Thankful Moments

I have not been posting the last week or so....We went to Hattiesburg, MS for Thanksgiving and I was sick from Friday - Wednesday. So I was not up to blogging.

I have title this blog in memory of baby Bregan Webb. Bregan went home to his heavenly Father on Thanksgiving morning. My heart aches for my sweet, dear friend Diane and her family and I can not imagine what they are going through. It is at times like these that I wish I could change time and change lives. I know God has a plan and a purpose in this life but sometimes it is very hard to understand. This is where that mustard seed faith comes into play again, have the faith of a mustard seed and see what wonders God is going to show you (me)....Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for things in your life and I thank God for my family, my friends, memories, pictures that capture those memories and all that God has done and will do for me.

"It takes a minute to have a crush on someone, an hour to like someone and a day to love someone- but it takes a lifetime to forget someone."

Be thankful for every minute you have with your family and friends. Why is it that at this time of year do we stop and remember these things. This is something we should do every single day. I think if I could stop and remember the scripture "be still and know that I am God", that life would be so much easier. Go and be that example for your family and friends, you may be the only Jesus they see! Love, thoughts and prayers to you Diane!!!!!!!!!!

It's about love and respect

While we were traveling down to Mississippi I was scanning through the radio stations and came across a radio station that has Jerry and Joy (and for the life of me I can't remember their last name) speaking at a marriage conference. You know when God is at work, because boy was he talking to me.

Josh and I just had a conversation the other day about communication, taking care of ourselves and respect. I can get so worked up about a lot of little things and I realize that a lot of times I tend to be pretty selfish when it comes to others. Yes this is along the lines of me doing a lot of soul searching and realizing that I tend to come across to my family with the line of is its not my way it is not good enough or it is wrong. Why do I feel like this and how do I change this in me. Okay a little side track!!!

This speaker was talking about what women and men need in a marriage. Women want to feel loved. We don't just need to hear the words from our husbands but we need to FEEL loved. I am sure that you have heard a saying "I told her that I loved her the day we got married and if it changes I will let her know". This can be funny but not when you are the one not feeling important to your spouse. Husbands need to find out what is important to their wives and then follow through with it on a regular basis. He also said that we tend to take each other for granted which is so easy to do.

Now our husbands want most is to feel respected. You may respect him but how do you show it. I know that I don't show it enough to Josh because I was so use to doing things on my own in a former life that I tend to do that now. I don't involve him in my life enough and I don't ask him for his help. We as wives have a lot of emotions that we go through when we have a baby and sometimes the most important thing in our life gets neglected and pushed to the bottom. Ephesians 5:33 says it all, 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

God's little instruction book is all that we need to get through each day but we (I) need to spend time with him each and every day. Go see where God is at work and join Him.

Answered Prayers

Let me take you back to the beginning of this year when Josh finally told the Army about his migraines. It came to a point that he was having them several times a week. He finally was to the point that he needed relief more than whatever the consequences were going to be. He went through a series of test and they found that he had migraines and irregular EEG's. The next step was to find out which medicine would stop the migraines. They tried several different drugs and finally found the one that worked, great! Well the down side was that the medicine that worked grounded him. The last time Josh was able to fly was April. I know that he misses flying and the feeling of being in the air but he has dealt with the fact that God has a bigger plan for his life and this was just one chapter in his book.

God has placed a passion for a non-profit organization on his heart. Mercy Aviation was born. This is a non-profit organization geared towards charter services for mission groups, disaster relief and something similar to angel flight ministries at no cost to the missionaries. I told him that I believe that God allowed him to fly so he could understand the world of aviation. Jeremiah 29:11 continues to come to mind time and time again throughout this whole process. '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.' Mercy Aviation is just a baby but we want this company to be debt free from start to finish so it is a work in progress. What a awesome day it will be when we are able to send our first group to the mission field at no cost to them.

Going back to my book of One Month to Live, Day 13 talks about the strength of sawdust. "When you put sawdust under intense heat and pressure, it becomes a solid building material known as particle board." God allows things to happen in your life to turn up the heat and pressure so we will become stronger. WOW, we have become stronger individually during this as well as a family. Communication has been such an obstacle for me to overcome and during this I have been challenged and continue to need work in this area. However with God's love, mercy and grace I will continue to improve in this area.

