Hey, everyone. I have lots of prayer requests today. Rather than writing a ton, I think I'll just list the requests. Thanks for your prayers and support!!
1. Someone that Scott works with just found out that he has stage 3 lung cancer. Apparently this is a terminal stage. He quit smoking over 20 years ago and has just now developed the cancer. Please be praying for God to heal him and to guard his heart and mind with the peace of Jesus. Also be praying for his friends and family as they deal with the pain and shock of this news.
2. Scott did not get the job he interviewed for. Please be praying that God's will be done and that He guides Scott to the right job. Pray for patience, peace, and faithfulness for me and Scott as we wait and continue to serve God.
3. Bobbie's mother has severe arthritis and is suffering with a lot of pain today. Please pray for God to take away that pain. And pray that He gives strength and peace to both Bobbie and her mom.
4. Jeff is having knee surgery on Friday. Please be praying that God is with Jeff and the doctors so that the surgery is a success and Jeff walks away completely healed and renewed!
5. My mom's fiance Mike's dad (so...my mom's future father-in-law) has cancer and is in the hospital. At this point everyone is basically waiting on him to pass. Please pray that God is with him and his family.
6. Brett started a new full-time job at Olive Garden this week! Praise God for that! Please be praying that God is with him and uses this job to make a change in Brett's life.
I think that's it for now! Thank you so much for your prayers! They are much appreciated! :)
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
And Why do You Worry about Clothes?
"Therefore do not worry about your life. What you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes?" Matthew 6: 25
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lillies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying 'What will we eat?' or 'what will we drink?' or 'what shall we wear?' For the pagans run after these things, and your heavenly father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:28-33
I read this last night, and patted myself on the back. Scott was out of work for a month due to the mandatory 30 days off for casual laborers at GSU (no pay), we've had seemingly endless car trouble (expensive), and paid several moving expenses like Uhaul and paint supplies. We literally have about $30 in our checking account right now and close to $1,000 charged on our cards from car trouble and moving expenses alone. On top of this, I have had 4 friends and/or ministries ask us for money lately. I'm not saying all this to make you feel sorry for me and I'm certainly not asking for money, but I wanted you to know the extent of our financial burden right now. And here comes the back pat--I'm not worried about it at all! I read this passage and smiled and nodded my head and said a little thank you prayer. I know that God will provide for us and give us everything we need. I'm just patiently waiting for things to even out again. Great! Right?
Well, this morning I had to stop and think back through the verse I had so casually read. I was getting ready and, given my nature of procrastination, I had not given any thought to what I would wear today until 20 minutes before we had to leave for work. I pulled on a pair of hand-me-down pants from Scott's mom that no longer fit her and a hand-me-down shirt from Scott's sister that she didn't like anymore. I frowned at my reflection. I tried playing around with the shirt--buttoning different buttons. I sighed and went to my pile of shoes. Nothing looked good with the outfit. I decided the shirt was the problem. I tore it off and tried on an old shirt that I've had for a little over 2 years and am therefore sick to death of. (Girls...starting to sound familiar? Guys...sorry this is so boring!) I put on the best shoe match I could think of, still not satisfied, and left the house thinking I look like a blimp and I hate my clothes. I took one last look at my closest, groaned, and exclaimed, "I hate my clothes! Nothing goes together and nothing looks good on me anymore and they're all cheap and ugly!"
I then rushed to smear makeup on my face in our last 3 minutes before leaving while my poor husband resigned to making my lunch for me and politely asking if I wanted to take my book to read during lunch. I was fuming inside and out. My self-esteem had plummeted and my frustration had lead to a clammy face which made the makeup difficult to apply and I was running out of time. GRRR!!! I thought to myself, I know God is going to provide all we need, but what about all we want? He's not going to give me new clothes when I have a whole closet full already! I know our bills will be paid, but am I ever going to be able to buy new things that I want?
Then God told me to remember the verses from the night before. Why do you worry about clothes? Pagans run after these things. If God clothes the lillies, will he not clothe me? O, me of little faith!!! I'll sheepishly retrieve that back pat now...
