For such a time as this...

The past week or so I have been very convicted about my concern and care for others, or should I say lack thereof. I get so wrapped up in ME and MY family and MY schedule and MY excitements and MY issues that I am blind to those around me. There are people suffering around me and I seldom take the time to notice or care, much less attempt to do anything about it.
When I truly examine myself and my actions, my thoughts, my feelings...it is simply tragic and embarrassing at the amount of time I spend worried about ME and MINE!
Or when I am not worried about ME..I am a worried about others but in a negative way. They don't measure up to what I think they should be. Soooo...I tell them about ME. How I do things and how great I am. Now maybe I don't say it in those words, but after some soul - searching I am pretty sure that's how others take it.
Or maybe when I do take the time to try to listen to someone, I tell them all the things they did wrong to get to and maybe deserve where they are.
I carry on with my daily life...focused on seemingly important things. But those things become so minor when I take a step back and realize...there are people in my path everyday begging for a kind word, wishing I would give them hope and reason to keep going, anticipating that today is the day I will pay them attention. And what do I do? Nothing. And I am not saying I am anything special that people are begging for my attention because I am some sort of rockstar. But when I look around me, I realize there are men, women, boys, and girls begging anyone to give them a kind word, hoping for someone to give them a reason to keep going, and needing attention.

So God intervenes once again, getting my attention and pulling me ever so painfully back to him...I have a student who needs me in a major way, a sister in Boston who desperately needs hope in a city that is struggling to pick up and keep going, and a sister who attends a college where a crazy person was stabbing people who needs me to remind her that I love her and I'm praying for her. God got my attention..I hear it loud and clear.

In God's grand scheme, Esther was chosen as queen so that she could save the Jews. She was courageous and faithful and fulfilled her duty. Had Esther been worried about herself, she knew the destroying of the Jews was inevitable. But maybe, just maybe, she was "come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14.

 

Now, I am no queen and nowhere near as courageous as Esther but what if there are people in my life and in my daily path that God has put there "for such a time as this"? What if I would cease to focus on myself and begin to focus on those around me...I come in direct contact with 100 teenagers EVERY DAY! I work with a school full of other adults. I attend church at least 3 times a week with my closest friends. And the daily and weekly instances in which I interact with others in endless.  What if God has a plan for me like he did for Esther? What if there is a need that God is expecting me to fulfill and I am too focused on myself to notice.
Proverbs 21:13 says "whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but not be heard". Lord, forgive me when I have failed to listen to the cry of those around me and help me to be faithful to follow You!

Everyday they pass me by,
I can see it in their eyes.
Empty people filled with care,
Headed who knows where?

On they go through private pain,
Living fear to fear.
Laughter hides their silent cries,
Only Jesus hears.

People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
When will we realize, people need the Lord?

Silver and Gold have I none...(or diamonds)...

On November 19, 2005, Micah promised all his earthly goods to me. And while that sounds extremely romantic, that wasn't much back then! (It's still not much but it is more than then).

Rewind to the Spring/Summer before that...we wanted to get married; we knew that. Micah was a seminary student and youth and associate pastor at Eastside in Minden. He was only part time at the church so when it came to money...well, it was limited. Micah so badly wanted to buy me an engagement ring but me, being the bossy brat that I am, was adamant that he not take a loan out for it. Honestly, both of us knew that we did not need to begin our life together with ANOTHER bill. Some offered to give him the money, but he wouldn't have that either. I was ok with no engagement ring although many people thought I was CRAZY and so kindly told me so. Nevertheless, he proposed and we got married with NO engagement ring...GASP...I know...it was crazy! But guess what? We were just as married, just as in love and when we got our marriage license, they never asked if we had an engagment ring. Can you even believe it??

Well today, he surprised me with a BEAUTIFUL diamond solitaire. We are no more married than we were then but boy do I love him even more now than I did then!!! Is it because of the ring? NO WAY!!! I love him more every day...ring or not! He is the best husband, father, friend, pastor, and partner in life than I could ever dream of asking for.

