Thankful Thursday

There is so much for me to be thankful for today!

*I am thankful for my sweet family and my girls. I don't want to take one minute with them for granted.

*I am thankful for my hubby who is taking half a day off today to take our oldest daughter to Tweetsie today for a father/daughter afternoon!

*I am thankful that the other two girls and I will go to the library this afternoon and check out books. I am thankful they enjoy doing this!

**I am thankful for El Roi -- my GOD who sees me! He knows what I am doing and where I am headed. AND he loves me!

* I am thankful that we get to go with my hubby to his annual conference meeting where we will see friends we don't often get to see next week.

* I am thankful for the people God uses to be a light in my day and that he allows me to be used to show HIS light to others.

THANKS for reading everyone and go on over to Sting My Heart and add your own list of blessings for this day!

* I am thankful that even though we can't see it yet God has a plan for my family in this place.

I AM - Lesson 7

It's that time again, Ya'll! Join us over at The Preacher's Wife for this amazing study of Moses!

Lesson 7 is a good one and asks you to ponder on this BIG question -

Who Am I?

1. How would you answer the questions, "Who Am I?"
hhhmmmm.....what a question. I think lately I've learned *I* am nothing. *HE* is everything and so that makes me loved and valuable to the God Most High. And here is what HE has made me - a daughter, a wife, a sister, a mommy, a bible study leader who know that like Moses - without HIM - I am a babbling fool!

2. Have you ever been in a situation where you felt inadequate because of your lack of a 'tagline'?
Yep! I feel this way everytime I begin a new bible study with ladies at church. I feel, though, that instead of having a lack of a tagline -- it is more like this: Mindy - the totally unqualified, rambling, glean what you can because it doesn't make sense bible study leader.....(yes- the devil is playing up the guilt I know).

3. Do you have skills or position that you believe God could use mightily if only He would?
Quite the opposite for me.....I tend to feel like I have NO idea why God called ME to be a pastor's wife and lead these studies -- I am fully unqualified. I feel like I don't have ANY skills that God can use mightily.....my abilities to make hair bows and corsages don't help God out too much I don't think.....

4. Have you ever lost a position or station in life you believe could have 'helped God out' with something He has asked you to do? If you haven't lost out, do you perhaps feel you have to gain this in order to be useful to the Kingdom?
I don't think that this has happened to me.....

5. How are you with your dialogue vs. doubt conversations with God? Which does God hear most from you?
That's a tough one. It was for the first 33 years and oh I don't know 3 months that I am sure God heard exclusively DOUBT from me.....self - esteem issues run rampant! For the past two months I've been better somewhat. I have fully realized that my worth comes from HIM alone and how much HE loves me. So - I am improving on dialogueing more with him and doubting less -- choosing instead to trust that the Sovereign Lord has plans for me and the are GOOD!

6. Do you believe God's Wonders become more wonderful if they originate in the ordinary? Any Scripture references come to mind?
I guess I've not thought about it much but I do tend to agree. What could be better than for folks to know what a rambling - flighty -sometimes not making sense girl I am? And then for God to use ordinary me and speak through me in a way that teaches someone. That would be awesome and would definitely be HIS wonders becoming more wonderful!


I hope everybody chooses to join this discussion today. I love reading everyone's responses! I am in a season of total renewal in the LORD and you all are a fresh word from HIM everyday!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

This morning my 3 year old was looking through her scrapbook when she brought me a page to clarify who someone was.
I told her who it was and said "And this is you!"

She said," Yeah, that was me when I was sanitizeded."

I said, "Yes, that was you when you were baptised."

In thinking about this I think she got it right. God cleansed and disinfected her --sanitizeded her when she was baptised. Psalm 51 illustrates it very well.

1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.


2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.

5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts ;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

What an amazing way to talk about being baptised. I know there are many out there who don't believe in baptising infants ,and honestly, I'm not interested in debating that.
I just think that even if she doesn't fully grasp it yet, the Lord is teaching her what HE did for her when she was baptised. Sometimes the most profound thoughts come out of the mouths of babes! =)
Hope you all had a fabulous Memorial Day weekend!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am in something of a funk and am trying to talk some things out with God. I KNOW he put us here and HE has a purpose but you know - sometimes it is hard just hanging on and waiting. SO - he and I are talking today and I'm sure that we will work it through and my decision will ever be to trust HIM.
I've learned on days when I am feeling sorry for myself - I need to count my blessings.....so here goes. I try to dwell on the LOVELY things all the time and I know the devil is trying to work me up so without further ado -
Today I'm thankful for:

***3 beautiful little girls who are gifts from God. Even when they've messed up what I have just cleaned up -- they are gifts and I know it. I'm thankful that I am aware everyday of what a gift they are!

