God goes hiking...

                                                           God Goes Hiking

                                                          1 Corinthians 12:4-

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines......

. A few weeks back I  Googled some local trails. I found a 7.6 mile hike over on Caney Lake in Minden. I contacted my sister and she was game so we started to plan. I Love the way my sister always backs me and believes in me.Having someone like this in my life just makes it more exciting and makes me more determined.
Saturday morning arrived and I was so ready to get on this hike. When Debi dropped me off at the start of the trail all I was thinking about is staying safe from snakes. I had heard nothing,but horror stories since I got to camp. I wasn't thinking all spiritual,but had prayed for safety.Little did I know God had set this hike up and it wasn't just for me.
The first few miles of the hike I was finding my pace and freaking every time the weeds rustled. I had been on the trail maybe four miles when I heard voices ahead. As I approached the bridge and stream I realized my company was two ladies allowing their beautiful Lab to play in the stream. It was about time for a rest and I never meet a stranger so we started to talk. The conversation was mainly about hiking and where we lived.
After about thirty minutes the youngest lady recommended we hang together. I thought that would be a great idea and I had some new friends that hiked. We had only hiked a few minutes when the Lord started to show me things about their lives."I am one that tries very hard to obey him when I get a word" It is at this time I turned to the older lady and said  "So you work in the medical field?" They younger lady that I had found to be her daughter stopped in her tracks and ask "What how did you know that"Not really knowing why God had showed me this all I knew was to say I just did. She kept saying that's crazy. and I can't see how you knew this. A few minutes went by and she said "so what do I do"? The Lord was showing me a Airplane so I said ..do you work in travel? She was so happy to turn around and say NOPE im a receptionist. It was at that moment I knew why I was seeing the plane and I replied ,but you always wanted to be a Stewardess.( I love when God shows up and does his work) The young girl turns and stops and says wait I don't understand how you do this. I just applied for an American Airline job two days ago.
As the Lord started to show me why I had met them and what he wanted me to share I started to explain to them. First I said let me assure you I am not in anyway a phychic.I am a Christian and God gives his children gifts. These gifts are to be used for his purpose.He would send a complete stranger and setup an appointment to show you both that he knows you,he knows where you work,he knows your dreams and desires. The Lord had also showed me that this young lady had always put her dreams on hold for everyone else and put herself last. I shared more with them as we hiked down the trail.
As we were getting closer to the end of the trail her mom was very hot and getting weak. I had called ahead to have Debi ready to pick us up. By the time we got to the end of the hike I had met new friends and God had showed up to do his work.We shared some water and a ride to their car and said our goodbyes.
I am very thankful for a safe hike and that God loves me and trust me enough to do his work.

Take a walk in my shoes

My find of the day...."Report Signature" shoes

These are all leather and new. They sale from $150-$200. I picked these beauties up for $3.99

can't wait to find the "Little Black Dress" to go with them

"Take a walk in my shoes" is a post I have felt led to write for sometime. After a few conversations this last week I decided it was time. Today my sister and I spent time together and of course we had to add some shopping in there also. Okay Im a fashionista and I will be there first to admit it.
I know many of you have followed me on the journey of my life the last four years. I have had so many people ask me how I did it. First I have to give credit to God. I do believe that being frugal is a gift.This isn't something that just started four years ago,but something I did as a wife and mommy also. I always desired for my children to have what the other children had however I couldn't stand to pay the price. I think it was during this time in my life that I found out what the word clearance meant. It may mean buying out of season,but they never lacked anything. As they started to grow and things got more expensive I fell in love with resale and consignment shops. I'll never forget the fun we had when we would buy "Teen" and "GQ" and then head out to find things to look like the magazine,but on a budget. There were times even back then people would ask how I did it?
Now if we can fast forward some to the year 2010. It was about this time in my life when I found myself making it alone. The money that I used to have was no more,but I was still the same lady. All of my life I loved shoes,clothes,jewelry,makeup and anything that had bling.I have to give the credit to my mom here.She taught me well.At this time  I wasn't sure how I would keep my life style up,but I have always been determined. Being single and getting skinny only made the desire for fashion grow, I remember many nights I would spend pinning the up and coming fashions to my style board. I would get ideas of outfits I desired to have and hit the road. I would get up early and put on some comfy workout clothes and hit the resale shops. The feeling of coming home with a $100 pair of jeans that I paid $6 is like a rush to me.Needing something for a special occasion and walking out like I just came from Dillard's makes me happy.  I can't remember paying full price for anything. It was also during this time in my life that I feel I really learned that being able to be frugal is a gift. The Bible even speaks of a virtues woman spending wisely. I could be a millionaire and I would still shop the same way.
During this walk in my life I have had many people judge me,many people that couldn't understand my way of life. Im not mad at all about this because im sure all the flashy pictures would lead others to think this. When my sister and I were shopping today and I walked up with a buggy FULL of shoes she wasn't surprised. Yep we are night and day,but we love and understand one another. Id rather have a pair of shoes and miss a meal ..... as we were standing there and I started to tell her this pair of shoes would be over $100 and they are $4.99. It was then that she said sis not everyone has that talent and maybe you can use it to help others. That is something I have thought about often..I love to see people that can't have what others do feel special.
Im not sure just how this will and can take place,but I would love nothing more than to help others..."Take a walk in my shoes"

