October UPDATE through October 16, 2004

Hey there!! How are you doing? Hope you are well and your family is well. I want you to know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I pray that the Lord is blessing you and bringing joy to your life. And I pray that you are living the way Christ would have you be living, surrendering to Him.

On October 6, 2004 my divorce was finalized. I was told by my downstate attorney that someone from his office would be there to represent me. No one showed. The judge asked me where my attorney was and I said that they told me that someone would be coming up to represent me. And he said that he would give me time to call and find out what was going on. So, he asked to hear the other cases. I ran home and called. I talked to the secretary who told me that there were no objections to the finalization and I said I had lots of objections. She said no one would be there to represent me and I said then you tell Chris that I am reporting him to the Attorney Grievance Board. And she hung up on me.

Well I ran back to the courthouse.
Let me set the stage: Who was in the courtroom. 2 workers from the Friend of the Court, Jamie, his attorney Vogler, the 2 court reporter, Judge Radzibon, and the Bailiff my mom, and 2 of our close friends were there to be supportive. God has blessed us with marvelous Christian friends. PRAISE GOD for them. They prayed all while I was up in front of the Judge. This judge hates me, remember. God worked MIRACLES in that courtroom. It was Awesome and I give all the glory to HIM may Christ be glorified as I share with you this account.

Jamie’s attorney had asked for 206 a month child support and then in front of the Judge said that there was a mistake and that the new amount was 260 a month child support. I just about fainted at that number since they want almost a years back support too. YIKES! The judge asked me where my attorney was and I bluntly explained that their office hung up on me and I was representing myself since I had lots of OBJECTIONS. Jamie sneered and knew he had won. By law the Judge has to hear my objections and help me sort through the court mumbo-jumbo. Praise the Lord that God had me paying attention. This was all GOD.

The Judge asked if I had seen the new document with the new amount and I said no I have not. So he made a copy and allowed me time to review it. Meanwhile, Vogler –Jamie’s attorney was saying that my attorney said there were no objections. And I looked up and said he might not object but I Object A LOT. I went back to scanning it. I looked up and the judge asked if I had time to review the document. I said Yes, sir. I try to always be polite and treat him with respect even though he shows none to me. The judge said lets go through each point and tell me where you have objections and I said okay. So that is what we did.

I started off by objecting to the 260 child support, and said I have never seen one document from the Friend of the Court that states this amount. I asked for the document. I also objected to my alimony being lumped in as part of my income and the allotted income that the Judge had imputed me. I was scared, upset, royally ticked off, and my voice was shaking. I was trembling. I knew I was fighting for my life and the Lord was there every step of the way. I told the Judge what is the point of giving me alimony if you are just going to take it away. I kept saying that and arguing with the judge saying that the only income I have will be the alimony and that child support should only be based upon that amount. We were going round and round. The head of Friend of Court for our area stood up and said there is a new law that went into effect October 1st, 2004 saying that you cannot lump alimony into the income. PRAISE GOD. So, then the judge X out the 260 and kept the 124. I said your honor what if I find a job and it does not even pay 306 a week like you have allotted me? Will you reduce the support to fit what I am earning. The judge was so mad that he said NO I WILL ONLY RAISE IT IF YOU GET A HIGHER PAYING JOB. There are many that pay less than my child support and have 3 or more children. So he biased himself in the court on record. PRAISE GOD! We then started talking about some % that they had upped from 23% to 37% and I asked again where are these figures coming from. That I wanted to see the documentation on it, of course Vogler did not have any. I objected to the higher % for health care and the Judge marked through it too. GOD ROCKS!!
Then I objected to paying any of the child counseling. Since I have no say and that Judy Thompson per her own testimony told us that Samantha was not even talking to her. So Samantha is getting nothing out of going to her. The Judge had to listen and this all went on court record. I said I refuse to pay her bills and if I am to pay for counseling then I want to have a say. I politely told the Judge that per his own decision he gave me no say so I should not have to pay for counseling. We argued over this and he said that if I can bring him an equally qualified person in a Motion that he would look into Changing the Counseling but that it was ultimately Mr. Heinzel’s final decision. That really puts Jamie in a catch 22. I am looking into finding another counselor to meet with Samantha. So that put my foot in the door. God gave me so much wisdom as to what to say. I thank HIM.

