The glass is half full

 Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.


 
How do you think?  Do you see the glass is half full or half empty?  Do you see it as a lost sock or you have one sock?   

In our Sunday school class this past Sunday, our teacher has started a new series and this week it was about "Thoughts".  This could be interesting, right?  Have you ever thought about your thoughts?  I know, that sounds weird!  But really...I never thought about it before until I was in his class listening to him.  

We can sit and please God by our actions.  We can please Him by saying the "right" thing.  We can please Him by giving Him the glory when we are church or telling others of Him.  But the question becomes do we please Him with our thoughts?  The things I just mentioned are outward actions.  I mean - others can see what we are doing and see how we are serving Him.  But are we serving Him COMPLETELY?  Are we serving Him with our thoughts as well.

When Emily has been in the hospital, I would openly be reading a Christian  book or pull out my Bible and be doing my devotions ~ right there in her room.  Right there so anyone could walk up and see my Bible open and know what I was doing.  I knew that I maybe asked about my faith.   I was never approached about my readings but I was approached several times on "how we do it".  After the first couple times of being asked that, I no longer had to ask "how we do what"?  I knew what they were talking about.  Nurses and even some parents of other patients - would ask "how do you do it".  Nurses would say they have seen patients with a lot less medical issues going on and the parents are a basket case.  Trust me, I was a basket case too but my answer was ALWAYS the same.  The only way we make it is by our faith in Jesus Christ.  The way we handle things is by knowing that HE IS IN CONTROL.  Knowing that Emily is in His hands ~ that is how I can sit at her bedside each night, go with her to every surgery, be there with every blood drawn.  This is how I make it each and every day.  I felt just the actions were a testimony for my Lord.

The issue, for me and especially after hearing our lesson Sunday, would be if my thoughts werent following in the same suit.  I mean if my actions were the ones of all worship to God and if my words were saying one thing but deep inside...i didnt believe what I said.  If I, deep down, somehow blamed the doctors for not figuring out what was wrong with Emily sooner.  Or I spoke one thing but felt completely different inside...theres a problem there! Now, I am not saying I am perfect.  I am not saying that i never have a thought that isnt right or that isnt pleasing to God.  What I am saying though, is especially now, I am going to strive to make sure my thoughts will be the same as my actions.  I am going to work on making sure that the thoughts that I think about or dwell on during the day will be pleasing to the Lord.  

Some of my issues are to dwell on the past.  This is a BIG issue with me that I am working on.  Dwelling on times when I didnt feel good enough, or times when things didnt go right or maybe when i completely messed up and wished for a "do over".  Then there are thoughts where I may question did I say the right thing when I asked Jesus to live in my heart ~  when my kids asked Jesus into their hearts ~ did I make sure they said the right thing.  I am learning that Satan wants us so badly to dwell on things that are not right and make us question things that are concerning God.  By me questions my salvation or my kids is just not right.  I know, now, that Satan is trying to mess with me and I will not allow it anymore!  I realize that dwelling on the past is also not right.  I have to remember the past is just that...the past!

I will make sure my thoughts are thoughts that are right, pure and on God!  If they arent, I ask that they maybe taken away and quickly.

I also learned that another way to keep positive, pure, pleasing thoughts on God is to be in the company of other believers.   Have you ever been around someone where all they did was complain?  Have you ever found yourself after being with someone like that - that you are complaining or being so negative?  I know its that way with me. Sometimes it can almost be a toxic thing.  I know, for me, it can get exhausting and then almost depressing when you Im finished with the conversation.

Next time you go out with your friends think about the company you are going to be in.  Think about if this is pleasing to God.  Next, think about your actions...do your actions and thoughts line up?   Make sure that you are a witness not just by your actions but that your thoughts line up with those actions!

One of my new favorite singers is Colton Dixon.  Here is a song that I think goes perfectly with this post!

Rejection

 Job 21:14 (NIV)
Yet they say to God, 'Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways.

 

Rejection.  One word with a big meaning.  Rejection.   How do you feel after being rejected?  I'm sure it certainly isn't "Let's go conquer the world".  

This post has been weighing on me alot ~ especially lately.  When I think - I am NOT blogging about that - it keeps being thought of. 

