I'm Back...

WOW, it’s been awhile since I sat down to blog….I barely have had time to read blogs. I have been extremely busy the past several weeks. I am very privileged to be able to work at the church which allows me to take off with the school holidays. For that, I am very grateful. We got 2 weeks off. Thanks Pastor! During that time off I got to spend a lot of time with my girls, Christmas shop, cook & try new recipes, attend Christmas parties, spend time with family….etc….however, this year during my time off I set an unusual goal…I wanted to have my 2 year old potty trained by the time we went back to school. I am proud to say that goal was accomplished!!!! YEAH Ashlynn!!!

I had a wonderful Christmas as well. Spending time with family, friends and shopping was some of the highlights but one of my Christmas wishes came true…..I got to talk to my dad. This is huge! This is kind of complicated to explain but needless to say I was truly excited.

So Christmas is over and now it’s time to plan a new year. I had been thinking during the holidays what I wanted to accomplish this year and I came up with a few simple goals…
- Let my nails grow
- Drink more water
- Exercise more
- Read the Bible through
- Have a more powerful prayer life

See, I told you those were simple…but the other day I was packing up all my Christmas décor and I started thinking about how loving, caring & giving this season has been. I’ve seen it in my family, at the church and friends. So as I packed, I decided I didn’t want to pack up the meaning of Christmas….JESUS….I want to continue to love like He loves, care for others like He cares, & give to others like He gives to us. I want to evermore make it a goal, an endeavor to be a part of my daily life.

Bro. Smith taught a lesson about this one Wednesday night last year… (I want to add this to my list of goals as well)

The 7 Up's

- WAKE UP - Begin the day with the Lord.
This is the day the Lord hath made, rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24

- DRESS-UP - Put on a smile. It makes you look better.
Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature, because I have refused him, for the Lord seeth no as man seeth, for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. 1 Sam 16:7

- SHUT-UP – God gave us two ears and one mouth. We should listen twice as much as we talk. Don't gossip. Say nice things. Learn to listen.
He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life, but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. Proverbs 13:3 A gossip betrays a confidence, so avoid a man who talks to much. Proverbs 20:19 NIV

- STAND-UP – He that stands for nothing will fall for anything. Take a stand for what you believe. And Let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. Galatians 6:9-10

- LOOK-UP - Open your eyes to the Lord.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

- REACH-UP - Spend time in prayer for all your fears.
Trust in the Lord with all thine hear, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

- LIFT-UP – Exalt & Magnify the King of Kings!
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me. John 12:32

We have been extremely busy in the office this week. Catching up on two weeks of missed work, planning for a new year, cleaning out closets….etc.
We have our leadership meeting this Saturday and I’m pumped…..it’s going to be AWESOME. I can’t wait for the challenge. I love new challenges. I happen to know what Pastor is going to teach…I won’t spill the beans….but it is going to be good.

Well, now that I have caught up in the blog world, I will leave you with this…

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.
A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A baseball in my hands is worth about $6.
A baseball in Roger Clemens' hands is worth $475 million.
It depends on whose hands it's in.

A tennis racket is useless in my hands.
A tennis racket in Andre Agassi's hands is worth millions.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A rod in my hands will keep away an angry dog.
A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A slingshot in my hands is a kid's toy.
A slingshot in David's hand is a mighty weapon.
It depends whose hands it's in.

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in Jesus' hands will feed thousands.
It depends whose hands it's in.

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.
Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will
Produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends whose hands it's in.

So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God's hands because... It depends whose hands it's in.

Can't Wait...

I just can't wait until church tonight....

I need strenght...

I need to be refreshed & refueled...

I love this time of year....however it very tiring with all the rush, rush, rush to get ALL your shopping done, attend all the parties and still make sure your home is clean. If you are like me it is so easy for things to pile up or get out of place when your going, going, going....BUT at the same time it drives me crazy for things to be out of place or undone....soooooooooooooooooooooo hence me feeling a bit tired today....

This is what tired looks like or lets just say how I feel today......but I know I will feel MUCHO better after being in HIS presence...

A Christmas Funny...

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas...

Today it started snowing in Conroe around 3:30 or 4:00pm....it was still snowing on my way to church tonight....still snowing on my way home.....how awesome.....especially in Conroe.

After taking some pictures we came in the house and sat by the fire while our taco soup was warming.....

Enjoy the pics....

STRANGE

Isn’t it STRANGE how a $20 dollar bill seems like such a large amount when you donate it to the church,
But such a small amount when you go shopping?

Isn’t it STRANGE how 2 hours seem so long when you’re at church
And how short they seem when you’re watching a good movie?

Isn’t it STRANGE that you can’t find a word to say when you’re praying
But you have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend?

Isn’t it STRANGE how difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Bible
But how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel?

Isn’t it STRANGE how everyone wants front row tickets to concerts or games
But they do whatever possible to sit at the last row in church?

Isn’t it STRANGE how we need to know about an event for church 2-3 weeks before the day so we can include it in our agenda,
But we can adjust our agenda for other events in the last minute?

Isn’t it STRANGE how difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others;
But how easy it is to learn, understand and repeat gossip?

Isn’t it STRANGE how we believe everything that magazines and newspapers say
But we question the words in the Bible?

Isn’t it STRANGE how everyone wants a place in Heaven
But they don’t want to believe, do, or say anything to get there?

Where’s Your Faith?

This evening we had a little episode with our oldest child and it prompted this thought…I hope it helps you as it has me.

Murmuring or complaining is one of those sins that are overlooked. Sometimes we get so focused on the “big sins” such as murder and adultery that we overlook this sin. This sin killed thousands of Israelites!

We can read how the Israelites who were desperately thirsty looked only at the fact that the water they had come to was bitter and undrinkable. And so they murmured against Moses. But honestly they were really murmuring against God.

So often just like the Israelites we focus on our desperate situation with our physical eyes and not with eyes of faith and then fall into the trap of complaining. We actually hinder the Lord’s answers to our problems by unbelief…which leads to the sin of murmuring!

Let’s not allow this sin to easily become a stronghold! The same wonder working God that led the children of Israel out of Egypt, is still at work today, but are we hindering Him? If we are grumbling and complaining, the answer is, “YES”!

And so, until we stop, we are missing out on His answers and blessings which are waiting on our faith in Him! Lord help me to trust You…tonight as I put my daughter to bed I prayed that she can see my faith & trust in the Lord. I prayed that I can be an example to her and to teach her that sin is sin no matter how big or small. It is easier to complain about something or have unbelief but it is more powerful to trust, have faith and believe.

Freedom