:) Went to Curves this morning. I'm so glad I changed to morning workouts. I think this will make a difference. I have more energy while working out and all throughout the day.
I worked the machines hard, but my lungs were being naughty today, so a little after my first time around, I had to slow down. I thought I would have to stop completely. But I prayed and heard the Lord remind me to breath correctly. So, I breathed in through my nose and out through my mouth. Easy for most, but with my younger years of having sever orthodontic problems and breathing issues, I always breathe through my mouth. It takes concentration to do it the other way.
Well, that helped me tremendously. No only did my heart rate slow down (it was in the 80% and should be 60-70%) but my lungs became more obedient. I totally took it easy at the recovery stations and was able to work the machines hard. Felt like a good day. :)
They are open Monday from 8-11 and I'm very happy for that.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
My workout today
I left the house around 8 after getting the kids up. The owner was working at Curves and I signed a piece of paper signing me up for the Curves Smart program and gave her my credit card to charge the fee.
I worked out a bit harder today since I apparently didn't realize that I should be trying to increase my reps as time goes on. Wow, what a difference. I didn't have the machines telling me if I was in the zone or not, but I tried to focus on my reps and not slow down. My heart rate stayed in the target zone except for the 3rd last machine (squat) where I was able to do 14 reps. That was more than I had ever done, but I did push myself too far, I think. Had to take a heart rate check at that point and it was at 31 and I should be at 25. I slowed down for the last machines and then stretched. I also weighed myself when I was done and I gained 1/2 pound from last week Wednesday, but that's ok. I know it's not in the weight and today was a brand new day, with working out harder.
The owner stated that the parts for the machines will be installed next Thursday. I don't know how long it will take for the staff to get trained, but my impression of the owner is that she won't dilly-dally. She's going to want to get the members starting on Curves Smart as soon as possible.
I worked out a bit harder today since I apparently didn't realize that I should be trying to increase my reps as time goes on. Wow, what a difference. I didn't have the machines telling me if I was in the zone or not, but I tried to focus on my reps and not slow down. My heart rate stayed in the target zone except for the 3rd last machine (squat) where I was able to do 14 reps. That was more than I had ever done, but I did push myself too far, I think. Had to take a heart rate check at that point and it was at 31 and I should be at 25. I slowed down for the last machines and then stretched. I also weighed myself when I was done and I gained 1/2 pound from last week Wednesday, but that's ok. I know it's not in the weight and today was a brand new day, with working out harder.
The owner stated that the parts for the machines will be installed next Thursday. I don't know how long it will take for the staff to get trained, but my impression of the owner is that she won't dilly-dally. She's going to want to get the members starting on Curves Smart as soon as possible.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Bring God's Kingdom to Earth
I've been reading Here Comes Heaven an invitation and guide for young people to bring the realm of Heaven to earth. Let me tell you it's the best investment I've made for my kids. I read a chapter out loud to them everyday. It's even challenging ME.
I just wanted to share an excerpt from chapter 10, Nice is Not Enough.
"Three easy ways to help you bring God's Kingdom to earth is:
I just wanted to share an excerpt from chapter 10, Nice is Not Enough.
"Three easy ways to help you bring God's Kingdom to earth is:
- LOOK - use your "faith eyes" to see what your Heavenly Father is doing.
- LISTEN - with the "ears" of your heart to what God is saying.
- OBEY - what the Holy Spirit wants you to do.
TIME WITH YOUR KING
- As you Heavenly Papa to come.
- Let the Holy Spirit bring you into His presence.
- Tell Papa how great He is.
- Tell Him how much you love Him.
- Let the Father love on you for awhile.
- Ask Him to show you again who you are.
- You will see what He sees; a Royal Child.
- Take a good look.
- In His presence, ask Jesus to give you what He has.
- Tell Him you want to be just like Him.
- Thank Him for His power.
- Thank Him that you don't have to sin anymore.
- Thank Him for His courage.
- Thank Him for His love.
- Let Papa know you want to obey Him.
- Let Him know you are hungry.
- Be ready to receive His power and character.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Curves
A little over a year ago, I joined Curves. I saw immediate results and had, in a couple of months, lost 14 pounds and 23 inches. I worked out three times a week and got weighed in and measured once a month - at the end of every month.
Curves is a place for women only. There are resistance machines and in between each machine is a "rest pad". You use the resistance machine for 30 seconds and then you go to the pad. You do some sort of cardio move for 30 seconds and then move on to the next machine.
Then summer arrived. I'm very active at church. I attend regularly, every Friday and every Sunday, and during worship I dance. I found that during the first couple months of attending Curves, my dance was more energetic. During the month of July, our church is on sabbatical. We don't have any services at all during July. So, my body was used to two extra workouts a week and with the July sabbatical, I didn't do any extra workouts.
When I got weighed in and measured at the end of July, I found that I didn't lose anything. I was discouraged. But I knew that my energy level probably decreased a bit and also, hubby and I were eating more on Sunday mornings, which made me want to eat more during the week.
But as the months progressed, I found no changes in my weight or measurements. This discouraged me even more and my attendance at Curves was not regular during November and December and I didn't go at all during January. I started back again in February. I didn't weigh in when I started back up because I knew that I had gained and I really didn't want to know where I was at. When I did get weighed in at the end of February, I had found that my weight was higher than when I last weighed in and my measurements had also increased. Well, I had expected it, however, I was discouraged.
