So I've been inspired by another blog that I read, mycharmingkids.net. MckMama wrote an amazing post. Throughout the day today I kept thinking about the word salvation and a song popped in my head with that word and I can't get it out! I believe in absolute truth and regardless if someone doesn't believe Jesus died on the cross doesn't mean it's not true. I read through my journal tonight and found an entry that I was pretty passionate about at the time. I am glad to be reminded of it and thought I would share. I know, I write about the same things over and over again, but hey, I can't not do it because.... "I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back." (LOVE the new Selah CD and the last sentence is lyrics from an old hymn that they sing on the CD, LOVE IT!)
**Death is an inevitable reality. That fact doesn't make death any easier. But, what does make it bearable is the FACT that this- what we see here is temporary. Your relationship with God through Jesus Christ WILL determine where you will spend eternity, Heaven or Hell. I ask you, not if you believe in God, because the bible, James 2:19 says "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder." But do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? I used to think I was a good enough person and would probably go to heaven. I was wrong! My good enough will never get me there, nor anyone else's. See, Jesus paid the ulitmate price for our sins, all we have to do is accept the gift of salvation. I used to be searching for something. Nothing I found made me happy for a long period of time. One day I was broken and I cried out to God. Jeremiah 29:11-13 is so true - "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." When you seek God you will find Him. He will change your life. II Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone the new has come." Change will come in your life and God will help you if you allow Him. He will take those desires away and you will become a work in progress.
But, let me warn you that God knows your heart. James 2:26 "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." I'm not saying you can earn your way to heaven but if you are truly saved, you will SEE change. Your friends change, places you go change, shows you watch change, music you listen to changes etc. It's so easy to be "changed" for an hour on Sunday. What about the rest of your week, do you live like a changed person or do you look like the world? Do you read the bible and follow what it says? James 1:22-24 " Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediatley forgets what he looks like." Pretty powerful isn't it?
Jesus Christ is real and changes lives! When you leave this earth, you can't take anything with you. I guarantee you - you will not be wishing you would have drank more, bought a better car, worked more, and so on. Eternity is something hard for us to fathom. Do you want to wait until your at that point to decide what is important? It will be too late then. God is knocking, will you open the door of your heart and let him in?***
So there you go, a little peak inside my journal. Not that this looks like a typical journal entry. I'm not sure what was going on that day but that is what I wrote. Hope everyone's week is going well!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
The lost can be found
It is so hard at times to know that everything happens for a reason. At times I wish we could see why. But God loves us and knows what is best. We probably couldn't handle the why any better than the current struggle. Every pain has a purpose. God has a plan for each one of us. He knows the struggles we will go through, the bad decisions we'll make, and more importantly than that, where we will spend an eternity. It may just be me, but it seems like the older I get, the more sad things happen. There are days that I just can't take watching the news or reading blogs. I just get so consumed!
I look back on my life and can see why God placed me on a certain path. I've gone through some tough times but so far I have to say it was worth it. Never thought I would say that. Even with Bailey, at times, I can understand a little, why she's had to go through some things that she really shouldn't have to deal with at her age.
Recently I shared with my Dad the dream I had about my youngest brother. I wrote a post on it back in June. It still bothers me and as a matter of fact it really bothers me that there are sooo many people out there that don't know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. I used to be one of those people and just didn't see what the big deal was about religion/God. But, I'll tell you, when I GOT it, I GOT IT! So now, I may seem like a bible thumping, holy roller to some (yes, I've been called that) but that isn't an insult to me. We (christians) are supposed to be different than others. I believe that the Bible is God's true and living word. How can I believe that and not want to share with others what God has done for me?
Lord, I just pray for those that don't know you, that they'll come closer to knowing you today. Thank you Lord that the lost can be found!
I look back on my life and can see why God placed me on a certain path. I've gone through some tough times but so far I have to say it was worth it. Never thought I would say that. Even with Bailey, at times, I can understand a little, why she's had to go through some things that she really shouldn't have to deal with at her age.
