In the Name of the Lord Give Me Pudding!

I have to share a story about my three year old grandgirl. Abbie had asked her daddy for some pudding. It was late in the evening and she had already eaten dinner. Her daddy explained to her that she had already ate and it was getting late. She asked very nicely again and he told her no. She turned and started to walk away slowly and then she turned around, she stretched her little arm out with her hand extended and said, "In the Name of the Lord give me pudding!"

I laughed and laughed when I heard the story. Oh my goodness...Abbie is one of the young ones in my Wednesday night kids class. She always participates in the stories and craft. She usually has a story of her own to add. She prays with passion and sincerity for others. We have talked about the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ...she listens! But the next part is the best...

So I asked my son-in-law what did he say in response and this is what he said, "I gave her pudding!" I laughed and laughed and asked why. He told me, "She invoked the Name of the Lord!"

I know that God must of laughed and laughed at that whole scene. It must have tickled Him that this little three year old believed in His Authority so much that she exercised it for pudding! She took a leap of faith. I just wish I could have had this on video.

I'm not saying that we should invoke the Name of the Lord lightly but I know that when my husband teaches on something and someone goes out and does it or tries it that it really is exciting and encouraging. Abbie did just what she had learned about the power of the Name of the Lord...now that might have to be fine tuned but I am sure that it made the Lord happy.

We should be hearers and doers of the Word. We should step out in faith and try it! We should have the faith of a three year old! We need to practice what we learn and put it into action. God will have grace on us when we need it and I believe that if our heart is right before the Lord He will even giggle at us once in a while...He loves us. He desires for us to walk in Him. We are his kids!

So let me end this post by saying, "In the Name of the Lord give me pudding!" LOL

Shanin

Camping and Family Fun!

Last week was our Church Family Campout! It was so much fun! I have to tell you though it was freezing weather! The first night I was miserable but the fellowship with our friends and family made it worth it.

I am thankful for a great group of people who can take the not so best circumstances and look beyond it to have a great time! We sat close to the fire, we had a great community meal, and then the entertainment was awesome! LOL We had a guest impromtu performance by Jason Lee, James and Zach. They sang us some pretty funny original songs inspired by the present company of that adventure!

Later the kids had all gathered in a circle playing sing song games and then they started "Ride, Ride, Ride That Pony". I have never laughed so hard before....before long many of the adults had joined in the fun! Jason Lee and Carrie broke the ice by participating. Before too long even our Pastor Jason, Kurt Churba and Pastor Jason joined in the song/dance. We have video to prove it!

We made many great memories last weekend. I have to tell you that I don't even remember the cold that much...the warm memories of friends, family and fun so out weighs the bitter cold. I am so blessed by attending and serving in our church body. I am so glad that I go to a place where you don't have to be perfect to be loved...and a place where we can have fun together. We stick together through thick and thin, good times and bad times. A place where there is always a party!

If you don't belong to a church family like I have described please look until you find one. There is nothing that can replace this kind of unconditional love and fellowship. A place where you can have people love you and pray for you...laugh and cry with you...walk through hard times with you...a place to worship together in a safe environment no matter how you look or how much money you make. They will love you just for being you! An extension of Jesus. He is the One that brings and ties us altogether. He is the One that you really need to know!

Praising Him!

Shanin

An Opportunity to Practice!

Wednesday night in kid's service it was Tammy's turn to teach. I was a helper. She taught on the Fruits of the Spirit. We team teach so whenever she talked about one of the fruits she would ask for examples from the kids. They gave great examples. When we started talking about self-control and patience I kind of cringed inside because I thought, "Man I bet I have to practice this in the next few days because we are teaching on it!"

Well sure enough, the "opportunity to practice" came by the next morning. When the inccident occured I handled it very calmly...then the situation esculated and I felt a stirring rising up inside of me. I prayed under my breath and walked away! YAY! In the long run I had the victory! By the next morning the situation was resolved and I didn't display rotten fruit but the great Fruit that God had equipped me with! God equipped me with Self-control!

Well, I didn't have to wait long after that opportunity until another "opportunity to practice" came about! It was an opportunity that usually causes me grief and strife...accompanied by fear. Fear is not of the Lord. We talked about this in our kid's class! Peace is of the Lord. He equipped me once again! I then rebuked the fear and asked God to give me His Peace. He did! I did have to choose to have that peace but God is so good that He helped me. YAY! Victory once again. Now that situation is not resolved YET but God is in control and I have peace reguardless of the circumstances that surround me. I will praise Him!

Later that same afternoon I saw my grandaughters. They told me that they had practiced self-control on the playground! I told them about me getting to practice too and they smiled from ear to ear.

I am so grateful that I serve a God who equips us so very well. He knew that those very opportunites would be arising before they ever happened and He was gracious to remind me, (and all of us), of what He has already equipped us with! His gifts are amazing. Are they magic? NO...but they are there. We just have to choose to exercise them. One more thing...I love it because God equips us all, old or young. Yes, sweet victory.

True Are His Promises...He Said So!

For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. Psalm 139:13-14 NKJ

When I was leading worship this week I was singing the song "Unchanging" one of the verses goes like this,"True are Your promises, true are Your promises, You never change, You never change O God."

I thought how very true that is! His promises never change. And then I thought about how grateful I was that God made me the way I am. I am so thankful that God made my husband the way he is too! I had to laugh...we have both said at different times that the reason we stayed married when we were young was because we were both so stubborn that we were determined to make the other one leave first! Then I got to thinking about how God really did create my husband and I, both, with a determined streak! And that very quality has kept us from giving up on the promises of God to be seen here in Burley, Idaho and in our lives. There have times when one of us has been down and wanted to throw in the towel but the other one was there to encourage and pray for one another. I am so thankful that I serve a God so great that He knew what character traits that I would need to pastor and to be determined to not give up on the promises He has given us! I am thankful that He gave me a determined mate not to give up on me or us!

Later in verse 16 it says that "in Your book they were written, the days fashioned for me. When as yet there were none of them." God knows what we face and He has equipped us! He has given us His Word and even blessed us with character traits or giftings to handle or finesse each and every situation. He never changes and that means I have to be the one to change. He is with us! He will walk with us. Not always do I understand everything but this I know...that He has a plan and He IS my hope! I love You Lord Jesus.

Edify and Exhort!

A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is! Proverbs 15:23 NKJ
But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
I Cor. 14:3 NKJ

Tonight I was reminded of how important exhortation and edification is! They say that for every negative thing spoken that it takes ten positive things to counter balance it. The enemy loves to whisper lies to us...he loves to tell us anything to tear us down or distract us. How can we counter that? By the Word of God! That is exactly what Jesus did when the devil was twisting the Word of God in the desert! Jesus spoke the truth! He quoted the Word of God right back at him! We need to fill ourselves up with His Word so that when the devil starts tearing us down or discouraging us we can counter attack with the Truth! We can build ourselves up with His Word of God.

Read His Word. Store it up in your heart. Then when you see someone that is hurting you can speak encouragement and health to them! You can administer comfort and hope to them! God's Word never fails. It is salve to the wounded. He is the healer! He is our hope! He is our defender!

So arm yourself and be ready to administer first aid to those who are in need of love, exhortation and encouragement! Remember...a word spoken in due season, how good it is!

Shanin

Tell the Truth in Love

23 He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward
Than he who flatters with the tongue. Prov. 28:23 NKJV

Rebuking or correcting someone is never fun. I would much rather work, or be friends or spend time with someone who will tell me the truth or how they really feel than to hang out with someone who will flatter or lie to me. It might not "feel good" at the point of correction but I would not have to worry about how they "really" think or feel! Correction, when done right, brings about health!

I used to work with a lady that everyone in the office was afraid of! I wasn't because I knew that Shellie would shoot straight from the hip! She would tell me the truth! I never had to worry about her stabbing me in the back. I knew right where I stood with Shellie all of the time. I also worked with another lady. She was always nice to me and complimenting me but she would then turn around and cry to others about how I treated her. She was one I could not trust!

I am thankful for the people in my life who loves me enough to tell me the truth in love. Without those people I wouldn't have grown to where I am today. My husband was very faithful in telling me things that I didn't want to hear but being patient and loving by helping me in those areas of my life that needed "sanding." I wasn't always receptive or loving back but he loved me enough to help me!

Don't run from telling someone the truth. Stop and pray and ask God to help you to tell them the truth in love. I made a decision at one point in my life to not be a man pleaser and to commit to pleasing God. For me that meant sometimes keeping my mouth shut and just praying and other times it meant that I had to speak the truth. Is it fun? No but I would say that my friends know that I love them and I will tell them the truth...if you struggle with man pleasing or being in fear of someone not liking you if you tell them the truth that is not of the Lord. His desire is for us to be conformed in His Image. Lots of times that means there has to be some "sanding" to get to that smooth surface! Sometimes we get sanded and other times we have to do the sanding....ask Him for help and He will help you. Just remember to tell the truth in love not "love" to tell the truth!

Woo Hoo!

