Get up off your behind and BE His hands and feet!!!!

Alex looses his first tooth

I can't believe it! One of my babies has lost their teeth! Watch the video to see who won the "race"!
now...was it that bad?

He's Everything I Need

"The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety." Psalms 18:2 (NLT)

TODAY'S THOUGHT What you believe about God makes a difference. Not in God, but in the way you live. Your comprehension of God has everything to do with your faith and hope in this world. Look at what David believed. He saw God as his rock, fortress, savior, protection, shield, power and safety. How do you think this affected his attitude during a crisis? Time and experience had taught David well. All that he went through only made him stronger and deepened his beliefs about the God who is there. The God who cares. The God who is able. What is God to you? Is He your rock, fortress and protection? Do you come to Him when the world gets too tough? Is God your power? Can you trust in Him to supply all that you need for each and every day? David felt so and so can we. Today, step out in faith. Ask God to reveal Himself to you and give you a fresh faith like David had. When you do, you will find God to be all that you need.

TODAY'S PRAYER Father, please reveal Yourself to me. Help me see what David saw. Help me see You as my rock, fortress, savior, protection, shield, power and safety. Help me step out in faith and trust You today. In Jesus' name. AMEN

God's Gift of Friendship

I just wanted to dedicate this blog entry to one of the most amazing people in my life. My best friend, Shana. We are coming up on our eleven year "friendship anniversary" and I continue to be amazed as the years pass, how blessed I am to have her in my life. Little did we know, as nineteen year old girls, when we met back in college, what God had in store for both of us. We got married within a year of each other, then had our first children, just eleven weeks apart. Our second, four months apart, and our third only five weeks! God put in both of our hearts a passion for photography, homeschooling, and most recently adoption! Throughout these years and experiences I have learned how rich, and deep, and real a friendship can be if God stays in it. Her heart is selfless, humble, and generous...the witness of her faith, inspiring...her family, beautiful and amazing!. I look forward to many, many, many more years together! SISTERCHICKS FOREVER!!!!

"See the World in Color"

Wonderful Talent

I MUST LEARN TO SEW! It is truly one of my lifelong dreams! I would make my daughters and grandaughters beautiful clothes to dress up in...like this pretty piece of work

Halloween Party 08

Thought I would include a couple pics from a Halloween party we went to last nite...we had such a blast. All three kids were pirates. I came as the scariest thing I could think of...me in 1992 (me as a band nerd...i mean band GENIUS! HA!) I wore my mom jeans, tucked in my polo and brought out my old band jacket. i added tape to the nose piece of my glasses just for effect. hahaha!

Mercy

"I cry out to the LORD; I plead for the LORD's mercy. I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles. When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn." Psalms 142:1-3 (NLT)

TODAY'S THOUGHT Have you ever felt overwhelmed? I talk to people everyday that feel that way. Divorce, hunger, disease, addictions, homelessness, debt, trauma, everyday people come to our church for help. And it should be that way. The church is God's representative on earth. We should be telling everyone that God deeply cares about their personal affairs. David knew this. He was overwhelmed with life and all the challenges it had for him, yet he knew he could turn to the Lord. He cried out to God and plead for mercy. And God listened. Jeremiah attests to this. In Lamentations 3:22-24 Jeremiah writes, "The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning." What an overwhelming truth. God's faithful love NEVER ends and His mercies NEVER cease. I can't even begin to get my brain around that. And the beauty is, every morning I wake up, God is there, with all His love and mercy waiting for me. Today, when you need to, cry out to God. Pour out your complaints to Him. Tell Him all about your troubles. He has a brand new day's worth of mercy and love waiting for you.