He promised me that he would love me (and our future family), lead me (and our future family), and cherish me (and our future family) and he has held up his end of the bargain. Even when it hasn't been easy and we have intense moments of fellowship, he loves and respects me and our family. I am so thankful for him every day, even when I didn't have an engagement ring. BUT I do now and I love it! Thank you, Micah...I love you!

Am I an Ahab?

I have been struggling reading through the books of the Kings and the Chronicles in the Old Testament the past week or so and find myself wondering...why in the world are these books included in the Bible? AND....don't act like you have NEVER thought the same thing! Obviously there are super smart Bible scholars, unlike myself, who can fit all these puzzle pieces together; however, I can barely fit 2 of the pieces together, much less all of these kings, lands, prophets, sons, daughters, etc. However, right in the middle of 2 Chronicles, this story jumped out at me. Literally, I am listening to 2 Chronicles on my phone and I stop putting my make-up on and just listen (not really long because I would have been later than usual to work)! God spoke and I tried to listen...I hope it speaks to you also!

So the story begins in 2 Chronicles 18. Jehosophat (king of Judah & good guy) is approached by Ahab (king of Israel & bad guy) about combining forces and attacking Ramothgilead (names are unimportant here...R will work just fine). So Ahab gathers all his "yes-men" (my word...actually prophets & other men) and asks their opinion of this plan. Their response: "Go up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand."(v.5). Jehosophat suggests asking another prophet but Ahab hesitates because "I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil" (v. 7). ( Sure, we can look at Ahab and think what a baby but really, do ANY of us seek out those who tell us the truth when we don't want to hear it?)  They ask him and sure enough, Micaiah tells him that "they will be delivered into your hand BUT I also saw Israel with no leader wandering like sheep and the Lord told them to return to their homes". (I am NO Bible scholar so if I am not 100% accurate on the interpretation of details...don't attack...I'll get to the big picture momentarily!) Of course Ahab is mad but Micaiah warns him that Ahab would hide himself but that he would see that Micaiah was telling him the truth.

Off the kings go into battle. The king of Syria had commanded his men to "fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel"(v. 29). Ahab tells Jehosophat that he will disguise himself but instructs Jehosophat to wear his robes. Of course they get into battle and the men attack Jehosophat (thinking he is the king of Israel). However, Jehosophat (remember good guy...in Chronicles terms...he walked in the ways of the Lord) "cried out, and the Lord helped him; and God moved them [Syrians] to depart from him"(v. 31) and they quit pursing him. It appears at this point that the prophet, Micaiah, was wrong...both kings made it. The Syrians were tricked and God's plan was not fulfilled. Wellllllll......not so fast. Verse 33 tells us that "a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of his harness"and the king goes on to die by sundown. Some translations say a man drew a bow at "random." And while I will NOT debate translations, I would contend that the man may have shot the bow randomly but it was not random to God. His plan was fulfilled.

Why did the story resonate with me?? Because I put myself in that situation. How many times do I KNOW God's plan, but insist on doing things MY way? I can disguise "MY PLAN" however I want to. I can disguise it in seemingly noble church work, giving to those less fortuante, pleasant and "Godly" facebook statuses, blogs, smiles, empty kind words, (all of these things are GREAT and important and necessary) but God knows if I am walking with him. God knows if I am heeding to his call and submitting to his will and plan for me! God knows what I am disguising and hiding! He knows my heart and my inmost thoughts! God's plan will be fulfilled just like it was fulfilled for Ahab. We will not change that...we can submit to his will, walk in his ways, and trust in his guidance and protection. But we will not change his plan for our life!

This part is free...until we decide to accept his will for our lives...there will be no peace. My prayer for you and for me is that we can heed to Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 13: 5 "examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves".

Psalm 139: 23-24 ^"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

I have a story to tell...

