So yesterday, I sat in my doctor's office for my yearly exam. I love my doctor and love the atmosphere that is created in her office. It is one of beauty and rest.
Weird. But true. I feel peaceful there. Like all is well. It is the doctor's office.
Weird. Iknow.
Anyway.....
My appt was moved from 9:00 AM to 12:45, because she had to do a C-section. I didn't mind. I never do, because my doctor is worth it. She treats me like I'm her only patient. Seriously. She sits and talks, not just chit chat but talk. I love her.
It is beauty. For a doctor to not just listen, but to hear you, there's beauty in that. And my doctor is beauty personified.
She did my exam all was well, but she did feel a ridge on the left side, up top, ya know what I mean :). But she said nothing to worry about.
Beauty.
So today, I went in for a routine mammogram.
The blanket hanging from the wall: Beautiful.
The smile on the ladies face that greeted me: beautiful.
I fill out paper work, start to read my new Kindle book, "Beautiful in His Eyes" by my dear sister in Christ Lisa Shaw; beauty.
They call my name. I go back to finish paper work. Lady: Beautiful. Conversation: Lovely.
Then..... They wouldn't do the mammogram today, because of the ridge the doctor felt yesterday. There is beauty.
They rescheduled for a diagnostic next week. There is beauty.
God is so faithful. And no matter what this life holds there is beauty in that; always in that.
So I came to the coffee shop to read, think, drink in beauty.
Yes, these are days of beauty; no matter the outcome.
Father,
Thank You for the beauty of a life well-lived day to day in You. There is nothing like it and nothing I would trade for it. You are my All-in-All no matter what this life holds for me. You hold my hand and You hold my heart. I love You so. In Jesus Name, Amen
May you find Beauty in him, no matter your circumstance today.
I love you ~~
Showing posts with label Our Amazing God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Our Amazing God. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Fun in the Sun with Sir Cuteness.....
Sir Cuteness and I had SO much fun yesterday.
We decided to take our lunch outside.
We started in the back yard, Sir Cuteness decided we needed to "go to the shave (shade) gamma." So funny!!!
I took his highchair outside to dine.
So what does one dine on outside?
Well, vegetarian hotdogs, soy cheese, peanut butter and jelly, pretzels and jello, of course =)
Is he not adorable?
Please remember our sweet g-babe, tomorrow morning he will go to the cardiologist.
We'd love your prayers for our baby, but
we are expecting GREAT news!!!
OUR GOD IS BIG AND ABLE!! Amen?... Amen.
And I'll leave you with this great song!!
I love this wonderful, quirky song, with a GREAT message.
I feel this way A LOT!!
Have a Blessed day,
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The Decision of Discipline . . .
Oops I said it -- the dreaded D word . . . Discipline. There are different types of discipline ya know. There is the art of discipline (my personal fav), the act of discipline (the difficult one sometimes) and then there's the plain old fashion kind of discipline, like when it comes to your kids (the one I'm probably the worst at -- I generally run and hide afterwards and feel awful and cry and run my mascara, its a mess, but more on that cheery note in a minute =)
So let's start with the art of discipline. This is what I mean by it being an art. When I participate in a Bible Study and I break the Word of God open with a friend . . . to me it is like art. To watch the scenes come alive from the written Word. It truly is an amazing thing!!! I look so forward to studying God's Word and sharing with someone and hearing their understanding of the same Scripture. GREAT!! But you have to practice discipline to take the time each day to participate in a daily study of the Word.
The act of discipline, are things like making sure our house is clean and the laundry done, beds made, floors swept. . . ya know, daily stuff that doesn't fall into the category of fun, but must be done. And that takes discipline in action!!
Now on to discipline just plain and simple, straight-up discipline of the children variety, and hence the main reason for this particular post. I considered posting about this when it happened, but didn't. But this is something I feel like God is prompting me to post, and maybe it's just because I will want to look back at it and remember it, but whatever the reason, I always want to be obedient, even in the seemingly, small things.
So Sunday evening, I had to have a discipline session with Dak. Now I talk a lot about him and show pics and brag, and love on him here on this blog, but the one thing I don't do is talk about our conflicts, because frankly there just aren't that many. Yes we have the no you cannot go there talks, or the you will not be able to wear that whatever, but for the most part, he respects our rules and trusts our judgment. He is just a really good kid.