I think about the feeling of being rejected.  It hurts.  It may feel like a slap in the face.  I feel like i tend to be the type of person that is a "people pleaser".  I want everyone to be happy and deep down maybe I want everyone to like me.  When I know someone doesn't this feels like rejection to me. The past few weeks I have been working on this.  Praying about this.  It may sound stupid or a bit ridiculous to pray about people liking me but it wasn't that.  It was praying about how to accept that I cant MAKE everyone like me.  This has been a struggle but something I want to overcome.  I feel like facing it head on - I can do this.  Again, may sound stupid to someone but for me...this has been an issue that I NEED to face.  

During this process I have learned I cant ~ as much as I would like to ~ have control over people and how they feel.   Its a blessing to me though.  Crazy I know.  Its a blessing because even though this is my "rejection" it has taught me more then just overcoming things....

I remember one day a couple years ago ~ in fact, it was shortly after Emily got out of the hospital and was at the biggest she has been since being on steroids.  I took her and Ben to the park.  There was another girl there that looked to be a few years older then Emily.  Both her and Emily were on the slide and Emily was about to go down.  The little girl looked at Emily and said "you know, if you didnt eat so much and exercised you could lose your weight".  Emily just looked at her like "Girl, you have no idea what you are talking about".  Instead of Emily letting this affect her, she smiled and went zooming down the slide.  Shortly after that, we left and Emily began telling me what had happened.  My heart broke.  I dealt with adults and their verbal judgement on Emily when she was 3.  The hurtful words and the words the yelled rejection because of the way she looked.  Now, a few years later, Emily has to face this head on.  Let me say, she handled it better then I ever did back in 2007!  

There was another time, right after Emily went back to school after missing 3 months.  I took Emily in before the Christmas break so the kids could see her.  She was physically different and I didnt want her to have a hard time adjusting to being at school but also the million questions that the other students would have.  One day she came home from school and said someone said a bad word to me today.  I said tell me what they said - you wont be in trouble.  She said they said the F word to me.  Ok, my first thought was really?  They are in 1st grade and someone said the "F" word to her.  Then i realize it was the OTHER - F - word ~ FAT.  My heart broke.  Emily told me what happened and how her teacher immediately took care of the situation.  I, rather, went into the other room and cried.  The rejection that she would face because of her size...her appearance was what i was trying to avoid.

Thinking about how I feel when the feelings of rejection are felt.  Feeling how hurt - rejected - Emily felt with the unkind words being said to her made me think of a couple things.  How too often are we judging people by their appearance.  How often are people treated differently because of the way they look.  Do we, ourselves, turn the other way when you see the homeless man at the side of the road?  Are we rejecting him?  What about someone needing directions.  Are we more willing to help the clean cut, in shape person and rejecting the person that maybe overweight and wearing clothes that arent the cleanest or nicest?

The other thing I thought of is rejection of Jesus.  Can you imagine how He felt?  I mean He had people following Him and listening to Him speak and soon He had the same people yelling "Crucify" Him when He was being hung on the cross. When we hear the message ~ the salvation message ~ and we dont accept the perfect gift of eternal life...we ARE rejecting Jesus.  Everytime we hear that small voice in us saying "make a better choice" and we know we should and dont...we are, in fact, rejecting Jesus by not listening to HIS voice. 

Next time we feel the need to turn away from the homeless man or not be as nice to the person that isnt dressed like maybe you would ~ remember, your not just rejecting them but also Jesus.  

How radical are you?

How radical are you?  Its a simply question right?  Would your friends think you are?  Do they think you are the life of the party?  Does everyone tend to always need to be by you at the dinner party?  I want to be radical and that is a goal of mine!

Ok, what gives, right?  I mean, I usually dont write about parties or how cool someone can be and this time is no exception!  I am talking about how radical are you about Christ?  Are you a follower or just a fan?

