This is the stuff that drives me crazy!!!!

I heard this song for the first time yesterday while driving.  I actually teared up, because I can SO relate!  I love Francesca Battistelli.  She is such an inspiring, young (as in literal age), energetic Christian!  She is real and I LOVE THAT!  Please take a moment or few to listen to this tune! 
Blessings!!!!

So Many Answered Prayers!!!

For quite sometime I really was beginning to think GOD wasn't listening to me anymore.  :(  I thought my prayers were bouncing off the ceiling.  I'm sure most people can relate.  Even when we really know that isn't true, but we get frustrated because there hasn't been an answer, any kind of response, ya feel like GOD's not listening.  In my case, I felt I was so far away from GOD, HE was ignoring me.  sigh~

This week GOD proved me wrong again!  (thank GOD!) I have had several answered prayers.
My friend C~
*won the makeover that I prayed she would win.

An old neighbor had a prayer request for her baby, he was diagnosed with craniosynostosis (premature fusing of the skull sutures, causing a build-up of intracranial pressure among other things).
I prayed and believed GOD for healing and peace for momma and daddy.  (I know many people were also praying)
*"CT scan  showed that the plates of his skull are NOT fusing together - he is perfectly healthy and will not need surgery. "

Prayer for a former classmate's niece to have a safe and healthy delivery.
*After 2 days of labor, "Baby has arrived!! He is healthy and happy. Mom is doing good."

Thursday, Doodles had been practicing on her pink and white nails on dowel rods, and she was getting frustrated.  I said a little prayer and asked GOD to help her because I knew she was tired and wanted to succeed. 
* She sent me a picture later of her first attempt on her own finger.  Her instructors were amazed at her first attempted.  They said it's the best first try they every seen! (btw that hangnail was already there)

Another friend is looking for a job and had a job interview. 
*she has a follow up next week!

A friend is planning her daughter's wedding and needed a comforting word. I knew before she called. 
 *I prayed beforehand and when she called not only did she feel better, but she got some good news about the church offering to not charge her for the wedding!  (we prayed for help in the wedding finance dept too!)

I asked my friends to pray about dh and the job situation on Wednesday, and before the interview at 6, *dh had already interviewed early and had the job!

I am overwhelmed by so many answered prayers!  I am feeling so blessed and relieved!  So grateful! So very grateful, that GOD didn't forget about me. HE isn't ignoring me, and most importantly, HE STILL AND ALWAYS HAS loved me!  Thank YOU LORD!

There are several request on my prayer list that I'm praying for.  My friend on FB started poke and pray day.  I think it is perfect!  You poke someone to let them know you're praying for them.  She uses a specific day, I thought it was Wednesday, so that was the day I prayed all the above requests, but then I decided from now on,when I say a prayer for someone, I'm gonna poke them (well as long as I can remember.  LOL)

Blessings and I hope you're encouraged!  :D

LOVE IT!

This is a great little video on homeschooling!  I loved it!

Church Billboard

I was so blessed to get to go back to KS and see my Birthday girl afterall.  I was especially blessed by friends on FB when I asked for a favor.  I had them PM me and I asked them to send her a bday card, since I couldn't/wouldn't be there.  Really I wasn't going to be.  DH told me the night before to go!  We had a grand time.  We took her out for dinner when we got there.  (just the kids and I went, dh stayed behind to work)  The next day she had school, so we went to the state park and said hello to the people we knew there.  Saturday, Doodles had tickets to the Double A team game in Springfield.  So after school,  (yes, she attends on Saturday)  we drove out there and watched the ballgame.  We drove back and apartment shopped on Sunday. 

All that to say, on our way back yesterday, I saw a Church Billboard that read (wish I had taken a picture to insert here)

Happiness is an inside job.

It is, isn't it? 

Have a blessed one!

A Reminder to Self....

How often I need reminders of things, when I'm feeling down. I have a friend feeling down and while I was trying to encourage her, (notice I said trying, encouragement is definitely not my gift) this came to me:

Satan tries to take our focus off God, it's up to us to put it back on God.

