Not Good if Detached...

Not Good if Detached is a book by Corrie Ten Boom, in which the title relates to when her father would not give her the train ticket until she needed it to get on the train. In his own way he was teaching her that God doesn't give us things that we want until we need them. I experienced this a little bit this week. I had ordered personalized gifts for my family around the first of November, expecting them to be here by Christmas. Well my husband's family Christmas is Saturday and I had 2 gifts in that shipment that I needed by Friday when I left work. I have been "worried" about this shipment because I was going to have two people that would be left out of gifts, at least until I received them. I tried and tried to get ahold of the consultant, she tried to call the corporate office and could not get them to up the shipment. As of Thursday at 3pm, my order would either be shipped that afternoon or Friday morning and it supposedly takes 2 days to get to the receiver. Well...much to my surprise and joy, my order arrived with UPS this morning. If only I had been patient and trusted that God would give me my "ticket" right when I needed it! My worrying did no good. So, I'm thrilled because I have presents to give all my family tomorrow...thank you Lord. Forgive me for not being patient!

One of My Favorites Scenes from White Christmas

Long Time

In honor of Christmas I have changed my look! Since my last post, 2 things have happened in the Jackson family:

• we have moved to a new apartment...closer to our wonderful church family, closer to friends, and closer to Shane's work
• I have lost close to 50 lbs and still losing - it's been SUCH a blessing!

God has been so gracious to our family this fall. We have had a wonderful Thanksgiving and look forward to spending time with our family. I'll try to keep blogging this December!

Lifehouse's Everything Skit

I stumbled upon this video a couple of weeks ago and have watched it several times since then. Watch and be encouraged at how God saves us! Oh and get your tissues ready...

K-A-R-I-S

1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts.
2. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of their middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.
3. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog-post containing your own middle name game facts.
4. At the end of your blog-post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag.
5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

K- Kansas is the furthest state I have been to that is west of the Mississippi--at least I think so. I know I've been to Texas but Kansas might sound better! :-)

A - Abby is my first name and the name I go by, unless I'm in trouble, then it's Abigail.

R - Riley is the last name that I had for 22 years of my life. It is a good name and hopefully the first name of one of my children...if my sister doesn't beat me to it!

I - Ice, I absolutely love ICE in my Diet Coke. If it doesn't haven't ice and it's not freezing cold, what is the point of drinking a Diet coke?

S - Shane"man". That is my husband, the love of my life, the man to whom I am so thankful to God. He makes me laugh when I least expect it, I love him so much!

Ok...so now I tag my favorite sister, Beth...I know, you are my only sister! :-)

Happy Birthday to my Dad!

Happy Birthday to my dad, not my father, my dad! He turned 53 Thursday! I think he had a good day! We got him a chain saw...he called and said thanks for the scissors. LOL He has been such a blessing to me. God has used him in my life in a tremendous way. I'll never forget my dad calling me on a Sunday during my first week of college and said "I looked out in church today and didn't see your smiling face, I teared up! I miss you!" Thank you God for giving me such a great example of what You are like!

It's a week of birthdays for our family...tomorrow (Saturday) is Shane's b'day so I am in full party mode! I decided to put one together last Sunday after church so I've been planning all week! It's SO much fun...I think! I'll post some pictures tomorrow!

Deflating the Puffed Up Church

No, this is not my own original title. It is the title of CJ Mahaney's message that he preached back in March. I tend to read his wife and daughter's blog, GirlTalk, and yesterday they had a very dear family in their church lose their young son. In this sermon he talked about this family. I decided to listen to the sermon and boy was I blessed and challenged. I encourage you to download it and hear his words, I pray it will unpuff you and challenge you to share it with your friends. Some major points that he made were:

#1) Grace produces humility and
#2) Grace prepares us for suffering.

One thing that he said really gripped my heart and just made me tear up because of my inadequacy in living this way. He said "The genuinely humble are not surprised when they suffer. Humility recognizes God’s sovereignty and trusts His goodness." He then said "When suffering comes, you don’t have to have all the answers. Being perplexed is a part of life. But what you do understand, understand fully: that God is sovereign and God is good." This latter quote made me smile because that is the one truth that we can cling to when we don't have all the answers. I pray that I will continue to see God's grace in my life and that I will call it and thank God for it. I pray that I will be humble and see suffering in a different light.

Happy Birthday to You!

23 years ago today my sister, Elizabeth Joy, came into my life! We have shared many memories, arguments, joys and sorrows together. I am so proud of the woman she is becoming. She has challenged me beyond what I could have imagined! Continue to stay strong, fight hard! I love you! Oh...and check out her blog if you have a minute!

When is Enough, Enough?

