May all your days have "Son Shine"

You never know when God is going to bless you. Good things happen when you least expect them to.

Dear Lord, I thank You for this day, I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you.

I ask now for Your forgiveness. Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You. Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things. Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. And give the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits.

I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will. Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others.

Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement. I pray for those who are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those who are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those who don't believe.

But I thank you that I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers and for each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met. I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees it.

Just repeat this phrase and see how God moves in your life:God I love you and I need you, come into my heart and fill it with joy, love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.

May all your days have “Son Shine”.

AMEN AND AMEN!

Let Go & Let God

Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has also forgiven you.

Most of the ground that Satan gains in the lives of Christians is due to unforgiveness. We are warned to forgive others so that Satan cannot take advantage of us (2 Corinthians 2:10, 11). God requires us to forgive others from our hearts or He will turn us over to the tormentors (Matthew 18:34, 35). Why is forgiveness so critical to our freedom? Because of the cross! God didn't give us what we deserve; He gave us what we needed according to His mercy. We are to be merciful just as our heavenly Father is merciful (Luke 6:36). We are to forgive as we have been forgiven (Ephesians 4:31, 32).

Forgiveness is not forgetting. People who try to forget find that they cannot. God says He will "remember no more" our sins (Hebrews 10:17), but God, being omniscient, cannot forget. "Remember no more" means that God will never use the past against us (Psalm 103:12). Forgetting may be a result of forgiveness, but it is never the means of forgiveness. When we bring up the past and use it against others, we haven't forgiven them.

Forgiveness is a choice, a crisis of the will. We choose to face and acknowledge the hurt and the hate in order to forgive from the heart. Since God requires us to forgive, it is something we can do. (He would never require us to do something we cannot do.) But forgiveness is difficult for us because it pulls against our concept of justice. We want revenge for offenses suffered. But we are told never to take our own revenge (Romans 12:19). "Why should I let them off the hook?" we protest. You let them off your hook, but they are never off God's hook. He will deal with them fairly--something we cannot do.

If you don't let offenders off your hook, you are hooked to them and the past, and that just means continued pain for you. Stop the pain; let it go. You don't forgive someone merely for their sake; you do it for your sake so you can be free. Your need to forgive isn't an issue between you and the offender; it's between you and God.

God's Winking at Us

We have been looking at houses for about 2 weeks. We finally decided to just try and see what happens. We have put it all in God's hands to show us the way through the process of purchasing a home. And, of course, me being the VIRGO that I am (per my little sister) I want control of the whole situation.

Wednesday of last week we found a home in Groves at 3301 Canal (3 bedroom, 1 1/2 bathrooms, 1 car garage). It sits on a on a corner lot 100 X 140 and has lots of trees, a back deck and a sun room. I printed all the information from the appraisal district, tax office and all the details of the home that was listed. We called Holly Hinds, the realtor that is helping us and scheduled a time to go see the home for Thursday evening. On our way there, Tim was looking through the papers I had printed and saw the name of the home owner - T B Snoek. He said "I wonder if that could be the same Snoek." I asked him if he knew him. Tim said that it had to be the same person he met on his Emmaus Walk. That he only knew of one Ted Snoek and he sat at Tim's table on this Christian walk. Tim even gave him the nick-name of Snoek the Hook.

We waited outside for Holly and walked up to the house. Mr. Snoek peeked through the front door window and asked us to go around back. As he opened the door, Tim said "Yep, that's him!". Tim took his hand and asked "Ted do you remember me?" Mr. Snoek had to take a long look and then Tim said "You were on my walk." Mr. Snoek was so excited to see him and gave Tim a great big hug. How awesome is that! Mr. Snoek walked us through the house and was enjoying Tim's company throughout. Gave us all the information needed to check it out. The house is in great shape considering it was built in 1954 (one year younger then me). Ted and his wife have been living in this house since. They took very good care of their home. Ted said he would love to see us in his house. God sent us there for a reason, I just know it.

