Encourage each other daily!

Hebrews 3:13 - "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness".

Good morning ladies.

I really love that verse. For the most part, I stay in my own little world, never really seeing any of you unless I am at work or at some school function of unless you go to church with me, I get to see you on Sundays and Wednesdays. But I think that God puts it very plainly in the verse above, it is one of our jobs to make sure that we are continuing to encourage each other everyday. Whether it is a phone call, a letter or a simple e-mail just to say I am thinking about you. You never know when just a simple word of encouragement can make a bad day turn good.

I hope you all have a wonderful and safe day!! I love you!

I know just how my life needs to be. I need a wonderful man in my life. I think that I am really a marrying type of girl. I have no doubt in my mind that I am suppose to have a little white picket fence, nice home and perfect man. I need my kids to make straight A's cause how else are they going to get into a good college. I need a new car because mine is probably on it's last leg and I also need a little used car for Brianna to drive. I need my patio redone because I just want that and I REALLY need to win the lottery because I hate stressing every month on which bills will get paid and which ones won't. I mean seems logical and fair right? And I pretty much (if I was to be totally honest) live my life with that kind of attitude. I know exactly what I need, how I need it and when I need it so I don't understand why God doesn't see it like that?

I think (well I know) that God does not work on our time. The things we THINK we need right then, the way we think our lives are suppose to be, well, it may not be in God's plan as of yet so it is not going to happen no matter what you do. Case in point: I HONESTLY believe that I am meant to be married. I mean I loved being married, loved being a wife, loved taking care of the house and I honestly believed that it was meant to me. So much so that after I divorced my ex husband the first time, when I moved back from Texas, I married him again. I get ragged and talked about alot because of that. People seem to have thought I was clueless and a bit ignorant. But my perception and the way I looked at it was that God wanted my family together and whatever I had to do to make that happen, I would. Well, it was not in God's plan and He quickly showed that to me this time. And so it was.

We cannot MAKE god do anything He is not good and ready to do. I don't care how much you want a person, how much you want stuff, how much you want whatever it is you want. And we cannot get over on God. Like seriously... do you actually think that you can do whatever you want and think God is going to be pleased and then give you your way? Hmmmmm....

The moment we decided to give our lives totally to God, to surrender our every thought to Him, the moment we realize that our lives are not for our personal pleasures, but that they are to be used to spread His message and share with others, I really think that things will work our better than we could have ever imagined. And those things that we THOUGHT we needed and wanted, we will be so glad we didn't have the control we thought we had.

I pray that you all have a wonderful day. Until next time, Lord willing....

A Christians life should be Christ-centered. We have to give up what we feel we need and want and concentrate totally on Christ and His word. I think most of the times, we think we know exactly what we want and need and expect God to basically just listen to our request, fill them and be happy. But how can we really expect God to do anything we ask and we are not following His commandments like we are suppose to? There is no tweaking it to our advantage either, we can't half do it, it's either all or nothing. No in between.

So Sunday as I sat in church, Greg said something once again that will stick with me a long time: " God wants full custody, not just visitation right". What can I say, I love it!

God expects us to live the lives we are suppose to live. He does not just want to see us on Sunday mornings and Wednesday night Bible Studies. He doesn't want us just talking a good talk, but really striving to walk the walk Christ did while He was here on earth. None of us are perfect, no one will get it right all the time, but our goal is to daily continue to try.

What a wonderful weekend I had. It didn't hit me until last night that I got to spend my weekend with people I love dearly. I think from the time I got off Friday until last night, I was with all of my friends and loved ones. It was great and I actually had a little separation anxiety last night when I finally settle down BUT I do know how blessed I am to have all of them in my life. God is good!

I pray you all have a great Monday and Lord willing, we will talk again soon!

I am a fan of the NIV version of the Bible but every once in a while, I look at the Message version and just love it.

