Discouragement

It's 1 am! This post will be finished when I finally finish studying about this topic...I read tonight about an angel being sent to Elijah...Right now, I need an angel to help.
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Ever just doubt God's goodness? Ever think that God's heart hurts when we question his love?
Such unbelief is sin, but also trouble. When we no longer believe in God's goodness, we no longer trust in his care, and we end up running away. Jesus loves us enough to confront us when our attitude is wrong.
I've been in constant belief that God doesn't care anymore. But in reality, He does. It's the trust we need of God. God wants us to trust him. Jesus really cares about about our concerns. 1 peter 5:7"Cast all your anxiety on him".
Too often I hold on to doubt and confusion till my questions explode as accusations. God loves us too much to neglect us. He gives us an invitation to draw close to him. Kneel before Jesus at the cross. Does he care? You better believe I know he does. Until we stop doubting God's goodness, we can't experience God's love. He longs to gather us in his arms. The Lord invites us to cast our burdens to him, and our doubts, fears and anxiety.
"I have your ultimate good in mind"...That in itself is encouragement to me.
Spend your morning with a good routine. It's what starts your day, and if you wake up late, and rushing to get things done, then your day will continue that way. I've been getting up early, and spending 10 minutes in prayer, and it's making a difference in my day.

SHOES

Even when your day is hectic, and stressful, and your wanting to run away from it all...a child can always make you laugh or smile.

On Friday, a girl decided that it would be fun to tie her shoes together...and make lots of annoying, tight knots. It took me over 10 minutes to get it out. I'm not the knot master.
I said I was greatly disappointed in her, all the while laughing at this mess I found myself in.
So I continued to pry and find the answer to why this happened. Apparently this is the quote I received" I thought that since these shoes were old, I could tie the shoes together, and then my Mom would have to buy me new ones".

Dangerously Surrender...or danerously living?

What happens when you say Yes to God?




Remember this Post------6-14-09
It's only been a month since I started reading this new book. I randomly bought a couple books when Berean Bookstore was out of business. Here is the title currently reading..."DANGEROUS SURRENDER". Now who in their right mind would even pick up that book, fully knowing it was going to be a difficult read. AHHH! Only me, and I've spent several days lately reading it. Here's a few keys: Will you voluntarily surrender the keys to the kingdom of Me and accept Jesus' dangerous invitation to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow him? I need to surrender control. Will you decide to say yes to God, even b/f knowing the full implications of what that yes may mean?(still working on it) Will you let God "ruin" you forever altering how you relate to other in your life and world? I want to be ready. I want to create space in my heart for hurting people. This is what I'm ready for in my missions trip to Israel in about a month.


Fast Forward 2 months later---
God really worked while I was in the Holy Land. I could continue to expound, but some of you who read this still need to hear from me in person, I know.
But--while in the Holy Land, I was given great opportunity to witness, and listen, and share the E.E.
Tonight, I was given the opportunity to take the next level in E.E. Sounds scary,exciting,and impossible. But God is working in my life, and I know He wants me to surrender it all. And in more areas than this one right now.
But the call has come--Still indecisive,and unwilling,and praying God will lead me...maybe he did, as I finish this book tonight, I came across this--(as if this was the answer I needed).
"God, I'm not sure that I'm strong enough, courageous enough, or disciplined enough to pay the necessary price to see your kingdom. I have gotten lazy, usually looking for a way out of difficulty rather than facing it head on. Would you remind me today that the cause is worth any cost. I might have to pay? I'm willing to believe that you are a rewarder of those who seek you, and I can anticipate that while I may be asked to give up something precious to me, I will also gain something of infinite worth. I'm willing to risk it all for you."
---- so i was looking for an answer tonight, after the email I received. My mind was going wild, and I couldn't concentrate. Only 30 pages to read and I end on this note...WOW!(why did I go to this book for an answer tonight?)
I can't fully say that my answer to God's calling is yes, because I am still wavering, though I do feel as if God gave me encouragement in this prayer and book.
If you're willing to give it all and surrender it all, you will see God work in amazing ways. Your life will be totally stretched, and such rewarding in ways you'll never know. Pray and ask God to give you the next opportunity in life to take the next level of opening your life and holding your hands out and saying"God, it's all your". Say yes, and see what happens. (oh, I'm supposed to listen to my own words, you say).