On the way home Tim said "Have you noticed the address? Add the numbers up." I said them aloud 3 3 0 1 = 07 - we got married 07-07-07. WOW!!!

Friday we called Holly and told her we wanted to proceed with this house. Just something about it that fit our criteria. We made an offer, they counter offered on Saturday and we settled with the offer Saturday afternoon. The Snoeks are now in Birney, Texas visiting with their son and will be back on Tuesday. You see, they are wanting to move to Birney to be close to their son. I got down on my knees to ask God to send extra blessings to those who have helped me and Tim through this hurdle. If it is God's will for us to be blessed with a home, so be it. He is an amazing God. I give all thanks and praise to His glory.

I pray that you take the time in your life to sit still and listen to His voice in silence. Allow Him to guide you in what He wants you to do. God is winking at you when you least expect it.

Front & back of house - Please keep us in prayer.

The Importance of a Sister

A sister is someone who loves you from the heart,
No matter how much you argue you cannot be drawn apart.
She is a joy that cannot be taken away,
Once she enters your life, she is there to stay.

A friend who helps you through difficult times,
Her comforting words are worth much more then dimes.
A partner who fills your life with laughs and smiles,
These memories last for miles and miles.

When she is by your side, the world is filled with life,
When she is not around, your days are full of strife.
A sister is a blessing, who fills your heart with love,
She flies with you in life with the beauty of a dove.

A companion to whom you can express your feelings,
She doesn't let you get bored at family dealings.
Whether you are having your ups and downs,
She always helps you with a smile and never frowns.

With a sister you cannot have a grudge,
She is as sweet as chocolate and as smooth as fudge.
Having a sister is not just a trend,
It is knowing you can always turn to her, your best friend.

Three Sisters

We are three sisters
Three sisters are we
I love each of you,
And I know you love me.

We're not always together,
Life sometimes keeps us apart.
But we're never separated
We're in each other's heart.

Now I know we've had our troubles,
But we always get through.
The real message is you love me,
And I also love you.

We have had lots of good times
That we'll never forget
Sometimes we worry
And sometimes we fret.

But if God ever gave me
Something special you see,
It might have been the blessing of
Three sisters are we.

The Lord above has given me lots
Of happiness and glee
But the most special thing he did was
Make us sisters, all three.

What a B-U-T-FUL Weekend

Yes, it was a beautiful weekend. It was gorgeous down here in Southeast Texas. My weekend was truly busy. Friday - I worked 1/2 day. Tim and I went to the bank to apply for a residential loan - PLEASE KEEP US in prayer. Then that evening we were invited to one of my friends 30 year service anniversary party and we had a blast. I really was proud of myself and didn't get much to eat - YEAH!!!

Saturday morning was just as beautiful. Didn't get to sleep in. I am working the March Emmaus Women's Walk and we had our 3rd meeting. God has been moving me from one area to the next. I started out in the conference room, then He moved me to Housekeeping and now I am Head Chapel. I just love how He works in getting me out of my box to do His work. The meeting was all day finally got home about about 4pm and Johnathon was anxious to come over to spend the night.

Sunday morning we got up headed off to Church. We had an awesome sermon, but in our Sunday school class we watched a DVD on "How Great Is our God" by Louis Giglio. You will have to check it out one day and just sit be still and take it all in. It makes you feel so greatful that God made you from His own breath. WOW!!! Then about 2:15 we all went to the Port Arthur Little Theatre to watch Hunter Courts, one of our young church members perform in Tom Sawyer, he of course was Tom Sawyer. It was a great musical.

Tim and I finally chilled out at home with a glass of wine and TV.

God is amazing in our lives.

How we met - Tim & Moni

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

After my divorce in 1996 my son coaxed me into going out to dance. I learned how to country dance and Cajun jitter-bug. I was going out with my son and sometimes my daughter would join us. For a while no one would ask me to dance because they saw me dancing with my son all the time. We were learning and teaching each other how to dance. One night a man walked up to me and wanted to know if my husband cared if he danced with me. I said "What?" They thought that my son was my husband - hahahahahaha!!! Once they found out I was not married, men started asking me to dance all night long.