Recently I shared with my Dad the dream I had about my youngest brother. I wrote a post on it back in June. It still bothers me and as a matter of fact it really bothers me that there are sooo many people out there that don't know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. I used to be one of those people and just didn't see what the big deal was about religion/God. But, I'll tell you, when I GOT it, I GOT IT! So now, I may seem like a bible thumping, holy roller to some (yes, I've been called that) but that isn't an insult to me. We (christians) are supposed to be different than others. I believe that the Bible is God's true and living word. How can I believe that and not want to share with others what God has done for me?
Lord, I just pray for those that don't know you, that they'll come closer to knowing you today. Thank you Lord that the lost can be found!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Honeymoon story
Since I haven't posted in a while I thought I would share with you the story of our honeymoon. Rick and Bubba are giving away a trip to the beach to the person with the worst honeymoon and giving them a 2nd chance at a good one. My sister has a great story too and she entered the contest too. Maybe one of us will win! Here it is:
Let me start by saying my husband and I are both horrible with directions and get lost often. We got married on April 16, 2004. We decided we would go to Gatlinburg since neither of us had never been. Strange I know. EVERYBODY had their opinion on the best way to get there. We opted for “get on X hwy and follow the signs.” Easy enough. When we reached Knoxville, we realized we must have missed a sign. Stopped, asked for directions, and was on our merry way. We get to Sevierville and there is apparently a car show going on that weekend. It took us 2 hours to go 2 miles!!!! Since we weren’t getting anywhere fast we decided we would just stay there and go into Gatlinburg the next morning. No one had rooms available and of course the rates were jacked up because of the car show. We finally found an available room with 2 single beds. At that point, whatever! Then we realized we had to eat, but the traffic was still crawling, people were sitting in chairs on the side of the road, in hotel parking lots, I guess to watch the traffic, drink adult beverages, and yell at the folks walking, since that seemed to be the best form of getting ANYWHERE! For our honeymoon, we walked across the street to CVS for dinner. Luckily, or not so lucky, our room had a microwave so we had microwave popcorn and cookies for dinner. We still tried to make the most of it and thought we would get up early, because surely a good portion of those people would be hungover and we could reach our destination with ease. Wrong!!! I guess everyone else wanted to start the day early or never went to bed, so traffic was bumper to bumper at 7:00 am!! At that point we decided it would be in our best interest to just go home. And that is just what we did!
Since our first honeymoon was not really a honeymoon we really deserve a second one……..and we do actually know how to get to the beach J
Let me start by saying my husband and I are both horrible with directions and get lost often. We got married on April 16, 2004. We decided we would go to Gatlinburg since neither of us had never been. Strange I know. EVERYBODY had their opinion on the best way to get there. We opted for “get on X hwy and follow the signs.” Easy enough. When we reached Knoxville, we realized we must have missed a sign. Stopped, asked for directions, and was on our merry way. We get to Sevierville and there is apparently a car show going on that weekend. It took us 2 hours to go 2 miles!!!! Since we weren’t getting anywhere fast we decided we would just stay there and go into Gatlinburg the next morning. No one had rooms available and of course the rates were jacked up because of the car show. We finally found an available room with 2 single beds. At that point, whatever! Then we realized we had to eat, but the traffic was still crawling, people were sitting in chairs on the side of the road, in hotel parking lots, I guess to watch the traffic, drink adult beverages, and yell at the folks walking, since that seemed to be the best form of getting ANYWHERE! For our honeymoon, we walked across the street to CVS for dinner. Luckily, or not so lucky, our room had a microwave so we had microwave popcorn and cookies for dinner. We still tried to make the most of it and thought we would get up early, because surely a good portion of those people would be hungover and we could reach our destination with ease. Wrong!!! I guess everyone else wanted to start the day early or never went to bed, so traffic was bumper to bumper at 7:00 am!! At that point we decided it would be in our best interest to just go home. And that is just what we did!
