I just may come back to the BLOG WORLD! We have recently put internet connection back in our house....ahhh ENDLESS possibilities!! Watch Out!! COMING SOON!!! NEW POSTINGS! :)
Smile, and ...Have a Blessed Day!
Alana
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Friday, April 3, 2009
Happy April!!!
Wow! We have LOTS of things on the calendar for April...to name a few, our Patch the Pirate Club is having a Field Day, my dad is turning 70 and we're having a big party (BBQ really), Lana has her piano recital, Easter of course is in a few weeks.....it will be hard to fit all this in schedule wise for planning and of course you know BUDGETING. But I am going to see it as a challenge, and I have a wonderful friend who has offered her help with anything needed. Praise the Lord for friends!!!
Will check in later to let ya know how it goes......Soo, how's your Spring Cleaning going?
Will check in later to let ya know how it goes......Soo, how's your Spring Cleaning going?
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Spring Cleaning
Okay, so around March everyone starts CLEANING HOUSE, ya know the whole Spring Cleaning thing. Well, if you are among the many that LOVE this, how about we SPRING CLEAN ourselves?? Ya know there's a lot of dirt, and things we don't need in ourselves, i.e. bad habits, addictions, and things that we DON'T do that we should do. It's not too late in the year to look back at those New Year's Resolutions, and START OVER!!! Even if you start NOW, you've got 9 months of good things to look forward to!!
I am trying to go back to January and there are 2 areas that still need MAJOR improvements on my original RESOLUTION list...QUALITY prayer time - this is not quantity, hours in prayer (although I do believe, as the Bible says, we should pray without ceasing), this is Quality Prayer Time, praying for the needs of others and really having a relationship with my Creator, my Saviour, and Friend. The other area, is better TIME MANAGEMENT....working on this, and I must say it IS better, but still LOTS of room for improvement.
Encourage yourself in the Lord....remember "I can do all things THROUGH Christ which strengtheneth me." (emphasis mine) Philippians 4:13
I am trying to go back to January and there are 2 areas that still need MAJOR improvements on my original RESOLUTION list...QUALITY prayer time - this is not quantity, hours in prayer (although I do believe, as the Bible says, we should pray without ceasing), this is Quality Prayer Time, praying for the needs of others and really having a relationship with my Creator, my Saviour, and Friend. The other area, is better TIME MANAGEMENT....working on this, and I must say it IS better, but still LOTS of room for improvement.
Encourage yourself in the Lord....remember "I can do all things THROUGH Christ which strengtheneth me." (emphasis mine) Philippians 4:13
Saturday, March 28, 2009
The not so hard to keep up with Jones'
Well because I haven't written in ages, it isn't really that hard to keep up with us. It is nearing April, and I realize I haven't written anything since, January 30th. So to catch up I guess I should tell you, we lost the baby I was expecting. Which we are totally okay, and have accepted that everything happens (or doesn't happen) in God's timing. Eva will be a year old May 5th. She is still my baby. However, she's walking, and Monday morning will be our last "nursing event". I feel.......VERY bummed about that!
Other things are going well though, the Lord has consistently provided every week for our needs. He never ceases to amaze me how He uses people to be a blessing in time of need. A friend of mine and I have vowed to pray about something personal for her and her family, in the meantime though, God has used her NUMEROUS times to be an answer to pray for our family. Last Wednesday, when I drove up my drive way coming home from church, there were two HUGE boxes of diapers (the BIG BOXES) 408 diapers total, of size 3, well Eva will start wearing the 3's tomorrow actually. It was a daily prayer about the diaper thing, because well, they're expensive and they are a NEED. God is soo good. Also, last week my husband went with me to the grocery store, and mentioned he would like to have potato soup again soon. Well, it wasn't on my list for this trip so I didn't get it, and what do you know the SAME lady this past Wednesday night brought us some potato soup..........FREAKY huh, I love freaky when it comes to prayers being answered.....I am ALL about it, because my God is awesome and I mean AWEsome!! I am in awe of Him daily. Praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men.
