Remembrance - He's been SO good to me

Remembrance - He's been SO, SO good to me...

I had this word stirring in my heart yesterday and I felt like the Lord really put it on my heart to share.

On Tuesday of this week, we had an amazing business meeting. The opportunity that was given to us was pretty big and we knew God sent this person to us, from step one. The future business with this person, would all be determined by our appointment on Thursday to get a big job done.

On the way home Tuesday night, we were praising God and just thanking Him for paving the way for us. We prayed that everything would go well Thursday and we knew as He always does, He would help us to get the job done.

Thursday, I had to work my regular job and Jon planned to go get started early and after work, I would go join him to help. Well, Jon gets to the job and things start to go wrong, our surface cleaner wasn't spinning properly.  In order to work correctly and clean the right way, this thing has to be working at full speed. So Jon texts me and tells me about it, I sent back a prayer, demanding that it work. I had tons of thoughts running through my head, saying why today? Not today, not on this job!

A while after Jon calls me and says "Babe, I'm not trying to stress you out, but we really need this tool for this job. Is there any way you can go rent one?" Our pressure washer is a very high psi, so you can't just run into Lowe's or Home Depot and buy one, we had ordered it on Amazon originally. So there was no quick fix, unless I rented one.

So, I headed over to Home Depot and on the way there I was listening to Remembrance by Hillsong Worship, it's one of my favorites so I just put it on repeat. The drive to the nearest Home Depot that rents, is quite a ways away. So, I'm just listening to the words to that song and singing it loud...

You've been so, so good to me
You've been so, so good to me
Oh, to think where I would be
If not for You, if not for You

And it hit me... So many times in life we are given something great, a big blessing or an answer to prayer and the moment something goes wrong, everything we were thankful for 5 minutes ago, goes out the window. There is not a doubt in my mind that God aligned this appointment to happen on Tuesday. It was totally God, but then why in the moment one thing goes wrong we start asking why and acting like it's the end of the world? 

Yesterday, some of those thoughts hit me, but I had to choose to make them leave and believe only the truth, remind myself that He is FOR me and not against me. I reminded myself we have this business because of Him. Things are going to happen, that's life, we just need to learn to navigate through the trials and allow Him to show us the way.

Hearing, You've been so, so good to me, it reminded me just how good He is. Just how much He has done for me. If not for Him, we wouldn't have this business. So, I even thought, how dare you Lynette, even start to question or act like everything He just did was erased all because ONE thing went wrong? When this hit me, I just began praising Him harder, thanking Him more with tears running down my face. I started talking to Him out loud, riding down the road, claiming He is for us and not against us, I know He will help us to complete this job with His hands all over it.

I got to Home Depot Tool Rental, rented a surface cleaner that is a BEAST and headed back to help Jon get the job done. At the end of the day, our customer was so thankful for all we did, he paid us above what we asked and wanted to cover the cost of the rental.

My point of sharing all of this, is to hopefully encourage anyone who might go through this when hiccups or roadblocks happen in life. Pray through them, praise through them, ask God to see you through it and He will. We ran into a trial yesterday in the midst of a job that we knew would completely bless us on the other end. It was a busy day, but it was not a bad day. We kept going and finished the job, then received a reward at the end of it.

Stay running this race, stay on track, keep trusting Jesus to pave the way, don't let minor setbacks discourage you. Remind yourself, He is for you and not against you.

When your own negative thoughts try to take over or the lies of the enemy, start singing and reminding yourself...
You've been so, so good to me
You've been so, so good to me
Oh, to think where I would be
If not for You, if not for You

He is such a good Father and just wants us to trust Him and turn to Him, in times of need. Let's all stop throwing in the towel, when trials come our way, let's start saying Jesus, you helped me get here and I know, You will see me through it.

With Love,
Lynette Colón

I couldn't but God DID!

Today, Isaiah and I had our routine 6 month cleanings at the dentist. The moment I walked in there, I was reminded of the last time we were there and all we were going through at the time. As I shared in my blog "I can't but God can" we went through some super tough financial times last year and I was reminded today of it and all God saw us through. 

Today as we walked into that office, I remembered them scheduling our six month follow up, I remember her asking us if the date and time was ok. I sat there with a smile on my face that day and said, yes that should be fine. Meanwhile, all I could think in my head is what does six months bring us? Will we even have a roof over our heads? Will we still have our house? Oh God, get us out of this mess. I remember having that icky feeling in my gut when she said March 8, because all I could think is, what else will we have lost by then? 