I attended Curves in March, three times a week. At the end of March I saw no change. Discouraged again, I stopped going.
Hubby asked me, at the end of April, if I was going and I said no. He encouraged me to start up again.
Starting last Monday (May 12), I started back again. I weighed myself this time and wrote down my weight. I calibrated my home scale with that of Curves. But I was scared that, again, there would be no change even after attending three times a week.
When I went to Curves on Friday, Kris, the manager, was there and told me she had missed seeing me. I admitted that I had been discouraged and stopped coming. She encouraged me to keep going and said that something was changing in Curves and when they had more information, she'd see if I was interested.
When I went into Curves this morning, the place had been decorated and they were advertising a new program called the Curves Smart workout. They will be fitting each machine with a computer of sorts. If you join the Curves Smart workout, you will fill out some paperwork, get weighed and measured and all this information will be put into the computer. You will choose from 4 different workouts - Fit and Trim (sets resistance to 65% of your strength), Muscle Size and Strength (sets resistance to 75%), Cardio (50% of your strength), Endurance. The Curves Smart program will design a program for each individual based on information entered and workout picked. There's more to it, but it's like having a personal trainer with you on every machine to make sure you're getting the most out of the workout.
This, of course, costs extra. But I was excited to learn about it and talked it over with hubby. We agreed to go ahead and sign up for that.
It's going to be a couple of weeks before it starts. The franchise I attend still has to get the machines fitted with the computers, the staff has to be educated on it. After that has taken place, they will start training the customers, one at a time. I'm 6th in line.
But I'm hoping that I will see more results with this new program.
:)
Here's a youtube video of the program that I watched, if you're interested.
Curves is a place for women only. There are resistance machines and in between each machine is a "rest pad". You use the resistance machine for 30 seconds and then you go to the pad. You do some sort of cardio move for 30 seconds and then move on to the next machine.
Then summer arrived. I'm very active at church. I attend regularly, every Friday and every Sunday, and during worship I dance. I found that during the first couple months of attending Curves, my dance was more energetic. During the month of July, our church is on sabbatical. We don't have any services at all during July. So, my body was used to two extra workouts a week and with the July sabbatical, I didn't do any extra workouts.
When I got weighed in and measured at the end of July, I found that I didn't lose anything. I was discouraged. But I knew that my energy level probably decreased a bit and also, hubby and I were eating more on Sunday mornings, which made me want to eat more during the week.
But as the months progressed, I found no changes in my weight or measurements. This discouraged me even more and my attendance at Curves was not regular during November and December and I didn't go at all during January. I started back again in February. I didn't weigh in when I started back up because I knew that I had gained and I really didn't want to know where I was at. When I did get weighed in at the end of February, I had found that my weight was higher than when I last weighed in and my measurements had also increased. Well, I had expected it, however, I was discouraged.
I attended Curves in March, three times a week. At the end of March I saw no change. Discouraged again, I stopped going.
Hubby asked me, at the end of April, if I was going and I said no. He encouraged me to start up again.
Starting last Monday (May 12), I started back again. I weighed myself this time and wrote down my weight. I calibrated my home scale with that of Curves. But I was scared that, again, there would be no change even after attending three times a week.
When I went to Curves on Friday, Kris, the manager, was there and told me she had missed seeing me. I admitted that I had been discouraged and stopped coming. She encouraged me to keep going and said that something was changing in Curves and when they had more information, she'd see if I was interested.
When I went into Curves this morning, the place had been decorated and they were advertising a new program called the Curves Smart workout. They will be fitting each machine with a computer of sorts. If you join the Curves Smart workout, you will fill out some paperwork, get weighed and measured and all this information will be put into the computer. You will choose from 4 different workouts - Fit and Trim (sets resistance to 65% of your strength), Muscle Size and Strength (sets resistance to 75%), Cardio (50% of your strength), Endurance. The Curves Smart program will design a program for each individual based on information entered and workout picked. There's more to it, but it's like having a personal trainer with you on every machine to make sure you're getting the most out of the workout.
This, of course, costs extra. But I was excited to learn about it and talked it over with hubby. We agreed to go ahead and sign up for that.
It's going to be a couple of weeks before it starts. The franchise I attend still has to get the machines fitted with the computers, the staff has to be educated on it. After that has taken place, they will start training the customers, one at a time. I'm 6th in line.
But I'm hoping that I will see more results with this new program.
:)
Here's a youtube video of the program that I watched, if you're interested.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Friday's Touch
1 Corinthians 14:1,2 - Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.
When I was cleaning out my truck this morning, I felt led to pray and ask the Lord to give me another word for someone I may encounter (outside my church) today. I got into the house, and after scolding the children for not getting their chores done (real spiritual, huh?), I sat down at the table and I just kept hearing in my thoughts, "I delight in you", and, of course, that thought made me smile - both on the inside and on the outside. I received that word for myself, but I knew that the Lord wanted me to share with that certain someone (probably someone at Game Stop) something about Him delighting in them.
I went to my trusty website for looking up Bible verses (I pray that one day, these verses will just be there in the front of my mind, the verses and where they are) and typed in the word DELIGHT. As I clicked the link SEARCH, I saw on the front page the word DELIGHT. Then my browser took me to the list of bible verses that have DELIGHT in them. I immediately clicked the back arrow and saw that the Bible verse of the day is Zephaniah 3:17 - “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”
I just sat and soaked in God's love for a moment. I knew that this was not a coincidence and that this was the Bible verse I was to share.
