Move on....

 

Have you ever set out with a new workout plan or a new daily routine only to hit an interruption and have to set your plan aside?

I finally started my new workout plan....set a goal to hopefully run another marathon this year. I began a 90 Day plan with 3 goals in mind and at the end of the first month I would sign up for my next race. Life is good.....I am going to get back into my workout routine! First week went great, completed 6 days of workouts. Second week good, completed 5 days of
workouts....I am feeling good, limiting my sugar and no snacks in the evening. I am into my third week, I am working out as well as I am doing yard work.....feeling good but then I notice my knee is bothering me. It appears swollen, feels like I bruised it or something bit me when I was doing yard work. So I press on and do my Wednesday workout and finish the yard work when I notice my knee is really swollen, I can hardly walk. It hurts so bad I need to take Advil and begin icing. Not a good moment. I am really frustrated. I have been making such progress.....now what? Are you kidding me, I didn't even injure it while running.

So this morning while I am icing my knee, feeling frustrated because my plan is interrupted I hear the Lord whisper to me, Do you trust Me? Do you think I don't know the desires of your heart and the goals you would like to accomplish physically, mentally, emotionally & spiritually? Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds me to trust in the Lord with all of my heart, lean not on my own understanding. In all my ways acknowledge Him and He will direct my paths. And Ps 37:4, says, Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. To be honest I was not trusting, I didn't understand because I don't even remember injuring my knee so I definitely was not delighting. I was not a happy person and I was not a happy person to be around. As I began reading through our 40 Day study the method Rick Warren is teaching us now is the "personalize it" and "pray it" method in scripture meditation.

 

I begin to personalize one of the verses in the study and it was for me personally..........

Philippians 1:6 -I began a good work in you, (Linda), and I will carry it on to completion. Then Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in Me, Linda, with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge me, and I will direct your paths.

I think what God is trying to show me is yes, make a plan, do what you can do and do your best but delight in Me, trust Me and relax in Me....let it go and trust.

 

There are so many things I do not understand and are out of my control no matter how good I think my plan is or how hard I am working at it. I can control my attitude and my response to the many interruptions to this life. I can let it go and trust God........I can Move On. He has a plan for me, He wants me to accomplish my goals and dreams even more than I do because He created me to live life to the fullest and be who God created me to be.                                                            

The open road

I love road trips......whether we are just cruising for an afternoon/evening ride exploring new roads or we are actually headed somewhere. I love road trips. I love having the top down in the

 convertible, good tunes on the radio, feeling the warmth of the sun and the cool breeze blowing. Depending on how far we will drive maybe a few snacks, some SOBE green tea or coffee & chocolates or just find the closest Dairy Queen for an ice-cream cone or frosty & fries from Wendy's. I just love the open road.                                                                                                                                              

I also love running out on the open road or go for a long bike ride. I think what I love most about the open road & road trips is the freedom, the wide open space leaving room for your mind to think and process life. The open road is like an empty page waiting for you to write a new entry of your life story. A chance to unwind and just breathe. You can just get lost on the open road. Refresh your mind and regain your focus.

Zephaniah 3:17 - For the Lord your God is with you, He is a mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.

The open road isn't just for a planned occasional "road trip" it is open and ready for you to experience daily or weekly. Take little minibreaks with God.....he is calling you.....to come join him on the open road. Take a break from the noise and business of the world, find that open road for a drive, a run or a bike ride, a place to be still in His Presence and listen to His voice. Listen to the love song that He is singing over you! I take great delight in you...I rejoice over you with singing.  He is singing over you continually we just don't always hear Him. There are treasures to be found through listening to Him and some of the richest blessing have to be actively sought.

See you out on the open road!

Risk - Step outside of your usual craziness

Most of my life I have felt like I am always having to "work" on or change something in my life....always striving to grow to be a better woman. This way of life is exhausting, filled with lists and plans and crazy efforts to be good. Until finally I came to a tipping point....enough is enough. I was tired of letting go and then picking it right back up again feeling defeated.

