Just Ask

For several months, I've been grumbling about my monthly bank fee.  Is it much?  No.  It is $12 a month, but that adds up to $240 a year.  That's enough to buy a bill of groceries in my household.   Of course, I could waive that fee if I kept $1500 at all times in the bank.  Yeah right! 

Several weeks ago, I received an advertisement in the mail from my bank saying that if I opened an account, had direct deposit and made five debit card purchases a month, there would be no service charge.  This irritated me because I do not need a second checking account from the same bank, and I already met the requirements.  But, I did nothing for weeks except grumble every time the fee was taken out. 

Tuesday, I had a deposit to make at my bank so I decided to go in and talk to them about this.  I expected them to state that the "free checking" was only for new customers.  I went in all prepared to argue my point.  I've been a customer of this bank for many years and have a good standing relationship with them.  Why am I being penalized, but new customers get perks? 

It turned out the opposite.  The man whom I spoke with was very nice and just switched my account to "free checking". 

I have learned and am still learning that if I want something done around the house, even if it is blatantly obvious that it needs to be done, I still have to ask someone to take care of it.  Many times, I've confronted my husband about something and his response was, "You didn't ask!".  I would have saved some hurt feelings just by asking him to take care of it.  Believe me, I'm still working on that one. 

My point is, all I had to do was ask.  It was that simple.  I could have saved myself money and a bad attitude towards my bank just by asking.  How many times do we grumble and complain about little things when all we have to do is ask our heavenly Father to take care of it.  He hears us.  Are we talking to Him?  Does this mean, we always get what we want?  He knows what's best for us and sometimes He says no.  But, we might save some grumbling just by asking! 

Are you asking?

Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock,  and it shall be opened unto you: For ever one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Matthew 7: 7-8

On the mend....I hope!

Last week was one of those crazy's.  Tuesday evening, my youngest started running a fever so Wednesday morning, off to the doctor we went.  I don't normally rush to the doctor for fevers, but she'd been complaining about her head and stomach for several days.  Turns out she had strep throat.  Thursday morning, my youngest boy decided he needed to have a migraine, so since A had strep, I worried about him so off to the doctor we went, again.  Yep, you guessed it - he had strep too.  In the meantime my oldest daughter decided to get in on the action.  When we returned home, she began complaining about her throat.  I check it with a flashlight and sure enough, I could tell she had the same stuff.  So, off to the doctor we went, again.   The doctor was just shaking her head.  Evidently there's only a 30% chance that anyone else in the household will get the virus.  But in our household, strep has affected four of us all at one time before. 

Anyhoo, we got through that day.  I was concerned that my oldest son would come down with it too, but so far he hasn't.  Friday and Saturday were uneventful days as far as sickness goes.  But Sunday - WAM - here we went again!  Sunday morning, my oldest girl broke out in a rash, my youngest girl was complaining about her stomach, and my youngest boy had another headache. 

So, my oldest son and I went to church and left my dh with the others. 

To summarize yesterday, my youngest daughter threw up 8 times; my oldest daughter still had the rash; and my youngest son was fine.  We did figure out that the rash on my oldest daughter is scarlet fever, which she's had before.

Today is an uneventful day as far as sickness goes....I pray it stays that way!



...so, who do you follow???

Last evening while in the checkout line at Walmart, there was a couple in front of me whose shopping cart was filled with Dallas Cowboys stuff.  There were clothes, shopping bags, cutting boards, baby clothes, household decorations, and gear for the games with the DC logo.  Now, we know that when one purchases an item with a famous logo on it, that item is always higher than your every day run of the mill item.  So, I knew they were paying a hefty price just for the logo.  My curiosity led me to creep a little closer so I could see what the total bill was?  I know - very nosey.  But, you know you would have done it too if you'd been there!  The final bill....$921.  I couldn't believe someone would spend that much on items just because of a team logo. 

As I was lying in bed last evening, I was still thinking about this.   I believe God gave me an object lesson in Walmart.  It was very obvious where this couple's heart was.  There was no doubt that they were die hard fans of the Dallas Cowboys.  You only had to look at them and know it!  No one would have thought they were a Pittsburgh Steelers or San Francisco 49er's fan.  One knew without a doubt that they love the Dallas Cowboys.  My point?  Well, we as Christians do not need to hide that fact.  When people see us, do they automatically think - there goes someone who loves God?  Do we portray Him in everything we do?  Is it obvious that we are a follower of Jesus Christ? 

I Thessalonians 1:5 "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as you knew what manner of men we were among you for your sake.  When Paul was in Thessalonica, people knew who he was.  There was no doubt that he was a preacher and a follower of Jesus Christ. 

So, my question to myself is, does my walk with God show those in our world that I love Him?  My prayer is that I grow closer each day to Him so others will see Him portrayed in me no matter where I am.



Our Awesome God

Sometimes we are so slow in realizing the miracles that God does for us.  Let me explain.

A couple of weeks ago, my hubby mentioned that one of the back tires on the car was in terrible shape.  The way he explained it alarmed me greatly.  In fact, I insisted that he not drive the car until he could get new tires put on that following weekend. 

We did not have the money for new tires at all.  Not even cheap ones.  While I know we're supposed to have an emergency fund, we are trying to build that back up after having to spend the majority of it on repairs for the van and did not have enough to cover the cost.   I wasn't sure what we were going to do other than put this on our credit card.  The morning after I found out about the tires, we prayed that God would provide us with the money to take care of the tires.  The weekend came and we did go ahead and get the new tires.  We didn't see any other way around it because my hubby needs that car to go back and forth to work.  If he were to use the van, our gasoline bill would super exceed the price of new tires. 

Last week, I was checking my bank account and was surprised to see that I had received a refund from a hospital bill from back in April.  Being the person I am, I was very sceptical about the refund, but thankful. 

Just this morning, I was looking at the refund again, and the light bulb came on.  The cost of the tires was $224.  Our refund was for $221! 

I have this mental picture of God with his arms crossed, just waiting for us to get it!  And when we do, a great big smile appears on His face!

There is none like Him!