It's pretty crazy around here at dinner time. It was a little different this time. Sarah ate her very first food (other than cereal). It's highly unfortunate that it was squash, but she seemed to like it!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
How Long?
2010 - 1997 = 13
My dad died 13 years ago today. I'd say in the last year or so, I've gotten numb to this. I literally just had to use the calculator to see how long it had been. That's bad, right?
Of course, I miss him. I miss him not being there for the littles, for me, for my Mom, and for all of the stuff that has gone on in the past 13 years. I honestly do miss him, but I think that after a certain amount of time, you just move on. Even though it's the end of October, my month of stuff, I have survived. It's been one of the roughest Octobers since 1997, but I ultimately know - without a doubt - that my God has me right where He wants me, and without Him, I wouldn't have made it through this month!
This is where I was two years ago. I didn't even write about it last year.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Picinic, Anyone?
The kids just loved that they could help out, and, of course, they got to play a lot too!
God tells us to do things sometimes that make absolutely no sense. This is one of those instances. Rusty got up out of bed on Saturday morning (before the house fire across the street), and was told to build a picnic table. In less than 4 hours later, we now have a picnic table that seats 10 adults! I wonder if we could sell them? Anyhow, sorry for the side note...I am very impressed with my man!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Sometimes, It Just Is
A lot of times, I often wonder what God has in store for our family because we've really been put through it the last two years. Our faith is tested each and every day, and for whatever reason, we just continue to go on, loving family, loving life, and loving God more and more. Don't get me wrong: we have our moments.
In the last two years or so, we have gone from having lots of earthly pleasures (you know, nice cars, dinners, movies, trips, toys, etc) to having next to zero earthly pleasures. Where we valued possessions over the more important things (God, family, friends, etc) two years ago, we've (for the most part) put all of the junk aside and have put God first. Of course, there's still the human side to us, but we know what we should be doing, and do try to do it.
Several things have happened in our lives in the last few weeks. A lot of them have been very hard to deal with or very discouraging --- or something. It just seems like there is something that happens nearly every day. And, it's not one of those "easy" things like it used to be...NO! They are all pretty significant.
The human side of me wants to just put our list of problems out there, complain like a 4 year old, and throw a temper tantrum. Why, God? Why does this have to happen? And why SOOO MANY TIMES!!??
Funny how God works, isn't it?
For me, at the beginning of this journey, God was teaching me to trust; to trust others and to trust Him. Then, He worked on teaching me to have faith. Faith in others, and yes, faith in Him. Now, not only is He teaching me to trust and to have faith, but now, He's teaching me to obey.
Try to obey your Father every time he tells you to do something. Everyone knows that it's impossible. But, just as your earthly Father loves you, your Heavenly Father loves you so much more!
With all of the "junk" that has been the last two years, I can tell you now, I have never in my life, felt God's love for ME more than I do at this very moment. As much as I love the Littles, God loves me MORE than that! Me? Rebekah? Wow! That's one awesome God!
Another thing that is just indicative of how awesome our God is is evident in others that are involved in our lives. In this week alone, someone gave us $200 for gas, free daily childcare (and not one of those "you get what you pay for" situations), A scholarship towards Rachel's Space Camp ($169), and a washing machine (actually, we were offered one from several people because after manually spinning ours for over a year, it decided to stop altogether).
Here we are with -$200 in the bank with no resources for getting more, and our family is as strong as it has ever been! We are happy. The kids are amazing. Our marriage is easily the best gift I have ever been given.
I don't usually like to go on and on when it comes to the blog, but this MUST be said:
Our God is an awesome God!
He is taking care of the Corley Clan in ways that I could have NEVER imagined, and to just sit back and watch it unfold has helped me in my walk with The Lord in not only trusting, having faith, and obeying, but in so very many ways. Our garbage hasn't been picked up for four weeks, going on five --- because we just can't pay the bill. But, I know, deep down in my soul, that my God will take care of us, and that is a comfort that I can rest in without any hesitation.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
How Do You Hear God?
What does God sound like? How do you know if you are really hearing Him or if you are just hearing yourself tell yourself to do something, and you think it's right? Does God have a big strong voice? Does He have a soft tone with an accent we've never heard? What if God sounded like an Australian?
I can remember asking a friend of mine several years ago, "How do you know that God is actually talking to you? How do you know?" I ended up demanding an explanation, and then I never got that explanation in ways that I could actually understand anyway, so, I just kinda went on with life, thinking that I "knew" God, and all was good. I realized later on in life that I knew "about" God, but I didn't really "know" Him.
God talks to me. Sometimes, He is very clear in His direction, and other times, I'm just told to wait. But, my question to my friend was, "How do you know that God is talking to you?" How was I going to be able to KNOW that it was actually God's direction that I was hearing rather than my own?
Sometimes, when life just gets BUSY, I go to a quiet place where there are NO distractions, and just wait. The waiting is where it's at. Go find a quiet place, sit down, get comfortable, and just say, "God, I'm here. I'm ready. Tell me what You want me to know or what You want me to do."