Since our first honeymoon was not really a honeymoon we really deserve a second one……..and we do actually know how to get to the beach J
Friday, July 10, 2009
Pass it on, baby!
Don't you just LOVE how God works? Through the day I know I say that so often....then I get home and can't remember to put it on my blog! I really need to get better at writing things down and be consistent. I would have so much to write about!
My latest story goes something like this. I read an amazing blog, which I'm sure most everyone reads, "Bring The Rain". Several weeks ago she mentioned a blog, (Pass it on,baby) that connects people that have baby/kids clothing to those in need. The donor ships directly to the one in need. Anyway, I added the site to my favorites. At the time there wasn't a need out there for what I had. For some reason I thought about that particular site this week and since our laptop was literally butchered by none other than Reese, I didn't have the site address and couldn't remember the name. At the time I couldn't even remember which blog mentioned it so I decided I could just google it. I searched for almost 2 hrs and couldn't find ANYTHING. The next day I decided to try again, and found it! What do you think at the top of the blog was the first size needed?? Boys clothing in the sizes I have! So, I emailed with my info.
I got a reply shortly after and I just cried. She said that moments before my email, a foster mother had emailed with the need of what I had! Crazy, just crazy! I am mailing the package tomorrow and I have never been so excited to mail something in my life! God is awesome and none of this is a coincidence! God provides and he uses little ol' me and you to fulfill his promises.
If you haven't heard of this before check it out! I have their button on the right side of my blog and this is just an awesome opportunity!
My latest story goes something like this. I read an amazing blog, which I'm sure most everyone reads, "Bring The Rain". Several weeks ago she mentioned a blog, (Pass it on,baby) that connects people that have baby/kids clothing to those in need. The donor ships directly to the one in need. Anyway, I added the site to my favorites. At the time there wasn't a need out there for what I had. For some reason I thought about that particular site this week and since our laptop was literally butchered by none other than Reese, I didn't have the site address and couldn't remember the name. At the time I couldn't even remember which blog mentioned it so I decided I could just google it. I searched for almost 2 hrs and couldn't find ANYTHING. The next day I decided to try again, and found it! What do you think at the top of the blog was the first size needed?? Boys clothing in the sizes I have! So, I emailed with my info.
I got a reply shortly after and I just cried. She said that moments before my email, a foster mother had emailed with the need of what I had! Crazy, just crazy! I am mailing the package tomorrow and I have never been so excited to mail something in my life! God is awesome and none of this is a coincidence! God provides and he uses little ol' me and you to fulfill his promises.
If you haven't heard of this before check it out! I have their button on the right side of my blog and this is just an awesome opportunity!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Dream
Do you ever have dreams that make you wonder what the meaning behind the dream is? I am starting to have more of them and the last one was a doozy (is that a word?). Last week I dreamed by youngest brother died of alcohol poisoning. He was in rehab last year and lets just say the rehab didn't help. You can probably tell from my last post that I feel very strongly and dislike alcohol very much. I've had numerous discussions with family members that don't think there is an urgency in helping him, motivating him, and encouraging him to not drink. I'm sorry, but alcoholics can't have 1 drink. Not to mention he has a 2 yr old daughter that he is raising... the mom hasn't seen her in at least the last 18 months.
Back to the dream. I dreamed he died and when I woke up I literally FELT the sadness and I sobbed (not cried, because hey, we all know I'm a crier) yes sobbed for an hour and a half. I normally go to the gym in the morning but I couldn't pull it together enough to even do that! So, I came downstairs and prayed and I've never had such a loss for words when praying. I know God heard my heart though. I was broken, completly broken. I wondered, why did I FEEL such sadness to that capacity? Then I thought that God probably grieves for us and this dying world like that. Why the dream, why the crying, what do I need to do with this?
The following day I tried calling my brother. I couldn't get him. I tried to think of the letter I sent him 2 1/2 yrs ago. I told him how much better my life was since I accepted Christ as my Saviour. I urged him to seek God's face and although his difficulties in life would still be there, he would have help and the greatest help of all. I wonder if he ever read the letter? I remember the night I wrote it. I was pregnant with Reese and I was wide awake at 3:00am and the words came to me with such ease! No doubt that was God. So, was this dream too, something God wanted to tell me?
