Life

It has been a while since I've blogged. I've had a lot going on since September. So many great things are happening and God is moving in awesome ways! 

I have been pondering and questioning God about something and I thought I'd post it. It may be something of controversy to some, but that's okay it's always good to bring each other to think and search out the truth of God's word. That's what I want God's truth not my opinion. 

So what is it I have been thinking about?

I've been thinking about LIFE. As I am carrying a new life within my womb now I'm pondering the awesomeness of creation and God in His majesty. 

God creates life in conjunction with us as humans. We are created in His image and likeness and we get to take part in creating through having children. The word says the He knows us before we are in our mother's womb. That He has plans and a destiny for us. (Jer. 1:5)

That being said, if God knew me before I was born then He also knows how many children I am to have. Right??

He knows each one of my children already. WOW!

To me that is awesome and it makes me think...

How many children am I to have...???

For me I would probably be happy with 4 - should this one be a boy. But is that God's plan?? I honestly don't know. 

So, if God knows each child, then would it be considered just like abortion if you stop or never have children?? Aborting the purpose and destiny of a child that God already had in mind by your own choice or even medically preventing it. And if so oh my goodness!!! 

 To me if God creates life, He already knows us, He has a purpose and destiny for each of us...then each child that is created is God's creation and there is a reason for their life. (Jer. 29:11)

Now some might argue well what about children born with AIDS etc etc...Did God not know that?? Yes there is a choice that is made, but God is the one that opens and closes the womb.

I mean look at Sarah and Abraham God didn't open her womb until she was OLD!!!! And God even closed up every womb in Ambimelech's house because of Sarah (Gen.20:18) and Abraham prayed to God and the Lord healed them and they were able to have children again.

This is my question to the Lord and what I've found in the word. I can't apply scripture to one situation and not for another. Jesus is the same yesterday today and forever and He's not a respecter of persons nor is He a man that He should lie.

Because I am posting this I ask you..

Is there anything that the Lord has shown you in the Word that would bring revelation to God's plan for children and what should we do as a married couple when we sit down and make our plans? We may make our plans be He directs our steps. (Jer 10:23)

Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children are a reward from Him. Ps. 127:3

Are You Salt?

I have been reading in Matthew. God started speaking to me in Chapter 6 and then I went back to Chapter 5.

Matt 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength its quality) how can its saltness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men"

Okay, so in the verses before he is talking about being persecuted for the Lord's sake and how blessed it is to be persecuted. Then you read this verse. And I was puzzled for a bit. Wanting to know what the Lord was trying to say to me.

I looked up the definitions of some key words.

Salt - we all know what it is. One of its definitions though is an element that gives liveliness, piquancy or pungency; wit. Salt is a product formed by the neutralization of an acid by a base.

Strength -we know it as - the quality or state of being strong; bodily or muscular power, vigor.

But it also means - Moral power, firmness or courage (among several others).

Looking at that I said wow! Salt is formed by the neutralization of an acid (the world, satan etc) by a base (God/Jesus). By that base we are given our liveliness, piquancy, pungency, and wit - our salt.

If we lose that saltiness, then we are not worth much as a witness. We can not be counted as blessed as the verses above speak about when we are not walking in the liveliness, piquancy, pungency, wit, moral power, firmness, or courage that comes from God and God alone. And losing our salt means that the world can "walk all over us". In that I equate it to the fact that we have victory over death and this world with Christ. With out HIM we have nothing.

Are you Salt?

Have you lost your saliness?

I pray today that you, like I am, take a look at your salt and see where you are at with Him. 

Be blessed!

Worry?? Not ME!

Matt 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

In the verses before hand he's talking about not worrying about what you will eat, drink, wear etc.because God provides it. And then says do not worry about tomorrow it will take care of itself, each day has enough trouble in its self. This has been spoken to me in that we have to trust God that He is taking care of EVERYTHING and we should not be consumed with what is going to happen tomorrow.

Since the miscarriage I have had joy and peace, but at the same time it has been hard. Walking this road out, trusting the Lord through all the doctor's appointment's and believing God for our baby to live here on this earth, then to have a miscarriage and the pain that comes with that with no joy of a child at the end - it was hard.

BUT I knew in me that God was in control that I need not worry about this child nor the future. I know that we will get pregnant again and that it will be joyous just as this one was. I know that He will provide what is needed for our family and for another child.

