Family

About a year ago I volunteered to take over the Christmas Fest in Joaquin. I was given the number to the preacher at Joaquin FUMC because he wanted to help bring the community together. He actually saved my skin! Had it not been for his help in getting help I would have failed miserably. Instead $6000 was raised! This whole year everyone at FUMC has treated us like family. Billy D and I rotate going to Pine Ridge and FUMC. I love my Dad and love to hear him preach. I will continue going to Pine Ridge as long as he is preaching there. The connection that Billy and I both have with members of  both churches is like they are family. Well tonight Billy D found out that he is actually kin to Bro.Robert! They are second cousins!!! Billys bio dad was Bro.Roberts first cousin. Their Mommas were sisters. Not only that but Billys old boss Bill Baker is also his cousin. This coming Saturday is a family reunion that we will for sure be attending. Y’all just don’t know what this means to BD. We have always felt like God lead Billy to work for the city of Joaquin and now we know why. Had it not been for him working for the city I never would have volunteered and never would have met Bill or Bro.Robert. A whole entire family has been waiting on Billy D and on Saturday I know they will welcome him with arms wide open. Gods timing is so very incredibly beautiful! I have been saying for a few weeks now that God is shifting and elevating my life to new levels. This blessing is just the beginning. I stand in awe of how God works. He knows the emptiness Billy D has felt and is not only filling it but he is letting the joy and love overflow! Ain’t God good? 😊

Closer Walk With Thee

One of the biggest changes I have made since moving to the farm is how much closer to God I am. I think there are several things that contribute to this. I feel much freer here, things are not as hectic in my life anymore, I attend church on a regular basis, and I read my Bible more regularly. These are just a few things that I feel have made my walk stronger.

Having a stronger relationship with God has brought on numerous changes in my life. I feel like a completely different person. I see things through the eyes of a Christian now and my old ways are all dying away. One example that keeps coming to my mind is how I no longer watch some of the same TV shows as I used to. I always thought it was silly when I heard people say that they avoided watching certain TV shows because it affected their thinking. I now see what they mean. I can be just a few minutes into a show and start to think why on Earth am I watching this. Is the show pleasing to God? Does He want me watching this type of show? I have found other shows or movies to watch and when I am finished watching them I get a sense of calmness and joy. Watching "feel good" movies and shows really does make me feel good for watching them.

Another change that comes to my mind is how I treat others. I focus more on how I treat other people as opposed to how they treat me. Once my focus shifted I stopped having so much bitterness toward others. I used to quote the saying "You can love from afar" but have come to realize that if there is bitterness there you are not truly loving that person. I don't have it in my heart anymore to hold grudges or be ugly to anyone. It has taken me a very long time to not allow any dark spots form in my heart. Yeah sometimes I have moments of anger but through prayer those moments only last a few minutes and then I go along my merry way.

The biggest change in my walk with God comes from being faithful to church. I used to feel like going to church was just about showing God that I appreciate what he has done for me. It goes way further than that. Being faithful to church prepares me for the week, lets me spend time with my people, lets me hear His word in a way that just reading it does not, strengthens my relationship with God, and brings me unspeakable joy. I cannot imagine not being able to attend church on a regular basis.

I truly believe that it was God's will that we moved here. There have been so many signs from God that verify this for me. The main one being how much my Christian walk has changed. He took me off of the fence post and made me stop living a double life. The grass might have a few weeds in it but its is much greener on this side of the fence.