This past Sunday, our teacher was out of town so we had the college age teacher speak to our class.  I must tell you this before I go any further though ~ our Sunday school class I just recently "qualified" to be in the class (going by age).  Because Bryan is older then me...i was "graced" in!  Our classes have ages to them.   You can be older or younger but its simply a guideline especially if someone is new to the church and looking for a class that has people in there that is their same age or around their age.  So because I just had my 40th birthday in December ~ I now "qualify" for our class!  Ok, so saying all that, I will get back to our speaker.... Caleb Moore was our teacher for last Sunday.  When he got up there and said he was going to teach our class and he teaches the college class....my instant thought was ~ what could he possibly teach me.  I am close to 20 years older then him.  Man was that thoughts of "just try it Lord" or what because several times during the approximate 35 min., did I casual wipe away the tears that were building in my eyes.  Careful to wipe them before the tears streamed down my cheeks.  He talked about how God COMMANDS us to tell others about Him.  Its NOT an option, its NOT if we feel like it today or tomorrow....its a commandment to "just do it"!  He spoke about this book called Radical by David Platt.  Its about taking up our cross and really following Christ.  Its about leaving behind all these worldly possessions and just follow.

Think about it ~ what is more important...that new car, that new iphone or ipod or is telling the person next to you about the love of Jesus Christ?  The One that died on the cross and saved us from eternal hell.  The One, that only if we ask Him in our hearts, will GLADLY come in. The One who, if you or myself was the only person ~ He STILL would have took all that on the cross just to save you...me.  What an amazing gift.  What a gift that He could have simply told God ~ NO WAY am I going to die on the cross for them.  But He did it!  He did it because He loved us.  How much do we love Him?  How much are we willing to give up for Him.  So what if someone calls you a "Jesus freak" if you start to talk about His love and the salvation plan....that would be a compliment not an insult.   So you may have people turn their backs on you, make fun of you or possibly torment you.  Guess what ~ Jesus endured all that.  One week people were praising His name and a few days later they were the ones saying "Crucify Him".  Look at what He did for us.  Why is it so hard to do what He commands of us?  There is so many lost people out there...it is just heartbreaking.

As I started reading the book, it talks of people in Asia who risk their lives just to sneak into a building to pray or to have a little service.  Some people leave their families because the risk is too great.  Imagine that...being killed for praying or reading your Bible.  That is just incredible to me considering all the freedom we have living in the United States.  We can openly go to church on a Sunday and worship and praise our God.  We can do this without any danger coming to us or our families.  These people are Radical.  They are willing to give up their lives to follow Christ - to seek Him out.

After just finishing up Christmas, I admit...my kids received alot!  But I have a new thinking.  This is just stuff...thats it.   Its all material things ~ that honestly, its all wants.  Its not important.  What is important is reaching out to the lost souls.  The Bible states we dont know the day or hour that Christ is coming back.  Dont you want to be prepared?  Dont you want to be with Him forever in eternity?
I know this probably isnt what you were expecting when you started reading this today.  I know this doesnt really have anything to do with HLH ~ with Emily...maybe.  I am trying to teach her now about how unimportant material things are.  Yes, if you just read my post from last night you will see how she is saving up for American Girl dolls and its fine ~ but its not what is REALLY important in life.  What is important is that I know my little girl has Jesus in her heart.  I long for the day when Benjamin asks Jesus in his heart as well.  I love the fact that Emily will tell her friends at school about Jesus and I love that Benjamin will just break out in song at the store.  The fear of telling others about Jesus when your a child seems so simple ~ so easy.  But as adults it seems to become harder - not as easy.  Maybe we are more worried about how our peers are going to see us, tease us or treat us.  How will our boss feel about us when he finds out "we are one of them".

Give it all for Him.  Become radical for Christ.  I have to thank Caleb for his teaching our class this past Sunday.  He taught me something, yes....someone that is close to 20 years younger then I, that I will never forget.  He has given me a different look on life...a look that is so important and the need of reaching the unsaved is so great.  I want to be that radical person for Christ.    Will you?  How radical are you?

Happy New year 2013

Happy New Year! 

It amazes me how quickly a year passes.  It seems like we were just starting 2012 out and we are now into a new year, new resolutions (or goals ~ which is what i do), new promises or new things to look forward to in the new year.  How often though do we reflect on the year that has passed?  Do we sit down and look at the resolutions or goals that we made for the previous year and see if we met the goals?  Do we sit down and really look at how God has blessed us during the year?  Do we really give Him thanks?

I did look over the very first few posts I made when I started this blog (which Happy Birthday "Emilys life with HLH" ~ you turned 1 on 1-1-13).  I did look over the goals I set into place for 2012.  I still have alot to work on ~ I did meet my book goal though of reading 30 books in the year!  My new goal is 40 for this year!    I generally dont look over the goals though...this time I did.  Why?  I dont know.  Maybe it was a way to see what areas I still feel the need to work on.   In doing this, however, it also made me take note of how blessed we are.  I may not have accomplished everything I wanted to this past year but we did see some incredible things happen! 

