Are we there yet?

I am ready for cold weather, warm cappuccinos, frosty car hoods, and Christmas!

I scored this little cookbook at Mardel yesterday for 1.99! Isn't it cute?? It is filled with lots of neat, festive recipes and Bible verses.

Now that my little girl is getting to the age of remembering things (I Say that because my memory goes back to when my sister was born- I was 2 years and 2 months old. Crazy, right?). Anyway, I want her to always remember her mother and the details of holidays and my intentions on making everything beautiful for her in those times. Some people may find that silly.. but I don't. I want everything to be special, especially Christmas time. :-)

Wonderfully Made

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
Psalm 139:13-18

Praising My Savior All The Day Long..

Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine..

I love feeling His blessings and presence in my life. Don't you?

I love seeing and feeling my prayers not only being heard, but being answered.

He is GOOD.

Though the reason of my prayer is not yet fully restored (I can't think of a better word, sorry! haha)- I feel that it is getting there and I am so thankful for God who sees my heart and hears my cries.

About that prayer-
Where once I would have been completely shut down, now I am able to keep (slowly but surely) wedging my foot in the "door". I know that it takes time, and I know that its all in God's time so I am patiently waiting- ceasing the opportunity when His Spirit leads me too and constantly being assured that God will always make a way for my family.

It might not be happening today- but God will make it happen when He wants it to happen!

Thank You, Jesus.

Jesus Juke?

Before I explain my post's title, let me clearly state that while I do attend a Baptist church, I do not consider myself a Baptist- I am a born again, child of Christ.
No religion, just Jesus and my relationship with Him.
And I believe that For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

That being said, allow me to elaborate on the term "Jesus Juker".

Jesus Juke:
Verb- Spiritually reprimanding someone you don't know, and having no right to do so.

Jesus Juker:
Noun- Someone who Jesus Jukes.

We have all done this at some point in our lives.. butting our heads in, guilt tripping someone for the music they listen to, clothes they wear, faces they make, churches they attend, food or drink they consume..
This is not a new issue.. it's been going on forever.

What troubles me is- why do we do this??

Are we not called to encourage one another? Build each other up? My Bible tells me so.

I am just as guilty of doing this as the next person is.

I first learned the term "Jesus Juke" last March while doing a Bible study on the Book of James led by Mark Hall (Lead singer of Casting Crowns). What led him to share this term is that he posted a silly picture of his band making "gangster" faces- joking around with his friends- and a lot of people (including myself) thought it to be funny.. but then there were the others- who did't. "You're of the world!" "That's not pleasing to the Lord" "I'm finished listening to this band.."
Jesus Juking.
Well, then the tables turned- the people that thought it was funny started Jesus Juking the people who were Jesus Juking in the first place! "It's people like you who give Christians a bad name" "Mind your own business" "Quit being so rude!".

WHOLE LOT OF JESUS JUKING

I've had a few experiences like this.. and I have been guilty of doing this, too! Today it happened, except I was the one being juked. I didn't like it, I thought a lot of negative thoughts- and then in my mind I STARTED JESUS JUKING THEM BACK! Why do we do this? Why do we have have to have SEPARATE Christian faiths? Why can't we all be His hands and feet so His Body can move??

Father God, please forgive me for the times I stumble and fall on my face, the times I am not faithful, the times I cause stumbling. Thank You for always convicting me and straightening me back out. I am a constant work in progress, but you always prove to be faithful in Your love for me.

Thank You.

VICTORY in Jesus

A lot has been going on in my life the past two and a half years

two names stand out

Jesus and Molli

I have grown so much closer to Jesus since Molli entered my world and I am so thankful to be able to see and feel the Lord's love and blessing every single day!

It has been a pretty rough and tough season.. but by staying faithful to the Lord and being persistent in my pursuit of Him while trying to raise a two year old with physical delays due to Spina Bifida- I have been able to find JOY in the midst of heartache.

Molli walks now.. by the way. Not independently-yet.. but all she has to do is hold on to my fingers for balance support.

We had quite an eventful day! She walked all the way through Brookshires to the bakery to get a cookie and the baker man was so happy for her- he gave her a butterfly ring!

THEN.. she walked into Grammy's house for the first time ever! Grammy was happy to see her!

This verse in this old hymn always stood out to me.. now even more so:

I heard about His healing, Of His cleansing pow'r revealing. How He made the lame to walk again And caused the blind to see; And then I cried, "Dear Jesus, Come and heal my broken spirit," And somehow Jesus came and bro't To me the victory.

Amen and AMEN

Spare the rod.. Spoil the Child.

No. This isn't about child abuse.

