Mighty Waters

Good morning! How are you today? Are you doing well? :)

As most of you precious friends know, Kenn and I were planning on spending about five months in Oregon; God's been working in Kenn's heart, however, and he is SUPER homesick. I'm home for a couple of weeks because of needing insulin.

God was speaking to me the day I took this photo, but I didn't clearly hear what He was saying until I was at church Sunday, and Pastor Barbie was speaking about dehydration. (If you want to hear the teaching, please click here!) It was a wonderful teaching - and while she was explaining the way God teaches us about spiritual things is through His creation many times, things CLICKED in my brain. :D

So. His Word is water - water for our souls, for our cleansing, to drench our thirst. We know it, but is it still just in our brains, or has it made its way to our HEART knowledge, too? I'm afraid it hasn't for many of us - or it keeps going back and forth. :)

That's the way I am. I thirst for His Word, then life happens - and I allow it to distract me. And then it takes a LOT of discipline to get back to where I'm thirsty again. And I really hate that cycle.

Now, on to what God showed me! :) If you can stand to watch this wiggly home video (I think the first couple of seconds are the worst!) I shot on the beach, it shows pretty well what I'm trying to explain:

Ocean erosion

See, I'm the rock. I'm very set in my ways, not going anywhere, resisting everything - even if I don't realize it. My heart is seemingly made of stone.

What can change me? The water.

As you can see, the waves are never-ending. They continually beat on the shore - and if that's rock, that's fine. They crash in places, sending up great BOOMS as the water disperses into the air. And it doesn't look like anything happens to the rock.

But it does! And although I may not be able to see the change taking place in a day, or even a week, I can tell you from my many times visiting this place (This is our favorite place we've ever found together, Yachats, OR.) that the breaking up of the rocks, the changing of the landscape, is really happening quickly. It's surprised me how quickly, actually; the volcanic rock looks and feels SO solid, but in only 15 years, I've seen HUGE rocks reduced to small chunks by the ocean.

The water is relentless. It is steady. And it is altering everything in its path in one way or another.

This new cave formation simply fascinated me. SO much energy is being created in its formation.

I have more to share. But I think this is enough to chew on for a bit. :)

Please let me know if you have comments, questions, or prayer requests!! I miss you guys! :) BE BLESSED, dear ones!!!!

Permissible? Yes. But is it BENEFICIAL?

Hello, dear friends! How is your new year going? Can you believe this is the last full week of January?

There's something weighing heavily on my heart that I need to share. I'm going to share briefly how I feel about a specific subject, then give you two things I really hope you'll read.

There's yet another subject that has caused people to have knee-jerk reactions in our country: gun control. Now, I'm not taking sides. I'm sharing what I feel, in my heart. But I want to share something that I recently experienced....

Some of you know that Kenn and I did a show a couple of weeks ago; it was written by a friend, Frank Fox, as a follow-up to another show he'd written. The first show was call PHISH CAMP, and the second GIL'S GIFT. Fun, lighthearted stuff. But I wasn't associated with the first play.

GIL'S GIFT had two different characters who had to use firearms. And because we couldn't find realistic-looking props in such a short amount of time, the director got the two grown men real firearms to use.

As stage manager, it was my job to make sure all the props got to where they needed to be. This SHOULD have included these firearms. But when I tried the first time we had them, I couldn't carry one of them twenty yards. When I picked it up, not only could I feel the physical weight of it, but also the responsibility weight associated with it. I mean, think about it: for what end purpose would you use a gun? You might go to the range to practice, but practice to do what? Use that deadly force against someone. Even though I had no intention of doing anything but carrying that firearm, in its holster, to another place to be given to someone else, I couldn't do it. I had to allow the firearms guy to be in charge of them completely - and he was fine with that. It's the first time I've not been able to do a part of my job. But it wasn't that I wouldn't. It was, indeed, that I could not.

My dad had a rifle in the house while I was growing up. He might still have it upstairs in his closet; I really don't know. Nor do I want to. If he feels he wants it, just in case, it's his RIGHT.

Yes. It is a RIGHT. But I'll stick with this Scripture:
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
~I Corinthians 10:23-24

The Message puts it this way:
Looking at it one way, you could say, “Anything goes. Because of God’s immense generosity and grace, we don’t have to dissect and scrutinize every action to see if it will pass muster.” But the point is not to just get by. We want to live well, but our foremost efforts should be to help others live well.