I am so excited! This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

I am on my way to our Sunday Celebration Service. I get to go worship the Lord this morning with my church family! I love it!

Just thought I tell you all to have a blessed and wonderful Sunday! Take advantage of our freedom to be able to worship Jesus freely and openly without fear of persecution!

Constructive or Destructive?

1 The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish pulls it down with her hands. Proverbs 14:1

This is so true! When I was younger I worked hard to "build" my house but then I would "pull it down" with my mouth in a matter of moments. Everything that I would work for would be undone!

Words and actions are so important. How do you treat your husband? Do you respect him? I have friends that really do respect their husbands and you can tell by their actions and words. Then I have friends who say they do but then they go do things that say the very opposite. They will say mean things or degrading things about their husbands or talk down to their husbands. It is so sad to witness. I can't even imagine being the person at the opposite end.

I am so blessed to be married to a wonderful husband! Is he perfect? No, he is human but he treats me like a queen and I love treating him like a king! Has it always been that way? No, but over time we worked together to improve our marriage and to grow together in Jesus. The biggest change happened when I stopped concentrating on the wrong things that he did or looking at the things that he needed to fix and just looked at fixing me. I know...you might be thinking, well, you don't know my husband! You're right, I don't, but I do know that there is no way that you are perfect either and when you work at fixing you and step out of the way then God can work on his heart. Please understand that this no way is meant for cases of infedelity or abuse. If that is happening go get help! Jesus would never want you to take abuse!

May I suggest if you are in a hard place in your marriage...pray! Pray for your husband and pray for God to change what is needed in you. When you start having a hard time with your mouth...pray! And then pray again! It will make a difference. Look for a way to treat him the way you would like to be treated. After time it will pay off! If you love him and treat him with respect he will desire to treat you the same way. Think about how you sound...how you act...it will take some time to change things but with prayer and action things will change.

Before you speak, stop and think...is this going to help me build my house up or will it tear it down? Be wise and build your home up! Don't be foolish and undo everything you have worked on in a matter of moments with a few words out of frustration.

Offended? Don't Go There!

God's desire for us is for us to be healthy and flourishing and fruitful. In Matt. 12:20 it says, A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering which He will not snuff out, till He leads justice to victory. NIV The enemy loves for you to be offended so he can get you to isolate!

So what stunts our growth or separates from the vine?

I. The Offense
Like mold the offense starts to grow and spreads all over you. It's a trap! It's the trigger on the mouse trap. It robs you of your blessing while you are in the trap. However, the offense is an opportunity for growth and release. How to escape from the trap is forgiveness.

II. Admit The Offense To Yourself.
We have all been trapped and we have all trapped. In Luke 17 Jesus tells us that it is impossible not to be offended and it's impossible not to often people and He teaches that it is hard on both ends. You are not the only on that this has happened to.

III. Admit The Offense To The Other Person.
Let's state this very clearly...Admission is not accusation!!! You can never know what their motive was! Generally they were oblivious or careless or hurt. How often have you "plotted" to hurt someone? Most usually it is a misunderstanding and the enemy uses it for his advantage (to set that trap). Please make sure that your heart is right with the Lord before going to do this. LOVE needs to be your motivation. Don't go to "confront" the person...go in love.

IV. Forgive The Offense.
God forgave us for so much how can we not forgive for so little? Be mature, make the first move, right or wrong. We have to make the choice to will forgiveness. When we forgive, it releases the issue to God so He can take care of it. When we forgive that is letting the vine dresser to lift us up out of the mud. He then washes the mold off and stakes us to the vine so that we can produce fruit.

Unforgiveness cuts us off from the nutrients of the Word, Prayer, Worship and Fellowship.

V. Get Back Into The Game.
Once we get out of the mus we need to get back into the exercise of reading the Word, praying, worshipping and fellowshipping which equals ABIDING!

Pray for God to reveal any unforgiveness in your life. Unforgiveness is like poison and as it courses through your veins it kills you! Do not let the enemy plant a seed of bitterness in your life.

Condemnation or Conviction?

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Romans 8:31-34 NKJV

The difference between condemnation and conviction.
con·dem·na·tion 1 : censure, blame
con·vic·tion 2 a: the act of convincing a person of error or of compelling the admission of a truth b: the state of being convinced of error or compelled to admit the truth

If we feel condemned it isn't from the Lord, it is from the enemy. You can recognise his voice when you hear things like, "You are so stupid, you did it again!" or "Now you've done it! You blew it so bad you will never recover or be forgiven!" Satan tears you down. He will do anything to kick you or keep you down.

Conviction bring about correction! The Holy Spirit convicts us. Not condencending but truthful. The Lord loves us and wants to bring about correction and restoration! It can sound something like this: "Don't do that! My Word says....come back to me. I love you." "It's not too late! Take care of this now before it gets bigger."

Whenever you you feel condemned don't go with it! Say, "Satan, leave me alone...I am a child of God and I am forgiven." If he reminds you of your past remind him of his future! Quote scripture! "If God is for us who can be against us?" Go and search out some verses to help you next time and when you hear the lies of the enemy use it on him!

If you are feeling convicted run to Jesus. Repent and ask for help. He is waiting with open arms. He isn't waiting to hit you...He loves you. He is waiting to forgive you and pick you up in His loving arms.! Don't wait...the sooner the better!

Running to Him,

Shanin

Celebration Time!

Hello! I am so excited! Remember yesterday when I wrote about God talking to me lately...well last night I was reminded of all of the babies that I have got to have part in their lives because of answered prayer. I was thinking that I really should record each birth because I don't want to forget any of them and I am sure I have forgotten some.

Well today I went to get my haircut. My hairdresser was cutting my hair and it was kind of quiet for a few moments. She said, "Well,.....(a very long pause)I just took a pregnancy test and I am pregnant!" I squealed, "Oh thank You Jesus!" She went on to say that she thought it was funny because it was in March when she last cut my hair and I prayed for her and then it was today that she took the pregnancy test and it happened to be the day that she was to cut my hair!

God is sooooooo good! I went back and looked where I blogged on the day that God created the opportunity for me to pray for her to conceive...March 18th. I am so grateful that I serve a God who still answers prayers today and opens wombs. I am so excited that He has blessed me so much that He would allow me to participate in praying for these women.

I just had to share with you of God's faithfulness and goodness. I will give you updates as they come....

Can You Hear Me Now?

Sometimes I bet God says that to us..."Can you hear Me now?"

How often do we stop to hear His voice? Lately a few "things" have happened to me...like one day I was going into McDonalds and an old coworker just came to my mind. I thought to myself, "Hmmm I haven't seen him in a long time, I wonder what made me think of him"....I continued my way into the fastfood joint and as I was getting ready to order I see this very same young man walk past me! I said, "Hey!" We exchanged a few words and he left. Right after that I was talking to the Lord about seeing my friend. I told God that I realised that He had been trying to speak to me and tell me about things so I could be prepared for those, (what I call...), God appointments. I told the Lord sorry for not being tuned into His voice and thank You for not giving up on speaking to me and arranging ministry opportunities.

I love talking to the Lord and I love hearing His voice...I just need to make sure that I don't get "so busy" that I get out of the "network"....my "Network" goes everywhere with me...I have even better coverage than Verizon gives...I just need to "keep my ringer on" and not turn my "phone to silent."

"Can you hear me now?" (smile)

Shanin

Redemption

Just a quick praise...I have had the priviledge of sharing Jesus with a few friends lately. God is good...He is moving and healing and saving today. It is exciting to see a hunger for the Lord. Refreshing to witness redemption and then a gratefullness for redemption. The bible says in Luke that to who is forgiven much loves much. I have had so much forgiven in my life and I love Jesus. I only want my friends to experience the same redemption that I have received. It is exciting to see it first hand. Thank You Lord for that gift.

Fruity Pebbles

For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. Luke 6:44

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. I Peter 2:4-5

I have decided that fruity pebbles isn't such a bad name! We as Christians are living stones and we are to bear fruit. We aren't the big cornerstone because that is Jesus. We are to be like Christ and we are being built up together!

So what kind of fruit do you bear? Good fruit or bad fruit? Everyone bears fruit. What kind of stone are you? Are you a stepping stone? Do you have rough edges that need smoothing or polishing? Are you a "chip off the ol' block?" I certainly hope to be. I want to look like Jesus and I want to be very fruitful bearing good fruit for Him. I desire to be used by Jesus. I want to lead others to Him....even if they think of me as "fruity pebbles"

Blessing Time

Hello! Tonight I am going to start your week with a blessing!

May Jesus bless you and keep you throughout the week. I pray for favor and grace to shine on you everyday. I bless you with insight as you work with others, that you would be able to speak encouragement and life into their lives. I bless you with joy and peace...joy to be your strength and peace to calm you when you start to get anxious. I bless you with a sharpness of mind to capture every memory that you will be making. And I pray for you to sow seed every where you go and may it fall on fertile soil and take root. Finally I bless your eyes with the ability to see with His vision and that you would be so sensitive to the Holy Spirit that you wouldn't miss one divine appointment. May you see the fruit of your faithfulness this very week....amen

It's a Beautiful Day!