But having said all of that, he certainly is not perfect and sometimes he has his moments, and one such moment came on Sunday evening. He asked me Sunday afternoon if he could cook chicken wings that we had in the freezer. I told him he could, but that he HAD to clean the kitchen when he was done, because it was clean and I wanted it returned the way he found it. No problem was the answer I got and he set about the cooking of chicken wings, which is a HUGE process. So I jumped in and helped him with the breading etc. (big job by yourself) and we talked and laughed and had our usual fun while cooking. So the wings didn't get quite done deep frying, so we baked them to finish them off. YUMMEE!!! (I'm assuming -- I don't partake in CW's -- anyway . . . )
Well (I'm sure ya'll can see where this is going) the kitchen did not get cleaned. So I told him, about 7:00 pm to get in there and clean it up, well he was on facebook with four people, so I told him to finish it up and get to the kitchen. Well about 30 minutes later, he still had not come into clean the kitchen, so I cleaned it up. (OK I know what your thinking, but I had had enough and wanted the kitchen cleaned before bed and it was starting to get late and decided that discipline was going to have to be in order). So after a while, he comes sauntering in and I told him he just needed to sit. So he knew at that point he was in BIG trouble.
I told him he would not have to clean the kitchen because it was done. He was shocked. I told him that I had something else in mind. He was to get his Bible and do some research and he was to write me a paper on obeying his parents. What God says about it and why it is so important. I told him I wanted it by Monday evening, and if he didn't get it done then he would be grounded (which means no date this weekend -- what?!!) I told him it was not alright that he did not obey.
So he went to his room and got his Bible and wrote his paper. Now I know that some of you maybe reading this thinking I'm crazy. But I'm telling you this is something that works for this family. There have been other offences that have required a paper to be written. Like the time he told a lie. We had him do a paper on The Truth. Oh yes there have been other times. And each time it ends with a very good conversation and good comes out of it and this time was no different.
This led to us having a good and honest conversation about obedience and why God requires it from us and why He requires it of children to their parents. And then that led to other things and it ended with a hug and an "I love you mom, sorry I didn't obey you". I love this child so much. I am not so much about doing things the way they've always been done, but doing things to help him learn. I could have just grounded him, but that would have just made him mad and me exhausted by the end of the week, and there would not have been the good discussion and the understanding. I believe in getting creative even in discipline, especially if it teaches young one a lesson.
Have a blessed evening,
So let's start with the art of discipline. This is what I mean by it being an art. When I participate in a Bible Study and I break the Word of God open with a friend . . . to me it is like art. To watch the scenes come alive from the written Word. It truly is an amazing thing!!! I look so forward to studying God's Word and sharing with someone and hearing their understanding of the same Scripture. GREAT!! But you have to practice discipline to take the time each day to participate in a daily study of the Word.
The act of discipline, are things like making sure our house is clean and the laundry done, beds made, floors swept. . . ya know, daily stuff that doesn't fall into the category of fun, but must be done. And that takes discipline in action!!
Now on to discipline just plain and simple, straight-up discipline of the children variety, and hence the main reason for this particular post. I considered posting about this when it happened, but didn't. But this is something I feel like God is prompting me to post, and maybe it's just because I will want to look back at it and remember it, but whatever the reason, I always want to be obedient, even in the seemingly, small things.
So Sunday evening, I had to have a discipline session with Dak. Now I talk a lot about him and show pics and brag, and love on him here on this blog, but the one thing I don't do is talk about our conflicts, because frankly there just aren't that many. Yes we have the no you cannot go there talks, or the you will not be able to wear that whatever, but for the most part, he respects our rules and trusts our judgment. He is just a really good kid.
But having said all of that, he certainly is not perfect and sometimes he has his moments, and one such moment came on Sunday evening. He asked me Sunday afternoon if he could cook chicken wings that we had in the freezer. I told him he could, but that he HAD to clean the kitchen when he was done, because it was clean and I wanted it returned the way he found it. No problem was the answer I got and he set about the cooking of chicken wings, which is a HUGE process. So I jumped in and helped him with the breading etc. (big job by yourself) and we talked and laughed and had our usual fun while cooking. So the wings didn't get quite done deep frying, so we baked them to finish them off. YUMMEE!!! (I'm assuming -- I don't partake in CW's -- anyway . . . )
Well (I'm sure ya'll can see where this is going) the kitchen did not get cleaned. So I told him, about 7:00 pm to get in there and clean it up, well he was on facebook with four people, so I told him to finish it up and get to the kitchen. Well about 30 minutes later, he still had not come into clean the kitchen, so I cleaned it up. (OK I know what your thinking, but I had had enough and wanted the kitchen cleaned before bed and it was starting to get late and decided that discipline was going to have to be in order). So after a while, he comes sauntering in and I told him he just needed to sit. So he knew at that point he was in BIG trouble.