Emily got off her steroids and most of her medications
We were able to get a dog
Ben turned 4 and started pre-school
My BFF and her family came to stay with us for a week
Austin took the first stage of drivers training
The Lord continues to bless and provide for us

These may seem like "not big deals", but to me...I just feel incredibly blessed and feel these are accomplishments and this is what made the year great.  I honestly could have listed much more but this is just a few.

I am one of those "weird" ones that keeps EVERY receipt.  I dont care if i am buying a pretzel at the mall or a frozen coke at Target...I get one!  If i dont get one, I am certainly writing it down when i get home.  I track our spending for the month and yes i do end up doing an excel file so it adds up each category for the year!  Yes, I am weird and it probably sounds like i have nothing to do.  This is the first time i have done the excel thing though!  I am glad i did.  I could see in black and white areas that we need to work on.  This also helped me so i could set up new goals....new goals as far as where we spend on our money....Gods money. 

See, when you think of it as GODS money you tend to spend it a little differently then you would simply by spending MY money.  When I go grocery shopping, i want to honor Him and spend His money in a proper way...far different then i would probably think about spending my money.  This year this is my goal is to think of the money we have in these terms.   I have set goals on where we need to cut back on and categories that we spend way too much in (sorry McDonalds...we will not be regulars anymore).  The Lord has blessed Bryan with a wonderful job and He has blessed us where I am able to stay at home with the kids.  Because of this...I need to do my job in giving Him the most honor I can.

This is not only going to be teaching me self-control when i am at Target but it will also be teaching the kids something too.  They dont get everything they want....when they want it.....even if they are screaming at the top of their lungs (sorry people at Kohls from the other day)!  We are talking of going to New York to see Bryans family that lives in Brooklyn and the American Girl store is there.  Emily is determined to purchase 2 dolls while we are there.  She has already saved enough for 1/2 of 1.  For her, this is great because if she is given even $1.00 it is burning a hole in her pocket and she needs to spend it.  Its really teaching her to save for what she wants.  I am proud of her!  Today she has started cleaning out books in her room and plans on selling them at a garage sale we have or is hoping i will sell them on ebay!  She is determined to save the money.  Again, a great lesson I am learning from her!

This may have seemed like a bunch of rambling and I apologize for that.   I will leave you with this thought though ~ when making your goals this year, think about them in terms of how will this please and honor HIM (the Lord Jesus Christ) and bring HIM the most glory.

Happy New Year!

IN everything, give thanks

I Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus


This is just such a powerful verse to me...especially after the morning service on Sunday.  I must first say that our choir was simply amazing with the song they sang and then the soloist made it a Sunday we wouldn't forget.  I thought there was nothing that could make the service better.  I mean it was already such a huge blessing.  Well, our Pastor...he topped it off! This is the passage that his message came from.  I am so thankful to be going to a Bible preaching/teaching church!

I have sat in countless services.  As a young person, I must admit, that I never really paid attention.  At least not like should.  As an adult, I paid attention but still my mind tended to wonder.  It seems to me, that maybe I just wasnt feeling "fed".  What I mean by that is ~ I loved our previous church.  I went there my entire life.  We opted to change churches about 4 1/2 years ago.  The church we are members of now ~ Amazing!  When I say how much I love my church...its honestly an understatement!  I feel fed when I am there.  I take notes now.  I just feel blessed.  Now I will also admit that while I am paying attention to the service, my mind has sometimes wondered and thought, "Gosh so-and-so should be here for this one....THEY need it!"  What I have learned to say is - "I am so thankful I am here because I NEED it"!   This past Sunday was no exception!  Our Pastors sermon on this one verse made me see it in a different way.

Every situation in our lives we need to be giving thanks IN the situation.  I walked away thinking about our life with Emily's health.  Sure I thanked Him for healing her so she could leave the hospital, get off some medication.  But while the service was going on I felt the real question ~ did I thank him IN the situation.  Was I a thankful person during her ICU stay?  I realized that this verse was not saying be thankful for the situation you are in but just be thankful IN everything.  I dont have to be thankful that Emily has HLH but I can still be thankful to Him!

