Paigylins Passion

A Sweet Journey

2012-01-21T19:20:00.000-08:00

I have been busy going through a sweet friends scrapbook collection. While I know in my head that Becky is with Jesus and at total peace, my heart misses her and still aches. The amount of "goodies" that she had was "a bunch" to say the least! I was afraid of being thought of as a hoarder for anyone that saw my house during this time! The process was tougher than I thought. To go through someone elses things - it is hard. The things had her smell, and made me miss her even more. The thought when I saw something and wondered, "how did she do that?" realizing I will not get the answer from her. I cannot thank my boys enough, Greg and Treg helped me haul and held me as I cried, each time I left Becky's house. Greg cracked me up on one trip - he said, "when I get to heaven and see Becky I am gonna ask her just what in the world she thought she was gonna make with all this paper!" I shared this with Amber and it made her giggle.
Many tears, many prayers, and many good memories, a slow healing was taking place. I know God had me in the palm of His hand and was giving me strength. I made the decision to share the things I didn't need with others. I contacted all of Becky's customers, a newsletter at her church, and told some ladies that I knew loved to scrap, we set a date, and decided we would have a party of remembering Becky and just blessing others with her things.
On Thursday night we set up (thank you Ann H., Gaylene, and Shannon for your help) and then on Friday night we opened it up. Bittersweet. Most of the night went well, it is hard to see different peoples reactions to a situation like this. - I had a friend about halfway through that brought me a copy of a picture that Becky had in a book - she told me it was very fitting, and she felt God wanted me to have it. Now you have to realize that this was in a notebook with hundreds of other pictures, and Tammi found just this picture. The picture was of a poem typed out. I will copy it exactly and I hope that you see, as I did, that it was if Becky was speaking this straight to all of our hearts.
WEEP NOT FOR ME
Weep not for me my loved ones, dear ones that I adore, for I have taken earthly leave, to a far off distant shore. I've taken nothing with me, though onward I proceed, where all my wants of love are met, there's naught that I could need.
My path on earth was rugged, my walk of life unsure; but you were there with cheerful hearts to help me to endure. Your strength and love surrounded me, to help me through my life, your steady hands held tightly, as I walked through bitter strife.
Rejoice in my sweet passing, and let your hearts find ease, for I have found a wondrous land, of beauty and of peace. Remember that I love you, for that is meant to be; ah this sweet and lasting love that fills eternity.
So now my days are ended, at a seeming hurried pace, and yes I've fought that goodly fight; I've ran that timely race. Dry those tears of sorrow, fill not your hearts with pain; for I have found my lasting peace, on a far off distant plain.
I'll always be there with you, locked within your hearts, to give you peace and comfort; though we are worlds apart. I now have my happiness, and sweet serenity; so comfort one another, but do not weep for me.
Is this not the most beautiful thing? I loved how at the beginning it said, "I've taken nothing with me" Yes all of the stamp sets, and paper and little gadgets are a wonderful blessing and I just want all to use them and bless others with them, but in all things to remember that they are just that - things. Just a good healthy reminder of our time on earth is just a vapor. Make a sweet impression to others.
On Friday night I had a few blessings, to see a young married girl that money is tight and she was so excited to be able to have some goodies, the smile on her face was priceless! I had several calls on Saturday from ladies that had gotten some goodies and calling to tell me what they had made, or asking questions about a certain gadget, that's great! All is being used, not stored in boxes or crammed in a closet. All of Becky's cards that were left I gave to her church to send out to members. A sweet reminder. The items that we had left, Kasity will take and use in their new journey with Christ, and will bless the town of Cisco of teaching classes of art. God is so good, and I pray that the joy Becky found in card making will spread and be shared with others.
Next thing I cherished in the poem, is the sweet reminder that Becky has arrived! We will all meet again, she just got there ahead of us.
Thank you to all who helped, thank you to all who are continuing to share, and most of all thank you God for loving us so much.
pl

Rock the Block

2011-12-08T19:15:00.000-08:00

Watch the video - so cool!
I will be ordering in December - if you want to get in on this special please give me a call...
We are going to be doing a class in January - Scripture Box Class
Order a paper pack and a Memory Game box and an embellishment and you will be qualified $25.
This special has tons of great gift ideas!

Christmas thoughts.....

2011-12-03T06:56:00.000-08:00

sorry couldn't get the video to play straight from my blog - click on the link and it will take you to You Tube - worth watching!
We have a family tradition to watch Christmas movies throughout December. Last night we watched The Grinch - I have always liked this song - but this year one thing that I couldn't stop thinking about was Cindy Lou's heart. With all the hustle and bustle of Christmas, the Lists.....the Parties.....the cooking.....the deciding when and where to go each day, school plays and parties, the fear of forgetting someone or not having a gift to give them when they give you one! working in all the families, what to get, how much to spend, rush here & there, stress, Money, losing control!!!!! the list goes on and on. In the movie little Cindy Lou was very troubled by all the "materialism" and "commercialism" is what I got out of it this year. In a Bible study I had done it was talking about being content....vs. ........materialism. In the movie it was like everyone was so "busy" buying their gifts, and trying to out do the neighbors lights, hurrying around to get the best deal - that they lost sight of each other, the true meaning of Christmas and of those in need.
I know you must think I am crazy - it's just a Dr. Seuss movie, but last night I couldn't stop thinking and asking myself....if I woke up Christmas morning and every single gift, every thing in my house was GONE..... would I "SEE" my family and be thankful that they were not harmed or gone? Would I be able to hold their hand and look up to God and know that as long as I have God, and my family that all is well? Or would I be screaming, crying, counting up in my head how much money we spent, and it was all gone? It might be radical, but it makes me think how would I react? How is my heart?
In the Bible study I was talking about it said, "Materialism is fueled by greed and a hunger for security. Status is grounded in the things that I own. The quest for just "a little more" drives the direction of my days."
The God-view of it is - "Contentment is the God-view Christ wants to weave through my life. He longs to give me an eternal perspective about the things around me - to see them as blessings and tools for His glory.
So it's not wrong to receive, just see them as a blessing and use them to give God glory in all things! I just have to pray not to be consumed by what I want and what I don't have!
To be content.....in all things.
Like the song above says, find the LOVE in Christmas!
I love Christmas - I love the decorations. I love making Christmas candy with my mom and aunts. I love traditions that we have come to cherish over the years. I love the excitement of Christmas morning watching the kids go through their stockings and open their gifts. I love our families being all together. I love to give (and yes I love to receive!).
Yes I know Jesus is the reason for the season, but Jesus should be celebrated every single day of our lives!
I pray that God will help keep me grounded to open my eyes to SEE those who need a hug, a kind word, a helping hand. If I come across a "Grinch" that I will not run away, but give them a smile and a kind word. :-)
1 Timothy 6:6-11
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
Merry Christmas....

Becky Lu

2011-10-31T20:41:00.000-07:00

Becky Lu showing her beautiful creation -

Kasity showing her scripture album with her love tree...

DeeDee and Ann having fun - we have grown so close and had to laugh at each other just a tad....

Bea - the expert! She was fast and gott'er done. Always bubbling with joy and smiles-

Kathy working hard, smiling joyfully, and cutting away! Such sweet memories.
These pictures are from a scripture flip album class that we had in April 2010.
My heart is so full of sadness and also full of joy for my dear sweet friend Becky. She left her earthly body and leaped into her precious Saviors arms last night. Cancer didn't win, God overcame! How fitting that she went to meet her Lord on a Sunday. I cannot imagine my life without her - she brought such joy, laughter, creativity, excitement, wisdom, fun, and what an amazing prayer warrior! Becky had such a passion for Christ and a love for anyone that came into her path. She was a dear friend to me and I am honored to have been blessed with her friendship. As tears are pouring from my eyes, I just have to share the way that God works His Word into our lives when we seek Him.
This morning got up early and was doing Bible study and had earlier texted some friends with the news of Becky. Ann texted me back and said she was on a certain page in our Bible study book (exact same page as I was on) the question in our workbook was "When all seems lost, when a terminal disease is diagnosed, when a loved one dies, what does Jesus reveal at the well of heartache (John 11:25)?
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;
Amazing what comfort and a peace that came over me. God gently reminding me that yes Becky believed with all her heart, and even though she died....she lives!!!!!
Then in our Jesus calling it gave the scripture of John 7:38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
K-love exact same scripture of the day except different translation -
Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'Then later on in our workbook it talked about the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:28-30 "leaving her jar" - speaking of our water jar, "Leave them (water jar) at the well and be filled with Him. Then, my friend, when you get jostled, what spills out will be life-giving, life-sustaining water.
Just let God fill us....Becky lived her life allowing God's living water just to flow straight from her....
Isn't God the most amazing, loving, compassionate, knowing God.
I ask that you please pray for Becky's daughter Amber, her parents, and all of her family and the tons of friends that loved her dearly.
Becky Lu, my sweet precious friend I thank you for the example you have been in my life. I pray you are dancing with your sweet son Brian, and I know that you are spreading your joy and letting your light shine in heaven! Words cannot express what my heart is feeling at this moment - I love you bunches and will miss you always.

This little light of mine...

2011-10-17T17:09:00.001-07:00

Heard this song a couple of weeks ago and immediately loved it! I have been studying about growing through study. I came across this scripture this morning -
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
I am so thankful for God and all the precious gifts He gives us each day.
Hope this song makes you smile, pl

Long time no see....

2011-09-12T21:27:00.000-07:00

Labor Day weekend I had the joy of having all 3 of my kids (less one son-in-law!) I am so blessed to have such great kids. Oh how I love them.
Sorry it's been so long since a post. My summer has been quite crazy!!!!
I have had the blessing of having Brennon come and stay with us while doing his pharmacy residency since July 4. He will be going back home Sept. 23, so I have tried to enjoy each day with him. We have had to move my office and relocate to a new location. Treg turned 16 this summer and has been working on getting in enough driving hours. Greg has started an online college course. Our Bible study group has been hit so hard with sickness and heartaches, and other things, my time for blogging has been put on hold.
One thing I have not given up is my study time. It's been different studying by myself, and I miss our study group, but the studies I have done....I know it's all in God's plan. I just love the way He weaves all things together.
One study was Kay Arthur and knowing God. It was a study on the names of God. The last chapter took Jesus, and she went through and showed by scripture how Jesus fulfilled each name of God that I had studied from the Old Testament! It was great.
I pray that through all the trials and daily struggles we are faced with that in all things we turn to God....who Is ALL we need.
Lord willing we will be starting a new study in October and I pray will be able to stand firm together and pray that our "Bloomers" will be able to once again be back to our weekly studies!
Have a blessed week. Never cease praying.

2 Dogs and a Frog

2011-07-08T20:18:00.000-07:00

We found a hole in our grass and discovered that it was home to a couple of frogs. Lucy & Dexter are fascinated by them. Dexter flops both ears back and touches the frog with his nose and when the frog jumps forward - Dex jumps backwards! Lucy just has that yappie bark and bounces all around! This night they are waiting for the frog to come out of his hole. They made the mistake this time and kind of either tried to bite the frog or lick - resulted in toxins from frog.....

Here is a picture of Dexter pushing Mr. Frog with his nose -

In this picture you can see the foam coming from Lucy's mouth! Both dogs started foaming at the mouth and quickly learned not to mess with the frog too close! We had to laugh at them...silly dogs.

Isn't it strange - reminded me of sin.

Looks good

Looks fun

Looks harmless.

Sin is also very full of toxins and evil consequences. Too bad it can be hidden and most people don't have the obvious outer symptoms! Some sin although hidden from man, is Never hidden from God's eyes.

Praying that your summer is full of "toadally" good pure fun!

Phillippians 4:8

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Beautiful things

2011-06-26T20:08:00.000-07:00

My son Treg went to a Church camp last week. This song was played after his favorite class. I love to see him so filled with the love of God, and for him to be on fire for the Lord! We got to go on Thursday night to the worship service. It was amazing - there was over 600 youth praising God and it was......beautiful. My prayer is that each one there will know deep in their hearts that God created them to be beautiful starting on the inside (their hearts) and His beauty will shine forth! Actually we all need to know and believe this......

This has been a tough month. I have two very dear friends that are truly going through the fire. My heart and prayers have been very much lifting them up to our precious Father. Hope this video brings you a blessing, love ya

A Heart Like His

2011-05-10T20:56:00.000-07:00

Well our study ended tonight and I am so blue. I get so involved with the study book and the subject we are studying. I always feel lost when we finish -
Tonight's video was of course God's perfect timing. The video was on the 23rd Psalm. Perfect....God is my Shepherd... God is my Host.
Before class we received some bad news regarding a family member. We had been praying for him for quite some time. When you pray for healing and just believe so hard and then the answer comes back worse than you imagined. Yes, it is cancer. In the bone, liver and kidney. Oh how my heart aches for them. I pray for God to comfort them as they go through this battle. Faith....I must put my faith in Him that He is God and I am not.
My mom is dealing with a bad test result and we thought we would know something yesterday, but no - we will go back for another test on Monday. Waiting and praying.
Tonight in the video Beth had a staff, actually it was a vine that was kind of twisted at the top and then came down. Keith had found it wrapped around a branch. She showed it and placed a branch in the middle of the twisted part of it. As I type this tears are rolling down my cheeks as she placed the branch in the vine. Jesus is the vine, and I am the branch. He tells me to abide in Him. As the branch, the thought of being completely wrapped in Jesus is such a precious thought to me. Why or how could I choose any other place to be?
One more thing - wholehearted devotion - not to have a divided heart, but a "whole" heart. I texted a friend today that I want a heart that is moldable, soft clay, and a willing servant. I do not want a heart that is like play- doh when it is hard dried up and crumbly! yuck -
I wrote down tonight that to know God is to seek Him, with my mind - and to love God with my heart - He "is" (not "was") my Shepherd. Present tense. He takes care of me, He makes me alive, He guides me down the right path, He is with me, even in the darkest journey. God is the Host and I am the guest. Jesus will arrange (prepare) the table, I will sit at the table and my enemies will be forced to watch as God anoints my head with oil, and my cup will overflow, God fills me up! Surely goodness and love will follow me - another word for follow is pursue. God's love and mercy will always out run the enemy. And to dwell in the house of the LORD forever. amen
love you, pl

2 Samuel 22

2011-04-30T20:49:00.000-07:00

We have been doing the Bible study, A Heart Like His, by Beth Moore. The life of David has been amazing how much in this study it has applied to me and my life, Christ and His life and just the fact that David was human, but loved God and his desire to be in God's presence.

Our homework for one day was to read 2 Samuel 22 and the first assignment was to list every single name, object, or role by which David referred to God in this chapter. It was the song above that kept coming to my mind. I cannot remember which Beth Moore conference it was that they played this song and the words flashed on a black screen huge in white letters just coming at us - needless to say this song impacted me huge!

From 2 Samuel 22 these are the ones I found:

Wonderful Rock, Fortress, Deliverer, Shield,

Glorious Stronghold, Refuge, Savior,

Holy My God, Most High, My Lamp!

Here are the words from the song:

Righteous

Victorious

Conqueror

Triumphant

Mighty

Healer

Deliverer

Shield and Defense

Strong Tower

and My Best Friend

Omnipotent

Omnipresent

King

Alpha Omega

Lord of everything

Holy, Holy, Holy is Your Name!

This chapter is almost identical and found in Psalm 18 - one major difference is the Psalms starts out with:

Psalm 18:1 - I love you, O LORD, my strength.

Wow how I pray that every breath I take will be to tell God, I love you.....

If you want to inhale a dose of power, go read 2 Samuel 22 out loud and in your mind the image that David paints of our God is fabulous! Love it, Love God, have a blessed week -pl

These times we live in -

2011-03-28T19:14:00.000-07:00

Tonight we met up at the church for a combined ladies night. Because of the blessing of growth we split our Bible study into 2 groups - so the last Monday of every month we meet together at the church building for a meal and we do a project that will bless others. Tonight we were getting ready to pray and I looked and there was a man. He was in layers of clothes, carrying a bag and looking tired. He wanted to speak to someone about getting a room at the Holiday Inn across the street. All that was in the building was just us ladies. We got our preachers wife to come and talk to him and try to find out info. I didn't have a good feeling - as usual I have a war going on inside my head. One is be careful, this is not a good situation.....then the "good" side says, don't judge - offer him food, compassion, let your light shine. Our preacher was headed our way when he heard the story. We offered the man a plate of food - but that wasn't what he wanted - he said he had already ate. His story was he was from Colorado - walking - headed to Lubbock. Anyway when our preacher got here - He recognized the traveler - said he was very experienced at what he does, and had made the rounds many times. Needless to say the traveler moved on and our preacher camped out in his office to be our bodyguard. I had dumpster divers about 2 weeks ago - that was very disturbing. Tonight on Facebook I read of a lady that had an intruder in broad daylight - Times are getting hard and I am afraid people are becoming more desperate. My big question is as a Christian, and especially as a Christian woman how do we "Have a heart like His" in a world that is so full of evil? From my work I have a tendency to be more cynical, at times fearful and very cautious. I read the stories of people in need and we are to look at their hearts not at their outward appearances. Do people like the man tonight prey on the church? Knowing we are to love, give and share with those in need? I keep wondering how would Jesus handle a swindler? Or have things gotten so bad in this man's life that he has resorted to lies? How can you know? I had a good friend that is older tell me, I may not know what he does with the money I give him - but God saw my heart the minute I placed that money in his hands. I hear what he is saying but I am being totally honest here - in my mind I still think oh but I don't want to feed his addiction either! Forgive me, help me to understand what God's will is.... I pray for understanding on this - I want to be a cheerful giver, I want to have a pure heart, I want to have eyes to see, and a heart full of love - not doubt of whether they are for real or not - but then I also pray for discernment. If you have scriptures, or a way to help me understand better - please share. I realize this is a weird post - just sharing my heart. luv ya, pl

ipad, Nook, Kindle, ....am I old?