 

I love how The Message brings familiar verses into a new light and opens up my eyes to a fresh way of experiencing Christ.

 

Galatians 3:2-6 - Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God’s Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren’t smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it? Did you go through this whole painful learning process for nothing? It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up! Answer this question: Does the God who lavishly provides you with his own presence, his Holy Spirit, working things in your lives you could never do for yourselves, does he do these things because of your strenuous moral striving or because you trust him to do them in you? Don’t these things happen among you just as they happened with Abraham? He believed God, and that act of belief was turned into a life that was right with God. ~ The Message

 

Does God richly bless me, and change me because I try so hard to be good? or because I trust Him to do it?

 

What crazy efforts am I making for transformation to happen in me?

 

Try stepping outside your usual craziness. Experience what it could be like to see growth as a process of letting God "complete" what was begun by Him. Rest in the presence of His Holy Spirit, "lavishly provided to you". Don't worry about how you will grow spiritually; don't try to make a plan for how you'll change yourself --practice simply being, finding out what it is to be yourself  in the presence of LOVE. Love that is unconditional, everlasting with no strings attached.

when we value who we are in Christ we can risk being who He created us to be

rewallpaper the mind with TRUTH

Yesterday's message at Church of Hope, Amnesia: What Battle? was incredible. We forget, spiritual amnesia - that "We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world." Eph. 6:12 CEV

John 13:2 & 27 - our enemy is real and the battle is on.....it begins in the mind.

John 8:44 - "...the devil,....there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (NIV)

Battle Lies - who we are, other people and life.

God says:
Romans 12:2 - "Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." (NLT)

We need to replace the lie with the truth of God's Word......rewallpaper our minds with God's Word.
2 Cor. 10:5 - "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
(NLT) - "We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ."
(ESV) - "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,"
(ASV) -"casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;"

Phillippians 4:8- "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Phillippians 2:5 - "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,"

The ENEMY surrenders when you obey God's Word!

Wow....this is it....yes I change my thinking by rewallpapering my mind with the truth of God's Word but I also need to obey it. "Bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."

In Matthew 4, the devil surrendered his attack because Jesus intended to OBEY God at His Word.

Check out the whole teaching: AMNESIA: What Battle at http://www.hopeinocala.com/

Katie's Story

Katie was able to share her personal story for a school project. In her AP Language class she needed to create a Public Service Annoucement to promote an issue that she strongly believes in. She chose to promote Pro-Life in her PSA. I am so proud of her because instead of just creating a standard commercial supporting Pro-Life, she decided to share her story about Life with everyone (:

KT Pro Life PSA from Church of Hope on Vimeo.

Happy New Year!

What......2010......a new year! Actually 5 days in to this new year. I have been busy taking down Christmas and packing it away, cleaning and trying to remember where everything goes or just redecorating. I have also been making soups and drinking tea because it is cold here in Florida and my family is fighting off the winter cold like so many other people.

During this first week of the "New Year" I like to reflect on this past year and then look ahead to the new year. I get out my new calendar and begin to fill in birthdays, anniversaries and special days....hopefully another family vacation or a mission trip.....it is a fresh new page....a clean slate. What will this year bring? I am ambivilent.....it is exciting but yet there is also the unknown.

My prayer is not to get so caught up in "the path or the plan or even the calendar event" but to keep my eyes focused on Christ. It is in Christ we have hope, peace, and life. As in every year there will be high points and low points, special moments, unforgetable memories made, new places to discover, dreams fulfilled and even some painful days. No matter what life brings if I can hold on to the one truth remains the same.....It is Jesus He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He never changes, He is my constant, the anchor that sustains any wind damage and holds secure in every storm. He is faithful! He is who not what I can hold on to with great confidence because He has always been and he will always be. He not only knows the plan for my life - He wrote the plan for my life and for yours!

