1 Corinthians 2:9
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.
I talked about focus in my post titled Focus (what else?) and I talked about simplicity in my post titled Goodbye 2007. God just won't let me go with these two. Here are two paragraphs from my Bible study Believing God by Beth Moore:
Oh, If only we’d follow and not run ahead or lag behind! Just follow. Our perceptions have been so distorted by our world system that we fear God’s path may be right and respectable, but it’s sure to be boring. Does that sound like the life described in 1 Corinthians 2:9? The only way we will have an earthly experience with God that is more than ears have heard, eyes have seen, and minds have ever imagined is to walk with Him. God has promised never to leave us or forsake us. If we persist in our own way, the Spirit of God will accompany us (Ps 139:7-10), but we will walk ourselves right into a place we may as well call less-than land, the place of God’s permissive will. When we choose to walk with God rather than off the path to handfuls of other options, we find His perfect will for our lives. We find our promised land.
I have discovered that if Satan can’t get to me with destruction, he will try to get to me with distraction. We have only one turn on this green earth. We will never get to do this again. We cannot do a hundred things to the glory of God, but we can certainly do a few. What you and I need is focus. Day in and day out. Eyes on the goal. In our frenzied lifestyles we are desperate for simplicity: for a hundred things to narrow down to one.
God has narrowed things down for me. My children are my ministry priority. It scares me a little how much I've let this world convince me that this task is boring and little fun. No wonder so many moms choose work outside the home. I am at home and I find myself believing the same thing. Not any more. My children are precious and priceless and will be out of my home before I know it. I will NOT believe the world's lies anymore. God has prepared more than I can imagine for us and I am going to be diligent in obedience so I won't miss it. Just following. Not lagging behind or running ahead. Part of my obedience is to stop being on the computer (distractions) so much and spend more time with my kids just playing. I am going on a small computer fast and so I won't be posting anything else until sometime next week.
I have heard a saying:
The biggest impact a mother can have on the world is through her children.
Before I go: please continue to pray for Makenna. The doctor has ordered blood work. He thinks maybe it is time to change the dosage of medicines due to Kenna growing. Also, he thinks that these right side seziures could just be things rewiring. My Nana's surgery went good, but the area was too narrow and they weren't able to put the stint in. Not sure what happens now. Please pray for Me and the girls as we travel to San Antonio. I'm so excited! I think we're gonna stop in Waco on the way home and see Marianne, Makenna, Matt, Micah, and Marlee!!! Yay!
The more I'm giving to Jesus the more He is giving to me! As my Bible study says:
You can NEVER outspend God!!!
Blessings!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Praise God!!!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
God answered our prayers with a YES!!! Avery's cancer is gone!!! Please check out their blog and PLEASE say a prayer of thanksgiving to our God Most High!!! And don't you dare believe Satan's lies if he is whispering in your ear right now saying that your prayer didn't do anything. That God would have done this even if you didn't pray. God is so pleased and blessed that we asked and that we exercised our faith!!!! Your prayer affected the Creator of the Universe. Just sit there a minute and let that blow your mind and melt your heart. (I am in no way saying that when God says no He is not affected by our prayers, it is just obviously different for us when He says yes - I hope and pray that that makes sense to you all)
http://www.teambraverys.blogspot.com/
Psalm 103:1-5
Praise the Lord, I tell myself;
with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name.
Praise the Lord, I tell myself,
and never forget the good things He does for me.
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
He ransoms me from death and surrounds me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
God answered our prayers with a YES!!! Avery's cancer is gone!!! Please check out their blog and PLEASE say a prayer of thanksgiving to our God Most High!!! And don't you dare believe Satan's lies if he is whispering in your ear right now saying that your prayer didn't do anything. That God would have done this even if you didn't pray. God is so pleased and blessed that we asked and that we exercised our faith!!!! Your prayer affected the Creator of the Universe. Just sit there a minute and let that blow your mind and melt your heart. (I am in no way saying that when God says no He is not affected by our prayers, it is just obviously different for us when He says yes - I hope and pray that that makes sense to you all)
http://www.teambraverys.blogspot.com/
Psalm 103:1-5
Praise the Lord, I tell myself;
with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name.
Praise the Lord, I tell myself,
and never forget the good things He does for me.