 

Okay, so NOT a new concept or something I didn't know!  But, I needed the reminder probably more than my friend does.  It's easy to become discouraged when things aren't going right, our way, whatever.  Our natural tendency is to focus on fixing the problem, focusing on the problem, worrying about the problem, etc.  When we do that we are focusing on EXACTLY what Satan wants us to focus on!  EVERYTHING OTHER THAN GOD!!!! 

How do we begin to focus back on GOD?  hmmm....
Good question.  I tried to think of all the things GOD has done for me.  How HE's got me out of this or that, carried me through, made me victorious!  (Actually it was HIM being Victorious, I was just the receiver) 

I tried to pray for others  more that are going through similar circumstances .  Somehow taking the focus off me and my problem. 

I find verses in the Bible reminding me of GOD's promises for the situation and I try to memorize them or at least read them. 


Yep, so sometimes I just need to remind myself stuff. 

Blessings until next time!

Dedication to a fellow homeschool mom

I haven't posted a homeschooling post in quite sometime.  So guess what this is?  Yep, a homeschool post. 

Recently, I have a friend that sounds like she's been struggling with homeschooling this year.  She's a veteran homeschooler.  Through the years, I've gone through many struggles in my homeschooling journey too.
There's the "Am I doing enough?"  "What does my family think?"  "Am I letting my kids down?"  "Are my kids being socialized?"  "Am I using the right curriculum?"The list goes on and on...

Over the years my confidence has grown, as I grow in CHRIST.  I realize that I can only be as effective as a teacher and influence as I am lead by HIM.  Nothing else matters.  My friend, realized this too.  She has turn to the solid WORD of GOD for answers. 

The other day, I was listening to K-Love and they were having folks call in giving encouraging words that had ever been given.  A young woman called in and said her dad gave her a book (unfortunately I don't remember the title of the book, but it was a Christian book) and written inside:

"You'll never go wrong when you totally devote your life to CHRIST"

How very true that is...and that is the most important lesson as a homeschooling mom that I want to teach my kids. 

That was for you my friend.  I felt very lead to tell you that.  I love you and you are doing a wonderful job. It's not an easy job, we struggle, get discouraged, want to give up, but you knew to refocus on HIM, and that makes all the difference.  You forgot about the camping trip and impressed your dh's co-workers and all the times your kids have been out and did a great job, a GODLY job.  That was because of your guidance. They are growing into fine young men! 

Blessings until next time!

Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23 (King James Version)

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Notice that the verse says fruit and not fruits?  Many people will say fruits, but this is incorrect.  As a Believer, we should be walking in the fruit of the Spirit.  The fruit is all of the above-love, joy, peace, longsufferering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. 

As I was thinking about this verse, and how to explain this, the LORD gave me this example.
It's like a tv dinner....when you buy a tv dinner perhaps you bought a chicken, mashed potatoes, and corn.  The meal, all the food comes in one neat little tray, you don't have to buy the chicken, mashed potatoes, and corn separate.  It's all in one package.  Well that's how the fruit of the Spirit is. You get it all in one neat little package.  Love isn't separated from joy, joy isn't separated from peace, etc and so on. 

Many people try to separate them. You can't! It's a one package deal.  When we become believers in CHRIST, we get the whole tv dinner.  :D  Sometimes the meat gets hot before the mashed potatoes, so we stir them up a little-well that's what we have to do in the spirit-stir ourselves up!  Get yourself hot, we want to be on fire for GOD!
Blessings until next time!

Going to church VS Being the church

Many people think that being a Christian means going to church.  Their favorite quote to "yank out" is:
Hebrews 10:25

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching

My husband often says, "Church begins with me from the time I get up until the time I go to bed!" 


So what's the difference?
If we are Christians, which literally means little Christ, we are to be walking in HIS power from the time we get up in the morning until the time we go to bed.  We should be walking in the fruit of the SPIRIT-love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.  (Notice it isn't fruits of the SPIRIT, but FRUIT of the SPIRIT, that will be for another day)  We should be loving others as we love ourselves, etc.