TODAY'S PRAYER Father, I am so glad I can come before You and share all my burdens. I am so grateful for Your mercy and faithfulness. Thank You that they never cease but are new every morning. Praise You Lord. AMEN

Sweet Forgiveness

No one likes to talk about sin....I don't know about you, but I would much rather think on forgiveness. Sin is dirty and messy. It anxiety, confusion, pride, lust,greed and a multitude of other life sapping things. And yet, as nasty as it is...we still fall into it. It's being a human. Romans 7:15 says "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." If we do not acknowledge our sin....and let the Holy Spirit reveal these burdens...we can't fully comprehend grace, or the extent of God's love for us. It is when we come before Our Father, acknowledge our sin, ask and receive God's forgiveness that we are fullfilling the whole purpose of His sacrifice. Honestly it is hard for me to come before Him with this slimy stuff...and sometimes even harder to swallow that He's forgiven me again. But if I think on that, and let the Holy Spirit really reveal the reality of it. My soul is awakened to Him...I feel His blood washing over me....my heart begins to burst out of my chest in praise....it's magnificent. Ronald Ovitt's devotional was about it.

"When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. - Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, 'I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.' And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone." Psalms 32:3, 5 (NLT)

TODAY'S THOUGHT What hope is found when we decide to stop doing something that is wrong. What peace is ours when we set out to make right those wrongs that we have committed. What joy we experience when we unburden our self of things that have held us prisoner in the dungeon of guilt. David paints the picture of inner turmoil and anguish we bring upon ourselves when we store the toxic emotions of a guilty conscience. He writes, "When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long." But later David writes, "Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!" Where there was pain, there can be joy. Where there was guilt, there can be forgiveness. Today, come to God with anything that is bothering your conscience. Don't go another day without experiencing the joy from a heart forgiven.

TODAY'S PRAYER Father, thank You for the substitute death of Christ for my sins. I know I can bring any of my wrongdoings to You for Your complete forgiveness. Lord, hear my prayers of repentance and restore joy deep into my soul. AMEN

Being A Real Disciple/Following His Footsteps

TODAY'S VERSE "He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever. He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The LORD frees the prisoners. The LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are weighed down. The LORD loves the godly. The LORD protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked." Psalms 146:6-9 (NLT)

TODAY'S THOUGHT How the Church has distorted the purpose of God in this world. We have made it all about us. It is our worship of God, it the discipleship of our own, it is care of our buildings and programs that take top priority. Now, obviously we are to worship Him. Certainly God inhabits the praise of His people. We must disciple those who have come to faith in Christ. Christ Himself told us to go and make "disciples" of all nations. Finally, we must take care of the resources God has given us to use. But we have an incomplete picture of God's purpose if we never consider His compassion He has toward those that are needy. Is it any surprise? God created man and woman for fellowship with Himself, but we have ignored Him and have played all kinds of havoc on this world. So what does God do? He goes after all those hurting and tries to win them to Himself. Today's passage says, "He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The LORD frees the prisoners. The LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are weighed down. The LORD loves the godly. The LORD protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows." This attitude of God toward those in need is substantiated over and over again in both the Old and New Testament. The question is, will we join Him in His work? God has called you and I to follow Him; let us follow Him by helping those around us that so desperately need our help.

TODAY'S PRAYER Father, help me see the needs of others the way You do. Help me to respond in a way that honors you. In Jesus' name.

MY MOUTH SINGS HIS PRAISES!

In Genesis, He's the breath of life
In Exodus, He is the Passover Lamb
In Leviticus, He's our high priest
In Numbers, the fire by night
Deuteronomy, He's Israel's Guide
Joshua, He's salvation's choice
Judges, He's Israel's Guard
In Ruth, the kinsmen's redeemer
1st and 2nd Samuel, our trusted prophet
In Kings and Chronicles He is Sovereign
In Ezra, He's the true and faithful scribe
In Nehemiah, the re-builder of broken walls and lives
In Esther, He's Mordecai's courage
In Job, the timeless redeemer
In Psalms He is our morning song
In Proverbs, He is our wisdom
Ecclesiastes, He's the time and season
In Song of Solomon, He is the lover's dream
In Isaiah He is Prince of Peace
In Jeremiah, the weeping prophet
Lamentations, the cry for Israel
Ezekiel, the call from sin
Daniel, the stranger in the fire
Hosea, the forever faithful
Joel, the spirit's power
Amos, the strong-arms that carry
Obadiah, the Lord our Savior
Jonah, the great missionary
Micah, the promise of peace
Nahum, our strength and shield
In Habakkuk and Zephaniah, He's brings revival
In Haggai He restores that which was lost
IN Zachariah, He's our fountain
And in Malachi, He's the son of righteousness rising with healing in His wings
AND THAT'S JUST THE OLD TESTAMENT