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
He ransoms me from death and surrounds me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Hamburger Helper
Ok, I know some of you can't stand the stuff, but this blog really isn't about it anyway.
My M-I-L found these hamburger helper singles that are great for a hot lunch for the kids without all the work and mess. I am fixing them cheesy beef taco today and they are obviously very hungry because they are sitting at the table waiting. There are four packages in one box and I have to fix all of them, but they only give instructions for fixing two at a time so I fix two then two more. I first must heat the water for 2 min then I must heat the food for 6 min. This 8 min process must be completed twice. (I promise this is going somewhere) After I had made the first batch Bear got excited and started yelling to everyone "Lunch is ready! Food is ready!" I told him no it wasn't ready and of course he asked why. Bobo jumped in and said "Because she has to burn the other two." LOL
I don't burn food that often. Honestly. ;-)
As I was typing this post I noticed my daughter had changed her appearance. This must be the new way of keeping your clothes clean while you eat. Smart girl. (notice the cheesy beef taco in the pic=))
Monday, January 28, 2008
Girls Weekend!!!
Hey friends! First I want to remind you that Avery has her MRI today. They won't know anything until they see the doctor tomorrow.
Second, Makenna had another big seziure in her right arm yesterday so please continue to pray for her too. Matthew 7:7 in the New Living Translation uses what I have been taught is the more correct verb tense. This is what it says: Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened.
This coming weekend Princess and I are going to San Antonio with my youngest sister. Kara (my sister) is in a cheerleading competition and my mom and/or my other sister can't go with her so I get to!! We are going to stay with my sister-in-law, whose husband is living in OKC (Oklahoma City) right now because he has started his new job and Molly (SIL) hasn't finished hers in SA yet. It is going to be so much fun!!!The boys are staying home with RC and the grandparents so I'm sure they will have fun too. I think they are planning on going to see The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything b/c we didn't get to for Bear's B-day. I'm very busy, though, b/c I'm trying to cram five days of school into four. So...I better get going.
Also, just remembered, my Nana is having a stint put in her kidney. She only has one kidney so we gotta keep this one working. :-) Please pray for her, too. It is scheduled for tomorrow morning.
Oh yes, and one last thing. (I think) Popeye is doing much better. Thanks so much for your prayers!
Blessings!
Second, Makenna had another big seziure in her right arm yesterday so please continue to pray for her too. Matthew 7:7 in the New Living Translation uses what I have been taught is the more correct verb tense. This is what it says: Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened.
This coming weekend Princess and I are going to San Antonio with my youngest sister. Kara (my sister) is in a cheerleading competition and my mom and/or my other sister can't go with her so I get to!! We are going to stay with my sister-in-law, whose husband is living in OKC (Oklahoma City) right now because he has started his new job and Molly (SIL) hasn't finished hers in SA yet. It is going to be so much fun!!!The boys are staying home with RC and the grandparents so I'm sure they will have fun too. I think they are planning on going to see The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything b/c we didn't get to for Bear's B-day. I'm very busy, though, b/c I'm trying to cram five days of school into four. So...I better get going.
Also, just remembered, my Nana is having a stint put in her kidney. She only has one kidney so we gotta keep this one working. :-) Please pray for her, too. It is scheduled for tomorrow morning.
Oh yes, and one last thing. (I think) Popeye is doing much better. Thanks so much for your prayers!
Blessings!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
I DON'T KNOW
This morning RC is at work and the kids are still in their pjs. They love pajama days. I've been talking to God alot this morning. I just don't have God figured out (Praise Him! Who would want a god that was so small we could figure him out? NOT ME!) I just don't have me figured out either. I so desperately want to see healing for all these children and I want to see it NOW.
Marianne updated this morning with some very frustrating news. A little recap for those new to the blog: Marianne is my best friend and her daughter Makenna has a seziure disorder. During 2007 Makenna had FOUR brain surgeries systematically removing the back three lobes on the right side of her brain. Makenna is 3ys old. Our prayer has been that all the abnormal brain tissue be only on the right side of her brain. All seziures were on the left side of her body. Particularly in her left arm and in her mouth. Well, this morning as Marianne was changing Makenna's baby sister's (Marlee) diaper Marianne saw something out of the corner of her eye. She turned to see Makenna having a full blown seziure in her RIGHT arm. Her right arm hung limp at her side after it was over. I know you all know this but I just have to make sure you understand. The left side of the brain controls the right side of the body. In 2007 we were dealing with the right side of the brain and the left side of the body. I'm sure you can understand how very, very, very frustrating this is.
