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Question 1Did you eat candy this Valentine's Day? Nope, sure did not.
Question 2
What is something you do to relax? Love to sit on my back patio and read! Funny because all the different places we've lived and whether lovely or not that's where you'll find me. Or the bubble bath. I also find it relaxing to watch John & Kate+8:)
Question 3
(From Poole's book) What is the best approach for resolving conflict? Funny you ask, currently going through "Peacemakers" bible study. I used to only run as fast as i could in the other direction. Avoid it at all cost, didn't matter how costly it was to me. Now i can say i pray about it, asking God what the real issue is, where's my fault and if its something He wants me to overlook or something worth working out. If it comes to that it usually starts with me asking for forgiveness for my part first. Certainly a work in progress. Hardest with my husband because we both were runners and here 19 years into our relationship God is showing us some things are worth fighting for:)
Question 4
(Poole's book again) How would you define "freedom"? (this could probably be a bonus question)
Yikes! The first thing that popped into my head was Galatians 5:1 if Christ has set you free then stand firm and do not let yourself be taken into slavery again. Christ has set me free from so many different things which made our past year all the more difficult. Losing our house, our cars, ect.... Knowing full well that He had broken the chains of so many different areas then to be in chains again over money. Ugh. I don't in any way miss the "stuff" but i can say came dangerously close to thinking that this was the line drawn in the sand, that Christ had freed me from all that other stuff but this was too much. I can't believe i was tempted to by into that. I am not perfect but i am forgiven. ????
Question 5
(Poole's book) On a scale of 1-10, how happy do you usually feel? Explain. I'm going to say an 8. Explain-Christ in me, thats it, nothing else. Gosh i feel like i should say 10 then:) No seriously though, having gone through such paralyzing bouts with depression, i'm good, i'm happy! i'm choosing joy! Not that i don't still feel that depression coming on but i know how to battle it, i know not to flirt with it. I remind myself of all the life that i have now and am thankful. God is amazing at bringing other's situations before me that are far worse if i start to go there.
Bonus Questions
Question 6
If you could choose one "SIN" that you would never have to struggle with for the rest of your life what would it be? Pride-no doubt. Crazy to me because 10years ago if i would've heard someone say that i'd be thinking "how nice for you, now let me tell you a real problem" God forbid! Funny cause that statement is prideful. A couple years ago when i started seeing pride in my life i was floored!!!! Conviction to me felt the same way i would feel after submitting to my drug addiction when i was still using. How did King David describe it? strength sapped, bones waxed old... Yuk. Sin is sin. I find myself struggling with selfishness and being judgmental. Prides groupies if you ask me.
Question 7
What is one thing that breaks your heart? Hardened hearts. People who live such hopeless lives. Can't even imagine that there is any hope for them. People who have that look in their eyes like if you only knew what happened, what i did, who i am you wouldn't waist your breathe. I think more so for Christians who believe that Jesus has saved them, like their getting into heaven but thats it. Jesus holds them at arms length. Mercy. Breaks me heart.
Question 1How often do you get real sick? Praise Jesus not to often! Just plain wore out exhausted about once a month. Trying to take better care of myself to prevent that!
Question 2
Do you usually send serious or humorous greeting cards? Why? Serious for sure. As stated in questions from a couple weeks ago i tend to be on the deep side. Maybe i should lighten up a bit!
Question 3
Are you a person who has a whole lot of acquaintances, or just a few very close friends? Wow! Both for sure. I have a group of friends that God has certainly knit together in my heart-kindred spirits! (If your reading this and you know me, it sure would be fun if you would join the world of blog!) I also have a lot of acquaintances which is completely a fantastic miracle considering i used to be so painfully shy! Christ gets the credit.
Question 4
If you could cure a disease, or heal a sickness, which one would you choose? This should be a bonus question, very hard! How do i not say cancer. This is my blog so i pick 2- cancer and i'm going to say depression, mental illness... From experience my heart just aches for those who are not free to live life abundantly. I could go on but i'll save that for another day. (or apparently for the last question)
Bonus Questions
Question 5
What does "being spiritual" mean to you? Definitely bonus material. Well definitely would have had a different definition several years ago. Now I'm going to say striving (not perfect!) but striving to have the mind of Christ in all things. Trying to see people the way Christ view's them, hear from their hearts what He hears. Really seek His Word & dig deep to be able to know His thoughts and ways. Holding nothing back. Certainly not just when at church & with friends but also at home with family behind closed doors. ???
Question 6
Imagine you were talking to someone who did not believe in God and Jesus... How would you explain to them that Jesus is Real (from your experiences in your own life)? Wow. Well, from my own personal experience would just have to say that no person in their own power can change as much as i have. Not even if i had Dr. Phil and Beth Moore as my own personal life coaches! haha He has done a mighty work in me. Seek and you will find! A few weeks ago Beth Moore asked for testimonies on how we have broke free, here's what i wrote...