Hopefully this means I am back in blogworld....I'd like to post some pictures soon........if I can figure out the easiest way how :)
Other things are going well though, the Lord has consistently provided every week for our needs. He never ceases to amaze me how He uses people to be a blessing in time of need. A friend of mine and I have vowed to pray about something personal for her and her family, in the meantime though, God has used her NUMEROUS times to be an answer to pray for our family. Last Wednesday, when I drove up my drive way coming home from church, there were two HUGE boxes of diapers (the BIG BOXES) 408 diapers total, of size 3, well Eva will start wearing the 3's tomorrow actually. It was a daily prayer about the diaper thing, because well, they're expensive and they are a NEED. God is soo good. Also, last week my husband went with me to the grocery store, and mentioned he would like to have potato soup again soon. Well, it wasn't on my list for this trip so I didn't get it, and what do you know the SAME lady this past Wednesday night brought us some potato soup..........FREAKY huh, I love freaky when it comes to prayers being answered.....I am ALL about it, because my God is awesome and I mean AWEsome!! I am in awe of Him daily. Praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men.
Hopefully this means I am back in blogworld....I'd like to post some pictures soon........if I can figure out the easiest way how :)
Friday, January 30, 2009
This week.....
This week was very tiring, and crazy to say the least. I'll write about it more in detail next week. But I must brag on God for a moment.
God is SO Awesome!! He truly is our all and our everything. We were going to have a problem paying 3 bills this month, and then my husband called today and told me he got some very GOOD, extra commission on his check!!! PRAISE GOD!
Also, my husbands birthday was Tuesday, and honestly we had NO money to spend on his birthday, which I HATE, because I LOVE LOVE LOVE to celebrate my loved ones birthdays....I mean I like to go all out. Well I had some of my christmas money leftover, and I used that to get him his FAVORITE Starbucks giftcard from his little girls....and I got him some very boring, but much needed new pair of work pants. We went to this restaurant that we LOVE - Tortugas, they serve Chicago style pizzas, and they are so delish!!! To top it all off a girl that works in the nursery at our church, brought me some deer jerky, NATE LOVES DEER JERKY!!! And I surprised him with that too. Then on Wednesday night after church the gang surprised him (hey they were good, I didn't even know about it this time) with a cake and came by to sing happy birthday!!! Then he got a total of $120 in the mail from his parents and mine. Needless to say he had a great 32nd birthday.
God is really good, and He never ceases to amaze me, and I am so blessed and thankful to Him, who owns the whole world but still takes time to hear my little prayer and loves me enough to show me He hears me!!! Thank you Jesus for your eternal love and provision!!!
God is SO Awesome!! He truly is our all and our everything. We were going to have a problem paying 3 bills this month, and then my husband called today and told me he got some very GOOD, extra commission on his check!!! PRAISE GOD!
Also, my husbands birthday was Tuesday, and honestly we had NO money to spend on his birthday, which I HATE, because I LOVE LOVE LOVE to celebrate my loved ones birthdays....I mean I like to go all out. Well I had some of my christmas money leftover, and I used that to get him his FAVORITE Starbucks giftcard from his little girls....and I got him some very boring, but much needed new pair of work pants. We went to this restaurant that we LOVE - Tortugas, they serve Chicago style pizzas, and they are so delish!!! To top it all off a girl that works in the nursery at our church, brought me some deer jerky, NATE LOVES DEER JERKY!!! And I surprised him with that too. Then on Wednesday night after church the gang surprised him (hey they were good, I didn't even know about it this time) with a cake and came by to sing happy birthday!!! Then he got a total of $120 in the mail from his parents and mine. Needless to say he had a great 32nd birthday.
God is really good, and He never ceases to amaze me, and I am so blessed and thankful to Him, who owns the whole world but still takes time to hear my little prayer and loves me enough to show me He hears me!!! Thank you Jesus for your eternal love and provision!!!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Tithing & The Windows of Heaven
Hello & Happy Monday!
I am going to talk about a subject rhat has changed my husband's & our family's life. It is somewhat of a sore subject to many, but in God's word, every 5th verse in the Bible is on money, it's obviously very important to God. Not because God needs OUR money, he owns EVERYTHING!! Because he knows we use money as a tool, and because the lover of money is evil. So, therefore in the Bible it states whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.
Fact: Statistics say, only 30% of Christians tithe.
Sad, huh....well here's what I say, well if God wants to bless us because of our tithing and giving, and all these people aren't doing it, therefore they aren't getting the blessings, then I want them!!! Is that selfish??? HEY, so be it, but I want to have a blessed life. :) And so do you, I'm sure! So, I am going to share with you the truth from a man of God, preached at several of our church services.......I ask that you pray before reading any further that God will soften and open up your heart to this truth and accept it as GOD'S WORD.
IT IS TITLED...
IF YOU DON'T TITHE ON ALL, YOU DON'T TITHE AT ALL!!!!