2011-03-10T19:16:00.000-08:00

How many of you remember this little owl? He was so cute....how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie-pop?

ipad, nook, kindle - I have to admit it's tempting to want one - I have so many friends that own one and they just love them! I was in a group just the other day and they were talking about at their church that the peoples faces in the congregation just glowed from everyone using their ipads to read the Bible in church.

I "think" the idea of reading a book on it would be good - being able to just download a book and start it immediately - not having to "wait" until it becomes available at the library, pay late fees, or wait until one of my friends finishes reading it. One friend downloaded a game that is so much fun. I like that the screen is bigger than my phone but smaller and easier to carry around than my laptop. I just don't know -

One thing I am absolutely sure of is my Bible - my Bible is.....well it is very special to me. I have highlights, I have notes written all over it, I have drawn small pictures/images to help me remember. I LOVE the feel of the pages on my fingers - I have tear stained pages...some tears shed because of heart aches some tears were from utter joy of an answered prayer or seeing God work. I am thankful for how far my sweet precious Savior has brought me. It may seem crazy to some people but I truly believe my Bible has memories - an ipad has "memory" but they just aren't the same.

When I read a verse and then read a note I wrote with it I try to remember which preacher, or what Bible study did I get that from - I just love it. At times I cannot tell you what book of the Bible or what chapter, but I can close my eyes and see what side it's on. Funny story - I get up early for my quite time and I do my Bible study. My dogs Lucy Lou and Dexter both or one usually love to curl up with me in the mornings. Last year it had rained and they had come in from outside - "big boy" Dexter - is a big baby and he likes to get right in my face and have me give him love and hugs. I was deep into reading something and he proceeded to come closer - he stepped on a page of my Bible and before I could lift up his paw, I had a light brown stained paw print on a page of my Bible. I didn't think it was funny at the time, but now....well it is a sweet memory every time I come across the slightly crumpled spot that is tinted light brown. What can I say, I love my sweet dogs.

Ok - now to finish with the tootsie pop owl. I remember him from my childhood, on commercials - yes I am getting old. For some reason I thought of this owl when

I was reading a scripture one day that I had years ago memorized. This time when I read it....a whole new meaning just jumped off the page! I love God's Word!!!! it is....Alive.....Active.....and powerful. I know its crazy, but I do not want to be like the owl and just "bite" right to the center - I want to savor, and have God's Word be new every morning, fresh, and ever changing me each day. I believe our Awesome God planned it that way - to remain humble and always open to learn His Ways daily.

Psalm 119:103 - How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

luv ya, pl

2011-03-07T18:31:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it seems like God’s timing couldn’t be worse. We’re either not ready for what he asks us to do, or we’ve been waiting for so long, we had already given up! The last thing we want is an interruption.
Using the life of Jonah as our guide, Priscilla Shirer will teach us how to turn our “life interruptions” into opportunities to encounter Christ, and serve Him from the center of His will.
Going Beyond is an intimate conference, with phenomenal worship led by Anthony Evans. You will walk away craving Truth in a way you haven’t hungered for it before. This event is for anyone who desires to “go beyond” the surface, and delve in deeper into a more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

Tahoka Baptist Church will be hosting this simulcast!

April 1, 2011 - 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. on Friday

April 2, 2011 - 9:00 - 12:30 p.m. on Saturday

For tickets please call Deedee Pridmore - 806 759-0955

$20 per person.

coffee and donuts served on Saturday.

http://vimeo.com/17602914

If you click on the above link you can hear what an amazing speaker Pricilla is - please make plans to join us and invite all your friends. We will receive a blessing indeed.

A Full Plate -

2011-02-21T19:07:00.000-08:00

Wow look how the time has flown by --- I have had a full plate here lately. We have had a big project going on at work, Pete & Betty 50th Annv., working with LTC, also involved with the summer Walk to Emmaus, started the new Beth Moore Bible study - A heart like His... and lots of other fun stuff - (like my birthday!) - I do pray that in all that this world throws at us that we can in the business & craziness of it all continue to always - always have time for God. My quite time in the morning is so important to me - but I find that I am needing more time, to pray, meditate and be still. I know of some ladies that can go 24/7 and do amazing works - I am not wired that way. I love to be busy, but.....I cherish my quite times and calmness. My one word for the year is "peace" funny how my year is starting out! I need to always remember that the peace I desire is not man made - it is the peace that only can come from God - God living in me.

ok enough about me - the following is from the Bible study we are doing:

the text is 1 Samuel 22 and Psalm 142 - the coolest thing we read the story of David and then we go to the Psalm that he (David) wrote while he was going through the certain event. This was when Saul was chasing David and David hid in the cave of Adullam, (meaning sealed off place).

The Psalm is a prayer of David - the question is asked what did David do when overwhelmed with unfair treatment & difficult circumstances?

1. David prayed - he responded to his difficulty with prayer

2. David cried aloud - cry to God, He can take it.

3. David poured out his complaint to God - He told God his troubles. If we complain to our friends we are a complainer - but, if we pour out our complaints to God, we'll find help. Tell God all your troubles, what's hurting, what's bugging you, joy, gladness, sorrow, bitterness, fear.

Imagine your heart like a pitcher and pour everything in it on God -God is our refuge.

4. David rehearsed his trust in God - Psalm 142:3 says "When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way." Prayer is for our sake as much as it is for God's pleasure.

5. David longed for God's presence - he felt alone - his feelings were not accurate of the truth, but they were worthy to share with God.

6. David confessed his desperate need - David in Psalm 142:6 - he was facing a secret enemy, Saul's men pursued with secret schemes. We also fight an entire assembly of unseen powers - without God and His holy armor we are mud on the bottom of the enemy's boots. Humbly seek God.

I loved the image of pouring our hearts out - so we might be filled with God and have a heart more like His! I drew a picture of a pitcher with a heart on it in my Bible and wrote - pour it all out! Hope you received a blessing from this - I know it came at just a time I needed to hear it.

luv ya, pl

Focus

2011-01-17T09:21:00.000-08:00

We are having a Debt Seminar at Church - the speaker is Steve Diggs. He was speaking on God's grace and how we cannot "work" our way to heaven. Yes we work out of love but not to try and get there. He used the illustration of holding a stick on his finger - as long as he looked up he could balance the pool stick perfectly. When he looked at his hand, every time the stick fell. His point - Grace is like that - as long as you are looking up to Jesus 100% you will receive guarantee of full grace, when you take your eyes off of Jesus you will fall as the pole did. The scripture reference was Eph. 2:8 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -
His point is we are tempted to think we need to bring something ourselves. He said if we are saved we should Never doubt our salvation by saying, "well I hope I am going to heaven" We need to remember that it is not anything we bring.... it is A Gift from God! We don't work to stay saved - impossible! Be confident in your salvation give God all the glory for saving you and be excited we have an eternal future! Love others enough to share this Good News!
Then in my Bible study this morning (still doing the Max Lucado) It was the story of Jesus washing the disciples feet. The lowest task of a servant. Jesus wanted his disciples to "know" how much he loves them. He is not just removing dirt from feet, he is removing doubt. He washed all of their feet, even Judas. He knows that the feet that he was washing in the next day will deny, betray, and run. Yet he wants them to remember when they hang their head in shame they will remember how His knees knelt before them and he washed their feet. Quote from book: Remarkable. He forgave their sin before they even committed it. He offered mercy before they even sought it.
The part that I got so excited about that went along perfectly with what Steve Diggs said is this -
3 scriptures I looked up in workbook - to live in unity Psalm 133:1, Encourage one another & build each other up 1 Thess. 5:11, and Be kind & compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ forgave you. Eph. 4:32.
Quote from book - But I'm not Jesus you object. I could never extend grace as he did. The hurt is so deep. The wounds are so numerous. Just seeing the person causes me to cringe. Perhaps that is your problem. Perhaps you are seeing the wrong person or at least too much of the wrong person. Remember, the secret of being just like Jesus is "fixing our eyes" on him. Try shifting your glance away from the one who hurt you and setting your eyes on the one who has saved you.
If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash each other's feet. I did this as an example so that you should do as I have done for you." John 13:14-15
Jesus washes our feet for 2 reasons. The first is to give us mercy; the second is to give us a message, and that message is simply this: Jesus offers unconditional grace; we are to offer unconditional grace. The mercy of Christ preceded our mistakes; our mercy must precede the mistakes of others. Those in the circle of Christ had no doubt of his love; those in our circles should have no doubts about ours.
I was so excited when I read this - God is amazing in how He works in our lives weaving and confirming truths. Beth Moore on her blog has a Siesta scripture memory challenge - and you are to memorize 2 scriptures a month. She encouraged that we carry our spirals with our scriptures every where we go and say them over and over. Encouraging us that scripture running through our minds is way more beneficial that worries or bad thoughts!
I pray that this year will be a year that I will allow God's love to shine through and that I will love others and keep my eyes on Jesus. luv ya, pl

Happy New Year 2011

2011-01-02T14:15:00.000-08:00

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year and got to spend quality time with family. I love the time that I had all my kids here together. It's a rare occasion any more and I try to treasure those moments.
As with most people the first of the year it makes us all question what will my New Year resolution be - what will be the one thing I hope to focus on? This morning Bo (our preacher) challenged us all to spend every single day in God's Word - to ask what is this saying about God and then ask the question what is this saying to me? Meditate, taste God's Word.
On K-love I cannot remember who it was but is was a song writer that ask that we read God's Word not to finish..... but to read it and be changed.
This struck me so - I wrote it in my Bible - to always remember when I am doing my Bible study homework that I am doing it not just to finish the days homework - but I need to be doing it to be changed, transformed.

In my study time I came across this lesson and I wanted to share with you some thoughts that I have been thinking on (some of this is a direct quote from the Max Lucado book) - In Luke 24 the story of the two men walking on the road to Emmaus - the lesson talked about how the men were feeling so disappointed and grieving. They thought Jesus was to be their king on earth - they didn't understand.
Despair not only clouds our vision; it hardens our hearts.
There is a fine line between disappointment and anger. Between hurt and hate, between bitterness and blame. You have to ask yourself how long am I gonna nurse this hurt?
At some point you have to heal. At some point you have to let Jesus do for you what he did for these men that were on the road to Emmaus. Jesus came to them.... and He will come to us too.
He met them at their point of pain. Though death had been destroyed and sin annulled, he has not retired. The resurrected Lord has once again wrapped himself in flesh, put on human clothes, and searched out hurting hearts. I loved the above statement - I had not thought about it like that - Jesus does love us so much.
Jesus listened to them and then He gave them the answer to their problems - starting with Moses and finishing with himself He told them the greatest Bible story ever told - and why?
To remind them that God is in control - We need to hear that it's not over until God says it's over. We need to hear that life's mishaps and tragedies are not a reason to bail out. They are simply a reason to sit tight. In God's Word is every answer we need when we are hurting, feeling disappointed, confused..... we can find the hope, and see the love that God has for us, and most of all if we truly seek.....we will find the One and only.
luv ya, pl

Storms of life

2010-12-09T17:43:00.000-08:00

Our Bible study group is waiting until after the holidays to pick back up, so in the meantime I am doing a Max Lucado study called, Experiencing the words of Jesus - it is a great study. He brought a totally new picture to the story of Jesus walking on the water. After Jesus fed the 5,000 the Bible in Matthew 14:22 tells us that Jesus immediately made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him....after Jesus dismissed crowd, He went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. In digging deeper into this - this account is found in Matthew, Mark & John. Only Matthew tells of Peter going out to Jesus. All accounts tell of a strong wind and they had been out there fighting the waves through the night.

In the study book Max makes the point that Jesus sent the disciples out into the storm alone. I had to stop and think about this - I have 2 special friends/family in my life that are in a storm. A storm of watching their mother suffer from cancer. I couldn't help but think of them through this study. Here is a direct quote from the study:
Perhaps you know the angst of being suspended between vs.24 (Matt. 14) and vs. 25. Maybe you're riding a storm, searching the coastline for a light, a glimmer of hope. You know that Jesus knows what you are going through. You know that he's aware of your storm. But as hard as you look to find him, you can't see him. The message? When you can't see him, trust him. The figure you see is not a ghost. The voice you hear is not the wind. Jesus is closer than you've ever dreamed.
I just loved that! Proverbs 3:5 was given and also Psalm 37:5-6 look them up just meditate on them.
Next thought from the study - Faith is often the child of fear. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom," Proverbs 9:10. When faced with a choice between the relative safety of his pitching craft and a place at Jesus' side, Peter was ready to take a leap of faith- right over the side of the boat. The study ask the question if the water was calm would Peter have felt the need to walk out to meet Jesus on the water?
I had not thought about it until this study but Jesus had to have seen the storm brewing, I wonder if he could see from the mountainside the boat tossing and the waves? I think it is so beautiful to hold on to the fact that while we are going through the storms of life.....Jesus is praying and watching over you.
I have to admit I do not understand why people make the choices they make, why some have hardened their hearts toward others, all the sickness, pain, abuse. But...I am so thankful for the sweet promises of God's Word and I cling to it and beg God to help me to be a servant daily. I know of Moms that because of the bad choices that their kids have made will be going through the holidays without them. It's heartbreaking - I pray that God will pour His love into them and give them a peace. I have to continually tell myself, Isaiah 55:8 - For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
Here is the last quote from the study - it's long but so rich.
We, like Peter, are aware of two facts: We are going down and God is standing up. So we scramble out. We leave behind the Titanic of self-righteousness and stand on the solid path of God's grace.
And, surprisingly, we are able to walk on water. Death is disarmed. Failures are forgivable. Life has real purpose. And God is not only within sight; he is within reach.
With precious, wobbly steps, we draw closer to him. For a season of surprising strength, we stand upon his promises. It doesn't make sense that we are able to do this. We don't claim to be worthy of such an incredible gift. When people ask how in the world we can keep our balance during such stormy times, we don't boast. We don't brag. We point unabashedly to the One who makes it possible. Our eyes are on him.
Is that not the greatest - I pray that through this wonderful season of Christmas that you will each stop and give extra love to others, soak up the precious time with family, don't get caught up in the gifts but instead thank God for the precious gift He gave to us.
luv ya, pl

** I thought I was done until this mornings study - I just have to add this -the view point from the disciples in the boat in fear they saw a light not going over the waves but through them - they cried out in fear - and then heard Jesus say, "Take courage, It is I, don't be afraid." Nothing had changed, the storm still raged...But in the midst of the storm they heard his voice. And, somehow, courage came. The study reminds us that somewhere between fear and faith, we must find courage, and scripture tell us where to find it - Duet. 31:6, Joshua 1:9, Prov. 3:5...ends with this quote straight from study: I saw God. The God who can't sit still when the storm is too strong. The God who lets me get frightened enough to need him and then comes close enough for me to see him. The God who uses my storms as his path to come to me. I saw God. It took a storm for me to see him. But I saw him. And I'll never be the same.

God is so good. -

Discernment

2010-11-02T16:39:00.000-07:00

Philippians 1:9-11
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.
We are on our last week of homework on the Bible Study - Faithful Abundant True - Deeper Still
It has been so good - and as always God has given me just the Word I needed at this time in my life. Last night we watched the video of Beth Moore and she was speaking on learning to discern when our "gut feeling" is from the Holy Spirit or from our flesh. What stuck me so strong last night was the explanation of the Israelites telling Moses, you go and listen to God and then just come tell us what to do - give us the rules. "Old Covenant" - the 10 commandments - and then she said But, we are no longer under the old covenant - we are living under the "New Covenant" and it requires that each individual live by the Spirit - Galatians 5:25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. We have the gift of the Holy Spirit living in us - and with that kind of contact their is intimacy, Relationship - we cannot expect just to sit back and be spoon fed, we have to dig into God's Word, pray to Him constantly, be aware that He is with us at all times (not just on Sunday & Wednesdays). This is a big deal for me - I made the mistake of raising Cort & Brennon on rules, I want to teach Treg and to continue to encourage Cort & Bren to have a relationship with our precious Savior. How beautiful it is the thought of us keeping "in step" with the Spirit! Ok - I have also been reading Francine Rivers book and the Shofar Blew - oh it's soooo good! When I read a book that is a good one, I become a part of the book - I have a hard time coming back to the real world - separating the two! I know I am a little wacky - anywhoo...I finished it last night and wow! I just love how God works things together - the Epilogue fit perfectly with the Bible study video we watched - here is a section out of the book: Today, the Holy Spirit and God's Word, the Bible, call out to us in much the same way as the shofar: God's voice warns us, alerts us to danger, calls us to action or to times of rest, and most important, calls us to accountability. In And the Shofar Blew, we read about different ways people think they are hearing God's voice - sometimes authentic, sometimes counterfeit - as in a "still, small voice"; other times, in a resounding blast. The questions begging to be asked are : Are we listening? Are we attentive to God's voice? How will we respond?
Wow - I love God so much!
My heart is still lifting up those in need of prayer - in my devo I read this:
Prayer matters. It's not just words in the air. The Spirit of God released through our prayers and the prayers of others is enough to turn cowards into conquerors, chaos into calm, cries into comfort.

