Hello friends,
Many of you are my friends on facebook (and in real life for that matter) but I wanted to post on here too because, well, some of you are not.
If you don't know..I sell Pampered Chef. I have a friend that is trying to adopt from Eastern Europe. He is a precious, precious gift from the Lord and they are working hard to raise enough funds to bring him home. It is terribly expensive. I have actually only known this sweet family for a short while (they are in our homeschool co-op) but already I love them so much. They have such a heart for the Lord and for the orphans that the Lord calls us to care for. You can read her blog to learn more about their journey and also where the money is going!
Okay I feel as though this is all over the place. What I am trying to say is that I have offered to sell Pampered Chef to help raise money for them. We could have done a raffle but I felt like people would want to get something for their money...and who doesn't like a good-quality kitchen tool (many which have lifetime guarantees!)? Pampered Chef does do fundraisers but because it is for a family and not an organization they won't contribute for it like it is a fundraiser. I have offered to give all of my commission. So the more purchased-the more I make and the closer we are to bringing Elliot home.
So if you need some new products check out the website and order! You have to go under the host name-Jennifer Johnson. You DO NOT have to live in Houston or Texas for that matter to purchase something. All you have to do is place your order and let us know where to send it if you are out of town.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
I feel as though I should post something. It has been a while. I have thought of several posts but I have scratched each one. Not because the content wasn't important but really because it was too emotionally charged. I have struggled over the last week or so with some strong emotions. Part of me wants to blame others the other part knows that it is me and me alone that can take the blame for the hurt feelings or anger. So I choose not to blog about it.
We are still unsure of Troy's job situation. It looks like he has two offers on the table by two different companies. Now it is time to pray. I can't imagine that God would so clearly shut doors in this process (7 months to be exact) just to give us this very difficult decision at the very end. The thing is one job would be extremely rewarding..he would be helping those in need (much like we have been). But the pay is not that great...actually it is not good at all. But there is a possibility that they will offer more (we will know on Monday). The next job is much more rewarding financially. The pay is more than he made at BAE and we would be comfortable when it came to paying bills (something that has not happened in a while). To many this is a no-brainer, but to us it is a difficult decision. God calls us to do things that are not the "norm" and if we are obedient then he will reward us in that.
So that is all I've got. At least about the Troy-job stuff. We are still schooling. It is hard because I am done and so are the kids. But we are going to school all summer. I know it sounds crazy but I really want to take off November and December. If we school this summer we should not get off schedule too much.
I still don't have a camera, but I am working on it. The kids are enjoying our unit study on shells (yes we are still doing it!). Hopefully we will actually get it finished soon and get to move on. I have a Memorial Day study that I would like to do...so we better get crackin'!
Until next time....Be blessed!
We are still unsure of Troy's job situation. It looks like he has two offers on the table by two different companies. Now it is time to pray. I can't imagine that God would so clearly shut doors in this process (7 months to be exact) just to give us this very difficult decision at the very end. The thing is one job would be extremely rewarding..he would be helping those in need (much like we have been). But the pay is not that great...actually it is not good at all. But there is a possibility that they will offer more (we will know on Monday). The next job is much more rewarding financially. The pay is more than he made at BAE and we would be comfortable when it came to paying bills (something that has not happened in a while). To many this is a no-brainer, but to us it is a difficult decision. God calls us to do things that are not the "norm" and if we are obedient then he will reward us in that.
So that is all I've got. At least about the Troy-job stuff. We are still schooling. It is hard because I am done and so are the kids. But we are going to school all summer. I know it sounds crazy but I really want to take off November and December. If we school this summer we should not get off schedule too much.
I still don't have a camera, but I am working on it. The kids are enjoying our unit study on shells (yes we are still doing it!). Hopefully we will actually get it finished soon and get to move on. I have a Memorial Day study that I would like to do...so we better get crackin'!
Until next time....Be blessed!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
I am God
Last Sunday we had an awesome lesson on "doing good" (Galations 6:9-10). I walked away feeling refreshed by the Holy Spirit. Before I got to my car someone handed me an envelope with cash and a post-it. The post-it read: "Be still and know I am God" (with a smiley face). The amount of money was substantial and I was overwhelmed with the feeling that another believer was "doing good" for us out of obedience to His Word.
Monday, Troy had a job interview. It went really well. He felt like he was going to get it. They would call on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, we got a letter in the mail from the unemployment office. We have not received benefits from them for the entire month of April and in actuality he had only been paid $20 from Lowe's in April. So our total income for the month of April was $86 (only because I worked a couple of days at the church). In all of that every single bill was paid on time. We received the right amount of money from others (without asking) to pay for ALL of our bills. That is a substantial amount let me just tell you!
Also on Tuesday, I had to go to the ER, but first went to Urgent Care. I am fine but the total cost between the two places was the amount that was in the envelope on Sunday.
