You've Got A Friend In Me

 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone?  A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

I firmly believe God gives us exactly what we need when we need it. And every once in a while that comes in the form of a person entering or exiting our lives. 

Throughout our lives we meet people, and every so often someone comes along and instantly you know that this person is just right. They mold so perfectly into your life that it's as if they have always been there. They understand you better than anyone, they share your same values and sense of humor, and being around them is so easy and fun. Enter John-Warren.

Recently our family has had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know John-Warren. Instantly he became a part of us. We knew from the second we met him that this was someone we wanted in our lives, forever!  He and Mike have forged a friendship that is almost like no other I've seen in my almost 34 years. They share the same intelligence, wit, charm, love of music, and sense of humor. One can start to say something yet doesn't need to finish because the other already knows. They laugh and joke and life is fun and easy in their friendship.  But they are not afraid to hold each other accountable.

For me, the most important thing as I watch their friendship grow is the love the two men share for their God, families, and friends. They know where they stand with God and He with them. They are not afraid to take on the role and responsibility of "head of household" and plant the seed of God in the hearts and minds of the people they are responsible for. They take the role of Spiritual Leader seriously. They are not judgmental and don't laugh when someone asks questions or is lost. They simply help you find your way.  

In my journey to find my faith I am constantly being tested. Everyday is a struggle between believing and questioning everything. And everyday Mike and John-Warren are here to set me strait. They are pillars in the foundation of a Godly home. Standing strong, sturdy, and unshakable against evil. The word of God shielding them.

 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 NIV

So what does God tell us about men like Mike and John-Warren?

Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Titus 2:2 ESV

Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Titus2:6 ESV

Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! Psalm 112:1 ESV

 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. 1 Corinthians 11:3 ESV

That all being said, I'm so honored to have two such men as role models to my two sons. If Mike and I raise our boys to be even an ounce of the men they have to look up to, I think God will be proud. Courageous, gentle, loving, self-controlled, steadfast, and strong in faith. Men of God.

Many Blessings,
Lacey

Find me on social media at:
 www.facebook.com/All.Up.In.Your.Faith.Lacey 
@AllUpInUrFaith (Twitter)
LaceyLouWho23 (Pinterest)
@LaceyBug2431 (Instagram)
Laceybug1982@gmail.com (email)

Don't Bite The Table!

Be joyful in hope,

 patient in affliction,

 faithful in prayer.

Romans 12:12 NIV

Patience is a virtue. Or so they say. Patience is NOT something that comes easily for me. If by chance you are a parent I'm totally sure you can relate. I find myself using phrases all day long that I never expected or even hoped I'd ever have to use. Hence today's title. 

Our 16 month old is a very normal, very active child. He's at the age now where patience in parents is the most important. Toddlers in this early learning phase are akin to a highly intoxicated person. Stumbling, babbling incoherently, bumping into everything, and falling every couple of feet. And let's not even get started on the "everything must go in my mouth so I can properly decide if I want to play with it or not" bit. Ah yes, life with a toddler is anything but dull. "Don't bite the table, Liam", "Couches are for sitting, not dancing, Liam", "Believe it or not, you don't need to climb up that, Liam", "I promise your life will go on normally without Mickey Mouse for an hour, Liam", "What do you have in your mouth now, Liam???", "How on God's green earth did you get that, Liam?"

And the list goes on and on and on and on and on and on.

After an especially bad day today, I started to think about my relationship with God. On my journey to finding my faith, it dawned on me today that I'm in that crazy toddler phase as well. I suddenly realized that I'm raising this little, tiny, crazy person at the same time that God is trying to raise me. And suddenly I want to drop to my knees and beg for forgiveness.  In that moment I could hear God saying, "I promise your life will go on normally if you don't have that, Lacey", "Don't go down that path, Lacey", "Where on My green earth did you leave your manners, Lacey", "What did you just allow into your heart, Lacey", "That's not My rightful place on your priority list, Lacey Marie!"

I'm sure you get the picture. On my journey right now I'm a stumbling, incoherently babbling, bumping, falling, and fumbling around toddler. But, as is with my child, God is just trying to raise me up to be the best me I can be. He just wants me to be happy. He wants me to have good manners, and be kind to everyone. He just wants to LOVE me. 

It's most important in these times to remember that our children will learn. They will stop throwing the toddler tantrums we all cringe during and they will learn by the example we show them. Just as we learn by God's almighty example. With a little bit of patience and a whole lot of LOVE!