October - Girls Weekend Trip!

2010-10-18T19:37:00.000-07:00

Here are my grand....dogs.....

Bliss the Morky with her new pink bow in her hair (which by the way she hated)

Boomer the boxer - such a pretty boy -

The October birthday girls -

Here we are - fixing to go to the outlet malls - yeah

ok - here the "girls" true colors are coming out!
I love to take pictures for memories and Cort hates - hates it. I was just catching on that in most of the pics that Greg was taking - this is the look that I was getting from Cort. Sam quickly joined in - just lovely.

I had no clue - I was just posing and Cort was just being her brat child self! Oh my - what is there to say. This is life with Cortney -
I had a wonderful time and God has blessed me with such a sweet Mom (Nana Ruth), a great "fun" loving daughter and a precious niece. It hurts my heart that my sweet baby girl is so far from me - tomorrow is her 26th birthday and I love her more each year. I am so proud of you Cortney Marie! thanks for making it a great weekend trip. ps. I think making faces like this is a proven fact to cause wrinkles - oh my!

Be a Light

2010-10-02T14:32:00.001-07:00

I have this picture framed in my kitchen - it was in a corner and I was moving stuff around yesterday and saw this picture in a "new light" - I am not sure why I never thought of this picture like it before, but God has His timing for us all.
I am reading the new Max Lucado book - Outlive your life - if you have not read it - please read it. It is life changing. This week has been crazy busy for me - but also a eye opener too. On Monday we had our 2nd annual Block Party at church. We invite people in the surrounding neighborhood of our church and cook sausage wraps, brownies and water, have the big bounce houses and bounce slides and just visit. No strings attached just come, visit and let us get to know you. I had signed up to monitor the bounce slide. Wow - what a job. Some of the little kids were so precious, others needed..... well - something....love and some discipline. One little boy in particular came over to me and got right in my face and said, "You are a Loser." I gasped and quickly said, "No, I am a winner!" I was so shocked that a little child could say something like that for no reason. He continued to not mind, break all the rules and I finally snapped my fingers and in my toughest voice (still trying to have the "law of kindness" on my tongue) told him that was It - if he couldn't mind he would not get back on the bouncer. He looked at me and minded. I was so proud. He came by and grabbed my leg and asked me to go on the bouncer with him. I told him oh I can't I'm too big. He ran off and I thought nothing of it. When he came back through - he looked at me and said, "You....are a pig!" ugghhh. (I later realized I had hurt his feelings when I said no) When it was over I helped a grandmother load up her 7 or 8 grandkids (the little boy that called me names happened to be one of hers). A friend of mine stayed and talked to the grandmother, and I am still not sure if all the kids stay with the grandmother or how many of the kids had parents - I came home and fell to my knees in prayer - we have so many families right here that are in desperate need - of love, kindness, and acceptance. That little boy has heard from someone the words spoken in hatefulness - "loser" "pig" - We are called to - Be a Light.....
One of the chapters in the Max Lucado book is - See the Need; Touch the Hurt -it says that it is hard to look suffering in the face. We would rather turn away, stare in a different direction, but what if we "look" them in the eye until we "see" and feel compassion for them. Jesus is our perfect example. I had 2 full days of court and I have started trying to pray for the people involved and instead of being in fear of some of the defendants, see the person and have more compassion. Realizing that they are someone's child. Thursday was talent show - you have so many different types of people - some that had VIP tickets and others that didn't have enough money to enter. Each one has their own hurts and problems, and it is our job to ..... "be a light" Today was Harvest Festival and we handed out water bottles free (from our church) and the look on peoples faces when they found out they were free. We also started a new Bible Study this week and Kay Arthur said that we should cherish our Bible, imagine holding it so close to our head, for our minds to soak it up, and hold it close to our hearts to have our hearts so full of God's Word!
I wish I could be like the picture above and everyone that I see, would look at me and see a smile....see a joy.....see a love in my eyes....I love the image of carrying a big sunshine around - Live in the Light! -
2 Corinthians 4:6 (The Message)
5-6Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we're proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!" and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.

Yes God is for us -

2010-09-28T20:23:00.000-07:00

I love this song - hope you enjoy it -pl

Father and Son

2010-09-22T19:01:00.000-07:00

I just love this picture -
Treg was asked to be an escort at homecoming and Greg was showing him the correct way to tie.
I got tickled when I saw Greg's shades on his head and then his "cheater" glasses on too! The look of concentration of Treg's face is priceless.
When I uploaded this picture I immediately thought of our heavenly Father - how He protects us, and teaches us and with love shows us the way.
We are so proud of Treg - and I pray God's blessing on him to continue to seek God in all things.
As parents we pray for wisdom to constantly keep his eyes on Jesus.
Ephesians 6:4 (New Living Translation)
4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

Faith and Hope

2010-09-17T04:45:00.000-07:00

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

I want to share with you some things I am trying to work out in my heart and mind. I have a loved one that has been going through the fire - we have prayed and the diagnosis keeps coming up "no" and becomes worse than we thought. Since we just finished the Bible study - Believing God, I pulled it out and found some thoughts that are helping me understand and know how to pray. Most of the following is either directly from my workbook or notes I took during the video - some of it will be in my own words. Hope this helps -
If something that I ask for God says "no" - we have to believe no matter how God answers He is working on our internal (some suffering comes with being a new covenant christian, we are being purified from the inside out and God is working internally) or He answers with an external (a healing we see).

Hold tight to Mark 9:23 -"'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." we must hold tight to the thought "everything is possible" please don't let others take your hope. We cannot separate faith and hope - we believe and have faith that God can do what He says He can do, then we must never stop believing and hoping for that.

You can't lose when you earnestly seek God. Even if you don't find the answer, you find the Author.

In all honesty we just do not know why God physically heals some and not others. We can know without a shadow of doubt that the issue is not a lack of divine love or kindness. In the study book she refers to John the Baptist and how he must have felt in the jail cell wondering when is Jesus coming through for me? Then the reminder that John saw the promise fulfilled, he just had a seat in heaven instead of earth.
We must not be afraid to pray, afraid God might not live up to our expectations. We must remember that all throughout the Bible we read of prayers that got a yes, and prayers that got a no. Even the prayer that Christ prayed in the garden of Gethsemane.
God sees the bigger picture and we must never forget He loves us.
Ok here is my favorite part:
Read Psalm 103
vs. 3 - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
the Hebrew word for heals is rapha' - "to mend (by stitching) is one of the definitions. I love the thought of God bringing wholeness and restoration to a life as someone would mend by stitching. A seamstress cannot mend a fabric she does not hold in her hands. Likewise, God cradles us in His careful hands as He stitches our broken pieces back together again, forming a new and far more beautiful garment. The thought of knowing that stitch-by-stitch we are continually in His hands.
We are reminded that God is not a genie in a bottle or only someone we call on in times of trouble, He is God.

I think we would all do good to remember that God is far more interested in our knowing the Healer than He is in the healing.
God can be vastly glorified through either objective: showing His supremacy or His sufficiency.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen.
I am so glad that God is God and he promises to hold us tightly in His hand.
girl, I love you and I am still praying.

Beth Moore

2010-09-13T19:17:00.001-07:00

September 18, 2010 - 9:30 a.m.First Baptist Church1701 Avenue K ,
Tahoka, Texas
Advanced tickets $15 - lunch included - please call me if you need a ticket asap!!!
Contact First Baptist Church:806-561-4557

Hope you will be able to attend - I just know that it will be a blessing!
Please be in prayer for this event, for the participants, the group that is hosting, and the speaker.
Hope you have a great week - pl

Close to my Heart - Fall Open House

2010-09-03T19:44:00.001-07:00

The new fall winter catalog is here!

Open House - September 11-12

Saturday 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Sunday 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.

1204 E. Buckley -

(If you need to stop by Friday night that will be fine)

We will have new products - and lots of good ideas for the holidays.
Door prizes and make and takes too -
Lots of good snacks and treats to eat.
We will have a table set up for items for sale (if you aren't the crafty type)
The special for this month is so cute - below is info on it:

National Stamping Month
ONE’S GOOD, TWO’S GREAT, and three’s best of all! Celebrate your love of stamping by using stamps to embellish the three mini albums in our exclusive National Stamping Month kit, Triple Play. With inks, stamps,albums, and pre-cut accents for stamping,you’ll complete all three albums in a jiffy. Since each album has its own color scheme, all three are unique and ready for many different kinds of photos. Make one for yourself and two to give away—if you can bear to part with them! In honor of National Stamping Month, you can get huge discounts on the Triple Play kit when you purchase My Acrylix® stamps from your wish list, or get it free when you host a qualifying Gathering or become a Close To My Heart Consultant. Here are five ways to get this outstanding mini album kit: (Note: We’ve saved the best for last, so be sure to read all five!) 1. Buy the Triple Play kit for $29.95 US / $34.95 CAN. 2. Purchase $25 / $30 in My Acrylix® stamps and get the Triple Play kit for just $15. 3. Spend $40 /$47 on My Acrylix stamps and get Triple Play for only $5! 4. Host a Gathering with sales of $300 / $350 or more and get Triple Play FREE! 5. Join Close To My Heart as a Consultant and get the kit FREE! National Stamping Month is always fun, but this year you’ll get three times the excitement with Triple Play!
*Qualifying stamps set purchases exclude Stamp of the Month sets, K-size custom stamps, and Workshops on the Go™ stamp sets. Tax and shipping/handling may apply. Offer valid for customers and hostesses August 15–September 30, 2010. Offer valid for new Consultant enrollees September 1–30, 2010. Limit one discount-priced Triple Play kit per order per customer. Offer valid while supplies last.

Sophmore Year 2010

2010-08-23T19:54:00.000-07:00

My baby boy - 15 yrs old. First day of school.
I prayed for him to have the full armor of God this morning. The thought of him walking through the doors of High School being hit with the world head on....every day we need to be in prayer for our kids that they will be able to stand firm and see it through!

Peach tree picker

2010-08-12T21:06:00.000-07:00

Innocent looking - just standing there

with a little help she has a peach in her sweet little hands.....

How precious is this little face? She was so proud of herself - she picked the peach!

Words cannot even begin to describe this look - I just love this sweet, silly, precious little girl.

Life is a gift.

We have so many sweet families that we know that are going through such sadness and trials - my heart is so heavy and in prayer for them. God has blessings for us in each day - today mine was a child to help remind me...... just how sweet life is.

I love this scripture that reminds me that when our lives are shaken to the core - our God whose love does not fail - His peace will not be removed - and He has compassion on His child.

Isaiah 54: 10

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

Thank You God for Answered Prayer -

2010-08-02T19:16:00.000-07:00

Psalm 150:6

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.

Believing God

2010-07-25T19:11:00.000-07:00

I just have to share this past week with you - God amazes me -
All my boys went to Colorado for an eight day fly fishing trip - I just love how I had all these plans to do things while my boys were gone and most of them I did, but I had planned on scrap booking up a storm and I just was not in the mood. One thing that was good was, and I have told my boys over and over since they got home - "I cannot believe how clean the house stayed" - it didn't take long for the "lived in look" to appear once they got home - but something else that appeared.....life. I enjoyed the quiet for a while but what I missed the most was not being able to talk to Greg. They had internet service but no phone service so the only communication I had was an email most nights.
All that to get to my main point: I get a K-Love email every morning and I have been struggling with a decision that needs to be made - I am trying not to obsess on it - I prayed to God for guidance - and that is exactly what I received. Below is the date and the scripture that I received each day from the day Greg left to the day he returned -
God never ceases to amaze me.

Saturday 7/17/2010
I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain.
~ Psalm 3:4, NLT
Sunday 7/18/2010
For I am waiting for you, O Lord. You must answer for me, O Lord my God.
~ Psalm 38:15, NLT
Monday 7/19/2010
For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!
~ 2 Corinthians 4:17, NLT
Tuesday 7/20/2010
Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.
~ John 14:1, NLT
Wednesday 7/21/2010
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
~ Philippians 4:6, NLT
Thursday 7/22/2010
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
~ 1 Peter 5:7, NLT
Friday 7/23/2010
My experience shows that those who plant trouble and cultivate evil will harvest the same.
~ Job 4:8, NLT - this one stumped me so I went and looked in context - and prayed - I take it as a warning to not hire anyone that will bring strife and I need to continue to seek God.
Saturday 7/24/2010
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
~ John 16:33, NLT
Is this not amazing - God knows - I cried out to Him in prayer every morning and actually all day long and I have had a peace - I have to fight back the worries and the pressure and continually remember God's Words - on Saturday the 24th I heard a lady say that God gives us little nuggets of His Words each day to put in our treasure box - and that is exactly what the above scriptures are to me! I know He is in control and He has the perfect person I need, and I pray that I will listen and obey and make a good decision. I am so thankful for the peace that He has blessed me with and I will continue in "believing God" for an answer. This past week the verses made me realize that my "problem" is so small compared to others - Betty and I went to visit and pray with a precious lady whose body is being eaten alive by cancer. She is in such pain that she has to continually stay on a heating pad for any kind of relief. In her floor were stacks of World Bible School papers that she continues to work through....amazing. In her storm she is still sharing the gospel with the lost and being a faithful servant to the God she loves with all her being. Wednesday night the speaker reminded us that the moon we go outside and look at is the exact same moon that David looked at when he wrote some of the Psalms... I loved that thought... our God is eternal - he reminded us that the only problem we have is when we choose to believe that our problem is bigger than our God! no way - God has blessed me with a husband that loves and gives me such joy and patiently listens to me - I have to wonder if God is not glad Greg is home to give Him a break from some of the listening time - haha - remember to let your light shine -

Save the date!

2010-07-20T19:18:00.000-07:00

September 18, 2010 - 9:30 a.m.
First Baptist Church
1701 Avenue K
Tahoka, Texas
Advanced tickets $15 - lunch included
Contact First Baptist Church:
806-561-4557
I just want to encourage everyone to please come on Saturday the 18th of September and receive a huge blessing. If you cannot come please keep this event in your prayers for a successful turnout. My sister-in-law had this laid on her heart to bring this event to Tahoka - please join us!

His Way

2010-07-10T20:53:00.000-07:00

Trust - in His timing

Rely - on His promises

Wait - for His answers

Believe - in His miracles

Rejoice - in His goodness

Relax - in His presence

Come near to God and He will come near to you.

James 4:8

Quote from a little Pass it on message card - named Trust in His timing - thanks God I needed this little reminder -

Summer Fun

2010-07-07T20:53:00.001-07:00

This is a "gel card" I used a small ziploc bag, Treg's hair gel and it turned out so cute - I stamped the fish on the inside of the card and you can see through - fun card to make - and you just can't help squishing the gel -

I got to have all my kids for the 4th of July weekend and this is the only half-way decent picture they would give me - they didn't cooperate with me. I told them I wanted a picture of us all together and of course that didn't happen! Oh well, someday - I still enjoyed just being with them and having us all together - God is so good.

Here are my babies - Dexter and Lucy Lu - I thought this pic was so good - they got to go with us for the 4th - Hope your holiday was blessed -

Love...Love...Love....