Now fast forward to today. Josh was going before the medical review board to find out what course of action they would take. Either to re class him or send him onto the medical evaluation board. Well he does not qualify to go to the MEB so they are going to re class him. The next step is to find a place for him, so faith comes into play. Here I am send me. That is it, no asking when or where. I trust God and his perfect time. We have been dealing with this since April, so today was a big day in the Moudy household. I know that what happened today was in God's plan. Today I released all my fears and worries into my Father's hands. It felt really good to not be in control.

Do you rub people the wrong way?

I have decided to start another blog site for real estate but it is not ready yet. Why do I tell you this, because it is along the lines of a tool shed and things you find in a tool shed. Again I ask you, do you rub people the wrong way?

It day 13 of my reading, the author speaks about how sandpaper can be a useful tool in woodworking but it does not feel so good when you rub it against your skin. So once more I ask do you tend to rub people the wrong way, irritate people, get under their skin or say hurtful things to others? Wait before you answer that you may be thinking that I am not talking to you. We all tend to rub people the wrong way but the question is do you notice that you are doing it or are you too busy looking for all the faults and flaws in others. We all have sandpaper people in our lives, whether it is at home, in your circle of friends, or at the workplace. The author talks about God allowing these people in our lives for a reason. This made me take notice as I hope it does you. I have always heard the saying God doesn't give you more than you can handle. Well there have been times in my life that I thought to myself well I must be the Statue of Liberty and I was living the life of Job. Have you ever felt like that? Or maybe you feel as Mother Teresa stated so clearly "I know God does not gives me anything I can't handle, I just wish that he didn't trust me so much."

"God allows sandpaper people in my life to craft me into a sharper tool for His purpose. " God gives us clarity on this in Ephesians2:10 " 10 God made us. He created us to belong to Christ Jesus. Now we can do good things. Long ago God prepared them for us to do. " We are all a work in progress, we will never be complete until Jesus comes back. So until He comes back to get His children we need to sharpen those tools.

So let's take a look at the tools that are in this tool shed. First their is the measuring tape, with these people you never quite measure up. They tend to judge you on their own standards of righteousness. Second, the hammer. "Hammers tend to be as subtle as a freight train, pushing their agenda on others and forcing their way. (day 13, pg 97)" Or are you the skill saw that is so good at cutting others down and knowing the right thing to say that will hurt them the most. "Skill saws win verbal arguments every time - not because they're right, but because they know where to cut to weaken the other's platform (day 13, pg 97)." Next you have the vise grips, those that tend to suck the life out of you and you are no good to anyone else in your life. You also have the grinders, who tend to have explosive behaviors and go off at any moment. Next to them are the axes, they cut a large path along the way. Always negative, moaning and groaning about life and trying to cut down the joy in others. Do you know the hatchets, they are similar but they take a smaller cut and tend to hold grudges and past hurts longer. Finally there are the putty people. These people tend to let others walk all over them, they have no backbone and no consistency.

So what type of tool are you and how does your heavenly father view this. Remember Jesus was a carpenter, this was what he knew. He knew how to take the tools and make them work in just the right job. Are you allowing Jesus to take you in whatever tool shape you are and use you in the life of others. Yes, you may be rubbing people the wrong way like sandpaper but God can still use you in that person's life. You never know why you are placed in someones life, don't automatically think it is for your benefit that you in in their life. We (and yes when I am writing I always know God is talking to me about these subjects) tend to find the sawdust in others eyes but yet we can not see the 2x4 in our own eye. Why is that? God places that speck of sawdust in my eye to make me see what I need to work on. Remember the "work in progress". We are just that, a daily work in progress. We will never be perfect but that does not mean that we don't strive for God's perfection in our life. God wants to smooth out the rough edges in our lives so we can be more like His son, Jesus.

"Finally, you get a whole new perspective on the difficult people in your life when you realize that not only has God placed them in your life for a reason but He has placed you in their lives for a reason. He wants you to reveal some of His love, His patience, His mercy toward them. You may be the only face of Jesus they'll ever see. God wants you to surprise them with His love in ways that only you can (day 13, pg. 100)." WOW, what a concept but also how scary that we may be the only face of Jesus someone may see. Well I don't know about you but Jesus would not be too happy with me at different times in my life and the Jesus I let someone see. But by His forgiving and saving grace I can seek and ask for forgiveness and show that person His love, His patience, His mercy toward them because He did it to me. God has soooooo many blessings in store for each of us. Go see where God is at work and join Him.

