Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thankful Saturday
Today I am thankful for sunshine, for Costco, for Super Bowl Sunday, for God's perfect timing. I am thankful for my kids that are all coming over tonight for the my hubby's birthday party. I am thankful for church family and friends. I am thankful for ministry opportunities that God gives me....He is so faithful. I am thankful for my job and for God's provision. Thank You Lord for loving me....Thank You.
Friday, January 30, 2009
I Am Thankful For A Spilled Milkshake
In 1994 I was in a terrible car accident. My life and the lives of my children were spared. When I think back on that day the things I remember: it was a beautiful sunny day and a spilled milkshake. Yep, that is what I said, a spilled milkshake.
You see about ten minutes before that wreck happened we had stopped for a McDonald's milkshake. My two boys were in the back seat and my daughter was in the front seat. We were on our way to a basketball tournament in Washington. My son James (who was about five) spilled his milkshake all over himself. I was irritated but I pulled to the side of the road to change his clothes. (I had a spare set in the trunk) When I took off his shirt I noticed that he didn't have his seatbelt on! I was not happy and told him the importance of wearing his seatbelt and when I had his shirt changed I buckled him in his seat. I then proceeded to drive to the freeway. It wasn't but a short distance after pulling onto the freeway and reaching freeway speeds that an older man tried to pull across the freeway going about ten miles an hour approximately two car lengths away from me and I t-boned him. It was a horrible wreck. I can describe it as so silent but so loud and so fast but so slow all at the same time. I won't go into any further description but God was with us in so many ways that day. I look back and see His hand protecting us.
James had seat belt bruising on his little body. Actually all three of the kids had seat belt bruising. But had James not spilled his milkshake that day he would have been thrown from the vehicle. I don't know if an angel "helped" him with his milkshake that day but I do know this...I am thankful that James spilled his milkshake! Without that milkshake spilling we would have reached the freeway and he wouldn't have been belted. What a gracious God we serve! Again, there were so many more details about that day where God's hand moved but this is just one small thing that stands out to me today. So today, again, I am thankful for that one spilled milkshake! Thank You Lord...
You see about ten minutes before that wreck happened we had stopped for a McDonald's milkshake. My two boys were in the back seat and my daughter was in the front seat. We were on our way to a basketball tournament in Washington. My son James (who was about five) spilled his milkshake all over himself. I was irritated but I pulled to the side of the road to change his clothes. (I had a spare set in the trunk) When I took off his shirt I noticed that he didn't have his seatbelt on! I was not happy and told him the importance of wearing his seatbelt and when I had his shirt changed I buckled him in his seat. I then proceeded to drive to the freeway. It wasn't but a short distance after pulling onto the freeway and reaching freeway speeds that an older man tried to pull across the freeway going about ten miles an hour approximately two car lengths away from me and I t-boned him. It was a horrible wreck. I can describe it as so silent but so loud and so fast but so slow all at the same time. I won't go into any further description but God was with us in so many ways that day. I look back and see His hand protecting us.
James had seat belt bruising on his little body. Actually all three of the kids had seat belt bruising. But had James not spilled his milkshake that day he would have been thrown from the vehicle. I don't know if an angel "helped" him with his milkshake that day but I do know this...I am thankful that James spilled his milkshake! Without that milkshake spilling we would have reached the freeway and he wouldn't have been belted. What a gracious God we serve! Again, there were so many more details about that day where God's hand moved but this is just one small thing that stands out to me today. So today, again, I am thankful for that one spilled milkshake! Thank You Lord...
Thursday, January 29, 2009
I love this song!
I love this song. It is on Chris Tomlin's latest album Hello Love. I love the words in the chorus where it says "The rescue for sinners, the ransom from heaven" How true. He is our rescue. He is the remedy! I hope this song ministers to you like it does to me. I highly recommend this album to you. SO I thought that I would share the lyrics of Jesus Messiah with you...