In Matthew Mark Luke and John, He is God and Messiah
In the spirit filled book of Acts, He is the reigning fire from Heaven
In Romans, He is the grace of God
Corinthians, the power of love
Galatians, freedom from the curse of sin
Ephesians, our glorious treasure
Philippians, the servant's heart
Colossians, He's God and the trinity
Thessalonians, our calling King
In Timothy, Titus and Philemon, He's our mediator and our faithful pastor
In Hebrews, the everlasting courage
In James, the one who heals the sick
In 1st and 2nd Peter, our faithful shepherd
In John and Jude, He's the lover coming for His bride

AND in the Revelation, in the very end, when it's all over, said and done, when time is NO MORE. He is and will always be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace, son of Man, Lamb of God, The Great I am, Alpha and Omega, God and Savior He is Jesus Christ the Lord HE IS EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED!

Plugging into the Power/Putting on the Armor of God

TODAY'S VERSE "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power." Ephesians 6:10 (NIV)

TODAY'S THOUGHT There is no doubt, in this life we need to be strong! How many times are we gripped with uncertainty, fear and doubt? How often are we attacked by rouge thoughts that would take us captive and leave our souls barren? How weak can we get and still have more room for weakness? But today's passage says, "Finally, be strong." And would we try! But our strength just doesn't seem to be enough. That is why I rejoice in the rest of the passage. When we read the rest we see that we are not alone in this spiritual battle. No, the verse reads, "Finally be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power." What a difference a few words can make. We are to be strong, but not in our own power. Rather we are to lean upon the generosity of our Lord Jesus Christ and His mighty power. Today, take a few moments and meditate on what "His power" really means. Consider what it can do, think about your life and how different it would be if indeed God unleashed His power in it. This is what He offers. He says, "Come today and use my power. Don't try to do it on your own. Lean on me. I give you my power to use so come be strong in me."

I pondered over this devotional. POWER. What an incredibly strong word. (pardon the pun) GODS POWER. Big words. BIG MEANING. But no understanding. I know...it seems so obvious. God has power...power over the universe, power over the earth....POWER. But He wants to share His power with ME!? Seriously? Then I look up the rest of the passage. Whoa.
11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

The battle is the Lords!!!!!!We choose Him, the author of SALVATION to lean upon and He stands up against this world! THAT is how we plug into THE POWER!!!!!

God Covers All the Bases

God is just so good. I'm saying that with such a burn in my heart this morning for Him. Why is He so good? He's the great I am, His mercies are fresh every morning, He wants us to call Him DADDY! He loves us so much He sent His Son to accept the punishment for OUR sins. He covers all the bases....When He sees you are under attack, He has you covered, He equips you for the fight, before you even know what's happening. He IS LOVE. He's a solid rock, and foundation of Truth that we can stand on and NOT waver EVER.He's WON the battle....the one we fight every day against the forces of the enemy. And, OH, that AMAZING GRACE. How SWEET the sound, that SAVED a WRETCH like ME. I once was sooo LOST, but now I am FOUND. Was BLIND, but now I SEE.
Oh, how I have sensed Him by my side these last few days. I was in a situation yesterday that tested my faith. It was a man. A human just like me that listened to the enemy whisper in his ear "you tell her that adoptin is foolish, that those people she wants to help are not worth saving. they're dirty....oh, and tell her that this is the holy spirit talking...that'll get her." It felt like getting kicked in the gut...but then.......Truth whispered in MY ear. Does this sound like Me? Go, read My Word....compare this to the Truth that is from My Heart....does this sound like Me?" Hah! The enemy was trying to come through the backdoor and he was EXPOSED! i LOVE when that happens! And the rest of the day God confirmed His Truth to me OVER AND OVER AND OVER again. Just so I wouldn't forget. GOD COVERS ALL THE BASES!

