Kellie S

Morning Prayer #4

2011-07-06T04:56:00.000-07:00

Putting on the Helmet of Salvation:

I was getting discouraged my mind kept wandering into these unhealthy areas of thought. Things that when acted upon would be destructive.

Acting upon them could just be dwelling on them and keeping them in the forefront of my mind. Which would keep me from being productive in any healthy thoughts. Having my mind stuck here would keep me from fellowship with GOD, productivity at home, interacting with my family. I would hide away in my thoughts.

Acting on them could also be when I choose to actually do something that I had been thinking about. Eating that donut, saying hateful things to “that” person, drinking that one drink.

I would be afraid of my thoughts. I thought it was my fault that my mind kept coming to them. I would be very ashamed of what would just pop in my head. The guilt was overwhelming. And many times because of the pressure I would just continue to dwell on the thoughts because I didn’t know what else to do.

GOD wants us to understand that it is not the thought that is the sin it is the action from those thoughts that is the sin. Dwelling on them, acting on them is the sin. In my prayer this morning HE highlighted this thought…

I put on the helmet of salvation, refusing to receive thoughts that are contrary to YOUR character. I bring every thought into captivity and obedience to the Lordship of JESUS CHRIST. I want my mind to be stayed upon YOU.

“…refusing to RECEIVE thoughts that are contrary to YOUR character.” HE said that when a thought that is contrary to who HE is comes into my head I am to be able to identify it and throw it out. When a thought comes in that says anything about my character that is contrary (Your worthless, lazy, ditzy, ugly, fat) to what HE has said to me then I am to be able to throw it out.

When a thought about doing something that I know would just be destructive to my relationship with HIM or others comes to mind, I am to be able to throw it out. Just by coming to mind is not the sin it is receiving the thought.

Receiving a thought is making it your own. Remember that satan whispers lies in your ear to try to distract, discourage, steal and destroy. Do not claim those thoughts as your own. Put your thought on the GOD scale and measure it up. Does it encourage or bring joy? Then don’t say that it is your own.

We are in a spiritual battle. You are not alone in your thoughts. Satan is trying to deceive and discourage you. He is feeding you anything he can to get you away from your fellowship with GOD. When those things try to rise up in you, speak the name of CHRIST and read your Bible out loud. You are fighting with GOD’S Word and those trying to discourage you have to flee.

Don’t be discouraged when your mind keeps coming back to ideas or thoughts that you have tried to conquer. Just look to your SAVIOR and HE will rise you up.

Get To Work

2011-06-20T04:56:00.000-07:00

Many times we think that our prayers are unnecessary. GOD already knows the situation, and if HE wants to do something about it HE will, right? If HE doesn’t do anything than that must have been HIS will.

So I don’t have to get all worked up about any situation that involves me or anyone else. It is easier this way, I become an observer only, I don’t have to get into the game. I see that the “Star” player is gonna make it happen.

How wrong is that? COMPLETLEY! What a dull walk we would have. How selfish a life we would live. It isn’t about us. We are key players in this. We have jobs to do. It…Isn’t…About…Us!

We are to be down on our knees pleading for the plight of man. Whatever that is. A friend, a family member, a stranger, my own issues, they are all what keeps us separated from the life HE wants for us. Not just a good life here on earth. A life eternally with HIM. We are to greave for each other in prayer. It is to bring us to tears and (yes) even pain to see and hurt with this plight.

Our prayers matter. They are the example of faith that moves the FATHER. Remember the men who lowered their friend down through the roof? JESUS looked up and saw the faith of those friends, and he was moved. Our faith moves our GOD. I am not saying that there is a lever called faith that you use to turn on the GOD machine. I mean our faith is moving to THE ONE who loves us.

2011-05-26T03:32:00.000-07:00

I promise to keep reading it all the way through, but my spirit is screaming inside of me. Right now I am concerned with the throngs of people who are and will be mislead by this "simple" message. (Simple minded). And I just read the intro and the first page of chapter 1. (Rob Bell's Love Wins).

I know that this may spark some really heated discussions so please be kind. Please no angry trying to explain the message to me. I am a big girl and GOD gave me some spiritual gifts when the HOLY SPIRIT baptized me.

I said I promise to read the whole thing through and I am praying all the way. Of course your spirit would scream when you are reading something someone is putting out there as truth and you have always known different. Your "always known" my be because others have taught you that way, your environment of people around you who believe the same way, and in your own reading and studying.

Let me just say that I am hoping this will be a journey in helping me to learn to be less judgemental, more compassionate, sympathetic, and a peacemaker. I of course start out in this upset and calling it simple minded which is mean. Like I said this will be an exercise and I hope to finish a little less judgemental. Hang with me please.

Morning Prayer #3

2011-05-24T04:03:00.000-07:00

I had always thought it was a bit silly during the part were you yield your body. The prayer lists out different parts of your body. I understood hands-what I busy myself with today; feet-where I go; eyes-what I allow into my mind; ears- what I listen to; mouth-what I speak. But Nose, really? My nose. What could that relate to. What I smell? Sheesh.

Well GOD has a purpose for everything. All of my life the size and shape of my nose has been troublesome. I was teased endlessly as a child by adults and kids about my nose. I was even given the nickname of Beaker in High School.

In trying to fit in I always think of my nose first. Will this group of people that I am meeting with take me seriously or will they just be distracted by the ogre living on my face.

So guess what? I am to yield, EVERY DAY, my body to GOD. Including...wait for it...MY NOSE. May I say again, SHEESH! How I never saw that before, I don't know.

My nose represents my vanity, my insecurity, and in many cases my worth. It should never have grown (lol) to that level, but it has.

LORD, thank YOU for revelation. Revelation that heals. I today surrender to you my sense of worth based on physical fleshly attributes. YOU made me and YOU have a purpose for the way I look. Thank YOU.

Morning Prayer #2

2011-05-23T04:47:00.000-07:00

My time lately has been spent in the unwritten part of The Morning Prayer. Praying for my family, repenting of sin, and lifting up dear friends and family who are in need. I haven't had much to report concerning the actual written prayer that I go through each day.

Today however when I got to the Enemy Number 1: The Flesh I stumbled and skimmed through it until GOD slapped the back of my head like Gibbs does to Tony and pulled me back to Nurse My Hurts.

HE wanted to have me dwell on this for more of a praise than a preventative today. I started by praising HIM for a debilitating pain that started Saturday morning, but praise HIM it was fixed up right away and I was able to continue in the work HE had for me that day.

If I had just sat there moaning about that pain instead of letting HIM lead me on how to take care of it so that I could keep on keeping on. I would have had such a destructive effect on the work we were doing that day.

It turns out that this is a lesson on preventative prayer. I learned from my, almost, failure on Saturday, and today that part of the prayer means so much more. I am grateful to HIM for HIS faithfulness in continuing to give me the physical abilities to do the tasks HE sets before me. If I were to wallow in my supposed misery then I would be spitting HIM in the face. Saying HE is not able to take care of me.

I will then take that today. Remembering that hurts both physical and emotional have no bearing on whether or not I am able to accomplish what HE wants done. HE will never give me anything that I cannot handle without HIM. HE strengthens me when I am weak or tired. HE gives me rest and peace when I could be stressed and overwhelmed. HE really is all I need. Thank YOU LORD for being the I AM. The one and only.

The Morning Prayer Day 1

2011-05-17T05:59:00.001-07:00

Today as I went through the prayer GOD had me really settle on Yielding my Rights to Success in Ministry (#13). HE was asking me what I thought success was in ministry. I began to label that the ministry would be noticed, talked about, well thought of by others, and that the leaders would be well liked and looked up to.

Wow! Where is my mind lately. Even reading my response just shows how shallow and self focused I am (again!). A successful ministry is not any of those things. It was like GOD had to hit the reset button on my CPU.

RESTART!

What is ministry? The one and only response is that it is For GOD and HIM alone! It is a tool HE uses to continue HIS plan on earth. We are to be open to whatever HE needs the ministry to be. There is never an expectation of what it will look like in the future. You may have a dream of what you want it to do, but it is HIS design and plan for you that you have to be open to.

Do not get discouraged if it is going a different way than you wanted it to. For every moment you are doing a service for HIM you are learning and growing, someone else is being touched by HIS love, and HE is putting into motion plans that you can't see right now.

Step away from your expectations and jump in on the exciting ride HE has planned for that ministry.

The Morning Prayer

2011-05-17T05:45:00.000-07:00

Every day I enjoy going through this prayer. I have mentioned it before and I have linked to it on my side bar. It was put together by Tom Harmon. He is a speaker that I heard at summer camp (Camp Barakel http://www.campbarakel.org/c2.asp) when I was in school. He still speaks at the same camp and I am excited to be able to send my own kids there.

The morning prayer is fully based on scripture and there are notations along with each statement in the prayer. The opening line is a great foundation for the whole prayer.

Gracious Heavenly Father, I love you and want to live my life for you this day. Please allow me to pray in the Spirit because you know what I will face today and where to emphasize my prayers. (Ephesians 6:18)

It is so right about emphasizing my prayers. I am always amazed at what GOD has me really dwell on when I am praying that day. Then even more so when I see how the day plays out.

It seems that GOD always has me deep in thought as I pray to die to self. That one never lets up. You have to see where you failed the day before and ask for forgiveness for that. Then learn from it.

You pour into this part where you "Put off the old man and take up the new." What a refreshing way to start your day. A quote I love from Lucy M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables series, states, "Tomorrow is always fresh with no mistakes in it."

I want to start sharing with you all how GOD is using this prayer for me (hopefully every day).

Madam Mim

2011-04-28T11:41:00.000-07:00

My spirit was so down today after an amazing high yesterday. It tends to go in cycles like that. Satan hates to see you living in victory. He was feeding me lie after lie about myself. He started by attacking my looks. Ugly, frizzy hair, big nose, missing teeth, fat...

When that made me feel sad, but I still looked to GOD for my day. He went after my abilities. Immature, stupid, ditzy, slow...when I was feeling like the witch from Sword and the Stone, but I still praised my GOD for giving me life. He went after my motives, lazy, selfish, prideful...when I shot down the lazy and repented of the pride and selfish attitude he started picking at my sins.

By that time I realized what was going on and I had a true "Come to JESUS" meeting. "LORD, I feel like I have been totally rolled over by a steam roller. I realize I can never meet up to YOUR standards. YOU have said that doesn't matter anymore because JESUS did it all for me. I may be the least attractive physically, and personality wise, but YOU really don't care."

You know what HE said to me?

"Yes, Kellie you are different, but you are special."

That's it. 'Nough said.

I cried.

The Loaf of Bread

2011-01-24T05:34:00.000-08:00

For a few weeks now I have realized that I am depressed. I am functioning on some level, taking care of the kids-ish, cooking-ish, being with my husband-ish, and trying to be a good friend-ish. I say -ish because I do what is necessary yet I don't have my heart in it, and many times I don't even care to be doing any of it.

Once I recognized it I began the process of identifying the core issue. It is a long process sometimes. Other time you can find the problem right away, but fixing that problem may bring more weight. There are times when you see the issue and you are able to get victory from just calling it out.

I am on a journey to right some wrongs in me that are keeping me from victory. During this time I find myself struggling to choose joy. It is so easy for me to live in defeat and pity.

Why is this titled "The Loaf of Bread?"

I have had on my menu for a couple of weeks potato soup and homemade bread. Every time I see the menu and choose that this is the day I will make the bread, I find that I can't face making it. I am defeated by the effort ahead of me to create a good homemade loaf of bread.

One morning last week I looked at the menu and knew that this was the day for the bread. I had had a wonderful morning with my LORD. Singing, praying, praise just flew out of my mouth. I put my hands on the counter and said to my GOD that this was the day, and I was gonna go look for a good recipe.

I sat down at the computer and found that there was a message on my Facebook from a dear friend. I decided to read that message first then look for my recipe. What came next is one of the best gifts my FATHER has ever given me.

My friend told me that her mother was in town and that they had made some homemade bread and there was an extra loaf for me. They wanted to bring it over right away.

Why was this bread so extra special. My friend grew up on a wheat farm. Her mom made this bread from the wheat they grew. I knew this about my friend and every time over the last few weeks that I found myself staring at the counter to make the bread, I would remember my friend and her special bread. Something that she cherished. Something that I had wanted to make for her when she had her baby since I knew her mom was too far away to do it. The idea of this specific loaf of bread made by this dear lady whom I have never meet, was what I longed for.

My GOD said in that moment, "Kellie, you can have your bread and I will go above and beyond your expectation for this bread. I will give you exactly what you long for. And you don't have to do the work either."

My friend and her mother came with the precious loaf. I shared with them how much it meant to me. We stood at the kitchen door and prayed together. I praise my GOD for how HE uses others to minister to us. I praise HIM for allowing beautiful people in my life who obey HIS promptings. What an amazing FATHER we have!

Do you really want to be like...HIM?

2011-01-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

1 Timothy 3:16 "It is quite true that the way to live a godly life is not an easy matter. But the answer lies in CHRIST,..."

As I read that this morning I realized that people often say they want to be like CHRIST. Or they have to be more like CHRIST. Usually when I hear that they are talking about some situation where they need patience or to learn to turn the other cheek.

It has become such an ingrained theme for me that when I read that part of the Word this morning I felt my spirit say, "Yeah, be a pansy. That’s what you really want right?" (Said sardonically)

Do I really want a life of being a pushover, letting people walk all over me and use me for their entertainment? But that is how I feel being like CHRIST is? How in the world did I ever let that idea take hold? It's just...just...CRAZY.

In the same moment I realized how my spirit thought of my LORD I also noticed a fire rising up in me to oppose that thought. I immediately thought, "What was JESUS really like? I have to read the rest of this verse."

"...who came to earth as a man, was proved spotless and pure in HIS Spirit, was served by angles, was preached among the nations, was accepted by men everywhere, and was received up again to HIS glory in heaven."

Okay, so that was not where I thought this would go. I thought it would tell me how a human can take on the proper human traits of JESUS. But there is still hope for me here. These are not impossible traits to attain.

came to earth as a man: I am human.

proved spotless: I can strive to be proved spotless in every situation. Even when I fail, I can come clean with those I have offended and confession is the first step to forgiveness. Isn't forgiveness GOD'S way of making us spotless? Yessir.

served by angles: I have been helped many times in my life by angles. When I was a kid and scared of the dark. I used to have to feed the dog who lived in a pen in our backyard. I would have to walk out there after dark sometimes to feed her and as I was walking where the spotlight didn't shine I would reach up and "hold" my guardian angle's hand. I have been in a near fatal car accident of which I found myself soundly on the other side of when that was impossible. I got a lift to school one time from a man with really blue eyes who's car disappeared as soon as I stepped out. Yes, I have been served by angles.

preached among the nations: I want to preach HIM among the nations but that means I have to reach out to the world to do so. I can do that, and I know HE will send me where ever it is HE wants me. You know how I know? HE already is.

accepted by men: I feel that a man we met a few years ago lived this perfectly. He could strike up a conversation with anyone turn it to a conversation about their salvation and not ever be rejected. I know it is possible. I pray that I can live up to that practical example.

received up...to...heaven: The last one is my reason for life. I look forward to the day when I get to experience the glory of GOD in heaven.

That being said I also want to really look at the life of CHRIST this year and see who I really want to be like. I know he wasn't a pansy. I just want to have a practical example to follow.

Bad things happen

2011-01-05T03:32:00.000-08:00

I was just reading a little devotional about why bad things happen. They first described what bad things they were going to address. There were two ideas of a bad thing, a tragedy and a bad situation.

