Hello

Hey everyone! Just wanted to give an update on my brother-in-law. He is improving and doing a lot better. He no longer is on the ventilator and is eating and drinking normally. He is still fighting infection in his blood but has come a long way. He will need some rehab for learning to walk again but other than that he is doing better. He also found out in all of this that he is a type 1 diabetic so now he will have to learn how to manage that. Continue to pray for him that he will make a full recovery and be able to get back to a somewhat normal life. Thank you.  

October Y'all!

 The Chaos and Busyness

Last month we were dealing with sickness, burns, ER visits, and doctors' offices and it seems like some of it has carried over into October. October in itself is a busy month for us anyway. My kids go to a small school that holds a tradition every year for the entire month of October. Most public school have what they call Homecoming, but our school has Harvest Festival. Most of our school is people funded rather than government funded. While we are considered a public school and do have basic government funding, we still need more money to stay open. So, the entire month of October is filled with Harvest Festival festivities and raising money to give our kids everything that they need and on top of that they get a week of Fall Break during October. With this sickness that has carried over that we just can't seem to get rid of we haven't participated much on the selling of items. Although, we did sell some candy bars, and my kids have participated in some of the activities being offered and purchased some of the fun items sold within their classrooms. I hate that they are both not feeling well today and had to miss out on what is going on today. Hopefully we can nip all of this sickness in the bud and get on with the rest of this month. Next month will be even busier and the month after that as well. With Thanksgiving and Christmas upon us we need to all feel our best. I'm hoping these next couple holidays will go well and everyone will be happy. Also, friends I need those who pray to pray for my sister-in-law's fiancé. He is very sick right now and we are waiting for test results to see what all is wrong with him. Prayers that everything will be okay and prayers that all of my household will be able to get over sickness. Sorry that I have not been as consistent on this blog as I had hoped to be, but it seems I am in a season of chaos at the moment. I love you all.

         - Destinee

                                                                                

Be Rejoiceful Even in Suffering

 Today's Devotional

Today I decided to read in the book of Philippians, and I just started with Chapter 1. The Apostle Paul and Timotheus are speaking to the saints at Philippi. This chapter is teaching us that God's work in believers will be completed and that suffering for Christ is a privilege and we shouldn't be discouraged. It encourages believers to live in a manner worthy of the gospel, to stand united, and to find joy and purpose even in opposition because these circumstances can further the gospel's spread and bring glory to Christ. Let's look at some key themes in the chapter.

Rejoice Even in Suffering:    

Chapter 1 puts emphasis on finding joy in adverse circumstances just as Paul being imprisoned because these circumstances serve to the advance of the gospel.

Confidence in God's Work:

Paul expresses firm confidence that God, who began a good work in the Philippians, will bring it to completion by the day of Christ.

Focus on Christ:

Paul highlights the importance of living a Christ-centered life, stating that "to live is Christ and to die is gain."    

Unity and Perseverance:

The chapter encourages the believers in Philippi to stand together in unity, to live lives that are worthy of the gospel, and to not be afraid of those who oppose them.

The Gospel Advances:

Paul rejoices that his imprisonment and suffering have actually furthered the cause of the gospel, as his circumstances have led others to share and promote Christ.

Overview

We as Christians should know that things won't always be easy in our walk with God on this earth, but we can find joy and hope in the fact that we have an eternal home awaiting us one day. Because we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we can be assured that one day we won't have to struggle and battle with our flesh. Jesus paid every debt of sin that ever will be when He died on the cross. He sacrificed himself to deliver us from all sin and evil and the eternal separation of God. It is through Christ that we can come before the throne of God. Trusting and believing in Him and placing all of our faith in Him is the key to eternal life in Heaven someday. I want to do all that I can to keep my name in the book of life. I want to make it. If you don't know Jesus, I urge you to get your heart right. This world is not going to last forever, and we get closer each day to the return of Christ. I pray each of you will place your trust in Jesus and make Him the Lord of your life. Let him come into your heart. Repent and turn from your wicked ways today. Tomorrow is not promised. I love you all. May God bless you. 

Apologies

 Hello everyone!         

Sorry I've been MIA! So much has been going on this past month. Between my daughter having to go to the ER for an allergic reaction to later that evening going right back to the ER with my youngest son because he fell near a bon fire and got burned to sickness all throughout my house. It has been chaos the whole month of September. Now September was a rollercoaster month for me, spiritually speaking. Now I have been in and out of church for my whole life as you will know if you have read any of my previous blog posts. By no means am I a "baby Christian" but I absolutely have fallen off the wagon more times than I can count. I'm ashamed of that. I know how wrong it is to turn away from God and sin more just to come running back to the foot of the cross begging and pleading for forgiveness and mercy. With the death of Charlie Kirk this past month, my desire to get my life in order and follow Christ wholeheartedly. Truely and honestly this time. I know the storms and trials and tribulations I may face but I can never go back to sin this time by choice. My marriage has not been the best in the past few years and many know that based on previous blog posts but I am not giving in to the enemy any more. I'm standing my ground and taking back my house, my family, and my marriage. Everything I have belongs to God and I intend to follow Jesus Christ from this point forward in truth. I'm by no means perfect and I may fail many more times but I refuse to give up. A lot of my struggle with my marriage is the feeling of being out of control of the situations that arise. I had to finally decide to stop lurking and checking my husbands downfalls and paying attention to his sin and start worrying about my own salvation. I can't make my husband do right but I can pray and praying is what I've been doing. I had to give my husband to the Lord and stop trying to control and fix everything about him and change everything he is doing wrong. I know that nothing is impossible for God. He can heal all of the brokenness that is in my life and my marriage and even my husband. Other than the fiasco of things going on this past month, the reason I haven't been on here daily is because I have just really been studying my bible and really looking at God's word. I recently have been studying up on the rapture and the tribulation. I know that is a controversial topic today but I'm curious what other people believe. Pre tribulation rapture, mid tribulation rapture, or post tribulation rapture. I haven't fully decided what I believe about it yet but I do believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross and bore all my sins so that I could be forgiven and have access to Heaven one day so long as I stay faithful and follow God's will. That's another question for you. Do you know Jesus as your personal Lord and savior? Have you been born again? It is so important in the present with all that is going on in the world and what is coming to be prepared and know within your heart that you are saved. I am holding on to my salvation at all costs. I'm trying to prepare my house for the last days that are coming. We may not know the hour or the day when Jesus will return but I want to be ready when He comes. I want my house to make it to Heaven all together and not have to experience Hell for eternity. I pray that everyone will think about after reading this. Are you saved? 

Also, I recently watched a movie on Tubi called New World Order. It was definitely a wakeup call for what is to come in the future. If you haven't seen it, I recommend checking it out. I hope you all will forgive me for not keeping up with my daily/weekly devotionals. Life has just been different lately. Maybe I'll get back to it soon. As always thank you for following my blog and my prayers are with anyone who likes my blog and reads it. Talk soon, I hope. 

                                                                                            -Destinee