I then nailed the final nail when I pulled out a QUIT CLAIM DEED for the House and asked the judge to please have Jamie sign this since I need to refinance the house and only have 6 months to do it in. Jamie and Vogler just about died. I have to tell you that all through this Jamie was yelling and freaking out to the Friend of the Court and his attorney. He is hurting financially and this really HURT him bad what happened in court because for 2 years he has to give me a nice little chunk that he doesn’t have to give. So he is feeling the squeeze. His behavior to the Friend of the Court was not good. Remember Friend of the Court recommended that I being given custody not Jamie. So, when things start rolling in my favor they will back me up. Jamie had to sign the Quit Claim Deed and the house is now mine and he can’t touch it. God also gave me wisdom to Deed it over to someone else so that no one can put a lien on it for any reason.
God blessed me abundantly in court that day. And we had a great VICTORY. I have had such a hard time lately because the devil never wants Christians to be happy. When we are seeking the Lord daily we can expect the devil to attack us where it hurts. It might be our children if we have them, or our family, perhaps it is financial, or our heart. But I must stress that no matter what curve ball comes your way to keep your eyes on HIM and just PRAISE HIM. I know for me this week I have had to Praise Him though bitter, painful tears. I feel so much better when I pray when I am completely broken standing before my Lord. But usually I am on my face in begging for mercy when my world whips out of control. When I am weeping to my Savior I feel like I have gotten so much more accomplished. I really feel every petition that I am bring to His feet… begging for His intercession. I love that feeling when I get done being close to my Lord… It’s like a new strength has been given to me.

I thought I had my life all sewn up…I had my life all planned out, who I wanted to marry, different ideas on how to work to get my family back, getting the Judge ousted from the bench ect… But I was knocked flat and it was all taken away from me, everything/ everyone that I thought was concrete, except my parents. But you know what it has reminded me that only JESUS CHRIST is concrete. That I must surrender all to Him. Surrendering is so hard for me to do. Not that I am a control freak… well, okay maybe about some things I don’t like surprises when it comes to relationships. I love to live by the seat of my pants and love change but not when it comes to people that I love. I am so passionate when it comes to a friend or family member. And I am so passionate about HONESTY… gosh… I hate being lied to or played for an idiot. That never goes over well with me. But I am one that will always stick up for the weak and always believe the best in someone rather than judge them for all the sins they have committed. I am logical but with an optimistic pure heart. And when I LOVE I love with every ounce that is inside me because I was not created to be anything else. Yes, it can be a downfall for me at times because I get hurt, but you can’t live your life with walls up all the time. If nothing else me falling in love broke the walls that I had had up and now I can be more compassionate to others. I am definitely someone you would want to fight in your corner.

But see, that is what JESUS was trying to tell me… HELLO, FAITH I am here in your corner where do I fit in your little equation. I love my Lord with all my heart, and I have asked Him to show me how to love Him more. I want to learn how to really love Him and I think by removing certain people out of my life that distract me – like my children for instance or my now ex-boyfriend. That is the only way He is going to get my full undivided attention and once I learn the lesson that He has me to learn then everything else will all fall back into place. I know I am okay being without a man in my life.

I don’t like patience and being told NOT NOW… WAIT. I was all ready to jump in full force into a new life but I have not finished learning all that I am supposed to yet. I was too excited, and took my eyes off Jesus just for a brief moment and He let me know that, that was NOT COOL with Him. See, His plan for me is so much greater than even I can imagine. His plan supercedes anything I could think up. I know it is BIG though I can feel it. I have not gone through all of this for NOTHING. So, maybe I am all alone and surrendered in my Savior’s arms for a purpose. I have given my ex-boyfriend to Him for Him to hold until someone special is supposed to be introduced back into my life or him. I know God has something amazing planned for me but I must go through the Refiner’s Fire otherwise it will never work. I know I have been cooking for a long time and I look a lot better spiritually than I did but I have a long way to go. Being a Christian to me is more than just a word- it is a lifestyle – an attitude. I take a stand for what I believe in and I am not a quiet, closet Christian. I sometimes make fellow Christians mad with me because I stand up for what the BIBLE says… Hey that is all we really have to go by. Yes, we can read other books that help us but we really need to be focusing on what the BIBLE says about the different struggles in our lives and how to cope.

That is why the Bible says that HE IS OUR COUNSELLOR… yes, 2 LL’s not one. But He is also our COUNSELOR too. He will heal you better than anyone else can. We are people, the Bible says No, not one is good. We are wicked people that are children of the devil unless we have really accepted Jesus as our Savior and repented, turned away, changed from our sins. I just want to give you one more thing to really chew on because I feel it is really important. Are you really serving Jesus Christ or are you just going through the motions? Make sure you have a heart knowledge not just a head knowledge for Jesus… this is the most important decision you can ever make and if you only ½ made it that will not cut it. Remember what the Bible says about people that are lukewarm that the Lord will spew you out of His mouth… That does not sound like fun to me. Just make sure you are a true believer and walking with Him. That is His desire. Our only purpose on this earth is to GLORIFY THE LORD. That is it… it is not about our wants and desires… it is about His happiness and glory. I know I have had to step out of the pride box and humble myself lately and eating humble pie is not fun… But it is worth it if I grow closer to my Lord and become more intimate with Him. I pray that you will do the same. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Your Sister in Christ,

Faithful Destiny

I leave you with these verses… please meditate on them and allow the Lord to speak to your heart.
Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of m Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in they name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
~Matthew 7:21-24