So I just got word that Miss Lindsay Lohan has been arrested AGAIN on DUI charges and possession of cocaine. She just turned 21 on July 2nd, which at that time she was in rehab for alcohol addiction. Can you tell me why she was able to get away with this? I'd also like to know, where is her mother? On top of this I heard that a movie of hers is about to come out and that she is preparing to be in another movie. Are you kidding me? So she is going to get rewarded for being arrested twice on a DUI...let's not even mention that she was probably driving last night on a suspended license. Am I missing something here? And then I hear this voice in my head, "Abby, why are you surprised? She is a sinner, what else do you expect from her?" And that voice is right; we can't expect anything but sin out of sinners.

Lord, please give me the patience and the diligence to pray for unbelievers, that they will come to know you, that you would draw them unto Yourself. Please help me to remember that they need exactly what I needed...a Savior. Lord, thank you for dying for me and for my sin! Please reveal yourself to Lindsay and to those around her, bring her to the end of herself so that she might finally look up and see her need for You! Please reveal yourself to Lindsay and to those around her, bring her to the end of herself so that she might finally look up and see her need for You.

90 Minutes in Heaven

I have a normal morning routine and it starts with being up by 6 am so that I can listen to my favorite radio talk show, The Rick and Bubba Show. This morning started out as usual and then around the 7:00 hour they had Don Piper (not John, Don) on the show. He is the New York Times Best Selling Author of 90 Minutes in Heaven. Basically, his story starts in 1989 when he was in a horrible car accident, an 18 wheeler ran over his car going about 110 mph, he was pronounced dead at the scene and the book is about what happened next. Evidently 90 minutes after he was pronounced dead he was brought back to life(not sure b/c I didn't hear that part). Anyway...his book talks about what heaven was like. As I was listening this morning at first I thought cool and then the more I listened I was sad. I do not remember the man ever once talking about God and Christ and seeing them. I tried thinking back over my 25 years of "going to church" and my 15 years of being a christian and what I remember is that we will be worshipping God and giving all glory to Him in heaven. I know we hear about our mansions and the pearly gates but I thought the whole purpose of heaven was to glorify God. I thought now how can someone be in Heaven for 1 minute, much less 90 minutes and not talk about the glory of God?!?! I have not read the book so it could be that he does give information on that...but why not mention the greatest part on a radio show? My hubby and I talked about this and both talked about how we feel like heaven is not done yet and how the ultimate judgment will have to happen before any of us enter heaven. I will obviously do more research on this issue but thought I was ask anyone who reads for their opinion...do you have one? If you do let me know what you think...

Also, while on the show he took questions from callers. One question in particular made me chuckle but then his response made me kind of sad. An elderly lady said how she just loved his book but she had a question for him..."I just lost one of my pets yesterday and I was wondering, did you see any animals in heaven?" This lady was absolutely serious, she wasn't be silly or funny, she sounded like she would actually be disappointed if her pets were not in heaven when she got there. I was sad about this because she is obviously missing the point of heaven. Don Piper said that he did not see animals in heaven but he was sure that they would be there, after all they were the last thing God made before he created humans (or something to that effect). I don't agree with this but can't really use my own words to back it up but if you wish you can read my pastor's idea about this topic by clicking here.

Memorial Day

Yesterday was Memorial Day. It is one of my favorite holidays and also one of the saddest. When I graduated from high school, my parents took me and a friend to Washington D.C...it just happened to fall on the Memorial Day weekend. Ever since then I have enjoyed this holiday. Being in our nations' capitol during this celebration was an awesome event. I even got to see the President give his address from Arlington Cemetery. I have to admit that I cry a lot on this day and I haven't even lost anyone to any war. I guess I cry because I see the sacrifice that so many other people have made so that I might be free! I am so thankful to them for sacrificing their time and even their life so that I might walk around free in this country, so that I can pray to my BIG God. War is a horrible thing but even God is involved in war. God even used war to bring His people to the promised land and claim it for themselves. I am confident that God chose these men and women for a special task and that He saw necessary to bring them into war, and then ultimately for them to die. I do want to say thank you to all the soldiers who are on duty now and also to those families that sacrifice their time away from their husbands, sons, brothers, wives, etc. I know that they are serving our country as well! Thank you!

Being Pampered

There is just something about being pampered that makes a woman feel special. Today I went with a friend who is getting married in about 4 weeks to get a pedicure. It was a great feeling to have my feet massaged not only by the water jets but also the person performing the pedicure. Then to see your toenails painted a pretty pink...it just gives you a good feeling about yourself...at least it does me! I wonder why God made women to have a desire to be pampered? And who ever thought of giving a pedicure? I wonder who the person was that said "why don't I offer women the option of getting their feet massaged and manicured and then paint their toenails?" Oh well...I enjoy it!

