There are very few pictures of Mark and I that I really like (well me in the pics)! But today Leah took some of us and... I LOVE THEM!!! Here they are...
Feb 25, 2007
My 'Champion'
I wanted to give honor to one of my greatest friends in the whole world! On February 23rd she exceeded my expectations. One of the nurses continued to call her 'Champ' & 'Champion' ! She truly was! She became my hero & champion while she endured a hard labor to deliver her beautful little Liv all the while maintaining her 'manners' & sense of humor even in the midst of it all! What an honor it was for me to be a witness to this miracle! Thanks Chris & Christy for letting me be a part of your extra special day! I love you much!!!!
Feb 23, 2007
"The Blessing of a Storm"
I did not know His love before,
The way I know it now.
I could not see my need for Him,
My pride would not allow.
I had it all, without a care,
The "Self-sufficient" lie.
My path was smooth, my sea was still,
Not a cloud was in my sky.
I thought I knew His love for me,
I thought I'd seen His grace,
I thought I did not need to grow,
I thought I'd found my place.
But then the way grew rough and dark,
The storm clouds quickly rolled;
The waves began to rock my ship,
I found I had no hold.
The ship that I had built myself
Was made of foolish pride.
It fell apart and left me bare,
With nowhere else to hide
I had no strength or faith to face
The trials that lay ahead,
And so I simply spoke His name
And bowed my weary head.
His loving arms enveloped me,
And then He helped me stand.
He said, "You still must face this storm,
But I will hold your hand."
So through the dark and lonely night
He guided me through pain.
I could not see the light of day
Or when I'd smile again.
Yet through the pain and endless tears,
My faith began to grow.
I could not see it at the time,
But my light began to glow.
I saw God's love in a brand new light,
His grace and mercy, too.
For only when all self was gone could
Jesus' love shine through.
It was not easy in the storm,
I sometimes wondered why.
At times I thought, "I can’t go on."
I'd hurt, and doubt, and cry.
But Jesus never left my side,
He guided me each day.
Through pain and strife,
Through fire and flood,
He helped me all the way.
And now I see as ne'er before
How great His love can be,
How in my weakness He is strong,
How Jesus cares for me!
He worked it all out for my good,
Although the way was rough.
He only sent what I could bear,
And then He said, "Enough!"
He raised His hand and said, "Be still!"
He made the storm clouds cease.
He opened up the gates of joy
And flooded me with peace.
I saw His face now clearer still,
I felt His presence strong,
I found anew His faithfulness,
He never did me wrong.
And now I know more storms will come,
But only for my good,
For pain and tears have helped me grow
As nothing ever could.
I still have so much more to learn
As Jesus works in me;
If in the storm I'll love Him more,
That's where I want to be!
The way I know it now.
I could not see my need for Him,
My pride would not allow.
I had it all, without a care,
The "Self-sufficient" lie.
My path was smooth, my sea was still,
Not a cloud was in my sky.
I thought I knew His love for me,
I thought I'd seen His grace,
I thought I did not need to grow,
I thought I'd found my place.
But then the way grew rough and dark,
The storm clouds quickly rolled;
The waves began to rock my ship,
I found I had no hold.
The ship that I had built myself
Was made of foolish pride.
It fell apart and left me bare,
With nowhere else to hide
I had no strength or faith to face
The trials that lay ahead,
And so I simply spoke His name
And bowed my weary head.
His loving arms enveloped me,
And then He helped me stand.
He said, "You still must face this storm,
But I will hold your hand."
So through the dark and lonely night
He guided me through pain.
I could not see the light of day
Or when I'd smile again.
Yet through the pain and endless tears,
My faith began to grow.
I could not see it at the time,
But my light began to glow.
I saw God's love in a brand new light,
His grace and mercy, too.
For only when all self was gone could
Jesus' love shine through.
It was not easy in the storm,
I sometimes wondered why.
At times I thought, "I can’t go on."
I'd hurt, and doubt, and cry.
But Jesus never left my side,
He guided me each day.
Through pain and strife,
Through fire and flood,
He helped me all the way.
And now I see as ne'er before
How great His love can be,
How in my weakness He is strong,
How Jesus cares for me!
He worked it all out for my good,
Although the way was rough.
He only sent what I could bear,
And then He said, "Enough!"
He raised His hand and said, "Be still!"
He made the storm clouds cease.
He opened up the gates of joy
And flooded me with peace.
I saw His face now clearer still,
I felt His presence strong,
I found anew His faithfulness,
He never did me wrong.
And now I know more storms will come,
But only for my good,
For pain and tears have helped me grow
As nothing ever could.
I still have so much more to learn
As Jesus works in me;
If in the storm I'll love Him more,
That's where I want to be!
Feb 15, 2007
Feb 12, 2007
God-child #3!!
Yahoo!! Mark & I are going to be God-parents to a new Penner baby!
Congrats to them & to us..haha!
Feb 4, 2007
Not so many posts anymore....
