Labor Day weekend is almost here!!

Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September, that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers. It was first nationally recognized in 1894 to placate unionists following the Pullman Strike. With the decline in union membership, the holiday is generally viewed as a time for barbeques and the end of summer vacations.^[1]

I can't wait to spend time with my family and just relax and take in the hard work that each of us have put into this nation. Regardless of what you do or who you do it for, if you are a hard working stay-at-home mom or dad, a CEO of a company, maybe a hard working steel mill operator or someone who answers the phones at your desk job, you work!.... so this holiday is for all of us that contribute!!

I'm ready for the burgers and hot dogs that are going to be grilled on the 6ft grill! Along with who knows what else!

MMMmmMMM doesn't that look delish?? I'm so thankful for family and friends! I hope each of you that reads this gets to enjoy the long three day weekend and you get the needed rest that we all deserve! Happy Labor Day hard workers!!!

My Miracle (be prepared its a little long)

I've wrestled all night with the thought of "spilling the beans" that is my life and how that would make me look and what people would think and I tossed and turned trying to figure out how to say what I needed to say without saying too much. And then I was reminded that by sharing what I needed to it would bring glory to God, not embarrass me or my family so here it goes...

If any of you know me personally you know that my husband Shawn has either been laid off from his job or off work recovering from surgery so during that time I've had to carry the weight of the finances. And again if you know me you know I make decent money but not enough to provide for a family of 5. So during this down time it's been a real struggle for us. I've wondered where money was going to come from to feed the kids and how the house payment was going to get made and car payment and utilities and all the things that come with living these days. We stopped tithing because we thought we needed that money to survive (which is such crap that I even believed that lie from hell). Some things have gotten so far behind but we are believing for a miracle to restore all of that. These past few weeks has probably been the worst weeks ever. Last friday came (two fridays ago), payday, and after I paid the bills I was negative in my account...we'll just say by a lot. This Friday came and I was able to replenish the account just to break even after I paid what I needed and after my husband and I decided that we were going to tithe. No matter what happened we were going to tithe again. We've seen the blessings that God provides when we are obedient. So when my gas light came on Friday on my way to work and we didn't have but mac and cheese and a little milk in the fridge, worry started to enter my mind....especially after I look in our account and see nothing but zeros. We pretty much spent the weekend with my parents so that we could eat and they gave me $20 to put in my car so it would hopefully get me back and forth to work. I told them that I lost my card so I couldn't access my account until Monday so that they wouldn't worry about anything. I didn't want anyone to know about our struggles.

Monday came and my gas light came on again. I got to work and just felt numb. How has this become my life? I started thinking about all the stuff I could sell to get gas and grocery money. I texted my husband telling him my game plan and how we need to do this and we need to do that and he said this, "Talk to God Babe, pray, be still, he knows our needs and he will provide beyond our thoughts. We just have to stay the course and continue to be obedient."The person who is usually haired out about the slightest little financial thing is telling me to settle down! I heard him loud and clear though. I heard the Holy Spirit in his words and I listened and obeyed. I sat at my desk on my lunch and just stared at the computer screen. I was so hungry I could have eaten dirt to rid the sick feeling I had. I didn't know what to pray or how anymore. I thought I had done all I could and said all I could to give God the go ahead to do what he needed to. And then it hit me, I was telling God my problems, dumping them on Him, instead of thanking Him for the answer already. It was one of these things "God I know I've screwed up but we're tithing again and we're going to do all that we can to listen to you. God we have messed up so much and we're sorry. We always make a mess of things and look at us now! We can barely feed our kids?!?.......blah blah blah. And I'd always end it with "but I know you will provide". I never doubted who I know God was and is but I think deep down I doubted that he was that God to ME. I've made a mess of things and now I'm getting what's coming to me right?? SO WRONG. God doesn't work like that. He doesn't "teach us lessons" like that. He allows things yes, but he doesn't cause them! (I could preach on this but I won't haha). So as I'm sitting at my desk, lunch time, I just whispered and I said "God, you give me good gifts according to YOUR riches. You make all things new. You restore what the enemy has stolen. You are a God of love and abundance. You don't want me or my family to struggle and I know that Lord so right now I receive my miracle. I receive all that you have for me and my family. I receive your goodness and peace. I'm ready for my miracle." And I truly believed the words that were coming out of my mouth. For the first time I was speaking what I believed not just what I knew. I trusted God with my whole life. Then still feeling almost numb I started googling miracles in 2013. What has God done lately? I haven't heard about much. And I came across this atheist website where they dispute every miracle from God and say it's just happenstance. As I'm reading this garbage, doubt wanted to come in and tell me that God doesn't do miracles anymore. That I've messed up so bad that I don't deserve it and the big one that scared me was "God doesn't even exist anymore." I instantly out loud very quietly though said this "I believe you Lord. I believe you're the same yesterday, today and forever. I believe you for my miracle. I believe that your son Jesus was crucified to give me life and I believe in you for restoration." I closed down that online page and went to another one where it was nothing but miracles from God. I began to thank God for the miracles in those people's lives. It was beautiful to me. My Lord exists and he loves hard.

