At loss for words....

I know I haven't posted in a while, it has been a crazy busy couple of weeks but this afternoon I have been thinking a lot.... in this little community that we live in so many have gone to their eternal home since the new year has started. It honestly feels like it's one right after another. My heart is breaking for so many of my family and friends. Then I wake up this morning to find out that a dear man that my husband looked up to, a strong and faithful, Godly man from our church family passed away. He is no longer in the constant pain that he has been in in this world and I have no doubt that he has a perfect, new and beautiful body as he is walking around on streets of gold with the Savior. Please pray for strength for his wife and family and our church family as a body as well, may our bond grow even strong as we love his wife and hold her close with loving arms.
 

Romans 10:13

Verse Concepts

for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Accepting-Christ#sthash.GGGXwcdh.dpuf

for "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" Romans 10:13

You believe that here is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder. James 2:19

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say,  "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." James 4:14-15

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6

As I re-evaluate somethings in my life....

This weekend I have been re-evaluating some things in life. I feel like my focus is in a better place now than it has been in years. But somethings just aren't where they need to be. Sometimes we have to make tough decisions and sometimes those decisions are made for us. This weekend I have had a lot of conversations with God telling him my fears and my concerns and this verse just keeps coming back to me. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11. And I have to let go, I gave to him to Him to control. I also know that if He is the center of my everything, everything will fall into place if I am willing to follow accordingly.

This song hit the spot this weekend. It truly is the prayer for my life.
Be the center, be my source, be my light, be my hope, be the fire in my heart, be the wind in my sails, be the reason that I live, be my vision, be my help and be my guide.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QlbKD-gZvk



Jesus be the center
Be my source be my light Jesus
Jesus be the center
Be my hope
Be my song Jesus

Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in my sails
Be the reason that I live
Jesus, Jesus

Jesus be my vision
Be my help
Be my guide Jesus

We all have to go from darkness to light.....

Many of us go through stages of life that are in darkness. But at some point we have to/need to come out of the dark and step into the light. This may be one of the hardest steps we take in our lives and sometimes, many times it is just a leap of faith. Taking that leap though will make you stronger, happier and maybe even healthier. We live in a world filled with darkness, SO many different kinds of darkness and we NEED the light. Darkness is different for everyone, dealing with darkness is different for everyone and coming out of darkness is different for everyone. Sometimes it's a small step but sometime it's huge leap. Whatever it is for you once you've stepped into the light don't look back, keep reaching and thriving for the light. We will still come to and go through darkness but not matter what comes our way we always have a light at the end of the tunnel. Let your light shine so that others my see THE one and only light!


Acts 26:18
to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who were sanctified by faith in me.

Psalm 18:28
You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.

Psalm 119:105
Your word is lamp unto my feet and light unto my path.

Have you ever payed it forward.....

Have you ever heard the term Pay it Forward? If not here is the Urban Dictionary definition.

 

Pay It Forward

A phrase used to imply or otherwise act upon the action in which one would perform a deed of good service onto, for, or in the favor of another person or group of persons with the sound intentions that the only thing they do in return is to perform a deed of good service onto, for, or in the favor of another person or group of persons where in which they should maintain the same sound intentions of the individual or group who performed a good deed unto them. This method of kindness is infallible unless met with a person of great greed and/or immaturity.

 

So basically you do something good/nice for someone and they pass it on and do something for someone else and the pattern continues. 

 

Last year I did a facebook new years resolution thing that was kind of similar and basically I had 24 people that I was suppose to do something nice for such as make something homemade, send a note or buy them a chocolate bar. Needless to say I failed miserably! So if you were one of those people that I failed I am apologizing now!

I have made it my personal goal to do more random acts of kindness this year. I am not setting any goals or expectations but just to do what my heart sees fit. I have already done a few this year and it feels great! I have a few more in mind also. I really want to pay for someone in the drive through behind me sometime I just never think of it while I am there. 

So my challenge to you is to think of others a little more often than you do now. But not to do it for selfish reasons do it out of the goodness of your heart. Who knows who you will bless.

Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

52 week money challenge....

   We have officially start the 52 week money challenge. I am really excited about this and really hope that I can stick with it. I am not very good at things like this so thankfully I have my husband to help me! It sure will pay off around Christmas time! I will attach a picture of the chart for you so you can do it too if you would like. A couple of other ways that I have ready that it can be done is that you can with the amount on week 52 and work you way backwards that way you are putting less in each week instead of more. Or you can do $26.50 every week for 52 weeks totally up to you and what your budget will allow. Hope you find this helpful, love to you all!

Sometimes I think I'm turning into my Dad.....

        I was only my way home from Wal-Mart today and I was looking out at all the snow. Yes it is freezing outside but I couldn't help but think how beautiful it was. Now I want you to know this is probably the first time in my life that I have ever thought snow was beautiful. I started thinking about how there was a blanket of snow everywhere or pile here and there but in reality it is tremendous amounts of perfect, single and unique snowflakes. These snowflakes are just like each and everyone of us in this crazy, busy, constant and beautiful world of ours. Each one of us are talented in our ways, ways we may not know and have yet to discover. But when you discover that talent USE it don't let it sit there on the shelf and use it to glory of God and you will be blessed and the world will be blessed.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God 1 Corinthians 10:31

Reading is good for the soul...

   So as I am preparing to be the speaker for our woman's retreat in March I am super excited and super nervous but preparing has lead me in so many directions. One direction was that I came across this book. I am only in Chapter 3 but I love it so far. It has already inspired me and I am looking forward to that continuing.  The Book is called "Women Living Well" by Courntey Joseph. I downloaded it on my kindle so it's great to be able to pop it open on my phone and read a page or two at a time. I haven't had the time to really sit down and read much all at once but that's ok because it gives me more time to reflect on what I have read.

Here is the Link and you can look inside the book for a preview.  Hope you enjoy as I have!

http://www.amazon.com/Women-Living-Well-Find-Your-ebook/dp/B00C5QA2VO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389158262&sr=8-1&keywords=Women+Living+Well


Love to you all!

Stressfull days....

    I don't know about you but it's been kind of a crazy day around here. We've been doing lots of cleaning and rearranging around the house. Unfortunately today has also been one of those days where I feel like I have yelled and been angry way more than I should. I should be patient and clam with my children no matter what the circumstance. I am challenging myself not to yell this week and to be slow to anger and love them kindness and patience.  Please pray for me this week ;) especially as we continue to have snow days.  

James 1:19-20
This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

Now we are all hanging out in the kitchen, the kids are all on their nooks and I am making dinner. We are blaring songs on the computer and all singing together. THESE are the moments I live for.....



Love to you all!

     Encouraging thought for the day....

         What is Grace? Grace is one of my favorite words. It is a word that means everything to me. What is Grace? Grace is something that we are given when in reality we deserve much worse. Grace is an unmerited, undeserved gift from God. Not one single person deserves this gift of grace but it is freely given. It is our choice however to receive this amazing gift that God gives us abundantly. 

Ephesians2:4-9 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yoursleves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. 


The grace of God will never take you where the grace of God can not cover you.  Remember this and that God is always there to cover us in His grace and mercy but we must be willing to genuinely call on and seek Him. 


Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask and it will be given unto you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be open to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be open."


Not only are we called to receive grace we are also called give grace. Though at times it may be difficult to even consider giving someone grace and mercy that is the noble and Christlike thing to do.


Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 


I just want to leave you with this simple thought. May you see God's grace and mercy in the days to come and may you also give in return as you have received.

Love to you all!

New Years Resolution

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship." Romans 12:1 As the new year is here many people are making resolutions with good intentions but they more than likely will not stick to. This year my resolution is a little different and I urge you to strive for the same.... Take your everyday ordinary life, your sleeping, eating, going to school, going to work everyday life and place it as an offering to God. The more we seek God the more the world will SEE God. God bless you all as this new year begins Love to you all!