Thankful Thursday

Honestly, I am shocked that it is already Thursday again!

WOW. Time does fly, doesn't it?

Well - I have tons to be thankful for this week so here goes.

* I am thankful for the opportunity that has been given to me to go on The Walk To Emmaus this weekend.

*I am thankful that the LORD will be with me and will see me through.

*I am thankful that this is an opportunity for me to just get away - and get closer - to HIM this weekend.

*I am thankful for sweet friends who agreed to take our girls for the weekend so hubs doesn't have to get everyone ready and to the church on Sunday by 6:30 AM..........because that (obviously) would be a time filled with wailing and gnashing of teeth and would leave everyone in a foul mood!

*I am thankful that hubs gets to go to the Hockey Game with his Dad this weekend.

* I am thankful that I have been given the opportunity to study the life of Paul with a new group of ladies who I don't know yet but whom I'm looking forward to meeting.

*I am thankful that I got to meet a new friend this week. I already feel blessed to know you, Deidre!

*I am thankful for all of you, who will pray for my weekend and my anxiety as I go.

*I am thankful for my great Deliverer, who can and will (in his time) deliver me from this anxiety/fear problem because I KNOW he didn't give me a spirit of fear!

*I am thankful for the sweet Godly woman who sent me lots of scriptures to pray and steps to take to break free of this spirit of fear.

Hope you all have fabulous Thursday and if you think of it, please pray for me this weekend.

See ya on Monday! For more thankful lists go visit Lynn!

Blessings!

Disappointment

Last night I was flipping through the TV channels, while doing laundry, and came upon Dr. Phil. Now, I don't think Dr. Phil is bad - I actually believe he has some worthwhile things to say most of the time. But, it isn't a show I normally watch.
Anyways - TD Jakes was on the show last night. So, since he was on there to help "counsel" the people on the show - I was very interested in hearing what he would say to people. I figured that this man who pastors a church of 30,000 members would be "representin'" for the faith!
I was sorely disappointed!
He helped counsel a husband and wife on the brink of divorce. The wife thinks the husband should be making more money to provide her the kind of lifestyle she desires. Both TD Jakes and Dr. Phil told the husband that he needed to really pay attention to what the wife was asking him for.
He helped counsel a man who was angry at the world. And he helped counsel a couple whose son had shot himself accidentally with a gun from their home.

None of the advice given to these people was bad really, but here is what disappointed me. I never once heard him ask these people if they had a church or christian counselor to go to. Nor did he mention the bible -what God would say about the situation. Or even mention that God was the way to healing for these people......

I suppose, maybe, he wasn't allowed to say anything because it was the Dr. Phil show?
And to give him the benefit of a doubt, he could have talked to each one of them about God AFTER the show......
I just was sorely disappointed. I thought for sure that TD Jakes would be turning these people to the LORD. Not just aiding in giving them the clinical psychology answers to their problems.
Anyone else see it? Here is a link if you want to check it out.
Any thoughts?
Hope you all have a great Tuesday.

Menu Plan Monday

We are going to be very busy this week -- well - I am. SO, I will only be cooking twice this week but I thought I'd share with you all anyways. Here is my menu plan for the week.

Monday - Fish Taco's with Chipotle Cream Sauce, black beans, spanish rice

Tuesday - 40 Clove Garlic Chicken - done in the crockpot!, green beans, roasted sweet potatoes

Wednesday - FEAST at church

Thursday - Hotdogs and FF for Hubs and girls. I am heading out of town for the Walk to Emmaus. (Pray for me!)

Friday - Girls go to friends for the weekend and hubs fends for himself for the weekend with everyone gone.

I do have a question for you great ladies out there. I have ordered The Master's Diet. Does anyone else subscribe to this diet or have your read it? What are your thoughts?

Any nutritionists out there who would like to share your thoughts on it?

I feel the need for my family to eat healthier.....what do ya'll think about this diet?

Thanks and go on over to Laura's place for more menu plans!

***UPDated to add: Sorry! It is the Maker's Diet. Here is a link!***

Thankful Thursday

HI all! It is Thursday again and now is the time to share my list of things I'm grateful for this week.

*I'm thankful for all of you who pray for me and my anxiety and don't make me feel silly. Unfortunately, I'm made to feel silly a lot.

*I'm thankful that my dentist appointment yesterday is over with and I did make it through.

*I'm thankful that God was with me through the dentist appointment and that He is always with me whenever I ask!

*I"m thankful for my sweet girls. Even when they are whiny (like today because we all have colds) --because they are GIFTS from the Lord!