God knows what we need better than we do. And He knows what we want. And He wants us to have good things and blessings in abundance. Is God going to give me a surprise $500 to go on a shopping spree with? Probably not. But He will make sure I have enough clothes and if I really need some new ones (which I think I might...), He'll provide a way for me to get some. But I can't be greedy, impatient, or demanding of these things. And I certainly shouldn't spend my time worrying about them. If God clothes his creation in unspeakable beauty, how much more will He clothe me? Again, I'm not talking expensive, closets full of clothes, but He will make sure I have what I need. Just when I think I know it all, God goes and shows me how much I still have to learn...imagine that!
Here's my plan, and I encourage those who struggle with this (or wants/needs of any kind) to join me.
1. be THANKFUL for what I DO have. Just b/c I might be tired of my clothes, doesn't mean I don't have any. I'm blessed to have several things to wear. There are so many people in the world with next to nothing.
2. Talk to God about it. There's no sense in hiding the fact that I want new clothes from God. He already knows. I can share this desire with God, but rather than just pray for new clothes, I want to ask God to redirect my heart to Him and help me trust that He will provide and that I need not worry.
3. The things that really don't fit anymore and just make me feel bad about myself when I try to force my body into them...DONATE to people who aren't as fortunate as me.
4. Give myself more time to get ready in the morning or (better yet) pick out my clothes the night before. And not just pick them out, but put them on and make sure I'm satisfied with them. That way I don't have to worry about starting my day out on a sour note.
5. Make my husband lunch tomorrow because he is the most patient and understanding man and he deserves it! :)
There are so many more important things in life than what I'm wearing. Why worry so much about it? Why let it consume me? And by worrying about it, I'm actually saying that God isn't good enough or powerful enough to fulfill my needs and I am not satisfied with what He has given me. Do I really feel that way? Do I want to feel that way? NO!!! So, be careful what you complain about and think about what you're really saying by complaining. Do you really mean that? I need to take my attention off the mirror and focus it on God. Then how could I be dissatisfied? "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lillies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying 'What will we eat?' or 'what will we drink?' or 'what shall we wear?' For the pagans run after these things, and your heavenly father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:28-33
I read this last night, and patted myself on the back. Scott was out of work for a month due to the mandatory 30 days off for casual laborers at GSU (no pay), we've had seemingly endless car trouble (expensive), and paid several moving expenses like Uhaul and paint supplies. We literally have about $30 in our checking account right now and close to $1,000 charged on our cards from car trouble and moving expenses alone. On top of this, I have had 4 friends and/or ministries ask us for money lately. I'm not saying all this to make you feel sorry for me and I'm certainly not asking for money, but I wanted you to know the extent of our financial burden right now. And here comes the back pat--I'm not worried about it at all! I read this passage and smiled and nodded my head and said a little thank you prayer. I know that God will provide for us and give us everything we need. I'm just patiently waiting for things to even out again. Great! Right?
Well, this morning I had to stop and think back through the verse I had so casually read. I was getting ready and, given my nature of procrastination, I had not given any thought to what I would wear today until 20 minutes before we had to leave for work. I pulled on a pair of hand-me-down pants from Scott's mom that no longer fit her and a hand-me-down shirt from Scott's sister that she didn't like anymore. I frowned at my reflection. I tried playing around with the shirt--buttoning different buttons. I sighed and went to my pile of shoes. Nothing looked good with the outfit. I decided the shirt was the problem. I tore it off and tried on an old shirt that I've had for a little over 2 years and am therefore sick to death of. (Girls...starting to sound familiar? Guys...sorry this is so boring!) I put on the best shoe match I could think of, still not satisfied, and left the house thinking I look like a blimp and I hate my clothes. I took one last look at my closest, groaned, and exclaimed, "I hate my clothes! Nothing goes together and nothing looks good on me anymore and they're all cheap and ugly!"
I then rushed to smear makeup on my face in our last 3 minutes before leaving while my poor husband resigned to making my lunch for me and politely asking if I wanted to take my book to read during lunch. I was fuming inside and out. My self-esteem had plummeted and my frustration had lead to a clammy face which made the makeup difficult to apply and I was running out of time. GRRR!!! I thought to myself, I know God is going to provide all we need, but what about all we want? He's not going to give me new clothes when I have a whole closet full already! I know our bills will be paid, but am I ever going to be able to buy new things that I want?
