Jul. 21, 2008 - Homeless to RESTORATION

Jul. 20, 2008 - What was purpose?

I went house hunting, and found one house for at less rent, but it about 80 years old and wasn't in the best of shape. However, if it was from the Lord I would take it. I am willing to humble myself and live in a house such as this...

About four days later.... a Word was spoken over me, and she told me that she felt the Lord tell her that the decrease in quality was not from Him. He would still bless it, but it wasn't from Him. I didn't take the house.

The Lord recalled what He had said to me when I took the house when I first moved there. You see, I struggled with the month-to-month leasing, but He told me then that once I was released, I was released. I thought that’s cool! I can stay here for a few years…. LOL.

Jul. 19, 2008 - My latest...

May. 16, 2008 - Being the Best Sheperd You Can Be

Being the Best Shepherd you can be

 by: Karen Diamond

To be all what we want to be, the Scripture tells us to “know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds…” As a Children’s Director/ Pastor, it is important to stay informed of what other Christians are saying and doing in their ministries. One of the ways of staying informed is by magazines. There are several magazines that would be beneficial to have. They are REV by Group; Christianity Today, and Ministries Today by Charisma Life.

As leaders of the next generation, we need to run the race, strive to do our best. When it comes to teaching that week’s lessons, we should desire for our students to retain everything that we teach. However, research suggests that an average child's attention span (in minutes) is about as long as the age of the child. Therefore, if you are teaching preschool children, ages 3-5, their attention span would be 3-5 minutes. If your allotted teaching time is 45 minutes, it is best to allow 15-20 minutes for an altar call (explained later).  With the same preschool kids, then you need to make sure you have at least 5 to 8 different object lessons ready to fulfill your time. Each object lesson should tie into your main theme for the day.

With the various object lessons that you will need, you can use drama, skits, puppets and even demonstration by the children. When the children have a hands on experience they are more apt to remember what the message is about.

Object lessons coupled with motivation will help to increase your children’s retention of the lesson at hand. To help your students retain the information is by being motivated. This motivation will shine through and will be passed onto your students. When the teacher is motivated the students will become motivated. Just as with anything, when the teacher sees importance in a task or truly understands what it all means, those in the class will see it to. Make sure that your passion for Jesus is expressed when you are teaching as you are doing more then just relaying information. You are helping to mold the future of our world, which is a very important job.

The children are so eager to be involved in what God is doing. They want to participate! This is discipleship at basic core. The children run to the altar to get saved week after week because that is the only thing they are being offered. I challenge you today to ask the children if they want to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, speak in tongues, lay hands on the sick, or to feel the Presence of the Living God. The children will charge the stage! Why? Because they want to be involved!

Benjamin Franklin once said, "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”  It is important that you get the children involved as much as possible.

As mentioned earlier, we should allow 15 to 20 minutes for altar calls because this is more important than anything else you will do during your service. The altar call is not always about salvation, you can use this is the time to get with the Lord. Set an atmosphere for God’s presence by dimming the lights a little and putting on worship music in the background.  

A couple more thoughts….

It is important to get the kids under the anointing as much as possible. Encourage the Church leaders to lay hands on the children and prophesy over them. It would be great to ask any guest speakers to pray and prophesy over the children as well. By doing this, you are letting the children know they are important, they have dignity and they have value as an individual but also as a Church Member.

Ask the Head Pastor if he will allow the children to minister to the congregation once a month. The children need to train their Spirits. They need to exercise their gifts that God has given to them rather it be prophesy, evangelism, healing, etc… 

May. 13, 2008 - Our Children's Church..... see how we decorated the room!!

Feb. 17, 2008 - My schoolroom, office and craft room

Here is our school room (Library/music room)....

Our craft room...

This is my daughter's room.... she is a little slow in getting her room completed. But, she she is working on it! What she does, is gets a box, empties it out on the floor then puts it away, one piece at a time. I opened her door just right after she threw the box out the door.... hence, the mess on the floor!! LOL

My office...

Feb. 17, 2008 - Our home....

Here it is...

The view from the road

The view from the other side...

The view from our front door...

Feb. 15, 2008 - Within 48 hours...