Micah has been preaching on the book of Joshua and God has been burdening me to share a story that I am super uncomfortable sharing. In my reading the Bible in 6 months, I start the book of Joshua tomorrow. I know what story I am going to read. The same one Micah KEEPS mentioning...the one about the Jordan River parting...God led Joshua to tell the priest to carry the Ark of the Covenant  to pass over Jordan. He told the priests just to step in and the people to follow and that the "waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above" Joshua 3:13. Really just step in and the waters are going to pull back? REALLY? Yep, really. That must have been very hard for Joshua, the priests and the people to believe. The banks were flooded because it was harvest time (3:15). But it happens "And as they that bare the ark were come into Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water...the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap...and the priests that bare the ark of the convenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan" Joshua 3:15-17. Every last person crossed over on dry ground...dry and clean to the other side. I'm not sure why God keeps leading me to this story but I THINK its because I usually think to myself: well, how does this apply to me? I don't need to cross a river...And now God's telling me that I have an example of this and I need to share.

While I have felt compelled to share this example in my life of how God blesses when we have faith and trust his guidance, I have been reluctant to do so. First, I do not want this to seem arrogant, boastful or pious. Secondly, I do not want to come off as insinuating that we live some sort  of perfect or charmed life because as all of you know that AIN'T THE TRUTH...blessed YES, perfect...HA! And lastly, the story deals with money and finances which is a touchy subject...for us and probably most of you. However, I really feel like God wants me to share this...someone, maybe just one person, needs to hear this testimony of God's blessings!

Am I bragging about my incredible faith that I exhibit daily and never waver in. Ha! I wish! Do I claim to always be in tune to God's will for my life and have a 5 step process to guide you to this revelation also? Nope...only One always knew what the Father had for him and he sits on the right hand of the Father today! Has our faithfulness and efforts to follow God's will for our life led us to complete financial freedom where we never have to "wait till payday" to do something. Goodness no! Just like everyone else, some months are tight and we eat deer meat out of the freezer until payday!

But there was this one time that we truly prayed and submitted to the Father. We were willing to take a step of faith even though we weren't sure where that next step would land. We trusted God to carry us and boy, did he show out and show up for us BIG TIME?!?! Wanna hear about it? Here goes...

Last Spring, I heard about a possible job opening in Magnolia Public Schools. It was a high school Math position...my love, my passion, my heart is with high school students. Why? Who KNOWS??? But I had a job that was great, in a school district that was WONDERFUL to me, with great friends and great co-workers. Why would I ever want to leave? I had to truly consider this, but I felt that it was time. It was time for me to go back in the classroom and teach Math to high school students, who do not want to be at school and certainly do not want to learn Math. As you can see, this is a very appealing job! I could not stop thinking about it. I wanted to teach. I wanted to teach Math. I wanted to teach high school, in my own classroom, every day.

So...here's the money part. Emerson - Taylor was paying for me to finish my Master's Degree. This was in the spring and I was due to graduate in the summer. If I left Emerson - Taylor, I would have to pay the district back for the fall semester and we would have to pay for the spring and summer semesters. Again, let me stress how thankful I am to everything Emerson - Taylor School District did for me. However, I could not get this job opening out of my head (and heart). Micah and I talked about it and thought it was just too much money. If it was the Lord's will, then another opportunity would come up. We agreed to keep praying but it just did not seem like the right time. I couldn't shake it...I talked to Micah and we put pencil to paper. We needed about $1,500 for each semester. We could come up with the money for 2 of the 3 semesters but just could not get the 3rd one without going in to debt, which we did not feel was best for us. This is not going to work out. I am disappointed but know that God will reveal his plan, in his time. On Sunday at church, 2 different people (who know NOTHING) about this job opening, ask me in passing, "so, when are you coming to Magnolia"? I immediately asked both why they asked such a question and both looked at me as if I were crazy. UMMMMM.....because we were being nice and making small talk! Oh ok...red face!

I relay these conversations to Micah and we go to bed Sunday night praying that God would reveal his plan.

Monday morning....Micah is heading to preach chapel at Seminary in Minden. I ask him what he is preaching on. Why did I ask? Who knows? I never ask...never! He replies: tithing. TITHING??? To a bunch of preachers, that is DUMB! He appreciated my support. We both leave and he calls me on my way to work...and I answer. Now, both of these things are strange, because he never calls (we only text) and never on my way to work. Secondly, I never answer my phone, but I did. He says, find out exactly what we owe to Emerson - Taylor... pursue this job if you want to; it will work out. I tell my superintendent that I plan to put my application in to Magnolia. He is kind, not quite supportive but kind, and says, "I'll let you know what you owe back to us... you'll get the interview and they will hire you." I put in a call to Magnolia to see when I can pick up my application. Now remember this all transpires before Micah ever even gets to the seminary or preaches.

