Saw this prayer today - simple to the point...
Lord, MOVE. Amen

gracec and peace

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GRACE AND PEACE!

content

today is a rainy, spring monday.

I am learning again to be content.

content in whatever circumstance i find myself

... was i at all surprised when my in box had this devotion from Joel;

Content Whatever the Circumstances

scripture: "... I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances" Philippians 4:11

From Joel and Victoria: It's easy in life to get so focused on our dreams, goals, and what we want that it consumes us. We can get to the point where we're not going to be happy until it happens. But I've found that if we have to have something in order to be happy, our lives are out of balance. When our goals and dreams start to frustrate us, when we lose our peace, and we're not enjoying life; that's a sure sign that we're holding on too tightly. What's the solution? You've got to release it. Freedom comes when you say, "God, I'm turning it all over to You. You know my desires, and You know what's best for me. I'm choosing to trust You and trust Your timing."

When we learn to be content whatever the circumstances, it takes away the power of the enemy. It takes away his ability to frustrate us. Not only that, but by our actions we are showing our faith in God. When you choose to trust in His timing, you can live in peace, you can live in joy, and you can rest in Him knowing that He has good things in store for your future.

prayer: Heavenly Father, today I choose to trust in You. I release frustration over the dreams and desires in my heart, knowing that You know what's best for me. I choose to trust in Your timing because You are faithful, and I will bless You in all things. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

A timely word for me ... on this rainy monday.

GRACE AND PEACE!

surprise!

From Joel:

He wants to Surprise You!

todays scripture: If you listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to do all His commandments which I command you ... all these blessings shall come upon you and over take you ... " Deuteronomy 28:1-2, AMP

Todays Word From Joel and Victoria: A surprise is simply something good that you weren't really expecting. It's something that makes you feel special and lets you know that someone is thinking about you. Surprises bring us joy and lift our hearts. Your Heavenly Father wants to surprise you and overtake you with His goodness. He wants to do things that make your life easier and lets you know how much He loves you.

The word "overtake" can also be translated "to catch you by surprise." Your Heavenly Father longs to be good to you - He wants to catch you by surprise! He wants to help you accomplish your dreams and overcome your obstacles. He wants to amaze you with His goodness and mercy. We should wake up every morning with the attitude, "I can't wait to see what God is going to do today.

Make room in your heart and mind for what God wants to do in your life today. Keep an attitude of faith and expectancy. As you do, you'll see His surprises. You'll see His hand of blessing overtake you and bring you to new levels in every area of your life!

Prayer for Today: Father in heaven, I open my heart and mind to You right now. Fill me with Your goodness and overtake me with Your blessings. I honor You today and invite You to use me to be a blessing to others. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

It is Friday, and the week again has been full. With this devotion in mind, I am able to look back at the week and pick out His surprises and blessings. One of the biggies ... family.

This was taken last Saturday, the night Jack and Sam made dinner for everyone. What a full table, it has to be amazing from my Grandmothers eyes to be sitting around a table with her daughter and her 7 great grandchildren. What a Blessing!!! Grandma heads back to Portland today, it was a special visit ... she will celebrate her 94th birthday this summer.

I will continue to look for His surprises today, I pray you will too!

GRACE AND PEACE!

Isaiah 40: 28-31

something to gnaw on today ....

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV

GRACE AND PEACE

0-3 ...

what an awesome opportunity Aaron and I experienced the past 5 days!

We went from 0-3 kids in the matter of seconds. Well, kids on loan. My sister and her husband had a wedding to attend in Denver ... but did not take their kiddos, The 3 little red heads.

My sister asked if we would be interested in watching them. I asked Aaron.

He thought it would be a good training experience. (i laughed and said okay)

So Thursday afternoon my sister and her husband left on a jet plane and Aaron and I found ourselves the care takers of 2- 3.5 year old girls and 1- 18mo boy.

0-3 in no time flat.