The lady helping us had no idea all of these thoughts were going through my head, of course, neither did Isaiah. I remember leaving that day and thinking, Lord please help us. I love our house, I love the area we live in, I love living so close to my parents, Lord see us through it all. 

If you didn't read my blog I'm referring to, you're probably wondering what was going on. Briefly, Jon had recently been laid off from his job, I was on medical leave, that the doctor's just kept on extending, I felt like I would never get back to work and lastly, we had recently started a pressure washing business and ALL three of our machines were down. None of them were working, so we had a complete stop in income. We went to our scheduled dentist appointment right in the midst of all of this loss, so I couldn't help but be a little bit worried and wondering what in the world the future held. 

Today, as I'm in that office, I was reminded of that exact feeling, that desperation I felt, the way I would plead for God to help us. Let me just tell you, He has truly helped us. That journey was tough and it has felt super long. After being without income, family members miraculously helping you, landlords miraculously letting you pay late, later and more late, you see that God was there all along. He never left us. It might have looked like a mess, I may have been a mess but God was there SEEING us THROUGH it. 

““Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because GOD, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.””

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:6‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Many times we think the answer to our prayers, means He removes us from it entirely, like maybe money falling from the sky or a snap of my fingers and our bills are all caught up, but that's not the way it works. He literally saw us through it. It was long, it was hard, it felt sometimes unbearable, but all along while I was crawling through this tough journey, He was there, holding my hand, doing what only He could and that was, making a way for me. The way may not have been smooth, but He was pushing things aside, allowing me to squeeze on through. 

I was back at that dentist office today and I was reminded of everything I felt. I will never forget what we went through, it was tough but I am SO thankful for it. I learned through it, I became closer to Him through it and He showed me how even though things might not be as easy as we would like them to be, He is there, handling it for us, making a way, where there is truly no way. 

Today, I stood in that dentist office after working all day because God made a way. Jon came and met us there, after WORKING all day because God made a way. Our pressure washing business is going again because God made a way!! I sat in that office with tears, realizing how He truly does do the impossible and how even though that journey seemed long, when I look back 6 months ago, to now, it feels like He picked me up out of the mess and stood me on solid ground. 

“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:20 ‭MSG‬‬

Y'all, God is good!!!! He truly is good! This is the verse I held onto during our hard times, the moment I started believing this verse for our business, He opened the doors and performed a miracle to get us back in business. Whatever you are going through, no matter how rough the waters are, trust that Jesus is there, holding your hand. He will never leave you, lean on Him, allow Him to teach you something during the mess and He will. He is a good good good Father! 

I couldn't but God did! He loves us, He cares and He is there for us, even when it's hard for us to see. 

Lynette Colon

In His Time, NOT Mine

Have you ever prayed and felt like you have a right and you have the authority to request something within a certain timeframe? Of course! I have too and I believe that we can. I believe we can be bold about our prayers and make our requests known BUT I also know God sees all, He knows all, He is aware of what we need and exactly when we need it. He actually knows more than us. Crazy, right? When I think I have an urgent need and I need something by noon tomorrow, God might know, I actually have until next week. Honestly, I might even know that but I think it's more of a security thing. I want it by noon tomorrow, so I know we are ok, I'll have peace, I won't have to worry and the list goes on. However, everything I said there as a reason why I need it by that time, is basically saying I only follow the word when I have what I need. The word says "do not fret or worry" yet I just told you I'll have peace of mind, I'll know we're going to be ok "if" I have it.


This word I want to share all came from my son. Isaiah just turned 8 and he has been a prayer warrior since he learned how to talk. Anytime he hears a need or I say I have a headache or stomach ache or I'm dizzy, anything at all, Isaiah will come over and put his hand on me and begin praying. Every single time he prays for healing or for a need, he says please heal her tonight or later or in the morning or tomorrow or whenever". I've actually corrected him many times and I've even chuckled and there were times I whined and said I want to be healed now. And he will say "or now Lord". He's been doing this for so long and it wasn't until he did this the other night while praying for my headache, that God really spoke to me through it.

