Change and Love

 Today’s BRP is 1 Peter 1:22-23 (just an fyi I know that I am not a theological master mind) these are just thoughts and reflections that I have as I study and try to apply God’s word)

             You have purified yourselves, by obeying the truth. A call to action! It does not say be lost in yourself, tv show, novel or games…. Purify yourselves and obey the truth. Then He states for you are born again, love one another deeply…. Again action!

              We have got to stay in the word in order to be purified. Purification is not something you can buy on Amazon and have immediately. You have to work at being purified. You have to work at humbling yourself to obedience. It makes me think of the oil/tar that can get on you and stick which is like sin. We can not just say oil be gone, or wipe it off. You must methodically work to remove it to be cleansed anew. If you follow direction you will have a better chance of that oil/tar/sin to be removed. Connecting this analogy with the call to action in verse 23, our brothers and sister can help us to be cleansed, to work together for a better chance of removing the oil/tar/sin from ourselves. We can also help them as they work to be clean. 

              In our actual life we have an instruction manual. We need to obey it. We are called  to purify ourselves through obedience, through change and change is not easy. We like being in our comfort zone and living in our comfy sin. Yet, we have to remember this life is not all about oneself it is about others. About God, Spouses, biological family and spiritual family and friends. If we do not purify ourselves we are selfish. In purifying obedience this we can see and meet the needs of others, oftentimes without foreknowledge that there is a need. What if we continue to sit on the sidelines while a brother or sister is at the end of their rope? I do not want to fail anymore of my family or friends by sitting idly whilst others around me are drowning.

            I know that I have not always done what I have needed nor been obedient to the cause of Christ. But I am working to change that. I know that in the past I have helped others, I also know I have failed others for that I will ever have a scar, and shame. I am sorry to all of you that I have let down or missed an opportunity to help. I am limited now in some ways that keep me from doing certain things, but obviously God is not done with me being here on Earth. SOOO, I am seeking to be continually cleansed, to see how I, though limited, can be the hands and feet of Jesus! I know I can pray, I know that I can encourage and I know I can continue to be purified and obey. I want to be able to love others as Christ has called me.

It might be difficult to do, for you too, just remember God meets us where we are, when we seek Him and when we trust Him!

Also, remember we are to LOVE DEEPLY, that means as Christ does. Not with piety, haughtiness nor begrudging others, just because someone’s sin and fault is different than yours, sin all sin of any kind separates from God. Show compassion, grace and love to others… not to their sin, but to them. We are doing the best we can, but we can and must do better. There are family, peers and lost that are counting on each and everyone of us. Pray and ask God to show you where you need to grow, where you need to change and how to love more deeply.

Faith and Hope

            Yesterday, I did a post which was playing catch up from the BRP (Bible Reading Plan). Today the BRP was 1Pet.1:20-21

            Faith and hope are in God: Do you ever stop to think about what, why and how we are here? The purpose? The abilities we are given, especially in being a child of God? I thought about these again today as I was reminded…. We are, because of God. We are here because He desires a relationship with us, and wants us to worship Him, not as slaves before an unjust and cruel master, but of a Just and Gracious  Loving Father. He knew that we would be a fallible group of beings, knowing too what it would cost Him. Even still He desires a relationship with us. He knew that we could never measure up or have the ability to save ourselves. 

          Just as a parent knows that in life their child will face challenges of many kinds, a parent has foresight to know bumpy days will be ahead. The parent also, learns to know their children and knows what works best for each child. Ex: My dad has said, “when it came to you girls (3 of us) your older sister I could ‘spank her or bonk her with a 2x4’ and she was still going to do what she wanted”. (No, he didn’t ever actually clock her with a 2x4). Dad would then of my younger sister say, “child, I am disappointed in you” or have a disappointed face and that would essentially shatter her to the core. The older child needed discipline, but she also needed to find her own way, granted it might’ve come with added struggles, and falls along the way, but as her dad he had to let her be herself to a certain extent. She is now a beautiful woman, with a family of her own. She learned from her dad things to do and not do, which allowed her to shape 3 amazing biological sons, and 2 amazing bonus sons. The younger daughter needed simply to see a disappointed parent’s face or to be verbally told that she had done something that displeased them in order to be corrected, then she would strive then to do better. She is now a beautiful woman of two beautiful children a girl and a boy. She too took away things to do and not do as a parent and is trying to raise her children to be their best selves. (I am not sure what parenting strategy he thought to use for me or what I needed, but for the most part I turned out alright). 

