Hijacked

Wheew - today I realized how things can get very out of control on the web! I have a Gmail account I use for my Beads. Just recently with the new computer I have been using it more, as it is easy to access.  I received a message from "The GMAIL TEAM" and replied. It looked legit - but then few hours later I was flooded with text msg and calls from people that received an "Strange" email from me ... my account had been hijacked. The password was changed and the email was in regards to me being stuck in England, with no id, passport or money. There was a request for money, but no place to send the money ... 

anyway, I was on my way to my sisters and got on her computer and reported it right away. It was fixed very quick and I was able to update my account. 

SO BEWARE! 

people are out there that like to cause trouble for those of us minding our own business.

GRACE AND PEACE!

love this

I love it when my readings line up ... I am going to post in the order I studied this morning.

from God Calling:

Courage

I am here. Fear not. Can you really trust Me? 

I am a God of Power, as well as a Man of Love, so human, yet so divine. Just trust. I cannot, and will not, fail you. All is well. Courage. Many are praying for you both.

TRUST - COURAGE ... they work together, hand in hand. Knowing that God will bring me through everything -  like a warm cozy blanket. My bible reading also touched heavy on trusting that God can provide ...

The Widows Oil

The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves." 

Elisha replied to her, "How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?" 

"Your servant has nothing there at all," she said, "except a little oil."

Elisha said, "Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side." 

She left him and afterward shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her ans she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another one."

But her replied, "There is not a jar left." Then the oil stopped flowing.

She went and told the man of God, and he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left."  2 Kings 4:1-7

As I read the scripture this morning I was again reminded that God will take what you have and multiply it to meet your needs as well.  But how well are we able to contain all God has for us? Is my faith enough to embrace the big things God wants to do in my life?  

MY PRAYER: Lord, enlarge my heart to contain all You have for me. I ask for you to give me a big faith that will help me turn away from all doubt. Thank you Lord for the many ways you continue to fill my life. Build in me trust and courage to listen and obey your will for me. I look on expectantly to all that is yet to be revealed. AMEN!

GRACE AND PEACE!

big days

The past two days have been big - relating to volleyball. 

1: last night I had dinner with the 2009 seniors, the three returning varsity letter winners that are currently juniors - but for my purposes are seniors:) Aaron and I spent a few hours catching up with them and talking about the upcoming season ... their likes/dislikes, hopes and dreams. As Aaron noted, there is a strong level of trust. They did not hold back with their hopes for the season and were not afraid of me saying no or yes. It was good. I miss them, and I am so very thankful for the relationships that have developed over the last three years. I can remember each of them as freshmen  ... now they can all drive! I started having this special dinner 2 years ago with my first seniors that had been freshmen my first year - I really love this tradition. And that Aaron is a part of it:) 

2: My friend and former assistant coach had her little girl yesterday! This is a child of blessing. She thought there was NO chance she would ever have children. I am so excited for her ... I plan to visit Thursday or Friday - I can not wait to meet her:)

3: I had my first outside my school speaking engagement! I was asked by a local perish to speak at their end of season volleyball banquet. While it is very unlikely any of the players will go to NC, it is still exciting to see so many girls that enjoy playing volleyball! I was nervous about what I would talk about - and the Holy Spirit took over. I had been asked to talk about how volleyball/sport has impacted my life - what high school volleyball coached look for in players ... the door was very open. Last week I wrote down some thoughts and Ideas ... but today as I was driving the inspiration hit me - Volleyball is my Vehicle! So I shared how volleyball had taken me into different areas of my life - it surprised me that I had a story to share. And I felt good about it. The tables of girls and parents were great - they maintained excellent eye contact and the head nods were encouraging ... along with the thank you's at the end. So although the players are not likely to attend North Central - I hope they continue to play the sport, and say hi from across the net:) 

The last two days have been super full - and such a blessing to me. As I have been looking for some fire and passion in areas of my life, God showed up and brought to my mind all that the sport of volleyball has done  - and even how He has always been there, of course just part of His plan. What an amazing ministry volleyball has become. I pray that I can be intentional with showing the Love of Jesus Christ in my interactions because of volleyball. 

finally this morning from God Calling: 

Listen, listen, I am your Lord. Before me there is none other. Just trust ME in everything. Help is here all the time. The difficult way is nearly over, but you have learnt in it lessons you could learn in no other way. "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." Wrest from ME, by firm and simple trust and persistent prayer, the treasures of My Kingdom. Such wonderful things are coming to you, Joy - Peace - Assurance - Secure - Health - Happiness - Laughter. Claim big, really big, things now. Remember, nothing is too big. Satisfy the longing of My Heart to give. Blessing, abundant blessing, on you both now and always. Peace. 

GRACE AND PEACE!

some scripture

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever - do not abandon the works of your hands. Psalm 138:8

For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out and who can turn it back? Isaiah 14:27

Again, I face the day with a searching heart. I  have to confess I want it all figured out - I daily must submit myself to the unfolding of the Lords plan for me. There are a number of folds in this plan -  I actually picture  a patch work quilt. Something that all the pieces alone are confusing and make no sense. Only when they are sewn together do these pieces begin to make sense and create something whole. What I need to submit to, my quilt is not complete and that is hard. 

