Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Hang it on the Cross

I have left the situation that happened to me, "On the Cross". I posted all about it today and deleted the post. I will post about what happened to my blog after deleting it another day. Not today, I must get my house cleaned back in order and my laundry done before the weekend.

This poem says it all!


If you have a secret sorrow,
a burden or a loss,
An aching need for healing...
Hang It On The Cross.
If worry steals your sleep and makes you turn and toss,
If your heart is feeling heavy...
Hang It On The Cross.
Every obstacle to faith or doubt you come across,
Every prayer unanswered...
Hang It On The Cross.
For Christ has borne our brokenness
and dearly paid the cost
To turn our trials to triumph...
Hang On The Cross

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

My Baby turned 10 Today!





















We are having a Tea Party for our Awana girls on Valentines Day and I am in charge of it. I have to print out the invitation and come up with food, games and crafts for that evening. All in all it should be a fun evening. I have to pass out the invitation tomorrow evening and let the other Leader's and the girls know what to bring to the Tea Party. I have to admit I’m not really into doing stuff like this but I will try real hard to make it a special evening for the girls. I printed out our songs sheet so I can copy them while I clean this morning. I think I am all set for Awana tomorrow evening.

Today was a special day; Bo is now a double digit. He informed us a few weeks ago that this will be a special Birthday for him because he is turning 10.

We had 16 people over for Bo's Birthday party this evening. Today was filled with cleaning my house and getting ready for the party tonight.
We started the party at 6:30 p.m. and everyone left around 10:30 p.m.

Bo got some really nice things for his Birthday.

A DS game system
Money
A Pop corn popper
An Air soft gun
The card game Uno

His Birthday dinner was made up of all of his favorite foods:

Shrimp
Crab Legs
Barbeque Chicken
Cheesy Potatoes
Green Bean Casserole
Rolls
Veggie Tray

He wanted an Oreo Ice cream cake for his Birthday Cake this year. His dad made a Yellow cake with Chocolate frosting for people that didn't want the Ice cream cake.

It is always a lot of fun to get together with family. We all laughed a lot! It was a great evening.

Monday, January 29, 2007

I'm Back

I felt like I had to delete my blog a few weeks back, this was for reasons I can't share. After I deleted my site, A porn site took it over. I had to find it and turn them over to the blogger abuse team.

This is the address for help:

On 1/29/07, Google Help "groups-support@google.com" wrote:
> Hi there,
>
> Thanks for writing in. I was able to restore that blog to your account, so you should see it the next time you log in.
>
> Sincerely,
> Brenna
> The Blogger Team


Blogger was able to restore my entire blog; I will blog about this soon. I had no idea if you delete your blog that it doesn't disappear. I guess there are sites just waiting to take over your blog for there sick pleasures. I couldn't believe the nasty pictures that came up under my blog name. The worst part about the whole thing is, it is my little boy's name, not mine. I felt sick that I had done such a thing to my little boy. I know I didn't mean to turn his site over to such people but I wish I hadn't reacted without thinking first. I guess I got a little scared and freaked out! If I would have read my own daily devotions, I would have turned this person over to God instead of playing right into his hands. I alway try to be so careful as to not give out to much information on this blog, you just never know.

I will never just delete my blog like that again!

Please don't any of you ever just delete your blog! If you need to disappear for a while, you can do it by just closing your profile. I promise all of you, I have done a lot of research regarding this the last two weeks, while trying to recover my blog from that awful porn site.

I am so sorry that any of you had to view those pictures. Thank you for your friendship, I promise, I have missed all of you very much. I felt like I had lost my best friend. I can't wait to meet all of you in heaven some day.

Barb asked for this information,

Hi Barb,

I'm sorry I told everyone I would post this information on my blog and
never sat down to do it. I had to find the cached. I found it at
http://technorati.com. If someone is link to you, you will have one of
these accounts. I found my blog post underneath the site that took it
over. Mine so happened to be a porn site. I felt sick when I told my
little boy I deleted our blog and he started crying telling me he gave
people his blog address so they could look up line flyer. I could just
see all those little 10 year olds exposed to porn.

When I got my blog back everyone that links to me I put everyone that
link to me as a technorati favorite. I don't know if they sent you
information once I did that or not?

If you can get me her site address I will look to see if it is on
technorati. If it is we can get her blog restored to her. We can pull
the information off my blog as to who to turn the site into and they
will restore her blog to her.

I pray this information helps her. I am so glad you emailed me
concerning this. I never know if the information I put on my blog is
useful so sometimes I just fail to follow through with what I say I am
going to do.

Love,

Lori
- Show quoted text -


On 2/27/07, BarJr50@aol.com wrote:
>
>
> Hi Lori,
>
> I swear, I've been trying for three days to find time to email you. Finally,
> tonight I have five minutes to breathe. I wonder if you can do me a quick
> favor.
>
> I almost died when I saw how your blog was sabotaged by a por*n site. I was
> frantic trying to contact you and couldn't because I couldn't get to your
> email address. (I have since spent a lot of time going into every blog I
> follow and writing down email addresses so that never happens again.)
>
> Anyway, I was thrilled when you came back and your blog was restored.
> But....it's happened to someone else I love - Sombra at Shadowlight. It
> makes me sick. He's an artist, a very gentle man, and I'm sure he's
> bewildered and stunned. I felt awful when it happened to you and I feel
> awful for Sombra, too.
>
> If it can happen to you and him, it can happen to me. So do you mind telling
> me what you did? I don't need a lot of detail. I'd just like to know what my
> first step toward recovery should be if it happens to me.
>
> I swear, I wouldn't even know where to begin. But it scares me to think it
> could happen and I'd lose my whole blog simply because I wouldn't know what
> to do to repair the damage.
>
> I'd really appreciate it, Lori, if you could just tell me what you did when
> you realized your blog had been taken over.
>
> xoxoxo
> Barb
> A Chelsea Morning
>
> People shop for a bathing suit with more care than they do a husband or
> wife. The rules are the same. Look for something you'll feel comfortable
> wearing and allow for room to grow.
> ~~Erma Bombeck~~
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> Here is some helpful information in getting your blog back if you delete it.

I'm sorry I told everyone I would post this information on my blog and
never sat down to do it. I had to find the cached. I found it at
http://technorati.com. If someone is link to you, you will have one of
these accounts. I found my blog post underneath the site that took it
over. Mine so happened to be a porn site.
When I got my blog back everyone that links to me I put everyone that
link to me as a technorati favorite. I don't know if they sent you
information once I did that or not?


I pray this information helps!

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Wow! Were does the time Go?