After all the wondering, I think I finally started to realize what I was supposed to learn. One, it is not about the alcohol, just stop with all that, and realize the only decision one can make that REALLY matters is the decision you make to accept Jesus into your life and to live for God. Really when it's all said and done that is the ONLY thing that matters. I need to stop seeing the sin in others and focus on what really matters. My brother could die and would it matter that I so despised the drinking and I told him he needed to stop? No. Would it matter that he didn't know what it took to be saved and that no one ever bothered to take the time find out if he knew? Yes. I think we assume alot of times that since we live in the bible belt that EVERYONE knows who Jesus is. We can't assume.
The lyrics to one of my favorite songs says:
"Give me your eyes for just one second,
give me your eyes so I can see everything that I keep missing,
give me your love for humanity,
give me your arms for the broken hearted the ones that are far beyond my reach,
give me your eyes for the once forgotten..........."
I want to see others the way He sees them.
The last tidbit to the story is this.......The day before the dream I bought a book. The Hiding Place, the true story of Corrie Ten Boom. I had heard about her and a little about her story. Great book!! The ending really spoke to me. Corrie and her sister were imprisoned in Germany for hiding Jews. They suffered just unimaginable things. Corrie Ten Boom told her story to many and at the end of one of her speaking engagements one of the former guards of the prison she was in came up to her. I will quote from the book because I couldn't begin to tell in my own words.
Back to the dream. I dreamed he died and when I woke up I literally FELT the sadness and I sobbed (not cried, because hey, we all know I'm a crier) yes sobbed for an hour and a half. I normally go to the gym in the morning but I couldn't pull it together enough to even do that! So, I came downstairs and prayed and I've never had such a loss for words when praying. I know God heard my heart though. I was broken, completly broken. I wondered, why did I FEEL such sadness to that capacity? Then I thought that God probably grieves for us and this dying world like that. Why the dream, why the crying, what do I need to do with this?
The following day I tried calling my brother. I couldn't get him. I tried to think of the letter I sent him 2 1/2 yrs ago. I told him how much better my life was since I accepted Christ as my Saviour. I urged him to seek God's face and although his difficulties in life would still be there, he would have help and the greatest help of all. I wonder if he ever read the letter? I remember the night I wrote it. I was pregnant with Reese and I was wide awake at 3:00am and the words came to me with such ease! No doubt that was God. So, was this dream too, something God wanted to tell me?
After all the wondering, I think I finally started to realize what I was supposed to learn. One, it is not about the alcohol, just stop with all that, and realize the only decision one can make that REALLY matters is the decision you make to accept Jesus into your life and to live for God. Really when it's all said and done that is the ONLY thing that matters. I need to stop seeing the sin in others and focus on what really matters. My brother could die and would it matter that I so despised the drinking and I told him he needed to stop? No. Would it matter that he didn't know what it took to be saved and that no one ever bothered to take the time find out if he knew? Yes. I think we assume alot of times that since we live in the bible belt that EVERYONE knows who Jesus is. We can't assume.
The lyrics to one of my favorite songs says:
"Give me your eyes for just one second,
give me your eyes so I can see everything that I keep missing,
give me your love for humanity,
give me your arms for the broken hearted the ones that are far beyond my reach,
give me your eyes for the once forgotten..........."
I want to see others the way He sees them.
The last tidbit to the story is this.......The day before the dream I bought a book. The Hiding Place, the true story of Corrie Ten Boom. I had heard about her and a little about her story. Great book!! The ending really spoke to me. Corrie and her sister were imprisoned in Germany for hiding Jews. They suffered just unimaginable things. Corrie Ten Boom told her story to many and at the end of one of her speaking engagements one of the former guards of the prison she was in came up to her. I will quote from the book because I couldn't begin to tell in my own words.