I went out to my truck to find a note card (preferably one without flowers on it as I'm guessing this is going to a guy) and wrote out that I was praying for them and got the word delight and wrote that Bible verse.
I ended the note saying Smile! Jesus loves you and takes GREAT delight in you.
This giving of words gets easier and is SO much fun. My heart is rejoicing with the opportunity to share God's love with people I don't know and people who aren't expecting it.
I spent years INSIDE my church giving prophetic words to people, but I knew that was my training ground and that the Lord wants to reach the people who aren't in church. I'm so excited to be doing this. God is good and God is love.
When I was cleaning out my truck this morning, I felt led to pray and ask the Lord to give me another word for someone I may encounter (outside my church) today. I got into the house, and after scolding the children for not getting their chores done (real spiritual, huh?), I sat down at the table and I just kept hearing in my thoughts, "I delight in you", and, of course, that thought made me smile - both on the inside and on the outside. I received that word for myself, but I knew that the Lord wanted me to share with that certain someone (probably someone at Game Stop) something about Him delighting in them.
I went to my trusty website for looking up Bible verses (I pray that one day, these verses will just be there in the front of my mind, the verses and where they are) and typed in the word DELIGHT. As I clicked the link SEARCH, I saw on the front page the word DELIGHT. Then my browser took me to the list of bible verses that have DELIGHT in them. I immediately clicked the back arrow and saw that the Bible verse of the day is Zephaniah 3:17 - “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”
I just sat and soaked in God's love for a moment. I knew that this was not a coincidence and that this was the Bible verse I was to share.
I went out to my truck to find a note card (preferably one without flowers on it as I'm guessing this is going to a guy) and wrote out that I was praying for them and got the word delight and wrote that Bible verse.
I ended the note saying Smile! Jesus loves you and takes GREAT delight in you.
This giving of words gets easier and is SO much fun. My heart is rejoicing with the opportunity to share God's love with people I don't know and people who aren't expecting it.
I spent years INSIDE my church giving prophetic words to people, but I knew that was my training ground and that the Lord wants to reach the people who aren't in church. I'm so excited to be doing this. God is good and God is love.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Thursday's Touch
So, I had planned on asking God to give me an encouraging word for someone while I'm out. I don't remember if it was once a week or every time I went out, but whatever, I went out today and wanted to give a word to someone.
I went to Walmart, Starbucks, Michael's and Sam's Club. I figured I'd have enough time to pray and get a word from God that I could write down.
When I was in Walmart, I picked up a pack of notecards that came with envelopes! Cool! But most are flowery, and what if I give a word to a guy? Hm. It's ok. It will work.
As I'm walking around Walmart, I'm praying and asking God to show me something. I see someone who reminds me of a friend (who is currently out of state). This friend of mine LOVES to sing. I then hear, "songbird". I knew that was the word I was to give today. But I wanted to write it on the card and I wasn't sure which store the person who is getting the word was at.
I stopped by the house after Walmart and Starbucks and while driving to the house, I heard, "Sing and make music to the Lord." So, at home, I looked up that phrase at BibleGateway and found Ephesians 5:19.
So, I wrote on the card that I prayed for this person (I'm thinking it's going to be a woman) and asked the Lord to give me a word, that I heard Songbird. I told this person that the Lord loves to hear their heart and that they make music in their heart. I then wrote out Ephesians 5:19, Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord. I wrote, Smile, (and sing!!) Jesus loves you, may He richly bless your day. I simply signed Debbie.
We got to Sam's and I was thinking about the card in my purse, but at some point I forgot. Caytie and I pull the cart up to the first register I see and it's closed. So we go to the one next to it.
As we're unloading the cart, I remember the card and remember I thought it was going to be for a woman. Our cashier is, yes, a guy. Wow, what a step of faith for me. For some reason I felt it was easier to give this card to a woman.
Well, my cashier and I talked a little bit about homeschool. He was a very nice guy. Young, but I have no clue what his age was. Either late teens or early 20s. As he gave my Sam's card back to me, I gave him the sealed card. I had written his name on the envelope. I told him that I prayed and asked God to give me a word and that this card was for him. Then I left. Caytie told me he looked shocked. I looked again and he was now at the manager's post and it looked like he was giving the card to the manager, but I couldn't tell.
Oh, well. I need to trust that I heard correctly from the Lord and that God was able to touch Akaim.
I went to Walmart, Starbucks, Michael's and Sam's Club. I figured I'd have enough time to pray and get a word from God that I could write down.
When I was in Walmart, I picked up a pack of notecards that came with envelopes! Cool! But most are flowery, and what if I give a word to a guy? Hm. It's ok. It will work.
As I'm walking around Walmart, I'm praying and asking God to show me something. I see someone who reminds me of a friend (who is currently out of state). This friend of mine LOVES to sing. I then hear, "songbird". I knew that was the word I was to give today. But I wanted to write it on the card and I wasn't sure which store the person who is getting the word was at.
I stopped by the house after Walmart and Starbucks and while driving to the house, I heard, "Sing and make music to the Lord." So, at home, I looked up that phrase at BibleGateway and found Ephesians 5:19.
