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!

Valentine's Day

I love Valentine's Day! You don't have to be in a relationship to enjoy Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day happens to be my anniversary but I also use it as a ministry opportunity. It is a great day to bless someone with kind words or a card. There are so many who feel alone on Valentines.

I was blessed this week by a gal in my office with a tin of pink hot chocolate...what a great example of encouraging someone! I found it on my computer keyboard when I came to work with a little note that said I hope this makes your week better! It made my day.

Are you blessed? Then bless someone. Are you feeling lonely or down? Then bless someone who might be feeling that way too. So this Valentine's Day look for someone you can encourage with a handmade card or even a cookie. All people of all ages like a "little something" to remind them that they are thought of or are loved...look especially for those who might be hurting during Valentines.

Shanin

Only One Thing I Know...

25 He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” John 9:25

I love this response of this man to the pharisees. They had questioned him and his parents. First of all they didn't want to believe that he was blind or maybe it was a mix up and he wasn't the guy that had been blind all of his life...but after questioning his parents and him they couldn't discount his healing so they decided to attack the character of Jesus....saying that Jesus was a sinner.

Then came the response that settled it all....the proof is in the pudding...one thing I know that though I was blind, now I see...

If we wouldn't get caught up in the arguments of the world and say well, all I know is before I knew Jesus I was so broken and I might not be perfect but He is healing me! Before I knew Jesus I didn't have a family or belonged anywhere and now I have a family! The list could go on and on... he didn't argue with the pharisees he just stated what he knew...all of his life he was blind but now he could see! Cool...only one thing I know...

Are You Ready To Serve?

Today is my birthday! I look back over my life and I think of how blessed I truly am. I am married to the most wonderful man. I have been blessed with wonderul children and grandchildren. I have a great church family. I am loved!

God has blessed me with many great opportunities. I have had the most incredible experience of delivering a beautiful baby girl and then placing her in the arms of her adoptive parents. A few days before the birth I got to lead the birth mom to Jesus.

I have prayed for people and seen miraculous healings because of the Lord's hand. I have been blessed to travel to Mexico several years in a row and was able to serve amazing brothers and sisters in Christ. I am privilidged to lead God's people in worship every Sunday morning in a free country free of persecution. I get to teach the kids on Wednesday nights about Jesus.

God uses me. For that I am grateful! It's not that I am "special" it is just that I am willing. You see, God uses the broken. The requirement? Just be willing to be used...and get ready because He will use you!

God's Timing is Perfect

First of all I posted this on my other blog a day or so ago but decided that I would post it on this one too. I try not to duplicate my posts so both blogs will stay different!

I thought that I would share what happened Friday night in my life. I am usually on time as a rule. Well, I had ordered pizza and I was to pick it up in "30 minutes." I was running late by about ten minutes. I went in to pick up my order and I saw a few people that I knew including one mom and her three sons. We said our goodbyes and she left. I was signing my credit slip and I heard my friend yell my name with "HELP! He's choking!" I threw my pen and paper and ran over to her son who was not breathing. I prayed and did the Heimlich maneuver on him and whatever was blocking his passages did not dislodge. I did it again (while the Pizza Hut lady was yelling should I call the ambulance?) and out came a peppermint candy and he could breathe! Praise the Lord! We were so relieved...I am so thankful that God's timing is perfect. If I had been on time I would have picked up my pizza and been gone before the candy incident happened.

Now God is big enough to have done it without me being there but I am blessed that God used me in that moment... I am extremely glad that He was right there with me showing me what to do!Thank You Lord, that Your timing is perfect. Thanks for including me in Your plan. Thank You for sparing Josiah's life and thanks for pizza too! :0)

Praying for You

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Eph. 6:18 NKJV

Today and tonight I have felt "burdened" or heavy hearted for someone or something so I have been praying. I am reminded of a song that goes like this: Keep on praying, in the Spirit, keep on praying, in the Spirit with all kinds with all types of prayer Ephesians 6:18 says keep on praying. I don't know who I am praying for but I do know that there is a spiritual battle going on and I am going to pray!

Isn't it good that we serve a God who is big enough to answer prayer or to direct people to pray even when we don't know why? All I know is this...when we pray, God listens. Think about it...an audience with God...amazing. God is never too busy to talk or listen to us. When we pray, things happen. We are doing battle in the spirit realm...so tonight I am praying for you. Whoever you are God cares enough for you to prompt me to pray. He loves you and I am honored to pray for you.

In His Name...