Well, I guess I need to update my blog again. It is officially Christmas Day. It is 1AM. I am still up after drinking a cup of coffee a few minutes ago. I think I have basically finished my Christmas shopping, except for the recliner that Ray wants. I hope everyone is happy with their families during this Christmas season. I am certainly glad I got to spend part of my Christmas with my mom, my husband, and my kids (Gideon & Brooke).

This has definitely been a year of change for me. We are now at New Bethel Holiness Church as the pastor/pastor's wife. We have a wonderful new church family with which to love and enjoy fellowship. I have an amazing job at Software Technology, Inc. I still love every minute of it. I have been to amazing places this year with my job. Ray and I have learned to live without Gideon & Brooke under the same roof with us. I have completed yet another Masters degree in Teaching and Learning from Liberty University.

God has certainly been faithful to our family and to me. He has given me so many opportunities. I cannot fully comprehend why I have been so blessed. I certainly do not deserve it. I do know that God has been faithful to me and Ray. He has kept his hand on our son and his wife throughout their first months as a newly married couple. He has allowed us to be healthy this year. I am grateful.

This year has not gone without its pains. I lost my cousin, Mae Jewel Manley and my friend, Becky Jackson in death. I have been thinking about their families over the past few days. I hope this Christmas will not be all painful for them. I know Christmas can be a painful time of year for many people due to the loss of loved ones. I certainly have my moments of sadness each year. But remembering who we are celebrating helps me through the troubled times.

I hope all my friends and acquaintances have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. God bless you all

I have been doing a little bit of research the past few days on credit recovery for high school students who have failed a course and need to reclaim credit for graduation. As I continued to read and research this topic, another thought came to my mind. I remembered reading a story about recovery in the Bible. Tonight I decided to read that story again. To paraphrase, David and his men had been in the camp of the Philistines again (talk about sleeping with the devil). The Philistines distrusted David and his men. So they left the battle and headed back for Ziklag. However before David could make his way back to his family in Ziklag, another enemy struck. The Amalekites struck, burning the city, and taking a host of David's people with them as hostages. Talk about hardships. David's own men wanted to stone him.

Fortunately, David knew what he needed to do in this situation. He inquired of the Lord, strengthened himself, and took out to find his family. Now I said all of that to say this. God spoke to David and told him to "pursue, for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. There is that little word "recover".

Just because God promised David a recovery did not mean he would have it easy. David grew faint, and his men had to make him eat. He even fainted. (Yeah, guys want to make us girls think we are the only ones that faint.) But the important point is found in verse 18..."and David "recovered" all that the Amalekites had carried away:" verse 19..."David recovered all".

Wow. What a promise and a fulfillment! This story could have ended so differently. We could have read..."David learned to live with the loss of his wives and children." But in this situation God decided to allow David to recover all. Now there were times in David's life that he didn't recover all. What was different about this time? Perhaps it is found in verses 6-8 which begin with ..."but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God" He took the first step to recovery by taking care of himself. Then...David asked the priest to..."bring..hither the ephod". He knew the answers lay in God's instruction. Next,..."David inquired at the Lord" asking for direction and a promise. Finally, ..."So David went..." and "David pursued".

Next time I face a need for "recovery" I believe I will try these same steps David took so many years ago...

1. I will take care of myself before God.
2. I will look to God's word for the answer.
3. I will inquire of God for the direction I need to take.
4. I will pursue.

And just possibly,

5. I will recover all!

Take care!

Sarah

Yep, it's been a while since I last wrote to my blog. I am quite the busy person most days. I now have a new daughter, Ashley Brooke Robinson Odom. She and Gideon are well on their way into marriage and the thrills of being adults. They have relocated to the huge metropolis of Mobile, AL. I cried all the way home, well almost, today as we left them in their apartment. I thought I was ready for them to go out on their own, but I found out that I wasn't at all ready. They have called to check on me, thank goodness. I miss them both terribly tonight.

I remember some 21 years ago when I left home to be with Ray. We had our little extended cab Ford Ranger strapped down with all we owned. And Ray even got a ticket that day flying through Tennessee. So young and crazy. But we have made it. However for some reason I almost went into cardiac arrest when Gideon and Brooke showed up at my office Monday with the largest UHaul I have ever seen in my life. I just knew he would sideswipe half of Mobile trying to get it home. I seriously doubted the competence of the person that allowed him to rent it. But he made it, and it has been returned to UHaul, hopefully in sound condition. WHEW!

Ever wonder why kids like to scare their parents half to death? I do. I couldn't get over trying to be bossy and over protective of Gideon today. He was ready for me to leave him alone. We both had short tempers today, but at the end of it all, we both miss each other (or at least he told me he missed me.) Letting him go is actually harder than I expected. I am still just a kid myself. I am not old enough to have a child on his own and married. Well, I guess I will just have to get used to it. He is married. They have left home. And now I have an exercise room! So, once again, my son has left me with no excuses!

I love Gideon and Brooke more than life. I pray for them daily as I know they will have difficulties in the coming months and years. I solicit the prayers of all my friends as well for them. Remember - we have all been young and "crazy" at one point or another. I am certainly glad someone prayed for me and helped me along the way!

Sarah.