just some poetic thoughts.....

Seated in heavenly places,
seated next to the king of kings,
He saw all the faces,
He hears the angeels who sings,
He willingly stepped from glory,
He willingly thought of me,
this is the age old story,
where death would be the key.



finished
a word clearly spoken,
the end,
a completed mission,
a task accomplished,
it is finished,
Death, pain, suffering, was the method
it was finished,
death pain suffering, is what is finished.
on one single cross
love met with suffering
in one last breath
death and eternity colide
the bridge
the arrival of the end,
the end of the beginning,
the beginning of eternity.
the world behind,
the cross,
my eternity before.

in awe today

Psalm 73:24-26

New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁴ You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.

²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
²⁶ My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

I am so blessed! God is doing some amazing things and I am so excited to see what He is doing, and how He is working in our lives! Things are going amazingly because God is putting everything in place! We have seen some not so good times, but God is turning everything around all for HIS glory! Not ours! and it just keeps us in awe of Him!!! We are so excited with life, and what God is doing! It is nothing that we are doing, it is all Him! He is opening doors miraculously  and we are just walking in what He has! We are just being obedient to what He is leading us to do, and He is just making things happen! Thank you God for what you are doing! We pray that the Holy Spirit would just keep leading us and directing us, and using us and that we would just continue to be obedient and stick right where God has us, right in the middle of His will! Please be praying for us as the doors are opening! My husband has an amazing opportunity to be a speaker in Venezuela at a country wide youth convention! Pray that these kids will experience God in a new way, and that they will be set on fire for Him and what God has for them! We are just in awe of God! We truly are blessed beyond imagination! Not because of us it has all to do with GOD! 

couple things....

I have to quickly stop my cleaning and write something. I have to say, I do my best thinking and praying when I am cleaning lol. So I was thinking....
I think that many churches just don't do it the way they should. lol OK, now let me explain... I didn't say all, but some. We were with a denomination before we went non-denomination. We were taught many different techniques, and methods on how to grow a church. We were taught if you do A then add B and then do a bit of C that you would = growth.... Well, I think many people learn these methods or different new techniques that come up and try them and then they fail, the church doesn't grow, the pastor is discouraged and then, they hit the next "church fad" that comes up and try it and so on.... I have to say, that I am pretty sure we have tried this when we were younger and some can be helpful in different ways, but honestly nothing is going to grow the church unless GOD IS THERE! Unless God is SHOWING UP AND MAKING HIS PRESENCE KNOWING! and we as the church ARE ALLOWING HIM TO COME AND HAVE HIS WAY AND CHANGE US! We don't need the newest thing that every church is trying, we need to do what God has called each of us to do! We all have different skills, talents, gifts.... He wants you to use them, but to rely on Him. We need to love the people, teach them God's word, and let the Holy Spirit move in our services. As pastors we need to lead and love the people. We are to love the people how Christ loves the church. Methods come and go, but Gods power lasts!!! Seek God in your churches! Seek His presence in your services! Do what HE has called YOU to do and He will grow His church. RELY ON HIM!!!!

On a side note. I had a great night last night spending time with our pastor and his wife. He is just a great man, has so much wisdom, and great stories! His wife is amazing too! We love them both so much! It is great just to sit and learn and absorb from them! They have been in ministry a long time and have great knowledge. God has been with them and led them through many hard times, and they never once left their call! I have so much love and respect for these two people. I loved that we ended the night in prayer and that God would just move in a new way. I know that my life has been blessed by these two people! I am excited to see what God has for us, and where God is leading us! I know that the wisdom that we gain in this time will help shape us in many ways! Glory be to God! He knows what and who we need in our lives and then provides it! I have personally been praying for this kind of relationship in my life personally and I am so blessed to have found it in these two people! They are our spiritual parents and just a blessing to us!!!

Philippians 4:6  "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."

Worry:

Verb Give way to anxiety or unease; allow one's mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles.

Noun A state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems. Worry.... we all have been susceptible to this. We can worry about work, we can worry about finances, we can worry about relationships, we can worry about things that haven't happened but that "could"... In the Bible time and time again it says "don't worry!!" plain and simple.... We can say ok, i just wont worry... but then we do.... how do we get around NOT worrying??? I have been really evaluating our family and what we should do this coming year, and really have been worrying about it. I have finally come to a peace about it. and if feels good. I have allowed God to put my mind at rest and rest in the fact that I am doing what is best for my family. I would love to say that I can do it all and actually be able to think that is truth... but right now, it is overwhelming.... So I have come to the conclusion that maybe what I would think is best just isn't at the time. We all have to follow God's leading, and I really think that this is a conclusion that will be best for now. Might change later but for now, it is what it is. I am allowing God to use this to teach me, that I cant do it all at times, and to follow where He leads instead of being influenced by what other christian families do. When we let God lead in every area, no matter what, He gets the victory, and He will bring  us to where he wants us! Pray about everything, Tell God what you need, and then thank him for all He is and has done! I know that this life totally belongs to Him no matter what we go through! God is leading us to where He wants us and I will follow and love where He brings us because I know that He has great things for this family! I will rest in that and NOT worry!

walking or sinking.....

