Friday Five Meme

Susie at A Pink Carnation in Bloom tagged me for this meme.


1)Five Minutes to yourself. How would you spend them ideally?
-I would have to say praying to God. I love having time to myself and when I do get chance to be by myself I usaually want to spend time with God. Even if it is only five minutes. Like in the mornings on my five minute drive to work.

2)Five Dollars to spend right now. How and where would you spend it?
-Probably at Cold Stone Creamery on some for coffee lovers only ice cream. I love coffee flavored ice cream from there.

3)Five Items in your house you could part with right now.
-My bedroom furniture. Acutally most of furniture we own. We still have furniture from when Doug was in college.
-Doug would say my two cats but that will never happen.
-My mixer. I would love to have a Kitchen Aid mixer.
-My coffee pot.
-My toaster. I love to cook and bake and all my kitchen appliances need to be replaced.

4)Five Items in your house you positively, absolutely could never part with.
-My violin that my dad bought me in the 5th grade.
-My pictures of my great grandmother
-My cedar chest that my mother-in-law gave me for a christmas present. I was surprised when she gave it to me. They found it at a antique store and it was painted black and she had it stripped and refinished for me. And Doug's grandpa fixed the top of it by putting some braces on the inside because the top of if was split into two peices. He does wood working anyway, he made it look nice. So it means alot to me.
-My quilts made by my grandmother and the quilt I made a few years ago. My grandmother's quilts are made out double knit fabic from the 70's and they are tied quilts.
-My bunny rabbit that was given to me when I was born. He only has one eye left now. He is 33 years old.

5)Five Words you love.
-Jesus. He is such a part of my life. He has always been there but have recently found Him again and it is so awesome to have Him in your life.
-Awesome. I use this word a lot I guess especially to describe the experience's I have had in the last several months about what has happened to me by surrendering my life to God.
-Grace. God's Grace is wonderful.
-Hope. There is always hope.
-Faith. My Faith in God has Grown so much over the last sereval months. I guess all these words means so much because of what I have been though the last year with my back and other things. I now look back and what I thought was hopeless at the time really wasn't I was just looking in all the wrong places for what I needed and what I needed was God and found Him in a very special way. And God put some very special people in my life to help me find my way.
Philippians 1:6
And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

These are pic's from the scrapbooking retreat I went on this past weekend. I enjoyed it so much. There was sixteen women that went and it was such a good time. The log cabin was great. I love staying in log cabins. It did rain for a little bit on Saturday and it was so pretty looking at the rain thought the huge window in the cabin.

I thought this cartoon was cute and I wish sometimes my cats would just stay in bed all day too.

If I had a second chance



If I had a second chance
I'd stop looking and start seeing
If I had a second chance
I'd treat everyone as a human being

I'd stop talking and start giving
Stop hiding and start living
I'd do more listening and a lot less talking
Enjoy the world and do more walking

If I had a second chance
I'd take my eyes off my watch
And watch with my eyes
To notice the trees and the beautiful sky

I'd stop criticizing and show more love
Be less forgetful to give thanks to the One above
I'd be less angry and give up my pride
And share with the world what I have inside

I'd stop hating and be more kind
And give a little more of my precious time
I'd give more encouragement and a lot more praise
And do a lot less judging, for I too have lost my way

I'd get my priorities in order and straight
Better now than never... I'm just a little late
I'd stop chasing hopelessly after the wind
From this point on, a new I begin

I'd find my way back to GOD'S Grace
And hope to never again lose my place
I'd change my life and make a stance
Oh, GOD, what I wouldn't give for a second chance

It's not the destination that counts in life
But the journey with the people we love
That's all that really matters...

Such a simple truth so easily forgotten...

Sabotaging a witness
by John Fischer

A lot of Christians stay relatively quiet about their faith when in the company of those who don’t know Christ. There are probably lots of reasons for this, but the one I hear most frequently is the feeling of not being good enough. “Who am I to tell someone about Jesus,” the rationale goes, “when my own life is in such a mess?”

There is an improper assumption that goes along with this kind of thinking, that in order to witness for Christ you have to have a close to impeccable life. There’s a certain standard one has to live up to before being in a position to tell someone about Jesus. Otherwise, people will point the finger at you and spot your own inconsistencies.

