BACK TO THE FUNDAMENTALS PART 2

I thought I would share the rest of the notes from Pastor Mike's sermon.

Like I stated yesterday, the text was from 1 Thess. 5:16-18

"Stressing fundamentals in the spiritual arena of life are important for spiritual victory.
The fundamentals are to be practiced daily in life. These exhortations are addressed 
to believers as individuals concerning their personal lives before God.

1. Maintain a joyful attitude that is expressed through rejoicing. Having a joyful attitude: wards off temptation in your life, encourages fellow believers, and attracts sinner to God
2. Develop prayer habits that are continuously reoccurring.
3. Have an attitude if gratitude IN every circumstance of life. (Notice he said "in" not "for")

Conclusion: These three exhortations are not just good advice; they are God's will for every Christian. God's will means joy, prayer, and thanksgiving for those who are in Christ Jesus. And that is fundamental to our spiritual victory.

Also:

I have started reading the Bible all the way through a couple of times only to fall short.

I really want to finish this time and I am  determined to do so. 
I look at it this way, 90 days is nothing compared  to other things in my life that were not as
pleasant and I have endured  them. 
Therefore, I should be able to do this because it can only be  good for me. 
There are no cons to reading the Bible in 90 days:)

BACK TO THE FUNDAMENTALS

Pastor Mike's sermon today was about getting back to the fundamentals of victorious living.

His text was from 1 Thess. 5:16-17

I am going to take the next few days and focus on the points of that sermon.

• rejoice always
• pray without ceasing
• in everything give thanks

Honestly, I've had a hard time with these lately.

MY DAILY BREAD

It's been a good summer around here and we have had a good share of fun.

The girls are at Music/Arts camp today. They've enjoyed it and so have I. No, I didn't go to camp but I have enjoyed them being at camp from 9am-3pm...ahem. Moving along.

This is probably totally random and off the wall but it's my blog~ so here goes.

I try to write out a to do list everyday, well, most days. Err, on days I want to feel productive.

Anyway, I write out my to do list and at the very top I write, "Devotion" *side note: I am an over thinker but bear with me you may get my point.

When I write that on my to do list I get a little pang in my heart because sometimes I feel like I just write it down to cross it off. Like it's just another chore on the list of a hundred other things.

I don't want it to be just another "thing" that I do to get brownie points with God. I want it to be something I thirst and hunger for. I was reading the blog of a friend and her husband last night and they told a story of real thirst. One that was literally the difference between life and death. Their post started me thinking about how often I thirst after God and His Word. I mean really getting to the point that if I don't get a "cup of it" I will die.

I want to have time to devote to having a strong relationship with Christ and so I HAVE to make sure I start my day out with Him or all the other things take over and I lose that special time with Him.

The image I get in my head is being in a huge crowd and being pushed forward by it. You try to go against the flow and get back to the person you came with but unless you perpetually keep moving and fighting to get back to where you were you'll be taken along with the crowd and end up in some place you don't want to be.

Questioning myself about where I am in my relationship with Christ and being TOTALLY honest about it is something I need to do daily.

FRIENDS ARE FRIENDS FOREVER

Our weekend has been full of great friends and great food. We have laughed and cried with friends that are VERY close to losing their home. They are trying to make the best of a bad situation. It's all in the Lord's hands and whatever happens He will get the glory. It's amazing how in the midst of uncertainty God's children have the certainty of His love and grace. He is faithful and kind. He can be trusted.

So many people are going through this right now and it is something that is being experienced by believers in Christ as well as unbelievers. The difference for believers in this situation isn't that they aren't sad, upset, or even scared. The difference is that they know that no matter what comes Christ is there comforting, guiding, and directing. He knows the pain because He has experienced it.

As children of God, I think we go through things sometimes to be able to help others and point them to Christ. Because, honestly, it's not about "us" it's about Him.

THINKING

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Phil. 4:8 ESV

AHHHHH

No rain for 5 days so far!! AND they aren't calling for it until Monday:)

It has been so nice to have bright and beautiful days!

I am getting ready to make an apple crisp with apples that need to be eaten. The girls are playing nicely in their room.

AHHHH~~or maybe not.

The Lord has really been dealing with my heart lately and as I ponder and seek His counsel I am reminded of how much grace HE gives.

I don't want to be satisfied with my spiritual walk. I want to always be hungry for more of Him. I want to stand and do right even when it's hard and misunderstood by others.