My lunch was almost over and I still felt absent in my body. That's the only way I can explain what I was feeling. My phone rang and it was my husband. He sounded out of breath and was talking fast. I could barely understand him so I said "slow down honey, I can't hear you." "Jodi, I don't know where it came from, there's no trace on the money but there is enough in our account to get groceries and put gas in your car." WHAT!?!??! Are you serious!?!?!? Is this happening right now??? I just said " Ok" and hung up. I couldn't even speak! I was flooded with the reality that I just received my miracle, God answered me within minutes of my prayer to Him. I couldn't even cry I just sat there in shock. God does work miracles. He did hear me so clearly. Shawn never even knew I had prayed just minutes before he called.
Once my work day was over and I got in my car it hit me hard. Right beside me sat the spirit of the Lord. It overwhelmed me and I heard him say so clearly as if it came through my speakers in my car "Tell people Jodi, don't keep my blessings to you a secret. People need to know that I want to bless them and help them but so many don't share their blessings from me." And through my weeping and insane gratitude to God I simply said "Yes Lord".

So here I am telling my story. As pathetic as it sounds that at my age I thought I needed my parents to help me and can't pay all of my bills, God is the one that makes the way. God is the only one that can provide for me and my family. God is real. God is ready to bless and he wants my story told for HIS GLORY. I did nothing but believe him in the midst of what I thought was absolute failure...he didn't see it that way. He saw me finally get out of the way so he could bless me. And I'm continuing to believe him too for more miracles and signs and wonders so that people will see the living God. And I don't mean just help with finances but any miracle, any way, to anyone.

And I have to say this to any skeptics out there that would say "oh someone put it in your account, it was a gift for a birthday or a bill overpayment that you finally received."

1. It's neither of our birthdays.
2. We are behind on bills so there is no overpayment that we got.
3. We just opened this account so nobody knew about it.
4. We didn't air our dirty laundry about being broke so nobody knew to help us.
5. There's no trace on the money.

IT WAS THE LIVING GOD....PERIOD.

He is real, he does exist and he does bless and provide. I felt him in a way, yesterday, that I have never felt him before. I felt loved and held. I drove away with the Lord right next to me knowing that he will never allow me to go beyond what he knows I can handle. He's got this...always.

Thank you Lord for your love in my life. Thank you for being the God that I know is real and exists and provides. Thank you for loving me in my darkest moments and forgetting them even before I do. Thank you for the groceries and gas that you provided the money for. I know it was only you that did that. I won't search any longer to try and disprove what you did. You placed that money in our account, it was just enough, and I thank you for it. Now Lord I ask that you bless the person reading this. I pray that they would know that you are real and have no doubts about this miracle. I pray they share it with someone only to bring you glory. May you be exalted by this testimony. I pray that whoever is reading this, if they are believing for a miracle, that they would receive theirs in Jesus' name. They would too know it's only you Lord that can do miracles like this and they would be given the boldness to share their testimony. I thank you that all doubt would be removed from their minds and they would first know how much they are loved by you Lord and then how much you want to bless them. I pray that they would shout it from the rooftops when their miracle hits in their lives, whatever it is. I thank you Holy Spirit that you will help and guide each of us through this journey called life and that with your help we can be mighty conquerors for Christ! May you be lifted to the highest place Lord through this testimony and lives be forever changed by your Grace.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Some ol' school Worship

This song will never get old to me. I'm reminded every time I hear it how good God. Just because of who He is, I will give Him glory and praise....