The absurdity in this kind of thinking is the fact that no one, not even Christians, will ever have it all together in this life. Instead of being an excuse not to witness, the fact that we aren’t good enough should be the whole point. We tell people about Jesus because we know, better than anyone, how much we need him. When people throw our own inconsistencies up in our faces that is just another opportunity to tell our own story of how Christ has forgiven us on the cross and how much we need his salvation every day. So instead of being a threat to our witness, our faults and shortcomings are the very things upon which our witness hangs. If we were perfect, we wouldn’t need Jesus.

When I think of the essence of our statement as Christians to those who don’t know Christ, I always think of the blind man that Jesus healed by covering his eyes with mud and telling him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. (John 9:1-34) When the Jewish religious leaders got wind of it, they started to question the man extensively – wanting to know who healed him, how it happened, where the man who healed him was now, and even asking his parents to verify whether their son was in fact born blind. When they came back to the man and pressed him with questions a second time, accusing Jesus of being a sinner for doing work on the Sabbath, the man replied, “I don’t know whether he is a sinner … But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” (John 9:25 NLT)

There’s our message: “I was blind, and now I can see; I was lost, and now I am found; I was guilty, and now I’m forgiven; I was alone, and now I have a friend.” It doesn’t take a perfect life to spread that message – just a saved one. So what’s keeping you from telling your story?

These are my two cats snowflake and socks. They are so silly. They love to sit by the window and get in the basket. Yes they are very big cats. Snowflake is right at 20lbs and socks is 14lbs. They are like my children. Snowflake is so demanding. He won't leave you alone until he gets what he wants and socks is more timid. He gets scared so easily. He is deathly afriad of the vacum cleaner. All I have to do is just move it and he is gone. Snowflake on the other hand he is deaf. Nothing bothers him. You have to move him out of the way of the vacum cleaner.

Prayer: Your Powerful Priority
September 11, 2006
Key Passage: Luke 9:28-36
Topic: Prayer
About eight days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John to a mountain to pray. (Luke 9:28, NLT)
September 11, 2001--the nation looked on as the New York skyline and our lives were forever changed. Lives were lost, fear and anger gripped the nation…and people prayed.
In the face of tragedy, people cry out to God. We look to Him for guidance, for strength, for deliverance, for miracles. Five years ago today, it seemed like nearly everyone in America was praying.
But what about five and a half years ago? Six months before the attack--what happened then? I don't know. But who was praying then? We're quick to pray when things are hard. But when things are going well, we tend to ignore God. Let's take a new look at a few passages we've already seen in Luke that touch on prayer: "As he was praying" (3:21, NLT), "Jesus often withdrew…for prayer" (5:16, NLT), "he prayed to God all night" (6:12, NLT), "asked God's blessing" (9:16, NLT), "Jesus was alone, praying; (9:18, NLT). It's easy for us to get hung up looking at the more glamorous parts of Jesus ministry. We love the stories about His miracles; we pour over His teachings for wisdom. But we overlook Him praying. Jesus was always going off to pray. He made it a priority. These weren't quick little "God-bless-my-burger" prayers. He spent time praying--pouring out His heart and listening for words from His Father."

Let's take a new look at a few passages we've already seen in Luke that touch on prayer: "As he was praying" (3:21, NLT), "Jesus often withdrew…for prayer" (5:16, NLT), "he prayed to God all night" (6:12, NLT), "asked God's blessing" (9:16, NLT), "Jesus was alone, praying; (9:18, NLT).
It's easy for us to get hung up looking at the more glamorous parts of Jesus' ministry. We love the stories about His miracles; we pour over His teachings for wisdom. But we overlook Him praying.
Jesus was always going off to pray. He made it a priority. These weren't quick little "God-bless-my-burger" prayers. He spent time praying--pouring out His heart and listening for words from His Father.


