Under Pressure

Illnesses.................

Marital Challenges..............

Homework..... School projects........

Work......

Deadlines.........

Laundry......

Behavior Issues with our children........

Field trips........ Volunteering.........

Play dates......

Re certifications......Classes for work......

Car pools.......

Dinner.......Holiday planning.....

Grocery shopping.......

House cleaning.........

Often times I feel, "Under Pressure", even with the ordinary events of my life. If your like me, just reading those lists of stressors might have produced a bit of pressure. Often times all of these pressures can be going on in our lives all at once. It can feel a little overwhelming and also discouraging.

As I look at my pressure stressors I am learning to see them in a different light. What would my life be like with out three kids and a husband? What would our lives be like with out jobs? What would it be like to not have clothes to wash, or a house to clean? What if we did not have extended families to plan visits with over the holidays?

Perhaps a better way to think on things would be to be thankful for our families health instead of stressing over coughs, wheezes and sniffles. To be thankful for a job that at times makes my feet hurt, but yet helps our family make ends meet, and helps me stay up to date in my continuing education. To be thankful for a house to clean, a family to cook for, and plan trips with. To be thankful my kids can complete homework and projects no matter how begrudgingly. So many blessings even in the pressures!

I found an interesting Proverb 24 verse 10 - "If you fail under pressure, your strength is not very great." I think sometimes we forget that pressure is where we grow. God will not give us more than we can handle. Our key is to not fail under pressure. Stay with the healing, fine tuning, and pruning that God is placing you under - even if it comes with pressure. For at the end of the pressure is transformation. Let us not fail under the high pressure systems of life that will periodically come our way...

Thank a Veteran Today!

Today Nov. 11 is a day to set aside our differences and bestow special tribute to our Veterans everywhere. Today let's set aside some time for reflection. Some time to remember all those who have proudly served their country.

Veterans are regular people who have done the extraordinary, by putting their lives on the line for others. They have given some of the best years of their life to their country.

So on Veterans Day, remember to be proud of our veterans and those now serving in the Armed Forces. Remember those who have died before us so we can enjoy those freedoms we have now. Without their sacrifice, can you imagine what it would be like to live in this country? This is the greatest country in the world.

In many countries all around the world, they do not enjoy the freedoms that American citizens have.

Thank a veteran today! Let them know we are proud of all they do and have done for our country!

John 15:12-13 "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

Blessings Found Along the Way

We all are on a journey-a journey called “Life”. Life is difficult. I do not believe it is supposed to be easy or even happy all of the time, however I am disappointed when it isn’t. I am a planner. I like to plan ahead and when things do not happen as I have so carefully planned I am disappointed. Instead of continuing to brood over my disappointments I am trying to think of the disappointments as God’s way of honing my character to help me fit into His plan.

As I try to improve my attitude towards disappointment, I remember my late mother-in-law, Charlotte,-missing her and loving her for how she faced disappointment so graciously leaving a legacy for my husband and I, to pass to her grandchildren.

Two years after my husband was adopted by his parents, they learned Charlotte had Multiple Sclerosis. Hers was very disabling. She was wheel chair bound by the time Mr P was 7 and bed ridden when he was in college. She held on to God’s promises the whole time and raised two wonderful men-my husband and his brother.

Mr P's mom and dad had a plan as most of us do. They planned to adopt 5 children- all different races- so that they could teach the world how we all can love each other no matter how different we may look on the outside. Mr P was their first adopted child. Their plans changed after the diagnosis of MS was made. Mr P's brother was an unexpected blessing that swept them off their feet after they survived two tornados in Athens GA.

Their marriage was a true example of a covenant between themselves and God; a bond that could not be broken. They had vowed to each other they would serve each other as Jesus serves-and by humbly putting the others needs as more important than their own. They took on the tough times together peacefully knowing God was an ever present force in their lives. Their sons were watching and I know this example has helped my marriage.

They taught their children to trust in God no matter the circumstance and their home was full of love and fun even in the shadow of a disabling disease. Mr P does not believe God made this happen to his mother but that it was allowed to happen for some greater purpose in God’s plan that we may never know.

As I was thinking of Charlotte- someone mentioned they had read about how we often wonder why God allows bad things to happen to good people. There is even a book about it-- Yet we don’t usually question God if we have received a blessing. After I heard this I tried to remember a time I may have asked God why he sent me a blessing. I never have asked God “Why” for a blessing, and in fact usually I expect the best and am disappointed when it isn’t the way I thought it should be.

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights Habakkuk 3:17-19


God enables us “to go on to the heights” even when things do not go “well”. Our plan of where the heights are may differ from Gods plan but there are sure to be blessings along the way. Someday we may see that it all makes perfect sense. Because “we know, that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

I like to imagine Charlotte in heaven with her Savior dancing and singing to beautiful music, she loved those things. I thought maybe (when I get there) I could even find out why she had to endure such hardship here on earth and a dear friend shared that she probably will not even remember it as a hardship, as now for eternity Charlotte will be singing praises to Jesus!

I challenge you to count your many blessings especially those unexpected ones. Blessings that took you by surprise. Blessings you may have found during a disappointing time. All of our blessings come from God-together let’s be thankful!