Grace

These two images compliment one another so well.  For by Grace we rest in what the Lord did for us & recognize we have a new identity and are in right standing through Him.  Our strenth lies in Grace through our faith in knowing Christ died for us and loves us unconditionally.  He sees and understands us as no one else does.  Praise God!!  Thank you Jesus!  You complete me!!!

Rom 12:3,Php 4:13,2Pe 3:18,Joh 1:17,2Co 13:14,Eph 2:8 

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:28

A Work In Progress

As a child we are taught the ways of our parents.  We watch everymove they make and usually end up doing the same things they do and act similar, whether we realize it or not.  Then we grow up and say we either want to be just like our parents or we want to be the total opposite and some ride the fine line in the middle, trying to pick through the good and bad and decide who we think we want to be or should be according to the worlds view of whats acceptable or not.  I am currently in the process of letting go of everything anyone else wanted for me to be, even myself.  I mean no disrespect to anyone, but the preasure of being what the world views as acceptable and what everyone in it wants or thinks you should be doing is simply to much for a person to live up to.  I have found it much easier to simply seek the Lord and recieve what he has for me and my family.  Life is a journey and we all must find our own way to God.  Each of us have made decsisions, some wise and some not so wise.  Just because we make bad decisions it doesn't mean we don't know God, for that is when we need him in our lives the most.  When we surrender all to Him he will lead us through paths of rightouness for his name sake.  It is so easy for us to look at situations and assume we know a person because of thier actions, but we don't have the whole picture as the Lord does.  We don't really know peoples hearts and intentions like the Lord does.  We don't know every little detail about anyone, yet the Lord does.  God loves us all reguardless of our mistakes, he knows our hearts intent.  He knows why we are the way we are, what makes us tick and why.  He is the only one who understands us each individually and uniquely.  He see's who we are now and still chooses to see us as who we can be in Him.  His desire is for us to look to Him for everything.  In good times and in bad.  He understands everthing we have ever gone through and knows how to get us through obsticles in life and grow us in Him so that we can be a light for others to see Him.  I know that I am not perfect and don't claim to be.  I am saved by the grace of God, forgiven, washed and clinsed by the blood that was shed for us all.  I can't fathom sometimes how much the Lord has to love us to have given His only son for us so that we can recieve the Love and Grace of God.  Most days I feel so free from the world and others I feel attacked like people are imposing thier problems onto me or someone else. Thier is so much conflict in the world.There is no way that anyone, christian or not, that will handle each and every situation the right way in everyones eyes.  I say seek the Lord in all your matters and do what he says because you love Him.  For me the Lord is daily guiding me through issues that need to be dealt with and as I follow I feel free.  As an outsider others might not understand what you say, how you feel or why you do what you do, but I rest in the comfort of knowing the Lord knows me better than anyone and he is looking out for me and growing me in Him.  If I mess up I know He understands me and will get me back on track with Him because I love the Lord and know will all my heart he is my best friend and he won't leave my side.  I have felt bound by the opinions of othes for a long time.  The preasures of life are so pressing at times.  So many people are seeking to fill a void in all kinds of places, but I can tell you right now I have saught it in pleasing others or looking outward to things or other people for happiness.  I have found freedom in the Lord; His Love & Grace frees us all from all the cares of the world.  I am free from the mistakes of my past, no matter who brings it up or decides to talk about it; I am free from my future mistakes; not that I desire to make them, but becasue I am imperfect and will make mistakes while in the world.  Each day is a fight with the Spirit and flesh.  We are all fighting this fight whether we understand it or not, but I know the one who understands all and His word gurantees Victory to all who overcome this world through Christ Jesus.  My comfort daily comes from knowing we all have the same opportunity to recieve true freedom in our life through Jesus.  I love the Lord and pray that anyone who doesn't know him will take the time to seek the Lord through reading & studying his word(the Bible), prayer(you can talk to the Lord anytime, anywhere), and fasting(taking time away from your normal dialy life and it's worries and look to the Lord,this can be for a day or weeks;  some people choose to fast certain foods, others choose to fast TV or the computer, but you spend that time with the Lord in prayer or studying his word).  I am only recommenting that anyone who hasn't saught the Lord with thier whole heart to do so, for this is the only way to true freedom in your life.  I know from experience & thier is no freedom like this in the whole world.  God is good! 