Amazing Grace

I am sitting here, after watching the movie "Amazing Grace", just about speechless. What an amazing movie. What an amazing message. And it's a true story.
James 2:14-16 says...14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if people claim to have faith but have no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? That is what the main character's journey was about. He found God. He was giddy with excitement and wanted to spend his life as a monk, praying and living his life in worshipful silence. But God had another plan....God opened his eyes to the pain and suffering of people in the world. And he used his faith to do good works. One quote from the movie has burned into my heart "Africa, your sufferings have arrested my heart...your sufferings, no tongue can express, no language impart". His heart was broken for the people of Africa and what they were suffering through the slave trade. But there is still suffering in Africa. There are almost SIX MILLION children that have lost their parents to AIDS, starvation and disease. And yet, so many of us turn a blind eye. I cannot be that person that wishes the suffering "go in peace; keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about their physical need" any longer. We MUST join the effort to help. We MUST see that faith, without works in DEAD!


God's still, small, pure, lovely, amazing, love filled voice has been whispering His will in my ears and to my heart. "See through my eyes....feel with my heart, for just a moment, what I feel for the helpless, the hopeless, the sick, the dieing....do something. Become part of the wave that is My Love. I have given you so much grace. Share that with someone who needs it. Hear the voices of these children that can't speak for themselves.

I'm Brown....

You are most like: You are Brown
Earthy and humble, you are often mistaken for being plain, when you are actually quite interesting. Your gentle spirit causes you to be very attractive to others who are searchng for genuine friends.
Take this quiz: Which Crayola Box of 8 Color Are You?
Visit Toys For Your Blog.com for more blog quizzes

Deeper Still/ My Peristant God

TODAY'S VERSE "So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better." Colossians 1:9-10 (NLT)

What a weekend I had. I attended the "Deeper Still" conference with Beth Moore, Kay Arthur, and Prisilla Shirer. What an incredible amount of Truth spoken this weekend. What passion these women had for the Word of God. What conviction I had to get off of my lazy behind and truly live the way I say I want to live. One of the speakers, I believe it was Kay, said that we need to be so full of God's truth, we spill it when we are bumped and bleed it if we are stabbed. It just HIT me so hard that I can have that same zeal for God that they had, I can KNOW THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE in a very intimate way, I can find my soul's only satisfaction, if I just open up His Word. Devotionals are great. But it's like a snack, when what I really need is a HEARTY MEAL. I want to know God, His character, His heart. And He gives us this through His words in HIS WORD THE BIBLE.
What is even more brilliant is know HE WANTS ME TO KNOW HIM!!!!! Check out the verse in this Ronald Ovitt this morning. He is persistent! He is out to have my heart. He WANTS ME TO KNOW HIM!
So...yesterday I prayed that He would help me through this journey, and asked "where do I start? His response? "THE BEGINNING". So I opened up my notebook and God's Word and I am journaling about all the things I learn about God's character as I read the Bible from front to back. I think I may blog this each week. After all what GIFTS OF JOY are the words of God Almighty!

There Is Gonna Be Six Of Us!

I am SO EXCITED to actually be able to say with confidence. WE ARE ADOPTING! We've been praying over the decision around a year, and have come to the conclusion we will be adding one more Murphy to the family. Layla, is the name God has laid upon our hearts. I don't believe it's by coincidence that it's origin is African, and means "dark beauty". Unless God intervenes, we will be applying to the Ethiopian program through our chosen adoption agency. We will be starting at the beginning of 2009, a time Scott felt was right. Until then, my heart is aching to be part of the relief effort for Ethiopia, so I am looking into connecting the charity focused women's group I am a part of, and Ethiopian Orphan Relief somehow. We are keeping it entirely in prayer. Anyway, I am SOOOO EXCITED! In a couple years Scott and I will have another daughter. Emily and her brothers will have another sister, EllaGrace will have a lifelong friend, and Layla will have a home, a family, and more love than she could have ever imagined. And it is ALL because of God's Great Glory and Love. Isn't He AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS the book (and the children's home in Ethiopia) that it was named for was something I ran across after this prayer "Lord, what does her face look like...where is Layla?" Cool,huh?

"I gotcha".... said God.

