tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90079841744423098912024-03-19T02:14:49.149-07:00justBElieveJesusi'm just a gal who wants to BElieve and love Jesus with her whole heart, mind and soul. I want to be a gal of extreme obedience. i want to BE less and make much of Him so i can see Him do immeasurably more in my life and the lives of others. I want to be an example of what it looks like to value people.
i am mom to 3 and wife to one... they are my favorite!
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007984174442309891.post-35687794403567609562014-06-29T14:50:00.000-07:002014-06-29T18:54:56.344-07:00You don't have to be an alter worker... a continuation of You don't have to wear a Blue Vest. What a day... it was dark and dreary, hot and sticky... not my favorite kind of day. i so wanted to stay in bed. No one was home... My hubs got up early early to help put out all the beautiful flags down our street of the church for our 4th of July celebration we have every year. He didn't reset the alarm nor did i set one. My kids were all gone for the night as well so i woke up very late thinking maybe i will just stay home from church... i never do that... whatever so...i got up took a shower and put on my best Red White and Blue. i almost cried driving in to church... so many were there and the flags were just blowing in the quiet wind it was a beautiful scene.<br />
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As i sat in church today i loved how our worship pastor asked us to rethink with a fresh mind of the song that was going to be next... it was OUR song... our COUNTRY's song... The Star Spangled Banner yet with a sad melody instead of the robust happy tune we always want to sing with pics of past wars. We are in a battle ground today... each day as we live in Christ. i remember an old missionary, Leo Humphrey, once say "There is No Rest In War". We have a battle to fight. His battle!<br />
We heard from some parents of a young man who served our country. Adam Brown Seal Team 6. How he lived his life for himself and got himself in a mess of drugs... then went to jail and met Jesus...<br />
ok so since this is my blog i can write as much as i want so please if you don't mind... please keep reading... Jail ministry is so cool... I have a friend who gave her life to Christ and under crazy circumstances ended up in jail and chose to take that time and be a missionary to the other inmates that were there... many came to Christ. Now one of my very best friends is working in a jail ministering to women sharing the bible study of Beth Moore's Breaking Free. She is seeing light-bulbs turning on. People get saved in Jail! <img src="http://abundantlifewired.com/assets/1410/adam-brown---patriotic-sunday.jpg" style="float: right; height: 184px; margin-left: 12px; width: 200px;" /><br />
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OK so back on track... this man met Jesus in jail and then went to Teen Challenge an excellent organization that help troubled teens... of which there were tons of these Teen Challenge kids in church today and many of them raised their hands to receive Christ. Glory! After Teen Challenge Adam went to be a Navy Seal. A book has been written about his life if you want to read it i hear it is fabulous. He was killed and his life of Christ reached so many lives... His parents came to our church to share his message of hope. It was powerful to say the least!<br />
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so i am sitting there and our pastor asks if anyone wants
to know Jesus. If they want a life that is new? Several hands went up
and it seemed like alot of them on my side of the room and they were all
women. i know... we were supposed to have our eyes closed but
sometimes the Lord awakens my heart to look anyway...the girl in my row
had her hand up. i looked behind me to see the counselors and asked if
they needed help. They go to the people if they stand when our pastor
gives the invite to stand and someone will talk with them. She did not
stand. i could not let this go... i went around to the other side of the row and waited for everything to end... <br />
then...The Story of RED...i knew it the second of the first word... the voice of someone very special to me who i have prayed for, who i have watched God move in her... i have tears in my eyes right now thinking of what a privilege it has been to be a small part of her life. a small girl who i got to disciple, see her flourish, see her voice mature and her life bloom. a girl who lived through many difficulties yet always turned her eyes on Jesus. a girl who's voice needed to be heard...by me, by countless young people, and you and certainly many more. You see our God gave her talent that she has never even really recognized in herself. for some reason i have seen it since the day i met her. She sings with a voice of an angel better than most voices i hear on the radio and sings with such humility. i wish i could give you the lyrics but her writing style messes with my heart with all emotion. It wrecks me. just thinking of the color Red... his blood. mangled, torn. for me. for you and a precious woman i met today sitting in my row.<br />
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After the service was over i greeted her and told her that i saw her hand was up but she didn't stand... i asked what that was all about and she told me that she did know Christ as her Savior but had not been living for Christ. i asked her if i could pray with her right there...she said yes. i just prayed that God would reveal Himself to her and that He would lead her to live a different life. One that would follow Him instead of shy away from Him. She had tears in her eyes and said, why did you come and just pray with me? Who does that? i explained that Jesus does and sends people to us when we need Him. We went in another room and she told me her story. She said she was determined to go to church today, regardless of what the voices in her were telling her...just like me it was a dreary day but she got in her car even though she needed to save her gas determined to come to church and gave a second thought as she saw all the flags thinking maybe she should come another Sunday... but nope, her car drove right in to visitor parking. Can i say... thank you for visitor parking and the spot that was open just for her. She came, she heard, she listened, she was touched by Adams story, the story of RED, His story...for Her story to be different from today on. <br />
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i am so moved by the Lord that He speaks to my heart... to go pray with someone even though i don't wear a blue vest (from the earlier post) or have the alter worker sticker on in the back of the church. Sometimes... well all the time, we need to open our eyes and see people. Lets be moved by Adams story and by the greatest story of all... Jesus... the color of RED. Let us never be just hearers of the Word but doers.<br />
Even though i detest this sticky icky weather... i am looking forward to being with my church family today for the 4th of July picnic today. He is a reason to fellowship together and see some people get baptized. Cannot wait... now to make the yummo cupcakes. i believe they will have RED frosting today! <img alt="" class="spotlight" src="https://scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/t1.0-9/10325666_10152236183739422_2990917023792960021_n.jpg" style="height: 570px; width: 760px;" /><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007984174442309891.post-28723769151094720712014-05-19T20:27:00.002-07:002014-05-19T22:48:23.975-07:00The God who Sees! Choose to see Him at work in your life! You are the God who Sees...genesis 16:13. i've been reminded of this verse several times in the last 6 months...so weird how that works. Once is interesting for sure but it has been brought up probably in my mind or by someone in conversation or twitter or in a podcast i've listened to probably 13 times....God is so cool like that. <br />
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i have been more than distracted these last couple months...so many things...our anneversary party, end of school year stuff, lacrosse games, several weddings, discipeling, meeting people for coffee, graduation, ministry responsibilities to name a few and squeeze work in there too. <br />
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i'm not telling you this to feel sorry for me in any way! i love all this in my life but i get so distracted with life and get bogged down with how we will afford it all and fit everything in because it is all to important. i've left my purse at HyVee (they had it at customer service...He saw that too) and left my debit card at a restaurant and rear ended someone in one week time frame. Contrary to what some of you think...this is not usual for me. i am somewhat of an air head but not that bad.<br />
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Anyway, i've been asking God many things. Things i want to change in my life, things that need to be organized, humbled that He is preparing me to facilitate a new bible study starting in June that is if i may say is kicking my butt and how in the world we would be able to afford camp for all three kids! He so knows! So... i am going to brag on how God Sees me, my family, my children and this case my teenage son, Noah. <br />
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Our son has been looking forward to going to camp again this summer with our church middle school youth group. It just so happens that this year it falls on the same week as our family reunion vacation. This might be the last year we are all together as a whole family on vacation since Frankye just graduated. We had to tell him he could not go. However an opportunity arose and he was invited to go with another church to go to Florida to the Student Life camp at Daytona Beach, Florida with Louie Giglio and Brad Jones as speakers and Chris Tomlin & Kristian Stanfiel as worship leaders. The cost for us to send all 3 kids to camp is ALOT of money! <br />
i have just been praying a about this this morning! i wrote to tell the youth pastor that invited him we were working on getting the money together. God sees us & knows us...he said that we did not owe anything. The cost had been taken care of. i could not believe what I heard! i had just prayed about this! <br />
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i was not doubting that God would not provide but in whole? As soon as He did? He loves my son, my family and me! i am so humbled that He would do this! i have wept at how He loves us so much today. So very Thankful!!!!! <br />
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Don't think for a moment that He does not see you and your needs as well as some of your wants! i cannot image my life without my great God! If you have a need call upon the name of the LORD. He wants to show His love for you! <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007984174442309891.post-67401688528269273672014-04-29T12:30:00.002-07:002014-04-29T15:24:10.067-07:00BE still<img class="rg_i" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSGNlTXBT-nAq93H9p-1ooXPeq_DQFAvHFh5pYgr3sx3JksRk3K" data-src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSGNlTXBT-nAq93H9p-1ooXPeq_DQFAvHFh5pYgr3sx3JksRk3K" data-sz="f" name="cAqs9zkCP7PbTM:" style="height: 177px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 236px;" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12pt;">Just such a weird couple of days!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. Left my purse at HyVee in the cart park...got it back with nothing missing</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">2. Left my debit card at a restaurant</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">3. Dreaming with lists in my head of all the things to do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">4. On my way to work today i rear ended someone and it was totally all my fault. $$$ ugh. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">i need to be still. There are many more...these are just some of the drummer ones in these last few days. My friend Jodie reminded me today..</span></div>