Love this pair of "not rated"

shoes that I found today.Never worn and sale for around $60. I paid $5.99

My second favorite find today was this

Jessica Simpson "Bendie" As you see even on sale they are right at $90

This shoe was new and unworn...I paid $4.99

The devil is defeated...

The devil is defeated and God always amazes me....... With each new day I'm so surprised how God works. It is truly in ways we never expect.
Let me start out with my day and how it played out. I woke up this morning with one of the worst headaches I have ever had. I have to be really sick not to go to the gym in the morning. This was one of those morning. As I was laying in bed drinking coffee trying my best to ease the pain one of my "Gym rats" called. "Will it be okay if we skip gym this morning and go late this evening"? Oh yes praise God we can do that. It wasn't just a few minutes later when dear old dad calls..."Hey where you at? I need to go to town" if you know me I can't tell my dad no and if you know him he wouldn't take no for an answer. This wasn't a short trip either he had things all lined out.
After I got dressed and made a few stops on my way I was doing all I could and the headache wouldn't leave. I promise it didn't get any better when I arrived at dads. Wow this man was in rare form today. Bossy and fussing all the way. I finally said dad my head hurts and we need peace. Yea right not today. I continued with our trip and at times it was so bad I didn't know if id be able to get him back and put away his supplies.
Finally after things were unloaded and put away I said dad I have to get home and lay down. I headed for home and had a hard time focusing because the pain. I had to stop one more time at my sons house to deliver somethings. ( I just love talking with his wife) but today I could hardly sit there. As I am pulling out I called and cancelled gym there was no way. Like I said if I miss the gym you better check my pulse because im about dead. I had just about made it home when I realized I had to stop by the grocery store and it was a have to.
Now this is when God shows up... I pulled in the store with my mind made up to grab the bananas and leave. I enter the store and I had not gotten far when I spotted this lady. It was something about her that I was drawn to.For any of you that know me understand God did gift me with the love for people. I never meet a stranger and believe God uses us one on one.
I walk over where she is standing( at the meat counter ) and we start to talk about how bad the taste of meat is now days compared to years ago. How chicken taste like rubber and the chemicals we are eating. Before long the conversation hast started into how she can't make dumplings and I am teaching here right in Brookshires. She says thanks and walks away with a smile. At this point my head is real bad ,but I must have milk. I turn the corner and there she is again. As bad as I wanted to get out of there talking to her was more important. Once again we started talking about cooking and that I had "Southern Sister" and had cooked for the public for years. She wanted one of my cards and started to talk about her church. It was then I knew this was a divine appointment. I shared my testimony and she shared her healing. Im telling you we were having prayer meeting right there on the milk isle. It turns out she goes to church with people I was raised with and we knew lots of the same people. As she is getting ready to say her goodbyes another lady walks up and said "I couldn't help,but over hear you" This is a  very different lady the kind many would turn from. As I looked at the lady I saw hurt,pain,broken and lonely. As she started to talk and open up to me it almost felt like she was draining energy,but mine was being renewed. I stopped and realized my headache was gone. I was sharing God with her and he was renewing me. I think we must have chatted about 30 minutes and it was time to move on. She told me how delightful I was and that she sure enjoyed me. I gave her my card and told her call me anytime. When we went to walk away I felt the need to hug her.It was then that she looked up with a smile and said it is amazing what a hug will do.
The devil is defeated because if he had it his way I would still have a headache and be in bed. I wouldn't have stopped at the store and met these two special ladies. God sure wouldn't have got to use me to minister if the devil had won. Im thankful for his healing,his power and his love.
The devil is defeated........