...to change things up for awhile on this blog.
i'm in a quiet mood lately. a 'just listen' kind of mood. so i'm going to take this time to mess with all the fun settings on this blog. hopefully pictures, music, fonts...we shall see.
fun,fun, fun!
so...here's to andrea trying her hand at being techie.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
time
take time to laugh MORE!
love this! saw this last night and i started thinking...today i want to...
take time to love more.
take time to kiss my heath more.
take time to look my babies in the eyes when they are talking and laughing more.
no matter...
how many dishes there are.
how high the piles of clean and dirty laundry are.
that every room in our home seems to have exploded with toys and clothes.
how busy i 'think' we are.
time is such a precious gift.
love this! saw this last night and i started thinking...today i want to...
take time to love more.
take time to kiss my heath more.
take time to look my babies in the eyes when they are talking and laughing more.
no matter...
how many dishes there are.
how high the piles of clean and dirty laundry are.
that every room in our home seems to have exploded with toys and clothes.
how busy i 'think' we are.
time is such a precious gift.
give time this christmas season. check out www.adventconspiracy.org. we spend a little less on our kiddos so we can love on kids in our community www.leapinoutreach.org and kids across the globe www.water.cc.
happy 12 twelve days of christmas left!
Monday, December 6, 2010
it's a known fact...
It's a known fact...
that I get overwhelmed and stressed at the Christmas season. Sad...but true.
It is also a known fact...
that when I spend time in God's Word, I relax and things don't seem to be as 'BIG' as I make them out to be.
So...I saw this reading plan ( http://withoutwax.tv/2010/12/01/rediscovering-christmas/ ) on one of the blogs I follow. And I'm going to include it here.
Dec. 6 - Acts 20:35, 1 John 4:10
Dec. 7 - Exodus 25
Dec. 8 - Matthew 25:31-46
Dec. 9 - Isaiah 9:6-7, Revelation 19:1-16, 1 Timothy 6:11:16
Dec. 10 - Matthew 1:22-23, Isaiah 7:10-15, John 1:14
Dec. 11 - Genesis 1, Isaiah 1:18, Psalm 51:1-10
Dec. 12 - Revelation 2:1-5, 1 John 3:1-3
Dec. 13 - Psalm 150
Dec. 14 - Acts 15:22-31
Dec. 15 - Luke 1, Jeremiah 32:17
Dec. 16 - Matthew 2:1-12
Dec. 17 - Galatians 4:1-7
Dec. 18 - Isaiah 58, Matthew 6:16-18
Dec. 19 - Luke 11:1-13
Dec. 20 - John 1
Dec. 21 - John 21:25
Dec. 22 - Psalm 100
Dec. 23 - Matthew 25
Dec. 24 - John 3:16
Dec. 25 - Luke 1:26-56, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-40
I started yesterday. I'm not going to go back and read the days I missed. And I will probably be hit and miss on the other days for the rest of the month. But I love being in random books of the Bible on given days. I love JOY on my face and anxiety OFF my chest. I love fresh focus and new perspective. I love enjoying Christmas season...the giving, the get togethers, the giggles, and so much more.
Will you join me?
that I get overwhelmed and stressed at the Christmas season. Sad...but true.
It is also a known fact...
that when I spend time in God's Word, I relax and things don't seem to be as 'BIG' as I make them out to be.
So...I saw this reading plan ( http://withoutwax.tv/2010/12/01/rediscovering-christmas/ ) on one of the blogs I follow. And I'm going to include it here.
Dec. 6 - Acts 20:35, 1 John 4:10
Dec. 7 - Exodus 25
Dec. 8 - Matthew 25:31-46
Dec. 9 - Isaiah 9:6-7, Revelation 19:1-16, 1 Timothy 6:11:16
Dec. 10 - Matthew 1:22-23, Isaiah 7:10-15, John 1:14
Dec. 11 - Genesis 1, Isaiah 1:18, Psalm 51:1-10
Dec. 12 - Revelation 2:1-5, 1 John 3:1-3
Dec. 13 - Psalm 150
Dec. 14 - Acts 15:22-31
Dec. 15 - Luke 1, Jeremiah 32:17
Dec. 16 - Matthew 2:1-12
Dec. 17 - Galatians 4:1-7
Dec. 18 - Isaiah 58, Matthew 6:16-18
Dec. 19 - Luke 11:1-13
Dec. 20 - John 1
Dec. 21 - John 21:25
Dec. 22 - Psalm 100
Dec. 23 - Matthew 25
Dec. 24 - John 3:16
Dec. 25 - Luke 1:26-56, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-40
I started yesterday. I'm not going to go back and read the days I missed. And I will probably be hit and miss on the other days for the rest of the month. But I love being in random books of the Bible on given days. I love JOY on my face and anxiety OFF my chest. I love fresh focus and new perspective. I love enjoying Christmas season...the giving, the get togethers, the giggles, and so much more.
Will you join me?
Monday, November 15, 2010
random and recurring
lately this thought has been on my mind...
Doing the right thing 'here' may not be what I want to do OR may not look like what I thought it would, but will lead me to where I'm supposed to be.
can you apply this to your life? in your job? in your relationships?
take risks. say yes to doing the right thing.
...for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18b
Doing the right thing 'here' may not be what I want to do OR may not look like what I thought it would, but will lead me to where I'm supposed to be.
can you apply this to your life? in your job? in your relationships?
take risks. say yes to doing the right thing.
...for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18b
Thursday, November 11, 2010
quote
i totally stole this quote from a blog i follow... www.whittakerwoman.typepad.com. it was so simple and inspiring!
'The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.' -anonymous
the questions she asked were:
how are you doing with living your life?
what could you be doing to make your dream life a reality?
and the questions that were laid on my heart in reading this were:
are you living your own story? or
are you trying to mold your life into someone else's story?
just for thinking...
'The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.' -anonymous
the questions she asked were:
how are you doing with living your life?
what could you be doing to make your dream life a reality?
and the questions that were laid on my heart in reading this were:
are you living your own story? or
are you trying to mold your life into someone else's story?
just for thinking...
Friday, October 29, 2010
walk in her shoes
Driving home yesterday, something caught my eye on the other side of the road. A woman was walking with two little ones. In one arm, she was carrying a red bag and a big yellow blanket. Her other side was leaning and holding the hand of a little boy who looked about the height of my little Garrett, who is 1 1/2 yrs old. And the other little boy, holding his little brothers hand, looked to be the height of my little Carley, who is 5 yrs old.
It was chilly and windy yesterday. I was glad to be in my warm car with my baby asleep in his carseat. Garrett had been nonstop all morning and my body was tired. I kept looking in my rearview at her...my body got tired for her.
andrea, walk in her shoes.
Her body already has to be exhausted from having two little boys running around when they are home. There is no stroller. She is not casually taking a walk. She is struggling to hold the blanket. Her tall body is leaning over to hold the hand of her tiny tot. I should turn around and see if she needs a ride.
Then my excuses came.
There's stuff on my passenger seat. Garrett just fell asleep. I have things to do. What if she says no? What if she has lice?
So lame. So petty. So selfish.
I turned around and drove up beside her. "Would you like a ride?" There was so much relief in her 'yes'. They piled in. Her and the baby sat in front. She had on a lightweight coat and was red in the face from the cold wind. The baby, who she said just turned 2, had on a rainjacket, light pj's and slippers. They had walked...I don't know, my guess would be 2 miles or more, one way and were walking back home when I stopped to pick them up.
I don't really know what to blog from here. Should I tell you what her needs are? Should I tell you where she was coming from? Should I tell you from the little bit of information she gave me about herself that now, without her knowing, so many people are going to be able to help her? God is beyond words! To say He is amazing is an understatement. All I had to do was say 'Yes Lord' and I get to be a part of His work beginning in this difference being made!
What is He asking you to say 'yes' to? What small step of obedience is He asking you to take?
It was chilly and windy yesterday. I was glad to be in my warm car with my baby asleep in his carseat. Garrett had been nonstop all morning and my body was tired. I kept looking in my rearview at her...my body got tired for her.
andrea, walk in her shoes.
Her body already has to be exhausted from having two little boys running around when they are home. There is no stroller. She is not casually taking a walk. She is struggling to hold the blanket. Her tall body is leaning over to hold the hand of her tiny tot. I should turn around and see if she needs a ride.
Then my excuses came.
There's stuff on my passenger seat. Garrett just fell asleep. I have things to do. What if she says no? What if she has lice?
So lame. So petty. So selfish.
I turned around and drove up beside her. "Would you like a ride?" There was so much relief in her 'yes'. They piled in. Her and the baby sat in front. She had on a lightweight coat and was red in the face from the cold wind. The baby, who she said just turned 2, had on a rainjacket, light pj's and slippers. They had walked...I don't know, my guess would be 2 miles or more, one way and were walking back home when I stopped to pick them up.
I don't really know what to blog from here. Should I tell you what her needs are? Should I tell you where she was coming from? Should I tell you from the little bit of information she gave me about herself that now, without her knowing, so many people are going to be able to help her? God is beyond words! To say He is amazing is an understatement. All I had to do was say 'Yes Lord' and I get to be a part of His work beginning in this difference being made!
What is He asking you to say 'yes' to? What small step of obedience is He asking you to take?
Monday, October 18, 2010
embrace your life
Saturday night I was reminded...
Embrace your life.
I have been in a poopy, super exhausted mode lately. It is football season, but that gives me no excuse.