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Psalm 61</div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="chapter-2"><span class="text Ps-61-1" style="position: relative;"><span class="chapternum" style="bottom: 0.1em; font-weight: bold; left: -3em; position: absolute;">61 </span>Hear my cry, O God;</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-61-1" style="position: relative;">Attend to my prayer.</span><br /><span class="text Ps-61-2" id="en-NKJV-14822" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">2 </span>From the end of the earth I will cry to You,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-61-2" style="position: relative;">When my heart is overwhelmed</span><span class="text Ps-61-2" style="position: relative;">Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="text Ps-61-3" id="en-NKJV-14823" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">3 </span>For You have been a shelter for me,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-61-3" style="position: relative;">A strong tower from the enemy.</span><br /><span class="text Ps-61-4" id="en-NKJV-14824" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">4 </span>I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-61-4" style="position: relative;">I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. <span class="selah" style="font-style: italic; margin-left: 2em;">Selah</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="text Ps-61-5" id="en-NKJV-14825" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">5 </span>For You, O God, have heard my vows;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-61-5" style="position: relative;">You have given <i>me</i> the heritage of those who fear Your name.</span><br /><span class="text Ps-61-6" id="en-NKJV-14826" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">6 </span>You will prolong the king’s life,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-61-6" style="position: relative;">His years as many generations.</span><br /><span class="text Ps-61-7" id="en-NKJV-14827" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">7 </span>He shall abide before God forever.</span><br /><span class="text Ps-61-7" style="position: relative;">Oh, prepare mercy and truth, <i>which</i> may preserve him!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="text Ps-61-8" id="en-NKJV-14828" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">8 </span>So I will sing praise to Your name forever,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-61-8" style="position: relative;">That I may daily perform my vows.</span></span></div>
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1. i am thankful to God that i actually have some money and stuff that i even need to carry a purse full of makeup, iPhone, iPad and all sorts of stuff.</div>
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2. i am thankful that i Was able to go to lunch with my mom and sister and have the funds to go out and eat.</div>
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3. As long as i live...there is always something to do. So thankful for such a full life and for the cool things that God has allowed me to do to love & serve Him!</div>
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4. So thankful i have a van (with 12 cup holders) and transportation from here to there. Even though it is a rainey day and i was distracted, it was nice to literally run into the person I hit as a sister in Christ. We were able to share for a few minutes while waiting on the police officer. i am also thankful for such a nice police officer and kind insurance company ...even though i know it will probably cost me. Yikes! Also so thankful to have insurance! </div>
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So... i need to learn to Be still. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007984174442309891.post-37590416958393270072014-03-12T14:37:00.001-07:002014-03-12T15:30:31.386-07:00We are on this Merry Go Round of life...<div style="direction: ltr;">
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The other day as i was going to meet a friend for discipleship at good ole’ HyVee, i was so distracted with the task at hand (of course that is nothing new). i parked where i usually park (so i don’t forget where i parked) and walked into the store. Oh my goodness! Where did the little kiddie Merry Go Round go? It was gone! i became so emotional. i know… stupid right? But i can even hear the music in my head as i type. All three of my kids loved this thing… they begged to ride it EVERY SINGLE TIME that we came to HyVee. It was part of our routine. We would park in our spot, walk up to the entrance and talk about how excited we were to ride the Merry Go Round when we were done shopping if they were well behaved. We would then walk in and probably see Carol who by the way, has been working there like forever and she would greet us and then we would go over to dry cleaning and they would let us pick a HyVee quarter to use before we left to put in to the Merry Go Round… as time went by all you had to do is push the button to make it work.. My girls loved getting that HyVee quarter! It was such a great memory. All three kids loved it and even as they got to big to ride i loved hearing the music when i came to shop. It was such a joy to see the cute little faces have so much fun on that thing. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Really when i think of it, HyVee on 291 has been the center of a lot of things in the Koontz household.. i think i am there almost every other day for something. A family has to eat right? i know most of the faces and some of the names that work there. One day before our son was born the girls and i had to go to the store and it was a <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://0" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">Saturday morning</a>… ugh… i hate to go to the store on Saturdays. The girls started to chatter in the back seat saying they were excited to get to ride in THE BARBIE CART! i explained that it was <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://1" x-apple-data-detectors-result="1" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">Saturday morning</a> and lots of people would be there and there might not be a Barbie cart to use… so Frankye said to her little sister Tommye… Lets pray and ask Jesus to give us the Barbie cart today… They began to prayed their little hearts out with their eyes closed so very tight and their hands folded tight saying Dear Jesus… please let us have a Barbie cart today… please, please…a big cart a big cart over and over. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Suddenly i was worried. God are you going to come through? How will i explain to them that there is no cart? What if He didn’t answer their sweet little prayers. i learned a great lesson that day… oh to have faith like a child. We got into the store and NO BIG CARTS and no Barbie carts for sure… Mommy, where are the Big Carts? Where are they? i started to try to explain but the girls say… look mommy.. a gal just finished her shopping and her kids jumped out of the Barbie cart and she said, “ it looks like you have need of our cart”! Praise the Lord… He sees even the wants of my little girls and me… faith like a child. The girls clapped and were so excited and we bowed our heads right there in the middle of the store and thanked God for providing a Barbie Cart! Such a great memory. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Really many more… i thought i would list some of them for you.</span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Really… there are so many helpful smiles in every isle. i can always find someone to help me when i need something… even though i think i have the store memorized.</li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">There is always someone trying to make things go smoothly like opening another line so more shoppers can get done quickly… i sooo very much appreciate that. </li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">They notice me and say hello and they pay attention when i am not. Over the course of the years i have left my purse in the cart three times and all three times a worker noticed and ran it to me or picked it up and put it in Customer Service waiting for me when i called panicked… One time i left my ipad… thank you again…i must really be an airhead… When you forget your debit card or wallet… no one makes you feel stupid. They probably see this happen everyday but they always would hold my groceries for me in a cool place till i came back to pay. Can you see a reoccurring theme in my life… forgetfulness.. ugh! </li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The cart guys are awesome… i am not sure his name but he has been working at HyVee forever… i know he is way more than a cart guy but he is always serving others… several times he has been outside in the bitter cold rounding up carts or carrying groceries out for someone or loading their car… He has taken my cart for me several times so i didn’t have to walk to the cart park. </li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The people that pass out samples are the sweetest ladies and gentlemen. i can see their faces as i type. Always so friendly and willing to talk to you. They are like grandmas to the store. i like that!</li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">HyVee hires all types of people…. Young, Old… all of them seem to be hard workers. My daughter Tommye might be filling out an application soon… hope she gets a job there.</li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">When i needed to make some extra money. i worked night stock to pay for our family vacation to Disney. i loved my job. i got to meet a lot of interested people and i was treated so well. No wonder i see the same faces working every time i shop. i feel like they have watched me and my kiddos grow up. It is a happy place to work. </li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">HyVee stocks my husbands great All Purpose Seasoning Fat Pat’s… it is awesome and goes good on just about anything you can think of even cottage cheese! It is stocked in the Health Food area on 291 and in the Meat department on Ward.</li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I so appreciate the generosity of HyVee to our schools for donations all the time. They have also given much to our church Abundant Life Baptist on many occasions. This store has made an impact on our community in so many ways and ways we may never even know. </li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The free rides on the Merry Go Round, Big Carts, free cookies and balloons for kids. The free samples. The free Smiles</li>
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Now my oldest is getting to graduate from LSHS and of course i am sentimental but so much life happens when you shop at the same place for so many years that it has made me take a look and think this truly is my favorite store… thank you HyVee for so many great memories in the past and i am sure more to come in the future. </div>
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Just wanted to give a shout out to Hy Vee for placing value on people! </div>
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I hope to hear that The Merry Go Round can be either fixed or replaced. So many wonderful memories to be had at our HyVee on 291 Lees <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Summit</st1:place></st1:city>!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007984174442309891.post-83407372116412729512014-02-14T12:50:00.000-08:002014-02-14T12:50:11.227-08:00Life is A Date! <br />