Church isn't a building that we go to once, twice, three, four times a week (or more).  It is US!  We are the church.  We do not have to go to church to be the church!  Mind you, I'm not saying there is anything wrong with going to church, but I think often times people fill these buildings up and it is a social club more than a teaching session! 


If we go to church thinking that this is the only place we can hear from GOD, or get delivered and set free, experience a miracle, etc., we are sadly mistaken!  If we are going to church to abolish our sins, and make us "feel" better, we are sadly mistaken too! 


There are a lot of people that are in church and don't know the first thing about being a Christian.  They don't understand they are the church.  These people are serving a religion, not the KING OF KINGS and the LORD of LORDS!  They go to church to feel better, and usually end up angry and turning away from the church and GOD. 


So how do we prevent this?  We start walking in the SPIRIT and we become real to these people.  They soon will see the difference in going to church vs being the church.  They will see we are real people that make mistakes, but we ask for forgiveness, we walk in the SPIRIT, and practice the fruit of the SPIRIT day in and day out.  When storms pass our way, we turn to GOD and we allow peace to surround us...and that's when they see the TRUTH!  We stop to pray when we say, "Yes, I'll pray for you, let's pray now!" 


As the old song goes..."They will know we are Christians by our love"!  and that  my friends is what it means to be the church and not just going to church!


Blessings until next time!

So Honored

Back on my birthday in December, we volunteered for a National Guard Christmas party for families who had loved one's deployed.  It was part of Soldier Angels, which we participated in last year.  Since then my soldier has returned to the US, and I haven't asked for another soldier because I've just been too busy with moving all over the place.  :D  (Hopefully when things settle down) 

At the Christmas party, there really wasn't a lot for us to do, most of the work had been done, but we tried to help where we could. One of my children mentioned to someone that it was my birthday.  (I think it was my youngest)  I was wished Happy Birthday and thank you for coming out, etc. 

There was a guardsman video taping the event.  He was walking around and asking volunteers why they were helping, etc.  He video taped our family. 

Later in the evening, the major general of the base, had a presentation for the loved ones to show them what their soldiers have been doing where they were stationed etc. We were invited to see the presentation also.  I was still in the other room when  my family walked into the auditorium.  When I walked in everyone started singing happy birthday to me!  I was so shocked, and even embarrassed (which doesn't happen much anymore!)  The major general even asked me how old I was!  LOL!  I told him, "I'm 45, and not ashamed to say, because people tell me I look younger."  LOL 

Monday I received an email from the gal who organized the event.  Here's what it said:

Hi Bobbi,

I hope you are doing well this morning! I just received a DVD of the Season
of Sharing event in Fargo last December that was aired on First Air Force Now
news on 30 Dec 09. Your family is on the video and we would like you to have
it. If you could email me your mailing address, I would greatly appreciate
it. Also, Major General Sprynzynatyk, Adjutant General of ND, sent out a
thank you throughout the ND National Guard thanking volunteers for the
volunteerism during National Volunteer Week. Attached is the thank you letter
he sent, in which he mentioned your family.
Have a great day, talk to you soon!
Jessi

Here's the attached letter from the Adjutant General:

Good evening everyone,



April 18-24 is National Volunteer Week, where we take the time to publicly
recognize our volunteers who dedicate themselves time and again to ensure the
success of our North Dakota National Guard and our Families. We would not be
able to accomplish all that we do without the unwavering dedication and
selfless contributions put forth every day by our volunteers. We have so
many volunteers to name each one, but I will highlight two examples.


The first is Bobbi Santana and her family from Fargo. This past year, the
Santana's volunteered to help out with a National Guard Christmas Event for
our deployed family members. Not only did they take time out of their busy
schedule to volunteer, but it was also on the evening of Bobbi's birthday.
Bobbi later wrote to Family Support conveying how thankful and grateful the
was for the opportunity to volunteer.