I am a football coach's wife. Or some call us coaches' wives...football widows. I miss my babe. I'm overwhelmed at home. I'm mad at my babe because I miss him. I can't get caught up on life. Our team is losing week after week. Our football boys are getting hurt left and right. Some are serving jailtime for poor choices. There's drama in the stands. The list can go on and on. That is...if I let it.
I can choose to focus differently.
I can choose to have a different perspective.
I can choose to see what IS done around the house as opposed to what is NOT done.
I can choose to see my mess of a house as a home filled to the brim with blessings!
I can choose to cherish the time that I have with my babe as opposed to all the time I don't get to see him.
I can choose to see what he IS doing for me as opposed to what he is NOT doing for me.
I can choose to pray for our coaches, our football boys and our community with words of life, inspiration and power as opposed to scripting in my head what could happen in the future.
I am a football wife. I love my life. I love it with all its heartaches and joys. with all its lessons and chaos. with all its loneliness and fulfillment. I will embrace my life. I will embrace all the good things.
Do you do this? Do you embrace the good things in your husband, your kids, your friends, your family, yourself, God? Do you choose to see what they ARE as opposed to what they are not?
It is so hard sometimes. And it is so tiring sometimes. But the rewards of a healthy you with a healthy, uplifting environment around you is like no other!
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
Embrace your life.
I have been in a poopy, super exhausted mode lately. It is football season, but that gives me no excuse.
I am a football coach's wife. Or some call us coaches' wives...football widows. I miss my babe. I'm overwhelmed at home. I'm mad at my babe because I miss him. I can't get caught up on life. Our team is losing week after week. Our football boys are getting hurt left and right. Some are serving jailtime for poor choices. There's drama in the stands. The list can go on and on. That is...if I let it.
I can choose to focus differently.
I can choose to have a different perspective.
I can choose to see what IS done around the house as opposed to what is NOT done.
I can choose to see my mess of a house as a home filled to the brim with blessings!
I can choose to cherish the time that I have with my babe as opposed to all the time I don't get to see him.
I can choose to see what he IS doing for me as opposed to what he is NOT doing for me.
I can choose to pray for our coaches, our football boys and our community with words of life, inspiration and power as opposed to scripting in my head what could happen in the future.
I am a football wife. I love my life. I love it with all its heartaches and joys. with all its lessons and chaos. with all its loneliness and fulfillment. I will embrace my life. I will embrace all the good things.
Do you do this? Do you embrace the good things in your husband, your kids, your friends, your family, yourself, God? Do you choose to see what they ARE as opposed to what they are not?
It is so hard sometimes. And it is so tiring sometimes. But the rewards of a healthy you with a healthy, uplifting environment around you is like no other!
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Out of the Box - Under Grace and Clothed in Joy!
Grace.
What does grace MEAN?
What does grace LOOK LIKE?
Do I live grace out in my life?
These are questions I have been asking myself the past few months. And what a journey it has been and continues to be! One morning in the hustle and bustle of getting out the door for school, I felt out of breath, parched. Thirsty for HIM that is. For His love. For His words. And then the whisper....
My grace is sufficient....
And as I sit here writing, He floods to mind all the morsels of deliciousness He has been teaching me. That whisper was the answer to the GUILT I had been feeling from not spending hours of 'sit down' quiet time with Him.
Do you do this? Do you have a picture of what quiet time with Him looks like? Is it wrapped in a pretty little box and tied with a pretty bow? And when you don't get that 'pretty little box' time you feel guilty, angry, frustrated, not spiritual enough, not good enough?
I sure do.
I think I don't tap into the POWER of the Holy Spirit at its full, because I get hung up on 'not feeling good enough or spiritual enough'.
That if I don't follow these X and O's:
*if I don't have DAILY quiet time
*if it doesn't last more than 15 minutes
*if I don't have quiet time first thing in the morning
*if I have made poor choices
*if I have had impure thoughts
*if I'm angry, bitter, tired, jealous, negative, unforgiving...
*if I didn't hear from Him
Then I can't:
*pray with a friend or for a friend
*send an encouraging word
*ask for anything...healing, wisdom, peace
*be joyful
But you know what the word is?! GRACE!
He wants me all parts of the day, all emotions of the day!
There have been quite a few times I have prayed for friends and with friends, and there is part of me that has ALMOST not done it! This is because my 'self' has said, "you're not worth it...you haven't spent enough time knowing His thoughts to have anything that your friend needs to hear". And what I tell my 'self' back is...
'I didn't deserve Him in the first place!'
I don't deserve how great, wonderful, loving, forgiving and magnificent He is. I can't earn His love by what I do or what I study. But He loves me and wants to use me for good. I don't deserve the spiritual things He gives me to say to folks. I am not that smart. Please hear this girl who knows she is very loved beyond measure by her loving God, but knows...it ain't nuttin I've done on my own! I don't gain spirituality. and I don't lose it. I am just supposed to use it. Use it to love Him. Use it to love others. And I won't let the 'you're not spiritual enough or good enough', keep me from Him.
His grace is enough. His grace is all I need.
Lord, I wanna shut guilt out and have YOU come rushing in! Today is a fresh day...I wanna get quiet time out of the box. You have been so faithful to me. You have showed up everyday and everytime I have invited You in. You are faithful...even when I'm not. You show up...even when I don't. I love you and praise you!
In my next blog, I will be sharing some things I have been doing 'out of my box' to get with Him throughout the day.
'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' 2 Corinthians 12:9
What does grace MEAN?
What does grace LOOK LIKE?
Do I live grace out in my life?
These are questions I have been asking myself the past few months. And what a journey it has been and continues to be! One morning in the hustle and bustle of getting out the door for school, I felt out of breath, parched. Thirsty for HIM that is. For His love. For His words. And then the whisper....
My grace is sufficient....
And as I sit here writing, He floods to mind all the morsels of deliciousness He has been teaching me. That whisper was the answer to the GUILT I had been feeling from not spending hours of 'sit down' quiet time with Him.
Do you do this? Do you have a picture of what quiet time with Him looks like? Is it wrapped in a pretty little box and tied with a pretty bow? And when you don't get that 'pretty little box' time you feel guilty, angry, frustrated, not spiritual enough, not good enough?
I sure do.
I think I don't tap into the POWER of the Holy Spirit at its full, because I get hung up on 'not feeling good enough or spiritual enough'.
That if I don't follow these X and O's:
*if I don't have DAILY quiet time
*if it doesn't last more than 15 minutes
*if I don't have quiet time first thing in the morning
*if I have made poor choices
*if I have had impure thoughts
*if I'm angry, bitter, tired, jealous, negative, unforgiving...
*if I didn't hear from Him
Then I can't:
*pray with a friend or for a friend
*send an encouraging word
*ask for anything...healing, wisdom, peace
*be joyful
But you know what the word is?! GRACE!
He wants me all parts of the day, all emotions of the day!
There have been quite a few times I have prayed for friends and with friends, and there is part of me that has ALMOST not done it! This is because my 'self' has said, "you're not worth it...you haven't spent enough time knowing His thoughts to have anything that your friend needs to hear". And what I tell my 'self' back is...
'I didn't deserve Him in the first place!'
I don't deserve how great, wonderful, loving, forgiving and magnificent He is. I can't earn His love by what I do or what I study. But He loves me and wants to use me for good. I don't deserve the spiritual things He gives me to say to folks. I am not that smart. Please hear this girl who knows she is very loved beyond measure by her loving God, but knows...it ain't nuttin I've done on my own! I don't gain spirituality. and I don't lose it. I am just supposed to use it. Use it to love Him. Use it to love others. And I won't let the 'you're not spiritual enough or good enough', keep me from Him.
His grace is enough. His grace is all I need.
Lord, I wanna shut guilt out and have YOU come rushing in! Today is a fresh day...I wanna get quiet time out of the box. You have been so faithful to me. You have showed up everyday and everytime I have invited You in. You are faithful...even when I'm not. You show up...even when I don't. I love you and praise you!
In my next blog, I will be sharing some things I have been doing 'out of my box' to get with Him throughout the day.
'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' 2 Corinthians 12:9
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl by Lysa Terkeurst
Less than 3 weeks!!!
Less than 3 weeks and our gals activate group is starting! I am soooo excited!!!
First, I should probably explain what an activate group is before I tell ya what we will be studying and that I want ya to join! So. An activate group is a group of people (in my case...us group of gals) that has up to 20 people in the group. We get together to hang out, form friendships and ride this crazy, amazing roller coaster ride of getting to know Jesus.
Getting to know WHO He is. Getting to know His heart. Forming a FRIENDSHIP with Him. Forming a relationship with Him.
And from getting to know those things...to be able to reflect Him properly...day in and day out, no matter what circumstances come our way.
This is my heart. This is what I wanted to do as our next study. I want to be a woman of character. I want to be able to reflect Him properly...in a way that my actions speak louder than my words...my character speaks louder than my words...in difficult circumstances to react in love, grace, mercy, compassion, understanding. I wanted a study that would go along with what I was learning (again) this summer... character
Do I read His Word and DO what it says? Do I live differently because of what I read? Do I live out grace, forgiveness, love? Do I live out relationships NOT religion? O so much good stuff He has been lavishing on me! But O how I have completely went SQUIRREL from letting you know about activate group!!! :)
So! I would love other gals to join me in this adventure. I would love and dream if this could be a COMMUNITY group. A community of women making a difference. Making a difference with our character. our serving. our love. HIS LOVE.
This group is not only for Celebration gals to join, but all gals in Marion and surrounding areas that would love to be a part of this roller coaster ride of making a difference for HIM!