My lil Roo Loo

I remember the first time I saw her face..she was the most beautiful being that I had ever seen. My heart grew and my name changed. I was no longer just someone's daughter, I was a mother to one. The very first time I heard her small voice let out the only sound she could it captivated my soul. I knew she was going to be the reason I was going to better myself and make better decisions. My whole world changed on October 16th, 1996 when Shaylee Marie Robinson was born. I knew she was going to be a wonderful baby because I had a great pregnancy and growing up she was the cutest, sweetest lil thang ever. She would say her prayers at night and at the end so proudly she would say "AMEM!". Sometimes I would watch her sleep and see her chest rise and fall and it would give me a peace that I've never known. I knew she was going to grow up and move mountains in her life. I knew she was going to continue to change me and she has. Today she is a 16 year old game changer in my life.

She shows me on a daily basis that she is strong, independent, and only getting prettier by the moment. She has her own values and beliefs and she demands respect on them. She doesn't agree for the sake of disagreement. She is strong willed and determined to make a difference in her life. She's everything I wasn't growing up.

On the flip side of her strength she has a heart that not too many people see. I would bet that I'm probably the only one who knows the sincere and sympathetic soul that exists inside her body. Some see her standoffish ways as being stuck up or antisocial but I see a young woman who guards her heart from hurt or pain that she can prevent. I see a baby girl that's grown up in some rocky circumstances and has come out refined and changed because of it. I see a person that's waiting for the right person to give her whole heart to. She has so much compassion for the needy, the different, the not-so-cool people. She loves hard and not many people see that. She's a quiet, stay-in-the-background kind of girl but her love shouts through her actions.

She loves to love me and I know that, she reminds me daily in the little things she says and does. The bond between us can never be broken....she wouldn't allow it and neither would I.  Nobody knows my lil girl like I do and I'm ok with that until the day I give her away to the only other person who will experience the joy of Shaylee like I have. When that day comes, it will be a sad one, but I know whoever that person is they will be the luckiest person in the world because they just received one of my greatest accomplishments in life, my baby girl, my firstborn, my roo loo.

I love you Shaylee Marie.....more than all the stars in the sky. I know in the past you've probably felt I didn't love you at all and for that I could never apologize enough but know this in the days ahead..I will always be your biggest fan, your loudest dedicated cheerleader. I will see you through any trial no matter how big. I vow to pray you into an amazing woman with God's hand upon each word that comes from my heart. You will always have arms to run to when anything goes wrong and a home to cover your head.


I had to add this picture so that you could see the beauty in this child. Those blue eyes will always make me smile and bring me the same peace I had when I first laid eyes on her.....Plus I see her goofy personality in this too and I love that!

Pull my finger!

I wake up this morning, 45 minutes late, and try to get my day started. As usual I crawl out of bed, grab my phone, put worship music on and click the power button on the Keurig and I wait. Once the water is hot I get my very yummy much anticipated Vanilla Creme coffee with sweet italian creme drizzled in it. MMMMhhmmm so good...