Then God told me to remember the verses from the night before. Why do you worry about clothes? Pagans run after these things. If God clothes the lillies, will he not clothe me? O, me of little faith!!! I'll sheepishly retrieve that back pat now...
God knows what we need better than we do. And He knows what we want. And He wants us to have good things and blessings in abundance. Is God going to give me a surprise $500 to go on a shopping spree with? Probably not. But He will make sure I have enough clothes and if I really need some new ones (which I think I might...), He'll provide a way for me to get some. But I can't be greedy, impatient, or demanding of these things. And I certainly shouldn't spend my time worrying about them. If God clothes his creation in unspeakable beauty, how much more will He clothe me? Again, I'm not talking expensive, closets full of clothes, but He will make sure I have what I need. Just when I think I know it all, God goes and shows me how much I still have to learn...imagine that!
Here's my plan, and I encourage those who struggle with this (or wants/needs of any kind) to join me.
1. be THANKFUL for what I DO have. Just b/c I might be tired of my clothes, doesn't mean I don't have any. I'm blessed to have several things to wear. There are so many people in the world with next to nothing.
2. Talk to God about it. There's no sense in hiding the fact that I want new clothes from God. He already knows. I can share this desire with God, but rather than just pray for new clothes, I want to ask God to redirect my heart to Him and help me trust that He will provide and that I need not worry.
3. The things that really don't fit anymore and just make me feel bad about myself when I try to force my body into them...DONATE to people who aren't as fortunate as me.
4. Give myself more time to get ready in the morning or (better yet) pick out my clothes the night before. And not just pick them out, but put them on and make sure I'm satisfied with them. That way I don't have to worry about starting my day out on a sour note.
5. Make my husband lunch tomorrow because he is the most patient and understanding man and he deserves it! :)
There are so many more important things in life than what I'm wearing. Why worry so much about it? Why let it consume me? And by worrying about it, I'm actually saying that God isn't good enough or powerful enough to fulfill my needs and I am not satisfied with what He has given me. Do I really feel that way? Do I want to feel that way? NO!!! So, be careful what you complain about and think about what you're really saying by complaining. Do you really mean that? I need to take my attention off the mirror and focus it on God. Then how could I be dissatisfied? "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Monday, July 26, 2010
"Where God Guides, He provides."
I recently read this on a church sign and thought, "Wow. A church sign that is actually useful and not something silly." In the past month I have come to find that this couldn't be a more true statement.
I have heard several stories of people feeling God calling them to do something, being hit with all kinds of opposition, and God continuing to provide in the most miraculous ways. I had never experienced back to back, continuous provisions before...or at least not in such extremes that I really recognized it as God. This month, however, that is exactly what Scott and I have been experiencing.
We have been talking about moving into a bigger and nicer place than our apartment for almost 2 years now, but always ended up agreeing that it was worth the noise and the size to pay less in rent. We had decided to stay there until we could afford to buy a house. Every time another option came up, it never seemed to be a better deal. Even if it was a nicer place, the rent would be so much more that it would put us further away from affording a house of our own. We finally gave up on the idea of moving, deciding to be content with what we had.
Meanwhile, our pastor's parents, Jeff and Bobbie Williams had been dealing with a problem of their own. They own 14 acres of land. They live in a house on the property and they have another house that Jeff's parents were living in. Both his parents are in nursing homes now. They have been struggling to pay the insurance and taxes on the house and considered renting it out. They were nervous about renting and wanted to make sure it would be someone they trusted.
At the beginning of the month Bobbie brought the house up in our Bible study small group. She said she wanted to rent it out to a nice, young couple and wanted to know if any of us knew of anyone. I didn't immediately think of us because I knew we had already resigned our lease through December. I decided to mention it to Scott anyway and he asked me to email her for more information. After several emails and a trip to the house, we knew it would be perfect! It was only $15 more a month than we were currently paying, water included, and it is twice the size plus so much land! It all seemed perfect except that we had our lease...