He became sin, Who knew no sin
That we might become His Righteousness'
He humbled himself and carried the cross
Love so amazing, Love so amazing
Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer
Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners
The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah
Lord of all
His body the bread
His blood the wine
Broken and poured out all for love
The whole earth trembled
And the veil was torn
Love so amazing, Love so amazing
All our hope is in You
All our hope is in You
All the glory to You, God
The light of the world
Artist: Chris TomlinCopyright Credits: Album: Hello Love CCLI Song #: 5183443 Written By: Chris Tomlin, Daniel Carson, Ed Cash, & Jesse Reeves Copyright: © 2008 Vamos Publishing / worshiptogether.com songs / sixsteps Music / Alletrop Music
He became sin, Who knew no sin
That we might become His Righteousness'
He humbled himself and carried the cross
Love so amazing, Love so amazing
Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer
Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners
The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah
Lord of all
His body the bread
His blood the wine
Broken and poured out all for love
The whole earth trembled
And the veil was torn
Love so amazing, Love so amazing
All our hope is in You
All our hope is in You
All the glory to You, God
The light of the world
Artist: Chris TomlinCopyright Credits: Album: Hello Love CCLI Song #: 5183443 Written By: Chris Tomlin, Daniel Carson, Ed Cash, & Jesse Reeves Copyright: © 2008 Vamos Publishing / worshiptogether.com songs / sixsteps Music / Alletrop Music
Monday, January 26, 2009
Remodeling of the Heart
My daughter and son-in-law are remodeling their kitchen this week. This has been a long time dream of my daughter's. They ripped out the cabinets and then got to the floor. They had ripped up a small portion of the linoleum before they started the demolition of the kitchen and they found wood floors which they were so excited about.
Well today they started on the removal of the old linoleum and they found that there are several layers of different types of floor coverings under the first layer. It appears that none of them which will come up easy. They have decided that whatever it takes to get to the wood floors is worth it. When they get to the wood floors it will still be work because then they are going to have to sand, stain and then lacquer them. The final results will be beautiful. They have realized that some of the flooring will probably have some "marks" and dents in them but it will add to the beauty. I can hardly wait to see the final product.
I wish that more people would make the decision to do some remodeling in their lives. To make a decision and stick with it. To see it to completion no matter the layers that they might have to remove to get to the true beauty. You might get weary at times but don't quit! Oh I know a lot of us have lots of layers and many of us might even have some scarring underneath but my Carpenter is amazing when it comes to restoration. He is able to take something marred and ugly and make something so beautiful if only we would trust Him!
You don't have to do one big remodel all at once...you can remodel one room or layer at a time! I have learned just when I think that this remodel will be the final remodel I find another layer that I need to address. The important thing is to never give up...you can rest for a while but don't quit!
We all have areas that need to be remodeled in our lives, so when you decide that you are ready to commit to a remodel let me know and I will pray for you and if you need me to introduce you to my Carpenter I would be so glad to share that information too! He is the best.
Well today they started on the removal of the old linoleum and they found that there are several layers of different types of floor coverings under the first layer. It appears that none of them which will come up easy. They have decided that whatever it takes to get to the wood floors is worth it. When they get to the wood floors it will still be work because then they are going to have to sand, stain and then lacquer them. The final results will be beautiful. They have realized that some of the flooring will probably have some "marks" and dents in them but it will add to the beauty. I can hardly wait to see the final product.
I wish that more people would make the decision to do some remodeling in their lives. To make a decision and stick with it. To see it to completion no matter the layers that they might have to remove to get to the true beauty. You might get weary at times but don't quit! Oh I know a lot of us have lots of layers and many of us might even have some scarring underneath but my Carpenter is amazing when it comes to restoration. He is able to take something marred and ugly and make something so beautiful if only we would trust Him!
You don't have to do one big remodel all at once...you can remodel one room or layer at a time! I have learned just when I think that this remodel will be the final remodel I find another layer that I need to address. The important thing is to never give up...you can rest for a while but don't quit!
We all have areas that need to be remodeled in our lives, so when you decide that you are ready to commit to a remodel let me know and I will pray for you and if you need me to introduce you to my Carpenter I would be so glad to share that information too! He is the best.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
A Blessing for You
I felt impressed to bless you tonight.