Our first get together will be Tuesday, October 5th, 6:30pm - 8pm. We will be meeting at Celebration Christian Church for our 1st get together. Then...I'm toying around with the idea of having every other group at this cool hangout place in Charleston Place in downtown Marion! It will be a total experiment! But isn't that how He works?!? It will be spontaneous...we will just have to see how that or IF that works. I feel like He tells me often...'Just enjoy the ride, andrea'. Honestly though...some parts of the ride I want to barf and get off, but that is YET another SQUIRREL!
ANYWHO! back to deets:
Age: 18 years old to 108+...and sorry guys, just for the gals!
Childcare Available? : A BIG OL' YES!
Cost of participants guide: $10 (note: I have the actual book, but I am not going to make the book a requirement. We will be watching the dvd series and doing the participants guide along with the dvd's.)
When: we will meet each Tuesday starting Oct. 5th and ending Dec. 21st. 6:30pm - 8pm
TO SIGN UP: either comment here, on my facebook page or sign up on Celebration's website (which has a lot of other great activate groups for everyone, not just gals)
And here's a little clip about what we are going to be getting into. It will get you stirred up with excitement and ready to go! Let's enjoy the ride, girls!
Friday, September 10, 2010
football friday night
Ok...so I know this next blog was supposed to be about my gals activate group but I have had it on my heart lately to blog prayer for my Harding boys. To pray for the team, our staff, our community and most of all....my honey, the head coach.
precious Lord, our Guide, our Ultimate Coach...I thank you for this day and I praise you for being in my life. I thank you for this opportunity of football you have given our family. Lord, I want to be selfish at this very moment and pray for a win. O how that would seem to relieve some of the pressure. BUT I know and praise you that you have an ultimate plan that is for our good. Lord I pray that in our minds and hearts that we would not be defined by our losses...those are past...done. but Lord that we will be defined by our integrity, our character, our hard work, our 'never give up' attitude, our 'no excuses' attitude. Lord that our team, our staff, our community may be defined by these things rather than by our wins and losses. We cannot change yesterday and we should not worry about tomorrow (Matt. 6:34). But TONIGHT...tonight we have the opportunity to represent who we are. and i pray we grasp this opportunity and represent the team, staff and community that you want us to be....no matter the outcome of tonight. Lord I pray for unity, among our staff, among our boys and among our community. I pray the boys will flow together as one tonight. Build them up today in godly confidence. Encourage them Lord. Give them ears to listen to their coaches. Allow the coaches to speak inspiration into their very being. May the seniors and leaders of this team rally the team together tonight! I pray for our coaches...renew their strength and pump them full of energy. Allow what is on their tongues to be worthy of you. May their words spur on the boys to action. Actions that unite, actions that glorify you. Give the coaches creativity, wisdom and quick well planned thoughts. May the boys execute the coaches plans...each and every play. And last Lord, you know I can't help myself...but please give a good ol heaping of grace to the refs, that they would want to extend that same grace to my boys tonight....heehee. thank you...and i love you.
and last...I cannot believe I just found out about this song! but I gotta end today's football prayer with Kenny Chesney's The Boys of Fall. I especially loved the coach's speech before the song even starts. TONIGHT!
See next post for song (sorry I'm new to this blogging thing ;)
precious Lord, our Guide, our Ultimate Coach...I thank you for this day and I praise you for being in my life. I thank you for this opportunity of football you have given our family. Lord, I want to be selfish at this very moment and pray for a win. O how that would seem to relieve some of the pressure. BUT I know and praise you that you have an ultimate plan that is for our good. Lord I pray that in our minds and hearts that we would not be defined by our losses...those are past...done. but Lord that we will be defined by our integrity, our character, our hard work, our 'never give up' attitude, our 'no excuses' attitude. Lord that our team, our staff, our community may be defined by these things rather than by our wins and losses. We cannot change yesterday and we should not worry about tomorrow (Matt. 6:34). But TONIGHT...tonight we have the opportunity to represent who we are. and i pray we grasp this opportunity and represent the team, staff and community that you want us to be....no matter the outcome of tonight. Lord I pray for unity, among our staff, among our boys and among our community. I pray the boys will flow together as one tonight. Build them up today in godly confidence. Encourage them Lord. Give them ears to listen to their coaches. Allow the coaches to speak inspiration into their very being. May the seniors and leaders of this team rally the team together tonight! I pray for our coaches...renew their strength and pump them full of energy. Allow what is on their tongues to be worthy of you. May their words spur on the boys to action. Actions that unite, actions that glorify you. Give the coaches creativity, wisdom and quick well planned thoughts. May the boys execute the coaches plans...each and every play. And last Lord, you know I can't help myself...but please give a good ol heaping of grace to the refs, that they would want to extend that same grace to my boys tonight....heehee. thank you...and i love you.
and last...I cannot believe I just found out about this song! but I gotta end today's football prayer with Kenny Chesney's The Boys of Fall. I especially loved the coach's speech before the song even starts. TONIGHT!
See next post for song (sorry I'm new to this blogging thing ;)
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
MOPS-Mothers of Preschoolers
Ok...so here's the 4.1.1 on MOPS.
MOPS stands for Mothers of Preschoolers. It is a group of mommas who still have kiddos at home. Kiddos, babies, rugrats, offspring, little darlings...whatever your name for them is, as long as they are PRE school-age (which includes kindergarten)...you are more than welcome to come hang with us mommas! We get together twice a month...usually the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month at 9:30 am-11:30 am.
I enjoy MOPS so much because it is my escape from responsibilities at my house for just a short while. I walk in (technically I RUN in, dragging my kids behind me because I am usually late...surprise, surprise!)...anyways...I walk in and am greeted by so many friendly, wonderful people as I go to drop off my little ones to their classes. People that are willing to care for my kiddos while I rest, relax, regroup.
As the last of my little darlings is dropped off to their class...I feel like dancing to mine!! My shoulders relax as I approach the room where the mommas get together. I hear momma chatter, smell delicious food and a big OL smile goes across my face! There is a spread of food that sure beats that piece of buttered toast I grabbed while getting one kiddo off to school and the rest of us ready for MOPS.
A yummy breakfast and a HOT cup of coffee. Yes, HOT. If you have kids, you KNOW this is a delicacy. AND I get to finish the whole cup!
This is just the beginning.
There is a group of mommas, called the steering team. And this group of mommas deserve an APPLAUSE! This team serves us MOPS. They plan games, crafts, speakers and so much more. These gals are mommas with their own PRE school-age babies and kiddos making sure we all can relax, share, rest, and regroup together.
So when 11:30am is here...we end our time together as MOPS mommas. And this time as I head to pick up my kiddos...I feel refreshed and ready to be a better mommy.
More details on MOPS:
For a MOPS near you visit their website www.mops.org
MOPS in Marion is held at Cornerstone Church
1st MOPS is September 17th at 9:30am
October MOPS are Oct. 1st and 22nd
NEW!! MOPS at night! Kickoff is Tuesday, October 12th
website www.marioncornerstonemops.org
MOPS stands for Mothers of Preschoolers. It is a group of mommas who still have kiddos at home. Kiddos, babies, rugrats, offspring, little darlings...whatever your name for them is, as long as they are PRE school-age (which includes kindergarten)...you are more than welcome to come hang with us mommas! We get together twice a month...usually the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month at 9:30 am-11:30 am.
I enjoy MOPS so much because it is my escape from responsibilities at my house for just a short while. I walk in (technically I RUN in, dragging my kids behind me because I am usually late...surprise, surprise!)...anyways...I walk in and am greeted by so many friendly, wonderful people as I go to drop off my little ones to their classes. People that are willing to care for my kiddos while I rest, relax, regroup.
As the last of my little darlings is dropped off to their class...I feel like dancing to mine!! My shoulders relax as I approach the room where the mommas get together. I hear momma chatter, smell delicious food and a big OL smile goes across my face! There is a spread of food that sure beats that piece of buttered toast I grabbed while getting one kiddo off to school and the rest of us ready for MOPS.
A yummy breakfast and a HOT cup of coffee. Yes, HOT. If you have kids, you KNOW this is a delicacy. AND I get to finish the whole cup!
This is just the beginning.
There is a group of mommas, called the steering team. And this group of mommas deserve an APPLAUSE! This team serves us MOPS. They plan games, crafts, speakers and so much more. These gals are mommas with their own PRE school-age babies and kiddos making sure we all can relax, share, rest, and regroup together.
So when 11:30am is here...we end our time together as MOPS mommas. And this time as I head to pick up my kiddos...I feel refreshed and ready to be a better mommy.
More details on MOPS:
For a MOPS near you visit their website www.mops.org
MOPS in Marion is held at Cornerstone Church
1st MOPS is September 17th at 9:30am
October MOPS are Oct. 1st and 22nd
NEW!! MOPS at night! Kickoff is Tuesday, October 12th
website www.marioncornerstonemops.org
Monday, August 23, 2010
worn out momma
School is in full swing this week and I just wanna shout from the rooftops...
SCHOOL IS IN!!! WOOHOO!! YIPPEE!!! FREE babysitting for ME!!!
Now don't get me wrong. I love my kids and I love summer. But this worn out momma is ready for a break and ready for schedule!
That is how I describe myself lately...
worn out momma.
Allow me to set the stage for you the day 'worn out momma' came to be...