I told him he would not have to clean the kitchen because it was done. He was shocked. I told him that I had something else in mind. He was to get his Bible and do some research and he was to write me a paper on obeying his parents. What God says about it and why it is so important. I told him I wanted it by Monday evening, and if he didn't get it done then he would be grounded (which means no date this weekend -- what?!!) I told him it was not alright that he did not obey.
So he went to his room and got his Bible and wrote his paper. Now I know that some of you maybe reading this thinking I'm crazy. But I'm telling you this is something that works for this family. There have been other offences that have required a paper to be written. Like the time he told a lie. We had him do a paper on The Truth. Oh yes there have been other times. And each time it ends with a very good conversation and good comes out of it and this time was no different.
This led to us having a good and honest conversation about obedience and why God requires it from us and why He requires it of children to their parents. And then that led to other things and it ended with a hug and an "I love you mom, sorry I didn't obey you". I love this child so much. I am not so much about doing things the way they've always been done, but doing things to help him learn. I could have just grounded him, but that would have just made him mad and me exhausted by the end of the week, and there would not have been the good discussion and the understanding. I believe in getting creative even in discipline, especially if it teaches young one a lesson.
Have a blessed evening,
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Learning to Lean . . .
There are many things that God is laying on my heart to write about today. But one of the biggest things He's impressing on my heart today is the sense that He is teaching me to lean right into Him. Not to hesitate. He is there and He is ready. If I have a need, or I feel down, or I'm feeling vunerable, I don't have to wait on Him to get ready to receive me, He is always ready. I love that. I can just lean right on in and He receives me there. And hugs me right into Himself. It is a gentile and tender embrace and a loving response to my pain. He is my all in all!!!
Last week when I headed to PT, I felt God tell me to leave my Ipod here at home, but instead I went ahead and took it thinking that it would be okay anyway (why in the world do I do things like this). So I got in the car and plugged it in and started listening to it and I wasn't a mile down the road when I just felt so convicted and so impressed in my Spirit to turn it off, that I did. And as soon as I did God started speaking to me about the memory verses that He'd laid on my heart to start memorizing for this session via The LPM blog.
As He had impressed these verses on my heart, I thought that I hoped I could get them all memorized in two weeks and then when I went to The LPM blog and BMoore wrote on there not to memorize to many verses at once that the goal was 24 in the year, I cut my verses down to the two that I felt most sure about memorizing.
Well in my card file that I keep for MV I had written it both ways. First Romans 12:9-13 and then Romans 12:10-11. So as I was driving down the road I started memorizing vs 10-11 and by the time I got to the end of that road had it memorized (approx 8-10 miles). Then by the time I got to PT I had the entire 5 verses memorized. And I have been quoting them daily and praying them over baby Harper, Kelly and Scott, and have just been thanking God that He hid them in my heart for such a time as this.
Angie over at Bring the Rain, put out a request for all to pray Colossians 1:15-16 over baby Harper. So I have been praying those Scriptures along with others. Well I have felt compelled to start memorizing these two verses as well. I know that it is not Feb 1 and time to start my new MV, but I just feel like it is so imporant to have these verses hid in my heart for this time as well. So I will be writing them in my verse pack and memorizing them starting today. Would you like to join me?
Hiding God's Word in your heart is so very important. It helps you to lean in when things feel so out of control. You can think on the Word and instantly God draws you a little closer. And as I am going about my day I pray for baby Harper and Kelly and Scott many times and I just feel God drawing me to commit these verses to memory so I can pray them at anytime of the day, even when my Bible is not right there. So join me if you'd like on memorizing these verses to pray throughtout the day for sweet Harper Brown and her mommy and daddy.
I have so many things to blog about, but as I'm writing they just pale in comparison to the need that is in front of us, not only in Harper's situation but also in the other little one's in the NICU and the historic day this is for our country. There will be many changes coming up both good and certainly there will be some bad, but we must remember that God is in control of it all. This is a pivotal time for Christians to step up by going down on our faces before our Lord on the behalf of others and our country and the world that He created for us to we live in.
Romans 12:9-13 "Love must be sincere; hate what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."
Colossians 1:15-16 "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him."
Blessings to you,
Last week when I headed to PT, I felt God tell me to leave my Ipod here at home, but instead I went ahead and took it thinking that it would be okay anyway (why in the world do I do things like this). So I got in the car and plugged it in and started listening to it and I wasn't a mile down the road when I just felt so convicted and so impressed in my Spirit to turn it off, that I did. And as soon as I did God started speaking to me about the memory verses that He'd laid on my heart to start memorizing for this session via The LPM blog.
As He had impressed these verses on my heart, I thought that I hoped I could get them all memorized in two weeks and then when I went to The LPM blog and BMoore wrote on there not to memorize to many verses at once that the goal was 24 in the year, I cut my verses down to the two that I felt most sure about memorizing.
