Friends that want to hang out

Monday, March 21, 2011

Swimming Upstream


"If life is a river, then pursuing Christ requires swimming upstream. When we stop swimming, or actively following Him, we automatically begin to be swept downstream" Francis Chan - Crazy Love

This statement is so true....

Like any relationship if we don't work at it - it starts to lose its strength... its meaning... The love and fire you once had will soon lose its radiant glow....

We need to actively pursue God and Let Him in and stay there!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

My Thankful List

I am thankful that my mom is now cancer-free!

I am thankful that my daughters continue to be healthy.

I am thankful that my husband has a job he loves..

I am thankful for my sisters..

I am thankful for a warm home..

I am thankful that I am watching the rain from my bedroom window cozy in my bed..

I am thankful that all my needs and wants are continually met.

I am thankful that I have excellent insurance and doctors..

I am thankful that Christ is my Savior and I know all good things come from Him..

I am thankful that I live in a part of the world that is not suffering from war.. from famine, from the damages of earthquakes and tsunamis..

And Jesus answered and said to them; "Take heed that no one deceives you, For many will come in My name, saying 'I am the Christ' and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pas, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.. Matthew 24:4-8

Thursday, March 17, 2011

What Does "Amen" Mean?


Whenever we pray to God.. to Jesus... We end our prayer by saying "Amen"... But what does Amen really mean?? I always thought it meant - A Man... not sure why... maybe because of the spelling? In my study today... I finally learned what it meant....

Amen comes from a Hebrew word meaning "trustworthy" or "true". Therefore, saying amen means that you agree with what was prayed and that God is trustworthy to answer the prayer. Sometimes Jesus even begins his teaching by saying, "Amen, amen," which means, in essence, "you can take what I'm about to say to the bank."

Thought this was pretty cool and wanted to share....




**photo from Flickr

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Not Trusting Enough.. again


A friend called me yesterday on the phone... She had seen that I called her cell earlier that day and did not leave a message... She thought that I may have called her about my mom and her recent surgery... I had called her because I wanted to talk to my friend...

As we talked about what's been going on in my life lately - she asked if she could pray with me... So she prayed for me over the phone....

In her prayer she said that I trusted God to take care of me.. My mom.. my children.. my marriage... And in that prayer I realized that I had stopped trusting Him... I was taking control again.. And I realized in that moment that I had to let go..... again..

** thank you Roxanna for calling me.. praying with me.. and knowing my heart..

Psalm 40:1-2 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.

John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on Earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have over the World.

Romans 5:3-4 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us - they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character...

1 Peter 1:8 Though you do not see him, you trust him; and even now you are happy.

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Fasting from Snacks...


My church recently had a 40 day fast... I did not participate.. My youngest daughter did - She did not fast from "food" - she fasted from candy... She fasted from her favorite thing.. She did this because she wanted to give God her best... and she did... On day 41.... She was tearing down the candy aisle.. My husband fasted from wine and all other liquors and salt.. On day 41 - he made himself a diet coke and Myers Rum.... My oldest decided she would fast from her electronics.. that lasted a day.... maybe 2.. (Today - both of my kids are fasting from their electronics - you can read about it here)

I am not Catholic so I do not participate in Ash Wednesday or Lent. But I do believe it is important to give God our Best.. Lent reminds us of Jesus' 40 day fast in the wilderness... Lent is a time to let go of an Earthy desire until Easter time...

I love to snack... whether it's my diet bars... ice chips (yep that's a favorite snack of mine) or a jar of chocolate frosting... I will not snack period.. I will eat my 3 meals and that's it... I know this is pretty small but God knows my heart and I know he likes it...

How about you?

Kelly's Ideas: Guess What I'm Getting Today???

Kelly's Ideas: Guess What I'm Getting Today???

I've Become My Mother!: To My Mom...

I've Become My Mother!: To My Mom...

Monday, March 7, 2011

One Day I Will See His Face....

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now; you believe in him and are filled with inexpressible and glorious joy. 1 Peter 8

This was a verse from yesterday's sermon.... This verse made me think of a child in our womb.. We do not see the child but we love them... Even before we felt the first kick..... We are filled with joy....

Just because we do not see Jesus.. (yet) does not take away the joy and love I feel everyday from Him..... and I know that one day...... I will see His face and stand in Awe in His presence.....

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Struggling With Work.. Family.. Time...


Hard to believe a year ago this month - my husband was laid off... He was home for six months.... During that six month time - I worked more than I had ever worked... By the grace of God - I was able to support our family during this time. My small business took flight and I had more clients than I could handle...... It was a difficult time for me mentally... physically... I was working 7 days a week.. Over 12 hours a day... I refused to turn down business - I was on over-drive... I was too busy thinking about me... poor me... No time for me... I was too selfish to see God in the middle of this... I was too blind to see that my husband was struggling... I was too stressed to see my kids suffering from lack of attention from me and from my husband... All I saw was I was making money and we needed money and that was that.... And today - thinking about that time... I am ashamed..... God provided for our needs... He was there.... I tried to take control away from Him.. and in that power struggle - I missed out on a summer with my kids... I missed out on spending some good one on one time with my husband.. He was home... He had time for me... And I blew it!

Today - I tried to talk to the husband. It's tough at times... His main focus now is work.. He loves his job - but it's a really busy job... Taking him away from home every week... And when he is home - he is still working..... And when he isn't working -he wants to relax.. His relaxation is golf... watching sports... browsing Ebay... He does not want to get into conversations about the day to day trials of raising strong minded teenagers.. He does not want to hear his wife nag.. He wants his family "happy" - He wants everything in its place... And to tell you the truth - it pisses me off! I want my husband's attention.. I want him to be a part of our family.... I miss my husband.. and my kids miss their dad....

My point is not to throw my husband under the bus.. He is a good man.. He is a good father.. He is a good provider... My point is that like me -He has become blind to what's around him... He is self focused... and I am not doing a good job of turning his focus towards me.. towards us.... Getting in his face about his lack of attention and time does will not work.. I need to turn to God... I need to give Him control... I need to allow God to turn this around...

God's original design for the family will not be destroyed. Right now we may be struggling with our relationships - We live in a sinful world.. But God does promise us that He will wipe away every tear... All through the Bible there is so much encouragement... Reading Ephesians is a good thing for me to read today....

I have no doubt that all will turn around.. I believe in my man... and I know without a doubt that God is in Control and is on our side.....

Thursday, March 3, 2011

A Prayer Request For My Mom....


On March 10th at 7 in the morning my mom is going into the hospital... She is going to say goodbye to both of her breasts... Her surgery is scheduled for 8 AM...

This is my prayer request... This is my prayer...

Father God - Please let your presence be known to my mom... Let your love comfort her. Please guide the surgeons' hands to remove all of the cancer... I pray that the cancer has not spread.. I pray that her recovery will be fast... I pray that she will feel no fear... but only peace... Father - I also pray for my sisters - I pray that they too will feel peace... and no fear... She is our mom and we love her... She is the only parent we have left and we want her to be happy... healthy... fear-free....

Thank you Father for loving us....

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