if you haven't heard about little Natalie please visit this website - her daddy is rob biaigi - we do many of his great songs in our children's ministry
http://www.nataliebiagi.com/Site/Welcome.html

i was looking at the current status of little Natalie and couldn't help but just really get all my insignificant issues in ck. we could all learn a valuable lesson from this little pumpkin.
I recently went to a friends daughters birthday party where the little girl asked to please not bring any gifts but instead make a donation to this hospital bill - WOW there are so many lessons to learn from such selflessness. Check out the website it will bring a smile to your face - yes maybe even a tear or two.
God Bless and remember your blessings for the are grand.

i forgot to hit send on this the other day

Good morning - I wasn't going to post this in fact I'm not exactly sure why God is prompting me to do so but I pray you will have an open heart.This morning feeling defeated which seems to be my battle lately and trust me I get it; I understand Gods purpose in refining. In fact it is an honor, but you know how it is every now and then we have one of those,' I'm going to throw in the towel moments' well this morning that was mine. Then I went to sit with my Jesus and this is what I got from Him.
Psalm 119:35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments. For I delight in it.

My child the path of duty is before you. It may look rugged, but it is the only way of divine blessing. Choose some other way, and you shall find only disappointment and frustration of soul. Weariness will overtake you on the smoothest road, if it is not the pathway of My ordained will. Be not deceived by doubts and be not detained by fear.Move into the center of My purpose for you. You will find glorious victories are waiting for you. and recompenses far exceeding every sacrifice.Be obedient: You will bring joy to My heart. Neither the applause nor the scorn of others should be of any consequence to you. My approval is reward enough, and without this, any other satisfaction is not worthy of your pursuit.Walk on with Me. I will be very near to give you support and encouragement, so you have nothing to warrant your fears. They will vanish as you obey.

I have a ringer

so saturday was aaron's first basketball game that he has ever officially played in - so we have been dealing with understanding having a heart of humility and i was just so positive that he wasn't going to be 1/2 as good as he wanted to be or even thought he could be and i really needed wisdom to not baby him and to let him sit with his disappointment - i was secretly happy inside that he was going to learn a very painful lesson - so there we were at this game and there is my son doing a layup - stealing the ball - making shots from everywhere - he has no special sweet spot - it's everywhere - all over the place - some how this boy can ball. Who knew?? let me go on record to officially say it is in his daddy's blood - this he did not get from me - when all was said and done i was so proud of him but mainly because he really seems to have a humble heart about it - so my lesson learned is ????????? yea not sure - just thought i'd post a little about this ringer in my family.

Make sure this day you spend it with our Lord getting to know who He is and not just for your own agenda - always remember God has an amazing agenda of His own if we would but just let Him do what only He can do.......

i was just reviewing my lesson from Esther Chapter 5 for tomorrow nights "k" group and this little thing stuck out to me that i had done before so i'll share -
Esther 5: 14
14 Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, "Have a gallow fifty cubits high made and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it; then go joyfully with the king to the banquet." And the advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.
Observations: who are we getting our counsel from? If it is not someone with God’s heart this is essentially what it will look like just like htis mess with Hamen and his friends and wife– my super hero friend and I have a little saying “ I’m cosigning your check” or the opposite we are not in agreement – so I’ll ask who is cosigning your check? Application: it all comes down to this people will either give us Godly wisdom that leads to righteousness or natural wisdom which is fuel to satans fire and the same for us to others – be careful what we say and be careful what advice we take. I must say that I am greatly blessed to have a core circle around me that will only have Gods heart in their counsel for me – they are not concerned with making me happy – for me that is a trusted valued friend given by the Lord

lyrics to my song right now - i am nothing - by jeremy camp

He seems always in this place, Where the things I seem to take, Are the things I wish would fade I always purpose in my heart, Well to do things the right way, Then I realize I'm still clay And this piece that's being shaped, Will be a beauty you create
[CHORUS]I am nothing without Your love I'm unworthy but Your death has been enough I'm completed by Your touch, But I feel like I've been given so much so I thank You,I thank You

I wouldn't even face, All the troubles of the day, If it wasn't for Your grace Sometimes I even wait, To see if I'm awake, Seems so good I can't relate And Your every word I crave, And I'm grateful for every breath I take

[CHORUS]

When I'm feeling all my shame, You won't let it stay, I sail away into Your love I'm taking every day, To give my life away, It's the only way I know I am nothing without Your love I'm unworthy but Your death has been enough I'm completed by Your touch, But I feel like I've been given so much I am nothing You are everything So I thank you. I thank you Lord I thank you I thank you.

A Rule that can not be broken

okay if you are reading this post - you are required to spend 15 min. reading the Bible - this rule can not be broken so get to it - there is something extraordinary waiting for you.

prejudice - this is painful

todays rant - try to keep up - so i would love to think of myself as absolutely not prejudice being in a color mixed family - then this morning as i was praying i got to thinking about all the subtle ways our enemy comes in to bring division in the church and it seems that prejudice is really at the top of his list. we see it in parenting styles - school verses homeschool - and wow then within the homeschooling world we are what i think the worst offenders as we all have very strong opinions of what is right in God's eyes - i've been on that roller coaster for awhile now and were my eyes every so opened this morning in Romans 15:5-6 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus. this is a powerful verse and when i asked myself "Lord how am I doing with this" - how are we as a church doing with this - how are we as a christian nation doing with this. - well no need for me to tell you because you all know the answer to these questions. - sure there is the biggest segregation of churches based on color but that's the obvious - we all know that and for some very sad reason we don't seem to care - why is that? why don't we care? - why are there so many ethnic churches that speak English - sure i understand when they are non English speaking but why when we speak English do we still separate ( the truth is i am very blessed to belong to a church that is colorblind) -but that is not the norm - but that's not what i'm talking about here - i'm talking about segregation of schooling choices - entertainment choices - Bible study choices - music choices - financial status - renters verses homeowners - thin verses heavy people - fashion choices - the list can go on and on each one just as much a painful reality as the next - gosh not sure why it's taken me so long to see this but then i remember who the master con man is and today i strip him away of his con that he has had on me and i pray that he has had on you. - if you think about it why in the world would the non-christian world want to be apart of us? - from their perspective they truly do look like the better side, more accepting side. - so now i'm wondering how are we really completely open to the work of the Holy Spirit if this is so much of our mindset - Ephesians 4:3 make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. - unity a little word we candy coat with and believe that we are living in until you really stop and think about the list above. - Thank you Jesus for opening my eyes today I repent and ask that you forgive my prejudice heart and I ask that you will help me to see you in your people and not the way i have been so deceived - AMEN