2010-06-30T23:13:00.000-07:00

I purchased a new book - I highly recommend it - the name is Love Letters from God by Bonnie G. Schluter. A mother wrote these letters and gave to her sons as they went off to college - the family compiled this book in her memory. I have copied straight from the book one letter that just touched my heart and here it is - just imagine God speaking this letter to you....
Dear child:
All of My children are in need of constant uplifting. Why does it bother you that you can say things to uplift others, yet you cannot uplift yourself? Don't you realize that this is all according to My plan? If each of you could fulfill his own needs, you would become independent, and you would not need each other.
Always remember that you are all members of one body. Each one of you has distinct talents and gifts that can help others. Be open to the gifts I make available to you. Be willing to be a channel through which I can help others.
Avail yourself of Christian fellowship, and be open to the people I put in your path. I use many people to help you with your daily problems. I can even use the ones you consider your enemies.
Listen for My voice. In the quietness of your prayer time, listen for My voice. I am always ready to talk to you. The question is, are you ready to listen?
Know how pleased I am that you are in that place, in that time frame, in the flow of the anointing where miracles can be created, in your life and in the lives of all I send who come under your influence.
Love! Love! Love! Never be caught not loving. It is only as you live in love that you fulfill My will in your life. Let your life be inspired by love, controlled by love, and driven by love. Let love rule every area of your life.
My dear child, many are the seeds you have planted that have grown up in Me and are now full-grown trees-ready to bear much fruit. Take and eat of the fruit of the Spirit.
Take Joy and see your strength increase.
Take Peace and your love will be secure.
Take Patience and you will overcome every adverse situation in your life.
Take Gentleness and your conduct will always reflect My love.
Take Goodness and spread My love to all you meet.
Take Faith, for it is love's confidence.
Take Meekness, for it is love's humility.
Take Temperance, for it is love's victory.
Yes, take and eat of the fruit of the Spirit. Eat and live that your joy may be full as you continue to bear much fruit.
Remember, My child, you are excellent because My Spirit is in you. I love you. I love you with an everlasting love.
Love, God
Friends are gifts from God - and I am so thankful for my Christian friends that I have in my life. May we continue to grow in the wonderful fruit of the Spirit -
I hope that you are blessed from this - Remember - give someone a hug, I was reminded today that in our prayer time we need to slow down, give God the time He deserves - talk to Him, meditate on His Glory, lift our hands in praise and in submission, listen to God - don't just pray a want list - and most important let our motives be pure and genuine then.... our lives will be a sweet, sweet aroma for God. love ya, pl

Designer shoes -

2010-06-27T19:08:00.000-07:00

Rhealee's little pink shoes - I couldn't find white so we just stuck on clear rhinestones - to give them bling - when she saw her shoes (before I decorated them) she had to put them on - there was no telling the little one "no" - needless to say we got pizza sauce on them - but no problem - we just covered up the mess with bling!

For Taryn - $3 walmart shoes....

and here ya go - Taryn designed them - she picked the colors and the bling -

After they dried and I got the shoe strings back in they did turn out so cute. I just used a black sharpie on the animal print and used pink paint to fill in. Was it smart to do this project while I was keeping both girls? Well.....we had a "few" little ooops - but just made fun memories!

Lets just imagine together -

2010-06-25T06:15:00.000-07:00

I am not sure how I came across this artist - but when I searched his name and saw some of his paintings I was amazed at the depth and I loved how he opens our imagination to how mighty our God is - this first video is so cool it tells of his latest painting that will be in Texas - yeah - and then explains some of the images in the painting. I know this is one man's view, but it is worth the watch - trust me. The next video is my favorite - set to the Revelation song the paintings of this one artist brought me to tears. They are so deep and you can tell he has read the scriptures - I wish the pictures would not pass so quickly - some are so deep in their meaning. Enjoy!

Don't you love how the pictures portray and encourage us that God is with us - our Immanuel. As a parent I loved the pictures of our children being watched over and protected - and as I was recently reminded - read the last chapter of Revelation and if you are going through a trial or heartache please remember in Jesus.....we have already won the fight! Thank you Jesus, pl

Father's Day 2010

2010-06-22T10:25:00.001-07:00

Sammy, (my older brother), me and my dad -

Cody, (Greg's baby brother) Greg (being so silly), Papa and Treg - this is normal at our house - Greg and Cody making everyone crack up!

Peyton and her daddy Jerid - I love this picture so sweet -

Mamaw and little Peyton

Micki and Peyton - look at that grin and those little teeth -she loved the pool!

Nana Ruth (my mom), Nanny (Greg's mom) Aunt C, and Samantha -striking a pose -

On Sunday we had both families to celebrate Father's Day - It was a day good and we are so thankful for our Dads and their health. The older I get the more I realize how important relationships are and the time that we spend together. I have to also say that I could not have been blessed with a better man than Greg - he is such a good dad to my kids and a good christian role model. I appreciate everyone that tolerated being crammed into our house - it made things interesting.

Psalm 150:6 - Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.

Fun and Sun

2010-06-19T20:26:00.001-07:00

Taryn with her floaties and the noodle - she is swimming so good this year!

Rhealee in her whale and having lots of fun -

They have matching swim suits and they are so precious - I love how Rhealee has her mouth open too!

Taryn just relaxing -

Precious little girls - I love them so -

I just hate when you get so attached to someone and then they tell you they are moving - Yep, the first of July the Golden's are moving - I have tried to look at the positive side of this (through tears) - the only thing that I am coming up with is that Cory & Charissa prayed and God opened the door - I will miss them so much and can't even tell ya how much I will miss Taryn & Rhealee - uggghhhh - I have enjoyed them so much. Since I do not have any grand babies of my own Cory & Char told me I could be the fairy godmother of their girls - so that is what I have been these last few years. I am thankful for all the times that I have got to keep the girls. They are so much fun! If I have so much love for these 2 little girls I cannot even imagine how crazy I will be when I have grand babies of my own! and yes Cortney Marie remember that I am doing the Bible study this summer of "I'm Believing God!" - someday......until then I will just have to love on all the little ones that I can.

Forgiveness in real life

2010-06-09T22:03:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking alot about "forgiveness" or maybe I should say "unforgiveness". In a little daily devo book I have it calls unforgiveness a bondage - quote from the book -"When we want to be free from the burden of not forgiving, we want God simply to take that person out of our minds. We want Him to wave a magic wand so we'll never have to think about that person again. That's not how God works. He wants to transform and renew our minds so we can think the thoughts of Christ about the person we are supposed to forgive." by Beth Moore Breaking Free day by day.

I have often heard the saying - well I may forgive but I will not forget. When someone hurts you it can roll around in your mind and begin to eat you up as a cancer or you may be the type that blocks out and doesn't deal with the problem. My personal way I handle hurts are to put my "walls" up and avoid or clam up. Recently I had a situation that I got mad/hurt and couldn't sleep that night, I tossed and turned and was miserable. I got up for my morning quite time and the first scripture I came to (keep in mind I was still fuming and not ready to forgive or even think about it! I had been hurt and "thought" I had a right to be mad) ok the scripture when I just opened my Bible was -Ephesians 4:26-27 "In your anger do not sin" Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

I felt as though I had my arms folded in tight and just thought to myself I know this is what Your Word says, but....I am not ready to forgive. I can tell ya when you act this way God is not pleased. After several more very direct Words from God to straighten up - the situation got brought out in the open and healing, forgiveness and the peace came back into the relationship. The last part of that scripture about giving the devil a foothold - this is so true - when you are upset/mad is it not so normal that we all tend to "blow" things a bit out of proportion and doubt, rudeness, all the things that are opposite of the fruits of the spirit flood your mind. Crazy - I can see it now and I know better, but I still do it. God's way is so much better - why oh why do I continue to fall?
This is a battle I have to pray daily for God to help me overcome.

I heard once that unforgiveness is like drinking poison while waiting for the other person to die.

I have to wonder if anyone has ever felt this way or seen this take place - the unforgiving person is miserable while the other person has no clue. A "festering" is going on - and when you fester you usually have a stench or smell that goes along with it!

My past has haunted me and with the help of God I want to lay it down at the foot of the cross and "humbly" (not beating myself up for failure) but with a pure clean heart serve God with all my might. I believe we go through trials to humble us, help us to be more understanding, and allow us to know the strength we feel can come from God alone. Remember that others may not forget - but.... I have to remember how God forgives - this was said when Jesus had been beaten beyond recognition and hanging on a cross... Luke 23:34 Jesus said, "Father forgive them, they do not know what they are doing." - wow - I must extend the same kind of forgiveness God has shown me to others - when we truly forgive someone that has hurt us the peace that God puts in our hearts is beyond anything our mortal minds can comprehend - we are free....
Ephesians 1 (The Message)
7-10Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.
11-12It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
13-14It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.
I heard a great talk today that put a lot of things in perspective for me - in tears the speaker said that we have things we are not proud of, we have a hard time forgiving ourselves and it is a fact that others don't forget - BUT.... God forgives and forgets - our sins are wiped clean - thank you Jesus!

We are called to love each other - Life is too short to go around stewing mad, drinking poison, or carrying a big ole chip on our shoulders - God has called us to be His children, to be transformed into His likeness - let's drink in His love, His forgiveness, His grace, His mercy and in return give what we have received to others as freely as we have received from God.

Our Memorial Weekend

2010-06-04T11:00:00.000-07:00

Our weekend started off getting to keep the girls Friday night - they are so sweet....

Strike a pose - and the funny part is I didn't tell her to - it just comes natural

ok - this is where we need a reminder that Cory & Char need our prayers - the look on Rhealee's face is she wanted the bucket that Taryn had. A very determined look and a death grip on the bucket. I cannot remember who won I was laughing too hard. (check out the dog bone in the other hand!)

ok this is such a sweet picture - those little curls and sweet little fingers - so precious

Taryn loved the roses - I kept trying to warn her about the thorns but she continued to touch them until she got pricked and then her face just dropped - I told her I wasn't sure why God put thorns on roses but they are so pretty and smell so good -

Now tell me why would Rhealee be fascinated with our doggy door???? good news she never went through it!

Ok this is my all time favorite picture - I told her to say, "macaroni and cheese" and I caught her with the macaroni - melts my heart...

Ok Saturday was the project of putting a new liner in our swimming pool - we later had a cookout and birthday cake for Treg - we all had heat stroke and sunburn! but the pool is awesome now - we are so thankful for all our friends that helped.

Monday we had a family cookout and birthday party for Treg - I love this picture of him - I cannot believe my baby will be "15" - he is such a great kid and we are so blessed. (he is in Dallas this weekend with Papa and Nanny having lots of fun!) June 6 - Happy Birthday Treg - we love you.

Blessings come in small packages

2010-05-23T19:42:00.000-07:00

My little 5 yr. old class today learned the Bible story of Tabitha and Peter. Acts 9:36-42. Tabitha helped widows and the poor by sewing them coats and clothes. Tabitha became sick and died, Peter came to her house and the people she had helped showed Peter the wonderful things she had made for them, and they were so sad that such a helper of the Lord was gone. Peter told the friends to leave him alone with the dead body, he knelt, prayed to God and then told Tabitha to get up! and she did. I prayed for God to help me get this story across to 5 yr olds - so here is what we came up with....
these are the sweet little fingers of my only girl in the class today, Kara. Look how precious her little fingers are, she was so careful and did such a good job. I brought a scarf and let the kids pick a button out of my button box and they got to "sew" the button on the scarf.

Wes did a great job too! I told the boys that when they go to college and their button pops off, they will know how to sew it back on. They all did so good.

Here is a shot of the scarf layed out, 4 boys and 1 girl - I would have taken more pics but the thought of leaving this class with a needle, thread and scissors made me a little nervous!

I knew that we would give the scarf to someone I just wasn't sure who - after we finished the scarf I just said a prayer for God to place who needed a blessing in my mind and the first person I saw was Mrs. Bobbie - she was so thrilled. We told her the story and how the kids wanted to be like Tabitha and be a helper for Jesus - The whole class loved getting to pick out their button and sew it on all by themselves! I pray that they will remember the Bible stories but most of all it will be etched on their minds that Jesus loves them and He is so alive and active today! My class is a huge blessing in my life - they may be small, but they are so full of a pure love. God is so good.

3 Posts in 1

2010-05-17T20:05:00.001-07:00

Post 1: Mother's Day with my boys - I missed having Cortney here (I got to see her 1 week prior). It was a great day and I am so blessed to have my children, my Mom and Greg's Mom & Mamaw!

Post 2: Charissa's b-day - I love this picture - look at that sweet dimple - I have loved this precious little angel since I found out her Mommy & Daddy became pregnant. She is such a little princess -

I absolutely love love this picture - It looks like she is raising her hand praising God! Actually she has a maraschino cherry in her mouth and she doesn't know what she wants to do with it - chew it, spit out, or just keep rolling it around in her mouth. I just can't get enough of this little girl.

Charissa turned 30 this month and we celebrated a "belated" birthday for her. The only request she made was a banana split cake - Greg and I are so blessed to know this sweet couple and are so thankful they share their babies with us. ps. if you will notice one hershey bar is missing a cherry - I just wonder where it could be???

Post 3:

Tonight we started a new Bible study - Believing God - we did this study about 4 yrs ago and we had a few in our group that had not done it - I am so excited to see what God is going to open our eyes to this summer!

Last night I was privileged to get to go to a Christian concert - Kari Jobe and the Desperation Band - it was such a blessing - oh it was so good - Psalms 18 is what Kari read to us to focus our minds on God is a God who listens and hears us when we cry out to Him and He is worthy of our praise! Thank you Thank you Jesus for all you have blessed me with!

The Aroma of Christ

2010-05-14T07:43:00.000-07:00

Greg took these pictures of our spanish broom bush -

I just love spring - when things start turning green, the blooms, the budding of flowers. Our backyard in late spring and summer becomes a place I can go and feel a peace. I love to sit and just look at the flowers, hear the leaves in the trees rustling in the wind, and just enjoy the beauty of God's creation. This time of year we have on the east, south, and west side of our house several spanish broom bushes that bloom a yellow bloom in the spring - they give off the sweetest smell. When we walk into our backyard it is a wonderful aroma a sweet smell - I just love it. I have been rolling this thought around in my head ever since I read this scripture:

2 Corinthians 2:14-15

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

I cannot help but think that as Christians in this world we are the "aroma of Christ" to others. We are to be a fresh fragrance that Christ living in us spreads to everyone. I noticed the other day when the wind was blowing and I went in the backyard I didn't smell the sweet smell - I saw the blooms but the smell was not as strong. Then this morning when I opened the back door I was overwhelmed with the sweet smell in the calmness of the morning. Again, my mind went to compare this to my life - Satan can sometimes be the wind in my life trying to blow the "aroma" away by sending crises and problems, worries that take my mind off of Christ and the knowledge of Him - but I thought the blooms are still there, and the wind will pass and the fragrance is still there! I searched the word aroma in the Bible and the OT is packed full of scriptures talking about "a pleasing aroma" or "an aroma pleasing to the LORD" - only by allowing God to transform us - have complete access to our lives - we will then begin to become a pleasing aroma to Him. Look at the scripture above -and just imagine we can praise God daily for He leads us in a triumphal procession in Christ - I can just imagine like in the Rose bowl parade, imagine us in the parade for Christ - God is "leading" us! I have never been to the rose bowl parade and since TV has no smell - but I can bet ya the sweet aroma that comes from all of the floats - I love the smell of a florist shop, can't imagine. Well, how much more are we as Christians when we walk into a room to fill it with the sweet pleasing aroma of Christ. This is "Not" something that can come from human effort - only God. I do not want my "aroma" to be like an air freshener masking the bad smell of sin and worldliness - I want the aroma to be from God and pleasing to God! I pray that I will always remember to keep my mind, heart and life pure.

Mother's Day Cards

2010-05-11T18:03:00.000-07:00

The pink rose card is the card I made for Mom - I used baby pink, bubblegum and white daisy CTMH cardstock. I used my cuttlebug for the scallop circles and background. I found the roses at Micheal's - then I just grouped them together, rolled the bottoms and tied my ribbon. I used my Martha Stewart punch for the heart border and added tiny pearls. The inside of the card was stamped Happy Mother's Day - If you click on the picture you can see the card better - This card below is Mamaw's card and I used the stamp set Golden Years and masked the second rose to lay over the first. I colored with my prisma and added our new Glitz stardust glitter glue - love it - it added the perfect shimmer to the roses. The edges I used the stamp set playful flourishes and a tiny pearl in the center of each -simple fast card.

The next card I made for Greg's mom - I used the cuttlebug and baby pink CTMH cardstock and added pearls. The birdhouse is from the stamp set Love Birds - I pop dotted it up and cut out the tiny little bird and added - the inside of the card had the word "you" and then happy Mother's day! This card turned out so cute - it would be great for lots of occasions -

I Dedicate this post to my kids:

2010-05-01T19:06:00.000-07:00

Cortney, Brennon & Treg this video is from me to you - I laughed so hard this video made me cry. A couple of years ago Cortney and Brennon kept talking about the song by Beyonce - All the single ladies - and I got to see Cortney do her version of the dance - I love yall and hope this will make you laugh too! enjoy

Love mom - Beyonce I am not!

The Golden girls

2010-04-25T19:09:00.000-07:00

Rhealee - oh how I love to babysit these girls -

Taryn blowing bubbles -

I loves this pic - she was telling me we needed to have our picnic -

Rhealee is tempting Lucy with the ball -

I made them these little hats - this pic was with my older camera - a bit blurry

How sweet is this pic - I just love these little girls - they give me such joy!

So Long, Insecurity you've been a bad friend

2010-04-24T19:58:00.000-07:00

Oh wow I got to go today to the Simulcast of Beth Moore for her new book on Insecurity! It was so good. I had a million things to do at the house today and almost felt guilty for going but I just put my to do list aside and got up early and headed to Lubbock - and at the start Beth said if you are here it is because God wanted you here - and I can tell you what I learned today I pray will sink in and help me to be a better Christian and those that know me will begin to see a change!