"If you still want the house, it is yours...."

Now is about the time I wish I knew how to add audio onto this.... LOL

But, I didn't let on my excitement just yet. The lady on the other end continued to tell me that she would furnish the stove and refrigerator with no problems. Although they were to be "plain janes" when the Lowe's truck arrived two days after we moved in, they were NOT plain janes!! She ended up getting nicer ones for less.

I am jumping ahead here a little.... the phone call happened on Wednesday morning. We were very excited!! BUT, we could only rent month-to-month because the house is on the market and they haven't been able to sell it, and now her husband has lung cancer, and well she decided to rent the house instead.... for the first time. You see, her husband is a contactor and builds and sells houses for a living. This house is the first one they ever rented!! Praise God!! Yes, the house is on the market to sell and I will have to move out within 30 days of sale. But guess what? My God is a BIG God, and .... well, lets see what He will do for us.

After all, this is the only house that was available at the time I move to town that was at least a three bedroom and allowed pets. But the funny thing is, this house was one of the few that I had called about before, and this house is the only one out of 30 some houses for rent that was still for rent!!

I meet my new landlord at the house and signed the papers. Then, we had to find our U-Haul.

Yes, I don't know where I parked our U-Haul. All I know it was at a ladies house... not sure who, but know a lady from the Church. So, I had to call the Pastor.... "Hello Pastor, all things are well... we found us a place to live, but I can't find my U-Haul... could you please help me?" We ALL got a laugh out of that one!!

We totally got the U-Haul unpacked on Thursday and got the U-Haul returned.

Now, comes the HARDPART! Unpacking. WOW. My daughter, Tena, left on Saturday morning and she left, I was only half way done. I had her to begin assembling our new book cases or our library/music room, and put together our TV stand and such. While she concentrated on that, I begun unpacking the boxes.

Everyone who had come over and told me that they need me t ocome to their house to help them organize! Now, let me recommend a book from a friend, Erin Thiele. Through her book, I learned many new things!! This e-book is FREE!!! It is called Workers@Home and it is fabulous!! She my post for the 21st of February for your FREE copy!!

The Lord is so awesome!! I was unpacked to the point of being of saying that I am unpacked! I mean I still have a few boxes to unpack but I don't know where to put them. For instance, I have 3 extra boxes of videos, and about 6 boxes of books. I just don't have "cubbies" to put these things away. Until I get a video stand or book shelves these boxes will remain packed and in my closet.

We was in the house for 7 days before getting internet. Praise God!! Because during that time, I was able to focus on unpacking and organizing our home. I have NEVER got back to normal after a move like this so quickly!! As you can tell in photos in other post that as of today (3 weeks later)... WOW!! Let me say it is NOT me! It was the Lord!! He gave me 7 days with NO phone, NO cell phone (couldn't service in the house) and NO internet.

God is so awesome!! One thing I asked Him, if it would be possible was to get a normal life as quickly as possible.... and guess what?

He gave it to me!!!

Daddy, you are so awesome!! I love you. Take my hand, and I will follow.... I am yours! 

Feb. 14, 2008 - Our first day in Athens, TN

We pull up to find the previous tenants still occupying the house. The house is on a corner lot. Not bad looking but the only problem was that when I walked across the floor it felt that I might fall through. It was a double wide, not a modular home, on a concrete foundation. Yikes! We just didn't have a good feeling when we walked into this house. I didn't take a picture of this house, but I will tell you it reminds me alot like this one...

Let me say this... there is NOTHING wrong with this house!!! I just had a bad feeling in it!! The fllor was bowing in the middle... put it to you like this. If I decide to jump up and down because of what the Lord did, I would end up through the floor. LOL. Which would be very uncomfortable to say the least. LOL. 

Then, we drove to Walmart where I meet Krystal. While I was waiting on her to show up, I made a phone call. This was to a lady that I had spoken to a few weeks back, but had crossed her off my list as a potential. But, in the newspaper the only house that was at least a three bedroom (need an office for the business) that allowed pets was this one! This lady, Wanda, drove to Walmart to meet us at the same time Krystal pulls up. 