When I get home, Micah relays this story to me. Get ready....He is preaching (on tithing..to a bunch of preachers...DUMB). He notices a guy that he doesn't know, sitting in the back. The guy has on a suit so Micah sort of assumes he's a preacher but doesn't really know for sure. After the sermon, as Micah and some others are about to head to lunch, the guy approaches him. The man tells him that he pastors in East Texas and on the way to the office this morning, he felt like he needed to drive to Minden to the Seminary (like a 3+ hour drive). They continue to talk for a few minutes as he compliments Micah's sermon. As they finish the conversation, he hands Micah a couple dollars. Micah insists he does not want the money but the man replies "yes, this is it, its just between us". Ok...so they go to lunch and when they get back, Micah gets the dollars out of his pocket to put in his wallet. Well...it was $1,623. Yes, you read that right. $1,623. The exact amount of money we needed to be able to pay for the 3rd semester! I know, I know....chill bumps!

I could continue on all night but I know this. God could not bless us until we were willing to trust him. The decision to pursue the job in Magnolia, that I knew God was leading me to, was made BEFORE we had the money. We decided to go forth and step off before we knew how it would work out.

Is it normal for people to walk up and give you $1,623? I wish but no. It's not! But God does not always work things out the way we imagine they should be. I have no guidance, no wise words...just a testimony of God's faithfulness and how he blesses when we follow HIM! Those Israelites had no hard proof that Joshua was right and the Jordan was going to part for them. It took a lot of faith for them to gather all of their belongings and follow but they did. God doesn't ask us to understand his plan, but simply to trust Him.

My prayer for myself is "Follow, follow, I will follow Jesus; anywhere, everywhere, I will follow on"!

Let your light shine...even if it shines differently than mine!

Before I start writing, let me just throw out this disclaimer: this post is neither aimed at anyone in particular nor is it meant to incite an argument (or riot) or hurt feelings. I am not saying that my family and I are doing things perfectly or that you are doing them badly...just weighing in on a topic that seems to flood my thoughts recently.

There seems to be a ever increasingly popular trend in this strange cyber world that consumes many of our waking hours of blogging about, posting, linking pictures, etc of the innovative and creative things that we are doing to raise our family and to boast of what a wonderful job we are doing as mothers, wives, and Christians. It seems if you do not plan a daily routine around educational, biblical based activities for you children, then you are less of a mother and certainly a less than stellar Christian. If you love your child then you will have morning educational time, then a healthy sandwich cut into Larry from the Veggie Tales for lunch, then an on schedule nap at 11:57. While the offspring are sleeping peacefully in their beds, you should first exercise then spend the next hour planning the next month's lessons while washing clothes with your homemade clothes detergent and reading a highly educational and challenging non - fiction book. According to schedule you must wake the children up at 1:57...2 hours is ample time for a nap and we all know you should have your children trained to not get out of their bed until they are given permission (if they happen to already be awake). The afternoon should be spent on their studies and possible physical activity outside where children should be identifying various leaves and insects that are in the biome in which they live. All of this will be followed by a fully balanced dinner......OK I'll stop! But you get the idea!

There was recently a Facebook post of a mother who was in essence challenging this idea of the perfect mother and wife. And I do not want this to sound as if I am against any of these things...I am NOT! And if this schedule works for you, GREAT!!!! More power to you! However, I do not feel like I am doing my children any injustice by working outside of the home and sending one to daycare and one to public school. However, many blogs, websites,  facebook pages, etc. can make you feel as if you are a little bit less of a mother or wife or Christian because of these choices. Also, to my stay at home mom friends (and I have lots of them)..you know I do not ever diminish or make light of what you do...we ain't all cut out of that mold! (Just for the record, I love a schedule...my claim to fame is a strict 8 PM bedtime for my kids...but relinquish that this is not the ONLY acceptable choice...it simply works for us!)

