Monday 8/28/2006

You will keep on guiding me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Psalm 73:24

I found these questions on another friends blog that I like to read.

What was your favorite thing about being a kid?
Playing outside. We always played outside we never wanted to go inside. We would play till dark. My sister and I liked to ride our pink banana seat bicycle's, jumping on our trampoline, playing on a tire swing, and we would always make houses out of the pine needles that would fall from the tree. We had no worries. I also remember trying to catch lighting bugs with our Dad. We stayed outside as much as we could.

What was your favorite subject in school?
I really hated school. I really did not have a favorite subject. I know that sounds awful.

Who was your best friend when you were ten?
My friend Kristy. We always played after school while waiting on our moms to pick us up. I actually ran into her again a couple of years ago and had dinner with her but we are different people now.

If you could be any animal what would you be?
A cat of course.

What would you change about your school, occupation, or life right now?
I would not change what I do really. I am a nurse and nursing is a fast paced job and you never have enough help. I enjoy helping people getting through whatever they are dealing with. If I could do anything else and not have to worry about money or anything else I think I would like to be in full time missons somewhere in a differnet country.


What is your favorite color?
Pink and Red

What is your favorite crust and your favorite pizza topping?
Thin crust pizza from pizza hut with pork sausage and pineapple. I know that sounds weird but I tend to like weird things anyway.

I really like how this word cloud works. It pretty much sums up my life in one little box.

Luke 7:11-17
When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. "Don't cry!" He said (Luke 7:13, NLT).
The scene in today's passage finds a mother preparing to bury her only son. She's already lost her husband, and now her child. If you've ever lost a loved one, you're familiar with the grief and sorrow this woman must have been suffering.
Know what? So was Jesus.
The Bible says that Jesus' "heart overflowed with compassion" when He saw the grieving mother. He was moved emotionally to see her heartbroken--that's amazing! I mean, Jesus knew He could walk over and bring the young man back to life with just a touch or a word. He knew this woman wouldn't have to grieve for long. Still, He not only saw her pain, He felt it as well.
Did you know the same is true with you? When you hurt, when you cry, when life gets really tough and you think no one understands what you're going through, think again.
Jesus loves you more than you can even begin to fathom. He wants to walk with you through the dark moments and cry with you when your tears begin to fall. Yeah, He may know that everything's going to be OK in the end and He may understand things you don't, but that doesn't keep Him from hurting when you do.
It's so cool that we have a God who's not distant or cold-hearted, who just shouts out a bunch of "thou shalt nots" and cracks the whip when we get out of line.
We have a God who's full of love and compassion, who can relate to us and comfort us when all we can do is throw ourselves at His feet and cry.

An Outsider's Faith
August 26, 2006
Jesus; Faith
Luke 7:1-10

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd, he said, "I tell you, I haven't seen faith like this in all the land of Israel!" (Luke 7:9, NLT).

This passage may not seem so astounding at first glance, but read it again and look at who showed faith in Jesus. You may be as amazed as Jesus was.

A Roman officer asked this Jewish teacher, Jesus, to come to his house and heal his servant. Typically the Romans were political and religious enemies of the Jewish people. But this Roman wasn't like other Romans; he was kind to the Jews.

But more important than his kindness was his faith in God.

When he heard that Jesus was in the neighborhood, he asked some Jewish friends to go talk to Him. But his great example of faith came when he sent a second group to tell Jesus that He didn't need to come to his house. The officer knew that if Jesus spoke from where He was, his servant would be healed. He recognized Jesus had great authority. And that was something he was familiar with since he told Roman soldiers what to do all day.

You may think that you have to be in church or deep in prayer for God to touch your life. That you have to "feel" God close to you.

But feeling doesn't come before faith. You could be miles away from church, and maybe feel miles away from God, but if you ask Him to speak from where He is, you know that He will hear and do whatever you ask of Him.

When you recognize God as Creator, you will admire him. When you recognize his wisdom, you will learn from him. When you discover his strength, you will rely on him. But only when he saves you will you worship him...Before your rescue, you could easily keep God at a distance....Then came the storm....Despair fell like a fog....In your heart, you knew there was no exit....Suddenly you are left with one option: God

These two devotionals were sent to me today. I get a couple of them sent to me in my email everyday and they always seem to have something I need to hear. And these two are about something I have been dealing with the last couple of weeks.

Love Without Refunds
August 22, 2006
Jesus; Love; Christian Living/Situational
Luke 6:27-36
"Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you…Pray for those who hurt you" (Luke 6:27-28, NLT).
We all have enemies. We all make them, we all hold grudges, we may have even gotten into a few fights in our lifetime. If someone hits us in the face, we'd like to return the favor.
But Jesus had different ideas concerning our enemies. He told us to love them.
Love them?! Is He serious?
Of course He is. If someone insults us, we shouldn't respond with similar behavior. We should get on our knees and pray for them. If we practice the same behavior they do, we aren't expressing God's love and forgiveness.
Jesus tells us to give freely what we have, not worrying about whether we get something in return. God lovingly offers the gift of eternal life, knowing that some people will never give Him anything back in return, namely their lives. We must "be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate" (Luke 6:36, NLT). We should hold ourselves to God's standards--to express love as an action, not just an emotion.

