I'm BACK!

Hi all you lovelies!

Sorry it's been SO long since I've potsed!  I've been such a slacker!  However,  I have much to say and show you!!  First and formost...

BABY AHAH IS BORN!!



HOW GREAT THOU ART!

In the midst of the many storms, I WILL NOT forget just how GREAT THOU ART, my Lord!

I Just Couldn't Help Myself!

I have seen this little guy on a poster at the movie theater several times and each time he makes me smile...I don't know why! Ok, so does that make me weird?   Maybe it's the mom in me...my kids say that when I'm really mad, I make these eyes at them. What do you think he's thinking?  Leave me a comment...can't wait to see what you come up with!  We all need a good laugh on Friday's!

I'm Just Sayin'

There Is an Angel in our Midst!

Meet Lyla...my granddaughter!  Could she be any more angelic??  So precious!!

The King's Speech

Dad and I went out on datenight last Thursday...dinner and a movie!  We saw The King's Speech and it was really good.  As we walked out I took out my notebook and jotted down a note to myself (sorry for the blurry pic...you get the idea :)

It's SO simple and yet SO complex!  Why don't we live like we believe God?  Why do we believe that He raised a dead man, made the blind see, walked on water and rose from the grave and yet we don't believe who He says we are??  Satan!  He wants to rob us of our true identity.  If he can convince us that we are not all that God says we are then he renders us ineffective!  Claim who He says you are...daily!  If our KING gave a speech here is what He would tell us to repeat:
 

I am faithful (Ephesians 1:1)

I am God's child (John 1:12)

I have been justified (Romans 5:1)

I am Christ's friend (John 15:15)

I belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:20)

I am a member of Christ's Body (1 Corinthians 12:27)

I am assured all things work together for good (Romans 8:28)

I have been established, anointed and sealed by God (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

I am confident that God will perfect the work He has begun in me (Philippians 1:6)

I am a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20)

I am hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3)

I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7)

I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me (1 John 5:18)

I am blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3)

I am chosen before the creation of the world (Ephesians 1:4, 11)

I am holy and blameless (Ephesians 1:4)

I am adopted as his child (Ephesians 1:5)

I am given God's glorious grace lavishly and without restriction (Ephesians 1:5,8)

I am in Him (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:30)

I have redemption (Ephesians 1:8)

I am forgiven (Ephesians 1:8; Colossians 1:14)

I have purpose (Ephesians 1:9 & 3:11)

I have hope (Ephesians 1:12)

I am included (Ephesians 1:13)

I am sealed with the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13)

I am a saint (Ephesians 1:18)

I am salt and light of the earth (Matfthew 5:13-14)

I have been chosen and God desires me to bear fruit (John 15:1,5)

I am a personal witness of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8)

I am God's coworker (2 Corinthians 6:1)

I am a minister of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)

I am alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:5)

I am raised up with Christ (Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 2:12)

I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6)

I have been shown the incomparable riches of God's grace (Ephesians 2:7)

God has expressed His kindness to me (Ephesians 2:7)

I am God's workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)

I have been brought near to God through Christ's blood (Ephesians 2:13)

I have peace (Ephesians 2:14)

I have access to the Father (Ephesians 2:18)

I am a member of God's household (Ephesians 2:19)

I am secure (Ephesians 2:20)

I am a holy temple (Ephesians 2:21; 1 Corinthians 6:19)

I am a dwelling for the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:22)

I share in the promise of Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:6)

God's power works through me (Ephesians 3:7)

I can approach God with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12)

I know there is a purpose for my sufferings (Ephesians 3:13)

I can grasp how wide, long, high and deep Christ's love is (Ephesians 3:18)

I am completed by God (Ephesians 3:19)

I can bring glory to God (Ephesians 3:21)

I have been called (Ephesians 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:9)

I can be humble, gentle, patient and lovingly tolerant of others (Ephesians 4:2)

I can mature spiritually (Ephesians 4:15)

I can be certain of God's truths and the lifestyle which He has called me to (Ephesians 4:17)

I can have a new attitude and a new lifestyle (Ephesians 4:21-32)

I can be kind and compassionate to others (Ephesians 4:32)

I can forgive others (Ephesians 4:32)

I am a light to others, and can exhibit goodness, righteousness and truth (Ephesians 5:8-9)

I can understand what God's will is (Ephesians 5:17)

I can give thanks for everything (Ephesians 5:20)

I don't have to always have my own agenda (Ephesians 5:21)

I can honor God through marriage (Ephesians 5:22-33)

I can parent my children with composure (Ephesians 6:4)

I can be strong (Ephesians 6:10)

I have God's power (Ephesians 6:10)

I can stand firm in the day of evil (Ephesians 6:13)

I am dead to sin (Romans 1:12)

I am not alone (Hebrews 13:5)

I am growing (Colossians 2:7)