11/16/11 Dream

         Act 2:16-18

But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

Over the past maybe 4 years I have had some dreams.  I have never really understoood some, but this last one I did 100%, no doubt in my mind.  My day(11/16/11) started doing school work with the kids and as the day went on a curosity rose in me about our youngest, Eli.  Since he was young we have noticed he has alot of anger, fear and trust issues.  Since he had been in the hospital for phnemonia I thought maybe alot came from that and maybe that hospitalization did contribute partially, but it was also going on at a younger age so I know it isn't what's causing these things.  Well on to my day....later on the 16th I was watching TBN and a preacher(can't remember who)came on and was talking about the book of Daniel & he was talking about how it is going to tie in to the last days.  I know this seems to be far fetched from the dream, but it does tie in.  This got me to wanting to read the book of Daniel, so that night before bed I layed down for bed and picked up my cellphone to do some Bible reading on my iphone Bible application and decided I would read Daniel.  I didn't get past chapter 3, I had forgotten what Daniel was about & when I started reading about him fasting and eating only pulse(vegtables & grains) and only drinking water.  Then I read on, Daniel was given by God the ability to see and know what the Kings dream meant and he wasn't killed like the sourcerers and magicians.  I remember laying there thinking "Man it'd be so neat to have dreams and know what they mean." (Remember, I have had more dreams, not normal dreams...I can remember each detail of a few dreams I have had, but have never known what they really mean & I know they mean something.  I may decide to share those dreams another time) That is the last thing I remember while being awake that nite.

The Dream:  In the begining we are all as we are now, the sames ages and all.  I was busy doing something and the kids were outside playing and Eli was bitten by a snake on the arm/hand.  I could see all of this like it was a vision, but Aly still came to tell me.  When she took me to him she had brought him in and put him in a room, closed the door and covered him with a pink blanket.  When I opened the door and lifted the blanket Eli was lieing in the floor in fetal position breathing rapidly.  I picked him up, carried him out of the room and ask some stranger to call the hospital and let them know we were on our way.  Next I saw us in the hospital, we had to wait a few minutes and Eli was going in and out of counciousness.  One minute he'd be talking to me and the next he'd be out.  When the finally put us on a bed to be examined they brought out a tool that looked like a straw, the nurse took it and stuck it into my chest down through the top of my right brest and pulled it out with tissue in it and stuck it into a bag to be sent off for testing.  I remember thinking to myself but not saying, "Why are they testing me I wasn't bitten...that's when I realized this wasn't a normal dream, it was spiritual(but I was asleep).  Then I remember trying to explain to Eli (6yrs old)that they were going to have to do the sam test on him, but when they were looking for a good place on him to get a tissue sample they couldn't find a place with enough tissue, so I had to pick him up so they could do the test on his back.  As I picked him up and looked at his face he was an infant, I was now looking at a crying baby insted of my 6 year old.  Then I lightly woke up for a minute and fell back asleep to another dream...this time it was me by myself in a big building that seemed to be a grocery store.  I was in it alone or so it seemed.  I was walking through the isles and noticed it was a weird store thier were only freezers in this store( I don't remember seeing what was in them, just that, freezers like you see in grocery stores were all that was there) and the next thing I know I am fighting with this person with no one around.  No matter how hard I faught I  wasn't hurting who ever it was.  I remember thinking why aren't they stopping and that my wedding ring should be cutting this person's face and it wasn't, as I thougtht about my ring should be cutting this face I remember looking at the face and looking into evil demon/snake eyes(these eyes were the same eyes I saw when Michael & I were house hunting.  I woke up after this dream..

What I knew from this dream that I had been wondering about the previous day was that Eli had been born attached to some of my bondages/problems...they do carry over to our children, thier is absolutly no doubt in my mind of this now..I had been thinking it the day before and pastor Franklin had preached a message on it and I had prayed that any bondaged that had passed from me to him be broken, but I still wasn't 100% if I believed bondages could be transferred( I suppose that's what generational curses are and how they work) but, I know that the Lord has shown me this and I have to be in prayer for our children, as do all parents and all of us for one anothers children...for these are God's children and I know he will protect them.  In showing me this I believe he wants me and others to be in prayer for the children that are  being attacked spiritually, physically and emotionally...(the snake bite was the devil attacking my child and not only mine but all of our children)  I could sit back keep my mouth shut and pray alone, but after thinking about the 2nd dream for a day of feeling like I didn't understand that part of it...I believe the Lord was telling me I can't do this alone, to many people keep attacks from the devil a secret for a fear of imbarrisment or lack of belief.  I don't care what people think of me.  I had been questioning God and trying to figure out what was going on with Eli all day...I wasn't obcessing, but inquiring the Lord I really wanted to know the TRUTH and he gave it to me along with the solution, which is prayer from the children of His Kingdom for our children that are being attacked...we are all his children and we have all been bitten, but for me this is super personal and I know for a fact that since birth my child has been beeing attacked by the devil.  When Eli was born he stopped breathing while eating and the nurses had to rush him out of the room, I know that God is showing me his attack started very early.  I believe the devil see's the potential of our kids and then the attacks start early and as children unknowing whats going on they themselves don't know how to handle these issues/attacks comming against them.  It is our job as parents to teach our children to handle them properly with prayer, reading God's word & trusting in/leaning on the Lord.  If we don't that is when they turn to the world for answers and our children are searching for what they need in the wrong places and are getting into trouble.  The devil then can get a foothold on them and work his confusion/lies and distruction in thier/our lives.

