So it seems like forever since I've been here. But the last week and a half has been so indescribable, I had to take a moment and get it out.

Hurricane Irma made her appearance and devastated areas of our county, while me and my family have the luxury of our home, power and all of our belongings. Today, we stopped by to check in on some friends from the ball field. They were not so fortunate. They were some of the more than 300 people that were rescued by boat. This had never happened to them. Their house had always been high and dry. They have lost everything... their home that has been in their family for decades, their cars, everything in their kitchen, their piano, their mattress and bedroom set, and the list goes on and on. They did salvage some clothes and all of their children's mattresses. By the time we showed up on the scene, they had already been ripping out dry wall for days. They said their neighbor, an older lady across the street, needed some help because she had it worse than they did. We walked over and jumped in to help this stranger. Pulling wet dry wall, hauling it to the roadside. The homeowner was as sweet as she could be, as she walked around in her wet boots, working alongside us and the teams of others there to help. There are probably thousands of stories like this in our community. 

We got home and were able to shower and are relaxing, but I couldn't help but think about God in all of this. I kept thinking about all of the ways God used my senses today:  giving hugs, smelling the stench of rotting dry wall, seeing the piles of people's belongings in the front yard, hearing the sounds of people scooping up squishy drywall and tossing tiles into the wheelbarrow and then there is tasting. God brought to mind his word in Psalm 34:8: Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. I don't ever want to forget God's faithfulness through all of this. He is hope, even when there seems to be none.

I also come back to the stench. It was so strong, so overwhelming, so distinct, so horrific, so sad. But then God reminded me about the sweet aroma of worship.   2 Corinthians 2:14-15 says: "But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."  

This is our community right now... rebuilding lives from the ruins, being Jesus' hands and feet to friends, neighbors and strangers, tasting and seeing the Lord is good, all the while spreading the aroma of knowing He is everywhere and our loving kindness toward one another is pleasing to Him. Thank you, God for the privilege of loving and serving others and giving you glory.

Staying Clay County Strong!  

2015: Magnify

Wow!  Coming off the year of SO was quite interesting.  Either I'm not paying enough attention in the beginning of the year or I am a slow learner, because God always seems to bring it on the last quarter of the year.  I learned more about my pride and strong-will than I ever expected and thankfully was humbled which led to my submission and obedience both at home and on the job.

So, this brings us to 2015!  I've been praying about the theme for this year since November and struggled really until this morning.  I love how God has tied it all together!  At first I was thinking it would be the year of Worship.  Then, it was the year of taking thoughts captive.  Then it was preserving my heart.  And where I've landed miraculously wraps all of them up into one word:  Magnify!

I was on my way to a conference in December and heard a Tony Evans sermon in which he simply asked the definition of magnify.  He made it simple:  to make bigger.  In our walk with Christ, it is our honor and privilege to make God look bigger than the stuff we face in life, whatever it is.  It stuck with me, but I had no idea to what extent until this week.

Today I made time to do a word study on the word magnify.  I love that God has such deeper meaning in his word than is presented at first glance!  This is what I found:
In the Greek, magnify is the word "megaluno" which means to make great, enlarge or magnify.
In the Hebrew; magnify is the word "gadal" (pronounced gaw-dal).  The primary root is to twist; to be or make large (in various senses as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride).  It's translated as magnify (32x), great (26x), grow (14x), nourishment (7x), grow up (6x), greater (5x).  It means to become strong, grow up, be greater, wealthy, evidence oneself as great, be powerful, significant or valuable.  In the intensive stem it indicates that this rearing up has occurred (brought up children) and may also imply permission (when Samson's hair was to grow Numbers 6:5).  But primarily it is to magnify or to make large.

My theme verses are Psalm 34:3 (but I like the entire chapter to get the full effect!) and Psalm 69:30,  Psalm 70:4, Philippians 1:20.

What does this all mean?  It means this:  my 2015 will be focused on making sure that I remember that God is truly bigger than anything that I face and therefore my reaction and response to the things that happen in my life should reflect that.  When I make that intentional choice (taking every thought captive), I grow in my relationship with Christ and worship Him in a variety of different ways.  Not only that, but I then give Him more permission to preserve my heart which means I can be braver and bolder when He leads me to be.  At the end of the year, I hope I will have grown in my relationship with my God and truly magnify him in every way possible.