Today I am so thankful for sunny weather! We did yard work under the blue skies. I am so thankful that we got so much accomplished today!

I am thankful for friends who dropped in to see us! I am thankful for a young man who dropped in to see us! He used to play football with my son and for my husband. We love this young man like one of our own. I am thankful for our associate pastors who dropped by. I am just thankful for good friends and church family.

I am thankful for good kids! They help us, love us and we just have a good time together! I am so very proud of each and every one of them and their families.

I have so much to be thankful for! I could never list it all. I just want to take a moment and thank God for everything that He has given and provided for me.

Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. Psalm 150:1-6

Seriously Folks, BE JOYFUL!

16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. I Thes. 5:16-17

Always be joyful....hmmm....I am glad that joy is not happiness. We can draw joy from knowing our Lord and not from our circumstances. Joy is something that I have been blessed with. Thank You Lord for Your joy.

When you are having a hard time priming the old "joy pump" go to verse 17. Be thankful in all circumstances. Start looking for those things to be thankful for...got a high electric bill? Thank You Jesus that I have electricity! Without electricity you wouldn't even have that bill...I, personally, love having electricity! Today I am even thankful for a few extra pounds (choke)that I have put on because that means that I have had an abundance of food...and in a few days I will be thankful for those sore muscles I will have from walking to lose those extra pounds because I have good legs to walk on! (remind me of that one later, smile)

It is God's will for me to be thankful and joyful. The circumstances in which I have I can grow and learn from and most importantly learn to lean on Jesus more! When you are in the midst of something hard it doesn't say that it will be easy but we serve such a big God that no matter our circumstance we can be thankful and have joy! And for that I am grateful!

Shanin

The Revealer of Secrets

Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him. Daniel 2:20-22 NKJ

One day I was reading this portion of scripture for my devotions and I thought to myself and prayed to the Lord, "God, I have seen you do many things. I have seen provision in miraculous ways and I have seen Your hand heal people but I want You to reveal secrets to me." I didn't think anymore about it until later that morning my daughter called me. She told me that my granddaughter had been having absolutely terrible breath. Immediately a thought flashed through my mind, "She has something stuck up her nose!" I told my daughter that I thought that the Lord told me that she had something stuck up her nose. My daughter started laughing...I said, "I'm serious!"

She laughed and said, "Oh, I know you are serious and I believe you but that is funny!" She immediately called the doctor and made an appointment. When she got there she told the doctor that her daughter had horrible breath and they had brushed her teeth and everything but it was still horrible and she believed that she had something stuck up her nose!

Sure enough he was able to pull something gross out of her nose. He then said, "I want to know how you knew that. I have to pull something out of some kid's nose every week but you are the first person who ever knew what was wrong! Most people just bring in their kids because they think that they are sick or they can't stand their breath any longer."

She told him that her mother told her...LOL. Not how I knew...

I was so excited because God answered my prayer. He revealed a secret to me! I certainly would have never thought of that on my own! Like Daniel, I serve a God who is the revealer of secrets!

Prospecting for Gold!

Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed [this] to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:17-18 NKJ

I love this because Jesus was and is a gold prospector. He looks past the person's appearance and into the heart. He sees things that we often overlook. He saw that this Simon had gold nuggets lying below the surface! He renamed Simon, Peter or Cephas...the rock! He saw things that others didn't see...He saw the potential, the gold.

We need to look beyond the surface in people. We need to look deeper and see what potential lies waiting to be developed or discovered. We need to pray and ask God to show us! We need to prospect for gold!

How many "Peters" are there out there waiting to be discovered and used for the ministry? I am so glad that God looked beyond my surface and saw something of value inside of me.

Lord Jesus, help me to look beyond the outside or the appearance of people. Help me to see what You see. Help me to help others find You. Refine us.

Happy Mother's Day!

Yay! Tomorrow is Mother's Day!

Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband [also], and he praises her: Proverbs 31:28 NKJ

I am so blessed that I have reached this point in my life. My kids all serve Jesus and that was one of our ultimate goals when parenting. It is such a blessing to look out into our congregation on Sundays and see them worshipping the Lord.

Tomorrow three of my four kids, and spouses and grandkids will come over for a bbq! My James is in California bringing home Kaylin! YAY! Anyhow my loving husband bought me a new blackberry for Mother's Day.

We will give out roses to all of the mom's (spiritual and physical) in church tomorrow. Another blessed year of being a mom. It truly is my greatest accomplishment in life. God has blessed me so much. I would say that parenting is the hardest thing I have ever done but the best thing at the same time. The rewards far out weigh any and all sacrifice. I am so thankful that even though that I didn't do everything right and that I made mistakes that I serve a God who buys those mistakes back! I am grateful to my husband who I would have never made it without him! And to my kids who forgave me when I did make mistakes and still love me!

A Pizza Blessing

Funny title I know...let me explain it a little further.

A few years ago God had been speaking to my heart about heart's desires. He told me to make a list no matter how big or small. I wrote down several things and everyday I would go back over them in prayer and talk to the Lord about my list. I was amazed at how fast some of them were answered and the ways that they were answered. I think that some of the smaller ones excited me even more than the bigger ones! Why? Because I knew that only God knew what was on my list and it was just confirmation to me!

One day on the bottom of my list I listed "a slice of pepperonit pizza." I was hungry for pepperoni pizza and I was broke. Now I didn't give it anymore thought because I thought it was frivilous to a certain degree...it certainly wasn't a need! That very day my boss called me to his office and said, "Shanin, I feel like buying pepperoni pizza for everybody for lunch today! Will you please go order it and have it delivered?" I got so excited because I knew where this "feeling/idea" originated! God had pepperoni pizza, ordered, paid for and delivered just for me!

Now every now and then God blesses me with pepperoni pizza. Laugh at me if you wish but I know that it is something that God does just for me...it happened again just today. I spent my lunch in Math lab studying for my algebra test. On the way to work I thought that I would pick up a personal pan pizza to take back to work. Then I remembered that I had a coupon for a pizza that would make it cheap but bigger and I thought that I could share it with a couple of my co-workers. Well, when I got to Pizza Hut the lady told me that when they were making my order they made a mistake and would I be willing to take the mistake at no cost to me? Yes! Well, guess what? It was a pepperoni pizza with jalepenos which happens to be one of my most favorite pizzas of lately! Thank You Jesus! I took it back to work and shared it with my co-workers who were all very excited to have pizza! And I was tickled because I knew Who it was really from and Who ordered it just for me...Thanks God!

Your Tongue Can Bear Fruit!

20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”
21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Matthew 21:20-22 NKJ

I have a funny story to tell you. Many years ago when my daughter was in fifth grade I had this big rubber tree plant that I loved. It was in a big pot and I made sure that the kids didn't rough house around it and I would dust the leaves and water it regularly. The plant would spit at you if you walked by it and my daughter hated it. She hated it because it would spit and she hated it because "I gave it too much attention!" LOL Well, she told me I am going to kill that plant...I told her she couldn't touch it...and she didn't but every time she would walk past it she would say, "I curse you in the Name of Jesus and you will die!" I would laugh to myself never believing for one moment that, that plant would die! Guess what? It died! I tried everything to keep it alive...I still laugh to myself because I know why it died! So does she! She is a grown mom now and she smiled and told me the other day, "Would you like for me to kill your plant for you?" That little turkey! We both laughed remembering my rubber tree plant!

Jesus cursed the fig tree because it didn't bear fruit. You know it is so important to be fruitful. Sometimes in order to be fruitful we have to be pruned and that never feels good and it doesn't even look pretty when you look at my trees or bushes but you know the result is amazing! After you come out of the pruning the new life is so beautiful. Stick close to the vine and draw your strength from Jesus!

The second thing this scripture talks about is faith. My daughter had the faith that my rubber tree was going to die! Funny as that is...it really did die. Our tongues can edify us and help build our faith or the tongue can tear down your faith! We need to be careful what flows out of our mouth! It needs to be fruitful and life giving. Our tongues need to encourage others and help build other's faith. Speak the Word! It never comes back void. It is the truth! It is alive and breathing.

One of the things I do when I get ready to pray for someone is to tell them of the times that God has answered prayers just like the one we are getting ready to pray for! It not only builds their faith but it stirs something inside of me too!

Faith is amazing...it only takes a little bit to grow...like the Word says that faith like a mustard seed! Have you seen the size of a mustard seed and how big the plant gets? God is amazing and I am so glad that I serve Him!

Prayer Book

This last Wednesday night I was teaching "my" kids in church. I team teach once a month with other gals. There are three of us that take turns and all three of us get one night off a month.

I taught on prayer. Now all of "my" kids know how to pray! If you need a prayer answered ask them to pray because they never forget to continue to pray and I am convinced that when they pray God listens! They have faith that God will answer their prayers.