But as this passage says, I have to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness then all these things will be added unto me. So what is seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness? I believe we are to be doing what He has called us to do in His kingdom. We are to be reaching out for the harvest that is ready until Jesus' return. We are to live according to the life of Jesus - seeking His righteousness (through the blood shed and grace we received on the cross), knowing our righteousness is just filthy rags. It's a higher standard more than just being a Sunday or Wednesday night Christian. It's a daily walk in the Lord, knowing that we fall short, being lead by the Holy Spirit and repent when we fail.

But you know, sometimes it's easier said than done.

So here's my reminder...


"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matt.6:34 NAS

The Feasts

I love it how God speaks through His word and shows us what He has already done and then what is yet to come!
Pastor has been teaching about the Jewish Feast's and how they are a type and a shadow. The first 4 have already been fulfilled.

They are: The Fest of Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of First Fruits, and the Feast of Pentecost. As Christian's we can look back and see how Jesus fulfilled these through His death and resurrection. The Jewish people are bound to these fests because they do not believe in Jesus Christ the son of God as the Savior of all people. They were and are looking for a man to come in power and establish the kingdom right then and there. But that isn't God's plan and we can see that in the word.

The next Feasts that happen in the fall are a type and a shadow of what is to come - Jesus' return. The Feast of Trumpets seven days later is The Day of Atonement and then The Feast of Tabernacles (when the Jewish people would leave their homes and build a booth to spend time with God).

I just love this! We know that the scripture is inspired by God (2 Tim. 3:16) and He wrote it so that we could be aware of what has happened and what is going to happen.

2 Peter 1 Simon Peter is talking about how they witnessed with their own eyes what Jesus did and the power that Jesus had and that these are not just stories they they put together - they were there - and that we have the prophetic word...vs 19 And we have the prophetic word [made] firmer still. You will do well to pay close attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dismal (squalid and dark) place, until the day breaks through [the gloom] and the Morning Star rises (comes into being) in your hearts. vs 20 [Yet] first [you must] understand this, that no prophecy of Scripture is [a matter] of any personal or private or special interpretation (loosening, solving). vs 21 For no prophecy ever originated because some man willed it [to do so - it never came by human impulse], but men spoke from God who were borne along (moved and impelled by the Holy Spirit.

We have the Word to light our path. We can see that the Feasts that are in the Jewish culture (Jesus was a Jew remember) shadowed Him. They show what He was going to do in dying upon the cross, being the first fruits offering and sending the Holy Spirit. Then it also shows is second coming through the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement.

Tonight Rosh HaShana (Feast of Trumpets) begins and during this time -10 days - the Jewish people reflect on what they have done against God, their family, and community. They think about their sin. I mean truly think about it and repent and make things right so that they will have a good year (the Jewish new year). They believe that the destiny of all man kind is written in the Book of Life on Rosh HaShana. With out salvation through Jesus Christ they are bound to their religion of laws and duties praying that they will be given mercy and grace. WOW!

Ponder that for a minute. As a Christian I know that I have salvation through Jesus Christ shedding His blood on the cross and believing in Him just as Romans says. I know that grace and mercy is given to me when I repent of my sin because I am saved, but I also think that I and Christians in general take that grace for granted. "Oh I can just repent later...I know what I'm doing is wrong but I'm under the blood...." We are under the mercy of Jesus but that does not mean we get to live and do what we want. As James 1:22 says be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth}.

We are not bound to the laws that were given but we can not think that we are not to do and be as Jesus was. That is what Christianity is - being Christ like. We have the Word to light our way to live a Holy and separated life and to be a light in this dark world. We are to be examples of Christ's love and show people the way to salvation. Jesus is the way the truth and the life and NO ONE can come to the Father but through Him. He is the door we have to go through.

As I think about the Jewish feasts I am grateful for what God has done, He made a way for us without works - doing the rituals and practices of the Jewish people. We have the blood of Jesus and we are priests caring the presence of God with us. The veil has been torn. We can come to the Lord on our own. Let us not take that for granted as He is still a Holy God and deserves to be reverenced, praised, and worshiped.

Jesus Love ME

Jesus loves me this I know

For the Bible tells me so

Little ones to Him belong

They are weak but

He is strong

Yes Jesus loves me

Yes Jesus loves me

Yes Jesus loves me

For the Bible tells

Me so


My sweet Faith sang this to me Sunday night. The day of my miscarriage.

I have to say I wasn't prepaired for how her sweet voice would touch me and then let alone the

tears that would fall by those sweet words that we sing so very often.

Jesus love me and loves our little one, who belongs to Him.