If you live in the Indy area, you know the weather this weekend was yuck. Thursday was great, then it got cold and rainy. BUT we managed, thankfully Aaron and I came to them, to their house. Aaron and I live in a small ranch house ... the 3 little red heads live in a 2-story house with a basement ... 3 different levels and they use them ALL. Now do not get me wrong, the space is great! But at the same time my legs have gotten a workout:)

Of course the enemy was doing a quick work to discourage us ... Aaron enjoys Friday as his sabbath ... so we had planned to tag team the kiddos that day. Well, he was called in for ministry business and spent most of the day on the phone, and out of the house dealing with various issues. (Please keep Brookside Community Church, its leaders, and congregation in your prayers!)

The kiddos and I pushed through.

We took the crew to Northview Church Saturday night - this was their second visit. We did a trial run with my sister and her husband two weeks ago. The girls were thrilled. And after seeing the room, I understand! After church we headed to my other sisters house for dinner. Her two older boys cooked! (11 & soon to be 10) They grilled stake and asparagus - they did a great job. To top it off they were perfect hosts - directing us to the goodies placed out, letting us know our seating assignments ... it was a fun time and a full house.

Taking from Life Group observations, I took PJs for the 3 little red heads. The girls at first thought they might be staying over with their cousin ... that surprised me. With the help of Nana and Papa, we wrangled the 3 little red heads, got each buckled and headed home. Aaron was with us, but in his car.

Then the time changed ... Sunday all the kids slept until 8:45 / 9 am ...

Because of the Brookside Church issues, we could not have service in the building this past Sunday. So we did not have to get the kiddos up and out for 2nd church. (PTL)

Aaron and I did attend our final Dynamic Marriage class, 8 weeks sure went fast! Nana and Papa came over while we were away, we did think about taking them, they did have child care available... Aaron and I strongly encourage any married couple regardless of the state of marriage to take the Dynamic Marriage Course. One of the couples stated this should be a required for all!

So now it is Monday. Day 5 ... my sister and her husband arrive this evening. It should be a nicer day outside - we will see. While I have enjoyed this time with the 3 little red heads, I really miss my own bed:)

I am very thankful that they twusted Aaron and I with this assignment, and I thank the Lord he has been with us every step!

GRACE AND PEACE!

3.13 - Trisomy 13 Awareness Day

In honor of Jeremy and all the T13 families -

This video is a collection of photos of children with Trisomy 13. Please watch the video to learn more about Trisomy 13 You can also visit www.livingwithtrisomy13.org

So blessed to know many of these amazing families,

GRACE AND PEACE!

slow down ...

this has been such a fast week. again like last week very very full. to the point i have not even been able to make a simple follow up phone call. something keeps popping up, or the planned activity takes longer then expected.

today on my way to my sisters i was jamming to Israel Houghton's new CD the power of One (if it is on my iPod is it still a CD?). while on I-69 the traffic slowed to a virtual stop ... it was 1pm, not a typical time for slow traffic on I-69 ... anyway, my low fuel light chimed on. i am one of the rule followers and immediately i wanted to get gas. to me if the light comes on, you are out of gas. ( i have had some experience with running out of gas in my life) but i was stuck on the interstate. and not very far from my sisters house - it would be closer then gas. so i headed down 75th street, got to the allisonville light - to be stopped by a funeral procession.

gave me a minute to reflect, SLOW down! songs on "Moving Forward" - very powerful ... a true god moment. ... because HE makes all things new, and I will follow HIM forward! quite powerful while watching a funeral procession heading possibly to Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens.

i was given a moment to not worry about my gas light, to sit and be still pray for the family heading to the funeral. had a moment to listen the lyrics. then headed on my way, refreshed.

GRACE AND PEACE!

weeds

I am loving the Beth Moore book, So Long Insecurity ... and doing the questions for each week ... and posting on the LPM blog along with hundreds of other women as we work through the roots of insecurity and then work to overcome insecurity.

Chapters 1-7 dealt with getting to the root.

In my limited experience as a gardener, if you do not get the whole root out when, the weed keeps on coming back. Also in my experience some times when you make the attempt to get to the root there are thorns and prickly things that discourage me from taking the time needed to get all the weed out. Because actually the garden looks okay on the surface if I just get the stem and leaves ... And I hate to admit it, if the weeds are green (which they usually are) I do not mind because they sorta blend with the flowers.