Lord, help me to keep my eyes focused on YOU, help me to trust you in every situation, love people and invest my life for your glory. Help me to help others discover that in You we have hope!

1 Peter 3:15 - "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,"

Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

Lamentations 3:22-26 - "The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord."

Proverbs 30:5 - "Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection."

Psalm 119:74 - "May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word."

Psalm 119:81 - "My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word."

Psalm 119: 89-90 - "Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures."

Psalm 119:103-105 - "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."

Psalm 119:114 - "You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word."

Psalm 119:130 - "The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple."

Merry Christmas!

I want to wish you a Merry Christmas from our house to yours......what a year this has been. The Lord has been so faithful and gracious to us.

Emily is recovering from her surgery nicely and is excited to have mashed potatoes and home-made noodles for dinner:) She didn't sleep by the Christmas tree last night....the first time since she was 6yrs old but Katie kept the tradition alive and slept out in the living room by the tree. I can still see them at 214 Crestmont Dr. sleeping in their Christmas pj's and hugging their buddy pillows right under the tree.
It was so much fun to see their eyes when they would wake up and see all of the presents under the tree. Life goes by way too fast. I will treasure these memories forever. Thank you Lord for my family!

Living in Florida has brought new Christmas memories and traditions.....it was fun on Christmas Eve to be sitting with our girls around our pool and then go to our Christmas Eve Service outside under the stars. This was our 2nd year to be outside for Christmas and it is an incredible experience. The first Christmas began not under a steeple but outside in a stable in an open field under the canapy of heaven. You can see our pictures on Mark's blog - www.incourageu.com.

Enjoy your day with your family and treasure every memory you make! Take time to remember the greatest gift of all, Jesus, who is our hope and our salvation. We love you, Church of Hope and we can't wait to see what the Lord has for us in the New Year.....2010.`

Thank you!

Thank you for praying for Emily......she is slowly recovering from her surgery. We truly appreciate all of you love and prayers and kindness.

We are home and resting. She gets better everyday! She is drinking smoothies, milkshakes, eating pudding, jello......working up to hopefully mashed potatoes on Christmas Day. The Lord is good and faithful. He meets us right where we are.

We wish you a Merry christmas and a Happy New Year! We love you and are so thankful for your friendship. We can't wait to see you all on Sunday and we are looking forward to our Christmas Eve Service - www.hopeinocala.com.

Christmas is in the air

It is that special time of year......time to shop till we drop to buy the perfect gift, decorate our homes with our favorite decorations and lights, and then of course bake all of the family favorits. I love this time of year so much but I know for me if am not careful I can keep myself so busy that somewhere in the mix, it's easy to feel empty and lose sight of Jesus. How can we push aside the busyness of the season and get a true glimpse of Christ at Christmas.

Here are a few ideas that help me keep my focus on the Jesus....the true Reason for the season:

1. Read the Christmas story in the New Testament with fresh eyes and ask the Lord to show you

something new this Christmas that maybe you hadn't noticed before.

2. Bless a family in need or even have a Christmas Open House for your neighbors to share the

joy of Christmas.

3. Another great book to read is "Can Martha Have a Mary Christmas?"......Untangling

Expectations and Truly Experiencing Jesus. This book is a great little book that is a daily

reminder of what Christmas really means. It offers tender insights, practical suggestions, and

touching stories that show you how to calm down and slow down the Christmas season.

Can Martha Have a Mary Christmas? Untangling Expectations and Truly Experiencing Jesus

By: Brenda Poinsett

This year you can truly experience Jesus and have a Mary Christmas.

Also check out the new series we are going through at church - Christmas a Tangled Mess, Untangling the Family http://www.hopeinocala.com/

Embracing a Different Perspective

As a woman I find myself many times drifting towards perceptions even when I know truth. You may have heard it said, "People's perception is their reality". Well, "What is my perception about who I am as a woman of God....daughter of the King"? Is my perception based on the truth of God's Word or based on lies of the enemy. The adversary doesn't want me to embrace the truths in God's Word and embrace freedom in Him. Jesus gladly peels off the scarlet letters that have been pinned all over us. Nothing's too hard for Him. There is no past He can't restore, no lie He can't erase, and no offense He can't make right. He takes the stones that have injured us and turns them into jewels fit for a crown.