Tragedy was described as something like the death of an innocent. A bad thing was just something like a bad grade on a test, or a kid running out into the road and almost getting hit by a car.

They said did the kid with the bad grades learn to study more and do their assignments for better grades? And did the other kid learn to be more careful around the road?

A bad thing is in place to help us to learn and grow.

Here is the statement that prompted me to write this morning...

"Going through tough times is bad only when you don't learn something when it's over."

Take that as a thought for the day and address the "bad" situations that come your way today. Satan would just love for you to get to the end of today and sigh about how "bad" it was. Instead, show off how GOD has given you victory and come to the end of the day with the attitude of what you did and can learn from the day.

GOD'S Gift of Grace

2010-12-28T18:28:00.000-08:00

What brought tears to my eyes today. Why did I cry so? Not for sorrow. Not for grief. I cried in awe of my Amazing FATHER and HIS intricate design for the life of this beautiful 9 ½ year old girl. All of the moments shared where building blocks for HIS glory. HE took all these pieces and fit them together to give us a thorough understanding of HIS love for us.

Piece by piece we saw HIS orchestration. Hart by hart we heard HIS love. I have heard so many stories of people who are sure they have seen an angle and every time they say how blue the eyes of this helper was. I believe now that it may not be the actual color they are seeing. It is the love of GOD that is only experienced in those who have a direct connection to that love, that shines or more appropriately radiates through those eyes.

Praise be to the ONE the author and finisher of our Faith. YOU alone have full understanding. Because of the witness I experienced today YOU have given me new hope. If YOU could fulfill YOUR plan in this beautiful girl who has left us for now, how much more could YOU have in store for me? How much have YOU already put in place? Oh, how I long to be right there working in the midst of YOUR design. I choose right now to pursue YOUR plan with my WHOLE HART.

Consequences

2010-12-15T04:54:00.000-08:00

I went to see The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader with my hubby. It was a great movie. I saw truths that speak to the spiritual battle that we face every day, every moment.

I don’t care what critics say about C. S. Lewis technical ability in writing. I don’t care what they say about the mystery of his overall philosophical ideas. He was spot on with so many of the things he wrote just as I look at this third book of the series. I cannot nullify truths just because I do not agree with all of his ideas. He is human and I cannot look to him as if he is some kind of supernatural being. He is bound for flaws. I only say this to clarify so that you cannot try to argue with me over my support of this man’s writings. I am only talking about one truth I saw that spoke to me.

Without ruining the movie for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet. I want to share with you a theme and one specific scene. Trust me it is nothing more than what you have already seen in the previews.

The biggest theme of this work is temptation and how we respond to it. All the way through the characters are warning each other to be on guard against temptation. And stopping each other or themselves when they see that they are falling to that temptation.

It is such an intricately designed work in this area. We see them responding just as we would expect humans to react to situations, fear, annoyance, anger, greed, and a myriad more. And yet each time those qualities are called out, and we recognize them as faults or sins or nonsense. We realize that those actions and reactions are not natural to them they are prompted by temptation.

How true, GOD says that fear is from the devil. So if you are to be in a scary situation you are not to naturally fear. HE says that your natural reaction is to look to HIM. But satan tries to convince us that scary equals fear and that is the natural response. He pollutes everything that GOD created so that we are misguided.

The scene that I referred to earlier is when the character Lucy is hung up on wanting to be beautiful like her sister Susan. Lucy dreams about it. She envisions herself morphing from her reflection to Susan’s. In a moment she wishes her dream into reality. She walks through a door and meets up with her brothers who comment that it was nice to have all three of them together. Lucy realizes that in this “reality” it is only the three of them and she never existed.

Everything spirals from there. Her eyes are open to what would be missing without her. Most importantly, their experiences in Narnia. Since she was the one who found the way in. She is devastated by these consequences. She said through tears she hadn’t thought through all of that.

How often do we sit and justify something we know is wrong in our minds, and in that justification we also think through all of the possible scenarios. We know that if we are caught there will be specific consequences. We list them all out and prepare ourselves for them. We may even think I can handle that if it happens. Or maybe we realize exactly how much damage that consequence would cause so we guard and hide our sin. It is a painful life to live hiding and guarding on top of a destructive behavior that we choose to continue.

But view this for a moment when things begin to happen that are not even related to our predefined list of consequences than we begin to feel victimized. We know that our sin has not been found out yet we begin to have the “worst luck.” Now I don’t beleve in luck just use it as an example.

Someone at your job begins to lie about you to better their place in the company and you are passed up for the promotion you have been working for. You’re child gets sick on a day that you had planned for yourself (most likely to indulge yourself more in your secret). Even simple things like your car breaking down unexpectedly, your refrigerator breaks, you loose your wallet, food poisoning, allergies, delays due to weather. All of these things are beyond your control and you feel like they come out of left field.

You have to remember that your ways are not HIS ways and your thoughts are not HIS thoughts. You could not possibly be able to list all of the consequences that will occur when you disobey HIM and move out from under his umbrella of protection. HE is the only one who knows how much HE is blessing you. When you purposely step away from HIS protection the rain cometh down.

You didn’t think through all of that.

What the Bible has to say about Satan...

2010-11-09T07:20:00.000-08:00

Every morning in my prayer (found here to print www.tdharmon.com/morningprayer ) I pray

"...I take my position - along with other saints - in resisting the devil (I Peter 5:8,9). I pray that you would deny him any permission that he would want in launching an assault against me or my family today (Luke 22:31,32 preventive prayer). I pray that you not allow me to be deceived but discerning in what the will the Lord is (Revelation 20:10).

I pray that you would lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from the evil one (Matthew 6:13). "

I then go on to thank HIM for how HE provided a way for us against the attacks of the devil. Then I put on the armor so that I can fight the attacks alongside my LORD.

This morning I first read Ephesians 6. When I got to verse 10-12 I read it over a few times to let it sink in. Despite what people might think there is a devil. The Bible clearly defines him right here.

v10. Last of all I want to remind you that your strength must come from the LORD'S mighty power within you. v11. Put on all of GOD'S armor so that you will be able to stand safe against all the strategies and tricks of Satan. v12. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies - the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world; and against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world.

As harsh as this passage may sound it is really very clear about what we are facing as people in this world.

A while back one of the pastors at our church made a very clear statement. I don't remember the exact words but he said that satan hates you. All he wants is to destroy you. I think that a good addition to that statement would be that he doesn't want you to enjoy yourself. He isn't trying to give you pleasure so that you will choose his idea of a good life.

My study Bible has a page on this and I love what they said here.

"Satan is a powerful enemy, but the universe is not a cosmic tug of war contest between GOD and satan. For all satan's power and cunning, he is not GOD'S equal...satan is like a mean dog on a leash. If you get close to him he can hurt you; but his MASTER can always rein him in...The Bible clearly teaches that there is a literal, personal evil being called satan. He is not to be taken lightly, but neither does the Christian need to be afraid. We know the ONE who holds satan's leash securely in his nail-scarred hands."

'Nough said.

Good Morning All

2010-11-03T06:40:00.000-07:00

I am going through Ephesians. And I am loving it. I just read chapter 5 today. I always feel refreshed when I read this book. There is something about it that gives me clarity.

This is how I am to be recognized as a follower of CHRIST. I am to consciously set myself apart. I am not to blend in with societal views. I am to be the little fish swimming against the flow.

I choose today to make drastic choices that associate me with HIM instead of trying to fit in with them. How will they see CHRIST in me if I try to act like them. I can't go on living a lie that I am just like anyone else when I am not. I am glad that I am a bit of a geek. You will see that I am different. So what if I can't dance like you. I sincerely love you and would give you anything GOD provides for me to give.

Ephesians 4 Living Bible Translation

2010-11-03T06:38:00.001-07:00

Loads of Prayer

2010-10-13T06:35:00.000-07:00

I have been getting prayer requests a lot lately. What to do with them is a hard question for me. They come from all types of people in my life. From close friends to family to mere acquaintances, I have been hearing many a story.

Can I really put an importance level on these requests? Sometimes I feel like I am just to busy to pour over them. Then guilt flows in and I get all confused about how to focus my prayer and is anyone of these people more important than another.

Whenever you are rushed with guilt, confusion and discouragement you have to remember that GOD never sends you those feelings. 1Corinthians 14:33, John 14:1, 2Corinthians 4:8, 9, Romans 8:1. It is a tool used by the enemy to keep you from praying altogether.

You pray as you are led. If you are asked to pray for someone answer with a yes, and lift them up right then and there. Ask them to pray with you. If you feel you need to pray for that person again, do it. If their situation comes to mind and your first thought is that you have somehow failed them by not praying, stop that thought in its tracks and pray for that person right there.

You don't need to always fit them into your specified "prayer time." You just pray when you think about them. It becomes a constant conversation with GOD instead of thinking to yourself. That is one of HIS request to you. To pray continually 1Thessalonians 5:17.

Every time you start to think, "Oh, man I haven't been praying for that person." That could turn into a waist of time and thought, so just make that a productive thought and pray.

2010-10-11T05:22:00.000-07:00

During JESUS' ministry he told lots of stories that related to HIM and HIS FATHER and the Kingdom to help us better understand what it was all about. Once HE told this story about a shepherd.

The shepherd was getting all the sheep settled down for the night and he always made sure they were all there, "...97, 98, 99... hey wait where's Fluffy?" (You see HE knows immediately who is missing and HE knows them by name) "That little rascal kept wandering off from me today. He just loved those red clovers that only grow by the cliffs. I guess I know where to look."

JESUS goes right to the cliff it isn't easy for a person to get to, but HE doesn't care how hard it is to get to you HE loves you so much and HE know that you are lost without HIM. So HE climbs HE crawls, HE repels, anything to get to you. HE has to lay down on the edge of the cliff and HE peeks over the side to see you. You are in immediate danger.

This is were the sheep finds himself facing the dark horrors of his own actions. He is in trouble because he is in debt up to his cute little eyeballs, or she finds herself scared by the idea that binging and purging may be causing more health issues than she knows what to do with, or he has been found out by his loving spouse who saw what he was looking at online.

The sheep is panicking because of what it sees around him. No way out. He is pressing against the wall of the cliff bracing himself on the small ledge, with nothing but the immediate danger in front of him. He can't see how to get out he can't see what he will be doing on the other side of this because he thinks this is the end.

Now what?

He cries out in fear. Maybe he can't even think of saying the right thing like, "Oh, GOD save me." He could even be oblivious to the fact that he put himself there. But he cries out.

Like a mother who goes into the dark baby's room because she doesn't need the light the baby is crying and all it knows is that an angel has just reached through the darkness and with strong arms has lifted her up from the cold darkness and held her close. JESUS reaches down over the side of the cliff and lifts the sheep up into HIS strong arms.

HE doesn't care if you put yourself there you are one of HIS own, and HE wants you back.

What would you suggest?

2010-09-20T05:39:00.001-07:00

Haman was called into the kings room and asked how to honor a man the king is please with. Haman answered with a fantastic idea. I'm saying he went crazy all out. He thought the king was talking about him. He thought the king was going to say, "Hey, Haman, I want to honor you in this way because you please me with your 'amazing' work."

Haman, revealed something he probably would never have told anyone. He must have been thinking about this a lot. Fantasizing about riding on the kings horse, wearing the kings robes. Makes me wonder if he had even thought about being king himself.

I began to ponder what he would have done if he had had all the right information. Not that it was his enemy, but that the king was maybe just setting up a new policy for how to thank those who have impressed the him.

Haman would have had his adviser's cap on and would have given advice on the scale of a honor based on the persons actions. If they had just sent over a baked good for the king to enjoy they would have gotten a thank you note. If they had thrown a huge party in the kings honor then they would have had some nice wine and fruit basket.

But this guy Haman was out of his mind with himself. He had gone crazy over his own importance. He couldn't see clearly beyond himself because he was just gazing at himself in a mirror and enjoying that reflection.

I wonder how we do with this in our own lives. I am not saying that we all are so self focused that we have gone crazy. But if you were asked to come up with an idea of how to honor yourself would you make it so much more grand than if you were asked to honor someone else? Do you think that the things you have done are greater than the things other people are doing?

Actually, I don't see this as a huge problem in the people I know. I am surrounded by amazing people who just give of themselves so freely that they don't even see it as an exceptional trait. I just wanted to visit this thought as a precautionary measure.

I do not want to do things based on the notoriety I will receive. (I do tend to fall to that often) I don't want to let myself feel like what I am doing in my life is amazing. Because it is not. I am just a person and GOD is doing the work. I have got to keep my focus in the right place.

Just a thought that passed though my ever wandering mind this morning. Something to learn from, you know? I think it is just another aspect of humility that GOD is constantly trying to teach me. Thanks for letting me mull it over with you. :)

Plarniery things

2010-06-23T10:06:00.000-07:00

I decided to finally pick just one fun project and do it. I choose to make my an upcycled plastic grocery bag rug. It has been on my list of ideas for while.

I will share with you in pictures.

From a pile of plastic grocery bags...

To a pile of straightened grocery bags sorted by color...

To a pile of 2" strips linked together and rolled into a ball...

Then crochet into a rug...

Aaaaaahhh. All done and pretty to boot.

Right motives

2010-05-18T08:36:00.001-07:00

This weekend, at church, I had the opportunity to meet and hear the stories of some very amazing people. People who's lives have changed because of CHRIST. One of the thoughts that was brought up was that you don't have to have the right motives to do the right thing.

Think about it, a teen goes on a missions trip to hang out with friends. While there they are overwhelmed by the experience and find themselves broken at the foot of the cross. A young women may go to a church thinking that she could find a "nice" guy there. She may find herself at the same place as the teen.

In my case my hubby and I found ourselves on the edge of breaking away from our vow to remain married for life. We knew that we couldn't continue the way we were. We started counseling, and when he was asked why we were there he just said he wanted peace in the house. The counselor pushed a little further and asked if he wanted anything more out of the marriage and he said he would just be fine if we would stop fighting. He agrees with this statement so I can post that the only reason he went to counseling with me was that he didn't want a divorce on his life resume.

In these three situations the heart of the person may have been focused on the wrong thing but it put them in the right place. I will always live by the idea that GOD never misses an opportunity. When we are in the right place HE has the ability to change our motives.

Power of Prayer

2010-05-07T16:15:00.000-07:00

This was in the newsletter I just got from my sons school. I just love examples of GOD'S awesome power in real life.

A young man related this story following his return from Afghanistan during the first gulf war. He and his company were under heavy fire and needed to move their location. He prayed that God would deliver his company. All of the sudden a giant white cloud came down, and covered them so they could safely move to a new location. After arriving home safely, one of the mighty prayer warriors from his church came up to him and told him that one night she was awaken and knew she must pray for the young soldier’s safely. As she closed the prayer, she added the request for God to surround him with a cloud. God is almighty and His cloud of goodness and safety is available for us just as it was for this young soldier.

In the Wilderness

2010-04-29T04:39:00.000-07:00

I have spent some time in the wilderness. I fully know that GOD is the Creator and that HE is Sovereign, but I deliberately chose to ignore HIM. It was like I said, "I see YOU over there. I just don't want to come over."

Oh, there were times I felt guilty about my rebellion. I would collapse on my knees and weep for HIS forgiveness. I would tell HIM I didn't want to be separated from HIM. I would "repent." But as soon as I was tempted I jumped right back in. I stopped desiring HIM overall. My whole life has been turned upside down. I have left my first love.

