I love how the Word of God is "LIVING AND ACTIVE". It doesn't matter what you read if you allow God to open your eyes, ears , and heart, He will speak straight to your very situation. I always find it interesting that people will be going through many trials and consequences of their sins and they try to do so without any guidance from the Lord. O you'll hear them say, " I just wish God would tell me what to do" but then if asked if they are in the Word they himha around it and try to say, 'well sometimes'. Which actually means sure maybe a month or so ago. Really people how do you think God speaks His love, His heart, His correction, His guidance to you if not from His Word??? Yes I know prayer, but for argument sakes let me just state this. Are you really praying and fasting? Okay, back to the Word. I know there are a million and one perfectly good reasons why we all can not be in the Word daily - at least that's what I've been told over and over again by so many people who claim to desire a sanctified walk with Him yet well honestly I have never heard one reason that I can say, 'you're right, you get a pass'. I guess this is sounding way harsher then I intended but to anyone who may be out here reading this, the days are dark and there will be no getting back to good ol' days. We need God and Him alone. Crazy doctrine that tickles our ears are around every corner, just like the Word has warned us. IF WE DO NOT KNOW THE REAL DEAL WE WILL NOT KNOW THE COUNTERFEIT! If you are His, please guard yourselves. There is not one of us that is exempt from falling away. From being pulled into false teaching. Now if I can make one big giant praise to God in all of this it would be that we are finally living in a day that it is getting way easier to recognize the wheat from the tares. And for that I praise the Lord - I shout it from the mountain top "THANK YOU FAITHFUL LORD JESUS".
If you are trying to live your life in Jesus apart from His Word then please I say with the most love, encouragement, and exhortation. You can't, you are listening to the great deceiver, it will never work for you. Please make this right in your life before the enemy gets a bigger foothold in your life. To continue to walk just an inch of His path, you eventually will be as far away from Him as one who serves and worships the the enemy. Today is the day to make right with your Heavenly Father who chose the cross for you, in your place, who has a blessed life in Him for you, who has peace and grace abundance for you.
Deuteronomy 30:2-3 and when you and your children RETURN to the Lord your God and obey Him with all your hearts and with all your souls according to everything I have command you today then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather again from all the nations where He scattered you.
This my friends is a promise of restoration from the Lord. If we but return to Him with all our hearts and souls then He is faithful to restore. So let me ask you what is in need of restoration in your life today? Return to Him and do what he says in His Word and you WILL be restored.
One last little key thing. Repentance - then comes healing - then comes restoration. This is what the Word teaches. So today is the day to return to Him and repent!
may this day end for you in great victory, for he is faithful to do as He has said!!!
HE PROMISES!!!!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
gotta get back to my blog
so here's a post about a bunch of stuff - it'll sound like a bunch of rambling but I just wanted to get alot of this out there. besides if it didn't sound like rambeling you would wonder who took over this blog.
On the home front:
Bobby - he's good, working real good. praise the Lord he still has a job. everyday i am thankful that he has a job to go to. Now of course he is working WAY TO MANY HOURS. You know when one works over 60hrs a week the decent salary pay just doesn't seem so decent any more. But AGAIN I say thank you Jesus for Bobby's job! Now one crazy thing his company does is every 50,000 miles they give him another brand new car. good grief he has only had this one 2 1/2 years maybe less. it looks brand new and well in a few weeks there will be another new one in our drive way. But let's also say thank You Jesus for company cars. He is still busy in ministry: sports, men's , children's, worship, youth - yes he wears many hats. But he loves it that way. I honestly do not think I know anyone who loves to serve as much and with such excellance as my husband. you see we learned the secret many years ago - when you serve alot you get to see the Hand of God ALOT!!! now that's the good stuff. It's basketball season at church and this is what Bobby lovcs loves loves - the extra pound and extra years sure hasn't stopped this man from dunkin on the youngens. Him and Aaron are still playing alot of paintball. These 2 boys are crazy for this hobby.
Aaron - he is finishing up 6th grade this coming month. he is so excited to finally officially be upstairs in the youth group. Now he has been participating in that group over this past year alot; going street witnessing, youth camp, broom hockey, discipleship classes but he will be officially a Jr. higher in 1 month. he is growing so much he is aunt Tammy's size 5'1" and wears a size 9 shoe. I'm not ready for this!!!! My baby is gone and this monster crazy thing has taken his place. HHHEEELLLPPPP!!!!!! We are still homeschooling so guess what I TOO am excited that 6th grade is ending in 1 month. The summer will bring a couple of weeks for basketball camp, a week of youth camp, a trip to Montana, a trip to Arizona, a week of Youth Ministry outreach. 1st year serving in VBS and many trips to DLand, beach and prayerfully kisses for mom at the start of every day. WOW sounds exhausting to me - I think I'll stay home and read a book.
Geoffrey - he is great in need of a good bath but I'm waiting for his new shampoo from HSN to arrive. he really is such a gift to us. I love my Geoffrey!
Me - I'm doing the same thing as always, anything God will let me do. I'm learning alot from the Word these days. Still studying the life of Moses inductively. Should be finished with this study in about 2 months. Crazy to think it's been 2 years. Exodus / Numbers and now Deuteronomy. yea makes sense 2 years.