We talked about a lot of instances in the bible when there was something impossible and when they prayed God moved in their behalf! Prayer works! Prayer changes things!
Then it was time for the craft!

I had made up some blank books (like scrapbooks) and I let them decorate the cover with the paper from the wallpaper books. Then in the inside cover and front page they had two different scriptures about prayer to paste in. Then they were to write who they wanted to pray for inside the book on the pages or if they couldn't write then they could draw a picture that would remind them of who to pray for! They worked hard on these books, boys and girls alike. I finally had to make them quit because it was time to clean up and leave but I told them that they could work on them at home.

Yesterday was the ladies day out at lunch. Amber came and told me that Hannah (my granddaughter) had worked on her prayer book everyday. She took time to draw lines and then to write all of the names of everyone who she wanted to pray for. This included all of her cousins, both big Grandpa and little Grandpa and both Grandmas. And last but not least she listed Molly. Molly is her Grandma Sharon's dog. My daughter told me that everynight she takes her prayer book to bed and prays through the whole thing! How cool is that? Hannah is in kindergarten and she is a prayer warrior!

From generation to generation...we are raising the future generation! Hannah is just one of "my" kids and it is only a bonus that she is actually my granddaughter. I am so honored and priviledged that I get to teach "our" kids about the Lord. It is the best thing in the world when you see them grasp it and do it on their own! YAY God!

Who can you influence or teach about the Lord? Do you teach Sunday School? Youth Group? It is hard work but you have something to offer. If you feel that you don't know a lot then start studying! It is a great way to learn the bible....start young...teach the three year olds! All of the ages are awesome. We have a need today in our country. We need to teach our future generation about Jesus and how to be leaders. We all have an important role. And let me tell you there is nothing better than to teach the kids so go and sign up!

Yikes! Pray for me!

Well, I got my algebra test score from Tuesday back...not good...a 60% I need to pass my test this tuesday very badly! So please pray for me to understand and retain what I need to know!

On the bright side I have a praise! My sweet husband brought me home tulips! He then made dinner for us too. I LOVE FLOWERS! I love tulips too! I am so excited! It was so sweet of him to buy them for me and I didn't have to fix dinner either!

So I guess that is about it for tonight. God is so good. I am thankful that I serve a big and gracious God. With Him anything is possible. Even algebra ;0]

So peace out and type ya tomorrow.

Shanin

13 For You formed my inward parts;You covered me in my mother’s womb.14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.15 My frame was not hidden from You,When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. Psalm 139:13-16

This portion of scripture is so awesome to me. He formed me! He knew me while I was in my mom's womb (I started to write uterus but womb sounds so much nicer).He knew what color of eyes I would have and how my hair is wavy...He knows about all of my days...good or bad. He knows my name...pretty cool that God knows me!

Apology!

Sorry that I have been sporadic on my blogging recently. I am in the final two week stretch of my college classes. I am a little stressed to say the least. So after this week I should start to blog a little more consistently. I have two more chapter tests in algebra and one final test. I have one final project due tomorrow in my business class. One of my algebra tests are tonight....I have a credit card audit being done at work on Thursday and a huge certified mailing that needs to be done not to mention my daily chores! LOL I am thankful that I have a ton of people praying for me and I have the bible to draw on when those overwhelming thoughts approach....I have the mind of Christ! And we all know that Jesus was a algebra expert! SO I should be fine! In the meantime I am studying...so I will update you all on my busy life in the next day or so...keep praying, smiling and praising!

Shanin

Cup of Tea?

I love tea! All kinds of tea. I love iced tea (not sweet tea), and hot tea. I like fruit flavored teas, earl grey, cinnamon tea. I like Lipton, Bigelo, Red Rose, and Tazo. I like every kind except for plain green tea...I do like flavored green tea though.

I guess that you could call me a tea collector. I have a big watermelon basket filled with tea bags. I love to keep a big selection of tea so that when I have guests drop by I can offer a cup of tea. I also love to have a cup of tea on a cold evening.

So this whole post was really just about tea...I thought that you might like to know just a little something about me. If you would ever like a cup of tea you know where to go! Good conversation and a cup of tea is hard to beat!

Moved with Compassion

35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:35-38 NKJ

Jesus walked and lived among the people. He saw all of the disease, sickness and injuries. It didn't repulse Him. He had compassion for them. He did something about it. He healed them but even then He recognised how many that were weary and scattered. Jesus loved them so very much. He addressed their physical and spiritual needs. They needed a shepherd, someone to love and guide them but there were so many...He instructed His disicples to pray for laborers to care for the people!

It is the same today. So many people ravaged with disease, sickness, hopelessness and despair. Children without parents, parents addicted to drugs and anything that will mask their pain. Homeless people, the hungry, the Aids epedimic...the list goes on and on. They are weary and scattered and they need a shepherd. They need hope, they need a Savior.

We need to pray for laborers for the harvest. There are so many that needs hope and love. I am so thankful that I serve a big God that has compassion for everyone of these people. He is not repulsed by them, He loves them. He loves them so much that He made a way for every single one of them/us, not choosing one over the other...He died for everyone! So join with me in prayer that there would be laborers for the harvest. Pray for compassion. That we would see them through His eyes.

A Scooter!

My grandaughter will be soon celebrating her 6th birthday and she wants a scooter. She has asked for one from her daddy and mommy. I know that the odds of this happening are pretty great! She is so sweet. Her daddy would bend over backwards for his girls if he is even given an opportunity to do so. He loves his "little princesses" and would do anything for them as long as it didn't hurt them in any way.

This reminds me of the scripture Matthew 7:9-10 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Our Father so wants to bless us. He also desires that relationship with us...not a genie in the bottle relationship but a Father to His kids relationship. I know He loves it when I talk to Him about anything...big or small. If we enjoy blessing our kids with awesome gifts, and we are evil....how much more does God love to bless us, His kids!

Take time and get to know Him. He is better than any earthly Father could ever be even the best dads!

Looking forward to watching Hannah ride that scooter this summer!

Shanin

A Trained Athlete

On Saturday my friend and I drove to Idaho Falls for a body building competition to watch another friend compete. We have watched this friend be disciplined day in and day out with her diet and workout. She would go to lunch with us and eat her salad while Jenni and I ate whatever we ordered and not once did she complain. She would be tired and sore and still get up at 3:45 am and do her cardio workout and then after work she would lift weights.

On Saturday we got to see the event that she had sacrificed for, the competition! It was so much fun to watch her do her routine. She looked amazing. The hard work paid off! She took first in her heavyweight division and fourth in the Masters division. She didn't get her pro card which is her ultimate goal. Afterwards we all went out for a little celebration at a favorite restraunt. She did spluge a little but I saw her today and guess what? She is training for next year. She will keep training until she reaches her goal. She has amazing dedication, vision and discipline! She is focused on finishing the goal of her pro card. She has maintained her focus.

If we, as christians would be so dedicated and disciplned! What goals would we accomplish? You know, we are running a race. A race that we need to finish! We need to train and be disciplined in reading the Word and following Jesus. We need not to give up when we get "sore" from the "workout!" We need to remain focused on the ultimate goal of finishing the race! Pray for one another. If you see someone struggling come along side them and root for them! My friend said that it meant so much to her that she could hear us yelling for her. She says that, that helps immensely! Be faithful in "working out" follow your "diet" diligently. It will pay off! The best fan we have is Jesus. He is there rooting for us. He desires for us to finish the race. And to finish well. If you fall down, get back up! We can do it!

See you at the finish line!

Shanin

God Used a Nobody!

55 When Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?” And Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.” 56 So the king said, “Inquire whose son this young man is.” I Samuel 17:55-56 NKJ

I read the bible story about David killing the giant, Goliath. I love it because God used, David, the shepherd boy to kill the giant. His much bigger brothers and warriors of the King didn't kill the giant nor did King Saul who was head and shoulders above the rest. David, the youth who was the family errand boy, killed the giant bully.

Who was David? He was the youngest boy in his family. He tended the sheep. He would bring lunch to his brothers who fought for the King. That is where he heard Goliath taunting and making fun of the Israelites. This made David mad! How dare he say those things about the children of God! Now David had killed a lion and a bear while tending the sheep with God's help...God would surely help him defeat the giant that was defying the armies of God!

Goliath actually thought it was an insult that they would send the boy to fight him, the mighty Goliath! I am sure it was even a bigger insult when David brought a sling and five stones to fight the giant...but David had God on his side! David slayed Goliath with God's help. He used Goliath's own sword to cut his head off. Showing that God doesn't save with swords or spears but the battle is the Lord's!

Now let me tell you this...David was no longer known as the shepherd boy...from that day forward the name David was known in the land. David, a man after God's own heart. Maybe Saul didn't know who David was...but God did. God used David...a nobody who really was somebody. God knows your name, no matter who you are...and He can use you too.

Yeah!!!

Well, today we had an awesome Easter service. We had great worship, message, then baptism. We had ten people get baptized!

