Nov 24, 2006

Away for a wedding....

Hey there folks!!! Just thought I'd say hello. I'm down visiting family in the town of the cougars*wink* We've been having a lot of fun. Last nite was an interesting one though...
Leah & I were driving from Mr. & Mrs. M's house to here house across town. We were just about to go on the on ramp onto the highway when we saw a lady that had hit sheer ice and had ended up on the meridian. Leah slowed down to 15-20 and we went to make the turn, but we didn't turn...at all!! We headed straight for her car. The terrifying thing was...she was out of her car and standing with her back to us right where we were headed. Leah tried slamming the brakes but it was no use. We just sailed right towards her. Leah laid on her horn and the lady spun around to see us froze and then jumped out of the way just as we went up on the meridian and hit her car. It was pretty scary. Not the car bit, but being within inches of hitting somebody. Leah's car got the worst of it, with a smashed headlight, cracked fender and a lot of scratches.
The crazy thing is, we found out that there was a van who had done the exact same as us, but had taken out a sign, popped their tire and ripped off their hub cap & a bit of their fender. So we went to a nearby parking lot to exchange numbers & I stayed in the car as they went inside a business to use the phone. I watched that corner for the next half hour and 6 more cars did what we did. Fishtailing, spinning, up on the meridian & so on. We were the only ones who hit someone though!
Both our necks and backs were sore afterward, but I'm positive that it has nothing to do with the accident and everything to do with the tension and worry of the situation. We joke now that its over, maybe we'll be the only ones in history with 'slow motion whiplash'!!!
Well, I'm coming home on Sunday and will be posting a bunch of pics then of 'Pockets' (Jacob)

Nov 14, 2006

8 Jewels in a womans crown

1. Count pain as your friend. It is an opportunity to experience the power and majesty of God in ways you could never experience Him in the mundane of life.
'Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.'
Romans 8:17


2. Don't just sit there when darkness falls. Move. I mean that literally. Take whatever action you can to tap into the mind of God and get His wisdom on your circumstances.

3. Commit to a long arduous journey, knowing joy comes in the morning
(Acts 20:17-38).

4. Do not be detoured by anyone (husbands, children, friends, _________etc...) or anything (gossip, unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, pride, disillusionment, insecurities, offense, fear, anxiety_________etc...) from the goal of knowing intimately the heart of God. You are responsible for your relationship with God. When you stand before Him, you cannot blame what you did not do on anyone else.

5. Renew your mind by reflecting upon the character of God. He owes you no explanations but welcomes your questions and doubts. Focus on what you know about Him, and search out the things you don't. He is so vast, we could spend eternity learning about Him.
(Ephesians 3:11-21).

6. Refresh your hope by reclaiming the precious promises God has made to you
(Psalm 44:22).

7. Do not be discouraged by those who should be able to help you but don't.This includes your husbands, ladies! God is our supply. In Him and Him alone can we put our trust. We have access the greatest helper of all.

8. Refuse to let go of your biblical worldview and ?
Trust that God does all things well.
He does NOT make mistakes. He will not leave you or forsake you. He has already paid the price & given you the victory!
This is the power YOU have in Jesus!
So, Women of God!! Be encouraged! Cling to the hope you have in Him and live the life you were destined for...one of power, courage, strength, destiny & purpose!!

He is enough!!

EXCEPT the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it
Psalm 127:1

As a woman & a wife, there are many things that I've struggled with. Knowing my identity in Christ as a believer, knowing God's call on my life as woman, a wife, a leader & a kingdom builder.
I had to reevaluate how I was building in many of these areas. The one main thing that God wants to deal with in all women is there tendency to let their emotions rule them. We are emotional human beings, as God designed us to be. We are nurturers, comforters, fighters & victors, but I know that often I will let my emotions dictate how I will or will not respond in a situation. Heather L. spoke about this subject one time and it stuck with me

'The Holy Spirit speaks
to your spirit which speaks
to your soul which dictates
to your body on how you will respond.'

The thing is, that only happens if your spirit is the one getting fed and not your soul.
Our souls are vessels of emotion. If we give them the rulership over our lives, we become severely imbalanced & miserable, because we can't keep our emotions in check. We lash out, cry for hours, manipulate our husbands & slip out of relationship with our Savior.
We MUST get our food from God's love letter to us

'The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.'
Psalm 19:7-11

All we could ever need is found in His Word.
Instruction, Comfort, Restoration, Wisdom, Strength, Hope & Life
We needn't look anywhere else!

Still Coming....The Power of a Woman!!!






Nov 9, 2006

7 Virtues

7 Virtues of a Godly Husband:

by Rod Nichols

Virtue One:
Selflessness

Men, in general, tend to be selfish and it is one of the reasons that marriages are failing in greater numbers. A godly husband is selfless, like Jesus. He never focused attention onto himself, but rather always on the Father and then His bride (the church). A godly husband will follow that example by focusing his attention on God first and then his wife.

Jesus taught husbands how to be servant leaders and that is what every marriage needs. Let us learn from Jesus, as He would first go to the Father for instructions and then focus on the needs of the people. As I started going to God every morning for instructions, He would help me to see how I could serve my wife every day, by showing me what I could do that day to make my wife’s life more enjoyable. My reward has been a wife who wants to serve me and an incredible, loving, passionate marriage.