I can say that losing our child hasn't been easy, but it hasn't been something that has made me

lose hope or my faith in my Lord and Savior. While I am sad at the loss, God has given John and I

such a peace and joy through this that I know that He is only going to give back to us even more

than what we lost. We know that He's in control and He has a better plan what we can see.

We have been blessed with a wonderful church family who's been so wonderful through this! I can

express how greatful I am for my brothers and sisters in the Lord who have been praying

for John and I. I am also greatful to those who read this blog and have prayed for me during this

time! Thank you for those sweet prayers and your time. I pray that God blessed each one of you

abundantly!!




Blessings!

He Is In Control

Thank you all so much for your prayers for this pregnancy. I know that God has heard them and continues to move on behalf of this baby. He is the one that creates life. He only can open the womb (naturally). I trust Him to take care of this life and believe what the word says.
I have been praying the word over this baby, that I will not cast my seed before its time and He knew this child even before it was in my womb and he has a destiny for this child to fulfill.

My counts are rising, but not "normally". My wonderful OB is concerned about the development status and I will be getting blood drawn again on Thursday with results Friday morning and then an ultrasound scheduled at 12:15pm. My hcg counts should be at a level that we can see something by ultrasound. Once we do then hcg testing will stop and ultrasounds will be done to check the development.

I'm trusting God and know that He is in control and has the final say. I believe His word and it's what I am praying. Jer 1:5 which I mentioned above - He knew this baby before it was in my womb and he has set it apart a a prophet to the nations. I know that God has a destiny and purpose for this baby and I'm believing for that destiny to be fulfilled in a full and prosperous life.

Blessings!

I AM

The recent events in my life brought an unexpected curve in the journey. I didn't see this coming at all. Although I had two people ask me if I was pregnant in July and that made me wonder...but I wasn't pregnant then.

I can not say that walking this road the past few weeks has been just a smooth jaunt. It's been a little bumpy. But the bumps weren't something that should have been there they were bumps that I made by fear and doubt.

Something that God has been speaking to me and John about is negativity. Negative thinking. Negative speach. Anything that goes against the word of God and what He says is negative. Now I know that circumstances in this world may say something that is contrary to God's word and promises for us, that's where we say BUT God says ____________. It's important to not let negative thinking and speach to control me.

God says that we will do greater things that Jesus did. That means that in this world we should expect to walk in the awesome power that Jesus walked in. I dare to believe God and take Him at his word. He says he Honors His word even above HIS NAME!! Now come on...HIS NAME that is huge! He told Moses that he was I AM. He is everything that we have need of. I say I need a miracle in my finances-He says I AM JEOVAH JIRAH the Lord is My provider.

I have been at this place where I am realizing that so much of what we say determins what happens. If I believe in the Almighty that is I AM then I should be walking as His daughter full of His power. To get that power requires something. It requires my time in His prensnce. Being filled with His word so that when satan comes to tempt me I will know what to say. I know that satan will come just as he came at Jesus. But Jesus had the response - the Word. That is what I have to repond with...not what I feel or think.

Being told that I am losing this little one has faced me with this very thing. Saying what God says or getting down and negative about the report that man says. Now the nurse said to me that I've already blown her away! They expected my counts to drop when I lost those 5pt over that one weekend. But it came back and doubled in 72 hrs and has continued to rise. I'm expecting it to rise even higher by my next visit.

What is God dealing with you right now? What challenge are you facing that seems to be so big?
Remember that God is bigger than any circumstance and that He is in control we just have to stay in His prensence and allow I AM to speak and move in our lives.

New Life

Well, as I posted several days ago there was some uncertainty about the new life growing with in my womb. I've been back and forth to the doctors for blood tests. Today I was scheduled to go in do see my OB and learn of my results from yesterday.

I have to tell you that I was nervous going to the doctor this morning. John and I have been praying and believing God for HIS report not man's report on this new life. He's the one that gives life and we know that He is in control no matter what. I was still nervous. I was believing for the best but also preparing for the worst. Which when I think about that that really doesn't show much for my faith in my God. I should know with out a shadow of a doubt that this little one is in the shadow of the Almighty and that HE is taking care of this child. I told myself that I wanted to be prepared if it went the other way...and that made me fear.

Back to the doctors office...

I had to wait in the waiting room and then the nurse called me back. They all know me there - pretty much (I have 3 kids under the age of 5 so I've been there a lot). She was really sweet and asked "How are you doing Hun?" in this kind of sympathy tone.

Nerves are going crazy now

I get into the room and she says "She'll talk with you in a little bit".

