What a day this has been…

Well, I got up at 4:15 am to be at the church at 5:30 am for my leadership group.  These early days are kicking my butt.  Then with my poor husband being sick makes me feel bad for him.  He has been running a fever and sounds terrible.

I can’t believe how hard and loud the rain was this morning when I woke up.  But I slept like a log last night.  Do you ever wonder why you sleep better when it rains?  I do, and I would like to know the answer on that.

Then at work, I have been swamped.  Not that it is a bad thing, just that right now I am just now getting caught up from Friday.  What a pain that is.  Anyway, I can’t complain, at last I have a job to go to everyday and I do enjoy the people that I work with.

Anyway, I hope everyone is having a good day.

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

Your eternal word, O LORD,     stands firm in heaven … Your regulations remain true to this day,     for everything serves your plans.Psalm 119:89, 91

Encouragement for Today

God’s Word is eternal; its truth will never change, nor will it pass away. For those who don’t see the Bible as relevant to today, these verses refute that stance. God’s Word, his laws, his truth stands firm forever, and everything that happens still serves his plan. Can you let this truth give you peace today? As you dwell on God’s Word, rest in the fact that everything serves his plans. As you put yourself in the way of God’s good plan by obedience, you can experience amazing peace.

Have a good day and I will talk to everyone later.  Love, love!!!

This weekend so far has been great…

It is early Sunday morning and so far the sun isn’t shining, but I’m anxious to see how the weather will be today.  Yesterday it was gorgeous and around 68 degrees.  I did get out and work in the garage a little.  I didn’t get a whole lot done, but one corner I did get my shelves in and was able to put my small appliances out there so they didn’t take up so much room in my kitchen.

Last night was nice.  We went over to a couples house and had a great conversation with them.  We are hoping to have another couple over next weekend.  Although, I think a couple of the leaders at church are coming over on Friday for dinner.  We have told them several times that we need to have them over and something always comes up on either side.  So I think this Friday will be the day.

I hope everyone is having a blessed weekend.  I also pray that everyone is spending time with God.  That is the most important thing to do.

The late Fred Rogers once said, “Since we were children once, the roots for our empathy are already planted within us. We’ve known what it was like to feel small and powerless, helpless and confused. When we can feel something of what our children might be feeling, it will help us begin to figure out what our children need from us.”

Let’s build on Fred’s thought for a moment. We adults know what it feels like to accomplish something and wonder if anyone noticed or valued the feat. When a parent makes it a point to understand what his or her child likely feels in a situation—rather than simply focusing on the situation itself—then that parent gains an excellent opportunity to speak life-changing words.

1 John 3:16

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.“

Have a great rest of the weekend and I will talk to everyone tomorrow!!!  Love, love!!!  XOXOXO

Oh beautiful day…

Yesterday I was griping about how cold the weather was and today the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and it’s not to chilly outside.  Right now, I am at home, eating lunch, typing on here on my computer, enjoying the time off, OK, the 1/2 day I have every Friday, and I’m going to start back into reading my book.  I read some of the book by Anne Rice last night.  So far it’s kind of cool to read about Jesus as a 7 year old boy.  I’m going to get back into it.

So anyway, tonight we have our Group Leadership Community at church.  We’re supposed to have pizza, salad, and dessert, but since Brian and I are trying to watch what we eat, I’m going to make us fish and mashed cauliflower.  It will be good though. 

We both really have a lot of weight to get off of us.  I would love to be on The Biggest Loser and have Bob or Jillian kick my butt into shape.  I know it would be very hard to do, but I would be willing to do it.  I’ve done it once, but for some reason, I just don’t have the will power right now.  Then again, it doesn’t help that there is a candy bowl on the front desk of the office and who sits at the front desk?  Me!!!

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

“To the faithful you show yourself faithful;     to those with integrity you show integrity. To the pure you show yourself pure,     but to the wicked you show yourself hostile.” 2 Samuel 22:26–27

Encouragement for Today

Our perception of God and what he’s like is colored by our own character. God doesn’t change, but our ability to perceive his character is linked to who we are. Perhaps this is why God wants us to become more and more like him: so we can know him more fully. Jesus said eternal life is to know God truly. How do you experience God? What does that say about you at this moment? What in your own character might you want to work on prayerfully? (For instance, if you struggle with his goodness, how good are you?)

Have a blessed day and keep pressing into Jesus!!!  Love, love!!!  XOXOXO

Rain, Rain, Go Away!!!

I would really like to have a couple of really nice days to go out and shoot some pictures.  It is just so rainy and cold that I would rather crawl into bed and not get out until it warms up.  Brrrrrr!!!  Brian has his leadership group tonight, and while he is gone, I’m going to try to get some laundry done and maybe read a little.  I really need to finish my chapter of Desiring God.  I would rather read my new book I got by Anne Rice.  It’s called Christ the Lord, Out of Egypt.  It’s not her newest one, but it is new to me.  It got a lot of great reviews, so I’m just interested in how it really is.

