Breathe, Think, then... Post

I love Facebook and Twitter... Lord knows that my husband thinks so (ok, yes, I do!).

With Twitter, you can see a glimpse of someone's heart, but with Facebook, you can see the whole, gosh-darned, wide open thing. Having said that.. and not commenting on OHHH SOO many status posts, lately... I would like to share this:

“It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict, 

God’s job to judge, 

and my job to love.” 

--Billy Graham

The Here and NOW

One of my favorite pastimes is reading blogs... I follow several other bloggers, but I will admit that there a few blogs that are an everyday read for me. One is written by my friend, Jaime (well, I like to think of her as my friend). She blogged yesterday about the weird world of blogging. She spoke about how we monitor ourselves sometimes or have concerns of sharing to much about the reality of our homes, daily family life, and how we respond to what life brings along. She was absolutely right.. I find myself wanting to share something, but then wondering if it's too "real and ugly" to put out there and have others actually see my struggles, not just my epiphanies and times of rejoicing. 


Sooooo..... here it goes-
My husband and I are in the middle of a storm. A Hurricane Katrina sized storm... We are enduring the most trying times that either of us have ever faced. Now let me just say this, our marriage is the one thing that has not only grown stronger, but has developed deep roots of commitment and satisfaction. The past eighteen months have brought struggles in health, finances, being physically separated because I needed to be in Texas, and a few other situations that I cannot share at this time. As I write this today, we are DEPENDING on the Lord to not only provide for each day and make things right, but also intervene on behalf and work miracles. We are standing on His Word.. acting in Faith.. and praying without CEASING. 


I have no doubt that my Father in Heaven will make a way where there seems to be NO WAY. During this time, our hearts have been broken, we have cried many tears, spent much time on our knees, and even asked the question, "Why us? Why all of this at once?" My husband and I listen to the Casting Crowns song, Praise You In This Storm, over and over again. We know we have one another and we have our families and friends that are continually lifting us in prayer, but we have to make a daily choice to praise God and worship, no matter what reality appears to look like. 

I have chosen to share our life with you because I know that we are not alone. It seems as though everyday we hear of someone else who is going through a struggle and my heart always breaks for them. As Christians, we are called to encourage one another and do what we can to meet the need in others lives. I hope that reading this helps you to reach out and share your needs with others. I read a Facebook post today from my friend, Lee Roy, it stated: 

The easiest way to get discouraged: get alone and think only about yourself. Reaching out is good for you. 

So here I am friends.. reaching out. I am here for you. Email me, call me, send me a comment. I want to pray for you, encourage you, and do anything that I can to help you through whatever you are facing right now. And remember, there is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother Proverbs 18:24. 

First Things First

I've been going back and forth ... Should I make a list of resolutions? Or should I just be resolute in my decisions?  Wait just a second.. that's the same thing, isn't it? After all of the trials that 2010 brought along, I am sooooo ready for a new beginning, a new day.  Let the pain stay in the past and I will press toward the what God has in store!

Well, I've been mulling over the things that I'd like to do differently this year.. the things I want to be purposeful in doing...  So here it goes: (once it's in print, it adds much more to the commitment, right)

One- I am going to follow through and keep up with my Bible Reading Plan (for goodness sake, I have it on my ever present iPhone! How hard should this be.. close the Facebook app, open up the Bible app, and READ!)

Two- I will work at letting words come out of my mouth that build others and myself up, encourage, and show the faith that I claim to have.. I will not let my words tear others down.

Three- I will let the light of Jesus shine in me and through me. I will not be a stumbling block to others, but rather a stepping stone in other's journey.

Four- I am purposing to be the wife, mother, daughter, and friend that shows forth God's love to the ones that I hold dear. I will pray for them and encourage them. I will be my husband's biggest cheerleader, not his worst critic.

Five- I am going to get this bootie moving, get healthy and get fit! So that in the months to come, I will have energy and strength.  I've been way too tired this year and I want to finish what I began in 2010.

Six-  I am going to give of my time (although I don't have much free time these days, but if it's not a sacrifice, it's not as worthwhile, right?)! Let me make a difference in someones life.. please, Lord, use me.

I'm sure there are more.. I am also certain that there will be days that I'll have to come back to this post and remind myself of the things that I wanted to be purposeful in doing.. but I pray that when December 31, 2011 comes around, I will have accomplished more than I let fall by the wayside.  Won't you join me in making a difference in the lives around you.. in becoming more of what God has called for you to be?