WAITING

WAITING

WAITING SOME MORE

I was about to cry when I heard the nurse say "She's in room 8 what do I need to prepare?"

I waited over 30min for her to come in.

And then...the results....went up from 75 to 114!!!!!

It was like this weight was lifted from me and instantly we just began talking about the plan and what she was concerned about. I had an ultrasound to check things out and then we were done. Scheduled to do blood tests again Monday. Just awesome!!!

God is faithful!! Even when I was still believing, but questioning/doubting what was going on...He knew and was in control the whole time. So often we do that with any situation that arises, but even more so when we have absolutely no control over what is happening. All I could and was to do was trust and believe God and that is what we are to do at all times. Have faith.

I'm so excited for this report and I know that it's only going to go up from here!
Thank you all for your prayers and support. We are continuing to pray for this new life and every part of this pregnancy.

Blessings!

Please be praying

I ask that you please be praying for me and the little one in my womb. I don't really want to share details right now as things are uncertain (in the natural), but I ask that you pray for us, for God to work a miracle and for Him to get the Glory! I will post more when the time comes.

Thank you so much! God is Faithful to His word and I trust and rely upon Him!

Pregnancy update and other news

Well, the news is we are waiting. I went in Thursday last week and had blood drawn for HCG levels. It came back at 80 so we are testing again on Monday so I will know more on Tuesday. Thankfully the bleeding has stopped (again) and hasn't come back as of today.

-----------

In other news...we went to Chuck E Cheese today with the girls. It was Faith's first time really and she had a blast!! They took many pictures with Chuck in the little car and played a lot of games (with Mommy and Daddy's help of course). We won over 300 tickets and they got their prizes and were thrilled!

Elizabeth threw up in the middle of Baby's R Us..lots of fun there. And then threw up all over me in the van. YUCK! I'm glad that my nose isn't sensitive yet!

Football is on and my girls are playing basketball...hmmm...well not really. Baths are all done and soon it's bed time!

Hope you have had a wonderful weekend! God bless!

Well...here we go again

WE ARE PREGNANT!!

Totally not planned (using protection to stop from having another little Greer for a while) but we are now apart of the 3% of the population that gets pregnant while using protection!!!
Yes, have a good laugh because we did! God is so funny and we are so very excited. Should be due mid to end of April, but won't know for sure till after doctor appointments.

I can't tell you really how excited we are because we know that God has got something in store for us as this does not take Him by surprise.

I am looking forward to being able to blog about this pregnancy as I haven't ever done that before. :-)

I hope you have had a blessed day!!

Before I formed you in the womb I knew and approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you... Jer 1:5

Nutella Challenge!!

Okay, so my wonderful husband came up with the idea for my Nutella Challenge recipe...and well it is YUMMMMMMMY!!!!

Feast you eyes on this.....




Yeah, looks good...and here's how you can make it for yourself.


NUTELLA STUFFED FRENCH TOAST


Sourdough bread cut into thick slices - or whatever bread you want to use.
Cut a little pocket into the bread and spread in your Nutella to your liking.

Heat up your pan. Make sure it's greased (you can use some butter to cook it in)

4 eggs
3/4 cup millk
1 teaspoon nutmeg
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnimon

wisk together and then soak each piece of bread in it.

Cook until browned to your liking...and then pour on some maple syrup and top with some whip cream!!! ENJOY

Defining Moments

I have been in a contemplative state lately. Just thinking about my life - the journey that I have been on and what God has done in my life so far and what I expect in the future.

I have to say that I have had many defining moments in my life. Choices I made or things that have happened to me that have helped bring and shape me to what I am now. I am wondering what defining moments are ahead of me in the next 10 yrs.

I can look back and see God's hand upon my life as a kid. Moving from Nebraska - a small small town - to Arkansas where it was like I was in a BIG city (but really wasn't) then to Tennessee the BIG Little city of Nashville. I was really quite mad at my dad for each of the moves I have to admit. In fact I wrote the president of the district and told him about how upset I was among many things.

BUT GOD

Then there are the wonderful choices I made and things that happened to me as a teen-ager. WOW did God protect me so many times!!! And as I grew and changed He began to prick my heart drawing me more and more. I grew up in church. Being a PK has it's good and bad. But I didn't have a true relationship with the Lord. It was religion.

I began searching because I knew that there had to be more to God than what I knew and was being taught. And I found it...in the unlikely places...worshiping with a bunch of other college students I was introduced to the power of the Holy Spirit and the awesomeness that is GOD.
I will never forget that defining moment. It changed me! It changed my walk with God. I went seeking and I found HIM!!!