It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood, but inside the Hinton house...
bills and papers piled SKY HIGH covering all counterspace and then some.
the toilet was moldy and 'ring around the tub' is an understatement for our bathtub.
so many toys on the floor, I feel like I have to play hopskotch to get from one room to the next.
clean clothes are doing the tango with dirty clothes...and I have no idea which is which.
dishes are taking over the other counterspace that the papers haven't toppled over onto...yet.
breakfast and lunch food and dishes are all over the table and floor...and the cinnamon life and macaroni and cheese on the floor have been crushed and squished under the tootsies of a very happy 1 year old.
And then the moment I still haven't forgotten.
Standing in the middle of the living room...my 1 year old hanging on my legs...my 8 & 5 year olds needing 'somethings'. The room started spinning. All the mess started closing in. My body started tensing up and shaking...I WAS GOING TO EXPLODE!!!
That moment when you wanna scream and know you shouldn't, but you do it anyway! Well out it came...
MOMMY NEEDS A TIMEOUT!!!!!!!!!!!
I removed the 1 year old from my legs and ran to the front door! Quickly shut the door behind me and fell...collapsed into the porch chair!
Big heavy breath. Sigh. Drained. Strained. Wore Out. Spent. Tired.
That's it. End of story. There was no great revelation or answers that day.
I've prayed before, 'Lord, reveal to me times to regroup before things get really bad.' And when those opportunities came up, I would grab them! Be it, sitting on my porch or someone else's porch, taking a walk or bike ride...I've been dangling my tootsies off the edge of nowhere (previous post). But it has been different the last part of this summer.
Since that day, there has been a few more 'exploding points'...sadly. But today, in the calm and quiet as I've thought about 'worn out momma'...
I realized I haven't been taking care of ALL the parts that make me who God built me to be.
I've been taking care of the...wife part of me.
I've been taking care of the...mommy part of me.
I've been taking care of the...friends and family part of me.
But I haven't been taking care of the...
me part of me.
The two things I've been missing are:
1. leading a group of gals once a week for Bible study. (which...sneak peek is...we're doing 'Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl' by Lysa Terkeurst!!)
and,
2. relaxing and enjoying MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) twice a month.
Both of these things are on a regular basis and are on the calendar just for me. The 'me' part of me. The part that completes the whole picture of who God created me to be for this season of my life...a football wife to my honey, a mommy of little ones, a family and friend to all the wonderful people in my life and....me.
In my next two blogs, I will be giving more details on these two wonderful groups.
So what about you? What are all your parts that make you who you are? Are you taking care of all those parts?
SCHOOL IS IN!!! WOOHOO!! YIPPEE!!! FREE babysitting for ME!!!
Now don't get me wrong. I love my kids and I love summer. But this worn out momma is ready for a break and ready for schedule!
That is how I describe myself lately...
worn out momma.
Allow me to set the stage for you the day 'worn out momma' came to be...
It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood, but inside the Hinton house...
bills and papers piled SKY HIGH covering all counterspace and then some.
the toilet was moldy and 'ring around the tub' is an understatement for our bathtub.
so many toys on the floor, I feel like I have to play hopskotch to get from one room to the next.
clean clothes are doing the tango with dirty clothes...and I have no idea which is which.
dishes are taking over the other counterspace that the papers haven't toppled over onto...yet.
breakfast and lunch food and dishes are all over the table and floor...and the cinnamon life and macaroni and cheese on the floor have been crushed and squished under the tootsies of a very happy 1 year old.
And then the moment I still haven't forgotten.
Standing in the middle of the living room...my 1 year old hanging on my legs...my 8 & 5 year olds needing 'somethings'. The room started spinning. All the mess started closing in. My body started tensing up and shaking...I WAS GOING TO EXPLODE!!!
That moment when you wanna scream and know you shouldn't, but you do it anyway! Well out it came...
MOMMY NEEDS A TIMEOUT!!!!!!!!!!!
I removed the 1 year old from my legs and ran to the front door! Quickly shut the door behind me and fell...collapsed into the porch chair!
Big heavy breath. Sigh. Drained. Strained. Wore Out. Spent. Tired.
That's it. End of story. There was no great revelation or answers that day.
I've prayed before, 'Lord, reveal to me times to regroup before things get really bad.' And when those opportunities came up, I would grab them! Be it, sitting on my porch or someone else's porch, taking a walk or bike ride...I've been dangling my tootsies off the edge of nowhere (previous post). But it has been different the last part of this summer.
Since that day, there has been a few more 'exploding points'...sadly. But today, in the calm and quiet as I've thought about 'worn out momma'...
I realized I haven't been taking care of ALL the parts that make me who God built me to be.
I've been taking care of the...wife part of me.
I've been taking care of the...mommy part of me.
I've been taking care of the...friends and family part of me.
But I haven't been taking care of the...
me part of me.
The two things I've been missing are:
1. leading a group of gals once a week for Bible study. (which...sneak peek is...we're doing 'Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl' by Lysa Terkeurst!!)
and,
2. relaxing and enjoying MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) twice a month.
Both of these things are on a regular basis and are on the calendar just for me. The 'me' part of me. The part that completes the whole picture of who God created me to be for this season of my life...a football wife to my honey, a mommy of little ones, a family and friend to all the wonderful people in my life and....me.
In my next two blogs, I will be giving more details on these two wonderful groups.
So what about you? What are all your parts that make you who you are? Are you taking care of all those parts?
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
mover of mountains
Yesterday I was reminded and encouraged why I started blogging. I sent a text prayer to a friend, who then forwarded it on to encourage others. Throughout the day, she sent me the responses she received. I learned so much from the responses.
I started blogging because I love community. I love doing things together.
Let's try this together....
Let's pray this together....
Let's learn this together....
Let's mess up together....
And in my plethura (love this word! or I could write out 'many' a quadrillion times to the infinite power) of mess ups, I love to bathe in the fact that there is One who loves me no matter what I've done. And in return, I want to love all over Him and share that love with others.
So I'm gonna forward the prayer on again this morning:
Mover of mountains....Lord of our lives...You are our HOPE....You are our CONFIDENCE...we rest in You, Lord. Move mountains in the people around us! Move mountains in us! Let us not be of talk, but of action. Overfill us with Your love that it splashes the people around us....that they catch what You got going on!!! May our words, our tones, our faces, our movements be full of gentleness and love and received as such. May we not believe the lies about us. Help us to hate sin and love love love people.
I started blogging because I love community. I love doing things together.
Let's try this together....
Let's pray this together....
Let's learn this together....
Let's mess up together....
And in my plethura (love this word! or I could write out 'many' a quadrillion times to the infinite power) of mess ups, I love to bathe in the fact that there is One who loves me no matter what I've done. And in return, I want to love all over Him and share that love with others.
So I'm gonna forward the prayer on again this morning:
Mover of mountains....Lord of our lives...You are our HOPE....You are our CONFIDENCE...we rest in You, Lord. Move mountains in the people around us! Move mountains in us! Let us not be of talk, but of action. Overfill us with Your love that it splashes the people around us....that they catch what You got going on!!! May our words, our tones, our faces, our movements be full of gentleness and love and received as such. May we not believe the lies about us. Help us to hate sin and love love love people.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
character
One of my favorite things about listening to a message on Sunday is going over my notes the following week and seeing what else God has to say to me.
I love teachings that may be hard to listen to and may be hard to swallow but give me lots to chew on during the week. I love learning, I love growing and I want to do whatever it takes to look more like Him and love Him more!
It was these kind of teachings that changed my outlook and my perspective on reflecting Jesus properly in my life. I was talking a good game but wasn't walking it out in my character or my actions. The teachings were Mirror Christianity (reading God's Word and doing what it says), Off the Hook Christianity (forgiveness, release), and Safe Christianity (people's names are safe when I talk about them). Well I'm ready for them again! I'm ready to be challenged and transformed from the inside out! The process never ends.
At Celebration, Matt is doing a series this summer called Everday Christianity. We were in Titus on Sunday. The verse that hit me again this morning was:
Titus 1:16.....they claim to know God but by their actions they deny Him.
hmmmmmmm......
What actions do I do that deny You, Lord?
How is my tone when I talk to others? Is it gentle and full of love?
How do I react in difficult circumstances?
Am I consistent with how I talk to people when they are around and when they aren't around?
Do I speak life or death into situations?
Do I choose to say positive rather than negative things?
Am I easily offended?
Am I self reflective or do I find fault in others?
Do I think I am better than the next person?
Titus 2:10b....so that in every way we will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
Lord, I pray that in every way and in everything I do or say or don't say, that I make wanting to know You and love You attractive. I want to look like You.
On Sunday, Matt said 'Offer something different than anyone else.'
Reality is most people who don't know and love Jesus, look more like Him than us folks who claim to love Him.
And I don't mean in their appearances. I mean in their character, in their deeds, in their love, in their kindness, in their self-control.
Christians have a reputation for being hypocritical, judgemental and pushing their religion onto people. Who wants some more of that?
So let's instead show love without words.
Let's step it up.
Let Him transform our character from the inside out to reflect Him more properly....to make Him more attractive to others.
I love teachings that may be hard to listen to and may be hard to swallow but give me lots to chew on during the week. I love learning, I love growing and I want to do whatever it takes to look more like Him and love Him more!
It was these kind of teachings that changed my outlook and my perspective on reflecting Jesus properly in my life. I was talking a good game but wasn't walking it out in my character or my actions. The teachings were Mirror Christianity (reading God's Word and doing what it says), Off the Hook Christianity (forgiveness, release), and Safe Christianity (people's names are safe when I talk about them). Well I'm ready for them again! I'm ready to be challenged and transformed from the inside out! The process never ends.