Please truly think about and pray about your stance. Don't just say what I've heard too many say - "It's my right, and no one's gonna stop me." We're supposed to do EVERYTHING for God's glory, dear friend. EVERYTHING. Please don't make an exception here. And if you feel led differently than I, then you follow what the Holy Spirit is telling YOU!

OK. I got that off my chest. :)

Now, then. To the two resources I'd LOVE you to check out:
My friend, Keith Giles.
 I think you'll love what he has to say. It will at LEAST make you think.
Prodigal Magazine
I absolutely LOVE this article. And it's what made me post this blog post; too many times, I throw up my hands because I don't believe people listen when it's a huge issue. But I have to still TRY. :)

OK, my friend. I hope you can hear my heart in this post. Even if you disagree with my position, the thing that I believe in more than anything in this post is that there's NO reason we can't agree to disagree, that unity in His Bride is more important than we realize and that we need to be able to love each other through anything! And if you want to dialogue, I'm here. And I love you. :)

From the Oregon Coast.... :D

Happy Sunday Evening!

I know it's been a while since I posted, and I do apologize. This problem with the banking is eating up my concentration - I'm really hoping to clear the remains up in the next two days....

ANYWAY. It's not QUITE Monday, but sharing about God and His awesome goodness, grace, and mercy should never have limits, should it? :)

We had a WONDERFUL day. We slept in - we went to see Encore Theatre Company's presentation of SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN last night - if you're in the greater Nashville area, you should DEFINITELY go check it out!!! Paula Fox directs, and they've prayed this show into an annointed effort. PRAISE GOD FOR GODLY THEATER PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES!!! They need your SUPPORT, dear ones - we are FEW and FAR BETWEEN!

ANYWAY. Wow, not sure where that came from!. :D Anyway. On our way to church, we talked about a lot of "hot topics" - well, Kenn did. :) Our old church and the way things happened there still bother him, and this banking thing means we're running out of funds to live on, and and and. :)

May I just say, GOD IS TOTALLY ALL I NEED?!?!?!?!?!

He spent the whole service affirming His sufficiency to us. We sing a lot of songs at our new church that I don't know, and one of them the chorus was, "When we're lifting up Jesus, we're putting demons down". :) The lyrics to the verses were awesome - I've requested them from the worship leader, so I'm hoping to be able to share them with you.

Anyway. The message about tithing was from Malachi, chapter 3 verses 10-11:

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,

That there may be food in My house,

And try Me now in this,”

Says the LORD of hosts,

“ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven

And pour out for you such blessing

That there will not be room enough to receive it.

“ And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,

So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,

Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”

Says the LORD of hosts;

(emphasis mine! :))

The cool thing is, we'd both pulled out our tithes already. :) With all the fnancial stuff going on this week, it would have been easy to justify not giving. But we really feel the pull these days!!!

So, anyway. He went on to talk about the historical context of this - the land was in a deep famine, and even though we NORMALLY interpret this to be Satan, it's really "the devourer". So, the things that seem to devour our resources - God will rebuke them FOR MY SAKE!!!!!!!!!!!! Hallelujah, what a GOD we serve!!!!!!!!!!! You KNOW I'm claiming that one!!! :)

The sermon was the last of the six-week series on HOLINESS. In a nutshell: we do not have to strive to be holy. We cannot MAKE ourselves holy. WE ARE HOLY. And instead of trying to prove it, we need to walk in it. As I Peter 1:13 says, "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed."

First, prepare. How very silly it is for us to not expect an attack daily. Pastor Ronnie was funny; he said, "It's like we get up in the morning, and think,'I think today Satan's taking a day off. He and some of his minions. I think I'm not going to have to worry about being attacked today.'" It IS silly, isn't it. Why do we not prepare ourselves first thing in the morning? For instance, our whole married life, Satan has attacked us in the financial area. It's certainly still happening! :D WHY do I expect anything different?

Next, show the Fruit of the Holy Spirit who resides in you!

HE WHO BEGAN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL BE FAITHFUL TO COMPLETE IT UPON THE DAY OF CHRIST JESUS!!! (Philippians 1:6)

God is SO good. Please don't stop praying for us - but know that God is much, much bigger than anything that I'm going through. Same for you, dear one. HE LOVES YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!

It's MONDAY! :D

Hello, dear friend! HOW ARE YOU??????????? Have you had a good LONG weekend??? What did you get to do?

Our Sunday was absolutely WONDERFUL again. :)

I had a hard time getting up, so it's a good thing that we go to the late service normally. :D But I'm looking forward to going to church every week! Believe it or not, I'm actually enjoying the long drives; it gives us a chance to catch up, and to be together. To hash things out, to laugh or to set things straight.