This ended up being a very profitable day. I thought I had a hair cut appointment today but I got a hold of my hair dresser around 10:00 a.m. she said my appointment was on Thursday. When I got my hair cut in December, I didn't have a new day planner yet. I couldn't for the life of me remember were I put that little card she had given me. I think they say the memory is the first to go? I always make my appointments on Tuesday because I have Worship team practice on Thursday's. If I need to copy my music I like to be able to do it ahead of time so I go on Thursday mornings. I don't have Worship team practice this Thursday because it is not my turn to lead Worship. This must be the reason I made the appointment on Thursday. I am babbling!

I got almost all of my laundry done this morning plus I started cleaning some of the shelves downstairs. While I was cleaning I came across some old picture of when my children were babies. It seemed like only yesterday I was staying up all night feeding them and having to change their diapers. Now my youngest son is going to be in the "double digits" (This is what he told us last night) in two weeks. My oldest son is going to be 29 next month. Oh my, do I feel old!

Wow! Time sure does fly!



This picture was taken back in November of 1987.
Mommy and Becca












This picture was taken right after A.J. was born back in September, 1989.
Daddy, Mommy and A.J.


















This picture is of J.S. one of the twins in September 1994. He was 2 months old









This is Jr. J.S. twin brother. They are 30 minutes apart in age.
He was 2 months old in this picture.

Monday, January 15, 2007

Grocery shopping Day


Things have been a bit on the busy side for me today. Today was my big "Aldis" grocery shopping day; I had to replenish my shelves. I was suppose to go the week after Christmas but just didn't seem to be able to fit it in. We just hit the local stores and got just what we needed to get by.

The route was a mess today, the ice storm that hit the last few days around here made all my back road muddy and nasty. I couldn't believe all the trees and power lines that were down.

Tonight, I need to rotate all my dry goods to the front of the panty shelves to put the new food in the back. I got 400.00 dollars were of food today so it is going to take me a while to put all the groceries away. The kids had the day off of school today so A.J. said he would go with me to help me. A.J. going made it possible for me to get all the stuff I did. I had three very full carts of groceries.

I guess I'd better get myself busy while the kids are gone to wrestling practice.

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Prayers are answered

Praise the Lord! God is soooooo very good.

My dear daughter,

Prayers are answered when we least expect them! God let's us wait ..... I
just realized waiting is how God let's us know this truly came from Him.

Your nephew has a job....... Yes Jeremy....... Don't say I told you but I am
excited I know we have all been Praying.

Derik hired this boy back. PRAISE BE TO OUR LORD!

I did not think it would happen, God knew in advance!

What a Blessing!

Had to share
Love
Mom

Friday, January 12, 2007

Christmas pictures
















This picture is of my son holding my Granddaughter Jenna-Benna in her Christmas outfit at my mom's house Christmas day. Jenna's Momma is in the back ground facing forward.














This picture is also out at my mom's house on Christmas day. This is a picture of my son A.J. my older son B.C. and my husband. My husband is the one opening the gift.







My daughter-in-laws mother dressed my Granddaughter up in play clothes, as you can see Jenna has the cute baby look going on. If you look at my picture on the right, I think she looks just like "ME". Hee, Hee

Thursday, January 11, 2007

A very rewarding and fun Day!

I really don't know how I accomplished everything I had to do today but everything I set out to do did get done. I am also trying to add some pictures to my blog so you know who is writing these journal posts.

I took Jeremy and Terra a cheese Cake, chocolate pie and chocolate chip cookies this morning. There is a story of why I felt the need to take Jeremy all of these deserts. When Jeremy was in Jail I tried to write to him at least three letters a week. One of the letters I wrote, told about all the deserts I was taking to my brother's house for Thanksgiving. The day he got out of jail he crumpled up my letter and told his mom this is what he wanted to do with my letter in jail. We all had a good laugh about it at Big Boy's after we picked him up but I told him I would make it up to him and make him some of the desert I made for Thanksgiving. It is hard to think of different things to write about, plus, Terra told me that they read the letters out loud so don’t write anything that would get him into trouble. I guess I just made them all hungry instead? He told me today, that, that letter kept him going. It gave him another reason to want to get out of jail and not go back. I was just trying to be a good Aunt. I am sure it was hard on him not being with family for Thanksgiving.

I did have to ask for my daughter's help this morning getting everything done. I had to run the guy we sing with a tape with his tenor part on it and a tape player this morning too. It all worked out! My daughter did tell me I shouldn’t try to do so much in one morning if I couldn’t get it all done without help. She has a good point! I got to Jeremy's and Terra's house about 9:30 a.m. this morning and was able to stay for two hours before I had to leave for work.

Isabelle loved the present I got her. I gave her dress up Barbie things; The necklace, shoes, earrings and ring all light up when you pushed the top of the jewel. It came with a little purse to carry everything in. I got Noah a Power Rangers car that also came with a man. (A Power Ranger) I think it does something but I really didn't read to see what it did. It looked cool to me so I thought maybe he would like it. I got the baby two outfits, plus I gave Jeremy and Terra two gift cards and a little cash. Jeremy is on a tether for 90 days, I think he is going crazy just being inside of his home but I did tell him I thought this was better than being in jail. I just need to remember to pray for them daily.

1. That he gets a job right away so he doesn't get sent back to jail.

2. for his walk with the Lord.

3. for strength while he is on this tether.

Worship team practice went really well tonight. I loved all the songs we will be leading the congregation in on Sunday. We are learning a new song I just loved called "Hosanna". Our leader told me the website that the song is on if I can find where I wrote down the information tonight I'll post it.

Trio practice went very well too. We will be singing Holy, Holy, Holy Acappella "The Martins" style. We will also sing a song called "Grace" by the Martins.

I just love to sing!

I am late for work so I'd better get going.

"Hosanna" New song we are leaning

Praise is rising
Eyes are turning to You
We turn to You
Hope is stirring
Hearts are yearning for You
We long for You

When we see You we find strength to face the day
In Your presence all our fears are washed away
Washed away

Hosanna Hosanna
You are the God who saves us
Worthy of all our praises
Hosanna Hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here Lord Jesus

Hear the sound of hearts returning to You
We turn to You
In Your kingdom broken lives are made new
You make us new

‘Cause when we see You we find strength
To face the day
In Your presence all our fears are washed away
Washed away

words and music by Paul Baloche and Brenton Brown
© 2006 Integrity's Hosanna! Music and Thankyou Music (adm worldwide by EMI CMG Publishing except for Europe which is adm by kingswaysongs.com)/PRS

You can listen to this song at Leadworship.com

Another song that I just fell in love with, is a song we are doing for our closing hymn called "Ancient Words" by Lynn Deshazo

Song Lyrics

Holy words long preserverd for our walk in
this world they resound with God's own
heart let the ancient words impart

Words of life words of hope give us
strength help us cope in this world
where'er we roam ancient words will guide
us home

Ancient words ever true changing me
changing you we have come with open
hearts the faithful words of Christ

Holy words long preserved for our walk in
this world they resound with God's own
heart oh let the ancient words impart

We have come with open hearts oh let the
ancient words impart oh let the ancient
words impart

© 2001 Integrity's Hosanna! Music

http://www.audiblefaith.com/music/mp3clips/sample.m3u?song=201918

This is the one of the song the Trio I am in will be singing.