I know alot is going on in this entry, but my goal here is to simply let people know that the devil is real and he is attacking us(in our minds, physically, in our marriges, emotionally, exc..) as children of God and our children for he see's what the potential in each of us, as does God.  God is also real for he has shown me many things about myself and changed me.  God is real and I believe that myself, my kids and children(God's children) are covered/protected by prayer.  We as children of the Kingdom of God must pull together in prayer for each other and our children. Psalm 27
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked,even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I beconfident. One  thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Hear, O LORD,when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.When thou saidest, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Mat 7:7-8Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Phil 4: 3-7
And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow laborers, whose names are in the book of life.
Rejoice in the Lord always:and again I say, Rejoice.
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

9/27 weigh in...

I didn't get to post this on the date of because I haven't been able to axcess my blogger account.  SO here it is...155.  My weight is staying about the same so I imagine I have hit a platue.  I have been on either on the treadmill or doing a walk/jog(30 minutes) in our neighborhood  Monday-Friday.  I haven't been watching what I eat at all.  Now it's time to start me a food diary of some sort, I suppose and up my time on the treadmill/out side doing my exersize.  So lets see how that will help out.  Next weigh in is October 11th.

weigh in...)0:

Well I will start off by completely placing the blame for my 1 lb. weight gain on my husband, which I adore (O:  I was doing fine while he was on storm, but as soon as he set foot in this house we all lost it.  We missed him so much and took some time off ordinary daily life as we know it.  We were smitten with Daddy...we spent lots of time loving on him, eating out,  playing games, riding around and shopping.  So needless to say I gained exactly 1 lb. back this weigh in, ooopsy!  Oh well I don't mind, my man is home safe and I have the next few weeks to get back into my routine.  We'll see how this  next few weeks goes, next weigh in date is Sept. 27th...Life is good and so is God!!

wiegh in...8/30

Sorry this has taken so long, we have alot going on around here...cleaning, laundry, birthday, hurricanes, sickness, scorpion stings, ER trips & much more fun stuff.  Any ways I weighed on the the 30th of Aug. and weighed 154...so far lost 6 lbs.  Not a whole aweful lot,  but I am pleased.  I feel better and like knowing weight is comming off.  Like I said we are going for life style change, and I believe slow and steady is going to be it for us.  Now I am off the get the house ready for Eli's 6th birthday party this Saturday...Happy Birthday lil monkey (:   Next weigh in Sept. 13, 2011 yeehaw!

The Low down...to date.

So this is hard...it is hard to make yourself exersize daily and eat rite.  The first two weeks were rather fun for me, but it's getting to where I have to make myself exersize(What ever it takes, rite!!)!  Especially when we are so acustom to just doing what ever we want depending on our mood, or atleast that's the way we roll up in here...most of the time.  Any ways I have been able to stick to my getting on the treadmill each weekday and some Saturdays, though Sunday is my designated free day(exersize & food wise). Each day I walk/jog I also do situps and leg lifts.  While walking I lift 2 lb weights with my arms, but I don't while jogging.  I do atleast 1.5 mile walk jog combo or 30 min. each weekday.   Michael has gotten to where he & his sitser Patti walk around our neighborhood about 3-4 days a week, sometimes we all go. I Mostly  like to use the treadmill, it's not as hot in the house(I hate sweat) & I can get my exersize in while the kids are finishing up school work.  I am finding it difficult to give up sweets & we are working on portion control(with everything not just sweets).  It seems like every time I turn around it's someone's birthday and the infamous cupcake, cookie or cake and icecream are lingering(I know it's not good for me though)!  It seems that when one is feeling down or it's that time of the month I need a lil comfort from my delicous friends...Somethings gota give.   I am approaching this slowly, trying to wean myself from things not so healthy because I am afraid if I stop cold turkey it will send me into a downward spiral and I will fail with my healthier life goals.  Maybe it's a copout, maybe I am just week, or maybe making excuses just to get my fix now and then....who knows?  All I know is for me this is a trial and error process and on the 30th the scales will tell the tale...I am willing to make the necessary changes, but truth be told I don't want to have to give up my cakes completely. Sodas are no problem and bread not so bad, but I know my weaknesses may get me on this.  Will know more on the 30th, the scales don't lie.

