Romans 12:2

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

A Year of Trial and Blessing

It has been a WILD 12 months around the Brewer house. One year ago today Charlie cut his hand with the chop saw. We have had more blessings and more trials in this last year than any other year. The blessings FAR outweigh the trials...but, trials none the less. Trials that have grown us closer to our Lord and closer to each other.

Trial....Charlie cut his hand...had to have emergency surgery, and physical therapy.
Blessing....God absolutely provided healing and his hand is great.
Blessing....We've become good friends with Charlie's physical therapist...we would not have gotten to know her otherwise, and she is precious in our lives. A true friend.

Trial...I hit a BIG dog the day after Charlie's surgery, and killed it...everyone is OK, but the car is a bit wrecked.
Blessing....Nobody got hurt, and the car is completely usable.

Trial....We are financially wrecked.
Blessing....God just keeps providing in amazing ways, and He is teaching us to depend solely on Him. He has a great plan for us, and we are getting a front row in watching it unfold.

Trial.....We have had to say NO to many activities we are used to participating in.
Blessing...We have more time for things that are much more important, and we have figured out through necessity...this is how we should have been living all along.

Trial....My parents who have lived here all my life moved to Arizona.
Blessing....God is providing and He is confirming over and over again that they are exactly where He wants them.

Trial....Lashae is not going to college.
Blessing....Lashae graduated as valedictorian, and she is doing things, having experiences, and working in situations that she would not be getting in college. God is growing this girl and teaching her things WAY beyond what she would learn in a classroom.

Trial....Charlie's mom is failing.
Blessing....Bill is taking AMAZING care of her, and he has a wonderful attitude. Marcella has taught this family more about Jesus than anybody else, and she continues..even with her failing health...to teach us and be an example of a saint.

Trial....Kole had a little surgery on his face to take care of and test some bumps that had developed.
Blessing...Tests came back GREAT, and his face looks soooo much better, the lumps are gone.

Trial...Reece ended up in the hospital this summer.
Blessing....God just healed him and he is crazy as ever.

Trial....We came VERY close to have a MAJOR wreck when Charlie fell asleep at the wheel.
Blessing....God kept us from rolling, or hitting anything. We were totally protected.

These are just a few of the biggies...

The blessings I could go on and on and on.......

Blessing....Charlie and Lashae got to go to Africa, and God revealed himself in a BIG way!!! We will never be the same.
Blessing....We are adopting a precious girl from Uganda!!!
Blessing....We have not had a day without work. Even after the hand injury, it happened in Nov. and that is rodeo month for us...where we get paid to manage and do tickets for the rodeo.
Blessing...All the kids are doing GREAT. Healthy and happy and following the Lord.
Blessing....Blessing....Blessing.....Blessing.....Blessing......Over and over, again and again.

4 comments:

marlece said...

going thru the fire, refine, refine, refine, all at the same blessing, blessing, blessing...only GOd can do that don't yah think? You have been thru it, yet you are so steadfast. I love to be by your side in all of this. I have learned so much from you.

Kathy said...

You sure know how to make me cry, darn it! It is amazing what God will allow us to go through to get our attention when He's trying to tell us He really, really loves us, and He has amazing blessings in store for us! What a year, but I bet you wouldn't trade it for anything. God is so good!

Laurel said...

Great post!

We, too, have "been through the fire" this year, but (as marlece said) are being refined and refined.

God is GOOD, even through the TOUGH stuff.

Hope your day is BLESSED!

\Laurel :)

We Are Family said...

REFINING FOR HIS GLORY....I feel ya sister :)