I have to say that Krystal reminds of so much like my sister! She has a wonderful Spirit AND loves the Lord!!! You can tell it in her actions and in her life. From my heart, it is as if we already know each other. God is so good!!!

We drove up to this house together, and it is absolutely heavenly!! We walk into this house, and I knew, that I knew, that I knew that this was our "bah-boom" that we are looking for. This lady was telling me that I needed to provide a stove and refrigerator. I just kept quiet. Then, her phone rang. A realtor had made an appointment to see the house the following morning. The lady wouldn't rent it to us!!!

That evening we drove to Krystals and spent our first night in a camper in the middle of the woods!! LOL. We had a lot of fun though!! My suitcase got packed into the middle of the u-haul so I had NO clothes!!The U-Haul was actually sitting at another families house, who lived in town that we didnt have to be concerned with getting hung up in the mud.

The following morning, we kinda hung out, not doing much. We didn't have cell phone service, so we drove into town and that is when I got the message....

Feb. 13, 2008 - On the road again...

We woke up on the 28th, refreshed!! Ready to take on another full day ahead of us! Don't we just look better?

You don't have to answer that!! LOL.

At this point, we still do NOT have a house!!

One thing I didn't consider when moving to a small town like Athens would be internet. I need to have internet for my business. Upon speaking with several technicians that I came in contact with, they told me that I would do better on cable than satelite. I took their word, since after all I am believing they were brought into my path for a reason such as this.

We were driving slow (about 55-60) considering the weight I was pulling behind this big truck. We pulled into town around 1PM. We were almost at the exit when I received a phone call. It was a lady who I had spoken with about a house. She called me by mistake, and I thought humm... maybe we should go look at this house.

Feb. 13, 2008 - The BIG trip...

We were sitting at a rest-stop. Annabell loves sitting there when we go for rides, but it is a rare treat that she ever gets to sit their!!

The extra space of the trailor was exactly what I needed!! We had room for everything!! The two items that I left behind, I knew I was going to bless the families who helped me. They were several cabinets for the garage that would look very nice in their new garage!!

About an hour before we were done loading, I felt that we need to change our plans and stay their another night. I wasn't sure why. After all the carpets we wet because Stanley Steemer had just cleaned them. However, I asked the Lord to clear it with my daughter because sometimes it is like I find myself trying to please her just so I don't hear the whiny voice of I want this, or I want that... 

Well, guess what? Tena lost the keys to my truck!!! We almost had to unloaded my truck (not the U-Haul) to find the keys. But amazingly enough, she walked in and said, "Mom, I think the Lord is telling us that we need to stay here tonight." I smiled and said, "I agree." We found the keys all of, maybe, five minutes later. God is good!! We unlaoded the air matress and one family dropped off blankets and pillows for us to use. 

Sunday morning, we stopped at Cracker Barrel for breakfast. We left town around 11AM, and by 1 we were ready to pull over to get a room! LOL. We were so tired and woren out. I think every muscle in our bodies were hurtin'. We stopped several times along the way to "wake up." The drive was l-o-n-g and very hard on us!! We kept praying to get us through Atlanta, and then we would stop for the night somewhere.

My daughter begged for a jacuzzi or hot tub since her muscles ached. Me, I wanted a HOT bath to soothe my muscles. So, we pulled over at a Steak and Shake and asked the Lord to find us a place to stay that allowed animals (dog and cat) with a hot tub! And guess what? We open the travel hotel coupon book, and the first page we opened was for a hotel about 2 hours north of where we were at that had the hot tub in the room and allowed pets! We called and reserved the room. We thought the reservations was made by the home office, but it was by the clerk herself because when we checked in, she was like so, which one has the sore muscles? LOL. The suite usually rents for xyz and with multiple discounts she had given us, we ended up paying around $80+ for the night.

The suite was located about 45 minutes south of Chatanooga, on I-75. The place was absolutely beautiful AND clean! We took turns in the jacuzzi!! By the time, we hit the nice, soft bed, we were exhausted but yet rested up from the hot water.

It was TOTALLY a God-thing!!

Feb. 12, 2008 - The BIG day...