***I am thankful for a husband who is a WONDERFUL daddy to my girls. He gives baths, and helps out with most everything. Tonight he will do dinner for himself and the girls so I can go to a food party at a friends house.

***I am thankful that God has given me the ability to make bows and flip flops for my girls first and then to sell some of them. It brings in a little extra income.

***I am thankful for Kellie, Vicki, Cathy and Ruth - my Traveling Companions. These are my friends who keep ME straight. Friends who will discuss with me bible verses and talk through my questions. Who listen to my whining and come back with ......"and what is your part in this?" Or ask me to really pray and talk to GOD about what to do next. They are always loving, always caring and always holding me accountable to what I need to do fro HIM!

***I am thankful for people who try to see the whole picture of things and not just one persons view.

***I an thankful for people who try to see God's view of things instead of the worlds.

***I am thankful for the 23 ladies who have come to be part of the new bible study I'm leading by Beth Moore, The Patriarchs.

***I am most thankful for my revelation that God loves me and I am worthy because of it ONLY because of HIM.

***I am thankful for my new bloggy friend Cyndi who is doing HIS work in China this week. DO pray for her and her team! I am also thankful that she sent me a sweet gift and I hope to post a picture of it soon for all to see.

***I am thankful that my friends are in China to adopt a baby girl and they got her yesterday. The blessings that will come for our friends and little Ella will be amazing!

*** I am thankful that God does indeed have a plan and that it is good. He is sovereign -- knowing all and planning all -- AND he has unfailing Love for me so HIS plans can be NOTHING but good.

***I'm thankful that my two year old hasn't stuck anything up her nose this week.....it seems to be a trend.

***I'm thankful that God is big enough that HE understand my frustrations and will help me through them!

Come with me over to Irises and read other Thankful Thursday posts and where you too can post your blessings.

I AM - Lesson 6

Having a week off from this study,, I sort of felt lost last Wednesday. I am glad it's back. Lisa - The Preacher's Wife is our host and teacher. It's an awesome study. Join in if you can!

1. How current is your God? Is he up to date on all your issues or do you have old hurts you still hold behind your back? If there are still things that I am holding behind my back I don't know it. He might prove me wrong in the future but as of now I feel like I have cried out, screamed out, yelled out, whispered out and fought out every old issue to this point. The devil tries his best to bring them up and have them become issues anew at times but I am working with God not to have that happen.

2. Has the enemy ever told you there are situations that are 'old news' that are better left stuffed down? Or perhaps because they were so long ago they can't possibly be affecting you now I'm sure the devil tries this all the time.....through other people too.....How many times have we all heard -- you should be over that by now.........but until we give it to HIM we can't be over anything.

3. In the matter of established authority, does God truly reign in your life? Where are you when He calls your name? This is a difficult question.....I know HE is the authority and HE is in control -- I'm not but as hard as it is to admit sometimes I am in a place where I don't allow him to have the authority that is HIS and he is such a gentlemen that he would never force himself on me.

I can say that I am trying to do better on this one....to stay focused on HIM so that when He calls me -- I'm there saying "here I am Lord -- use me"

4. Do you ever feel God has forgotten you in your 'west side of the wilderness'? oh my yes. Don't we all? When we can't feel him and when we don't seem to understand it is each to FEEL forgotten. That is when it is imperative to have faith and KNOW that as he says in his word -- He is with us even to the end of the age!

5. Have you ever experienced a time of cleansing where God has illuminated and rejuvenated you? If not, do you find you are in need of this now? I KNOW he is cleansing me.......and I do believe that the illuminating and the rejuvenating is beginning......I have finally understood and BELIEVE his unfailing love for me and nothing illuminates and rejuvenates like knowing Christ loves you more than anything!!!!! It is awesome-

Dear Lord, Here I am -- Use me as you see fit. Continue to mold me and make me like you. Thank you for your faithfulness to me -- help me to be ever faithful to you!!! AMEN

Looking forward to reading your answers girls!

Tuesday's In Other Words

"Until you settle the issue of your own worth, it's impossible to bring holiness into anyone else's life. Until you understand that your worth is already determined by the fact of your birth, everything else is an exercise in propping up a dying tree." Carol Brazo

Last Friday, I was perusing Christian Women Online and I saw today's quote for In Other Words. When I read it I thought -- I will not be able to post anything on that one because I have a HARD time seeing my own worth in any way -- much less through God's way.

