For it is God who works in you to will and to act....

God's word WORKS in me; here is a testimony!

This past week i drove to FL to pack up my earthly possessions.  I packed like a mad-woman because i needed to be back in SC to job hunt.  For three days i was disgusted at how much unnecessary STUFF i have accumulated. I tried my best to weed through and discard; anyone want to buy a red couch and love seat!? 

I knew I needed to be back in Columbia by Tuesday but i had at least 8 hours of packing and cleaning ahead of me when i woke up that morning.  I worked very hard and finally by 4:15 PM I was packing up my car.   But...I noticed i had had a very grumpy attitude all day.  There were several reasons but as i drove out of my driveway i began to pray about my attitude.  Obviously, the passage about having the attitude of Christ was on my mind, i knew i was FAR from that state of mind.  

As i meditated on this thought, my mind began to bring up the other parts of Philippians 2 - that applied to my heart.  Then these brought me to Philippians 3 - "And whatever was to my profit i now consider loss..."  

I was amazed at how PRACTICAL these truths were! Seriously, it was simply a hard day, little things were irritating me, i was tired and ...in the midst of this, God whispers, "think of others as better than yourself....Look to THEIR interests....whatever was to my profit i am to count as loss!"  I was being SELFISH! ME!  God was spotlighting sin in me...and inspite of ME, He gave me the GRACE to do the right thing.  Thus, proving to me, it is GOD who works in you to will and to act according to His Good Purpose!  Amazing.....i simply had to thank Him for His beautiful Grace that covered me.  Now, i just ask, Lord, Change me to look more like Jesus, from the inside out.   It is always All Him.  

Memorizing Philippians

Hi Ladies,
Only a few more weeks until we converge on Western Sky again! Mardy has been encouraging us to memorize, memorize. I appreciate the challenge!

Here are the passages:
Phil 2:1-16a (ending with "the word of life")
Phil 3:7-16
Phil 4:4-9

My mom as well as Denise's mom will be joining our gang this year. My mom voiced a concern that she would be the oldest one there - i assured her she would fit right in, no worries! She is getting excited about the retreat as she is now receiving Mardy's emails....a lot different than the typical church retreats we have experienced in the past! I am anticipating a wonderful time...i can hear you ladies getting excited, and also the feeling of release as i know once we get on the road, worries that cling to us will fall off and we all will have a few days of bathing in rich fellowship, quiet, undistracted time with the Lord, lots of laughs, i am sure some tears and much prayer AND good coffee and food!! My mom is the SERVANT at heart - as i know most of you are, being mothers - so she looks forward to preparing a meal...she has already sent me an email, practically taking on the whole responsibility for a meal....i told her to share!! :-) She is great.

I have made it through Philippians 2, chapter 3 is giving me a little trouble, chapter 4 has been memorized more or less when i was young, so i felt like i had a head start! Come on Ladies!!! You can do it!