We are going over "if you want to walk on water, you've got to get out of the Boat". It is a great book and suggest it to everyone. Going through the lessons of it is really good too. It makes you think about what areas you need to trust God more, and how to "get out of the boat" or our of your comfort zone and truly trust God!
If you think about the story, and what is happening, it can speak volumes about life. What happened here?
Well, Jesus sent the disciples in the boat across the water. A big storm comes up and Jesus walks on the water  to the boat. Peters says "Lord if that is you, let me walk on the water to you". Jesus says come! He gets onto the water and walks some, then looks at the waves and sees the storm, and starts to sink. Jesus pulls him back up and they both get into the boat.
Why is this amazing? Is he a failure? Some would say, yeah, Peter failed. He took His eyes off Jesus and sank! I have to say no. I don't think that Peter was a failure. I think that he took a step of faith and learned through some circumstances. He got out of the boat! He walked on the water! and when He started to sink, He looked to Jesus to help him back up! Sometimes when we head down a road a failure or of sin, we keep down that trail. We think we are too far gone, and nothing can get us back on track. Well, God can pull us out of any situation that we find our self in! He can save us and pull us out of that pit! It is only God who can do this at times, but we have to turn to Him and let Him! Peter did this! He experienced walking on the water! amazing! and He is the only one who can say that. Even though he sank, he learned a valuable lesson of trusting Jesus and NOT taking our eyes off of HIM!!! It was when Peter took his eyes of Jesus that He sank! WOW that is an amazing thought! NEVER take your eyes off of God and let something else take your attention! That is when you sink! That is when you can get your self into trouble! It is when we have our eyes fixed on HIM that we can get out of the boat and walk on water when Jesus bids us to come to him! I choose to keep my eyes fixed on HIM! Things may come up, struggles may come, satan may throw things at me, but I choose to keep my attention and eyes on GOD!!! No matter what happens in this life, I know that my hope is not here in this world, it is in GOD and what He has for eternity. Only the things done for eternity will last, everything else will fade away! NEVER take your eyes off of HIM! This story hits home, I have been there, I found myself sinking, because I took my eyes off of HIM! but when I turned my attention and my all back over to HIM I rose out of that pit, I rose out of that stormy sea and I found myself walking on the water with God again!

Give it up!!!

I have to say, that I have been really focusing on God and just trying to line up my entire life to His word, His will, and how He would have me live. I think that bringing God into every area of life is important because that is where He wants to be: first! And when God is first in our lives, we let Him take control over every area of our lives! When we are second, our will becomes secondary to His will! We need to bring Him into every area! There has always been an area that I have struggled with, and I think many do. It is an area you wouldn't normally think that you have to give it to God, but it is a huge area, and if misused can hurt and harm more than do good. It is eating. I have never really given it to God, and this is an area that I struggle with on a daily basis. It is an area that we definitely need to bring God into it! I have struggled through this issue and I know that It is important to give it to HIM! This goes for any area that you might find your self struggling with. It is when we give it to God and let Him take it that we will find victory over it! There are many things that can take control of us in our lives and for me, food has been it. It is something that we need but something that if misused can consume you. I have decided to give it to God and just like any other struggle it might not be easy, but I need to keep on giving it to him and realize the purpose for it! It is for health and nutrition! We need the good healthy things in life to keep our temples clean and up and running, but the bad things that we put in it can pollute it and make it not work right! So here is to giving our struggles to HIM! Whatever it may be!!!!!  The verse that comes to mind is that our bodies are a temple of God. How are we treating God's house (our bodies)? are we polluting the house, and hording the bad things and not leaving room for God. Or are we putting the good things in it so that we are clean and working right so that "we may live long in the land the Lord has given us"?
QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT?
What struggles are you facing?
have you given it to God?
Are there some verses that you can find to get you through your situation/circumstances?
Think about your life, is there any area that you are putting above God?