Church was WONDERFUL. We're on week 4 of the holiness series - I think servanthood is next, and that's a subject I really enjoy, so I can't wait! :D

ANYWAY. Pastor Ronnie spoke again this week. His text was Isaiah 6:1-8. "I saw the LORD...high and exalted." His reaction wasn't YIPPEE, aren't I special! :D It was "WOE UNTO ME!!!!!!!!! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips!!" In His presence, you don't look around and boast about how much better than someone else you are. You look at yourself - His perfectness and His light expose how DIRTY you are. I don't know about you - but I've felt that way during worship. I am SO unworthy to be in His presence - but HE MAKES ME CLEAN!!!!!!

All it took for Isaiah? An angel to touch his lips with a hot coal from the altar. It doesn't say it hurt, have you noticed? You know what I think (at this moment, anyway:D)? I think it DID, but NOTHING can overcome the overwhelming presence of the KING. There was so much more in the sermon, too - I can't even begin to fit it all in!!!!!! My heart overflows when I think of how much He loves me - so much that He sacrificed His Son so I could be in His presence!!!!

And you know what? The angel told him, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's what JESUS did!!!!!!!!

The next thing that happened?? God looks for someone who will go for "Us" to His people. Isaiah doesn't say, "I'm unworthy." Oh, NO. He's been ATONED! He says, "Here I am!!!! SEND ME!!!"

When God's love and redemption illuminates your heart, you don't spend precious time feeling unworthy. Oh, NO, dear one. You are equipped, THROUGH HIM, to go. GO!!!

And that is an INCREDIBLE segue to something I wanted to tell you about - thanks, God! :D

My dear friend, Kellsi, is in South Africa. She's a nursing student at Bellmont, and is an INCREDIBLE young person. They have a blog going for their trip; I'd really appreciate it if you'd visit, read, and encourage them with a comment! Most importantly, PRAY FOR THEM. They're in the middle of a dangerous area. So, GO HERE to read and thank God for these willing young people!!!

OK, so I'm still not caught up with everything I wanted to talk about, but I'm praying HARD about a subject I really feel the need to talk about. So, I'll be working on that the next couple of days.

Thank you for not giving up on me! :D I AM here, but this summer's been MUCH busier than I thought it was going to be - this week is SLAMMED, and my sweet baby sister is going to be here for a few days, too! :) HI, KELLI!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, I'm going to run now - I have to go update my other blog, teach a class tonight, and have dinner with my wonderful husband. OH! So, anyway, after church, we went to a Japanese restaurant and had California rolls and some yakitori for me, veggie tempura for him. :) Then, we stopped at Providence Marketplace on our way home, and used a coupon at Marble Slab Creamery (buy one, get one 1/2 off!) and had ice cream together. It was a WONDERFUL day! :D

Anyway. LOL!!!! YOU ARE BLESSED, dear one!! Oh, gosh, I just thought of another topic to blog about. I type about 75 wpm, but I just don't have the time in my days to tell you everything I wanna!:D

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!!!! They re all around you! Did your little one give you a kiss this morning? Did your husband say thank-you? Did you see a beautiful flower, or get a laugh from something you read? God is a God of the little things, too, dear one. Little things are the moments you'll remember tomorrow. LOOK.

It's MONDAY! :)

How are you? Have you had a good five days since I talked to you last? :) It's been SUPER-BUSY around here lately!!!!!! Wow, and I still need to talk about the Saturday after my birthday, and Father's Day, and what else I've been up to! Phew.

Well, it's going to have to wait - we shot a wedding out of town this weekend, and I actually RESTED last night, so I need to work on a class for tonight. :D When I get it done, I'll start catching up, I promise.

I LOVE OUR NEW CHURCH!!!! It is SO refreshing!! Kenn and I were talking on the way home yesterday about how things have worked out. You know, God moves sovereignly. Even in situations where things aren't done His way, He works. Like our old church situation. He gives us ways to get along with each other, to work out conflicts, etc - and I will be talking about some of that in the future :) - but in our case, it wasn't done His way.

How awesomely He's worked for us!!! We went to the Smyrna Assembly the first time, kind of as a way for Kenn to placate me. :D On a whim, let's say. But God has blessed us there immensely! And it's only been three weeks. Kenn's talked to the pastor; where they're not "on the same page", as one person asked me, they're FINE with not being there! As Kenn says, we're going to thrive there. It's going to be a little difficult to get to know people, since it's 45 minutes one way, but we're getting to "know" the people sitting around us, and the pastor came up yesterday and introduced himself to me.