So anyway, last night at New Community, we listened to 5 of the 7 people that went to South Africa speak on their experiences.  What they took away from the trip, both their Joys and Sorrows.  I enjoyed hearing what everyone talked about, except for one story.  That person was just so monotone.  You would think that when you talk about an experience you have had, you would have an excited tone about how you can or have made a difference even in one persons life, and it just didn’t sound like there was any joy in their life about it at all.  I understand everyone having a humbling experience due to the conditions of a place like South Africa’s poor Providences, but come on, you had to be excited about something, or maybe excited isn’t the word I’m looking for.  Just show some kind of emotion instead of looking like stone and sounding like there isn’t any feeling in your body what so ever.  I don’t know but that was my observation.

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

I look up to the mountains—     does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD,     who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble;     the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel     never slumbers or sleeps.Psalm 121:1–4

Encouragement for Today

The psalmist looks to the mountains, seemingly so strong and stable. Can his help come from there? No, his help comes from the one who created those mountains and the whole earth and heavens, besides! When tempted to trust only in earthly things, go deeper to the true Source of power and solidity—God. The One who watches over you and over all his people constantly, without even a nanosecond of a pause, is eager to come to your aid.

Well, I hope every has a blessed day.  Hopefully y’all will stay dry.  Love, love!!!  XOXOXO

It was a nice long weekend…

Sorry I haven’t written anything in a few days.  My husband and I have had a major case of the “Lazies!!!”  Brian took off work on Friday and had a total Jesus morning.  When I got home around 12:45 he was watching Dead Man Walking.  That is an awesome movie.  He said his day started out with watching a DVD by Lee Strobel, the watching The Passion of the Christ, then was watching Dead Man Walking.  He said everything he did, Jesus was there.  How cool is that?

Yesterday, we didn’t even go to church.  We got up late.  But I did leave the house at noon to go take pictures for some friends of ours that had family in from out of the states.  I have a few things to do to them and then I will have them on a website for them all to view and order the pictures of their choice.  It was a great day.

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

“I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.” John 17:15

Encouragement for Today

If you’re a parent, you can adapt Jesus’ prayer for his disciples to your own prayers for your children. You may feel a desire to take them out of the world, but Jesus models that the truer-to-reality request is that God himself would keep them safe from the evil one. Notice how this actually leads to more peace: rather than leaning on your own attempts to keep the world from your children, you entrust them to God’s care. You ask and then trust God to take care of them. Your role is to pray, not to shelter.

Hope everyone has a blessed day.  Keep pressing into Jesus!!! 

Can you believe it is already Thursday???

I can’t believe it is already Thursday.  This week has just been flying by.  Brian is going to take off work tomorrow, and I am going to go ahead and come into work.  I have reports that I need to take care of, but at least I get out around 12:30 pm.  Then I think I will take him out to lunch.

Last night was an interesting night.  We had our group and a new couple showed up.  Very sweet older couple.  I would say they are probably in their early 70’s.  The questions went well, everyone who answered had great answers.  Even the new couple answered a couple of questions.  One thing we started out the evening with was to “Be Still” and listen to God.  It is a hard thing to do, but it was very cool.

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

[The woman said,] “All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him.” “I have come to plead with my lord the king because people have threatened me. I said to myself, ‘Perhaps the king will listen to me and rescue us from those who would cut us off from the inheritance God has given us. Yes, my lord the king will give us peace of mind again.’ I know that you are like an angel of God in discerning good from evil. May the LORD your God be with you.” “I must know one thing,” the king replied, “and tell me the truth.” “Yes, my lord the king,” she responded. “Did Joab put you up to this?” And the woman replied, “My lord the king, how can I deny it? Nobody can hide anything from you. Yes, Joab sent me and told me what to say. He did it to place the matter before you in a different light. But you are as wise as an angel of God, and you understand everything that happens among us!” So the king sent for Joab and told him, “All right, go and bring back the young man Absalom.” 2 Samuel 14:14–21

Encouragement for Today

There was trouble in David’s family. Joab knew it, but David was in denial. Joab sent a woman to David to try to persuade him to reconcile to his son, Absalom. She based her argument on the way God himself is and the way he acts toward us. God the Father is always our example. The more we understand of him, the wiser our own decisions will be. David wasn’t acting like the God he trusted concerning Absalom. Joab and this woman forced David to deal with his family issues. We can’t ignore unpleasant realities, especially in our own families!