I have to tell you about some of the people who got baptized. One young man who asked to be baptized had told me earlier that until recently he thought that getting baptized was just a christian tradition. He realized that it was an act of obedience. He desired to get baptized! I am excited because I know that God is working in his life.

One of the little girls just recently accepted Jesus as her Savior. It was during our Heart of Worship service. When we opened up time for prayer she came forward and said that she wanted to accept Jesus! I was so excited! BTW her parents just recently rededicated their lives to the Lord. Her dad, mom and sister were also baptized today!

Two of the young boys baptized today I have had the privilege of knowing since birth. Alex and Gabriel already have a strong foundation in Jesus.

My daughter-in-law chose to be baptized today. She is an awesome example of Jesus. She loves Him so very much and it shines like the stars in my girl....

For every person who was baptized today there is a great testimony. For that I am thankful.

Then after service was the big Easter Egg Hunt! Wow were there a lot of eggs to gather! The kids made out like bandits! I saw several with bags of eggs and candy! Then we were off to the fellowship hall for food and fellowship.

I am so thankful for my church family. I am thankful that Jesus died so that we can live. Enjoy.

Shanin

He Has Equipped Us!

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. II Cor. 10:3-6 NKJ

There is so much good stuff in this passage of scripture.

I. We need to remember that our fight isn't against flesh and blood. It is a spiritual battle.

II. The good news is that God equips us to fight the spiritual battles! We have His authority and His Word to equip us.

III. He gives us the strength to pull down the strongholds and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God!

IV. We need to bring every thought that isn't of the Lord into captivity to the obediance of Christ! This is the battlefield, our mind! When we align our thought patterns to the Word of God. Not every idea is from the Lord! Amazing, I know... but when something starts creeping in that is when we need to take it under knife point! If we cut it out right from the get go and not entertain it then it won't have time to grow and mature into fully developed sin!

V. Then practice! Live day by day in righteousness and when you mess up go before the throne of God and take care of business and keep going!

Easter Preparation

For the past few weeks at church we have been announcing that we needed plastic eggs for our Easter Egg Hunt that we will be having following our Easter Sunday Service. I needed 1000 eggs and individually wrapped candy to fill the eggs.

All the while my husband and Matt have been cutting and sanding crosses for the lesson and craft for the Children's Ministry Service.

God is good. When I carried all of the eggs in last night we had over 1500 eggs! YEAH! The cross craft prepping was finished as well.

Wednesday night we will be dying eggs for our craft for the kids and on Thursday night the Ladies will have their night out and we will be making some beautiful flower baskets to invite people to our Easter Service.

Saturday will be our Costco day to shop for the buffet luncheon.

The most exciting part is this...we are baptizing ten people this Sunday! How exciting is that? God is so good!

We will have worship, celebration and some eggciting fun on Sunday. (Sorry I know it was lame but I couldn't resist!) We will be sharing a buffet luncheon or feast following service and hunt. Now I am praying for visitors and salvations! That would make it the perfect celebration.

I am so grateful that Jesus died on the cross for me. We have so much to celebrate. And I am glad that Jesus likes to party too! I know He does...and I do too!

Palms and Praise

Yesterday was Palm Sunday. Our children's ministry opened our celebration service with song and palms and it was awesome! We sang "O Praise Him" and they first walked and then ran down the isle waving their palm branches as they jumped and sang in worship. I cannot even imagine how this must have made Jesus feel! I know that I got teary and excited watching them and singing with them!

You are never too young or too old to worship! Our young ones certainly know how to worship the King! The bible says that if we don't worship Him the rocks will cry out! How fortunate we are to live in a country where we can still worship the Lord God openly without fear of persecution. Please don't wait until it is too late to worship Jesus. He is so gracious. It doesn't have to be done in a "certain" or "right" way. He just desires for us to make a connection with Him. Each person may worship Him a little differently. The important thing is that we do worship Him.

If you don't know Jesus, I would urge you to make Him Lord of your life today. It is so simple. You don't have to be in a church! All you have to do is confess your sins, tell Him you are sorry and ask Him to be your God. Then be sure to tell someone! We want to celebrate with you! It is important to get into a church fellowship so you can learn more about Him and so that you can be encouraged. I would love to pray for you if you made this important step today...just send me a post and I will celebrate with you.

Bedtime Stories

Tonight I watched a great movie called Bedtime Stories. It is an awesome movie that I highly recommend.

I love the beginning of the movie when the son pretended and played. He did so many things in the make belief world. In one of the scenes the dad opened up the ice machine to find his son inside sitting on the ice with his coat on. The dad laughed and picked him up out of the ice. The dad loved to see his son pretend and play.

I remember when our kids were little. They put on shows for us, they would pretend and have a great time together. My husband I enjoyed watching them play everything from house to young riders. We had the rescue rangers in our house on more than one occasion.

We would encourage our kids to dream big. Whenever they would say what their lifetime occupation would be we would make a point of telling them that they could accomplish their dreams or goals. Amber wanted to be an artist and a mommy and a princess. I am safe in saying that she accomplished all three of those titles! At different times Jason Lee would be a banker or police officer. He currently works at a bank while going to school. James, (when he was three), wanted to be Popeye when he grew up....he would even practice walking with his arms out to the side because of his big muscles! LOL. James is still in college however I think his long term goal has changed! We would bless our kids by introducing them by saying, this is my son Jason Lee or James, the doctor. We wanted them to know that we loved them and supported them and believed in them.

I am saying all of these things to say that our Father loves to see us dream. I am sure that He enjoys seeing His kids pretending, playing and having a good time. The Lord desires us to succeed in Him. Sometimes we tend to think of God as all work and no play. He is our Dad and He loves us! He wants to bless His kids!

Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:9-11 NKJ

God has great things planned for us. He is patient while we are growing in Him. He desires to bless us. He loves us so much more than we can ever dream. He is better than any earthly Father can ever become. Take time to talk with Him. Read his Word. He has some great stories...the only difference is that they really are true.

Chocolate Cake

8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
9 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.
Psalm 34:8-10 NKJ

If you are enjoying a really good piece of chocolate cake and you have a more of it sitting on the table with plates and forks do you really have to tell someone or make someone to eat it?

Jesus is like really good chocolate! If you live your life with Jesus, He is so good that you won't have to make anyone desire Him. When you worship Him others will see how awesome He is! He is sooooo good and if you share His goodness others will want Him too.

Oh taste and see that the Lord is Good! He really is good! Blessed is the man (me!) who trusts in Him! Those who search after Him will not lack any good thing!

Now, who would like a piece of really good chocolate cake?

Good or Bad Commercial?

What kind of commercial are you? That is my question for you tonight...when you watch a beer commercial it is never some old fat guy laying on a couch watching tv and drinking a twelve pack of beer...it is the built guy that has it all together and when he cracks that beer open beautiful women fall from the sky...

So back to the question...what kind of commercial are you? Are you a christian that looks like you are sucking on sour pickles? Are you bitter and resentful? Are you always negative? Or are you happy and content? Do you represent Jesus well? When people look at you, they look to see if this Jesus is for real and if it really works.

So are you a good commercial or a bad one? It's your choice.

Let me end with this quote that Abraham Lincoln once said, "Most folks are as happy as they make their minds up to be." Represent!

Jesus, Her Baby Boy...

51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Luke 2:51-52

Earlier in Luke chapter 2 it says that Mary kept all of these things in her heart and she pondered them...that was when the shepherds came to worship Jesus, her baby boy...she had already had the angel come and announce her pregnancy, His birth. Then they had brought Him to the temple and Simeon prophesied over Him then Anna. Then when He was twelve He had gone to the temple and sat with the Pharisees and not only understood them He asked them questions! They were amazed by this Jesus...her baby boy...

She pondered all of these things in her heart. Her baby boy, Jesus, the Messiah. Like the song says...when she kissed her little baby, she kissed the face of God...oh Mary did you know?

I cannot even imagine the heartache she must of kept in her heart...her hopes, her dreams....her little boy...her baby boy...Jesus. Jesus the Messiah...the One that would be crucified to save us all.

You Are An Important Part of the Team!

15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
I Cor 12:15-19

I had read this passage in my devotions a few days ago. I was mulling it over in my mind and when I was worshipping on Sunday with my worship team I thought of it in a different light. I was thinking during practice that I was sure glad that Churba was back this Sunday. Churba plays the percussion. He had been sick the Sunday before. His instruments are the "pretty parts" of our team. When He is gone we still function but it really leaves "holes" in our worship. It is the same when one of our singers are gone or when the guitar is gone or the drums...we are a team! When one of us is gone there is a hole, plain and simple.

It is the same with the body of Christ. We all play an important part! When one of us is missing we can still function but it isn't the same! Something important is missing! God gave us each special gifting that complements each other. Do not let the enemy convince you otherwise! You have an important place in the Kingdom of God. When you let the enemy place bitterness or offense or anything that keeps you from fellowship you are cheating yourself and others. You count!