I'm crazy busy with VBS prep. LOVE IT!!! My Favorite time of year. Just finished recording the training DVD for all 15 new praise and worship songs. Great stuff this year. The choreography was real easy this year. Thank you Jesus!. Now the fun begins of teaching the 11 member worship team. 1st practice this Sunday. We will be posting the training DVD on You Tube this year so you can go check it out if you want. I'll let you know when that happens. we decided to do it this way this year because i now send the DVD's to 8 different churches so this just seemed to make sense. It's so great to see all that God is doing through His vision for worship at our church and to think that I get to be the part that i am just blesses my socks off. A little story about worship from this past Sunday. So I was teaching the kids Chris Tomlin's Exalted. when we did it with the music and of course if you know the song you know how powerful it is. This little girl 1st grade, is sitting on her knees, she stops doing the hand motions and she closes her eyes and lays her open hands palms up on her knees and sinks about 2 inches down, as if she exhaled . She just sat there and sang her heart heart out and praised our Lord. NOW THAT IS WHY I DO WHAT I DO. I began to cry and just with such a grateful heart that I get to see the fruit of ministry so fast. To watch a child connect with the Lord on that level that most adults wont ever allow themselves to do is such a great joy and blessing.
The house - well i'm hoping painting is on the horizon for the inside walls, carpet cleaned, and finish getting baseboards done.
That's been on my summer list for 3 years so who knows what will happen.
On the home front:
Bobby - he's good, working real good. praise the Lord he still has a job. everyday i am thankful that he has a job to go to. Now of course he is working WAY TO MANY HOURS. You know when one works over 60hrs a week the decent salary pay just doesn't seem so decent any more. But AGAIN I say thank you Jesus for Bobby's job! Now one crazy thing his company does is every 50,000 miles they give him another brand new car. good grief he has only had this one 2 1/2 years maybe less. it looks brand new and well in a few weeks there will be another new one in our drive way. But let's also say thank You Jesus for company cars. He is still busy in ministry: sports, men's , children's, worship, youth - yes he wears many hats. But he loves it that way. I honestly do not think I know anyone who loves to serve as much and with such excellance as my husband. you see we learned the secret many years ago - when you serve alot you get to see the Hand of God ALOT!!! now that's the good stuff. It's basketball season at church and this is what Bobby lovcs loves loves - the extra pound and extra years sure hasn't stopped this man from dunkin on the youngens. Him and Aaron are still playing alot of paintball. These 2 boys are crazy for this hobby.
Aaron - he is finishing up 6th grade this coming month. he is so excited to finally officially be upstairs in the youth group. Now he has been participating in that group over this past year alot; going street witnessing, youth camp, broom hockey, discipleship classes but he will be officially a Jr. higher in 1 month. he is growing so much he is aunt Tammy's size 5'1" and wears a size 9 shoe. I'm not ready for this!!!! My baby is gone and this monster crazy thing has taken his place. HHHEEELLLPPPP!!!!!! We are still homeschooling so guess what I TOO am excited that 6th grade is ending in 1 month. The summer will bring a couple of weeks for basketball camp, a week of youth camp, a trip to Montana, a trip to Arizona, a week of Youth Ministry outreach. 1st year serving in VBS and many trips to DLand, beach and prayerfully kisses for mom at the start of every day. WOW sounds exhausting to me - I think I'll stay home and read a book.
Geoffrey - he is great in need of a good bath but I'm waiting for his new shampoo from HSN to arrive. he really is such a gift to us. I love my Geoffrey!
Me - I'm doing the same thing as always, anything God will let me do. I'm learning alot from the Word these days. Still studying the life of Moses inductively. Should be finished with this study in about 2 months. Crazy to think it's been 2 years. Exodus / Numbers and now Deuteronomy. yea makes sense 2 years.
I'm crazy busy with VBS prep. LOVE IT!!! My Favorite time of year. Just finished recording the training DVD for all 15 new praise and worship songs. Great stuff this year. The choreography was real easy this year. Thank you Jesus!. Now the fun begins of teaching the 11 member worship team. 1st practice this Sunday. We will be posting the training DVD on You Tube this year so you can go check it out if you want. I'll let you know when that happens. we decided to do it this way this year because i now send the DVD's to 8 different churches so this just seemed to make sense. It's so great to see all that God is doing through His vision for worship at our church and to think that I get to be the part that i am just blesses my socks off. A little story about worship from this past Sunday. So I was teaching the kids Chris Tomlin's Exalted. when we did it with the music and of course if you know the song you know how powerful it is. This little girl 1st grade, is sitting on her knees, she stops doing the hand motions and she closes her eyes and lays her open hands palms up on her knees and sinks about 2 inches down, as if she exhaled . She just sat there and sang her heart heart out and praised our Lord. NOW THAT IS WHY I DO WHAT I DO. I began to cry and just with such a grateful heart that I get to see the fruit of ministry so fast. To watch a child connect with the Lord on that level that most adults wont ever allow themselves to do is such a great joy and blessing.
The house - well i'm hoping painting is on the horizon for the inside walls, carpet cleaned, and finish getting baseboards done.
That's been on my summer list for 3 years so who knows what will happen.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
When Others Fail Us - Charles F. Stanley
Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:9-18
I. Introduction: Friendship brings us some of the greatest joys in life—but also can cause immense pain. If you haven’t experienced rejection or betrayal yet, you probably will someday. The apostle Paul learned to forgive others for their failures and reconcile with them when appropriate. Let’s discover how he dealt with betrayal and abandonment by trusted friends.
II. Friends Sometimes Fail Us
A. Despite Paul’s faithfulness to the Lord, his friends failed him. They weren’t reliable when he desperately needed them (2 Tim. 1:15; 4:14-16).
B. What are some reasons why friends might desert you in times of trouble? They . . .
1. Feel inadequate and/or unsure of how to help.
2. Don’t want to be identified with you in a conflict, for fear they could end up on the losing side.
3. Are jealous and hope to see you fail.
4. Selfishly don’t want to sacrifice their time to support you.
5. Judge you and thus excuse themselves from the responsibility to help you.
III. Forgiveness Must Prevail
A. Paul responded to betrayal and abandonment with forgiveness: “At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them” (2 Tim. 4:16, emphasis added). Both Jesus and Stephen said something similar in the final moments of their lives (Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60).