Isaiah KNOWS God will answer the prayer and he trust that He will answer it in His timing. Isaiah understands that God knows best. We have always chuckled and say, you give God a lot of options and he says yep. He knew even when I corrected him, he wasn't doing wrong. He has so much faith and is confident that the prayer WILL be answered.

So going back to what I was saying in the beginning, we put time limits on God. We say I need this and man, I have prayed some desperate prayers and I do know from experience some of those do have a crucial time limit on them, but when I look back at all we have gone through over the past few months, all of the desperate prayers I prayed. Some of them, were very urgent and some, God knew best. My point is, do you know how much stressing I could have saved out on if I just saw it like Isaiah does? If I followed the word exactly how it tells us to, I could have had a little bit more peace and a lot less stress. Yes, God wants us to bring our burdens to Him, yes we need to be bold in our praying and yes, sometimes our prayers do need to sound desperate. He wants us to cry out to Him but I am also learning that when the word says do not fret or worry, He means it. He's got us. Just as I shared in my last blog when I can't, He can. The same goes for you, when you can't, He can.

We've all heard those words, it's in God's timing and sometimes they are so hard to hear because we want it, when we want it but He knows best. Let's all work towards having childlike faith. The kind of faith that KNOWS He will answer but ultimately trust in His timing.

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Philipians 4:6-7 MSG

I can't but God can

Have you ever said "I can't" like I can't take it anymore, I can't do it anymore, I just can't? Like that overwhelming feeling you get and you feel like you just can't go on? You feel like life is too hard or things are just too bad and you almost might even get to the feeling of I can't live anymore. Have you ever been there? Oh, I definitely have. In fact, God put this so clearly on my heart to share, that I couldn't resist taking the time to write about it. 

On Sunday, we were on our way home from church. The car was quiet, I was driving, Jon had fallen asleep and so had the kids. We had worship music playing softly and God started speaking in my ear. He actually told me everything I'm about to tell you but He told me with my voice. I heard myself sharing this with you all. It was the craziest but coolest thing. I was so pumped and excited about it that after He told me it all and the noise stopped coming, I woke Jon up and told him everything. He was like wow, that's such an awesome word. I was like I know, it was ALL God. So here it is. 

In the past few months we have been through the HARDEST financial time of our lives. If you read my last blog "Be Still" then you know I was sent to the hospital by my cardiologist and after a few days and many test later, they released me. However, they did not give me a release to go back to work. They advised me I needed to see my doctors and they could release me back to work. Well, my doctor wouldn't release me, she was concerned about my blood pressure because it was running high. Then there was a new concern with my pulse jumping all over the place. It was one issue after another and every time I went back to the office ready to be released, instead something else didn't look right and I was kept out of work. I was on medical leave, so at least my job was secure but times were hard. 

On top of this, our business had to be put on hold because not one but ALL three pressure washers quit working on us. Since this happened very early in the business, we hadn't had enough time to really build up a savings or a safety net, Jon was doing pressure washing for us full time, so he had no other income and then I was out of work. No money to repair our pressure washers and no money to purchase a new one. Seriously, I felt like it was a nightmare. How do you pay your bills when you have nothing? 

Now that I've told you the background, this is the message God gave me to share. During that time, life was hard. I was out of work yet hardly sleeping. I woke up all night thinking of bills and thinking of how we could keep a roof over our family's head. Yes, of course I turned to prayer, that's all I did was pray. We prayed, prayed and prayed some more. 

One morning I woke up and went to the kitchen sink to find that our water had been turned off. I started screaming crying. That was one bill I was counting the days for but I thought I had a little bit more time. Yes, we can live without water, but it seemed like every morning I woke up to more bad news. Another loss of some kind. It felt like we would slowly lose everything. Jon was applying to so many jobs and nothing was coming through, I was desperately begging my doctor to get me back to work but she was very concerned about my heart rate. To be honest, I was pretty concerned too, it was all over the place. I wore a Fitbit and would look at the app to see what my heart was doing in my sleep and the lines were up and down constantly. So, this particular morning, I said I can't do this anymore. What else? I can't!!! Shortly after I cried out a small breakthrough would happen, that bill got paid. 

On Sunday, God showed me what happened each time, I said I can't. God said "Oh, but I can." He was there all along and once I truly screamed saying this is it, I can't!! He said "but I can my daughter, I'm here and I've got you". When I woke up to no water... I can't take this anymore, oh but I can. When our landlord called and gave us a deadline, I said I don't know what to do Lord. We don't have anything. We can't lose our home. I can't do this anymore, He said BUT I can! Sure enough at the last minute, we were blessed with just enough to cover our rent. 