Much like my insecurities - if I cover them up, deal with just the surface, all looks well from the outside, or they blend ... Beth Moore is calling me out. It is time to let God deal dramatically with it.

Beth states: Insecurity is about losing our God-given dignity

In Chapter 8, when Beth begins to help us deal with it ... she uses this scripture to teach: She is clothed with strength and dignity Proverbs 31:25

My ears, eyes and heart perked up ... this is from Proverbs, commonly known as "The Virtuous woman or The Woman of Noble Character"

I have been reading this Proverb every day for the past month or more!

- direct to my heart Beth Moore!!

She then unpacked the scripture, you need to read the book to get the full picture.

We possess dignity because GOD Himself has it and HE created us in HIS image!!!

God wants us to get those weeds out, form the ROOT. To be clothed in strength and dignity, there is no room for the roots of weeds.

She is clothed with strength and dignity,

and Beth Moore says, BELIEVE IT SISTER!

GRACE AND PEACE!

the Generations

What a blessing ... my grandmother (mom's mom, 93.5 years) my mom, the three sisters ... the grandkids, 4 boys, 3 girls.

Amazing to see the family grow .... PRAISE THE LORD!

GRACE AND PEACE!

be generous

this has been a busy week. change that, a FULL week.

A highlight, my Grandma is in town for a 3 week visit ... she will be 94 this summer, traveled from Portland Oregon. I so enjoy her Great Grand Kids playing with her. She is concerned that she will scare them ... they just love her.

This has been a HUGE ministry week, starting with Pastor Poe sharing his vision for 2010 (and beyond) in the new auditorium at Northview Church. He shared his passion, to thousands of people, to help the suburbanites reach the inner city. (check out the podcast, www.northviewchurch.us) Northview's Urban Ministry has been in planning mode for 3 years, and we will be ready. There is a buzz all around the church, in each ministry area. PLEASE keep Aaron and I in your Prayers. Building partnerships for the Kingdom ... it is so exciting!

this week when i started to feel overwhelmed - the word from joel lifted me up ...

Be Generous

Scripture: "A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed" Proverbs 11:25

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria: Do you need refreshing? So many people go around overwhelmed, tired, worn down, barely getting by. But that's not God's best. He wants us to prosper. He wants us to prosper. He wants us to be refreshed. Here's the key: be generous and refresh others. Is there someone at the office you can be a blessing to? Can you lighten someone's load? Maybe a family member is going through a hard time. Can you help them out? Can you cook them a meal? Refreshing someone can be as simple as a smile or an encouraging word. Don't wait until you feel like doing it, that day may never come! Do it because Scripture tells us to. Do it because it blesses the Lord.

Today, look for someone to be a blessing to. As you step out and refresh others, as you live a life of generosity, you will be refreshed and experience His blessing in your own life in return.

A Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, thank YOU for YOUR grace and mercy in my life. Thank You for blessing me so that I can be a blessing to others. TEach me to be generous. Show me how I can refresh others and bring glory to YOU. In Jesus' Name. AMEN.

Reading this, I begin to think about being generous with my time - time is not my own ... I need to be willing to use the time from sun up to sun down for HIS glory ... which thanks to the coming of spring is more and more time.

GRACE AND PEACE!

Special Person Day ...

Wednesday I was invited by my niece Lucy to be her special person at Peter Panda, her school. I taught High School for 12 years - it was VERY VERY different to walk in to a Pre-School room with such little chairs and 8 little people! (each with a special adult)

The day began with each student introducing their special person ... Lucy introduced me and said "This is my Aunt Beth, she is WONDERFUL" how could I not beam the rest of the day ... Lucy was so sweet all day, making sure I was taken care of - pulling out chairs, checking to be sure I knew were to go ... the perfect host. The room was run so efficiently, each student had a job, they knew the rules and all work together - it was awesome! The day went fast, we played, sang, ate snacks, painted, and heard a great story. The morning flew - the girls loved it, and so did I!

The day went so fast I did not get any pictures - I was engrossed in being a student!

GRACE AND PEACE!

Today is a special day ... My neice Lucy (3 1/2) asked me to attend school with her today.
Today is bring a "special person to school day".
I am sure we will make something, sing & have a snack. What an honor!!!

grace and peace