Proverbs 3: 5-12 - "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own.Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline; don't sulk under his loving correction. It's the child he loves that God corrects; a father's delight is behind all this. "

Yesterday we (that would be my ex husband and I) took our son for a vision test because he said his eye was "hurting". I figure since everyone in my family has glasses, he would just fall right in line to get some too. He has perfect 20/20 vision in one eye, but the other one.. well he referred us to a specialist on the 7th of July. Seems he can't see at all in that eye, it's all a blur. No scratches, nothing that he could see was wrong and he seems to think that maybe something is going on with that eye that just doesn't make since. To look at him though, he's fine. Still running and jumping and talking like nobody's business, but last night I prayed hard! It's like a parent's worse fear I guess to possibly have something wrong with their child. But I look up Proverbs 3 last night and I know that God has my back on this one. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, don't try to do it on your own."

Say a prayer please for my little man!

Other than being close to 100 degrees today, it's gonna be a good day. We're here, how can it not be?!?! I pray you all have a wonderful weekend and until next time,. Lord willing

Stop being bored!

Last May I joined the gym (for the umpteenth time) and started working out. I was doing good too: SPIN class every Thursday morning at 5:30, and on Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri, I worked out every morning from 5 until 6:30 or so. I felt great! As I worked out more, I began to eat a little better too (it all just doesn't happen over night contrary to popular belief) until I got to the point where is was just habit. I was losing a little weight, feeling good and my mind was clear to tackle the issues dealt to me.

Months passed and I don't know, I got bored. Boredom is a problem for me. If I get bored, it's a sure bet, I will start to do stuff I don't need to be doing and sure enough, my five days a week dwindled to 3, then 2, then none. And all the work I had put in was pretty much wasted and I was at a stand still. It wasn't until recently, like the past few weeks that I have been building back up to my 5 days a week. Trying to get back on track. I don't dream of being a size 6 ever to be honest with you, but I like the good feeling I got from just feeling good.. know what I mean?

Isn't it like that with the way we feel about Christ sometimes too? Let's be honest, when we get baptized, we are all fired up for Christ, wanting to do and be everywhere we can for Jesus and then, as time passes, we get a little burned out, a little bored and we slowly the excitement goes away. Sometimes never coming back. But we need to build our spiritual lives back up, from the beginning if we have too. Remember the things that had us on fire way back when and start fresh. Things don't have to be going bad for us to want to do better. So what your church is not out feeding people at the homeless shelter this week? YOU go out and find someone in need of food and take it to them. So what there is not a big revival going on in town? Gather some friends up and have a at home personal Bible study. No mission trips to go on? Bet you can still find someone to serve right in your own hometown.

Satan is walking around here on earth, looking for us to slip up. Looking for opportunities when our faith may be slacking a little to snatch us up. We need to be on guard, need to stop being bored and get back on track.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday! "Be blessed and be a blessing".. until next time...

It's going to be okay

I heard someone say one time that people are always talking about having issues, and then picking up a Bible and opening it and it just falling to the exact thing they needed to hear. They didn't believe that could happen, or at least not as much as people said it did. I am here to tell you that it DOES happen and not only does it happen, it happens more than not in my experience. I think that when you are asking God for help, He really does give us quick answers sometimes. I went to bed last night pretty much not knowing what way to turn, definitely not knowing what to do about the situation and pretty much at my wits end. I prayed and fell asleep and this morning, the devotional I get in the mornings said this:


"Despair is pretty simple. It is the absence of hope. Despair knows of no way to go on or even any point in doing so. When events crush us, we realize we are totally out of control and without resources. Despair is one of the most debilitating emotions we can feel and it's a very hard pit to dig out of, especially without help.

Yes, but there is help. God understands how we feel and allows (even encourages) us to express ourselves honestly. The Psalmist sings: "O my God, my soul is in despair within me" (Psalm 42:6) and then goes on to provide an antidote.

Therefore I remember Thee from the land of the Jordan, and peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar." You may wonder: what kind of a solution is that? I'll explain. The land of Jordan was the land promised by God to the Israelites who took possession of it after a forty year walk in the wilderness.