So today I am here to affirm your ministry. Whether it is serving in the kitchen or cleaning the church or praying or giving a comforting word or preaching the sermon you have an important part to play. Please be a team player for God! We count on you!

Let me end with this example of ministry.

Hannah ran up to a friend of mine who has only come a few times and hugged her and told her that she missed her! My friend later told me how much that meant to her and made her feel so loved. Hannah is five and she ministered that day in a very important way! If Hannah can minister to someone so can you and you might not even know how important something you might not even consider to be ministry can effect others!

I'm Back!

I'm Back! I have been out of the loop for the past few days because my friends came to stay with us. I have to tell you that we had a great time together. We laughed and laughed. We shared things of our lives that we might have missed. We laughed some more. We prayed and shared things that the Lord had been doing...we laughed some more.

It is so great to have good friends that you can pick up right where you left off the last time that you were together. Good friends that you can laugh or cry with...friends that you can call night or day to have them agree in prayer with you.

So today I am thankful for great fellowship with friends. Really they are more like family!

Open My Eyes....

Open my eyes, Lord. I want to see Jesus, to reach out and touch Him and say that I love You. Open my ears Lord and help me to listen, open my eyes, Lord I want to see Jesus.

That is an old song that I haven't thought of in a long time. I was looking up all of the passages in the bible that had something to do with eyes. Jesus touched many eyes so that people could see with their physical eyes. He healed many people with spiritual blindness too. There is one passage that said that if they would only open their eyes and listen with their ears that He would heal them.

That made me think....Lord Jesus, open my eyes, and my ears so I can see and hear and be healed. Help me not miss out on one thing that You are doing! Adjust my vision. I want to see everything! Jesus help me to not miss out on any opportunity of ministry. Help me to see ministry opportunities. Help me to enjoy Your beauty. I want to see You and to see what You are doing...I want to see Your hand move. I want more of You.

In All I Do Let Me Honor You!

31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. I Cor. 10:31-33

Whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God! This pretty much sums it up. If everything we did, we did to glorify God how much better life would be! If I made sure that whatever I did glorified God, and I worked at not offending people so that nothing would stand in their way of receiving salvation how much more could I accomplish? I know that I have offended others...sometimes I have used the excuse of God's grace to excuse my behaivor, especially when I was younger.

I hope that I have never offended someone and stood in their way of Jesus. Lord forgive me if I have ever done that, and if I have been at fault for keeping someone from seeking You then please redeem what I have done. Lord Jesus, please help me not to be on the "lookout for me" but to seek Your will at all times. Help me to keep the long term goal in focus and help me to be a good example for You! I want many to be saved for Your glory! In all I do let me honor You, amen.

Love Is...

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud.5 Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done. 6 Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices over the truth. 7 Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures. I Cor 13:4-7 NCV

What the world views as love and what the Word says is love is vastly different. In the world you can fall in and out of love so easily...if you "aren't happy" then bail. Here it says that love is not selfish. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done, ouch that one hurts! There have been times when I have been guilty of this...not proud of it but it is the truth.

I am thankful that God loves this way instead of the world's way. I am so thankful that Jesus loves me and doesn't keep track of when I mess us...I am so glad that He doesn't want our relationship to be "even and fair." He loves me right where I am.

Jesus please help me to love the way You love. Help me to see people through Your eyes. Give me compassion, help me to be righteous. Thanks God!

We Are Family

1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalm 133:1 NKJ


It sounds kind of corny but I am so excited that it is Sunday tommorrow and that means church! I love my church. We are a family. God has so blessed us.

What better thing is there than to worship God with people that you love? You don't have to be in church to spend time in the presence of God but I love to worship with my church family. There is just something special about "dwelling together in unity." It truly is a blessing. It really is good and pleasant!

One of the really great things is that I know if I am having a hard time, or if I am having a bad week, I can call any one of my church family and they will pray for me. If I needed them to come over they would be there. And likewise for them. We have each other's back! We can laugh together or cry together. We like hanging out!

Thank You Lord for a great church family. Thank You that we can come together to worship You.

A Sword for the Lord!

Last Wednesday night I taught on Gideon to the kids. It was great fun! I talked about God calling Gideon, "oh mighty man of valor" while he was working at night to hide from the Midianites. I then told them how Gideon later gathered the army and God told him how to choose the men and when it was said and done there was only
300 men. I told them how they went and followed God's instructions on how to conquer the Midianites.

Then we got to the part where they smashed the pitchers and yelled "A sword for the Lord and of Gideon!" We practiced this in class. I even smashed a pitcher (by accident but it had great effect!)It was so much fun. We did our craft and went home.

On Monday night my grandkids were in the back yard playing and I hear a voice yell "A sword for the Lord and one for Gideon!" I had to laugh. It wasn't quite right but it still stuck. I knew if I was laughing that God took great joy in it also. So today that is my story..... "A SWORD FOR THE LORD AND OF GIDEON!"

Have a great day!

Feeding On His Faithfulness

1 Do not fret because of evildoers,Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good;Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself also in the LORD,And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD,Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. 7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;Do not fret—it only causes harm. Psalm 37:1-8 NKJ

First of all if you are reading this I would encourage you to read the whole chapter of Psalm 37. It is an awesome chapter!

I would like to testify how I have seen this at work in my life! I have seen evil people who lied and plotted against my family come to nothing because God took care of us. We had to commit our actions and our life to the Lord because in the world's eyes there was no way out. But I am here to say that I saw God take what looked like impossible circumstances and turn them around without us slinging mud! He defended us! We had no other choice but to rest in the Lord. Fretting and worrying wouldn't get us anywhere but perhaps crazy! Truth prevailed! It wasn't overnight but God did bring the truth.

After the victory we had to make a choice not to be angry and allow bitterness to take root in our lives over this betrayal. It wasn't easy because you would think that you were making progress and then I would hear the anger in my voice when I spoke of the incident. Then I would release it to the Lord and will forgiveness again. When you forgive it allows healing and it allows God to deal with the situation because you aren't in the way!It is an ongoing process.

I can hardly wait until one day when I get to see how God finishes and finesses the details of this part of our lives. I know that there is more to come because I am just seeing the tip of victory. God will complete the work that He started! And when He does I will share it with you!

I am so glad that I serve such a mighty God. Thank You Lord for defending us and bringing the truth to light. Thank You for giving us Your promises and thank You for seeing them through. I love You.

A God Appointment

This week a great thing happened. It is what I call a God appointment. I needed my hair cut so I took advantage of a day off and went to my hairdresser. She is a really nice gal and I have been going to her for my hair for a few years now. Well, during the course of my haircut she shared with me that her and her husband have been trying to have a baby with no success. I told her that I would pray for her before I left.

At that point I started sharing stories of others who I have prayed for whom God has given babies. God is so good. You see by sharing God's greatness it does two things...it builds faith in the person I am getting ready to pray for and it stirs my heart too.

Tonight I want to praise God for some of the miracle babies. A couple in our church who had been barren for 16 years....thank you Jesus for two beautiful boys. For my friends in Oregon who God miraculously provided their son. At a workshop last year I taught on heart desires and prayer. A gal came up to me afterwards and asked me to pray for her to conceive. About eight weeks later she showed up at my work with her mom. I asked her what she was up to and she told me (in all smiles) that she had just returned from her doctor and she was pregnant! Thank You Jesus for a beautiful baby girl. A few years back I prayed for another hairdresser and I heard recently she had a baby boy. God is good!

I am so excited and so honored that God arranged for this appointment. I can hardly wait for the call...to tell me once again of God's greatness. It will happen and when it does I will post about it! Then you can rejoice with me!

Freed from the Chains

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Gal. 5:1

Why is it that when Jesus fres us from our bondages we sometimes will go and put the chains back on? It must be something that we all struggle with or God wouldn't have written in the Word of God to tell us not to do!

Look at the Israelites for one example. They were slaves to the Egyptians and cried out to God to save them. When God delivered them from slavery whenever it got tough they wanted to go back to Eygpt! To the people who beat them and murdered their babies. I think that is crazy but I have done the very same thing before. I think that the familair is comfortable to us. So the old bondages are comfortable but we need not to go back to what Christ has freed us from!

I have a relative that God totally delivered and saved. This week we got a call from her. She put back on the chains. She is miserable again. It wasn't like she remembered. It didn't happen overnight. The devil was patient...he slowly regained ground. How sad.

Jesus paid the price for our freedom. Don't pick up the chains and wrap them around your self again. Take advantage of the freedom God has granted you. When things get tough and you think about the "good old days" get in the Word. Read the truth! It isn't the way you tend to remember...you wanted out for a reason the first time. Don't let the enemy recolor it pretty because it isn't. Bondage is bondage. Don't let what Jesus paid for you be for nothing. Stay free...and then go find someone else who needs to be freed.

Freedom comes at a price but anything worth anything costs....

Shanin

Sow the Seed Everywhere!

But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept [it], and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred." NKJ

Jason and I have been in Idaho for almost fourteen years now. We love it here. Has it always been easy? No. Has it been worth it? Yes, even if it was just for one it would have been worth it....however many have been saved.