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sooo.... i started to contemplate what to do for Valentines Day this year. i've about exhausted just about every idea... its been almost 30 years of Valentines Day celebrations with my man. Wow... just writing that is crazy... 30 years we have been together. i will write more about that in a few days so stay tuned. <br />
Several years ago i went to a winter breakfast tea for the women in our church and someone asked the question to a panel of women... what do you do spice up your marriage? Several answered saying that they spend time together going on a date once a week or tried to get out of town once every few months but the best answer i have ever heard was from our pastors mother Judy Hopper when she said Life Is A Date. You don't always have money for all those things but when you spend your life together... talking about what God is doing in your lives, serving others together, eating meals together, praying together, laughing together now that is a great life! i will never forget it. So.. Life is a date... how are you spending your life with your sweetheart? It cannot just be about the gifts,the chocolates or the nights out. Your whole life together is just that... together. <br />
Anyway, back to Vday! i thought i would share with you some of the fun things i have done in the past and hopefully either give you some ideas or at least laugh! <br />
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so... here are some ideas. <br />
1. One year i bought flannel shirts and embroidered i Love you in the collar and the cuffs. He loved that! <br />
2. My go to gift when i am uncreative is cologne.. i love a man that smells good!<br />
3. A down comforter<br />
4. New sheets<br />
5. New pillows<br />
6. a poster with conversation hearts and candy bars<br />
7. i bought each of us journals to write love notes to each other in... i have way more entries to him than he for me but i still write in it...<br />
8. scavenger hunt in the house for a gift... or me!<br />
9. go out for dinner but as we get older and have kids we usually get take out and eat it with candlelight after the kids go to bed <br />
10. Valentine Pajama party with friends and have Breakfast for Dinner!<br />
But this one takes the cake... read on....<br />
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i keep seeing on Pinterest this Valentine idea Love in a Jar and it reminded me of what i did one year. OK so long before Pinterest i did this project. you write 365 things you love about your Valentine and write them on hearts of pink, red and white papers. The thought being that you can read one for every day of the year. i got a cute jar and decorated it up and put my notes in the jar. This took forever... i have no problem thinking of all the things i love about my hubs but to write them all out and in good handwriting and some were a paragraph some were a work or a sentence but still.. very time consuming... i thought... boy he is getting my time, creativeness and my love all wrapped up into one gift and a little chocolate on the side... His favorite is the Reece's hearts (really he likes the eggs better but one holiday at a time right? although i saw the eggs today while at the store). i was so excited to give it to him. He acted like he really liked it and it was a great day. WELL...... about a week later, after he had gone to work i walked into our bathroom and what do i see but every single one of those notes in the trash and an empty cute jar! i was so upset! All the Work.. i spent hours doing this for him and he did not do what the instructions said... i know... men don't read directions...i should have known...haha! Men! i cannot help to think... here he was reading all these while he was taking a smash!!! (smash is pats word for it... sorry! ) Poo!!! Yuck! it just made me crazy. <br />
Now i look at this crazy story and know that he knows i love him...but after a few years i started to see that i was doing something for him that really i probably wished he would do for me. i was giving him something in one of my many love languages but really he would have been happy with me ironing his shirts or making his favorite dinner and watch a basketball game with him. Our personalities are TOTAL opposite. i think on this now and really it would be pretty cool to sit and read 365 things that my love loves about me all at once. (not while taking a smash). He did love the gift, just not how i wanted him to love it. <br />
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Isn't that just like me and God? He gives me such great gifts with anticipation of me opening it and using it for His great Glory and i just take it all in at once and don't cherish it everyday... i just want to appreciate these Great Life Dates God gives. Savor it and learn from them. It is about the Giver not just the gifts. Of course the greatest gift ever was given to us in Jesus His son!!!! <br />
For God so LOVED the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOEVER believes in Him, will not perish but have ETERNAL LIFE! Jn.3:16<br />
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Tonight... we are heading to Next Door Pizza for dinner and hang out at Starbucks sharing earphones and watching Passion2014 in Houston live stream before we catch a movie... we haven't had Friday nights to ourselves in years let alone go to a movie on a weekend evening...<br />
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So my friends... Life is a Date! Love well! Love hard! and Love with out expecting anything in Return. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007984174442309891.post-29525201474508683182014-02-01T20:41:00.004-08:002014-02-01T21:52:35.728-08:00Not so Super Bowl! <div style="text-align: center;">
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It was a very cold day January 28, 2001. SuperBowl 2001! We had just come home the night before from a great weekend away at a bed & breakfast. It was the day after i had told Pat of a great secret i kept to myself for a week...we were going to have another baby! i honestly will never forget how very excited He was! <br />
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We were getting around to go to church. Our girls were at Nana Koontz house and sweet baby Noah was at our friend Melissa's. i told Pat i wasn't feeling very good and i was going to lay down. This isn't very normal for me...i love going to church...we had some news to share! As i laid down pain became intense. My shoulders were killing me. i had not experienced this pain!!! <br />
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i asked Pat to call our sweet friend an OB nurse and ask if something might be wrong...she told Pat we needed to call an ambulance and get me to the hospital as soon as possible...she said it sounded like internal bleeding or a possible tubal pregnancy that burst. <br />
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The ambulance and paramedics came...it was very icy outside and terrible weather. They came to my room and i could hear them saying they had no radial pulse...i was saying in my mind but never out of my lips...i can hear you...i am alive!!! Nothing. They kept trying and said they could not transport until i had a pulse. Finally something faint ...they had a hard time getting me down the stairs on the stretcher and down the icy driveway. They took me to the hospital. i sat in the ER forever. In & out of consciousness. They were waiting for a sonogram technician to get there from the ice...I lost over 2 liters of blood. i was dying. i was only 35. i had 3 kids and one on the way...<br />
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The whole church (Liberty Baptist at the time, now Abundant Life) it seemed turned out to the hospital on this very icy day. Many praying...the Silbers brought food for everyone...i laid in the ER waiting. Then everyone came in to see me and passed by me like i was in a coffin...my friend Tammy bent down and her face was drained of color and she kissed me on my face...i knew i was about to die. Our baby was no longer alive. <br />
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i remember thinking...how will Pat do THIS? His father and grandfather had already passed away, now his wife? What about my children? Would he continue to Trust God or be angry? It was all too much!!!! <br />
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What was most on my mind was that i was just starting to "get it". i want to be clear...i still don't have it all together but God has given me such a gift and my life has been changed! i was just seeing things with a more eternal prospective and i was seriously afraid, not in the sense of fear but a godly fear of meeting The God who created me, God, The creator of All! You see, He knows me. Inside and out. i had wasted so much time the years i had been privileged to live. i had so many opportunities to share Jesus with others...so many opportunities to Serve others to Love others...what had i been doing with all these 35 years? Why hadn't i used every opportunity to share what i knew? What in the world did I have to give? What crowns? What wood, hay or stubble was going to burn at His feet? Was anything good to give Him? It was more than i could fathom. i was empty...scared...nothing. Funny that is exactly where He wanted me.<br />
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i started begging Him to let me stay...to be a better mommye, wife, friend, servant. (i had no idea what i would seen Him do in the next 13 years. He totally blows my mind!). The nurse in the room heard me arguing with Him or saw the restlessness and struggle i was in the middle of. She came near to me and my first thought was...i have to tell her about Jesus! i was not going to meet Jesus and waste these last few minutes of my life. She told me to rest...she did not tell me i wasn't going to die...i continued to ask her if she knew Him...i fell out of consciousness again...later i found out she asked the group to pray for her sister who was sick...she must have seen belief...she must have seen Jesus in me...Oh Praise THE ONE! <br />
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i was out...apparently i died on the table twice...with no blood transfusion from the hospital but a true blood transfusion from God Himself. Honestly, my Doctors said that i truly was a miracle. When i went to the doctor the following week they all clapped. They couldn't believe i was alive. He let me live...He gave me a new life. i was Born again as a young girl but He was renewing my life! Wow! <br />
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My life has been different ever since! i chose to live with purpose! Even to this day...i look back and see...my kids loving Jesus...my husband and i started teaching college students Sunday School...starting a ministry beyond our dreams! Just like Him! He was equipping us for something greater! Being accountable to these students has proven to be such a joy and humbling experience while He is equipping me for whatever the future He has for me! Honestly i cannot wait to see these next chapters He has written for me! Oh yes, i am still desperate for Him...I do not live in the dessert but am living in a great promised land! i have had the privilege to disciple many. i have been able to share my story many times. I've got to watch my husband being obedient to God in his job situations...a police officer, teacher in the inner city, now a pastor! i always said after going to bible college i would NEVER be a pastors wife! i don't look at myself that way...i'm just a gal who has chosen not to waste her life! He is ever changing our lives...i am entitled to NOTHING...we now are serving the Great Senior Citizens in our church! They have so much to teach me...to mold me even more! He gets the Glory from my life...fullness and freedom come when we lay our lives down and He deserves EVERYTHING! i know He is not done working on me...and whoa!!!!! There is much work to be done but really, i just want to love people genuinely with purpose! it is never too late to quit wasting your life no matter how old we are! <br />