Ok my time is now over! Let's get this day started! I rush into the shower, pull my hair back, throw on whatever clothes I can find clean and start to apply what I can of my makeup when my son walks up to me with the most urgent, I-need-you-to-notice-me look on his face. He apparently was up long before I was. With so much joy in his eyes he says to me "good morning beautiful mommy that I love so much. I cleaned the house for you and...." JUST KIDDING He didn't say that, he said "PULL MY FINGER, HURRY JUST DO IT". Ok so here is where my moment came in. In 2.5 seconds I could have crushed his dreams by saying something like "Jack, I don't have time to pull your finger! Besides I know that when I do, you're going to fart and it's going to stink and I'm going to gag and run out of the bathroom and then not have time to finish my makeup and get to work. Besides, that's the oldest joke in the book. I did that to my dad when I was little...." and then it hit me; this young boy is just the age that I was when I was introduced to this new joke that all my friends were doing. (Yes I was that little girl that played in the dirt more than with dolls and my daddy loved it!) I thought my friends created that awesome joke that nobody else knew about in the world. I couldn't wait to go home and have someone in my family pull my finger so I could trick them and you know what?? Nobody knew about that joke in my house! I got all 4 family members with it!! WOOOHOOO! I got em.

But what would have happened if one of my brothers or my mom and dad said "It's old Jodi, I'm not doing that". Would it have set my life for failure?? No not quite but it would have crushed what little dream I had of showing my family something new. It would have made me question the next new thing that I learned and showing it to my family. I would have walked away thinking they didn't have time for me.

So when Jack rushed up to me and said for the first time ever "Pull my finger, hurry just do it" I pulled and I laughed as his little body released what we all know was coming. And he clapped his hands and laughed as he walked away because he knew he got me. I kept my all knowing comments to myself about this trick being so old and knowing what was coming and Thank the Lord it didn't smell because I had to stay in the bathroom and finish my face so I didn't alarm anyone in the office with my appearance. :)

I know this story is probably TMI but it's who I am and I'm real and I learned a lesson this morning. I, along with my husband, are the ones who can influence and change our son positively. We can crush or grow his dreams. We can help or hurt so many of his life decisions. So I'm so glad that today I helped him believe that he "got me", that he created that joke in our house and I will always pull my lil man's finger any time he asks :)

Stay tuned for when I highlight the most special, important young lady in my life..my first born, my daughter Shaylee.....She's up next!

Throw back Thursday 8.22.13

Fall is just around the corner and I have to say I'm ready for it! I love summer but it doesn't seem like we've been able to enjoy it much with everything going on with everyday life and the weather hasn't been that great on the weekends either. But I found this picture from 4 years ago when we took the kids to a pumpkin patch. Isn't my husband such a hunk???

I can't wait for pumpkin pickin' this year. To get our hot cider, throw on a scarf and boots and let the kids pick out their favorite pumpkins and other stuff to display at our house. Plus when fall comes that means my birthday is right around the corner......

Happy Thursday ya'll!

Clear The Stage

By far one of my favorite songs out right now. We need to remove the lights and videos and props and just worship God. Love this.....

HE>1

                                    HE>1

John 3:30 says "He must become greater, I must become less. I'm realizing so much lately how much I NEED Jesus to be greater and I need to be less. I can't do anything on my own. I can't even breath without His say so! That brings so much comfort to me, to know that the creator of this world cares so much about me and wants to take care of all my needs, every single one of them. The more I realize my dependency on the Lord, the more He takes care of things, the less stressed I am when I know someone far greater than I is helping me along. He causes favor to be found in me. He works everything together for my good. He protects and guides me. His mighty hand is upon me...even when I have human moments and yell at His decisions or dispute His guidance. I'm reminded so lovingly that He's got this. He's in control when I stop trying to be. 

We can't control everything in our lives. At some point we have to step back and realize that the plan is greater than what we can see and the one who can see it has it all figured out. I've fought so hard lately with a certain issue...wondering what I was going to do, how I was going to fix it, where I was going to go with the circumstances and just last night I had a slow dance with my Lord. I allowed him to just wrap his gentle but mighty arms around me and I just wept. I remembered in that moment who I wanted in charge of my situation and it wasn't me anymore. In the silence of it all I felt so much peace and love and security, something that lately even my husband couldn't provide for me. I needed to feel the arms of Jesus holding me. His Word was breathing life into my lungs and filling my mind with so many promises and hope and joy. My heart was filled with the spirit of the living God...Something I haven't felt in a while. 