I am most excited when I look back over the past couple of years. Now first, let me tell you that the last two years have been hell on earth in some aspects. We have been through some trials but I would like to say that God never left us through those times. We did get discouraged but we never gave up...not because we didn't feel like it on some days but because we desire to finish the race that God has set before us.

God has spoken some promises to our hearts. I know that He will deliver on those promises...how? I don't know but I do know that I serve the God who can do the impossible! We are starting to see the tip of victory! I am so excited! I can only imagine (or maybe I can't) of what God is starting to do...like I said earlier, when I look a few years back NOW I can see God's hand moving! One couple came to Jesus. They truly gave their lives to God, their whole family! They brought another family that was part of their family, (did you get that?). They too accepted Jesus...I remember the first Sunday their son received Jesus. We were all excited and shared it with the parents and they smiled and I am sure thought, "What just happened? Now what do we do?" LOL Then their family came to know the Lord within weeks of the son's salvation.

Like I said, it has been a few years now...they have pursued Jesus and grown! They have sown the seed everywhere. People have seen the dramatic changes in their lives. Some didn't like it. Now we are starting to see the harvest. In the past three months they brought another family who needed a Savior. They have embraced Jesus and our church. In the past week two more have accepted Jesus! WHOOPEEEEEE!!!! We are celebrating!

I am starting to see the snowball effect. You know the best part? Most of these salvations are the men first and then they lead their wives. Jesus is healing marriages. They are hungry for Jesus. They had something that didn't work and saw something that was working and decided to give it a try.

Let me say this. I have seen many accept Jesus and many not stay with Jesus. It is the ones who choose to be discipled that really walk with Jesus. They have something solid to hang on to when the hard times come, and they do.

So let me finish with this....sow the Word everywhere! Some sow the seed, some water it and some harvest it. It is a team effort. But do not forget to fertilize the seed once it takes root. Water them too...and please remember to pray for our babes in Christ!

Celebrating New Life!

Shanin

Don't Forget to Set Your Clocks...

It is spring forward time! So we will have more daylight hours starting tomorrow... The older I get the more time it takes to adjust to the time difference.

I would like to celebrate the new time change with a praise. I received a raise yesterday! God is so good to me. In these times of uncertain economic conditions I have a wonderful job. God placed me where I work at just the right time. He was so in control. I am so glad that I was obediant and stepped out in faith. It was scary at the time but God was so patient with me. He directed my path.

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path...how true.

SO today I am here to say that I serve a really big God who is in control of everything. I just have to trust Him and not try to take over!

Spring time here we come!

Shanin

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff!

13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them. Mark 10:13-15 NKJ

I love this scripture because I love working with children. But we are kids too. I have been thinking...scary I know...how many new believers or people who are checking out Jesus or the church do we try to implement "rules" on them right away? Are we rebuking them or rebuking those who bring them? Does it really matter how they are dressed? Does it really matter what kind of make-up they are wearing? Jesus will change the important stuff as a relationship develops but if we are quick to forbid them for even coming to Him just as they are won't we be held accountable? Please notice that I said, "the important stuff."

In other words, don't sweat the small stuff. Leave it to God to speak to them at the right time. You might be instrumental in that or you might not be...I know that there are some things over the years I have changed in my life that might never would have bothered me years ago...Jesus was patient with me, He loves me. He brought these things to my attention and changed something in my heart. I am thankful that there were people in my life that loved me enough to overlook my immaturities and not make it an issue. Because of their love for me and Jesus they gave room for Jesus to work things in my heart without further injury.

If Jesus can overlook the small stuff, can't we? I don't want to get in the way of "kids" coming to Jesus. I want to see them crawl into His lap and for Him to bless them....the other stuff will come in time!

This is the Day That the Lord has made...

I WILL rejoice and be glad in it...

There are those days that I have to choose to do this. I have to make the committment to "will" to rejoice and be glad in it! Most usually after I decide that I am going to choose to worship the Lord those days turn out to be some of the best days! I think that the devil so desires to distract us from what God has for us that he would do anything to mess up a great day in the Lord!

So the next time your day is going downhill quick...stop and make the decision! It helps me to say, "This is the day that the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it." You might have to repeat it with clenched teeth at first but it will sink in and then your day will have a better "look" to it!

Amazing Love....

One night a few years ago I was on my way to watch a football game. It was out of town and I was in a hurry to get on the road. Well, right before I left I heard the Lord tell me to take a couple of IB Profen with me. I asked Him, "Am I going to get a headache God? Because if I am I can just pray for that right now." Again I just felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit to bring some IB Profen.

Now I have to be honest with you...there are times when I hear something and I just think, "Oh I am just making that up in my head" but over time I have learned to listen and step out in obediance. So I stopped on my way out the door and grabbed two or three IB Profen and placed them in my pocket.

Now when I got to the game I saw one of my co-worker's and friend who was there to watch the game too so I walked up to Him and asked, "Hey, Tab, do you have a headache?" He looked at me and said, "No, why?" I explained to him that the Lord told me to bring some to the game so I was looking for who might need it! He looked at me and smiled and shook his head and kind of laughed...but he knew me and the Lord so that was fine.

Well, at half time one of the football players came back onto the field and ran up to the grandstands and yelled, "Does anybody have any IB Profen?" I jumped right up and yelled, "Yes, I do!!!!" He gladly took the IB Profen. I turned and smiled at Tab! He laughed and shook his head again. I was so happy that I had listened to God. He used me!

I knew this young man. I love this young man like he is one of my sons. I was talking to the Lord afterwards about the whole event and this is what the Lord said to me, "I love this young man even though he doesn't know Me.I knew that he would have a headache and I love him so much that I didn't want him to hurt so I had you bring the IB Profen"

I cried. Jesus loved him so much that He had me bring IB Profen for a young man that doesn't even know who He is. How awesome is that?

I am so thankful that I listened and just didn't shrug it off. I still love this young man. I pray for him often. My desire is for him to one day meet my Savior and make Him Lord of his life too.

I wonder how often God does these "little things" for us? You see in many ways I was blessed even more than the young man because God allowed me to be used in a small way but at the same time it was a huge way(at least to me). It truly blessed me. God loves us so very much that He doesn't even want us to hurt...amazing...amazing love.

7 Steps to Choosing Joy

Joy: (noun)the emotion evoked by well-being, success or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires. A source or cause of delight.

Rejoice in: Have or possess. More at Joy.

Joy and Happiness is the perfume that when you pour or splach it on others you can't help but get some on yourself! Joy is an attitude so...Choose Joy!
Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice! Phil. 4:4

Step One. First you have to make the decision to choose joy. Some days you just have to say, "Today I WILL rejoice!" We have a reason to rejoice because we have hope. Our hope is Jesus! He is our salvation, our Redemption! For that alone we can rejoice. There are days that I need an attitude adjustment. I make the decision of whom I am going to serve.

Step Two. Change your focus. When you focus on Jesus then all of the other stuff falls into perspective.

Step Three. Wash yourself in the Word and His Promises! Phil. 1:6 ; Jer. 29:11; Romans 12:2

Step Four. Start thanking and praising God with your mouth! Give thanks for everything! If you absolutely can't think of anything then quote the Word. Thank Him for something in someone else's life. The enemy won't want to stick around if you are praising God!

Step Five. Train your thought patterns and your mouth. Remember you are a witness for God...good or bad witness, it is your choice! Use your tongue as an attitude gauge.

I think that the two biggest road blocks to joy are unforgiveness and fear. Examine your heart and see if you struggle with either of those things. Ask God to help you.

Step Six. Do not entertain fear! Fear is sin. Anything that you are more afraid of or love more than God is an idol, you are worshipping yoursef. OUCH. I know...I struggled with fear for years. A good con-man (satan) sets up the scam with something you want or love and makes it appear that if you don't get it or do it then you will get hurt. As soon as you feel trapped like this, examine it! If you don't have joy this scheme will work on you. This doesn't mean that you can't have things that you enjoy or activities that you love to do...just keep it balanced! Be grateful!

Step Seven. Practice! Rejoice as a constant discipline! Refuse to worry about things. Understand that Jesus gives peace to those who trust Him and ask for His help.

Remember to focus on Jesus instead of your circumstance. He is our strength and our reason for choosing joy. So Choose Joy!!!

So Thankful...

I am so thankful that I serve a Gracious God.

On Sunday we sang a song in worship that says, "Great is Your faithfulness O God, you wrestle with the sinner's heart. You lead us by still waters and to mercy. And nothing can keep us apart. So remember Your people remember Your children remember Your Promise O God. Your Grace is enough, Your Grace is enough, Your grace is enough for me. Great is your love and justice God, You use the weak to lead the strong. You lead us in the song of Your Salvation and all Your people sing along."

I am so thankful that I serve a God that does wrestle with my heart issues. He loves me so much that He won't give up on me...He desires to protect me from the things that injure me. He so desires for me to draw even closer to Him. His Grace is enough! Those areas where I come up short His grace covers me...His grace covers those bare spots.