Lately I have been running ragged. I have been filling up my time with so much, that I don't have time for the things I once loved. Some of those things are still a part of my life but they have become tasks that I dread or do begrudgingly.

I have also lost self-control. I do things that I don't want to do almost instinctively. There seems to be no satisfaction when I do them, but I just can't seem to control myself.

This last point is the eye opener for me. To loose self-control is to loose the fruit of the spirit. This is evidence that I am living a spiritless life.

Thanking about that now I realize how much that has affected every part of my life. I hide in bed in the morning. That was established as my time with GOD. I cannot get things done. I am hopelessly unfocused. I am easily distracted. I spend hours on things that have no purpose. I binge eat. I don't exercise. I don't even feel guilty anymore.

Sometimes I hear, "This is wrong you shouldn't be doing this."

I respond with, "Oh, well."

Yet in all this GOD is still LORD JEHOVAH, KING of kings, Creator. HE has remained faithful TO ME!!! As wretched as I am HE has protected me from harm, HE has random people praying for me. They have told me they don't know why but they have felt they needed to pray for me. HE has taught me things, and HE has used me to minister to others. Although it has been in a very small capacity. At one point when I was feeling particularly dead HE said to me, "I still have something for you to do." HE still has plans for me HE still needs me in HIS will.

The wilderness I have been dwelling in is not some vast empty desert. It is a slimy junk yard. I have allowed myself to get lost deeper and deeper in the pile of waste. (Did you ever see the movie "The Labyrinth?" near the end there is a whole scene with the junk yard and a women who was so covered over that she looked like one of the piles of junk)

This morning for some reason I heard HIS sweet call. My heart almost lept at the sound. But it is hard for a dead heart to do much more than that. When I breath in I can tell there is some life giving air coming in. I feel a small amount of focus coming through. I can kind of experience the morning like I used to. I hear the birds and there is a faint response in my heart. Like a person in a coma flickers in recognition.

Like the Israelites in the wilderness I haven't just walked away as far as I can get from GOD, I am wondering around just outside the promised land. If I wait out here too much longer I will become like a rat scurrying from the light and goodness of my GOD and Savior.

What am I to do? How do I get back? HE just said that I am to come to HIM and it will all work out. No amount of effort on my part will do it. I can't but HE can.

HE brought them out of the wilderness into the promised land. HE told them to do all those crazy things, like walk around the city of Jericho and the walls would fall down. HE is telling me that all I have to "Do" is obey and HE will lead the way.

Anniversary

2010-04-22T13:50:00.000-07:00

Anniversaries can be celebrated for many reasons. I was going about my business today and realized that this day is an anniversary of an event in my life that I should never forget.

Saturday April 22, 1995:

I was 15 years old. I had been struggling with Fibromyalgia for 2 years. An awkward teen wanting desperately to fit in and having to use a cane and many times a sling. The other kids in school were assigned times to help me write because I didn't have the strength for a whole day of writing. My hands would swell and burn. I was in pain most of the time.

I also had a hard time telling my muscles to do things like step up. I would trip over throw rugs because the slightest change for the muscle was confusing and they refused to comply.

I think the frustration was worse than the pain. Frustrated that I couldn't possibly be "Kewl" this way, frustrated that I fell so often, and frustrated that I couldn't do the simplest things.

I went to a youth conference in Kentucky called Ichthus. We were to sleep on the floor of a church and go to the concerts each day. I was enjoying everything. I love learning from new experiences, meeting new people, and I absolutely love music.

GOD walked beside me the whole weekend. I think I loved that the most. I just lived in conversation with HIM. Friday I had a really bad asthma attack and had to go to the First Aid tent. The nurse there happened to have her nubulizer with her which probably saved my life.

All week leading up to the conference GOD kept telling me that I had to get to Saturday. I didn't know why but I was excited to find out. I was soaking in everything on Saturday. Wondering if that was the breakthrough HE was talking about. It was a glorious day.

In the afternoon I left my group to go back to the van for some food and when I came back to the crowd I wasn't allowed to rejoin my group. They were going to start communion and they made me sit at the back of the 17,000 people there. I sat on the edge of the road and started to pray.

Like most times when I would take communion I started with, "LORD, forgive me for being rude to my brother, and I am sorry for making my mom mad...." At some point GOD interrupted me, "Kellie" when HE says my name I know I am in for some real deep conversation.

I stopped mid sentence, and just lifted my spirit to meet HIM right there on the road. HE started asking questions about where I felt our relationship was. How did I feel about it? I told HIM how exciting it was to be able to really live I Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing. HE asked me if there was anything that I needed to apologize to HIM for. Anything that was a direct offence to HIM? I replied with my doe eyes, "Why, no, LORD. We're good."

This is where I can't quite tell you the sequence of events of the conversation. GOD and I communicate in 3D. HE will send me a whole concept in one moment. Half a breath and I have full understanding of what HE is trying to teach me.

HE asked me what I was holding in my hand? The bread and the juice. What was it for? To remind me to ask for forgiveness. HE lovingly corrected me. It is to remind you of what was sacrificed for you on the cross. HIS body was broken. By HIS stripes you are healed.

HE changed the subject. "How's your pain today?"

"Well my feet are all swollen and burning like a bunch of fire ants just attacked me but my hands are okay."

"What are you doing with this, fibromyalgia?" HE asked.

I had never really put the two together before, my fibro and my spiritual life. I just managed the physical with medicine and doctors and then GOD and I had been developing a great relationship. But in that moment HE brought them together. Being a very Peter person I blurted out that I would use this as my "Thorn in my side." I said that with British nobility. You know hand on my heart and gazing up to the heavens.

It was like when your father just shakes his head and laughs at the naive things you say. GOD responded with, "Why haven't you ever asked ME to heal you?"

I didn't just hear HIM say that, it was like I received that idea in the deepest part of my spirit. I had never thought of that before and I started crying and said, "Would YOU?" Not as a request but as a moment of disbelief. "You would do that for me?" Kind of thing.

As soon as I said that I saw a silhouette of my self standing with my arms down at my sides and my hands spread wide open. There was this light shining behind the silhouette a light I really can't describe. Then I saw (something like a scanner light) that started in my right pinkie went straight across my body and exited my left pinkie.

Immediately, I was healed. The swelling was gone. I had strength. NO PAIN! HE took it away.

So I not only celebrate April 22, each year I also remember every to celebrate every communion.

LORD, YOU have been with me through so many different situations in my life. I love having YOU by my side. Thank YOU for promising to never leave me.

Praying for my kids

2010-04-20T03:11:00.000-07:00

On Sunday we learned about intercessory prayer using the model laid out by Paul in Colossians 1:3-14. Many great points were made and it was great putting it all together.

One point in particular struck me. Praying for our kids. We are to celebrate their steps to spiritual freedom, pray for their progress, and believe GOD to provide for their eternity.

GOD started forming an idea in me. HE just kinda set me aside of the message for a moment, (trust me I will go back and review what I missed while we were discussing this) and talked about the part of believing and trusting that my kids will be stong in their relationship with HIM.

HE reminded me of a general belief by most parents. That the teenage years are "Horrible" and you would be lucky to have good kids come out of it. Also the philosphy that, "You just have to accept that they are going to expierament and want to do the things you don't want them to."

Seriously people, why are we condemning out children this way. What you speak over them many times comes true. I am not saying to live in an idealistic (un)reality. I do not believe you can go around ignoring behavours that are distructive, thinking that if you just think positivaly they will be just fine.

I am saying that right now begin to believe in your GOD to hold them to the things you and HE are teaching them. You need to hold them accountable so they will respect these teachings and so they can understand what accountability is.

Also, when you believe in failure you live it out. You don't trust your kids to get what you are trying to teach them. They know when you don't believe in them, and they respond accordingly (which isn't good). You are creating a monster for you and them.

You need to understand that this is a sociatal lie. And where do those come from???? Satan. Duh.

GOD gives you all the tools you need to "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 It is a promise from HIM. They will not depart from it.

I am asking you to refuse to believe the idea that all you can do is hope that your kids will not depart from it. It is a PROMISE from HIM! They will not depart from it.

2010-04-13T13:30:00.000-07:00

I am so proud of my hubby. We have come a long way from just a few years ago. Mostly because he has come so far. The Car Ministry is one of the tools GOD used to reach my DH.

I can't come down from TrinityWired Productions on Vimeo.

To be loved

2010-04-13T12:09:00.000-07:00

So often the focus of writing about GOD'S love is all how HE loves you. Let's look at one of the ways HE shows you HIS love. People. Simply put. There are people all around you who love you.

I am going through a care package I got a few weeks ago. I haven't had the chance (or desire) to look at it yet. I am embarrassed when others show me unsolicited love. I try really hard to receive it gracefully, but it confounds me how to receive it. (Side note: it also makes me wonder if I know how to love others, but that's another thought altogether).

I am right now taking every item out of the package and thanking the hands that lovingly prepared them. Even though I may never know the person who made these things and I may not be able to thank them in person, here on earth, I am sending out gratefulness from my heart. It is an exercise of faith.

I have placed a beaded butterfly clip in my hair even though I am wearing brown and pink and the clip is bright green. I have carefully placed other items in permanent display areas.

My son made me a simply plastic bead necklace last night and this morning he gave it to me. I have worn it all day. I believe GOD was preparing me for this task of receiving all this love.

My point is that you are never without love. GOD loves you so much that HE can't keep from showering you from anywhere HE can.

Oh, yeah, I LOVE YOU! :)

Personal Relationship (2006 Repost)

2010-04-11T13:35:00.000-07:00

GOD’S theme for me last week was, “Personal relationship with HIM.” I heard it over and over. The first thing was just in my heart I felt this pull to be with a friend. And I couldn’t find one. Not one who made me feel satisfied. The HOLY SPIRIT told me I am your friend. Come to me first. Then at Bible study my dear friend said that in her quiet time she heard HIM speak the same theme. I am going to quote her here.

Matthew 7:21-23 There is no such thing as fire-insurance! Jesus said it, I didn't. It's all about a PERSONAL relationship with the Lord. Time spent with Him. Time spent in prayer. It's not enough to say the sinners prayer and then go on living life the way you did before.

I would venture to say that many in the church, who call themselves Christians, only accepted Christ to escape Hell. Got their fire-insurance. Jesus will say "I never knew you." He knows our heart. He knows if you really love Him. He knows if you love Him for Him, or "love Him" to escape the flames.

Would you love God if you didn't have the promise of salvation? If you knew you were not going to Heaven but Hell? Would you still love Him if you never got anything in return? That's what He wants. He wants us to love Him FOR HIM! Not for what we expect to get out of the deal. I pray everyday that God fans the flame of my desire for Him. That I am passionate for HIM. That I will be found righteous and He calls me His own. That He KNOWS me.

Have to have a personal relationship with Jesus. It is not optional. Our protection in the times ahead will be found in the prayer closet. We have to know Him. He has to KNOW us to take care of us. How can He get to know us if we only call Him once or twice a week? And collect-calls at that! We need to be on our face, seeking Him, everyday! I'm telling you, that's where our promise of protection is at. It's in that time alone with Him, when we put on Christ.

Then at Joyce Meyer this weekend she started talking about freedom. Freedom from Religion and that means a personal relationship with CHRIST.

Wow. Wow! WOW! HE keeps doing this one topic at a time. It becomes a theme until I get it. HE is so good.

Then my dad stopped by and we talked a bit and somehow the subject changed to this topic too. And it was not my doing. He brought it up.

Sometime along the way I went, “Hey LORD are you trying to tell me something?”

What a great GOD we serve.

We need to go to HIM with the mindset that HE is not unreachable. HE is not invisible. HE is not some celebrity that we would like to meet someday.

GOD is reachable. HE is tangible. HE wants to meet with us each individually. HE wants to sit down when we are stressed and take the pressures of life with us. Just a FRIEND having coffee.

I keep feeling when I am talking to HIM that he is on my right side, so when I talk I keep looking over to my right. I have heard some will put an empty chair next to them for HIS seat. I have a blogging friend who talks to HIM all day and sings too. I used to do that. Now I talk to myself. NO MORE!

FATHER GOD, YOU are changing me. YOU are molding me. I am starting to understand a personal relationship with YOU. What a long way I have gone and now YOU are turning me back. Thank YOU FATHER.

I love when HE gets a hold of me. I love when HE spends special attention to my needs at the moment. HE takes time to know what it is I need next. HE is passionately pursuing me. You have heard of Revelation 3:20 … I stand at the door and knock… That has always been used (well I have always seen it used) to mean those who were not saved and JESUS is knocking on there heart asking to come in. Well look at the context.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

JESUS is actively seeking communion with you, the believer and non-believer. HE wants to have time with each of us. HE wants a personal relationship with us. So that we can get to know HIM and HE will get to know us. Those whom HE loves, that means you, ALL of you. Weather you believe HIM or not.

Again what a great GOD we serve.

We don't have to find HIM in a church although that is where many have found HIM. But we don't need to go to church to meet with HIM. HE doesn't live in the tabernacle. We can worship HIM where ever we are. No religion. No games. No rules. Just GOD. One GOD, friend, father, brother. HE can be all you need. HE is all you need. You just may not know it. And guess what? What you don't know can hurt you. You are missing out on great things.

Go find your BEST FRIEND. HE is waiting. With open arms.

2010-04-06T06:51:00.000-07:00

Making excuses for my wrong attitudes keeps me in bondage. Focusing on past hurts and using them to explain why I respond to current situations, is both making an excuse and an addiction to self-pity.

I have, for as long as I can remember, used situations to gain pity from others. I want what I have dealt with in my life to make others think that I am amazing for being able to be so "strong." I want the wow factor. I am addicted to it.

I am not going to try to excuse my behavior, I am going to confess and acknowledge were I am allowing myself to remain in bondage.

My attitude of self-pity and my desire to have others pity me could have started as sibling rivalry, or being second born and the middle child. It could have also been passed on to me from my parents as a learned temperament. It fed off of the emotional abuse from a parent, the bullying from the others kids in my life and then it became habitual.

Again I am not making excuses. I am trying to identify my issues. In finding out the source, I discover many different attitudes that need to be addressed.

I need to retrain myself. I have to acknowledge that I allowed myself to let my life situations bring me to self-pity. I have chosen to own that label.

I have accepted that a life in CHRIST is victorious. I know that I do not have to live a life that is so unsatisfactory. I no longer have to try to make myself look amazing to others.

LORD, I turn this over to YOU. I come down from my pedestal. Being up here doesn't make me closer to YOU.

Shout to the LORD

2010-03-30T10:55:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we just need to shout it out. Here goes....

HELP ME LORD! HAVE MERCY ON ME!

When you know you have come to a place in your life when you are not counting on HIM to guide you. When you are trying to do everything yourself. When all you hear is, "Come back to ME get down and pray." When that is all you can do. It feels like you can't go on because HIS beckoning is so strong. You can't think of anything else. Your mind stops and nothing makes sense.

Drop to your knees and shout this out to HIM. Trust me HE will hear you. HE was waiting there all along for you to show up on your knees. HE is right there listening. HE will hear you and HE will answer. HE will gather you up in HIS arms and comfort you and set your mind straight.

5 year olds really do get it.

2010-03-25T05:17:00.000-07:00

On the way home from the grocery store on Tuesday my 5 year old son interrupted the silence in the vehicle with his beautiful voice. He had been quiet for a while and now I knew he had been thinking about something deep.

"Hey, Mama?"

"Yes"

"JESUS promises that you can be born again."

"Yes he does. But do you know what that means? It doesn't mean that you get to get back in my tummy and be a little baby again. It means that the spirit inside you, the person that talks, laughs, and thinks can be born again."