My point in all of this rambling is that we are missing the point! Isn't the point to let our light shine before men?
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
The light we are supposed to be shining is not our light and what great things we have done and what great mothers, wives, and Christians we are. Our light should always point to Him! Our light should not be divisive or offensive and our light should not try to outshine others. When we are shining towards Him and looking to Him, we don't know what others' lights look like! Sometimes we get so wrapped up in comparing ourselves to others that we forget whose opinion really matters! Trying to outdo/impress one another, whether it be through the wonderful activities we design for our children, or the exhaustingly rigid routine that we have perfected, or by the Christian education we are providing for our children in our homes, or by the wonderful homemade recipes we come up with (and you know I love to cook so I'm preaching to myself here) ...all takes away from the One who we should all be striving to please in the first place.
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

Again, none of these things are innately bad. Competing with them is distracting, consuming, and harmful. I am not against any great activities or sharing them. You know I love to share a quote or picture of my crazy kids. And because someone shared their idea, we did a wonderful activity at Christmas time with a paper chain with scriptures (I'll share sometime). Sharing is great...but let us all watch the spirit in which we share. I should not be trying to outdo you but to please Him!
Let us all remember "we are his workmanship"...Ephesians 2:10.

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.... (that's the southern version)!

Final disclaimer here: I know there are some run - on sentences here and my mother and sister will cringe but I can't fix it...too much typing as I was thinking.

And then I burned the bread...

I am generally a pretty forgetful person. I have to write stuff down or I will never remember. I thought I would love on my iphone and ipad where I can make notes and reminders for myself. But generally, I make lists and reminders and forget to look back at them. I make about 8 lists before we go on a trip because I always forget that I have already started one. I am just forgetful, I admit it. But lately things have really gotten out of hand. So the latest adventures of the Carters began last Saturday when I left my purse at my mother's house in Minden. I know you are thinking, "how do you leave your purse?" Well, quite easily. My keys and my phone were on the counter, so I grabbed them and the kids and got in the car and left. This wouldn't be quite so bad except for that I got to the only gas station between Minden and Magnolia and realized that I desperately needed gas. And I have no method of payment! So I use my higer order thinking skills and decide, do I have enough gas to make it back to Minden or do I need to go on to Magnolia. I determine it is in our best interest to go on to Magnolia. So we make it home with about 12 miles to empty! WHEW!!! I wish I had my black purse!

My sweet husband fills my car up with gas for me Sunday night because we never had time during the day Sunday to get my sweet, precious, super important purse back!

Monday starts off a little rocky also. I forget my travel cup of coffee at home, which I have never done but I knew I would be really late to work if I went back home so I just prayed Mrs. Kathy would have some made when I got there and praise Jesus she did!!! So you are thinking, just stop at the gas station and get some...but remember I have no method of payment!I also forgot to take Walker's jacket to school that morning. And you immediately think oh well, no big deal. Yes, it is...I'm a teacher... we talk about people who send their children to school inappropriately dressed for the weather. And for the record, yes I drove to school without my driver's license. I was very careful and had my whole story ready for the cop that I was sure would pull me over. I just know they can tell I am driving without my license! I only forget a few more minor things on Monday and again, can't work it out where I can meet Mama to get my purse back. I really miss my purse! I have big plans to go to the grocery store, get my bunco gift, etc when I realize I have no method of payment!! I shamefully ask Micah to meet me at the store to buy my goods for me. That only hurt my pride a little. I really need my purse back.

Tuesday morning is relatively uneventful, I ride with a co-worker to a meeting and the day is ok. I did forget to ask Micah for money for lunch so I had to borrow $20 out of Walker's bank. This is getting terrible! My co-worker brings me home and I get ready to go get the kids and realize I have forgotten my keys in her car. At this point, I quit missing my purse and really just miss by brain cells working! I leave to go get the kids so we can go meet Mama to get my purse. Micah reminds me to please not forget the kids and we are on our way. We make it to Shongaloo (yes, I still have no driver's license with me) and wait on Mom. After about 20 minutes, I call her. She's never late when we meet, just me! Through a terrible miscommunication (mostly on my part), mom thinks we are not meeting and is still in Minden! I sadly turn north and head home. I have to explain to Walker and Tatum that I am sorry, I can't stop at the gas station and get you a snack because again, I have no method of payment! Stupid purse!