Jordan represents fulfillment and promises kept. Though the Israelites endured a season of great difficulty there was an end to it - a good end! Remember: an end will come to every hard season and God's promises will always be fulfilled.

What about Mount Hermon and Mount Mizar? Those are the high places that lift us out of our circumstances so that we are above them instead of under them. Mount Hermon was snow capped year round and provided nourishment for the land below and water for the Jordan River. When you start to feel despair, look up. There is a mountain you can climb in the Lord which will supply your need.

Are you struggling with despair? Remember God's promises and starting climbing. Embrace hope. It will not be in vain."

I have been told I am a fixer. I don't like people having issues and if I can figure out a way to help, well that's what I do. I'll take that. I do that alot as a matter of fact. All out of love though I assure you. And if they can't figure it out and I can't figure it out, well, my brain goes into overdrive because there IS a solution, I just need time. But this time, there is really nothing I can do but pray about it. I think that God sometimes allows us to get into situations that NO ONE can figure out. I think that is to make us realize who is really in control, especially when we think we have all the control. I also think, like i said yesterday, that if we have issues in our lives that are blocking our prayers, it is not until we get those fixed that things will begin to start working out.

The one thing to remember though is that no matter what route you decide to take, the long or the short one, there is no way of getting around God's promises and how they will be fulfilled. You can't compromise and He's not going to let you. We say all the time that we believe and trust in God's power and wisdom but then go off half cocked doing whatever it is we want, getting upset because things don't go our way and mad when we think God has let us down when the whole time, it's our faults anyway for being hypocrites. Go figure... and I say this from my own experiences. It's about time we just stop SAYING what sounds good and really start living and believing it.

I love how I open up e-mails and God speaks to me. Believe it or not.

I pray you all have a blessed day. Pam and Jay.. LOVED your blogs, they made me laugh and cry and that's a good thing. I will be praying for you both!

Until next time, Lord willing..

Lots going on in my brain right about now!

I have been thinking and praying alot about some things that have been going on in my life. I would have to say probably more thinking than praying if I were to be totally honest. I sit outside, wonder why things are happening like they are and pray for a change. And as you know, sometimes it's a very slow process before we actually see any change, which for me, is discouraging. Now I realize that things don't happen overnight (although they can), and all things are in God's time and not mine, but I still have a really hard time with that.

You ask people to pray for you, and people ask me to pray for them and I got to thinking about that. Do you realize that as easy as it sounds, praying is really hard for some people? I was reading a devotional I got recently she said in it" reality of prayer is that is is more talked about than practiced." She also said that prayer was "hard, sometimes boring and a mystery " and because of us maybe not understanding completely how God works, we tend to get discouraged.

I know according to scriptures (1 Peter 3:7, James 1:8 and Psalms 66:18) there are so many things that can hinder our prayers. Things that we are doing in our lives, not forgiving others, praying with the wrong motives, being double minded and sin, that can keep our prayers from being answered. So I guess then, it becomes a matter of finding and figuring out what you need to change in order for God to actually hear and answer our prayers. None of us are perfect. I really believe that most people wake up and strive to do what God wants them to do even if they are not thinking about it. We have to remember though, that Satan is roaming the earth daily, waiting for us to slip up, giving and putting things in out path that will cause us to stumble. But praying for discernment, actively seeking God daily, well Satan hates that. So that's what we have to do.

It may not be going the way we want it to be right now, time may be moving slow but keep praying. Do not give up mo matter what is going on, no matter how discouraged you get. I really believe in my heart that prayer makes a difference. If that means getting up 30 minutes earlier to have your coffee outside and watch the sunrise with God, do it. If it means staying up 30 minutes later to talk to God about your day, do it. I mean whatever works for you. We have no issues when its time to go to ball games, when it's time to take the kids on the weekend getaways, or when we need send the kids away so we can have out time alone. When does God get His? And I'll admit, I am just as guilty, so why question when things are not going right ya know? How can you expect them to when God has given us everything and we cannot even take time to give back to Him?