A debate on Summer Olympics

Happy Birthday to my Brothers and Neice!!!!!!!!

I'm sitting here trying for some peace and quiet...running on 4 hours of sleep from coughing all night and I hear this conversation going on in the kitchen from my family members.

My Bro. Cal: What, you can't have her..I want her
My Sister in Law: What is your problem
My Dad: No you get so and so
My Bro: No, I want....
My Neice: See these teams aren't fair
My Mom:Don't make too many events, these seem to go on and on, then nobody wants to play(she was speaking for herself)
My Dad: You couldn't hit it over the fence anyhow
My Bro: Uh
My dad: You get Erika
My Bro: No, I don't want her...
My Dad: Then put her back over here
My sister n law: Stop it, listen to yourself
My niece:These teams aren't fair, we have to start over
(they are making teams for the olympics, and my brother thinks it's unfair with everyone he gets) It's not done yet, they now have to go through the list and determine which events to do today.
Oh the drama of my family. Finally heard these words of there you have it. It's done. I'll update later how this goes...
Bean Bag Toss....Homerun Derby...presents


My weird Family


Neighbor kids came to swim tonight

A legacy

2 months of hard work has been accomplished.
Thanks to my wonderful dad who has always accomplished so many goals in life. He has written a legacy for his children. It will be encouraging to read the stories in book form.
I've been privileged to write the 200 pages of doctor handwriting. The stories are real, and intriguing, and share the life of my parents.
In about 2 weeks, we should have a proof copy. My dad just said, "yay, it's shipping". He doesn't understand this means printing first, then shipped.
Here is the Title and a preview of what's to come...Stories of Home, Heritage, Military,Family Chaos, and Travel.
Defending the Alley

T

o write a book about yourself just seems ludicrous. It seems egotistical and self-serving, not to mention braggadocios. That’s on the surface however, as there’s information that perhaps is lost forever in memories that may be entertaining or informational to some people, particularly to sons and daughters who wonder how the heck they got the way they are.

Thoughts, beliefs and values. You all have them. But where did they come from? Did you just wake up one day and say to yourself- “I’m going to believe this?” No, those thoughts or beliefs are a culmination of learned behaviors from your experiences- a lot of which came from your personal roots. Ethnic backgrounds play into this also, since there are well-established mannerisms or traits which are just there in you. (More on this later when I focus on my family.) But being pounded into you since you were born are family values and beliefs, your friends influences, and the influences of the outside world. Why do you think people are Christian or Jewish or other religions? Why are you democrat or republican? Why do you smoke or drink, or ride motorcycles, or go camping or fishing? Somewhere along the line, somebody or something influenced you toward that direction. Sometimes children look at their parents and decide this is not how I want my life to be. I don’t want to believe or behave this way—so they develop a different belief system than their parents. Their parents still have an influence on their beliefs or values- albeit a negative one- but still an influence none the less.

I want to give thanks to Bill O’Reilly and his book
“A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity”, which inspired me to write down some of my memories. It got me thinking about why the heck do I think and behave the way I do? His thoughts and experiences were certainty not mine, nor will mine be yours. Everyone is unique in their experiences and influences as to how and why they developed like they did. What makes you unique are those influences that you experienced at a specific time that brought about a change in your belief system…Good or bad.

My thoughts and life are certainly not best-seller material or movie of the week quality. But if they were I think Brad Pitt should play me! No, what I intended to do is to try to piece together some rambling stories that might give you some insight as where you are in life and why, as far as your development from my side of the family. Also, my views and the way I saw events might be different than the way someone else might see them. That, however, is the way it is—Just like a bunch of witnesses to an accident that all tell different stories as to how it happened.

I hope you read and enjoy these ramblings that I hope does not come off sounding like my Uncle Ira’s baseball stories of Fifty+ years ago in exacting detail. (one of my influences!)