Lord help us to have the strength to overcome ALL our weaknesses in our daily lives..Amen!

"Be still and know that I am God" Psa. 46:10

God showed me some things about myself this morning on the way to church and it contenued in service.  I am a BROKEN ARROW...{unintentionally} misguided by my BOW.  I understand some things from my past and what role they play in my present, but what I don't know is how to fix any of it.  So I will do all I know to do...keep my mouth shut, pray & trust God. ~ I pray that each generation in our family take more ground from the enemy.  Lord help me to make sharp arrows and point them in the right direction(toward your will) and restore me and all that has been taken from my family for generations..I am serving the devil notice no more taking what the Lord died for us to have, it is on.
In JESUS name..Amen~

Gen. 22:17  That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; multigenerational blessing~father, son, grandson~Abraham, Isiac, Jacob(it's not just about us)Psa. 127:1-5  Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.  It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.  Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.  As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.  Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. ~Parents/grandparents are the bow(set the coarse for the arrow) and children(natural and spiritual) are the arrows~the bow is no good w/out the arrow and vise versa, get them together & you have a lethal weapon~

2 Kings 13:17-18 And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD'S deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them.  And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed.

Psa. 105:8  He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
Psa. 78:9  The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.

Joe. 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

My new best friend...

SoleF80

{Me in all my glory...}

 {I am journaling this because I spoke with a friend who has lost a great deal of weight and I told her..."Oh how I wish you would have blogged your journey,"  so I could keep up with her for insperation and to gain knowledge...so here I am, since she didn't I have no other choice..it's on me now!!}

   Just finished 30 minutes on the treadmill.  My begining weight was 159.6(8/2/11) and it is now 157.  I will be weighing every 2 wks (next weigh in is 8/30).  The goal I have set is to keep a weight of between 125/130 lbs.  Resulting in a total weightloss of between 30-35 lbs. and keep it off.  I am seeking a lifestyle change not a quick fix. Watching portion sizes and junk intake through the week.  I don't desire to look like a supermodel, I just want to be and look healthier. SO, if I see that I start looking to thin I will stop b4 my goal. Our family is in the process of changing food, exersize & aditude habbits.  Lord help us!! 

New & Improved BLOG

This will be where we share pieces of our life with you...feel free to follow us & enjoy life with our family.  Aly will be creating her own blog soon so keep your eyes peeled for her fun new blog.  I will be blogging later about our attempt at a healthier lifestyle and my weightloss goals & stratigies...will be posting pics and keeping a journal. 

Q. of the day...where does the fine line between truth and judgement lie??

As I ponder on this question I am looking around seeing all kinds of craziness.  I do not want to judge any one for the Bible says not to do so (Matthew 7, says not to judge ~  and if you do you will be judged  to the extent of your judgement on ohters, going on to say to deal with your own problems before trying to help deal with someone elses...or else you are a hypocrite). My next question being do you let someone come to you or do you go to them??... Galations 6:1 also says if any man be over taken in a fault those which are spiritual are to restore them in the spirit of meekness; considering themselves becasue they to can be tempted.  The Bible also warns us not to speak flattery{Psalms 5:9, 78:36, Job 17:5} (just tell people what they want to her~don't be an ear tickler), but from my experience people would much rather have thier ear tickled than hear the TRUTH.  In my personal opinion flattery is equivilent to lieing, you are not speaking truth you are dressing it up as to not offend the person. 1 John 2:21 says.. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.  Collosians says, lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds. Proverbs 12:6 says.. The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.  I believe many can not handle the truth because we abuse and misuse our gift God gave us to be able to help people with our mouths.  Gossip and rumors run rampid these days, so when you are speaking the truth to someone the feel like people have been talking about them behind their backs placing judgement and insted of seeing someone who wants to help them, thus most of the time people get offended and defensive.  Or it could possibly be that we/they already know the TRUTH and are not willing or ready to do what we know needs to be done to make the necessary changes in our lives to reap the benifits of those necessary changes.  Until submittend to the Lord no one can lead a person out of thier cycle(you can help with prayer and truth, but you can't make someone see or do what they are unwilling to see/do).  All our answers lie in one book, the Bible...James 4:7 submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Matther 7:7 ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:   Matthew 6:3 But seek ye firstt the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mountt up with wings as eagless; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint  Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.  In seeking the Lord with my questions I feel he is the only one with the answers and I know I must be careful not to judge yet speak the truth in love and meekness...which I need HIS help with, sin easily angers me.  I do not like knowing I have hurt the Lord nor do I like it when someone else does it either...Lord help me not to judge and have self control.  I want to be able to discern when I am to speak up and when to shut up and not let me get in the way....Ephesians 4 says,  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;  One Lord, one faith, one baptism,  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.  But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.  (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.  This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.  But ye have not so learned Christ;  If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:  Neither give place to the devil.  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Lord I ask that you help me be all I can be through you...

