My car passed smog

About a year ago my check engine light came on. I took it to Allen's Automotive and Norm told me it wasn't anything to worry about until it was time to get it smogged. And now it's time.

So for a year the check engine light would go off for a day or two but then come back on for a couple of weeks. A couple of days ago my check engine light went off. Last night God laid it on my heart to smog my car. So I prayed and decided if the light was still off once I got to the smog station I'd do it.

I had to wait two hours at the smog station. I would start to get nervous then I'd pray. I rebuked demons from messing with my car, the equipment, and the analyzer. I kept praying that the check engine light would stay off because if it comes on anytime during the test it's an automatic failure. Then I saw on the TV in the foyer a girl playing a harp on the Montel Williams show.

I was reminded about my devotions I did yesterday. Whenever King Saul was tormented by an evil spirit he would call for David to play his harp then Saul would be comforted. That was it. Once I saw and heard the harp I KNEW that my car would pass smog. And it did. And because I had to wait so long, I got $10 off my bill.

GOD IS SO GOOD

Pascual's truck is fixed!

Praise the Lord!!!

The $1500 in repairs ended up costing us $300 for the parts plus we're taking my Dad and four others out to Sizzler (Dad's choice) for dinner.

My dad used to be a mechanic. He worked on the truck and all he wanted for his services was a dinner at Sizzler. I, of course, bought the new radiator, water pump and accesories.
You can't beat a deal like that!

Thank you, Jesus!!!

One of my servants is sick...

It's true. Actually I have many servants. I know it sounds snobbish of me. But I'm pretty sure you have a few yourself. All of my servants require electricity from an outlet. You know, my washing machine, dryer, mixer, toaster oven, microwave, etc. These are my servants.


The one who is sick at the moment is my dishwasher. She's leaking water. When she decides it's time to drain, the water pours out of the top of my sink and below the sink too. Oh yes, she's really sick.

Something I've learned from this is the following: You never REALLY know how hard someone (ok, or something) works until you do their job. Now that I am picking up her slack and washing dishes by hand I realize that she is one hard working servant. Man, does she save me time and energy...when she's up and running.

I'm not sure when I'll have the money to help her back to life. But until then I sure will miss her!

Here comes another trial

Trials. Part of me wishes I didn't have to go through them. But a bigger part of me knows better. Trials are meant to do so much: to build character, to keep us close and relying on God, to show other people just how big my God is...this list goes on.

So here's the scoop:

My husband's truck needs $1,500 worth of repairs. Keep in mind he only paid $6,000 for it and it is now 11 years old. It seems hardly worth the money. Do we fix it? (To fix it we'd have to use our vacation money which, as you can imagine, we do NOT want to do). Do we buy a newer one? Keep in mind that we have had 3 years without any car payments and let me tell you, it's been really nice. Or do we do something else? I don't know what that would be but I do know better than to put God in a box.

So what to do? Well, we prayed. And we're not moving until God gives us part A of His plan. It's that simple. Afterall, "because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail", Lamenations 3:22.

This morning I read in 1 Samuel 11 about a trial that came upon some Israelites and God used it and turned it into a major triumph for His people. That trial was exactly what was needed for Israel to see Saul as their king. And it was what was needed for Saul to step up and act like a king. That trial needed to come and it came at the perfect time!

Well maybe, just perhaps, this trial is something that my family needs to go through. I don't know why yet...I may never know why. That doesn't matter. What does matter is that God is totally in control of this situation, we are totally relying on God to meet our needs, and our hearts are fully set on Him. I'll put myself out there and say that God will come through for us. Keep in mind that I don't know what that is going to look like when this trial is over. But when He does, you can rejoice with us!

To be continued...