The conversation continued talking about the bad things we do (sin) and how that means our spirit is dead.

He thought for a while we even talked about some everyday stuff like when was snack time and what he was going to eat.

Then his sweet voice sounded sad and he said, "But I don't want to die forever."

I told him that if he decided to ask JESUS to live in his heart he wouldn't die. That when his body died his spirit would go to Heaven and he would live with JESUS forever. I told him he had to tell JESUS that he was sorry for the sins and that he wanted HIM to live in his heart. Then I asked if he wanted to think about that for a little bit or did he want to pray.

"I want to pray," he said.

Then without so much as a breath he was praying.

"Dear Heavenly Father, thank YOU for this day. I'm sorry for being bad. Please let JESUS live in my heart. Because I want to live in heaven with YOU."

I told him that he just got saved and that the angels were having a party and so happy to have a new friend. He thought that was kewl. He wanted to be at the party they were having and now he is sad that he missed it.

When we got home from the store DH was in the yard working on a car. A2 jumped out and ran up to his dad and said, "Hey dad, I just got saved and JESUS lives in my heart and I get to go to heaven to live with you and mama and GOD and JESUS and the angels are having a party for me right now but I don't get to be there but someday they will let me have a party with them." That was said just like it was written as a run on sentence without breathing.

The Joy of Canning (Repost from Aug of 2006)

2010-03-23T06:56:00.000-07:00

Arrg! I have to say I HATE CANNING! It is a long and laborious task. However, when you see all of your finished product lined up in a beautiful row. You tend to forget the hard time you had getting it done.

Friday and Saturday I had to can. I had bags of peas and green beans spilling out of the refrigerator. Beets and beet greens were getting old and needed attention. So I called my wonderful friends and got a crew together to help. If I have to do this I would rather do it with friends.

On Friday Momteacherfriend (Sarah) was coming. She called and asked if an old friend of ours could come as well. Hey, who am I to turn down someone willing to work. So I was blessed with two hard workers. We shelled peas, and cut beans, beets, and greens. We had a great time talking to each other. It was hard work but a great fun together. My DD and Sarah's DD played together. They jumped in our kiddy pool with their clothes on. So cute. They are finally getting to understand playing together. I love it.

Saturday a friend, also from my Bible study, Jessica, was coming. She called and asked if her mom could join us. Well, praise GOD two days in a row and I have two surprise helpers.

While I waited for them to come over I started getting things around. While reading the book of instructions I learned that I couldn't can veggi's with a water boiler. I had to have a pressure canner. I quickly called my mom and had her bring over the one I had loaned her. It had been a gift from my grandmother and I hadn't ever used it. G-ma had said she didn't think it worked, and I didn't know how to use one so it just was stored. My mother hadn't had a chance to use it yet either.

Jessica and her mom came and we waited for the cooker. As my mother is handing it to me she says, "Now you have to be careful with this or it will blow up."

Huh? My helpers and I had never used one before and we didn't even know if this one worked. Not the right thing to tell someone at that moment. We decided to push forward and get this stuff done. So we followed the directions in the book, made a few phone calls and did what we thought was right.

We waited and waited and nothing happened. People kept mentioning that the weight on the top of the cooker should jiggle and dance. It never happened. We were huddled in the living room just peeking into the kitchen for fear of being blown up. We decided that it had been a long time and we should just pull the little weight off and see if anything would happen. I bravely swept to the stove turned off the burner and removed the weight. The steam started shooting out. They were shouting, "Get out, get out." I was trying to move the canner to keep the steam from ruining my microwave. "Leave it just get out!"

It was like in slow-mo. We were in a war zone and I was going to blow up. It would be death by green beans for me.

They welcomed me back to the safety of the living room and we waited. The tension never died. We were so scared. Nervous laughter, but let me tell you I never made friends so quickly. We had just been put through a test of friendship and we came through it with flying colors.

I didn't die and nothing blew up. But I learned that GOD likes us to laugh at things like this. HE loves to find things that explain HIM and HIS kingdom. JESUS did it in HIS ministry, repeatedly.

What have I learned about HIM. We are being canned. HE is cultivating plants, harvesting produce, washing, cutting and stuffing into jars, cooking and then lining us all up in a row to show us how beautiful we are. It is hard work, but HE is faithful to complete it. HE doesn't quit or we will be spoiled. Like my poor peas. We worked so hard and weren't able to can them so they all spoiled.

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Philippians 1:6 KJV

Let me tell you being a veggi isn't always comfortable. Being yanked off of the plant then cut to size and put through a fire. Doesn't sound like a life I would choose. But it is. Because if I were to stay on that plant I would just rot there. These things that may look bad are actually perfecting me for HIS will. HE is trimming me and burning off all of the imperfections.

Praise YOU LORD for all YOU are. Praise YOU LORD for YOUR awesome work in my life. Praise YOU for revealing to me who YOU are. I love YOU FATHER.

Process

2010-03-23T06:28:00.000-07:00

This is the resounding theme for me right now. I thought that one good nights sleep would put me right back to my ol' self, but yesterday I was still exhausted. I thought that a nap would work but I was so very tired that I was looking forward to putting the kids to bed last night. I woke up this morning with my hubby and usually I jump up and run upstairs to do my devotion time alone, before my hubby comes upstairs. But this morning I helped him get out the door and went back to bed. I slept until I had to get A1 out for school.

I started to feel guilty that I had intentionally skipped my quiet time. My loving FATHER (patted me on the head and) said, "You need recovery. This past weekend was traumatic for your emotions." It really wasn't bad traumatic they were just pushed really far, and they hadn't been exercised like that, and now need a recovery period.

I have to say that after each rest period I have felt a little bit better. That is an encouragement to me, to know that rest in HIM is not instantaneous. I tend to expect results as soon as I act or do the right thing. But damage takes time to heal. You can't expect to create a wound in a relationship, your own heart, your ability to communicate with GOD, and then think that by just apologizing it will immediately heal.

It is a process. You first have to acknowledge your fault. Then you have to apologize to whomever you have hurt, GOD, friend, family member, yourself. Then begin the working on making it right.

When I was a kid my mom kept reminding me that when I said, "I'm Sorry," that meant I would not do it again. How did I know I wasn't going to do it again? Well, it was never a guarantee but it was a renewing of my mind. I began to realize how my action had affected others and I was conscious of how my actions should reflect that I didn't want to hurt anyone any longer.

It is process that refines us. Process is the best teacher of patience. Process is the way that will sharpen a conscious care of the world around you. Process is accepting maturity in a mature way.

2010-03-22T06:56:00.000-07:00

I was asked just two questions and I couldn't respond. I was exhausted. My emotions, my physical, all of me was exhausted. I couldn't think. I just moved because I was directed to do so. I hardly connected enough to laugh at what the speaker was saying. Yet GOD allowed me to hear each and every word from the testimonies up front.

HE showed me again HIS hand in us. Each person was unscripted and only had moments to give their response to the questions. And each person was flawless. Their message so very clear. Their hearts had obviously been cleared and opened to the filling of the HOLY SPIRIT. Each testimony was a blessing when I was out of touch.

I wanted to talk but I had to obey and just listen. GOD wanted me to keep my lips silent. I knew I wasn't being hard or defiant. I was just being obedient. What would have been my response?

What did the experience mean for you?

It meant confirmation. Confirmation that I am right were I am supposed to be. I am acknowledging areas that need growth in me. I am addressing areas that I have identified as wrong in me; wrong attitudes, wrong thoughts, and wrong actions. I am ministering with my husband where GOD has called us. I am ministering to my loved ones where GOD has called me.

What am I going to do with this information?

I am going to keep on. I am going to persevere. I am going to push forward in the areas that I have become comfortable in sitting still. For my father, my sisters, my brothers, my husband, my children, my family, my best friend, by friends, GOD'S ministries, all for GOD HIMSELF.

I am exhausted from this experience. It was long and longer. I just wanted to go home and I began to feel the pressure to check out, but my GOD said, "Don't check out just rest in ME." So I was silent when my whole being wanted to shout out my discoveries. And I rested in HIM. I am going to continue to rest for a while, but that doesn't mean that I am putting everything to the side while I do the resting. No, GOD will still have me minister and do HIS work.

De colores!

Really, LORD, Bowling?

2010-02-11T17:50:00.000-08:00

You end your day reflecting back over how it was spent. Maybe you converse with the HOLY SPIRIT. Maybe you begin to feel bad because you fell back into the same habit that has been keeping you from truly knowing HIM. Something that has kept you from being effective in HIS work for you. You see how each day is rushing past and you feel like you are just propelling forward desperately trying to make a difference but you keep missing the mark.

GOD described it to me this way.

It's like bowling. HE is the bowler. HE has set up the goal HE has placed you on mark and HE even sends you in the right direction. You are the bowling ball. But unlike real bowling you have a mind of your own. GOD may have sent you in the right direction and you can see the goal but you get distracted and end up thumping into the gutter. You are still propelling forward but you can't get yourself back out.

How often do you just sail past the mark and say, "Maybe next time I'll get it?" That's fine for a while it teaches you to stay on target, but never forget that GOD can break the rules and HE doesn't have to wait for the ball to come back up and try again. HE can run down the lane and pull you out of the gutter. HE will put you back on course.

You also have to remember that you cannot get yourself out. You didn't start this HE did. HE has the control of the circumstances. HE will put you back in your place as many times as you need HIM to for you to get it right.

Two thoughts

2009-11-11T14:37:00.000-08:00

These are things I picked up this summer from some really wonderful women.

1st I was on retreat in August and one of the beautiful ladies that had come to retreat as well had this to share on our last night.

GOD had given her a verse to really read over. It was the story of the lady who washed JESUS' feet with her tears. The host started to complain and JESUS said, "Do you see this women?"

That is the thought that GOD wanted my friend to dwell on for the weekend. HE kept telling her, "Do you see this women (you)? I do and I love her."

HE asked my friend to look at herself and realize that HE knows her and loves her, HE sees her.

Beautiful.

I have another wonderful friend who I spent an evening with just chatting. She is absolutely amazing and GOD has really blessed me and other by her and her story. She said something in our chat that has stuck with me.

You can't identify yourself with labels. Mom, employee, wife, etc. All of that can change and if it does what do you have? She said the only label that will never change is that she is a child of GOD.

Beautiful.

You Can't Make Me

2009-11-11T11:30:00.000-08:00

Here is a thought that I think everyone needs to absorb.

NO ONE CAN MAKE YOU FEEL ANYTHING!!!!

You might hear someone say, "They make me feel so inadequate." Or "I feel like a failure when I am around that person."

Someone may treat you horribly but only you can feel horrible when they do. You need to hold on to who you are. You need to choose to accept only GOD'S approval of you. You do not ever need to believe in the lies that pull you down and cause you to feel like a failure. You need to choose joy and confidence.

Below is a new song by Skillet it has been a great example to me of how I felt 3 years ago when I realized that I was allowing myself to be abused. I have been holding on to the truth of this idea when I am working on relationships that need healing now.

It is obvious that this is a breakup song. I don't intend to use it that way. I am just making a point that you can't allow others to make you feel bad. You have the power to choose to feel good no matter how others are treating you.

Let's get the story straight
You were a poison
You flooded through my veins
You left me broken
You tried to make me think
That the blame was all on me
With the pain you put me through
And now I know that it's
not me it's you

It's not me It's you
Always has been you
All the lies and stupid things
you say and do
It's you
It's not me It's you
All the lies and pain
you put me through

I know that It's not me
It's you You
You
It's not me
It's you,
you

So here we go again
The same fight we're always in
I don't care so why pretend
Wake me when your lecture ends
You tried to make me small
Make me fall and it's
all your fault
With the pain you put me through
And now I know that
It's not me it's you

Let's get the story straight
You were a poison
Flooding through my veins
Driving me insane
And now you're gone away
I'm no longer choking
From the pain you put me through
And now I know that it's
not me it's you

2009-08-19T11:43:00.001-07:00

GOD told me this morning that HE is not finished with me yet. Yeah, I know I have a lot of growing to do. That isn't what HE was talking about.

HE said HE still had things I was going to do. Tasks and jobs for HIS kingdom. What a comfort. I have felt like such a failure lately. I began thinking that there was no way I was usable for HIS work. I was just to "Me-focused."

HE made sure I understood that these were things I was going to do. HE sees me doing them.

HE followed this thought by reminding me of John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

I am in this world and I am dealing with a bit of tribulation right now, but oh the joy, HE has already overcome, and I get to join HIM in the victory.

2009-08-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

Jeremiah 38:17-21, 23 (King James Version)

17 Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house:

18 But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon's princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand.

19 And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.

20 But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.

21 But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the LORD hath shewed me:

23 So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.

Sometimes GOD lays out a choice.

"Do 'this' and 'this' will be what happens to you, but if you do 'this,' 'this' will be your consequence."

To often our first response is to look at both choices and weigh them against what would be most socially acceptable. We don't seem to even hear the outcome of each choice that HE has laid out for us. We complicate it even more by trying to justify the easier choice with "Religious" reasoning.

"I need to be credible to the lost. If I start doing 'crazy' things they will not take me seriously."

Take this example from Jeremiah and King Zedekiah.

Jeremiah was ridiculed by the proper social groups (princes) that surrounded the king. They sent him to a prison to die. All because he was preaching a message that was negative. However, he did not fear mans reproach.

Look at verse 20 in his response to the king. He is saying (in my simplified version), "What can they do to you that is any worse than what GOD has promised if you don't obey?" This is the understanding of his own faith. This is what he lived by.

Later Jeremiah was allowed to live like a free man among the Israelites left in the land after the king of Babylon took over.

King Zedekiah choose to not do the "crazy" thing and everything that GOD told him through Jeremiah came true.

Jerusalem was burned the walls were broken and the people were taken captive. More than that Zedekiah was forced to watch as the king of Babylon killed his sons then gouge his eyes out and drug him away to a dungeon somewhere.

The key to this little message is verse 20 But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.

Zedekiah was looking at possible issues that weren't even on the table. GOD said "do this, and this will happen, or do this and this will happen."

We have to simplify we have to take GOD at HIS word. HE knows what is going on, and I am confident that HE doesn't miss anything. HE isn't sitting there after the fact saying, "Whoa, didn't see that coming."

CROSBY MINT FARM (of St. Johns, Michigan/Mint City, USA)

2009-08-03T03:59:00.000-07:00

"In addition to having what appears to be the oldest surviving still in the country, the Crosby Farms operation also appears to be the oldest mint farm in continuous operation in the United States. The key word here is "continuous" - that it has cultivated and processed mint since J.E. Crosby purchased the property before World War I." Ephraim K. Smith, President; Heritage Production, Inc.

This farm is being foreclosed on and the redemption period is over on August 14th, 2009, the first day of the St. Johns 25th Annual Mint Festival! The bank will own the farm and will be in a position to start eviction proceedings.

With enough inventory to pay the debt, $325,000 worth of mint essential oil products needs to be sold byAUGUST 14TH

Please visit http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102640802846&s=3305&e=001f4sCvwQ-kw-pcci94HTi-RyarBRrbSgoHnuVT3I5dTNlpMO51UzWWA0-Nw-OAGk7CbaJdfG0dc01bkgw8-ByQGmt9ATiAIEvVlDuUiRLu6YGWt6c02BG4Q==or call 1-800-345-9068 EXT. 101

Any purchase will go towards our goal!!!!