B. Paul practiced what he preached—the importance of forgiving. Don’t be a fair-weather friend, interested only in what you can get from another person. Be willing to help even those who mistreated you in the past. Waiting for a chance to get them back—to let them down as they did to you—indicates that you have an unforgiving spirit.
IV. The Presence of the Lord Sustains Us
A. Paul was able to forgive because he knew that God would never leave him: “The Lord stood with me” (2 Tim. 4:17). Although Paul’s friends all left, he knew that the Lord Himself was with him. Christ promises all believers, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you” (Heb. 13:5).
B. The apostle was able to forgive because he trusted God to empower him: “The Lord . . . strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear” (2 Tim. 4:17). Paul could rely on the presence of God to accomplish his calling—taking the gospel to the world (Phil. 2:13). Chances are, people will persecute you, and some of your friends will abandon you in tough times. But God has promised that all adversity will eventually come to an end (1 Peter 5:10).
C. He was able to forgive because he was confident that God would deliver him: “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom” (2 Tim. 4:18). The Father may deliver us from hardship or through it (Isaiah 43:1-4). He also rescues us by bringing us home to be with Him. God delivered Paul by allowing Nero to execute him. Four years later, the ruler committed suicide. No one can violate the principles of God and avoid His judgment.
V. Conclusion: What kind of friend are you? Are you dedicated to those you love? Or do you often disappoint them? Perhaps you are faithful, but your friends consistently fail you when trouble comes. I urge you not to hold it against them. Hurt and rejection are painful but unavoidable parts of life. Healing is always available if you are willing to forgive. And you and I can take comfort in knowing that the most faithful Friend—the Lord Jesus—never leaves our side, even if everyone else deserts us
Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:9-18
I. Introduction: Friendship brings us some of the greatest joys in life—but also can cause immense pain. If you haven’t experienced rejection or betrayal yet, you probably will someday. The apostle Paul learned to forgive others for their failures and reconcile with them when appropriate. Let’s discover how he dealt with betrayal and abandonment by trusted friends.
II. Friends Sometimes Fail Us
A. Despite Paul’s faithfulness to the Lord, his friends failed him. They weren’t reliable when he desperately needed them (2 Tim. 1:15; 4:14-16).
B. What are some reasons why friends might desert you in times of trouble? They . . .
1. Feel inadequate and/or unsure of how to help.
2. Don’t want to be identified with you in a conflict, for fear they could end up on the losing side.
3. Are jealous and hope to see you fail.
4. Selfishly don’t want to sacrifice their time to support you.
5. Judge you and thus excuse themselves from the responsibility to help you.
III. Forgiveness Must Prevail
A. Paul responded to betrayal and abandonment with forgiveness: “At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them” (2 Tim. 4:16, emphasis added). Both Jesus and Stephen said something similar in the final moments of their lives (Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60).
B. Paul practiced what he preached—the importance of forgiving. Don’t be a fair-weather friend, interested only in what you can get from another person. Be willing to help even those who mistreated you in the past. Waiting for a chance to get them back—to let them down as they did to you—indicates that you have an unforgiving spirit.
IV. The Presence of the Lord Sustains Us
A. Paul was able to forgive because he knew that God would never leave him: “The Lord stood with me” (2 Tim. 4:17). Although Paul’s friends all left, he knew that the Lord Himself was with him. Christ promises all believers, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you” (Heb. 13:5).
B. The apostle was able to forgive because he trusted God to empower him: “The Lord . . . strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear” (2 Tim. 4:17). Paul could rely on the presence of God to accomplish his calling—taking the gospel to the world (Phil. 2:13). Chances are, people will persecute you, and some of your friends will abandon you in tough times. But God has promised that all adversity will eventually come to an end (1 Peter 5:10).
C. He was able to forgive because he was confident that God would deliver him: “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom” (2 Tim. 4:18). The Father may deliver us from hardship or through it (Isaiah 43:1-4). He also rescues us by bringing us home to be with Him. God delivered Paul by allowing Nero to execute him. Four years later, the ruler committed suicide. No one can violate the principles of God and avoid His judgment.
V. Conclusion: What kind of friend are you? Are you dedicated to those you love? Or do you often disappoint them? Perhaps you are faithful, but your friends consistently fail you when trouble comes. I urge you not to hold it against them. Hurt and rejection are painful but unavoidable parts of life. Healing is always available if you are willing to forgive. And you and I can take comfort in knowing that the most faithful Friend—the Lord Jesus—never leaves our side, even if everyone else deserts us
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Found a TREASURE!!!
There was a Pastors Conference out in Tuscon Arizona this past Mon-Wed. Some of my favorite pulpit boyfriends were there teaching. I was so thrilled to see that i can watch and or listen to them all online. SO I HAVE!!!!! WOW there really isn't enough adjectives to describe what a powerful life changing tool these are. The 2 that have impacted me the most so far are James McDonald and Damien Kyle. I hope you check them out.
http://www.calvarytucson.com/listen.asp?id=21
always remember
Keep chasing righteousness!!!
http://www.calvarytucson.com/listen.asp?id=21
always remember
Keep chasing righteousness!!!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
do we really chose Him
to say YES means we say YES to HIS WAYS and trust HIS WAYS. Even when it's messy and goes against everything that makes sense in our heads.
What if He takes things away that we hold close?
What if He needs us to leave?
What if He needs us to stay put and love with humility?