I am His disciple (John 13:15)

I am prayed for by Jesus Christ (John 17:20-23)

I am united with other believers (John 17:20-23)

I am not in want (Philippians 4:19)

I possess the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2:16)

I am promised eternal life (John 6:47)

I am promised a full life (John 10:10)

I am victorious (I John 5:4)

My heart and mind is protected with God's peace (Philippians 4:7)

I am chosen and dearly loved (Colossians 3:12)

I am blameless (I Corinthians 1:8)

I am set free (Romans 8:2; John 8:32)

I am crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20)

I am a light in the world (Matthew 5:14)

I am more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37)

I am the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21)

I am safe (I John 5:18)

I am part of God's kingdom (Revelation 1:6)

I am healed from sin (I Peter 2:24)

I am no longer condemned (Romans 8:1, 2)

I am not helpless (Philippians 4:13)

I am overcoming (I John 4:4)

I am persevering (Philippians 3:14)

I am protected (John 10:28)

I am born again (I Peter 1:23)

I am a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)

I am delivered (Colossians 1:13)

I am redeemed from the curse of the Law (Galatians 3:13)

I am qualified to share in His inheritance (Colossians 1:12)

I am victorious (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Real Love

I told you I ran...and cried...and praised...and pleaded!  What I didn't tell you is that God...

EL-GIBHOR: “Mighty God”

EL-OLAM: "Everlasting God"

EL, ELOAH: God "mighty, strong, prominent"

ELOHIM: God “Creator, Mighty and Strong”

 EL SHADDAI: “God Almighty,”

ADONAI: “Lord”

YHWH / YAHWEH / JEHOVAH: “LORD”

YAHWEH-JIREH: "The Lord Will Provide"

YAHWEH-RAPHA: "The Lord Who Heals"

YAHWEH-NISSI: "The Lord Our Banner"

YAHWEH-M'KADDESH: "The Lord Who Sanctifies, Makes Holy"

YAHWEH-SHALOM: "The Lord Our Peace"

YAHWEH-ELOHIM: "LORD God"

YAHWEH-TSIDKENU: "The Lord Our Righteousness”

YAHWEH-ROHI: "The Lord Our Shepherd"

 YAHWEH-SHAMMAH: "The Lord Is There”

YAHWEH-SABAOTH: "The Lord of Hosts"

EL ELYON: “Most High"

EL ROI: "God of Seeing"

loves ME!  He loves me so much that He delights ME!  With tear filled eyes, I glanced down for a second, and behold!  He gave me this...


because He's also a Lover of my soul...
and my heart sang!

 

The Cry of a Mother...and a Little Rain

As I ran today, tears fell as I listened to the words of this song on my IPod.  I spoke outloud for each of you...that God would pour healing rain upon you.  I am certain that I looked like a crazy lady praising and crying out as I ran but I didn't care!  I was so overcome with the neverending grace and mercy of God that I just couldn't help myself :)  Let me be crazy!  I hope that the words speak to you as they did me and that you feel the healing rain shower you on this glorious day, my beloveds!  Oh, how I adore you!

This Much I Know Is True...Where You Stop, God Picks Up

I LOVE God!  I just do!  Plan and simple...it's love.  He is SO gracious to me...stands by me, picks me up when I fall, gives me hope when I have none, fills me up when I'm empty!  Just when I think I have nothing more He shows up...MY SAVIOUR!
Be still!  Seek Him!  Know Him!  He's seeking you!

This I Know for Sure: They Will Know We Are Chritians By Our Love

Many of you probably haven't ever heard the old hymn "They'll Know We Are Christians" song...it's old.  But then again, so am I :).  It's an old song, kinda like a sit-around-the-campfire-and-sing kind of song but the words...how they speak truth!

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

This first verse is about UNITY!  I can tell you that backbiting, gossip, slander...they're all divisive.  There is NO room for it within the body of Christ!  It is Satan's greatest desire for us to listen to his lies and lead us to talk bad about our friends, our husbands or our churches so that we are rendered INEFFECTIVE!  We need to reign in our tongues! Take captive those thoughts!  How do we show love?  By staying unified!



We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we'll guard each one's dignity and save each one's pride
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

This second verse is about SERVING!  I can tell you that one of the single most poignant truths I've ever learned is that I am blessed to be a blessing!  I grew up thinking the more Bible verses I knew, the more mature I'd be.  Boy, have I learned differently.  For me, real maturity came in taking my eyes OFF MYSELF and the things I know and onto others and this things that GOD knows! Knowing scripture is very important don't get me wrong, but serving is how we walk the walk!  How do we show our love?  By serving!