Where I found ME...

  I remember in High School not really feeling like I fit in with any certain crowd.  I was kind of a drifter.  I once had a girlfriend ask me which group I belonged to...she had questioned why I dressed different ways and hung with different crowds.  At the time I didn't really understand why myself, I just didn't feel compelled to be labeled as anything or belong to any certain click.  I tried my best to be true to me, yet I wasn't sure who I was.  This feeling followed me for many years.  Until recently the Lord has shown me who I am in Him and through His word I have discovered myself.  He is showing me that He died for my freedom...freedom from my past hurts, wrongs-mistakes, addictions, bondages, curses, thefts and all the firey darts our enemy, the devil has or will try against me.  He comes as a thief in the night, to try to kill, steal & destroy us in any way he can.  He is sneaky, looking for even the tiniest crevas to enter in and take us down(which for me has mostly been in my mind, it seems to be the easiest target).   He decieves us and we slowly let down our guard and values start deminishing once decieved.  We will do anything to FEEL  happy or forget just for a little while.  In reality thier is one true answer to all our past, current & future regrets/problems...his name is Jesus, he died for us to be free.  We need nothing but Him.  We need to make the Lord the center of our lives.  Christianity isn't about going to church on Sunday.  It is about making Christ the very center of our daily life.  He wants a personal realtaionship with his children, as we do our own children.  He wants us to speak to him about everything and include him in our lives every single day.  He is not someone to just run to in storms, but someone who can meet ANY and ALL needs we have and greatly exceed our expectations far better than any person possibly could.   God is our source for ALL we need.  I have recently learned to quit depending on anyone other than the Lord for anything  missing from my life...love, joy, happiness, confidence, importance...you name the void and the Lord can fill it greater than anyone or thing you have ever desired.  What ever we need all we have to do is ask and he will fill us to overflow capacity.  We must remember we are never alone, when we ask Jesus into our lives we are welcoming him into ourselves.  We are his temple and we find ourselves in and through him.  We must seek the Lord with all our hearts and ask him to be our center.  I don't want to ever go anywhere without my savior or leave him out of any part of the life he has given me.  I have a blessed life, not perfect but blessed...I don't want to spend all my time concentrating on my pain and miss out on blessing someone else for lack of vision.  I want to be open with the Lord and allow him to grow me in my pain so I can help another in pain.  I want to experience all he has for me and share his love with others.


1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has in us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

Exod 34:14 For you shall worship no other god. For Jehovah, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God;

Luke 10: 27 And answering, he said, You shall love

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.

Luke 11: 9 And I say to you, Ask and it shall be given you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened to you.

Psa. 26:2 Examine me, O Jehovah, and prove me; purify my heart and my mind.

1 John 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as that One is righteous

1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has in us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him


Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledgelack le


John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 

Eph. 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 

Matthew 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.    Psa 4:3 But know that the LORD hath set apartt him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.

Speaking up and speaking out....

July 16, 2011 the date of my first public speaking event at Cowboy Church of LaFayette.  Those who went to school with me or know me well, know that I am not a great speaker with crowds.  In preperation for this event I found myself feeling a bit out of character. ~ When my mother as me to speak at a ladies meeting I was a bit shocked and felt really unqualified, I was like "What, ME...seriously?  She went on to say she felt the Lord lead her to ask me."  I had been praying that God would use me & I ask her to let me pray about this.  In prayer I knew this was an answer to my prayer & I couldn't say no to God, he even gave me a time frame for my date. He spoke 3 months and 3 weeks which turned out July 16.  I didn't understand at the time that time frame, but as time passed I recieved better understanding.  After this time frame Michael & I would be finished with our first phase in School of Descipleship.  I would also be rebaptized...YES, {RE}. 