Here's to 2015... Magnify!  Hope you'll join me in magnifying His name!

2014... the year of SO

Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
    but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.--Proverbs 29:18

2013 was the year of Awakening.  I must say I was surprised to what I was awakened to.  I enjoyed being awakened to all the good stuff:  Jesus' presence, His teachings, His ways, His gifts to me and enjoying the moments more - being more awake in the moment.  But I was also awakened to some sin in my life that had really been stopping me from growing closer to God, hindering my marriage and leading me down a slippery slope.  

I've always been a strong-willed woman, but I had no idea what that was really doing to my marriage until I heard a Focus on the Family broadcast of the author of "The Strong-Willed Wife".  Listening to her, scared me and humbled me.  She spoke as if she had been living my life.  Her statements were my thoughts too.  Needless to say, God is working on me.  What this revealed to me is that I really have a submission problem.  Truthfully, if you have a submission problem, you also have an obedience problem.  Therefore, 2014 is the year of SO (Submission and Obedience).  

I've made some unwise decisions this past year and am paying the consequences.  I also know that God's love never fails, He is making me new and He is SOvereign.  

SO, in 2014 I look forward to the new wife that my husband will have (yes, it's still me!:), the new mom for my boys and the new daughter to the King of Kings.  

Love & Prayers, 
Kim
Romans 15:13

Awakened to...

Awakened to...

• the richness of His word
• how everything that I hear, read and see seems to point to Him and every area He is chiseling
• the gift of being known by a few courageous warrior daughters of the King
• the joy of the desire to attempt to memorize my boys' faces as they sleep
• the kindness in his way of pursuit
• the bondage and depth of my sin
• the hope of freedom and victory only experienced by His chisel and my surrender
• the excitement of the first day of school
• the reality of overwhelming love
• the choice I have to receive that love
• little ways the enemy steals, kills and destroys
• crazy ideas that may really be God ideas
• how admitting failures is true success
• how He is delivering me from the bondage of living in the picture of looking like I have it all together
• the power I've given other people instead of My God
• the shields that He has made available
• the gratitude
• the desire of my heart
• the power of dependence on Him vs. independence and self-reliance
• the willingness to say "I can't do it"
• the fun of dance night at the Morgan house (my favorite part is when Ryan will dance with Ian and say, "Dad, it's your turn to dance with mom.")
• the pure love that flows from your child
• the understanding of what wholeheartedness may look like
• the dancing picture that is messed up in my head
• the strength that supernaturally appears when I have nothing to give
• the need for rest and Sabbath
• learning that Jacob's wrestling match with God was his first honest fight he had ever had which prepared him to meet his match:  Laban.  (Hmmm)
• tissue warnings
• my yearning to write
• boundaries 
• peaking out of the pit, preparing to stand on solid ground and dance wholeheartedly!

Awakened to His Love

His Love Never Fails - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_o6s5X5LSw

Awakened to... His Love

• Listening to the wee one pray all by himself
• Laughing with my elder boy love
• The prayers of the wee one:  "God, please always be with me so that I won't be afraid." "God, I love you too!"
• When I pray a prayer and He answers so overwhelmingly via song that I'm weak-kneed, light-headed, tear stained red faced and thankful.
• Older boy love's spiritual questions, i.e.:  Are the priests good guys or bad guys (the Sunday school lessons went from Easter where Jesus was handed over to the priests to be arrested to the Old Testament where they're carrying the Ark of the Covenant across the Jordan River into the Promised Land.)  Never thougth about it like that!
• Hearing about the elder boy's adventures of trying new foods
• Seeing my boys helping Scott put the new grill together
• Celebrating my husband
• Getting glimpses of more of how He's working in our story
• a "thank you" from the new boss
• the reminder that He pursues me
• Passion comes before the Resurrection
• when the same scripture that you've read gazillions of times comes alive in a new way!
• Rain
• Sunshine
• Cool breezes
• Sistas that love me no matter what!
• Christian radio stations
• Warrior Princesses