Check the Headlines...
Clinton County News
Lansing State Journal
Chicago Tribune

You can help by:
1. Placing an order at http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102640802846&s=3305&e=001f4sCvwQ-kw8G02jIjbAY1qvTWzyP_wxjzpE9Y8tCJJI4LPoLCzyFpTZkZ26ehTe9NyfqLUWJZ8ktEbGDRYd5wJMTT9zTC9zuRJTkbP4RWsg=
or donating your mint oil to a charity.

2. Call 1-800-345-9068 ext 1012. Please pass this email to everyone in your email address book!!!

3. If you have a blog, please post our story?!

4. Join the facebook Preserve Historic Mint Farm Group

5. Twitter our MINT story! and follow us on Twitter

6. Join the Get Mint Trading Co fanpage

7. Print copies of this email and pass out your to friends, retail stores, schools, church groups...and any social group or network

8. Call your local TV stations, Newspapers, how about emailing or calling about Oprah?!

9. Learn about the uses of mint on our YouTube Channel

10. Visit the Crosby Mint Farm on August 15th & 16th to show your support during our first annual Mint Jam!

Call 1-800-345-9068 for info!http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102640802846&s=3305&e=001f4sCvwQ-kw_DBe2tqr9T7vl6htJ189fTrwIKFlG6j54s3QFHM3ToRPjjIsI_SP9hCKBqxEajmBE4HWaYIX9p2QNTDEAg75SsDM0G6EglK6hMkFCcjRsMww==
BUY NOW

Uses of Mint

Eases migraines and tension headaches
Promotes healthy gums, tongue and teeth
Reduces congestion and sinus problems
Treats muscle tension and arthritis
Aids in digestion and IBS
Helps relieve menstrual and abdominal cramps
Attacks cold and flu viruses
Fights acne, razor bumps and get a closer shave
Cools the skin on muggy days
Soothes sore and tired feet
Asthma
Arthritis
Anti Viral
Anti Bacterial
Anti Funga

In Captivity

2009-07-14T07:48:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I heard this message at our church. The speaker is Marvin Williams and he was able to eloquently lay this out. I cannot begin to relay the message so please take some time to listen here.

http://trinitywired.com/video/090628-leaving-gath

About the same time I picked up a copy of The Pilgrims Progress. And as so many times before GOD allowed them all to come together in one teaching for my soul.

HE showed me that Gath is in a deep valley. And the City of Light and Freedom is on top of the mountain. I want to be released from Gath but the climb is treacherous and steep. Each step is on rocky ground that can crumble under foot.

It is so easy to stumble and fall back to Gath and be captive again. Other times we can get some momentum going and be making strides away from the wretched city but then we get too confident and loose our footing and begin to slide.

If we cry out and reach up we can grab on to our SAVIOR and hold on to HIM. HE will stop our slide but we still have to continue to climb.

Some HE will decide to just lift up to the Freedom they seek because HE doesn't feel they need to go through the climb. Others need to strengthen their resolve. They have to climb. It is hard and HE knows that but HE designed it that way so that we would be able to withstand the future temptations.

A Lesson in Forgiveness

2009-06-15T04:45:00.000-07:00

As I was growing up someone who was supposed to love me hurt me. As a teen I learned at Camp Barakel under the teaching of Tom Harmon that I was supposed to forgive anyone who had hurt me. I realized that I had become bitter toward this person who had hurt me so GOD showed me how to forgive them.

I thought everything would be okay from there. Recently, however, this person has hurt more people that I love in much the same way they hurt me. I find myself being very cruel about them and the bitterness has erupted in me.

I want forgiveness. I want peace. This not only affects how I interact with this person but this reaches into my everyday life. I am finding that I am not a very nice person. I can be so cruel. How can my Light shine before men with this black cloud surrounding it?

Last week GOD really impressed on me that I had to forgive. HE explained I am exactly the same as the person that hurt me. I hurt GOD by my sins before I was saved. I asked for HIS forgiveness and HE by HIS promised grace granted that request. Then I go out and hurt other people that GOD loves. HE doesn’t sit there and bash me for offending HIM. No HE forgives me over and over for my treatment of HIS loved ones.

I have to do the same. I will never be perfect because I am human and others will never be perfect for the same reason, but my GOD continues to love them and forgive them so should I.
This morning I pulled out the book “The Secret Power of Speaking GOD’S Word,” by Joyce Meyer. I went to the chapter, “Forgiveness,” this is what I read.

If I forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], my heavenly Father will also forgive me. –Matthew 6:14

I knew that I have needed forgiveness, but I have felt the prayers bouncing down from the ceiling. My heart was willing but my flesh is weak. I trust that this understanding and action of forgiveness will lead me to follow my LORD more closely. This sin that continues to plague me will no longer have control over me, because I am focusing on my GOD.

Lovin' the activities.

2009-06-01T11:40:00.000-07:00

We have finished kindergarden and we are now getting used to not running out the door in the morning. We are still running all over the place though.

DH and I are really involved in the car ministry at church. The church has leased an actual shop with lifts and a waiting room. I get to clean the waiting room up and make it comfy for the people who are waiting on their car repair.

Here is the shop from the outside. We have the whole area you can see from the glass entry door to the two garage doors.

Here is a shot of the inside the day we started cleaning.This is from today. Just the front waiting room. I didn't get a shot of the counter. I put a kids area in with a TV and movies. Soon someone will be donating toys for that. We have kid books and a bookcase. It looks great.

We are working on what to do for school next year. I am looking into homeschool, private, and the local public. For the summer I am doing an expierament in homeschooling. I am just using a curriculium I found at Sam's and some I print from online. We have reading skills, numbers, Bible and some basic following directions and alot more actually. I am having fun getting ready for each lesson. I also have enjoyed teaching each of them the same thing yet on different levels. Like DS is learning to identify letters and their sounds and DD is using the Letter of the lesson in reading words and short sentances.

DD2 is turing 2 tomorrow. We had her Birthday Party on Sunday. She was so fun with this. She is a hoot. She loves to sing and pretend with her toys and her borther and sister. She is getting so big. She is actually growing out of the 18 month clothes. When we do letter flash cards she stands there and yells the letter with the kids. So much fun.

The garden is coming right along. I had a wonderful time working with friends as we planted it. I went out today and noticed the ground was beginning to crack and lift up in the rows of beans. They are amazing. I love this work with GOD. He created Adam and Eve to cultivate the Garden and I know that it is still human nature to do the same.

Here you can see the flowers already on the tomatoes. I LOVE IT!!

This is a green bean coming up. It is kinda hard to see.

How can I face the morning?

2009-05-10T14:12:00.000-07:00

I began a new schedule about a month ago. Since DH gets up around 6:30 I would get up at 5 and do my quiet time, That way I wasn't trying to pray while he was trying to get ready to go to work. By the time he would get upstairs I would have finished my study and could exercise until he left at 7. Lately, however, I have had a hard time getting up that extra hour early. I wake up at 6 and don't want to get out of bed.

I have told myself that I am just overdoing it and my body is tired. It is okay because I still read my Bible and do my prayer. But my prayer time is rushed and I just don't really talk to GOD. It's a bla-bla-bla kinda thing and then I jump up and run on to the day. I have to say that I am exhausted as I jump in each day. I don't want to deal with my kids and I especially do not want to deal with my hubby.

This afternoon I was reading an article in the newsletter from my church. The author was writing about how to spring clean my life. Point number one, "Seek GOD early in the morning."

I kept reading but GOD interrupted my thoughts. HE said, "Do you know why you don't want to get up?" I immediately knew what HE was referring too. There is a sin I struggle with. At times I think I have it beat and yet it finds its way in. I just give in to it so easily.

Well, HE dealt with it last week and I had to confess it to someone who I was hurting with it. I thought that was it I thought it was all over. Yet it has been hard to not be tempted and give in to the temptation. HE still has protected me from crossing the edge but "it" is still on my mind.

HE said, "You have not confessed it to ME. You get up every day and you don't want to face the morning because you don't know how to face ME. You feel to guilty and you don't know how to ask ME to forgive you and let it go."

Then HE said something that washed all the anxiety out of my spirit. HE said, "Why don't we take care of this right now so you can face tomorrow?"

What peace. And I haven't even gotten down on my knees yet.

LORD, I want to face tomorrow. I want to face it with YOU. I want to sit at YOUR feet in the morning and dwell in your Holy place.

Look Up

2009-04-15T11:16:00.000-07:00

This was in my e-mail today and I liked the message. Thought I'd share it with you.

THE BUZZARD:

If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

THE BAT:

The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully,until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

THE BUMBLEBEE:

A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

PEOPLE:

In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up! That's the answer, the escape route and the solutionto any problem! Just look up.

Sorrow looks back,
Worry looks around,
But faith looks up!

GOD'S little treat

2009-04-01T16:13:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, when I was getting dressed I noticed that my wedding ring was not where it was supposed to be on my dresser. I checked my pockets from the day before and didn't find it. I looked in all the rooms. By this time I began to get worried. I prayed that GOD would clear my mind and remind me where it was.

Then I continued on with my day. I didn't worry. HE would cause it to show up. And show up it did. Today I stuck my hands in my pocket and felt it. The weird thing is that I got these pants out after the ring was missing.

I had even checked the pockets of these absentmindedly as I continued to search at different times during the day. So in complete faith that HE would give it back to me I wasn't even searching anymore. I just reached in my pocket because something felt different.

A little piece of Heaven

2009-04-01T09:39:00.000-07:00

I was just going to post this song but found the devotional with it. So enjoy the word and be encouraged.

I wanted this song to explain something I have been thinking about today. I had posted as my Facebook status a while back some of the lyrics as I remembered them. They are right from scripture. He mentions it in the devotional. "There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears"

My friend asked if I really believed that. That question has had me thinking about my hope for a while.

Sunday we had a guest speaker. He made a great point at the end of his message. "Be a little bit of Heaven here on earth."

So how do these correlate?

I have pain. I have hardships. But I never feel lost. My GOD takes the pain. HE lifts the hardships. I do cry. I do hurt. But I know that HE carries it all. I don't have to live in the pain or dwell in the hardship. Life is short and eternity is forever. These pains and burdens will not be carried with me forever. Just joy.

I can be a little piece of Heaven by not being crushed by the pain. I can live in hope, through the pain. And when others see the joy in me maybe they will be encouraged. My piece of Heaven I want to share is this unmistakable hope.

Update from the Burketts

2009-03-17T05:24:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends and Family,

We finally made it back home. After 6 different airports, 5 different planes, 3 meals on an overseas flight, 2 different continents, and 1 long day - we finally made it home. There is never an easy way to travel it seems but we made it, our luggage made it and we are now in our own beds at night.

Thank you for praying. When we arrived at our home Saturday night, we were welcomed with the smell of freshly baked M&M cookies, a very clean house, and little presents on each of our beds. Thanks to both Sophia, our short-term missionary who has become a part of our family, and Susanna, another of our team members. What a blessing these two young women have been!

Of course, we were also greeted with so many memories of Andrew. Step by step, we continue to walk with our Lord and Savior. Thank you for your continued prayers. We will continue to let you know how we are doing. In the meantime though, there are a couple of things we just continue to ask you to pray for…

· Most importantly, tomorrow, our neighbor Natasha wants to come over for tea. She called me today asking when we got home and why we didn’t call. Natasha has been in a Bible study that I led a few years ago. She is an unbeliever and she wants to come over and talk tomorrow. Please pray for her salvation.

· Secondly, when the doctors were fighting for Andrew’s life, the night he died, we were praying outside the ambulance that God’s will would be done, whether that meant Andrew would get better, or go home to be with his Savior. When we went to church yesterday, we learned about the salvation of one of Andrew’s friends. Volvo, a 15-year-old boy who comes with his mother to our small group, came to know Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.

We are reminded of what Jesus says…

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies,
it remains by itself alone;
but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
He who loves his life loses it;
and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.”

John 12:24-25

Thank you for your continued love and prayers for our family!

In His Loving Care,
Herb, Kim, Josh, Ashley, and Jacob
Serving with SEND International
Lutsk, Ukraine

My Attitude

2009-03-11T06:57:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been saying some really dumb things to my friends. I have taken my fear of being worthless and allowed it to control me in a negative way. I have been REALLY rude to some of my friends who are parents. Saying things like, "I would just do it this way." Like I am some parental expert.

I just blurt out what I think before I know if it is even appropriate. I expect that since I do things some certain way it must be right. I meet new people and assume that I have something to teach them. I rarely look at people hoping to learn from them.

I have always felt really uncomfortable around people who think they are better than me. I have no respect for someone who pushed their way on me.

Yet, after something I said last night to a friend, I began to realize that my attitude of superiority has become to ingrained in my personality, and that I have accepted it as who I am and people just have to like me for me. Right?

Absolutely not. This morning GOD showed me a mental picture of my heart. HE was talking about my spiritual heart but it looked like a real heart and a surgeon was pulling a black gunky tumor out of it. It was disgusting.

GOD told me that my center has been on HIM. Many things about my heart were functioning properly, but there was this tumor that was growing and it was threatening my ability to function. It was this angry part of my personality. Gross and sticky, attaching itself to my center focus and causing me to expect things for myself that are not GOD centered.

Like expecting that everyone would like me. Or acting like what I have to offer others is more important than who they are. A friend hit it on the head this week when she told me that I am hard to take sometimes.

Well, I continue to recognize this is a wrong attitude and I will not guarantee that I am cured of this. You know that when a tumor is removed there is always a possibility that they didn't get it all and that what is left may grow again into another tumor. But I have continued to ask GOD to work in me to change me to the women of peace and kindness.

Also, I need to apologize to those who I have offended. I am so sorry to act like I am so important. You are amazing people. I am encouraged by your stories and your daily activities. I love you dear friends.

The curse of the yellow finger

2009-02-23T14:26:00.000-08:00

So if you know me very well you would probably agree that I am not the most graceful person you have ever met. I tend to get injuries in the strangest ways. And strange things happen to me.

Like when I was a teen I sneezed and strained my ribcage. It hurt so bad I thought I was having a heart attack. Or my first week at a new job I had never worked with file cabinets before and didn't know what would happen if all the drawers were open at the same time. I figured it out real quick as it was falling on me. My new boss walked in about 30 minutes later to find me on top of the cabinet reaching for a cube of note paper that had fallen down behind and was keeping the cabinet from standing upright. He is such a great boss he let me keep my job.

N-E-Wayz, it has been a while since my last real injuries so it probably was due. On Saturday we wanted to take the kids bowling for the first time just us as a family before hubby went out of town for the week. Before we left I managed to very ungracefully smash my middle finger on the wall. I knew it was sprained and would swell so I got an ice pack and we went to the bowling alley. I didn't want to be left out so I bowled a few frames and then gave the rest to the kids. I think that hurt the finger even more.

When we got home I just wanted it to not bend. Which is a hard thing to do when you use it all the time and it happens to be my right hand. So hubby and I found one of those little wooden spoons that come with an ice cream cup and taped that to my finger. By last night the swelling was so bad it was just as painful as the joint pain. I decided to look up a remedy in my nutrition book.

I found a few and decided on one that looked easy and I had on hand.

Make a past out of Turmeric and water and put it on the affected area. Cover it with gauze.
I did this and guess what happened? This morning I took the gauze off and found a very yellow finger. The swelling was way down and the pain with it. But oh it looked like I had taken a yellow marker and colored my finger. Not to mention it is "That" finger. So today when I have been out I have worn gloves. I hope this wears off soon.

The Burketts in the Ukrain

2009-02-10T05:51:00.000-08:00

Andrew is on the bottom wearing the Lions sweatshirt.

