her help comes from. She knows who God is and has seen His face as she has turned her life and will over to His care and control.

Maybe you needed to read her story today. Perhaps you are out there  and you need to know that you are not who and what people say that you are. You are loved.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.  And know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

My friend, you have a purpose and it is not to be a punching bag for someone else, it is not to be a mat for people to walk all over you, but to be strong, courageous, and loved with an everlasting love.

~Be encouraged, you are a survivor.

B.A.S.E
Believe Jesus Christ died on the cross for you and show He was God by coming back to life.
(1 Corinthians 15:2-4)
Accept God's free forgiveness for your sin
(Romans 3:22)
Switch to God's plan for your life
(Mark 1:16; Romans 12:2
Express your desire for Christ to be the director of your life
(Romans 10:9)

You Too Are A Cinderella and A Prince Charming

Girls, don't you just love the story of Cinderella?  I mean here is an orphan girl that has to live with her step mother and sisters who treat her with great discontent. Yet, she gets transformed at the end and everyone around her has their mouths dropped.
What about you boys?  Man, that Prince Charming went looking all over the kingdom to find that one woman that intrigued him on that special night. Wow, such determination to find her.

Did you know we are no different from this couple? We may not all be orphan girls, but we live in a world that is cruel and mistreats us.  We live in a world that says we are nothing and we must do what it says in order to have happiness.  We sometimes live in soot and ashes, mud and mire with, it appears, no way out of it. But there is hope.

We have a Prince that chases after us, like Prince Charming, and won't stop until we are found. When he choose to accept his offer, like Prince Charming gave to Cinderella, we too will have a life changing transformation life.  We too can be redeemed. Jesus Christ loves you, no matter what you do or don't do. He accepts you as you are with all the cuts, bruises, scars, tears, dirty hands and hearts. It doesn't matter if  you indulge in stuff you shouldn't and know you shouldn't.  Jesus Christ wants to redeem you. He has for others and will for you too.


He saved them from the hand of the foe; from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.
Psalm 106:10

Who Are You Influenced By?

Growing up, my dad was a great influence in my life by watching him work hard. He was faithful to get up when the alarm clock went off, get dressed, ate breakfast, and then off to work.
Today, I try to mimic him in this area of my life.

My boyfriend was a big football fan and I didn't care much for one team or another. As I sat with him to watch football games on Sunday afternoons, I became a big fan of several teams. My favorite team became the Dallas Cowboys. Then it was baseball games and the Atlanta Braves were the team to watch and cheer for. When the dating ended, so did the football fan.

As a tween, there was a young girl named Starr in my neighborhood. She was the cool kid on the block. She smoked cigarettes, skipped school and drank "peppermint schnapps." I had no idea what that drink was, but it sure sounded sweet.
One day I was at the bus stop when Starr came to talk to me and dared me to smoke a cigarette, I did. I got caught by my parent and it wasn't a good decision. The spanking didn't feel good at all.

As an adult, I had a friend who was a Jesus Freak.Sometime,  I thought she was crazy; she was so "in love" with this man she couldn't see. When she talked about him her face would light up. Her eyes always sparkled  when she read the Bible, shared about the "blessings" she received, and about how her prayers were answered. Yet, I was influenced by her actions of faithfulness; going to church on Wednesday and Sunday. I was influenced by the words she spoke that were truth, honest, and kind. Her heart was huge for all mankind.

As Christians we should be influenced by Jesus Christ, but are we?  I've noticed my friends are influenced by the media, their spouses, and their friends.  Right or wrong choices are not the issue, but who we follow is.
You see, I was quick to follow my boyfriend into sports and my friend into smoking. I was slow to follow Jesus. I couldn't see him therefore he wasn't real to me, as he was for my friend.
It was easier to agree with my boyfriend and the things he believed in, rather than making choices for myself.

Who are you influenced by?  As Christians, we are to be influenced by Jesus Christ. He says that His ways are higher than our ways. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. He tells us to seek him for advice, He deeply desires us to seek His leadership for the decision we make in our lives.

I am asking you to take a self inventory right now. Are the choices you make based on what Jesus wants or what your spouse, friend, boyfriend/girlfriend wants?  Have you made decisions based on their influence on a particular subject?  Now it's time to measure it.  Did it cause friction among your family, friends, or
co-workers?  What was the outcome of your choice(s)?  Was it a Godly choice? Was it His choice or was it your spouse's, friends, or boyfriend's / girlfriend's choice?


If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things which are above, not on those things on the earth.  Colossians 3:1-2.

Happy Birthday!

The morning after my birthday, I was standing in front of the mirror thinking to myself; "I don't look any older and it's just a number."  Then I was overwhelmed with all the many blessings from songs being sung to me, blessings said to me, cards written for me, and gifts showered over me.
I became sad for those who have never experienced such attention. There are people that have not had one day celebrated for their existence. I celebrate you because God says he created you in your mother's womb, from the inside out, you are fearfully and wonderfully made, and you were not hidden from Him (Ps 139). WOW, you are created by God and in His image (Gen 1:26). 
You are special.  I may not know you, but God does. He knitted you together from the inside out. He knows your needs and your heart's desires.  He loves you more than any one you can physically see.

Today is your day. It may not be the exact day you were introduced to the world as the one and the only YOU and you are special.  I know God has great plans for you; to prosper you and not to harm you. He has plans to give you a hope and a future.  He wants to shower you with gifts of love and fill your heart with joy.  No one will accept you as you are except Him.  I hope you will receive His love today; YOUR day.

Happy Birthday my friend, for there is no one like you and you are special in so many ways.


~Be encouraged, parties don't make you special, but God does dance over you. I just want to join in with His celebration.

Happy Birthday!