At Celebration, Matt is doing a series this summer called Everday Christianity. We were in Titus on Sunday. The verse that hit me again this morning was:
Titus 1:16.....they claim to know God but by their actions they deny Him.
hmmmmmmm......
What actions do I do that deny You, Lord?
How is my tone when I talk to others? Is it gentle and full of love?
How do I react in difficult circumstances?
Am I consistent with how I talk to people when they are around and when they aren't around?
Do I speak life or death into situations?
Do I choose to say positive rather than negative things?
Am I easily offended?
Am I self reflective or do I find fault in others?
Do I think I am better than the next person?
Titus 2:10b....so that in every way we will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
Lord, I pray that in every way and in everything I do or say or don't say, that I make wanting to know You and love You attractive. I want to look like You.
On Sunday, Matt said 'Offer something different than anyone else.'
Reality is most people who don't know and love Jesus, look more like Him than us folks who claim to love Him.
And I don't mean in their appearances. I mean in their character, in their deeds, in their love, in their kindness, in their self-control.
Christians have a reputation for being hypocritical, judgemental and pushing their religion onto people. Who wants some more of that?
So let's instead show love without words.
Let's step it up.
Let Him transform our character from the inside out to reflect Him more properly....to make Him more attractive to others.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Community Outreach Booklet
aaaaaahhhhhh......I just got back from vacation....and I am refreshed, recharged and ready to go!
A couple weeks ago I took a Sunday drive to the other side of Marion and I was reminded of one of my 'I will' statements that I made after reading 'Crazy Love' by Francis Chan www.crazylovebook.com :
I will be reminded that others are starving, thirsty, hurting, freezing and dying locally and
globally. AND I will do something about it. I will move to action.
This statement brought about the community outreach booklet. I was visiting Lancaster Community Church www.lancomchurch.org and they passed out to each person there a booklet of community ministry opportunities. At that moment, I knew how to volunteer, donate and find ministries in a town I didn't live in. I wanted to know this information for Marion. I had the heart to give and serve but didn't know how to easily do that or find ministries that I was passionate about.
So.....long, wonderful journey of a story that I will make short and sweet for your reading pleasure.....
The booklet for Marion is done and put together! YAY! It lists ministries, addresses, how to contact them, websites, descriptions of the outreach (my favorite part), and how you can serve thru volunteering or donating. It has just a handful of the outreach opportunities in Marion. The booklet can be found and printed off at www.celebration247.com , click 'What We Do' and then the booklet is under Missions.
So that is one of the many resources to move to action and make a difference in our community. What about globally? Here are two of my favorites:
Living Water International www.water.cc : They drill water wells to help communties in 26 countries acquire desperately needed clean water.
Advent Conspiracy www.adventconspiracy.org : Worship Fully. Spend Less. Give More. Love All.
These two ministries give me Godbumps and make me wanna move to action each time I watch their videos! We are in an amazing technological age. We are able to see what is going on around the world from our computer screens, our tv's, heck even our phones! God gave this to us-let's use it!
Let's open our eyes and move our feet towards what's going on around us locally and globally. Visit the websites, view the videos, go thru the detailed donate lists, print off the booklet. Let's move past just compassion and let's move to action!
What are some outreach opportunities that you are passionate about both locally and globally? Share the websites here. Let's blow up this blog with resources to help others.
Let's be a community that makes a difference.
A couple weeks ago I took a Sunday drive to the other side of Marion and I was reminded of one of my 'I will' statements that I made after reading 'Crazy Love' by Francis Chan www.crazylovebook.com :
I will be reminded that others are starving, thirsty, hurting, freezing and dying locally and
globally. AND I will do something about it. I will move to action.
This statement brought about the community outreach booklet. I was visiting Lancaster Community Church www.lancomchurch.org and they passed out to each person there a booklet of community ministry opportunities. At that moment, I knew how to volunteer, donate and find ministries in a town I didn't live in. I wanted to know this information for Marion. I had the heart to give and serve but didn't know how to easily do that or find ministries that I was passionate about.
So.....long, wonderful journey of a story that I will make short and sweet for your reading pleasure.....
The booklet for Marion is done and put together! YAY! It lists ministries, addresses, how to contact them, websites, descriptions of the outreach (my favorite part), and how you can serve thru volunteering or donating. It has just a handful of the outreach opportunities in Marion. The booklet can be found and printed off at www.celebration247.com , click 'What We Do' and then the booklet is under Missions.
So that is one of the many resources to move to action and make a difference in our community. What about globally? Here are two of my favorites:
Living Water International www.water.cc : They drill water wells to help communties in 26 countries acquire desperately needed clean water.
Advent Conspiracy www.adventconspiracy.org : Worship Fully. Spend Less. Give More. Love All.
These two ministries give me Godbumps and make me wanna move to action each time I watch their videos! We are in an amazing technological age. We are able to see what is going on around the world from our computer screens, our tv's, heck even our phones! God gave this to us-let's use it!
Let's open our eyes and move our feet towards what's going on around us locally and globally. Visit the websites, view the videos, go thru the detailed donate lists, print off the booklet. Let's move past just compassion and let's move to action!
What are some outreach opportunities that you are passionate about both locally and globally? Share the websites here. Let's blow up this blog with resources to help others.
Let's be a community that makes a difference.
Friday, June 18, 2010
DAY 2!!!!!!
boy was i tuckered and 'out of it' by the end of last night!!! another amazing night of kids camp!
there was this moment last night as we were worshipping and singing the song 'i'm a kid!' that i got this OVERWHELMING RUSH of 'GOD BUMPS'!!!! a serious OUTPOURING of the Holy Spirit. so i stopped....and let me just tell you this room is A ROCKIN!!!! and MOVIN!!! and SHAKIN!!! but i stopped all those awesome motions to the song and prayed for all those kiddos as they were singing LOVE for Him!!! such an amazing RUSH!!! there are not enough ORDINARY words to describe the EXTRAORDINARY GOD we sing to and pray to!!!!!! i'm sooooo IN LOVE!
anyways so tonight is DAY 3!!! WATER DAY!!!!
Lord....SOAK us! DRENCH us! give all of us there tonight a SERIOUS OUTPOURING of Your POWER and LOVE!
there was this moment last night as we were worshipping and singing the song 'i'm a kid!' that i got this OVERWHELMING RUSH of 'GOD BUMPS'!!!! a serious OUTPOURING of the Holy Spirit. so i stopped....and let me just tell you this room is A ROCKIN!!!! and MOVIN!!! and SHAKIN!!! but i stopped all those awesome motions to the song and prayed for all those kiddos as they were singing LOVE for Him!!! such an amazing RUSH!!! there are not enough ORDINARY words to describe the EXTRAORDINARY GOD we sing to and pray to!!!!!! i'm sooooo IN LOVE!
anyways so tonight is DAY 3!!! WATER DAY!!!!
Lord....SOAK us! DRENCH us! give all of us there tonight a SERIOUS OUTPOURING of Your POWER and LOVE!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
KIDS CAMP 2010 'BLAST OFF!'
ok! :) i am totally gonna blog about kids camp tonight!!!!
i keep going over all the totally amazing things that went on tonight!
*DRAMA.....UHHHHH-MAZING!!! drama writers and drama actors you guys ROCK!!!! or should i say ROCK-ET!!!!
*brandy and f-gen girls! you girls are ALIVE, ENERGETIC AND SMILING!
*LOVED GAMES! amanda & willie, bruce alexander, tom russell, devin durain and all the other game crew....WOW!
*SOUND CREW....slides and sound ROCK!
*set up crew, tear down crew, and in between crew....things roll smooth thanks to you!
*SHOUT OUT to stacie stacy and her craft crew
*preschool kids camp was GREAT! according to carley :)
*SNACK!!!! o let me not forget snack! thank you JESUS for KIDS CAMP SNACK!!!! little secret....i had 2 dumbbells tonight! :)
*our tractor ride from lawrence orchards to celebration was the beginning of our amazing RIDE tonight!!! thanks paul!
*karla, alisha, and tammie......one word.....EVERYTHING....i think that covers it all in you gals department :)
*amy and registration crew...MAJOR THUMBS UP!
*can you say MESSY!?!?! GAMES?!?!?! A WOOOOOOHOOOOO!!! :) :) :)
*and a HOLLLA!!! to all small group leaders and assistants
*HELLO! there is a LIFE SIZE ROCKET in the front of celebration church!
*KUDOS! to props folks, security folks, goodie bag stuffers and ALL else
have you ever seen the movie 'The Incredibles'? it's a disney pixar movie about a family of super heroes. anyways near the end of the movie, dash, the son, starts rattling off all the AMAZING AND INCREDIBLE things about his day. at the end of his excited rattling he falls backwards in complete happy exhaustion and says 'I LOVE THIS FAMILY!'
i feel like dash tonight. :) i love this celebration family! i think my absolute favorite part of tonight was getting to connect with everyone on a FUN level!
ROCKIN AWESOME LORD!!! I LOVE YOU!!! i PRAISE You for yesterday, i PRAISE You for today, and i PRAISE You for tomorrow! i continue to lift up kids camp....my heart tonight is for the kiddos and us small group leaders and assistants. i pray the kids energy will be funnelled toward an amazing love and energy for You! please give them the desire to obey. i thank you for all the volunteers who are loving on these kiddos in small groups. renew our energy tonight. please allow us to love like you. may our words be firm yet kind, bold yet gentle. allow the kiddos to be receiving of Your love. may Your love be contagious and infectious through us :)
i keep going over all the totally amazing things that went on tonight!