Malachi 3:8-11
Will a man rob God???? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. (Mal 3:8)
Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. (Mal 3:9)
Notes: Now, ROB is not steal....ROB is to take by force, meaning if you make $100, you OWE God $10 (because the word TITHE means a tenth), if you only give Him $2, you have not GIVEN Him anything, yet you have ROBBED Him of $8.
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. (Mal 3:10)
Notes: DID YOU NOTICE THE WORD ALL?? Bring ye ALL the tithes. ALL means what?
So this means you should tithe on ALL YOUR INCREASE, not just what is on your paycheck. It doesn't say give UNCLE SAM first, it says GOD should get 10% of ALL....go with me in your Bible to Proverbs 3:9-10
Honour the Lord with they substance, and with the FIRST FRUITS of ALL thine increase. (Prov 3:9) Emphasis mine. BUT it says with the FIRST fruits of ALL thine increase. That doesn't mean that the Government is to get your first, you are supposed to tithe on your GROSS income NOT your NET. AND it also means, that any gifts of merchandise or money, any premiums (insurance - does your company pay a part or 1/2 of your medical ins, dental, ie.....what about any benefits packages, bonuses, etc.)
IF YOU DON'T TITHE ON ALL, YOU DON'T TITHE AT ALL!!
I know this is hard to swallow, for those of us who have NEVER heard this....We had never been opened up to this truth and the wisdom from it.
NOW.....onto something even HEAVIER....please pray again and ask the Lord to show you this truth, not to hurt you, but to bless you!!!
Leviticus 27:30-33 says:
And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lords's: it is holy unto the Lord.
And if a man will at all redeem aught of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.
And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord.
Look with me, it says if a man will REDEEM AUGHT (make up any back tithes, things you haven't tithed on, and if you haven't been tithing at all THIS IS A HUGE amount and you say, "God, I don't have this money." you tell God you will make a payment book and COMMIT to paying Him back what you OWE Him, for living on HIS planet, and breathing HIS oxygen).
It says he shall add thereto the FIFTH PART (okay you math people, what's a fifth? 20%) SO you have to ADD up your backtithes and then ADD 20% to it, and that's what you OWE God for your backtithes............the Bible says the tithe is HOLY unto the Lord..........
MOST of us, have NEVER heard this truth preached. IT HAS CHANGED our lives and giving of our backtithes (we made a payment book), it has given us FINANCIAL RELEASE, as our pastor calls it. God says......GO BACK WITH ME TO MALACHI please...
Malichi 3:11
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
Who is the devourer? The devil of course.....God says if you tithe, not only will he POUR you out a blessing that you will not have room to receive it, BUT He also says, PROVE ME....it is one of the FEW times in the Bible, God says See if I won't......BUT THEN He also says, He will rebuke the devourer (the devil) for your sake.....He will make your clothes last longer, cars run longer, air conditioner, washer/dryer, stove, etc.)
Since we have been doing this, we've never been without. God has shown us MIRACLES we otherwise would have missed out on. Just recently to name 2 our washer went out and 2 days later our pastor showed up with a washer AND dryer to GIVE US. Two days later we went out to our car after Wed. night church and found an envelope with our names on it and $20 in it.
God will always provide for our needs, not our GREEDS, but our needs!!! Now, make sure you know if you set out to do this truth and COMMAND of God, the devil will be after you, because he doesn't want you to do ANYTHING for God, OR for yourselves and your eternal kingdom!!! So know, when you set out to do good, evil is present with you (Paul said that, can't remember where) :)
GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME AND ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD.
Please pass this truth on to ANYONE and EVERYONE you know and let me know how it has opened up truth and wisdom in your lives and changed them FOREVER. God Bless You!!
I am going to talk about a subject rhat has changed my husband's & our family's life. It is somewhat of a sore subject to many, but in God's word, every 5th verse in the Bible is on money, it's obviously very important to God. Not because God needs OUR money, he owns EVERYTHING!! Because he knows we use money as a tool, and because the lover of money is evil. So, therefore in the Bible it states whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.
Fact: Statistics say, only 30% of Christians tithe.
Sad, huh....well here's what I say, well if God wants to bless us because of our tithing and giving, and all these people aren't doing it, therefore they aren't getting the blessings, then I want them!!! Is that selfish??? HEY, so be it, but I want to have a blessed life. :) And so do you, I'm sure! So, I am going to share with you the truth from a man of God, preached at several of our church services.......I ask that you pray before reading any further that God will soften and open up your heart to this truth and accept it as GOD'S WORD.
IT IS TITLED...
IF YOU DON'T TITHE ON ALL, YOU DON'T TITHE AT ALL!!!!