"Even as the angry, vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him. I tried to smile, I strugged to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing, but the slightest spark of warmth or charity. And so again I breathed a silent prayer. Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me Your forgiveness. As I shook his hand the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me."
Corrie Ten Boom.
Wow. As I read those words I thought of my dream and how those very real feelings from the dream was God. I need to look past the sin and at the person God sees. Love them. Let God do the work, and be obedient to the things he wants me to do.
I still intend on having the salvation talk with my brother but before I can do that, I need to see him and not the sin. I am so glad we don't truly get what we deserve and that we serve a loving God that sent His only Son to die on a cross to save me from MY sins!! Amazing! If God lets me off the hook why do I continue to hang others on that same hook? I sin just the same as the alcoholic, "get over it!" I tell myself, and love these people just like those who loved me and were able to see past the sin and care enough to share the greatest and most important news ever. Thank you God!!
Monday, June 8, 2009
June 8th (and a rant I shouldn't get on)
I can't believe it's been a month since I've written a blog....where does the time go? Today is Bailey's 8th birthday! Crazy, crazy that I have an 8 yr old. She has been so excited for a month about this birthday. I guess when you are a kid, you just want to be older....then when you are older you wish you were a kid again!
Sadly though, today was not a good day for her. Without going into to much info here, I'll just say two things. First, the morning started off with a phone call from her stepmom (not good since she starts the conversation with "I just thought you would want to know what's going on.") and second, once Bailey got home she told me her dad wasn't a good truth teller. So sad, but so true. However, we did go to Johny Rockets for dinner and strangers singing happy birthday to her made her day!
I have to say my peace and then I will try to stay off of this subject. I can not talk about drinking alcohol without getting very mad! I feel so passionate about not drinking that I tend to take it to the extreme. If you can't handle alcohol, don't drink!!! If you can't function and take care of your responsibilities, don't drink! If you wreck numerous vehicles due to drinking, don't drink! If it bothers your children when you drink, don't drink! If you don't want your kids to grow up to be an alcoholic, don't drink! I could go on and on but I will stop with that. I guess I just don't understand why it is so hard for people to see the damage that is caused in a family when alcohol is number one in a persons life. Oh, I forgot this one, "Jesus turned water into wine, it's ok to drink." It's not ok to get drunk, and please for the love tell me how drinking honors God??? I need to know the answer to that.
Ok, so I did get carried away and I will stop for real this time. I am praying that I can calm down on this topic. The world is so good at convincing people that was is wrong is ok. Please know what you believe and why you believe it or else the world will take you down a long hard path that leads to nothing.
Sadly though, today was not a good day for her. Without going into to much info here, I'll just say two things. First, the morning started off with a phone call from her stepmom (not good since she starts the conversation with "I just thought you would want to know what's going on.") and second, once Bailey got home she told me her dad wasn't a good truth teller. So sad, but so true. However, we did go to Johny Rockets for dinner and strangers singing happy birthday to her made her day!
I have to say my peace and then I will try to stay off of this subject. I can not talk about drinking alcohol without getting very mad! I feel so passionate about not drinking that I tend to take it to the extreme. If you can't handle alcohol, don't drink!!! If you can't function and take care of your responsibilities, don't drink! If you wreck numerous vehicles due to drinking, don't drink! If it bothers your children when you drink, don't drink! If you don't want your kids to grow up to be an alcoholic, don't drink! I could go on and on but I will stop with that. I guess I just don't understand why it is so hard for people to see the damage that is caused in a family when alcohol is number one in a persons life. Oh, I forgot this one, "Jesus turned water into wine, it's ok to drink." It's not ok to get drunk, and please for the love tell me how drinking honors God??? I need to know the answer to that.
Ok, so I did get carried away and I will stop for real this time. I am praying that I can calm down on this topic. The world is so good at convincing people that was is wrong is ok. Please know what you believe and why you believe it or else the world will take you down a long hard path that leads to nothing.