"Love it! Love Him! He has set me free from a fierce stronghold of bitterness toward my mom who left me when I was 5 with an abusive (in every way)dad. He has transformed my anger, hurt and severe dysfunction into pity and compassion for my abusers. I storm the gates of heaven in prayer for them to know my Savior and to know that they can live in total freedom this side of heaven! He has chased away my fear! At 20 my husband was still having to walk me to the bathroom for fear of being alone!! He has broken the chains of drug addiction for me and my husband! He spoke Isaiah 43:19 into my heart before I ever knew how to find it in my Bible! He changed the legacy for my 4 beautiful children. He is my everything & it is my absolute joy to be able to share with anyone who will listen of this God who has relentlessly pursued me. To Him be all glory, honor & praise! Thanks for asking!!!!"
Funny thing is afterwards my heart ached (just cause i wanted to give Him full praise!) for all the ways i failed to mention. I had an abortion at 17, no respect at all for the gift of life-didn't even cross my mind. The fact that i was so weak and insecure and hopeless that i gave another child up for adoption years later. And yet God in His unending mercy has blessed me with 4 beautiful, healthy, God loving children. Years later when i realized the full value of life and the weight of what i had done, life was unbearable. He didn't stop, He was relentless with me He didn't just want me to move on but wanted me to know how far, how deep, how wide His love, mercy and forgiveness is. He wanted me to grasp the fact that even though i had done such horrible things i didn't have to carry the weight of that around with me. Our human bodies were not created to bare the weight of that and He continues to remind me that He has taken that and bares it for me.
Oh mercy, i could go on and on. Didn't even mention what He did with my depression, suicidal thoughts.... Is anyone else thinking of that song "this is the song that never ends..."
Seriously have to go! But before i do...
Philippians 3:10-11[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body]!
Question 11. Who do you wish you could meet? Oh, I hate to be a copy cat but of course Beth Moore is on the top of my list. I also think it would be fun to meet Francis Chan's wife.
2. Best food comes from which country? I have to say right here in the good old USA! Give me a steak any day!
3. If you are familiar with the movie/musical "Grease", what girl character would you be (let's apply this lightly...I know some of the behaviors of the girls was not too nice). Bummer! Sandra Dee is the only one i can remember, definitely not her. Mmmm.
4. Would you be more likely to toilet paper someone's house, or would you be the one that has their house toilet papered? I just couldn't do it!!! To cause someone to have to pick up that mess. Our student pastor at our church actually told me it was a term of endearment. So maybe someday we will visit his house. Maybe tonight, considering I am having 26 teenagers spend the night for the Revolve Tour! We do love them!
5. Do you like small talk, or deep conversations? Deep calls to deep! I'm getting better at small talk-ha! I remember years ago a new friend said "wow, your quick to go there, your a deep thinker" I felt embarrassed, not so much anymore.
Bonus Questions
6.Who do you most want to encourage this year? My husband.
7.If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it? Trust God. They would be right. I sadly will still overthink every detail to the max! Which of course is exhausting. Hard question.
Question 1What is your favorite fairy tale? Well I suppose if I had to pick one it would be Beauty & the Beast. I could relate to Belle's passion for reading and she reminds me of my Emily with her gorgeous brown hair and brown eyes and sweet nature. Silly!
Question 2If you could be guaranteed a spot on the reality show "Survivor", would you go? NO WAY! I love food! I value my sleep! I love people-i could never vote anyone off. I could never be away from my family for that long! Not even if they paid my a million dollars just to show up. Nope. Now if my man wanted to go???
Question 3
Meanest thing you ever did to a sibling? Funny cause you said "specifics elude you"-your siblings are very nice to let you forget. I put my older sister (go figure) in the dryer when we were probably age 4 & 5-childish play, I say. She still tells the story to this day and I'm pretty sure she's still mad. lol Even more funny I seem to remember getting hit in the head w/ a frying pan by the same big sister at age 11. Not so childish. I forgive you Stephanie!
Question 4
Best Fashion Era... 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's or now... NOW! No question! I was raised mostly by my dad and bless his heart-fashion was not on his mind. I have a picture of me at about age 9 with my purple socks, hot pink corduroy pants and (wait for it!) bright orange Cleveland Browns tshirt! Pretty much all you can see is my glare from my over sized glasses and no doubt my unbrushed hair. So sad.
Question 5
Have you ever skipped to the end of a book before you finished reading the book? ALWAYS! I know, again, so sad, pray for me. lol Biggest regret was Redeeming Love by Francis Rivers. I wish I had waited for it!
Bonus Questions (I found these questions through a website, and boy are these challenging...)
Question 6
What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year? This is hard because I am playing Thomas here. I have never actually had financial freedom. By the time I was at an age to really start paying attention to how $ worked (age 12)I lived with my mom who struggled horribly, never owned a house, car, "week to week" doesn't begin to cover it. My husband i s self employed and it is always feast or famine. We were unwise in our feast time so... I do not want to be rich! I just want to be right with God! I want to have a clean conscience knowing that He will supply what we need and that we will be wise enough to know the difference. i don't know if that makes sense. Change us Lord!
Question 7
What is one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God? Be completely satisfied in Him! Again with the money thing. To know He is enough. God forgive me, I miss my Suburban! Silly I know! I did't even want it when we bought it. Being thankful for what we do have! Knowing it is enough! I have a hard working husband, 4 healthy children(amazing considering our old life style!) roof over our heads, electric, clean water, food on the table, and a job! I'm practicing!