January 14th, 2008
I had to make a reservation for the truck. After checking the rates, I went with U-Haul... yes, the big orange truck! LOL. I loked at the 17ft that was to hold 2-3 bedrooms for $1100 or the next size bigger (24ft) for $1800. Although I lived in a 3-bedroom, I did remove much of the furniture, but NONE of my books. So I wasn't really sure what size to get. When I ask God for what He wanted me to get, I felt that He wanted me to get the 17 ft truck. So, that is what I ordered.

On Saturday the 26th of January, I received a message from U-Haul to tell me that my reservations had changed. I have a philosophy, and it tends to hold up thus far. When my cell rings, then it is something that I should take however, if I get a message without the phone ringing then I know that I didn't need that conversation at that moment. Praise God for this one!! 

When U-Haul called me about transfering my reservation, my didn't didn't ring. God knows, I would've gotten uptight or bent out of shape over it. This was going to be a very stressful day, with this added on... well, who knows what would happen, YIKES!! I had time to give it to God before calling the new location to confirm the reservation. I felt a sense of peace. All was well! 

This whole time, I am "looking" for why my reservations was transferred. I knew God was up to something, but what was it? When I got to the store location, I noticed trailors on the lot. I went in and as we were filling out the paperwork, the attendant proceeded to tell me the original store was only open for a couple of hours whereas they were open until 7 that evening, plus they had trailors whereas the other did not.

When I looked at the truck, I thought to myself... there is NO WAY that my stuff would fit into this truck!! I was praying for a miracle all the way back to the house. I got the truck back and begun loading it. I had two homeschool families came over to help us load! The dad of one family said the truck was like the 'fishes and loaves' story in the Bible... the more we loaded, the more room we had!! LOL. It was like that too. We were amazed!

When it was 3/4 of they way loaded, I was told to begin to make my choices, as what I wanted to leave behind. My heart began to break! I felt that I had prayed through the packing and gave away what I felt lead to do. So, I couldn't understand why would I have to make that choice.

I walked around the side of the house, and asked God about it. I then went and called the store location, remembering the girl told me if I wanted a trailor to bring the contract and truck back and they would add it on for me. I called her to see the size and cost of the trailor. She had just gotten in a 6x12 trailor that normally rents for $300. Before I could say anything, I heard her keyboard punching away, and then she siad she could offer to me for $100 ($150 w/tax and insurance). WOW!!

Now, add that up! I got a 12 ft trailor + 17 ft truck for less than $1300!!! That is MORE space than the 24ft and much less money!!

I got off the phone, ran around the corner of the house, shouting praises to my Lord!! I had everyone run out, and began to jump and hollar with me!! It was a wonderful moment!! I can only imagine what the neighbors thought, LOL. Thank you Jesus!!! 

Feb. 4, 2008 - We made it!!

Hello, hello, hello!

God is so good! I don't have much time to write but I wanted to leave a note to say, "thank you for all your prayers!"

We found a house the following day arriving into town! The same house that was available when I begun looking in Athens, once I knew where we were going. It is HUGE!! I will post pictures later this week.

This Wednesday, we will be in the house a week. I am almost done unpacking! Praise God!! I even have things hung on the walls and curtains up!! Things are moving along wonderfully! This Wednesday I will have a landline and internet installed. God knows that I needed this week to get myself organized! Yes, I am an organizer freak! I can't stand looking at all those boxes piled up! LOL...

Again, thanks for all your prayers! I felt them!! God bless you!!

Jan. 25, 2008 - No place to rest yet...

We haven't found a place to lay our heads yet... !

Woowhooo! This is an exciting adventure with the Lord!! There are some things that I can not share at this time, but I can not wait to share with you ALL the details of what has happened!!

Be blessed, and be safe!!

Jan. 24, 2008 - My last thoughts in Florida...

This will be my final post for at least a week. As of today, I do not know when I will connect or where I will be. My daughter and I are hoping in our loaded down truck to head to south Florida to bless my daughter with things that she needs for her new apartment, and to pick her up so she can drive my SUV while I drive the UHaul. Then, on Saturday we will head out to Tennessee.... our new beginnings.