When you find out that you are going to have children you begin to look at life differently. You begin to think about where you live and where you want to live to raise your children. You think of things like the right school for them, will you have access to good medical care, and your financial state, can you provide all of the extra stuff for them?

One family has been the definition of dying to self for me. They lived out JESUS' words in

Matthew 10:37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.

They were living the American dream. They had a good job a nice home and 4 beautiful children. Then in 2000 they announced that they would be leaving for the mission field. I was so excited for them. What a great responsibility for them to take such a large family and make such a huge change. They sold their stuff, gave away their pets, and moved to the Ukraine.

They had such a joyful spirit as they learned about their new task. The kids jumped right in and learned the new language and loved learning about the culture.

They knew of the corruption of the country right from the start as they bought their house with cash. They couldn't trust any banks or "mortgage" company with this transaction. So they sent their oldest son and the father to get the 10's of thousands of dollars. The son who was like 10 or 12 years old carried the money on the train ride back in a paper sack. Because that was less suspicious to those who would steal.

Another corruption was in the medical field. To get good grades in college a student has to give the best bribe. So someone who is completely incapable of passing the course could if they had the finances. People have said that since freedom has come it has been scary to go to the doctors because you never know if they just bought their diploma or earned it.

And this is exactly what the Burketts were dealing with as they planted hope and churches for these hopeless people.

I got an e-mail last night that said the second oldest a son named Andrew had pneumonia in two lungs and needed to be transported to a hospital in Germany for the care he needed. I started to search to see if anyone had an update and found Kim's FaceBook page full of messages of condolences. I cried. And I have had a hard time not crying all day.

This is the message I received from Kim this morning:

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From whence shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121

Many of you may have already heard, last night, our precious Andrew went home to be with his Savior. This all happened so quickly, we are waiting to wake up from this horrible nightmare…but that will not be the case.

We thought Andrew had a bad case of the flu which has been going around. When we took him to the clinic yesterday morning, the doctor immediately began to treat him. Just before we were getting ready to leave, Andrew began coughing up blood. The doctor ordered an x-ray at a local hospital. To make a long story short, everything happened so quickly, as he was being transferred to a different hospital, his heart stopped. The doctors did what they could with the equipment they had. Now he is resting in the arms of our Heavenly Father.

Please continue to hold our family up in prayer. Our kids are doing okay – I think we are all in shock still. And we thank you for all your prayers on our behalf. We love each and every one of you.

In His arms we rest,
Herb and Kim

Andrew was my favorite kid to babysit. I was a horrible babysitter. But for some reason I took a liking to this sweet little boy. My only real memory is of me getting him ready for bed I changed his diaper and noticed how really chubby he was. Then I read him a story in a rocking chair in their upstairs bedroom and put him down to bed. I remember him crying and falling asleep as I sang "JESUS Loves Me," and some other songs. I remember thinking that I just might be okay having a boy of my own someday if he was as sweet as this.

Then I had my son so many years later. I hadn't known in advance what the gender was and when he was born they had to rush him to NICU. When I saw him the next day I had to pick a name and I looked as his sweet face and remembered little Andrew Burkett and said, "He looks like an Andy." My hubby agreed. As my Andy grew he got soooo chubby. Again a reminder of the sweet little boy I had put to bed that night so long ago.

Andrew was 16 years old.

The Burketts are trying to get back here to the states for the funeral this week. We are praying for all of the plans to go smoothly and for GOD'S peace to follow them as they embark on this never expected journey.

The mission

2009-02-02T06:51:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite things is read stories from history. Especially Christian history. I have always been inspired by Elizabeth Elliot's book, "Through Gates of Splendor," and my favorite, Corrie Ten Booms, "The Hiding Place." I don't get that much time to read anymore, so I have resolved to choose one book other than the Bible and read it through. It takes me longer than it used to but I read when I have a minute here or when the HOLY SPIRIT prompts me to.

I have been reading, "Inspiring Women of the Faith." It looked like a good choice because it had 4 stories in it and it wasn't huge. I knew I could get a brief summery of these women's lives. It started with Sojourner Truth, then Florence Nightingale, Amy Carmichael, and lastly is Corrie Ten Boom.

I have completed the first three and through it all one question continues to follow me through each day. What is my mission? Each one of these women devoted their life to a certain mission knowing that it was what GOD had called them too.

I am no longer satisfied with the simple answer, "I am here to do GOD'S will." I want to know what HIS will is.

These women put all of their resources into the mission HE gave them. They didn't think of their own comfort. They felt guilt over the times when their physical needs caused them to have to rest. They didn't contemplate what would give them the most joy. They just had joy in all circumstances.

What is my mission? I continue to ask. This morning when I was praying HE said, "You are called to help the hurting heart." I've heard that answer from HIM before. I just thought that I had to have a formal organization of the mission. HE said that HE is the formal organization. HE prompts when we are to use our resources to help the hurting. HE also supplies our needs when the tasks require more than we have.

I promise that I will not continue to be satisfied with this, however. I see if I am to get comfortable I will stop being effective. I do not want to get lukewarm. I want to be on fire.

Reading through the Bible

2009-01-27T03:33:00.001-08:00

I have never done one of these read the Bible in one year things, but I was talking to my dad whom I don't talk to often, and he said he was doing this one online. I decided to do this with him. I have read the Bible through before just not in one year.

I am still doing my study to find the attributes of GOD for confessions of worship. So this will be a great way to really find them all. I will be going through the whole Bible. I have found that this makes the One Year a bit less more daunting. I have a purpose for reading it. Not just to say that I have.

I like how this site is set up. Once you click on the scripture for the day it takes you to BibleGateway.com where the scripture is in the American Standard Version. You can change the version to the one you like and when you go back to the chart the one you have clicked on is cross off. That is kinda fun. It helps me to remember where I need to catch up.

Enjoy http://www.ewordtoday.com/year/8/cjan01.htm

2009-01-26T07:03:00.000-08:00

I know that I have been pretty sloppy when it comes to blogging. I have been feeling pretty bad about it so I really wanted to work on this again.

Keeping Kids Warm

2009-01-26T06:58:00.000-08:00

GOD gave me an idea this morning. When I went shopping yesterday I found that Meijer had winter wear for kids 75% off. I bought a two layer winter coat for DS for $14.99. They also had another coat for boys that was $9.99. Then they have girls snowpant with coat for $14.99. Great prices. They also have infant ware.

GOD said that we should buy a few from our tithe money and give it to Salvation Army or Lansing City Rescue Mission. There is also a place called Lansing Christian Services that organizes church and outreach orginazations in the Lansing area to better serve the needs of Lansing. They have the resources to know where the greatest needs are.

Could you help? I know that JCPenny and Sears are also clearencing their winter ware. If you could spare just one coat that would be helpful. If you want bring them to Trinity Church on Thursday the 29th from 6-9. I will be there with my craft group. I will then deliver them to Christian Services.

Please Vote

2009-01-15T08:40:00.000-08:00

Will NBC be surprised? (NOT A JOKE)

Here's your chance to let the media know where the people stand on our faith in God, as a nation.. NBC is taking a poll on "In God We Trust" to stay on our American currency. Poll is still open so you can vote.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10103521/

Lansing State Journal Article

2008-12-30T07:54:00.000-08:00

Check out this article in the LSJ from yesterday. http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20081229/NEWS01/812290321/1001/NEWS

DH was indirectly mentioned when they talked about the car ministry. He was like, "Oh man, this is publicity. Wonder how it will change things." Will he be getting a lot more calls or will more people start coming to Trinity because of the Car ministry? He had a mixture of excitement and also worry. Excited that people would know they could donate their cars and that more people could be helped and worry that more people would use him instead of just getting help from the church.

But even the worry wasn't that bad because he is confident that anyone that is sent our way will need GOD'S help and if we are allowed to work in it than great.

Great recipes from this holiday season

2008-12-29T14:12:00.000-08:00

I love recipe sharing so I hope you will join me in sharing your great recipes for the celebrations you were involved in this year.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I made this recipe for the first time this year and it looked great and tasted even better.

Stuffed Mushrooms
4 oz cream cheese softened
2 oz crumbled feta
2 green onions chopped
8 oz mushrooms (whole)Shreaded mozzarella

Remove stems from mushrooms. Combine cream cheese, feta, and onions. Place mushrooms top side down in a glass baking dish. Stuff with cheese mixture. Top with shreaded cheese. Bake in a 350 oven for approx 20 minutes or util cheese is browned. Serve warm.
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I take the cheese mixture and put it in a sturdy zip bag. I then clip a tip off of the bottom of the bag and use it to "pipe" in the cheese. This is a whole lot faster then trying to scoop the sticky stuff into the mushrooms. I also had enough cheese mix to fill 3 packages of 8 oz mushrooms. Also cut some fresh lemon and use it to squeeze over your mushrooms. It gives it a fresh zing. Lovely.

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Veggi Cream Cheese Pizza
1 Can 7-10oz refrigerated crescent rolls
1 package 8oz cream cheese,
1/2 package 1 oz size ranch dressing mix
1 cup sour cream
fresh vegetables of choice

Unroll crecent rolls and carefull press into a 12 to 14 inch pizza pan. Bake at 375 for 11-14 minutes or until golden brown. Cool. Soften cream cheese and beat until smooth. Stir in dressing mix and sour cream - adding more or less dressing mix, as desired, for taste. Spread cream cheese mixture over crust.Wash and prepare vegetables. Cut or break into bite-size pieces and arrange over pizza. Cut and enjoy.

*Use any fresh vegetable - such as cucumber, tomatoes, radishes, green pepper, summer squash, broccoli, green onion, etc. Use your imagination.Serves 6-8.

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I used a mixture of yellow orange and red peppers, green onion mostly the tops only, broccoli, tomato, and mushrooms. It was delish. I used 2 cans of rolls and pressed them into a large cookie sheet. I did not double the cream cheese mixture and I only used 1/2 cup sour cream. I would sprinkle the ranch dressing and taste it before you add more. Different brands have different strength of flavor. I then cut them into appetizor sizes and plated them. They looked so bright and fresh, and the taste was great.

Soper Christmas Letter

2008-12-27T08:47:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends and Family,

This year has been filled with blessings.

Mike has again been blessed in his career. This fall he heard about openings at the State of Michigan in the Avionics department of MDOT. He applied. In just a few weeks we became government employees. He accepted the position with the state, and we are enjoying the fact that he will be on days. He will have some overnight travels with this job but we can manage that much better than having to be quite during the day with a growing family.

Speaking of growing, Abby started Kindergarten this year. We had her enrolled at Haslett and were all ready to go when GOD showed us HIS plan. We were offered a scholarship to a Christian school in DeWitt just two weeks before school started. We love it. The curriculum is amazing, and Abby is doing great. She also loves playing with her siblings. She loves to make Annabelle laugh and to let Annabelle make her laugh. She is very good about her chores and is in charge of feeding the kitty. She loves that because he will let her pick him up now. She is very good about standing up for what is right and true. She will tell me that a kid at school was being teased, “So I decided… (to play with the them)”.

Andy is all over the place as boys should be. He has a wonderful helpful spirit. I just need to be able to show him what is helpful. Unrolling the toilet paper so we don’t have to is not as helpful as he thinks (From the Curious George Movie). He loves to help in the kitchen and also Abby with her chores. He likes to make Annabelle laugh and he knows that is helpful. He is also an encourager. He cheers for us when we do something difficult. Like opening the canned food, he always says, “You can do it Mama!” Or when his sisters are doing something he will jump up and down for them and cheer.

Annabelle has really come a long way since last year. She is not walking yet but we are hopeful. She loves to make us laugh and she loves to laugh with us even if she has no idea what is going on. I have heard her laugh from her crib when she hears us laughing in the living room. So great, it is an amazing difference from the depression she developed after the fire last year. She is also getting more comfortable with other people. We can even leave her in the nursery at church. At this moment she is pretending to be blind. She has her eyes closed tight and is crusing back and forth next to me. So funny. She is waiting for me to laugh. When I do she laughs and gives me a big hug. What great personalities GOD has brought to this family.

HE has also been working on the “personality” of this marriage. We have grown so much. We are both so much stronger and more alert to the ministries HE lays in our paths.

Mike is now the head of the car ministry at church and we have the opportunity to help those who have needs in the automotive area. We helped some Christian refugees from Iraq buy cars for their families. It was wonderful to be able to support someone who risked it all for CHRIST. We are hopeful that this year will continue to bring more opportunities like these our way. We have been blessed with so much we are so ready to pay it forward.

We are reminded as we reflect over the past year that friends and family are one of life’s biggest blessings. We are so grateful for all of our friends; new and those who have been with us for many years, and for our families who grow and change all the time.

We pray that this year will bring joy. We pray for those close to us who have lost jobs to find new and better ones, those who have lost loved ones to have comfort, those who are stressed to find rest. We love you all and are here for you if you have need.

LOVE,
The Soper Family

Change

2008-12-17T11:06:00.000-08:00

There is an organization that is going to bring the top ten ideas of change sent in through this website to President Elect Obama on Inauguration day.

Go to www.Change.org click on Ideas on their top tool bar and scroll down. Near the bottom there is a section on the right side of the page where you can search ideas by category.
I searched through for homeschool ideas and only found this one. http://www.change.org/ideas/view/recognize_homeschoolers_and_provide_finacial_help
But you can also submit an idea and what a great way to get your rights as a homeschooler heard then by this.

You homeschoolers have such a great network already I am sure you could post something and then pass the link around to get as many votes as possible. I would vote for you too even though I am not currently a homeschooler.

I was really looking for ideas for parental rights. I only found ones for the UN Rights of a Child Convention. I am not supporting that.

The Truth

2008-12-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

DO NOT STOP THE VIDEO. WATCH ALL THE WAY TO THE END.

Great Shopping trip

2008-12-08T18:58:00.000-08:00

So today I decided to stop at Goodwill. I have been wanting to get A2 some sweaters. I spent $30 on all this stuff.

1 dress shirt for A2
1 tee shirt for A2
4 sweaters for A2
2 jeans for A3
3 jeans for A1
1 blouse for me
A bread basket that I got for $0.29
An unused dress pattern for $0.39
LOVE IT!!!

Ducks in a row

2008-11-30T04:07:00.000-08:00

As Christians we are constantly on a journey of growth. It says that Philippians 1:6 (NIV) being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. We have been given the illustration of the paths that we walk. You know the narrow and wide paths.

Well, GOD has taken me aside on a path alone to learn. I can see in the distance my friends and hear them on the other path. HE has me taking quite time learning just with HIM. HE is working in me in so many ways. I love that we are so much deeper than being able to just say, "I am struggling with such-and-such." I love that HE deals with the first layer of sin and then goes deeper and pulls out the embedded sins that we may just feel are a part of our personality. Sometimes not even what we would identify as sin.

HE showed me here that I have been doing things backward. HE gave me a cute illustration. Just like a good teacher would HE uses things that I can relate to, and also HE uses things that make me giggle.

When you go into a kindergarten room you don't see black block letters on white paper but you see cute little animals to teach the letters. The Ape the Bee with the fat little butt and tiny cute stinger. Well, HE showed me a row of rubber duckies. On the first and largest was labeled GOD, then me, then GOD'S work. HE said that I have been lugging the third duck around behind me. I am forcing it to stay in it's place. HE said that it should be HIM, HIS work, me.

I have been making work up saying it is HIS. I am supposed to be seeking HIM and HIS work will be a joyous task that I can participate in. HE has a plan. I have to stop messing with it by glorifying myself and displaying my sandwich board that tells everyone all my work.