Here I am Send Me

Isaiah 8 is speaking to me more than you can even imagine. (" 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" ) I have come to the conclusion that I have been in a battle with God about what I want to do with my life. You notice I said what I want to do with my life. I know that God has plans for my life and he shares what he has for all of us in Jeremiah 29:11, "11 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. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

He does have a plan for me and I am here saying here I am send me, just give me a time frame, so you see God is still working on me. I need to say Here I Am Send Me, with no questions asked. Do you ever struggle with this? I hope you are saying yes, and that I am not alone in this daily struggle. We all struggle with different things on a daily basis but there are answers out there: The Bible.

As I was in the office today my friend Lynne talked about if she knew the rules she would know how to play the game. That is how a lot of people feel in this life, whether it is pertaining to work, friends, family and spouses. I think we tend to change the rules in life in order to make the game more appealing and to our advantage but, yes there has to be a but, that is not how God wants us to live. He has already made the "rules" and then we either choose to live by them or not. What a coincidence because in Day 12 of my reading of One Month To Live, it speaks about the boxing ring and resolving conflicts by fighting fair. This chapter talks about fighting fair and making ground rules. In Ephesians 4:25-32 Paul tells us what the ground rules are, "25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26"In your anger do not sin"[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

"The key is to learn to walk with Him daily. This is the real secret to reconciling, to overcoming conflict, to fighting fair:become more like Jesus. (Day 12, pg. 93)"

Whenever you have a question there is one book to go to to find the answers, The Bible. May you find yourself saying "Here I Am , Send Me".

God is our Lighthouse

Wow, today's reading really spoke to me about "exploring the depths of forgiveness".

One Month To Live, Thirty Days To A No-Regrets Life; this book is what life is all about. If you only had thirty days to live what is truly important for you to accomplish in that time. God places people in our life for a reason and I know there are many times that I just can not figure out why. It may be that He wants you to minister to them in some way or that they are there to minister to you. God is really working on me right now with people in my life. I am not good at communicating, as Josh will be the first to tell you, so this is hard for me. Those of you who know me might be thinking that I communicate very well but when it comes to telling those close to me what I am feeling it is hard for me because I am such a people pleaser and do not want to hurt anyone. If I could just live my life the way God intends for me to live it wouldn't be so hard. There may be people in your life that you have hurt with your words or actions or lack of words and actions but God has called us to forgive and seek their forgiveness.

"The aching hurt, the depth of pain, betrayal, disappointment-forgiveness is so difficult to give. It can be like trying to see clearly in the depths of the sea. To view anything underneath the ocean's surface, you need a mask. And to forgive someone, you have to see beneath the surface as well. On the surface there's no logical reason for me to forgive someone who has hurt me. but when I look below the surface, the Bible gives me some great reasons to forgive (Day 10, pg. 75)." God knows that we get angry but he still wants us to forgive. It is for our own good to forgive because He command us to forgive. We live in a society that does not like accountability, it's all about me, what can you do for me or what am I going to get out of it but this is not the life God called us to live. "God says you need to forgive for your own sake, because bitterness blocks the blessings He wants to pour into your life (day 10, pg. 77)." Healing will happen in your life when you begin to forgive yourself and others.

Just like a lighthouse helps navigate ships safely to shore, God sent His son Jesus to be that lighthouse. He helps me navigate safely through this life and teaches me that I have the tools I need to be successful at it. Don't get caught in the shallow when God wants you to go to the depths of the ocean to experience his love and forgiveness.

photo from http://www.hickerphoto.com/picture_gallery.jsp

~Relationships are all that Really matter~

My life is just as hectic and stressful as anyone else but do you ever feel like your in this boat alone? Yes....well here is a book for you, maybe it will enlighten you and give you that ah hah moment like it is doing for me: One MonthTo Live , Thirty Days To A No-Regrets Life by Kerry & Chris Shook.