Psalm 27:1 -"The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?"

I can drift toward the perception of who I am or even what I think others think of me when that becomes my focus instead of the truth. I then take things personally & react defensively.

Think of it this way - We as women, at one time or another , have all done "shadowboxing". In other words, we percieve what we think someone else may be thinking, and in anger we react to that perception. In our minds we get mad, react, and then defend ourselves. And then, based on little or no factual information, we soon find ourselves swinging at the air because of a percieved conflict with an opponent who is totally unaware of their offense or our feelings.

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

NLT - "We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ."

Our reaction to this perception can be based on our past, our pride, the need to be right & even the desire to be percieved perfect. I am realizing that I can spend thousands of dollars trying to improve myself, and way too much energy trying to prove myself, when what I really need is to be purified.

1 John 3 -"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!..........Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure."

Matthew 5:8 -"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

Thank you, Father, that you have forgiven me, You have redeemed me, and retored me! I refuse to buy into the world's perception of who I am. I will treasure and value what is true and lovely and worthy of praise. I release to you my own perceptions and help me to be quick to hear and slow to speak. Help me to relenquish the need to be right or wrong and to live and move and breath by your Holy presence. Help me to daily renew my mind in Your Word.

Love is Forgiving

John 13:34-35 - "A new command I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

We are on Day 22. We are halfway through our 40 Day journey of loving like Jesus! It is truly life-changing. We have looked at 3 powerful principles modeled and taught by Jesus:
1. Place the highest value on relationships
2. Love as Jesus loves you
3. Communicate from the heart

Last night we looked at Love is Forgiving.

1 Corinthians 13:5 - Love...doesn't keep a record of wrongs that others do."

I am praying for the Lord to transform my memory and help me to release to Him the wrongs of others and not keep a list. I know I wouldn't want someone to keep a list of all of my wrong choices so I need to do the same for others. Love is forgiving!

Luke 6:27-28 - "Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

3 Reasons to forgive others:
- God has forgiven me
- Bitterness makes you miserable
- You are going to need more forgiveness in the future.

Lord, help me to forgive others because You have forgiven me. Help me to realize that I can forgive others through You. Help me to love like Jesus.

Love Like Jesus

John 13:34-35 - "A new command I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Wow, this journey that we are on as a church....40 Days of Love....is convicting! I thought I was doing ok - loving one another, but the familiar truths we are learning are challenging me to really look at the way I love others. Sunday's message from John 8 and the example Jesus gives us in how He truly loves people can be life changing.

As much as Jesus loves me I am to love others the same way.....through Him! Jesus treats me much better than I deserve......His love is unfailing, unconditional, eternal, perfect tender, with "no strings attached", holding nothing back. Thank you, Jesus!

Romans 15:7 - "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."

Thank you for Your Word, it speaks truth to me. I need to filter everything through Your Word.....Do I accept others like You accept me? Do I value others like You value me? Do I forgive others like you forgive me? Do I believe in others like You believe in me?

Thank You, Father, for loving me, accepting me, placing value on my life, forgiving me and believing in me. You breathed life into me!

Decorating for Fall

I love the colors of the leaves, the smell of warm apple pie and pumpkins! I love this time of year. I am decorating our home with the colors of fall because when you live in Florida you don't get to see the leaves change in color. I definately do not miss raking the leaves but they sure are beautiful. It is pretty cool to have a "fall" atmosphere in your home, maybe even a fire in the fireplace (not yet it is too warm unless the air is on), homemade soup cooking and warm bread baking.....and then sitting by the pool.....all in the same day! Last Friday Katie and I made a trip to Pennsylvania to see friends and our Zion family:) Western Pa.....Zion is a special place to us. We love you all!
We went to all of our favorite places on Main St. First stop.....Michele's Cafe for coffee with Pam and Kris. I have loved and treasured their friendship!