Ephesians 3:17-21

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

I read this portion of scripture today, and I was filled with love and joy and hope! I love the word, and how God speaks through it at the right time. God likes to remind us of things right in time. I saw the one verse and I just wanted to read the verses around it, so I opened up and read these verses and I was overwhelmed! I was overwhelmed with God and His love! It was in that moment that I knew God was there, and it was the perfect reminder again, that what we see isn't what we are living for. At times we can feel very overcome and overwhelmed by all that life throws at us, but God has a way of putting everything into perspective again! It is so hard for us humans to truly grasp just how much God loves us... And when we get a glimpse of that we truly can be overcome by God and it can really open our eyes to a new way of thinking and a new sight on life! Gods way of thinking and seeing things! There is so much to God and to really be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God, is such an incredible thing to think about! God wants to fill His people and He wants to show us His amazing love, and fill us to overflowing so that we can witness, and do signs and wonders so that people would come to know the saving power of God! God can do more than we can ever think or imagine! And He wants to! Let Him love on you, let Him fill you! Enter into His presence  let GO of all that hinders and give it all to God! Enter into His holy presence and get close to the Almighty God!!! Love on Him as He loves on you! 
As I sit here listening to worship music and praying.... I am just lost in the want and need for HIM! We all need more of God! I want to know His love, this love that surpasses knowledge! It cant be explained! It can only come by faith in God and giving everything to Him! As we draw closer to Him, he will draw closer to us! Dive into Him today! Hunger and thirst for HIM! He is worth it!!! An amazing relationship with God is worth it! A time in His presence is worth it! A time lost in worshiping HIM is worth it! Make that time to meet with The Holy one! You will never be disappointed!!!!!!  

I have to say, that things have been going well. God has been moving, and things have been good! Things have changed a bit and there has been different things that we all have to get used to again. For example I am not working in the mornings anymore, and that is a change, and the kids have more expected of them and more during the day that is expected for school work as well. I get to concentrate on schooling, and the motherly, wifely and household chores more. Which I have to say is nice, because working and then doing all that or trying to do all that wasn't easy! Church is going really well, and we had a great winter youth retreat and God moved on the hearts of the youth. We went to another church and my husband preached there and God moved and there was a great time at the altar as well! God is doing great things! When we put our focus on HIM and not on the worldly things around us God moves!!!
While all this good stuff is going on Satan doesn't like it. We went from a not so great place to a place where God wants us, and where God is making us thrive! It isn't our doing, but it is because we placed our focus on Him, the things that He has for us, and we were obedient in the things that He told us! But while this good is going on, I know that the enemy isn't happy that we are in a great place. He wants to bring us back down. It is about keeping that focus on God right now. The enemy isn't happy and wants us down and will try and throw us back off track but if we keep focused on God the enemy wont stand a chance! I have been feeling the attacks lately, and the things that satan tries to bring up to get my focus off of God! But I choose to ignore those things that He is trying to bring up, and I choose to keep focused on God through it all! I want my life to be a life of faith and standing strong for God! Yes things happened in the past but God has brought us out of that past and into the bright future that HE has for us! We will walk in that!
I will end with some verses! I love to end in scripture! I hope they are food to your soul!! And life to your body!

Colossians 3:2 ESV / 331 helpful votes

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Psalm 1:1-6 ESV / 195 helpful votes

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; ...

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 164 helpful votes

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV / 153 helpful votes

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Romans 8:5 ESV / 138 helpful votes

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

Matthew 6:24 ESV / 127 helpful votes

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

1 Peter 3:17 ESV / 98 helpful votes

For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / 80 helpful votes

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 71 helpful votes

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV / 68 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Proverbs 4:25 ESV / 66 helpful votes

Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV / 61 helpful votes

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

blessed

I have to say, life has not always been easy. At times, I can say, life has been hard! There has been much we had to get through and much we had to learn and overcome before we got to where we are right now! I know that I have always been blessed, I know that God always had a plan, but sometimes life can throw us off, and try and knock us down. But God keeps picking us back up! He has never left us or forsaken us! He is there and will always love us! I want to share my story of this blessed life! We all have a blessed life, but sometimes it is just hard to see it! I have always believed in God, but over the years God has been refining  me and the relationship I have with Him! I am blessed to be where I am today. I know that my God is there and I KNOW that no matter what we go through in this life, there is something that God is doing to turn things around for my Good! I have learned that not all things in life are good, but God can turn it around for His glory!!! Stay tuned, more to come! I leave you with a couple verses! Keep your eyes, and hearts fixed on HIM!!!

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 4:25

Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.