Another family that exemplifies volunteerism is the Haugen Family from
Dickinson. A member of the 816th Engineer Company, SFC Richard Haugen, his wife Tess and their three children recently were awarded the North Dakota Family of the Year. But their volunteerism was not just recognized at thestate level, they were selected from over 50 families nationwide to beawarded the 2010 Army National Guard Family of the Year. Their care, concern, devotion and training exemplify what it means to be a volunteer.

It is high caliber volunteers like the Santana's and Haugen's who make a
difference in our organization every day; selflessly putting others before
themselves. As volunteers, they serve as role models for our communities and
families; they demonstrate the power of individuals to effect remarkable
change and you promote volunteer commitment in your community.


We greatly appreciate their generosity, their leadership and cannot thank
them and all our great volunteers enough for their invaluable contributions
as volunteers. Please take a moment to publicly thank our volunteers and
families that make an incredible impact within our organization.


Spry

WOW!  I feel so incredibly honored!  What a blessing!  This made my day. 
Blessings until next time!

Miscellaneous...

I thought I'd give an update...

• Insurance-got an extention (well I had already shared that)
• DISH network-turns out dh and I did remember we leased the first receiver, so we apologized for the confusion and will be sending it to them.
• UPS store-went for a refund, they won't grant one, contacted my bank since I used Visa debit, (my dh said I should) they can't refund, but suggested I contact UPS headquarters (which I planned on doing before contacting the bank), so I'm in the process of doing that.

I really am enjoying being here in KS.  It really is lovely.  Not what I would picture KS to be like.  Hilly, green...I've always expected it to be flat and lots of wheat fields.  I guess, from what I've been told, the west side of the state is like that, but the east side by MO is what we are seeing.  The temps have been lovely too...mid 70's!  So nice, after our negative temps this past winter in ND.  :D

The past couple of days I've had some very thought provoking devotions...maybe spirit provoking would be a better word?  Anyhow, yesterday's was on pleading the blood.  There was a discussion about this about a year ago on a homeschool site I visit. I searched to find the discussion and thought about bringing it back up, but then I sometimes think, Why bother?  Most people don't have spiritual ears of understanding anyhow.

Oh, back to the devotion...Kenneth Copeland  was saying when he first became a christian he didn't understand what pleading the blood was about, but when he finally realized....(this is where the woe, watch out part comes in-lol)

"The devil has to respect the blood. When you say, 'I plead the blood of Jesus in this situation,' that's the blood by which the covenant was ratified, and the devil can't touch it. There's protection in the blood. There's deliverance in the blood.

When you plead the blood, you have laid down your case and put your entire confidence on and oath that is coventant-sworn by Amighty God. 

When Jesus took the Communion cup in the upper room, He said, 'Take this and drink it. This is the New Covenant in My blood, ratified for you.'

That blood guarantees certain things.  It guarantees that every word in the written Word of God is a blood-sworn oath.  That blood-sworn oath is an anchor to your soul. It become an inner strength on the inside of you.  God is your Father and Jesus is your blood brother. Everything that's His is yours and everything that's yours is His.

To be afraid to act or speak before you can see or feel something is to doubt God's sworn oath, the name of Jesus, and the blood of the Lamb.

Jesus' blood shed for you obliterate your sin on the cross.  When you received Jesus as your Lord, you took your place in your part of the New Covenant and you activated your freedom.  And every time you repent of sin, it is destroyed forever and you are cleansed of its effect. That's why you can walk free of condemnation. 

If the devil acuses you, don't walk in guilt. Guilt isn't yours. You've been given freedom.  When you feel like you're in front of a judge and he asks, 'How do you plead?' say, ' I plead the bood!  I'm innocent of that.'

'Case dismissed--lack of evidence!'" ~Kenneth Copeland, Pursuit of His Presence

I thought, you know, I'm not sure I knew why we pleaded the blood, I knew it was power, but I think reading this answers many questions that I had and now I know how to answer those when people ask.  (Also, for further reading to understand more, Hebrews 9:11- 10:23 was recommended.  I recommend it too. It helps to explain and gives more understanding.)