{RE}Baptized...
"Why," you might ask?  Well I have been feeling led to do so for about 3 years now.  When I say LED I mean the Lord had put it on/in my heart.  For the past 3 years I have been questioning {WHY} myself.  I knew I was saved, no doubt about it & I was baptized when I was 10 & I knew that, what I did not understand is if I was saved & baptized and I knew it, then WHY get re-baptized...I was perplexed & just couldn't let it go WHY, WHY, WHY and then one day it hit me.  I always try to figure things out when I have a WHY.  I always have to have answers and if I don't I will... lets say get obsessive and anxious for the answers to my WHY's.  I have a hard time letting go until I get answers.  This time God showed me that when I was 10 I really didn't understand what I was doing when I got baptized, I didn't understand the seriousness (not saying the Lord wasn't with me or  I wasn't really baptized, becuase I was..thier was is just more to it than I knew then & God has shown me so much more since)  I did it out of obenience because I knew the Lord had shown me so much & I am such a different person.  In learning obedience,  he was asking me to do this for him & myself so I did.  This time it was so different, for me the meaning was glorious & freeing.  I declaired in front of millions that I choose to live for the Lord.  I went down under the water & took with me every worry, anxiety, stress, generational curse, weakness, exc.. & buried it.  Christ has defeated every thing that will ever or has ever come against me & I came up free from all the worries of the world.  Because He died I LIVE...I am FREE to live my life in, through and for HIM.  He is the center of my life, included in all I do every day, my parter, my friend, my comforter...he knows my hearts desires, he knows everthing about me; the good, bad & ugly..yet he still loves me so much he died so that I can live free.  I believe that is what is meant by America, the land of the free...whom the son sets free is free indeed.

Speaking on the 16th was one of the hardest things my flesh has ever had to do.  I was not nurvious in the least untill we pulled up in the church parking lot.  I had purchased a Tenth Avenue North CD and had listened to it with tears flowing the whole hours trip to my mom's house.  She says, "  That's just how it works girl, the Holy Spirit is all over you" and I just laughed it off, but the truth is he is always with me in all I do I carry him with me, I never want to exclude the one who matters most from anything in my life & I want my kids to do the same.  I hope that if they learn nothing else in the world from me it's that God is always with you, just make him your best friend and fall in love with him...don't worry about anyone or anything else just seek his face and all else will fall into place.

~1 John 4:6  We have known & believed the love that God hath to us, God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him.

~2 Thes. 3:5  And the Lord direct your hearts into the Love of Godand into the patient waiting for Christ.

~Luke 10:27  Thall shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart & all thy soul and all thy strength & all thy mind.

~Matt. 6:33  Seek ye 1st the kingdom of God & his rightousness & all these things shall be added unto you.

~Exod. 20:3  Thou shalt have no other God's before me.

~1 John  Beloved let us love one another; for love is of God; and everyone that loves God is born of God and KNOWS God...

I want to know God fully and completely in Luke 11:9 and Matthew 7:7 it is written in red(Jesus words) Ask and it will be given you; SEEK and ye shall find;  knock and it will be opened unto you..I am asking the Lord to show me Him...I want my relationship with him to be more real than any realationship I have ever had.  God is jelous for us {Exod. 34:14 & Deut. 4:24}.  I pray the Lord will examine my heart daily{Psa. 26:2}. I do not make time for the Lord,  He is a part of my daily life and I carry him with me in all I do. I pray the same for you...

What we've been up to this summer ....

              The Kids camping on the porch.

 Our 4th of July Lolli Cakes

 Jasper fireworks

 School room

 flower planting

Frog Hunting

I haven't blogged in a while, so I thought I'd give a little update.  We have been busy enjoying our summer off from school.  So far we have been hiking, river tubbing, camping on the back deck, been cleaning out the house & rearranging furniture, getting new fish for the pond, picking black berries & making pies, learning to make lolli cakes, cooking out, ate lots of ice cream & popcycles,watched fireworks, organized the school room, gone to the fair, said good bye to a lovely woman in our life (Aunt Orene); learned many valuable & life changing lessons from the good Lord, visited the drive inn, hunted frogs & gathered eggs, planted flowers, enjoyed the School of Descipleship, played in waterfalls, taken lots of pictures, climbed trees to save the new kitten, & gone to many yard sales.  We are learing to enjoy the small things in life with each other.  I am thankful for my family & want to leave them a family legacy far richer than anything money could ever possibly buy.