Then Pam and I had to get subs from the best sub shop....Bob's Sub!!!!



We stopped at Zion and then made our way to the Ladies Retreat at the Castle in Franklin. What a beautiful place for a Ladies Retreat.......thank you for letting me be apart of it. I had so much fun catching up with everyone and hearing how all of our kids are growing up. I love each one of you ladies!!!


Barb and Catherine you did a great job leading us in worship with Cara and Kelly.
God used you in an incredible way....it was great to see you :)!!!


Pam, you are doing a great job with the ladies of Zion. They are blessed to have
you as their Pastor's wife......I love you, my friend!!! The Clarion River......memories of Canoe trips, kayaks and tubing:)

Katie saying goodbye to Breanna and Chara....we love you girls, thanks for hanging out with Katie and having a sleepover with Kara and Ashley.

Our First Gator Game!

What an awesome day we had in the"swamp" for our first Gator Game!

Here we are before the game.....Kerry, me, Robbie and Kristi...dressed in our Gator colors:)


Even the Gators at the stadium are dressed up in their Gator colors! Thank you John & Olga for an incredible memory filled with friends, great food and a great game.
Katie and Breanna had so much fun too and we shared some chocolate and popcorn with them:)
The verse for the day from the Message was Proverbs 12:3 - "You can't find firm footing in a swamp, but life rooted in God stands firm."

Go Gators....this week we play Tennessee.

A New School Year

Before the new school year begins we had to go to the beach one more time........Katie needed to ride a few waves and Emily & I needed to enjoy our beach chairs with a good book and then take a nice walk on the beach as we begin to prepare for a new school year. The beach is one of our favorite places to clear our minds and get refreshed. Katie caught a few curls.....you go girl!

waiting on the next wave.....

My surfer girl will be a Junior in High School. I am so proud of her!

Hugs from her daddy before she leaves for school.

Emily is in college and Katie is a Junior. They will miss not being at school together but at least they are not far apart. I am so thankful that they have become best friends......I pray they will always be close.

There she goes, my little Katie, driving herself to school!

I pray for the Lord's protection and provision over my girls in this new school year as well as all students, teachers & families.

A New Journey

Today is the beginning of a brand new journey for our daughter Emily. Today she is a "college student". I am so excited for her and the bright future ahead of her. Since she was a little girl I have prayed over her, loved her & breathed God's Word into her life. I continue to pray for God's protection, provision, discernment, wisdom & guidance over her life.

Emily, keep your eyes on Jesus, your heart & mind in His Word follow His leading for you.

You are an amazing your lady & God has an increible future in mind for you:)

Remember these truths:
Jeremiah 29:11-13 - "This is God's Word on the subject: "As soon as Babylon's seventy years are up and not a day before, I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. 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. "When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. "When you come looking for me, you'll find me. "Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." God's Decree. "I'll turn things around for you. I'll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you"—God's Decree—"bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it." (MSG)

Proverbs 30:5 - "Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection."

Psalm 139:14 - "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well."


Philippians 1:6 - "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Psalm 33:4 - "For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does."

Hebrews 10:23 - "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."

Jeremiah 33:3 - 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'

1 Corinthians 2:9 - "However, as it is written:"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him."

1 John 3 - "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (NIV)

(NLT) -"See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!"

Jesus loves you so much, Emily, and I am so thankful to Him that of all the mommies in the world He chose me to be your mommy. You are truly a gift from Him!

Seeking God in Transition

This week I have been seeking God for His plan during this new transition as a mom. I will still be involved in my girls lives but it will be different. As women we go through many different seasons (transitions) in life. We may be a daughter, a wife, a new mother, a mom of toddlers, tweens or teenagers. We may have kids in college, married children, we may be in a carreer or changing and walking into a new carreer. We may be caring for our parents as well as our bodies can change in so many ways with each season.