Well in my card file that I keep for MV I had written it both ways. First Romans 12:9-13 and then Romans 12:10-11. So as I was driving down the road I started memorizing vs 10-11 and by the time I got to the end of that road had it memorized (approx 8-10 miles). Then by the time I got to PT I had the entire 5 verses memorized. And I have been quoting them daily and praying them over baby Harper, Kelly and Scott, and have just been thanking God that He hid them in my heart for such a time as this.
Angie over at Bring the Rain, put out a request for all to pray Colossians 1:15-16 over baby Harper. So I have been praying those Scriptures along with others. Well I have felt compelled to start memorizing these two verses as well. I know that it is not Feb 1 and time to start my new MV, but I just feel like it is so imporant to have these verses hid in my heart for this time as well. So I will be writing them in my verse pack and memorizing them starting today. Would you like to join me?
Hiding God's Word in your heart is so very important. It helps you to lean in when things feel so out of control. You can think on the Word and instantly God draws you a little closer. And as I am going about my day I pray for baby Harper and Kelly and Scott many times and I just feel God drawing me to commit these verses to memory so I can pray them at anytime of the day, even when my Bible is not right there. So join me if you'd like on memorizing these verses to pray throughtout the day for sweet Harper Brown and her mommy and daddy.
I have so many things to blog about, but as I'm writing they just pale in comparison to the need that is in front of us, not only in Harper's situation but also in the other little one's in the NICU and the historic day this is for our country. There will be many changes coming up both good and certainly there will be some bad, but we must remember that God is in control of it all. This is a pivotal time for Christians to step up by going down on our faces before our Lord on the behalf of others and our country and the world that He created for us to we live in.
Romans 12:9-13 "Love must be sincere; hate what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."
Colossians 1:15-16 "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him."
Blessings to you,
Sunday, January 18, 2009
So Taken by the Love of God!!!
I am sure that all who read this blog have heard of the situation with Kelly, Scott and Baby Harper. If you don't know, please go here to catch up. I was reading Jacquie's blog and she alerted me to Angie's blog and the plea that she sends out for us to pray Colossians 1:15-16 for baby Harper. Please join us as we pray for this baby whether it is this verse or another, because there are truly so many verses in the Word of God that we could pray over this situation. Just please pray. "The prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective." (James 5:16b NIV)
I am so taken by the love of God. He is just washing over me with His love. I had something unfortunate happen this afternoon with my other knee and instead of getting upset or down I just give Him praise. He is in control and He is so teaching me that, and I am thankful!!! I don't know where this puts my recovery, but I am taking it a step at a time literally. So if it slows me down, it's okay, God is in control. I trust Him and love Him.
I heard from my cousin Heather this morning, and again I was so taken back by the love of God as I listened to the harrowing experiences they have been through on this journey to pick up their son. God is so good. They have him and will be finishing up paperwork on Tuesday and then will be headed home on Thursday and I can't wait for them to be back in the states. I nearly cried when I heard her voice, I love her so.
I have really been wanting to post the pictures that she has sent, but I didn't know if it was okay until today. So hopefully I will get pics up of their family complete with Nick, their new son from China posted tomorrow. He is just beautiful!! This is a beautiful family, both inside and out!!!
So as you lay your head on your pillow this eveing, pray for Harper and Praise Jesus for the work He is doing. BECAUSE HE IS DOING A WORK!!!!! He loves you dear one. Whatever the hurdle is you are facing, look up. He sees you and He loves you.
Love and Blessings,
I am so taken by the love of God. He is just washing over me with His love. I had something unfortunate happen this afternoon with my other knee and instead of getting upset or down I just give Him praise. He is in control and He is so teaching me that, and I am thankful!!! I don't know where this puts my recovery, but I am taking it a step at a time literally. So if it slows me down, it's okay, God is in control. I trust Him and love Him.
I heard from my cousin Heather this morning, and again I was so taken back by the love of God as I listened to the harrowing experiences they have been through on this journey to pick up their son. God is so good. They have him and will be finishing up paperwork on Tuesday and then will be headed home on Thursday and I can't wait for them to be back in the states. I nearly cried when I heard her voice, I love her so.
I have really been wanting to post the pictures that she has sent, but I didn't know if it was okay until today. So hopefully I will get pics up of their family complete with Nick, their new son from China posted tomorrow. He is just beautiful!! This is a beautiful family, both inside and out!!!
So as you lay your head on your pillow this eveing, pray for Harper and Praise Jesus for the work He is doing. BECAUSE HE IS DOING A WORK!!!!! He loves you dear one. Whatever the hurdle is you are facing, look up. He sees you and He loves you.