The Lord blessed Tori and I today by a “going away” party with two of my closest families. We told the kids it was “our birthday party” so we hug each other. I know its weird but if knowing it was a “farewell” party, it would’ve only brought many tears. But instead, we parted with many laughs and joy.

I have only known these two families for two years. The Lord blessed me with their friendships. We have homeschooled together since we have met. It is like they are not only my sisters in Christ, but my sisters in the flesh. We have grown to love one another. All three of us challenged each other in our walk, our families and our marriages (ie.. rather to man or to the Lord). The children have grown to be like brothers and sisters which have been a great blessing to me and my daughter since we only have each other. 

As the time draws near, I have tried to look and evaluate our lives, and what is to come. I believe the next to the hardest thing to do is to give up these relationships. I was reminded last night at church of the story in the Bible where we must leave behind things to pursue Him. This brings sorrow but yet comfort knowing I am taking a step toward Him and allowing Him to work through my life.

The hardest thing I believe I am giving up is what I “perceived” future to be. You see, my daughter loves dance and drama, and wants to use it for Him. We have been so blessed that we had dance three days a week for FREE! Yes, FREE! Amazing, simply amazing, I know!! We were involved in 2 different ministries that taught the girls jazz, dance, and tap for the Lord. Plus, my church has the BEST Youth program alive! The Youth program has a dance club and a drama club that started at 7^th grade. So our plans were next year to join the Youth group to continue forward to grow with her passion for the Lord. In my mind, we had it ALL WORKED OUT!! But you know the Lord is so sweet. When I gave Him my heavy burdens, He quickly reminded me…

““For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Praise God that He loves a wrench like me… (tears)

Jan. 11, 2008 - Yes, I have my orders!!

God is awesome! I am in awe at what He is doing!

On Wednesday, I was sitting in the balcony on the stage, waiting for choir practice to begin when this lady, all bubbly with a huge smile comes to the alto section and says, "Is there a Karen here?"

I didn't respond at first because there is another Karen in the section and since I didn't know this lady, well she must be looking for the other Karen, I thought until everyone turned and looked at me... I said, "Well, I'm a Karen, but I am not the one you are looking for." She goes, "Are you Karen Diamond?" I said very couragiously, "Y---e---s, I am?" Then, she started jumping up and down with excitement and ran over and sat next me and started talking so fast I could barely understand what she was saying!!!

She had to start over. She began telling me, "So, I hear you are moving North between Chatanooga/Knoxville area?"

"Yes, how do you know?" I asked puzzledly. I only told two other ladies, beside my Pastor for them to pray to have the doors cloased and the one right door open.

"Crystal told me." She answered. Evidently, Crystal, the lady that has the small group that I go to and spoken to her telling her about the "faith journey" and what God is about to do...    

She proceed telling me that her best friend and husband just moved from Bushnell (close by) to Athens, TN (same vincity... within 30 minutes from the same area) about a year and half ago to start a church. My response was, "yes?" She goes wait there's more... In my mind, I don't know what to think. I am still beside myself this lady (about my age) walks excitedly, sits down next to me, and begins to tell me about her friend??

I am totally laughing at myself... I can actually see the dumb-founded look on my face! I really had no clue who and why.

Basically, her friend had called her last weekend  telling her that the church has voted and began praying for someone to head up the Children's Ministry!! PLUS, one member of the church has offered us a two-bedroom home (FREE room & board) in exchange for cooking & cleaning (upstairs).

Yesterday morning, I did call and speak with the best friend, and I knew in my Spirit this was it. She had confirmed with me on the phone at least 5 different times of the things she said. After much conversation, we ended the phone call with them offering the position, free room & board (for bartering) and then she said that if I felt the Lord calling me to a different area, that was OK she wanted to offer us a place until we could find where we were going.    

(SREAMING)

Can you believe it? ME!!!                                      (SCREAM....need air.... SCREAM)

I began crying as she was telling me these things. Children's Ministry? This has been my desire for many years since 1998 but had given up on it a long time ago because I felt the doors kept closing. The Lord clearly spoke to me that He closed the doors, and there is one open and I need to walk through it.

So, I am!