What if He needs us to suffer great pain?
What if He needs us to give up our place of comfort?
What if He needs us to lose our Home?
What if he needs us to lose our jobs?
What if through all of it He promises to pour His peace, strength, and love on use daily.
DO WE STILL CHOSE HIM?
What if He takes things away that we hold close?
What if He needs us to leave?
What if He needs us to stay put and love with humility?
What if He needs us to suffer great pain?
What if He needs us to give up our place of comfort?
What if He needs us to lose our Home?
What if he needs us to lose our jobs?
What if through all of it He promises to pour His peace, strength, and love on use daily.
DO WE STILL CHOSE HIM?
Monday, March 1, 2010
Just Missin Her
Don't be mad
If I cry
It just hurts so bad, sometimes
'Cause everyday it's sinking in
And I have to say goodbye all over again
You know I bet it feels good to have the weight of this world off your shoulders now
I'm dreaming of the day when I'm finally there with you
(Chorus)
Save a place for me
Save a place for me
I'll be there soon
I'll be there soon
Save a place for me
Save some grace for me
I'll be there soon
I'll be there soon
I have asked the questions why
But I guess the answers for another time
So instead I pray, with every tear
And be thankful for the time I had you here
(Chorus)
I wanna live my life Just like you did
Make the most of my time Just like you did
And I want to make my home up in the sky Just like you did
Oh, but until I get there...
Until I get there...
(Chorus)
Saturday, February 27, 2010
VBS ~ already
WOW here it is that time when i kick it into fast drive and start plannin' worship for VBS. Sure it's not until July but shoot do you have any idea how much time it takes to plan one of these things. Ok it sounds like I'm complaining NO WAY!!! this is what I love. Find songs, 16 new songs - learn 16 new songs - choreograph 16 new songs - make training DVD for 16 new songs - teach 16 new songs to a worship team, 10 - 12 people. Then it will be here, the craziest, no sleeping most exciting week ever - VBS. Lord give me 16 new awesome songs: songs that will minister to every person in that Gym from the little 4yr. old to the oldest 75 year old. May we be a sweet sweet sound in Your ear. Here is what I'm playing with right now, does anyone have any to add to this list:
Never Will - by Tim Timmons
With All Of My Heart - by Stand In Awe
You Are the One - by Lincoln Brewster
Joyful Sound - by Scarlet Hope
Big House - Audio Adrenalin
Sing Sing Sing - Chris Tomlin
With All Of My Heart - by Stand In Awe
You Are the One - by Lincoln Brewster
Joyful Sound - by Scarlet Hope
Big House - Audio Adrenalin
Sing Sing Sing - Chris Tomlin
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
I want that Mountian!
I wonder if Caleb knew what that mountain would hold for him. Did he just see the biggest one and desired to bring glory to God by wanting what seemed the most impossible without the empowerment of God. Sure he remembered the promise of God to have it but here was this mountain full of enemy, full of what would seem everything most difficult and all Caleb can do is stand on the promise of God and desire with his whole heart that mountain. Change is good - painful, sad, and lonely but when it means to be able to bring glory to God then change is perfect, sweet and full of peace.
Where is my ginormous mountain? I want it!
Where is my ginormous mountain? I want it!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
#200
OK this snuck up way to fast but what in the world could i do for my #200 blog post???? So I know you're praying that I won't do something crazy like list 200 _ _ _ _ _ (fill in the blank) well I wont because quite frankly I can't even begin to think what I would put in that blank. So let's just bless everyone and say a hip hip hooray I actually have made it to 200 post. See I do know how to be sweet and simply.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Guess what I got for Valentines?
When Donna passed, I prayed for almost a year that I would have a dream to see her face again. How I longed to look in those eyes and see that smile again. But, no that would never be my dream. I eventually decided to just let it go, trusting my Jesus that he knew best as He has with everything else, so I let that desire go and moved on from those thoughts. But how very odd that I never dreamt of her. Along with those days I often regretted time that I could have spent with her that I chose not to out of pure laziness. Lord was I wrong in not taking every single moment I could have ever spent with her???
So this morning at 3:45am I awoke from the best gift I could have gotten on this Valentine's Day. Dreaming that Donna came back from heaven and we were hanging out in her house like we used to. It was a normal day. When I woke up I was so full of love and thankfulness. The thing that struck me most was that I wasn't doting over her, it was just normal how we always were before. What this gave my heart was no more regrets of if I never spent enough time with her. I felt like the Lord was telling me -' no Susan it was as it should have been and having her back the 2 of you would fall right back into the same perfect way'.
So this day I am thankful that I have finally had a dream about Donna just hanging, laughing, talking, just sitting with her - just being who we always were.
So this morning at 3:45am I awoke from the best gift I could have gotten on this Valentine's Day. Dreaming that Donna came back from heaven and we were hanging out in her house like we used to. It was a normal day. When I woke up I was so full of love and thankfulness. The thing that struck me most was that I wasn't doting over her, it was just normal how we always were before. What this gave my heart was no more regrets of if I never spent enough time with her. I felt like the Lord was telling me -' no Susan it was as it should have been and having her back the 2 of you would fall right back into the same perfect way'.
So this day I am thankful that I have finally had a dream about Donna just hanging, laughing, talking, just sitting with her - just being who we always were.