During all of this we were serving at a production called Blink The Revival at our church. We drive about 35 minutes each way for church. When we thought we didn't have money for gas, our tank would get randomly filled up. We didn't have money to give during this time. How do you give tithe on no income? You can't but you can give of your time. We didn't allow it to stop us from serving. We went to church nightly to serve our hearts out and give our all. We knew the enemy wanted to stop that, but he didn't get his way. We served at Blink with joyful hearts, we figured out a way to give, even when there is no money to give. We were blessed with dinner by a few different people during that time and none of them knew what was going on. That is when you know God is at work. 

During hard times it might be hard to see God's hand, it might make you want to ask God why, it might make you ask what you're doing wrong and believe me, I did. I wanted to know if there was anything I needed to change. I feel like every trial we go through, is a time where we can learn to be better, there is always something to learn. As a friend of mine told me, it's not punishment, it's trials that we all go through. We have to allow these times to teach us something. Let it help you grow into something better. I know God continues to mold me into something better and I want that. Just as growing pains hurt, this can hurt but you will get through it. 

On Sunday, God also reminded me how I thought I couldn't handle anymore when my marriage was falling apart over 5 years ago. I remember saying those same words. I can't do this. I can't take it. This is too much. BUT God. He took care of it, He handled it. He saved my marriage. How about when I heard the scary words of you need open heart surgery. No! I can't. I'm scared. What if I don't make it? My son needs me. God said oh but I can and He did. 

There have been so many situations in my life where I said I can't and I truly couldn't handle them, but God can and He did. I'm sharing this to remind you, if you are in a situation where you feel you cannot go on anymore or you cannot take one more piece of bad news, just remember God can and He will. If you find yourself saying I can't, follow it up with BUT God can! Claim it and believe it. I can't BUT God can! He has you in the palm of His hands. He loves you. He cares about you. It's ok if you can't handle it, give it to Him to handle. Let those words become a release of control, let them be a surrender to Him. Add but You can Lord, I KNOW You will see me through this. 

Once my household began claiming our breakthrough daily, everything changed. We danced together, singing our own songs of praise to God and claiming a breakthrough was on its way. We knew our God had better plans for us. Within a week of us changing our own attitudes and claiming a breakthrough, Jon got a job and I was released to go back to work! My heart rate has calmed down and seems to be normal again. We do have a lot of recovery with our bills, we are behind on things and playing catch up BUT we know our God has it, just like He had us all along. We are back to work now and working hard. Jon loves his job and I am back to working and appreciate my job more than I ever did. I'm excited to get up every morning and work. 

This Thanksgiving, I cried thinking of how grateful I am to have a roof over our heads. I'm thankful for my family, I'm thankful for our jobs, I'm thankful for a car, for gas, for food and the list goes on. This year, we went through so much but learned a lot. I now know more than ever there might be times when I can't but God can. 

So no matter what you are going through, whether it's financial issues, relational issues, medical issues or anything else, please remember there is so much we feel that we can't handle but turn it over to God and allow Him to handle it. He handles it much better than us. Don't ever think He isn't there, He is there all along, He cares for you, He loves you and He knows exactly what you are going through. Trust Him and know when you can't, He can. 

Jesus replied, "What is impossible with man is possible with God."

Luke 18:27 NIV

Be Still

                   Be Still...

Sometimes life hits you with some unexpected things, sometimes scary, sometimes they seem unbearable, sometimes they're great moments, moments you never want to forget. Other times they are moments, you may wish had never happened. The important thing to remember is in life whether things are bad or good, you have to remember Who you belong to. You have to remember Who has blessed you. Jesus is always the answer. Remember that Jesus brought you through those rough times. He is there when things are bad, but don't forget Him when things are good. 

Today, if you are walking in blessings, remember Who created you. Remember Who provided those blessings for you. Remember to serve Him first and with that ALL things will be made beautiful. 