We finally make it home and I start on supper that thankfully was in the crockpot so it doesn't matter if you forget about it. My crockpot will turn off after 10 hours...thank goodness! I get supper ready and we are about to eat. Then, I smell something...I forgot the rolls in the oven. Somebody, anybody, if you have any way of getting my purse from Minden to Magnolia or if you see my brain walking around somewhere, please return them both to me. I miss them both so much. We had a really great thing going before they left. I will be really nice to them from now on if they will just give me another chance.

Why did I choose to blog about this? Because as I am typing it I am laughing at myself. Am I lamenting over my terrible misfortune and how awful my life is? Naaaaaahhhh...you know me better than that! It's so much fun just to laugh at myself. Micah says maybe I should start this day over and try again. I think starting the week over would be more beneficial! Happy Tuesday, everybody!!!

Define need...

If you have been around me much lately, you have heard me make statements such as: "I need to go to the grocery store"; "I need to get my list together for cooking for the holidays"; "I need to finish up my Christmas shopping"; "I need to wrap presents"; "I need to clean house (which I say A LOT)"; and I even told Micah a few days before Christmas: "I need to get Tatum a few more things, Walker has a lot more than she does." So you see the common factor in all of these statements is the word "need". "Need" is defined as "to be needful or NECESSARY".

Now that the Christmas and New Year festivities are over, I have been reflecting back over the past few weeks and am tremendously thankful for the blessings the Lord has seen fit to give us. However, I have been pondering the difference in my needs and my wants, even if those wants aren't for me but what I want for others. You see, I didn't necessarily want (or need) anything for Christmas but I love to get gifts for others, which I honestly do not feel like is a bad thing. I NEEDED to get all these people on my Christmas list the perfect gift...from my Dad's dog (I forgot to get it but she WAS on my list) to teachers to parents and grandparents who tell us every year not to get them anything (they better be careful, one year I am going to listen).

Then, we spent a night at Arkansas Children's Hospital with Tatum. She had a very minor surgery and did very well, but I was ashamed and embarassed of what my focus has been on these past 6 weeks or so. Now, I know the TRUE meaning of Christmas and we teach our children the real reason for Christmas but somewhere along the way, festivities, eating, gathering with family, presents, and fun became very imporatant also. Suddenly everything that I NEEDED the past few weeks seemed so ridiculous. The meaning of need slapped me in the face and I believe with everything in me that the only NEED we have is Jesus. After Him, love, family, friendship, prayer, kindness, and food and shelter enough to sustain life seemed the only important things. We NEED to tell others about Jesus. We NEED to love, even those that we do not want to love. We NEED our families and we NEED to work on our relationships with family. We NEED friends that we love and that love us. We NEED to pray for ourselves and others. We NEED to show kindness to those less fortunate than us and those in times of trials (you never know when you will need someone to show kindness to you)! We NEED a cure for cancer and other terrible diseases. We don't NEED more Squinkies because they were on sale and Walker would like them and he didn't get to come with us to Little Rock. (He probably didn't need that new Angry Birds shirt but it was cute and he loved it, so I am not ready to admit that one yet. And while, I am admitting this publicly Tatum didn't need those so cute pink sparkly TOMS but they were on sale 1/2 price!!) We don't NEED to make sure both kids have the same amount of toys (just FYI, I think Tatum probably ended up with more and neither one noticed).

 Then I think of those less fortunate, domestic and abroad and remind myself that I have no idea what it is to need. I am not apologizing for the blessings the Lord has given us; nor do I think having material possessions is a bad thing. He has blessed our family "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think." But I do think that from time to time, we all need a reminder of the definition of a NEED. I can honestly say, that thanks be to God I don't really know what it is like to NEED. I have what I need, now I need to be thankful. (And I do NEED to clean my house; that's a standing need around here!)

Define Need...

Did I leave some true NEEDS off my list? Please share!! Have a great week everyone and I urge you to reflect on what you have that you do not NEED and thank Him from whom all blessings flow!