All of you must keep awake (give strict attention, be cautious and active) and watch and pray, that you may not come into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.  Matthew 26:41

Awakened to...
my fears
my failures
my sin of unbelief
my sin of worry
my sin of idolatry
the joy of being the donkey (the means that the King goes to the people)
the joy of the amazing rescue mission of Christ
the joy of surrender
laughter of sweet boys playing together after my long day
my need to have more fun
thoughtfulness after the wee one busted his lip/mouth and then gives his brother a piece of chocolate
thankfulness that the wee one's busted lip/mouth wasn't as serious as it looked
thankfulness for paying down debt
gratitude for friends sharing their hearts
thankful for surprises that no one would believe possible :)
enjoying going to sleep in my husband's arms
the elder boy love's growth spiritually, physically and emotionally
snuggle time
fun, movie popcorn days
sweet prayer times of 2nd graders
the need to love on widows all the more
the need and privilege of being His hands and feet
the challenge to be intentional all the time
the need for self-control
love

Celebrating Resurrection Day!

2013 - Awaken

I've been on a journey with God over the last couple of years.  Instead of making New Year's Resolution's that I rarely keep, God gives me a theme for the year.  It's been so interesting to see what He has taught me and it is a bit easier for me to see what He may be up to in my life.

2011 was the year of Living Victoriously.  It truly was.  I discovered areas of freedom that I didn't even know I needed.

2012 was the year of Passionate Pursuit.  While the first half of the year was invigorating and definitely lived up to what I thought the theme should look like.  The latter part of the year left me with more questions than answers.  What does passionate pursuit of Him look like?  So He gets glory?  When no one else is watching?

The thing that I love about what He's doing with these themes is He's building.  He's basically rebuilding me into the woman He's already made me to be.  He's just revealing that woman to me in doses that I can take when I need them.

So looking forward to 2013, through prayer and much confirmation over the last couple of weeks, the theme is Awaken.  While my first thought, was "God, I thought I was awake..." I had to live victoriously and fight the condemnation that came with that ugly thought from my enemy.  Then I had to passionately pursue His word and discover what He had in store.  This is where He is leading me...

Romans 13:11-14 (The Message) - But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can’t afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don’t loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!

Ephesians 5:13-15 (The Message) - Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ.

Wake up from your sleep,

Climb out of your coffins;Christ will show you the light!

So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!

"The only way to rip out the tape of self-rejection is listening to the song of His serenade.  Because as C.S. Lewis adamantly argued, the most fundamental thing is not how we think of God, but rather what God thinks of us.  How God thinks of us is not only more important, but infinitely more important.  Giving thanks awakens to a God giving Himself."  --- Ann Voskamp (Dec. 22, God in the Moment - One Thousand Gifts Daily Calendar)

Song - Awaken by Natalie Grant - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yngKB7pykaA  

"Awake" in the King James version of the above verses have great meaning in the Greek.  Egeiro (eg-i-ro) simply means any of the following (and all fit for this year's theme!):
rouse (literally from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death, or figuratively from  obscurity, inactivity, ruins and nonexistence), rise, raise, arise, raise up, rise up, rise again, raise again, awake, lift up, rear up, arise, stand, take up.  

I'm in the midst of reading "Lioness Arising" by Lisa Bevere.  (it is a great and challenging read!)  One of the chapters is titled, "Dangerously Awake".  Here are some key points I took away from that chapter...

• "There's nothing more dangerous than being in the presence of lions when they are fully awake."
• Unfortunately we often live as tranquilized Christians, sedated by the day-to-day
• "Be up and awake to what God is doing!"
• "I have no idea what all this (the wake-up process in Christian women) may look like once we are fully awake, but I'm pretty sure we will look dangerous in teh dark and glorious in the light."
• "I have come to believe that the expression of a fierce, wild lioness of a Christian woman is yet to be defined."
• "A how-to, step-by-step Christianity leaves us void of much of the mystery of God. So this is not a how-to message.  I want you awakened - to rise up a lioness and walk in your unique expression of what that means.  Only you and God can define what that lioness will look like when she is fully awake in you."
• "God did not save you to tame you."

Looking forward to what He has in store for 2013 and discovering the new ways I will learn to give Him glory.  