In finding Him in this new way I was then pointed to Spirit of Life Church...another defining and God moment! I knew it was home from the first time I came to a service. I have gained another family at Spirit of Life and I'm so grateful for them. I met my now husband there as well...doesn't get any better than that!!!

Defining moments - there are many that I haven't even touched on. Each of us have defining moments...sometimes it comes from a choice we have to make. I want to make the choices that God has for me and not what I want to do. I want God to define my life and for the defining moments in my life to be God moments.

Being Defined by GOD.

Being Refined by God.

Weekend is here and GONE!

This week has been busy yet again! Seems like the days just fly by and before I know it it's the weekend again!!

I have made it to the gym a couple of times this week! I'm so ready to get back into the schedule of the gym daily! It's been off since having kids sick and then with working at the church this month that has made my routine off.

Yesterday he had the girls most of the day as I had work at the church and then a baby shower in the evening. The girls love daddy dates! He made a special dinner for them French Toast, eggs, and bacon.




Yummy!!

Today the girls and I have just hung out at the house. It was HOT today and I thought about going to the pool, but late naps didn't allow much time for that this afternoon so we chilled out at home. The girls played and I caught up on things here. Now Blue's Clues is on...and my Elizabeth is enjoying it very much!!




Now it's bed time for little one and bath for Rebekah.

I'm ready for a wonderful service tomorrow at Spirit of Life!!

Hope you had a wonderful week and a great weekend! Oh and join in on the Nutella Challange! It should be fun and a great way to connect with other bloggers and of course Nutella!

It's been busy around here....

So, it's been a bit crazy around the Greer house for the past week or so. Faith had that high fever due to a UTI of all things! She's getting better and on meds so hopefully this whinney attituted will end soon and she'll be back to her sweet disposition.






In the midst of this John's bike was totaled by the person who was going to be buying it at the end of this month.



Praise God that they were not hurt to badly and for insurace that is wonderful. If you are looking to change Progressive is great! The bike was a total losee so they paid off the bike for us.



Today we found out somene from our church died in a car accident Thursday night. She's the mother to a close friend of John's. Denise was a wonderful, sweet lady who served the babys at Spirit of Life in the nursery. She will be missed by her son and many others. Praise the Lord she's in heaven now. Please pray for her family who remains as this has been very difficult.


My sweet 15mon. old has kept me busy today as well. She's walking better and more now which means she's getting into more!! Wow is she a busy little girl and can make quite a mess of toys on her own!

What's Love Got To Do with It??

EVERYTHING!



Love has to do with everything when it comes to God.

His whole purpose of creating this earth and all that is in it - particularly man - was love. He loved us so much that even as He already knew that we would disobey Him and be removed from the Garden of Eden, He made a way through His Son, Jesus, to bring us back to intimate communion with Him.



As I have been reading in 1 John the commandment from Jesus to love one another - to love our brothers and sisters in the Lord - has been putting this resounding sound in my ear and spirit.



Why would the Lord put such an importance on loving each other? He even puts the important's of loving to men when instructing them to love their wives as Christ Loves the Church.



LOVE



God is love.



Even in 1 Corinthians 13 - the Love chapter...(paraphrasing) I can do many great things for the Lord but if I do not love they are all nothing - I am nothing.

As I have been studying on love and working on this post love has been a repeating part of messages at church. God is wanting to show us His love and as we receive love from Him we love others. The Lord is pouring out an abundance of the Holy Spirit upon His people - those who are willing to sit and be in His presence.

God wants us to love one another because they (the world) will know we are Christians by our love for one another. Love in action toward your brothers and sisters in the Lord is what "speaks" out to the world. The world is not know for it's kindness to one another it's all about me, myself, and I. And sad to say the Church can be like that as well, but it's not how we are supose to be.

Dean Sykes came to my church today and talked about being a Son/Daughter and not an orphan to the Lord. If you feel like you are an orphan you are alway seeking for that approval and trying to work for the love that is freely given from the Lord. When you know that you are a son/daughter you know WHOSE you are and are free in recieving love from the Lord and giving love to others.

More on this soon, but I have to take care of my daughter who has a high fever still.

Be blessed!

Abiding in Him

I am not an eloquent writer and don't claim to be in any sort of way, so please bare with me on my posts as I just write plainly from my heart/mind in what God is speaking to me.