*DRAMA.....UHHHHH-MAZING!!! drama writers and drama actors you guys ROCK!!!! or should i say ROCK-ET!!!!
*brandy and f-gen girls! you girls are ALIVE, ENERGETIC AND SMILING!
*LOVED GAMES! amanda & willie, bruce alexander, tom russell, devin durain and all the other game crew....WOW!
*SOUND CREW....slides and sound ROCK!
*set up crew, tear down crew, and in between crew....things roll smooth thanks to you!
*SHOUT OUT to stacie stacy and her craft crew
*preschool kids camp was GREAT! according to carley :)
*SNACK!!!! o let me not forget snack! thank you JESUS for KIDS CAMP SNACK!!!! little secret....i had 2 dumbbells tonight! :)
*our tractor ride from lawrence orchards to celebration was the beginning of our amazing RIDE tonight!!! thanks paul!
*karla, alisha, and tammie......one word.....EVERYTHING....i think that covers it all in you gals department :)
*amy and registration crew...MAJOR THUMBS UP!
*can you say MESSY!?!?! GAMES?!?!?! A WOOOOOOHOOOOO!!! :) :) :)
*and a HOLLLA!!! to all small group leaders and assistants
*HELLO! there is a LIFE SIZE ROCKET in the front of celebration church!
*KUDOS! to props folks, security folks, goodie bag stuffers and ALL else
have you ever seen the movie 'The Incredibles'? it's a disney pixar movie about a family of super heroes. anyways near the end of the movie, dash, the son, starts rattling off all the AMAZING AND INCREDIBLE things about his day. at the end of his excited rattling he falls backwards in complete happy exhaustion and says 'I LOVE THIS FAMILY!'
i feel like dash tonight. :) i love this celebration family! i think my absolute favorite part of tonight was getting to connect with everyone on a FUN level!
ROCKIN AWESOME LORD!!! I LOVE YOU!!! i PRAISE You for yesterday, i PRAISE You for today, and i PRAISE You for tomorrow! i continue to lift up kids camp....my heart tonight is for the kiddos and us small group leaders and assistants. i pray the kids energy will be funnelled toward an amazing love and energy for You! please give them the desire to obey. i thank you for all the volunteers who are loving on these kiddos in small groups. renew our energy tonight. please allow us to love like you. may our words be firm yet kind, bold yet gentle. allow the kiddos to be receiving of Your love. may Your love be contagious and infectious through us :)
Thursday, June 10, 2010
John 1:38
They said....'Teacher, where are you staying?' John 1:38
This is my heart. I want to be where You are, Lord.
One of the pastors I used to listen to would say...'God is in everything. If you're paying attention, you can even find Him in a McDonald's commercial.' Love that!
Let's do that today. Let's be fully present no matter where we are or who we are talking to, to say....
'Lord, where are You in this conversation, place, situation? I want to represent You properly. Teach me. Show me.'
This is my heart. I want to be where You are, Lord.
One of the pastors I used to listen to would say...'God is in everything. If you're paying attention, you can even find Him in a McDonald's commercial.' Love that!
Let's do that today. Let's be fully present no matter where we are or who we are talking to, to say....
'Lord, where are You in this conversation, place, situation? I want to represent You properly. Teach me. Show me.'
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Quality trumps Quantity
Sunday I was overwhelmed with thankfulness on so many levels. The message at church was important vs. urgent. It was filled with beautiful reminders of what God has taught me and continues to teach me.
The one I was reminded of and the most thankful for was something God taught me in Wellston, Ohio where Heath had his first head football coaching job. Two baby girls at home, far from family and Heath was putting his heart and soul into his football ministry. Many nights he would only be home for a short time. I don't remember where, when or how the conversation took place but I do remember me saying the following:
QUALITY time spent with us is more important to me than HOW MUCH time you spend with us.
I don't need hours and hours of his time....would I like that? sometimes :). But, Oh the difference this has made in our life and in our marriage! I am so thankful to God that Heath was receiving of this. I do remember the night when he got home late and instead of us turning on the tv....we sat at the island while he ate his dinner and talked about our days.
There are some days Heath is only home for a half hour but he comes through that door and is ready to kiss on his kiddos and play some form of chase or go for a bike ride or play a board game or listen to their days. I know he is exhausted, but he makes that a priority.
Every February/March when football goes into full swing at the Hinton household....quality vs. quantity has to be reiterated to both of us, in probably not such a thankful, nice way ;) so it was nice on Sunday to be reminded of it in a thankful way. To listen to that message I'm sure it will be posted soon on http://www.celebration247.com/ and I'm sure there will be more thoughts on http://www.mattbrentblogspot.com/
Quality vs. Quantity can be applied to all areas of my life....God, me, Heath, our kids, fam & friends, dangling my tootsies off the edge of nowhere, exercise and eating right.....there is ALWAYS 5 minutes for anything.
The one I was reminded of and the most thankful for was something God taught me in Wellston, Ohio where Heath had his first head football coaching job. Two baby girls at home, far from family and Heath was putting his heart and soul into his football ministry. Many nights he would only be home for a short time. I don't remember where, when or how the conversation took place but I do remember me saying the following:
QUALITY time spent with us is more important to me than HOW MUCH time you spend with us.
I don't need hours and hours of his time....would I like that? sometimes :). But, Oh the difference this has made in our life and in our marriage! I am so thankful to God that Heath was receiving of this. I do remember the night when he got home late and instead of us turning on the tv....we sat at the island while he ate his dinner and talked about our days.
There are some days Heath is only home for a half hour but he comes through that door and is ready to kiss on his kiddos and play some form of chase or go for a bike ride or play a board game or listen to their days. I know he is exhausted, but he makes that a priority.
Every February/March when football goes into full swing at the Hinton household....quality vs. quantity has to be reiterated to both of us, in probably not such a thankful, nice way ;) so it was nice on Sunday to be reminded of it in a thankful way. To listen to that message I'm sure it will be posted soon on http://www.celebration247.com/ and I'm sure there will be more thoughts on http://www.mattbrentblogspot.com/
Quality vs. Quantity can be applied to all areas of my life....God, me, Heath, our kids, fam & friends, dangling my tootsies off the edge of nowhere, exercise and eating right.....there is ALWAYS 5 minutes for anything.
Friday, May 7, 2010
more i loves.....
*i love Your sense of humor in the midst of discipline.
*i love Your words.
psalm 40:11....Your love and Your truth always protect me.
*i love that You are quick to forgive.
*i love Your love for life.
psalm 43:4...You are my joy and my delight.
*i love that You are emotional.
psalm 2:4,5...You laugh....and You get angry.
*i love that You love to love me!
deuteronomy 7:7,8....You did not set Your affection on me and choose me for anything i did. But it was because You loved me! :)
*i love Your words.
psalm 40:11....Your love and Your truth always protect me.
*i love that You are quick to forgive.
*i love Your love for life.
psalm 43:4...You are my joy and my delight.
*i love that You are emotional.
psalm 2:4,5...You laugh....and You get angry.
*i love that You love to love me!
deuteronomy 7:7,8....You did not set Your affection on me and choose me for anything i did. But it was because You loved me! :)
things i love about you, God....
*i love that You want to know me.
psalm 139:1...You search me and know me.
*i love that You want what is best for me. (and that picture will probably look totally different than what i think)
psalm 51:6....You desire truth in my inner parts, You teach me wisdom in my inmost place
*i love that You are in control and know EXACTLY where to go.
psalm 43:3...send Your light and Your truth, let them guide me.
*i love Your VARIETY!
*i love Your CREATIVITY!
*i love Your SPONTANEITY!
*i love Your communication (You read my mind :)
psalm 139:4....BEFORE a word is on my tongue You know it completely.
*i love Your power and strength!
*i love when You draw me close.
psalm 139:5....You draw me in...
*i love Your gentle touch.
psalm 139:5....You have laid Your hand on me.
psalm 139:1...You search me and know me.
*i love that You want what is best for me. (and that picture will probably look totally different than what i think)
psalm 51:6....You desire truth in my inner parts, You teach me wisdom in my inmost place
*i love that You are in control and know EXACTLY where to go.
psalm 43:3...send Your light and Your truth, let them guide me.
*i love Your VARIETY!
*i love Your CREATIVITY!
*i love Your SPONTANEITY!
*i love Your communication (You read my mind :)
psalm 139:4....BEFORE a word is on my tongue You know it completely.
*i love Your power and strength!
*i love when You draw me close.
psalm 139:5....You draw me in...
*i love Your gentle touch.
psalm 139:5....You have laid Your hand on me.
Monday, May 3, 2010
don't settle.
Sanctus Real sings a song called 'Whatever You're Doing'. The past few weeks, God has been tugging at my heart when this song comes up. The lyrics that resonate the most are:
You're up to something thats bigger than me.
He whispered again yesterday.....'don't settle.'
What this means to me is this....'don't settle for YOUR plans, andrea'
By NOT spending time in prayer and in His Word DAILY....I'm saying 'I would rather do what I have planned today' I'm settling for less.
BUT, on the other GLORIOUS hand, when I am in prayer and in His Word EACH DAY....I'm saying 'I'm ready for whatever YOU want to do today, Lord! I don't want to settle for what I think might be a good plan...I can't even fathom all the GOOD You got going on!'
Do you have time with Him each day? I have been reading a Psalm a day. They are short and sweet....O so sweet.
Lord, I surrender to whatever You want to do today and tomorrow and the next day and the next day and....... :)
You're up to something thats bigger than me.
