"We're Not in Kansas Anymore."

{ 09:59, 9 October 2007 } { Posted in Our Move } { 2 comments } { Link }

Well, actually, that should say, "We're not in AR-Kansas anymore." :)

Yes, it's true. I'm back in Illinois. I have been for the last 9 days, which really feels like a couple of months, it's so strange.

But, it's only temporary. I drove back up here with my 4 children, back to our home in the city where my hubby and 15yr. old daughter have been staying. My husband has been working on the house and my daughter has been working and studying. I came back to help him get a few things done.

We need to clear a bunch of stuff out of the basement and the attic. I've been feeling like I just want to throw all this stuff away, since we haven't used it in awhile. I've pretty much forgotten what's down and up "there". There are a few things which have either some value or use left to them. Those things I think we'll just give away and then literally throw out the rest.

It's interesting to think about the fact that all these things were once originally purchased by someone. I think most of what we have has been given to us by someone who didn't want it but just couldn't bring themselves to throw it in the trash, so it ended up at our house.

In fact, some of those who had brought stuff to us in the past actually used those words when bringing their items in boxes to our home. "I was clearing out the (place name of room here) and was going to throw this out but then I thought of you (your family)." So, we thankfully took whatever it was into our home thinking, knowing, that we would find a place/use for it. God has always provided for us, as He promises He will, and most often has done so through other people bringing us their "stuff". :)

One time we got almost a whole wardrobe for my older girls, when they were younger, from a woman who decided she would rather purchase new clothes for her daughter than go through the trouble of laundering what she had. (I kid you not!) That was a very exciting day for the girls. :)

We actually had someone call us once and tell us that they had too many groceries and wanted to give us some. Apparently, the husband had gone shopping and bought a "LOT" of groceries, but they were going on vacation and the wife thought it would all spoil while they were gone, so we were the happy recipients of much food.

There have been many people over the years who were redecorating and were on the way to throw furnishings away but suddenly thought of us and figured we might need these things. And we did. :)

I don't doubt how our family's name "suddenly" popped into their heads. I am certain that God, our Provider, placed it there. There are so many instances over the years where this has happened, I can't even name them all.

In great times of need for us, we've actually had people come to us with money, people who didn't know our need, and tell us that they felt that God wanted them to give us a gift of money, and it was always just what we needed. Oh, how the Father blesses us and keeps His promises! Thank you Father.

My oldest daughter, who experienced these things while growing up, had this happen to her. While living out of state, attending college, studying and working to pay her bills she found herself in an especially tight spot and needed money for rent. A friend, whom she did not tell about her need, came to her and told her that she had this "extra" money and wasn't sure what to do with it, so she sought God in prayer. And He led her to give it to my daughter. It was just the amount she needed to pay her rent. My daughter just broke down in tears. She accepted it graciously and thankfully, knowing it was from the Lord.

I can't imagine ever having "extra" money. :)

Many years ago, we actually got a vehicle for free! The pastor of the church we were attending at the time had a son who lived in another state. They were getting a new vehicle and instead of selling their current one, were prompted to donate it to our church to be given to a family in need. Well, at the time we had been in great need of a vehicle. We had 6 children at home and had been without a working vehicle for many, many, months. It was definitely inconvenient, but we made it through, and knew that God would provide for us in some way. Well, when the pastors told us they wanted us to have it, all we could do was cry and give thanks to God. It was not all that old and was probably the nicest vehicle we had owned at the time. We still have it today. God is amazing. (an understatement, I know)

It's interesting because whenever we're in need and we try to imagine all the different ways which God may provide for us, we find that the way He chooses is something which would have never occurred to us. It's always something "out of left field". You'd think we'd learn to not even try to imagine how it will work out, but to just trust and keep serving. Thankfully, God is very patient with us all.

It has always seemed that we have never, or rarely, had extra anything, whether it be money or things. And so there have been many times when I've wanted to be able to give away "stuff" we didn't need to others in order to bless them. Usually we wear things down to the bone or to the end of it's usefulness, so it's hard to pass things on when they're pretty much headed for the graveyard when we're done with them. This would make me sad, thinking that we, I, had nothing to give. But God's Spirit reminds me that we are not all hands, and we are not all feet. But we are all different working parts of the Body of Christ. And so, while some may have "extra" finances or things to give, God has another duty for us to fulfill in order to build up the body. It may be that we are to offer our services, physically, and/or our time.