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So every Super Bowl i always remember that He has given me life, and i am to live it for Him! I have so many scars in my life of time wasted. Let's be done with that! <br />
Who's with me? <br />
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Louie Giglio said this, "Heaven is going to be a great celebration because we all have scars and i will stand with THE ONE who's scars and wounds triumphed all mine!" i just want to Sing...really loud! Thank you Jesus! <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007984174442309891.post-28261126758128842982014-01-13T09:38:00.005-08:002014-01-13T10:24:57.852-08:00Reach. Grow. Reproduce.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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How great is it that God works through the ages as we go about our lives, He is at constant work! <br />
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Yesterday...can i say it was a beautiful day you look forward to...middle of January and 60 degrees. Perfect! Thank you Lord for the break!<br />
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Yesterday, The Lords Day...listening to my pastor teach on the beginning of the early church in Acts. He spoke on being Fruitful. Multiply. Fill the earth. Or a modern way to say it, Reach. Grow. Reproduce. My heart races when i hear these words ,which is often. To grow and reproduce the things we know and believe about Our God is one of the greatest things we as a Christ follower can do.<br />
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There have been many people that have invested in my life..i am more than blessed. These are just a few that were on my mind while hearing the message yesterday.<br />
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i'll never forget my 6th grade year. Winchester, Indiana is where we lived at the time. i was loving life. We had an old house with a small apartment that we rented to a gal just out of college we called Sheila Woman! She found these iron on transfers from the Women's Day magazine and she made my mom, me and sis T-shirts with this iron on with a big yellow rose and the word Woman underneath. We walked around calling each other by our name then Woman...i cannot think of Sheila and not say Woman! This Woman! Seriously, She invested in me and valued me as well as other tween-age girls in the neighborhood. She was always having us over and having a bible study just for us! She was a multiplier! A true discipler! She took the time to invest in us. <br />
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My freshman and sophomore year in High School we lived in Omaha, Nebraska and went to this awesome church that had a young college graduate that wrote music and lead worship at our church...mind you this was the day & age when our churches were just singing hymns or the occasional Gaither song. She introduced me to Amy Grant and many more up and comers of that day. Her Name was Margie Howell. She led Music from the piano and was totally led by the Spirit. i was drawn to Him! i could tell she loved Him more than her music...i wanted to be like her, know Him like she knew Him! She asked me if i wanted to be in this singing group called " The Breath of Life" ummm...Yes! We practiced each week but not just singing. She taught us that the words we were singing were to Jesus! We should mean what we are singing! This were lessons that have proved Huge in my life. Her example was truly a life changer in my life! She has invested in so many lives! Thank you is not enough! <br />
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My parents announced one day during my 6th grade year that we were moving to Minnesota. i was devastated... This was a time in my life when you are really making relationships... Starting to understand the draw to God and how He was definitely shaping me for my life in these informative years.<br />
i remember sitting on the steps of our porch memorizing Psalms 1 so i could go to an amusement park, Kings Island. My parents really did invest the right things in my life. Life was not about us but about making Him Famous! i come from a legacy from my parents as great disciplers even to this day they serve Him selflessly. Putting Him before themselves.<br />
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Kim came from the neighborhood on the other side of the railroad tracks. Literally! My parents rarely let me go to her house unless i was walking her home...i had no idea why. Little did i know my home was a safe place for Kim...where we prayed before we ate, talked about Jesus. i even think Kim may have gone with me often to Sheila Woman's apt. For tween bible study! My mom gave me a bible to give to Kim and asked me to highlight verses that i had memorized. i remember dreading doing this. Thank you mom for asking me to be a part of giving her this bible. We moved and took off for Minnesota. <br />
Many years later, our first year of marriage, i got a letter from Kim asking if she reached the right address and if i was her 6th grade friend. She gave her phone # and i made the call. She told me of how she wanted to jump in our moving truck and come with my family and how she ran away that day. There was much abuse in her home. A great family took her in and treated her as family to this very day! She proceeded to tell me thank you for the bible...that she read it and came to know Jesus! My heart was blessed...just like God to show Himself to the one who was seeking him. He cared so much for her and for me to hear of this seed He grew into a strong tree that continues to grow in Grace! i got to see my friend get married to a man that loves Jesus. Through fb I've watch her grow as a mother, teaching her children about Jesus...transferring what she has learned through bible study and prayer. <br />
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i was in tears the other day when Kim posted on her fb a blog from her daughter Mylie a college student who also loves Jesus...proclaiming His great name! Here it is if you want to read. http://mylienicolewinger.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/when-chick-flicks-dont-cut-it/<br />
I am blessed beyond measure to see the fruit of giving a bible to a friend in 6th grade even when i was shy to do it! His Word NEVER returns void! <br />
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We are called...Reach..Grow...Reproduce! <br />
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i guess my thought pattern is how pivotal it is to invest in young peoples lives with a genuine love! A real life where others can see Jesus?, We can see how He uses us to advance His Kingdom! Thank you Sheila Woman, Margie, Mom and Kim for investing! i love You! i am in debt to you! He really is everything..we are nothing! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007984174442309891.post-19982329122885183382014-01-10T11:07:00.000-08:002014-01-10T11:07:14.945-08:00Fly...freedom! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65g8SQWoPl9rps6vJt6O2UfTww30C3vVbqy3DGV9osjxqaXY0Fh8z4WNDO8NEzGCs8j9x8V_joH1_WQ5kfyFwEACJy89-pjbxa9aLWvCDN6yhE55MKhkcfkbGh-K9qd2jYkJnJ1vwm5s9/s1600/butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65g8SQWoPl9rps6vJt6O2UfTww30C3vVbqy3DGV9osjxqaXY0Fh8z4WNDO8NEzGCs8j9x8V_joH1_WQ5kfyFwEACJy89-pjbxa9aLWvCDN6yhE55MKhkcfkbGh-K9qd2jYkJnJ1vwm5s9/s1600/butterfly.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Last year....wow what a year. i have been reluctant to write...so much in this messy brain. I have like 15 things i want to blog about but the time it takes to organize thoughts to pen is great! Last year can be summed up for me in a few words...individually meaning one thing, collectively meaning a much bigger thing. Here are the words...<br />
Value...Placing VALUE on others<br />
Love...Loving people like God the Father loved His Son Jesus. John 15<br />
Less...He must increase, i must decrease. Phil. 2<br />
<br />
i must say these have been hefty lessons to learn and since it is the beginning of the year a new word has been emerging....one that builds on the past words....once a word has such impact they just stay with us....i like that! The word is Metamorphosis...my husband & i prayed for a fresh word this year and of course he uses this scientific word being that he used to be a science teacher...i like the more simple...Transform. <br />
<br />
Of course he spent time telling me all the ins and outs of the caterpillar to the butterfly and i have been thinking...what part of this process am i? There are 4 stages...the egg, the larva (caterpillar), the pupa (chrysalis) and the adult (butterfly). <br />
<br />
Side note...when my sister Cassi & i were younger we would try to get our little brother Zach to believe that the caterpillar was really called a capilitter or callapitter...seriously when writing this i could not remember the right pronunciation. Haha! <br />
<br />
Ok so I've so been the caterpillar ...walking to and fro eating up what i can, learning much about Gods great creation, learning life's lessons...it's hard being a catapillar. Did you even know that this furry little creature sheds it's skin 4 or 5 times in his little life span? Just like us...shedding the old man for the new. 1 Corinthians 5:17 says, if any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things passed away, behold all things become new! What comfort! <br />
<br />
You never know when you could be eaten up or stomped on...when our oldest daughter Franke was little we went to the zoo and on the sidewalk was the most beautiful caterpillar, colorful and fuzzy...she walked right up to it and stomped on it...guts and all...i was horrified knowing the outcome of this soon to be butterfly...pat and i sat her down and explained that not all little creatures needed to be stomped on...some needed to grow up and be beautiful butterflies...just like her... God was preparing her right then to grow and mature and someday Fly for His great purposes...she is graduating this May...oh my...that is just TOO much for this momma! i will never forget that day...but by all means we can still stomp on spiders, mosquitos, and other pesky insects....right?<br />
<br />
This next season called the pupa stage is just like the word sounds...i find myself in & out of this stage...this is a season of divine change...of renewal...a time of listening...being still...waiting. i must say that growing hurts sometimes but i know the great plans HE has for me are IMMEASURABLY More an i could ever ask or think...i don't just say that lightly...i actually know it! i BELIEVE it! i wonder if the caterpillar knew? The best is yet to come....listen to this verse with fresh ears...i have also heard it about a million times...let these Words breathe on you...they came from God Himself...<br />
Romans 12:1,2<br />
