So much to be thankful for

It has been a long time since I posted and as I think of all that I have to be thankful for I cannot help but think of this past weekend.  Our church went to Woodland Christian Camp and spent the weekend, we had a great time of family,friends, food, fellowship and fun.  We really got to show the love of God by loving on and serving each other.  I am so proud that my Grandma, who is 83 got to go with us this year, she has gone many times in the past but was unable to go last year and we really weren’t sure if she’d be able to go this year because lately she hasn’t been her “spunky, fiesty” self. I saw a work of God through her this past weekend because the previous weekend and during the week she was tired and wore out but there she was able to fish, fellowship and enjoy the love of those around her.  I remember at one point thinking “this is hard,” trying to make sure that she was having a good time and trying to keep her from getting hurt but thankfully I quickly heard the Holy Spirit telling me that these were precious memories that I would have to treasure.  On Saturday afternoon, we went down to the lake and she fished with our youngest son Pierce and she has so much fun showing him the fish and helping him “catch” one.  On Sunday morning, before we had our church service I came back into my room from running to take some of our things home and found her sweeping our room.  I told her I was going to do that when I got back and she told me that she had it and “to be quiet and get out of there.” She told me that she was going to get our room, her room and the bathroom that we shared.  I said okay and told her I would be glad to help but realized she was more like herself. A few minutes later, when church service was starting she came walking in without her cane or walker and said “I heard the music and didn’t want to be late.”

I am so thankful that God loves us all so much and shows us that with Him all things are possible and we can do all things through Jesus who strengthens us.  Lately, I have been doing some self evaluation and have realized that there is a lot that needs to be changed but I am so thankful to know that not only will God show me what needs to change but also how to change it. 

Blessings to all of you!

Grandma and Pierce

fishing at Woodland Christian Camp May 28,2012

The Blessing of life (more that I am thankful for)

This morning the Lord has really been showing me His love and how much I truly need and want Him to lead my life.  The morning started out rough because I have been under an attack spiritually.  My emotions were running rampant and I could fuss, cry or anything else at the drop of a hat.   I was reminded of last nights’ awesome church service, which was full of peace.  I realized that I needed a good ole filling from the God’s precious Word.  I opened up my Bible and I said “Father you know what I need,” He let me open to Psalm 118 but first the bookmark that was there caught my attention.  It said “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plan to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Both scriptures were much needed for me this morning because I know God is good, He loves me, His mercy and loving-kindness endures forever and He has plans to prosper me and give me hope and a future.  I am believing for big things that will only come to pass by Him and through Him.  I was also impressed to come back to my blog and share more of what I am thankful for.  I hope that this blog blesses and encourages you, remember “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!” Psalm 118:1

51) The Word, that is alive and changing my life

52) Having heat, this morning it is cold outside.

53) Revelation Journey at church, lives were changed

54) Our Hallelujah Festival, we had over 130 people there!

55) Another year with my Daddy, today is his birthday.

56) That my older sister will be home soon

57) That Dustin got finished with his book report

58) That we know the enemy has nothing good for us (John 10:10)

59) Phone calls from Joe when he’s at break and lunch

60) That God always meets every need we have

61) For our Grandparents

62) Family time

63) Our recent trip to the pumpkin patch, it was free and the kids had fun!

64) Pierce loving books

65) Amelia’s artistic side

66) Dustin’s 11th birthday that’s coming up

67) The Book, “One Month to Live,” Thirty days to a no-regrets life.

68) Sunday school

68) Bible Quest, I am learning so much from these expeditions

69) For my husband sense of humor

70) That God lets me be Joe’s wife and that he loves me

71) For the flowers that he brought me home

72) For him remembering that Amelia likes flowers too and bringing her home some.

73) For knowing that this too shall pass, when a problem comes our way

74) For family and friends to share this journey of life with

75) For children that need and want their Mommy/Mama.

76) Our warm bed

77) The full bed, full of all 3 kids plus us

78) Family traditions

79) Big families

80) That God hasn’t given up on me!

81) That Pierce is talking more and more

82) cookies/brownies with milk

83) Peace that passes all understanding

84) Making the bus on mornings when we are running a little behind

85)For our health

86) friends that you can count on when needed

87) For being able to share my blessings with others

88) The people that shared Jesus with me

89) for Flylady (not that I have it all figured out)

90) The privilege to pray for others

91) Dustin is doing better in school

92) facebook

93) Kids that are playing peacefully together

94) School breaks

95) Knowing that it all goes back to God, without Him my life would be pointless

96) for restoration

97) for the testimony I heard from Geronimo Aguilar on Focus on the Family

98) That God calls me His daughter, I truly am a princess to Him

99) That I’m learning and growing

100) For the Ladies ministry at church

The Blessing of Life (More that I’m thankful for)

Today I am going to continue listing  things that I am thankful for, I realize I may never be able to name everything but I have been inspired to continue listing as long as I possible can.

39. So thankful for my church and that I have the privilege to worship and serve the Lord with such an awesome body of believers.

