Preachin' to the Choir

As I was sorting through files and trying to get ready for school (we begin on Tuesday) I ran across a teaching I had done a couple of summers ago.
I had been asked to be part of a panel discussion at our church. Each of the four panel members was given a question to address that had been previously collected from the congregation.
The question I got was in reference to knowing when to give up on something or to keep believing in faith. I am using part of that teaching here today because I need to be reminded of these things myself so I suppose in this post ( really in all of my posts) I’m just preachin’ to the choir!
If you have determined that the situation is within the scope of God’s will for your life ( By this time I had gone through how to determine if you are in God’s will.) then scripture is clear, you need to persevere in prayer and in faith until God releases you! When God reveals His will we need to be faithful to obey.
Here are a few more things to remember. God will at times allow a desire or dream to die within us so He can bring new life to it. God wants to be first above all else! He’ll settle for nothing less than our whole heart! Have you completely surrendered this situation to God?
Difficult situation and difficult people are the refining fire that God uses to burn up the impurities in our character. Are you willing to let God change you and not the situation?
God is never late! Remember, God sees all of the player all of the time, and loves us all equally. His timing is always the best timing for all of his children at any given time.
Knowing these things, offer God the sacrifice of praise, thank Him for this situation He has allowed into your life, trusting that no matter what happens God is on His throne, He is in control, and He has a plan for your life!
Blessings,

Prayer

These days my life seems to change daily as God hones and shapes me into
the woman he wants me to be. One area God has been actively working on for years is my prayer life and I would like to share more of my heart on that here as time allows.
Prayer for our children is one area we need to be especially diligent in! The enemy of their souls does not rest and neither can we. If praying for your children is new to you this prayer calendar might be a good place to start. It has a prayer for each day of the month!
http://www.renewnetwork.org/Resources%20Pages/Praying%20For%20Our%20Children.htm I also found the writings of E.M. Bounds online!
http://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Fellowship/E.M.Bounds.html
Blessings,

More Places to visit

I was blog surfing today and stopped by the sweetest blog. I didn't read a word but got lost in the pictures that reminded me of a bygone time.
http://eyesofwonder.typepad.com/my_weblog/
Take a vacation and visit eyes of wonder.
Blessings,

Places to Visit

If you or someone you know is struggling in their marriage, if your marriage has been affected by the devastating effects of pornography or an affair; if you work with or mentor women then head over to Cindy Bealls website for a healthy dose of encouragement and hope.
http://cindybeall.com/
Blessings,

UCLA Medical Center

I was at UCLA medical center last Friday. I had never been before. A dear friend of mine was having cancer surgery. As his family and I waited to go up to recovery to see him I was able to witness first hand the drama of a teaching hospital waiting room.
I am not sure how many similar waiting areas there are at UCLA's Ronald Regan Center. The waiting area we were in had seating for about 75 waiting family members - each family with a story of lives interrupted by illness or injury.
Families waited anxiously to speak with surgeons about the outcome of delicate heart surgeries or transplants. One family had a nine year old daughter with brain tumors and one anxious young couple distractedly pushed around an empty stroller waiting for their baby to come out of surgery.
One young woman commented to me that last week her biggest concern had been where her five year old would attend school next year. Now she was here at UCLA, waiting to hear how her mother's bypass had gone!
This busy waiting area is where I met Vivian, a woman with huge ocean water green eyes and wavy, golden brown hair . She sat down next to me, we smiled politely at each other but for a time we said nothing. Her fourteen year old son sat to her right and looked up from his hand held game occasionally to cast a protective glance her way. She seemed so lost and vulnerable I could easily understand his concern. With soft spoken words and lilting Egyptian accent Vivian shared about her life, her family, and her husband’s long illness.
As we waited we did what I suppose people do in waiting rooms all over, we talked, and shared, we prayed, and tried to comfort each other. Within moments God forged a bridge of friendship between us. A bridge built upon the common ground two strangers share in a place like this…waiting.
There is lots of waiting, waiting to find out the outcome of a surgery. Then you wait some more until you can actually go into a room and see that person you care so much about. You wait to gently touch their hand or hug them or say something loving and reassuring.
I went up to see my friend. How hard it is to see someone you care about hurting. You want to do something, anything within your power to take their pain away…but you can’t…I couldn't... it is a helpless feeling! And yet at the same time I had this rush of emotion I didn't expect. It was so similar to the feeling I had when I held my babies and counted their fingers and toes for the first time. It was an overwhelming flood of relief that welled up inside of me. I expelled in a long breath and muttered “Thank You God, for watching over him, he is going to be alright!”
Vivian and I saw each other again outside the recovery area and we hugged like old friends. We caught up on each other’s “patients” and promised to pray for each other and then said good bye for the last time.
Where ever you are Vivian and George, I am praying for you.
Blessings,

Skate Night

Eight of Eight handles skating (like everything else he does) on his own terms!
At the Awana skate night a few weeks ago! Thank you Jeri Ellis for sharing the picture! Blessings,

That New Car Smell?

Don’t you just love that new car smell? Well my little van is not new but I do try to take care of it and like it to look nice. Unfortunately being exposed to the elements has taken its toll and the black vinyl especially on the back bumper which was looking very chalky and gray. I tried several products, such as Armor All, (which my van drank up like a parched man drinks water) but none of them took away the gray. My van was really beginning to look old and tired.
I went online to do a product search with the intent to find a magic (and probably expensive) potion or spray to make my car look new again...an automotive fountain of youth if you will. What I found was one of those Yahoo answer pages where peanut butter was recommended. Peanut butter!?! Well, I am a mom, I have peanut butter! It took me a few days to warm up to the idea mostly because I didn’t want to look like the crazy neighbor that tried to turn her car into a food group! You know the ones that show up on the eleven o'clock news :) So on Saturday morning early, (before the neighbors got up) I went out to the driveway with a large blob of super food, a roll of paper towels and I slathered peanut butter on the bumper of my van, I rubbed it in, buffed off the excess and tada, it looks great and cost practically nothing! And now I have that new car smell…and that smell is peanut butter :D

Blessings!

The Star of Bethlehem

We watched the most AMAZING video tonight. It is a must see for any believer. The movie was such a boost to my faith I wanted to share it with others. I can't recommend it heartily enough! http://thestarofbethlehemmovie.com/trailers.php
make sure you look around the site.
Blessings,
Theresa

I am overwhelmed with all God is doing in my life. To me miracles are unfolding and long prayed prayers are being answered. I thought I'd share this thought provoking quote from C.S. Lewis."Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see.
Blessings,

Busy, Busy, Busy! and a Surprise

Busy seems to be the buzz word at my house. As this week gains momentum so does the to-do list! I have tried to cull out the unnecessary and focus an the relational.

Friday we have a funeral for a special family friend. She was 102 years old and maintained a good quality of life up until a few months of passing away. Can you imagine living 102 years? My goodness...

If you knew you were going to be here 102 years would it change anything about the way you live your life? Certainly gives you something to think on.

Mom and Dad are flying in Friday afternoon and more family will be here on Saturday. We will certainly be cozy in our modest home:) As I said in an earlier post Mom and Dad are celebrating their 50TH wedding Anniversary. They have walked through a lot in those years. I am glad to be able to share this celebration with them and to have family gathered around.

The surprise among our business came when we found that One of Eight is on his way home from Afghanistan!!!! I cannot tell you what a relief it is to know he is physically on his way!

We are planning to caravan over to meet his plane...there is more to tell.... but it will have to wait. I hope to have some pictures to post soon.

Blessings, A Proud Air Force Momma