Today's devotion is Live a Holy Life.  I really needed to hear this one today.  I've been struggling lately with remembering my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit!  I'll try to share this one tomorrow, since this post is getting too long!

Blessings until next time!

Nothing more than feelings

This morning I was reading my devotion for the day ("Pursuit of His Presence"-Kenneth & Gloria Copeland) and it went along with my blog post from yesterday.  Brother Copeland was talking about healing.  He was talking about just recently it was just as tough to get people saved as it is to get them healed today.  He said people like Dwight L. Moody came along and changed that.  He said people would walk into church service and someone asked you if you were saved and you said no, would happen if everyone picked up on the truth about healing in ththey would grab you and say, "JESUS died for your sins, man! Trust HIM, receive HIM as your LORD and HE'LL save you right now!" 

Brother Copeland then questioned, "Now what do you think would happen if everyone picked up on the truth about healing in the  same way?"

His reply was, "I can tell you what would happen. Healing would become as easily received as the new birth, and we'd wonder why we had so much trouble with it for so long!"

Now here's the part I liked the most in the devotion this morning:

"What's more, in that environment, if someone prayed for healing and then said, 'I don't think I got anything, I don't feel any better.' do you know what they'd be told?  The same thing people are told today when they doubt their salvation because they don't 'feel' saved.  Some mature believer would pull them aside and say, 'Now listen here, You can't go by feelings. You have to do this by faith. If you wait until you feel something to believe you're saved (or healed), you'll never be able to receive."

That goes for anything in our walk with the LORD.  We must have faith.  Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  (Hebrews 11:1)

 Did you hear yourself say that?  The substance of things hoped for!  The evidence of things not seen.

We don't see them always immediately, but we press in on the WORD of GOD and keep hoping for those things not seen! 

Blessings until next time!

Encouraging words

I read this story several weeks ago.  I find it very encouraging.  I think it applies to yesterday's blog and the comments made.   

Susan said~"I LOVE the Word and how it always speaks to us, just what we need each and every day."

Laura said~"AMEN! I agree with Susan. God knows our hearts and He knows what and when we need to hear His Word!"

I think it's an encouraging word not just for being a martyr but for anything the LORD allows us to go through.  GOD is so faithful!  Thank YOU LORD for never leaving us or forsaking us and giving us the faith we need when we need it!  :D 


Corrie Ten Boom tells this story:


"When I was a little girl, " I said, "I went to my father and said,


"Daddy, I am afraid that I will never be strong enough to be a martyr for Jesus Christ."


"Tell me," said Father,


"When you take a train trip to Amsterdam,


when do I give you the money for the ticket?

Three weeks before?"

"No, Daddy, you give me the money for the ticket just before we get on the train."


"That is right," my father said, "and so it is with God's strength.


Our Father in Heaven knows when you will need the strength to be a martyr for Jesus Christ.


He will supply all you need – just in time…"


What a great thing to know.  GOD gives us what we need when we need it.  We go from Glory to Glory, Victory to Victory.  Some people have told me I'm amazing for the the things I've had to go through...what makes moving so amazing?  That doesn't make me amazing, BUT I serve an AMAZING GOD and HE does AMAZING things through me and gives me what I need, when I need it, to do what I need to do.  :D  HE hasn't failed me yet, and I don't expect HIM to anytime soon (for that matter, NEVER!!!)

Blessings until next time!

A little nugget

Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him,

we will also live with him;

if we endure,

we will also reign with him.

If we disown him,

he will also disown us;

if we are faithless,

he will remain faithful,

for he cannot disown himself." II Timothy 2:13 NIV

 

I love this!  I was reading my devotion this morning, and the context was over II Timothy 2:1-7.  It was talking about that we will endure hard times as a soldier of the LORD.  Like usual, I continued to read instead of stop where the devotion says to stop, and I got that little nugget. How beautiful is the WORD of GOD!  What a lovely piece of encouragement! 

 

Blessings until next time!