         However, hard my dad might try he couldn’t be a perfect dad, as he is human and makes human mistakes. Yet, this quote of my dad reminds me of our Heavenly Father, He perfectly knows if we are ‘2x4 kids, or a disappointed look on the face kids, etc.’ to know how we need to be corrected and grown as the best version of our selves. All of us girls needed our own style of discipline from our dad to know what was right or wrong and when he had to let us try no training wheels, being close by if we began to wobble or be afraid. Also, dad was there when the training wheels did come off and picking us up, wiping tears or dirt and helping us to try again. 

          God is the same, though He is the perfect parent, we are not perfect. Occasionally, the holes we fall in our holes we dug and fell in. God carefully watches over us but allows us to try it our own way. Or till we notice we are the one holding the shovel, shaking it at God and asking Him, WHY?!?!? Why we are in the hole, he must have put us in it. Eventually, we see our error, then we have to cling to Him to get out of the hole, He was always there a call/prayer away. Other times God has holes along our path that we must go through, to get to the other side growing us just as Joseph, the coat of many colors guy, he literally was in a hole and went through many trials because God ordained it in order for Joseph to not provide for his family, and to bring God glory. We try so hard to figure out the why of the situation instead of The Who of the situation, are we the one Who put us there, or Who do we need to cling to, Who we need to repent to, Who we are becoming through the trial(s) of life.

          Regardless of who you are you will have trials, never forget that God is always with you, whether you are in a hole of your own making or in one that He is trying to teach you in HE IS THERE. You will have trials it is only a matter of when. Also, remember that we are each different and God treats us as such. Just because your friends’ trials, through your eyes, do not compare to the severity of your own trial; try and remember God knows our inner most workings. He knows the ones of us that need the 2x4 and those that need the disappointed look. I am obviously a 2x4 person and I am like Jonah a runner. So wherever you are in your walk, God is there. If you are an unbeliever, God is there. God see us and meets us right where we are. Whatever you have done or are doing that is offending God, He still loves and wants you. There is not a power in this world or existence that can change that. If you feel unworthy or that you have sunk so far that God can’t love you or what love if you call out to Him….. Trust me my friend YOU ARE NOT THAT POWERFUL. Granted He will never make you choose Him, but like the prodigal son He wants you to come home regardless of how messed up you are. I am a child, a person who can attest to this truth, His Grace Still Amazes ME!

Hi, it’s me, I’m the problem

         Hello, it’s me again. I know you might be thinking I fell off the map, well you are right in many ways I did. My life is way different than when I first introduced myself, I could go and delete that blog, but it is who I was/am. Just as you can’t erase your past neither can I soooo. I will reintroduce myself now, I will not get into the big gap from my previous post till now today. However, I will probably share bits of that part of me along the way.

I am Christiy McCoy, I still live in the great state of Texas, I am married to my amazing husband Brian, we live under our roof together with our miniature poodle Bailey. Some important things to note… I am sick (with what doesn’t matter at this point, may share later down the road) what you do need to know is due to my illness it affects my hands, feet and memory, and I get really bad migraines, so if you see poor grammar or misspelled words please forgive me and show grace. I never knew I would come to love spell check and predictive text so much as now, pen and paper do not offer those benefits and I get frustrated- like the other day in church when I was taking notes and couldn’t remember how to spell a word, Brian wrote it for me so I could see how it was spelled. Oh well. I was very grateful for Brian helping me though, just frustrated. I can’t even remember what the word was, it was a simple one. I simply couldn’t remember how to spell, and I always loved spelling and kind of prided myself on the ability to do it well. I might have stunk in many subjects other than spelling. Though, I worked hard and on the struggle bus for quite awhile, till I found my studying methods and habits that worked for my unique brain, and learning disabilities. I ended up graduating with my bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education- Sigma Cum Laude (equivalent to A/B honor roll). Did I retake courses I took my first year of college while I found my study habits, yes, yes, I did. Did I during that time cry, in my Algebra courses’ professor’s office yes, yes, I did…. Sorry, Mrs. Ross, she never gave up on me… so neither did I during that season. Anyway that was a rabbit trail sorry y’all. 

Any way…. I am still on this journey. I am trying to be the woman that God wants me to be, y’all the Refiner’s fire is hard and hot and frustrating yet, I know the end result will be worth it.