I was reading in 1John the other day and I haven't been able to get off of my mind what I read. As time speeds up I realize that I need more of Jesus every day. He has placed me here for this time - this season for a purpose...I need to find and fulfill that purpose.


1John chapter 2 talks about being a Christian - having Jesus in us and how to know when someone does not have the Truth truly in him. Verse 5- 6 says

"But he who keeps (treasures) His Word [who bears in mind His precepts, who observes His message in its entirety], truly in him has the love of and for God been perfected (completed, reached maturity). By this we may perceive (know, recognize, and be sure) that we are in Him: Whoever says he abides in Him ought [as a personal debt] to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself."

Ouch.

How have I walked and conducted myself??? I have to admit I know that I haven't always walked and conducted myself in the way HE walked and conducted Himself.

Ouch.

Then go on to Chapter 3 and there it says in verse 6

" No one who abides in Him [who lives and remains in communion with and in obedience to Him - deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] commits (practices) sin.
No on who [habitually] sins has either seen or known Him [recognized, perceived, or understood Him, or has had an experiential acquaintance with Him]. "

Man, how many people say that they are Christians yet deliberately and knowing that is wrong sin? Going against the very word of God and what He stands for?! My heart is just grieved at my imperfections and the imperfections of the Church as a whole. We are not the Bride that we are suppose to be! We have let our standards be filtered with the worlds standards. The Church as a whole has become hypocrites - just like the Pharisees.

Now, I know that not every church or everyone is a hypocrite, but if you truely look at the church today as a whole we have become just that. Laying down the Word for the sake of Political correctness. It's time to wake up to the Truth! Go against the grain of sociaty and be a true Christian.

verse 10"...no one who does not practice righteousness [ who does not conform to God's will in purpose, thought, and action] is of God; neither is anyone who does not love his brother (his fellow believer in Christ)."

Loving your fellow believer is ranked up there with righteousness. That's something to think about. Where is your love walk at with fellow believers? Believers: not the same denomination as you - believers in Christ.

Lots to think upon....my mind is full and I need to just be in the presence of God.

Misty Edwards song Doves Eyes...

I don't want to talk about you
like you are not in the room
I want to look right at you
I want to sing right to you

I believe you are as near
I believe that you move at the sound of my voice
I believe that you are as near
I believe that you move at the sound of my voice

Give me doves eyes
Give me undistracted devotion
For only you
Give me doves eyes
Give me undistracted devotion
For only you

I don't want to talk about you
like you are not in the room
I want to look right at you
I want to sing right to you

MckLinky

Hot of the press....:-)

There’s a great new “linky” service available and I wanted to let you know about it. It’s called MckLinky – www.mcklinky.com. After realizing the need for a new, reliable linky capability, Brent Riggs and MckMama got together to create a free, easy to use linky service for all their blog friends.

MckLinky is a free link list feature that allows you to do include lists of other blog links like MckMama does on Not Me! Monday. You can use MckLinky any time you want your blog readers to leave a list of links on your blog. It’s simple, reliable, free...and loads of MckFun!

Check it out!! I'm going to be using it soon I think.

Cleaning

Okay so this is a totally non spiritual post...well cleanliness is next to Godliness...any how...
I have a bathtub that is a pain in my rear end to clean. It has a textured bottom and I've tried everything I know to get it clean. I cleaned houses for several years and I am out of ides. Soft Scrub with bleach works a bit...with A LOT of elbow grease. Regular bleach soaking didn't do a thing. Grease lightening gives me a headache...so HELP...
Suggestions please!!

Growth

As time is speeding up there is a need to mature in the things of the Lord and also just mature over all. There is no more..I'll do it tomorrow...I have another month...It's NOW.
Now is the time when Christians/Church as a whole need to stand up for what is right and true according to the word. The world is falling apart quickly and the church is suppose to have the answer - Jesus Christ. His return is very soon and we need to repent and live a holy life. With out that how can we expect to show the world the one true living God. There is a great post about Holiness here

What is it that makes us grow in God?

I want to grow so much more in the Lord. To walk out the fullness of what God has for me as His child. To do that takes sacrifice of time but even more so of me. And by saying that I mean that I have to "die" to grow into what God wants me to be. I can no longer be distracted by my agenda but I have to be focused on God's agenda.

Reading and hearing the word of God is very important and really critical to your walk with God. As the word says "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God". You can't have faith unless you hear Him and you hear Him by reading/listening to the word.

