Home Sweet Simple Home

sales, repairs and a pity party

I doubt I have yet sufficiently recovered from this past weekend’s yard sale. The sale was good- made a bit more than our goal so we feel very blessed. We got rid of a bunch of “stuff”, made some cash (towards car repairs) and have other “stuff” boxed up and ready to take to Goodwill and the Free Store. My house is cleaner too, which is a nice bonus. [Mr. Steady and I would not let a single item come back into the house that we put in the sale.]
The car has been taken to the repair shop as it turns out it is not something Mr. Steady can fix himself. I am thankful that my sister’s boyfriend is a mechanic. It is quite hard to find an honest mechanic that looks out for the best of his customer. However, the repair is extremely expensive. We will have to empty our Christmas fund (again) in order to cover the repair costs.

I am so close to breaking down I can’t even begin to describe it. I know God is good and He provides- after all, we have been able to come up with the money (and there are still many months before Christmas to save more) but just the thought of such a large expense again has really put me in a tailspin today.

I am also on a deadline to get my monthly youth ministry reports to the church secretary, plus write and turn in annual youth ministry report, have 20+ people over here for the 4^th, plus make time to make a dish and finagle a babysitter so that I can attend my great aunt’s funeral this Friday. That doesn’t even cover the other “regular” youth work I’m suppose to be doing this week as well as the prep work for the youth camp-out coming up in a couple of weeks.
To be succinct, I am having myself a really good “Poor Me” party right now- one that I do not have time for.
I know my God is awesome. I know He is faithful.
While working at my desk I found Psalm 107:9 scrawled on a scrap of paper and was compelled to look it up.

Psalm 107:9 for he satisfies the thirsty
       and fills the hungry with good things.

Yesterday, we discussed the woman at the well in Sunday School class and this brought back to me the discussion Mr. Steady and I had with the youth. Part of what we talked about was that we all agreed that the woman’s life was changed forever but she would have still faced the hardships of the decisions she had made. I can relate to that. But this verse also reminds me that My God satisfies and supplies my needs. He knows even better than I, what we need. I am aware of how He has reached down and kept us from falling time and time again.

Phil 1:6 NLT And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

The song that comes from this verse has been in my mind and on my lips today also. God reminds me that He continues to work in me and through me. And He will be faithful to the work He has begun in me until completion, i.e. heaven. God has not left me or turned his back on me. I must remain faithful and steadfast.
2 Chronicles 7:10 Be joyful and glad of heart for the good that the LORD has done!

Oh, Lord help me to be joyful no matter my circumstances. May I always rejoice in you no matter where life’s road leads. You have done great things for me. Thank you Lord. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do. Thank you for the reminder that you have not finished the good work you started in me and that you will continue to work in me my whole life through. Thank you for holding me up today. Amen

Hello!

8:19 AM, 2007-Jul-3 .. Posted by LittleHouse

I can also relate to the women at the well. When I feel down I think of her:)

I hope you have a blessed day!

Ma

Christmas Fund

8:50 AM, 2007-Jul-3 .. Posted by Isabella

Thank The Lord that you have an "emergency" fund. You can always make due for Christmas. I have seen how you budget for meals and you will make it. Don't forget about the dollar store, yard sales, and all the gifts that your kids get from relatives. Christmas will be wonderful! Have a blessed day and think about the great things that you and your dh are doing for your family. I

Untitled Comment

9:16 AM, 2007-Jul-3 .. Posted by JoyceFamily

I've been there myself, more times than I care to admit. Is it possible to lighten your workload as you seek a simpler life? It seems that you have an awful lot on your plate. Can anyone else take up some of the church youth commitments? Maybe that's not what you want to hear! But now that I'm 45 and my kids are nearly all in their teens I see in hindsight that I tried to do far too much outside of the home when they were little, and I wish I had done things differently. Just a thought! Praying God's peace and strength for you.
Eleanor

from Amy

3:25 PM, 2007-Jul-3 .. Posted by YPAmy5

Yes, I need to lighten my load. It usually isn’t this bad- just a lot of things happening all at once. As much as I would love to have more help with the youth- we are having a serious shortage of volunteers at our church and since I’m a paid youth worker many people don’t see the need to help out because “that’s what the church pays me for right?” Yeah, I’ve heard that before.
I would like to lighten my load in some areas for the very reasons you say- to spend more time with my family.
I am in prayer- praying for God to show me where to spend my time the most wisely.