Love and Blessings,
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Waiting . . .
I was over at my good friend Rebecca Jo's yesterday (okay in the blog world, but you know, anyway . . .) she had a video by John Waller and I couldn't get this dude out of my head. So last night I was surfing on itunes and plugged him in and saw this song at the top. I played it and was just so moved, but wasn't sure why it moved me so much. Nothing jumped right out at me I just knew it did. So of course bought that baby and had listened to it once and still it moved me, but I didn't know the particular reason, other than there was one.
So today I had PT and appointments with mom so on my way to pick her up I put on that song and listened again and again was really moved . . . yeah didn't know why. So then after PT I was listening to it again and it hit me why it moved me so much.
While I'm Waiting
I'm waiting I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait
I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint I'll be running the race
Even while I wait
I'm waiting I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord
So I bold, bigged-it-out and made it red~~
You see I am waiting on some things from the Lord right now. Yep I've got some things that I know He is calling me to and calling me from and moving me on and holding me back, do you know what I mean? I'm waiting. Well today as I was driving down the road He spoke to my heart and asked me when waiting started meaning stopping? What? You see often as I wait I do nothing. Since when is that the meaning to wait? It doesn't mean to stop, not in God's economy.
Let me try to illustrate. If you are waiting for a car to pass you may not be moving your feet forward, but you can still do things to get ahead, like talk on your phone or jog in place or talk to your friend or talk in general, or pray or listen, you can still accomplish something while you wait. Now that is worth the price of admission don't you think?
So while I'm waiting I will serve ~~ I will worship ~~ I will love ~~ I will pray ~~ I will choose to follow everyday my Jesus while I wait on Him.
___________________________________________________________________
I tried to put the video of this song on here, but youtube was NOT cooperating. It was a video from the movie Fireproof which I have not seen yet (yes I know ~~ shamey on me). So I'm gonna try again but if I don't get it up here and you'd like to see it please go here.
So today I had PT and appointments with mom so on my way to pick her up I put on that song and listened again and again was really moved . . . yeah didn't know why. So then after PT I was listening to it again and it hit me why it moved me so much.
While I'm Waiting
I'm waiting I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait
I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint I'll be running the race
Even while I wait
I'm waiting I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord
So I bold, bigged-it-out and made it red~~
You see I am waiting on some things from the Lord right now. Yep I've got some things that I know He is calling me to and calling me from and moving me on and holding me back, do you know what I mean? I'm waiting. Well today as I was driving down the road He spoke to my heart and asked me when waiting started meaning stopping? What? You see often as I wait I do nothing. Since when is that the meaning to wait? It doesn't mean to stop, not in God's economy.
Let me try to illustrate. If you are waiting for a car to pass you may not be moving your feet forward, but you can still do things to get ahead, like talk on your phone or jog in place or talk to your friend or talk in general, or pray or listen, you can still accomplish something while you wait. Now that is worth the price of admission don't you think?
So while I'm waiting I will serve ~~ I will worship ~~ I will love ~~ I will pray ~~ I will choose to follow everyday my Jesus while I wait on Him.
___________________________________________________________________
I tried to put the video of this song on here, but youtube was NOT cooperating. It was a video from the movie Fireproof which I have not seen yet (yes I know ~~ shamey on me). So I'm gonna try again but if I don't get it up here and you'd like to see it please go here.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Showing His Faithfulness!!
Don't you love the fact that God is ALWAYS God. No matter what. Even when I'm being this crazy human, He is God. When I'm been crazy and worrying and wondering how things will ever work out, He is God. When I have a bad attitude and am being a little stinker, He is still God.
I witnessed God at work today through my sweet husband. Don't you just love that? When God uses the ones closest to you and your a witness to it all . . . love that.
Today we went to visit my mom. She took a terrible fall this week on New Year's Eve. My baby sis and mom spent NYE in the emergency room. That is a bummer!! They were at the movies when my mom fell hard in the bathroom. She is okay. She hurt her neck again, so given her previous problems there we were most concerned about that, but the MRI came back okay and we are so thankful.
Well today I called and asked if she was up for some company for lunch, so I made my famous chicken strips (yes, btw they are famous ~~ at least around these parts =) and curly fries (mom's fav) and then pumpkin bread for dessert (I'm making myself hungry again). Anyway, we packed that up and off we went to Grandma/mom's house.
We had a lovely lunch and then after lunch my sweet hubs went over to my mom and knelt down in front of her and took her house slipper off and started looking at her ankles and giving her pointers on how best to strengthen them without risking a fall, things she could do sitting down. It was one of the sweetest moments I've witnessed between my mom and husband. I nearly cried!! I told him later it was the sweetest!!!!!