So, I wrote on the card that I prayed for this person (I'm thinking it's going to be a woman) and asked the Lord to give me a word, that I heard Songbird. I told this person that the Lord loves to hear their heart and that they make music in their heart. I then wrote out Ephesians 5:19, Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord. I wrote, Smile, (and sing!!) Jesus loves you, may He richly bless your day. I simply signed Debbie.
We got to Sam's and I was thinking about the card in my purse, but at some point I forgot. Caytie and I pull the cart up to the first register I see and it's closed. So we go to the one next to it.
As we're unloading the cart, I remember the card and remember I thought it was going to be for a woman. Our cashier is, yes, a guy. Wow, what a step of faith for me. For some reason I felt it was easier to give this card to a woman.
Well, my cashier and I talked a little bit about homeschool. He was a very nice guy. Young, but I have no clue what his age was. Either late teens or early 20s. As he gave my Sam's card back to me, I gave him the sealed card. I had written his name on the envelope. I told him that I prayed and asked God to give me a word and that this card was for him. Then I left. Caytie told me he looked shocked. I looked again and he was now at the manager's post and it looked like he was giving the card to the manager, but I couldn't tell.
Oh, well. I need to trust that I heard correctly from the Lord and that God was able to touch Akaim.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Assignment: Let someone know God loves them
Our pastor listed a few assignments for the congregation to pick from - thing to do to show God's love to others. We gave testimonies this past Sunday.
I chose to, while at a store, get a greeting card (pay for it, of course) and give it to the cashier. I did this on Monday. While I was sitting on my bed getting my shoes on, I was so nervous. Silly, isn't it? But I went to the store, picked out a greeting card and did some more grocery shopping. As I'm walking through the store, I was overcome with God's love for EVERYONE and thought how unfair that I was only giving ONE person a card. (Like I can afford a card for everyone shopping there!)
I picked aisle 5 (for grace!) and had my cashier ring the card up first and told her I wanted it back. She handed it back to me and while she rang up the rest of my stuff, I wrote inside the card - Smile, Jesus love you and drew a smiley face. I sealed the envelope and wrote her name on it. After I paid for my stuff, I handed her the card and said, "This is for you." She smiled real big and placed it beneath her cash register.
After I told my story, I sat down and the visitor who was sitting behind me whispered, did you know that was me? I looked closer and sure enough! It was her. I got up to sit next to her and give her a hug. My hubby was walking around with the microphone getting people's testimonies and he looked at me and I pointed at her and said, "This is her!"
He came over to us to let everyone know this was who I gave the card to. Well, this story isn't over. Dawn, the pastor's wife, also was on assignment at that same store the next day. She talked to her cashier about how gift cards worked and told the lady that she wanted to get a gift card for someone, just because. She rang it up, along with the other things she had and when she was done, she said to the cashier, this is for you, because Jesus love you. That cashier was the same one I went to! She came to our church because she knew Dawn's name and knew what church she ministered at.
How cool is that? Only God could orchestrate something like that. Neither Dawn nor I knew who the other blessed.
God is so good and His love is simply amazing.
Oh, and I have purchased some index cards and pens to bring with me to jot down prophetic words I receive to give to people while I'm out. :)
I chose to, while at a store, get a greeting card (pay for it, of course) and give it to the cashier. I did this on Monday. While I was sitting on my bed getting my shoes on, I was so nervous. Silly, isn't it? But I went to the store, picked out a greeting card and did some more grocery shopping. As I'm walking through the store, I was overcome with God's love for EVERYONE and thought how unfair that I was only giving ONE person a card. (Like I can afford a card for everyone shopping there!)
I picked aisle 5 (for grace!) and had my cashier ring the card up first and told her I wanted it back. She handed it back to me and while she rang up the rest of my stuff, I wrote inside the card - Smile, Jesus love you and drew a smiley face. I sealed the envelope and wrote her name on it. After I paid for my stuff, I handed her the card and said, "This is for you." She smiled real big and placed it beneath her cash register.
After I told my story, I sat down and the visitor who was sitting behind me whispered, did you know that was me? I looked closer and sure enough! It was her. I got up to sit next to her and give her a hug. My hubby was walking around with the microphone getting people's testimonies and he looked at me and I pointed at her and said, "This is her!"
He came over to us to let everyone know this was who I gave the card to. Well, this story isn't over. Dawn, the pastor's wife, also was on assignment at that same store the next day. She talked to her cashier about how gift cards worked and told the lady that she wanted to get a gift card for someone, just because. She rang it up, along with the other things she had and when she was done, she said to the cashier, this is for you, because Jesus love you. That cashier was the same one I went to! She came to our church because she knew Dawn's name and knew what church she ministered at.
How cool is that? Only God could orchestrate something like that. Neither Dawn nor I knew who the other blessed.
God is so good and His love is simply amazing.
Oh, and I have purchased some index cards and pens to bring with me to jot down prophetic words I receive to give to people while I'm out. :)
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Debt Canceling
Last night Todd Bentley, live on God TV had a debt canceling and prayer burning ceremony. People from all over the world e-mailed or brought prayer requests and wrote down debts they wanted canceled.
Well, at our church service last night we did the same thing, except for the burning part. :D We wrote down our prayer requests and poured oil on them, came up and prayed over them. On large sheets of paper we wrote down the debts we wanted canceled. Our family wrote down, mortgage, my truck and money owned to the company who worked on our house because of the damage from Hurricane Wilma. We had been working with this company and they had someone working with the insurance company to release more money towards the total amount owed.