Well, my parents have safely returned now which is great! The downer is I won't be posting so much! My dad needs his computer alot for work so he will have it most of the time. I hope to get on at least once a week to share some of whats going on. But as for now, i thought I'd give you a quadruple whammy of great pics to hold you over...until we meet again...smiles!!!! Love, Me!!
pictures on www.deviantart.com
Feb 3, 2007
'Praise You In This Storm'
And I'll praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands for You are who You are no matter where I am and every tear I've cried You hold in your hand You never left my side and though my heart is torn I will praise You in this storm
Song lyrics by Casting Crowns
photo by Julia Stiles (10 things I hate about you)
Feb 2, 2007
Courage
"Courage is not the absence of fear, rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear"
Ambrose Redmoon
picture by 'josemanchado' at deviantart.com
Feb 1, 2007
Beautiful...
I love the lighting on the picture...it has the 60's vibe for some reason!
No inspirational thoughts though!
Enjoy
picture by 'Mediocre Matt' at deviantart.com
Jan 31, 2007
Who are you and Who am I?
These are a duo for today's pic of the day.
They both portray a huge message for me!
The first shows desperation & despair. The mask she thought would hide her, really exposed the pain, and she longs for the freedom & transformation she sees in the butterfly.
And so she lets her guard fall and you see the broken beauty underneath.
The second one shows the extent to which some will go to put on a facade. They cover who they really are, but like the first picture, you still see through it.
This reflects a bit of how I'm feeling in me and what I see in others.
Jesus has made us who we are! We are a new creation. The old has gone and the new has come! We need to live in that.
BE WHO YOU ARE!!!!!
Don't try to be somebody else because you're afraid of what people might think of you.
Be YOU!!
photos by Lara Jade @ www.larajade.com
Jan 30, 2007
The Touch of the Masters Hand
Happy Birthday Mommy!!
Today's photo is dedicated to my Mom. I added the poem too cause she loves it!
Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin,but held it up with a smile; "What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,"Who'll start the bidding for me?" "A dollar, a dollar"; then two!" "Only two? Two dollars, and who'll make it three? Three dollars, once; threedollars twice; going for three.." But no, from the room, far back, a gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow; Then, wiping the dust from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings, he played a melody pure and sweet as caroling angel sings.The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low,said; "What am I bid for the old violin?" And he held it up with the bow. A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two? Two thousand! And who'll make it three? Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice, and going and gone," said he. The people cheered, but some of them cried, "We do not quite understand what changed its worth."
Swift came the reply: "The touch of a master's hand."
And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin,Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin, A"mess of pottage," a glass of wine; a game - and he travels on. "He is going" once, and "going twice, He's going and almost gone." But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd never can quite understand the worth of a soul and the change that's wrought by the touch of the Master's hand
Jan 29, 2007
mY nEW fAVE: iMOGEN hEAP
Just For Now (live at Studio 11 103.1FM)
This girl is absolutely incredible. If you can't figure out what she's doing, she's recording each track and looping it to make her own music....I totally love it!
This girl is absolutely incredible. If you can't figure out what she's doing, she's recording each track and looping it to make her own music....I totally love it!
New Challenge for Me...
Well, we are at my folks house now. Haven't lived with them for 5 years. Should be an adventure. But the new challenge for me is I'm going to post a picture, painting or portrait that I love every day for you all to enjoy. Let me know what you think! None of it will be my own work- all others masterpieces!
Jan 16, 2007
Jan 15, 2007
Jan 12, 2007
The Many Faces of Jacob...
The Yawn
The Constipated Dimples
Prelude to the Dry Heave
The Dry Heave
The Flirty Grin
The Sleepy Grin
Jan 11, 2007
Its been a while...
Hey there everyone! It truly has been a while. Please keep us in your prayers! We are going through God's valley right now. I say God's valley because we know that it is the hand of God that has brought us here and the hand of God that will bring us through, but it is not easy!
We wanted to share this song that has ministered to us lately
Now is the time
by Delirious (album: Mission Bell)
I’m a father and a son; I’ve been a lover with just one,
But this world can get me all undone,And I’m frightened I’m the only one.
I wrestle with the thoughts I keep,If I sow the seed of arrogance
then it’s loneliness I’ll reap,It’s loneliness I’ll reap.
Please don’t leave me stranded here,With a head of lies and a heart of fear.
Please don’t leave me stranded here,With a head of lies and a heart of fear.
My life’s a show on Gods TV,The world an audience, watching me.
So wake me, shake me, keep me sharp,As I touch the power of Gods great harp.
So wake me, shake me, keep me sharp,As I touch the power of Gods great harp.
And this world can fill your head with praise,That steals me from eternal grace.
So how can I serve God and wealth?
I can captivate an army, but I can’t control myself.I can’t control myself.
Ghostly figure out at sea, I hear a voice that’s calling me,
Ghostly figure out at sea, I hear a voice that’s calling me,
To walk upon the waves of faith.For in the arms of God, I am safe.
All this time, since the day that I was born,
I’ve never known a time like this,
I don’t wanna let you down.
I will sing, sing for your light has come.
I will sing, sing for your light has come.
Nov 25, 2006
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)
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. |
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!!!
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
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.
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!!
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