40. For God sending me teaching that I need when I need it.

41. For living close to most of my family (even though some I still don’t see often enough)

42. For the visit that I just recently had with my older sister

43. For the time I get to spend with my grandmother

44. For the peace I have knowing that I will see many loved ones again when I get to Heaven- what a reunion that will be

45. For the people who took the time to show me what the love of Jesus was all about when I wasn’t in church (Pop Kuter)

46. For God loving me inspite of my flaws and failures

47. For people that challenge me to be the best I can be

48. For phone calls from family and friends

49. nap/quiet time

50. That while things may look impossible with man, all things are possible with God.

The blessing of life (thinking on things of old)

Good morning!  I pray everyone is doing well today.  This morning, I woke up not feeling good, my eyes were hurting and later it became my head and neck but praise God no matter how I feel I know I am healed by Jesus’ stripes (Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24).  As you know when you’re not feeling well, the enemy will still torment you and make you think that you “can’t do anything.”  I am so thankful that the Lord is good and that He sends us what we need when we need it.  I was praying and asked the Lord what I needed and this is what I opened to, it is a life point by Joyce Meyer in my Bible.

“David’s response to his feelings of depression and gloom was not to meditate on his problem.  Instead, he literally came against the problem by choosing to remember the good things of past days-pondering the doings of God and the works of His hands (see Psalm 143:5).  In other words, he thought about something good, and it helped him overcome his battle of depression.

Never forget this: your mind plays an important role in your victory. “ 

There is more to the but I felt impressed today to think about and share some of the goodness of God that I have seen in my life.  I know we have all seen His goodness and His mighty works but sometimes we don’t remember them because of everything that is going on in our lives and sometimes life is hard.

• On January 1, 1989 I accepted Jesus into my heart after being at a youth conference for the weekend
• In December 1991, I remember being at a Wednesday Mission with my Grandmother and Bob Neal came up and was talking to me and asking if I was okay and I told him yes I was fine, he told me he knew that I was not but if I could lie to him then he could deal with it.  I went on to tell him about my Dad because I had a burden on my heart for him, he asked for our phone # and met with my Dad.  He led my Dad to Jesus!!
• On February 8, 1992 the house we were living in burned to the ground, we all got out of the house safely and 3 days later God had us in another house living rent free!
• On June 7, 1998 I met my back up with my now  husband and we had our first date on June 11.  I knew after that first date that he was who I wanted to marry because he was such a gentleman (We had actually been in youth group together and went to school together for a brief time, the last time I had seen him was in 1995)
• On August 21, 1999 Joe and I got married
• On November 2, 2000 Dustin was born, we brought him on November 4.  He legally became our child on April 9, 2002.
• We lost our home in foreclosure but God provided and blessed us with a place to live.
• I’ve seen God raise my Dad back to health both physically and spiritually.
• I had a miscarriage in November 2006, the baby was due in July 8, 2007.  God blessed me and let me know that I was pregnant with Amelia on July 1, 2007- she was born on February 3, 2008.
• After her being born, I was able to become a stay at home Mom which had been my heart’s desire for years.
• We were blessed with Pierce 16 months later, he was born June 25, 2009.

God has done so much for me I really cannot tell it all, I just want to encourage you to think about some of the things that He has brought you through and know that He will never leave you or forsake you.  He wants to bless us more than we can imagine!

The blessing of life (The list continued)

Good morning! I realized this morning that I have not posted in about 2 weeks and I wanted to share some more things that I am thankful for. I was reminded by the song, “Count your Blessings.” and I believe that me hearing that was straight from the Lord.
Here is the continues list, if you would like to look at previous lists please do so

23. That God loves us enough to teach us show us areas in our lives that need to change.
24. family vacation
25. my little artists
26. My husband helping me
27. family and friends that pray for me and my family
28. being able to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others
29. The good plans that God has for my life, even if I don’t know what they all are at this time. (John 10:10, Jeremiah 29:11)
30. That we have a reliable car to drive
31. That I have the privilege to pray for others
32. That my kids love me
33. The cool weather that we’ve been having the past few mornings
34. For the favor of God in a recent situation
35. Pierce’s new thing- I tell him he’s not a monkey when he’s jumping and climbing; He eeks at me, making monkey noises
36. That my kids love Jesus!
37. That they love to praise God.
38. Time alone with each of them, whether it’s planned or not (like bus stop time, one wakes up earlier than the others, or just that special snuggle time before bed)

The blessing of life

Good evening I hope you’re all doing well! We’ve had a great weekend and I wanted to share more of the blessings that I am thankful for. I hope you enjoy them, the little chorus that is coming to my mind is “Count your many blessings, name them one by one, count your many blessings see what God has done.”

11. Snuggle time with my kids
12. Family time
13. awesome church and church family
14. the kids in children’s church and that I am privileged to help teach them.
15. For my friends both near and far
16. For quiet time with my husband
17. Being able to hear the birds singing
18. The quietness of night
19. Peace that passes all understanding
20. Amelia’s smiley faces (she’s recently learned how to draw them by herself)
21. Good reports from Dustin’s school
22. laughter (it truly is the best medicine)