For me, my new season is early 40's, a stay at home mom facing a transition physically (harder to exercise), emotionally (hormones a little crazy), mentally (having to write everything down & then remember where I put my list) & spiritually (craving my daily quiet time). I found myself this week struggling with my own sense of value. I chose to stay home with my girls, homeschool them for 10 years, help them transition from homeschool to private school to now public school and this fall college but now I/we as mothers can feel that sense of purpose slipping through our fingers or fading from our lives. I have no regrets for the investment that I have made in my daughter's lives and I wouldn't trade the time spent together, the memories made or the relationship we have. But I found myself pouring over God's Word for affirmation, confirmation, love, acceptance & a new direction that He would have for me as one of His daughters.

I felt like a young girl searching through her daddy's Word, His very love letter to me, to find a hidden treasure that I could hold close to my heart and breathe in His love felling confident & secure. I was so richly blessed when His Word came alive and ministerd to me, personally, this week........I want to share it with you to hopefully breathe hope into someones life as His Word did for me.

I began on the 23rd with my daily reading of a Psalm & a Proverb:

Proverbs 23:12 -"Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge."
(NIV) "Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge."

Proverbs 23:18-19 - "There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be
cut off. Listen, my son/daughter, and be wise, and keep your heart
on the right path."
(NLT) vs.19- "My child, listen and be wise: Keep your heart on the right course."
(NKJV) "For surely there is a hereafter, And your hope will not be cut off. Hear,
my son, and be wise; And guide your heart in the way."

As I read I prayed, Lord help me to apply my heart to instruction, open my ears to your words of knowledge. Thank you, Father, that your Word tells me that "there is surely a future hope for me & that my hope will not be cut off." Help me to keep my heart on the right path.

Then I continued reading in Psalm 34....the whole Psalm is amazing but here are a few verses to check out.
(NLT) vs.1-10 - "I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing."

These verses were life for me...."I sought the Lord and He heard me, He answered me and delivered me from all my fears." In The Message it says - "God met me more than half-way, He freed me from my anxious fears."

I loved vs. 5 - "Those who look to Him are radiant...their faces are never covered in shame." And in The Message it says - "never hide your feelings from Him."

I wrote this in my journal - Thank you, Lord, for Your Word - I have nothing to be ashamed of in choosing to invest in my daughter's lives. Thank you for the time with them, help me to continue to invest my life into theirs & other women that you bring across my path. Shape me & mold me so that my face is radient & never covered in shame.

Vs. 8 -"Taste & see that the Lord is good, blessed is the woman who takes refuge in Him."

Vs. 10 - "Those who seek the Lord will lack no good thing." and in The Message - "God-seekers are full of God." I want to be full of You and not full of myself, to find complete satisfaction & value in You and You alone.

And then in Hebrews 3:1-6 from The Message - "So, my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He's the centerpiece of everything we believe, faithful in everything God gave him to do. Moses was also faithful, but Jesus gets far more honor. A builder is more valuable than a building any day. Every house has a builder, but the Builder behind them all is God. Moses did a good job in God's house, but it was all servant work, getting things ready for what was to come. Christ as Son is in charge of the house."

That's it, my reminder that Jesus is the Centerpiece of everything I believe.....He is the reason I live & move & breathe. He is the builder of my home, my life, my family and He is the builder of every transition I go through in this life - I just need to keep my eyes focused on Him. He has always been there for me through every season of womanhood and He gently reminded me this week that He, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." - Hebrews 13:8. He will be here in this new transition/season of my life as well and he will give me a new direction & focus.

Psalm 127:1 - "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain."

Days of Transition as a Mom

In the last 2 weeks I have watched one of my little girls (18yrs) graduate from high school, celebrated 20 years of marriage and now I am teaching my other little girl (16yrs) how to drive:) I have also spent the last 2 weeks driving alot between Emily's 2 jobs and Katie's swim practice.