Well - this past weekend was a revolutionary one for me. If you have time and want to read about that go here and see what God has done for me.

After this weekend, I have a different perspective on this quote. It has taken years for me to fully get it that my worth comes from God alone. It is something I find myself repeating to myself alot. And it is something that I already find myself speaking to my children about. Just this week I heard my 5 year old PRESCHOOLER tell her sisters (who are 3 and 2 by the way) that she wanted to stay skinny (which - did I mention -- the girl is skinnier than either of her sister's -- she is very petite). I was appalled that she said that. She also already worries about how her clothing looks.....I am trying to teach her that her worth comes from Gods love and not from what she wears or how she looks.

As a girls whose self -esteem was shattered by childhood abuse I spent years -- literally -- just until this past weekend learning (and still have far to go) that my worth is from HIM and that is the ONLY worth that matters. And I have to say that I think it is true that until you know your own worth - you cannot bring holiness into anyone else's life. I can honestly say that I feel CLOSER to God since this past Sunday. That I really feel IN LOVE with my Lord. For a long time when I would hear people talk about this love they had for their savior and how it made them so happy inside -- joyful -- I didn't understand it and quite honestly tended to think they might be a little bit c.r.a.z.y.....but I TOTALLY get it now. I love Jesus. I listen to music on the radio now and have a sheepish smile thinking about how much HE loves me too! This knowledge of his love for me made me love HIM so much more and gives me a passion for HIM. It is a lesson that I know HE has been teaching me (for a really long time) and I am sure there is MUCH more to learn still.

I think that only when we can really say we understand how much HE loves us can our passion for him show through. God has placed 4 friends in my life who for years I've been watching -- wanting what they have with God.....See, I knew that something about these women was different -- THEY had a REAL relationship with God and not just something they gave lip service. They really loved their Lord and it was evident in all that they said and all that they did. I think that only when we know our worth in HIM do we become that person that other's can look at and say "She is different. I want what she has."

I hope that one day the women that I am around can say this about me. And then I will no longer be "propping up a dying tree" but be growing beautifully and producing spiritual fruit because I am attached FULLY to the vine.

If you want to add your own perspective to this IOW quote, visit Christine at Fruit In Season.

HIS Unfailing Love

Girls, God has been doing a mighty work in me and I need to share it with somebody before I just bust!

You all know about my trust issues, right? If not, you'll have to go here, and here to read all about it -- if you want "the rest of the story". Well - I've been inching along trying to really learn what it is to FULLY trust HIM and to believe him.

It's been a difficult thing for me to figure. Allow me to let you see for a moment how my brain tends to work -- I know in my head that God loves me no matter what.......he made me and he loves me. But, then the devil sets in annoying me to death in a way that has worked on me -- for years and years and years. He tells me things like "God can't love you as much as this person because look at the things you've done." or " You don't have gifts like this person so obviously God doesn't love you the same" and yada yada yada -- so on and so forth -- you get the picture. I start to feel that there is no way God should love me -- I'm a sinner!!! And that is true -- yes -- but until now -- I've had a very difficult time saying -- Yes but God loves me despite my ugliness. Now I can tell everybody else this and tell them to believe it but in my heart of hearts - it's been difficult for me to believe.

Well - he's still working on me.........I've mentioned before that I KNOW God is teaching me to trust him fully and I am sure that I am in a period of preparation for something. And it's been a long time coming and I'm sure I have far to go...........I hope it comes quickly though so I can get on to doing HIS good work.

This past weekend has been a great learning weekend for me. On Thursday night, I went to meet with my VW's group about an hour from here. My VW's group is a bible study group of girls I get together with once a month. It is more than a bible study though -- these women are God's love for me being lived out!!! We meet once a month at 7pm.....and because we all have so much to say and share -- we usually end up finishing at about 9:30pm. Well -- this past week we didn't get finished until about 10:30 pm......I felt terrible keeping them out so late. BUT let me tell you how they showed God's love to me.
My tire was low -- very low like down to 10 lbs of air....and they told me about it when we arrived at our meeting. Even tough it was 10:30 pm and they had to drive 30 minutes back home -- my sweet friends followed me to a gas station and W put air in my tire for me -- as I didn't know how. (Sorry Daddy --- I know you taught me better than this but I never really had to do it myself). You girls showed me the love of our Lord on Thursday as you always do and I am ever so grateful for friends like you. As my new blogging friend, Deborah, says you are the best Dolla friends a girl can have!