I had a few guy friends, but obviously God had someone else in mind for me. I met Tim on a Friday night, July 2000, at Cactus Canyon. I was just standing by the rail next to the dance floor when he came flying by with another woman in his arms on the dance floor. We made eye contact each time he went around. Yeah, I thought he looked pretty handsome. He was neatly dressed and he could dance, but I just didn't think that I would have a chance to meet him. The place was crowded with people. As soon as that song was over another came on, I love to dance.

I felt this tap on my shoulder and it was Tim. I just wanted to melt and there was a tingle all the way down to my toes that made them wiggle. He asked me to dance and of course I couldn't turn a great looking guy down. Most especially cause he could dance, too. We ended up dancing the whole night. He found out that I could dance pretty good, too. He smelled so good. He had a dress cowboy hat on and his shirt was neatly tucked. He asked me if I would be back the next night and told him I wasn't sure.

Well guess what I showed up Saturday night and there he was - YUM YUM!!! We danced and we danced with other people, too. No rush you know. We danced to a slow song and then he kissed me. We just were formed for each other. That night he asked me if I wasn't doing anything on Sunday if I would like to go to a pool party. Of course, I said yes. And it started. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

We went everywhere together, moved in with each other about 6 months later, and my family loved him lots. Then January 2005 we took a 2 year break from each other to work out some issues of our own. Lost touch with each other after the hurricane "Rita" in 2005. February of 2007, I found Tim on myspace and it was like we never left each other. We were so excited to hear from one another. I said a prayer and asked God if this was His will that we be together then I would be patient to let it happen. We had a date February 11, 2007, went to the Mall. We took Johnathon with us. He loves his Mr. Tim. God brought us back together. We married on July 7, 2007. We have our rocky moments still, but this time we have God in our life and we get strength from Him to carry us through.

My daddy had told me that he saw a good man in Tim and for me to treat him good.

I love Tim with all my heart and soul.

Table of The Comforter

I chose this title for my blog because it is the table I sat at on my Emmaus Walk. I was so busy in life and Tessy came up to me back in 2005 wanted me to attend the Golden Triangle Walk to Eammus. I asked her what it was all about and she gave me some info. Needless to say the VIRGO in me wanted more detail. So I went to the “What Is Emmaus” site and got more info – this derived from the Cursillo movement, only this was for all denominations and ecumenical. Unfortunately because my life was so busy I just didn’t see where I could fit it in to MY time. She had wanted me to try to attend the walk in September of 2005 and we had a hurricane. So I put the application in my Bible and Tessy said she would keep me in prayer. Tim and I had called it quits right before Daddy passed away in December 2004. So he was not around at this time.

April of 2006 she came by my office and asked me if I had given thought to attending the Walk to Emmaus. I told her I still had my application in my Bible, so went home that evening filled it out and gave it to Tessy the next morning. The walk allows 36 women to attend and she said that I and few others were on waiting list. I told her well maybe on the next walk. Tessy called me on Monday the week the walk was going to be held. She said someone had dropped and wanted to know if I could attend. I didn’t hesitate, I said sure.

At this point, I knew God had a direction for me to take. Monday night was the first night Daddy came to see me. I was sitting in bed reading my Bible for the first time in my whole life. I said a prayer, turned out the light and laid down to sleep. Within a few seconds I felt this heaviness at the foot of my bed. I didn’t think nothing of it at first, but then I felt like that heaviness had come closer to the upper part of my leg. I quickly sat up, turned the light on and there was nothing there and went back to sleep.

Tuesday morning I felt this peace come about me while I was getting ready. Went through my daily steps – work, lunch, work, and then home. I met some new friends there in the apartments and they invited me to have dinner with them. It was a joyful event of laughing, playing cards, and sharing life. I went home and started getting ready for bed. I promised myself that I would read my devotionals and my Bible to learn more about who God really was and what he expected of me. Same thing as the night before as soon as I turned out the light again at the foot of my bed there was that heaviness like someone had sat down on the bed. I again turned on the light and nothing. I looked up and said “Ok God is that You?” I got out of bed and actually looked under my bed, walked around the apartment and I turned all the lights on – NOTHING. I have never been scared, Daddy tried to scare me one time, but that’s another story.