It's all coming full circle again. Thank you God for showing me another facet of You. This week, it's been all about God's love. The lesson God is trying to teach me is like a flower slowly opening it's petals. I have fought "the fog", as I call it, this week. I don't know if it's hormonaly induced, if it's a spiritual attack, I'm not sure, but I do know I feel like I was in the fire this week, my light was dim, my worries overwhelmed me. There were so many questions in my head. Then yesterday God said "STOP...ONE DAY AT A TIME. APPLY MY TRUTH TO YOUR LIFE, ONE DAY AT A TIME". OK God, now what? Well, I wake up this morning to this Ovitt Devotional

TODAY'S VERSE "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." I Peter 5:7 (NLT) "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

Wow...God speak. I read this and think "great, I can give my worries to Him because He cares enough to take them...but how do I wrap my mind around that God?" And I get this mental image of me holding Carson in the pool while he SCREAMS, because for some reason he doesn't trust me....and I keep saying "I've got you Carsie, mama's got you, DON'T WORRY". Ah hah! I'm Carson, and He's me. I'm sitting here crying and screaming and flailing around for no reason. God's holding me, because He loves me and He is SO CAPEABLE of taking care of me. Even in the cold water, even when I don't feel anything under my feet...I just have to look at Him, and see Him as my DAD, who has the same unconditional love for me as I have for my kids (times a zillion) Now, this weekend (and last night at 707) we are learning about....you guessed it....GOD'S LOVE. I can't wait!!!!!!!!

Set Your Minds On Things Above....His Will, Not Mine!

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Colossians 3:1-4 AMEN!!!!!!


Corinthinans 10:5
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.



So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

—Philippians 2:1-4

This verse stuns me with it's truth...circumstances lately (mostly me being self-centered and not Christ centered) have put me and my love on different sides of the street, so to speak. I going my way, and he going his. That is until this weekend, when an AMAZING thing happened. He went to the "Walk of Emmaus", a soul stirring, Christ facing, discipleship training, life changing retreat...although he says it was definately not a "retreat" from anything. Anyway, he got back, and I was tired of being by myself...very self-absorbed about what I have been so wrapped up in lately (me=baby...i want baby...i want baby now,now,now!)After a couple points it came to a boiling point. To make a short story long, we had a VERY intense discussion, until we realized WE WEREN'T IN CONTROL OF ANYTHING. I know, obvious point here. But we realized it at the same time, and made the commitment to push ourselves aside, and let God use the passion in our hearts for what HE WANTS. Since then we have made time to pray together every morning and night. We both are doing our Bible studies, and all is well with my soul. PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!!!

Dealing With Worry....Bowing Down to God's Ultimate Authority

Sermon Notes

* Submit to God's ultimate authority
* If you wrestle with God, He'll win every time
* We think if we worry about this situation enough, we will control it...WRONG!
* Worry makes you miserable, and does nothing for the situation
* Why am I finding it so hard to follow this authority, telling me not to worry
* Worry chokes the life out of our lives
7 Worry divides our mind between what God wants and what WE want
* Jesus says things we were about don't make since...it's not reasonable
* We worry about things we can't change
* We worry about something and it BLOWS UP, it's gets bigger and bigger
* Worry is unnatural...if He cares for the world (birds, flowers) don't you know your Father would take of you, HIS CHILD
* Our bodies were not meant to worry.
* We are not born worriers...we are learned worryers...we can unlearn.
* Worrying wears you down. peace gives life. if you pray as much as you worry, you wouldn't worry much
* Worry won't do a DERN THING
* If you worry about the future, does it control it?
* Worry is the most worthless use of energy
* Worry is unnecessary
* We will never have another daughter.....greatest worry
* Put God first in EVERY AREA of your life.
* You have MOVED GOD OUT OF THE CENTER OF YOUR LIFE
* WHEREVER GOD IS NOT FIRST, IT WILL BE A SOURCE OF WORRY...cuz we're afraid we'll lose it
* Live ONE DAY AT A TIME..
* Because you worry, you miss out on today, the blessings RIGHT NOW!
* Give God the things we CANT CONTROL
* If we let worry in the front door, faith goes out the back door of our heart
* Stop panicing and start praying
* If God sent His son for you, don't you think he cares about your life?
* God is saying..this battle is not yours! trust Him
* Worry is distracting us from what God has for us.