Then came the weekend which was full of dance recital fun.........and family. Both hubby and I come from divorced parents. As hard as that can be -- God works HIS good into everything as my 3 daughters are blessed to have 4 sets of grandparents to love them (and spoil them)! 3 out of 4 sets came for the dance recital.....My dad has been sick so they didn't get to come....We missed Pa Pa and Na Na very much!!!!

Just watching all the grandparent interaction with my three girls again shows me the love of my Lord. Through HIS boundless love, I have 3 sweet girls who are gifts from above. And seeing 2 out of 3 of them in their dance costumes just reminded me what a sweet gift of love they are and I was left tearing up and thanking him for such wonderfulness. Check out the cute little bunny and

daisy costumes. =)

And watching their little sister cheer them on as they danced was just as sweet! Seeing how much she loves her sisters is definitely a reminder of HIS love for us all.

Then comes Sunday. As usual I get up on Sunday and as I get ready for church I try to pray and ask the Lord to help me to focus only on Him this day. TO really worship HIM instead of worrying about all the irritating things that the devil tries to provide in my head to think about. Like who is mad about what this day......

Well - hubby preached on procrastination yesterday and "spending another night with the frogs". He spoke of when Moses went to Pharaoh to tell him that if he'd let the Israelites go, then God would get rid of the plague of the frogs. You know what Pharaoh said --- Tomorrow I will. SO - he had to spend 1 more night with the frogs. Hubby then asked everyone to think about what it is in our lives that we are holding on to that is making us spend one more night with the frogs.....I realized that the thing I am holding onto is not trusting.....Trusting God and believing HIM is a choice. And to choose NOT to trust and believe him -- that he loves me unconditionally and that I can trust all that he says -- is sin.... SO - I left church feeling that I HAD to make right choices to trust and believe all that HE is.

Then in the afternoon, I started working on my the new bible study I'm leading at church - The Patriarchs by Beth Moore. I try to stay somewhat ahead of my group so I can know how to prepare so I was finishing up week 1 yesterday and just guess what the lesson was about?!!?

**NOTE - if you are in my Patriarch's group and you are reading this know you have MUCH to look forward to in your day 5 work -- how's that for incentive to do!your! homework!!! =)***

It was on -- God Most High. He is El Elyon (that is God Most High) and He is above all other God's. He is sovereign -- he does what HE wishes -- AND he has UNFAILING love for his children.....which includes me!! This was my revelation ----- Isn't it wonderful that the ONE who loves me unfailingly is also the ONE who is making all the plans?!!? Awesome......

To trust that he loves me and is El Elyon for me!!!!! That is the choice I will make!!!!

Then Beth Moore said (God uses her to teach me so much -- oh that I can one day be as open to HIS words to me as she is when He speaks to her!) this -- "God's Sovereignty can terrify us only to the extent that we are uncertain of His love. You and I are never childish or unwise to remind ourselves daily how much God loves us. Only to the extent that we abide in His love can we be comforted my His sovereignty." --Girls -- this hit me like a ton of bricks.

OH MY, did I ever I get what I asked for!!!! I spent time in prayer in church yesterday morning -- knowing that the reason I have lived with my frogs for so long is that I haven't chosen to trust. I've talked a big game and said over and over I wanted to choose to trust but I haven't been able to. I asked God to speak to me and tell me what the reason was I had so much trouble doing this and did he ever?!!?

He sent Beth Moore (in lesson 5 of week 1 of The Patriarchs study) to drop this load of bricks right on my head and knock me off that high horse of legalism I can get on right into the humble position I should be in! My bigger problem is that I have had a hard time remembering HIS unfailing Love for me. WOW! So -- I will remind myself from now on that my great God loves me unfailingly! Won't you join me? I think that Beth Moore is right we should remind ourselves and choose to believe and trust!!!!

Sorry for this incredibly LONG post but when God is doing a mighty work --- it just has to be shared! Thank you for reading! And don't forget - HE loves YOU and me too --- more than we will ever be able to imagine until we get to heaven!!!!

**Don't be a lurker-- let me hear from you =)***

7 Random Things About Me

My sister, at The Hunts, tagged me to do this 7 random things about me and since the only thing I could think of was that I am a lefty (which isn't that random) she helped me think of more. Thanks sister!
So without further ado - here are 7 random things about me.

1. I do not like for anyone to touch me with their feet. YUCK!!! Not even my children. If they are in my lap and rub their feet on me -- I have to get the feet off. Odd I know.