This morning the guy from that company called letting us know that our insurance company has agreed to cut another check. They are paying 79% of the large sum that is still owed. We still have to come up with the rest, but that amount isn't so daunting. And besides, I'm still waiting to see what God can do with that.
Woo Hoo! I serve an awesome God.
Friday, May 09, 2008
Another Healing Testimony
I've been watching Todd Bentley on God TV and tonight we watched it at our Friday night church service.
We were praising the Lord and praying along with those who were coming up to the stage giving their testimonies of healing. You have to trust that what they say is real because you don't know them and there is no "proof" that they were sick in the first place.
All of a sudden, the people around me erupt and say "PETER!" I look up and see a man who has been attending our church for a few years now. He HAD parkinsons and walked very slow and in pain all the time. He had gotten healed. Todd had him RUN across the stage and I jump out of my seat, tears running down my face because I knew that this was God. Peter was not able to do that and I saw him, with my own eyes, run across the stage two times. And he wasn't shaking.
God is so good!!!!
Monday, May 05, 2008
The deaf will hear
On April 2, 2008, Todd Bentley from Fresh Fire Ministries came to a church in Lakeland, Florida. Todd is an evangelist whom God has used to bring healing to the sick. This conference, which was only to last a week, is still continuing. They have had to change venues as the church it started in cannot house the thousands who are coming from all over the world. They are not coming to see Todd but they are coming to have an encounter with the King of kings.
We have had some people from our church go and I believe they have brought an impartation of the power and glory that is being released there to our church.
Yesterday, I was serving on our prophetic team. It's a time after the service that we set aside to pray for people and share with them what we believe God has for them.
As we were ministering to the last couple, one of my team members felt that the Lord wanted to heal the man's hearing. In fact, she thought he had been in our Friday night meeting. There was a man in our Friday night meeting who had been healed in his ears and was able to hear. This was not the same man, however. We prayed that the Lord would touch him and bring healing to his ears. He had been partially deaf since serving at Vietnam.
When we were done, we asked if he felt any change. He said while we were praying, he heard 3 pops in his left ear. That encouraged us and we went after the healing again. When we were done, he said that the siren noise he had heard in his ear for 40 years was gone!
How awesome is our God! He reached down, in response to our prayers and touched this man's ears. Because He loves this man.
I want to meditate on what the Lord is doing and who He is all the time. I never want to go back to who I was. I want to see the Lord's power, glory and love released here where I live. I want to be used by Him.
How great is our God!
We have had some people from our church go and I believe they have brought an impartation of the power and glory that is being released there to our church.
Yesterday, I was serving on our prophetic team. It's a time after the service that we set aside to pray for people and share with them what we believe God has for them.
As we were ministering to the last couple, one of my team members felt that the Lord wanted to heal the man's hearing. In fact, she thought he had been in our Friday night meeting. There was a man in our Friday night meeting who had been healed in his ears and was able to hear. This was not the same man, however. We prayed that the Lord would touch him and bring healing to his ears. He had been partially deaf since serving at Vietnam.
When we were done, we asked if he felt any change. He said while we were praying, he heard 3 pops in his left ear. That encouraged us and we went after the healing again. When we were done, he said that the siren noise he had heard in his ear for 40 years was gone!
How awesome is our God! He reached down, in response to our prayers and touched this man's ears. Because He loves this man.
I want to meditate on what the Lord is doing and who He is all the time. I never want to go back to who I was. I want to see the Lord's power, glory and love released here where I live. I want to be used by Him.
How great is our God!
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Hope
In the midst of bad news, scary news, sad news, the Bible verse that came up for today is Isaiah 45:8 - "You heavens above, rain down righteousness;
let the clouds shower it down.
Let the earth open wide,
let salvation spring up,
let righteousness grow with it;
I, the LORD, have created it.
Amen and amen
let the clouds shower it down.
Let the earth open wide,
let salvation spring up,
let righteousness grow with it;
I, the LORD, have created it.
Amen and amen
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Listen to your heart, not your head
I had a dream last night where, after I let my anger at a silly situation come out in front of my pastor, he told me to listen to my heart, not my head. In my dream I didn't quite understand. I had thought that listening to your heart meant being ruled by your emotions.
When I woke up those words kept ringing out in my head. I believe that the Lord speaks through dreams and sometimes you need to write them down immediately or you'll forget them. But I think that sometimes the Lord is really gracious (He's gracious ALL the time, I know) and highlights things to you so you don't forget and that it's a word for right now or it's something important that you'll need to remember for the future.
As I ponder this, I remember my pastor teaching on where our spirit is located, in our gut area. The Bible writers often refer to this as where we feel and think. I'm also reminded of head knowledge versus experience.
I think that this saying is encouraging me to think on the experiences I've had versus what knowledge may be telling me. Darkness is coming, but the LIGHT will prevail. We cannot give in to fear, we cannot let the "reality" of what is going on around us take us out of our peace in God. We need to listen to our heart, remember our experiences with the Lord and trust in Him, not our circumstances.
When I woke up those words kept ringing out in my head. I believe that the Lord speaks through dreams and sometimes you need to write them down immediately or you'll forget them. But I think that sometimes the Lord is really gracious (He's gracious ALL the time, I know) and highlights things to you so you don't forget and that it's a word for right now or it's something important that you'll need to remember for the future.