God never left, his spirit didn't move on to someone else...my mind moved on to something else. I allowed doubt and defeat, worry and anxiety to effect me in a way that hindered what the Lord was wanting to do. And in the midst of my human moment, when I finally decided to break my shell, God didn't remind me of my issues or past..he simply just allowed me to beg forgiveness, to surrender myself to a greater power, a greater being, to the greatest God. The only God that can influence my life and change the direction of the wind if he chooses. He just simply loved me....

Thank you Lord for your mercies in my life and for loving me through all of my human moments.

Jodi Shavon 

 

Bless those who curse you...what?!?!?

This could be the hardest thing I've had to walk out lately. In every trial and through every pain you have to realize that God is molding you and shaping the mighty person that He created you to be. But when God commands that we bless those who curse us I have to wonder what He was thinking during this moment in time!! Did he have a bad day and want to be amusing? Did he have someone honk him off so he figured he would make them pay? Or could it be that he actually had a point and reason for stating this command? I'm going to go with the last option. Nothing that God did was for nothing or just because or for fun or amusement. It was for our greater good, it was for our wellbeing, it was for us to grow into the people that he first created us to be. Here are some different versions of Luke 6:28...

New International Version
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
New Living Translation
Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.
English Standard Version
bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
New American Standard Bible 
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
King James Bible
Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
International Standard Version
Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who insult you. 
NET Bible
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“Bless those who curse you, and pray over those who take you away by force.”
GOD'S WORD® Translation
Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who insult you.
King James 2000 Bible
Bless them that curse you, and pray for them who despitefully use you.
American King James Version
Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which spitefully use you.
American Standard Version
bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Bless them that curse you, and pray for them that calumniate you. 
Darby Bible Translation
bless those that curse you; pray for those who use you despitefully.
English Revised Version
bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you.
Webster's Bible Translation
Bless them that curse you, and pray for them who despitefully use you.
Weymouth New Testament
bless those who curse you; pray for those who revile you.
World English Bible
bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.
Young's Literal Translation
bless those cursing you, and pray for those accusing you falsely;

So let me get this straight... after reading those different version, I'm suppose to bless those who put me down, call me names, think I'm worthless, have better days without me in them, think I'm an issue and flat out cause me to be miserable??!?!? I'm suppose to pray for those who falsely accuse me of wrong doing, who mistreat me, who use me and insult me?!??! 100% TRUE!! I am suppose to bless and pray for anyone who offends me, or treats me badly...right or wrong I need to pursue them in blessings and prayer just as much as they are pursuing me in defeat. Actually I need to pursue the blessings and prayer a lot more than they do their mission to make me feel bad. From reading up in the bible and watching different Pastors talk about this issue of people treating people badly, one common denominator holds true...these people who are lashing out are hurting far worse than we could ever imagine. These people need Jesus and His light and love, they need to realize their worth and purpose on this earth. They need hugged and loved by us...the ones they persecute.  When you think of it that way it changes everything doesn't it? The ones that want to hurt you are the ones who are hurting. We will never ever be able to remove the people that hurt us but we can pray and bless the curse right out of them!! God says that We can do all things through Christ or gives us strength. We are more than conquerers, we are mighty in bringing down strongholds because of the Holy Spirit in us. The wars that come against us are not about people but about satan and his schemes. The name satan means to separate two, to come between. Why in the world would I want to allow satan to come between me and people? Why would I become any part of his team? I am a child of the most high God and in HIM I can do all things. 

So the next time someone hurts you, puts you down, calls you names, bless and pray for that person. Come against the spirit of anger, hurt, resentment, frustration, jealousy, malice, whatever it is and love the person. God called us to follow his great command...LOVE ONE ANOTHER. If satan can come between people who should love he's winning. We need to take back this war of separation. 

-Thank you Lord for writing this out for me. I needed it today....