We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

And, last but not least, the understanding that I might be the planter and not the water girl or the one who sees the plant grow!  By this I mean that I have learned that we all have a role in spreading the Gospel!  We need to be willing to let others pour water, if you will, over a seed we may have planted...to trust that God strategically places others in the lives of those we want to see come to Christ to come along side and help!  I had to grasp that I might not see the harvest of a seed I planted...the beauty is that WE WALK HAND IN HAND FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST!  How do we show our love?  We are unified in our individual roles for the greater cause of spreading the Gospel!

Will they know you are a Christian by your love?

Have a blessed Friday!

He Will Never Let Go

As I do every morning (well almost), I read my devotional .  It was so beautiful, I wanted to share it with you...

YOU ARE MINE FOR ALL TIME- and beyond time, into eternity.  No power can deny you your inheritance in heaven.  I want you to realize how utterly secure you are!  Even if you falter as you journey through life, I will never let go of your hand.
Knowing that your future is absolutely assured can free you to live abundantly today.  I have prepared this day for you with the most tender concern and attention to detail.  Instead of approaching the day as a blank page that you need to fill up, try living it in a responsive mode: being on the lookout for all that I am doing. This sounds easy, but it requires a deep level of trust, based on the knowledge that My way is perfect.

                                          The LORD makes firm the steps
                                           of the one who delights in him;
                                     though he may stumble, he will not fall,
                                    for the LORD upholds him with his hand. Ps 37:23-24


                                               As for God, his way is perfect:
                                               The LORD’s word is flawless;
                                         he shields all who take refuge in him. Ps 18:30


Have a beautiful Thursday!

We are Free!

I've been studying forgiveness this week.  It's a hard topic really...forgiving.  We are called to forgive others and to forgive ourselves.  If we hang onto things we are chained and bound to them and they eventually drag us down. But, what do we do with the emotions...
When you and I are saddened by life's trials, it's acceptab;le to be sad, upset, and even angry, but it's not acceptable to allow these emotions to overtake and control us.  This is precisly what the devil wants. He want's us to stay stuck, dwell or better yet, bury ourselves in them...it makes us ineffective for the Lord. We don't have to be consumed with bitterness, fear, sadness, or depression.  No matter how devastating our circumstances are, we have the spiritual right as a child of God to be FREE from the emotional scars that accompany life's pain.  We may never be free from the memory of what caused our pain, but we can be free from the emotional trauma that resulted from it. The Bible declares us as overcomers by the blood of the Lamb (Revelations 12:11).  Because of our encounter with the Lord, we do not have to be overcome or overwhemled by the circumstances of life.  We can choose a different emotional path.  We have the choice to be either enslaved to the emotions that accompany life's pain or to be free.  I choose freedom!
When life gets painful, don't hang your head in despair.  Look up! Keep your eyes open for the next move of God and watch as the shakels that bound you drop free!  Romans 8:37 says..."we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."
"If you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul" Deut 4:29.  Let's not waste our time and energy looking everywhere else.  Just look up before you take your next step!

For the Love of a Farm

Some of you may know my mom.  She is Martha before Martha was MARTHA!  Growing up we renovated, tore down walls, had a garden the size of Nebraska and a compost pile way before it was chic to have one.  My mom now lives in a beautiful farm house that has many acres.  Here are just a few pictures  and I think you'll see why it makes my heart sing.


just gathering a few herbs for dinner



A chicken coop...really!  Don't ya just wanna move in?




Mom in all her glory!




and they come that way...



this, my friends, is the garden




and this, is 2 of my girls gathering food for dinner





my moms birthday present...for real!




Be still my heart...



then sang my soul!



This I know for Sure...Things Will Change so Persevere

Not only will things change but, in the midst of trials, God GIVES us something...maturity, completeness, character and ultimately HOPE!  Oh, how I love the word HOPE.  It gives us that spark of light within the darkness and allows us to see our way. 

When I lost my brother 5 years ago, it was probably the darkest time in my life.  I have had some really tough times but that one gripped me to the very core.  There were days when I felt like I just couldn't bare the sorrow and pain but God's ever present love surrounded me.  Some days it was just the tiniest of light, others it burned brighter but regardless of the amount...it gave me HOPE.  I still feel the loss (no matter what anyone says...it doesn't get easier you just learn how to cope with it) but I can look back over the last few years and see how God has used such utter sorrow to grow me.  To mature me. To make me more complete.  And to give me HOPE.

  Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.  But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt     James 1:2-6

And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us     Romans 5:2-5
.
No matter how bad or good a situation is...it will change!  So, if it's a good situation enjoy it!  If it's a bad situation, hang on tight to the One who is mighty to save!!! 

Happy Friday, my beloveds!

Life Change

This morning, during my quiet-time, I just felt a tugging on my heart to share with you something I had read the other day.  The article was about encountering Jesus and the understanding that it just isn't enough to have Bible knowledge...we must know it's Author and be in love with Him.  "Therein lies the difference between religion and relationships". 
You know, when God shows up,  peoples lives are changed!  I have seen it many. many times! It's one of my favorite things in life is to SEE...LIFE CHANGE!  When you really encounter the love of Christ and come in contact with the Holy Spirit things happen!!  Amen! Here is what I read:

Armies tremble.