The music is good, but it's the PEOPLE who truly touch me. Every person who's shared has had a humility, a transparency, and an obvious desire for God's presence. Every single person has shared from the Holy Word, and it's been like it's SUPPOSED to be - living, and active, and sharper than ANY 2-edged sword. Truth and purity can pierce, my friend, and I haven't felt that spoken into my own heart in a long time - longer than I realized.

GOD IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please pray for my friend, Lisa; she's due any MOMENT, and her mother-in-law died this weekend. They're in North Carolina for the funeral. Please pray for travelling mercies, birth mercies, and that she'll feel God's presence as she helps her husband deal with everything.

I'll be back when I get a chance - I have SO much to share with you! LOL!!!!!

God is good, ALL THE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God of the Second Chances

Today's photo taken by Kenn!

Poor Hosea. Called to share God's grief and woe over his love being unfaithful. God's nation had turned her back on Him yet again - and Hosea's wife did the same. God's nation had fallen in with loving other gods - Hosea's wife "loved" other men. They both felt anger, grief, and shame for their loved ones.

But they BOTH were willing to give their loved ones a second chance. A chance to return, and love and be loved as purely, as passionately, as boundlessly as the first time they were loved.

Two things jumped out at me from this verse selection today. First, how GREAT our God is, to continue to love us and want us to be His, even when we chase after all the carnal pleasures we think we want. It's absolutely amazing to me!

Second, how desperately WE need to be able to love this way. We're so afraid of being rejected, of not getting what WE need out of a relationship, of LOTS of things. God's put this example out there for us: second chances are NOT just FOR us, but are to be FROM us. Not the kind where we hold back, just because we've been hurt. The kind where we love as God loves us - and BECAUSE He loves us the way He does, we're able to love each other. Just the way it was when we first loved!

Please note: if you liked today's post, and would like to receive things like this in your emailbox every couple of days or so, please email me at pooh0612@aol.com. If you get tired of it, you can always remove yourself super-easily. :)

It's MONDAY!

And it's time to share about what you learned in Sunday school, church, or watching/listening to your program yesterday!

Yesterday was Graduation Sunday at our church; we had three high school graduates, and three college - I THINK. :) There were some sweet photos of some of the grads when they were little. Oh, the memories. I'm feeling a bit OLD today!!! :)

Our youth minister preached, and it was a good sermon! He talked about operating from the platform God has us on - using as his reference Nehemiah 8:4-6. He also tied it in to the sermon his preacher preached two weeks ago - giving what little you have to God, and allowing Him to use it. It was an encouraging, exhorting sermon - and Jerry should preach more often!!! :)

We arrived at Sunday School late; I'm fighting a sinus infection, and Kenn's allergies are really acting up, too. But we got there, and the lesson was on Life Changes - specifically, Jacob's relocation to Egypt where Joseph was.

I can't wait to hear from you! What did you learn yesterday? What is God saying to you TODAY????

Happy Thursday!

Good morning, dear friends! How are you today? It's rainy here today, kind of gloomy - the BEST kind of day for snuggling down into your bed and sleeping all day. :D Is that what I'm doing?

NO!!!! :) I've already taught one class today, and have another this evening - so I'm having to be alert and oriented. ;D

Please go read this post from Lysa:
http://lysaterkeurst.blogspot.com/2008/05/still-holding-hands.html

Now, come back and tell me: are you as CONVICTED by her post as I am? It's SO hard for me, in my relationship with Kenn, NOT to keep a record of wrongs. There are days when it all piles up, and I just want to scream ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then something comes along, like Lysa's post, and I am so convicted I can't sleep. Do you struggle with this in your relationship, too? Has anyone found an EASY way, or even a way that works for YOU, to forget those wrongs????? It's not even BIG ones that I have trouble with. It's all the LITTLE ones. LOL! As women, I really think this is something that is difficult for us. So, I'm asking you to pray for me. Talk to me; am I the only one who's struggling with keeping no record of wrongs?

Wow, am I TIRED....