** And I am thankful (jumping for joy thankful) that the weather is starting to cool off. Fall is my favorite of all seasons and I cannot wait to wear my sweaters!

Blessings on this Thursday to all of you.

If you wanna join thankful Thursday, go on over to Sting My Heart.

Anxiety/ prayer request

HI Girls! This is petty I know it is, but humor me please. This is where I am today.
I haven written before about my anxiety problems and today I stand in need of prayer.
I have a dentist appointment in T-minus-2 hours and 4 minutes and counting!
I have 4 (yes I said 4) cavities that are being filled today.(*In my defense - 3 of the cavities are old fillings that have leaked* - don't know why I feel the need to justify.(
Thus the anxiety........or at least part of it. It has been a LONG time since I've had cavities and have had to get shots in my mouth. Therefore I'm nervous about that.
Here is the other part.
I have mytral valve regurgitation. Which basically means my mytral value leaks. SO, whenever I go to the dentist - I have to take antibiotics just in case they introduce any bacteria into my system. Because if they did add bacteria - it could set up an infection around my heart- and cause life-threatening problems.
NOW - for most people (sane people?) this isn't that big of a concern. They take the antibiotics which is 4 - 500 mg of Amoxicillin knowing that will get rid of all the bacteria one might have and there is no need to worry about infection.
BUT - for me - with this anxiety stuff going on - 1000 mG of Amoxicillin isn't cutting it.
My anxious mind worries:
What if it doesn't work?
What if I have a reaction to the Novocaine and my already speeding heart rate goes up even more?
What if I have a panic attack while he is working on my teeth?
Yada...yada....... and this list goes on and on.
I can already feel my anxiousness starting to rise up within me. The shaky, clammy hands. The heart palpitations. The anxious spirit.
Will you pray for me this day? That I will remember what Paul said to the Philippians in chapter 4 verses 4 - 9? That I will do ok and have no reaction to the shots in my mouth?
And please do continue to pray as this day continues because my fear of infection won't stop this morning............Just pray that God will see me through!
THANKS everyone!

Tuesday's In Other Words

"They gave our Master a crown of thorns.

Why do we hope for a crown of roses?”

~ Dr. Martin Luther

I often wonder why we Christians always think our lives should be easy and go just as we think it should. I am embarrassed to admit that I, also, have had expectation of "the good life" from time to time. There was a part of me that thought when I became engaged to a pastor that my marriage would be just the best.one.ever! And that hubs
and I would just get along famously all the time and our marriage would never be
any work at all.

Well.

I've learned that isn't so. Marriage is hard work no matter what. And I think that life is designed that way on purpose. I think God allows the things in our lives to be difficult on us so that we learn to lean on him at all times!

It amazes me how many times I hear people say "God will never give you more than you can handle". I hear it all the time. When someone is sick in a family, the people say "But, HE will not give us more than we can bear". This is a comforting statement - but it isn't what the bible says really. We are all usually looking for a reason to believe that God really does want our lives to be a bed of roses.

When people use this statement, they are usually referring to 1 Corinthians 10:13 which reads:

13"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.".

This verse really isn't about God giving us more than we can handle in our lives, instead it is really referring to the temptations in our lives. It clearly states that none of our personal temptations are anything other than what is common for all of us. It does say that He will never allow us to be tested beyond what we can bear but go on and read the rest of the verse......do you see it? It says that when we are tempted (BECAUSE we WILL be tempted) that He will provide a way out so we can stand up against the temptation.

See, I believe that God does give us more than we humanly can handle in life so that we will turn to HIM. Otherwise - we would be able to boast of our own strength and how we "made it through". If we can handle it on our own - then we wouldn't need to depend on God and then it is just us making it through on pure human will and determination.

I believe God gives us MORE than we can handle because it is an opportunity for us to make HIM famous and be HIS glory revealed. If we are going through something that is humanly impossible and yet, through HIS greatness we are able to handle it and can share that with the world, then WOW! We are making him famous. And isn't that what life is really all about? Knowing God and making him known to others?

If Jesus, our LORD and Savior, wasn't given life on "easy" street, why should we think we deserve that? God never promised us that life. He did promise that HE would always be with us and see us through. As hard as it is, I am trying to be thankful when God gives me more than I can handle because it gives me the opportunity to lean on HIM. And with HIM, I can make though whatever comes my way. Maybe not with a crown of roses - living it up and easy street, but I will take the hard street anytime if it means I am growing closer to my maker!