Martins Lyrics - Grace Lyrics

I was in prison, locked up in chains sin held me captive
to sorrow and pain, years of frustrations as love passed me by
until the Master heard my hearts cry

For grace marvelous grace, I needed grace to pardon and make
me whole grace marvelous grace flows from above with infinite love
marvelous grace

woohoo

I was downhearted I was broken inside praying for mercy with
nowhere to hide, there was a solace searching for me grace
ever flowing that set my soul free

For grace marvelous grace I needed grace to pardon and make me
whole grace marvelous grace flows from above with infinite love
marvelous grace

I am forgiven
I am redeemed
A brand new creation He saved me and gave me a reason to sing

Grace, Grace God's Grace grace that will pardon and cleanse within
Grace, Grace God's Grace grace that is greater than all our sins

For Grace marvelous grace flows from above with infinite love
Marvelous Grace Marvelous Grace Marvelous Grace

Words and Music by Pamela Furr, Wayne Haun and Raymond C. Davis
Copyright 1996 Songs for Darshan (admin. By Gaither copyright Management)


I am sooo looking forward to leading Worship on Sunday.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Maybe things will slow down next Week

My week seemed to have gotten pretty full after my slow start on Monday. Tuesday my mom sent me an email telling me my Step-father's brother-in-law passed away. I knew I had to go to the viewing for my Step-dad's sack. He has been in our lives since I was 6 years old. I just felt like I needed to be supportive at this time. My step-dad has been pretty sick himself. I just felt like I needed to be their.

He was very grateful that my husband and I came. My brother and his wife showed up about 15 minutes after we did. My step-dad and my mom took us around and introduced us to everyone; they seemed like very proud parents, even though both my brother and I are in our 40's. My mom sent me an email this morning telling me how grateful she was that we took our time up for my Step-dad. How could I not go and show support to a man that put up with me for all of those years. : )

My morning flew by! I had to finish up my council time message, prepare songs to lead the girls tonight and clean my house. Before I knew it, it was time for me to head off to work.

Awana went well! I loved seeing the girls again and hearing about their holiday. One of the little girls in my group has a crush on a boy from her church. Instead of giving out so much candy to the girls, I bought some girly items such as; hair clips, head bands, cute little pony tail holders ect. . Anyway, one of the girls thinks if she makes herself look cute enough this boy will notice her. I try not to promote adorning yourself at 9 years of age but I did show her how she could do her hair to make herself look really cute. I pulled her hair up in a pony tail on top of her head. She has really cute curly hair so I pulled some of the curls out on the sides; they fell down around her face. She looked so cute! For Christmas I gave the girls some lip gloss and hand cream for Christmas. She said, with the things I gave her for Christmas and now her hair this boy just had to like her. This young lady doesn't remind me of one of the girls that would even care. She always comes prepared for Awana and, well, I don't know what else to say. She just doesn't remind me of the type that would care. I shouldn't have encouraged her but she is just the sweetest little girl.

Tomorrow, I have to get to church early to copy the Worship music for our worship team singers. (This is one of my jobs) I then will be going to see Jeremy and Terra for the morning until I have to head off to work.

I have Worship team at 5:50 p.m. tomorrow evening and practice with Joe and Rebecca after that. Then off to work at 10:00 p.m. That doesn't leave me much time to blog tomorrow so I thought I'd stay up and post tonight.

Friday is going to be another busy day. I clean Kent and Elizabetta's house in the early a.m. It's off to my Motor route at 12:30 p.m and home as fast as I so my twin’s best friends can come over and spend the night. Paul and Matthew's parent's were at the wedding I sang at on Saturday so I ask if their boy's could spend the night on Friday. It has been a few weeks since they have been over.

I just have to work my motor route and my church cleaning job on Saturday so that won't be too bad.

Well, off to bed with this old body. I have to make deserts for Jeremy and Terra before I head off to church in the morning to make my copies.

My Council time Message

Our Awana program starts back up tonight. We took 3 weeks off for the Christmas holiday. I have to give the council time message tonight in Awana for the 3rd and 4th grade girls. I thought I would do it on prayer. I also have a Bible Trivia to go along with it when we are done so I can see what they learned from the lesson.


What does God tell us about praying?

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. (KJV)

Matthew 6:5-15 V5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. V6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. V7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. V8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. V9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. V10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. V11 Give us this day our daily bread. V12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. V13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. V14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: V15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (KJV)

The prayer that Jesus Christ gave us in these verses is only an example. We are not to say the "Our Father" pray over and over. God is our Father and He wants our love. When we pray to God, we should ask for forgiveness of our sins and tell Him that we love Him. We should just talk to Him. Tell Him how we feel and ask Him for His help and guidance in our daily life. God has feelings like we do and He also gets happy, sad etc. What God wants most from us is our love. If you really do love God, tell Him that you do and that will make Him very happy. I say if because we can not con God. He knows what we are thinking and our true feelings about Him.

We should only pray to God.

Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. (KJV)

When Christ said He would do anything for us as long as we asked in His name, does He mean anything and everything?

John 14:12-14 V12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. V13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. V14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (KJV)

Many people believe that these verses mean that we can ask God for absolutely anything and He will give it to us. Wrong. These people seem to miss the fact in verse 12 that Jesus Christ is talking about doing works like He did and in verse 13 that God is glorified. How does asking God for a new car glorify Him? It doesn't. If your teaching the truth of God's Word, which is a work that Christ did, ask God for His blessings and what you think you need so you can reach more people and help them better. If you don't teach God's Word but still would like His blessings, Jesus Christ gave some great advice in Matthew 6:25-34 The best advice is in verse 33.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (KJV) If you love God and try to please Him, He will bless you. You may not get everything you want but you will receive His blessings. God is the Father of us all and He does want us to be happy.

If we love Christ, we should keep His commandments.

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. (KJV)

Is it possible to please God without faith?

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (KJV)

The only way we can get to God is by Christ.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (KJV)

Do we have a better chance of having our prayers answered if we pray out in the open?

Matthew 6:5-6 V5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. V6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. (KJV)

Should we say the same thing over and over to make sure God hears us the most?

Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. (KJV)

Do we have a better chance of having our prayers answered if we pray in private?

Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. (KJV)

Does God already knows what we need before we ask Him?