I bless you in the Name of Jesus. I speak life to your very being. I bless you with hope and renewed vision. I pray that you feel the Holy Spirit encompass you tonight, that the Comforter would comfort and and console the very area you are broken in tonight. I pray that today, and in the coming days, you will feel His peace that goes beyond all understanding. I pray that your faith would be increased and right when you need it that God's Word would come to your heart and mind. I bless you in the Name of the Most High. Jesus the Giver of Eternal Life. May His mercy and grace overflow in your life and may His love fill all of the cracks. Jesus, the Healer, Jesus the Lover of my soul. Jesus our salvation. I pray that you will be able to rest in His love and peace tonight. In Jesus Name....Amen
I bless you in the Name of Jesus. I speak life to your very being. I bless you with hope and renewed vision. I pray that you feel the Holy Spirit encompass you tonight, that the Comforter would comfort and and console the very area you are broken in tonight. I pray that today, and in the coming days, you will feel His peace that goes beyond all understanding. I pray that your faith would be increased and right when you need it that God's Word would come to your heart and mind. I bless you in the Name of the Most High. Jesus the Giver of Eternal Life. May His mercy and grace overflow in your life and may His love fill all of the cracks. Jesus, the Healer, Jesus the Lover of my soul. Jesus our salvation. I pray that you will be able to rest in His love and peace tonight. In Jesus Name....Amen
Thankful Saturday
Today I am thankful for: a faithful loving husband, grown kids that come home to laugh, a good latte, my washer and dryer, a good find at the dollar store, fuzzy socks, a good job, caring friends, a gasoline tank that is three quarters full, iced tea, new song for tomorrows service, the internet and my church family. I am thankful that I am so blessed that I could never list everything that I am thankful for! Thank You Lord Jesus....
Friday, January 23, 2009
The Finger of God
18 Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast. 19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the LORD had said. Exodus 8:18-19 NKJ
I love this because Pharaoh's magicians told Pharaoh that "This is the finger of God!" They couldn't replicate the finger of God. Then it says that Pharaoh's heart grew hard and he didn't listen to them, just as the Lord had said.
How often have we seen the finger of God move in our midst and we just brushed it off as a great thing that happened or a coincidence? I think that we get so busy or self consumed that we grow calloused to what God does for us in our midst! Now some of you are probably thinking, "Oh but if there were great miracles like that happening I wouldn't do that." but is that really true? I have seen miracles happen and then see how quickly people forget. Let me ask you this, does it have to be this huge miracle to count as something done by the finger of God?
I have seen countless miracles in my lifetime. I have forgotten many of them...how do I know that? Because I have written some of them down and then go back and read about them and think, I forgot that happened!
I have another question for you, if we continue to busy ourselves so much that we blind ourselves to the move of God in our lives how long will it be until our hearts are hardened?
We are human. We need to be careful to stay in the Word of God and to stay in fellowship so that when we start to slip someone can reach out and help us. Keep a journal and reread it every now and then. I never want to harden my heart, especially to the place where it is so hard that God hardens it. I know that God loves us so much that He would never desire that to happen. But we don't know where that line is and I don't ever want to even go near that line. So the best way to do that is to stay close to the Lord. Keep your heart soft...look for the every day blessings of God and be grateful. Worship the Lord...talk to Him...like the song says, "And He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own" When you stay in contact or in touch you won't get to the place where you don't hear or recognize His voice.
I am here to say that I have been so fortunate to see the finger of God move in my life and the life of others countless times. I have seen the Hand of God move! If you hang out with me long enough you will hear of many accounts of God moving! For that I am grateful! Thank You Jesus.
I love this because Pharaoh's magicians told Pharaoh that "This is the finger of God!" They couldn't replicate the finger of God. Then it says that Pharaoh's heart grew hard and he didn't listen to them, just as the Lord had said.
How often have we seen the finger of God move in our midst and we just brushed it off as a great thing that happened or a coincidence? I think that we get so busy or self consumed that we grow calloused to what God does for us in our midst! Now some of you are probably thinking, "Oh but if there were great miracles like that happening I wouldn't do that." but is that really true? I have seen miracles happen and then see how quickly people forget. Let me ask you this, does it have to be this huge miracle to count as something done by the finger of God?
I have seen countless miracles in my lifetime. I have forgotten many of them...how do I know that? Because I have written some of them down and then go back and read about them and think, I forgot that happened!
I have another question for you, if we continue to busy ourselves so much that we blind ourselves to the move of God in our lives how long will it be until our hearts are hardened?
We are human. We need to be careful to stay in the Word of God and to stay in fellowship so that when we start to slip someone can reach out and help us. Keep a journal and reread it every now and then. I never want to harden my heart, especially to the place where it is so hard that God hardens it. I know that God loves us so much that He would never desire that to happen. But we don't know where that line is and I don't ever want to even go near that line. So the best way to do that is to stay close to the Lord. Keep your heart soft...look for the every day blessings of God and be grateful. Worship the Lord...talk to Him...like the song says, "And He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own" When you stay in contact or in touch you won't get to the place where you don't hear or recognize His voice.
I am here to say that I have been so fortunate to see the finger of God move in my life and the life of others countless times. I have seen the Hand of God move! If you hang out with me long enough you will hear of many accounts of God moving! For that I am grateful! Thank You Jesus.
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