Although I do believe in spanking.. this is not about me spanking my child.

It's about God "spanking" HIS.

And that child would be me.


Yesterday, at Sunday School, we were in Romans and James and we were discussing why we judge, why we gossip, and how wrong we are to do those things and why.

*SMACK!*

Romans 14:1
Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.

SMACK!

Romans 14:4
Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

SMACK!

Romans 14:10
You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister[a]? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.

SMACK SMACK!

Yeah.. my head was reeling and my heart was pounding out of my chest.
Conviction. Conviction. Conviction.

BUT, with conviction, thanksgiving soon follows.

This morning, while praying and reading my bible in my car, God sent me to read out of Hebrews.

Hebrews 12:4-8
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.


WOW!!

I am so thankful for the spiritual "spanking" I received yesterday for two reasons:
1.) I needed to get my heart right and needed to know I was wrong.
2.) Confirmation. God IS listening and watching.. and I AM HIS CHILD.

I love Jesus.. Don't you?

Jesus is Calling..

Sunday morning's message at church hit home.

I need to stop worrying about my husband, my family, and friends- and start focusing on my own relationship with Jesus. How often do they see Jesus in me that justifies me being bothered in not seeing Jesus in them? Not often enough, I am afraid.

If I put half the energy I use worrying over them back into working on my staying faithful to Him- I might start to see changes in those around me.

I was starting to go to bed a little while ago, but I felt the Spirit really tugging at me to go read my Jesus Calling- RIGHT THEN. So I went and prayed over it, acknowledged His voice, and began reading. I read of how important it was for me to get back into my early morning routine of seeking Him before I do anything else. And then I was reminded of the joy that I had in Him when I was faithfully committed to having quiet time with Him every early morning. So pretty much what I am saying is, He has been calling for my full attention again- and He has finally got it back. The passage in today's Jesus Calling says, "When you seek My Face in response to My Love-call, both of us are blessed."

I am so sorry for the times that I fail You, Lord.

*sigh*

Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,

1 Peter 3:1


I have been crying, and praying, and stressing out over my husbands spiritual leadership skills (or lack thereof). A week or so ago, God gave me this verse.

Perhaps I should just suck it up and do what HE says, huh?

All that matters is..

I haven't blogged in a few months. I'll admit, I've been kinda going through a drought of my own.. But am very appreciative in God's work that He has done on my heart here lately while i've been "walking through the valley".
I've been thinking about blogging, but wanted to blog when I had peace. Well, friends, I have found that peace! haha!
Fast forward to two years ago this time- I was SUFFERING (spiritually)! My faith dangled on a thread every time I watched T.V. or heard some sort of "Doomsday Prophecy". I was terrified- but looking back, I was more terrified in the thought that there was a chance that I had faith-issues. Anyways, God has really used these past two years to open up my eyes and heal my ever-wandering heart. I prayed that prayer EVERY TIME those thoughts crossed my mind. I am so happy and blessed today to (sit) here and say that I am not afraid anymore. I have grown closer to the Lord through prayer and reading His Word.. and now when I see this world unraveling and hear all of the "end times" talk- I am very THANKFUL! This may seem weird, but what is going on in the world actually makes the scriptures VERY REAL to me- and I find Joy in that because I know Jesus is coming soon! You all may think I'm crazy but that's just something I've been wanting to get off my chest. I guess you can say that I've been feeling a bit homesick. I don't care that my yard is yellow and crispy- This is expected- I am patiently waiting on Jesus and I am so happy that He has roped me in once again! He is so faithful.
Oh yeah, as I was cleaning my house, this song came on my iPhone- Lyrics went great with how I have been feeling! :-)


I may never be the one that gets a second glance
I may never be the one they call the prettiest
But that’s alright with me

And maybe I don’t follow every crazy passion
Spend all my time trying to get a good reaction
But that’s ok with me

This world is like a trampoline
High and low no in between
Jumping at the chance to please
Everyone but that’s not me

Cause all that matters is
All that matters is
I know your love has set me free
And that’s all that matters to me

Cause all that matters is
All that matters is
I know your love has set me free
And that’s all that matters to me

Some people tell me to step out and do my own thing
And others say I got to blend in just to be the same
And stop being me

But this shallow world is no longer what I’m made of
I’ve been changed by grace
I’ve been saved by love
What more do I need

*All that matters is
All that matters is
I know your love has set me free
And that’s all that matters to me (x2)*

My life comes from the One
Who made the stars and brought the sun
He loves me more than these
So I don’t need another identity

Cause all that matters is
All that matters is
I know your love has set me free
And that’s all that matters to me (X2)