He whispered again yesterday.....'don't settle.'
What this means to me is this....'don't settle for YOUR plans, andrea'
By NOT spending time in prayer and in His Word DAILY....I'm saying 'I would rather do what I have planned today' I'm settling for less.
BUT, on the other GLORIOUS hand, when I am in prayer and in His Word EACH DAY....I'm saying 'I'm ready for whatever YOU want to do today, Lord! I don't want to settle for what I think might be a good plan...I can't even fathom all the GOOD You got going on!'
Do you have time with Him each day? I have been reading a Psalm a day. They are short and sweet....O so sweet.
Lord, I surrender to whatever You want to do today and tomorrow and the next day and the next day and....... :)
Thursday, April 29, 2010
oops!
the link just takes you to you tube....sorry! type in 'blessed union of souls i wanna be there'. i chose the 2nd one down with the black screen and lyrics.
He wants to be there
Tuesday night at activate group we listened to a song that one of the gals in the group brought to me. I totally and completely wanted to share it in blogworld!
Before we listened to it, she shared that she was in a rough spot and was going through some old cd's and came across this one: Blessed Union of Souls - 'I wanna be there'. She shared with us that as she listened to it, the words being sung were God singing them to her.
So as you listen....hear His romantic and loving voice singing to you....wanting you. He wants to be there....we just have to choose to let Him in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCr_bzDR97M
Before we listened to it, she shared that she was in a rough spot and was going through some old cd's and came across this one: Blessed Union of Souls - 'I wanna be there'. She shared with us that as she listened to it, the words being sung were God singing them to her.
So as you listen....hear His romantic and loving voice singing to you....wanting you. He wants to be there....we just have to choose to let Him in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCr_bzDR97M
Monday, April 19, 2010
overwhelm
Lord, I don't want to be overwhelmed by things.....
I want to be OVERWHELMED by Your love......
Show me the wonders of Your GREAT, AMAZING and COMPLETE love today! Psalm 17:7
I want to be OVERWHELMED by Your love......
Show me the wonders of Your GREAT, AMAZING and COMPLETE love today! Psalm 17:7
Sunday, March 28, 2010
let's.....
YES, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desires of our hearts. Isaiah 26:8
isn't that a beautiful way to start a verse, a prayer, a day??? YES LORD!
let's try that this week....
as we wake up in the morning or the middle of the night, let the first words out of our mouths be 'YES, Lord'
isn't that a beautiful way to start a verse, a prayer, a day??? YES LORD!
let's try that this week....
as we wake up in the morning or the middle of the night, let the first words out of our mouths be 'YES, Lord'
Saturday, March 27, 2010
pride is a sneaky son-of-a-gun
Tuesday nights, me and a group of amazing gals get together for activate group. I am honored, privileged and humbled that I get to lead this group of strong women. A couple tuesdays ago, I came home after group and replayed the whole evening in my head, praying to Him about it.
'Lord, we didn't get to finish discussing the whole week of study....'
I replayed conversations in my head....'Did I answer that person right Lord?'
This went on for a couple days......sadly....
and that's when these 3 things jumped off of the study page!
self focus....
am I doing this right?
my performance....
The 'I' in 'Am I doing this right?' seemed to be in BOLD, UNDERLINED AND ITALICS!!!! and God was tugging at my heart saying'....
'andrea, I don't need YOU to do it right...I AM.'
Oh andrea......
He doesn't need my answers to be right. He doesn't need us to finish the whole week of study.
He doesn't depend on my performance. period.
Writing it out sounds FREAKIN CRAZY!! For me to actually think GOD....THE GOD WHO CREATED THE UNIVERSE....depends on me to carry out this or that! Have you lost your mind, girl?!?! :)
But that is where pride is a sneaky son-of-a-gun!
Obadiah 1:3....The pride of your heart has deceived you.
Whether I'm downing myself OR thinking I'm 'all that and a bag of chips', the problem is I'm focusing on my SELF.
Later in the study, Beth Moore says it like this....'Pride is self-absorption, whether we're absorbed with how miserable we are or how wonderful we are. Humility is God-focused not self-focused.'
The truth is.....
He doesn't depend on me.....He desires me...
He desires my focus to be on HIM. Not on my self trying to please Him.
Do you replay things you do? Do you seek perfection? Do you struggle with low self-esteem? When we struggle with these things the focus is on us and NOT HIM! :(
Lord, take our eyes off of us and put them on YOU!
'Lord, we didn't get to finish discussing the whole week of study....'
I replayed conversations in my head....'Did I answer that person right Lord?'
This went on for a couple days......sadly....
and that's when these 3 things jumped off of the study page!
self focus....
am I doing this right?
my performance....
The 'I' in 'Am I doing this right?' seemed to be in BOLD, UNDERLINED AND ITALICS!!!! and God was tugging at my heart saying'....
'andrea, I don't need YOU to do it right...I AM.'
Oh andrea......
He doesn't need my answers to be right. He doesn't need us to finish the whole week of study.
He doesn't depend on my performance. period.
Writing it out sounds FREAKIN CRAZY!! For me to actually think GOD....THE GOD WHO CREATED THE UNIVERSE....depends on me to carry out this or that! Have you lost your mind, girl?!?! :)
But that is where pride is a sneaky son-of-a-gun!
Obadiah 1:3....The pride of your heart has deceived you.
Whether I'm downing myself OR thinking I'm 'all that and a bag of chips', the problem is I'm focusing on my SELF.
Later in the study, Beth Moore says it like this....'Pride is self-absorption, whether we're absorbed with how miserable we are or how wonderful we are. Humility is God-focused not self-focused.'
The truth is.....
He doesn't depend on me.....He desires me...
He desires my focus to be on HIM. Not on my self trying to please Him.
Do you replay things you do? Do you seek perfection? Do you struggle with low self-esteem? When we struggle with these things the focus is on us and NOT HIM! :(
Lord, take our eyes off of us and put them on YOU!
Friday, March 26, 2010
once it has a name.....
Do you ever feel as if you are walking in a fog? You just can't figure out what is keeping you from seeing Him, hearing Him??
Last week it was driving me absolutely bonkers that I couldn't pinpoint what was foggin up the view!!! After a couple days of shouting for Him, crying for Him, and trying to find Him....He calmly laid it out before me in our Beth Moore Living Free study with these three things jumping off the page to me....
*self-focus
*am I doing it right?
*my performance
I'm not sure I can describe the 'aaaaaahhhhhh' that I felt and wrote at that moment. But a weight was lifted, cause ONCE THAT SIN HAS A NAME it can be dealt with! I can stand face to face with my sin (or on my knees) and recognize it, repent and lay it at the cross. THEN turn my focus, my thoughts, my energies on HIM and ONLY HIM!
and you know what the best part is????? WITH BIG SMILES ON MY FACE :) :) :) ............ He doesn't call me the names of my sins.
He says to me..... 'my precious andrea'
insert your name....He's calling you precious too.... :)
Last week it was driving me absolutely bonkers that I couldn't pinpoint what was foggin up the view!!! After a couple days of shouting for Him, crying for Him, and trying to find Him....He calmly laid it out before me in our Beth Moore Living Free study with these three things jumping off the page to me....
*self-focus
*am I doing it right?
*my performance
I'm not sure I can describe the 'aaaaaahhhhhh' that I felt and wrote at that moment. But a weight was lifted, cause ONCE THAT SIN HAS A NAME it can be dealt with! I can stand face to face with my sin (or on my knees) and recognize it, repent and lay it at the cross. THEN turn my focus, my thoughts, my energies on HIM and ONLY HIM!
and you know what the best part is????? WITH BIG SMILES ON MY FACE :) :) :) ............ He doesn't call me the names of my sins.
He says to me..... 'my precious andrea'
insert your name....He's calling you precious too.... :)
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
dangling your tootsies off the edge of nowhere....
tuesday night at activate group, we watched anita renfroe's purse-onality comedy. OMIGOODNESS SAKES ALIVE!!! it was LAUGHIN' HILARIOUS!!! i laughed. the 'throw your head back' kind of laugh! i clapped. i knee slapped. i tapped my feet reeeeal fast. and.....i cried. yes, there was 'crying-laughing' while watching this dvd.....but this was the kind of cry that hit home. anita sang a song called 'right to rest' and the lyrics that i quickly scribbled down, cause i knew they were for me were these:
**it's ok to dangle your feet off the edge of nowhere...every once in awhile**
i have been 'running' and not dangling. :)
in quiet yesterday morning, our beth moore living free study had us look at 2 Chronicles 20:1-30. and i smiled. :) I LOOOOOVE THIS STORY! God so lovingly gave me His view on dangling.
in this story, king jehoshaphat is going into battle. as they set out to face this problem, God has king jehoshaphat SING and PRAISE HIM instead of fighting the battle!
NOW THAT'S *DANGLING*!!!!! :)
singing and praising Him no matter what is going on around me! :)
so yesterday i wanted to continue to see what His picture of dangling looked like for me.....
swinging my kids
getting on the swing next to them!
taking a moment from work and letting HIS sun warm my face and feeling HIS warm breeze across my cheeks like a kiss
a warm drink and a quiet bookstore not so far off
kiddos are all sleeping and i'm just enjoying the quiet
porch, tea and friends
granny and grandpa's rockers on the front porch with family
panera, a caramel latte and a date w God
two friends and two cups of coffee
silliness in fun songs
silliness in fun hats
really listening to the words He's speaking to me through a song
BELTING AND SINGING OUT THAT SONG!!! :)
cuddlin with my kids and a bedtime story
comfy couch, cozy blanket and my babe
2 Chronicles 20:30 - and the kingdom of jehoshaphat was at PEACE, for his God had given him REST on every side.
is life running around you? is there a storm going on around you? is there dark around you? God says 'SING TO ME :)' so pause. stop. and take time to dangle with Him.
what does your dangle look like? what makes your shoulders relax?