Today in the Bible reading, 1 Peter 1-19, side: note these are from the Bible reading plan in Lifeway’s Sunday School material, also using my NIV Study Bible. Now, I won’t be plagiarizing. Here is my reflection:

I am a woman of unclean lips and so unworthy of God and His grace, which still amazes me. Yet, I am redeemed, by God through Jesus’ sacrifice. I feel so unworthy. Do I think I will or should be a perfect believer and child of God, yes, yes I do. However, I know that can not be accomplished on this side of Glory, but I know I must try or allow Him to mold me in His image. I again went down a bunny trail, but I think it is important for y’all to note that I am not perfect nor do I think I am, I am just like anyone else, trying….. so here is my notes. We “will have grief in all (ALL) kinds of trials…. To be proved genuine.” Ouch, I felt that! Proved genuine, I am soooo not matching up with this, I fail daily, I think of my past and all the many times I failed Him. It also, hurts because I know I am lacking, after all the many TRIALS I have been through, I still am not worthy. “As the dog returning to it vomit” gross! I fail, I fail, I fail, Yet God’s Amazing Grace says I am worthy of the price He paid for me. I also, feel the pain still of some of the trials I have faced. I in my own self and strength can’t understand why I had to endure those trials, or understand how those horrible trials would be used to bring Glory to God is beyond me. Yet, today when I read this verse I had teardrops, since I know I am still not as genuine as I need to be. We are also to remember Christ Himself suffered many trials even to the point of blood sweat, beatings, mockery, betrayal, disowned, alone, bled and died; just to name a few. To think He did that for me…. For me? For us. I can’t begin to thank Him enough for His everlasting redeeming grace. So, while I go through trials and you go through trials remember we are not alone. We also, need to evaluate ourselves and see if we are being genuine and holy, set apart. He set us free! This obviously doesn’t mean that we won’t continue to have trials, but that we can rest in knowing we are being prepared, to be ready for our day of completion, blessed and delivered. I know that is often easier said than done, but sing to Him, Pray to Him in whatever trial you might or are faced with ask Him for strength, ask Him how you and your trial(s) can be used to bring Him glory and help edify fellow believers and the lost.

• Christiy

• 3-11-2025

A new chapter begins

     Just putting this on here so you know that I know that my past is gone, which is why I didn’t delete the older blog posts. I am a different person than I was in many ways. I wouldn’t and couldn’t change my past because it brought me to now. I would either mess it up worse than I did it or worse things might happen to me.

Any way

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift from God that is why it is called the present (not my original quote)

So, journey on if you want to if not that’s okay too.

                                            -Christiy

So some of you may know this and some of you may not. I normally keep things to myself because quite frankly I am a pretty private person; there are very few people that I actually allow into my “bubble”. However, since I want God to receive the glory for all of my life I decided that I would share a very personal matter, part of my story. I have had great encouragement from a dear friend of mine and having just gone through a Priscilla Shrier conference. 

I struggle with infertility, not being able to conceive a child. My husband and I will be married for 9 years in June and we have been unable to conceive. Most of the time I am 100% ok with not currently having children yet, there are times I just want to cry the day away. I know that God is the opener and closer of the womb. I am 100% ok with Him being in control all the time, I do not wish to have His job, I would screw it up bad. I know that His plan for me is known to Him alone, I can’t fathom the big picture. God has blessed me in so many ways. The first thing He did was erase my past (if I have ever hurt one of you I am truly sorry, I truly am not the person I used to be). Many of you may know bits and pieces about my past, some may think that I am worthless, but God doesn’t. He picked me up out of the miry clay and is turning me into something beautiful. I still sin and struggle often on a daily bases, yet I know longer dwell on my past cause I am FORGIVEN. I was bought at a price no normal man could pay. I have broken most if not all of the 10 commandments yet I am loved and was worth dying for. God has seen me through dark times that I won’t mention at this time.

I am not sure that God has it in His plans for me to have my own biological children but I want to say that I will be ok with that. I know there are several children that need someone. I know that in due time God will set the path to children before us. When that will be I am not sure. I try to be content in my current circumstances. I can come and go as I please for the most part, visiting my 14 nieces and nephews. My husband and I can just take a drive or go for long visits to see family. I am able to minister through my job to our college students, which some have adopted us and call us mom and dad. We had the privilege of being a house parent to 24 children as well as ministering to other students at Happy Hill Farm. Also, I worked over 15 years in childcare of some sort. So my life has been blessed with wonderful children, never any I could truly call my own whether biological or adopted.