Monday, May 4, 2009
The Motion
I have been in a funk the last couple of weeks. You know, the kind of funk where you don't do any of the things you are supposed to do.....like reading the bible, praying, and of course other things that are much less important like cleaning house! Last week I had a great excuse to not clean.......I had a horrible crick (spelling??) in my neck that caused me to wake up in the middle of the night not able to move. Luckily after 3 visits to the chiropractor I can move and look to the left without crying. Still no excuse for not reading the bible or praying. That really stinks!
Luckily I am/was very aware that I needed to get back on the bible reading, praying train that I had fallen off of. I do not want to EVER forget what God has done for me and go back to the life I had BC (before Christ).
So, towards the end of last week I knew God was trying to tell me something. For me sometimes, I can hear a song, hear a sermon, read an email and just boo hoo.....knowing that very thing was EXACTLY what I needed at that very moment. God is just awesome like that! Friday afternoon I was in the car and heard Matthew West's song "The Motions". Yep, I teared up. I came in and wrote the lyrics on a piece of paper and hung it on the fridge. I did not want to forget those words!! So, just to show you how I knew this was what God was telling me..........Sunday morning at church a video was played and guess to what song??? The Motions, by Matthew West. Crazy!!!! I am going to try to post the song so you guys can hear how awesome it is. "I don't want to go through the motions, I don't want to go one more day, without your all consuming passion inside of me. What if I spent my whole life asking, what if I had given everything instead of going through the motions."
Of course the sermon was awesome and spoke to me. Last week I had a dream about a friend that I used to work with. I dreamed we were at a funeral and he was outside the church crying. He was saying he just didn't understand how the people in the church were so at peace, it just didn't make sense. I walked up to him and told him how to get that peace. So based on the sermon yesterday, I feel compelled to call or email this friend and tell him about the dream. I know that said friend will think I am crazy but what if he needs to hear what I have to say? What if the words I speak are an answer to prayer? Have any of you ever had a dream about someone and relayed the info? I guess I just need to pray about this situation and see what God wants me to do.....I hope I get it right!!
Click on one of the pictures at the top of my blog to watch the video (couldn't figure out how to post right here). Anywho, don't forget to scroll to the bottom of my blog to stop the music that always plays. Hope you enjoy the video as much as I have!
Luckily I am/was very aware that I needed to get back on the bible reading, praying train that I had fallen off of. I do not want to EVER forget what God has done for me and go back to the life I had BC (before Christ).
So, towards the end of last week I knew God was trying to tell me something. For me sometimes, I can hear a song, hear a sermon, read an email and just boo hoo.....knowing that very thing was EXACTLY what I needed at that very moment. God is just awesome like that! Friday afternoon I was in the car and heard Matthew West's song "The Motions". Yep, I teared up. I came in and wrote the lyrics on a piece of paper and hung it on the fridge. I did not want to forget those words!! So, just to show you how I knew this was what God was telling me..........Sunday morning at church a video was played and guess to what song??? The Motions, by Matthew West. Crazy!!!! I am going to try to post the song so you guys can hear how awesome it is. "I don't want to go through the motions, I don't want to go one more day, without your all consuming passion inside of me. What if I spent my whole life asking, what if I had given everything instead of going through the motions."
Of course the sermon was awesome and spoke to me. Last week I had a dream about a friend that I used to work with. I dreamed we were at a funeral and he was outside the church crying. He was saying he just didn't understand how the people in the church were so at peace, it just didn't make sense. I walked up to him and told him how to get that peace. So based on the sermon yesterday, I feel compelled to call or email this friend and tell him about the dream. I know that said friend will think I am crazy but what if he needs to hear what I have to say? What if the words I speak are an answer to prayer? Have any of you ever had a dream about someone and relayed the info? I guess I just need to pray about this situation and see what God wants me to do.....I hope I get it right!!
Click on one of the pictures at the top of my blog to watch the video (couldn't figure out how to post right here). Anywho, don't forget to scroll to the bottom of my blog to stop the music that always plays. Hope you enjoy the video as much as I have!
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