Lots of things going on in this brain of mine. All I can ask is that you just keep praying for each other, seriously. There are so many things we have going on in our lives, just between the people who read this e-mail and no one knows. And you know what, you really don't HAVE to know all the details, God's got that part down. All you have to do is realize that it really is NOT about you, that there are so many people right in the towns you live in, people you work with, that have things going on in their lives and all they need is a little relief. That's where you and the praying come in....

I really hope that you all have had a wonderful week so far. I think our mission team will be flying back in soon so please pray for safe travels home. And as always, Lord willing, we will talk again soon. Love ya!

About a week ago, Tony and I went to the bookstore for coffee and to just sit and people watch for a while. As we sat laughing and talking, I noticed a little old man sitting on the bench outside the bookstore. He was alone and was reading a book. As people walked by him, he glanced up, smiled and continued reading his book. Then a couple walked by with a little girl, about 2. I caught sight of her before she actually got close to the man because she was singing some song and kind of skipping along without a care in the world.. she was really cute.


As she got close to the older man, he looked up and said something to her that made her stop. Her dad was pushing her stroller ahead of her so he didn't see her, but her mom was behind her and stopped to talk to the older man. The man then, reached into his pocket, took out a dollar bill and gave it to the little girl. She ran up to him, gave him a really big hug and ran to her dad to show him her prize. As they walked away, the mom was I guess telling the dad what had happened and I looked to see the older man with a smile on his face, go back to reading his book. I just let out a loud "AWWWWW" as the other people who were sitting in the bookstore also saw this and said what a kind man. Then, after a few minutes, he got up off the bench, walked through the bookstore and I guess out of the mall.

I couldn't help but think of my dad and the things like that he use to do in that very mall. That man, to me, showed how God would have us to live our lives. Caring enough about someone you don't even know to do something for them and not expect anything in return. You don't have to sit in the middle of the mall by any means and pass out money, but are you finding ways to be a servant for others? I was blessed to have someone in my life also like my own daddy, who always put others first no matter what and showed my family by example that God should be the center of your life. It was a long day yesterday for me. You would think that as the years pass, things would get alot easier, and even knowing that my daddy is in a much better place, I still miss him alot!

I hope you all had a blessed weekend. Lord willing, we will talk again soon.

Decisions

Once I get out of bed and start to get ready for work, I am normally standing in front of my closet, both doors open, trying to figure out what to wear. God really has blessed me with an abundance of clothing and thanks to the fun task of dieting, I have a WIDE range of sizes (lol). The once I decide what to wear, the task then become what shoes to go with it. Seems like no matter what I do and where I go, I am faced with decisions. Now picking out my clothes and shoes are really not big things, but what about those decisions that will effect everything in our lives? The answer is not always so easy.

I have told you before, my moods change like Georgia weather, one day hot, one cold. But this morning I woke up and really had alot on my mind, decisions that I just can't flip a coin and go heads or tails. Of course, I went straight to someone who was going to give it to me straight and I was not disappointed. Here is what she said in a nutshell ( I needed reminding I guess):

When Jesus needed time to think, to make important decisions, He did what we all should do. He went off alone, to gather His thoughts and pray to God for guidance. He knew that all power is through Him and that any decision that needed to be made, could only be made if God was in it.

1 Corinthians 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

It says WHATEVER meaning every single thing we do, our focus should not be what WE want but is what we are doing bringing all the glory and honor to God? If not, well, it's wrong.. period. So taking this verse and all the stuff I tell people all the time, I shall spend some quality time with my God, asking for help, seeking His guidance and no matter what the outcome, I know that He has and always will have my best interest at heart.

I love you all bunches! Thanks for all the love and support and continue to pray for each other daily. Have a great weekend and as Pam would say " be blessed and be a blessing!!"

Lord willing, we will talk again soon!