Blessings on each of you today. Go on over to Sting My Heart for more IOW.>

ThankfuL Thursday

It is time for me to count my blessings again. Always a good thing to do and this morning is such to be the encouragement that I need it to be!

**I'm thankful for my family. God has given me a wonderful husband and three sweet girls and each of them are a gift from above!

**I'm thankful for God's provision in my life. That HE is my Bread of Life.

**I'm thankful for God's Word! He always speaks to me though his word and this week has been no exception.

**I'm thankful for God for WHO he is. He is my creator, my Jehovah Jirah, my all in all. And I am just grateful that he loves me enough to save me.

**I'm thankful for my VW's group of girls that I will get together with tonight to discuss the first chapter of this book. It is always a refreshing time and I look forward to it each and every month.

**I'm thankful for you all who read and leave me such sweet encouraging comments! You can never know how much it means to me!

Have a great Thursday everybody! For more thankful thursday's go visit Iris at Sting My Heart.

Fasting and Prayer

There are a few things going on in my life right now that I feel the Lord is calling me to fast over.

However, I am a little bit afraid to fast. With all the health issues I've had lately it is a bit scary to think about going without food totally for 24 hours.

And then there is the whole leaving off the coffee for 24 hours part of it. Even though I drink only 1 cup of 1/2 caff. coffee in the mornings, I don't think it will be good. The last time I went without my morning cup of java - my head was hurting by 9:30 am. AND stayed hurting all day until I drank some dr. pepper. I need to tell you that I don't even drink carbonated beverages usually. BUT I had no coffee and I needed the caffeine. BAD - I know but I am worried about this part of it. I don't know how well I can focus on praying with my head pounding. That is a pickle.

I have been researching this topic and see that there are many kinds of fasts. People fast from many things.

*There are literal fasts. Fasting totally from food and water for different lengths of time. I do not think that I can start with this one at all. I'm afraid health wise, this would be an UN wise decision!

*There are liquid fasts. This is fasting from all solid foods. Drinking PLENTY of water and juices. Juices being fruit and vegetable juices.

*There are partial fasts. This is when someone fasts from certain types of food. This reminds of Lent in some ways. When Christians give up a certain food or certain types of food for the season of Lent. In order that when they crave that particular food, they are reminded to pray.

*NOW, I can also see that there can be other kinds of fasting. Fasting from things like making negative comments, or having a bad attitude or even whatever bad habit one might have.

Well, I got to wondering what ya'll think about this.

Do any of you spend time in fasting and prayer?

If so what kind of fasting do you do?

Do you think it has to be a full on TOTAL fast?

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Prayers Needed

Please go over and pray for Amy. She and her family need your prayers today!

Prayers and Menu Plan Monday

Hi Ladies.

I first want to thank you ALL for praying for me and my girls this past weekend. God answered your prayers in a big way. I had decided I was going to "tough it out" and work through being here alone with God's help. He had help in a different way. On Friday afternoon, late, ,my sweet mom who lives 5 hours away from me called and asked if she and her husband could come visit us for the weekend. They drove all the way here after work on Friday and got here about 12am on Saturday. They stayed until yesterday morning. I was so happy for have them and have been so grateful to you for your prayers and to God for his answers!

I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to update you all before now. We stayed busy. Thank you again for your prayers! You don't know how much your sweet comments and prayers mean to me!!!!

So, on to other business. Here is my menu plan for this week!

Monday - Boston Butt Pork Roast with Cornbread/Sausage Stuffed apples (Southern Living Sept. 2007 issue) and possibly a green salad.

Tuesday - Layered Enchilada Casserole

Wednesday - FEAST at church

Thursday - Pizza (for girls and hubby) I will be at a bible study so I will grab something on the way.

Friday - I am hosting a Chez Ami party (Children's Clothing Trunk Show. You can order something through me if you like =)) . I will be making various appetizers so hubby and kids will have that too!

Saturday - BBQ Ribs, mac and cheese, and green beans

Sunday - leftovers

If you want to see more menu plans this week, go on over to Laura's.

Prayer Request & a couple of pics.

HI all! I wanted to ask a prayer request for me and my girls this weekend.

Hubby is going to be out of town and I am a BIG chicken so say a prayer for us this weekend.

Specifically pray that I don't have an anxiety attack about being here alone and start thinking I'm having a heart attack......As well as for our actual protection..........AND lastly that I will remember that God is in charge and to trust HIM!!!! I am so thankful to be able to call on your wonderful girls to pray for us!!!

