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!