Mother's Day

Mothers are very special people. I understand that all people do not have excellent mothers but God gave me the best. I have the Proverbs 31 woman as my mom...or at least she is pretty close. In the past three of my 25 years of life, I have come to understand the value of her, especially in my life. She is my friend and my prayer warrior. She is really great to laugh with and here is an example:

Last weekend I went to visit my parents in "Small Pebble". (My husband calls Little Rock, Arkansas that...he is so hilarious!) While we were there my mom and I went shopping at Goody's. One of my best friends is getting married next weekend and it has been a tradition for our little "college girls" group to have a lingerie party the night before the wedding. I had already purchased the "nice" pieces but was on the hunt for some "risque" stuff. Mom and I started going through the little skimpy underwear (they were having a sale) and all of a sudden my mom starts busting out laughing. She said "we must look very funny looking through this pile of "strings" (typical mom comment). Let's just say that mom and I are not your size 1 or 2 or even 8. Needless to say I found some little things to give to the bride but when I went to purchase I made sure the checkout lady knew they were not for me. Ha ha! It's always fun to go shopping with your mom and be able to laugh. I am very blessed to have a mom that I can do that with...we are truly great friends!

A First for Me!

So last weekend at Target, one of my favorite all time stores, they had their brand of Crystal Light "On the Go" packets. I decided to purchase these because of course they were on sale! Well today I brought my water bottle, cold from the refrigerator and dumped the packet in the bottle. I screwed the top back on the bottle and shook it. It is the best thing ever! Crystal Light is one of my favorite 0 calorie drinks...it's GREAT...you should try it if you haven't already!

Technology

This week I have gotten a PDA phone...at least I think that is what it is called. A Cingular 8125. I don't really know why I had to get such a high tech phone but my husband insisted this was the phone I needed. I have to pretty much point at everything with a stylus to do anything with my phone. It is actually quite comical! What makes it funnier is that my dad and I have talked more this week using msn messenger FROM OUR PHONES than we have since Christmas. Actually, my dad has to one up me and got a Q phone this week at work himself...he said he can't have his daughter one up him on technology!!! This morning he messaged me while he was driving using some card on his computer. Now I'm not recommending instant messaging while you are driving but you have to admit that is some pretty serious technology that will allow you to be on the internet in your car!

Back on the Scene

Hey! I'm back! I've been out of pocket for the last few weeks and I'm ready to start blogging again! So much has happened it's hard to know where to start. I guess I will just say that life is good. God has proven faithful again, you would think I would stop being shocked at his grace and provision! This week has been one of horror, sadness and yet peace and hope. As we prayed for this Virginia Tech community, family, friends of those that lost their lives I was encouraged and comforted that God is on His throne. He is not pacing the floor, scratching his head, wondering what He is going to do now. He knew that this evil individual was going to walk into Norris Hall and kill 30 people, in fact, I believe He allowed it to happen. What a comfort to know that God is in the middle of this and He is not on the sidelines. I pray that people will be drawn to Christ from this evil situation and that they too will feel the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Our prayers are with you!

Moses! Moses!

Do we ever act as if God is not fulfilling His promises?

In Sunday School we are going through the book of Exodus. We just finished the end of chapter 5 where Pharaoh had taken the Israelites' straw from them, the straw they used to make the bricks, but yet they were still required to meet their daily quota of bricks; basically causing them to work harder and longer and still coming up short. Moses and Aaron are blamed for the harsh circumstances. Moses says returns to God in verse 22 thru 23 and says, "O Lord, why have you brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me? Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done harm to this people, and You have not delivered Your people at all."

God responds to Moses beginning in Chapter 6:1 through verse 8. He begins and ends with "I am the Lord." Matthew Henry says that God is basically telling Moses and His people to take comfort from His name, His covenant (He will assuredly fulfill it Himself!), His compassions (God takes note of the increase of His people's calamities, and He will respond), His resolutions (God says in these verses what He WILL DO to fulfill His promises so the Israelites are brought out of Egypt triumphantly) and His gracious intentions (God intends our happiness and He intends His own glory).

All of this made me think how I respond to hard times and good times in my life? Do I look at them like God is fulfilling His promise in me? My prayer is that He will continue to do a good work in me and that He is making me complete. I took great comfort in this lesson on Sunday because I remember the covenant God made with Abraham back in Genesis and I see this huge nation that God is working out to deliver them. And then I remember what God has done to bring His people to Him even now. As believers we are His people, we are the sheep of His pastures, we are the Israelites. Christ is our Moses. Christ has come to redeem us for God. God is fulfilling His promise to Adam and Eve that He would provide a way to restore us to Himself. Praise the Lord! I pray I and you will respond to events in our life as God fulfilling His promise to us!