But like David, in the Psalm ... the Lord will fulfill his purpose - and he will not abandon me. (or you!) The plans the Lord has for me are good - I am working to be willing to hear his call and direction. I pray to have a willing heart to follow and walk faithfully in the manner he desires. 

Then looking at Isaiah - the promise that the Lord has already set about completing this plan ... NO ONE can throw him off.  

prayer: Lord, help me to be strong and obey you regardless of how much I may be enticed to do otherwise. I look on with expecting and joyful eyes at the beautiful quilt you are creating with my life. As your word declares, no eye has seen, no ear has heard, all that YOU can do. AMEN.

GRACE AND PEACE!

Ecclesiastes

This week I have been bit by the spring cleaning bug - so has Aaron. This is great. We have a new best friend - the label maker. We seem to accumulate a large amount of paper, we have stacks and stacks that come in the mail. Some things we can toss - others we need to keep. But until this week we have both been at a loss for the best way to keep those items. Aaron asked me to get a label maker earlier this week, so I did. It is so cool. The result, an organized filing system. All papers have been tossed or filed away. Our office room is becoming less and less cluttered. I have been taking books to 1/2 price books and selling them. (do not take more then one bag of books at a time ... I get the same price each time I drop off 1 bag or 2) Aaron has also acquired a number of books for ministry - I am considering the dewey decimal system ...? As we organize there is a feeling of control. I still have my beads to get under control - but that I am looking forward to. I also plan to work on organizing Jeremy's things. I need to decide what items to keep out and put away for safe keeping - that will still be easily accessible.
So what does Ecclesiastes have to do with this? One of the days this week I was listening to Francis Chan (wrote Crazy Love / pastor in Cali) I enjoy the messages he shares. He is bold in the word and speaks with the authority of God and never ending love of Jesus. Anyway ... in this particular message he read the entire book of Ecclesiastes - 12 chapters. He stopped between each with reflections and selected various people in the church to read.
This book was written by King Solomon, to all those searching for the meaning of life. A topic that over the past months I have wrestled with.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a tie for war and a time for peace. What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has placed on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil - this is the gift of God. I know everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him. Ecclesiastes 3:1-14

Once again, I am reminded that I do not need to unfold the meaning of life - how would that help me. The Lord already has a good and perfect plan - and TIME for everything. My little mind cannot even begin to understand or fathom what God has done. I am daily thankful for the continued developing relationship in Christ. Because of that relationship, I do not need to question - I must trust and walk in faith. Not always easy ... but I will never be perfect in this relationship - thank you Lord that you do not expect me to.
Lord, continue to surround me with your strength and love. I pray to be willing and obedient to your plan. In your sons name, Jesus. AMEN.

GRACE AND PEACE!

:)

It is Friday again, and looking over the week, it has been good. I am sure the anticipation of SPRING is a major influence on my outlook each day. Last Sunday the family gathered to create the grocery list for our trip to North Captive. Because we are going to an island, we get there by a boat - there will not be an opportunity to just spontaneously go to the store. Hard to begin to imagine all the food needed for 8 adults, and 6 kids (2 of which eat like adults!) What an adventure!

encouragement from Joel, even when the days are good ... it helps to know that HE is always working for us behind the scenes working for us - and he does amazing and wonderful things. 

There's Nothing too Hard for Him

Today's Scripture

"Is any thing too hard for the LORD?..." (Genesis 18:14, KJV).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

In Genesis, God promised Sarah that she was going to have a child. At first she didn’t believe it. She thought she was too old. She thought her time had passed. But do you know what God said to her? He simply asked, “Sarah, is there anything too hard for the Lord?” I believe God is saying the same thing to us today. “Is there anything too hard for Me?”

Do you think your dreams are too big for God to bring to pass? Do you think that a relationship is too far gone for God to restore it? Do you think you have to just live with sickness the rest of your life? Get a new vision today because there is nothing too hard for God! God is saying today, “I am all-powerful. I can turn any situation around.” It doesn’t matter what things look like in the natural, we serve a supernatural God. The Amplified version puts it this way, “Is there anything too wonderful for the Lord?” The next time you think, “That’s just too good to be true,” remember, God wants to bless you beyond your wildest dreams. Take the limits off and dare to believe that He has wonderful things in store for you!

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, I choose to trust You with my whole heart. I know there is nothing too hard for You. Help me to stand strong in faith and keep me close to You all the days of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

GRACE AND PEACE!

the Room

before you see the room ... check out Charlie "protecting" Jameson:) 

I have had a few requests to see what painting has been done for the twins. Last summer Sarah and I creating wall art (they are posted way back) for the girls room - and it will be hung in this room too .... right now the room is empty so you can see the walls. When the girls walked in they both exclaimed "I love it"