I know that as a mom of 3 little ones it can be hard at times to get that quiet time in. We can all find something else to do during their nap...laundery, cleaning, Facebook, blogging...but in that time we need to make it a priority to get into God's presence. I know for me my time is usually in the evening when they have gone to bed. My dear husband works at night so I have time to myself with the Lord. Other times it is during afternoon nap.

Being faithful in attending a church that speaks forth the truth of God's word is also very important to growth in the Lord. God commands us to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Being apart of a church body is vital for your encouragement to get back out into this world and live a Christian life-style. Not being fake or a hypocrite but truly walking it out - - being Christ-like.

So, I challenge you today, to get away into the Word and into His presence and let Him speak to you, change you, up lift you, and love on you. We all need more of Him and less of us. And to be in a church that will help you grow even more.

What Will It Take?

As I have continued to think about faith and what it means, I read again about Thomas in John 20.
Thomas doubted that his brothers had seen Jesus. He did not believe them. He says

"Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."

He told the fellow deciples that he would not believe that Jesus was alive unless he touched HIM for himself! Now, how many of us can relate to that? We won't believe the WORD (Jesus) unless we have the proof in our hands or have the answer to our prayer first.

Jesus told him "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and YET have believed." (emphasis mine)

John 20:30-31 goes onto say (paraphrasing) that Jesus did many other miracles during His time on earth after resurrection, but what is written is written so that we may BELIEVE in Jesus and have LIFE.

Jesus gave us the proof but yet we often struggle in believing HIM for the very things HE says HE can and WILL do. Myself included. And then I wonder why my situation has not changed or my prayer has not been answered...am a really believing in HIS word? What does it take for us to get to the place where we just have faith and believe?

Time and time again the bible talks about believing or the lack of believing in God. Will you believe Him and take Him at His word? So I know that I'm not the only one in the history of man kind that struggles with this.But He's not a man that He should lie so I should expect what He says to come to past in my life.

Faith does not go by site and comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. We have to have the word with in us...I have to have the Word in me. There is such an urgancy to get to this place of total trust to

Expect

Have

FAITH

with out doubt

and

BELIEVE!

Believe that He will do what He says He's going to do, but even more than that believe that the time is drawing near for Jesus to return. Time is running out....What will it take??

Faith

I've been pondering the story of my sweet Faith. Faith is a testimony of Faith and the goodness of God. She's a blessing beyond belief!

Faith came into our lives October 15th, 2006 a miracle from God. The day I found out I was pregnant only because I had a dream that I was VERY pregnant. I woke up from that dream knowing it was very real. I was home from church that day because Rebekah was sick. So I got up and took a test - POSITIVE. I began to pray for my husband. Rebekah wasn't even 1 yrs old yet! I prayed that God would tell my husband now. And then I prayed over this baby that God had given us as I was bleeding.

That evening after Rebekah was in bed I sat down with my dear husband wanting to tell him. I was smiling at him...and I said I needed to tell you something. He guessed it! And then said that he knew the other day when he put his hand on my stomach! Now if that's not God I don't know what it is!
So we prayed for the baby together because I was bleeding and planned to get into our OB in the morning.

Monday morning...got in to the OB right away. Actually her assistant the nurse practitioner. Told them what was going on and she checked me and said by this much bleeding you are most likely having a miscarriage. They had all of the blood drawn for the tests and told me they would call me and let me know the results and then I would come back in a week and do the tests again to make sure the hcg count was dropping.

I called my pastors and asked for prayer. There were 5 women that prayed that night for this baby. And in that time as I found out later they said that there was such a presence of God that they knew it was taken care of.
My bleeding stopped that evening. Then it came back a little bit over the next few days.

I started researching the hormone levels and what pregnancy test read at was levels. So I bought a test to take on Friday of that week. Wednesday night I went to church and was encourage by a woman who walked through several miscarriages. She said hang on till they say it's no more..you have to believe and hold on to God's word...don't give up.

Friday I took a tests. Negative

Second test - Negative

Crushed...

I said to God...okay it's over...let me grieve and be done with this. I sat before the Lord and wanted to grieve the loss of my child... but I couldn't.....what I saw was telling me it was over, but something in me wouldn't let me grieve and I didn't understand it at that time.

Monday I took the blood test again and the nurse just walked me through what to expect and just encouraged me. She was very sweet.

Tuesday...getting out of the shower and the phone rings. The same nurse I talked to yesterday calls me and wants to know what's been happening this past week. I was confused..she just talked to me yesterday and knew everything, but I tell her anyway.

Then she states "Your counts are through the roof you need to come in right away so we can find out what's going on."