Fridays

Today is Friday and I absolutely love Fridays. In college I had mixed feelings. Most of the professors scheduled their tests on Friday so that made them hard but then you had the weekend not to have to study or do homework. As an adult, in the real world...haha...I love Fridays. Fridays mean a lot to me. It means I have come to the end of a work week where I can clean my desk off and start afresh on Monday. It means payday which we all know why that is good. It means I have 2 days to rest, 1 of which I get to go and sit under godly, Biblical teaching. Fridays also mean date night for me and my husband (of almost 3 years, oh my goodness!) Tonight we are actually "double" dating with his boss' son and fiance. We are meeting younger couples and it is great. I also like Fridays because my boss leaves early and I get a lot of work done! :-) Have a GREAT Friday!

Sanjaya

Ok, I admit it, I watch American Idol. To be honest I have been pretty bored with it this year. Maybe it is because no one is from Alabama this year...haha. I love Melinda Doolittle and unless she totally bombs one night, I really think she will win. One thing I do not understand is how Sanjaya Malakar is still on this show. I'm not seeing the how he is even close to any of the other singers. And then on Tuesday night they show this little pre-teen girl in the audience just crying buckets of tears over him. He sang the song "You Really Got Me" and I did not think it was good quality at all. In fact I would almost put it up there with Cameron Diaz singing "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" in My Best Friend's Wedding. Needless to say I thought it was bad and he's really not that cute! Hopefully people will stop voting for him because I'm tired of hearing him perform, he's boring!

Right On, Dr. Mohler!

Thursday morning I was called by a friend in Memphis about something she had heard on the news about Dr. Mohler, president of The Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY. She had heard that Dr. Mohler had said "some babies are born gay"! I also had heard the exact thing on the radio earlier that morning but had sort of brushed it off. But when she called I immediately went to the source, Dr. Mohler's blog, where I found this article: http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=891

After reading this article, I must admit I was quite confused as well. I called my husband and asked him about his take on the posting because he had actually received the article when it was posted on March 2nd. We both knew there was mass confusion and we knew where Dr. Mohler stood on this issue. Sin is sin. Homosexuality is sin just like lying or cheating is sin. What he was doing was writing in response to an article in Radar magazine entitled "Is Your Baby Gay?" So I think what he was saying in response to that article is no matter what they use to justify homosexuality it is still sin. Even if, and that's a HUGE "If", they were to find that gene, it would still be sin. We are all apart of the fallen creation, we are all tempted in one way or another, but it still makes it sin. Dr. Mohler has written a response to all the criticism he received yesterday on his blog http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=901.

I read that response and I am totally in full agreement with what he has to say. I think Dr. Mohler is a true man of God and I am thankful that he is able to stand up in this lost and dying world. I think it is a challenge to all believers that we are to love the person and hate the sin and to remember that ALL have fallen short of the glory of God and that we are all sinners, some of whom have been saved by His amazing grace.

Daylight Savings Time

So I woke up for the third morning in a row to complete darkness! I don't like that! What is the point of Daylight Savings Time anyway? My husband and I left for work about 5 min to 7 this morning and it looked like the sun was just rising. What's the point? I'm with Indiana and Arizona in not changing the time ever...although does that mess their TV show schedule completely up? Does that mean that they used to watch Grey's Anatamy in Indiana at 8 pm and now they have to wait until 9 pm? That might be even more confusing than waking up to darkness instead of light!

Who or What are You Governed By?

It was announced yesterday morning at church that our pastor, Todd Wilson, would ask us "Are You Increasingly Governed by God's Word?" at church last night. Well the title alone made me not desire to go back last night, but I did. What an awesome message it was. He also asked us what we value. That hit hard as well. Have you ever thought about that? I mean what do you look to as the most valuable thing to you. Would it be your Bible? I left church encouraged and challenged. The Word of God is so many things, it is sweeter than honey according to Psalm 19. It is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword according to Hebrews 4:12. I think it is just awesome that a book that was written so long ago is still as valuable today as it was to the early Christians or even to our patriarchs. Anyway, I challenge you today to make the Word of God as precious to you and any other thing/person/object in your life!

I just had to do it!

So, it seems everyone else in the world has a blog so I will start my own. I will write about whatever is going on in the life of the Jackson crew. Write now it's just me and my husband. We live in the metro Birmingham area and are absolutely loving it. God has been very good to us! We have been married for almost 3 years and WOW, God has taught us A LOT! I'll share more as I get move involved with this thing...bare with me..I'm a newbie!