Being Different is GREAT

I know it's been awhile.....No Excuses.

Our Pastor has often said show me your bank account and I will show you where your heart is, or even where your idols are. Almost 27 months ago my husband was cured from an alcohol addiction. Almost everyday before that of our marriage alcohol was purchased. If we had only used a credit card that gave detailed descriptions of our purchases you would see daily alcohol purchases. There would be days where multiple purchases were made in a single day. It was my husbands idol.

Mine was just money in general. I would shop to shop. It would numb the pain of living with an alcoholic and it was a struggle. I would buy things I couldn't afford, or my husband would buy things for me that we couldn't afford to make up for an argument we had the night before about drinking. Our spending was out of control to say the least.

As we began attending Journey Church we began to learn and grow. A few weeks after being there Mike began his sobriety and things began to change. If you think I am going to say everything was great and glorious, well you are right but it was only for what seemed like a brief moment. Because when the devil loses you he will try everything he can to distract you from God. Knowing that he can not pluck you from God's hand he will try to steal your time. He will try to distract you and pull you away from growth with God.

Mike and I dated again. We fell in love again. We as a couple were growing stronger than we ever had been before. We were serving all over our church. Our hearts were on fire. Then another attack. July 2013. This time it was something we never thought would happen. We placed our trust in someone who took advantage of our family. These events landed us in courts fighting a battle we obviously never would have chosen ourselves. Shaking us to our core. We began to pull away, when we should have pressed in. But thankfully we would encourage each other.  We would encourage our kids. When one was weak the other was strong. When we didn't feel like going to church we went anyway. When we felt God wasn't answering our prayers we prayed harder and asked for prayer. Each day we grew. We grew closer to God and we grew up in the spirit. And now that we are so close to seeing this thing through to the end it gives me a sense of pride knowing we did everything we could to keep this from happening again. One final court date, please pray October 15th.

We are different. We don't drink and some people don't understand that. It's ok though because it is our conviction though God that gives us this spirit of Sobriety. We are also different because we are very clear where we stand on the subject. If you ask us we will tell you how it nearly ruined our marriage. How our children were hurting for their dad and not an alcoholic absent father. (Not physically, just mentally) It is a different that I am proud of everyday.

Now as for my change, it came after Mike retired. My spending came to a screeching halt when our last military paycheck came and a job opportunity was no where in sight. Mike applied day after day, and he would get rejection after rejection. Thinking back I wish he would have kept track of each one so we could/can see what God's plan is. Each rejection has been harder and harder. So many promises and so many broken. Again sending us into this crazy place where we are pleading to God for his help and provision over our family. Each day he has taken care of us. WE HAVE NOT HAD A NEED that WAS NOT FULFILLED. Everything we have needed has been handed to us by wonderful friends and family. Sometimes without even asking. Blessings have just flowed in and I couldn't be more grateful. The hard part was staying home. Not going to Target and being able to get whatever I wanted. All spending has had to be at a minimal. We have had to get creative with Birthdays. We are on a budget that is tighter than tight, but again we have learned from it daily. We have grown closer to our kids, they are serving now in church. They are learning the books of the Bible. I couldn't ask for more and all those material things that I "thought" were desires of my heart were just junk compared to what we have in Jesus and in our true family and friends. I am thankful for those who have prayed over us over these past few years and I pray that we can pay forward all the kind things that people have done for us to others in need.

***** The praise report is it seems that Mike has found a job, but the details are still in the works and once I have them all I will share more. God is Good all the time. Looking back and seeing that one set of footprints that carried our family through is truly a blessing. I will be forever grateful.*****

So when people say "you are different." I am ok with that. I feel like the difference is Jesus, and without him I would be the same.....if that makes sense? If there was no change, then no one would see Jesus in me. They would just see me as the "Same" person I use to be. So when people say I see a difference in you it makes me beam with pride, the pride in knowing Jesus saved my marriage, he gave me courage to stand tall to a monster, and most importantly he gave himself so that I might have all these things and more in heaven with him. I am forever thankful. I am thankful for a foundation in Christ that has helped me to grow to this point and will continue to lead me in additional spiritual growth.