His Hands and Feet

They Chose Me by Debbie Rice

Scared and all alone
in the orphan home
No mom or dad to sing them lullabies
Waiting night and day
just to hear them say
too young, to old
not right
we're just not sure
They sing themselves to sleep
They know no other way
No family to teach
them how to pray
They long to feel the love
a family can give
Their empty eyes reflect
the lives they live
Why can't we see
Why can't we hear
the empty lives just waiting
to be filled
Why can't we be
His hands and feet
Why can't we change the world
for just one tiny life
why can't it be
They chose me!
That's how it is with Jesus
He chose you as His own
He saw your situation
and called you His own
He never would forsake you
He knew you had no hope
He never would forsake you
He knew just what to do
He chose you!
Why can't we be
His hands and feet
Why can't we change the world
just one life at a time
We're all the same
all in His name
a family adopted by the son
Why can't we see
Why can't it be
They chose me

I'm not sure why, but I am COMPLETELY overwhelmed by this deep conviction that we HAVE GOT TO GET OUT OF THE BUBBLE WE ARE LIVING IN and LIVE LIKE JESUS WOULD IF HE WAS HERE. I was talking to my sweetie this morning and I just kept thinking we are NOT living this reality. God has been pushing us both I think to get out of our box. First it was a nagging feeling, followed by a sermon SPECIFICALLY about jumping over the edge. Getting off that comfy cozy ledge and being a rebel against the world. Living like Christ...period. tTaking the risk. We are not alone in this. Jesus Christ is holding our hand as we step out, and eternity is on the other side. Man, I am burning up inside right now.

With All My Heart

Just like the previous post, here is a "e-votional" I signed up for written by Ronald Ovitt. I am blown away how much God has used this as tool to speak directly to me. I have depended on these Bible verses through some very difficult times this past year.

TODAY'S VERSE "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)

TODAY'S THOUGHT. When it is important to us, it is amazing to see how focused we can get. This is how it is with God. He spoke to His people through the Prophet Jeremiah, admonishing them that the only way they would really find God was when they involved their heart. Notice, Jeremiah did not say, "when you seek him with your whole intellect." It is not knowing "about" God; it is about "knowing God" in a deep and intimate way. God is saying that if you would get passionate about Him, then you will begin to find Him. How intent are you on knowing God? Begin today by seeking Him with your whole heart.

TODAY'S PRAYER Father, I come to You today. I really do want to know You. I want to have a deep intimate relationship with You. Help me discipline myself to take the time to know You. Take the time to hear You. Take the time to tell You my thoughts, hopes and dreams. To share with You my fears, apprehensions and doubts. As I seek You this way, that is with all my heart, I pray that You would reveal more and more of Yourself to me. AMEN

Isn't that the truth? We complain and say "boy am I busy, and tired....too tired to read my bible, too tired to pray". But I do find myself having extra time to think about that new shirt I want alot, or the way I want this adoption to go. (notice all the I's here)But am I getting REALLY passionate about what is important, developing a deep intimate realtionship with God. REALLY GETTING TO KNOW HIM? This week's preschool lesson (which I am writing a puppet show for) is a story from Acts. It is when Paul is traveling and spreading the "Good News". He encounters these two groups of people. One group believes in God, but has a distant relationship with Him. The other believes there is no God, no moral compass, and all that matters is seeing their own pleasures. I find myself falling into those two belief systems alot. Keeping God at a distance thinking "I can do this myself"....or trying to find satisfaction in things of this world. And God keeps calling "Come here, be still, listen to me. Rest with me. Get to know me. I will place your feet on solid ground. I am in control. I am God. I am God. I am God.