Since my husband, Josh, has found out that there may be a chance of being medically discharged from the army, I have been floundering with what God has in store for us. As I was awoken by my 2 year old son at 5 am I began pondering things, life, work and friends. While still lying there awake for an hour I decided to get up and spend some quite time with my "Daddy" (my Father in heaven). This was some good quality time to reflect on this weeks past events and read Day 9 in my book which addressed Heart of the Matter. The first paragraph says it all, "When all is said and done, relationships are all that really matter. It doesn't matter how much money we have, where we live, or how many beautiful toys we've collected. None of these can comfort us, console us, cry with us, or love us. Our investment in the people we care about is the only legacy that has the power to endure beyond our lifetime." This is just so ironic with this weeks events. Along these same lines I was just praying at our sales meeting on Thursday about love and respect and read an excerpt from The Shack by William P Young. In this excerpt it talked about it not being about winning or losing but about love and respect. This is what relationships are all about and relationships are all that really matter in this life. I was then reminded of just how little faith I have in my "Daddy" with a exercise that our broker did with a mustard seed. In Matthew 17:20, He told them, “It was because of your little faith. I tell you the truth, 1 if you have faith the size of 2 a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; nothing 3 will be impossible for you.” If you have never seen the size of a mustard seed it really puts things in perspective.

I have found out a lot about myself and the many things that I need to work on, one which is relationships. I have also learned that I have neglected to nurture those relationships with friends, family and co-workers. What a wake up call when you realize that you are doing things totally wrong or rather you need lots of help doing it right.

WOW! Look how God works in our lives and the lives of others. I pray that you find that relationships are all that really matter and you tend to those relationships on a regular basis. May your day be full of God's Blessings.

Life is too short!

As I was reading Lynne's blog I am reminded of just how short life can be. Today was a day to honor and remember those that have fought, are still fighting and lost their lives for this wonderful country we call The United States of America.

I think of a quote that I have grown to love since the passing of my mother in 1999,

"It takes a minute to have a crush on someone, an hour to like someone and a day to love someone- but it takes a lifetime to forget someone."

Today this quote is oh so true. May we continue to keep those brave young men and women alive in our hearts and continue to tell those stories to live on for generations to come....that is what makes their sacrifice not in vain!

"If You Ain't CAV, You Ain't ...."

Death Rides/7-17 CAV

We Almost Made it!

As I was checking emails and finding out an agent's rental property owners may have already accepted a deposit on my cute couples "dream Home", Noah wants me to go, go. Interpretation - get up woman I need you to go somewhere with me. Well he needed to go potty. We went in the bathroom and he sits down on the potty, then this is the joy of having two at the same age, Sydney wants to go potty too. But, there is a problem! Yep you guessed it we only have one little potty, so we take turns sitting on the potty. Noah, then Sydney then Noah and just at that momant Sydney goes tinkle on the floor and Noah goes on the potty but doesn't ring the bowl! Boy talking about being insinct with each other. I guess we need to buy another potty! So here we are taking a bath at 7:30 am! Life is wonderful and I hope we have a glorious day! Daddy is off today and he still sleeping, which we will let him continue seeing that I fell asleep on the couch while watching tv, what's new. He also cleaned up the kitchen form the messes I made from breakfast and dinner. I know Flylady would not be happy with me but he did clean it up and start the dishwasher so we went to bed with an almost clean kitchen.

Next time I hope we don't have to go potty at the same time! Have a great day as you see where God is at work today.

God still REIGNS!

I said for days that I would post this blog but just have not made the time to do it, and now I am trying to compose something that is somewhat intelligent at 6:30 am!!!! If it comes across as choppy and you are thinking what is she trying to say cut me some slack.

I saw these bumper stickers while I was on my way to have lunch with a friend for her birthday. What made me notice this was two young men trying to get pictures of the cars' stickers with their cell phones. Me being the "I" personality that I am had to see what all the fuss was about. I could not believe it but as we are about to celebrate Veteran's day on Tuesday November 11th, this person was given that right to voice their opinion by all the men and women who have fought for that right for us.

I know my Jesus is still on the throne and He hears all our prays. He answers our prays every single day, it may be that He has said yes to your request or no but He always answers them and you may not know when your request will happen even though God has said yes. It could be in your lifetime that God answers your pray or it may be after you are long gone, but He will answer your prays.

I know that Jesus is real and that he gave his life so that I may have life and can't imagine what life is like for those who do not believe. I am at a lose for what else to say but I pray that each of you reading this do have a personal relationship with your Father in heaven, so you can have eternal life and share this amazing gift with others. God bless!

Psalm 91

Psalm 91 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [a] 2 I will say [b] of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge- 10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

This came to mind as I just finished watching Fox News. History has been made and we as a country have a tough road ahead but I pray that God will unite this country so that we may Glorify Him and seek His wisdom and counsel in our life. God is bigger than all of this and as Christians we are called to further His kingdom not ours. We need to pray for strength, wisdom and discernment for the new President Elect Barak Obama. Much love to all and God bless! ~laurie

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