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Friday, September 18, 2015

How does support of family and friends look?


Bear one another burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)   Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friend. (Proverb 18:24)

One thing I leaned from a bible study I recently attended at my church is no longer is taking out time to rest a good thing, but it is absolutely essential to be well.   I've given myself some time away to enjoy some of the things I like doing crocheting, visiting the sick, helping Veterans through the daunting red tape to get the help both physically and emotionally they need, and helping women look and feel their best no matter what season of life the may be in. All of which are making an impact on building up the Kingdom of God.
Back writing today, I felt a nudge that gently reminded me that it is imperative to continue what I've started to completion. For a couple of reasons, the first is the fact that I know others will benefit from these experiences, but most of all everything this entire journey points back towards God.   
I'm sure that I've mentioned that the only way to go through what I've gone through is with "Jesus on your side" (words to a lil song I wrote many years ago), and the loving support of family and friends. One very unique thing I'd like to say is outside of the outward appearance, my family and friends look and act so much alike, and I am so very thankful for each of them. Another fact is it safe to say my family and friends go hand and hand, and have become interchangeable, such a beautiful experience.
This post is to tag some recently submitted videos to the blog.  Let me just pause and do a lil shot/scream out to Dave Roberts for all of his hard work he has done. I have a new plan for the blog starting Sunday, so I'll  brag on him, and Kelley Stamps, for putting the blog up, and helping me to maintain it.
Some of the videos posted were taken last year, the Lord allowed Joshua and I to host Thanksgiving here in Northwest Arkansas in our home.  This is one of my favorite family traditions.  We've done Thanksgiving this way for as long as I can remember.  We rotate where we celebrate, and the last time it was supposed to be here I wasn't physically able to host it so this was a huge blessing. The other videos were done earlier this year.
After viewing the videos, I felt like I needed to explain we made it to this point heavily reliant on our faith in God, and the support of each other.  Having family and friends isn't the same as having the support w/o asking of family and friends. Knowing there was never a reason to call because family/friends were here and still hang around to date.  I have a hard time communicating what I feel when I think of the family and friends God surrounded us with.  You realize early on who will be there for you, and at times I was really surprised, but am so much better for knowing.  The scripture that comes to mind is Philippians 4:19 ... and God shall supply all our needs according to His riches of glory in Christ Jesus did not disappoint. 
My immediate family is very unique, in that we fight about which one of us is going to do the thing that no one wants to do, and in most families it is the other way around.  My father was/is so very strict on us (now suffering from dementia very evident in his video), and my mother let's just say I would be "whipped" with whatever she could put her hand on (and they both agree I needed all the discipline I received growing up).  We have a blended family I am the middle girl of six girls and we have one older brother and the baby of our family is my other brother.  As with any other family we have our ups and downs, there are the intellectuals, nutty, humorous, serious, sweet, easy going and down right mean in which our family can be defined (have a good time figuring out which one is which).  Throughout this journey there were some role changes in which confirms God's control, and how His love was the constant that kept us. My extended family pretty much operated in conjunction with my biological family and we all share the common denominator Jesus and His love for us.  
There were many who were going to record but we had a time limit and schedules wouldn't afford everyone the opportunity to video, I want to mention how much of a blessing to be surrounded in love, every need supplied. 
These videos were posted to encourage other family and friends going through a similar journey.  It is easy to see we are ordinary people with many imperfections.  One thing that defines a true family in my opinion is learning to overlooked each other faults and love each other through.  We don't suffer from spiritual amnesia like we have it all together, but admit we are all work in progress. 
Everyone that took part knows first hand what this journey is about and wanted to share from a sister's point of view, a mother's point of view, child's point of view and from a friend's point of view and others to give hope that we made it with our faith and what God did for us through each other can work the same way for you ... trust HIM !!!
To God be the Glory Great things HE has done.

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