On Wednesday, Troy talked to the place he interviewed at and they said wait til Friday.
We have been receiving medical benefits for the kids (more of a safety net) while Troy has been unemployed. (Most of our debt is due to medical bills that occurred when he was unemployed before.) We also have been receiving food stamps. Not something that we are proud of but a necessity (especially when your mortgage is 85% of your income). On Thursday we received a letter that they were no longer going to allow us these benefits. Why you say? Well there is no good reason...
Friday has come and gone. We still don't know about the job. My children do not have insurance. I really don't know how we will pay for food. But what I do know is that I was told on Sunday to "Be still and know that I am God". This was no coincidence. That post-it is on my refrigerator door right now. All week whenever I have had a conversation or the phone has rang or I have felt overwhelmed with it all, I hear the words; "Be still and know I am God".
I wonderful lesson for me this week. The lesson is still not over. Who knows when it will be. But what I do know is that He is God-Redeemer, Maker, Healer, Provider, King of kings, Lord of lords, Hosanna, Messiah, Alpha and Omega. Without Him there would be no hope.
Monday, Troy had a job interview. It went really well. He felt like he was going to get it. They would call on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, we got a letter in the mail from the unemployment office. We have not received benefits from them for the entire month of April and in actuality he had only been paid $20 from Lowe's in April. So our total income for the month of April was $86 (only because I worked a couple of days at the church). In all of that every single bill was paid on time. We received the right amount of money from others (without asking) to pay for ALL of our bills. That is a substantial amount let me just tell you!
Also on Tuesday, I had to go to the ER, but first went to Urgent Care. I am fine but the total cost between the two places was the amount that was in the envelope on Sunday.
On Wednesday, Troy talked to the place he interviewed at and they said wait til Friday.
We have been receiving medical benefits for the kids (more of a safety net) while Troy has been unemployed. (Most of our debt is due to medical bills that occurred when he was unemployed before.) We also have been receiving food stamps. Not something that we are proud of but a necessity (especially when your mortgage is 85% of your income). On Thursday we received a letter that they were no longer going to allow us these benefits. Why you say? Well there is no good reason...
Friday has come and gone. We still don't know about the job. My children do not have insurance. I really don't know how we will pay for food. But what I do know is that I was told on Sunday to "Be still and know that I am God". This was no coincidence. That post-it is on my refrigerator door right now. All week whenever I have had a conversation or the phone has rang or I have felt overwhelmed with it all, I hear the words; "Be still and know I am God".
I wonderful lesson for me this week. The lesson is still not over. Who knows when it will be. But what I do know is that He is God-Redeemer, Maker, Healer, Provider, King of kings, Lord of lords, Hosanna, Messiah, Alpha and Omega. Without Him there would be no hope.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
How is your heart?
I feel the Lord has really been working on me lately. Which is funny because he has been working on me for a long time...so I don't know why I think he takes a break! :) Anyway, he has been showing me new things that I did not know about myself. The main thing is my heart and where it is right now.
I have heart issues. I think we all do. But I don't know that we can truly see them unless the Holy Spirit shows them to us. I have been reading Philippians 2, something the Holy Spirit was leading me to do. He has used this scripture to discipline me. I use the word discipline because discipline and disciple are the same when it comes to the Lord. He has used the first 4 versus to show me my junk. He has convicted me of my selfish pride. No, I didn't get a spanking or some other physical punishment but what I did get was a feeling of shame and guilt for the way I had allowed myself to become. But in the same verses he shows how good he is, by sending Jesus to die on the cross for me. After realizing the Holy Spirit was convicting me I was able to repent and then receive his blessing. How awesome is that?
I am excited to see what else he has in store for me!
I have heart issues. I think we all do. But I don't know that we can truly see them unless the Holy Spirit shows them to us. I have been reading Philippians 2, something the Holy Spirit was leading me to do. He has used this scripture to discipline me. I use the word discipline because discipline and disciple are the same when it comes to the Lord. He has used the first 4 versus to show me my junk. He has convicted me of my selfish pride. No, I didn't get a spanking or some other physical punishment but what I did get was a feeling of shame and guilt for the way I had allowed myself to become. But in the same verses he shows how good he is, by sending Jesus to die on the cross for me. After realizing the Holy Spirit was convicting me I was able to repent and then receive his blessing. How awesome is that?
I am excited to see what else he has in store for me!
Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ,
if there is any consolation of love,
if there is any fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
if any affection or compassion,
make my joy complete,
by being of the same mind,
maintaining the same love,
united in spirit,
intent on one purpose.
Do nothing out of selfishness of empty conceit,
but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
do not merely look out for your own personal interests but for the interests of others.
Have this attitude in yourselves that which was also in Christ Jesus,
who, although, existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped
Being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled Himself by becoming
obedient to the point of death, even
death on a cross.