I got to go with my Mom and sister in law and we had such a great day. I just love them and I am so thankful for my family.

First thing this morning this is what the reading for today was in my "Breaking Free" day by day book - this is straight out of the book:
I am the Lord God, who teaches you for your benefit, who leads you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17
We hopefully will be able to discover a few reasons why we are so reluctant to submit to God's authority, but we must remember that bending the knee is ultimately a matter of pure obedience.
As I said, I finally had to turn some of the hurts of my childhood over to God's sovereign authority because I realized they would consume me like a cancer. If you have not yet bowed the knee to God's authority over areas of your past, something is holding you captive. You can have the peace of Christ no matter what your circumstances, but you must believe, bend the knee, and learn to receive.
this was straight out of the Beth Moore little day by day book and I thought it fit perfectly with what I learned today - God is so good. One point that just nailed me was
Life is hard - if a heart doesn't heal it will become hard
I know it is not for me to become secure in myself - but to know and believe that God loves me, God has forgiven me, and God is with me.
pl

Pure

2010-04-21T21:04:00.000-07:00

At the first of the year K-Love wanted you to pick one word and that be your word for the year. Kind of like a new years resolution but with one word having a bigger impact on you than a normal resolution. I prayed about this and wanted to have a word - I chose "pure" I desire to have my mind, my heart, and life more pure. I know this song isn't new but I just love it -

March and April have been busy - as you can tell from my lack of postings. I had signed up to teach 3 of the Wednesday night ladies classes and then I had to talk to a "young mom class" that meets on Tuesday mornings. I told Greg I don't know why I sign up for ways of putting myself in a position to get in front of ladies and talk. I could teach children about the Bible every day - but adults - ugghhh - I am get so nervous and have to beg God to just speak through me, because it is so out of my comfort zone. I love to prepare, I love to write and especially study, and God is so amazing how He guides me and opens my eyes to things I would not see on my own, I can tell people I am close to about these things and be so excited - but when it comes time to get up and actually speak - not good - my voice shakes as well as every part of my body! God has such a sense of humor with me - the 1st time I had worked for weeks on a power point presentation that I had put to a song. We got to the Church early and Greg was going to set up the projector for me and when we got there both of the projectors were being used by other teachers - screech.......... panic - but my sweet Greg worked it all out and I got to use a projector and that night went ok - 2nd time to teach I got a migraine and at 6:30 (teach at 7:00) I honestly thought I was going to be sick - much prayer and a Sonic diet coke that I downed right before class - but it was all God that got me through - 3rd time I am in front of the ladies and during the prayer to start the class as my head is bowed I see my zipper is Wide Open - bulging - ok do I zip during the prayer or afterwards???? God has such a sense of humor and He has to keep me humble so I will depend on Him every second. But always I have to fight the negative thoughts that come after a talk and I have to keep telling myself they are from Satan and pray that I will know to discern if they are from God or Satan.

We just finished the Bible study, "Breaking Free" and I am almost done with the book Insecurity and planning on going Saturday to the simulcast of it (yeah!) So my prayer is that I can become "secure" to do God's will not mine.

I do not want to let my "past" of happened for nothing. I still have to remember if God brought me through it, He can use all things, no matter what.

I want to serve God in ways "He" wants me to serve. I want to remember I do all things to please "Him" not others. I never want to do something that is out of His will.

My desire is to be pure in all things - pl

** I wrote the above last night asking the question do I continue to teach and work through the uncomfortable feelings or do I stop trying to do something that is just not me and just teach children.....I deleted that part because - this morning in my quite time this is the passage that jumped off the page:

God will work this out in my heart and mind - I just ask for prayers to be pure and seek His will.

Oh my look what we've been up to....LTC

2010-04-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

McKenzie and Evanny (on the right) - I love this pic because this was Evanny's first time to ever do LTC or even to get to go to Six Flags - on the bus I turned around and was watching her little face as we pulled up to Six Flags - it thrilled my soul to see the look in her eyes and the smile on her face! She had a great time. When we met back to leave she was so excited she had so much to tell me - Such a darling little girl -

Dominique and Taylor Holt -this was Dominique's first time for LTC and I think he enjoyed it!

Gabby and Cade - it was a joy to be around such good mannered high school kids -

Raney stacking cups - she is in my Sunday morning class and pretty quite, I finally got her to warm up to me on the bus and she has the sweetest little spirit - I love to watch little girls and the way they are so amazing - something about her reminded me of my Cortney - she has a definite style already and very independent. Thank you sweet Jesus for little girls. I pray that she will always know that she is a princess in Jesus' eyes.

Haden was so precious, I have not had a chance to get to be around him and know his little personality - oh my he is so funny and kept me in stitches laughing the whole trip. He can make the cutest little expressions - he was a trooper and such a sweetheart!

Greg and Maddie at Six Flags - I cannot handle rides that go round and round so Greg got to be the "cool" dude that got to ride all the rides. I stood and tried to watch and not get dizzy! Greg is so crammed in that little car, bless his sweet heart he had a blast with the Franklin girls

This is the 3rd and 4th grade puppet group right before they went in for the competition. I had this group for Bible Bowl and I can honestly say I fell in love with each precious child in this picture. We studied the book of 2 Samuel and I tried to bring God's Word alive to them. Oh I how love God's children!

Ok this pic is so funny - we were waiting for the puppets to start and Greg and Kate got bored. Kate had a new pair of "twinkle toe" shoes and she and Greg decided to switch shoes - too funny!

Treg and Kori Holt -

We had just got to Six Flags and I was so excited! Greg of course being silly...

LTC - stands for Leadership Training for Christ - we took 18 kids and at least that many sponsors and teachers. We have Bible bowl - a test that has 75 Bible questions on the book of the Bible for that year - Puppets, Song leading, Signing language to a hymn, drama, speech, art and many other events the kids compete and have a chance at winning gold, silver, or bronze. The main purpose it to teach them to be leaders and for them to learn to be strong Christian leaders.

I can honestly say that God has blessed me. How I pray that each child will come to know and love God. That seeds were planted and God will become "real" for each child. Please Father hear our prayers.

Take time...

2010-03-06T06:44:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we went to Odessa to watch Treg (a freshman) play in a tennis tournament. He is now taller than me, growing into a fine young man. This morning one of the studies I did was on "Quick" how as mom's we hurry our kids - hurry up, come on hurry, stop that come here, we are late! hurry up, hurry, hurry, hurry. ughhhh.... I found this picture of this little boy playing tennis, and I can tell you it brought tears to my eyes. (sorry I don't have a pic of Treg, was in to big of a "hurry" to get to Odessa and forgot my camera!) How has time gone by so fast, how did Treg grow up so fast and not a little boy like this anymore? As I sat in the stands and cheered him on I honestly cannot believe how fast our time with him has gone. I was reminded of going through the high school years with Cortney and Brennon. In watching all the high school girls I was taken back to when Cortney was their age all the fun crazy drama she brought into our lives - Brennon played tennis also and he was so much fun to have around with his sense of humor that could always make me laugh. I wish I would have taken a little more time to enjoy them while I had them all at home.

I went to a funeral this past week of a 92 yr. old precious lady. She was ready to go home to her Lord - the poem "The dash" was read - a good reminder of we are living the dash right now - we do not know how many more days we will have on this earth -

Cancer is robbing a young father of his life and he does not have much time left on this earth with his pretty young wife and 2 precious baby girls, and I can just imagine they are going to be clinging to the memories they have with each other. Oh Father in heaven please comfort and give them strength to get through this time.

Quick - Isaiah 30:19b "How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you."
don't rush through life, but remember that God is God and He is quick to listen, quick to love you, quick to forgive, quick to rescue, quick to rejoice over you -
He has to remind us as His children, to be still.....to wait.....to watch.... He has it under control -
I challenge you today -
take time... if you have little ones at home - don't rush or hurry them - sit down and just see the world through their little eyes - go outside sit, play, listen.....
take time... to give your parents a big hug and a kiss on the cheek and tell them you love them.
take time... to stop and call a lonely widow, or better yet go by and just sit and visit
take time... to tell your spouse you love them -
take time... if your kids are grown and gone just let them know how proud you are of them
take time... to put your "to do list" aside and just be still with God for a moment -
take time... to relish in the moment of today - today is a gift............. your gift from God -
what are you going to do with it?

Sunday Blessing

2010-02-28T18:17:00.000-08:00

I am still teaching the 5 yr old class on Sunday mornings - I am so thankful that I get to be blessed with watching these little ones soak up God's Bible stories - today was Zacchaeus the "wee" little man. I let them act out most of the stories and take turns with the different characters. I love to watch them play the part, but mostly to see them taking it in. I can only hope that the most important part that they remember is the Love of Jesus - everything Jesus does is out of love for others.

Tonight's service was the young men doing the service - I love to hear the little guys get up and say the sweetest most pure prayers - to lead us in songs - to read scriptures - and some who give talks. I was so proud of Bo Franklin tonight - he got up and had to tell his favorite Bible story and he chose Noah and the Ark - he told the story of Noah and how he didn't get tired and give up - at the end he admitted that he had got in to trouble last week and he said that this Bible story helped encourage him to know of God's love and he needed to obey just like Noah obeyed God. Precious - then he went straight into leading the song "Holy Ground"

Treg gave a talk on God as our deliverer - he was so excited and did a great job - I am so proud of him and how he is allowing God to lead him in his walk with Christ.

We have a young man that is on a walker and has special needs - we waited while he struggled to get up from the pew, get his walker and slowly make it down the isle - Eric helped hold the song book and Chris lead us in the song "Faithful Love" - I sat there and was overcome with emotions - how precious this young boy that was born with some tough handicaps - but he proudly stood before the congregation and sang out so sweetly faithful love. I was so touched - Jesus said let the little children come to me - Jesus Loves children - and I believe He had a very special place in His heart for them - I have to agree so do I - they are just so precious!

Thank you for the gift of children -

Prayer -

2010-02-18T18:12:00.000-08:00

Our study for Wednesday night class was on prayer and this past Monday night our video talked on prayer also - God is so good how He works these kind of things together. Before I go on any further please just look at the picture of the praying children above - I love - love the little boy that is raising his hands and the little boy next to him with eyes tightly shut and hands clasped together. Isn't it precious how they are praising God right where they are - torn shirt, dirty....still lifting holy hands to God -
God opened my eyes to a couple of points on prayer -
1. The definition of pray - verb. To pour one's heart out before God in praise, repentance, thanksgiving, and petition.
2. Prayer is a cycle of emptying and filling. Emptying ourselves of all the baggage that fills up in our life, pouring out our anxiety, laying our sorrow at His feet - when we empty self....it opens us up for God to pour in His Spirit, His Peace, His Joy.
3. Prayer is where we meet God - when we pray we are entering into God's presence....which is holy ground - this is a mind set of "who God is" and who we are - by the blood of Jesus I am His child, but I need to always remember that God is holy. He always will listen and He always cares.
4. Prayer is a conversation with God - it is a time we can come before God and pour out our hearts, come with a thankful heart, seek direction, comfort, help and know God hears every word. But a huge reminder is that a conversation should be 2 sided. I need remember that I do not need to give God my list and then amen it - I need to come and sit before God, not only in meditation but in prayer time - allow Him to speak to my heart. Listen for His answer, fill me with His peace.
In our video we learned that prayer works - We have to know and believe it! If you pray in the "moment" right before history is made, right before you say a word you cannot take back, right before you make a huge mistake - pray- This requires a mind that is Christ centered - I know if I want to be free in Christ - I have to run to Him and lay my burdens on Him.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:9

Happy Valentine day to you...

2010-02-13T20:37:00.000-08:00

This is a horrible picture but these are some valentine goodies I have been working on - How fun to have a day to tell someone that God Loves them and so do I!

The above is a card I made for Cortney and Greg Mc 1 yr. wedding annv. and valentine day card - the side of the card says "Everything grows better with love."

The pink flowers are from my sweetie Greg - I love him so -

Here is a pic of some tulips I got for my birthday from Dan & Susie - it makes me so ready for spring -----

Last but not least here is the next class I am doing and all this class is already full! It is a cupcake gift card holder and oh how cute it is! I got the idea from Tresa Black and she had a great tutorial -

The pics are so blurry - it is so cute in person. Hope you have a great day and be sure to remember those that don't have a valentine....give them a hug. luv ya, pl

Open my eyes Lord .....

2010-02-09T19:49:00.000-08:00

I love this song and with the study that we are going through I am asking this of God. Open my eyes Lord - I want to stretch and grow - I want to open up to what God knows....not what I know - my feelings get the best of me - tossing me all around - I want to keep God very near, because my feelings make it so very unclear - Open Lord give me the strength....please don't allow me to keep it closed - in our video last night we learned:

Lies = captivity and Truth = freedom

I am so very sick of believing the lies of satan - the lies of the world - the lies that I have held on to for so long. We learned last night when you hold on to them so tightly in your hand you are holding on tight to a lie therefore = being a captive to it - But if I open my tight grip and drop to my knees and lay it at the foot of the cross, bring it into the Light, give it to God....then healing...restoring...and freedom will come not maybe, not if....it is a promise of God. Something that was said last night that hit me like a rock was:

God's Truth is more powerful to free me than my truth is at keeping me in bondage - another words God is bigger - I have to "know" "believe" and "understand"....Him not anything else.

Open my eyes to God's Truth.

My favorite lesson from last week was Day 4 - something I want to drill into my head is this section from day 4 - The path to peace is paved with knee-prints. Bend the knee to His trustworthy authority. Surrender every part of your life and every concern of your heart to the all-powerful, all-sufficient, all-knowing Creator of heaven and earth. "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts" Col. 3:15. Peace is not something I can produce - it has to come from Christ.

Can you not just imagine your path of life .....and looking back you see knee-prints along the way - yes I know that God will carry me through hard times when I need Him, and at times in my life I will be dancing with joy along the way, other times may feel like I am not sure what path to take but I have to "know" that God is right beside me all along the way - I can only pray that no matter what mountains I have to climb or rocks that fall in my path - my EYES are always looking to Him and with "both" my hands I will be holding on to Him for dear life - my Abba Father, King of Kings, Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, Alpha and Omega. luv ya, pl

Oh how "Sweet" it is...

2010-02-03T18:32:00.000-08:00

I had the privilege to get to babysit last Friday night! Charissa called and asked if we had plans and I was so excited. Look at how precious Rhealee is.... she has little curls and her teeth are just so darn cute - I got to rock her to sleep and I told Greg if I could rock snugly babies to sleep every day for a living I would do it in a heart beat.

Here is a picture of Taryn and Greg - look at her sweet little hands - Greg is great to help me and if I do say so myself he can color very good for a big old guy! Apparently in this pic...he was not doing something to Taryn's liking. Greg would not let Taryn color on his picture and without him knowing she got a bit upset...when Charissa & Cory came to get them the first thing Taryn did was to tattle tale on Greg - too funny. He thought they were playing but she took it to heart.

I have lots more pics I would love to post but you get the idea - I am just "crazy" about these girls -

Our memory verse for this week is - Isaiah 43:10 "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me."

God chose me.....and He wants me to "know" "believe" and "understand" that God is God.

How ironic it is that all satan has to do is take just one of these away, and the formula doesn't work. We live in a world that is like a huge vacuum sucking us all toward the lies of satan. Money, Status, Material things, the way we view or bodies our appearance, ect. Tonight in Bible class a lady said the most important thing we can do is....FOCUS on God..... not on things, not on self, not on what others have and we don't. Before we say a word....focus on God....before we re-act .....focus on God..... I see how quickly we can be pulled out of our walk with Christ and walking down the path of the world - and the end of the road is not at all what it appears to be from afar.

My prayer is that I can take this memory verse to heart, etch it into my mind, my heart and to - Know that my God is who He says He is.... to Know that He loves me.....to Know that He is bigger than any problem or worry that comes my way -

to Believe - the Hebrew word is aman, which means "to be firm, to be enduring, to trust." (definition is taken out of my breaking free homework)

its says believe me - believe God not the lies the world (satan) will try to put in our mind

Understand - that I am he. - look what it says "I AM - the more we dig into God's Word and come into His presence in prayer, the more His Word is like a puzzle - all the pieces fit together and I get so excited when like building blocks each time I learn something new and "understand" the deeper meaning I become so excited I want to share it with others! I want to grow each day closer to the God who chose me.

Oh how I love Jesus - He has been so good to me.