We are very concerned about mom. She has some important doctor appointments on Thursday. We love her so, it is hard to see her in pain and having trouble getting around, but this was such a fun day. It was a memory maker.
Thank you God for your faithfulness. For ALWAYS being God in my life. Thank you for loving us more than we can imagine and for giving of Yourself and bringing us salvation through the precious blood of Christ. You are amazing God, truly amazing. Amen
Hope you all have a lovely evening,
I witnessed God at work today through my sweet husband. Don't you just love that? When God uses the ones closest to you and your a witness to it all . . . love that.
Today we went to visit my mom. She took a terrible fall this week on New Year's Eve. My baby sis and mom spent NYE in the emergency room. That is a bummer!! They were at the movies when my mom fell hard in the bathroom. She is okay. She hurt her neck again, so given her previous problems there we were most concerned about that, but the MRI came back okay and we are so thankful.
Well today I called and asked if she was up for some company for lunch, so I made my famous chicken strips (yes, btw they are famous ~~ at least around these parts =) and curly fries (mom's fav) and then pumpkin bread for dessert (I'm making myself hungry again). Anyway, we packed that up and off we went to Grandma/mom's house.
We had a lovely lunch and then after lunch my sweet hubs went over to my mom and knelt down in front of her and took her house slipper off and started looking at her ankles and giving her pointers on how best to strengthen them without risking a fall, things she could do sitting down. It was one of the sweetest moments I've witnessed between my mom and husband. I nearly cried!! I told him later it was the sweetest!!!!!
We are very concerned about mom. She has some important doctor appointments on Thursday. We love her so, it is hard to see her in pain and having trouble getting around, but this was such a fun day. It was a memory maker.
Thank you God for your faithfulness. For ALWAYS being God in my life. Thank you for loving us more than we can imagine and for giving of Yourself and bringing us salvation through the precious blood of Christ. You are amazing God, truly amazing. Amen
Hope you all have a lovely evening,
Friday, January 2, 2009
Prayers Avail Much!!
James 5:16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Happy New Year ALL!! I hope that you ushered in the New Year with hope and anticipation of the new beginning a new year brings.
I believe in the power of prayer to change things and I believe there is strength in numbers. We (my family and I) have a prayer request on our hearts and so wanted to share a bit of this with you, so you can also be praying for this sweet family.
We met this dear family several years ago when we started going to a little country church. We had moved and it was to far to travel to the church we now attend and really felt God leading us to Ponce. So we started going to church there and met some really amazing people. One of the families we met were Ron and Kathy and their daughter Cassie. Ron is a very gifted musician and Kathy has the sweetest spirit of anyone I'd ever met. Cassie was a teenager at the time and one of the kindest teenagers ever to walk around and be a teen.
A year ago October we received word that Cassie had been having a lot of pain in her hip and a lot of trouble walking for about a year. The doc's couldn't figure out what was wrong, so in Oct '07 they did a MRI at Cassie's insistence, and found a tumor. It was cancer. I believe this is a form of bone cancer, although I'm not 100% on that. She has been valiantly fighting this cancer for over a year now. The doc's in Springfield told her about a month ago there was nothing more they could do here and sent her to MD Andersen in Houston. They have started an aggressive form of chemo that would require her to stay in Houston for about 2 -3 months. Well we received word over the weekend that they were on their way back home. The treatment was not working and MD Andersen told her there was nothing more they could do either. So she will be going through massive amounts of chemo back here in MO from what we understand. This young lady is just 24 years old.
I beseech you brethren, (and ladies) on behalf of this young one to pray. Dick came into the office last night and asked me to come with him. We went into our room and he said we needed to pray for Cassie. He said if this was one of ours we'd want the whole country praying. I thought of you all. Prayer changes things. Please pray for this young one. She is one of the dearest girls I know, and her family is just the hardest working and most God loving people you will meet. They have such a heart for the Lord.
Thank you for lifting this sweet family to the Lord. I will keep you updated on her progress.
Blessings and love to you,
Happy New Year ALL!! I hope that you ushered in the New Year with hope and anticipation of the new beginning a new year brings.
I believe in the power of prayer to change things and I believe there is strength in numbers. We (my family and I) have a prayer request on our hearts and so wanted to share a bit of this with you, so you can also be praying for this sweet family.
We met this dear family several years ago when we started going to a little country church. We had moved and it was to far to travel to the church we now attend and really felt God leading us to Ponce. So we started going to church there and met some really amazing people. One of the families we met were Ron and Kathy and their daughter Cassie. Ron is a very gifted musician and Kathy has the sweetest spirit of anyone I'd ever met. Cassie was a teenager at the time and one of the kindest teenagers ever to walk around and be a teen.