Happy 2013 to you!  Praying you experience His presence like never before!

Heart beats

Today I'm thankful for heart beats...

Heart beats of my children
Heart beats of my husband love
Heart beats of my mom and sister
Heart beats of my family
Heart beats that show His love to others
Heart beats that just beat so we know we're alive
Heart beats that truly live - adventurously, boldly, bravely
Heart beats that are humbled because of the sovereignty of the Only One True God.
Heart beats that have accepted the eternal promise that Christ so freely gives
Heart beats that hurt because pain has purpose which means that life is never easy, but it's worth it
Heart beats that allow God to transform my broken beating heart to one that forgives like His.
Heart beats that beat together with His
Heart beats that break for the lost, shed tears with the hurting and love no matter what.
Heart beats that remember the truth
Heart beats that remind you of what's important
Heart beats that keep you focused on His plans, not our own.

Simple Thanks

you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5

Thankful for...

• family coming to visit
• Aunt T working so hard on nephew's birthday cake
• the excitement and anticipation of everything birthday
• Reminiscing about the elder's birth
• Listening to the wee one sing about our Savior's birth
• a business trip
• learning on the job to do the job better
• seeing others' thankful hearts
• time to dig into His word
• time to listen to some great Bible study
• the feeling of refreshment after getting clean and reconnected to the Father
• missionary hearts and servants
• the honor of fighting along side other believers

Praying for a great week of remembering that Peace is a Person and that person is Jesus!  

Simple things...

Thanking God for the simple things in life...

• Honesty
• Christmas lights
• A wonderful husband who hangs the lights on our house
• The look of wonder on the wee one's face when the house lights up
• Christmas tree decorated and lit
• Celebrating the manger scene and what it means
• giggles and tickles
• bear hugs
• sweet kisses
• walks down memory lane

Looking forward to a great week!

Celebrate!

Celebrating so many things!

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  Nehemiah 8:10

Celebrating...

• Great time with family counting our blessings
• the sense of achievement at a thorough house cleaning
• kindred sisters in God's family
• a reassuring hug after a morning of battle
• remembering that praise warriors are on the front line
• fresh baked cookies
• the way the house smells when good food is cookin'
• football... football... football and some more football!  Good games, too!
• 1st win at home for the Jags!
• giggles from tickle time
• fun at the park 
• days with blue skies, no clouds and a breeze and chill in the air
• fleece pj's
• socks
• park explores
• meeting new friends (the graciousness of Mr. Jack and his dog Tanner for answering all kinds of questions from my boys)
• sweet little boy snuggles
• bedtime talks with my elder boy love
• realizing that my elder boy love's birthday will be on the last perfect date of this century.  Pretty cool!
• fish sitting for a neighbor
• Anticipation of where God is leading for 2013!  Digging in to see more!

Overwhelmed

Overwhelmed.  I seem to use this word too often these days.  More often than not, I'm describing my schedule, my busyness and any of the other excuses I use to not be real, not be obedient, not let God mold me and teach me.

So now I return to the beauty of the multitude of gratitude humbly.  I remember how important it is to leave these pebbles of memories and thanks to keep my perspective.  My perspective isn't on the pebbles, but on the rock that gave them and made them:  My magnificent, amazing, indescribable, infinite Savior.  The list is simply to give God glory for more than the moment of the gift I've enjoyed, but to share it with others, for me to remember and ultimately to give Him glory continuously.

Christianity isn’t about growing good, it’s about growing grace-filled.  --Ann Voskamp

Continuing to count...

• texts from sisters that speak truth to me
• the sweetness of my boys.
• my elder boy love's election involvement:  "If I were President, I would cut taxes from $100 to 1 cent."
• my wee one love's snuggles
• my wee one love's potty victories and facing his fears
• my elder boy love's competitive spirit
• my husband's thoughtfulness 
• my husband's determination for us to enjoy a night away
• how God met me during that night away
• "He is with you" by Mandissa
• an acceptable 1st mammagram
• seeing the Jags fight in yet another OT
• watching a sweet couple worshipping together, while they know that his days on this earth are few
• cooler weather
• blog posts that impacted me:  www.aholyexperience.com - 11/13/12 post and 11/16/12 post; http://angiesmithonline.com/2012/11/open
• Worshipping at the Aaron Shust and Big Daddy Weave concert
• 2 Chron 20:17 "You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourselves...go out to FACE them." Not fighting it doesn't = not facing it.
  