I will never forget going to a Women's Conference in Florida a few years ago and hearing, of course my all time favorite female Christian speaker Beth Moore. But that weekend I also heard someone else (Priscilla Shirer) who, even in my most difficult and awful times, said something that I have on my FB page and that plays in my head on most days...." God goes beyond beyond" and she got it from this verse:

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." - Ephesians 3:20

As much as my daughter and I have disagreements on clothing, styles, tastes and friends, as much as we bump heads (probably because we are so much alike) the one thing I cannot stand is her being upset and me not being about to do anything about it. I realize that throughout her life, she is going to be disappointed and she is going to have to learn to deal with it the way God wants her to and not always like she thinks, I still want it to just be OK. A few days ago I reminded her to keep praying and that God ALWAYS has a better plan than we could ever imagine. Kinda hard for a teenager to understand, but just in case she needs backup, I got my prayers going up too! : )

Sometimes we hesitate to really ask God for what we want because in our minds, it just seems like too much. And I think too that we thin we know what we need and get disappointed when things don't happen the way we think they should. But God, in all His wisdom and power, knows us better than we know ourselves and when we put all of our trust and faith in Him, asking with the right motives God will go way beyond anything you would ever imagine.

I love you all. The mission team at my church leaves to day for a week long trip to Honduras to help build a playground for the children there. Please say a prayer for safe travels and that everything done there is for God's glory.

Until next time, Lord willing.....

Yesterday my church got some really sad news that Mrs. Lib Sikes had passed away after a battle with cancer. I know most of you do not know her, but she lived a long and very good life, she was 89 and a wonderful, wonderful woman of God. I rarely missed a chance of getting my hug and kiss when she came to church. Her daughter June and my mom were really good friends and well, it just really makes me happy that one more person is with my mom in heaven because for sure, Mrs Lib is. HUGSSS June and Jay.. I know no words make it easier, but the tears turn into wonderful stories and memories that in time, will give you a sense of peace and comfort. I love you all very much and will be thinking about you!!

Then, this morning, I got this devotional (below) in my inbox and I again know that God, even through sadness and grief is still working and reminding us that we all need to be living just like Mrs. Lib did so that we can all see Jesus one day.

"A few days ago I started thinking about the mysteries surrounding the end of life. I believe I was prompted by hearing about the untimely death of someone who was living with cancer yet died in a car crash. We don't know how we will die, when we will die or where we will die. The only thing we know for sure is that we WILL die.

What will the end be like? As we go, will we wander down that tunnel of light some talk about or see a loved one already on the other side or be escorted by an angel? We don't know and yet it is one of those rare cases where we are glad we don't. (At least that's true for me.) Knowing, it seems to me, would be more traumatic than the actual event.

Yet I realized even as I contemplated these things that I wasn't thinking of it in the right way at all. What will the end be like? The real end is eternity, not death. If we know Jesus and have made him Lord we are talking about eternity in his company. "We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord." (2 Corinthians 5:8). So much hinges on such a simple yet hard decision. That's one I'm glad I'm on the other side of. I may not know about the end but I do know my end. What about you?"

Death use to be something that really scared me. Not really knowing what or how things would happen I guess. But as she said in her devo and like my daddy use to tell me all the time, just as sure as you are born, you WILL die. There is no way around it. But it does not have to be something we are afraid of or something that makes us so paranoid that we are not able to function throughout the day. I know for a fact that Mrs Lib, my mom and dad and other, as much as they loved being with their earthly families, they looked forward to being with God even more.Death is not the end, but a beginning of a life that will be perfect. The things we stress so much right now, today, won't matter anymore but the deal is, are you ready? There is no guarantee that we will live to be 30, 40 or 50. We may only have one more day, maybe a few hours so how do you use them? And do you know where you will be when your end comes? None of this is meant to be morbid or sad.. nothing about living with Jesus forever is sad, but I sure do wanna make sure that me along with all of my family and friends that I love so much today are walking together as we go to see our Lord.

I love you bunches. Please be praying for the Sikes/Houston family as they are going through this difficult time. BIG HUGS!!!!!!