Our Pastor gave a really good example of someone that could have allowed her life to go in a different direction if she hadnt leaned on Him.  Fanny Crosby, who was blind since approximately 6 weeks old, held no bitter feelings to God for her becoming blind at such a young age.  Instead, she went on to serve Him and write many, many of the hymns we now sing in church.  Fanny once said
"Mother, if I had a choice, I would still choose to remain blind ... for when I die; the first face I will ever see will be the face of my blessed Saviour".  How awesome is this?!  Honestly, would we share the same feelings as her?  This is a true example of giving thanks IN a situation instead of allowing the situation to just ruin us!  There is a great site that shares the biography about her, how she became blind and the amazing Grandmother she had that taught her about the love of Jesus Christ!  Fanny is a true example of "giving thanks IN every circumstance".  She inspires me to do better in remembering this.  This is Gods will for my life and therefore, just be thankful in everything.

I found this song that Chris Tomlin sings "All the Way My Savior Leads Me".  This is one of the songs that Fanny wrote.  Take a few minutes to really listen to the words....maybe really listen to them for the first time.  What I mean by that is, many times we will sing  a song in church but maybe not pay attention to the words or let them really sink in of what the meaning is.  Sometimes when we sit down to really listen to the words of a song its almost like we are hearing it for the first time.  Let today be the day that you hear this song for the first time!

Thanksgiving is coming in a few days and my desire is to make sure I am giving thanks in every situation, even when its not Thanksgiving.  Be thankful IN every situation because this is God's will for your life.  Emily goes back to see her doctor at the hospital next week and I will be thankful in that visit.  Every time we go, its a reminder (amongst the daily reminders) that she is sick....this time though I will be going with a different feeling!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and just be thankful....
IN everything!

Here is the link if you want to read the biography of Fanny Crosby:

http://www.earnestlycontending.com/KT/bios/fannycrosby.html

We all need a helping hand

We all need a helping hand from time to time.  Sometimes its easier to sit back and say "I can handle it" when deep down inside we wish someone would come in and could read our mind.  That seems scary in a way ~ someone reading our mind! I say all the time that "I have it" or "I will do it"...even if it means making myself feel even more overwhelmed then what I may already be.

Our silly Benjamin

Benjamins birthday is exactly 1 month from today.  He will be 4 then.  Goodness how fast time flies!  Anyway, I have started to really plan his birthday.  All the fun ideas I am getting (thanks Pinterest) to make this a special time for him. Having a birthday close to Christmas, I dont want him to ever feel like he is "forgotten" or that his birthday is overlooked or just mixed in with Christmas.  I want him to feel special and to always do something special.  My birthday is December 23rd - so him and I will always have something in common with a birthday that close to Christmas. Ok, so I started to ramble ~  his theme is Pirates!  He is crazy about pirates for some reason!  I have been looking for the "gold coins" - you know, the ones that are chocolate ~ every time we go to a store now.  I can never find them.  I think Emily started getting a little annoyed because recently it has become a mission of mine to find these.  Today we stopped at Meijers so I could return something.  After allowing the kids to look in the toys and beg for things for awhile, we started to leave.  As we were getting closer to the door, Ben saw a dollar section that had Christmas things.  I allowed them to stop and look.  All of a sudden I hear "MOM!"  As I turn to look, I see Emily holding up a little bag of these golden coins!  She said "I found them!".  It was so neat to see her getting so excited about this.  I know it was her way of also feeling like she has had something special to do to be involved in his party planning!  I thanked her and we hurried and grabbed a bunch of the little bags!  

Brooklyn - 5 months old

To change gears a little, I love my scrapbooking!  It seems though I havent really scrapbooked for my kids since Emily was sick in 2007.  It pains me to think I have 5 years of catching up to do!  Poor Benjamin, he doesnt even have a book yet (although I do have a book ready to start for him)!  For me, as much as I love it, it is very time consuming!  I need alot of patience, time by myself, quiet time so I can think and get my ideas in order.  I havent really had that over the last few years and especially over the last few months with us getting a dog in July!  