2. I am chlausterphobic. I really don't like any confined spaces but I especially don't like elevators. I would rather walk up 30 flights of stairs than get on an elevator. And if I HAVE to ride an elevator and there are more than 2 other people in it -- you can forget me getting on. I'll wait on the next one - thank you very much.

3. I also have a fainting problem. I used to faint when I would get a shot (which was often since I had strep throat all. the. time!), I've fainted from having the flu, getting my hand shut in a car door and from breaking my foot. Once when I was sick - I fainted and my brother thought I was dead and started yelling to my sister to call 911......he was very upset apparently. I hate I missed it -- I think it was probably amusing on some level -- but nice to know that my brother cares!

4.Which brings me to this - I am totally a clutz. It used to bug me that people thought this of me but I have faced the truth as an adult and admit it upfront. I am clumsy. and unfortunately this trait has been passed on to my middle daughter, M.

5. My brain tends to work faster than my mouth (and my fingers when I am typing). This happens especially when I am excited about something so I end up speaking (writing) in half sentences that no one understands. Which is why I KNOW if anyone learns anything from a bible study that I lead -- it is because the Lord spoke through me......He knows I cannot speak intelligently without HIM!

6. I know LOTS of songs from all different genre's. Give me a few lyrics and I can usually sing the song to you....so I am good at the game that says finish the line from this song. I however am NOT good at knowing WHO sang what song. SO - don't ask me.

7. The most random thing about me is this -- I love tuna fish gravy. I know most of you (ALL of you) won't know what that is but it! is! delicious! There will be no judging of this -- don't knock it until you try it!!!!

So there you go. 7 totally random things about me =)

Tasty Thursday - Fettuccini with Olive Sauce

This is a great pasta recipe if you love olives. We have this at my house often as my hubby (and daughters LOVE olives!
Have a very tasty thursday -ya'll!

Fettuccine with Olive Sauce

1 (12 oz) package fettuccine noodles
1/4 c. olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 (6oz) can pitted ripe olives, drained and chopped
1 (3oz) can pimento stuffed olives, drained and chopped
1 sm. bunch italian parsley, finely chopped
1 tsp. dried oregano leaves, crushed
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
1/2 c. Parmesan cheese

In sauce pot, prepare fettuccine as label directs;drain. Return fettuccine to pot;keep warm.
In a two -quart saucepan over medium heat, in hot olive oil, cook garlic until it just begins to brown. Stir in ripe olives, pimento stuffed olives, parsley, oregano, crushed red pepper flakes and 1/2 c. water; Over high heat, heat to just boiling, stirring mixture occasionally. Stir olive mixture into the fettuccine in sauce pot. Add Parmesan cheese; toss well. Serves 4
Calories, 400. total fat - 30 grams

For more Tasty Thursday recipes visit Trista over at The Pumpkin Patch.

Pondering On ............Heaven

So, the other day A (my oldest daughter who is 5) asked me about heaven.

"Mom, where is heaven?"

I searched my brain for how to answer her.....I finally said, "Well, the bible says that Jesus ascended into heaven and ascended means go up so I guess it is up there above the clouds somewhere." Lame answer - I know.

That, unfortunately wasn't the end of the conversation.....

"Mom, so then do we get to sit and walk on the clouds?"

Again - searching my brain -- I said " Well - the bible says that in heaven the streets are made of gold" I know - I didn't really answer her question.

Then she said " I bet Granny McKaig and Aunt Barbara (the only two people she has ever known closely who've passed away) were happy to see each other up there."

"Yes, I bet so." I said.

So - this conversation has gotten me pondering heaven.

Here is what HIS word has to say about heaven -

Phil. 3: 20-21(The Message)
But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.


Revelation 4 (NIV)
The Throne in Heaven 1After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." 2At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. 4Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a] of God. 6Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." 9Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

and one more:

New Heavens and a New Earth 17 "Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy.
19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.
20 "Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth; he who fails to reach [a] a hundred will be considered accursed.
21 They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the works of their hands.
23 They will not toil in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them.
24 Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain," says the LORD.

Those verses say a lot, I know.....but then there is just so much left to the imagination too I think. I asked my hubby last night what he thought and as he isn't someone who likes to daydream much (he is very analytical) all he had to say was "It will be a perfect place". TRUE - but I want more.....So, if you read this post - PLEASE let me know what you thing.
Will we know our loved ones in heaven?
Will we have jobs? OR will our only job be to PRAISE our maker all the time for all eternity?
Will we marry do you think? (I heard someone preach on this one once but I still would like your opinion)
COME ON GIRLS - tell me what you think heaven will be like.