Until next time, Lord willing....

"Love is an emotion we share in so many different relationships. The love of a spouse, love between siblings, parents and children, the destitute and society are all unique. But, even as we view each of these relationships differently, the common binding force remains 'selflessness'."

I read the above statement this weekend and it has been in my head ever since. I was super excited as this past Friday approached because I was going to see my sister, niece and nephew. I e-mailed my brother and told him she was coming and said I would take pictures and send to him. He never responded. And so started my weekend. I talked to my sister when she left Florida on her way here and she said that she would call when they got here so we could meet up and kinda hang out. I have not talked to her in over a year (we are just not that close) and I was really hoping that we could start over. She never called and I didn't talk to her or my niece and nephew any that weekend. I assume they are back in Florida now.

Then I went and looked up this verse: 1 Corinthians 13:4-13: 'Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. . .And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.'

I had lots of plans in my head about how I thought things would be this past weekend, what we would do, where we would go and then BAM.. plans changed and it side tracked me. I didn't want to be reminded of how disappointed I get when they let me down or how anger I was becoming thinking about it. I talked to a few people who reminded me that no matter how my plans had been changed for the weekend, the one thing that remained the same and would never change was God's love for me and His ultimate goal for my life. My life is and in Him and no one can change that. I remembered what that my friend Peacegirl would tell me to let the peace of God come into my heart and calm me. And I also remembered that nothing is in my time, but in God's and my meeting will happen one day. So after a few tears, my honey took me to dinner and I also remembered how blessed I am. I may not have the bond (yet) between myself and my brother and sister, but I sure do love them and God has put so many wonderful, supporting people in my life that all I can do is say thank you.

I have no clue what God has planned for the rest of my life, but I have faith that He will!!

I love you all bunches and can I just say that it's not even summer yet and it's HOTTT in Georgia!! Stay cool and until next time, Lord willing...

Let's talk!

As much as I like my alone time on the patio with no kids, just me and my thoughts, I love to talk. And talking involves having someone to talk back to me and listen as well. When Tony and I around each other, normally there is always something to talk about, from the kids, to what we are watching on TV. But there have been a few silent times when it seems like we both might be a little tired and have nothing to say. Usually it is him who breaks that silence by MAKING me talk about something even if it's the weather.

Communication is key to any relationship we have whether it be us with our kids, our jobs, our friends or our significant others. And not just communication, good communication! I can remember right before my divorce, trying to have sit down sessions with my then husband and one of the ministers from our church. I would talk, he wouldn't listen and I got mad. Our he would talk, I would roll my eyes and not listen and he got mad. Colossians 3:8 - "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." Our communication was all wrong so talking never got us anywhere.

In order for communication to be the kind that is pleasing to God, we must have the right attitude, be constructive instead of destructive and honestly, be able to listen to the other person when they talk.

Proverbs 18:13 (Msg.) - "Answering before listening is both stupid and rude." Gotta love the version form the Message!

When you have been in a relationship for a long time, no matter who its with, things can become a little dry to say the least. You get caught up in doing the same old mundane things daily and it just gets boring. You have to get the communication going again. There are all kinds of things going on that are positive that can be talked about. Ask questions, be curious about what is going on in the other person's life. Don't make it all about you. And ask God. Ask Him to help you in that relationship, to find ways to turn what has been a negative into a positive situation. I guarantee that if the situation was one that involved God in the beginning, that He is not going to just let it go without a fight so why should you?!?!?!

I love you all bunches and bunches and I am very excited too. My sister and my niece and nephew are in town this weekend. I realize most of you didn't even know I had a sister, but I do. We haven't been very close in the past, but I have been praying about that and I am hoping that this is going to be a new beginning. Time to get MY communication line open and positive!! I haven't seen my niece since she was 3 yrs old and this past Tuesday, she turned 28. She called me on her birthday to let me know she was coming soooo say a prayer that I actually get to see them while they are in town!

Until next time, Lord willing, get out and be that blessing for someone God wants you to be!