Many Blessings,
Lacey

Find me on social media at:
 www.facebook.com/All.Up.In.Your.Faith.Lacey 
@AllUpInUrFaith (Twitter)
LaceyLouWho23 (Pinterest)
@LaceyBug2431 (Instagram)
Laceybug1982@gmail.com (email) 

Before This River Becomes An Ocean...

                  Before this river,  
                    Becomes an ocean,
Lyrics from the song Faith by George Michael


While I certainly don't identify with all the lyrics of this song, these few words stuck out in my mind as a great analogy to my Faith as it is right now. I'm a creek, that will eventually become a river, and then finally an ocean. To be honest I'm just trying to find out WHO my God is, WHAT He means to me as an individual, and WHERE He should be on my priority list.

In a perfect world I would know my God, what He means to me, and exactly where He goes on the priority list. Number 1! But lets face facts here, this isn't a perfect world and I'm not a perfect person. Even as I sit here writing this blog my sweet Liam (my 16 month old) is covered in navel orange, his favorite fruit, and I have to stop, clean him up, kiss his face, and then I can get back to blogging once he has his favorite Mickey Mouse toy or drink coaster and is happy to play nearby. Priorities right?

I'm a creek. Just starting out. And that's okay. I continually tell God "I hope you're ready for me, because here I come!"

Now I have to admit here, I AM NOT FAITHLESS. I AM NOT WITHOUT GOD. And, I AM NOT NEW TO RELIGION! That just needed to be said. I have known God my entire life as I was raised Catholic, in a Catholic Church, attended the best Catholic school in West Palm Beach, Fl (and the world if you ask me!), and sang in the choir at every mass. But, I. GOT. LOST. Some where along the way I found my self lacking. I grew up. I grew away from my faith. Life handed me a few bad cards and I BLAMED GOD. The first step was admitting I was wrong. The second step (where I am now) is admitting I need help.

Luckily for me, my help comes in the form of a man. The single greatest human being I know. My PIC. (for those of you who don't know, PIC is what kids use to describe their "partner in crime") In this blog my PIC is my "Partner in Christ." My PIC is the love of my life, father of my children, and fellow blogger Mike Jennings.(check him out here) He is the godliest man I know but more importantly for me, he is not judgmental. I mean nobody wants to feel stupid. Nobody wants to admit their shortcomings. Nobody wants to be the fool. With my PIC I can feel free to ask questions and get answers without feeling less than I am. I'm learning, and that's okay because God isn't sitting on some throne, looking down on me, and laughing at my stupidity. He's in my heart. Cheering me on. On to a faith filled life with Him at the top of the ever important priority list.


When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up my childish ways. 1 Corinthians 13:11 NIV

In the immortal words of George Michael, "You just gotta have FAITH"

Many Blessings,
Lacey

Find me on social media at:
 www.facebook.com/All.Up.In.Your.Faith.Lacey 
@LaceyBug2431 (Twitter)
LaceyLouWho23 (Pinterest)
@LaceyBug2431 (Instagram)
Laceybug1982@gmail.com (email) 

In The Beginning

In the beginning God created...a blog.

Wait. What?

Nope it's just me, Lacey, your everyday average sinner. Like so many other people I believe I have something worth saying, and my family is the funniest out there.  So, I feel I need to share our story with the world. But let's get real, that could explain a LOT of people and families. My purpose with this blog is just to document my journey of finding my faith and the everlasting glory in God's house, all while living my everyday life. Wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend and cancer survivor. And now blogger.

My blogging journey will include where my bible studies are taking me, when my faith is tested, my favorite books, family dinners and outings, favorite recipes, pictures, everyday life as a mom to a 16 year old and a 16 month old, and maybe even a guest blogger series from our beloved cocker spaniel, Pepper. You just never know what you may find when you follow the link.

So now would be the time to pop some popcorn, grab the family, sit back on the couch, and get ready for the train wreck that is my life. My journey to being a Godly woman.

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. Hebrews 11:1 MSG

Many Blessings,
Lacey

Find me on social media at:
 www.facebook.com/All.Up.In.Your.Faith.Lacey 
@LaceyBug2431 (Twitter)
LaceyLouWho23 (Pinterest)
@LaceyBug2431 (Instagram)
Laceybug1982@gmail.com (email)