As I ponder this, I remember my pastor teaching on where our spirit is located, in our gut area. The Bible writers often refer to this as where we feel and think. I'm also reminded of head knowledge versus experience.
I think that this saying is encouraging me to think on the experiences I've had versus what knowledge may be telling me. Darkness is coming, but the LIGHT will prevail. We cannot give in to fear, we cannot let the "reality" of what is going on around us take us out of our peace in God. We need to listen to our heart, remember our experiences with the Lord and trust in Him, not our circumstances.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
California Woman Shot to Death calling 911
News story
There are some folks who will use this story, among others, to try to get guns out of the hands of law abiding citizens.
However, I will use this story to show why I think law abiding citizens should be able to have guns to protect themselves.
Are guns dangerous? Well, they cannot do ANYTHING by themselves. When loaded and in the hands of someone who doesn't know gun safety or in the hands of someone with murderous intent, I suppose you could say that guns are dangerous. But guns are tools. Unfortunately, in this world, there are people who do not live according to the rules set forth by society. When a law is put into effect that states that people cannot own guns (I believe it is very difficult to own a gun in California), there are people out there (criminals) who do not care what the laws state. This woman was apparently killed by someone who was robbing her house. I don't care what the rules in California are, I believe that thieves and criminals have NO chance of owning guns. But here we have a criminal with a gun.
This will not stop. Our world is getting darker, not better. It is my belief that all citizens of the United States should be allowed to own a gun and carry a gun for protection. Do I think that people should be licensed? I guess it depends on the reasoning for the licenses is. If it's to make sure that the owners are going to gun safety classes, then yes. By all means. We cannot have ignorant people handling guns. For goodness' sake, on one of the firearms forums I read, I have read about accidental (I'll call them negligent) discharges of the firearms. When handling a firearm, one needs to always be aware of the damage that can be done by the tool one is handling. But if the licensing is to keep track of the firearms the people own, then no, I am not in favor of licensing.
Had this woman had a firearm and been educated on the use of that firearm, we may have seen a different heading on that news article.
When criminals are aware that people are armed and not afraid to use those tools to protect themselves and their families, I believe they probably think twice about targeting them as a victim.
My prayers go out to the woman's husband and the rest of her family. I pray also that the criminals are caught. I also pray that the state of California takes a hard look at it's laws and make some changes to give power back to the people, the law abiding citizens.
Southern California Woman Shot Dead While on Phone With 911 Dispatcher
Thursday, March 20, 2008
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WEST COVINA, Calif. — A woman was asking a 911 dispatcher for help when her pleas were interrupted by gunshots, then silence. She was shot to death.
The woman told the dispatcher someone was trying to break into her home in upscale West Covina, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Dan Rosenberg said. "Deputies heard gunshots followed by silence and an open phone line," he said.
Deputies arrived at the house, 20 miles east of Los Angeles, a few minutes after Wednesday's late morning call.
The woman, whose name was not released by police, had been shot several times. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene.
"At this point we believe it was a burglary gone awry," Rosenberg said.
Investigators are trying to determine if anything was taken, Deputy Luis Castro said.
While police were investigating the shooting, a man arrived at the home asking about his wife.
When he heard that the woman had been shot and killed, he collapsed and started to cry, saying "No! She just called me. You lie."
The man was placed in a patrol car and taken to a sheriff's station, police said.
Witnesses said they saw one or more men running from the house, Rosenberg said.
Investigators used bloodhounds to conduct yard-to-yard searches.
No arrests had been made by Thursday morning, deputies said.
As a precaution during the search, a high school and an elementary school were locked down for about two hours, police Lt. Dan Brooks said.
There are some folks who will use this story, among others, to try to get guns out of the hands of law abiding citizens.
However, I will use this story to show why I think law abiding citizens should be able to have guns to protect themselves.
Are guns dangerous? Well, they cannot do ANYTHING by themselves. When loaded and in the hands of someone who doesn't know gun safety or in the hands of someone with murderous intent, I suppose you could say that guns are dangerous. But guns are tools. Unfortunately, in this world, there are people who do not live according to the rules set forth by society. When a law is put into effect that states that people cannot own guns (I believe it is very difficult to own a gun in California), there are people out there (criminals) who do not care what the laws state. This woman was apparently killed by someone who was robbing her house. I don't care what the rules in California are, I believe that thieves and criminals have NO chance of owning guns. But here we have a criminal with a gun.
This will not stop. Our world is getting darker, not better. It is my belief that all citizens of the United States should be allowed to own a gun and carry a gun for protection. Do I think that people should be licensed? I guess it depends on the reasoning for the licenses is. If it's to make sure that the owners are going to gun safety classes, then yes. By all means. We cannot have ignorant people handling guns. For goodness' sake, on one of the firearms forums I read, I have read about accidental (I'll call them negligent) discharges of the firearms. When handling a firearm, one needs to always be aware of the damage that can be done by the tool one is handling. But if the licensing is to keep track of the firearms the people own, then no, I am not in favor of licensing.
Had this woman had a firearm and been educated on the use of that firearm, we may have seen a different heading on that news article.
When criminals are aware that people are armed and not afraid to use those tools to protect themselves and their families, I believe they probably think twice about targeting them as a victim.