I don't want to look at things and judge them by the world's standards. I want to measure them against God's standards.

And if that makes me weird or kooky or having too high standards or unrealistic or uncool or too much of a Jesus freak. I'm okay with that.

I want to love and be compassionate. Loving and be willing to stand for what is right.

Unwavering.

Lord, help me to be a vessel used by You. Strong in faith and love.

THESE DAYS.....

We are getting ready to head out in a couple of hours to join some friends for

50 cent corndogs from Sonic

some trick or treating

and some Project Pumpkin

In others words, we are going to have FUUUNNN.

As I take my little ladybug and Sarah Palin around to get as much candy as they possibly can

I want to soak in all their kiddy-ness

because it will fade soon and then they will be too big for all this

dress up stuff.

Live in the moment, Jennifer, because it will pass.

Live in the moment.

A PSA

Please go read this post over at Baby Bangs. This is Amanda, Beth Moore's daughter.

She really nailed it and I have been really thinking about what she said all week long.

WOW. That about sums it up for me.

MY CONVICTIONS ARE MY OWN

I have been thinking a lot about writing this post. Probably too much. After I read a post about it at one of my favorite blogs, I felt like the Lord was nudging me to write it. I have typed it up on Word and left it there to see if the nudging would go away.

It hasn’t.

Mike and I made a decision that we would let the Lord decide the size of our family~ a “quiverfull family”. Some of my family and friends know this but most don’t.

I have felt the Holy Spirit prompting since I read a book by Vickie and Jayme Farris, “A Mom like you”. My former pastor’s wife lent me the book and I read it twice before giving it back. That was almost 6 years ago. Mike thought I was crazy and said, “No”.

I said, “Okay!!” I felt like I had been absolved from having to worry about it. Mike was the head of our household right? And if he said no that was what I had to live with. Still, the Holy Spirit kept bringing it to my mind.

When we moved so Mike could go to college for pastoral training I thought that I wouldn’t be bothered by this anymore. The Lord knew we had no extra money. He also knew we had no health insurance and we would ‘unwise’ to have a baby at this time.

Mike had not changed his mind either. UNTIL~ he had a professor at the college that talked about letting the Lord decide the size of your family. He came home and we talked about it. Still he wasn’t fully convinced. I was more convinced but not sold on the idea.

We mulled over it for a long time, reading scripture, praying about it, talking about it, and reading about it.

Needless to say, in March of 2006, I threw my BC pills away.

I know that the Lord opens and closes the womb because I have evidence in my own life. I know that whether we have 5 more, no more, or adopt, God is in control of our family size.

I know that some people get defensive when this is discussed. I am only telling our story and feel you should really seek the Lord on this decision. I know that I was thinking selfishly before the Holy Spirit convicted me on this subject.

I kept thinking that I wanted to be done with raising children. In fact, in my early twenties I had told people that if I didn’t get pregnant before I turned 25 I didn’t want anymore.

My girls were born when I was 27 and 29 respectively. I am sure the Lord chuckled at that one.

We lost a baby this past November and I know how real that heartache is. If we have more or not we know that our hearts are ‘quiverfull’ and that we are allowing God to have His will with the size of our family.

JOY OF FREEDOM

I read this article by Andree Seu last night before going to bed.

It spoke to me on so many levels.

One passage that really spoke to me was~

"Plead with her from the light, and paint a picture of the joy of freedom, but she will block her ears and shut her eyes, for the light understands the darkness, but the darkness doesn't comprehend the light. But let us imagine better possibilities, things pertaining to salvation (Heb. 6:9) The woman receives unmerited favor from above. The light that has often tried to break in upon her, she one day sees and rather than refusing it again, seizes it. The hardest part is this first crossing of the great divide. She believes and surrenders to the love of the Trinitarian God. What she thought would kill her does not. "

These words were so powerful to me.

I can't say I have always painted a picture of the joy of freedom. Instead, I think I paint a picture of bondage way too often. I want to be living in the joy of freedom because I am free!! Free from all this world holds dear. Free to love without need. Christ fulfills all the needs in us if we let Him.

"Heaven has already begun. Already all our need are met, and we can love because we don't need. We can also have joy that is not hostage to another's insistence on misery. Already "the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining"(I John 2:8) Why wait another hour? " For freedom Christ has set us free" (Galatians 5:1)"

HALLELUJAH!! Thank you, Jesus!!!

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THESE DAYS....ALMOST A YEAR LATER

I was reading archives from last year and I came across this post.