We are excited to undertake this adventure with the Lord. Praise God! Allejiuah! Jesus is Lord! Everytime I think about it, I get Holy Spirit bumps and begin to cry.... just knowing the Lord is fulfilling many, many things I have asked Him for over the time. I know this is the area! But, I don't know about cooking and cleaning in exchange for free room and board. LOL. That is REALLY my weak area!! I am NEW at being a "stay-at-home".... all I have known was to be the executive mom. I do believe we might be smelling some flesh burn on this one.... LOL!!

Cooking and cleaning is definately an area that can be improved! Maybe this lady who made the offer is willing to show my daughter and I how to do those things, plus more.

Jan. 9, 2008 - home Church confirmation

When I was writing part 5 of "What Have I been Up To?", I felt not to write about finding a Church until I had confirmation. I did change the ending of the post because, well I don't want to lead anyway astray. I haven't gotten confirmation on the Church. In my heart, it is hard to say I have this particular church as my home church without confirmation... without knowing that, that is for sure, hands-down, my home church.

At one time, I went to the Fort Lauderdale Calvary Chapel (yes, the one on TV). I went there after much shame at my smaller home church when my (x)husband and I split up. Let me say this, that I am against divorce. The Bible is very clear about it... God says, "I hate divorce." So, it brough a lot of grief and a lot of shame on me. I left that small church and began going to FLCC. The place was so huge that you couldn't get to know anyone. I was going through junnk myself, spiritually, and it wouldn't been better to have another person but the Lord allowed me to walk it alone for a reason. If I didn't want to go to church, then I simply wouldn't go. I even joined a Bible Study, but there was at least 75 people in the classes. It brought great time for fellowshiping with other believers but I never got to know anyone as a "Spiritual buddy." I grew a lot in that church, Spiritually, but it was a path that I had to take alone... only one step of footprints in the sand for He was carrying me.

If I had a preference, it would be a smaller congregation for number of reasons. First, would be "Accountability", which is important. This keeps me "in check" knowing I have peers who care what I am doing and where I am, if I decide to "skip."

Come one now, be honest. How many things did you skip church? It has been a very long time for me since I accountability partners to keep me in check. When we see each other at a gathering, we always ask "how you doin'?" and when we don't see each other, then we call them to find out if everything is OK with them.

Secondly I like a smaller congregation because of prayer partners. You can eaisly find the right person to be a prayer partner who will listen to your dirty laundry without judging you. There is power in small groups! You know the verses,...

“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” ~ Matthew 18:19-20 (NKJV).

"For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up." ~ Ecc. 4:10  (NKJV).

I am positive there are more to write, but these two are the ones I have locked into my heart.

Thirdly, having a Bible Study. It is good to get together and have Bible Study. It is a great time for fellowship (before or after class).  It can be a healthy challenge to one another to stay in the Word throughout the week.

I am sure there are many just as many reasons why a large church, but for me I have been there, done that and prefer not to do it again... but am willing to go if the Lord calls me to that particular church. I don't want to get caught up in all the excitement and miss my mark. I know there is forgiveness, and then God will gently put me back on course if I happen to slip off the road.

So my thought is this... would the Lord call me to a large (3,000+) congregation when He knows me? Humm... I am still waiting for confirmation if this is to be my home church or not.

My prayer to you that reads this post is the Lord will bless you today and everyday!

Jan. 9, 2008 - What have I been up to? - Part 5

#5 - What have I been up to?

Last week I began looking for houses on Craig’s List in Tennessee. I found many lease purchase options which is what I am looking for. I am praying now the wrong doors quickly close and that one right door to open and I haven’t found a home yet. But, I can not fear, the Lord is on the job!! LOL.

How can I be looking at houses when I don’t know where I am going…. Right? That is exactly what I thought! Then, we got into a prayer circle. I called my daughter on the cell phone (free minutes on a family plan) and the youngest daughter held my hand and one end of the cell phone, just I did to form a circle. We began to pray that the Lord would show me where! The next day, the 30^th, I felt the Lord tell to speak with the Pastor. I thought ok, he has a Word for me. We begun praying that the Lord would anoint the Pastor’s mouth, that he would only speak what the Lord had for us and to cast down any confusion that might come against us.