This has been a LONG road! I'm enjoying the last evening free THIS week, and next week we only have TWO nights - we have FOUR SHOWS next weekend. PHEW. But it's been a great experience - and we got a GREAT review from a local newspaper, so I've been beaming all afternoon. :)

I worked hard yesterday, and today it's all I can do to think straight - so I'm trying not to feel guilty for not doing too much! :)

What are YOU girls up to? I know Becky's on vacation with her family, and won't be back for a few days - lucky thing. :)

So, what's God saying to you lately? I have been simply AMAZED this year at how He's brought the world back to life almost overnight! The pear trees blossomed BEFORE the forsythia this year - that's unheard of! The underbrush is getting green quickly, as are the littler trees - we have one little crabapple tree that's leafing, and starting to bloom rather prettily! His handiwork never ceases to amaze me.

What about you? What's going on in your world? Are you being blessed? Or are you walking through a trial right now? May I walk with you? I'd love to pray for you.... Please, share. I care, and it's an honor for me to lift you to the Throne!

HAPPY RESURRECTION WEEKEND!!!

God is SO good!! Enjoy your family, your worship, and your celebration of the greatest Gift ever given to man!

BACK TO NORMAL!! :D

Hi, everyone! I'm so sorry I've been MIA for so long; last week was difficult, with the family here AND things going on in real life. I am here now, so let's share! :)

Sunday shcool yesterday was about being faithful through hardships, using Jacob as an example. We talked about lessons you learn, etc., when walking through hardships.

Church was AWESOME! We had a Messianic Jewish pastor speak about Passover - his church is in Israel, or I know we'd be attending there! :D It was truly insightful, and he was passionate about Christ. We're getting the CD to listen to, because there was so MUCH meat to chew on we didn't get each piece in the first listening! :) His passage was Luke 12:12-19. If you'd like to read the passage, here's a link. :)

First of all, he said that the label for that passage is incorrect, because some of it has been mistranslated. He talked a bit about the festivals in Leviticus, and about how Passover shows the need for death for redemption. He was VERY scornful of celebrating Easter, because it IS a fertility celebration to Ishtar, the goddess of fertility. It's interesting history of the church - read up on it sometime. (I already knew this. :D) I've always felt that way, too, but part of the thing I see in most contemporary churches is a lack of history of both the church itself and the Jewish heritage.

He also spoke about true worship, and why we are supposed to worship. He did some research: the top 10 churches in America aren't teaching about GOD, they're teaching what God can do for YOU, how to feel better about yourself, and be blessed. TRUE WORSHIP is about worshipping HIM because He's worthy. Not because we're grateful - which is also important - but because HE is worthy of ALL praise, honor, and glory. Period! How long has it been since you worshipped, in spirit and in truth? Sometimes worship is an act of obedience - but out of that act can come TRUE repentance, joy, and a true understanding of our UNworthiness - and even more gratitude for His grace and mercy!

ANYWAY. :D I'm going to have to wait until we get the CD to tell you the direct translation of some of the words - what a benefit to KNOW the languages of the Bible!!!! - but that the cries of the people in verse 12 were greeting Jesus as the person who would throw out the Romans. Here's what REALLY struck me: the rabbi said that if you ask ANY rabbi how many Messiahs there are, they will tell you TWO: the humble servant Messiah, and the triumphant, victorious Messiah - and that they believe that, with prayer and petition from His chosen nation, Israel, God will choose to SKIP sending the servant Messiah!!!!! WOW, talk about walking in blindness. How He must grieve!!!

Jesus's response to their not understanding who He is was to quote back the verse in Zech. 9:9, with ONE twist - and you'd never notice, if you didn't really study BOTH passages!!! JESUS said, "FEAR NOT"! Zechariah says REJOICE GREATLY!!!! Jesus was acknowledging that He came to fulfill Scripture, but at the same time telling them that He was not who THEY wanted him to be, and was NOT coming to defeat the Romans. But they didn't understand it, didn't want to - and the disciples didn't, either.

I'll share more when I get the CD and listen to it again. It's REALLY insightful!!! Such good, basic MEAT of the Word!!!! I don't know about you, but SO OFTEN I wonder what the ORIGINAL word really meant, and what the author REALLY meant. :)

SO. What did YOU learn yesterday?? What is God revealing to YOU???? Share!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE! :D

Have a blessed day, dear one. You are SO precious to Him!!!!! Worship Him! :)

It's MONDAY!!!

Good morning, dear friend! How are you? How was your weekend?? Did you enjoy your time with family and/or friends? I thought our sermon yesterday was fantastic, and have been looking forward to sharing it with you. :)

It was called "Love Secrets" - the pastor was wrapping up a month of love sermons - but I honestly felt like it should be called "LIFE Secrets"; the principles allpy to everyday relationships, not just to "significant others". :)

First, referencing I John 4:16 & John 15:12, HOW TO PUT LOVE FIRST TO MAKE LOVE LAST.