Matthew 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. (KJV)



1. We should follow the example Christ taught us on how to pray.
true
false

2. We should only pray to God.
true
false

3. When Christ said He would do anything for us as long as we asked in His name, He means anything and everything.
true
false

4. If we love Christ, we should keep His commandments.
true
false

5. It is possible to please God without faith.
true
false

6. The only way we can get to God is by Christ.
true
false

7. We have a better chance of having our prayers answered if we pray out in the open.
true
false

8. We should say the same thing over and over to make sure God hears us the most.
true
false

9. We have a better chance of having our prayers answered if we pray in private.
true
false

10. God already knows what we need before we ask Him.
true
false

The Purina Diet

I haven't posted my mom's little funnies in a while so here goes.

I was in Wal-Mart buying a large bag of Purina for our dog Chip, and
was in line to check out. A woman behind me asked if I had a dog........
Duh!

I was feeling a bit crabby so on impulse, I told her no, I was starting The Purina Diet again, although I probably shouldn't because I'd ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care unit with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IV's in both arms. Her eyes about bugged out of her head.

I went on and on with the bogus diet story and she was totally buying it. I told her that it was an easy, inexpensive diet and that the way it works is to load your pockets or purse with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The package said the food is nutritionally complete so I was going to try it again.

I have to mention here that practically everyone in the line was by now enthralled with my story, particularly a tall guy behind her.

Horrified, she asked if something in the dog food had poisoned me and was that why I ended up in the hospital.

I said no.....I'd been sitting in the street licking my butt when a car hit me.

I thought the tall guy was going to have to be carried out the door.



USE YOUR ELBOW


A grandmother is giving directions to her Grown grandson who is coming to visit with his wife:

"You come to the front door of the apartment complex. I am in apartment 301 . There is a big panel at the Front door. With your elbow push button 301. I will Buzz you in. Come inside, the elevator is on the Right. Get in, and with your elbow push 3. When you Get out I am on the left. With your elbow, hit my Doorbell."

"Grandma, that sounds easy, but, why am I hitting all These buttons with my elbow"?

"What . . . . . . . . You're coming empty handed?"

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Getting ready for the Day

As I sit here preparing myself for the day, I wonder what things God has in store for me. I have somethings planned already; buying make up (Mary Kay products) is one of them. Well, I don't know how God honoring that will be but I do get to see my grandbabies this morning. I love getting hugs from my 4 year old grandson. (Little Jack) My little granddaughter (I call her Jenna Benna) is almost as loving with me as Jack. Josh will be at school but I did stop by their house on Sunday evening and I got to see him.

I have been only posting in my journal if I do my devotional along with my post or if I do my devotional in the morning. After I get my quiet time with the Lord in I can journal the rest of the day, if I wish too. This way I am in the Word daily and don't sacrifice reading the Word to post and read blogs. (I do love reading blogs) I just think being in the God's Word needs to be moved to number one in my life.

Today my devotional won't be long, just short and sweet hopefully. I always think this and then it ends up being really long.

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

“Some might say I would be wise to swallow my misgivings about such stuff [like God’s sovereignty, wrath, hell, etc.], remain orthodox, and thereby secure my place with God in eternity. But that is precisely my point: If those things are true, then God might as well send me to Hell. For better or worse, I simply am not interested in any God but a completely good, entirely loving, and perfectly forgiving One who is powerful enough to utterly triumph over evil. Such a God may not exist, but I will die seeking such a God, and I will pledge my allegiance to no other possibility because, quite frankly, anything less is not worthy of my worship.

Please, don’t get me wrong. I am well aware that I don’t get to decide who God is. What I do get to decide, however, is to whom I pledge allegiance. I am a free agent, after all, and I have standards for my God, the first of which is this: I will not worship any God who is not at least as compassionate as I am. (Quote by Bart Campolo)

Wow.

The saddest part of this article is that he seems to be the voice of my generation. We have created for ourselves a God who we will worship no matter the costs--even if the cost is hell. The word "idolatry" comes to mind. "Scripture is not a picnic where the authors bring the words and the readers bring the meaning".

Thanks to technological advances that would make our great grandparents heads explode, we can now instantly see across the world and read just about any newspaper we desire in any language.

What we see and what we read are ugly. And we are "compassionate" people, aren't we?

My generation seems to have built their house on sand. We have looked at the world, seen its pain and decided who we want God to be. Bart and the majority of my generation will only worship a God who is worthy of their worship. And what makes a God worthy of their worship? Human justice, human compassion, human, human, human.

"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away." (Isaiah 64:6)

Are we serious?

Imagine for just a moment, as hard as it is, being before the throne of God, being in the presence of his holiness, and rather than falling on our faces in humility, we are sizing him up to ensure he fits the bill. Does anyone else cringe when they read the words "...anything less is not worthy of my worship"? Can you imagine Isaiah saying that? Can you imagine Job saying that? Can you imagine Paul saying that?

Paul: "Who are you, oh man, to question God!"

Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart. Eph 4:17-18 ESV

Could it be that our humanly "compassionate" hearts are actually hard?

As they inevitably will, the rains have come and the wind has blown, and waves are beating this generation's beach house to impotency. The Rock the historical church rested on no longer seems to exist for my generation. What's worse, it is now deemed as "irrelevant."

We see the ugliness, and we are angry. We have decided who our God should be, and damn the contradicting evidence.

Jesus refers to himself as that Rock (Mat. 7). He also refers to himself as the logos--knowledge (John 1:1). God tells us to build ourselves upon him, upon knowledge. God also tells us that his people die from lack of knowledge (Hos. 6).

I fear that we are creating for ourselves a God who fits our agenda. A God who hates social injustice; but who cares little about the "trivial" issues of theology. "God is love." How many times have I heard that? "If we all just lived that love, it would all be ok." But, I ask, how do you live love if you know not what it is?

Our emotions need information to validate them. Our emotions need knowledge--they need the knowledge of God. Until my generation combines it's desire to help, with God's desire for us to know Him, we will be yet another form of Marxism. We will worship an idol, we will not worship God.

Monday, January 08, 2007

The kids went back to school Today

School started up today after a long Christmas break. (My children would say a short Christmas break) It was very quiet at our house today. I do have to say I got a lot of cleaning done.

My boy's (All four of them) are in wrestling after school so it is still quiet at my house tonight. My 17 year old has wrestling practice 6 days a week and wrestling in tournaments on Saturday's. My 12 year old twin’s full time wrestling practice started up today. They have been going to conditioning two day's a week and special training at the U of M two day's a week. My 9 year old son has Wrestling 2 day's a week and has been involved in some tournaments.

I just have to get use to it being so quiet at my house.