God Said "Shhhh, I need to tell you something"

Don't you love when things come full circle? Especially when God is drawing the circle? Yesterday's sermon was about how God changes us. Little by little, experience by experience. It starts with an uncomfortable feeling, like something just isn't right. I just happened to feel like I was drowning in anxiety.(note that word "drowning"). At the end of that sermon, God just whispered to my heart "my power is made perfect in your weakness"....but "what does that mean?", I thought. So I woke up this morning to this on my e-votional:TODAY'S VERSE "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him." Psalms 37:7 (NIV)

Even our prayers become a "tool" to use, rather than a relationship. Instead, God desires that we come to Him like a loving and wise Father. Our relationship with Him matters more than our circumstances. . Today, determine to know Him better. Choose some time where you can spend twenty minutes of solitude with Him. Don't let another day, week, month or year go by and not treasure God in your heart through time spent still before Him.

Wow...He knew I was drowning, and my Great Deliverer has taken my hand and set me on solid ground. God is....Indescribable. His wisdom and His peace floods my soul this morning.

But seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
Matthew 6:33 (WOW!)

"He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved."
Psalm 62:6

"That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."
Ephesians 3:16-21

The bottom line is this "If we don't have a close relationship with Him then we will forget to lean on Him when we are in need. We won't have the faith to allow Him to do His thing while we rest in Him. We have to have developed a relationship with Him so we know that we know that we know that God is willing and able to handle things.

It is most important to turn our eyes toward God and find out where He wants us to focus our attention. Once we get our hearts and minds in line with His will then everything else is just frosting on the cake. Don't have a "me agenda". Have a "Him" state of mind.

His Power Is Made Perfect In My Weakness

Jehovah Tsidkenu” Jeremiah 33:16

which means “The Lord Our Righteousness”

by Robert Murray McCheyne
November 18, 1884

I once was a stranger to grace and to God,
I knew not my danger; and felt not my load;
Though friends spoke in rapture of Christ on the tree,
Jehovah Tsidkenu was nothing to me.

I oft read with pleasure, to soothe or engage,
Isaiah’s wild measure and John’s simple page;
But even when they pictured the blood-sprinkled tree,
Jehovah Tsidkenu seemed nothing to me.

Like tears from the daughters of Zion that roll,
I wept when the waters went over His soul,
Yet thought not that my sins had nailed to the tree
Jehovah Tsidkenu — ’twas nothing to me.

When free grace awoke me by light from on high,
Then legal fears shook me, I trembled to die;
No refuge, no safety in self could I see —
Jehovah Tsidkenu my Saviour must be.

My terrors all vanished before the sweet name;
My guilty fear banished, with boldness I came
To drink at the fountain, life-giving and free—
Jehovah Tsidkenu is all things to me.

Jehovah Tsidkenu! My treasure and boast,
Jehovah Tsidkenu! I ne’er can be lost;
In Thee shall I conquer by flood and by field—
My cable, my anchor, my breastplate and shield!

Even treading the valley; the shadow of death,
This “watchword” shall rally my faltering breath;
For while from life’s fever my God sets me free,
Jehovah Tsidkenu my death-song shall be.

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’
Jeremiah 23:5-6

We are All Made in His Image...What A Beautiful God

James 1:27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.



YOU KNOW YOU'RE AN ADOPTIVE PARENT IF ...



1. The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has made you lose sleep.


2. You realize DNA has nothing to do with love & family.


3. You can't watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.


4. The fact that, if 7% of Christians adopted 1 child there would be no orphans in the world, is convicting to you.


5. You spend free time surfing blogs about families who've experienced the blessing of adoption.


6. It drives you crazy when people ask you about adopted child's "real" parents.


7. You've been "pregnant" with your adoptive child longer than it takes an elephant to give birth.(2 years!)


8. You'd no idea how you'd afford to adopt, but stepped out in faith anyway, knowing He'd provide. (& He does!)


9. You've taken an airplane half-way around the world with a child you just met.


10. You believe God's heart's for adoption.


11. You realize that welcoming a child into your heart & family is one of the most important legacies you could ever leave on this earth.