Today, if things are rough for you, remember what He has brought you through before. Run to Him, hold on to Him. Take His hand and allow Him to show you what you can learn through your rough times. I can tell you, every single trial I have been through in my life, I have learned so much through it. Jesus has taught me to be a better daughter to Him, a better wife to my husband, a better mom to my kids, a better daughter to my parents, a better sister to my sisters, a better employee to my job, a better servant at church and the list goes on. I'm still learning how to get better at those roles in my life and I'm continuously working at it. I'm not perfect, that's for sure. I'm still a work in progress but I can tell you that with every trial, there is a lesson that can be learned. We just have to humble ourselves, be quiet and allow God to speak to us and help us through it. 

This week, I learned to BE STILL. I was in prayer about some things, begging for answers, crying out to God and I even hit a moment where I said "God, where are you?? Why are things so rough right now? I don't understand." I was desperately seeking but I wasn't giving Him a moment to answer me. I ended up getting so worked up and upset that I had chest pains that would not stop. I was sent to the hospital by my cardiologist. I was so frustrated and scared. I kept thinking why is all of this happening? I was terrified of reliving what happened to me 5 years ago. 

I walked in the emergency room, thinking please let them tell me, it's nothing and I can go home. I checked in, they called me within 5 minutes. I went to triage and once they asked a few questions the nurse said give me one second. He came back so fast with a wheelchair and said "Darling, we're getting you right back, we don't want to risk anything with your history and symptoms." Yes, it's great that I didn't have to wait but oh my, everything is happening so fast. 

Once back there, they had nurses coming into my room so fast, getting an EKG and hooking me up to the monitors. They asked what caused this, I said a meltdown caused it. I literally cried so hard, it felt like my chest was going to rip open. I kept laughing with the nurses and doctors, kept trying to convince them I am not crazy, I just had a moment that was apparently long overdue. The doctor came in and said, I'm afraid your repaired valve could have gotten damaged or started to dissect during this since we know your blood pressure shot up. He said I'm admitting you to monitor you for at least 24 hours, I don't want to take any chances. They got me in for an urgent CT scan to check my valve. Thankfully, I got those results pretty quickly and found out my valve looked great! Praise Jesus!! I was so thankful. 

The doctor went over it all and said, I'm still keeping you. We still need to do further testing to check on your heart more. We don't want to take any chances with your history. While I did appreciate that, I was so sad at the same time. It felt like I was reliving everything from 5 years ago. I heard those same things, everything looks fine but we are going to keep you just in case. 

So I got admitted to a chest pain area of the hospital where they are monitoring everything around the clock. They did so much testing on me, ended up telling me the next day, they needed to keep me ANOTHER day. I was SO frustrated and sad. I was confused. I didn't get it. Jon never left my side, he stayed in the recliner next to me the whole time I was there. The most he did was go to the cafeteria twice and only because I made him. He was just there, right by my side. We didn't say a whole lot, most of the time, we were actually quiet, which isn't even like us but God was doing something. 

As I went for test after test, I didn't have my phone with me most of the time. I didn't even want it. So, I finally said while starring at the ceiling in a room where I was waiting for a test to be done with no tv in there. God, why am I here? What is it? I know nothing is wrong with me. I know I'm not going to go through all of this heart stuff again. I'm already fixed. What is it God? Is there someone here that I need to witness to? Invite to church? Invite to Blink? Show me God, I want to hear you and do what you want me to do, so I can get out of here. After that, I was quiet. In that moment He told me to be still, I learned so much. He answered so many questions that about drove me crazy before I went in. Those questions that I told you I was begging for the answers for. Just that quick, He answered me. It was basically when I finally shut up, when I finally stopped trying to figure it out on my own. When I finally was no longer distracted by my phone or tv or even my family. I was by myself in a room for a long time because the cardiologist that was going to do the test got called for an emergency surgery. When the nurse told me that, I began praying for that person that was laying on the table and then that is when I started praying the prayer above that I shared. In a quick moment of me worrying about my test results, I was hit with the reality that there are some suffering way more than me. There is someone going through their heart surgery, there are others losing loved ones, there are so many things going on all around me. 

That reality hit me and I no longer felt sad. I just said Lord, I trust You. Please just talk to me. He so sweetly told me so many answers. I got back to my room after so long, to friends (that are like family) there to see me. I was exhausted from the testing and they were there with hugs and smiles. Just what I needed and I didn't even know I needed it. 

When they left, I sat on the edge of my bed and shared with Jon what God did in me while I was down there waiting for that test. Here is the amazing part, God was also talking to Jon in that same moment. We both were getting answers that we needed and they were the same answers. We were given direction that could only come from Him. He showed us what needed to be done. We talked for so long about how God was right there all along but the noise all around us, kept us from hearing Him. 