I Corinthians 12

I won't make a list of things here which we have done. But, God did encourage me by reminding me of areas of service which we have given, which I didn't even think of as "giving". It's how the body fits together. If we all were doing the same thing we would somehow, somewhere, still find ourselves in need. Thanks be to God,Whose wisdom is far above ours.

We all have something to give to the body. It may be as simple as taking food to someone, or giving someone a ride, or offering our "hands" to help get a job done.

While in Arkansas, there was a neighbor who dropped by to see if we were doing alright and if we needed anything. He himself had been sick, but it didn't stop him from checking in on us. That's the Spirit of Christ at work.

May we all be ready to do or to help whenever and wherever a need arises, and realize that when we do, it is His Spirit working to care for and build up the Body of Christ. And may we give thanks to our Great Father, Creator, Provider, for keeping His Word, His Promises, and our Faith until that day of our redemption, and that great and glorious day of our uniting with Christ as His blessed and perfect Bride. Praise Him!

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{ 06:08, 10 October 2007 } { Posted by GoofyMamma }
Girl, God is soooo good. Stuff like that has happened to us to and the list is to long to get into but doesn't it just bring you to tears thinking about His goodness? I love the things that He has done for you. IT's so encouraging and helps to remind me of what He has done for us.
Blessings to you,
Kim

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{ 05:05, 11 October 2007 } { Posted by chunkywoman }
Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting. I enjoyed reading your latest entry and I perused back too. Reading a blog backwards is confusing but I take it that the photos of the house are of the one you are moving to (not the brick of course). If so what a cute place! How much land comes with it?

Blessings!