You are the One true God, there will never be another...

We have been having VBS at church this week and tonight is the last night (bring the kids if you can) and the kids love it. Well, we adults do too actually. My favorite time is when we sing. All of us have our favorites and to be honest with you, us adults like what we like, the old songs! There are just some songs that will go down in Westwood VBS history and have to be sung every year. But, we also get new songs that take us a while to learn the dance moves and words, but by the last night, we normally catch on. On the way home last night, I hear some humming in the back seat. Chris has his new favorite song... " One True God" and I must admit, it is quickly becoming a favorite of mine too.

"You are the one true God. There will never be another. You are the faithful God, forever we will praise your name"

I seriously wish all of you could come out and watch the kids (from 1 to 18) sing these songs. I have said this before but it really gives me chills when they are singing to the top of their lungs about God being the center of their lives. And they also remind me that I have to choose to have the joy of the Lord and I need to learn to praise God better than I do. Yesterday was a rough day for me and honestly, when I got to VBS, I just wanted to go home, take a pill and go to bed. But with the help of a couple of really good friends, and some wonderful singing by alot of kids, the night got better fast.

I woke up this morning realizing everything that God has done for me. With so much going on in the world right now, it is really important for us all to be thanking God out loud for all of his blessings. We might not have all we want and things may not be going the way we planned, but He makes sure we have all we need. And if you don't believe me, take a look at some third world countries. And really, you don't have to go that far, try going down to your local homeless shelter. It might surprise you and make you see how much you really have.

I have a friend who lost her job a few months ago and I got a call from her saying her husband had just lost his too. But I just have to think, that even with that, even in the biggest storms and trials in our lives, we have to praise God and He will be there to comfort and give us peace and in the end, we will realize that His plan was much bigger than we realized in the beginning.

A week or so ago, Greg said in class I think that when we talk to people and they ask how we are doing, the normal response is " I'm fine and you" but we are not always fine. I think that people just don't want to burden others with their problems and I honestly believe too that people really don't want you to tell them how you really are because it puts them on the line to help if they can and most of the times, they really don't want to be that involved. But even if we can't physically do anything, we can always pray. And who knows, with all the prayers going up, things can change. I really am praying for you all and I ask that you say a prayer for me too when you think about it.

Here's to praying you all have a wonderful Wednesday and seriously, if you have a few hours to spare (6:00 - 8:30 pm) come out to our last night of VBS.. you'll be happy you did! Until next time, Lord willing...

A few years ago, I lost around 60 lbs on Weight Watchers. I was pretty happy about that and kept it off for maybe a year before it all came back. It was really funny too because I remember losing and people going " WOW you look good" but when I gained it back, no one said a word. (side note..... big does not make you ugly, I still look good!!). But now, I am trying again. Not on Weight Watchers per say, but just trying to exercise and eat right and taking it day by day, some days being better than others.

This past weekend I got into a debate on Facebook. Nothing rude or ugly, but basically someone said that you can't keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect God to forgive you. Hmmmm.. now I KNOW that you cannot play with God. You can go around knowingly doing wrong crap and sayin in your head, "its alright because God will forgive me". He WILL forgive but I do believe that you have to be making serious efforts to make changes in your life.

I really think and believe that we are allowed do-overs. When we make mistakes, God is not pleased but because of His love for us and the grace we have through Jesus, He is our personal cheerleader. Cheering us on to victory in everything that we do. Past mistakes and issues should not keep us from striving to do better. There is not a one of us who is perfect.We are going to mess up daily, knowing that God is standing by our sides every step of the way should give us the courage and strength we need to keep moving forward
and working for the ultimate goal.. a home in Heaven.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. If you have nothing else going on this week, we started VBS at my church (Westwood Church , 123 Westover Blvd.) last night and it was a blast! Bring your kids, grand kids, and yourself for lots of fun!!

Until next time, Lord willing...