To be honest, it was gut wrenching. I had forgotten about it and when I read it I felt ill.

You see, I still have sadness about my miscarriage that occurred on Nov. 12 at 4pm.

When I read my own words about trusting the Lord with our family size back on March 19, 2007 I had not experienced the pain of losing a baby through miscarriage.

On March 19, 2007, I was naive about pregnancy loss and the pain that is involved. I was totally unaware that the Lord would have me go down this road.

When my husband and I decided to give that part of our lives over to Christ for Him to control we did not know what we were facing. But, God did.

Have I changed my mind about the decision we made? No, absolutely not.

In that post, I touched on being obsessed with getting pregnant back 10 years ago when we were trying to have a baby. I am having to fight off those urges now. I am having to force myself daily to leave all of it at the feet of Jesus.

I don't know how this journey will play out. I don't know if we will have another baby. I am learning to trust more and more. Trusting is hard. Pure and simple.

WHAT A TESTIMONY

If you have a few minutes, go here and listen to this father.

God bless him and his family.

BBBBBRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our heat has been running non stop for two days.

Thank God for it!!

We are running around with socks and long sleeves and an occasional blanket thrown over our shoulders or on our laps.

It was a bit hard to get out from under our covers this morning to go to church, but we did. We are glad we did! It was such a good service. If you want to hear it you can go here.

It should be uploaded in the next couple of days. In the mean time you could listen to the other sermons. They are good, too:~)

One thing that was taught today in Sunday School and church~~giving. In SS we read from II Cor. 8:1-10. These verses really spoke to me (3 )"For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, (4) begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints (5) and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the sill of God to us.

I don't know about you but I seldom give beyond my means or beg to give. In fact, to be honest, I have a hard time giving if we need the money for other areas (bills, bills, bills) Mike and I have struggled with this issue on and off during our married life. We would do good about tithing for a while and then slack off.

It would be a cycle we would repeat many times. We decided last year to stop being hot and cold about it. We decided we needed to do it as an act of worship not because God "needed" our money and not because we were guilted into it by a sermon we heard. We decided it because God said we should do it.

Now, I would like to tell you that we have not had any money problems since we made that commitment. ABSOLUTELY NOT! In fact, it has been even harder! Why? Because the devil knows we have been weak in this area before. Not trusting God to meet our needs and not being faithful with what we have. It is a battle. Pure and simple.

What has happened though is a more intimate relationship with God because we have chosen to acknowledge what God has said is important in our walk with Him. We have sought His desires for our money and the way we handle it. We have given all that was His to begin with up to Him for Him to direct it's path.

I KNOW that everyone's walk with Christ is an intimate one and we all grow and develop differently~~just like children. We should seek His face in all our decisions and ask Him to direct our paths.

He is faithful. We are weak and He is strong.

RECOVERING FROM THE PARTIES!

Here is the sight I just came across! Our two girls, their Daddy, and Miss Kitty all curled up on the couch snoozing away!!

The flash on the camera makes the room look bright but it really isn't. The only light in the room is the TV. They are wiped out from our partying. We went to a New Year's Eve get together last night and they did not go to bed til 2 am.

Then, we went to a New Year's Day get together at 11:30 today. We didn't get home til almost 5. They really earned a nap!!!

My sweet Michael has to go to work tonight so he really, really needs the rest. He loves it when the girls curl up next to him. He calls Abby his little "pea pod" because she gets all warm and toasty when she lays up next to you and goes to sleep.

We had a wonderful time at both parties!! Last night, the guys played Mexican Train with dominios and the women played Phase 10. We laughed our heads off.

We ate authentic tamales and guacamole til we thought we were gonna puke. They were delicious!!!!!

Today, we ate tons of good food!! We all felt like we were going to explode and then they brought out the fondue pots!! Oh! sweet! chocolate! glory!!!!!! They had bananas, strawberries, Oreos, pretzels, marshmallows, cream puff, Nutter Butters, chocolate chip cookies, rice krispy treats to dip into blessedly delicious chocolate.

Let me just say that a cream puff dipped in chocolate is about the best thing there is!!!! It is so yummy!

It was nice to spend ringing in the new year with friends and enjoying each other's company.

I have been thinking about 2007 and what has transpired since I started this blog. I have been looking over things I wrote last January and it has been funny in a way. We have had a trying year. It has been happy, sad, exasperating, challenging, etc. I know that God stretches us and shapes us through our experiences.