Virtue Two:
Humility

As a whole, men tend to be prideful. We are taught from an early age to be strong and self-reliant. Yet, God isn’t looking for self-made men, He’s looking for men who will humble themselves to His will, just like Jesus did. Jesus humbled himself and set aside His God-nature in order to be a man. In order to become a godly husband, I had to put my pride and ego aside, and submit myself first to God and then to my wife. Instead of lifting myself up as the priest of the household, I began to honor my wife and exalt her as a beautiful and wonderful God-given helper. Godly men are humble servants to God and their wives.

Virtue Three:
Loving

In my counseling, I often hear men say that they have fallen out of love with their wives. This is because they are trying to love their wives in a worldly love. The Apostle Paul taught about a different kind of love in Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” This is a spiritual love that is unconditional and sacrificial and only available from God.

In my quest to become a godly husband, God taught me that in order to love my wife the way Jesus loved the church, I must first come to Him and be filled with His love. Then I could go to my wife and let His love flow through me. We love each other more today than the day we married.

Virtue Four:
Kindness

Wife abuse has become a huge problem in the world, even in Christian marriages. I have never hit my wife, but like many husbands I was an emotional abuser. I didn’t use my fists, but I did use my tongue. Proverbs 18:21 (NIV) reads, “The tongue has the power of life and death.” Husbands can speak life or death to their wives with the words they use. As I learned to be a godly husband, the Lord taught me to engage my spirit before letting my tongue loose.

Kindness is a real key to becoming a godly husband. Each day you should strive to be kind to your wife. Compliment her looks, surprise her with flowers, a gift, or fix her dinner. Give her short love notes and special cards that tell her how special she is to you. Take her on creative dates and every once in awhile do the chores she usually does in your house. A godly husband realizes how kind God has been to him and funnels that kindness to his wife.

Virtue Five:
Gentleness

The world’s image of a man is rough and tough – the Marlboro Man, but a wife would rather have a gentle husband. Jesus modeled the perfect man by being both strong and gentle. As husbands we are called to be the same.

Many men struggle with control and anger problems. I was one of those who needed to be in control and when I wasn’t I would explode like a volcano, permanently damaging anyone who was around me. My wife forgave the words and actions, but it took a long time for her to forget. In order to become a godly husband, the Lord had to teach me first that He is the only one truly in control and then how to let my emotions out in other ways – through conversation, prayer, and even tears. Yes, real men do cry! Over time, God removed the anger and filled me with His peace that resulted in a more gentle nature.

Virtue Six:
Honesty

Our world is full of dishonesty and so are many marriages. Trust is a huge area for women and most husbands have done things that have strained that trust. Some women, like my wife, come into marriage with trust issues from previous relationships. Unfortunately, I did things that broke that trust and it took many years to regain it.

A godly husband will always tell the truth. Little white lies will damage a marriage, as will leaving out key details that you feel she doesn’t need to know. Anything that even looks remotely dishonest to your wife, will damage your marriage.

Godly husbands will be honest and up-front with their wives in all areas. They realize that God made her as a helper and in order for a wife to do that, there can be nothing hidden.

Virtue Seven:
Faithfulness

Infidelity, even in Christian marriages, is on the rise. Unfaithfulness falls into two categories – physical and emotional. Most often, men think of physical unfaithfulness as a sexual affair. However, this area also encompasses relationships with other women where you are sharing intimate information that should only be shared with your wife. This area would also include visiting strip clubs. A godly husband never shares his body, or mind with a woman other than his wife. The second is emotional unfaithfulness. Many husbands get to a point in marriage where they don’t feel sexually fulfilled and rather than discuss it with their wives, they turn to pornography. Because there is no physical contact, it seems ok. However, Jesus said that if we look at women with lust, we have committed adultery. Pornography is rampant, even in Christian marriages and it is tearing them apart.

Coming soon....
'The Power of a Woman!!!'

Nov 7, 2006

Greatness!!



Does anyone know where I can find one of these hats?????
I love em'!!!!!

Nov 4, 2006

Is it just me???



Maybe it is just me, but I thought I'd share with all of you one of the things I always say to Mark about this picture....He looks like Robert Sean Leonard from Dead Poets Society!!

Oct 25, 2006

Warfare....



There have been a lot of battles in my life lately and they have caused me to realize that there are only 2 choices in every war...lay down & be defeated or FIGHT! I choose to fight! Jesus says in Joel 3:
Proclaim this among the nations:

Prepare for war!
Rouse the warriors!
Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.
Beat your plowshares into swords
and your pruning hooks into spears.
Let the weakling say,
"I am strong!"
...
But the LORD will be a refuge for his people,
a
stronghold for the people of Israel.
This has been MY verse lately! I have been so tempted to admit defeat, to lay down, and to abort the things that God wants to do in me. But, I just can't! God promises that He will never leave me or forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:6) and that He WILL complete the work that He started in me (Phillipians 1:6) and that He has already given me the victory
(1 Corinthians 15:57)!

I'm in the midst of refining. Jesus is continually changing me, burning away the dross; the things that will abort His will in my life. But this is a hard road to walk. Sometimes you feel so alone. Like no one could understand the weight of this burden. And then you remember, there is someone:
He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried
it was our sorrows that weighed him down.

And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
a punishment for his own sins!
But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
the sins of us all.'
Isaiah 53

May I not forget that His pain was much greater than mine. And that His pain was for my victory! Victory over sin, bondage, insecurity, unforgiveness, anger, anxiety, fear, condemnation, confusion & death! That is my VICTORY!! His death was for my LIFE!!

Oct 20, 2006

These are a few of my favorite things...































































Wanna find these??:

www.moderntots.com
www.tottrendsweekly.com
www.oldnavy.com
www.gap.com