No place like home

My son went on his very first church Tween overnight trip alone day before yesterday. Now they only went to Atlanta and came hone the next night, but for me, it was a LONG way from home. I think for him too. I thin he called me a total of 6 times, he called his dad once. I could tell he was having a ball, but he was tired too and I really think a little homesick by the end of the first night. I also think he missed his brother and sister some too since when he called his dad, he asked to speak to his little brother and didn't want to talk to his dad. When they got back last night ( I calmed down then) the person who took them told me that he did great. He had already told me earlier that his attitude was really good the whole trip (no complaining or anything) so that made me feel better. The home training had sunk in ( he even got a hug from his sister when he got back) and maybe next time I wouldn't feel so stressed when he left for the next trip. As he sat in he car and answered all the questions from his little brother (What did you ride? Did you have fun? What did you eat at Chick Fil A? Chicken sandwich and waffle fries w/ ketchup?? Did you bring me anything back?) all I could do was smile... as much fun as he said he had, I knew when he got in his bed that night he was thinking "there is no place like home".

There are so many times we all get distracted from God. Life just seems to pull us in all sorts of directions and for a while, we just get lost. We tend to forget that there really is no place like home with God. And maybe sometimes we need to feel a homesickness for God in order to bring us back to where we need to be in our lives.

Psalm 119:10 ~ "I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands."

I pray that we all find comfort in knowing that no matter how far we are from home, all we have to do is call on God to cure any homesickness we have.

Love you all bunches, be blessed and Lord willing, we will talk again soon!

Eph. 4:26-27 ~ "When you are angry, do not sin and be sure to stop being angry before the end of the day. Do not give the devil a way to defeat you."

I am totally a person who gets angry and doesn't say a word. Not one word. You know it by the look on my face I would imagine, but I when I am angry and I speak.. well it all comes out wrong. So for me, I have to have some time, maybe alot of time before I can gather my thoughts and try to resolve any issue I have. Sometimes I tend to just let it fester and after a day or so (maybe longer) when something else sets me off, it ALL comes out. Not always a good thing for the person on the other end I might add either.

My weekend had actually been wonderful, perfect almost but it started out kind of rough. But I have this boyfriend who loves to talk stuff out. I mean I am all for talking but come on. I was in a mood and I just didn't want too. His response: well I will let you have a few minutes, but then we need to figure this out. Because he is NOT gonna stop asking anyway so oh well.

Then, comes Sunday morning. Sigh. I mean I ended the weekend well but Greg, well. he's still on the Beatitudes and low and behold Sunday morning we are on " blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called Sons of God." I had already gotten basically talked to earlier in the weekend so now, I get it again. A reminder from God I guess that He still had His eye on me. and more life lessons: being at peace with one another does not always mean we have to agree. It does mean though, that we lay aside our issues and concentrate on the greater good. Peace comes when we don't have to prove our point and make the other person feel bad. Peace is what is found on the inside, what makes you you. I have a friend, Paige, and she is what I would say peace looks like. As a matter of fact, her nickname is Peacegirl. Its all over her MySpace page, her FB page and her house. I imagine not everything in her life is perfect or even the way she wants it, but her mindset and her way of life is so Godlike, that Jesus really shows in and through her. That's what I want.

So when the anger comes up, we need to ask ourselves, why are we really angry, is it important and will it even matter later on?? I got alot of nudging from Tony at church on Sunday morning during Greg's lesson (alright already, I get the point!!) Satan is the king of bitterness and he loves us being discontent and unsure so in order for us to defeat him, and not let anger open pathways for other sins, we need to learn to deal with anger and stop it before it sets in.

I pray you all had a safe Memorial Day weekend and remember the real reason we celebrate it ( i.e.-- its not for the cookouts!!) And please say a special prayer for my church's Tween group. The have gone to Atlanta to Six Flags and a baseball game and my middle one is with them. This is his first overnight trip without me and I promise my stomach is still in knots! HE on the other hand, gave me the peace sign as they drove off w/ a big grin on his face. Kids......

Love you all bunches and until next time, Lord willing...