Hope everyone has a blessed day.  Love, love!!!  XOXOXO

I am so tired…

Every Monday night I go to bed around 8 or 8:30 pm.  Only because I get up at 4:15 am on Tuesday mornings.  Well for some reason, last night around Midnight, I woke up thinking I was running late.  Oh man, is that miserable.  So I rolled over hoping to get back to sleep and of course, I could hear every little things going on in the house or better yet our room.  I could hear the wind blowing like a fiend, and the house cracking from the wind.  Needless to say, I am so ready to fall into bed right now.  But we all know that isn’t how it is going to work.  I’ll get home, make dinner, read some of the word, watch some TV (The Biggest Loser), and not get to bed till after 9 pm.  Who knows how it is going to be.

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

It’s not good to eat too much honey,     and it’s not good to seek honors for yourself. Proverbs 25:27

Encouragement for Today

Do you deserve honors? Perhaps you do. Receiving them doesn’t seem to be the problem; seeking them does. Why? Perhaps because it’s so sweet to be recognized that it’s difficult to know when to stop. It’s okay to eat honey, but too much of it will make you sick, rot your teeth, and spoil your appetite for more nutritious food. So too, seeking honors for yourself can make you focus too much on yourself and not enough on God or other people. Receive honors if you deserve them. Just don’t seek them. There is a difference.

Does anyone ever feel that way?  Do you feel as though you deserve to receive honors?  Why are you looking for those honors?  I think when I do a job well, I enjoy it when my boss notices that I have been working hard and that I have done a good job.  Her recognition makes me feel good.  I don’t expect it, but I’m glad it gets noticed.  Just a few thoughts.

Have a good night.  Love, love!!!  XOXOXO

He is Risen…

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightening, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he is risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” (Matthew 28:2-7)

I Hope everyone has a great Easter and remembers the real reason on why we celebrate.  Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice for us.  I love you!!!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!!!  XOXOXO

Things are better…

I had been crying all day yesterday, reading in Proverbs where they are talking about that lying is an abomination to the Lord.  Man, talk about getting another kick in the butt.  When Brian got home from work, we decided to just move forward with our lives.  I was so happy with that.  So everything is good and I can say that I won’t ever do that again.  I still don’t know why I did it in the first place.

Tonight at group we are going to be doing our timelines.  I have been working on mine this morning trying to remember new things that have gone on to update my timeline.  I know that this will either really bother everyone, or they will all be fine with it.  It is definitely a 50/50 shot.  I’m really praying that everyone will be very open with this.  I know there are a couple of people that can’t make it tonight, and I wish they could, but I completely understand why they aren’t.  I’m kind of thinking tonight might not be a good day to do it since it is the day before Easter, but I guess we will see when we get there.   God will lead us in what we will be doing.

If the cross—willingly suffering at the hands of the powers—is such a central message to the Gospels, the church will need to reconsider its political worldview. the cross wasn’t a politically triumphant “reclaiming Israel for God” or a prideful assertion of Israel’s privilege in the world. Rather the cross is the sign of God’s humble way in the world; instead of ruling the world through a sword, God would wash its feet with a towel. The crucifixion story is not only about Jesus’ suffering love. The biblical story carries us from believing in Jesus to imitating him. We join him in his way of the cross ( 2 Corinthians 2:14-16).

“Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”  Ephesians 6:10-11

Happy Easter everyone and remember to keep pressing into Jesus!!!  Love, love!!!  XOXOXO

I am a bad wife…

I am going to confess here on the net.  Brian and I are fighting right now.  I don’t know why I did, but I lied to him yesterday.  First off, my cell phone fell and busted so 3 days ago, I purchased a cell phone for $26.50 off of eBay.  When I did purchase it, he was on the phone and I didn’t tell him about it.  Then yesterday I mentioned that I have found a cell phone.  He asked if I bought it and I told him I had bidded on it.  I have no idea why I didn’t just say yes and it will be here anytime.  So anyway, it was in the mailbox yesterday and that is where it all “hit the fan.”  Then I told him that I bought it 2 days ago and I am truly surprised that it had arrived.  So needless to say, we have not spoken to each other since last night.  Now we have been discussing on what we are going to do in our relationship.  I can’t believe I did that.  I am so stupid.  So that is my confession.

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

If the godly give in to the wicked,     its like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring. Proverbs 25:26

Encouragement for Today

There’s opposition between those who know God and those who do not. You can’t mix the values and the direction of life any more than you can truly mix oil and water. If we compromise with evil, we are no longer pure; we’re like a polluted fountain or muddied spring. How might you be compromising with wickedness? Is everything you do, watch, listen to, or take part in compatible with God’s standards? If not, what specific action can you take to restore and maintain purity?

Hmmm, I’ve been asking myself basically the same question.  Especially now that Brian won’t speak to me or even trust anything that I say.  Not that I don’t blame him, cause I don’t, but I don’t like this at all.

Take care…Love, love!!!