Now it’s Wednesday, went through the same ritual again. Got up, got ready for work, and it was busy at work at this time because we were still catching up from the hurricane “Rita”. I had been working 12 to 16 hours a day. Though this week was just so different for me. Just was unexplainable. Went home and cooked me a little dinner. I didn’t have TV cause I just didn’t need it. I found myself reading books to help me cope with inner self. I got ready for bed, got my Bible out and prayed. I turned out the lights and laid down and again within seconds this time the heaviness was closer to my side, quickly I sat up and just started crying. I knew this time that it was my Daddy. I cried out “Daddy is this You?” Then the most overwhelming PEACE fell into my heart. The joy of knowing that God let my Daddy come be with me at this new change of life.

I called Mom on Thursday morning to let her know I was going on this Walk to Emmaus and would be gone until Sunday evening. I told her about what had happened on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, but not that I knew it was Daddy. She said “While I was sleeping your Daddy came to me and said that he came by to be with you.” I BROKE with heartfelt tears that I was so breathless in talking to Mom. She said “Don’t cry he wanted to tell you that everything is going to be okay.” I said my goodbye to Mom and told her I love her. She said she was proud of me taking this step and that Daddy is very happy, too.

That Thursday afternoon, Tessy, who sponsored me on my walk, came to pick me up. Of course I didn’t know a lot of what was about to happen. The motto is “Don’t Anticipate, Just Participate”. When we got there I met new friends at the snack time, then we headed to the Sanctuary and there was a banner up for this walk. The scripture on the banner was “Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10. Tessy said this scripture is just for you because of your busyness in your life. God wants you to be still so that He can show you how much He loves you.

Since my walk to Emmaus there have been many blessings that God has shown me -- Tim came back into my life, Norman Jr. is talking to me, Christina and I are talking more sensibly with each other, sharing time with my grandchildren, a loving church family, not struggling with money, continued love with my brothers & sisters, the most beautiful Mom I could ever have, but most especially my new Christian life and the joy in my heart for the love of Jesus. The blessings keep coming! ! !

Jesus Loves Me This I know.

Our sickly little Man - Johnathon

A couple weeks ago, while Johnathon was riding with me to run errands, he mentioned that some of his friends had received their perfect attendance awards at school for the 3rd six weeks. He was pretty down. He was not sure why he didn't get one since he hadn't missed any days. I told him they probably just made a mistake and mommy would take care of it. Christina came over to show me his AB honor roll on his report card. I saw that one day on the report card and explained to her what he had told me. Christina said she would get in touch with the school and find out what happened.

Christina e-mailed his teacher, Mrs. LeJune, the next morning. She said she would check with the attendance clerk in the office and let Christina know the outcome. Christina also let his teacher know how upset Johnathon was about not receiving his perfect attendance certificate for the 3rd six weeks. When they get a perfect attendance each six weeks they are rewarded with free recess and other incentives for not missing school. Mrs. LeJune talked with Christina and told her they found it was an error. So the next morning they made a special announcement for Johnathon over the speaker at school in recognizing him for perfect attendance - YEAH!!!

So now so much for that - LOL!!! He has come down with the flu and will be out this whole week per the Doctor. We were on a roll with a 2 year streak of perfect attendance, but you know he could care less at this point. He is so miserable right now with fever and stuffy head. He is getting pretty spoiled and loving every minute of it. Keep him in prayer.

A Work In Progress

I am in the process of building this blog, so you won't see much here for right now. While I was visiting in Dallas this weekend, my sister, Juanita, let me sit by her while exploring her Blog. This is a pretty neat way of keeping a daily journal. So I am going to give it a try and share some daily life events from Southeast Texas. So come by often and read along.

Have a blessed day!