Waiting isn't easy

Waiting. It is a hard thing isn't it? I like to think I have patience. And in some things I do. I can "wait" on my turn to eat in a restaurant........IF I'm not too hungry. I can "wait" in line at the supermarket or at my favorite shopping place.........IF I'm not in a real big hurry.
I have days when I am good at waiting on my children ..being patient and remembering that they ARE still small and reminding them one more time to pick up that toy really IS a good idea. I suppose I am good at waiting........ when it is on my terms.
But what if it isn't on my own terms. What about God's terms.
Waiting on the Lord can be a great big fat STRUGGLE. There are many occasions in life where I have been called to wait on HIS timing and not my own. One such example is when I was "waiting" on the man I was supposed to marry.
I come from a very SMALL place in Georgia and most people there marry young. When I was about 21 my grandfather actually asked me if I was going to be an old maid........I was devastated.
I chose not to go away to college so I still lived at home and to me I felt like I was the only person around who wasn't married. It seemed like all of my friends were getting married. I was in a ton of weddings and have a nice rainbow set of bridesmaids dresses to prove it. =) I can remember praying over and over that God would send the man I was supposed to marry. I SO wanted to be married and be a mommy.
Back then I worked at a Methodist Church camp called Camp Lookout. I absolutely loved my job but I didn't like waiting on HIM to send the person I was to marry. If you know anything about life as a camp counselor, you know that you tend to get close to people pretty fast considering you are together with them 24/7 for about 10 - 12 weeks. It is relationships in fast forward. A guy came to camp one summer and don't you know I thought he was the coolest. And I was just SURE that this was the guy. I mean, I was working at a Christian camp for heaven's sake -- how much clearer could it be? Turned out that this fast forwarded relationship really did nothing but hurt me. It made my self esteem issues, that were already prevalent in my life, take a front row seat in my life. After summer camp was over, so I got a job at the mall and decided to take a walk on the "wild side". I made friends who liked to go out to clubs on a regular basis. I became part of that crowd. Clubbing each weekend til all hours of the night and even some during the week. The people I was dating at the time were not Christian to say the least.
I went back to work at the camp that next summer and in the fall, camp was looking for a new part time office assistant. I applied for and got the job. Well, by this time I was without a boyfriend at all. The undesirables had all used me and left me.....to be quite honest and I was just baffled with why at 23 - I wasn't married and didn't even have a prospect.
Well, one day I went to camp to work in the office as I always did and a friend who worked there said "Go back home and put on old clothes, you have to help us take these people caving." So, I went back home, changed clothes and came back and promptly met 3 guys. I thought they were the silliest bunch of men I had ever met. They were all in ministry. One was a pastor, one was a music leader at his church and one was a youth pastor. The music and youth pastors were married and since I had already emphatically stated I would NEVER marry a preacher (to my own preacher's wife) I wasn't interested.Plus, this guy was from NC and, as I saw it, long distance relationships never worked out. This guy went back home and started calling me and we had some things in common -- but more that we didn't. I can honestly say I don't know what (besides the fact that he WAS cute) brought us together. We are - to be blunt - complete opposites. I began to think maybe I was wrong about not marrying a preacher and maybe this was God's plan although it wasn't looking as I had planned. After we dated for about a year. he broke up with me.
I think I went into a tail spin. I couldn't understand. I thought this was IT. I was upset for quite a while after that and didn't know where to go from there. This man hurt me like I had never been hurt before. He told me that he didn't love me the way I loved him......I was devastated.
A little over a year later, this same guy called me on the phone......on my birthday. I was shocked to say the least but I was nice and thanked him for calling and went on to church (my birthday is Christmas eve so I am always at church on that evening). He continued to call and asked me to come visit.
I finally agreed -- thinking that I needed closure from it all. God, he had other plans.
The preacher professed his love and said he was sorry for hurting me. ........I didn't want to forgive him but something in me already had. God has provided the healing that I needed and I found myself dating this guy again. I had friends who couldn't understand it and to be frank, neither could I. They wanted to know how I could go back to someone who had hurt me so badly......I didn't have a logical explanation. God had just given me love for this man.
Pretty soon after that, we were engaged and almost a year later we were married.
I know that was a big long story. But looking back now, I can see God's hand in this whole story. There were other details that I didn't include that could be nothing else other than the hand of God.