I spoke to Pastor on Wednesday night and he said to send the Secretary an email of when I would be available for an appointment. In my email, I had briefly told him that I was moving to Tennessee and I felt the Lord tell me to speak him.

My pastor wrote back, saying that the only spirit-filled church he knew of was in Hixson, TN and then he mentioned a gentleman that was at the church a few months back in Cleveland, TN. I pulled out the map, and these two towns are within 30 minutes apart from each other!

After confirmation, I know have a vicinity to move to! But, do I now have a home church too? I am waiting for confirmation to make sure this is the one for us.

The coolest part about this whole thing… I didn’t tell my pastor about this… since last year, I asked the Lord many times not to move us with a home first. Now when I say “home”, I mean church. We moved to the location we are at now, with no church in mind. We wondered here for over a year and didn’t find a Spirit-filled church until I found my current home church. To me, it is important to find your home church before finding a place to rest your head. I didn’t tell my pastor this, the Lord did!

I love serving in the church. I love ministering to the Lord. I love singing to Him. I enjoy praising Him. Now, I can do all these things at home, and we do but there is something so power about it being a corporate service.

This brings me to today! Basically in a nutshell:

I know I am moving.
                I am still packing.
                       I have my date. (Jan 31^st) 
                             I have a destination. (Tennessee) 
                                      I now have a vicinity! (NE of Chattanooga)
                                            I now have a home church. (Waiting for confirmation)
                                                                                       

But, I don't have a place to rest my head.

I know the Lord has the right house picked out for us! I have given Him a list of items that we are looking for. When the house that fulfills the list, then I know we have a home! The items on the list are the items my daughter came up with after asking the Lord about it.

I ask that you join with me in prayer to open the right doors and close all the ones that shouldn’t be open for us. If need be I will load the truck and drive to the destination, believing the Lord will provide us a home. He will never let me down.  

I don’t know how many times I have heard my family and friends tell me I am crazy. They say, “You must either really trust this God of yours or you totally went off the deep end.”

Only if they knew what we had to go through to strengthen our faith...

Through it all, I praise Him that certain family members aren’t around to sow in discouragement and thoughts of disbelief in my life. Sure enough, they would be the ones to call the men in the white jackets to come and get me….

I pray that God will use this testimony for His good! That those who have seen it first hand, for those who seen His peace within me will begin to search for my God, my Lord, my Savior, my Refuge, my Protector, AND now my Real Estate Agent!!!

Jan. 8, 2008 - What have I been up to? - Part 4

Over Christmas, I went to my daughters and got her moved into her new place. I asked the Lord not to leave that “loose-end” open since she was homeless and no funds to get into another place until Christmas Eve, the money came in. She signed the papers on the 26^th. Praise God. While I was their, she told me she didn’t want me to leave the state. (We are already 4 hours apart). By the time I left their, I was ready to move into a house down the road just so I wouldn’t leave her. The long trip home made me realize that wasn’t God’s plan for us. If I chose to “live by flesh” then it will be my plans that I live and ever though the Lord will bless us, He has better plans for us than I can ever imagine. And frankly, I want what He has for my live… not what I want!

I had many people ask me where we were moving, and I couldn’t tell them. All I could say was I’m not sure yet but I know I am going!

On the 27^th, I was praying because of all the decisions I have to make, and how stupid it must look to these people that are watching me and all the work that needs to be done, I just laid all of this stuff on His shoulders. I fell asleep talking with Him, and when I woke up the next morning I knew it was Tennessee. I just knew that I knew, He spoke to me. He laid the word Tennessee with me!

With confirmation, I now have a destination!!

For close to nine months I have had this desire in my heart “to go back to the basics”… move the mountains. If you know me, this isn’t me. I know this “desire” was something He put inside of me to “lessen” the blow when I was given my destination. My daughter and I are very happy. We are beginning another journey with Him. We can’t wait for what He has in stored for us where we are going.

Are you anxious to here what part of Tennessee and HOW He told me where? We are SO excited!!

To be continued...

Jan. 7, 2008 - What have I been up to? - Part 3

Part 3 - What have I been up to?