 

Developing the mind of Christ

How do we develop the mind of Christ?  Actually I think it's pretty simple.  I think the problem is we are humans tend to get in the flesh, and not remain in the spirit.  (What do I mean by that...we tend to do what the flesh desires instead of doing what our spirit tells us.)

Here's how I've learned:

• Read the WORD.
• Meditate on the WORD...some people get freaked out by the word meditate. It simply means to think about, to ponder.
• Realize you are developing the mind of CHRIST.  (this being a key point)
• Memorize, learn key verses for every situation
• Develop faith...remember faith comes by hearing and hearing by the WORD of GOD...sometimes your flesh, your physical ear must hear the WORD of GOD out loud to go into your spirit man, and get in deep inside you!

Learning to get the mind of CHRIST, I believe, is a key element in our walk with the LORD.  Without it, I would still be in doubt, insecurity, lack-physically, financially, spiritually, and mentally. 

I Corinthians 2:6-16
6Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.

Blessings!

Receiving Part II

This is the comment I left Susan on her blog the other day:

"A good reminder that Pastor Hallam has always taught us when someone wants to give is...'Don't deny your brother/sister of a blessing.' :) It's easier to receive when we know we are blessing them too!

Great post, Susan!"

This is true, our Pastor has always taught us this.  How often we forget that maybe, and most likely, GOD placed it on the giver's heart to give to us.  If we say no, who are we really saying no to?  Ultimately, it's GOD!  Why would we deny GOD the opportunity to bless us?  There are only a few reasons I can think of.  We are prideful or we think we are undeserving. Either is not the right mind set!  We must get to the point that we KNOW that we have the mind of CHRIST!  Therefore, we must have the mindset of CHRIST!

Also, when we deny our brother/sister of a blessing we might be taking away something GOD is trying to teach them about giving.  We don't know what GOD is doing in the lives of our brethren.  We need to learn to be sensitive to the HOLY SPIRIT, and listen and obey in all things.  I don't want to get in GOD's way!  I want my brothers and sisters to receive all GOD has for them.  If I'm to be the tool that is used by GOD to help my brother or sister, why would I say no to a blessing?  (For that matter, why would I say no to GOD?)

Just something to thing about the next time we are about to say no...

Blessings until next time!

Receiving

Please go read my friend, Susan's blog before reading this. She wrote a great post about receiving on her blog yesterday.  She and a group of people are doing a Bible study on  Kenneth E. Hagin's book, "The Holy Spirit and His Gifts". 
"The main point of the chapter last night was 'receiving' what God has made available to us."~Susan

I know we've been taught "It's more blessed to give than to receive".  We as humans usually can receive quite easily.  We like getting material gifts.  When we become Christians, our perspective changes.  We realize the world doesn't center around us anymore, it centers around the ONE that created us, and because of that we want to give freely as HE has given freely.  In that though, we often forget that HE gave to us, and in order for us to get that understanding, we must receive first.  But receiving is more than salvation, GOD has so much to give us.  We must learn how to receive.

It's been very humbling to my husband and I to learn how to receive.  I believe it's a process.  :)  I also believe it doesn't come easy for givers.  :)  (My husband is, and always has been as long as I've known him, a giver.  He would give you the shirt off his back if he knew you needed it.  That's the way he is.  I love him for it!  But on the otherhand, I was not as much a giver, and learning took time.  Once I learned, which is also a process, :D  then it was time to learn to receive.  I think giving was an easier lesson.  :D)

GOD put us in a position to receive.  (Have you ever had GOD position you?  It can be very humbling...) Here is just one example of GOD putting us in a position to receive.

Dh had been unemployed.  It was Christmas time.  We didn't have money for gifts.  We had given our bonus (that we were going to use for gifts) to GOD for a church in Nicaragua.  We felt led to do it from the LORD so we know it was the right decision.  On the otherhand, I was upset with the LORD, because HE knew that that was our Christmas money and our living expenses until dh got another job.  I didn't want to put up the tree!  I did not want to celebrate Christmas!  The LORD told me to put up the tree, and every time I walked by to confess, "This will be our best Christmas ever".  I didn't want to do that, but I obeyed.  I put up the tree, Every time I walked by the tree, I confessed, "This will be our best Christmas ever."  My dh told me to make a list of all the things I was planning on buying the kids for Christmas.  I did. 