If Jesus made it a common practice to spend time in prayer, what makes us think that we can go a day without praying?
"Prayer does not prepare us for the great work; prayer is the great work." --Oswald Chambers

Just thinking about 9/11 today. I remember I was driving to work in Memphis, TN and not thinking what I was hearing on the radio was real but I soon found out when I got to work it was very real. My heart just sunk. It was the worst feeling. We watched T.V. at work all day and had alot of patients cancel their procedures. Again today they had the T.V.'s on at work with all the memorial services going on for all the people who lost their lives that day. I could not believe what I was seeing that day. I never thought that anything like that could happen here. I was just in disbelief. I pray for all the people in the Armed services serving our country and to the people that lost their lives that day and their families. My heart goes out to all of them.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing songs to God as the other prisoners listened. ACTS 16:25

Great acts of faith are seldom born out of calm calculation. It wasn't logic that caused Moses to raise his staff on the bank of the Red Sea...And it wasn't a confident committee that prayed in a small room in Jerusalem for Peter's release from prison. It was a fearful, desperate, band of backed-into-a-corner believers. It was a church with no options...And never were they stronger. At the beginning of every act of faith, there is often a seed of fear.

I read this a couple of weeks ago and I could identify with what it said. Thought I would share it. I am not a morning person and it seems no matter how hard I try to get up earlier to try to spend time with God it never seems to happen now that I am back at work. I often find myself spending time with God on my five minute drive to work in the morning and saying a quick pray before I get there. Anyway, I thought this was a good article and the story that is at the end of this article I thought was beautiful and well said.




I have a hard time worshiping God on Monday mornings. For some reason the inspiration I had on Sunday starts to fade as soon as I begin the slow grind of the week. It's not that my cup is never filled; it often overflows. But I think it's leaky!

On Sunday night I have no troulbe worshiping God. On Sunday night, I'm on top of the world, relaxed from the weekend. With the message from chruch still fresh in my mind, I'm inspired to live enthusiastically for Christ. The fellowship of friends has encouraged and refreshed me. This week, I tell myself, will be different. This week I will be more joyful. This week I will stay foused on my walk. Every day will begin with prayer and devotion.

Then Monday morning comes. For starters, I'm not really a morning person. In fact I'm not really even a person in the morning! Of course, it's not my fault. As a teen I believed this problem was the result of a serious disease. I had heard of something called morning sickness and thought I must have it. My mother assured me that I couldn't get it; instead, she diagnosed my condition as L.S.S.(Lazy Slob Syndrome). The disease not only ravaged my body in the days of my youth, but it also continues to be a problem.

So how can I keep focused on God as I battle this brutal condition? I have difficulty matching my socks in the morning, let alone comprehending the Trinity!

When it coines to mornings, I wish I could identify with the psalmist when he wrote, "In the morning my prayer meets You" (Ps. 88:13). Often in my nighttime excitement I have promised God I will do just that, only to slap the snooze button and sleep through the seeking.

Maybe you're different. Maybe you belong to that annoying segment of the population known as "The Morning People." As the day winds down, so do you. But when it starts up again, you're as chipper as a ground squirrel.

Well, no matter what time of the day we are at our best or what mood we find ourselves in, as Christians we all have a similar calling. We are called to live in the light of eternal truths.

I have to admit that on Monday mornings God doesn't feel very real to me. I look at my to-do list.This is what is real, I think to myself. Phone calls, tasks, and deadlines. God seems so far away.

But I remind myself that I am not a Christian because of some passing feeling. My faith is based on the truth of God's Word and my relationship with His Son, Jesus. As a result I am a member of a kingdom that Jesus Himself warned is "not of this world" (John 18:36).

As members of this invisible kingdom, we have a difficult calling-to set our sights above the things we can see. We strive to behold a supernatural kingdom while still living in this world.

This is not an easy task. Many times we drown out the voice of God with the loudness of our lives. Yes, Jesus is in our hearts, but the world is in our faces. As a result, it takes time and attention to search for God. But I've found that it is well worth it, for He is a God who waits to reveal Himself!

I was reminded of this truth in a story I read recently about a young girl. The girl with deep blue eyes had been blind since birth. When she was 12, doctors were able to perform a new type of surgery would give her the gift of sight if it was successful. After the bandages were removed, her eyes had to be protected from the light for several days. So she sat in darkness, waiting.

The mother spent long hours answering her daughter's questions about what things looked like and what she should expect. They both were so excited about the possibility of her being able to see that neither of them slept much. Over and over they talked about every lovely thing they could imagine-colors, shapes, beauty of every kind.