I know the main experience He used this year is the miscarriage. I have struggled to make sense of it where there is none. I have questioned why and received a response I knew deep down all along.

God has been faithful through this year.
When I thought He wasn't there, He was there.
When I thought He didn't care, He cared.
When I thought I wasn't going to make it through, He held me close.
When I thought I was alone, He whispered, "I am here."
When I didn't think I was ever going to get any help, He gave a series of messages to my pastor and I believe they were just for me.
When I needed a loving hand to hold and a shoulder to cry on, He showed me my precious husband.

I know that through it all God's plan will prevail. I don't have to know the whys and the hows because He does and I can trust in Him.

I am excited to see what will happen in 2008 and what He has in store.

He is God and He, alone, is worthy to be praised!!

Happy 2008

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are getting ready to leave in the morning to go see our families for Thanksgiving.

I just wanted to tell everyone that has been praying for us over the last week that we really appreciate it. All of you have been a great comfort at this particular time and we are so thankful for it!!

We are also thankful that the Lord is merciful and that He comforts us in whatever we are facing if we will just let Him. I am in the process of letting Him comfort me.

There are some things hat we have to go through that we don't understand and will never understand until He reveals it or we get to heaven. Either way, I am willing to let him know all the answers and trusting Him to know what is best for me.

I am still sad about the loss and will probably be for a while and Mike has reassured me that it is okay to be sad. He is sad, t00. One thing I know is that my God does NOT make mistakes and He is worthy of praise!!

So, with all that said, I am thankful for my husband and his unselfish love for me, my children here on earth and in heaven, my family and friends, and the unconditional love of my Savior!!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!

AT A LOSS FOR WORDS!!

*Update~if you want to read more in depth notes from Deeper Still go to Boomama and she will direct you where you need to go. Keep on keepin' on, sistas!!!

Now, if you know me in real life, you know that it must be something big, right? I have been trying for 4 days to write a post about this and I have just now been able to sit here and do it. I have been at a loss for words that would do this past weekend justice. I have made a feeble attempt but here goes~~~~~

I went to Deeper Still The Event Friday and Saturday with my good friend Debbie.

IT WAS AWESOME!!!

I received a rhema (that is "word" in Greek)

I didn't want to leave!!! The music was great. We got to see Mandisa, live and rocking the house. Well, we were at the Curb Center at Belmont University but she rocked it!! Also, the praise band was great and Anthony Evans is awesome.

Let's see how many times I can use the words awesome and great in this post.

Priscilla Shirer talked about David knowing who he was and whose he was. I am telling you right now the Holy Spirit met us right there Friday night! I could have jumped out of my seat and ran the aisles!! She was giving us words that God wanted us to hear.

Beth Moore talked about cooperating with God, returning to whole-hearted obedience, and having the courage to see the fulfillment of God's promise to you. Again, she brought us the Word of God. I could have shouted that place down.

Kay Arthur talked about being at a crossroads and using David as an example of having many crossroads in his life. She, also, brought us the the Word of God. Again, the Spirit was evident when she spoke.

I don't want to even try to post all the notes I took and all the things that God has given me to "chew" on. I got some meat from these ladies this weekend and I will chewing for awhile to actually swallow it all.

Two things that really impressed me this weekend was:
1) they did not promote their books. In fact, it was said that to hear from the Lord don't read their books you need to read your Bible.
2)we had a question and answers session. One of the ladies in the crowd asked how to get her husband to speak her love language. Kay Arthur said just start speaking his and he will be so full and overflowing that he will want to start speaking yours. She also said have s*x with him. She said, "Ladies. our bodies are not our own!!" People, that is from Scripture! Nowadays women don't want to hear that but it is the truth. When you are married your body belongs to your spouse. That is not popular thinking but it is Biblical thinking.

Oh yeah, one more thing, my pretend BFF Lisa Whelchel was there. That was an added treat. She doesn't know it but we are BFF in my pretend world.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to got this weekend. Thanks to Mike for doing without me for a whole Saturday and doing it lovingly. Thanks to Debbie for getting the tickets and being excited with me.

AMY IS VICTORIOUS TODAY!

Yesterday, Amy Wilhoite went home to be with the Lord. She has had the ultimate healing.

I am sad on one hand, but rejoicing on the other. She was suffering so much and she had fought a good fight.

Please pray for her husband, Brandon and baby Gary.