Anyway I am writing this not for sympathy or a pity party for Tim and I. But, as an encouragement to those of you who may be dealing with infertility you are not alone. God has a plan for each and every one of our lives, I am not sure what the details for each one of yours maybe but He knows. Also, to let you know of a way to pray for us. I want to be patient and at peace with God’s timing. I also want for more than anything for God to receive glory through our story. I do not normally dwell on my infertility but at times it is tough. I pray that God truly would continue to prepare our hearts for His plan whether it will ever have children dwelling under our roof, for us to call our own or not. Please keep in prayer infertile couples that you may or may not know or you may think maybe. 

aroyaldaughter.com has many useful tips and information about what to say to infertile people and also gives perspective of someone who is struggling with infertility too. I am not really the one to talk a whole lot about infertility at this point but my friend at aroyaldaughter is. THANKS for reading my super long posting. May you all find God, and may He bless you all.

Transitions

Wow how God's mighty hand is at work in our lives. A lot of people like to credit God's blessings to themselves however I am not one of them. God has brought me to far for me to even think I had a hand in it. I am nothing apart from God and it truly breaks my heart when others can't see the dying love (he really died to show His love) that He gave for all.

So I keep saying I will get on here and update you on God's blessings for us.

So I will very soon but here are some highlights.....
1. Leap of Faith moving back to East Tx
A. storage
B. Apartment
C. Classes
D. Job

2. Call to Minister
A. Housing
B. Provisions

3. Back in School
A. Godsends
B. Provisions

4. Girls Conference

5. Youth Growth

Oh how I long to tell you all the extent of God's blessings on us. But please be patient a lil bit longer. We know that we have prayer warriors behind us, and we keep you in our prayers too.

Mira's Story

Our Beautiful Pup

This is Mira (short for Miracle).

We found/adopted her February/2010

We were driving to Tim's Mom and Step Dads, there was snow on the ground on a farm to market rd, two lane rd, 60-65 mph. Mira was walking on the road in the opposite lane then we were in and we passed her before we could tell she was there (as you can see from the picture Mira is white) she blended with the snow it was so hard to see her. All of the dangerous weather conditions, tugged our hearts. We couldn't just let her stay there and get ran over or starve to death. So we turned around to get her. We pulled over to pick her up and she just cowered away. I had some bread in the car so I gave her a peice and she woofed it down, she let me then get closer to her and touch her. It hurt her for me to touch her anywhere but her face. So I finally was able to scoop her up and I put her in the floorboard at my feet so she could defrost.

We had to get her off the street but with us working at the farm we knew we couldn't keep her. We stoped at the Police department about a mile up the road. I went in and Tim stayed outside to allow Mira to defrost. I asked the lady if there was an ASPCA, or Animal Control that we could take her to them. Since she needed so much help. The lady told me it's Saturday just put her back where you found her cause the offices were closed on the weekend. I was appauled at that response, putting her back where we found her was not an option.

We took her with us to my In-Laws, (they have a snauzer who doesn't care for other dogs especially in her house) we knew they wouldn't be happy with us bringing her there but they are dog people so we took her with us. They let us bring her in and we made a barrier on the tile floor so that we could clean, warm and defrost her. My In-Laws tried from there house to see if there was any place to take Mira but there wouldn't be till Monday and that option was the pound (eww I didn't like the options). Well we were house sitting for my In-Laws, that is why we going to their house. Anyway once they left I started to clean up Mira cutting away the mated fur so I could see how bad she was under the fur.

Severely emaciated, her fur was mated so bad that it was causing her to bleed and making it extreme hurtful and hard for her to walk, the pads on her feet were bald, from the weather and the distance she had walked (we think). The cold had damaged her eyes, all she could see was shadows. She was very boney and had several raw spots and a burn on her shoulder from what, we weren't sure. Well we took her to Cay's for the week till I could take her to Cal's. They agreed to board her for us. That made us so happy. Mira stayed with Cal till she was attacked, which only did damage to her eye (thankfully) we took her to the vet and they did emergency surgery to save her eye. (which I am now glad to say that she has complete use of it and there is only a microscopic scar on the lid as proof anything had happend). After that Cay said we could board her at thier house. So Mira resides with Cay till we can keep her.

Mira is a great dog! We are blessed to have our Miracle.