2 Posts in 1

2010-01-27T18:09:00.000-08:00

Ok - first post - Monday night we started the new Breaking Free Bible Study - Yeah - I have missed our study nights something terrible - I knew when I read the key text for this study that God had something "big" in store for us. Isaiah 61:1-4 The Year of the LORD's Favor
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
I am telling you when I read this I knew....just knew this study was going to be huge. Look at all the rich promises in this above passage. This study is going to help deliver us from our own strongholds that we are holding on to instead of God. I personally have so many issues I am not sure what is in store for me, but I know God knows and I am so ready for Him to deal with all my unhealthy "issues". We met and the workbook had suggested that we memorize Gal. 5:1 and so before class I printed out everyone a card with the Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. We are going to try to memorize our scriptures with this study - ok so we watched the introduction video and had an amazing prayer time and when everyone left we all were so excited. I realized later that night that I had not read my Praying God's Word day by day, so.... I read January 25 - I copied (highlighted below in blue) the exact devo for the exact day we started our study:

GOD CARES MORE FOR OUR FREEDOM THAN EVEN WE DO. HE INITIATED THE SAVING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HIS PEOPLE AND THEIR LIBERATOR.
O Lord, like David, help me rejoice in Your strength and say of You, "How great is my joy in the victories You give!" Father, please grant me the desire of my heart to be free from the strongholds in my life. Do not withhold the request of my lips (Ps. 21-1-2). For I know that my old self was crucified with You, so that this body of sin might be done away with, that I should no longer be a slave to sin - because anyone who has died has been freed from sin (Romans 6:6-7). I acknowledge that it is for freedom that Christ has set me free. Your desire is for me to stand firm and not let myself be burdened again by the yoke of slavery (Gal. 5:1). Help me, Lord. Empower me!
I am telling you when I read this I about jumped out of my skin! God loves to show us His power. How exciting that He even used the exact scripture - God is so amazing... I humbly bow at His feet and want to worship Him forever..... this thought takes me to Isaiah 6 - where Isaiah sees the LORD seated on His throne and the angels calling "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty: the whole earth is full of His glory." and the angels voices shook the temple - Isaiah said, "Woe to me! I am ruined or (undone)! For I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people with unclean lips, and "my" eyes have seen The KING, the LORD Almighty. Just like Isaiah, as we are learning in our homework, God calls the least likely, the unworthy and with that said I just might have a chance. I cannot tell you how blessed I feel that Jesus blood flows over me continually cleansing me, and the gift of His Spirit filling my life. I pray that my eyes and heart will "Break Free" from the chains put on by Satan. As the above quote says, "Help me, Lord. Empower me!" luv ya, pl
2nd post......
I got a new Card Creations idea book and it shows how to make the inside of your cards match the outside - Here is my first my pics posted backwards and I am too lazy to go back and fix... so the trees are the front of the card and the house is the inside -I used all CTMH products.

Here is my second card - one of my favorites! The front is of course the "Owl always" and then you open it up to "Love You" ....much cuter in person -

Ok the next card, I took a flower and cut 2 petals off - thus making the heart - the inside reads - ...and they lived happily ever after. I used a new paper pack on this card -

I love to create - these ideas came from my new idea book and I just changed them up using Close to My Heart products - Enjoy.

Great Start to 2010

2010-01-02T20:28:00.000-08:00

We have been going to Ross & Donna's for New Years Eve for the past couple of years - this year Ross & Greg fried a couple of turkeys - we played games and had a great time together -
Bo & Johnna

Kyle and Kyler - Kyler was the life of the party!

Kasity & Dayna

Donna and Me -

And the best gift a Mom could ever have - we picked Cortney up at the airport on New Year's Day - she didn't get to come in for Christmas because of the snow - I cannot put into words the joy my heart felt to have them home - Greg Mc didn't get to come and I was sad about that I pray next year will be different. I can promise you I will treasure this time I had with them home - It was a great way to start the first day of the new year !

Blessed Are The Poor in Spirit...

2009-12-31T07:06:00.000-08:00

Ok not proud to start this post out this way but I feel I need to share it. We ended our home Bible study before Thanksgiving and we decided to start back up in January. I promised myself I would get a book and continue my study time until we started back up. I could list every excuse on my list, sickness, business, kids being home, holidays and blah blah blah....bottom line I got out of the habit - the discipline - the getting up early to seek God, to dig into His Word, and this is what I feel like....this picture describes it. Empty, dying inside, and an eerie silence.
I was thinking about it the other night and realized how much like an Israelite I was....I have seen God's glory, had that close communion with Him, and because of stupidity on my part I just kind of chose other things over my quiet time. How quickly it happens. James 1:23-25 (New International Version)
23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. ok that was confession time - I didn't give up totally.... I still prayed, taught my class, read books, studied some - but it all seemed like I was on the surface. When I was used to setting a time aside just for God - for Him to work on my heart, my mind and it was deep. That is what I had not been doing. I know it's crazy - Ok here is the exciting part. One of the books I am reading is Max Lucado's - Applause of Heaven and the chapter I was on was "poor in spirit". Oh my I am just going to copy some of the sections that amazed me. He is mainly talking about the rich young ruler you can read of in Matthew 19:16-28. The rich young ruler wants to know what must "I" do to get eternal life? Jesus gets to the point. "If you want to be perfect, then go sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven." The rich young man was sad and went away - Jesus' answer shell-shocks the listeners, "With man this is impossible...." All our life we are rewarded according to our performance. That's why the rich young ruler thought heaven was just a payment away. Jesus says, "No way." What you want costs far more than what you can pay. You don't need a system, you need a Savior. For what is impossible with men is possible with God." Don't miss the thrust of this verse: You cannot save yourself. Not through right rituals. Not through right doctrine. Not through the right devotion. Not through the right goose bumps. Jesus' point is crystal clear. It is impossible for human beings to save themselves. You see, it wasn't the money that hindered the rich man; it was the self-sufficiency. Mark it down. God does not save us because of what we've done. Only a puny god could be bought with tithes. Only a great God does for his children what they can't do for themselves. And that is the message of the first beatitude. "Blessed are the poor in spirit" The jewel of joy is given to the impoverished spirits, not the affluent. God's delight is received upon surrender, not awarded upon conquest. The first step to joy is a plea for help, an acknowledgment of moral destitution, and admission of inward paucity. Those who taste God's presence have declared spiritual bankruptcy and are aware of their spiritual crisis. Their cupboards are bare. Their pockets are empty. Their options are gone. They have long since stopped demanding justice; they are pleading for mercy. They don't brag, they beg. They ask God to do for them what they can't do without him. they have seen how holy God is and how sinful they are and have agreed with Jesus' statement, "Salvation is impossible." Oh, the irony of God's delight - born in the parched soil of destitution rather than the fertile ground of achievement. It's a different path, a path we're not accustomed to taking. We don't often declare our impotence. Admission of failure is not usually admission into joy. Complete confession is not commonly followed by total pardon. But then again, God has never been governed by what is common.
The above is from the book "Applause from Heaven" it amazed me how God wanted me to see that "I" can't do anything without Him.... I had to confess, lay it out that I was like a bare cupboard. I loved this picture to imagine I am the plant, God's Word is the soil, and God has me in His hands. Thank you God for forgiveness, meeting me when I cry out, total mercy...Blessing me with a joy, filling my heart, and holding me in your hands!

I pray that you all have a blessed 2010.

The Dash

2009-12-18T19:06:00.000-08:00

We had a funeral to go to this week - my mom's cousin passed away. At the service they read the poem "The Dash" http://www.simpletruths.tv/dashpoem/
The funeral was in Dublin and I rode down with my parents, my brother and his wife and my aunt. I sat and observed .....a family hanging on to each other, hearing my mom cry with such grief that it broke my heart, talk of good memories of the past, the grief of a mother that lost her son, hearing taps being played, watching the flag being folded ever so carefully and then handed to his mother. I heard her say, "It's not right having him go before me, it's just not right. Siblings trying to be strong for their mom, and then having to say goodbye and driving out of the cemetary....death....makes you think.
We got to stop and see my son Brennon and eat supper with him on our way home - as I sat at the table I realized that we were living in the dash - a family together talking, laughing, being silly, and I am so thankful - so thankful for my family.
As the poem reads - if we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and real....
Satan loves to get our minds and focus off of God and on to worldly junk - nonsense - worries...
In this busy time of year - with all the gifts to buy, presents to wrap, places to go, food to cook, house to clean, the panic feeling of leaving someone off your list...and if we would just stop the madness long enough, and Be still.....we just might slow down enough to see God's hand in the miracle birth, imagining what the angels singing of the "good news" for the shepherds must have sounded like, the mother that had to see her Son die on a cross....and probably thinking to herself the same thought ....this just isn't right.
We have 1 week until Christmas Day....I am going to try and make the most of this Christmas - I am going to hug Greg every chance I get, and tell him I love him, I will tell my kids how much I love them, our precious parents (Greg's and mine) - we are so blessed to have them...so healthy - close to home - I will pray that I will keep my eyes on Jesus and not on worldly little problems that come our way. Laughter, being at peace with myself and others, having a joy that is contagious, having compassion when someone is broken hearted and praying for God to give me the words.... and when we look back at this Christmas we will be able to see God's precious hand on us and His love in our hearts binding us as a family.
I do wish you a very Merry Christmas...and that we will all make the most of our "dash"

God sent an angel...

2009-12-07T10:40:00.000-08:00

In my little Sunday school class yesterday we learned about the angel coming to tell Mary and Joseph the "good news".

I have never realized that in Matthew it tells of an angel of the Lord coming to Joseph in his dream, but no mention of the angel that came to Mary. Then in Luke it tells us God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, to tell Mary the good news, but no mention of the angel that came to Joseph. I have read these passages all my life and I don't think I ever noticed this. I just love how God's Word weaves together the coming of the Messiah. One other thing I came upon is that I have always imagined Gabriel to be a boy. Then in looking up some history in my study, there are pictures that portray Gabriel as a female. hugh? I asked Greg about it and he says he doesn't think that angels are male or female, they are just angels. - Isn't it funny how we just get something in our head and think that's how it is. ( I still have my opinion) I do know that the sight of an angel had to be powerful, because more times than not they always say, "do not be afraid". I love this time of year - I love the Nativity story, the excitement of knowing that the whole Old Testament is leading up to this wonderful day, of a Savior is coming! How amazing that God sent His angel to a young girl, who was found to be favored by God, and in return, she said,"I am the Lord's servant". My prayer is that I will focus on giving thanks to God for sending His one and only Son. Peace....I pray for peace in my mind, my soul, and in my heart. Col. 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts....

Christmas is here!

2009-11-28T08:22:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of a recent project.

I got the instructions from Tracy Mason's blog. I used the CTMH Jingle paper pack. It was lots of fun to make - I am thinking of going and getting 2 more smaller different sized cones to add to it. It looks so cute on my table. Trust me it is much cuter in person!

The instructions said to use spray adhesive and then pour prisma glitter all over it - I used spray glitter. I sprayed it last night around 11:00 p.m. on our back porch - lets just say this morning our back porch is so sparkly! (oops)

Greg is so patient with me and has just learned that's how it is around here with me and my projects.

Hope your Thanksgiving was blessed -

A Pure Heart

2009-11-24T18:54:00.000-08:00

Ok - with Thanksgiving in 2 days - I should be making a list of what I am thankful for...but I have to say God is laying this so heavy on my heart I just have confess this and get it worked out in my heart and mind - here goes.... We had court this week and there was a particular case of a handicapped lady that was caught stealing ( she was already on probation for stealing and was caught stealing again). She has a bad reputation and for the most part been given lots of chances. I sat there and listened to the evidence, watched a video of the crime, and I knew that I had a hardness in my heart toward this case. I felt no mercy for her, I just wanted her to realize she could not work the system using her handicap. My job is not to decide guilt or innocence, I am just the keeper of the records, but sitting in court and hearing it all I tend to get caught up in it. I realized my harsh attitude and admitted it....but I thought justice should be done. In the testimony it came out that the house she was living in with others had "no" running water. She admitted to using drugs and the attorney for the State said the money she stole was for drugs. She testified no it was for food - that she was hungry. She was sentenced to go to prison - I am so thankful that our Judge is very fair, he listens to all the evidence, and he explained to her that she stole from a girl at a youth group, from kids trying to make good choices of being at a youth fun night - and that her actions shattered all those youths trust. But what I was hit so hard with this morning was....who am I????

I am not told to look down on people, I am not told to judge others,

I am told to pray for everyone....I am told to have a love for everyone.... I have been shown by God so much mercy, forgiveness and love - really who do I think I am?

Yes, I believe the punishment fit the crime and there are consequences to our actions -

but what I need to do from now on is to pray for their soul, let them see the love of Christ in my eyes, pray that someone will share the "Good News" (even if it's in prison) with them. My desire in this world is to have such a pure heart it is evident to all that know me - but as you just read I feel very far from having a pure heart. I know that I have got to cling so tight to Jesus, His Word, and have a tender heart toward all. I am thankful that even after I mess up, He is still able to prick my heart to see my sin.... God has placed me in my job, and I just need to realize every single person that I come in contact with was also created by God. I am blessed to have running water, food, and health - forgive me Father when I am not compassionate toward others. It is times like this that I realize that oh sure it's easy to talk the "Jesus talk" but when the real facts hit you in the face of how you feel, how you think, and how you react, there are times when the "Jesus talk" doesn't align with "self" - I love God with all my heart, soul and mind - with tears in my eyes I feel a peace in my heart of knowing that God isn't through with me yet - luv ya, pl

The More I Seek You

2009-11-15T18:34:00.000-08:00

Today at Church Greg Holt said a prayer - he has just returned from India, and he referred to the idols that he saw everywhere - animal heads out in the open. He referred to the idols that we have in our lives and we need to realize anything - anything that we put before God can become an idol. In meditating on the day, and praying for God to help me to seek Him, this song came on my ipod - I just love how God is so big, He hears us when His children call out to Him. Below is a video of the song, of course it's one of my favorites! The thought of sitting at the feet of Jesus, leaning back against him and breathe, to feel his heartbeat. Melt in His peace......a love so deep.
A promise the more we seek Him, the more we find Him.

In Prayer for the Brown family

2009-11-10T21:21:00.000-08:00

Hearts are broken, shock is in so many eyes - a beautiful young vibrant 17 yr. old christian went home to be with her Lord today. I cannot even imagine the pain and loss the family must be feeling right now. All that can be done is to lift this family, their church family and all of the friends up continually in prayer to God. Treg didn't know her but a lot of his friends did and he was affected by their pain and loss. It is times like this that it makes you want to grab your kids and hug them and tell them you love them - never let a morning go by without letting that be the last thing they hear from us -
The loss of a child is an unthinkable pain for me, I can only pray for the family that God will wrap them up in His love and carry them through this tragedy.

My Cup Runneth Over....

2009-11-09T12:13:00.001-08:00

God is so good! I took some time away from blogging and facebook to spend that time on prayerand meditation. I am so blessed and God has "poured" His love down deep into my soul. I love the feeling of being so full that it seems that you are ooozing, dripping, bouncing, floating, shining and it comes from only "One" source - our Holy Awesome God.

I have k-love send the scripture for the day to my email and the scripture yesterday was amazing - Isaiah 57:15 - A Message from the high and towering God, who lives in Eternity, whose name is Holy: "I live in the the high and holy places, but also with the low-spirited, the spirit-crushed, and what I do is put new spirit in them, get them up and on their feet again.

The scripture I read was the NLT but this is from the Message. Isn't that great - what our God will do for us?!! Amazing -

I will blog some, but I realized that Satan would just love for me to spend more time looking at facebook, blog hopping and just wasting my time than using that time God has blessed me with to do good or to spend with Him in prayer or in His Word....

Thank you Father God for forgiveness, healing, and most importantly your love...pl

3 kids together = 1 happy mom!

2009-10-26T20:09:00.001-07:00

Lunch at Logan's. Mom & Dad enjoyed the day -

Aunt C, Jeanette & Stacy drove in to meet us for lunch - we had a great time together. We ate then went to Brennon's for gifts, cake and then off to the mall for some serious shopping! I had to sweet talk Pop into 30 min. of waiting for Mom to get to go to Dillards.

It was so good to be together. Treg said, I wish I could spend more time with them. I say "ditto" to that! Family time - togetherness, laughter, nothing better Look at my baby, so sweet - hope you had a belated happy b-day! love ya -

Brennon & Treg at Logan's.
Here is the card I made for Cort - it was lot's of fun to make -

My 3 kids - wow I love them - Greg Mc had to stay home and keep the dogs. We missed him, maybe next year it will work out for him to come too.

Greg L. and I feel so blessed to have our family - we love you and thanks again for giving up a Saturday to spend time with us.

Stampaganza!

2009-10-24T19:37:00.000-07:00

Close To My Heart is having a huge special for the month of November 2009 -
When you order 2 stamp sets you will get the 3rd stamp set free!
This special is for all sizes -you can order the E size stamp, but will not get an E size for free.
November is also the month that the really cute house stamp is the stamp of the month.
Great Christmas gift ideas -
I will be placing an order some time this month -

Happy Birthday Cortney Marie "25"

2009-10-19T21:01:00.000-07:00

25 yrs ago today God blessed me with a baby girl. I could not believe how perfect she was...The years have gone by so fast - laughing through my tears, and an ache in my heart from missing you - I am thankful for memories (that I still have) lol - and I am so thankful that we will get to meet this Saturday to celebrate with Cortney. I love you baby girl...