<div class="chapter-2">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="text Rom-12-1">I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, <i>which is</i> your reasonable service. </span><span class="text Rom-12-2" id="en-NKJV-28248"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">2 </span>And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what <i>is</i> that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="text Rom-12-2">Sometimes the cocoon is for re wallpapering our minds...some redecorating has to take place. Not thinking of what could have been but what will be...what secrets God wants to reveal to us...a sacrifice for His Renown! </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="text Rom-12-2"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="chapter-2">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="text Rom-12-2">So does being in a cocoon mean that I will be transformed? The cocoon is stifling, uncomfortable, cramped, not enough air but just enough to survive. i don't like it...but i am willing to do GO through the process if it will make me more like Jesus and if i kneel to Him and beg Him to transform me. YES! i am asking this year for Him to bring on the transformation in so many ways...some i will share with you and some are just secrets with HIM. He is my favorite! </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="text Rom-12-2"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="text Rom-12-2">i remember as a child catching butterflies in jars with breathable lids and just staring at them...i could never bring myself to keep them...i knew they needed to fly...i felt freedom watching them fly out of the jar...i think God takes great delight when we allow Him to take us through this process of molding us...</span></span></div>
<div class="chapter-2">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="text Rom-12-2">i challenge you...will you allow Him this year to change your life...to Renew? To Metamorphosis? Soar, Fly?</span></span><br />
</div>
<div class="chapter-2">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="text Rom-12-2">i cannot wait to share with you my seasons of flying... The butterfly stage....it is a reflection of the verses in Phil 2 about working out salvation in fear and trembling...i am choosing to do it a little scared knowing the outcome are some beautifully wings ( i hope orange, pink blue & black) that will take me to heights i cannot imagine...FLY! </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="text Rom-12-2">if you are interested this is a beautiful short film of the caterpillar to the butterfly. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="text Rom-12-2"><a href="http://youtu.be/7AUeM8MbaIk">http://youtu.be/7AUeM8MbaIk</a></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007984174442309891.post-32461866077686758512013-10-23T23:55:00.001-07:002013-10-23T23:56:24.499-07:00Polka Dot & Dot to Dots<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Juice ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One time in a bible study I was doing we were studying in the
first chapter of James where it says, “<span class="text">My brethren, count it
all joy when you fall into various trials, <sup>3 </sup>knowing that the
testing of your faith produces patience. <sup>4 </sup>But let patience
have <i>its</i> perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking
nothing. <sup>5 </sup>If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who
gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. <sup>6 </sup>But
let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the
sea driven and tossed by the wind. <sup>7 </sup>For let not that man
suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; <sup>8 </sup><i>he is</i>
a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Juice ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The study leader was Beth Moore and she brought
up an interesting fact that the word Various in the Greek is </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Juice ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">poikilos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said that it looks
like a word we get Polka dot from and means “</span></i><span style="font-family: "Juice ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">more than
one; individual and separate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just
thought it to be a fun thought and wrote that in my bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here James is talking about the different
trials that we will go through in our lives… many different types and shapes
and sizes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, nobody likes to go
through trials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are painful and
they stretch us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been through a
few in my life and so far I see that during that time I am more desperate for
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I grope for Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So often when things are going well I tend to
get off focus and seem to do whatever I want and not seek Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see… if we don’t have testing or
hardships how will we learn patience and lack nothing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is enough for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just have to ask for wisdom.. He says “Now<span class="text"> to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or
imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” Eph. 3:20.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Juice ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I remember as a child in school getting to do the dot to dot
pages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the ones that start with 1. And then you go
to 2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And connect all the dots till a
picture appears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that is what James
could have been talking about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has
already written our story… He has it all mapped out with each number to connect
to the next dot…we cannot see the full picture till all the dots are connected
but it is a great picture once perfected and completed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is our job to ask Him for wisdom and to
believe His plan… I want to receive all the things the Lord has planned for my
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want to skip any dots or
go the wrong direction. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next time you go
through a difficult time.. think of the polka dot.. .they always makes me happy
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Juice ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Let’s all take the time today to ask God to be joyful knowing that
all this faith testing is producing a great picture of the life He has already
have mapped out for us when we choose to believe and walk in obedience. !<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am always remembering that verse Mark 9:24
that says “Lord I believe, help my unbelief.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just pray this!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will answer! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Juice ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gals, He loves us so… He
makes beautiful things out of us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a
picture of beauty you are! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007984174442309891.post-26998276138003920112013-09-28T02:10:00.000-07:002013-09-28T02:10:20.168-07:00If the crown fits...<br />
<span class="p2"> Yesterday, we had the opportunity to watch our oldest daughter live out many high school gals dream. She was nominated for Homecoming Queen by her peers. On a side note... i was homecoming queen at my tiny high school along with king Dan Smith who was king. i wrote the previous blog post about this dear friend. This was a much greater honor for my sweet daughter who goes to a very large high school. i would like to say... i think she had a very huge blast today! She is so full of fun and light! </span><br />
<span class="p2"><br /></span>
<span class="p2">We have been a scurry all week preparing... trying to find a dress... or did i mention 2 dresses... some of the candidates had 3 or 4 dresses! Shoes... that match that were not going to break the bank and going to the store for the millionth time because i kept forgetting something... on of which was candy to throw at the parade. </span><br />
<span class="p2"><br /></span>
<span class="p2">We met at the school and our friend Debbi Carter let us use her lime green Volkswagen bug. Frankye looked so cute as her dad and i drove her around downtown Lees Summit. I will never forget the faces of the people and the cheers for Frankye as we passed onlookers from past and present teachers to the kids that she cadet teaches and grandparents and friends. It was a bit overwhelming for this mom. Can you even imagine what it would have been like to be God watching as His Son Jesus was walking in the crowds on Palm Sunday? Seeing all the people glorifying His One & Only Son? i felt a tiny bit of that...She was stunning... that smile lit up the whole downtown! His light was shining! </span><br />
<span class="p2"><br /></span>
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Then off to our house to get ready for the big game... THIS game was the game of all games of sorts...The Lees Summit Tigers won the game a neck and neck nail biter kind of game in the last minute... The cheerleaders, the marching band, the loud crowd...the beautiful evening it was but best of all... frankye had so many in the crowd to show their love and support... Many of the college students that we minister to and some of her besties from church and friends of ours and grandparents were there to watch their friend or beloved be walked down the field by her daddy to present her to the LSHS fans. i cannot begin to tell you how i felt...so proud, so overwhelmed by the moments leading to this moment. She looked stunning! The air was wonderful...it smelled like a fall football game should and there she was... all grown up arm in arm with her daddy! Oh my goodness... my mind went fast forward thinking of her walking down an isle with a wedding dress on someday... just as we all will who know our Jesus... we are His bride... i know when God looks at us He looks at us the same way. It is hard to imagine! My favorite part was as they were introducing Frankye the announcer read... Frankye's interests are Jesus and People! Did you hear that? Exactly what God loves! Unfortunately they did not read all of her bio... They asked everyone what their motto was or favorite quote was for their life but they did not read hers... here is what it was...<br />
1 Peter 2:9<br />
<span class="p2"> </span>But
you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a
peculiar people, that you should show forth the praises of Him who hath
called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. <br />
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She so wanted to SHINE! well she did! As she walked down... the people in the crowd cheered at her name the loudest! She was for sure the crowd favorite! They then announced who would be crowned Queen...it was not our sweet Frankye but her good friend Sarah. Frankye was happy for her... what a complete honor to represent her high school but even more her Savior! She was able to share with so many what matters most to her heart... Jesus and people...this mom could not have been more proud and so thankful for a daughter who is a daughter of the king... she lacked no crown... that is for sure...She has been honored with a greater crown that sits on her head but a crown that will be thrown at her Saviors feet one day! it says in the bible there are many crowns to earn while living here on earth... One of them is the crown of rejoicing! <br />
<span class="p2"></span><span class="p2"> </span><br />
<span class="p2">The crown of rejoicing: 1 Thess. 2:19, 20. </span> To those who faithfully are witnesses to the saving grace of God and
leads souls to Jesus. This crown has also been named the soul winner's
crown. It seems to indicate here that God will be giving a crown to
those who have been witnessing to others and leading people to Christ<br />
Telling others about the grace of God, telling others about Jesus, is
the greatest thing that you can do for someone while here on this earth.