Merry Christmas From The Dellingers

Make your own picture slideshow

Don't Give In...Don't Give Up

It seems as though everyone that know is going through some sort of trial or attack. Whether it be physical, financial, emotional, people are hurting and feeling alone. Life-altering moments can either make you or break you. I have said many times this year that I don't know how you can get through hard times without faith. In the midst of many trying situations this year, I knew that the faith that I thought was strong in me was no where near the strength that I needed to make it through. I am not ashamed to say that I uttered the words, "why us" many times this year and wondered how we (my husband, parents) were going to make it through... then I remember this verse- 

I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world. John 16:33 MSG 

My dad always says, "It will all be okay because WE WIN!" He's right, we do win because Jesus conquered the world. Sometimes though, I have struggled and wondered if we'd see the end of these trials. I have cried out to God, broken and shattered. It has been excruciating to see my mom struggle with the smallest tasks and even worse to witness her  frustration in what was so simple before, now takes every bit of effort in her. I have watched my dad weary and hurting...wanting to make everything okay for her. Oh the love between them... what a priceless lesson in true love. In my home, we have endured attack after attack since the clock switched from 2009 to 2010. We have had to choose to rise above our circumstances, turn the other cheek, and work at loving others when they are unlovable. 


In all of this, one thing that I have learned is that faith really is believing when you don't see. We have to believe that my mom will walk, talk, and function in completeness, even when the statistics tell us that too much time has gone by.  This week, almost 11 months since she suffered the stroke, we saw a breakthrough.  Even her doctors are surprised!
Dan and I have learned on our lives this year, that you MUST stand for what you believe and risk being called a radical. We have learned that God is our Provider and that He knows every need before we do. There have been days that seem so dark and hopeless, BUT GOD. God sees our struggle and He hears our cries. He knows when we are pressing through and asking for hope. Encouragement comes to us through God's Word and through the many vessels that allow themselves to be used by Him. I was encouraged this morning after reading the post from Stilettos & Grace and watching the video by Amy Grant.


Rick Renner says, “Faith is the spark that ignites the impossible and causes it to become possible. When a person’s faith is activated, it sets in motion supernatural power that enables that person to do what he normally would never be able to do!”


If you are struggling with faith and wondering if God really moves, if He really hears you?? Then take a look at these pictures and know that He really does answer our prayers. He still heals and restores and He will make all things right for those who love and trust Him.

February 2010

November 2010

35.. me, seriously??

I turned the big 35 last week.. I still haven't wrapped my mind around the fact that I'm in my mid-30's now.  Honestly, I feel like I must be 25, but there have been recent moments when my body is telling me different.  Now, I'm rambling, must come with the territory.. right? 

Dan and I were in San Antonio to celebrate with my family..

<>

Grandma and Mom.. aren't they pretty?

Dan and Uncle Sonny

Frank and Vicki Lynn

Mom and Dad


I am so blessed, my cup runs over!

Saved by Grace

I remember asking Jesus into my heart when I was five years old.. I remember the church, Praise Temple, in Littlefield, Texas.  When I think back, I can recall standing outside of the church, telling my parents and their joy.  From that day forward, I have not lived with out sinning, but I have lived a life pressing forward and trying to honor God.  

We are all born into this world with what the Bible calls a sin nature, but when we make the decision to follow Christ, to repent of our sins, then we are called the righteous, this does not mean that we are without sin, but rather we are called to live a life that turns from sin.  There is not one person that has made the decision to follow Christ that has not been tempted to sin or given into sin.  Living for Christ is a daily choice!  Being a Christian isn't just a label, you are not a Christian just because you go to church, belong to an denomination,  or know the Bible.  NO, we are Christians because we follow the life that Christ lived in the 33 years here on this earth and because we have acknowledged his sacrifice and repented of our sins.  He died for our sins. When we repent of our sins, we are forgiven and made righteous or made in right standing with Him. Can we stand with Him if we are sinners? 

Romans 10:9-11(New King James Version) says, 

9 Thatif you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 

10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 

11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”  

If we are still "sinners" we should be ashamed, but if we've been forgiven and we believe what the Bible says, we should not be ashamed. Webster's Dictionary defines salvation as: deliverance from the power and effects of sin. We are forgiven only by grace,  only by the blood that Jesus shed at the Cross.

I am certain that I, just like anyone else, will sin again before the end of my time on this earth. We all make the choice to live by how the Bible instructs us to live or to live a life that opposes that instruction. We fail, maybe even over and over, but when we come to God and repent (Webster's dictionary: to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life), then we are forgiven. 

Romans 3:23-27(New Living Translation) says: 

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.

24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,

26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

My hope is that if you look at my life, you will see someone that is working at building a relationship with Christ, a girl just trying to live a life that honors God. I am not perfect, nor will I ever be perfect on this earth.  Heaven is the only place without sin.. and until I get there, I'm going to look at the example that Christ set for me, be grateful for His sacrifice for my sin, and live a victorious, righteous life because that is what He desires for me!