My prayers go out to the woman's husband and the rest of her family. I pray also that the criminals are caught. I also pray that the state of California takes a hard look at it's laws and make some changes to give power back to the people, the law abiding citizens.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Hope Deferred
I was listening to Bethel Church's podcast of the week - "Why Pray?" Bill Johnson, 2/11/08. I wish I could just have the transcript here for you to read, however, you should go and listen to it. It's so awesome.
Anyway, one part just struck a cord with me.
"God looks for the glance of the eye of interest, not because material goods satisfy, but because those things that He does just help to put into language the absolute passion and love that He has for people. He desires the blessing of His people more than His people desire to be blessed. But He does not want to put something on us that cripples us. He only wants to put things on us that add to our affection for Him."
"It is your eternal destiny to live with fulfilled dreams and desires."
"Predestined to be fulfilled in life with answers to your desires."
Anyway, one part just struck a cord with me.
"God looks for the glance of the eye of interest, not because material goods satisfy, but because those things that He does just help to put into language the absolute passion and love that He has for people. He desires the blessing of His people more than His people desire to be blessed. But He does not want to put something on us that cripples us. He only wants to put things on us that add to our affection for Him."
Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
"You are vulnerable to spiritual disease when you do not have the desires of your heart quenched. Because God made us to be people who live with fulfilled lives."
"It is your eternal destiny to live with fulfilled dreams and desires."
"Predestined to be fulfilled in life with answers to your desires."
Monday, February 11, 2008
Why I'm voting for Huckabee
I believe that the Lord wants to use Mike Huckabee to get us through these next few years.
I will forward you to my pastor's blog as he has a much better way of words than I do.
I also want to link my husband's site as he has a nice video from Huck's Army that shows that the media is mistaken in saying that it's impossible for Mike Huckabee to win.
Randal Cutter's blog
What the media isn't telling you about McCain's chances by freepatriot.com
I will forward you to my pastor's blog as he has a much better way of words than I do.
I also want to link my husband's site as he has a nice video from Huck's Army that shows that the media is mistaken in saying that it's impossible for Mike Huckabee to win.
Randal Cutter's blog
What the media isn't telling you about McCain's chances by freepatriot.com
Thursday, January 31, 2008
On Intercession
The Lord has blessed me with a gift and calling in intercession. Along with this gift, though, comes along many testings and trials that I need to overcome.
I believe (and have seen in my life) that the Lord speaks to His people in dreams, visions, words of knowledge, words of wisdom, etc. Mostly when I pray, I pray because a request has come up, but there are times when the Lord places on my heart these incredible feelings for the person or situation.
Sometimes I'm awakened in the night with a dream or a thought to pray about something.
Other times, the Lord uses my own feelings and such to show me an area to pray for - regarding myself, but also for others.
Last night was one of those circumstances. And it showed me that I need to infuse myself even more with Him so I don't let those feelings rule my emotions.
I was having a very irritating night. There was a fly in the house that kept biting me, I had to "frog" most of yesterday's accomplishments on the blanket I'm working on (all because I didn't wait on the Lord to show me what to do), I was irritated by the speakers at the debate and when I wanted to just go into a room to drown out the noise, THE FLY WAS THERE!!!!
I didn't handle it all very well and almost drove my poor husband out of the house. Thankfully the Lord has also blessed me with a kind, compassionate, patient husband and he didn't throw ME out of the house. One day I hope to repay him and be the kind, compassionate patient woman God wants me to be.
Anyway, I sat on the floor and just cried out to the Lord to help me. The feelings that overcame me were so scary! Depression, craziness, and others. Wow. Through all this a name came into my head. I knew I needed to pray for this person. And I did, but because I've not been into the Word like I should, because I've not been in communication with the Lord like I should, my mind didn't stay in prayer for this person for long. I kept going back to ME and what my behavior was doing to my family.
Well, the Lord, in His goodness, finally let me stop crying enough to go back to bed and I woke up refreshed and in a normal mood - so much so my husband commented on it.
But it was a stark reminder that I let this intercessory opportunity get the best of me. I let the feelings rule my emotions. I believe that I was feeling what this person that I was praying for was feeling. But had I been more in touch with God during my waking hours, it wouldn't have affected my emotions like it did.
Now, God doesn't love me any more or less when I do or don't take time to read or pray. But my response to circumstances sure is different when I've been in the Word, praying and surrounding myself with knowledge of His goodness than if I'm not.
I believe (and have seen in my life) that the Lord speaks to His people in dreams, visions, words of knowledge, words of wisdom, etc. Mostly when I pray, I pray because a request has come up, but there are times when the Lord places on my heart these incredible feelings for the person or situation.
Sometimes I'm awakened in the night with a dream or a thought to pray about something.
Other times, the Lord uses my own feelings and such to show me an area to pray for - regarding myself, but also for others.
Last night was one of those circumstances. And it showed me that I need to infuse myself even more with Him so I don't let those feelings rule my emotions.
I was having a very irritating night. There was a fly in the house that kept biting me, I had to "frog" most of yesterday's accomplishments on the blanket I'm working on (all because I didn't wait on the Lord to show me what to do), I was irritated by the speakers at the debate and when I wanted to just go into a room to drown out the noise, THE FLY WAS THERE!!!!
I didn't handle it all very well and almost drove my poor husband out of the house. Thankfully the Lord has also blessed me with a kind, compassionate, patient husband and he didn't throw ME out of the house. One day I hope to repay him and be the kind, compassionate patient woman God wants me to be.