To Dine with the King

2009-10-15T21:38:00.000-07:00

Our Bible Study group is doing the Kay Arthur study, "Covenant" and it is been so good and rich. I have to share the coolest story with you. 2 Samuel 9:1-13
David and Mephibosheth 1 David asked, "Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake?"
2 Now there was a servant of Saul's household named Ziba. They called him to appear before David, and the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" "Your servant," he replied.
3 The king asked, "Is there no one still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show God's kindness?" Ziba answered the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in both feet."
4 "Where is he?" the king asked. Ziba answered, "He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar."
5 So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.
6 When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, "Mephibosheth!" "Your servant," he replied.
7 "Don't be afraid," David said to him, "for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table."
8 Mephibosheth bowed down and said, "What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?"
9 Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, "I have given your master's grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master's grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table." (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)
11 Then Ziba said to the king, "Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do." So Mephibosheth ate at David's [a] table like one of the king's sons.
12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica, and all the members of Ziba's household were servants of Mephibosheth. 13 And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king's table, and he was crippled in both feet.
ok - Jonathan & David had made a covenant with each other in 1 Samuel 20 that extended to their descendants. The 1st covenant was made with David & Jonathan in 1 Samuel 18:1-5. Well in 2 Samuel 9 - it starts with David remembering the 2nd covenant he had made with Jonathan. Jonathan is dead, but the Bible gave a glimpse of a son he had in 2 Samuel 4:4 - Mephibosheth was 5 yrs old and his nurse took him and fled in fear, he fell and became crippled in his feet. Now David finds out that there is a son alive living in Lo-debar (land of no fruit/barren land) and has him brought before him. Mephibosheth is scarred to death, very fearful. David tells him not to fear, and he gave him all of Saul's (his grandfather) land and all that belonged to him. David told Mephibosheth that he could eat at his table as his own son. We learned that Mephibosheth is brought from a barren land, full of fear, referred to himself as a dead dog, and because of a covenant that was made before he was born - covenant is a solemn, binding agreement - He is given land, servants and gets to dine with the king. He was poor and now made rich, not because he earned it - But because of a fulfilled covenant promise. His crippled feet are not healed, but God is taking care of him.
Now apply this story to us - without Jesus - we are just like Mephibosheth - we may still have our own crippled feet, but....because God loved the world and sent His Son to die for me and you.... we get to dine at the King's table crippled feet and all! There is a covenant in place made before we were born and through that solemn binding agreement, we have a promise and know that Jesus paid the price for all sin. Each time we take communion, we are given the blessing of remembering our Savior and can rejoice that He conquered death. 1 Corinthians 11:25 says, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." Our God is so Holy - and I am so thankful for His Word, that each time I study, I am so humbled and realize that it's not about me....it's all about Him - Yahweh - this song will bring you to your knees and then you will rise in praise to give Him glory!

Harvest Festival Weekend

2009-10-11T19:12:00.001-07:00

The band waiting to go out and march. They got in from the football game about 1 a.m. then had to be at band hall at 6:15 a.m. and marched at 9:30 a.m. - They did a great job.

BHS band won Most Outstanding Band in the 3A class! They will continue to UIL contest next week. It was misting, wind blowing and freezing! They still did such a good job. Treg is with the bronze baritone up front. It just seems like yesterday I was watching Brennon when he was a freshman.

Harvest Festival Princess candidate - is she not so precious. I missed the parade this year because we went to watch Treg play in pre-UIL Band Marching and it all fell on the same day. I thought sweet Taryn looked just like a little angel. Her Daddy was standing behind her (he was her escort). This year they had 9 little princess contestants. They all did great, I just couldn't take my eyes of of one in particular!

Look at her sweet little hands. It was so cold, but she did so good.

Here are my boys at the Harvest Festival. I don't remember what Greg said but I can tell it was some smart remark! I can't understand why 2 big boys would not want me taking their picture for all to see! We had to work in 3 different booths this year... but I can say this was the most fun Harvest Festival ever. In the past Greg was always with peanut harvest and I was by myself. We had lots of fun and shared lots of good eats. I am not sure if my fav was the pink cotton candy still warm or the strawberry shortcake. Our Church had a booth that was handing out water bottles that had a label with a pic of our church and it said, "Jesus is living water" and we handed them out free to as many as we could. Our preacher had this idea and it was great! They are such a blessing to us and to Brownfield. They have a passion for showing love outside the walls - and that is just what we needed. They are so genuine and sweet. Optimist had a strawberry shortcake booth and we worked selling shortcakes. I had whipped cream all over me! Greg said he loved to see the faces on the kids as he handed them the huge plate of shortcake. Then Industrial Tech had a silent auction booth that Treg had made a shelf and we had to help with the closing of the auction. I got lots of goodies too, I think I went a little silent bidding crazy!

Today in my little Sunday school class our lesson was on Noah and the rainbow - I let them make bead bracelets and we put the colors of the rainbow in the exact order, their initial bead, and then a cross charm. God is so great - our Ladies Bible Study this fall is on Covenant - and we just learned about how the rainbow was a covenant. With God as you seek Him all things tend to work together - covenant, a promise... how amazing and what a honor it is to try and help these precious little children to remember that when they look at their bracelet, that the rainbow is a promise, just like the cross is a promise from Jesus. I love how God works! Wes is my only boy and he cracked me up, I told him that he didn't have to wear his bracelet that he could put it in his room or give to his Mom - I had to put it on them to tie the elastic and it made him a little nervous just to have it on. He took it right off and stuck it in his Bible when I finished. just precious.....

Fall

2009-10-04T20:41:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year when the air gets crisp and the leaves on the trees start to turn. I love it, the cool mornings and then the warm afternoons. Football games, Harvest Festival, pumpkins, I love the holidays, I love to bake and enjoy this time of year. How lucky we are that we don't have to dread fall - in the past this time of year I called myself a "harvest widow" Greg was busy with peanut harvest - but now thanks be to God, we can enjoy this time together and enjoy! God has blessed me so richly - Seasons of change - you can try to hold on to summer or look forward to fall, enjoy the change and find the good in it. I am so thankful that God didn't make the earth to stay with just one season, but as one comes to an end, we see the signs of the next season on it's way.

Sisters Keeper

I just finished up the book "My Sister's Keeper" - ugh - I wanted to see the movie and someone said oh read the book first....so I did and finished it today. Oh my - what a twisted ending that I didn't expect! It has made me think about being a Mom and how you treat your kids, on the way we look and try to hold on to life, and most of all it made me sad to read a book that was "not" focused and had a hope of God. Maybe some of you read it differently, it was tough to read through some of it (which some words and ideas I skimmed over) - I think a lot about my kids - - I wish I knew then what I know now - I just can pray that my uncontainable love for Jesus will be seen by them and they will know I do love them!

A Gift of Grace

I had to go to Austin this past week for training, a one night trip - when I got home on the bar was a fed ex pkg. Greg said it was from Cortney (my daughter) I opened it up and it was a book, "100 Reasons Why a daughter needs a Mom" as you can guess I started to cry. She had written a little note that said she loved and missed me. I called and thanked her, and then I got down on my knees and thanked God. I am so undeserving, and yet He still blesses me! I am so thankful that Cort is a thoughtful, loving very giving person. When they leave home you can only hope you instilled good in them, and you have to give them back to God....I am so thankful she is in His Hands.

I love my kids, I miss the 2 that are not living at home, I am counting the days down until we will meet in the "middle" 10-24 -

God's Little Princess

2009-09-27T18:11:00.000-07:00

This is my Sunday morning class.... God's Little Princesses....Lily with her baby picture, princess pen and her crown!

Trinity, Raney, Jes'Lynn, & Lilly...

Raney's card she colored...

Jes'Lynn and her card....

Trinity and her card...

Lilly and her card....

I teach the kindergarten class on Sunday mornings. We are learning about God's creation and today was on God creating people. It worked out that I just had little girls today and Treg said that was a good thing when he saw what I had planned! We celebrated God making us special....

I took my princess blanket, and they all sat on it while we learned that God made each one of them very special, then I let them color in a princess stamp I had brought and we made that into a card, then they made their thumbprint (with ink) on the back of their card - we talked about no one has a thumbprint just like them. I love this age group they are so precious. I read the Beth Moore book "A Parable about the KING" and they were so sweet listening to this story about a little princess. I then gave them each their very own princess pen. I hope they will remember that God made them a princess, he created them very special not to be a "spoilt" princess, but God created them with special gifts to use and do good for God! My prayer is that they remember they are special! Oh yeah - when I was telling them that when they were each in their mommies tummies God was shaping and creating them with a special color of eyes, hair, nose.... then later on I had one little girl raise her hand and say, "how do babies get out of their mommies tummy?" Yikes! I just said honey ask your mommy, and I just kept on teaching. I had ask them to bring a baby picture of themselves and as you will see in some of the pics 2 little girls brought theirs. I took a picture of Cortney (my baby girl) as a baby, when she was in kindergarten (their age) and then a wedding picture of Cortney. I lined them out and told them her eyes have always been brown, I told them to see her when she was their age - but the one they just kept looking at was Cortney in her wedding dress. It seems like yesterday that Cortney was their age, how fast time goes. Little girls fascinate me, so sweet, so innocent, loving princess talk & dreaming of weddings. Hope you enjoy these pictures and can see the beauty in each little sweet face...Thank you God for giving me the chance to teach such a special class.

ps. I usually have one little boy, Wes Woodard and I was prepared with a boy card and I had a shield and sword for a prince if he was there. Kathryn had let me know they would be out of town, but I still came prepared. God made little boys so very special too!

What do I know of Holy?

2009-09-21T20:09:00.000-07:00

As you might can tell by now, I love Christian music. I have a song I just can't get out of my head. I went to our ladies Wednesday night class and Kasity (she is so pure & precious to me) talked about Moses in Exodus 33. I came home and read it in my Bible, read all my notes I had about it and it just keeps coming back to me....so here goes.

18 Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory."
19 And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."
21 Then the LORD said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen."

You might think that I am weird, but how I would love to have been Moses. To have the kind of relationship that he had with God, Yahweh....to be "in" God's presence. I have to stop and just love this. Moses was a friend of God. He got to see God in a burning bush, his staff turn into a snake, he got to see the plagues, the sea parting, the 10 commandments x2, and ect. I also know that Moses was human and he made mistakes, but to have this relationship with God intrigues me.
After reading the scripture and meditating on this, I asked Greg just exactly what is a cleft in the rock? I have heard it all my life and sang songs about it but hadn't really thought about it. He & Treg told me, and of course I googled it and found lots of pics on it. Ok ...look at the picture above and just imagine.... God telling you go and stand on a rock. God said, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Oh my...how do you imagine that feeling, this gives such a new meaning to the song, "This is Holy Ground I'm standing on Holy Ground...all your senses would be in overload...then when God passes by He will remove His hand and Moses got to see His back. My notes went along with what Kasity brought up...we may be going through a dark time, but we have to know God is with us - His hand is just covering us, then when we go through our trial....we will see God more clearly and understand - He was there with us the whole time, even if we think we can't see God - we are just being placed in the cleft (standing on a rock) but His Presence is there with us. I love Moses boldly asking, "Now, show me your glory." We have to want to seek God always. I also love how God boldly tells Moses, I (not you) will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and compassion on whom I will have compassion. God is God no matter how close we ever think we are to Him...I had written by the part in vs. 22 about God passed by - that God passed thru cut covenant between rock - Moses. I am not sure if I understand this part exactly, but...I was excited because tomorrow night we start the new Kay Arthur Bible Study - Covenant. I hope that we will learn more of God's covenant. I know if we seek Him with all our hearts....He will help me to grow closer to Him and I want my eyes and mind to be open to His Ways. I heard a devo this past weekend of God is like a mirror and if we look into it..... if we look to God, we will reflect His glory (and we won't have to wear a veil)! All this said, I just love the new song from Addison Road, What do I know of Holy? Please take time to watch this - it's so good. I loved the part of the song that she sang about creation, spoke it into motion and all creation knows God's name. How many times in my prayer life do I try to get a Word from heaven and I talk the whole time???? Help me Lord to learn to Be Still.... and know God. It got me the part with a picture of the Bible and saying I know all the stories and all the right words, but they are just empty words...then to catch a glimpse of God. How many times during the day do I miss God's touch? God is so Holy, so full of Glory, thank you sweet Jesus for letting me seek you with all my heart and I pray that from down on my knees I will catch a glimpse of your glory!

Same kind of different as me.

2009-09-09T20:33:00.000-07:00

I read this book this past weekend. I just love when a book opens my eyes to a new way of viewing things. If you have not read this book I would highly recommend it. I have a copy that you are more than welcome to borrow. It was so good. I don't want to spoil it for you if you have not read it - but I will say that I learned how to view people and how God works and brings people into our lives to help us, just as He leads us into others lives to help them. Oh it is such a great book. If you read it - leave a comment on your favorite part and what you got out of it.

We are starting every Wed. night at church having a meal/devo for anyone that will come. Outreach, fellowship and showing love. I learned from this book that it's not just about doing "good deeds" for show or because it makes us feel or look good.... Jesus tells us to love our neighbor as our self.....so when a visitor comes in to eat, ask their name (and remember it), then go and pray for that person by name before God. We are here to show love and how better to love a person than to pray for them by name. God is "able".
He will do the work, we are here to be His vessels for His love to pour out through us. luv ya,pl

How He Loves Us

2009-09-03T20:01:00.000-07:00

Wow I just got home from a clerk's conference in Kerrville, Tx. I have to tell you that God is so good. My Mom and Aunt got to go with me and on the drive down I was so surprised how dry the land was. It was crazy - I have never seen it that way. The land looked so thirsty for rain. The hill country was still so pretty - all the trees, hill /mountains whatever they are - not flat land...anyhooo this morning after a great time, I opened the curtains in the motel room and had no idea we faced the east. We got to see the most glorious sunrise topping out over the mountain top - it was gorgeous! God is so ready to lavish His love on us if we will just take the time to stop and look for Him in our daily lives. Tonight as I was pulling into my hometown and I got a sense of being home...the familiarity of knowing people....pulling into the garage and being greeted by my boys and two silly dogs. Home. I love my house, my room that I study in and the early morning time by myself that is my quiet time with God. After getting off schedule my "mind" was a little hungry and thirsty for some time with God. I was listening to "One" of my new most fav songs from David Crowder Band, How He Loves Us... I came upon this scripture: Psalm 63:1-5 O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. I am so thankful to God that if I earnestly seek Him He will satisfy me with the richest of foods - His Word. The land can be dry and dying but as long as I am a child of God, His love....is life to me and will feed my soul. I was made to praise and give Him glory as long as I live. luv ya, pl
watch this my fav song ....

BHS Freshman '09

2009-08-24T20:57:00.000-07:00

I have already seen 2 go through High School , and my heart was a little sad this morning. I know how fast high school will go. I woke up this morning praying for God to bless him and keep him safe. I opened my Bible to Proverbs 4:20 - till end of chapter and it was amazing, I made Treg read it. God so amazes me how He gives me a Word, just when I need it! I do hope and pray Treg will walk with God, and that God will protect him. my baby boy....is growing up.
ps. he may be 6' but I am still his mama!
pl

Thank You...Thank You...God You Are So Good!

2009-08-19T21:04:00.000-07:00

We got a call today and Greg got offered a job and he accepted. Yeah! Praise God! It has all been in God's good timing. I want to thank those of you that prayed for us during this season, you have all been great.
Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
Psalms 34:17-19
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. a righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;
Psalms 136
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.
Praising Him as I go to fall asleep in His arms....paige

Close To My Heart - Open House

2009-08-18T13:53:00.001-07:00

Here is the special for August/September -You can get this free! Our open house is August 29/30 - call me for all the details about times. The new catalog is great - we are going to have lots of great new gifts ideas, a free gift for just stopping by, door prizes, most of the new products so you can see them, and of course goodies to snack on. They have some new scrapbook products that are just great. Here is the link to see the free stamp set that comes with the special. http://www.closetomyheart.com/PDF/0909_ContantCampaign_Flyer.pdf

HOPE

2009-08-16T14:29:00.000-07:00

Greg has been teaching a class on Sunday mornings about the return of Jesus and the judgment on the lost, and then Bo's sermon this morning was a detailed lesson on the torture that goes along with crucifixion on the cross, and each strike was endured because of His love for us, Greg Holt had communion focus and it was about how we view people and our relationships, how when we break bread together we are actually taking Christ in, (so others will see Christ living in us by how we act toward others). Sunday night was a preacher from an African church that was taught through World Bible School, and it was amazing to see the work they are doing, to hear how hungry that people are to hear God's Word. I cannot get the thought out of my head of the horrible pain that Jesus went through....it's not a movie, it's not a Bible story - it is real - it happened - Jesus felt every rip of flesh, the pain that He endured...for me and for you. All of these thoughts, how can I stay silent? How can I see people, just as people? My desire should line up with the Father's...that none shall perish. I was brought to tears today, how I have gotten so caught up in "my" problems and each day God is allowing me this time to be here on earth - I should be trying to give others a "HOPE" of eternity that I have through Christ. I just love it when God uses different people to bring a point home to me, and on Sunday did he ever. We are not promised a comfy life here on earth - but Jesus died for my sins and yours - I pray that I will let His light shine in my life, and when Jesus comes back, what a glorious day it will be!