More summer fun pictures:

Be TRUE

In my journey in the world I am learning the importance of the small things in life.  As I sat for the past month with our Aunt Orene with brain caner in our home & now in hers...I see the importance of taking full advantage of each and every second that God gives us with our family & friends.  Our time each day is priceless and we must learn to use it to it's fullest.  In my life I yearn more of the Lord every day & desire for knowledge and understanding while I am here.  For this isn't my eternal home, I am an alien here on Earth and need the Lords guidance while away from my true destination.  My life here is but a journey, I lean on my maker for his purpose for my life while here.  Only He can grow me into the person I am created to be through Him.  His hands & arms are always open for me to come to Him and seek His purpose in all I do.  

With that being said I am learning to enjoy life to it's fullest through my Savior.  True happiness, true self & peace comes only from the Lord...it's not a feeling on the inside, it's not in getting something I want or my way, it's not getting away from the darkness in this world or the people who make it that way, it's not chasing after some dream,  it's not life without problems or chaos, because life isn't like television or a soap opera...and perfection isn't real.  True happiness, self  & peace is only found in and through Christ.  Allowing the Lord total axcess to ALL your being and letting Him clean your house is the way to true happiness and a true you.  I have never been able to enjoy life and do it so freely, until I gave HIM my all...nothing compares to Christ.   

{For, if someone or something controls how you feel that is your GOD...it owns you!  It is time for Christians to fall in love with the Lord totally and give him all they've got.  For he is the only one who deserves all of ones self & He is the only one who can completely satisfy and meet all our needs to the extent of our expectations & will never let us down.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, Prov. 3:5-7} 

In saying that here are some images of our family on a hike learing to love and enjoy life the way God intends for us!Me & the kiddos

Michael, Aly & Tink

Micehal & I

fall

Me doing what I do...LOVE capturing God's beauty.

Michael & Eli

Life can change in an instant

Some people know know that Michael's aunt Orene has brain cancer & we have been asking for prayer for her. She recently took a fall down some stairs & hit her head. The decision had been made to put her in a nursing home, but something in me just couldn't stand the thoughts of it and we decided to bring her home with us for physical therapy in hopes that she will heal & be ablt to return home. Each day she seems to get stronger & do more, praise the Lord. Please keep her in your prayers. This isn't easy yet she is working so hard. I can't imagine what this must be like for her.

Each day I spend with Orene it makes me more thankful for every tiny blessing in my life & I thank the Lord above for it all..nothing is to small to be thankful for. I am thankful for my my health & the health of my family, home sweet home, being able to talk,speak & see...put one foot in front of the other, breathing, self sufficiency, and most of all my salvation. This whole situation makes me realize how fragile life really is & how quickly life as we know it can change. As I observe daily a frail,once highly independent woman it changes my outlook on life and the depth of thankfuness I have.

Please continue to pray for her..I see God working before my eyes daily.

35 day photo challange-Day 35

My favorite part of this day.....comming home after a long day of cleaning at Granny Cantrells.

I was going to be lazy and watch some Grey's Anatomy with the Hubby, but since it'll be a rerun tonight I think I will just take me a nice hot buble bath and chilax..

35 day photo challange-Day 34

Favorite Summer memory...Trip to ZOO Atl. with Ay & Micheal with Eli in my belly (O: Michael & Aly had said a prayer on our front porch for a baby after I had miscarried 6 mo. before.  SWEETNESS!!!

35 day photo challange-Day 33

Something creative...In his book Cure for the Common Life, Max Lucado tells a story of a woman who taught his Bible class in TX, when he was a child.  He states the kids would have rather missed the ice cream truck than Sunday School.  Max says, "Here is why I tell you about her."  She enjoyed giving us each a can of crayons and a picture of Jesus to color.  Each having thier own can containing about a dozen crayons this teacher told them to take the crayons she had given them and color Jesus.  They didn't borrow crayons from others they used what was given to them in thier own cans " and that was the fun of it", Lacado stated.  She ask the kids to do the best they could with what they had, no blue for the sky?  Make it purple. If Jesus's hair was red insted of brown no one would mind.  She taught them to paint Jesus with thier own colors....God made us likewise, he loaded your can.  He made you unique.  God gives gifts, not miserly, but abundantly.  Not randomly, but carefully:  "to each according to each one's unique ability."  No one else has your talents.  God elevates you from common-hood by matching your unique abilities to custom made assignments.  This story from Lucado's book is an eye opener for me.  I desire to use my unique gifts for the Lord in the way he has planned.  I want to use what God has given me to the fullest for His purposes and color Jesus with my own colors ......