Finally the moment came when the young girl's eyes could endure enough light for her to look out the window. She stood there for a long time without saying a word. Outside, the spring day was ideal-bright and warm with fluffy, white clouds decorating the blue sky. Lacy blossoms stirred the cherry trees. Yellow crocuses lined the brick walkway that wound across the grass.

When the girl turned back to her mother, tears were streaming down her cheeks. "Oh mother, why didn't you tell me it would be so beautiful?"

This story mirrors our relationship to the eternal realm. We have heard the descriptions of what our eyes will one day see. We have read about the wonders of God and heaven. Yet when we get to heaven, I wonder if we will have the same question for God that the little girl had for her mother, "Oh, why didn't You tell me it would be so beautiful?"

I know that heaven holds beauty that far surpasses any description. That is an exciting truth.Yet my excitement fades when I realize that in this world all too often we live with bandages still tightly wrapped around our eyes. Barely any light any light gets though. But instead of accepting darkness, we can let Jesus gently unravel our bandages and flood our lives with His light, power, and love.

If we focus on Him, we will have lives that transcend what our earthly eyes can see. The Father of Light longs to dispel our darkness and heal our sin-scarred eyes, even in the morning.

Storms of Life

The Bible uses the storm as a picture of hard times in our lives. These “life storms” may include danger, sickness, persecution or the death of a loved one. When hard times come, people sometimes feel as if their circumstances, like giant waves or howling winds, are about to destroy them.

David experienced these feelings many times. One time, as he ran for his life, he felt especially desperate. “The waves of death swirled about me,” he later said. “The torrents of destruction overwhelmed me” (2 Samuel 22:5).

But in the midst of terrible danger, David made an important discovery: God was nearby, ready to save him. David called out for help and God answered.

“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me” (2 Samuel 22:17-18). David not only escaped death, he later became Israel's king.

Just as God uses physical storms to accomplish His purposes, He may use difficult times in your life to strengthen your faith or draw you closer to Him. Like Jonah, Paul and David, you also have an important place in God's plan.

No matter how big the storm is, God is right beside you. Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” The Lord offers His children protection from life's storms.

Next time you hear thunder, feel the driving wind or watch ocean waves crash against the rocks, remember that God controls every storm—just as He controls your life.

A Different Book Meme

A Different Book Meme

Okay, I found another fun meme at Susie's site and I wanted to join in too. Here is how it works.

1. Grab the book you are currently reading. (which is hard if you are like me and are reading several at a time- which I don't recommend)
2. Turn to page 123.
3. Scroll down to the 5th sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 3 sentences, the name of the book and the author.













You must listen and follow, like the sheep for their shepherd, without question.
"And when (the shepherd) brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice" (John 10:4).
What a comfort--to have the Lord go out before me so that I can follow in complete trust, with my heart.

This is so weird that this happened to be the three sentences. What this says is so close to my heart and what is going on in my life right now. So I am glad I decided to do this. I actually just got through reading this book. And I have not started another book yet.

Your disappointments too heavy? Read the story of the Emmaus-bound disciples. The savior they thought was dead now walked beside them. He entered their house and sat at their table. And something happened in their hearts. "It felt like a fire burning in us when Jesus talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us" (Luke 24:32). Next time you're disappointed don't panic.
Don't give up. Just be patient and let the God remind you he's still in control.

Let us hold firmly to the hope that we have confessed, because we can trust God to do what he promised. Hebrews 10:23

Here are a few pic's from the mission trip from this weekend. It was a great weekend and a awesome experience. God just seems to show me more everytime I go. This is my second trip here and it such a blessing to help the needs of the people there. I plan on trying to learn spanish so I can commuicate with the people better. I feel that God has put it on my heart to learn the language. So I will be spending my time now trying to do that. It is so awesome to be able to serve in this way. I know that this is what I am suppose to do. It is in my heart and God is in my heart and this is where he is taking me. I am excited for what the future holds for me in missions.

Your heart will be where your treasure is. Matthew 6:21

The most powerful life is the life that knows where its going, that knows where the source of strength is, and the life that stays free of clutter and happenstance and hurriedness. Being busy is not a sin. Jesus was busy. Paul was busy. Peter was busy. Nothing of significance is achieved without effort and hard work and weariness....But being busy in an endless pursuit of things that leave us empty and hollow and broken inside that cannot be pleasing to God.