When you help someone to be led to the Lord, you have just been used as
a vessel of God.<br />
God will judge you by your willingness and desire to be used by Him to
witness to others, not necessarily on how many actually get saved,
because we are to water and He gives the increase. There are many
Christians who are simply too busy to be willing to be used by God to
try to lead others to the Lord. God can fit opportunities for you in
your life to witness and work for Him if you allow Him to. Some could
be your unsaved friends, family members or co-workers, etc.<br />
so... if the crown fits... <br />
<br />
Let us all live our lives knowing we are heirs of THE KING! The crowns that we earn those rewards here on earth we can cast at His feet one day! Oh may i then in HIM be found! <br />
Reminds me of one of my favorite old hymns. <br />
<br />
Crown Him with Many Crowns<br />
<div class="document lyrics">
<div class="verses">
<ol>
<li class="first">Crown Him with many crowns,<br />The Lamb upon His throne;<br />Hark! How the heav’nly anthem drowns<br />All music but its own!<br />Awake, my soul and sing<br />Of Him Who died for thee,<br />And hail Him as thy matchless King<br />Through all eternity.</li>
<li>Crown Him the Lord of love!<br />Behold His hands and side—<br />Rich wounds, yet visible above,<br />In beauty glorified.<br />No angel in the sky<br />Can fully bear that sight,<br />But downward bends His wond’ring eye<br />At mysteries so bright.</li>
<li>Crown Him the Lord of life!<br />Who triumphed o’er the grave,<br />Who rose victorious in the strife<br />For those He came to save.<br />His glories now we sing,<br />Who died, and rose on high,<br />Who died eternal life to bring,<br />And lives that death may die.</li>
<li>Crown Him the Lord of heav’n!<br />One with the Father known,<br />One with the Spirit through Him giv’n<br />From yonder glorious throne,<br />To Thee be endless praise,<br />For Thou for us hast died;<br />Be Thou, O Lord, through endless days<br />Adored and magnified.</li>
</ol>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007984174442309891.post-84514181272986484422013-09-12T19:12:00.000-07:002013-09-12T19:12:17.056-07:00ELEOS... being JESUSi want to tell you about a man, a place, a movement... When my husband Pat and i were in High School at Blue Ridge Christian class of 1984... i know that dates us. We had a friend Dan Smith. We have remained friends for all these years. i remember one day during lunch (we were part of a bible study or prayer group) Dan was saying that one day when he gets to heaven he wanted a lot of crowns to lay at Jesus feet. i thought to myself... how arrogant...really! i do not have the same view any more! This man has lived it... never wavered. He married the sweetest gal ever her name is Wendy. They finished college. Took a job as a music pastor then God allowed them to travel all over with their music and spent missions in Mexico and gave the gospel. They then came back to the area as God opened an opportunity to be a music pastor again. They did this for several years.<br />
<br />
Then God gave them a vision for a radical change. To open a coffee shop in the Northeast part of Kansas City. If you like Coffee... you will love it... if you want a bite to eat they have it! If you want to encourage them visit! They sold their beautiful house and prayed radical prayers for what it was that God had for them. THIS place... ELEOS: the definition means: <span>mercy: kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them. A perfect definition of Dan & Wendy! Now... there are no coffee shops in this part of town. There is a large homeless population, drug problems as well as prostitution and who knows what else. This is a grass roots operation. They have a bible study everyday open to anyone that wants to join and give them food and toiletries to anyone that is in need. They offer ESL & healthy living classes. They pray with those in need go on prayer walks and love people. I am reminded in </span><span>James how we are to VALUE people... Mercy Triumphs! Check it out for yourself. </span><br />
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%202:%201-13&version=ESV<br />
<br />
The thing about Dan is... He is a great communicator, pastor, missionary, musician. He could be working anywhere being paid lots of money but He Radically Obeyed Gods voice and moved his family to the Northeast and began a ministry of LOVING PEOPLE. Dan is so patient and humble as i have attended many bible studies and am blown away how patient he is. He lets anyone who wants to read the scripture read, even if they read poorly. He is slow to speak. He makes sure God's word is clear and understandable and LOVES them. He CARES about them. He has COMPASSION for them. He wants them to understand the great GIFT God has for them and leads them in such a way. i am sure it is discouraging many days... 1 step forward and 3 steps back but... GOD... He keeps transforming lives!!! People are coming to Christ! <br />
<br />
i am telling you all this because i want to be like Jesus and this friend of ours is being like Jesus! He is LESS and giving. i want many crowns in heaven to lay at Jesus feet. i want that for you too. Give of yourself. Pour yourself out. BE JESUS! Be part of the movement! GO! <br />
Please check out their web sight below and visit! <br />
<br />
http://www.eleoskc.org/<br />
<br />
THINK GO LIVE BE<br />
<br />
love you all... justineUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007984174442309891.post-64754817495000045142013-09-11T06:48:00.000-07:002013-09-11T06:48:55.369-07:00If my People....I will never forget 9/11/2001... I was home with Tommye and Noah, he was 1 at the time...Frankye ad already left for kindergarten. I wanted to drive back and get her but the school asked we leave them there. Good Morning America was in on and saw the whole thing unfold. Took Tommye to preschool in bewilderment...I slightly rear ended a woman we both got out of our cars and were crying...she said, " our world is in more trouble than us...lets not worry what just happened here...it was too insignificant...she hugged me and we went on with the day. I got home and everything just seemed eerie. Quiet. No planes in the air. I just prayed! 2 Chronicles 14<br />
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if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.</div>
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May it be true today!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007984174442309891.post-54331624087855583332013-08-12T15:16:00.002-07:002013-08-13T06:45:12.669-07:00Here's my heart Lord...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiULv3w0wF89ypqaE3P8YIs173htSbW2oYmra0DoRRY0HEmOkCQYwlH7i6AFCTXDE5Ji1vaGAx6itRfYTsjxJ9zX1o5jNybxs2J7QoOABSNmH4LcoE4ZebM6jJdwCzqq2XCmKL0n4P9P4/s1600/1116296_504379421_543482023_q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiULv3w0wF89ypqaE3P8YIs173htSbW2oYmra0DoRRY0HEmOkCQYwlH7i6AFCTXDE5Ji1vaGAx6itRfYTsjxJ9zX1o5jNybxs2J7QoOABSNmH4LcoE4ZebM6jJdwCzqq2XCmKL0n4P9P4/s1600/1116296_504379421_543482023_q.jpg" /></a>so i want to begin this first ever blog post and warn you it is long but i would count it a great honor if you would read this... it is what is going on right now in our lives. That God would be most glorified in what i write and say and live and be. Get ready for a ride in the life of this gal.<br />
<br />
it was spring and i had asked the Lord what bible study should we do next? It was a tie between two and i could not shake the idea of the Gideon study by Priscilla Shirer.<br />
<a href="http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Gideon?002=2138335&004=7863067557&005=59536426317&006=33358768317&007=Search&008=&025=c&026=">http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Gideon?002=2138335&004=7863067557&005=59536426317&006=33358768317&007=Search&008=&025=c&026=</a><br />
You can find the account in your bible in Judges 6-9. so the very first night, Thursday July 11th we got together and at the end of the DVD talk she said that change and revival in us begins with us. She asked us to draw a circle around ourselves and step in the middle of it and pray and ask God for any changes He wanted to make in our lives or if there were things in our lives that were hindering the changes He would ask. So i gave each gal a piece of chalk and we went outside our lovely host Laura Andreas house and drew circles on her driveway and sidewalk and stood in the middle and prayed dangerous prayers... Lord, change me... Speak to my heart. Reveal Your Great self to me... Here is one of the quotes from her talk that night. " When God's Spirit asks us to eliminate something form our lives, we shouldn't play around with His direction. Fully engage in the task at hand." Off to a good start i would say! Wouldn't you? Little did i know how God was preparing my heart earlier this spring for this study of Gideon. i will be sharing many quotes from this study to show you how God spoke to me... even when i didn't want to hear Him speak! <br />
<br />
Tuesday July 16th is a day i won't soon forget... i left for work had a pretty normal day till my husband called. He said he had a lot to discus with me. What was that supposed to mean? Men! Don't they know that us gals cannot deal with those kind of statements... He said, mind you on the phone and while i was at work that Pastor Phil wanted us to pray about leaving as the Pastor over College ministry and being Pastor over the Sr. Adults and the CARE ministry. i was like no way... that is crazy, how opposite of what we currently do but Pat said he would pray about it... This made no sense. i left work and barely made it to my car without fainting... little did i know i had two esophageal ulcers and one had burst. I was bleeding internally. ( i will spare you the gory details... gross) and ended up going to the ER... <br />
<br />