Her ear ring

a necklace I made for me

What I have found though, is I have started making necklaces!  I love it too!  What I love most though, I can sit at the table, still be with the kids, interact with them and still be able to do something I am enjoying!  After I finished a couple of them, Emily asked me to make one for her.  After I did that, she then asked for matching ear rings!  She asked if she could help.  I told her no...mostly because maybe I was being selfish and wanted to do something where it was "just me" or to have "just my time", but also because I knew it would take time to sit and help her with it.  So instead ~ we made Christmas ornaments.  This project was good because her and Ben could both help and their helping hands made the ornaments that much more special.  I love it because we are keeping one for our tree but are also going to give them to their teachers for gifts!  Gifts that THEY were able to help with and has made it that much more special!

"Santa's" belt is almost done

I needed Emily and Bens helping hands in making the ornaments.  I needed their hands to make them extra special.  Sure I could have done it myself and it would have meant something but I feel like because they got involved, were wanting to do it and make them, because they were excited about doing it and it was special for them....it made it all worth while! 

Sometimes, it seems like we are this way with God.  We sit back and tell Him "I can handle it" and deep down you (and HE) knows you cant.  He knows you need Him and so do you but you allow your pride or selfishness to get involved.  Trust me, I have done this.  There have been times when I have said..."I've got this" and I know deep down I dont.  I cant do it by myself.  I NEED Him.  Its awesome to know He always has my back.  He will always be there with His helping hand open and ready!  Will you grab it?  Will you hold on and accept His help?

No matter what

No matter what....it's easy to say but do we really mean it?  The words seem to flow out of our mouth sometimes...just like telling someone we will pray for them ~ do we or is it just the "proper" thing to say at that moment?  When we have struggles, trials that come our way ~ do we follow and trust God completely? No matter what?

Unfortunately (and fortunately) we have had to live this.  With Emily's sickness it really has to be a "no matter what" situation with God.  I mean, seriously, if we took matters in our own hands - how would we do it?   We obviously have trust in the doctors that care for Emily but our ultimate trust has to come from HIM!  

The dreadful anniversary that is edged in my heart and head has come and gone.  The date of September 30th.  The day that I thought part of my world was crashing at a rapid pace but also the day that my faith and trust in God was being tested one more time.  September 30th ~ the day I had to place a panic 9-1-1 phone call to save my daughters life.  The day that i would no longer see this precious little girl but see a very sick little girl in ICU on a vent for the next month!  This is a day that tends to come with emotion for me.  Yes, I remember that morning like it was just yesterday but I am learning to not let it control me at that time every year!  Its been two years and we have so much to be thankful for.  Emily is thriving and is doing remarkably well.  Coming home from the hospital and having medicine co-pays of upwards to 300.00 a month to now having them down to 20.00 a month for her is just something I could never see!  The Lord is good!

On the way home from dropping Benjamin off at pre-school, a song came on the radio.  "No matter what" is the title of the song.  As I drove and listened to the song it made me think...the Lord knows the trials we face and when we will face them...HE has already seen them!  But our test is here ~ will we still trust Him?  Will we still love Him and follow Him?  My faith is so much stronger now because of the trails we have faced in our lives.  Not just with Emily, but day-to-day trials as well.  I sit here and I can honestly say YES!  My heart and life is HIS to have!  I will follow and trust.  Not just when its "a good time" or during a trial will I do this but every day!  

When listening to this song, thoughts of the trials that we face came to mind but something else.  I thought of my cousin.  You see in the last 5 years she has lost 2 children.  A boy and a girl.  I thought how much her strength amazed and still amazes me.  What else amazed me....her faith!  How her strength came from God and how she leaned on Him to help her endure this.  She was and is a huge example to me of what faith in the Almighty God can do for a person.  Because of her loss, she has gone on to write a book now, she volunteers her time to help others who share similar stories and she is now doing speaking engagements!  The Lord has blessed her! At the time of losing her children she could have easily given up.  She could have easily become bitter with God ~ instead she CHOSE Him!  She chose to serve Him still - no matter what!

A friend of mine recently told me something that has made me really think.  She said "Everyone always says God doesn't give us more then we can handle."  She said "I think thats garbage"!  -- let me pause for a min.  i will admit when she said that, i was shocked!  i thought that is crazy and then she went on -- she said "I think He gives us MORE then we can handle so we HAVE to lean on Him and trust Him"!  I will say, I think she is right!  

I am so thankful that I have a Father that I can lean on, put all my trust in and know He has seen the trial that is coming and how it will unfold.  I will trust Him, follow Him and love Him ~ no matter what!  Will you?