So thank you Jesus for my Valentine's gift.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
So how was the rest of the RETREAT
Our Leader's retreat was so amazing. This year more then ever it seemed as if God did so many different layers of hard work in the lives of so many of us. For me retreat started back in August as I began to make certain commitments to the Lord as to how I would pray and what I would be willing to do leading up to and at retreat. This was the first year that I started a prayer journal that I was committed to writing and although I regrettably did not write every prayer I did manage to write appox. 600 7 1/2 by 10 1/2 pages of prayers / thoughts over a period slightly over 5 months. This morning looking over this journal and reading so many prayers and the constant theme of "Lord whatever it takes may we be yielded to the process of consecration so that our hearts will be pliable ready to receive all that You want and need for us" "may we learn love for one another as this process gets messy, offensive, and often fighting mad" " give us Your strength to exercise love, grace, compassion and mercy living in an understanding way with one another". WOW what was I thinking praying those crazy difficult prayers - lol
The week before retreat I was so super blessed to be ask of God to head up a prayer and fast vigil for our leadership team for the process of praying for our retreat / ministry and each leader and the spiritual needs of all of us. This was such a great work of God. We started the night 18 strong ( way more then I could have ever believed would come) and ended the next day 8 strong. It's hard for me to write about that time of praying all through the night with a group of ladies but I am sure your mind can fill in the blanks. The thing I took away from that night was freedom - for me in ways I never knew I wasn't living in freedom with. Cleansing - healing and a strengthening of my ability to Believe that He is more then able!!! I had to just lift my hands to the Lord and smile saying " of course there's 8 of us standing - this is a new season for our ministry. ( 8 - the number of new beginnings) I love how God loves to work in the details - that is often where I hear His voice the clearest. Well this laid a solid foundation for us getting ready to go the following week up to that mountain, in that house, with 24 women ready to seek God with all their hearts, souls, minds, and strength.
So retreat came and we worshipped, gurlll did we worship - I'm sure Lori must have known putting me in charge of worship what that could potentially look like. O how I love to worship. And guess what I had a giant answer to prayer - I was able to let myself go and have freedom in worship. It's a crazy prideful thing but in a group of people I get so caught up in my inabilities that I never let go and let God, well not this weekend - it was me and my Jesus lovin each other up. Do you have any idea how loud one can sing "Jesus Lover oF My Soul" ? - lol LOUD!!!!!
Okay let's sum this up - how was retreat?
The Word - came forth in Power and with great conviction challenging us to make the final choice either "Yes Lord I will obey' or " No Lord I chose DISOBEDIENCE" so which camp each heart is on remains to be seen but shoot I'm way to terrified to not chose obedience.
Thank you Lori for being willing to go to the hard places of truth with us.
Prayer - much needed and a lot really alot of praying
Worship - now I'm super partial but this was good worship - I only regret that I didn't add more. Not sure anyone else holds that truth but i do (lol)
Praise - we are growing in this - WOW what a year we could have if we allow this work to grow in our lives.
Discussion Time - this was a great new addition to our retreat. To sit after the teachings and reflect on what we heard / felt and questioned. This for sure gave us insight into what is going on in all of our heads.
Fellowship - good solid times: long over due apologies / difficult conversations that needed to happen for walls to be torn down / funny stories / sad stories / many nails to be painted / catching up with friends that we barely get a chance to really talk with at church / sitting in silence just holding each other / things happening in bedrooms with one another that well guys think they only hold those things sacred (tee-hee) / stories stories and more stories that knit us closer together / friends running away to the loft to let God do the needed work to take the friendship to the next God level. So much good stuff
Food - I'm not at liberty to disclose anything in this category for fear of being accused of gluttony :0D but when you get this many women together and so many of us love to cook well you can imagine - like I said sinful gluttony!!! :0D
Weather - sunshine/fog, sunshine/rain, sunshine/snow, sunshine/hail - we had it all and it was all beautiful. Even the foundational leak that got me wet had it's purpose. Funny thing there, so I'm standing in my socks praising God and all of the sudden my socks are soaking wet - literally that much water. When it first started happening I thought Lord what is going on my feet feel wet, what does this mean - DUH !!!! It meant my stinkin feet were wet. shoot you know me I'm always lookin for a spiritual picture. It was pretty funny though. So 4 blankets, 20 towels, 10 sheets later that small little area where I stood finally was dry enough for me to stand once again in socks.
O by the way our retreat was
The week before retreat I was so super blessed to be ask of God to head up a prayer and fast vigil for our leadership team for the process of praying for our retreat / ministry and each leader and the spiritual needs of all of us. This was such a great work of God. We started the night 18 strong ( way more then I could have ever believed would come) and ended the next day 8 strong. It's hard for me to write about that time of praying all through the night with a group of ladies but I am sure your mind can fill in the blanks. The thing I took away from that night was freedom - for me in ways I never knew I wasn't living in freedom with. Cleansing - healing and a strengthening of my ability to Believe that He is more then able!!! I had to just lift my hands to the Lord and smile saying " of course there's 8 of us standing - this is a new season for our ministry. ( 8 - the number of new beginnings) I love how God loves to work in the details - that is often where I hear His voice the clearest. Well this laid a solid foundation for us getting ready to go the following week up to that mountain, in that house, with 24 women ready to seek God with all their hearts, souls, minds, and strength.
So retreat came and we worshipped, gurlll did we worship - I'm sure Lori must have known putting me in charge of worship what that could potentially look like. O how I love to worship. And guess what I had a giant answer to prayer - I was able to let myself go and have freedom in worship. It's a crazy prideful thing but in a group of people I get so caught up in my inabilities that I never let go and let God, well not this weekend - it was me and my Jesus lovin each other up. Do you have any idea how loud one can sing "Jesus Lover oF My Soul" ? - lol LOUD!!!!!
Okay let's sum this up - how was retreat?
The Word - came forth in Power and with great conviction challenging us to make the final choice either "Yes Lord I will obey' or " No Lord I chose DISOBEDIENCE" so which camp each heart is on remains to be seen but shoot I'm way to terrified to not chose obedience.