I John 4:16: And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

John 15:12: My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Pretty clear, right? :)

Second. WHAT YOU BELIEVE TO BE SO BECOMES SO. Ref: Proverbs 23:7: for he is the kind of man who is always thinking about the cost. "Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you. I think this was the most unclear point reference for me! :)

Third - emphasis mine!:D - YOUR ATTITUDE IS CONTAGIOUS! Ref: Matthew 17:20: He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Pastor was using this about your marriage: believe that your marriage is good. Don't be looking outside, comparing to other people. Believe YOUR MARRIAGE is everything you need, and it will become so.

Fourth - again, emphasis mine! :D - Happiness is a CHOICE. He used Matthew 5:5-6 as a reference - the Beatitudes - but I don't think that HAPPINESS, per se, if a fruit of the Spirit, and I think it's a secular belief that we have to be HAPPY. I don't see that Scripturally ANYWHERE - and I have a hard time believing some of the Biblical characters we esteem were happy in their circumstances. But we can be BLESSED in any circumstance - because we are BLESSED AND HIGHLY-FAVORED BY GOD! :)

Fifth, THE LOVE YOU REFUSE TO GIVE, YOU LOSE. Ref: Acts 20:35: In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'

So. There are days when I don't make the choice to BE blessed and highly favored. This is something God's been speaking to me a lot lately; dear friend, YOU are blessed and highly favored! Dont' accept the LIE that Satan is trying to sell you, that you're not worthy and that no one cares.

We are, indeed, blessed. We ARE highly favored. We are daughters of the everlasting God, Who is all-powerful. God is LOVE.

We are loved.

Have a wonderful day! :) I can't wait to hear from you!

It's MONDAY! :)

Good morning, dear friend!! How was your weekend? Did you enjoy yourself? Did you do something fun, or mostly task-oriented?

What did you do to grow spiritually yesterday? We went to Sunday School, but I've been fighting "female problems" the last week, so Kenn decided we were going to come home after Sunday School - which was fine with me, since dishrags have trouble concentrating. :D

Sunday School was about asking God for guidance, and then following through on the guidance you receive. We talked about the ways that God shows you guidance; one of the best studies I've EVER done was by Priscilla Shirer, DISCERNING THE VOICE OF GOD. It's an incredible Bible study, and I encourage all women's ministries to do it!

In Sunday School, we're also memorizing Scripture together. It's been really fun - when I've not been sick, anyway. :D We memorized all of Psalm 1, then Proverbs 3:5-6, then Hebrews 11:1. This week is Hebrews 11:6.

So, it's your turn to share! :) What did you learn? Tell me anything you want me to know about your weekend, too - I care!!!! :)

Oh, I forgot! Since I didn't get in to remind you, I'll give you until the end of today to comment and win my blog giveaway - a mixture of handmade and photography greeting cards. :) Just leave a comment before MIDNIGHT CENTRAL TIME TONIGHT!

Off to work - I have a class tonight, and need to finish the samples. :D Have a wonderful, BLESSED day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's ALMOST Monday.... :)

Two of my very best friends are coming over to stamp and have fun tomorrow, so I wanted to get my blogging in so you could share, too. :)

Today's Sunday school lesson was about interceeding in prayer for each other - and the difference between interceeding and being called to be an intercessor. It was quite an interesting discussion, I thought - I'm glad God hasn't called me to be an intercessor, to be honest with you. The called intercessor has the heart of God for a specific person/entity - the pain and grief one can feel overwhelms me at the thought of it!

Church was about friendship - and, of course, most of the examples the pastor used were about Jonathan and David. What a friendship they had! To be a friend, one must show: loyalty, love, accountability, and I THINK it was forgiveness. (Lori, can you correct me if I'm wrong, please? My bulletin is in the car, and it's late. LOL!!!) I feel that I'm a pretty good friend, and am blessed to have some REALLY good friends, too. I need to be more of a friend to my husband. Sometimes, it's hard! That forgiveness one is the hardest one in our relationship sometimes.

We're also memorizing Scripture in Sunday school; I'm proud to say that I memorized all of Psalm 1. :D It's a good Psalm.

I can't wait to hear what you learned, what's on your mind. :) It's easy to share - just leave a comment! :D Have a WONDERFUL, blessed day!!!!!! YOU ARE LOVED!!!