410 - Opportunities to Praise!

Lord Jesus - Can we do a bit of a dance this morning to praise Your name? Absolutely, a quiet tone so we don't wake the sleeping babies! (Well, my babies, but not really babies!) I have such a tremendous week these past couple of days and I just want to say a huge thank you! THANK YOU! I have learned a lot this week and for that I am extremely grateful! You have given me opportunities to do some things and It was because of You and nothing in me I endured - thank you!

Last time I blogged, not the recent one that was just excited about going to Alaska, but just before that I had talked about being granted the opportunity to believe Him and to suffer. Well, I dug deeper into that suffering and it is quite interesting. My commentary said that there are 4 reasons along with many others why we are given the opportunity to suffer. Ultimately we are given the opportunity to "faithfully represent Christ" and as translated in Is. 43:7 from "we are made for His glory" which actually means "to give a correct opinion of Him". In that suffering we show people who we believe our Lord is and how we believe He works in our lives. That whole concept can be positive or negative! The other 4 reasons that can result from our suffering according to the commentary are 1) it takes our eyes off earthly comforts, 2) it weeds out superficial believers, 3) it strengthens the faith of those that endure, and 4) it serves as an example to those that may be watching. Oh Lord, I just don't think I have any clue what real suffering is like. I have had some bad times and even experienced some real pain, but to truly suffer for Christ I don't think that is a privilege You have asked of me yet. In my faithless heart I can not say I am raising my hand and jumping to be picked next, but I am believing that when the time does come I will know who to turn to or actually run to! Thank you, Lord.

My Charlotte engagement went wonderful. It was one of those times I felt I was not completely up to par, but the response from the women was overwhelming. So many spoke to me after to explain what He had done in their hearts and how He was changing them. Whether I feel like I had done well or not, that is what the whole purpose is. Besides even when I bomb for whatever reason He can change what goes into their ears and hearts. That is the coolest part when you are working for the King!! Immediately He can change the results and make them positive! Oh Lord, thank you!! Thank you for those opportunities this summer and I pray for great fruit from each of their lives! Bless that church - they do have a heart for You!

Well, today is the first day of school, but we have had a slight change. You know how some people will buy or rent a small house in a district just so they can go to that school, but actually live in another area? Well, we live in Norris City, but as many of you know have bought a new/old house in Carmi. Since our house will not be ready until Thanksgiving or so, but we have every intention of moving there we were just going to start the kids in Carmi. Well for some reason that has upset some people and there has been some complaining. SO the schools in both regions have been forced to address the situation and therefore asked us to sign an affidavit explain the number of nights we would be sleeping in Carmi, the number of meals the kids would eat there, etc. UGH!! Uh, the house is not done so the answer would be none. Many people have told us about the amount of people that lie on those forms and just do it anyway. My husband, a very good man and one of great integrity, said, "Leigh, we could be like the others, sign it, and just carry on with our lives. But no, God has thought enough of us to give us this opportunity to rise above and follow the rules. He has given us this opportunity to display integrity with humility. We could go on in and make a scene and start naming names, but who would that honor?" I have to say ya'll that was not my original reaction. I can be a bulldog at times and I was ready to fight. Mess with me that is fine, but my kids - ugh!!!!!!!!! So, we will be going to the district that we live in for a few more months. It is still very good. It is not that we are forced to go to NC that I am upset. It is a great elementary school with wonderful teachers. It is that you are dealing with a 6, 7, and 9 year old. It would be totally different if we had some star athletes that were 14, 16, and 17. But i am going to be uprooting these kids again. They are either going to be the most messed up kids and need much therapy or the most well adjusted and resilient on this earth. Of course you know what i am believing!

Oh Lord, thank you! Here is another opportunity to praise You! Thank you!! First of all thank you for my husband and his wisdom and patience and integrity! Wow, what a man! Reminds me much of my dad. My last post i said that God was going to show off and I was excited to see it. Well, I saw it yesterday in the mirror and at the dinner table. I was hoping that He would find some way to reverse all that has been done and kids could start where we hope to stay for a lifetime. But what He did was even greater and amazing. He softened my heart and gave me peace. He has told me things will be fine and it is time to rise above! I have accepted that challenge and am excited! The work He did in my heart is great - i can not tell you that enough! And the other thing He showed off in was my kids reaction to not getting to go to Carmi just yet - They scream - Yes!!!!! They were thrilled about going back to Norris City for one more semester. Working - oh Lord, I can see you working in this family and I thank you and praise you for it. You have given us great opportunity to praise you and I will!!! I love you, Lord!!!