Nations fall.

Victories are won

The lame walk.

The blind see.

The deaf hear.

The unsaved repent.

The dead are resurrected.

When God comes near, there is an obvious trail that tells of His visit.  When He performs miracles in our lives, we should be changed and drastically different.  What has He done for you?  Remember when He...

resurrected your hope

resurrected your marriage

resurrected your finances

resurrected your children's spiritual lives

resurrected your career

resurrected your health

resurrected your heart for Him

An encounter with God is life-altering.  When He does these things and overwhelms us with His boundless love and power, there should be a radical difference in your lifestyle and attitude of worship.  We should...

work differently

play differently

react differently

measure success differently

eat differently

love differently

parent differently

spend money differently

serve differently

Every aspect of our lives should be different!  (And We are Changed)

Then Sang my Soul

I went into Starbuck last night and out of the corner of my eye I caught these babies!  Oh, how I LOVE all things numbered and fonted (I know that's not a word but hey, it works). 

And now, my girls will stop making fun of my coffee cups which they have deemed TOO SMALL

but I'll save it just for you, Dad!  Because I know it's your favorite and I love you :)

This I know for Sure...it's all about Perspective

Sure, we've all heard about the "glass half full/glass half empty" idea...and it's enlightening, don't get me wrong...but, it's a label - "Well, she's just negative that way.  You know, just a glass half empty kind of girl."  I really don't like that!  I don't like to be labeled anything because it boxes me in .It doesn't allow for change.  I know so many people who grew up being labeled and their adult siblings and parents STILL label them the same as when they were children despite being changed.  A VERY DEAR friend and her husband call this "looking at each other through OLD EYES".  The first time I heard her say that I thought,  WOW...that's so profound!  How often do we look at people as WHO THEY WERE INSTEAD OF WHO THEY ARE?  And, if that's Life 101, then how about this for the Life 301 folks...how often do we look at ourselves as WHO WE THINK WE ARE INSTEAD OF WHO GOD SAYS WE ARE? (I'll save that one for another day).

I had this happen to me a few weeks ago when I was on the phone with a family member.  My extended family has been going through a crisis and it has stirred up quite a bit of emotion (hmmm...a family crisis stirring up emotion?  No way!) and I was told that maybe I shouldn't be the one to talk to a certain person because I'm "too defensive".  It was one of those comments that throws you back into childhood.  As I often do when I get a "red flag" emotion, once I got off the phone, I sat down and really prayed about what was said.  I'm not gonna lie, it hurt my feelings. It hurt my feelings...well, because it was critical (and that's not always bad, it just doesn't feel good).  But more than that, it hurt my feelings because that person was viewing me through "old eyes" and doesn't really know ME today. 

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:  The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Cor 5:17

God, if we seek Him, grows us and changes us into His likeness.  God calls for forward motion...for change...for the renewing of our minds.  Oh, how I love that He sees me for who I AM and WILL BE (with His transforming power) instead of for who I WAS.


It's all about perspective...clean those eyes (or glasses for those of us who are 40 or above) and look at those around us through "new eyes" ...it's life in HD.



This love and that Love

Yesterday was Valentine’s Day and while I focused on my amazing huSSband (that was for you Alli), in my soul I was celebrating my other Love.  Funny how they go together…this love and that Love. 

No card was needed.  I sat and waited in anticipation.  Waiting and asking for my heart and head to find the same resting place.  Waiting for the words to match my feelings.  And then they came.  I stood across from him and told him what his love has meant to me. 

It’s a love that I had never understood.  One that came without strings.  One that loved so unconditionally that it allowed me to be me. One whose consistency gave me a soft place to rest my head.  And, mostly one that opened the door so that I could catch a glimpse of the other Love in a much deeper way.  By his loving me I have loved Him more intimately.  He is a true reflection.  He is my Valentine.

Funny how they go together…this love and that Love.



I'm just sayin'



My Baby's Driving!!

I have to say, I AM SO HAPPY TO NEVER, EVER HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DMV!  Six kids.  Six tets.  Sixty years added to my life!  So long, ladies at the DMV!!

Because He loves me...

Open up my eyes, I pray

Lord, for just a little glimpse of you

That's all I need, it's all I've ever needed

To see beyond myself, beyond this tiny, little world

All your hands have made

With beauty and strength alone

I can see you comin' to me now

Oh, like a shimmerin' light

Shimmerin' light on an open sea

Barefoot on the water

Laughin' at the ocean

Like you were old friends

Callin' out my name

Saying join me now

(Strollin on the Water by Brian Duncan)