Malachi 3:8-11
Will a man rob God???? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. (Mal 3:8)
Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. (Mal 3:9)
Notes: Now, ROB is not steal....ROB is to take by force, meaning if you make $100, you OWE God $10 (because the word TITHE means a tenth), if you only give Him $2, you have not GIVEN Him anything, yet you have ROBBED Him of $8.
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. (Mal 3:10)
Notes: DID YOU NOTICE THE WORD ALL?? Bring ye ALL the tithes. ALL means what?
So this means you should tithe on ALL YOUR INCREASE, not just what is on your paycheck. It doesn't say give UNCLE SAM first, it says GOD should get 10% of ALL....go with me in your Bible to Proverbs 3:9-10
Honour the Lord with they substance, and with the FIRST FRUITS of ALL thine increase. (Prov 3:9) Emphasis mine. BUT it says with the FIRST fruits of ALL thine increase. That doesn't mean that the Government is to get your first, you are supposed to tithe on your GROSS income NOT your NET. AND it also means, that any gifts of merchandise or money, any premiums (insurance - does your company pay a part or 1/2 of your medical ins, dental, ie.....what about any benefits packages, bonuses, etc.)
IF YOU DON'T TITHE ON ALL, YOU DON'T TITHE AT ALL!!
I know this is hard to swallow, for those of us who have NEVER heard this....We had never been opened up to this truth and the wisdom from it.
NOW.....onto something even HEAVIER....please pray again and ask the Lord to show you this truth, not to hurt you, but to bless you!!!
Leviticus 27:30-33 says:
And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lords's: it is holy unto the Lord.
And if a man will at all redeem aught of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.
And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord.
Look with me, it says if a man will REDEEM AUGHT (make up any back tithes, things you haven't tithed on, and if you haven't been tithing at all THIS IS A HUGE amount and you say, "God, I don't have this money." you tell God you will make a payment book and COMMIT to paying Him back what you OWE Him, for living on HIS planet, and breathing HIS oxygen).
It says he shall add thereto the FIFTH PART (okay you math people, what's a fifth? 20%) SO you have to ADD up your backtithes and then ADD 20% to it, and that's what you OWE God for your backtithes............the Bible says the tithe is HOLY unto the Lord..........
MOST of us, have NEVER heard this truth preached. IT HAS CHANGED our lives and giving of our backtithes (we made a payment book), it has given us FINANCIAL RELEASE, as our pastor calls it. God says......GO BACK WITH ME TO MALACHI please...
Malichi 3:11
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
Who is the devourer? The devil of course.....God says if you tithe, not only will he POUR you out a blessing that you will not have room to receive it, BUT He also says, PROVE ME....it is one of the FEW times in the Bible, God says See if I won't......BUT THEN He also says, He will rebuke the devourer (the devil) for your sake.....He will make your clothes last longer, cars run longer, air conditioner, washer/dryer, stove, etc.)
Since we have been doing this, we've never been without. God has shown us MIRACLES we otherwise would have missed out on. Just recently to name 2 our washer went out and 2 days later our pastor showed up with a washer AND dryer to GIVE US. Two days later we went out to our car after Wed. night church and found an envelope with our names on it and $20 in it.
God will always provide for our needs, not our GREEDS, but our needs!!! Now, make sure you know if you set out to do this truth and COMMAND of God, the devil will be after you, because he doesn't want you to do ANYTHING for God, OR for yourselves and your eternal kingdom!!! So know, when you set out to do good, evil is present with you (Paul said that, can't remember where) :)
GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME AND ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD.
Please pass this truth on to ANYONE and EVERYONE you know and let me know how it has opened up truth and wisdom in your lives and changed them FOREVER. God Bless You!!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Okay, Soo Goodbye holidays and Hello new year days!!
If the holidays don't make you tired.....you're not enjoying it, RIGHT?? :)
Well I created this blog at the MOST worst time I guess, since I wrote ONE time and disappeared....well into the swing of things now. CHRISTmas was wonderful, we enjoyed time with family and friends and this was Eva's first Christmas so it was a precious gift to us just to watch her for the first time opening presents....I will post some pictures soon...Lana had a wonderful time, and she loved watching Eva as well. We went to the river (my husband's parents house) and it was SO unbelievably WARM and the river was up since we had had so much rain that we ACTUALLY got to enjoy being outside IN DECEMBER!! It was AWESOME, all the girls (well except Eva) got remote control cars, and LOVED racing them outside. It was SO hilarious, because all three cars were running on the same frequency so one of them would run their car and all three would go....try explaining that to Cora Grace (my 4 yr old neice), who we kept hearing "HEYYY why does my car keep going?"
