I need some encouragmenet and prayer

[Ray Cover]

OK guys here it is I am under attack spiritually.

I am being hit with stupid stuff that really shouldn't be that big of a deal but I'm wore thin and tired and having a bit of trouble keeping my priorities and my attitude straight.

I have a major trade show comming up and have been working 60 a week to prepare for it.

What I thought was a single leak in a pipe turned out to be much worse.
I have a plumber coming Monday to totally replumb my entire house with copper pipe. Our city went from using local ground water which is very hard and high in calcium to using soft water they are refining out of the river. To make a long story short the soft water cleaned the calcium out of my pipes and now every joint in my galvanized water pipe leaks. Our city code does not allow plastic pipe so it all has to be copper (right down to the shower mixers and sink feed lines).

With two kids starting braces Holly and I were financially stretched to begin with. As much as I hate to I'm going to have to get a loan to do the plumbing.

To top it off my daughter hit a big rock while mowing the yard tonight and I now have two windows to replace in the living room.

God has had us in spots like this before but for a long while, Holly and I have had a long smooth sail with good breezes and clear water. We have gotten soft so to speak.

I would appreciate if you guys would keep us in your prayers that we can make wise choices in dealing with this stuff and that we keep good attitudes about it. Please also pray that I can work efficeintly so that Holly and I can get the plumbing loan paid off quickly.

Ray C

[BLACK WOLF]

You got it, Ray! Prayers being sent.

Ray ;)

[Esquire]

Ray,

I sure know what it is like to be in a tight spot. I'll keep you in my prayers and thoughts.

Mike

[Ray Cover]

Its not just the money thing guys. That really is the small part of it. My attitude is really the big part. Like Mike pointed out in a previous thread I need to keep my head on straight and keep the main thing the main thing.

I know God will provide what is needed. I just need to make sure I am trusting Him to do that and not striving in my own efforts to "take care of it" myslef while neglecting other priorities. I am also having trouble with my attitude about the situation. My flesh is really warring against me in those areas.

I appreciate your prayers guys.

Ray C

[DaveHawk]

Ray, look at it this way; the Lord is giving you the oppertunity to show your family that you put your trust in Him to provide. Be it through a loan or spending more time, longer hours at work. I like the verse that says ; Humble yourself before the the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:10 In doing this He is able to strighten us, enabling us to be the heads of our household which He has placed us in charge of.
With 3 boys I know all to well what your going through. But it's all good !
I've have also asked the Lord to give you understanding through this process. That as you go through it and come out of it you will grow nearer to Him.

God Bless

[Cato]

We talk a lot of theology out here, but this is real life stuff. All of us have priority and attitude struggles at times, especially when circumstances get lousy.

Hang in there bro, and let us try to be an encouragement for you as much as possible.

By the way, while there is no real easy fix I don't guess, and we all know God allows these things, there is a Biblical pattern of God responding to our praise. When times are really tough, go to the Psalms, pour your heart out to God, and praise Him for who He is, what He has done, and for His love for you. There is something special about praising God.

Cato

[Ray Cover]

Cato, You are absolutely right. I tell you something else that I have been convicted with in the middle of all this. Not only do I need to be before God with an attitude of praise but also an attitude of thankfullness rather than entitlement.

Ray

[Garry]

Ditto to what Cato and others have said. Ray, I will keep you in my prayers.

[Swanny]

Not only do I need to be before God with an attitude of praise but also an attitude of thankfullness rather than entitlement.

Right on with that thought! It's easy for any of us to start thinking that God owes us 'the good & easy life'. One of the mottos that my wife and I started out early on with in our marriage was whenever anyone asked us 'how we're doing'....we've tried to respond with 'Much better than we deserve!'....and meant it considering the truths God has revealed about us in His Word.

Our trip out west in the beginning of July was eventful, but everything down to the minute detail was decreed before the earth was created....

trashed an axle in a huge pothole on our trailer in S. Virginia. Had to spend a half day wrenching one off a new trailer in the parking lot of TSC and then put it in mine. Hot pavement....no pneumatic tools....thank God for two stroke 14" cut off saws though.

trashed another axle in another crater in West Memphis, TN..worse than the first one....no, my trailer wasn't overloaded. :) While driving to an axle supply place not too far away someone plowed into the back of our trailer and trashed it! Busted up my tool boxes and some other stuff inside.

Drove a hundred miles with a wrecked trailer and a cock-eyed wheel...no one was able to believe we made it that far...only to find out the place didn't end up having the right replacement axle afterall. Had to purchase a new one in the lot...took us the remainder of the day for all 5 of us to exchange all of the shelving and stuff inside.

Lord gave us plenty of opportunities to respond in a way that not only submitted to his Sovereignty in all situations, but to actually *delight* in Him enough to give thanks 'for' all things.....certainly we didn't pass the test 100% by any means. I like how John Piper pharaphrases Jonathon Edwards:

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."

So Ray, I hope this encourages your heart towards delighting yourself in our Father (actually our 'Papa')...that He knows exactly what He's doing....He doesn't make mistakes...and that He wisely knows how to produce the much needed character in all of us. Will pray for you and your family to this end:

1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

[DaveHawk]

Swanny, outside of Knoxville back in 83 I too had some problems on a trip, the Lord was there also with my 9 month old and wife. I was going to visit a army buddy and share the good news with him. It's amazing to me that the Lord know's everthing we need , when we need it. And the older I get the closer I become or is it the more I am willing to surrender to Him.
Ray; sharing is good for the soul , it's is allot about fellowship. Not one arrow in the quiver is perfect but we are all ment and have our hearts steadfast on acheiving the goul.

[Cato]

Paul and Silas were praising and singing hyms while in the jail. God chose to redeem them from their situation, but in so doing, allowed an entire family to be saved.

[Bill Carlsen]

...(and I have been there and then some) it is time to sit back and take stock of what is good in your life. When I do that I always come out with a short list of problems and a long list of thing and people to be grateful for.Consider the lillies of the field,.....

[Passthru]

Ray, you have received some spiritual advice. Please allow me to offer some money advice. Find a copy of Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey. Our local library has it. Yours may also. I have found it to be very helpful.

Good Luck.

[Passthru]

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=financial+peace&userid=rf1XvS3Cm8&cds2Pid=946

[Cato]

Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace is great stuff. Everybody ought to read it.

[Ray Cover]

I have not read it but I have read a lot of Larry Burkett's stuff. What can I say I was still caught off guard. I knew better just didn't do better.

Ray

[George Tsoukalas]

I will pray for you. George