We all prayed about it. We felt like it was God's will, but wanted to make sure we weren't imposing our own wills and calling it God's. Scott went by our rental agency and they said they could not let us out of our lease, but we could sublease it. This seemed like a set back. Regardless, I just kept on praying and knew that if God wanted us in that house, He would get us there.
I posted the apartment on the facebook marketplace and within 2 days I found a married couple who needed an inexpensive 6-month lease. It took 7 days total from finding out about the house to having the sublease papers signed! Awesome!
After signing the papers we found out that we had less than 2 weeks to be out of the apartment. The house still had furniture and a lot of the previous tenants' things in it. Our apartment had to be packed and repainted to the original color, and we wanted to put fresh paint on the house as well. In less than 2 weeks!!! But I knew that God wouldn't get us this far and then leave the situation. He made it happen! We were blessed to have Alora staying with us for the week and she was super helpful. The Williams helped out a ton (including Brandon and Susan) and Don and his brother from church moved all the furniture and boxes out in 1 day!
Then came time to move. We had rented a Uhaul but had no one available to help us move. Not only that, but I was supposed to be driving Alora back to Atlanta that same day! It was a blessing that she was able to come 1 week; we were seriously doubtful that she would be allowed to stay a little longer. Randomly, one of Scott's SCUBA friends texted him to see how he was doing. We told him we were moving and he offered to help! So, we had help, and managed to get it all done on Friday night after work!! THEN Alora found out that she could stay an additional week! These were all highly unlikely things, and God provided all of them! Just like that!
We are all moved in now! A lot still needs to be done around the house but we've made HUGE progress. God has truly blessed us and answered many people's prayers. OH--AND we didn't have a washer and dryer. We prayed about it, looked around online, but everything was either broken or way too expensive. Then, one day, we found a couple selling a fully operating set for only $150!! Thank you, Jesus! :)
So, the question now is, can we really afford even a slightly more expensive place, not to mention the extra gas money b/c it's 20 minutes outside of town, AND with me starting school and making less money? Well, we no more considered that when Scott got a call about a job interview for a full time job in the College of Education! He should find out in the next day or two if he got it or not. God has just been working overtime in our lives and we are so thrilled!! :) Not to mention the amazing blessing of having Alora around for 2 weeks! That was totally unexpected and I loved spending time with her. God is SO good! :) And where He guides, He certainly does provide. So, if you feel like God is calling you to something that seems impossible, just remember that everything is possible with God. He wouldn't call you to something and then stop. He's going to keep working to get you where He wants you. You just have to listen and be faithful. I'm so excited to see what He does in our lives next! :)
I have heard several stories of people feeling God calling them to do something, being hit with all kinds of opposition, and God continuing to provide in the most miraculous ways. I had never experienced back to back, continuous provisions before...or at least not in such extremes that I really recognized it as God. This month, however, that is exactly what Scott and I have been experiencing.
We have been talking about moving into a bigger and nicer place than our apartment for almost 2 years now, but always ended up agreeing that it was worth the noise and the size to pay less in rent. We had decided to stay there until we could afford to buy a house. Every time another option came up, it never seemed to be a better deal. Even if it was a nicer place, the rent would be so much more that it would put us further away from affording a house of our own. We finally gave up on the idea of moving, deciding to be content with what we had.
Meanwhile, our pastor's parents, Jeff and Bobbie Williams had been dealing with a problem of their own. They own 14 acres of land. They live in a house on the property and they have another house that Jeff's parents were living in. Both his parents are in nursing homes now. They have been struggling to pay the insurance and taxes on the house and considered renting it out. They were nervous about renting and wanted to make sure it would be someone they trusted.
At the beginning of the month Bobbie brought the house up in our Bible study small group. She said she wanted to rent it out to a nice, young couple and wanted to know if any of us knew of anyone. I didn't immediately think of us because I knew we had already resigned our lease through December. I decided to mention it to Scott anyway and he asked me to email her for more information. After several emails and a trip to the house, we knew it would be perfect! It was only $15 more a month than we were currently paying, water included, and it is twice the size plus so much land! It all seemed perfect except that we had our lease...
