In the beginning...What is this blog about?

My relationship with God - hopefully it inspires somebody, somewhere, somehow.

So lets get started.

I am a single Christian (am I supposed to capitalize Christian?) woman, who is building a relationship with God day-by-day. I have daily conversations with God although I wonder how much He can really hear, because he is laughing so hard. Or when I say or do something really ridiculous, does he look over at the Saints and ask incredulously - "Look at this silly girl - do you believe that she is really that selfish?"

When I tell people that I talk to God - they just look at me like I'm crazy, they ask the typical does He talk back? Do you hear voices? Do you think that God has time to listen to your silly little dribble? and so forth.

So let me just address a few of those, so we can get on with our journey.

Yes, God talks back. He speaks to my spirit, he confirms things through other people, and yes sometimes I hear him deep inside my subconscience. Now before you start rolling your eyes and thinking I'm crazy. Have you ever been in a situation and your thinking, I ought to hit this %#$(!) in her eye! Then it seems like you hear a voice in your head that says - "just let it go, its not worth it". Then you find yourself arguing with yourself, can't nobody treat me this way, who does she think she is? And the offender miraculously walks way both eyes intact? Or have you started to do one thing and then its like Something told you to drive a different way, or stop at this store then you find out there was an accident or some other event that you are glad you missed?

Well thats what I mean by God talks back. So let me give you a true story that happened to me. There will be lots of these!

I wanted to start a tour business called All Around Columbus Tours. (remember that name) I wanted to buy a bus and get started. One night while messing around on the web, I was compelled (I wont say heard a voice although I heard a voice) that said google buses for sale. Now let me clarify - at that moment I wasn't thinking about buses - I was probably playing online poker or bejeweled or shopping at least. So I googled buses for sale in my area. Up came a used bus at a dealership, about 50 miles away. It looked okay and was listed for $5,000. Let me stop right here and say - I did not have $5000, and my credit is shot - I mean I was in bankruptcy at the time. So I decided to drive 50 miles to go see the bus. I wasn't even sure my car would make the 100 mile round trip.

About 25 miles into my drive - I thought, What the heck am I doing, I don't have any money, so I started talking to God (praying). I said,

Dear God, its me Judy again. First of all, I thank you for blessing me everyday, thank You for Your guidance - even when I don't take it. I just need to ask a couple questions, am I tripping or did You tell me to google this bus? Did You mean for me to call the guy, or drive out there? I know I should have faith, but I have a little doubt, I know it sounds corny but God can You just give me a little sign that it was You who showed me this bus?

When I got to the dealership, the salesman took one look at me and said "Young Lady, what are you going to do with a bus?" I said, "I'm going to do tours." He then said "Where, all around Columbus?" (I told you to remember, but I put it in bold just to get your attention)

Now I took that as a confirmation from God, but the story goes on.

The bus cost $5,000 and it was not running. So I left and I talked to God on the way home.

Dear God, its me Judy Again, thank You for getting me there safely and please let me make it home. Now let me get this straight. You suggested that I drive 100 miles, to see a $5,000 bus even though I don't have $5,000, that is not running? I thought it was a sign from You when the salesman said All around Columbus, You know, confirming our earler conversation. I'm just a little confused soooo, let me just say thanks again, may Your will be done, and thanks for a beautiful drive. (I had the top down on my 10 year old convertible).

So, I returned home, started pricing buses and discovered that its going take a while before I would be able to buy a bus, I need to get out of bankruptcy, save some money, and then just maybe in a couple years I might be able to find a decent bus for $10,000.

About a month later, on a Thursday night, I was messing around online, this time I was compelled to look on Ebay. I rolled my eyes, and searched for buses within 100 miles. You guessed it, there was that bus! The bids had started at $500, it was now up to $800 and it was closing in 36 hours. Soooo, just for fun, I bid on it, placed a max bid at $2,500.07 - I DID NOT HAVE ANY MONEY AT THE TIME.

My tax refund hit my bank account on Saturday morning, and the bid closed around noon. I won the bid, and now I had the money to buy the bus. When I went to pay for it, it was running and I drove it the 50 miles home.

I named the bus Melvin, after a dear bus driver friend of mine, who passed away a couple years ago. The story doesn't end here, there are more Adventures of Melvin which I will share with you, which includes a dog fighting ring and Melvins 6 month disappearance so stay tuned.

Now here's the thing, the first thing I did was call my friends, told them about it, even told them that God gave it to me. In the middle of my third phone call I realized that I hadn't called God to thank Him. So I quickly ended the conversation and got back on track.

Dear God, its me Judy, again. First of all, let me apologize for doubting You, but Thank You for blessing me anyway. Only You could take a bus that was not running and $5,000 have it fixed and give it to me for $2,500. Only You could make my take refund check come just in time. I give You the Glory, and I pray that You will use me and my bus to Glorify You, let this blessing be one that I can use to tell others about Your mercy and power.

Okay - Let me clarify, these are just excerpts of my conversations with God. I pray for other people, too.

What I want to share with you is right now in 2009, God is real, alive and still in charge. He hears your prayers, you don't have to be standing in a church, you don't even have to be a member, all you have to do is believe, and I do mean mustard seed faith.

On this blog, I will share with you amazing stories of God's presence in my life. You can call it coincidence, luck, fate, whatever.

All I know is that if there was a Bible being written today - I could have my own book in it.

Check back frequently - I will post old and new stories, and please feel free to comment and add your own.

Judy