Jesus tells us to give freely what we have, not worrying about whether we get something in return. God lovingly offers the gift of eternal life, knowing that some people will never give Him anything back in return, namely their lives.
We must "be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate" (Luke 6:36, NLT). We should hold ourselves to God's standards--to express love as an action, not just an emotion.

If I have no love
by John Fischer

In his book The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren makes a very radical statement: “If I have no love for others, no desire to serve others, I should question whether Christ is really in my life.”This bold assertion comes from something John said in his first letter: “If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to eternal life. But a person who has no love is still dead.” (1 John 3:14)

The presence of love in your heart for others and the realization of what you can do to serve them is evidence that you have been born again and Christ is in your
heart.The absence of any such sensitivity suggests that you may still be the center of your universe. It may all still be about you.

Can you look at your life over the last few days and see evidence of the fact that you have cared about someone other than yourself?Can you point to some examples of how you have served a brother or a sister in some way?If you can, take heart.If you can’t, it might be a good time for some soul searching.

I have tried this little test on myself, and I must admit I don’t always do very well. Even though I spend a good deal of time serving others through my gifts of speaking and writing while I am on the road, you could also say that this is my work. This is what I’m expected to do. I do this for a living. I am “on” for these moments of ministry.But I can get very selfish with my “off” time.I isolate myself in a hotel room or an airplane seat.I make myself unavailable to the needs around me.I might not even call home, because that would only remind me of those there who need my attention.

Sometimes, I think we need to step in and serve even if we don’t feel like it. Once we do, Christ energizes us and gives us not only the strength to do this, but the desire to do it again.Ask God to open your eyes to those around you and show you ways in which you can serve them in love.That’s being obedient to what he asks and finding his power to do it all at the same time.

How about this?I’ll pray for you right now and you pray for me that God will awaken us with hearts to serve, the wisdom to see the need, and the power to follow through.

Luke 6:20-23
"God blesses you who are hated and excluded and mocked and cursed because you are identified with me, the Son of Man" (Luke 6:22, NLT).
Weird, isn't it, how it doesn't take much more than the name of Jesus to stir up controversy?
If you're having a conversation with your friends about religion, faith or spirituality, do you ever hesitate to be real about what you believe? Hey, if you answer "yes" to that, you're not alone. The truth is it can be difficult to identify with Christ. Look at Peter in Luke 22:54-62. In one evening, three different people asked if he was with Jesus, and each time he was like, "No way--I don't even know Him."
And Jesus knew--he knew Peter would deny Him, and He knew you and I would encounter some opposition as we walk with Him and identify ourselves as "Christians" or "Christ-followers."
What is it about Jesus that makes some people freak out? It could be that some feel like you're "judging" them if you talk about following Christ and that's not a choice they've made. Or they might feel like you're trying to force them to believe what you do. Still others might feel a sense of conviction, knowing that God is pursuing a relationship with them, but they keep saying "no" to Him. Whatever the situation, you can know this for sure: If you keep your eyes focused on Jesus and determine to follow Him, no matter what, you'll be rewarded for that--according to today's verse, you'll be "blessed." Maybe not today, tomorrow or even five years from now…maybe not even until you see Jesus face to face in heaven. But eventually, your commitment to Christ, especially in the face of adversity, will be rewarded. Hold on to that hope--it'll get you through the tough times.

You've been there....You've stepped away from the masses and followed the Master as he led you up the winding path to the summit....Gently your guide invites you to sit on the rock above the tree line and look out with him at the ancient peaks that will never erode. "What is necessary is still what is sure," he confides. Just remember. "You'll go nowhere that I haven't already been. Truth will still triumph...The victory is yours...."

Luke 5:1-11
Standing at her bedside, he spoke to the fever, rebuking it, and immediately her temperature returned to normal. She got up at once and prepared a meal for them. (Luke 4:39, NLT).
One of the key components of Jesus' ministry was healing the sick. Wherever he went, crowds followed Him asking to be healed. From this alone we see that Jesus was patient and compassionate. How long would you tolerate being trailed by the sick and diseased?
But Jesus never healed anyone as a magic trick saying, "Hey! Look what I can do!" Like every blessing of God, the healing Jesus provided was meant to bring a person to a place where they could serve God better than they could before.
Look at Peter's mother-in-law. (Yes, Peter was married.) As soon as she was healed she immediately went to the kitchen and made a meal. The timing tells us that she really wanted to serve Jesus. The only thing holding her back was her illness.
Peter's mother-in-law shows us that we need a heart that desires to serve God and that He is worthy to be served. Are you suffering an illness that is preventing you from giving honor to God? Ask God for His healing touch. On the other hand, God may know you're best able to serve and honor Him as you are. But don't let anything hold you back; sick or well, your life is to be lived to His glory.