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Be Keepers Of the Word, Of the Way
~"I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth."~ 3 John 1:4 ~~
About Me: Welcome! I am a wife of 23 yrs. to a hard working husband, mother to 7 wonderful, amazing children, a home educator, raised in the city, new to living in the country, an adopted child of God desiring to live and walk in His ways. Here is my blog with some of that journey and the lessons I'm learning along the Way. :) Home Profile Archives Today's Verse Contact Me Some Favorite Websites Early Christian Writings Christian Classics Ethereal Library Bible Gateway The Library of Congress The Baldwin Online Children's Literature Project Project Gutenberg World Hyper History Baking 911 Institute of Biblical Greek Adventures in Sewing Vintage Sewing Reference Library How-To Publication NMU Free Downloadable Software eSword Picasa Super Anti Spyware Currently Reading My Bible "The Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching" ~Irenaeus of Lyons "Charlotte Mason and Classical Education" ~by Susan Wise Bauer "A Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning" ~by Karen Andreola Around The Homestead Researching Fruit Tree Pruning Getting Ready for Arrival of Chief our first horse Clean Out Hen House Chicks Coming in April! Page 1 of 130 † Last Page \| Next Page †	"We're Not in Kansas Anymore." { 09:59, 9 October 2007 } { Posted in Our Move } { 2 comments } { Link } Well, actually, that should say, "We're not in AR-Kansas anymore." :) Yes, it's true. I'm back in Illinois. I have been for the last 9 days, which really feels like a couple of months, it's so strange. But, it's only temporary. I drove back up here with my 4 children, back to our home in the city where my hubby and 15yr. old daughter have been staying. My husband has been working on the house and my daughter has been working and studying. I came back to help him get a few things done. We need to clear a bunch of stuff out of the basement and the attic. I've been feeling like I just want to throw all this stuff away, since we haven't used it in awhile. I've pretty much forgotten what's down and up "there". There are a few things which have either some value or use left to them. Those things I think we'll just give away and then literally throw out the rest. It's interesting to think about the fact that all these things were once originally purchased by someone. I think most of what we have has been given to us by someone who didn't want it but just couldn't bring themselves to throw it in the trash, so it ended up at our house. In fact, some of those who had brought stuff to us in the past actually used those words when bringing their items in boxes to our home. "I was clearing out the (place name of room here) and was going to throw this out but then I thought of you (your family)." So, we thankfully took whatever it was into our home thinking, knowing, that we would find a place/use for it. God has always provided for us, as He promises He will, and most often has done so through other people bringing us their "stuff". :) One time we got almost a whole wardrobe for my older girls, when they were younger, from a woman who decided she would rather purchase new clothes for her daughter than go through the trouble of laundering what she had. (I kid you not!) That was a very exciting day for the girls. :) We actually had someone call us once and tell us that they had too many groceries and wanted to give us some. Apparently, the husband had gone shopping and bought a "LOT" of groceries, but they were going on vacation and the wife thought it would all spoil while they were gone, so we were the happy recipients of much food. There have been many people over the years who were redecorating and were on the way to throw furnishings away but suddenly thought of us and figured we might need these things. And we did. :) I don't doubt how our family's name "suddenly" popped into their heads. I am certain that God, our Provider, placed it there. There are so many instances over the years where this has happened, I can't even name them all. In great times of need for us, we've actually had people come to us with money, people who didn't know our need, and tell us that they felt that God wanted them to give us a gift of money, and it was always just what we needed. Oh, how the Father blesses us and keeps His promises! Thank you Father. My oldest daughter, who experienced these things while growing up, had this happen to her. While living out of state, attending college, studying and working to pay her bills she found herself in an especially tight spot and needed money for rent. A friend, whom she did not tell about her need, came to her and told her that she had this "extra" money and wasn't sure what to do with it, so she sought God in prayer. And He led her to give it to my daughter. It was just the amount she needed to pay her rent. My daughter just broke down in tears. She accepted it graciously and thankfully, knowing it was from the Lord. I can't imagine ever having "extra" money. :) Many years ago, we actually got a vehicle for free! The pastor of the church we were attending at the time had a son who lived in another state. They were getting a new vehicle and instead of selling their current one, were prompted to donate it to our church to be given to a family in need. Well, at the time we had been in great need of a vehicle. We had 6 children at home and had been without a working vehicle for many, many, months. It was definitely inconvenient, but we made it through, and knew that God would provide for us in some way. Well, when the pastors told us they wanted us to have it, all we could do was cry and give thanks to God. It was not all that old and was probably the nicest vehicle we had owned at the time. We still have it today. God is amazing. (an understatement, I know) It's interesting because whenever we're in need and we try to imagine all the different ways which God may provide for us, we find that the way He chooses is something which would have never occurred to us. It's always something "out of left field". You'd think we'd learn to not even try to imagine how it will work out, but to just trust and keep serving. Thankfully, God is very patient with us all. It has always seemed that we have never, or rarely, had extra anything, whether it be money or things. And so there have been many times when I've wanted to be able to give away "stuff" we didn't need to others in order to bless them. Usually we wear things down to the bone or to the end of it's usefulness, so it's hard to pass things on when they're pretty much headed for the graveyard when we're done with them. This would make me sad, thinking that we, I, had nothing to give. But God's Spirit reminds me that we are not all hands, and we are not all feet. But we are all different working parts of the Body of Christ. And so, while some may have "extra" finances or things to give, God has another duty for us to fulfill in order to build up the body. It may be that we are to offer our services, physically, and/or our time. I Corinthians 12 I won't make a list of things here which we have done. But, God did encourage me by reminding me of areas of service which we have given, which I didn't even think of as "giving". It's how the body fits together. If we all were doing the same thing we would somehow, somewhere, still find ourselves in need. Thanks be to God,Whose wisdom is far above ours. We all have something to give to the body. It may be as simple as taking food to someone, or giving someone a ride, or offering our "hands" to help get a job done. While in Arkansas, there was a neighbor who dropped by to see if we were doing alright and if we needed anything. He himself had been sick, but it didn't stop him from checking in on us. That's the Spirit of Christ at work. May we all be ready to do or to help whenever and wherever a need arises, and realize that when we do, it is His Spirit working to care for and build up the Body of Christ. And may we give thanks to our Great Father, Creator, Provider, for keeping His Word, His Promises, and our Faith until that day of our redemption, and that great and glorious day of our uniting with Christ as His blessed and perfect Bride. Praise Him! { Post a Comment } Untitled Comment { 06:08, 10 October 2007 } { Posted by GoofyMamma } Girl, God is soooo good. Stuff like that has happened to us to and the list is to long to get into but doesn't it just bring you to tears thinking about His goodness? I love the things that He has done for you. IT's so encouraging and helps to remind me of what He has done for us. Blessings to you, Kim Untitled Comment { 05:05, 11 October 2007 } { Posted by chunkywoman } Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting. I enjoyed reading your latest entry and I perused back too. Reading a blog backwards is confusing but I take it that the photos of the house are of the one you are moving to (not the brick of course). If so what a cute place! How much land comes with it? Blessings! { Last Page } { Page 45 of 60 } { Next Page }	Recent Posts Now That's Service Under Construction Who doesn't have a headache today? 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~"I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth."~ 3 John 1:4 ~~

"We're Not in Kansas Anymore."

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