Throw back Thursday

I've decided that I'm going to post a picture on Thursdays from my past so here is my first Throw back Thursday picture :)

This picture was taken at the beach probably 3 years ago. Shaylee 13, Kaiden 8 and Jack 5. My three crazy blessings :) I remember this day so well because we played in the clay for hours. My husband Shawn wasn't impressed by rolling around in clay (can you blame him?) so he stayed back and held down the fort by the water. I live for summers and beaches and warm weather! I'm so thankful for pictures because it helps me to remember such good times with my family. 

Let's hope we can get some good weekends yet this summer to make more memories and play in the clay!

Thank God I have Mondays

If I had a dollar for every time someone said something negative about it being Monday I'd be a very wealthy woman. I use to be one of those people...until I unexpectedly lost my job a couple years ago. My husband and I had just purchased a nice new jeep ($32k) and hadn't really enjoyed it too long when I got the call to come to the office. My boss explained to me that they were downsizing and I had to go that Friday. I wasn't sure what was going to happen but I knew God was in control. I remember waking up every morning wondering and praying and hoping for a job. It was a while before I landed a secure job and when I did...I couldn't wait for Monday. That was the day I was going to make money! That was the day that I wasn't going to wake up wondering how or where I was going to supply the needs my children needed. That was the day that I could help my husband provide for our family.

I still have my moments on Mondays where I just want to stay in bed but then I'm quickly reminded how fortunate I am to have a job and be able to help provide for my family alongside my husband. I can work toward goals, wants and needs. Sometimes on the weekends I can spend some of that Monday money on making memories with my family. I can help invest in my children's futures.

 I don't think Mondays are so bad anymore. I'm grateful for my Mondays just as I am for every day of the week, the month, the year.....my life. We aren't guaranteed tomorrow so make today and everyday great!

Rain, rain go away

I remember when I was a little girl I would love when it rained because I could dance in it. I would imagine that I was a famous movie star and I would dance around and raise my hands and sing my little heart out. It never stopped me from having so much fun, well not until that first crack of thunder and then I had to run in the house. There my mother would be waiting to warm me up with a nice big clean towel. Ahhhh those were the days.
As I've gotten older the thought of rain doesn't appeal to me as it did before. I look at the forecast and there are not many suns showing on my app. But as I sit here watching the small raindrops falling down my window I'm ashamed at myself for being so disappointed in the weather. I remind myself that there is nothing that happens without the word of God speaking it into existence. I love when the sun is out and I can be out in it. But shouldn't I be just as thankful for the rain?

Isaiah 55:10-13

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
¹² You will go out in joy
    and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
    will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
    will clap their hands.
¹³ Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
    and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,
    for an everlasting sign,
    that will endure forever.”

That scripture says so much! I may be 34 but my soul will continue to dance when it rains because I know that by the rains falling to the earth, God is giving us all good things and food to eat, life to the trees that we need oxygen from, rivers that we can swim in when the sun does finally come out. I will choose to take rainy days and reflect on God's goodness and remind myself that everyday is a day that the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be oh so glad in it! And maybe just maybe one of these days I'll even dance in the rain one more time.....

Well done good and faithful servant, well done.....

I get asked a lot from a lot of people and sometimes I get so overwhelmed that I just want to hide in a corner and sleep or run away to a tropical island somewhere all by myself. Although that last idea will always sound great, I remind myself who I'm doing all that I do for. If my kids ask something of me I know I'm ultimately doing it for the Lord. Same with my husband or coworkers, people from my church, anybody...I know that whenever I submit to whatever they need I'm not selling myself short or doing anything against my will, I'm honoring my Father in heaven. 

When your heart changes from working for man and starts working for the Lord, it changes your whole life. I'm more content with life and everything in it. 1 Timothy 6:6 says "But godliness with contentment is great gain". When we finally get it deep in our hearts to be content it's a game changer. I know my life here on earth is but a breath to God and I have a greater place and reward waiting for me so while I'm here I'm going to be a light and show people the love of Jesus. I'm earning my jewels for my crown that one day will be placed on my head and I will hear these words from my Lord "Well done, good and faithful servant"....