I will be a bit busy the rest of the week. My daughter-in-law is coming over tomorrow so we can order some Mary Kay products on line. Wednesday I have to prepare for Awana, Thursday I am going out to see Terra and Jeremy. I told Jeremy after he got out of Jail I would bring him some of my homemade cheese cake and Chocolate pie. I think I will make him some Chocolate chip cookies as well and take them some lunch. I have to take there children the Christmas presents I bought them. Jeremy can’t leave his house for 90 day’s so they couldn’t come to Christmas at my mom’s house.


Friday morning I work my cleaning job. That just about covers my week. The rest of the week won't be so lonely as today seemed. I can't believe my life can be so full and yet so lonely when all the family is gone.

There is real Joy in the Lord

Satan often tempts me into thinking I have nothing to live for, nothing to get out of bed for, nothing to keep going for. I hate when I feel this way. I normally feel this way when I am far away from the Lord. When I have stopped reading His Word, or I haven't been able to sit underneath a good sermon. It is at this time I try to remember what the Lord has done for me, this gives me great joy and hope to keep going.

I would for the most part say I am a happy person. Others might say something different but this is my journal and I say, I think I am happy most of the time. (Hee, Hee)

I still need to be reminded how God wants me to be. I try not to let Satan tempt me into believing there is nothing to be joyous about. Would I say that I am always full of joy? No way, a lot of work needs to be done in my life before I will have this "Fruit of the Sprit", or should I say the Lord has a lot of work to do in my heart. I can't do it alone! I have to let the Lord do this work in my life. How do I go about doing this? I have to be in His Word daily. If I let one day pass without reading His Word, Satan moves his way into my life and starts to make me think negative thoughts. Even if I am in the Word daily I can, and do, fall short of His Glory. We have all heard the saying "When Mama Ain't Happy, Ain't Nobody Happy" Well, this works the same way in my house. That is why I really want to seek out the Lord in this area of my life.

My devotional today is on "The Joy of the Lord"

January 8th, 2007

The Joy of the Lord is my strength --

Can I get through whatever may face me on the road ahead without the Lord? It is the Lord who will carry me. I know that the joy of the Lord is my strength. God will never leave me, nor forsake me. Faith in Christ Jesus arises above the present circumstances because faith in Him sees a better outcome. If I have full faith in God, then I will have fullness of joy. How can I be anxious or worried when the God whom I serve holds me in the palm of His hand.... can anything but fullness of joy be present?

Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.


Joy -- more than mere happiness!

Jesus- the center of our joy!

Have Joy in the Lord!
Romans 5:8-11 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Happiness fluctuates because it has for its source the "good times" of life. Whereas joy, in the Holy Ghost, is present in the gloomiest of circumstances. By the grace of God, I have joy. Jesus-- the joy of my salvation!

JOY... A FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Joy-- one of the fruits of the Spirit. Joy is given to me by God. It is a Heavenly gift that cannot be taken away. It is not dependent on external conditions but rather upon internal possessions. I have grace, peace, blessed assurance, and fellowship with God Almighty through my Great Mediator-- the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Faith in Christ implants that joy-- the joy that I can see in the midst of a trial and say, "I have hope! My sins are forgiven! Weeping may endure for the night but joy cometh in the morning! All things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are called according to His purpose...Hallelujah!"

1 Peter 1:7-8 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

The world does not understand; the ungodly will never understand for they have no peace, no fulfillment in their lives. They search for joy in their careers and from the things that they buy. These things are temporal fleeting moments of happiness and then the emptiness remains. What good is a mansion when your heart longs for lasting peace? The world searches for joy-- they want contentment but they search for joy in all the wrong places. Joy is only given to those who have received Christ as their Savior. He is the One who gives us joy. I see people all the time wanting more, more, more and having it and still their lives are not fulfilled. Still they long for "things" to make them happy.

I have to work hard for the things that I have. (Not just me but my husband as well) We do work hard, we both work many jobs but this is not our main focus. Our main focus is not on what we can have but on what we can do for other's. I rarely buy myself new clothes or anything new for that matter, my husband is the same way. My point is this; I will never be rich in "The things of this world", I see to many people needing help. How can I hide money away when there are so many people in need? My husband is the soul supporter of a missionary family over seas. I say all of this to say "Things" will never make me have joy in my heart. The God of my salvation, has put in my heart a longing to help others. When I am helping others, I seem to have great joy to my heart. I believe that is what joy is all about. When I am doing for others and seeing my little efforts bring a little joy to others. This also brings me great joy. To serve a God that would give His one and only Son as a sacrifice for our sins, should give us all joy. If we are in Christ Jesus, we should have the "Joy of the Lord".


There is Joy in the Lord

There is joy in the Lord There is love in His Spirit
There is hope in the knowledge of Him
There's a fountain that flows, like a river from Heaven
Abounding in love to my soul
All blessing and honor are His, All glory and power are His

Let all wisdom and strength,
Be the Lord's in this place
Let all glory be given to Him

There is joy in the Lord There is love in His Spirit
There is hope in the knowledge of Him
There's a fountain I know, Every time I am near it
My heart overflows to the Lord

All blessing and honor are His, All glory and power are His
Let all wisdom and strength, Be the Lord's in this place
Let all glory be given to Him

There is joy in the Lord There is love in His Spirit
There is hope in the knowledge of Him
Thee's a fountain that flows, like a river from Heaven
Abounding in love to my soul

There is joy in the Lord, There is love in His Spirit
There is hope in the knowledge of Him
There's a fountain that flows, like a river from Heaven
Abounding in love to my soul
There is joy in the Lord!

Sunday, January 07, 2007

The Wedding and Reception

I posted last week that I was asked to sing at a young couples wedding. This couple have been members of our church for at least 3 years. I discipled the young lady for at least a year when her in her husband now, were going through a spiritual battle. A man that use to attend our church discipled Jimmy at the same time. This young couple got married yesterday and I have to say I think that was the sweetest wedding I have ever been a part of.

The Bride was beautiful and the groom looked very handsome too. The vows were great! The song that Jeff and I sang went off without a glitch and finally after dating for 5 years they were married.

As Becca walked down the isle you could see Jimmy starting to tear up. It was the sweetest thing I have ever seen. (O.k. maybe not but it was sweet yesterday) He had told our Pastor when they were in the room waiting to come out that he had waited for this day all his life. He couldn't wait to be married to Becca. He told Pastor what a lucky man he was to find someone like her. (I'm tearing up just thinking about the wedding again) Jimmy stayed up last night and wrote Becca a two page love letter and stuck it by her door for her to find before the wedding. (How romantic is that?)

To see, to Godly young people get married, was just so awesome.

One of the sweetest things of all was when Becca handed off her promise ring to Jimmy. This promise ring told a story of how a young girl made a commentment to God to remain pure until the day she married. She is 25 and Jimmy is 23. This is saying a lot for a young couple dating that long in this day and age.