Waiting on God was and is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. But, I do believe that in waiting on HIM we are blessed. I can look at my life now and see the gifts. I'd like to believe that even if I hadn't of married a preacher, that I'd still be a growing Christian woman but who knows really. I have 3 beautiful daughters who are living gifts of waiting on HIM for the person I was to marry.
Even now waiting on God to reveal his plans in my life is hard. But in those hard time I try to cling to what I know is true. This story - the story of my husband and I -- reminds me that waiting on God is the best. Also, there are many scriptures that back this up. Two that I am very fond of pondering on and thinking on often are these:

Isaiah 40: 31 - "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

Jeremiah 29: 11 -"I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for."

And then today, I was spending some time reading in Numbers and I came across this. God has told Moses to have the Israelites celebrate the Passover. Some people come to Moses because they are unclean at the time of the Passover and want to know why they cannot go ahead and present the Passover offering with the rest of the Israelites. And here is the part I love --
Moses answered them " Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you."( Num. 9: 8)
WOW! Why don't I do that? Why don't I wait on the Lord more often? Why don't I go to God and ASK for His guidance and what HE wants instead of plowing forward head long into the unknown. God sees the future and KNOWS what is next for me. Why don't I take the time to stop and ask? About my own life but also before I start handing out advice to others!
Just as waiting on God to provide the man he wanted me to marry in HIS time was best -- waiting on HIM is best ALL OF THE TIME!!!
This has been a great reminder to me. Waiting might not be easy -- but it is best.
What about you?
How is your time of waiting going?

Menu Plan Monday

This is my first time every participating in Menu Plan Monday, but my friend Kim over at Lifesong has inspired me. She cooks for lunch. Let me say it again - she cooks for lunch! WOW!

And since I don't have a lot of time to post today as Monday are laundry day and "weekly home blessing" day for me (Go on over to flylady to see what I am talking about ), this works out perfectly!

This will however be an unusual menu week for us as we have lots of family coming into town for the "Major Dance production" that my 3 and 5 year olds are to be a part of this weekend -- it's called Dance Recital! SO - here goes

Monday - Mediterranean Salmon with white beans

and spicy roasted sweet potato fries.

Tuesday - Souper Stuffed Turkey Burgers (recipe courtesy of And Miles To Go Before Sleep)

with Potato Pancakes

Wednesday - FEAST - Wednesday night meal at church

Thursday - Hubby and girls will have pizza

I will grab something on the way to my VW's group ( a bible study group)

Friday - Family in town so we will go out to eat after dance recital dress rehearsal!

Saturday - Out to eat after dance recital as we will all be too exhausted to worry with cooking!

And to celebrate our beautiful tiny dancers!

Sunday - I begin my new bible study, The Patriarchs, this night at church and hubby has meetings

from 4 - 9pm so we will probably either have sandwiches or the dreaded McDonald's...

Have a great Monday everybody! For more Menu idea's go on over to see Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Happy Mother's Day!!

To all you beautiful ladies out there, I hope that you all have a fabulous day tomorrow. And may we spend some time with our Lord, thanking him for the gift of being a mother. Thanking HIM for our precious beautiful gifts - these are mine.

And as we go through this day may we spend some time thinking on this :

Luke 1:38: “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.”

As Mother's and women may we always be willing to follow where our Lord is leading and always willing to be HIS servant!

Happy Mother's Day, Girls! I hope it is the best one ever!

Tasty Thursday - Methodist Beans

It's Tasty Thursday again and this week I have a recipe for Methodist Beans. Being the good Methodist that I am I thought I should share this with everyone =). And my Granny makes these beans, it's her recipe, and they are delicious!!!! Serve it with cornbread and you have a meal in itself! Enjoy!

Methodist Beans

3 T. bacon drippings *

1 1/2 T. chopped onion

1 1/2 T. celery

1 lb. ground beef

1/2 bottle catsup

1 can pork & beans

3 T. brown sugar

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

2 tsp. mustard

Salt and pepper to taste

Brown onion and celery in bacon drippings. Add ground beef; continue to brown. Combine with catsup, pork & beans, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt and pepper.. Pour into a baking dish and bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.

* You can use oil instead of bacon drippings if you want to. *

Go on over to see Trista at the Pumpkin Patch to add your recipe or to see more tried and true things fro others!

Won't you take a few minutes today to join Lisa, The Preacher's Wife, for her 'I AM' study? This study is growing me and speaking to me in my life right now so much girls.

I was barely into the second paragraph of today's lesson when I read this, "Can I suggest to you that sometimes we can be 'in faith' yet be totally bewildered, downcast, confused, and downright demoralized when things do not turn out like we planned? Are there any hands to raise?" Right then I knew - this lesson was written JUST FOR ME. I do believe God is using Lisa as my personal teacher these days. He can use her to teach you. too! Come on - join in the fun!
Here are my answers to today's discussion questions.

