My Eight Questions...

Saw this posted on my new friend Cyndi's blog, and thought I'd throw in my 8 cents as well. Some of these were difficult to answer, but did the best I could! ~*~

My Eight Questions...

1. What is your favorite Bible verse? How did it become your favorite? (If you don’t have a single favorite, please share one of your faves.) There are so many, but one that was my prayer for so long, but now its my praise of what God has done in my life: Psalm 113:9 " He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD."

2. What is currently on your nightstand? I dump my heart and brain on my nightstand... what's on yours??
Lets see, a bottle of water, a box of napkins, and one of Roman's 'guys.'

3. What place have you not traveled to but would like to? Why? Gosh, so many places! I've always wanted to visit Ireland. Europe would be great too, because one can go to several countries all in one area. Definitely Jerusalem, but not while my children are young. New Zealand, and Belize are supposed to be nice places to visit too.

4. What is your favorite snack? Atkins Chocolate Peanut Butter bar Well, that's my 'healthy' favorite snack. My REAL favorite snack might be chips and salsa, with white cheddar cheese. lol

5. Why motivates you to blog? I've always wanted to blog, but never really got started. With this new challenge of reading the Bible in 90 days, I thought that this would be a perfect opportunity to start!

6. Which person from the Bible (besides Jesus) are you most looking forward to meeting? Wow, again so many!! I guess probably Paul. His testimony of being 'the worst of sinners' and his openness, honesty and humility in sharing that he constantly struggled with sin always reminds me that we are all susceptible to temptation and failure, but that Jesus in His loving Grace forgives, cleanses, and redeems us from what our actions deserve.

7. What brings out the best in you... what brings out the worst? When I'm trusting in God to lead me, and I'm following Him, doing what I believe His Word says to do, living for Him in an overflow of what He's done for me, I think that He brings the best out in me at those times. I seem to bring out the worst in myself, when I think I know the best way, when I want to do what's easy instead of right, when I react out of anger instead of love. I feel like Paul as he describes himself in Romans 7:15-25.
Surprisingly, I like the way the Message puts this verse: What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary.

But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.

I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?

The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.

8. What characteristic of God are you the most grateful for? His Love. His Love sums up in one word the fullness of all that He has done for us, His grace and mercy, redemption from the grave and hell...to be adopted children of the Living God!

B90 t-2 days and counting!

‎"90 days from now, where you do want to be with your spiritual life? Starting yet another New Year's resolution to minister to others, witness for the Lord? Why not start Mon Oct 4 with a new 90 day commitment to sharing the love of Jesus and enter that first week of the New Year having demonstrated His mercy and grace... to others!! Feeling more fulfilled, more loving and humble than last year! Starting the New Year out on a positive note....I know I am...who's with me?.....I'm reaching out in the Name of Jesus (with the enthusiasm I had when He first touched me)...check out and see what ministry opportunities the Lord has for you , right there at your level, or simply stick with one you've already been given. Either way....LETS DO THIS!!!"
Above quoted from Stephenie Campbell
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1267385952#!/L8ibug

Lead of the Spirit, Steph penned this quiet challenge and posted it to her facebook. When I saw it, I thought, what a great post! -and wondered what specifically God might have for me in the the next 90 days, that I might further grow closer to Him. Bible study has been on my mind for some time now, but specifically, what and how? Then another poster (Cyndi) mentioned she had a 'read the Bible in 90 days') book mark, and had been wanting to do that, but not necessarily alone. At the same time, Stephenie and I had separately discovered the very same plan! I love it when God confirms His plans for us! We serve an awesome God!

In addition to reading the Bible in 90 days, I thought it might be a good idea to post my thoughts and feelings throughout this 90 day journey. I may not post every day, but that is okay. I want to focus on my general thoughts about the text, any spiritual insights God might give me, and how I feel overall. I'm praying specifically for Cyndi and Stephi as my accountability partners in this journey, and am thankful that we three are traveling this together. I'm so excited to see where God will lead us! ~*~

And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken ~Ecclesiastes 4:12

Thanksgiving 2009

I wrote this last year around Thanksgiving. It was one of those moments where I was missing my Mom, and waiting to find out if my Dad was going to have dinner with us, or if there was going to be a family plan. God brought to my mind just a few of the ways He has blessed me, so that I could 'be thankful in all things,' even when missing my Mom.

1Thessalonians 5:18 ~ 'In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.'
~*~

I was sitting here waiting for a phone call regarding Thanksgiving Day, and I began to think about all the ways that God has blessed me, and for how much I have to be thankful. I am warm, fed, safe, and clean, clothed, and my immediate needs are met, but more than that...I am blessed with two sleeping sons, one snoring softly from having a cold (Jordan). It hasn't been that long ago that I would avoid church on Mother's Day, because on that day, and other times, my empty arms felt too heavy to bear. But God had a plan, to give me a hope and a future, to give me the desires of my heart...to make me 'the joyful mother of children.' It may not have come about in the usual ways, but Roman and Jordan are my children still, carried for years in the womb of my soul. Like any mother, I'm terribly thankful when they finally fall asleep at night (lol), but even more thankful when, in the morning, they come to my bed and snuggle with me to wake me up, Jordan kissing me and saying he's hun'ry, while Roman molds his body as close to me as he can, saying 'scooch Mommy,' (which is our weird word for snuggling close) only to fall asleep again while I rub their heads, and draw their faces with my fingers. Finally my alarm will go off and we must leave the warmth of the bed to meet the day, and so out we go to the living room, where Roman grabs one of the blankets and snuggles himself in big green chair. I prepare breakfast, talking with the boys about the day ahead, and we pray together for God to be with each of us. I am so thankful for all those moments, and so many more, so many that I can only hold them in my heart by the Grace of Christ, for He gave me each and every one of them.

And of course how can I not mention the thankfulness I have for my husband? Patient and kind, not self serving, never rude, boastful or proud; although I have many times wronged Brent by my words or actions, he never keeps record. Brent always protects, trusts, and hopes for the best for me and our boys. In his desire to take care of us, he always perserveres. Brent is to me the epitome of 1 Corinthians 13. Tonight he had to go to bed early because he has to get up at 2 am to go to work. And he does it for us. He prays for us, loves us, and leads us in so many quiet ways. Our boys look to him, even when he doesn't realize it, and emulate him in all sorts of ways. I am thankful to have a strong, Christian husband who not only loves me and our children, but has a fierce and unbreakable love for Jesus. It is my honor to be his wife, to lift him in prayer, to love and follow him as he leads our family with a gentle strength not many possess. Before I knew the desire of wanting children, I prayed for a loving, kind husband, who loved God with all of his heart, all of his mind, and all of soul. Jesus gave to me out of His abundance, and answered that prayer more fully than I could understand.

I am thankful for my brother and his family, and for my Dad, and for my Mom. I am thankful that we are all believers in Christ and that we will be together forever someday in Heaven with Jesus. I am thankful for all of Brent's extended family, and I pray for each of them, that they would receive the fullness of God's blessing on their lives and have joy unspeakable, and full of glory. I love them so! I am thankful for the friends God has given me, the special, close bond I share with some of them, knowing that they lift me up in prayer when I need it, and that I do the same for them. What a blessing to be able to go to God in prayer. I am thankful, and give God the glory for all He has given, for all He has done...for all that HE IS.

Jeremiah 29:11
Psalm 37:4
Psalm 113:9
1 Corinthians 13:4-8