Here is what I'm asking from all of you: Let's step in for Marianne and Matt, for Team BrAvery, and for all the others and let's maintain a spirit of expectation for them. Let me explain. In my Believing God Bible study there is a story of a man named Duane Miller. Duane was miraculously healed by God, in front of a large group of people NTL, but he first struggled with his condition for 3 years. In Duane's own words: "Both Joylene (his wife) and I knew God could heal. We also continued to hope that He would yet heal me. But after almost three years of unanswered prayer, I had become a pragmatist. I felt that it was time to learn to deal with life as it was instead of wasting any more time trying to make it what it could not be. It was just too exhausting to maintain a spirit of expectation."
The story goes on to tell us how God surrounded him with people that maintained that spirit for him. You can read Duane's story in his book Out of the Silence.
It is so hard to maintain a spirit of expectation when you have to live it 24/7 so let's step in and help our fellow brothers and sisters out and maintain the spirit of expectation for them. I believe with all my heart that God has said He is going to heal Makenna in this life on this earth. I also felt God lead me to give Avery Psalm 103:1-5. check it out... seriously.
In Exodus 17:8-16 we read about the Amalekites attacking the Israelites. While the Israelites fought, Moses stood on a hill and watched. As long as Moses' arms were raised the Israelites would be winning, but when he put his arms down the Amalekites would be winning. So, when Moses' arms got tired Aaron and Hur brought him a stone to sit on and they held up his arms for him. We need to hold up their arms for them. I can't do this alone, you can't do this alone, and they can't do this alone. This is why God gave us each other.
One last thing, I would love to read about what is going on in everyone's lives. Either respond to this blog, to the email, or START YOUR OWN BLOG!!! I like the last idea best!:-)
P.S. Popeye is still having a hard time fighting this crud. Please pray for him also.
Marianne updated this morning with some very frustrating news. A little recap for those new to the blog: Marianne is my best friend and her daughter Makenna has a seziure disorder. During 2007 Makenna had FOUR brain surgeries systematically removing the back three lobes on the right side of her brain. Makenna is 3ys old. Our prayer has been that all the abnormal brain tissue be only on the right side of her brain. All seziures were on the left side of her body. Particularly in her left arm and in her mouth. Well, this morning as Marianne was changing Makenna's baby sister's (Marlee) diaper Marianne saw something out of the corner of her eye. She turned to see Makenna having a full blown seziure in her RIGHT arm. Her right arm hung limp at her side after it was over. I know you all know this but I just have to make sure you understand. The left side of the brain controls the right side of the body. In 2007 we were dealing with the right side of the brain and the left side of the body. I'm sure you can understand how very, very, very frustrating this is.
Here is what I'm asking from all of you: Let's step in for Marianne and Matt, for Team BrAvery, and for all the others and let's maintain a spirit of expectation for them. Let me explain. In my Believing God Bible study there is a story of a man named Duane Miller. Duane was miraculously healed by God, in front of a large group of people NTL, but he first struggled with his condition for 3 years. In Duane's own words: "Both Joylene (his wife) and I knew God could heal. We also continued to hope that He would yet heal me. But after almost three years of unanswered prayer, I had become a pragmatist. I felt that it was time to learn to deal with life as it was instead of wasting any more time trying to make it what it could not be. It was just too exhausting to maintain a spirit of expectation."
The story goes on to tell us how God surrounded him with people that maintained that spirit for him. You can read Duane's story in his book Out of the Silence.
It is so hard to maintain a spirit of expectation when you have to live it 24/7 so let's step in and help our fellow brothers and sisters out and maintain the spirit of expectation for them. I believe with all my heart that God has said He is going to heal Makenna in this life on this earth. I also felt God lead me to give Avery Psalm 103:1-5. check it out... seriously.
In Exodus 17:8-16 we read about the Amalekites attacking the Israelites. While the Israelites fought, Moses stood on a hill and watched. As long as Moses' arms were raised the Israelites would be winning, but when he put his arms down the Amalekites would be winning. So, when Moses' arms got tired Aaron and Hur brought him a stone to sit on and they held up his arms for him. We need to hold up their arms for them. I can't do this alone, you can't do this alone, and they can't do this alone. This is why God gave us each other.