We all prayed about it. We felt like it was God's will, but wanted to make sure we weren't imposing our own wills and calling it God's. Scott went by our rental agency and they said they could not let us out of our lease, but we could sublease it. This seemed like a set back. Regardless, I just kept on praying and knew that if God wanted us in that house, He would get us there.
I posted the apartment on the facebook marketplace and within 2 days I found a married couple who needed an inexpensive 6-month lease. It took 7 days total from finding out about the house to having the sublease papers signed! Awesome!
After signing the papers we found out that we had less than 2 weeks to be out of the apartment. The house still had furniture and a lot of the previous tenants' things in it. Our apartment had to be packed and repainted to the original color, and we wanted to put fresh paint on the house as well. In less than 2 weeks!!! But I knew that God wouldn't get us this far and then leave the situation. He made it happen! We were blessed to have Alora staying with us for the week and she was super helpful. The Williams helped out a ton (including Brandon and Susan) and Don and his brother from church moved all the furniture and boxes out in 1 day!
Then came time to move. We had rented a Uhaul but had no one available to help us move. Not only that, but I was supposed to be driving Alora back to Atlanta that same day! It was a blessing that she was able to come 1 week; we were seriously doubtful that she would be allowed to stay a little longer. Randomly, one of Scott's SCUBA friends texted him to see how he was doing. We told him we were moving and he offered to help! So, we had help, and managed to get it all done on Friday night after work!! THEN Alora found out that she could stay an additional week! These were all highly unlikely things, and God provided all of them! Just like that!
We are all moved in now! A lot still needs to be done around the house but we've made HUGE progress. God has truly blessed us and answered many people's prayers. OH--AND we didn't have a washer and dryer. We prayed about it, looked around online, but everything was either broken or way too expensive. Then, one day, we found a couple selling a fully operating set for only $150!! Thank you, Jesus! :)
So, the question now is, can we really afford even a slightly more expensive place, not to mention the extra gas money b/c it's 20 minutes outside of town, AND with me starting school and making less money? Well, we no more considered that when Scott got a call about a job interview for a full time job in the College of Education! He should find out in the next day or two if he got it or not. God has just been working overtime in our lives and we are so thrilled!! :) Not to mention the amazing blessing of having Alora around for 2 weeks! That was totally unexpected and I loved spending time with her. God is SO good! :) And where He guides, He certainly does provide. So, if you feel like God is calling you to something that seems impossible, just remember that everything is possible with God. He wouldn't call you to something and then stop. He's going to keep working to get you where He wants you. You just have to listen and be faithful. I'm so excited to see what He does in our lives next! :)
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
About Me
Hello, and thanks for stopping by my blog Living in the Promise. My name is Christy. I love Jesus, and this blog is meant to be a sort of chronicle of my love story with Him. I want to share with you all the things that God is doing in my life and the lessons He is teaching me every day.
I'm married and completely in love with my husband. We live in south Georgia in a small town called Statesboro, which is about 45 minutes away from Savannah. I moved here to attend Georgia Southern University and I ended up sticking around for a Master's degree as well! Now I work at the University in Continuing Education. My husband and I recently bought our first house and we're having a great time redecorating and making it our own!
This blog has been an ever-changing journey for me. In the past three years I have focused on various things--lessons from God, losing weight, exploring myself through a 30-day photo challenge, and every thing that has happened to me in between! Lately I have decided to rededicate my blog to God and get back to the original purpose of sharing His work in my life.
Living in the promise means living in the promises that God has given to me--my salvation, my new heart of flesh, His provisions, His love, His presence, and my constant sanctification to look more and more like Christ. That is what I want to share with you.
I'm sure there will still be fluff. I'll still share pictures of our redecorated home and my adorable nieces. I'll probably still talk about my weight occasionally and the fun date nights I have with my husband. But I want this blog to be a source of comfort and encouragement to others. That is my heart in this endeavor. I hope you'll join me for the ride!
~Christy Curley~
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