The wedding was at Kensington Community Church in Troy, Michigan.
The Reception was held at the San Marino Club on Big Beaver Rd in Troy. Good food, fellowship, and fun.

I thought I would do my devotional on marriage today.

January 7th, 2007 Devotional

I will be married 21 years on Valentines Day. The story of how we got married on that day is a bit funny as I look back on it now. My husband proposed to me on Christmas 1985. He said, he wanted to get married in the summer of 1986. My younger brother was getting married at the end of January. My sister who is 1 1/2 older than I am, had been married for many years. I just could not believe that my younger brother was going to get married before I did. I told my husband if he didn't marry me right away I wasn't marrying him. My goodness, what a bossy woman I was. (He would probably say, you mean "AM" Hee, Hee) Well, I guess he wanted to marry me because two months later we were married on Valentines Day.

Now I will start my devotion.


What is marriage?

Marriage, as instituted by God, is a faithful, exclusive, lifelong union of a man and a woman joined in an intimate community of life and love. They commit themselves completely to each other and to the wondrous responsibility of bringing children into the world and caring for them. The call to marriage is woven deeply into the human spirit. Man and woman are equal. However, as created, they are different from but made for each other. This complementarity, including sexual difference, draws them together in a mutually loving union that should be always open to the procreation of children


"And the Lord God said, 'It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him'" (Gen. 2:18).

"Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: 'This is now bone of my bone And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.'

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." (Gen. 2:22-24)

This text contains several beautiful statements.

Adam received his wife as a gift from God. In a sense it is still true that a man receives his wife from God.

Solomon says: "Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the Lord" (Proverbs 19:14).

We also see that marriage is good. Solomon says in another place:

"He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favour from the Lord" (Proverbs 18:22).

We also see how strong the marriage bond is, so strong that they are no longer two but are melted together as one flesh.

This bond is so strong that it is broken only by death. As long as they live they are one together. They may not separate. Jesus quoted this passage when He was asked about marriage:

"The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, 'Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?' And He answered and said to them, 'Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning "made them male and female," and said, "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh"? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.' They said to Him, 'Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?' He said to them, 'Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery'" (Mat. 19:3-9).

In Genesis we also see how dependent man and woman are on each other. They need each other.

Paul says: "Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as the woman was from the man, even so the man also is through the woman; but all things are from God" (1 Cor. 11:11,12).

Marriage is an institution of God and is a continuation of His work of creation. Sexual desires are God-given. We should view our manliness or womanliness as a gift from God which we receive with thankfulness and strive to keep holy and pure in accordance with His instructions.

In the Scriptures, marriage is an institution in society that is of divine origin. It is governed by the laws of God and by the regulations of the society in which one lives to the extent that they do not conflict with the laws of God. A marriage may take place in a church building, and it is certainly in order for Christians to pray and ask God's blessing on a marriage. But a marriage is not in and of itself a religious ceremony.

Nor is marriage a private agreement between a man and a women. This idea is often used as an excuse for unchastity before marriage. The argument is made: "Although we have not been officially married, we have agreed between ourselves to be married, so actually we are already married." I have heard this statement made more than once to me. In our day in age people just want to live together until they are ready for marriage. In the Bible a marriage always takes place according to certain norms of society and always involves other people who serve as witnesses. A marriage is an occurrence before God and before man. A Christian is obligated to abide by the laws of the society in which he lives to the extent that they do not conflict with the laws of God. Paul says:

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgement on themselves" (Rom. 13:1,2).


What is required, according to Scriptures, to preserve the sanctity of marriage?

First, men and women are to remain virgin until marriage. All sexual relations outside of marriage are forbidden by God and are referred to as fornication, a sin which had the death penalty under the Old Covenant. Under the New Covenant one can be forgiven and purified by the blood of Christ. It is a sin, however, which is extremely damaging to those concerned, to society and to marriage as an institution.

After marriage one is to have sexual relations only with the marriage partner. Sexual relations with any other is adultery, which also earned the death penalty under the Old Covenant. We read in Hebrews 13:4 that God wants marriage to be preserved from the damage caused by these two sins:

"Marriage is honourable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge" (Heb. 13:4).

From this text we see once more that marriage is pure and holy. Fornication and adultery damage marriage, however, and God will hold those who engage in such practices responsible on the day of judgement.

The marriage contract includes sexual responsibilities. Paul says:

"Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control" (1 Cor. 7:3-5).

The wife is to submit to the authority of her husband and the husband is to love his wife as his own body: Oh boy, this is hard for me to follow at all times. I say "I submit as much as I can". My husband says, "I submit when I want to". Sounds a lot different than what this scripture teaches.

"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Saviour of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband" (Eph. 5:22-33).

This does not mean that a man may misuse his authority, because if he loves his wife he will sacrifice for her as Christ did for the church. It does mean, however, that he is the head of the family. As head he also bears the first responsibility. He can provide the needed leadership only if his wife respects and submits to his authority.

God's regulations relative to marriage are strict. This is because He values marriage highly for the well-being of man. God's laws and regulations have no other purpose than the ultimate happiness of man. Let us follow the word of God in this matter. Marriage is a gift of God. He will help us to have a good marriage if we obey His word and if we pray for His blessings, help and guidance in our lives.

I was so very blessed to be a part of Jimmy and Becca's wedding.

Friday, January 05, 2007

Self-Control

I got home so very late last night and up early again this morning to go to work. I didn't get to do my daily devotions. It seems like sin takes over my body if I am not in God's Word every morning. The littlest things can upset me and cause me to lose self-control. That is an excuse but it sure seems to help if I am in the Word every morning before my day begins. I thought I would do my study on Self-control today since that is what I am lacking in my life right now. I need to pray that I will just have the self-control to think through issues first, before I run my mouth.

Daily devotional January 5th, 2007

Self-Control

I am 43 years old, and even at my older age I feel like I have still not mastered self control. I give into all sorts of temptations, even though I fully understand the consequences. I also tend to use excuses why my self control is lacking. I have had seven children, and three grandchildren and I still find it hard to practice self-control. Sometimes I feel like I will never be able to master this.

Self control is a difficult concept for me to grasp, I am inclined to act on my emotions and desire for instant gratification rather than doing what will be the best for me in the long-run. For some people this can entail indulging in many different things such as, compulsiveness, addictions, obsessions, irrationality and other self-destructive behaviors. From overeating, procrastinating, impulsive buys, abusive relationships or drug and alcohol abuse, a lack of self control in our daily life will eventually catch up with us if it hasn’t already. For me, it is my lack of thinking through issues before I lose my temper. It normally takes me a day to think about my actions, repent and try to understand what I need to do to change. It just seems like if I would have self-control in the first place, I would lose the steps of having to think about something all day, repent and normally have to ask someone's forgiveness. Then feel badly for the next week!