Well CHRISTmas day was absolutely a blessing.....we were some of the fortunate ones to stay home ALL day. We opened gifts and had pancakes and then my mom came for a few hours, just to see the girls and their stuff, THEN we watched the Barbie movie Lana got for Christmas...it was WONDERFUL not going ANYWHERE....
OKAY ....so now on to my BLESSINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where do I start??
WE ARE PREGNANT!!!!!!!! We are going to have another baby, around the middle of Aug. I actually found out Dec. 31. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Whew...there will be ONE more Jones' to keep up with in 2009 ....bless my heart.....I will have a 15 month old and a newborn...Thank you Jesus for the blessing of a new baby AND for our monthly lesson being on PATIENCE in the Patch Club, I'm gonna need it!
Well ANOTHER blessing....we have NO baby insurance until June 1st, (we had to get new insurance when I quit my job and it has NOT been 365 days) ..... I know, you're thinking HOW is that a blessing, considering my doctor sees a vaginal birth as a package deal and I will have to pay half of the money up front.........well atleast that's what we thought AT FIRST...
Now, come to find out, we can make monthly payments up until the insurance goes into effect and then be reimbursed. That's alot better than the original $12,000.... Anyone have any ideas on this, I'D LOVE to hear them, because REALLY we're going to have to PRAY the money in anyway, even the monthly payment.
Another blessing, WE will get a tax return for having Eva last year - Praise the Lord!
God is good all the time and All the time God is good! Phil 4:19 "But my God shall supply ALL your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (emphasis mine)
Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Psalm 107:8,15, 21, 31 Do you sense the YEARNING there???
Praise God!! Thanks for keepN up with us.....HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! Tomorrow I am going to post my goals....I actually already planned them, and HEY I'm only falling back on 2 so far!!! HA HA HA.......
Well I created this blog at the MOST worst time I guess, since I wrote ONE time and disappeared....well into the swing of things now. CHRISTmas was wonderful, we enjoyed time with family and friends and this was Eva's first Christmas so it was a precious gift to us just to watch her for the first time opening presents....I will post some pictures soon...Lana had a wonderful time, and she loved watching Eva as well. We went to the river (my husband's parents house) and it was SO unbelievably WARM and the river was up since we had had so much rain that we ACTUALLY got to enjoy being outside IN DECEMBER!! It was AWESOME, all the girls (well except Eva) got remote control cars, and LOVED racing them outside. It was SO hilarious, because all three cars were running on the same frequency so one of them would run their car and all three would go....try explaining that to Cora Grace (my 4 yr old neice), who we kept hearing "HEYYY why does my car keep going?"
Well CHRISTmas day was absolutely a blessing.....we were some of the fortunate ones to stay home ALL day. We opened gifts and had pancakes and then my mom came for a few hours, just to see the girls and their stuff, THEN we watched the Barbie movie Lana got for Christmas...it was WONDERFUL not going ANYWHERE....
OKAY ....so now on to my BLESSINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where do I start??
WE ARE PREGNANT!!!!!!!! We are going to have another baby, around the middle of Aug. I actually found out Dec. 31. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Whew...there will be ONE more Jones' to keep up with in 2009 ....bless my heart.....I will have a 15 month old and a newborn...Thank you Jesus for the blessing of a new baby AND for our monthly lesson being on PATIENCE in the Patch Club, I'm gonna need it!
Well ANOTHER blessing....we have NO baby insurance until June 1st, (we had to get new insurance when I quit my job and it has NOT been 365 days) ..... I know, you're thinking HOW is that a blessing, considering my doctor sees a vaginal birth as a package deal and I will have to pay half of the money up front.........well atleast that's what we thought AT FIRST...
Now, come to find out, we can make monthly payments up until the insurance goes into effect and then be reimbursed. That's alot better than the original $12,000.... Anyone have any ideas on this, I'D LOVE to hear them, because REALLY we're going to have to PRAY the money in anyway, even the monthly payment.
Another blessing, WE will get a tax return for having Eva last year - Praise the Lord!
God is good all the time and All the time God is good! Phil 4:19 "But my God shall supply ALL your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (emphasis mine)
Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Psalm 107:8,15, 21, 31 Do you sense the YEARNING there???
Praise God!! Thanks for keepN up with us.....HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! Tomorrow I am going to post my goals....I actually already planned them, and HEY I'm only falling back on 2 so far!!! HA HA HA.......
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