As i was sitting in the ICU for 4 days i had a lot of time to think, pray, listen. They had to put a tube through my nose, down my throat and into my stomach to suck blood out of my stomach...then they gave me a blood transfusion since i had bled out so much blood. i started thinking of the blood sacrifice Christ gave to forgive our sins if we believe. i thought of how in a very small minuscule tiny way i got to participate in the loss of blood that would require sacrifice of much less... no more of my precious diet coke, or any drink with carbonation EVER. No spicy foods for at least 8 weeks. i had told the Lord and others that i wanted to loose 50lbs before the end of the year and i still hadn't started... i am such an idiot... it says in the bible that Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit if we believe in Him. i had been destroying my body. i needed change desperately and He was putting me in a place to notice and do something about it. Little did i know how much He was going to require... <br />
<br />
about day two in the ICU i asked Pat to bring me my bible study book Gideon. I read this..."What legacy are you leaving? Were you faithful? " i asked God right there and then... Where do you want me? What is my calling? Priscilla pointed out that as Gideon was serving others when the Angel of the LORD came to him. We were serving Him... is He revealing Himself to us? i reminded myself that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of my faith and i gave Him permission to write my story long ago. ugh... these were dangerous prayers and He was about to see if i really believed Him.<br />
<br />
Many people came to visit me... brought me flowers.. prayed over me...two people in particular stand out. Miss Pat... the one who taught Sunday school to all 3 of my sweet children. She came and just loved on me and prayed over me. I am not particularly close to Miss Pat but i have spent many years admiring her and loving her... it meant so much to me that she cared to come and sit with me... another came and told me that she woke up at 3am that morning and wrote in her journal to share with me what God reminded her. She had been through a difficult time in her life and the Lord had just allowed a chapter in her life to be closed and even allowed forgiveness to take place. She said something that hasn't left my mind since. She said that God reminded her of how Moses had to put the Rod down in order for it to become God's staff... and that is all i could remember her saying... i have not stopped thinking of this...<br />
<br />
so i got to go home... very tired...not alot of energy or concentration but i did not want to get back into my bible study for fear of hearing more of what God might have me do. His Word is so powerful and i did not want a reason to disobey it... i know... i am an idiot. so... i thought i would read a book called Kisses with Katie. http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/ She is a girl who had it all... cheerleader, homecoming queen.. lived an easy life and had a boyfriend.. everything. She went on a missions trip to Uganda that wrecked her life. She would never be the same in fact, she ended up going back after her Sr. year of high school and adopted 14 girls at the age of 19. It is a story of all she gave up for so much more... maybe not riches of this world but eternal riches and rich love. It really made me think... am i for real? Hadn't i told the Lord i would lay myself down and do whatever He asked of me? Why is this so hard? i love these young adults! i relate well to them.. they are my kids... They share life with us... Some have lived with us... for the last 13 years all of my sons life they have been in our home, ate with us, cried with us... laughed with us. We have seen piles of shoes in our entry way and cars up and down our street filled with Love... why would this be taken from us?<br />
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so back to Gideon staring at me... calling my name...here is some more of what i read... "Todays tasks are preparation for tomorrows calling." " Sometimes prayer and fasting are necessary steps in knowing what God is saying." What? I have been praying and in a fast of sorts... not eating normal foods... drinking water... no diet coke did mention EVER? Is there a different calling for real in our lives about to happen. i just didn't want to believe it... i wanted to get to the part in the story of when Gideon laid out the fleece and God showed him exactly! Surely He would do this for me as well. "No matter what He's commissioning you to do, to fearlessly parent your children, faithfully SUBMIT TO AUTHORITY, courageously BEGIN THAT MINISTRY, boldly walk in moral purity, SURRENDER to the demands of this season. What ever it is RECKLESSLY FOLLOW HIM because if He is with you, then no one & nothing can EVER be against you." really! can you believe this? i barley could nor did i want to...We had bible study at our house that week because i was so weak...( haha) One of the first things Priscilla said was "Chapter 6 (college ministry?) was to prpare Gideon for chapter 7 ( a new ministry?) but He was showing me. In fact one of the gals visiting our study that week said something to the effect of , sometimes God might call us out of one ministry into another... what? He was using a student to teach me yet again! There is no way we could make this decision it was too hard. It required too much! <br />
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The day before we left for Florida to take part in a wedding of two of our young adults, Pat was told that He was taking over as Pastor of Sr. Adults and Care. i believe that God knew that we just could not make this choice ourselves. I didn't have time to ask God for a test like the fleece that Gideon did. ( i did however ask him something... we will see if He does it) It made no sense to us. to me... i believe demonic forces were whispering in my ear to become bitter and angry. I don't like the music they like, i don't dress like them... i like the freedom to wear jeans and we are almost always up till after midnight...they get up at 5am and eat dinner at 4? What are you thinking God? Is this the best choice and i had tell myself STOP! Pat is way qualified for this job... it would be an honor... These people have lived life... We have so much to learn from them. My husband relates well to them... He is the most caring, humble and faithful servant that i know! i mean that . He almost always ( i say almost cause i am his wife... he has one or two shortcomings but i have like a million! ) puts others first and has so much patience. He is the best at being a daddy and the love of my life. He is a great spiritual leader and listens to the Lord and spends time in God's Word everyday! He works hard and you can always count on him to do what is asked of him. He respects authority and loves God's Word. Of course they would want him to do this..<br />
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so i jumped back into the study again...i think i did two weeks of homework desperate to hear from God...She said "You are not the same person you used to be... He gave Gideon a new name (pat has a new title) You have no business going where you used to go... You don't need everything you thought you would need." 2 Cor. 12:9 <span class="text 2Cor-12-9" id="en-NKJV-29032">And He said to me, <span class="woj">“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”</span> Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. I was reminded of a discussion i had with a dear friend weeks before. She said, "when a seed dies it will bear fruit... but it has to die first." Lord, i argued... haven't we seen fruit.. he said i want to show you immeasurably more! Good grief, what does that even look like? ugh! Then Priscilla said, " Gods solution was to put Gideon in a position where he would have no choice but to refocus his attention." Well He certainly did that for me... i was still so weak... then this..."Less is MORE... humility is the knob we grasp that causes the door of God's power to be opened WIDE in our lives." The Lord is committed to REMOVING anything from your life that might promote the very thing that will hinder your progress. Think again about ANYTHING that the Lord might be STRIPPING from your life, has this dampened or distracted you from God's purpose?" i had to stop and tell God... i wanted what You want for me. I want to grope after You. As if that wasn't enough... there was more..." Sometimes victory comes from living with LESS. Now a side note is... that my dear friend Amy told me of her word for the year was LESS... it intrigued me... i wanted a tattoo on my wrist immediately to remind me but had made a deal with myself if i were to get a tattoo it would be after i loose 50lbs( haha... that would make less of me) and prayed about this more... anyway it has been a recurring theme in our household... This word is so little but means so much. Frankye, our oldest daughter,who is starting her Senior year next year (another reason we are all sad to leave the college ministry...she has waited her whole life to be in the college group with us) She had been thinking of her youth group and how they needed to become less. We adopted Phillipians 2:3,4 Let nothing be done through selficsh ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than </span><br />
<span class="text 2Cor-12-9" id="en-NKJV-29032">himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others.</span><span class="text Phil-2-3" id="en-NKJV-29395"><sup class="versenum"> </sup><i> </i></span><span class="text Phil-2-4" id="en-NKJV-29396"> To place VALUE on people. We want to be LESS so He can be MORE.. We made bracelets out of shrinkydinks that said less on it for each camper.. many are still wearing theirs today. I constantly need to be reminded</span><span class="text Phil-2-4" id="en-NKJV-29396"> HE is >i.</span><br />