I really need to work on this for the New Year! Maybe by 2008 I will have mastered this sin in my life.

If I we’re good at self control, I just might get to the point were I am not even conscious of the fact that I practice it in my daily life. This is were I want to get to. I need to think about this for a moment. If I am late to work, I can still practice self control by abiding by the speed limit. I guess it is almost like a little kid; I don’t eat the cookie out of the cookie jar because I don’t want to spoil my dinner. There are some things you just know not to do. But it is a scary thing when I continue to have no self control even when I am aware of the negative effects. GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

Why does it have to be so hard!

I looked up in the dictionary to see what the definition was:


Self control is the exertion of one's own will on their personal self - their behaviors, actions, thought processes. Much of this comes from the perception of self and the ability to set up boundaries for that self.

Self-control can be expanded into several different areas, ranging from respect to willpower. Self-control has variable effects on people. It can be affected because of illness and past experiences and it can be improved through the course of life. It is a personal and development of the mind's creation and personality, thus the self-control of one's own mind will be varied from person to the next.

What does God have to say about Self Control?

1 Corinthians 7:7
I wish that all men were like I myself am [in this matter of self-control]. But each has his own special gift from God, one of this kind and one of another.

1 Corinthians 7:9
But if they have not self-control (restraint of their passions), they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame [with passion and tortured continually with ungratified desire].

Galatians 5:23
Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law that can bring a charge].


1 Timothy 2:15
Nevertheless they will be saved if they continue in faith and love and holiness with self-control,


2 Timothy 1:7
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

2 Peter 1:6
And in knowledge, and in self-control steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety),


Galatians 5:22, Paul describes it as one of the fruits of the Spirit, and in Titus he says `Urge the younger men to be self controlled.'

Thursday, January 04, 2007

The Dress Rehearsal


The man I am singing with was teasing the groom telling him his bride still had 2 day's to change her mind.










I just walked in the door from the dress rehearsal, rehearsal Dinner. I went with the man that I will be singing the duet with and his wife. They offered to drive me to and from the rehearsal and the wedding so I took them up on it. There was no reason for me to drive that far by myself in an area that I don't know very well.

On our way home there was a very bad accident that had just happen just prior to us getting their. It involved 5 cars and an 18 Wheeler. One of the cars was totally in golfed with flames when we pulled up into the accident. I pray whoever was in that little car got out safety before it went up into flames. What an awful way to end a very nice evening. We were stuck in traffic for over an hour before they let us pass.

It has rained here most of the day so it is a little bit soggy, which to me makes that long drive nerve racking. I was already a bit nervous when I got to the church. We only had an hour to run through the rehearsal twice. Our Pastor thought there wasn't time for Jeff and I to sing our song so we said that would be fine. Well, when everything was done Becca insisted we sing the duet. While everyone was seated and eyes on us we sang the duet. Jimmy's mom came up to the fellow I will be singing with and said that her and her husband are musicians and was a little weary of Becca having someone besides the professional singer they know. She told Jeff that we did a very good job and thought it would be great on Saturday. She came up to me before I left and said that I did a nice job. If it was good enough for the Grooms mom, than I think it will pass at the wedding Saturday. I am still really nervous!!!!

Tomorrow I have to work in the early a.m. at my house cleaning job, than my motor route. I have to find a dress to wear to the wedding after work tomorrow. They are wearing colors that I do not normally wear. I will go to the mall and see what I can find.

I’ll journal all about the wedding as soon as I have the time. The weekend is going to be a bit busy with work and the wedding.

The Love of God

As I sat down to do my devotional today, I have love on my mind. I am going to sing at a wedding this weekend and "What can I say" love is in the air. I pray I don't cry! I have to be at the dress rehearsal at 5:30 p.m. this afternoon. It is about an hour drive away from my house. I am singing "Only God could love you more". Becca picked this song out of the wedding song's that I have.

Don't we all just want to be loved by someone? To have someone cherish us so much that we know it beyond everything else. Well, this is wishful thinking. Then I was reminded of God's love. He sent His only son into this world to die on the cross for our sins. He loved us before we loved Him.

So my devotional today is on the Love of God.

Daily devotional for January 4th, 2007

The Love of God

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4. who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." 2 Cor 1:3-4 NIV

For many years I was a Christian who, although knowing in my head that God loved me, did not actually feel anything. I know that feelings are subjective and considered unreliable and that as Christians, we have to stand upon the Word of God.

Nevertheless, God gave us our feelings and emotions for a purpose and He can use them to enhance our walk with Him. Using the example of marriage to demonstrate what I mean. I can know in my head that my husband loves me, but if I don’t feel that love, then my marriage is likely to go through some pretty hard times. I need to ‘know’ deep within me that I am loved. I also need to trust my husband. Without trust the relationship is on a collision course with disaster.

In the same way, to have a relationship with God, we have to be able to trust Him. If we do not know that He has our best interests at heart (that He loves us) then we will find it very difficult to trust Him to order our lives. So many of us either did not know a father’s love, or received a perverted idea of what a father’s love should be, that when it comes to receiving love from our Heavenly Father, we tend to put our earthly experience of fatherly love onto Him.

Unfortunately, our natural fathers were very human and, very often any love that was shown to us as children was flawed. My father moved away when I was 12 years old. I have seen him a handful of times since then. I love my father but he wasn't always there for me. He didn't always pay child support and he wasn't at anything that I was involved in. If your natural father was never there when you needed him; was angry or drunk; a strict disciplinarian; was unkind or uncaring; sometimes reliable but sometimes not, then your view of God is likely to be somewhat distorted. Another factor in our experience could be that your parents or grandparents used God as a threat in order to get you to behave; in which case you will tend to think of Him as some sort of ogre to be feared and avoided if at all possible.

God is a God of love! He wants us to turn to Him in our times of need. Will our lives be wonderful after we put our trust in Him? No, we live in a sin driven environment. I am glad that I have the Father's love.

Jesus said: "Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:24 NKJV

Open yourself up to God and ask Him to show you how much He loves you by the power of Holy Spirit.

Jesus told us that when He was seated at right hand Father, He would send the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth

"You may me for anything in my name, I will do it. “If you love me, you will obey what I command 16. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever 17. The Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:15 NIV

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23. They are new every morning; is your faithfulness." Lam 3:22-23 I

If you were asked to give over your son to be killed in order that the people next door could be saved – would you do it? God loved us so much that he sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for all of us. What more could He do to show you how much He loves you, just as you are?

4."We love because he first loved us."1 John 4:19

So before we knew Him, He loved us! Awesome!