We went to church the Sunday before Christmas.  An usher walked up to dh and told him after church he would need his help getting packages to he car.  After church dh asked the usher, "Where do these packages go?"  The usher replied, " Brother, they go to your car.  Someone left them for your family."  Apparently dh had misunderstood earlier.  To make a long story short, all the items on the list I made were either provided for from those packages from someone at the church or our family and friends provided them for our children.  GOD is SO faithful.  We need to learn to listen to position ourselves to receive all HE has for us.

I think I might continue this tomorrow.  I'll have to ponder on it some more. 
Blessings until next time!

Going for the Gold

I was watching the couple's figure skating last night on the Olympics, when I thought of Jamie Sale' and David Pelletier.  If you recall they were the Canadian figure skaters that lost out to the Russians in 2002 for the Gold.  (Later they were awarded the Gold medal, due to unfair judging.)

As I thought of Sale' and Pelletier, and could only imagine their disappointment, I thought about how many times I've been disappointed because things didn't turn out the way I wanted or expected.  I thought about how many times I've felt left out or overlooked.  I was reminded of something.  I'm not overlooked or leftout. GOD has a purpose and a plan for me.  The things I want or expect may not live up to HIS expections and desires for me. 

GOD has so many desires and expections for me.  Often times because I've lean on my own understanding, I've become frustrated  and disappointed.  I need to remember to keep my eye on the gold-GOD's best.  It may not come the way I expected, but it's coming.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (King James Version)

5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Philippians 3:14 (King James Version)

14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.


Blessings to you today!

 

A little woodpecker's persistence

This morning I woke up with a headache and needed more sleep.  As I laid there, with my pillow over my head-lol, starting to go back to sleep, my husband picked up the pillow, pointed out the window, and said, "Look, there's a red headed woodpecker out on the tree."  At first I didn't see it, so dh described which branch it was on. 


As I watch the little bird, I noticed his persistence knocking at the tree to get bugs.  Knock, knock, knock. Knock, Knock, knock.  I asked the LORD to reveal some of HIS TRUTH through this little bird.
Then this passage came to me:

Luke 11:5-13 (KJV)
5And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;

6For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?
7And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.
8I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
9And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
11If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? 

Just as the woodpecker was persistent in knocking on the tree to get the bugs out, we are to be persistent in our prayers!  The LORD is faithful!  HE may not answer them in our time, or in the way we think fit, but HE will answer them.  It is our job to continue to be faithful in asking, seeking, and knocking.

Blessings until next time!

PS.  I did try to get a picture of the little fellow, but by the time I decided to get up and got my camera, he flew away.

Will ya join me?

I have awesome news to share!

This is a very cool story! 

Dh got a call last week.  Someone was interested in leasing the house.  Maybe 3 years.  Cool.

Next day, dh gets a call, someone is interested in buying the house. Cool too.

But what to do?  what to do?  ever been there?  I asked  my friends for prayers that we would make a GODLY decision and that we would have peace that passes all understanding for our decision.

We spoke to a few friends in a short amount of time, trying to weigh the options too.

Ordinarily the idea of selling would be the way to go-right?  But not necessarily in our case.  The house was on a quick sale.  We would lose our equity in the house.  We would get a mark against dh's credit and have to file a 1099?(that might not be the right form, but some tax form) for tax purposes...not to mention the fact that why would the LORD allow the house to sit there for so long empty?  Did he want us to keep it?  We hadn't been able to make payments in a long time because of our finances.  We had been in touch with the bank all along and they were so gracious to us, and willing to work with us....but in actuality...that was GOD's supernatural favor on us.  :D For some reason in the back of my mind for quite sometime, I felt like we were suppose to keep it-so did the rest of the family....but we couldn't explain why. 

Leasing means we could keep the house, maybe sell it later and get more out of it, if the housing market goes up again.  We would be able to catch up on payments.  The bank is willing to tack on what is owed to  the end of the note and refinance according to dh's salary now. 