12. You know what the word "Dossier" means & you can actually pronounce it correctly!

Meemee's 6th Birthday

I am still trying to convince myself that we just celebrated my first child's sixth birthday! I just can't believe how fast time has FLOWN by! It just ain't right! I promise that is one of the first questions I'll ask God up in Heaven. "Why do they grow up so fast!" Anyway we had a GREAT time surrounded by bunches of wonderful treasures of friends. Scott's mom, dad, and sister came too and put the icing on the cake of our weekend (haha, get it, icing on the cake!?) The one thing that kept running through my mind is..."We are sooo blessed, look at this daughter of mine, so beautiful and kind. Look at all these people that love our family....we are soooo blessed....thank you sweet Jesus, thank you, thank you , thank from the bottom of my heart"...here are some pics of our day. And yes, I made the cake. Turned out pretty good for my very first cake ever, huh?

Three Exceptionally Sweet Boys

We had another great weekend . This time it was spent with our friends Karen and Aaron down in FL. We were all neighbors in the cajun state, and bonded over crawfish. tee, hee. They MADE our time in LA. They were just a incredible blessing. Fortunately, we all relocated at the same time (within a week of each other!) and only live about two hours from each other now. Here are a few pics of their boys. They are SO GORGEOUS! I hope one of my girls will fall for one of those boys! K&A would be the best in-laws!

What A Way to Spend A Weekend

So, this past weekend, we got the an unexpected invitation (always a God thing) to spend the weekend with our new friends/neighbors Jason and Kim. Their faith story will blow you away! They've battled cancer, and a multitude of challenges in their young lives (both only in their early 30s) and have come out singing praises to the Lord. They are just one of those couples that you feel lucky to know.

Anyway, we all stayed at their family's beachfront home in Panama City. Going to sleep and waking up to the sound of the waves crashing on the sand was like being in Heaven! Kim and I just couldn't stop talking about how touched we were by all the beauty around us. Sunsets rendered us speechless. The boys ( I mean men, tee hee) did all kinds of manly things together. Football watching, beer drinking, cigar smoking. Lots of male bonding. I'm sure it was good for them both. Haha!

I attached a few pics I took this weekend of us all. Minus me of course. Always the one behind the camera. Which is FINE with me!

I wanted to share some pics of our weekend. Enjoy!

My Many Blessings

I have just grown to adore this "newborn" addiction of mine... photography. It makes me happy. I LOVE seeing the world through a lens. I LOVE catching these moments with my friends and family that would fade from my memory if they weren't caught in a photograph. A look, a pose, a smile. All those awe-inspiring sprinkles of beauty in everyday life we miss if we don't LOOK.

It's Not About Me, It's All About Him

Walking with God is taking on a whole new meaning to me lately. Just about a year ago, I was feeling dissatisfied, stale, alone, and depressed. At the time we were new to this town, having moved away from some precious friends in Louisiana. My heart was still aching over our decision not to have anymore biological children, and I had not been to church in over two years. And then one day, as I sat in the bathtub, alone and crying, my heart cried out "show me your glory Lord, I want to know you more." No more than a few days later, visiting this new church called CUMC with my best friend Shana, I signed up for a women's study group. They were studying a book called "Breaking Free". Nervously I attended the first study group, and was welcomed with open arms into a group of ladies, I'll never forget. During that study, I did break free. God showed me how a wall had been put up between Him and I. A wall made of lies, selfishness, and resentment. God broke that wall down, and still continues to help me keep it down day by day. He healed my broken heart, and drew me close to Him. For the past year He has revealed so much of His perfect wisdom to me, there aren't words powerful enough to express my gratitude to Him. Little by little, day by day, experience by experience, He reveals Himself. I've learned so much about His mercy. Time and time again, I fall, I sin. Time and time again, He lifts me out of that pit and places me back on my feet again. I've learned so much about His grace. Everyday I wake up there are blessings surrounding me. I wake up to the greatest man I've ever known. I look into the faces of these children, beautiful healthy sweet little people that God has entrusted me to raise. And then there are my friends. Old ones and new ones, their importance to me is immeasurable. Over the past year, God has moved mountains in the hearts of both me and my husband as he has laid the desire to adopt a child from somewhere in this world. He led me to participate in our church's preschool ministry as a puppeteer, where once again He shares His heart with me. Now I am at another turn in the road. He is teaching me about how to hear Him even more in my day to day life. How to turn my face to His, and let His glory shine brightly on my face. So I can remember "It's Not About Me, It's All About Him"