**it's ok to dangle your feet off the edge of nowhere...every once in awhile**
i have been 'running' and not dangling. :)
in quiet yesterday morning, our beth moore living free study had us look at 2 Chronicles 20:1-30. and i smiled. :) I LOOOOOVE THIS STORY! God so lovingly gave me His view on dangling.
in this story, king jehoshaphat is going into battle. as they set out to face this problem, God has king jehoshaphat SING and PRAISE HIM instead of fighting the battle!
NOW THAT'S *DANGLING*!!!!! :)
singing and praising Him no matter what is going on around me! :)
so yesterday i wanted to continue to see what His picture of dangling looked like for me.....
swinging my kids
getting on the swing next to them!
taking a moment from work and letting HIS sun warm my face and feeling HIS warm breeze across my cheeks like a kiss
a warm drink and a quiet bookstore not so far off
kiddos are all sleeping and i'm just enjoying the quiet
porch, tea and friends
granny and grandpa's rockers on the front porch with family
panera, a caramel latte and a date w God
two friends and two cups of coffee
silliness in fun songs
silliness in fun hats
really listening to the words He's speaking to me through a song
BELTING AND SINGING OUT THAT SONG!!! :)
cuddlin with my kids and a bedtime story
comfy couch, cozy blanket and my babe
2 Chronicles 20:30 - and the kingdom of jehoshaphat was at PEACE, for his God had given him REST on every side.
is life running around you? is there a storm going on around you? is there dark around you? God says 'SING TO ME :)' so pause. stop. and take time to dangle with Him.
what does your dangle look like? what makes your shoulders relax?
Monday, March 8, 2010
chewing humble gum :)
i LOOOOOOVE when God uses FUN stuff to speak to me! He has such a great sense of humor! i love that about Him! i read my carley a naptime story today.....Larry Boy and the Golden Gumballs. as soon as i started reading it, i felt like God was reading the story to me...saying 'listen carefully, andrea'. and so i did......and you know what that DAG GUM story is about?!?!?!? PRIDE!!!! aaarrrrggghhhh!! with a smile on my face, while i'm growling :) cause that means that pride girl (aka andrea) is rearing her ugly head again!
yesterday before church i was praying 'Lord i feel so far from you lately....please show me what is blocking me from You!'. the answer came today! PRIDE is my roadblock!
SO STOP ME IN MY TRACKS LORD!! i see pride with flashing red WARNING lights and a sign saying 'DO NOT APPROACH!'
....if you are proud, you will fall. proverbs 16:18
and let me just tell ya...i DO NOT want to go back to that dark pit. am i thankful for that sifting time in my life? ABSOLUTELY! my love for Him has grown to the 'HEAD OVER HEELS' kind because of it!!! it was 'in that time' and 'since that time' that i have been able to understand Him more.
i do not want to forget the memory of that time and all that He taught me 'in it' and 'since then'. soooo, this morning the following verse came up for the SECOND time in the past couple weeks so i decided to pay attention :)
only let us LIVE UP TO what we have ALREADY attained. philippians 3:16
He has ALREADY taught me so much from that sifting time and on. i want to LIVE differently because of it.
Lord, please let me LIVE UP TO each day what you have ALREADY taught me and showed me. i want to chew humble gum! :)
yesterday before church i was praying 'Lord i feel so far from you lately....please show me what is blocking me from You!'. the answer came today! PRIDE is my roadblock!
SO STOP ME IN MY TRACKS LORD!! i see pride with flashing red WARNING lights and a sign saying 'DO NOT APPROACH!'
....if you are proud, you will fall. proverbs 16:18
and let me just tell ya...i DO NOT want to go back to that dark pit. am i thankful for that sifting time in my life? ABSOLUTELY! my love for Him has grown to the 'HEAD OVER HEELS' kind because of it!!! it was 'in that time' and 'since that time' that i have been able to understand Him more.
i do not want to forget the memory of that time and all that He taught me 'in it' and 'since then'. soooo, this morning the following verse came up for the SECOND time in the past couple weeks so i decided to pay attention :)
only let us LIVE UP TO what we have ALREADY attained. philippians 3:16
He has ALREADY taught me so much from that sifting time and on. i want to LIVE differently because of it.
Lord, please let me LIVE UP TO each day what you have ALREADY taught me and showed me. i want to chew humble gum! :)
Thursday, March 4, 2010
let's get this party started!!!
well here i am in blogzone! let the fun begin! so i'm just gonna jump right in.....
the verse that started it all almost a year ago (i've inserted my name cause that's how i like to read it :) .....
(this is Jesus talking) andrea, andrea, look out! satan has asked to sift you like wheat. but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. and you, when you have turned back, strengthen the brothers. Luke 22:31,32
i was so flooded with emotion when i read this verse for the first time. i was in an ugly place in the thought battles in my mind. you know the uglies.....pride, arrogance, judgemental thoughts, impure thoughts, neediness, oversensitivity, overthinking, wrong motives, unforgiveness, complaining, negativity, potty mouth, potty mind..... and i'm sure the list could go on of all the things that i detest about my 'SELF' that were rising to the top of the 'sifting'. we ALL got uglies! raise your hand if you got uglies.....its ok its blogworld here, nobody is gonna see but you and God. :) recognizing and admitting the uglies is a HUGE step in the right direction!
it blew my mind, and my love for Him swelled to read....HE IS PRAYING FOR ME!!!! we are talking about THE ONE AND ONLY GOD OF THE UNIVERSE people!!!! insert your name....He's praying for you too!
so why in the world am i talking about it today? well those thoughts don't ever go away completely. it's what we do with them. our response is our responsibility. we can:
A) choose guilt and focus on that thought, entertain that thought and allow satan a foothold and the longer we entertain that desire....it becomes a stronghold. and takes you WHOOSHING into those dark, ugly, nasty, PITiful places. this is where the LIES are. that satan wants you to believe that you are that judgemental, arrogant, impure, complaining, negative person (insert your ugly). sooooo :) i say 'I DON'T THINK SO SATAN!! I CHOOSE B!!'
B) CHOOSE CONVICTION!!!! i recognize the ugly, confess and repent it to Him, lay it down for HIM to take care of (NOT ME!) and start running towards loving HIM! andrea IN CHRIST is fully able at this point to be full of JOY, LAUGHTER, LIGHT, PURITY, HONESTY, CLEAR CONSCIENCE, and sooooo many other things. i LOVE living here! it is life that is abundant, fresh, clear, fulfilling.
the verse that He continually brings to my mind in these moments is this:
luke 9:62 'no one who puts his hand to the plow and LOOKS BACK is FIT for service in the kingdom of God'
the verse that started it all almost a year ago (i've inserted my name cause that's how i like to read it :) .....
(this is Jesus talking) andrea, andrea, look out! satan has asked to sift you like wheat. but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. and you, when you have turned back, strengthen the brothers. Luke 22:31,32
i was so flooded with emotion when i read this verse for the first time. i was in an ugly place in the thought battles in my mind. you know the uglies.....pride, arrogance, judgemental thoughts, impure thoughts, neediness, oversensitivity, overthinking, wrong motives, unforgiveness, complaining, negativity, potty mouth, potty mind..... and i'm sure the list could go on of all the things that i detest about my 'SELF' that were rising to the top of the 'sifting'. we ALL got uglies! raise your hand if you got uglies.....its ok its blogworld here, nobody is gonna see but you and God. :) recognizing and admitting the uglies is a HUGE step in the right direction!
it blew my mind, and my love for Him swelled to read....HE IS PRAYING FOR ME!!!! we are talking about THE ONE AND ONLY GOD OF THE UNIVERSE people!!!! insert your name....He's praying for you too!
so why in the world am i talking about it today? well those thoughts don't ever go away completely. it's what we do with them. our response is our responsibility. we can:
A) choose guilt and focus on that thought, entertain that thought and allow satan a foothold and the longer we entertain that desire....it becomes a stronghold. and takes you WHOOSHING into those dark, ugly, nasty, PITiful places. this is where the LIES are. that satan wants you to believe that you are that judgemental, arrogant, impure, complaining, negative person (insert your ugly). sooooo :) i say 'I DON'T THINK SO SATAN!! I CHOOSE B!!'
B) CHOOSE CONVICTION!!!! i recognize the ugly, confess and repent it to Him, lay it down for HIM to take care of (NOT ME!) and start running towards loving HIM! andrea IN CHRIST is fully able at this point to be full of JOY, LAUGHTER, LIGHT, PURITY, HONESTY, CLEAR CONSCIENCE, and sooooo many other things. i LOVE living here! it is life that is abundant, fresh, clear, fulfilling.
the verse that He continually brings to my mind in these moments is this:
luke 9:62 'no one who puts his hand to the plow and LOOKS BACK is FIT for service in the kingdom of God'
satan wants our focus and our energy to be spent on LOOKING BACK at our uglies....trying to fix them ourselves. instead of looking forward in the TRUTH, LIGHT, JOY, LAUGHTER and CONFIDENCE IN CHRIST!!!
soooooo let's LOOK AHEAD and be spiritually, physically and mentally FIT for service in the kingdom of God!
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