Just like that my peace and joy were back. Just like that I was refreshed. It was a crazy week, very tiring and scary but ultimately, I learned so much. I learned to be still. Something I know to do but I learned how to do it. I learned how important it is for our soul to have that completely quiet time with God and allow Him to direct you. I learned that I can ask God all day what to do in a situation, I can pray, I can beg but if I don't take a moment to listen, I'm getting nowhere. 

I have great news! All of my test results came back great and they finally let me go home! What is amazing to me though is I feel like it was a time of healing and spiritual learning in that hospital bed. I wasn't discharged to go home until I was spiritually better. I needed that so badly and I had no clue. God was my doctor there, He was and always has been my healer. He healed me physically and spiritually. 

Please learn from me. I'm not saying God will put you in a hospital. I'm saying we can put ourselves in a hospital. I was still serving God, praying and doing everything for Him but I was simply not taking time for Him to speak to me. I was searching for answers on my own, in reality. I may have been asking Him but it doesn't count since I wasn't giving him a chance to answer me. If you find that you are anxious, frustrated or stressed, take a moment with just you and Jesus. Sit quietly and allow Him to speak to you. It will bring you peace, joy and clarity. 

      “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.”

‭‭       Psalms‬ ‭37:7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

With love,
Lynette Colon

A Message for Wives...

There is something I have felt on my heart for a long time, but never really thought about writing on it or if I did, I then worried I would offend someone or I wouldn't be understood.

Today, I realized I need to share. I was sitting at the pool and had just come up to a chair to relax for a minute and catch some sun after swimming with my boy. I sit down and three ladies are sitting right next to me and the one is talking away. There was no way of me NOT hearing. She was a frustrated wife and step mom. My heart hurt as I heard her speaking the way she was about her step daughter and even about her husband. She was complaining about the step daughter seeming ungrateful and wanting things from her dad and then the next sentence she was complaining that it seems like her husband doesn't know how to "stand up" to his daughter.

My heart hurt. I'm hurting because in the midst of something that was once broken (the husband not lasting with the daughters mother) there is still brokenness. So many things went through my head as I sat there hearing it all, so many prayers, asking God to give me the right words to say, if I was supposed to say something. I never ended up saying anything, I didn't feel I was supposed to and didn't know what to say but I did feel God stirring in my heart to write.

First of all, wives, talk to your husband. Talk to God about your husband. Pray about your concerns. Wives, be your husband's teammate, be by his side, help him on this journey of life. Truly BE his partner. I promise you, if you start talking to him and helping him through things, letting him know you are WITH him and not against him, things will change. You two will grow a bond, like you never knew.

Many times as wives, we can run our mouths to friends, we can complain to our husbands, to where it sounds like we are barking at them, but let's try talking, let's try asking a simple question like "How are you? How was your day? How do you feel?" And truly taking time to listen to the answer to that question. When they are stressed, hear them out. Tell him, you are there, that you two will get through it. You married him, you said "til death do us part" in other words, just be there for him and care for him. Instead of your husband responding in defense or brushing his feelings under the rug, you'll begin to see things change, you'll begin to see him open up and you will grow a friendship stronger than ever.

Now, with that being said, if you are a step mom, please don't treat that child, no matter how old they are, like they are your husband's kid. Don't talk bad about them, don't talk against them, don't talk as if they are not your responsibility at all. Love that child! Even if they are not your blood, God blessed you with that child. Show love to them, show that you care for them. Do things for them. Embrace the walk in life you were given with every relationship God placed in your life. There is no reason for division in a family. You are all one together, whether one might have a different mom or not, they should still be loved and accepted by you, just as much as the one you birthed from your womb. Children come into our lives in all different ways, sometimes it's not exactly the way we planned but if you give it all to God, He can and will bring unity to your family.

  Bottom line, love God, love the life you were given, love your husband, love your kids, ALL of them. If you're having problems or concerns, pray about it, don't go talking about it. Yes, you can have people to turn to, that will pray with you and encourage you, but I have found that "talking" about your problems doesn't really do anything for them but possibly stir you up more. Pray pray pray, God will work a miracle in your life, in your marriage and in your family but you have to first, fully give Him your heart.

With Love,

Lynette Colon