A year ago October we received word that Cassie had been having a lot of pain in her hip and a lot of trouble walking for about a year. The doc's couldn't figure out what was wrong, so in Oct '07 they did a MRI at Cassie's insistence, and found a tumor. It was cancer. I believe this is a form of bone cancer, although I'm not 100% on that. She has been valiantly fighting this cancer for over a year now. The doc's in Springfield told her about a month ago there was nothing more they could do here and sent her to MD Andersen in Houston. They have started an aggressive form of chemo that would require her to stay in Houston for about 2 -3 months. Well we received word over the weekend that they were on their way back home. The treatment was not working and MD Andersen told her there was nothing more they could do either. So she will be going through massive amounts of chemo back here in MO from what we understand. This young lady is just 24 years old.
I beseech you brethren, (and ladies) on behalf of this young one to pray. Dick came into the office last night and asked me to come with him. We went into our room and he said we needed to pray for Cassie. He said if this was one of ours we'd want the whole country praying. I thought of you all. Prayer changes things. Please pray for this young one. She is one of the dearest girls I know, and her family is just the hardest working and most God loving people you will meet. They have such a heart for the Lord.
Thank you for lifting this sweet family to the Lord. I will keep you updated on her progress.
Blessings and love to you,
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Looking ahead from behind me . . .
So as 2008 comes to an end, it takes my mind through a series of what I learned exercises. Some lessons I learned the easier way, but unfortunately many I learned the hard way. I guess you could say I'm kinda stubborn. Over the years that stubbornness has lessened, but there is still a lot of work to be done in that department peeps, yep a lot of work. Anyway . . .
The verse that came to mind for me regarding this past year is found in 2 Corinthians 12 (some of ya'll already know where I'm going ~~ you smart little boogers ~~ anyway) verses 7 - 10:
The verse that came to mind for me regarding this past year is found in 2 Corinthians 12 (some of ya'll already know where I'm going ~~ you smart little boogers ~~ anyway) verses 7 - 10:
"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment.
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
9 But He said to me,
'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.'
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
So this morning as I thought about this past year and how I wanted to convey my feelings on to "paper", this verse came to mind. And so did this question; Why is it that Christ's power is made perfect in weakness? Why couldn't it be made perfect in strength? Well the answer to that is pride. Pride started this whole fallen humanity mess we find ourselves in, and pride is the downfall of every person who leaves this earth without accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior. And for every believer pride is also a HUGE obstacle that we face every day.
For many years I had a problem with prayer. I've had people look at me and say "no way not you!!" But it's true. Prayer was difficult for me partially because I am a speck on a planet in the universe our God created and He is God and well, you know. But then there was also the issue of just stopping, taking the time to humble myself and listen. Oh I could spout off a bunch of prayer requests, but when it came time to listening I was terrible at it, really terrible. But over time, God has so used events in my life, people in my life, resources and many different things to break this pride in me that said I didn't have time to stop and listen. God knew me, He knew my heart, He knew I loved Him. Well, yeah He did and does, but He also has given us a free will to choose Him, and to choose the best way. And part of that certainly includes listening to Him, which cultivates a DEEP personal relationship with Him. DEEP.
Over this past year I have had numerous doc appointments, bad news, good news, 2 knee operations, and many other things that have brought me joy and pain. But I will tell you one of the biggest lessons I have learned over this past year is that HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT!!
When I was lying in the hospital bed at MC in November, and in so much pain that nothing I did relieved it. I couldn't get in a different position, I couldn't rub it away, I couldn't distract it away with TV or some other electronic devise, no it would not go away. And this was no ordinary pain, this was pain on a scale I had never known. I had a talk with God in this dark, lonely hospital room and I told Him that if I was to get through it, it would be because He was there sustaining me. Because unless He did I simply didn't know what would happen. It was bad.
But God . . .
Don't you love that about Him. I needed Him and there He was. Did He take the pain away? no it was still there, but oh the grace. His grace was truly sufficient for me. Some how I got rest and some how I just moved on in baby steps with Him at the helm. He is trustworthy, truly trustworthy.
I have come to better understand that His power is made perfect in weakness and not strength. Because if it was made perfect in strength we would never come to Him. We'd constantly be thinking we could do things on our own. It is very sad.
So I felt the urging of the Holy Spirit (because oh yes I am so listening these days ~~ Hallelujah!!!) to read these verses in The Message:
"Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head,
I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations.
Satan's angel did his best to get me down;
what he in fact did was push me to my knees.
No danger then of walking around high and mighty!
At first I didn't think of it as s gift, and begged God to remove it.