  

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Matthew 5:3

Counting still...

• Revisiting the beatitudes (Angela Thomas calls them the "when you are's")
• Thanking Him that VJ has a signed contract and awaiting final approval!
• Hugs and snuggles from my guys
• The football player recovered a fumble! 
• The wee one's pep talks to the football player:  "stay focused!" or "are you going to be the hammer or the nail?"
• The wee one hitting some milestones - recognizing his name and wanting to go potty once and a while!
• Husband love's thoughtfulness
• A sweet sister who always gives
• Opportunities to love
• Opportunities to grow
• Opportunities to hope and be a part of what He is doing!

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Learning and Training

Learning from my kids...

• when you get knocked down, get right back up and go where the action is!
• crying can turn into laughter
• playing games is fun
• sometimes all you need is a good snuggle
• it's amazing what a quick prayer for a boo-boo will do!
• playing with neighborhood friends is important business!

Training to know Him more...

• committed to sharing my failures, so I accept the lack of perfection!
• sharing victories with and from fellow Christ followers
• savoring His gift of the Sabbath 
• Remembering He is in control
• His word meeting me right where I'm at
• Songs that appear to have been written just for me and God!
• messages that stir my heart

Enjoying

• my husband
• my boys
• my sister, who often comes to my rescue!
• vacation days

Delighting in...

Romans 15:3-4:  For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”^{[a] 4} For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

Him and Him alone...

• His Word always challenging me
• Devotions that speak to my thoughts that I've not spoken out loud, but He knows them
• Hope that can only be found in Him
• Strength that can only be found in Him
• Joy that can only be given by Him and I get to choose to receive it
• Love that surpasses my comprehension
• His sovereignty amidst the chaos and senselessness of this world
• The priviledge of praising Him.  One of my new faves:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzGAYNKDyIU
• Worship on the way home - When a teaching that I listened to, a devotion that I read and "I am redeemed" led me humbly to His throne
• Miracles - baby Hayden is making progress more than any of the doctors thought he would.

How He has blessed me...

• Washing my wedding ring and seeing how it sparkles when the light hits it.  Makes me think of marriage - when we let Him clean us (individually and as a couple) and let Him shine through, oh how it sparkles.
• with ears to hear the giggles of boys being silly just because along with the patience to just smile when those giggles have no end in sight!
• with eyes to see the joy on their faces when...
• the wee one runs through the sprinkler
• the elder gets his pads and helmet and wants to sleep in them and wear them all day long
• the wee one has his first necessary "peeing outside" experience (boys!!)
• the elder catches a great pass while playing a game of catch with his dad
• a husband who really wants to do the right and best thing
• with amazing friends who hold me accountable, don't judge me and challenge me to be more for Him. 
• a Pastor willing to speak truth and be more like the first church rather than the church building
• a sister that serves Him wholeheartedly.  Can't wait to see what His plans are for you!
• with a job and many learning opportunities

So many things to count, I am blessed.  Thank you, Jesus!

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Malachi 3:16-18 - Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.  ¹⁷ “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. ¹⁸ And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

Thankfully counting...

• health of me and my family
• God's provision and protection
• sister's safe travels and Alaska mission trip adventure
• how my sister lives out loud for Jesus
• we all survived and thrived during VBS
• God uses our life walk to minister to others
• God uses others' experience to draw me nearer to Him and challenge me to be more viligant 
• That some 5th and 6th grade girls now know what they have to do to know Jesus

Trusting Him and Pursuing His Plans for...

• The Wood family and their battle against leukemia.  I so love how He has already answered specific requests and how he's transforming lives in the process.
• Upcoming challenges He has given me.  Praying for obedience and patient endurance.
• Walking through life with some very strong and brave women.  They so inspire me! (you know who you are!)
• What He has in store for me at work.

Totally enjoying...