And lastly, I wanted to share some pics. of my girls we did this past weekend!

I am going to put a chair rail up in our den and put pictures all along it. The problem is that I took 171 pictures (literally) and I have to choose which ones to pick!!!! These are a few of the ones I really like.

Have a great weekend girls and thanks for the prayers!

Win this!

Hey. I was over at Lisa's place and saw that we could all win this. Some of you might now care about owning something like this but I sure would LOVE it.

Check it out and sign up to win! Go to challies.com now. The grew September giveaway is awesome!

I AM - Lesson 14

Well, here we are again! Time for lesson #14 . It is hard to believe that the whole thing is almost done. What will we post about and discuss on Wednesdays?

Here are the burning questions of today.....

1. We talked of the importance of encouragement when God has called us to task. Has a lack of encouragement or even ridicule ever taken you back to a place of insufficiency you thought you had conquered? I have to say that I don't think I've been driven back to a place of insufficiency because I think I am still working to a place that I don't feel insufficient. That is one of the devil's easiest ways to get to me and I think one of the ways he tries (over and over) to convince me that I'm not "saved" -- because he knows that I already feel insufficient and so he tries to keep me there. I am working with the Lord to get out of this "pit" and become more than a conqueror IN HIM!!!

2. Is there someone you know right now who is attempting a new ministry that could use a world of encouragement from you? Why do you think this thing may be scary for her? Will you commit to write a note, make a call, or send an email with a dose of courage inside? I don't know about this one. I will have to think about it. I don't know many folks who are starting new ministries......Actually the Lord just brought someone to mind and I WILL promise to send an encouraging word her way!

3. Read Moses' song in Exodus 15:3-18. What line speaks to you most? Why does it touch you? Today it is verses 11 - 13 that touch me most --

"Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you- majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? You stretched out your right hand and the earth swallowed them. In our unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling."

WOW!!! I love these words! I even have the last part(vs 13) already underlined in my bible. It is an awesome promise isn't it? There is NO ONE like HIM and he leads ME with his unfailing love and guide ME with his strength. What a promise to hang onto!!!!

4. Based on the applications of living either inside or outside the Promise, where would you now say you currently reside? I am just going to be REAL here and say I'm a little unsure. I do struggle with unbelief and my prayer almost daily is "Lord, heal my unbelief". While I do believe that I accepted the salvation of the Lord long ago....the devil tries to keep me from believing it. And, unfortunately he has had (and continues to have) some success in telling me this lie. Which means that maybe I'm just in the desert and not in either place.........because the unbelief problem would mean I'm outside the promise and yet the devils lies that are keeping me from my full effectiveness would be living inside the promise? I'm just a little confused! =)

5. If you are 'Somewhere in the Middle' between the girl you were and the one you want to be, how do you plan on changing that? Is there a barrier you feel you can't climb? Knowing God is for you and this study group is for you, is there a way we can help? From what I said in the last question, I think we all know I am somewhere in the middle....My plan for changing that ? Continue to press on with the Lord, praying -studying - learning -- TRUSTING- choosing those things each day. My barrier is trust but I think I am climbing it - inch by inch--- or somedays millimeter by millimeter.... How can you help? PRAY that the Lord will heal my unbelief and heal my anxiety and fear that go right along with it!

THANKS prayer warriors!!!

Have a blessed Wednesday!!!! Gotta go get to the housework of the day!

Labor Day

Labor Day is supposed to be a day of rest for most I think. The last hurrah of summer complete with cookouts and all.
But, alas, in this household that is not to be today.
Today I have a list of things a MILE long to get done.
Including, but not limited to,

1. I have a Dentist appointment at 10AM. Not real sure why the dentist is open today but he is.
2. I cannot do a Menu Monday post until I actually make the menu. SO - Making a menu and a grocery list are next.
3. Actually go to the grocery store so my family can eat.
4. I had an order for 50 cheer bows that are due tomorrow. I have made all of them except for putting the hardware on them but that will take a while. And, since I've only put the hardware on about 7 that leaves me 43 more to go -- TODAY. That is probably where I will spend most of my time today and just pray I will get it done.
5. My girls are getting haircuts today. A friend is coming over to do it.
6. Laundry day at my house. Which IF I was having an actual vacation day - I would skip. But with everything else on my list- I just might at well go ahead and get it done.

Maybe I will be able to get back to you all with the Menu later today (I know you are waiting with bated breath).
We will see!

I hope you all have a fabulous, RESTFUL, last hurrah of summer!

Blessings on each of you!