So we are praying and our friends are praying.  LORD show us what to do...give us peace and may our decision glorify YOU. 

Dh  finds out the leaser is a pastor.  He's married with a daughter.  They've been living in an RV for 4 years!  (how GOD is that?)  Dh calls their church to find out what kind of church...turns out they are like faith as us...HOLY GHOST FILLED!  WOOHOOOOOOOO!!!!!

This has been my prayer all along, LORD send someone that feels YOUR presence and peace in the house. I told dh, "I bet the reason they want to lease the house is because they feel the presence and peace of GOD in that house."

DH asked our realtor if he can talk with the possible leaser.  Sure.  Dh and the pastor hit it off.  Dh asks the pastor, "What made you decide on this house?"  The pastor said they had prayed all along and asked that they would know which house by the peace and presence of GOD and when they went into our house, they felt the unsurmountable peace of GOD there.  :D 

On top of that, the pastor said to dh, something like, "I know I don't know you, but the LORD has pressed on my heart to tell you this.  GOD is getting ready to bless you more than you can imagine!"

So I guess you can tell what our decision was?  The leasers moved in this weekend.  They hope to buy it down the road.  (not sure why they didn't now...maybe GOD has another plan.)

The bank is going to refinance still and tack on what we missed to the end of the loan.

Will you all join me in giving praise to GOD for HIS supernatural provision? 

Blessings until next time!

What's the fastest way to break a fast?

Tell everyone on your blog, you're on a fast.  LOL

Have you ever started something, knowing it's a good thing, but not necessarily a GOD thing?  Not that Fasting isn't a GOD thing, it is, but that maybe GOD didn't tell you (me) to do it.  Does that make sense?  I intended to fast for 21 days-a Daniel fast.  Veggies, fruits, and water.  After the third day, I felt released from the Daniel diet, and I drank a soda.  I have continued to fast, somewhat on a Daniel fast and somewhat just a fast. Do I feel like I've let GOD down?  No.  Why?  Because there is no condemnation in CHRIST JESUS. 
While others may not understand or can relate, GOD understands and knows my heart.  HE knows my level of commitment.  Each of us have to do what we feel the LORD is calling us to do.  We should never feel condemned by others opinions.  We should evaluate ourselves by GOD's word, not other's opinions. 

Here's a post I wrote Nov. 2006...I think it's fitting to go with this post.

I know a dear, sweet, precious lady. Everytime I'm around her I leave thinking, "I need to be more like her"...



While I was cleaning the kid's bathroom...I started thinking about this...


Other people's convictions may not be YOUR convictions from GOD. When we allow other people's convictions become our own we could actually be putting ourselves in bondage and become legalist and religious. All things JESUS came to set us free from. I'm not saying that someone's conviction is wrong for them-if GOD told them to do/not do something. But it is wrong for me to assume that that conviction should become my conviction, unless GOD tells me do/not do something.


It's taken me a long time to understand this. I would hear preachers, pastors, etc. and I then thought well I need to do this or that...I would get so upset...I would allow his conviction to become my conviction and I would become miserable! I would become depressed and angry and in turn I was putting myself into bondage. Who was I angry with? GOD? He never told me to let that become my conviction. MYSELF? Was I angry because it was something I didn't want to give up? If I were really suppose to give it up why was it so hard? GOD's WORD says "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." OTHERS? Was I angry at others because they made me feel condemned? There is no condemation for those that are in CHRIST JESUS. What was I doing? I was actually being condemned by the devil is what was taking place and then I would fall into sin because I was angry and depressed.


I'm still learning, but over the years I'm beginning to slowly grow and understand. What a great feeling not to be bound. We are free in JESUS! We are not bound by other people's convictions, only those GOD lays on our heart! What a blessing!

Blessings until next time! 

PS For the record, I have successfully done a Daniel fast a couple of times. I have also been on a longer fast successfully too.  I don't want anyone to think I didn't have the will power...lol