Thank you Lori for being willing to go to the hard places of truth with us.
Prayer - much needed and a lot really alot of praying
Worship - now I'm super partial but this was good worship - I only regret that I didn't add more. Not sure anyone else holds that truth but i do (lol)
Praise - we are growing in this - WOW what a year we could have if we allow this work to grow in our lives.
Discussion Time - this was a great new addition to our retreat. To sit after the teachings and reflect on what we heard / felt and questioned. This for sure gave us insight into what is going on in all of our heads.
Fellowship - good solid times: long over due apologies / difficult conversations that needed to happen for walls to be torn down / funny stories / sad stories / many nails to be painted / catching up with friends that we barely get a chance to really talk with at church / sitting in silence just holding each other / things happening in bedrooms with one another that well guys think they only hold those things sacred (tee-hee) / stories stories and more stories that knit us closer together / friends running away to the loft to let God do the needed work to take the friendship to the next God level. So much good stuff
Food - I'm not at liberty to disclose anything in this category for fear of being accused of gluttony :0D but when you get this many women together and so many of us love to cook well you can imagine - like I said sinful gluttony!!! :0D
Weather - sunshine/fog, sunshine/rain, sunshine/snow, sunshine/hail - we had it all and it was all beautiful. Even the foundational leak that got me wet had it's purpose. Funny thing there, so I'm standing in my socks praising God and all of the sudden my socks are soaking wet - literally that much water. When it first started happening I thought Lord what is going on my feet feel wet, what does this mean - DUH !!!! It meant my stinkin feet were wet. shoot you know me I'm always lookin for a spiritual picture. It was pretty funny though. So 4 blankets, 20 towels, 10 sheets later that small little area where I stood finally was dry enough for me to stand once again in socks.
O by the way our retreat was
Devoted - Mark 12:20 Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
We have been greatly challenged in this verse and we come home with lots of homework. May this time next year each one of use point to this retreat as the crossroads that we picked His road. Hard YES regreats NO worth it YES!!!!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Going into retreat I had shared with Lori that I knew I was going to get the word obey or yield. It just seemed like in all my conversations and in all my studies that those were the resounding ideas. I hadn’t been ready to let go of my last year’s word “BELIEVE” and get a new one. I was actually a bit sad, because God had tested me so much in that word over the year and I felt like I was just beginning to live in a place of victory in it. So when it came time to receive the new word I had to really take a moment to pray and tell the Lord that ‘yes I was ready and could receive it in faith that He had a good work for me in the new word”. Looking at these pretty little red bags, which one Lord do I grab? I took the one closest to me. Unzipping it revealed the word YIELD. My heart was beating so hard, it was this complete sense of thank you Jesus, You told me this and yes I heard. Do what you need and want Lord. Sharing my word with many of my friends it became comical because of course that’s what I got.I choose not to do the study time for my word during the designated time. I just wasn’t ready yet. So come Sunday morning I sat down in a very quiet private living room to look at my first verse for YIELD. There it was Joshua 24:23. Now what you need to know is that Joshua is my current Bible boyfriend. In ‘k’ group we are inductively studying the life of Moses but ever since the beginning when Joshua is mentioned in any small verse I am drawn to him, what he is doing, what he is not doing and am desiring to acquire his character. So here I was with my new word ( that God had already prepared me to get) and looking at my first verse (in the book about my Bible boyfriend). How could I not believe that God was showing me something solid to start my year off on His path.
Joshua 24:23 "Now then," said Joshua, "throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel."
Great verse but as I sat there and thought Lord what are my foreign gods? Nothing came to mind. Well I’m not one to be deceived by my self in thinking that I’m doing great. So I sat there and told the Lord I wouldn’t move on to the next verse until I could dig through my deceptive heart and hear truth from Him, in what my foreign gods were. I decided to read the verse in context. And of course guess what was the ending verse of that - - obey. The other word I thought I might get. So now I knew God was trying to reveal something to me just in case my flesh or the enemy wanted to deceive me. Good grief how could I not see His fingerprints all over this. I sat there for awhile and still nothing. By this time there were the kitchen girls up getting coffee / breakfast started. Joanne, Mary, Becky, and Nidia. I knew what I should do, humble myself enough to go to them and ask them if they would please be willing to share honestly with me what they thought my foreign gods are. Yes I know CRAZY-COO COO. Who does that??? I'll blame it on sleep deprivation ;0D
Well Joanne piped in right away (this girl loves me so I know anything she says comes from a pure heart of love towards me). She looked at me and said,” your expectations of people” uuhhgggg – the rest of her words are a blur because as the words came out of her mouth I knew exactly what she was saying. OUCH this hurt so much but I knew she was right. Then Becky came over and sat at the table with me. Now Becky is someone I am barely getting to know. She sat there and shared with me that she sees in me a mom that has expectations on her son that is driving him to become a bitter angry person. She didn't say it that matter of fact but that was the bottom line. “O God rescue me from this conversation – I’m dying here” As we sat there and talked I could see the wisdom in what was being said. Now I knew that everything that God was preparing me for over the past very long time, was for this moment. This was MY RETREAT moment. The faithful God in Heaven who loves me with that perfect relentless love had prepared me for this truth. A few things flooded my mind: In the months leading up to the Prayer / Fast vigil that I organized, the main thing God asked of me was to not have any expectations on who I thought "should" be there. For months I was tested over and over again, but I can stand with honest words saying that I did it, I made it to the very end not assuming who should be there – I chose to barely have any conversations with people except that which was necessary. In fact walking in that was a lesson in love that I could have never understood not walking it the way I did. The other thought was how I had handled things at home with Aaron ( school ), for the last 2 weeks, I had made the decision to make school simple. We did 2 subjects a day. I did this for selfish reasons, not wanting the 3-6 hour fighting battle that I deal with on a daily basis. With the prayer / fast vigil and then retreat I needed to have a different focus ( so I thought that was the only reason I was doing it) Well what came out of that was a kid that was excited about getting his work done, a light-heartedness in him that I never saw with school. Aaron saw that he could do it! I saw a glimpse of a child I pray constantly that I would have. So you see when these 2 women spoke these difficult truths to me I was well prepared by the Lord to receive them. So now here I am beginning my year (Leaders Retreat always marks the beginning of my new spiritual year) with a solid truth from God as to the road He is taking me on. I am both thankful and scuuurrreeed!!!!. But in both I BELIEVE He is in it, He will walk with me through it all, and that somewhere along this year I will become a yielded heart to my Jesus.