Then the second verse talks about Great is Your Love and Justice God, You use the weak to lead the strong. This is so amazing but true to me. He uses me! It never ceases to amaze me that He uses me to help others. He helps me to help others. Without Jesus I am nothing but with Him I can help others! He gives me the song of His Salvation! Jesus really has placed a song in my heart...whenever I am worshiping Him it does place a lilt in my step...I am thankful that He has lead me to His salvation. I am so thankful that His Grace is enough...His Grace is enough for me!

So Thankful for His Grace!

Shanin

Choosing to Believe that He Loves Me!

13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Psalm 27:13 NKJ

Unless...big word. I would have lost heart unlessI had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living...

How many times have you lost heart? There have been times when I have lost heart so I found this one verse very interesting. It stood out to me...we have to believe that the Lord is good and we will get to partake in His goodness! He desires good things for us so if we would just believe that, and I mean really believe that God loves us and desires great things for us. When we buy into that truth then when things aren't going right we will know that it will be okay because God has a plan for us! A good plan! A plan that includes the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!

So do not lose heart! Beleive that God loves you and that if He loves you then He desires to bless his kids and that includes you and me! YAY!

Living and waiting to see even more goodness of the Lord in the land of the living...

Living Large in Burley!

Shanin

The Sledding Hills of Life

Today we went up to Magic to sled. This was a birthday event for my daughter-in-love. I noticed a couple of things while we were there having fun.

One thing was that there was two main ways up the hill. One was the easy way and one was the hard way. One was that you could walk and drag your tube or the other way was that you could take the tow rope and once you hook up the tube to the rope you just ride up to the top.

There were three lanes down the hill. One is slower, one is fast and then the middle lane was fast and you would catch a little air.

The rules were simple. No taking cuts in line. You can only sled down in groups of four or less. Once down at the bottom of the hill you hurry off of the sled lanes so that you don't get hit by other sledders. Sled down the hill only in the lanes provided. Play nice. For those who followed the rules it was really fun!

Well there was one boy who would drag his tube really fast and hit people in the back of the legs with his tube and they laugh and say, "sorry!" Well, later this young man (boy)decided that once he was near the top of the line he turned around and thought that it would be funny to slide his tube down the place where people were lined up the mountain for their turn to sled. One man had to jump out of the way and the boy was headed for the crowds at a high speed when two young men tackled his tube. It didn't stop him but slowed him down and he then hit a tree. My son said he hit it hard but not as hard if they wouldn't have tried to stop him. My son also said that he was sure that it probably smarted when they tackled him but if they didn't he would have injured many and himself even more.

I have told you all of this story to say there are some kids or people in life who think that their path will be fun! They don't weigh out the consequences of what might happen to themselves or others. If you see someone doing this try to stop them. You might not stop them but you might at least slow them down before they hit a tree in life.

My next statement is this. If you are someone who thinks that the ride would just be fun and not hurt anyone that is not true. Your actions always effects others! You might miss a tree this time but next time you might not be so lucky. You might think, "Well I just want to have "fun" while I am young and later I will straighten my life out." You do not know when your life might end. It might be today...please make wise choices.

Now let me address those who were having fun and following the rules. There are no guarantees there either. You might do everything right and something still might happen and you end up injured or hurt. The same is true in life. Your life too can end at any moment, even if you are doing everything right. Please make Jesus the Lord of your life.

Jesus is the only for sure thing in life. With Him, you are guaranteed eternal life with him after this life here on earth. When you choose Him you can be assured that He will go with you down the slopes of life. Fun times and hard times.

Thanks for listening to me ramble today...if you are one who is walking on the edge...please choose Jesus. He loves you and life with Him is never boring.

In the Dark and Scary Places He Goes With Me!

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;
For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:24


When I was a little girl I didn't like this passage of scripture...it scared me to think that I would have to walk through that deep dark valley with those huge ugly shadows of death...now I love this passage of scripture! Not because I want to walk in those hard places but because now I realize that I have God to walk with me and to protect me. He has that big old rod and staff to protect me...not that He needs that, (it is the picture of the shepherd), to protect me because HE IS GOD! But it is comforting that He can whack any bad guys that might be waiting to get me with that big old staff...or club (that is the way I like to think of it )

It really does comfort me that God is with me wherever I go...I really don't have to be afraid because I am HIS girl! He protects me wherever I go...He is right there before me and behind me...not only is He there in the scary places but He goes everywhere else with me too. Sometimes I think that He just likes to skip with me in the fields because that is what I would like to do! He likes it when I spend time with Him....He likes it when you spend time with Him too!

Are there any places where you are scared to go? He will go with you...you don't have to be afraid or scared of the evil that is lurking because the evil is very afraid of the Lord. His light will shine bright around you and chase away the darkness....it trembles at His voice! So take Him with you wherever you go...you will both love it!

Glad to be His Girl,

Shanin

For This Purpose...

15 So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. Acts 26:15-16

I love Saul/Paul's testimony. He was a murderer of the people who believed in Jesus. He was famous for killing the very same people who served this Jesus who was now appearing to him. Amazing...but God knew that Saul/Paul did everything that he did with passion, determination and whole heartedly.

How many people do you know that don't know Jesus that are total hell raisers? You know the ones that you think are hopeless to ever become a God fearing person...man, those are people that when they do find Jesus they serve Him with just as much passion because whatever they do they do it with their whole heart.

The bible says to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind and strength. Pray for these people. Love on them. If God can change Saul into Paul then He can change anyone's heart. Ask God to show you who to pray for then don't give up!

Book Review- Romance

Today I am going to suggest that you read a great love story. The book of Ruth (in the bible) is a short love story. It has death of loved ones, respect and love for her mother-in-law and then a journey to a foreign land where she finds love once again. It is a redemptive love story that everyone should read! Ruth goes to work in a field to glean food for her and her mother-in-law where she meets the land barren Boaz. Boaz is an older man who is a compassionate and caring man.

Will she find true love with Boaz? Will her mother-in-law approve of this relationship? Or will another man step in the way of this budding romance?

This is a "have to read" romance approved for any age!

Shanin

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hello!

Just a quick note to say Happy Valentine's Day! Hug someone today. Go make a card or bake a batch of cookies and bless someone. Is there a widow in your neighborhood? What a great way to make someone's day. Kids love valentine's of any kind.

Remember to spend time with the One who gave us the ultimate valentine....Jesus. His unselfish act of love gave eternal life to anyone who chooses to make Him Lord of their life. I am so thankful that God is my valentine for eternity.

Have a wonderful day,

Shanin

Favor

Favor. Jesus had favor. It says in Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

If Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men shouldn't we? I have recently started praying for favor for myself. God has given me favor. Favor in my work place, favor with my friends, favor in Wal-mart!

Can I challenge you to start praying for favor. Favor for yourself and for you kids. Favor with God and men. Favor gives us opportunities to pray for people. Favor gives you avenues of ministry. Favor blesses you in unexpected ways.

Thank You Jesus for favor. Help me to realize that it is because of You that I have favor and help me to move wisely inside of what You have granted me. In Your Name, Jesus, Amen!

Parenting

These six [things] the LORD hates, Yes, seven [are] an abomination to Him:
A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness [who] speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19

Now if you knew there were seven things that God hated wouldn’t you teach your children not to do them? However sometimes we, as mothers, tend to excuse bad behavior when it comes to our kids. This does not do them any favors mom...if anything it is, by default, teaching our children to do things that God hates!
Can I see a raise of hands out there of some of you who has told “dad” that poor little Johnny is just tired so it is okay that he just smart mouthed you or threw a fit? One time when one of my sons was little he was being extremely grumpy and disrespectful and my husband started to discipline him and I intercepted a “But Babe, he is just tired or he doesn’t feel good.” My husband then very kindly told me, “Babe, he still has to obey even if he is tired or sick” Oh...I hated it but I knew he was right...thank You Jesus my husband very kindly pointed that out when he was three so I could correct it while he was still little.

Moms, do you have a teen that always seems to be in the center of trouble even though he is “innocent”? If so you might want to consider that your precious little Johnny or Connie might not be so innocent. He or she might have feet that are swift in running to evil. Remember God’s promise...a child left to his own ways will shame his mother.

It is so much easier to correct their little hearts when they are two or three than it is when they are thirteen or fifteen. I remember teaching my kids that Jesus gave them a spirit of self control and it was my job to teach them how to use it. Is that fun? No. Is it easy? NO! However I will tell you that if we are consistent with our kids (even when they are tired or when we are tired!) and we hold to the teachings of the bible it will be so worth it.

One more thing...if you see your child having an authority problem or struggling with rebellion may I suggest that you get before God and really examine your own heart to make sure that you aren’t struggling with those issues yourself?

The reward? I cannot tell you the joy and satisfaction I have when I see all of my kids serving Jesus today. Keep up the good fight...set the example...let your kids see you reading the Word of God... be consistent...it will pay off!