Three times I did that, and then He told me,
My grace is enough; it's all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness."
I had to smile at these verses in The Message, especially the part about this being a gift and all and pusing me to my knees, and no danger of walking around high and mighty. Yes God has a plan in all of this, and He has a plan for me specifically in all of this. I don't believe we go through hard things like this just to be the same on the other side ~~ NO WAY!! God is doing a work children ~~ He is doing a work!!! I'm excited to see where this journey takes me.
What is really interesting is that the last few days God has been asking me a question.
Are you okay with the situation if it doesn't get better? If your knee stays right where it is with the pain and limited movement will you still trust me?
I must be honest, I find these questions so interesting and hard. Because of course I want to get better, and I don't even think for a minute He is saying that I won't, because I so believe I will, but what I do think He is saying is will you trust Me no matter what. Can you be okay with the situation right where you are and you move forward in Me?
The answer to all of those questions, (I am happy to say) is an overwhelming YES!!!
"I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.' "
Psalm 91:2
So whatever you are facing today, may I encourage you to face it hand in hand with Jesus. He wants to help you. Cry out to Him. Desire Him. Pray. Ask Him to show you His glory ~~ He will ~~ He so will!!!
Thank you for a glorious blog year for me. I've made so many friends through this blog and so look forward to making more friends who can teach me more stuff, like . . . knitting (you know who you are =)
I love you all!!!!
Have a Blessed and safe New Year's,
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Resolution or Revolution?
Ahh new beginnings ~~ there is something about them, isn't there?!!
Just like clean sheets on a bed, fresh and smelling good ~~ I love clean sheets, anyway ~~
I also love the thought of new beginnings. The last few years I have made a New Year's Resolution, but most of the time that has involved my weight, always wanting to lose a few pounds. But this year I have felt God moving me in a new direction for this new year.
I have several books that I have never read or have only read parts of, and I really feel God impressing on my heart to read these books and apply these truths in conjunction to His Word of course. There are many wonderful books in my home library, books that I bought knowing that it would help me in a particular area, but then would only read a part of it and not finish it.
So I am pulling out my books and all the stops (just like to say that =) and reading this year.
And this is what I will be doing. I will post a Monday Morning Review of the book I read that last week (hopefully I read one a week, or so). And then if you would like to read it you have my very meager opinion of what I thought of the book. Of course this is not in anyway a formal review, just my opinion.
So I wanted to give you a few of the titles I will be reading . . .
First I am going to finish going through this in my prayer time . . .
I bought this a few years ago and only got through day three (how pathetic am I). But I am now putting this wonderful guide to prayer in use. It really is insightful and is helping me in my prayer life. So I will be finishing this over the course of the next 10 weeks (I think that's right).
These a just a few of the books that I'll be reading. Amongst these titles are "Twelve Extraordinary Women" "The Calling" "The Feasts of the Lord" "Jesus on Leadership" and many others. You probably also see "Voices of the Faithful" and "Jesus Freaks", these two I will be doing in conjunction with each other. "Voices of the Faithful" is a daily devotional and "Jesus Freaks" is a book on Martyrs that you can read chronologically. So come Jan 1, I'll be starting this daily devotional.
And this is the book I am currently reading and will be reviewing next Monday, hopefully.
It is "Here am I Lord, Send Somebody Else!" by Jill Briscoe. Don't ya just love the honesty in that title? If you've read this book or any of the books in the future that I'll feature on MMR, please feel free to let me know what you thought of the book or if you plan on reading it.
Now let me just leave you with a few more CHRISTmas pics.
This is Sky opening up the Leap Frog Gma and Gpa got him.
How cute!! I just love the concentrated look on babies faces as they do things . . .
like opening gifts!!
Here is Chase and Tonya looking so cute, and Sky not interested at all in the pic ~~
Nope he's more interested in getting his hands on that frog!!!
And as promised I wanted to show you the beautiful earrings Dak bought his mama for CHRISTmas.
Aren't they lovely?
(heehee ~~ great pic of them huh?!!)
Okay so here is my profile, can you see them now?
I know their kind of hard to see, but take my word for it . . .
THEY ARE LOVELY!!! Thanks Dak!!
Resolution or revolution?
I believe that if I keep this resolution, God will honor that and revolutionize my life with this obedient step.
So what about you?
Will you be making a New Year's resolution that will revolutionize your life?
If so let me know, I'd love to hear it.
Have a Blessed day,
P.S. If your resolution is of a more private nature and you just want to share it with someone or need a prayer partner in regards to it, you can e-mail me as well. (Just thought I'd throw that out there =)
P.P.S. -- P.S.S. ?? Anyway, I am still tweaking the new blog header, so what about this one?
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