Philippians 2:1-8
Sunday, April 24, 2011
It's my blog and I can post if I want to...
It has come to my attention that not everyone thinks that I should blog. Maybe it's the content. Maybe they just don't care about what I write about. Maybe they think it is too personal.
The whole reason that I blog is because God is so amazing and has done so many things in my life. I have always felt that I should be transparent about what he is doing in my life and I have come to the realization that I go through all of these crazy things so that He can be glorified in them. Because it is not by my own strength but His that I make it each day.
I have been encouraged for a few years by several different people to write all the things God has done, down. I have a journal that I keep at home but I also write some of them on here, my blog. There have been countless times that people have expressed that their faith was renewed, they needed to hear just that message, or that they just plain loved how God was working in my life. Even if only one person read my blog and only one person got that God loved them from it that would be enough.
So to those that don't appreciate it...don't read it. It is not required reading. But I know that others will be blessed when they hear about the power that our Father has.
The whole reason that I blog is because God is so amazing and has done so many things in my life. I have always felt that I should be transparent about what he is doing in my life and I have come to the realization that I go through all of these crazy things so that He can be glorified in them. Because it is not by my own strength but His that I make it each day.
I have been encouraged for a few years by several different people to write all the things God has done, down. I have a journal that I keep at home but I also write some of them on here, my blog. There have been countless times that people have expressed that their faith was renewed, they needed to hear just that message, or that they just plain loved how God was working in my life. Even if only one person read my blog and only one person got that God loved them from it that would be enough.
So to those that don't appreciate it...don't read it. It is not required reading. But I know that others will be blessed when they hear about the power that our Father has.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Unplugged
Today marks Palm Sunday, the day Jesus entered the city. The day that Hosanna came. The day he proclaimed without any words that He was the Messiah. This is all leading up to the fact that He died.
He died.
He died a very brutal and painful sinner's death.
He died a very brutal and painful sinner's death even though he was unblemished.
He died a very brutal and painful sinner's death even though he was unblemished for me so that I could have eternal life.
I came home from church today thinking about that. This is very overwhelming. I began reading my Bible and just concentrating on His Word. While I did that I was interrupted several times by my children. I don't mind the interruptions but these were for things like the TV and video games and computer time. Their lives, and mine for that matter, are consumed by something that is not godly. The TV, video games and computer have all become distractions from what is truly important. So this week we are unplugging! I am turning everything off. I still have school and will commit to only turning on the computer for school related activities. But I will not be on facebook or blogging. I want to lead by example and train up my children in the way they should go!
He died.
He died a very brutal and painful sinner's death.
He died a very brutal and painful sinner's death even though he was unblemished.
He died a very brutal and painful sinner's death even though he was unblemished for me so that I could have eternal life.
I came home from church today thinking about that. This is very overwhelming. I began reading my Bible and just concentrating on His Word. While I did that I was interrupted several times by my children. I don't mind the interruptions but these were for things like the TV and video games and computer time. Their lives, and mine for that matter, are consumed by something that is not godly. The TV, video games and computer have all become distractions from what is truly important. So this week we are unplugging! I am turning everything off. I still have school and will commit to only turning on the computer for school related activities. But I will not be on facebook or blogging. I want to lead by example and train up my children in the way they should go!
Deuteronomy 16:22 "You shall not set up for yourself a sacred pillar which the Lord your God hates."
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 "Hear O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all you heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words with which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you are in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Keeping up the momentum
I feel as though I must post something. I have been doing much better about posting things on here.
The newest thing that is going on at the Brown house is that Troy is having half of his toe amputated sometime this week. The infection in his toe is healing nicely but the infected bone has started to degenerate which is common in diabetics. This is something that we are at peace about. We know that we tried all that we could and now this is out of our hands.
We are having insurance woes again but I am certain God will work out those details. We have the money to self-pay but it would completely wipe out all of our cushion (and since he hasn't been able to work through all of this, we need it). We are willing to do just that because we are confident in His provision.
So where are we now. He cannot have the surgery until we get the insurance resolved so it looks like we will wait until Thursday. Hopefully this will be the beginning of the end of all this mess!
The newest thing that is going on at the Brown house is that Troy is having half of his toe amputated sometime this week. The infection in his toe is healing nicely but the infected bone has started to degenerate which is common in diabetics. This is something that we are at peace about. We know that we tried all that we could and now this is out of our hands.
We are having insurance woes again but I am certain God will work out those details. We have the money to self-pay but it would completely wipe out all of our cushion (and since he hasn't been able to work through all of this, we need it). We are willing to do just that because we are confident in His provision.
So where are we now. He cannot have the surgery until we get the insurance resolved so it looks like we will wait until Thursday. Hopefully this will be the beginning of the end of all this mess!
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