This will change again because we ound a car for Emily and she can drive:)

I love being a mom especially to Emily & Katie. I have truly loved every stage of their life....every birthday, vacation, christmas, year in school and activity. The Lord has blessed me so much! They are amazing young ladies. I am finding myself moving into a new season of my life.....I have a daughter in college, a car, job & responsibilities and my other daughter finishing high school, driving and planning for her future. They are transitioning days for me as a mom filled with excitement, anticipation, dreams, laughter, tears and even more changes for me as a mom.

I will always be here for my girls with whatever they need but our relationship will change because they are beginning to soar with the dreams that God has placed in them. I am filled with awe and praise to God when I think of the possibilities before them. They are so much further down the road than I was at their age and that fills me with incredible satisfaction and joy. God's word is so amazing...Psalm 145:3 says, "Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom."

I want them to step out to become more than they can ever imagine, to allow the Lord to stretch and grow them. For them to always remember that their horizon will not expand until they start walking towards it. To realize that He who began a good work in them will be faithful to carry it through to completion. (Phil. 1:6)

I want them to have the courage of Esther, the wisdom of Elizabeth, the humble-servants heart of Mary, the faith of Rahab, the determination and kindness of Ruth, the leadership of Deborah, the resoursefulness of the Proverbs 31 Woman and so many other great women who were willing to be used for God to do great things for His glory!

Proverbs 3:5-6-"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

Jeremiah 29:11-13- "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

The Message - "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. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. When you come looking for me, you'll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed."

Happy Anniversary!

Today is our anniversary.

We are celebrating 20 years together......

What an incredible journey this has been.

I thank the Lord for you, Mark, for loving me, accepting me, and helping me to become the woman that God has called me to be. We have been blessed to travel to some incredible places and have not only made memories along the way but God has shaped our lives...."He prepares you for what he has prepared for you." We have grown over these 20 years together. We have experienced first hand the faithfulness, protection, provision & love of the Lord. As we keep our eyes on Him He continues to lead and guide. Thank you, Mark, for being a man that follows after Christ with all of your heart, soul & mind.....I have enjoyed the benefits because I know that you love me. I love the times we have shared at Sanibel, our convertable rides and long walks on the beach:)

I can't imagine going through life with anyone but you! God perfectly matched us together......you are my better half:)

I can't wait to see what the Lord does in the next 20 years on this dusty trail called life......let's continue the journey. I love you, sweetheart!!

My Baby is Graduating....

Jeremiah 29:11-13 - "I know what I am 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. When you call on Me, when you come and pray to Me, I'll listen. When you come looking for me, you'll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding Me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." (MSG)

This is Emily's first day of Pre-K. Time has gone by too fast. She is so cute:)

I remember this day like it was yesterday. She looked so little as she went off to school and I think I cried most of the day. *(This was only Pre-K for 3 days a week) We then chose to Home-school the girls and I had the privilege of homeschooling Emily from Kindergarten to 8th grade. She finished out her 8th grade year and the 9th grade in a private school and then she went to public school from 10th grade until now....her Senior year. Each choice in her education journey has shaped her into the young lady she is today. The Lord has ordered her steps and our steps as her parents in each decision that was made. He has an incerdible plan for her life and I thank Him everyday for allowing us to be her parents.

This was the first day of school for Emily's Senior year and Katie's Sophomore year. Everyone told me that this school year would fly by.....they were right. It has flown by! I am amazed that here we are getting ready to graduate our first daughter. I do not feel old enough to have a graduate:) This has been a great year. As I look back over all of the photos of the memories that have been made we have been so blessed. The Lord has been so good to our family. Thank you, Emily, for letting us be apart of this exciting part of your journey.

Here we are Emily's last day of High School. She will graduate on June 6th. I am so proud of her!