My Thoughts About Recent Events

I had a post I thought about writing but I think I will hold off. I don't feel much like writing a fun post today.

The VT tragedy, my Dad's health issues, Heather's illness, and other things have been weighing heavy on my heart. I am praying for these things, but don't it feel overwhelming sometimes? I am so glad I can go to the One that is in control of EVERYTHING.

I don't have to worry, fret, or despair because God knows what is going on. I can't stand that song Bette Midler sings, "From A Distance" The lyrics say, in essence, that God has no idea what is really going on here on Earth. That He thinks everything is great and wonderful when it really isn't.

If I may be so bold~~~BALONEY!!!! God knows exactly what is going on here and NOTHING surprises Him. He knows what has happened in the past and He knows what will happen in the future.

I am well aware that there is evil in this world and there are powerful evil forces waring against good. I know that man has a choice to accept Christ and war with the good or he chooses to go his own way. We have an innate sinful nature that we don't have to work at. We are born with it. We do have to work at righteousness.The only way we can be righteous is through Christ.

For the wisdom of the flesh is death: but the wisdom of the spirit is life and peace.

Because the wisdom of the flesh is an enemy to God. For it is not subject to the law of God: neither can it be.
And they who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh, but the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
And if Christ be in you, the body indeed is dead, because of sin: but the spirit liveth, because of justification.
And if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you; he that raised up Jesus Christ, from the dead shall quicken also your mortal bodies, because of his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Romans 8:6-11

These Days....

are filled with school and play. These awesome spring days are just what we need after a long winter!!! Mike's Spring Break ended today and I am sad about that. He and I spent a lot of time last week, in between schooling and sleep, reorganizing the garage. We got rid of some stuff and packed away other stuff.

One thing we came across was the bassinet. I took everything off of the frame and washed it. I started thinking about that bassinet and whether I should get rid of it. See, I am unsure whether we will have any more children. Not because I don't want another one but, because we have left the decision up to the Lord whether we have another baby or not.

When I was trying to get pregnant for five years it almost consumed me! I thought about it almost all the time. It was always in the back of my mind. Finally, Mike and I decided we needed to have an outlet so we started certification for foster parenting.

We got our foster son and had him for 3 months until his family could take him. During that time I found out I was pregnant! We were so excited!! Then, I got pregnant with my third child when my middle child was around 15 months old! TOTAL SHOCK!! We just didn't think that I would get pregnant that soon with 9 years between our first and second child.

I am so ready to just let the Lord have His way in the size of our family. I look at that bassinet with wonder, not desperate longing. I have had the desperate longing and it was agonizing. I wonder what God has in store for us. I wonder what God will use in our family for His glory. I wonder if He will fill that bassinet again. I am okay with whatever He has for me and I like to wonder.

wonder-1. a person, thing, or event that causes astonishment, and admiration, marvel 2. the feeling of surprise, admiration, and awe aroused by something strange, unexpected, incredible, etc.

What is that to You???

My husband preached a sermon two Sundays ago and the title of it was "What is that to you?". I have to say it spoke VOLUMES to me!! I sat there and listened to that sermon like the Lord was talking directly to me. And~~I know He was through my husband.

Mike used John 21:20-25 where Peter is asking Jesus about John. Now, remember, Peter is the bull-headed, hot-headed disciple and, believe it or not, I totally relate to him. I am all of those things and more.

Here is where it really gets to my gut~when Jesus answered Peter He said, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? YOU follow Me." Then some gossip went out that Jesus said John wouldn't die and that is not what He said.

Basically, if Jesus decided that John would not die till He comes what is that to Peter. Jesus wanted Peter to just follow Him and not worry about what everybody else was doing.

Here comes the sticking part with me~I don't need to know what everybody else is doing~I just need to do what Jesus has called me to do. Sometimes I get so distracted with what everybody else is doing I neglect to do what I am supposed to be doing.

Since that sermon I have really tried to stay focused on what I am called to do. I have stepped up the schooling and getting my kids where they need to be, spiritually and physically. I am happy to report that we have stayed on track with our Bible reading for the last week and a half. We have read more books than we were reading and our chores have been getting done.

Now, I didn't say everything has been perfect but my focus has been different and to me that is very important. I have a long way to go and I am sure that I will have to be directed back on track again. I am thankful for this message from God through the faithfulness of my husband. I know his heart and I know he wants to be God's servant in the ministry.

Keep on keeping on my fellow Christians!! In Christ's Name!!