35 day photo challange-Day 32

Some where I go regularly is Free Chapel, Gainsville, GA.  Our family has been attending Free Chapel since November of 2009.   I rededicated my life to the Lord there Dec. 2009.  Then after the corperate fast the following Jan. 31, 2010 our daughter Aly accepted Christ into her heart.  Pastor Franklin is an anointed man and has leaders and teachers under him with the same anointing and heart for God.  There is no place near this place like this place.  We are growing so much in the Lord and gaining knowledge and understanding.  Tonight Michael & I will begin Free Chapel's  Phase I School of Discipleship, taught  by Pastor Chad Craig(foundation for growth and a secure foundation).  Then we will take the following PhaseII-transformation for change & putting off the old ways, Phase III-formation for establishment and putting on the New Man,  Phase IV-impartation for purpose and life in the vision,(each phase lasting 12 wks) then we will recieve our certificate for completion in the School of Discipleship and Small Group Leadership.  The purpose of the SOD is to help with spiritual growth.  Classes address Biblical teaching for each phase of spiritual development.  Thier goal is to establish believers  in the faith, in the character of Christ, and functioning in thier gifting(s).  It provides a solid Biblical foundation as well as a path for future ministry development.  We are so excited to be taking this step to further our understanding and knowledge, so that we are better equipped to get involved, step out, and help others.  Anyone interested in SOD can go to schoolofdiscipleship@freechapel.org

35 Day photo challange-Days 30 & 31

                                                        J.B. PawPaw (w/me)

                                                   Paw Paw Rush (w/me)

Paw Paw Cantrell at Michael & I's wedding

I decided to do days 30 & 31 together, one day late of coarse.  Photo of someone u miss-day 30 and a photo of someone from your family-day 31.  I chose to do these together becuse the someone's I miss are family.  They are 3 of my grandfathers. I believe they are in a far better place than us though (O:

35 day photo challange-Day 29

Photo that can always make me smile....

This picture is of my favorite dog Bobo(a rotty) & myself.  Bobo was given to be by my friend Jeremy from BlueRidge when I was 17.  He was my big baby boy...when Michael & I started dating he started acting out.   Once he cornered Michael on my front porch in the pitch black dark(the lights weren't on), grrowwling at him.   We also found Bobo on the hood of Michael's brand new truck one morning, along with some scratchs...ooopsy!

In this photo if you will, notice the brave girl with the snake on her(me-laughing) and then notice how I am having to hold tightly onto Michael to keep him in the picture.

35 day photo challange-Day 28

Something I am afraid of...my biggest fear is that I am holding myself back from what the Lord has for me and people placed in my life.  I am driven by fear(which isn't Biblical at all for a believer, I know). I am so afraid of making the wrong decision or saying the wrong thing that alot of times I just don't say or do anything. I do not want to act on or say anything based on MY emotions.  I pray for boldness and desire to be used by the Lord, but I am so afraid of misrepresenting Him that I don't move or speak up the majority of the time.  In my heart and head I know that the Lord is with me.  My problem is that I don't want to offend anyone or make them feel judged.  At the same time I am so sick of keeping my mouth shut and feeling like I am letting God down.  I know He is standing in me, rooting me on...I need revelation knowledge in knowing what to say, when to say it and how it needs to be said.  I need to know when I neeed to say something for the Lord that it is what He wants said and it's said how He intends.  I need to know how to recognize the Lord's guiding hand and voice when it comes to speaking out. I do not want to be disobedient, I want to follow Him in all he asks and know that I am doing His will.....

35 Day photo challange-Day 27

A photo of yourself and a family member....well here's a photo of my family.  I love them so much, even thought Michael looks kinda silly in this one.  He was trying to sit up straight & ended up looking a bit uncomfortable.  Hehehe! What a cutie....a truck full of young boys drove by yelling "Aweee" , LOL!

35 day photo challange-Day 26

Something that means alot to me me is .....

                                                                 .... my time.

The good Lord giveth and the good Lord taketh away....I am sick and tired of feeling like my time isn't used to it's fullest and to fulfill the Lords purpose for my life.  I am tired of wasting so much of my time on useless petty things; such as spending to much time being hurt/wounded, bitter, angry, nosey, worrysome, anxious, & jelous, or being judgemental and critical of others-when I know I have things I need to work on myself.  I want to use my time while here, to it's fullest for what the Lord purposed my life for.  My time is important, it means alot to me and the people I am purposed to touch for the glory of the Lord.  I want to enjoy my life knowing I am fulfilling my purpose.  I don't want to take advantage of or look over the small simple things in life and be thankful for everything and everyone in my pathway, for they are there for a reason.  Time is precious and I don't want to waste a second of it, for it isn't just mine it is His too.