And then, you just wait.
I have a great place that I go, but sometimes, I can just feel Satan pulling me away from that quiet time with God. Believe me, I have plenty of distractions, but I set my mind on it, and just DO IT, and it turns out to be that I've had some of my best God talks once I get there. I'd love to pray for you, if you have any personal requests. Just email me @ rebekahcorley@comcast.net.
You've heard of your gut feeling before? That's God. A woman's sixth sense? God. Your conscience? Intuition? God. God.
Some people would even go as far to say that Jiminy Cricket was a metaphor for Jesus Christ. Many times, I've wondered why people are so quick to be okay with cartoon characters or "Mother Nature" being socially acceptable "entities", but if you believe that God is the actual Creator, you are put into a pot with the "crazies". However, that's another day. :)


God is the voice of your conscience. Not only can He talk to you through words and thoughts, but He makes himself known all around us. He is the Creator, after all.
If you try to Google this, it could take you down a path that confuses you more, so I put a couple of links here to help out. Don't make this harder than it is by reading all sorts of stuff on the Internet.
Yet, Another
Just stop. As long as it takes, say, "God, I'm here. What do you have for me?" And wait. No distractions. Nothing. Just you and God. And be prepared to just stop until it's clear. Don't get worried about how to pray. It's all about a relationship with God. Just talk to Him like you would anyone else, and He'll meet you where you are. He's God. He can do that.
<><
Just stop. As long as it takes, say, "God, I'm here. What do you have for me?" And wait. No distractions. Nothing. Just you and God. And be prepared to just stop until it's clear. Don't get worried about how to pray. It's all about a relationship with God. Just talk to Him like you would anyone else, and He'll meet you where you are. He's God. He can do that.
<><
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Who's the Monkey in the Mirror?
Rusty got this little mirror at his Doctor's office and brought it home to Sam. He handed it to Sam, so seriously and cautiously, and said, "Now, be careful. There's a monkey in there."
Sam just laughed at him. He said, "That's not a monkey, Daddy."
Of course, Rachel fell for it too.
Monday, October 25, 2010
"The Who's"
And that's all you're ever gonna know about us, unless you become a "Who" too!
"Who" Requirements
*Candidates must meet all requirements*
Application, 3 Personal References, 3 Business References, New Member Committee Approval, Board of Directors Approval, Non-refundable Registration Fees, Fingerprint & Background Screening, Sense of Humor test (including, but not limited to the ability to link), a Driving Test, an Insane Love for Music, as well as 19 other Fees that are not mentioned until initial Board of Directors Approval has been achieved.
~ Christine, Angelyn, Me, Rocco, & Christi ~
"The Italians", "Corley", "-Rocco", & "The Viking"
"The Italians", "Corley", "-Rocco", & "The Viking"
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Where Does He Get This Stuff From?
Sam --- "It's a mad butterfly cockroach with a mad butterfly cockroach disease, Mommy."
---when I asked him what he was drawing on the Magna Doodle---
---when I asked him what he was drawing on the Magna Doodle---
Saturday, October 23, 2010
God's Love is So ---
I just got home from the Women's Conference a couple of hours ago. I could go on and on and on about the things that I took away from the speaker, the teachings, the worship -- well, the entire experience was absolutely amazing!
The most important thing that I took away from the weekend? God's love for me...this sinner of a woman...is so great that I could never even begin to understand it!
When I look at the kids to try to measure my love for each one of them, I can't put into words just how much I really do love them. I can put my face up next to theirs and feel them breathe, smell their shampoo, and sense the warmth in the deepest parts of their souls when I look deep into their eyes. And knowing these things, just how much I love them that it brings me to tears to even think about it, knowing THESE things, I know that my God loves me SOO much more than I love my Littles.
Me. In all of my glory! God loves me so intimately and so much. He is my Father, and thinking about how much I (as a Mother) love my kids, helps to put into perspective just how much God loves me.
I am so undeserving of His love, this life, and the blessings that He has given me, but because He loves me so, He can cradle my face in His hands, look deep into my soul, and see the real Rebekah like no other could ever do. And, when He sees just what the real Rebekah is all about, He STILL LOVES ME!
What an amazing God we have!
This is my most favorite hymn.
Verse 1
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my father!
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not:
As thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
Chorus:
Great is Thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness,
Morning by morning new mercies I see:
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
Verse 2
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Verse 3
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth.
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Tinkle Tinkle
This was Sam - early 2009 - singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
Just go ahead and melt my wittle heart. Please and thank you.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Swingin' Corn
We won't be making it to the Lake this year. Money is tight. Well, a little more accurate of a statement would be that money is non-existent. I hope we'll get to go to the Lake again soon!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
AWANA is Back!
Every Sunday, with the exception of a few, the Corley Clan will be at AWANA! The kids absolutely LOVE going, and the message is right up our alley.
~ Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed ~
2 Timothy 2:15
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