Something to think about...

   I hate when women decide to tear one another down, with back handed comments. It makes me sad and honestly a little angry. I have a friend who was told by another woman "I hate that you have to work full time, I chose to do without some things for my family." Well now, I'm just not sure that was offered up for the edification of a sister. Maybe it's just me, but if you are uncertain of exactly what the situation is for that sister don't make assumptions or judgements.
   I know for me I was very blessed to be able to work part time right up until my youngest son was most of the way through third grade. At which point my husband and I realized we were going to need additional funds. My husband was offered a job that paid substantially more and I could maintain the hours I had previously carried. However, said job meant many more hours away from home, as well as much more travel.  So I chose to do without some things for my family. I chose to miss out on a few things so that my husband wouldn't miss out on many. I chose to work full time to keep my husband home more. I chose to work full time so that the last face my little people saw every night was their dad's. I don't desire for them to have more of me and less of him. That did not feel like the best solution for my family. With our current situation we are both home by 5 every evening. And though Rick does travel, it is not often and never for more than a week at a time. We are blessed in this life and many are much worse off.
    I don't tell all this to say I am any better than anyone else. I tell all this to say, God has placed all of us in different situations at different times in our lives. It is not for us to lay judgements on one another. Ladies it's hard enough to be a mom in today's world without us throwing stones at one another. God may have lain on your heart to stay home with your kids. If he has, you better do it. But, be sure that He will not lead every mother in the same paths. And be supportive of whatever God is leading that family to. Don't assume they weren't willing to place their families first. Always think the best of one another. And remember God has an amazing way of humbling the proud. Isaiah 2:11 says the eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.
   Be kind to one another & God bless and keep you, Ms. Jill

Begin Again

    I know this is gonna come as a huge surprise, but the other day, I messed up and acted in a way less than what my father expects of me. While a lot of my friends were loving and a soft place to fall definitely what I needed, I also needed accountability. One of my sisters in Christ said "Jill I love you but, You messed up and nothing you can do about it now, but repent." She also reminded me I don't need the approval of man but of God. Thank you Sonya.
     I will admit at first I was hurt. I sat for a minute and stared at the screen and pouted. Then I swear to y'all, I heard my granny's voice. When I was little I used to always say to her when I had done something wrong, well they did it too Granny. And she would promptly reply " wonderful y'all can pat each others backs all the way through the gates of hell." LOL You had to know my granny she was a tiny woman with huge brown eyes. Her heart was also huge but she believed whole heartedly in accountability. She would say I know you've been through a lot at a young age and I know how amazing you are and that you can do amazing things. She would say "in this house we aren't gonna lower the bar to where we are we will rise to meet the bar where God has placed it." As an adult I love that. I raise my kids in much the same way. And when people say the bible has a lot of good stuff but some of it is outdated or doesn't apply to my life, I think what? Well in this life I'm gonna try to meet the bar where God has placed it. See He doesn't ask of us anything we cannot do through Him. Period. It will not happen that He will call you to something and not equip you for it. His extravagant mercy and grace Guarantee it!
    Now, all that being said you will fail. period. Our humanity guarantees it. Throughout the bible God gives us examples of men and women who fail. They repent and are redeemed. But, friends there is a price to be paid for our actions. We may lose friends, or promotions, we may have to absolutely start over again. David did. Time and time and time again. However, God called him a man after His own heart. He never failed to repent accept forgiveness and begin again. See it is one thing to feel remorse, repent, and lay there in sackcloth and ashes. It is another to say I fell short of the bar. Let's do this again, but better.
   God bless and keep you Ms. Jill

Filled up and overflowing!

                 Each one of us contains an empty space that only God can fill. I know that in my life I have attempted to fill that space with many things. I tried to make my husband fill that space and though he is an amazing man who loves me better than any other human being, he is human and though it is hard to believe at times failing. His love is imperfect and it's unfair for me to obligate him to fill the space created for Christ. I have tried to fill it with friendships. And, though these women are priceless to me and I would be lost without them, their love is also imperfect. They like myself will not be able to be exactly what is needed when it is needed. At times even without meaning to we will break one anothers hearts or at least wound them. I have tried to fill that space with food and found my reward was getting fat. Absolutely not helpful to my health or self esteem. I know people who have attempted to fill that space with drugs, alcohol, and any number of questionable men. All of these things will bring you momentary rewards while tearing down our self esteem, our joy, and our overall well being.
                 I have been filled by His love. He is my Lord and Saviour. And while my life remains imperfect and at times a struggle, I look at where I was and where I am and I know my redeemer lives! Because He lives in me! I am changed. I will never be the same because before I was incomplete, and constantly searching for something though I had no clue what. I cannot tell you how hopeless that life is. If you do not know Him. If you have not felt the overwhelming joy that only His Resurrection can bring contact a local pastor, a Christian friend, or message me and I will gladly introduce you to the one you were made for, and you can invite Him to fill all the empty places within you!
        God bless and keep you, Ms. Jill

Little pumpkins

         I am in love with the idea of what something can be! Of what something ordinary can become. I have a huge love of thanksgiving. It is probably one of my favorite holidays and I love decorating for fall. I have all of these plaster and plastic, ceramic and glass, even paper mache pumpkins. Some of them are scarred and dented some the paint has come off in places. And my favorite plastic one has teeth prints on one side (I use these to decorate the church, and apparently one of our little ones at some point thought it looked yummy.) Apart from one another, and in the wrong place, they look a hot mess! But when they are used in the right way and the right setting they are beautiful and work amazingly well together and are a blessing to others!
          This reminded me of our church body. Not just Trinity Baptist, but all of the churches of all denominations that make up Christianity. Romans 12:5 So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We are Gods plastic and plaster, ceramic and glass and even paper mache pumpkins. We are scarred because of painful experiences or possibly broken hearts that he has had to piece back together. Some of us may be aging and our "paint" is fading in places. Some of us may even have left over "bite marks" from the bite of gossip and jealousy. And all of us were once covered in stains that only the Blood of Jesus can cover.
         When I open my tubs of pumpkins and pull each one out to examine it and put it on display, I smile. Can't help myself. I know how they all look apart but I know when I put my little pumpkins together they will add to one another and strengthen one another to stand in front of all as a beautiful creation. I like to think God is the same way, he knows all His little pumpkins are battered and bruised in their own ways. But, He also knows each contains beauty and that together they make a more impactful statement than they could ever make alone =)

            God bless and keep you Ms. Jill

Giving thanks

    A simple thank you is such an amazing tool. It can turn anger to joy. It can provide acceptance to one who has maybe never felt it. It can say you are appreciated and not just a workhorse. I do not care who you are, when you have gone out of your way to accomplish a task, putting your time, resources and even heart into something, you would love to be acknowledged for said task. It's so easy at times to forget the one who always does, who always gives, and who always will. I don't want to forget anymore. I want God to make me painfully aware. I want to give thanks where thanks is due. So in the spirit of thanksgiving, Thank you for reading my blog. It's nice to feel as though I am not tossing words into the wind. Thank you for commenting on my blog, it lets me know what you really think, and how I can improve. Thank you for friending my blog, their are only a few of you but it is so good to have your support. I thank you for all this and more. Ephesians 1:16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you and remembering you in my prayers. =)
         God bless and keep you Ms. Jill