So in closing to all of you that I have ever not loved purely because I put expectations on you. If I have ever hurt or offended you please forgive me. Never my intention EVER. I don’t get all of this yet I only have this first step of obedience that I need to walk. I know that as I take this step God will bring clarity to my mind and show me the next step. Please be patient with me.
Thank you Becky and Joanne for loving me enough to be boldly honest!
Thank You Jesus for loving correction - I love You and feel Your love right back to me
Monday, February 1, 2010
Happy Birthday Bobby
Yesterday was Bobby's birthday. What a kick in the pants time we had with some friends at the House of Blues Gospel Brunch. Awesome food - crazy fun music and super friends. We had a blast. They took Bobby up on stage and he danced his hiney off - well sort of lol !!! it was so much fun. Now that's how you celebrate a Birthday - hint hint hint hint!!!!!!
By the way did you know you can sing "Jesus" for about 10 minutes and its AWESOME!!!! - I just kept thinking Danette should have been there, she would have been lovin' that up.
Happy Birthday Honey
16 years with Jesus
42 years on this earth
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
It's Gonna Be Worth It
so I just finished reading my friends blog post of her Thank you letter to Jesus for 2009. She has had a very difficult year with her health. As I read that post all I could hear was this song playing in my head. I thought I'd post the words here as we all could probably use a good reminder this day. If you don't know the song go listen to it and allow the words to become your true hearts cry.
Worth It All - Rita Springer
I don't understand Your ways
Oh but I will give You my song
Give You all of my praise
You hold on to all my pain
With it You are pulling me closer
And pulling me into Your ways
Now around every corner
And up every mountain
I'm not looking for crowns
Or the water from fountains
I'm desperate in seeking, frantic believing
That the sight of Your face
Is all that I need
I will say to You
It's gonna be worth it
It's gonna be worth it
It's gonna be worth it all
I believe this
It's gonna be worth it
It's gonna be worth it
It's gonna be worth it all
I believe this
You're gonna be worth it
You're gonna be worth it
You're gonna be worth it all
I believe this
You're gonna be worth it
You're gonna be worth it
You're gonna be worth it all
I believe this
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
pass this website on
If you have a High School or collage age student have them ck out this website. Some of the kids at church started it . It's amazing and so worth getting kids across America on this journey with them.
http://liveitoutnow.com/
Vision
We pray that our generation will be the generation that stands steadfastly for Jesus Christ.That doesn’t conform or compromise to this world, but instead transformed through the Word of God.May we not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.Oh God, let us be a generation that is after your own heart.All praise, honor and glory to God and God alone. Amen.
http://liveitoutnow.com/
Vision
We pray that our generation will be the generation that stands steadfastly for Jesus Christ.That doesn’t conform or compromise to this world, but instead transformed through the Word of God.May we not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.Oh God, let us be a generation that is after your own heart.All praise, honor and glory to God and God alone. Amen.
Monday, January 25, 2010
It's all about LOVE
So this morning I was actually going to write about love and what God has been showing me, correcting in me, and requiring in. Then I went to my inbox and found this little devotion and well I figured shoot why overly vomit all the info I was gonna say when this sums it up in a perfect little box.
Building Each Other Up by Nancy Leigh DeMoss:
The apostle Paul wrote the book of 1 Corinthians to a group of believers who were dividing into factions and fighting with one another. He addressed their problems by writing about love. Throughout 1 Corinthians you’ll discover things we can avoid from their example.
For instance, in a community where there’s love, we’ll build each other up. We’ll limit our own personal freedoms if it edifies others. Even if something is scripturally permissible, we won’t do it if it causes someone to stumble in their walk with God. That's the way of love.
If we're walking in the way of love, we’ll yield rather than claim our rights. We'll even be willing to suffer for the sake of the gospel.
Are you walking in the way of love? Are you demonstrating the beauty of God’s love in your church?
Building Each Other Up by Nancy Leigh DeMoss:
The apostle Paul wrote the book of 1 Corinthians to a group of believers who were dividing into factions and fighting with one another. He addressed their problems by writing about love. Throughout 1 Corinthians you’ll discover things we can avoid from their example.
For instance, in a community where there’s love, we’ll build each other up. We’ll limit our own personal freedoms if it edifies others. Even if something is scripturally permissible, we won’t do it if it causes someone to stumble in their walk with God. That's the way of love.
If we're walking in the way of love, we’ll yield rather than claim our rights. We'll even be willing to suffer for the sake of the gospel.
Are you walking in the way of love? Are you demonstrating the beauty of God’s love in your church?
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Larry - thanks for the memories
Our last visit with the ol' wise LarrySo to all the people who loved the Lar Bear - Sorry for your lose - we're sad too over here at the Richardson home.