Words to the song I will be singing at Jimmy & Becca's wedding.

ONLY GOD COULD LOVE YOU MORE

I ASKED THE LORD FOR SOMEONE
AND I ALWAYS KNEW
THAT IN GOD’S TIME AND IN GOD’S WAY
IT WOULD BE SOMEONE LIKE YOU
ALL MY HOPES AND ALL MY DREAMS
WERE SUDDENLY FULFILLED
IT’S ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE
OUR LOVE WAS IN HIS WILL

CHORUS
ONLY GOD COULD LOVE YOU MORE
FOR HE GAVE ME THIS LOVE I HAVE FOR YOU
WHAT A BLESSING TO KNOW HE’S YOUR LORD
FOR ONLY GOD COULD LOVE YOU MORE THAN I DO

I’M TEMPTED TO BE SAYING
THAT WE MET BY CHANCE
BUT GOD WAS THERE AT EVERY TURN
IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE
TO SHARE THIS LIFE GOD GAVE ME
SEEMS SUCH A FEARFUL TASK
BUT EVERY MOMENT WE HAVE SHARED
IS MORE THAN I COULD ASK

CHORUS
ONLY GOD COULD LOVE YOU MORE
FOR HE GAVE ME THIS LOVE I HAVE FOR YOU
WHAT A BLESSING TO KNOW HE’S YOUR LORD
FOR ONLY GOD COULD LOVE YOU MORE THAN I DO
FOR ONLY GOD COULD LOVE YOU MORE THAN I DO

ONLY GOD COULD LOVE YOU MORE BY NILES BOROP AND DWIGHT TILES
@WORD MUSIC AND BUG & BEAR MUSIC/ASCAP
BUG &HEAR MUSIC ADM BY ICS MUSIC GROUP
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Hurtful Words

Please forgive me. I never meant to hurt your feelings.

Why are these words so hard to say and hurtful words fly out of our mouths like gushing waters.

My Devotional for Wednesday January 3rd, 2007

I find myself at times trying to defend myself when people attack me for no reason, with not so nice words. When I get hurt, I want to hurt others; I need to learn to be slow to speak. If I am tempted to fight back with hurtful words, I need to be the person that walks away. If it is someone in my family, I need to be the one that closes my mouth and stops the hurt. If it is someone outside my family, it is best for me to not be around the person causing me pain. This will help me from saying things that I guess, are true, but really don't have to be said. I was reminded of these passages today.

James 3:5-6 - It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.

Proverbs 10:21–"The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment."–Lord, may my lips nourish people today.

Psalm 17:3–Today I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.

Philippians 4:8–Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy, may I think on these things today.

James 1:19–Help me to be quick to listen and slow to speak.

Our tongue can do so much damage. It can ruin friendships, cause misunderstandings, put a wall between brothers and sisters. I have been guilty of saying hurtful things. I must be ever mindful that what I say can damage and cause divisions – and therefore not to speak critically. A lot of what I say is probably best left unsaid.

I have also been hurt by hurtful words – some more than others. In many cases the damage is so deep that it takes a long time to heal – in some cases I don't know if I will ever heal. But I know that if I belong to Jesus, He can heal me as I surrender it to Him. Nothing is impossible for Him to heal – if I allow Him too. I know of many adults that are caring around scares from childhood. We need to deal with these things. The hurt gets buried deep, but God has a way of bringing it to the surface. These people turn around and hurt the people that love them the most. They build a wall around themselves so people can't get close to them. I just know that I need to free my own mouth from hurtful and damaging words. It’s painful, to rid ourselves of people like this but needful to truly be healed and set free from the affects of negative, hateful words.

The saying ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me’, is not true, and in-fact it’s quite the opposite. Bones can heal a whole lot faster than words spoken over us. I just need to work on this for the coming year.

Set a guard, O Lord, before my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips. - Psalm 141:3

Heal us, Lord, from painful words
That was spoken in the past
Let your love replace the hurt
And overflow our hearts.

-M.S.Lowndes

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

My New Year's Day

I had a very nice New Year's Eve party. There were about 18 of us at my house. We ate some really good food my son and daughter-in-law prepared for us. We played a game called Imaginiff. The people that came over I have know for about 15 years so this game was a lot of fun. We had questions that you had to place their names in and had to imagine if they were the ones you were answering the questions about. I laughed so hard at one of the ladies. I have been singing with this lady for 17 years. You really had to be there, one of the questions was imagine if Barb were a stage actor which she would be. We all answered a one man band, (This woman has a beautiful voice and she has a lot of talent) she answered a Belly dancer. I will never look at her the same again. It was just all a lot of fun! It all ended around 1:30 a.m. on New Year's Day.

New Year's Day I worked from 3:30 a.m. and got home around 8:30 a.m. I had to do my AA News motor route. Around 11:30 am we headed off to the movies to see the new "Rocky" movie. It was pretty good. I can't believe how good of shape Sylvester Stallone is in, in his 60's. The movie was good! We went out to eat at "Red Lobster" after that. We only go once a year and this was our day. I love sea food but I can feel the pounds piling on my body with all the fat.

When we got home I took down all my Christmas decorations. I thought I would be sad but I guess I was ready for them to be gone. The tree was hauled away by the garbage men today.

The weather here in Michigan is just beautiful; it doesn't feel like Christmas to me without snow on the ground or at least a chill in the air. I guess I now know what people in the Southern States feel like each year. I really don't like the cold weather but at Christmas, for some reason, it doesn't feel the same without it.

That is the end of my New Year's Eve and Day post.

I love being able to sit down and have the time to journal again. It has been a long month, with a lot that had to be done. The rest of this week will be busy trying to get ready for my friend's wedding. I will be practicing with a friend that I will be singing a duet with, on Wednesday evening. Thursday is the Dress rehearsal and Saturday is the wedding. I think my friend Becca will be a beautiful bride and her husband will be a very handsome groom. I really can't wait to see them get married. Right now they are both faithfully serving the Lord in our Church.

New Cell Phone Law

According to a proposed new law that would go into effect Jan 1, 2007 you will no longer be able to use a cell phone while driving unless you have a "hands free" adapter. I went to Circuit City and they wanted $50 for a headset with a microphone for my cell phone. Having a friend in the cell phone business, I talked with him and was able to come up with an alternative, working through Office Depot.

These kits are compatible with any mobile phone and one size fits all. I paid him $0.08 each because he bought in quantity. Then we tried it with Motorola, Sprint, Verizon and Nokia units and they worked perfectly.

A sample photo is attached so scroll down & take a look and let me know if you want one. Also, forward this to anyone you know, who has a cell phone, and who may want one!




This funny wasn't from my mom. This was from a crazy friend I use to go to church with.