One last thing, I would love to read about what is going on in everyone's lives. Either respond to this blog, to the email, or START YOUR OWN BLOG!!! I like the last idea best!:-)
P.S. Popeye is still having a hard time fighting this crud. Please pray for him also.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Team BrAvery
Hey friends! This morning I was introduced (via Caringbridge) to a family in Wisconsin with a 5yr old daughter fighting brain cancer. This coming Monday a scan is scheduled to assess if the treatment is working. I am asking everyone to lift this family up in faith filled prayer and ask our God to heal this little girl. That the scan shows complete healing!!! Folks, we all know our God can and I believe He still does miracles! Check out their blog and please pray with faith! I will not quit posting these prayer requests b/c I believe it is what we are called to do. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray continually (NIV) Keep on praying. (NLT) Also please lift up Makenna and ask God to heal her of her seizures. I believe God has said He is healing Makenna, but she still has a way to go and I also believe that our God can handle and desires for us to keep asking for more. Especially when it is the healing of precious children or the saving of lost souls!!!
Ok, Avery's blog: http://www.teambraverys.blogspot.com/
Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord.
Renew them in our day, in our time make them known
Habakkuk 3:2
Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God?
You are the God who performs miracles; You display your power among the peoples.
Psalm 77:13-14
"Everything is possible for him who believes." - Jesus (Mark 9:23)
Ok, Avery's blog: http://www.teambraverys.blogspot.com/
Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord.
Renew them in our day, in our time make them known
Habakkuk 3:2
Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God?
You are the God who performs miracles; You display your power among the peoples.
Psalm 77:13-14
"Everything is possible for him who believes." - Jesus (Mark 9:23)
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Popeye
Well, Princess and Bear seem to be getting better. Popeye is having a hard time fighting this off. This morning his fever was 103.5 :-( I'm pretty sure it is just the croup and hasn't moved into his lungs, though.
Most nights RC puts the kids to bed. I read them stories then RC takes over. Kinda his special thing with the kids. Well, on Monday nights RC doesn't get home until after 9:00 so it's up to me to put them to bed. Bobo and Bear share a room and Princess and Popeye share a room. I get them in bed and then stand in the doorway and pray. This past Monday night I was in another world and started to leave Popeye's room without praying. As I was turning off the light Popeye says "Mom, you forgot the prayer." I know it's not a big thing but to know that my 4yr. old is aware of what I'm doing and WANTS me to do it is precious!
Popeye ran a high fever all day yesterday. So, last night I decided to lay down with him for a little while to make sure his breathing wasn't labored. After about ten minutes I hear him say "Mom" (very pitiful like) and I say "yes, buddy". He continues, "I'm not scared, God is with me." a.k.a "Please go sleep in your own bed." It's hard to convey how cute this was. I guess you need to know that when our children come to us at night and say they are scared we take them back into their room and pray with them and tell them over and over that God is always with them and they don't need to be scared.
Anywho...those were two of the many cute things he has done lately and I just wanted to share.
Most nights RC puts the kids to bed. I read them stories then RC takes over. Kinda his special thing with the kids. Well, on Monday nights RC doesn't get home until after 9:00 so it's up to me to put them to bed. Bobo and Bear share a room and Princess and Popeye share a room. I get them in bed and then stand in the doorway and pray. This past Monday night I was in another world and started to leave Popeye's room without praying. As I was turning off the light Popeye says "Mom, you forgot the prayer." I know it's not a big thing but to know that my 4yr. old is aware of what I'm doing and WANTS me to do it is precious!
Popeye ran a high fever all day yesterday. So, last night I decided to lay down with him for a little while to make sure his breathing wasn't labored. After about ten minutes I hear him say "Mom" (very pitiful like) and I say "yes, buddy". He continues, "I'm not scared, God is with me." a.k.a "Please go sleep in your own bed." It's hard to convey how cute this was. I guess you need to know that when our children come to us at night and say they are scared we take them back into their room and pray with them and tell them over and over that God is always with them and they don't need to be scared.
Anywho...those were two of the many cute things he has done lately and I just wanted to share.
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