Thanks Steph and Kevin for allowing us to care for him. xoxoxo
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Christmas time at the Richardsons
Happy Birthday Jesus!!!
Brownie cake decorated by Aaron
Brownie cake decorated by Aaron
Grandpa John and Grandma Di made a special appearance.
Auntie Karen and Uncle Osmel crashed us too - What a sweet treat to have them here with us.
Skate wheels - talk about an expensive stocking stuffer.
Tradition - but this just might be the last year Uncle Brian's back can handle Aaron
ZUU ZUU or is it GOO GOO pets I don't know it's just some hamster city for a bunch of little mechanical rodents. Hannie seemed to love it though so who am I so say anything
Hannie and Aaron it's fun to be with cousins - Ipods and Cell Phones - good grief they grow up fast - what happen to the Buzz and Elmos?
Bobby's impersonation of Tyson ( not the model the fighter)
These 2 are a MESS!!!!!!
Uncle Bobby and Hannie - now that's a super sweet picture
O My - who would have thought the ears would have been such a big hit. So thankful to have spent this Christmas with family and friends. So very blessed we are.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
just a few pix from our Leaders Christmas dinner
All of the RED HEADS - actually it wasn't intended that way but when I saw this picture I had to laugh at all the shades of red.
joannie and steph - where are you lookin' girl?
here we are bookends - i think its very Adams Familyish
becky lou who and the other susan
melody and jennifer - and she thinks she's moving in the summer - NOT
Nidia and Joannie - good grief women why won't you look at me?
and to think they take care of the office YIKES!!!!
now that's better
I'll leave this blank and let you all comment on this ones title - o plz don't disappoint
Joannie and Rochelle - Joanne over here girl right in front of you HELLO!!!!!!
Stephanie and I - yes there's more then 1 Stephanie 3 actually and then there's 4 Jennifers and 2 Susans - aaaggghhhhh can't keep it all straight
Lea and Lori - now aren't they just cute as buttons
What do you see it O My Goodness I think she actually is looking straight on. Good job Joannie!!!
Susan ( the other one) and Stephanie
looks like a stand off to me - YIKES!!!!!!
Fun Friends at the Matthew West Concert
It's gotta be the age because these 3 just WELL you'll see. They crack me up!!
this is a perfectly see no evil, hear no evil, speck no evil - hahahah
this is a perfectly see no evil, hear no evil, speck no evil - hahahah
posers!!!!!
now these boys know how to pose!!!!
the peanut gallery!!!
great night - fantastic music - very timely message on the love of Jesus and why not to be striving to be better - lots of laughter - just all around perfect fellowship!!! Thank you Lori for the tickets we were blessed to go.
Broncos defeat in the Richardson household
The boys take it to the table to get out all that aggression after a good Bronco spankin. I think they really were trying to kill one another. No mercy on the table in this house. I snapped a few pixs and went to watch HSN. Somehow I just didn't feel the frustration these two did. :0D
Dec 10th Aaron's 12th BDay!!!
I can't believe he's 12. Where is that little yummie boy of mine. Somehow I have this quickly growing pre-teen "thing" living in my house :0) Here are some pix from his day. He so hates his picture taken and well the fact that we got any of these is a small miracle for sure.
The gang that hung at Dland for the day getting ready to eat dinner. No it's not a date it's his 16yr. old DLand chaperon believe it or not. Poor thing she'll always look 10.
Bday morning - that's a poptart in his mouth not a muzzle but that's a fantastic idea as well.
Chris Cole Thunder trucks ( skateboard) - his 2nd fav gift. His cell phone was his very fav.
Sending the boys off into DLand for the day. Okay so yes I cryed as I walked away. When did he get so big? 
Aaron and his friend hangin at NORMS for a late night BDay dinner - these 2 have known each other their whole lives. I should post the pix I have of them in their diapers I'm sure they would really appreciate that. Beautiful boys, beautiful friends, even when we as moms want to ship them off to Dobson til their 18.
If he's gonna pose like that I am so gonna post it!!! DUDE!!
The gang that hung at Dland for the day getting ready to eat dinner. No it's not a date it's his 16yr. old DLand chaperon believe it or not. Poor thing she'll always look 10.
Bday morning - that's a poptart in his mouth not a muzzle but that's a fantastic idea as well.Chris Cole Thunder trucks ( skateboard) - his 2nd fav gift. His cell phone was his very fav. Yes I am one of those parents that gives a young kid a cell phone. O the power it brings me!!!
This is the best he'll give up for his momma. You know you just gotta love this kid. He is everything that is bratty from both Bobby and I . I just can't wait to see how our perfect God in Heaven is gonna fix this one. I keep saying "fearfully and wonderfully made"
This is the best he'll give up for his momma. You know you just gotta love this kid. He is everything that is bratty from both Bobby and I . I just can't wait to see how our perfect God in Heaven is gonna fix this one. I keep saying "fearfully and wonderfully made"
Aaron we love you so much baby. No matter what always remember that you have Jesus who will never leave you or forsake you. Times will come that seem impossible and completely crazy but don't focus on that, look for Jesus, you will find Him and He will bring you strength, understanding and peace in the situation. Live life LOUD for Jesus. Laugh alot it's good for your heart. Remember God is working in ALL things. Everything that the "pigmonster" throws at you God will make it useful for good growth in your life. Jesus loves you and has a good plan for your life. The things that are challenging for you have been placed there by a loving kind Lord Jesus to give you strength of character so that you my dear son can be used greatly by God.
Love you Love you Love you and always remember...
Keep chasing righteousness.!!!!
xoxoxo not a perfect mommy just the one Jesus knew was perfect for you!
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