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<span class="text Phil-2-4" id="en-NKJV-29396">i am banking on this one... i read this next..." If i will choose to operate in Obedient Trust, He will MULTIPLY my efforts no matter what i'm doing." Then we turned to 1 Kings 17:8-16 the story of the widow...(which we will be working with) who had little oil and flour. "her future security was discovered in letting go of what she had at her disposal, even though doing it did not seem reasonable or logical" " What is the Lord asking you to RELEASE to Him? Time, Money, Security, Relationships? Maybe its hard to see it go because its been so plentiful in your life and has brought you much comfort. Understandable but take a deep breath and then let it go anyway. I assure you, you will be better off with God</span><span class="text Phil-2-4" id="en-NKJV-29396">'s 300 than your 32.000 every single time. You have enough." You see... God gave Gideon 300 men to fight against the Midianites and they had thousands... God wanted to show that it was in His power only they were able to conquer the enemy. This made no sense to me what God was asking us to do... but He will show Himself and it will be more than i could ever ask or imagine because we are going to obey Him. </span><br />
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To say the least our time in Florida was with heavy hearts... we had so many feelings to work out... there was not one night that we didn't cry ourselves to sleep in each others arms begging God to stop this. i begged God to show me... really show me that He loved me that He knew i needed even more confirmation. The first night we saw a double rainbow... it was brilliant..i remembered when God put the rainbow in the sky in the first place was to remind us that He always keeps His Promises. i was banking on that one!<br />
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Several weeks before all this one of our students, Stephen Metcalf, tweeted a bunch of quotes and i asked him what book it was.. he brought it over for me to read and i took it to read in Florida... it is called... What to do on the Worst Day of your life by Brian Zahnd. <a href="http://brianzahnd.com/" target="_blank"> </a><a href="http://brianzahnd.com/">http://brianzahnd.com/</a> The chapter headings are this.<br />
1. Weep. David, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Hezekiah, Nehemiah, Job, Jeremiah, Peter, Paul, John... Jesus wept. There will come a dawn of faith when you need to stop weeping & start believing. Go beyond weeping!<br />
2. Don't get bitter.<br />
3. Encourage yourself in the Lord... like David did... To sing and dance is simply a choice that David made... Make God bigger than your troubles. Think yourself Happy.<br />
4. Get a Word from God. boy howdy did i...<br />
5. Reorient Your Vision<br />
6. Regain Your Passion<br />
7. Recover all! don't let your personal tragedy or failure define your identity. Failure and loss are events, but they don' t have to become our identity. Christ is our Identity and He deserves the GLORY!<br />
Thanks so much Stephen... God used this book in perfect timing for what i needed.<br />
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When we got home from Florida it was this last Tuesday evening. We knew that we would have to tell our children and the young adults of our college ministry... great heaviness...Here is what God gave me in my study once more..." Releasing our gifts back to the Lord for Him to do with as He pleases is difficult and humbling. Especially since we often harbor desires of what we hope He'll do with them when we finally present them. The best use of our gifts is seldom what we imagined. If we will put them down and pour them out. we will be surprised at God's unconventional ways of using them."<br />
A theme song for my life is this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pkWrvCZDHA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pkWrvCZDHA</a> i lay me down i'm not my own... i belong to Him alone...it is worth the listen.<br />
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Then remember that friend that spoke to me about the rod of Moses? i kept thinking of releasing our gifts back to the Lord... Moses had to release that rod so it could become and perform the miracles of God. When i was in college i sang in the chorale for 3 years. We sang this song and it was a favorite for i think all three years called Moses by Ken Medema... the lyrics are something like this... It is really worth the listen. i have posted it here for you to hear... it is quite dramatic and kindof is like a musical...<br />
Throw it down Moses... Moses replies, do you mean like on the ground. (i have sang this to myself with my name in place of Moses... maybe you would like to join me... please don't tell me i am the only one that has to release things.) Throw it down Moses. Don't you want to be my man? Don't you want to work for me? Don't you want to set my people free? Moses replies..not me Lord... don't you know I don't talk so good. How will they know it is me that you have sent to do this? How will they know? God said, What's that in your hand Moses? He replies, It's just a rod. Lord, don't take this rod away from me... don't you know it's my only security. Don't you know that when your out here on your own... a man's gotta have something he can call his own? Not me Lord! Throw it down Moses! Moses threw the rod on the ground and the rod became a hissing snake. He was running scared of what the Lord was going to do... running scared God would get ahold of you... and the Lord said STOP! pick it up Moses... by the tail... Lord you have not been here very long... Lord, You have the whole thing wrong. Don't you know you never pick up a hissing snake by its tail? God said PICK IT UP MOSES! It's a rod again! Do you know what it means Moses? Do you know what I'm trying to say Moses? The Rod of Moses became the Rod of God. With the rod of God... he struck the rock and the water would come. With the rod of God. He parts the waters of the Sea. With the Rod of God he would strike old Pharaoh dead. With the Rod of God he would set the people free. What's that you hold in your hand today? To what or to whom are you bound? Are you willing to give it to God right now? Give it up, let it go.. throw it down.<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRBjtnp4208">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRBjtnp4208</a><br />
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That kind of sums it up. Extreme Obedience as my dear friend Suzanne would say... it is worth it all... some day i will tell you about her. i want to Obey God. i want a fruitful life. i want LESS and more of HIM. Even when it hurts.<br />
Thursday and Friday of last week were some of the very hardest days of my life. Telling our children and see them cry and work out their feelings. Friday telling our other family the Merge College Ministry. We walked them through everything i have shared with you in this blog post. We have shed a lot of tears. All of us are ok.. willing to obey. Pat shared with all that it would be a disservice to everything he has ever taught would be worth nothing if he didn't step out in Obedience to the Authority of our church and God. One step at a time. Looking forward to what He has in store for us and banking on Immeasurably more than we can ever ask or think. I know it has been long and thanks for hanging in there with me... I wanted to tell all of you just a story that God has been teaching just a gal...i treasure your friendship and continued prayer. it is still hard. God is Good...So thankful for God's great Grace and Mercy towards me. <br />
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Romans 4:20 <sup class="versenum"></sup>He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,<br />
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Phil 4:13 <sup class="versenum"></sup>I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.<br />
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1Timothy 1:12 <sup class="versenum"></sup>And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting <i>me</i> into the ministry,<br />
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2 Timothy 2:1 <span class="text 2Tim-2-1"><span class="chapternum"></span>You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.</span><br />
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<span class="text 2Tim-2-1">2 Timothy 4:17 </span><br />
<span class="text 2Tim-4-17">But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and <i>that</i> all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. </span><br />
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<span class="text 2Tim-4-17">Hebrews 11:34 </span><br />
<sup class="versenum"> </sup>quenched
the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness
were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies
of the aliens.<br />
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Ephesians 6:10-17 <br />
<span class="text Eph-6-10"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. </span> <span class="text Eph-6-11" id="en-NKJV-29349"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. </span> <span class="text Eph-6-12" id="en-NKJV-29350"><sup class="versenum">12 </sup>For
we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,against spiritual <i>hosts</i> of wickedness in the heavenly <i>places.</i> </span> <span class="text Eph-6-13" id="en-NKJV-29351"><sup class="versenum">13 </sup>Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.</span><br />
<span class="text Eph-6-14" id="en-NKJV-29352"><sup class="versenum">14 </sup>Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, </span> <span class="text Eph-6-15" id="en-NKJV-29353"><sup class="versenum">15 </sup>and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; </span> <span class="text Eph-6-16" id="en-NKJV-29354"><sup class="versenum">16 </sup>above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. </span> <span class="text Eph-6-17" id="en-NKJV-29355"><sup class="versenum">17 </sup>And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; </span><br />
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<span class="text Eph-6-17" id="en-NKJV-29355">John 7:17 If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is from God. </span><br />
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