Anyway, I sat on the floor and just cried out to the Lord to help me. The feelings that overcame me were so scary! Depression, craziness, and others. Wow. Through all this a name came into my head. I knew I needed to pray for this person. And I did, but because I've not been into the Word like I should, because I've not been in communication with the Lord like I should, my mind didn't stay in prayer for this person for long. I kept going back to ME and what my behavior was doing to my family.
Well, the Lord, in His goodness, finally let me stop crying enough to go back to bed and I woke up refreshed and in a normal mood - so much so my husband commented on it.
But it was a stark reminder that I let this intercessory opportunity get the best of me. I let the feelings rule my emotions. I believe that I was feeling what this person that I was praying for was feeling. But had I been more in touch with God during my waking hours, it wouldn't have affected my emotions like it did.
Now, God doesn't love me any more or less when I do or don't take time to read or pray. But my response to circumstances sure is different when I've been in the Word, praying and surrounding myself with knowledge of His goodness than if I'm not.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Supernatural Living
I'm reading a book by Bill Johnson called "The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind". It is forcing me to believe that I need to live a supernatural life. To call Heaven down on earth. The Lord's prayer - Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. That is what we are called to do. See and operate in God's will on earth as it is in Heaven.
My husband and I believe that the Lord has dropped an opportunity to purchase a home from a friend in our lap. The home is worth $50-$100K more than what we are being asked to pay. The home we are currently living in is 1,656 square feet. The home we are being presented is 2,738 square feet. We were given a tour of the home this past weekend and it is beautiful and there is more to it than what we originally thought.
I have learned to be content in the small home I live in. Prices for homes in the city where I live have gone up considerably. But so have the property taxes. I am aware that If we moved into a home worth 3x the amount our current mortgage is for, our taxes will go up.
We were reminded last night that we may not be able to afford the mortgage payments on this home. I cried. But it was something I knew deep down. I couldn't understand why the Lord would present this opportunity to us if we couldn't afford it.
I woke up this morning with a new outlook. No, we may not be able to buy this home on our own efforts. But we are called to live in the Supernatural. Even Jesus said He could do nothing in Himself (John 5:30), while living on this earth. In our own power, we may not be able to afford to make mortgage payments on our friends' home. But I have a Father in Heaven who is the God of the universe, the creator of all things. If I still believe he has given us this opportunity, then I also need to believe He will provide a way for us to own this home. My prayer is no longer, Lord I want be able to get a mortgage for this home. My prayer now is to own this home debt free. With God all things are possible.
My husband and I believe that the Lord has dropped an opportunity to purchase a home from a friend in our lap. The home is worth $50-$100K more than what we are being asked to pay. The home we are currently living in is 1,656 square feet. The home we are being presented is 2,738 square feet. We were given a tour of the home this past weekend and it is beautiful and there is more to it than what we originally thought.
I have learned to be content in the small home I live in. Prices for homes in the city where I live have gone up considerably. But so have the property taxes. I am aware that If we moved into a home worth 3x the amount our current mortgage is for, our taxes will go up.
We were reminded last night that we may not be able to afford the mortgage payments on this home. I cried. But it was something I knew deep down. I couldn't understand why the Lord would present this opportunity to us if we couldn't afford it.
I woke up this morning with a new outlook. No, we may not be able to buy this home on our own efforts. But we are called to live in the Supernatural. Even Jesus said He could do nothing in Himself (John 5:30), while living on this earth. In our own power, we may not be able to afford to make mortgage payments on our friends' home. But I have a Father in Heaven who is the God of the universe, the creator of all things. If I still believe he has given us this opportunity, then I also need to believe He will provide a way for us to own this home. My prayer is no longer, Lord I want be able to get a mortgage for this home. My prayer now is to own this home debt free. With God all things are possible.
John 15:5-8 (New King James Version)
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Under the shadow of the Almighty
Psalm 91
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty
I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust."
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.
Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation."
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty
I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust."
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.
Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation."
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Drunk, Divorced & Covered in Cat Hair
No I'm not drunk or divorced. Today, is, in fact, my husband's and mine 15th wedding anniversary. I AM, however, covered in cat hair.
I also picked up a copy of a book with this title last night. I read the author's blog. She's got quite a way with words. I love, love, love this book. "The true-life misadventures of a 30-something who learned to knit after he split."
If you are looking for a book where you can laugh and cry, I'd suggest checking it out. The book is written by Laurie Perry and my Barnes & Noble had it stuck in the arts & crafts section. It DOES have some kitting patterns in it, so I guess they figured, why not?
Excerpt from Chapter 10 - All I had heard since Charlie moved out was, "Laurie, maybe you should take up a hobby or something. Stay busy, it will keep your mind off things." Har har. Well, the joke's on you now, all you future recipients of thousands of scarves! I have a hobby, dammit!
I loved knitting so much that I didn't even care how well it cemented my role as the crazy cat lady spinster. At work, I proudly showed off my knitting to every single person who stopped by my desk. You want a banner ad? First, admire my knitting! You need a logo resized? No problem, let me tell you all about knitting class!
That's all. You'll have to buy your own copies!
No, I cannot relate completely, but the way she writes just pulls me in and forces me to have complete compassion for her situation. And I CAN relate to the yarn/knitting references, even though I tried knitting once and don't like it.
Laurie's website is Crazy Aunt Purl.
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