HE is GOD I am so glad to do HIS work.

Note from missionaries in the Ukrain

2008-11-27T18:49:00.000-08:00

One of the things we really enjoy about Ukrainian weddings is the fact that weddings are part of the church service. Church began at the normal time, but oh, there was such an atmosphere of anticipation as we waited for the bride and bridegroom to arrive. Then, the sound of a car horn could be heard way off in the distance. The horn became louder and more persistent … they were on their way! Finally, the sound of the horn arrived and we waited for the couple to come upstairs into the hall.

Oh, I could not help but think of the wedding to come when Jesus, the bridegroom, comes for His bride, the church. Instead of car horns blowing, we wait for the trumpets to sound and then, as 1 Thessalonians says, we will be caught up with Him in the sky. Oh, what a day that will be, when our Savior returns for His bride. Do I anticipate His return as I anticipated the bride and bridegroom arriving today?

Believe in your rights as citizens of the US.

2008-11-22T11:52:00.000-08:00

Watch this video. Stand up for your rights as an American citizen.

2008-11-20T18:20:00.000-08:00

http://www.adventconspiracy.org/

What's going on here?

2008-11-20T18:03:00.000-08:00

Well, we have been so busy around here that I haven't put much time in on the blog thing. Sorry.

DH is really getting involved in the car ministry at church. I am so proud of him. He handles each call with respect for the person in need. He is caring and kind. What a transformation from just a year ago. We went to visit a friend in the hospital and when we were finished visiting he asked us all to gather around the friend and lay hands on him and pray. I was speechless. Just so excited at his willingness now to see GOD in everyday life. Then "HE" prayed. What a meaningful and sincere prayer. Too many emotions for me to explain. Mostly just so proud to be his wife.

The car ministry is a part of our every day and even more so for him. He has times of wanting it all to stop and just be able to be with his family without other responsibilities. But those times could have been so crushing for all of us and he now is able to work it out without taking his frustration out on the rest of us. He keeps thanking me for my efforts to relive some of the burden. That makes me feel great to know that he notices.

Snow!!!!! Argh! Yes, I know I live in Michigan and it's part of the package. I will just not allow myself to dishonor my dream of living in the warmer weather. It is pretty and all. Just like looking at a postcard. And I wish that was how I was enjoying it. But no I am helping all the doofes' who slide through the intersection into my yard. I am going to have to start charging for that. Even if I don't help. I will just put a sign out, "If your tires tread in this lawn There will be a fine of $." But then I don't think they will contribute to the coffee can on the honor system for that. Do you? Then I would just have to sit out there like a beggar with my tin can and that would be colder than helping out. At least I am getting a good workout.

Enjoy your families for Thanksgiving. Oh yea and the food too. Just not too much.

The Truth

2008-11-19T18:01:00.000-08:00

2008-11-18T20:42:00.000-08:00

2008-11-04T04:09:00.001-08:00

Today as we remember to pray for our country remember that it is the people you are standing in line with who are making the key decisions. So remember to pray while you wait in line. Pray for our nation. Also pray for anyone who will pass through the door of that polling place that GOD will move in their hearts to make choices that follow along with HIS Biblical truths. Pray for the hearts of those people to see GOD through this process with whatever the outcome. Pray for a revival of the lives that will come in contact with that specific polling location. Claim that location for GOD. (Mine is in a church so I have a bit of an adventage.)
Enjoy your GOD today.

GOD is with us

2008-11-04T03:49:00.000-08:00

Psalm 46 KJV

1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

4There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

5God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

6The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

7The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

8Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

9He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

10Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

11The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

8 Come and see the works of the LORD,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields with fire.

10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Homesteading

2008-10-28T07:15:00.000-07:00

I'm getting the itch to homestead.
http://www.youtube.com/lehmanshardware

Politics

2008-10-21T14:54:00.001-07:00

I think that I am just a bit un-educated on the matter. It is of course my own fault. I just don't take the time to research all the the proposals and candidates. But here is what I think on the matter of the Presidential race.

On one side we have a candidate who will, just by winning, increase the morale of the country. I believe that the economic standing will improve for a time. I think that this will happen because congress does not want to be blamed for the economic crisis. They are so bent on blaming the economic state on the current administration. Even though they have not been able to do anything since they were able to gain control 4 years ago.

His record shows voting in a radically Pro-Choice way. He voted against anything that would define life at conception. He also voted against tax breaks for those paying for their own health insurance. Can you say, "Small business owners?" There are a few other areas that he voted against the favor of the taxpaying American. So like I said before economic moral would be boosted for a time. Until they see how he really operates. Until they see their tax returns the first time.

I do also believe that if this candidate wins the election our moral beliefs will be at risk. Religious freedoms will be tightened. Parental rights will be invaded and then re-defined to their ideas. Thus, our children will be at risk.

On the other hand we have a candidate who is pretty old. I know some of you don't think that is an issue, but when I watch him I see a man who is very uncomfortable in his skin. I feel like he is someone trying to be younger than he actually feels. I think that when this is all over he will have some down time and then he will notice how much of a stress to his system this has been.

I believe that if he were to win that the economic state would deteriorate quickly. The upset with the current president and the success at the blame game will convince the country that we are in for more disappointment. It will be a hard economic blow. He will also not be able to get much done with all the opposition surrounding him.

His record on the moral issues are more along my beliefs and I am encouraged by that. I tend to vote based on my moral beliefs. But what if that is not all there is this time around?

I will end with this. No matter who wins, this is again a call to the Body of CHRIST. If the latter wins then we have some more "borrowed" time to bring revival, strengthen the Body, and prepare the hearts of those around us to enter into troubled times. If the former wins then we have to be ready to fight for our beliefs. We have to start living out loud no matter who wins, however. So get up off your computer chair and get down on your knees. Pray.

Pray for the election. Pray that we would walk in GOD'S will for the future of this country. Pray that you would have the opportunity to strengthen the Body around you. Pray that no matter what happens in the coming months you will be able to say that "...in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11. Pray that your life will be a witness to the Glory of GOD.

Vaccines and Autism

2008-10-20T10:50:00.000-07:00

Please read this article. I still vaccinate the kids as GOD has told me that HE wants me to do it. I know that some of you may not understand that, but let me put it this way. What is wrong for you may not be wrong for me. GOD has actually told me to continue and HE will protect us from harm from the possible side effects. And it really doesn't matter to me what happens HE will be glorified no matter what. But I have always felt uneasy about vaccinations. This article makes some good points.

http://www.parentalrights.org/blog/parents/vaccines-autism-and-parents?utm_source=ParentalRights.org+Newsletter&utm_campaign=4a153121a0-Vaccines_Autism_Parent_Oct_2008&utm_medium=email#more-97

By the way I will not be getting Gardasil for the girls.

Family Update

2008-10-15T18:56:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy on Facebook that I am not sure what I have posted here. So I will give an update.

DD1 Started Kindergarten. She is really liking it. Last week I was up sick all night and so was DS. I decided that I shouldn't drive her to school and kept her home. She was disappointed. She told me that they have so much fun learning and she didn't want to miss it. Awww.

DS has continued to be a little health issue. He will be an adventure in that area. We have to be careful playing outside and be sure to have his nebulizer (sp?) at all times. He is getting better when it comes to some of his allergies though. Some baked goods with milk in them are all right.

He is a sweetie. He says some of the funniest things. He told me that he chose who he was going to marry, and it wasn't me this time so I asked him, "what about me?" He said, "Hey, maybe I could marry you and her and that would be a good idea." I love watching him put thoughts together.

DD2 is getting around so well. She is a very cute crawler and now she is pulling up on almost anything. She is so funny. She has great comedic timing. She will sit and look over your shoulder and then suddenly grab your nose and laugh. She waits for you to be unsuspecting. I love it.

My DH heard about a job at the state and applied. Then we forgot about it. About two weeks later we got a letter in the mail from the FAA. They were looking at a position here at the airport for an avionics technician. They were asking him to send in his resume. Then the next day he got a call from the state for an interview. That was the job he applied for two weeks earlier. He went to that one and then a second interview. We were offered a job with them. It is only 500 feet from where he is now.

We will be taking a pay cut, but I am confident that if GOD handed him this job then this is were we are supposed to be, so HE will provide. We have never been without for too long. HE always pays the bill before anything bad happens.

GOD has also been getting me organized. I am working with a weekly menu and only buying the items we don't currently have to make those meals. It really saves at the store. I just have to be very disciplined not to buy just because it is on sale. I may already have enough to get us through to the next sale.

And I have to stop buying just because I am craving it. GOD is helping me with my diet and I am eating less and now trying to really cut back on the white refined junk. That is actually cheaper. Baked potato is filling and healthy. Better than a pizza. You can top it with almost anything. I had baked beans and potato and it was pretty good. Just some things HE is helping me with.

New job starts next week and the new insurance will start right away. Which is unusual but awesome.

Great times.

Mission

2008-10-14T19:04:00.000-07:00

I had a conversation a while back that has stayed with me. We were talking about our calling and how each of us has been called to minister in a different way.

One friend said that she was called to network women. Another said she was to help those who were broke, financially. I thought about my calling. I have been thinking about it since.

I feel the deepest sympathy for those who are hurting. Mostly emotional. I do have friends who have physical pain, yet I am still more interested in how they handle that emotionally.

In the last few weeks I have been presented with some very difficult pain. I desperately hurt for these people. Even to the point of asking GOD to take it from them and give it to me, because I know that I could handle it with HIM. Broken hearts hurt me. I just want HIM to fix it. I don't want them to be in pain.

But then they finish telling me their story and I am left hurting for them and they walk away. Many never return to update their experience with me. Some get annoyed if I call to check in. One is jealous of my life and asks what she is doing wrong and when I say that we should pray for GOD to help she gets mad and says I am just too religious for her. This being said on the way out of church on Sunday.

I asked GOD why am I just here to hear and hurt and never able to help guide them to HIM. HE said, "Kellie, you are looking to be their saviour. That is not what you are called to do. I am. Just be there and pray."

HE has kept a theme ringing clear for me lately. It is that I cannot influence change in them. HE keeps pointing out things that I cannot change, but HE can. I just need to pray for those things to be changed in them.

I did that for my hubby. It took almost 4 years before that changed but oh what a difference. GOD says, "Don't give up on the prayer. Find someone who can pray in agreement with you on that. And keep coming to ME. Also, keep being available for your calling. A calling to listen and pray and hurt."

P.S. I was also encouraged by the women who had this conversation with me. They are great at their calling. What beautiful examples they are for me. Thank you ladies.

Caterpillars on the road

2008-10-14T18:49:00.000-07:00

They're everywhere. Those cute little black and orange fuzzy ones. I try to miss them, but when you are going 70 miles an hour down the freeway you don't dodge for caterpillars. Many times I am amazed at how far they have come based on their direction and what lane they are currently in. But I don't want to get into that.

This morning GOD said, "Why do you try to miss them?" I answered that I didn't want to be the one responsible for their demise. HE pointed out that even if I missed them the car that was behind me probably wouldn't. I said, "I know, but at least it wouldn't be my fault."

HE said, "Then what have you accomplished if at the end of the day they are just a streak of slime? (Not quite HIS words but you get the idea) Why wouldn't you get out and move them off the road?"

HE always asks me questions. I love it.

Then HE said, "There are people hurting and you are just trying to take care of the immediate danger but you aren't helping them off the road. You aren't being radical." (As Wally taught at church a couple of weeks ago. Get the tape it was great)

Oh.

Fireproof

2008-10-06T20:34:00.001-07:00

DH and I went out on a date Saturday and saw Fireproof. It was so hard at times to not cry.

Actually, I do not usually cry at movies. Like at Titanic everyone around me was crying at the end, I looked over at my date and said, "Did I miss something?" He responded (all choked up mind you), "It's so beautiful." I had to hold back the laughter. Not very successfully.

I have to say that this one had me drying my face just to start all over again. There was so much in the movie that related to my marriage. I heard arguments we have had, thoughts I have had, accusation that were so true but didn't want to admit, and the wounds are still a bit sore for me.

I am learning that the life of fear that I have been living has been the biggest hindrance for the healing that has been slow.

I would love to tell you that I am all over the fear and that we are growing by leaps and bounds. That just isn't so. But we are moving at a better pace now that I am facing the fear and kicking it in the ...

Fireproof was a good movie. I am not sure how many non-believers would come, but I would encourage you to go just to send a message that movies like that are appreciated by the masses. We want more of the clean entertainment.

Facebook II

2008-10-06T20:31:00.000-07:00

I have been enjoying facebook so much that I tend to not come here anymore. But I have to say this was my first love and I intend to continue my life journey on here. I am just hoping that somehow my journey posted here will relate to someone and help them grow closer to the wonderful FATHER.

Charlotte's Web

2008-10-06T07:13:00.001-07:00

In the story a spider tries to save her pig friend by making a web that has messages in it. The silly part of the story is that the people read the messages like "Some Pig" and then they think of the pig as being great. They don't really mention the spider who wrote the messages.

GOD told me that I need to be like Charlotte. I need to be selfless and give glory and honor to HIM and make sure I am not looking for the glory myself. Just use the gifts HE has given me to send the message HE wants out.

It is not about me or even what I can do it is just about GOD and the work HE wants done. If I can be a part of some of it then great, but I have to work on my pride. I have to let go of the idea that it wouldn't be done without me.

I have to live shouting HIS glory so that others can see how much they need HIM.

Prayer Request

2008-10-05T18:10:00.000-07:00

For security reasons I don't always like to use names, but I have a prayer request and it helps me to know what the name of the person I am praying for is. Please pray for a friend of ours. Her name is Trina. She just found out that she has breast cancer and she has surgery tomorrow at 2:45. Thank you.

Faith

2008-10-03T03:22:00.000-07:00

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. -Hebrews 11:1

Faith is the act of living in the future. How can you do that? That seems so unstable. We actually do that on a regular basis. You turn on your stove having faith that it will heat up. If you were to turn it on and then stand their wringing your hands worrying weather it was still working you would be called "Monk." No, (JK) you would be living without faith if in everything that you do you were concerned it wouldn't work. You turn the key and the car starts. You just expect these things to happen. They are the, "substance of things hoped for."

A meal will be on the table. You will get to your destination. You live knowing that when you act the outcome will be what it is supposed to.

Yes, I know that sometimes these things break and when you do them they may, without notice, not work, but do you live under the expectation that they will not? No, you would go crazy like that. If every time you got in your car you expected to be in an accident you would probably not drive for very long. If every time I cook I expect a fire I would start using the microwave. My health and my family's health would suffer from the fear.

The thing about Faith in the CREATOR is that HE will never "break." You can trust in HIS promises. You have faith that when you come to HIM you will have peace.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7

So faith is living without Fear. Secure in the life that GOD wants for you. Faith is waking up knowing that the "things" that were broken yesterday will somehow not harm your life with CHRIST. You can move forward because GOD has it all under control.

I have been so blessed by the life of Paul. He is one of my favorite authors. One thing I am learning is that GOD is developing in me the life described later in Philippians 4.

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. -Philippians 4:11

HE is showing me the contentment of my life and we are working on my speaking that. I should have no want I am blessed by the wonderful life HE has given me.

I didn't wake up every day and whine, "Oh, GOD, I really want a piano, PLEASE give me one, PLEASE." No, actually I just enjoyed the idea of the perfect piano coming my way.