MY HEART BEGAN TO RACE

I couldn't believe it...

My baby was alive...

I called my husband to get there to the office right away. We had an ultrasound...and there she was!!! The doctors couldn't believe it...but I could and testified to what God did to them. It was a miracle!


At that time we obviously didn't know she was a SHE...we were wanting a boy...but God had something else in mind.

Faith - we walk by Faith NOT by SITE! Faith is the the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Heb. 11:1

God answered the prayers of many and our Faith was born!

There is just something special about our Faith...and I think it's because she knows her name. God knew her before she was in my womb and she knows who she is in Christ. She has a way about her to do things at times that you know it's by the Spirit. She's FAITH and she brings faith to those who need a lift to believe God for what they don't see. Even I needed to be reminded to believe God even when things don't look good.

Have FAITH and BELIEVE!
Photos by: Beanstalk Photography and Focus Photography

Simple thoughts...

Well, I haven't blogged in a bit. I still want to use wordpress, but I'm still getting it set up.

I've been thinking about how our actions represent Christ or how they can represent the world. Calling yourself a Christian doesn't work if you aren't Christ-like. Who are you representing?

God requires something of us. We can't just sit back and say that we are a Christian and then go out and do whatever we please. There is a standard that we (I) live by and that is the word -- values that we should uphold and teach our children.

Raising children to be Christ-like and to step up to a higher standard than what they see everywhere else is a challenge. It's even a challenge as an adult to say NO to a particular movie or tv show that's popular because of the content of it.
But I think about what I want my children to do...they follow after me...what do I want them following? As my oldest gets older I'm reminded every day that she learns from me - ALL the time! I'm becoming more and more aware of what I say and do. Then again I should already be like that as God watches what I do all the time.

We've been talking about the Holy Spirit and Pentecost, as it's coming up this Sunday. My 4yr old is still getting the concept that the Holy Spirit is apart of God, but she knows that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit and that the Holy Spirit wants to live in us just as Jesus lives in our hearts.
It's the Holy Spirit that helps lead us in the right path - that little tug that keeps you from doing something you shouldn't do and repent when you do mess up.

Do you need a filling of the Holy Spirit? We all need a refilling of the power of the Holy Ghost! We need it now more than ever to stand for the truth and to go out with boldness and share the goodness of God.

As my 4yr old says God loves us and Jesus died on the cross....can it get more simpler than that?

Is there something you should be fighting for??

Is there anything going on in your life today that you should be fighting for and aren't? Or maybe you are getting tired of the fight.
I don't mean physically fighting - I don't condone that :-) I mean taking a stand in saying "I'm not doing that because...", "I'm not accepting that report. God's word says...." etc.

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

I know for me I recently had to take a stand and it was hard to stay strong to what I knew was right, but it was worth it. My stand took me to my knees and that is the best place when you are "fighting" for something. Getting in the presence of God and reminding Him of HIS word because HE is faithful to do what He says He will do. Don't let the circumstances around you dictate what you believe or even feel. Keep the word in you to change your thinking and "stand and fight"!

In Ephesians 6 in vs.13-18 it gives us what we need to do to fight.

• 13.
• Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

• 14.
• Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

• 15.
• and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

• 16.
• In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

• 17.
• Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

• 18.
• And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

You don't have to do it alone and if you are I encourage you to email me or leave a comment and I will be in prayer for you and with you.


Be blessed in your Journey!

You Are Not Alone

I have never thought that I would do a blog, but here I am. I think that this is a great way to share what God is doing in my life and what He is speaking to me that may help someone else.

For the past few days God has really been speaking to me about being broken and allowing HIM to "fix" me the way He made me to be instead of what I thought I was to "look" like.

In the midst of this, my wonderful husband shares with me what God was talking to him about. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fire but they were not alone - Jesus was with them...I don't remember what else he right now. I began meditating on that. Jesus - God in the flesh - was with them in the fire. So no matter what kind of "hell" you think you are going through if you are faithfull and obey God's commandments- not take part in the things of the world - then you can expect God to be there in the midst of the fire of the enemy!
That just gets me excited!!! No matter what your situation God doesn't let you stay in that "fire" by yourself and He will bring you out of that fire.



Be blessed!

The Beginning.....

Today I'm beginning my journey of blogging. My life journey is 26yrs in the process, but I know that the years to come are going to bring forth what I am on this earth to do. I am blessed beyond measure and am greatful for what God has done in my life.

Welcome to Life's Journey: You're not Alone