1. Have you ever found yourself 'in faith' yet bewildered or demoralized?
bewildered, downcast, confused and downright demoralized - YEP!!! BUT I struggle with the "in faith" part. I told my husband just last night how much of a fraud I feel like I am a lot of the time. I told you all in my answers to last weeks questions that I struggle with believing and trusting. It believe God and trust that he will do things for others -- just not so much for me.....being so undeserving and all.
BUT - I also KNOW in my head that it is a CHOICE I make to believe and to trust HIM. I repeatedly pray to God that I am choosing to believe and as the man asked of Jesus that he will help my unbelief......I'm just not sure I am to the right place yet. How do you know you have faith? Maybe some answers to that question will give me some guidance.

2. Do you consider yourself content? Would you describe it as Decidedly Content or Dreamily Content? Content? I don't really know that I'm content.....I can totally see the "dreamily content" of watching my husband play with our daughters. Being decidedly content is a choice one has to make. I think that I am working on deciding no matter what to be content with God. To choose to be content where he has placed our family - trusting that HE placed us here and HE has a plan for us here.

3. If you are not content, are there circumstances that keep you from this feeling?
My own sin - plain and simple keeps me from being content.....when I choose to wallow in self- pity and poor me kind of thinking instead of filling up on HIS word and HIS love for me !

4. Have you ever found yourself in a place where you looked back on a period of your Christian walk and believed a great opportunity passed you by? Not periods really that I can think of - but I often see opportunities missed when I fail to speak to people about God's way of handling things and instead let my own human nature take over and say what *I* want to say....

5. Do you ever believe your faith was stronger in an earlier time in your Christianity and find yourself floundering now? I'd say in some ways 'yes'.....definitely less questioning before. For example I believe that when I was a child I had blind faith - "YES, Jesus loves me!" - Now - I'm more likely to wonder why would he?!!?

6. Can you recognize that this season may be one of great preparation instead of a period of "I Was"? I do believe wholeheartedly - that THIS season of my life is one in which God is teaching me to FULLY love, FULLY trust, FULLY believe, and FULLY focus on HIM. To be able to say in EVERY circumstance that HIS grace is sufficient for me! I just hope the lesson is learned soon - so I can move on to a new season!!!

Looking forward to seeing your answers to the discussion questions this day!

CHECK OUT MY NEW PLACE

Hey everybody. Isn't it BEAUTIFUL?!!?
My new blog is designed by Darlene Schacht from CWO.
Didn't she do just a wonderful job?!!?
I am just down right ecstatic about it!
Darlene, I just can't thank you enough for all the time and work you put into making this design for me. You were so sweet to include everything I asked and help me in whatever way I needed. You will never know how much this means to me!

It's Just a Feeling I Get

Girls, I’m in need of some discernment here. As well and guidance, advice and bible verses to apply here, too!
Are you an intuitive person? I tend to see myself as a very intuitive person which - if I’m honest -can lead to paranoia if left unchecked. But - I have been told by many (some of which were professionals) that I am intuitive so I don’t think it is just me “puttin’ on airs” as the saying goes. Whenever I get these “feelings” I try to pray about them and see what God is saying and where HE is leading but it is sometimes difficult to figure out.
Well, since I moved to this place almost 10 months ago, I’ve had this feeling about two different people. With both of them the feeling hit me as soon as I met them and they are people that I come into contact with at least once a week - if not more. It is that feeling that something is just not right. That this person isn’t what he/she seems to be. And I have to say that one of them has proven true - this person IS a “snake in the grass”. Always manipulating things to appear a way that they aren’t. The feelings continue………even now - 10 months later, I still have this “Something just isn’t good here” feeling whenever I am around these people. That “I should be leery of him/her” feeling.
SO , here is what I need help with because while I am intuitive an get “feelings” about things - I cannot seem to figure it out.
SO - girls - let’s hear it — your opinions please. I NEED ALL THE HELP I CAN GET!!! So, please pass this on and ask all of your friends out there in blogland to send me their opinions….I will be praying this day that they LORD will use you all to speak HIS truth to me in this situation.
Is this intuition at all? It is from God? Is the Holy Spirit warning me about these people? OR is it just me –reading whatever I will into these people?
UGGHHHH! Can I tell you all this is driving me kind of crazy. So, I am desperately looking forward to some answers.
I will be praying!