More pic's of my trip home last weekend

These pic's are of me and my cousin shooting my my nephew's crossbow. That is the first time I have ever done that and I did not like the power that it had. One time shooting it was enough for me. My uncle is in the pic above. Above is the new house that my aunt and uncle are building. My Dad is in the pic above. The other pic is the gate going to the pond. This is were I spent most of my time growing up. It is a slower pace there. There is nothing to bug you much there and I am just happy just spending time on the front porch swing.

God is often more patient with us than we are with ourselves. We assume that if we fall, we aren't born again. If we stumble, then we aren't truly converted. If we have the old desires, then we must not be a new creation. If you are anxious about this, please remember, "God began a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again. (Philippians 1:6)

These pic's are from my weekend home. I had a good time for the most part. I really did not have much trouble flying with all that that stuff going on. Thank goodness. We had a fish fry on Saturday we had a lot of fun. The fish fry was at my Aunt and uncle's house. I also gave them my cat when we moved here so I got to see her again also.
It was also my brother's birthday. The pic to the left is me, my cousin Peggy and my Aunt Betty. The pic above is my cat that I gave them. Her name is Sabrina. I do miss her but she likes it there.

I also read this today and feel I should put it on here also.

He gives power to those who are tired and worn out;
He offers strength to the weak. Isaiah 40:29

I know that what it says in Romans 8:28 is true. This was the devotion I read today when I got home.


August 8, 2006
When Bad Things Happen
By John Fischer

When bad things happen to good people we can be assured that this is God, out to make good people better.

There are so many things in life that make us cry, “Why?” “Why me?” “Why now?” I don’t think we are capable of knowing all the answers to these questions. Our lives fit into a vast and complicated tapestry that only God could unravel, because he’s the one making it. There are things that happen in our lives that are tied in an intricate domino effect to something else happening somewhere else that we may never realize in this life. I’ve heard of enough bizarre connections to know this is happening a lot more than we realize. Chalk it up to God’s amazing creativity as he weaves his will into the events of the world.

Someone gets sick, goes to the hospital, and ends up leading the person in the next bed to the Lord. Not only this, but huge growth issues were established in both of their lives when this happened, and this started a chain of events still going on today. And we want to ask “Why?” I have a feeling God might say, “You don’t have time for that answer. Besides, you haven’t lived long enough to see the end of it. Sorry, but I could never explain it all to you. You just have to trust me.”

Our job is to look at what happens in our lives and learn from what God is trying to teach us. There are no mistakes here. God doesn’t go, “Whoops!” or to the angels: “OK, what went wrong here? Which one of you guys had Fischer this time?”

Here’s the truth of the matter: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28 NLT) Which is another way of saying that God’s purpose is in everything that you and I go through, whether we are able to see it or not. And that purpose is producing something good in and through our lives, no matter what happens. Do you believe that?

We all have things in our lives in which it is hard – almost impossible – to see God’s purpose. That doesn’t mean anything except that we are shortsighted and short on faith sometimes. That’s when we need to keep on believing and knowing that God is working things out for the best.

What about you? Is something bad happening to you right now? Think back on a time when you felt like this about something that you now see God had a purpose in, and believe that he is at work, doing the same redemptive act with what you can’t see right now and believe. Don’t stop believing.

I read this today and it really spoke to me.

We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. Colossians 1:11

In order to see the Rainbow, you must first endure some Rain.

Enjoy serving the Lord, and he will give you what you want. Psalm 37:4


When we submit to God's plans, we can trust our desires. Our assignment is found at the intersection of God's plan and our pleasures...Each of us has been made to serve God in a unique way...Then longings of your heart are not be ignored; they are to be consulted. As the wind turns the weather vane, so God uses your passions to turn your life. God is too gracious to ask you to do something you hate.

Beach pic's

These are some pic's from the beach yesterday. We had a good time. Went with our friends Tom and DeeDee from Doug's work. It was really nice out there yesterday. The pick above is Tom and DeeDee. They are twice our age but we get along with them very well. I guess I am being very brave by putting a pic of me in a swimsuit on here but like the pic.

More sailboat pic's

These pic's are a couple of months old. Hopefully I can have some new pic's soon. Still have not been anywhere since I started working again. Just too tired to do much. I hope we can get away for the weekend soon.

More of my favorite pic's

Today was a much better day at work thank goodness! These are some more of my favorite pic's.