• Ryan's conversation with me before bed one night, "Mom, do you know about the bad guys who put Jesus on the cross.  But Jesus is alive and He can live in our hearts so we can live in Heaven someday.  Do you think Spiderman has Jesus in his heart?  He has a spider over his heart, but maybe Jesus still can live there.  I really want Spiderman to have Jesus in his heart."
• Ian asking some really good quesitons:  "Mom, why don't we just give the missionaries money so they have what they need instead of it being a contest between the girls and the boys?"
• when Ian and Ryan get a case of the giggles
• putting puzzles together
• playing games together
• playground fun
• watching movies together for the trillionth time 

Jesus, thank you!  Please help me to learn and re-learn how to be content. 

Practicing...

• Laughing more.  This is quite simple when my boys have a serious case of the giggles and keep saying "Whataburger" on our way to Chick-fil-A! 
• Enjoying priceless moments - Ian says, "Man, it's hot out here!"  Ryan responds, "You got that right, brother!"  (you may have had to be there!)
• Prayer
• saying "no"
• saying "yes" to what matters
• enjoying what really matters
• digging into God's word more

Passionately Pursuing...

• Him
• His plan
• His Word
• His voice
• less legalism
• less of me and what I want
• sitting still and knowing that He is God
• His forgiveness, grace and redemption
• His answers to my questions
• Less about accomplishment and more about how I accomplish it

Pondering and Counting

Counting...

Pondering prayer

•  Clear-mindedness and self-control make all the difference (1 Timothy 4:7)
• Am I praying the request or the answer?
• Asking the hard question - what is my motive for praying this?

Pondering self-control

•   It's really be spirit-control
•   It is a result (2 Peter 1:5) - Faith to goodness; goodness to knowledge; knowledge to self-control; self-control to perseverance; perseverance to godliness; godliness to brotherly kindness; brotherly kindness to love. 
•  Ultimate result:  "you will never fall and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ."  WOW!

Savoring the moments...

• just because phone call from my beloved hubby
• hearing encouraging words from the wee one to his older bro
• sweet bedtimes full of back pats/rubs, kisses and "got your nose"
• stories from their perspective
• the sound of rain and watching the ground soak it up instantly
• family checking in

Simply thankful for...

• a great pediatrician
• antibiotics and the flavoring that goes in it!
• people willing to pull together as a team
• toe-stepping messages
• seeing familiar stories in a new light; getting "the rest" of the story
• Grace
• Fernando Ortega and how his music calms me because of where it takes me... to the throne of Jesus

  

 

Thankfully counting

1427.  Goodness!  Hearing my wee one tell me he was too big for me to call him "sweetpea".
1428.  That I was challenged to be a world changer.
1429.  Hmmm - being a disciple is like being God's shadow.  Brings new perspective.
1430.  learning so much about prayer.
1431.  snuggles and hugs with my eldest
1432.  movie date night in with my honey!
1433.  the assurance that God gets me through no matter what!
1434.  the reminder of the importance of a thankful heart and how He uses it to transform me.

Counting One by One

Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

1411.  2 broken vessels delivering His messages to 37 women from 6 different churches... priceless!
1412.  The wonder of how the Spirit leads and moves.  All that is required is obedience.
1413.  That God gave me the picture of the lioness to share at the Ladies Retreat.  Tuesday of the next week, I get to see one up close!  She (the lioness) expressed this quiet, calm almost restful confidence about her.  Too cool!
1414.  Music that He uses to cut through all the stuff!
1415.  A Pastor that shares great messages!
1416.  Working out date night details
1417.  Sweet requests from the elder and the wee one.
1418.  The power of the question, "What is the truth?" and the impact it has on the elder, the wee one and dad and mom!
1419.  Chick-fil-A Leadercast (and the co-worker who paid for me to attend!)
1420.  That God grew me as a leader, gave me confirmations and grew my ministry vision!
1421.  My very brave, beautiful sister
1422.  Excitement of a live arena football game - Go Jacksonville Sharks!
1423.  the sound of thunder, in hopes that rain will be near sooner rather than later.
1424.  Prayer - the privilege, the passion, the point, the pilgrimage
1425.  Quote from the Leadercast - "The choices you make, make you."
1426.  thinking about what I have truly entrusted to Him and what He's entrusted me with - 2 Timothy 1:7-14