About a week before Christmas, I got an eviction notice! It says “pay or vacate."  The funny thing is I knew in my spirit it was going to happen. Just like when my divorce papers arrived in the mail, I knew a week before they came. And when my nephew was ran over by a truck, and when the phone rang, I already knew what happened. I honesty believe that the Spirit was “preparing” me for the things to come so I wouldn’t be caught “off-guard” and the people around me could see the fear. But, the way it happened there was no panic, and there was no fear. I was able to embrace these things happening with Peace: God’s Peace that is!!

The eviction notice said that rent hadn't been recieved. I went online and look at my balance, and verified the rent check didn't clear. My check WAS lost in the mail! Get this though… my rent is due on the 5^th, late on the 10^th, the eviction notice was filed on the 17^th… twelve days later and whammy! A few months, my payment had "crossed" in the mail (I mailed it on time... it took an extra week to get 50 miles), they sent me a late notice. Once I received the notice, I called them and they had gotten it already. But now all I got was vacate in 3 days OR ELSE!!

I took the eviction notice and went into my prayer closet. I didn't tell anyone!! I went directly to Him first! 

I trust Him for money to pay my bills, I trust Him to deliver them, I trust Him for all of these things... I know it happened for a reason. I asked the Lord what was the reason... I felt the Lord tell me, "It is now my time." I was so thrilled I started dancing on the eviction notice!! Yaw-Hoo....

When I called the leasing agent, he was the ruddiest person I have talked with in a long time!! He told me that to ever happen again. I am to pay my bill by money order (as if I bounced a check) to be release from the vacate order AND if it ever happens again, he won’t release me from the vacate order and hung up on me! I had that phone in my hand, and I was stunned! I couldn’t believe what just happened!

The feeling that I had when I got off the phone was horrible. This man made me feel like I was dog doo-doo. My first thought was to call him back and give him a ear full... but I quickly noticed the thought wasn't of my own and told my flesh to be quiet! I went back into my prayer closet, and just dumped all of this on His lap once again.  

Just the day before, we were going through the 12 Days of Christmas and we were on the day of "Fruits of the Spirit". I was quickly reminded that I showed patience while waiting several months (still not fixed today) a leak in the dishwasher; the A/C duct on half of house is clogged and prevents the air to flow freely; the chambers inside front door was melted from the sun and sometimes we can NOT unlock the front door; several outlets in the house, none in the garage, and none outside work; there is a huge crack in the tile that goes across the bathroom and one in the kitchen (where the house settled... the house is now uneven). another problem was the water meter... the sprinklers are on the house meter, so the water used for the sprinkers, I was paying the water bill + sewer of the amount of water used. I couldn't regulate the sprinklers for the first three months because the box was locked and they held the key. My water bill was over $300+ each month!! I showed them kindness everytime I was the phone to them. I showed love when they needed to use my water to clean the carpets two doors down when they forgot to turn the water on at that house.... It went on and on. It was comforting to know that the eviction wasn't going to happen because of what Galatians 5:22-23 says: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

I could've easily moved out within 3 days, and not paid December's rent. But, I destinctly remember giving the month a verbal vow that I would give him a thirty day notice, making it January 24, I chose to make it the end of the month to make eaiser... mainly because I didn't want to "pro-rate" the rent and cause another headache for them.

I paid December and January rent, and attached a thirty day notice letting them know I would be out by January 31, 2007 and mailed it certified so that I had a signature.

You know it had to happen like this. My daughter LOVES to dance... dance for Him! Although she is just starting out she really likes it. We have her set up to for FREE worship dance lessons three times a week, AND this fall she would be able to join the dance team and the drama club at our church. She also takes voice lessons for only $10 a lesson! These are all the things that she loves to do!

I am raising her to be the Lord's servant. I believe that God will equip each one us with what we need to minister to one of His own, but raising her for this manner will only allow her to say, "Yes, Lord" when He calls her name, instead of running away from her calling. 

With all of these lined up and planned out, if given a choice I wouldn't be leaving the area. I would leave the house, but not the area. However, realizing that God's plan is so much bigger and better than I can even imagine, we are willingly to accept where ever it is He wants us to go!