This happened with a swing set one time. I started the summer wanting a swing set with different types of swings. I didn't even petition GOD I just told HIM and family what I would like to have. Then I found a whole set of different kinds of swings in someones trash. I felt so blessed. My FATHER remembered what I had wanted and gave it to me. Just like JESUS says in Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Some things you do need to petition. You need to humble your self before your GOD and have faith that HE will hear you.

The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer. Psalm 6:9

Friends in need, Pray. Your health, Pray. Bring before HIM your life. Maybe not in the way you have ever thought before. You go to friends to catch up and you can go to HIM to do the same. Just take a coffee break with your FATHER.

Have Faith that HE will "receive" your communication. HE will hear you. Do you know why? Because you have Faith.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. -Mark 2:5

My "New" Piano

2008-09-22T04:43:00.000-07:00

I am so excited. I have wanted a piano since we got married. I found it at a yard sale for $200. I hate to be a spontanous shopper. But I always knew if we were to find a console for less than $300 we would get it. WooHoo! It is so beautiful to me. It is old and missing the left pedal. I don't even remember what that pedal is for anyway. Someone scratched "Hi" on the top. But it is wonderful. I will need to get it tuned. I am so "JOYFUL".

Praise GOD. Thank YOU for all of your blessings for this home and family.

Trinity's Craft Group

2008-09-21T19:13:00.000-07:00

This Friday starts a new season for New Creations. I have ambitions of great service.

This Friday we will be making Christmas Cards for our military heroes. I would like to focus on the heroes who are associated with our church. We will be meeting from 6-9 at the church. I haven't been told as of yet which room we will be in but it should be 166 or something near that.

Please note the bulletin board at the south entrance of the atrium, it is dedicated to those of our church family who are serving or have loved ones serving in the armed forces. If you or anyone you know at the church have a loved one who should be on the board please be sure to get a form from the board, fill it out, add a picture and place it back on the board.

We would love to be able to know who they are, and then be able to come around them and their families who are still here. The church has so many opportunities to serve them.

Please join us as we make as many cards as possible. You can also bring your kids. We had a few last year. I would ask that they be at least in 1st grade.

The next few meetings are still to be nailed down. I know what needs to be done. We just need to organize it. We have been asked to help again with the Christmas Journey. This time I hope to have more information to be able to make it flow a bit more efficiently.

Thank you to all who have been able to participate so far.

I hope to see you Friday.

Ten Commandments For Kids

2008-09-21T14:50:00.000-07:00

I found this very helpful website with great ideas on how to teach the Ten Commandments to Children. Here is a link to a project that will help as a visual aid.
http://daniellesplace.com/html/bible_themes_t.html#ten

You can even print out the pattern peices for the train.

Herbs and Spices

2008-09-20T13:54:00.000-07:00

I just found a great website for getting all of your spices at really good prices. Check out
http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/shophome.html
Enjoy.

Homemade Puffy Paint

2008-09-19T07:50:00.001-07:00

Easy and fun to make and watch. Put it in a bag and snip of one tip to squeeze it through. I haven't tried it yet so tell me if this works.

http://emmersideas.blogspot.com/2008/02/homemade-puffy-paint.html

I was pretty "Stinky"

2008-09-15T11:48:00.000-07:00

I have been going through a pretty specific journey. My mentor and I are focusing on my fear. We have asked GOD to reveal to me where I have been fearful. I have just been amazed at how opening myself up for such a specific request has really focused my time with HIM.

Recently I was talking to a friend and I said, "See, you are so much smarter than me." She replied with, "Why do you say things like that?"

I started thinking about that. Why do I say things like that?

Without trying to get a pity party I will to explain. Most of my life I have felt like an outcast. My dad's family didn't like me because I liked my step-father. Kids at church and school treated me badly. Adults at school and church did as well. Then there was my dad. He would call us stupid and embarrass us in front of strangers and call us too trusting. Then I got married. How does the man you fall in love with turn into the worst in your father?

Now, my DH and I have completed counseling and he is a changed man. We continue on the journey to a healthy marriage. But there were 9 years of a very unhealthy relationship.

So why do I say things like the comment I made to my friend. It is out of fear. I wrongly believe that if I put myself down she will feel good and want to be around me. How twisted is that? I also fear that if I don't acknowledge to her that I see my shortcomings then she will think that I am too proud and then she wont like me.

GOD reminded me of the story of Stanley the Stinkbug by Max Lucado. Stanley would let out a stink when he was afraid and he got afraid that others wouldn't like him because he stank. It was a vicious cycle.

I automatically enter a room thinking that I don't belong, that attitude shows in my demeanor and then people shy away from me because of my attitude. I am pretty stinky. I say things just trying to fit in but when I talk I fear that no one will take me seriously and then I can't talk straight.

GOD has been showing me how deep this fear is. One morning as I was getting ready for the day I was thinking about the people I needed to call and also about a situation I needed to go over with my DH. GOD had me stop and look at how I was thinking this over. I was assuming that in each situation I would have to prove my worth. I was fearing that I couldn't just converse. I feared my abilities to preform in the tasks that lay ahead. HE said that I was starting my day assuming that fear was the foundation for each encounter with anyone at all. Wow.

I love this revelation part of the process. Now on to how to counter my deep seeded personality of fear.

First day of school

2008-09-03T18:46:00.000-07:00

DD1 started Kindergarten today. We were so excited. She was offered a scholarship to a Christian Pre and Kindergarten School. We accepted just one week before school was to start in the local public school that she was already enrolled in. Change of plans but I feel so blessed.

On the way out the door.

Proud mama.

What a great looking classroom. So engaging. She just dove in and explored every corner.

Bible study for the kids

2008-09-03T08:04:00.000-07:00

I desire to have my kids really know the Word of GOD. That is one great thing about my school experience. We memorized scripture throughout the school year. Last year Momteacherfriend sent me an alphabet of scriptures. I put them in my scrap booking program and we started memorizing the letter A verse. I never went any farther than that. They have it memorized, but I have wanted to have a Bible study with them. So GOD helped me yesterday to put one together.

I showed them the verse from the fridge and we quoted it together. Then I asked them what it meant. DD1 said it tells us to do nice things. Good answer. So I continued by telling them that the whole Bible is for us to get to know GOD better. It tells us about HIM and tells us how to live like HIM. So each verse has a special meaning.

GOD started this one by telling us to do something. HE said to keep HIS commandments. That means to obey HIS rules. When it says and live GOD said that means to obey every day we are alive. The apple of thine eye? I looked at them kinda silly and said, "Like that's the weirdest thing I've ever heard." Got a little laughter. Apple of thine eye is something to explain how special GOD'S laws are. If you were to touch your eye it wouldn't feel to good, right? Nods. So your eyes are special to you. So we think of GOD'S laws are as special as our eyes.

Next time we will start to learn the 10 commandments. We will memorize them and then do a study of them. I am so excited to start teaching my kids this. WooHoo!

The Looooooooong Weekend UPDATED w/ Pics

2008-09-02T06:41:00.000-07:00

I hope you all had a great holiday. We have been so busy. DD1 starts school tomorrow. We went to my FIL's on Saturday and picked pears. We canned them Sunday. I bought peaches from Save-A-Lot and canned them yesterday. DD1's B-day was Friday and we weren't able to celebrate it until last night.

I also found a stray Jack Russell at the store Saturday night and brought him home until we found the owners yesterday. They were so excited. But we had him long enough for DH to start to get attached. So he is a little sad. We had my SIL come in from Boston on Friday and we picked her up from the airport after I worked on Friday. Then we went out to dinner with her and the restaurant staff sang for DD1 and gave her a huge piece of cake and ice cream. So let me see if I can get this straight.

Friday I worked and picked up SIL and dinner.
Saturday we picked Pears after running errands, canned some, bought peaches, took care of little dog.
Sunday skipped church, canned more pears, B-day party at my moms, canned more pears.
Monday canned peaches, prepared B-day for DD1, found dog owners, bought more peaches, played with kids ('cause sometimes you just have to put all the stuff on hold and read books and play in the pool),

had party with pizza (no cooking yes!), finished peaches. After all the work yesterday I was only able to get one batch of peaches done.

I am so glad we had that holiday it was so productive. And I am really glad it is over. Now I have to finish the peaches and pears. I want to make some jams and freeze some peaches for smoothies. I also got some apples from my FIL's that taste like cider and we are going to try to make our own.

I love this time of year. I just have to remember that I am being productive and not dwell on the piles of laundry or the lack of baths for the kids.

Be salt

2008-09-01T11:16:00.001-07:00

I have heard that term a whole lot throughout my life and just tucked it away as not to important. Just something good to live by. That my actions are to reflect CHRIST. Yep, that is how I am supposed to be.

The other day I was reading a little book that my grandmother had had in her library. It is called, "Three to Win" by James E. Adams. Here are some excerpts from a section called Worth your salt.

"JESUS said: 'Ye are the salt of the earth' (Matthew 5:13).

"Salt creates thirst.

"Salt melts ice. The hearts of many are cold and hard, either from sin or from the vicissitudes of life. Love, mercy, and compassion can melt the coldest and hardest.

"Salt flavors. Even cakes and pies taste flat if no salt is added.

"Included in a Roman soldier's pay was an amount to buy his own salt. From this custom came the expression 'He's worth his salt.' In fact, the word salary is derived from the Latin term for salt. GOD grant that in eternity we will receive pay - or rather, reward - for the effect we have had on the hearts and lives of others."

I thought what a good thing to meditate on for a while. How am I fully being salt.

Do others see my life and does it generate in them a thirst for a relationship with CHRIST?

Does my love and compassion for those around me melt away their perception of GOD?

Do I convey that my relationship with HIM is anything but boring?

Will I be worthy of reward in Heaven?

Blessings

2008-08-28T18:20:00.000-07:00

I am sitting here on a late summer evening listening to the fireworks at the stadium. I love being able to leave the windows open all night and get all the fresh air.

I have been thinking about something on and off. I have always been told about the principle of giving. What you give to GOD HE will return. Some even say that HE gives back more than you gave. I had always thought of it in a monetary sense, but HE keeps giving me examples to show me that I can never put HIM in a box. HE is never able to be limited to our understanding.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. -Isaiah 55:8

I love how GOD always reaches us at our understanding. HE helped me learn this principle in a really real way.

DH has been working with our church's car ministry. They take in donated cars fix them up and give them to someone who needs it. They also help those who can't afford it, to fix their cars. After a few months we started to be blessed with vehicles. My FIL sold us a car that was in really good condition and then gave us most of the money, we paid, back. My DH's uncle had a suburban and is unable to drive anymore so he gave it to us. It is a beautiful vehicle.

We gave to the car ministry and now we were the owners of 4 fully paid off vehicles. Until yesterday, we sold our van. WooHoo. A full sized conversion van. Most people are looking for better mileage cars, but GOD wanted us to sell it so HE generated a lot of interest and got it sold in about two weeks.

Who is your enemy?

2008-08-26T19:29:00.000-07:00

I have been reading through the Psalms. I have usually just skimmed over the enemy part. You know you just say, "Oh, yea, the enemy is the devil. I know that GOD saves me from that looser." Sometimes when I am particularly down I will pull out a Psalm and throw it in his face and tell him he has no right to bother me.

But as I was reading through this time GOD told me to shift my focus of who is my enemy. I had never looked at other people as enemies. Yea, maybe I had personality conflicts but not enemies. HE said, "Who is your enemy?" "Who do you fear?" HE said that those I fear are my enemies. HE said that I am making them that way in my spirit. So actually HE said that the fear is the enemy and not the actual person. But that the person triggers the fear so I use that as the identifier of the enemy.

There are situations where I am terrified. I fear being rejected, being disliked, not being taken seriously. I am almost disabled by the fear of one very important person in my life and that fear is, unfortunately, very damaging to that relationship.

GOD says that the fear is sin. HE told me that this weekend through a beautiful women who has chosen to be a mentor for me. (I am truly grateful that HE sees that I am important enough to give me a mentor, especially her.) She and I prayed that HE would begin to reveal when I am being fearful and help me to deal with it the right way.

I am beginning to see that this will be a long process. I love process because you can't help but be strengthened through it.

Psalm 27

Of David.

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.

Voice of the Martyrs

2008-08-26T19:25:00.000-07:00

Please follow the link below and sign a petition to ask for the release of a pastor in China.

http://www.freepastorbike.com/

Thanks all.

Angles watching over us.

2008-08-24T19:40:00.000-07:00

I just watched the opening ceremony for the Olympics. Yes, the opening ceremonies. I hadn't had a chance to watch them yet so I caught them on the NBC website.

When I saw the 2008 t'ai chi masters surrounding the school children I began thinking of how DD1 is starting school this year. And how when I send her out I want her to be protected. GOD said that HIS angles are surrounding HIS children just like that massive group of martial arts experts. For me I am protected and for my family we are all surrounded by HIS protectors.

Psalm 91:11-12 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

What an encouraging image for me to hold on to as I put her in a classroom and leave her every day to be taught by someone other than me.

Thank YOU, LORD.

Little Kitty

2008-08-21T19:49:00.001-07:00

A couple of months ago we were driving to my dads house. It was about an hour drive and on a very long stretch of two lane highway my DH suddenly turned the car around and stopped in the road. He jumped out and came back with a tiny kitty. We continued the day with family all the while my DH and sisters were caring for the poor little cat.

When we got home that afternoon he took the kitty into the local animal hospital and found out that there was so much wrong that they just needed to put the kitty down. We paid the fee and left the doctors to do their job. My DH was so disappointed. He began to say things like, "Should of just left it on the highway."

I felt so bad for him. He went out of his way to help an innocent and was not able to save it.

GOD reminded me of this today. HE says that so often in my life there will be opportunities to do what I can to help HIM save someone who is hurt or lost. And even if I can see that it is a situation beyond saving HE wants my obedient heart to step up and do it. HE also does not want me to be discouraged when it turns out as bad as I thought. It is not the point to make things right it is the act of doing HIS will and HE will make it work to HIS glory.

Like it says in HIS word. HIS ways are not my ways and HIS thoughts are not my thoughts. HE always has a plan and so often I think I know why HE has me do something and it turns out not to be that way at all. On Sunday there was a great verse

Jeremiah 33:2-3 (The Message)
2-3"This is God's Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: 'Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.'

LORD, I love how YOU work. I love that YOU let me work for YOU. Thank YOU for being bigger than I can know. Thank YOU for revealing things to me that I could never figure out on my own. I love YOU LORD.

New Job

2008-08-17T19:29:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am a stay at home mom who occasionally gets little jobs here and there. I was checking in with a friends blog and noticed she was in desperate need of some help. I found out that it was something that I used to do for a living and let her know that I would be willing to help her out for a short time. I really didn't think they would take me to seriously, but they did and I start tomorrow. It is just for a couple of hours a day for a few weeks. I really need to be here when A1 starts kindergarten. This will be a good way for me to see if I still have it. I'll keep ya posted.

Sock Monster

2008-08-10T19:02:00.000-07:00

I have been battling my homemaking skills and find that the sock monster is the newest edition to the enemies ammunition. I feel good about getting the laundry done and then I find that I have one extra sock from each of the family members. Of course I now have a pile of one sockers on my dryer to wait for their mate to magically appear the next time I do laundry. Read this cute article for some handy tips to use those lone sockies.

http://countrylife.lehmans.com/2008/07/25/sock-monster/

Interesting video

2008-08-10T18:54:00.000-07:00

Check out this video. I am not sure what the message is that this guy is trying to get accross, but it is inspirational non the less. I felt like what are we all fighting about. We are all very much the same.

http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/videos.shtml?fbid=YwKxQ