How I wish I could gather you back under my wings....

2009-08-04T19:45:00.000-07:00

How fast time goes by... I only have one kid at home, and he will be a freshman! I miss my two older ones so much. One of my most favorite things is when we are all together - just being together. My heart gets homesick for them.... I just went through some old pictures and it's funny how to see a picture, it can take you back to what was going on. Here are just a few...

Christmas time! I love it... I always want the kids to do the same old traditional things that make good memories, one is to make Christmas sugar cookies - Cortney is such a mess, she kept trying to get icing on the boys. the fake look, smile for Mom, this is so silly.....notice Cortney's fingers...

see I told you....

this one is of Greg Mc & Brennon on his birthday at Odessa, playing guitar hero. I got booo-ed!

this was one Mother's Day, time just goes too fast.

If you have babies close to home, enjoy - I am thankful that I can call them on the phone, but I just have a longing in my heart tonight, wish we could all be together more often. I am so thankful that God has blessed me with such great kids, that bring such joy to my life. I love ya...

Next day: This morning it hit me as I was doing my study, if I miss my kids and long for us to all be together....how much more God loves and desires for His children to be gathered together as one.

1 John 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

My prayer today is to let His light be seen in me, God is light, help me to walk in the light... I pray for all the ones who are not saved, Lord please open our eyes to see the lost, to see their need for a Savior, and plant your seed...

The fullness of God

2009-08-03T04:50:00.000-07:00

This past Wednesday night Bo, our preacher ask us to start reading Ephesian 3:14-21. He wants us to read it 4 times a day. When we first get up in morning, before we enter work, before we come home from work, and at night. The fullness of God....what comes to your mind when you hear the word fullness -
for me I thought how can I be full of God when I am full of self?

I love how this passage starts with the Father (God), then the Spirit, then Christ. The three working as One. I also love how we are strengthened with power through his Spirit in my inner being. By faith, Christ will dwell in our hearts. Bo used the illustration of being plucked from the world and being rooted in Christ. vs.17 being rooted and established in love... isn't that great. Plant me in God, so that I may "bloom" for Him.
In vs. 19... to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- on this part, I think it goes back to trust - to know this love - that is so big we have to try to "grasp" how wide... how long...how high.. how deep... is the love of Christ. A love that surpasses knowledge. The world seems to think very highly of knowledge and facts. I have to trust in God that I "do not" have all the answers, I do not know why, where, or how, but I Trust in God, because He knows all.
then here comes the part of being filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ever wonder what it would be like to be filled to the measure of all....not some...but all the fullness of God. Bo said we need to pray like we believe it can happen. vs. 20 God is able to do immeasurably (can't be measured) more than we ask or imagine... I have a pretty vivid imagination, but God's is bigger! all this is according to His power that is work within us. We have to ask...we have to have His power at work within us.
I love this last part. One night last week I had Treg come in and read this scripture to me while I was making some cards. Something about hearing him read scripture, just gets to me. When he finished, he paused and then said, hey that's a song. We have a CD, Word of God, that has the song Now to Him, and it starts with this vs. 20. I was so excited - my new motto is trash in trash out, good in good out. So by him listening to Christian music he is able to relate easier to God's Word.
I do not know what today will bring, but I do know that my prayer is to be filled to the fullest of God. Our study this week has been on peace, how perfectly God weaves it all together...Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen to that!

Prayer Request Please....

2009-07-30T21:08:00.000-07:00

Greg has an interview Friday morning July 31... at 11:00 a.m. I would ask that you lift him up in prayer, and that God's will be done.

Revelation 5:8
8And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
I cannot remember which Bible Study it was that we learned about the bowls of incense, but the thought that Jesus received a bowl full of incense, which is the saints prayers.... Oh how I cannot wait to see this awesome sight, (either in replay or playing out in present) never quite know about Revelations if it has happened or it is going to..... any how back to my story-
Donna got Ross to make an angel holding a bowl and she placed this scripture on it. So awesome.
I pray that God will be pleased with our prayers that are lifted up to Him. I think it opens our eyes that God doesn't receive our prayer requests on a laptop, or by text. They are so much more to Him than that. We are so privileged to have to access to pray, and not have someone have to pray in our behalf!
Thanking you Sweet Jesus for your sacrifice.
In Him, pl

Waiting on the LORD

2009-07-28T19:45:00.000-07:00

Last night our Bible Study was on Joy... joy cometh.... welling up from inside, only given by God. The best part is best described by this picture, we have a future with Christ....forever in His Kingdom and we will be with Him forever. When I look at this picture, all the uncertain future problems vanish. If we fix our eyes on Jesus, we will have joy & peace...if we trust in Him. Our hope comes from the Lord....
I tell ya the scripture Romans 15:13 has come before me over and over - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The part I think God is trying so hard to drill into my head is to "trust in Him" - this waiting is so hard. I know we are to lay everything at the feet of Jesus, but I have to admit I am a very impatient person and I would love to see how this job thing is going to turn out. I listen to the John Waller song, "While I'm Waiting" a lot these days. Waiting on the Lord, not on a phone call, or man. some lyrics from song... just taking every step in obedience, while I'm waiting I will serve You, while I'm waiting I will worship you, while I'm waiting I will not grow faint. (it's a great song) This week in our study we are on peace... it is also something we cannot get on our own, can't buy it, can't earn it... Phil. 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. It is a peace from God. I pray for peace in my mind and my heart.....I pray to just trust God, let Him have it.....I pray to fix my eyes on Jesus, for others to see my hope....and to not only see the joy that cometh, but to feel it in the crisis. A sweet friend gave me a devotional that said we are the sheep, and sheep are not "burden bearing" creatures, so give it to God. amen
Next morning after post: my little devo for the day started with this quote: We can expend so much energy whining about our situation that we have nothing left to invest in the real fight.
Wow - I ask forgiveness for any whining I have done! - Look up Ps. 21:6 isn't it so cool that it says, "Surely, Lord, You have granted me eternal blessings and made me glad with the joy of Your presence." to think about .....eternal blessings (to be in His heavenly kingdom).....and to have joy of God's presence.
I am in awe of God and His sweet way He can always bring me back to Him. luv ya, pl

VBS 2009

2009-07-25T11:31:00.001-07:00

Friday night clean up. I was kind of working... I was taking pictures of everyone working.

Treg & Derek helping on Friday fun night.

Treg in front of the jumper

Treg helped with the puppet show. Uncle Orange did a great job.

Ranger Dan and Michelle dressed as Peter. Great fun. I am not sure where Donna was...they had the Bible Story center

Just look at the eyes of these precious little children. What a privilege to get the chance to teach so many kids. Their little eyes are just taking it all in.
Taryn got to be my helper Monday night, what a little angel

I helped in crafts and it was so fun. I got to see most of the kids this way!

Registration our attendance grew everynight!

I am so thankful to God for the chance to work in His kingdom and serve Him.

Have a great weekend.

Prayer

2009-07-20T05:14:00.000-07:00

Philippians 4:4-6
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
I woke up to a lightening storm this morning, it was still dark...but the light from the lightening came in the windows and lit the room. God is the Creator - He is in control - I think one thing this scripture is telling me to do is to give thanks...through prayer. When we pray thanksgiving to God instead of a list of requests it puts our faith in God, knowing He will take care of it. He is near...and that in itself is a comfort.
I am thankful for:
answered prayers
my families health
the ability to pray to God
Jesus blood that cleanses me from my sin
the morning, a new start to a new day
the strength God will give me to survive VBS this week!
the job that God has planned just for Greg.
Brennon's eye surgery was successful
Cortneys heart so full of love and compassion - taking care of her brother
Greg Mc - he is an answered prayer, I am so thankful Cortney found her soul mate
Treg growing up in the Lord and his sense of humor
friends - young and old that keep me on the right path
the rain
our house
my faith that God will take care of us in all situations
me eyes to see and read my Bible
Greg...he loves me in spite of all my faults.
my job and the chance be a light to the world.
babies
restful sleep
laughter and the feeling it gives me
the wisdom that comes from the aged
my church family
music - that speaks to my heart
power of prayer.....
Rejoice - always.....I had written in my Bible this quote: If you are gonna pray, why worry. If you are gonna worry, why pray. I am not sure who said this but it is so true. Do not be anxious....
have a great day, pl

God is God....I am not

2009-07-14T21:02:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had a day like this? A day where you just want to hide your head in the sand....and everything around you will be better when you look "up". My email has been flooded with prayer requests, sick people...cancer.... bad reports....a mother having to bury a son...bad news it seems around every corner, the Clerk before me just buried her 2nd son, tragic...then we are dealing daily with our job future for Greg - what does God have planned for us? I was thinking on it tonight and it hit me - It's Not About Me - It's All About Jesus - His Way. When I stop and come before the LORD, I feel so ashamed that I wavered, worried, fretted, got sand in my nose! God is big enough to handle all the problems in the world - this week our study is on Joy... how perfect. I will give thanks to God in all situations. I just feel such a peace come over me when I bow and surrender all to Him. My prayer is I will live my life in such a way - others will "see my faith" in Christ alone - and be encouraged not discouraged by the way I am re-acting to life and all that comes with each new day. I am so thankful for the Love God has for His children. My prayer is I will count my blessings instead of try to hide from all the burdens of this world.
You alone are God and I surrender to Your Way. I found this you tube video and it gave me such a peace... hope it blesses you too.
luv ya, pl

My Mentor

2009-07-12T15:05:00.000-07:00

R.D. Jones... 86 yrs. old and can run circles around me! In our Bible Study I made the note God would rather me do a few things excellently than 100 things good. I had to stop and think on this...before I had just read an email I had gotten on Are You Busy? - the end said that the word busy:

B eing

U nder

S atans

Y oke

R.D. is an amazing Christian - I love to just go with him and watch him - He has a true gift with people. He watches all the time for someone in need. He constantly is giving - showing up with a "baked hen" (his name for roasted chicken), or watermelons, sonic burgers for shut ins. If someone is in the hospital, you can bet R.D. will be by for a visit. When Treg and I go with him some as we call going on "a good deed", everyone knows R.D. - He doesn't limit his good works for just church members - it's anyone in need. He isn't this honey sweet type, he is as honery as me! He will mess up the little old ladies hair or make a joke, slap you on the arm - but I can promise you he touches their hearts and he is loved for that. After one of our outings, Treg being a teenager not real excited about going to see old folks - when we got home, well Treg received the blessing from it and I think he realized in giving to others -it's not about us. I have to be careful that I don't try to "work" for my righteousness, and remember that I am not doing this for human approval. I also have to careful not to be so "busy" doing good deeds that my heart is just going through the motions. Love is the key, without love.... to God I am just a resounding gong. Read 1 Corinthians 13 Balance - Humility - Realizing we are called to serve. In tough times, we have a choice....to sit and dwell on our problems and focusing on self (looking in) or we can pray for God to open our eyes to see someone in need and go to them with so much love in our hearts it pours into theirs. I am so thankful for the people that God has put in my life to help me in my walk with Christ. luv ya, pl

Sarah K Card

2009-07-09T21:12:00.000-07:00

Here is a card using a Sarah K stamp. Pink is my favorite color! CTMH flowers are used on it.

I Love Pink & Little Girls

2009-07-09T20:14:00.000-07:00

Meet Taryn & Rhealee -

Rhealee with her big red bow

Taryn loves to swim

Isn't it great how God knows what we need before we do. I got a call to babysit Tuesday night. I have been thinking about some things I love.... I love to rock a snuggly baby.... I love to see chubby little fingers push bangs out of her eyes.... I love to see her constantly fixing her ponytails....I love the way she climbs into my lap just to tell me a secret....I love to see a baby roll over onto her tummy..... I love to watch her sing and dance so freely (even when neither one of us knows the words).... I love to see her play hide and go seek with 6'5 Greg, and to hear her get so tickled and giggle until he finds her. God is so good - adults seem to let busy lives, worry, and just life cloud their eyes - but a child.... a child notices things... like a pine cone in the road... on our walk to the kiddie park we had to stop and pick it up, look at it, touch it, and ....so innocent so sweet. Jesus told his disciples let the little children come to me. We are told to have the mind of Christ, that we are a child of God. I pray for all young parents and I am so thankful these girls are being brought up in the Lord. luv ya, pl

ps. I love little boys too.....

Happy Birthday Greg Mc - We Love You!!!

2009-07-08T20:58:00.001-07:00

Psalm 139

2009-07-07T20:27:00.000-07:00

I just love when God has something that He wants to open my eyes to...it is like one gift after the other in His Word. In our Bible Study last night we are watching Beth Moore, Living Beyond Yourself. We learned 3 concepts that the Holy Spirit can develop within us: 1) Perception, 2) Discernment, 3) Insight. In trying to let the concept sink in to my pea size brain - I know that if I do not have a humble heart, and a mind of Christ I will not have eyes to see, ears to hear, or mind to conceive, the plans God has for me. 1 Cor. 2:9-10. With that thought in mind -

Psalm 139
1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

I love how the vs. - You hem me in-behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.

Thus the picture of the baseball - the seam completely around the ball, never ending, being held in a hand. I am like the ball, God has hemmed me in....He has me in His hand. God created me, God will never leave me and no matter what the days ahead hold for me, when I awake - God is still with me. He knows my anxious thoughts....but He will lead me in His way. I am going to have to remind myself many times that I am not in the driver seat, and God doesn't need a back seat driver either! ouch

From this scripture it just reinforced the 3 ways of developing the Spirit within us.

Amen to vs. 17 - How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

In Him, Paige

More 4th of July

2009-07-05T18:13:00.000-07:00

This is my older brother Sammy & his wife DeeDee. Remember this pic - this is the normal shot.....

Cortney and Samantha both so beautiful - and so much fun.

Meet by Daddy & my brother - they look like a pair don't they? I guess I got all the fashion sense and well, Sammy didn't! My brother is also known as "the golden boy" - go figure???

My Mom and Aunt C - the sisters that the reunion is for - They are 2 awesome ladies, and I am so glad they are in my life.

thanks for the great 4th - love ya.

The LORD is my light

2009-07-05T14:49:00.000-07:00

At the lake I got up early to watch the sunrise and have some quiet time. After watching this beautiful display of colors and the day coming to life, I was in awe of God and His majesty. It amazes me how we tend to get so caught up in this world, that we forget to take time to stop and really "Be still with God". I opened my Bible and it was on Psalm 27 - so I read it. Wow - God is so good. Here are just a few things that spoke to my heart -
The LORD is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?
vs. 5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling.
vs. 11 Teach me your way, O LORD: lead me in a straight path
vs. 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Waiting can be tough - I love the Max Lacado book on the 23rd Psalms, Traveling Light - He brought some great views to this Psalm. in vs. 4 when it says to fear no evil, for you are with me. The book said it's not an angel that is with me, it is saying God is with me, and He knows the way. I pray I will hold on to this truth and walk in faith.

4th of July

2009-07-05T14:21:00.001-07:00

We go to San Angelo for a family reunion each year. It is a time I love that I get to be with my family and my kids!

They have a parade of boats decorated for the 4th we are enjoying the creativity - Greg L. fishing - his fav thing. I try to stay away when he is messin in the worms & other baits - yuck... He is so good at it though - He caught the biggest catfish this trip.

Donna & Me - we look rough but this is the "lake look" they have a big fireworks show - it was great. Donna is a great friend & my "sister" in Christ. God has blessed me with this true friend.

Pool volleyball - Greg Mc in an action shot!

Crazy kids - it makes me smile to look at this pic.

Paddle boat time - what a workout... (notice I am not on it!) I thank God for my family and friends to share each day with.

God is the I AM in all situations

2009-06-30T20:25:00.000-07:00

We got some tough news today. June 30, 2009. I know satan would just love to see me live in defeat and get caught up in the fear and anxiety - but.... instead my thoughts have been filled with this scripture. I taught a class on it and loved the image of resting in the shadow of the Almighty, think about it, that means God is behind us and so much bigger (than any human problem or bad news) that is causes a shadow of protection to cover us... I am going to rest on that thought tonight. I love you Jesus.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.I will say of the LORD,“He is my refuge and my fortress,my God, in whom I trust.”Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.He will cover you with his feathers,and under his wings you will find refuge;his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

Psalm 91:1-4

Meet my Family

2009-06-30T10:14:00.000-07:00

This was June 7, 2009 at my parent's 50th wedding anniversary reception. Cortney & Greg were leaving for the airport in this pic. It was so special to have my whole family home for this special event! I love family - my kids make fun of me all the time because I am always trying to get all of my babies to come home to see me. I am very blessed....

Meet Dexter & Lucy Lu

2009-06-29T21:04:00.000-07:00

Objects appear bigger than they really are.... Dexter's nose is actually not as huge as it looks! He is my big red boy and I love him. He has been on a diet for about a month - he weighed in at 23.8 lbs and the vet said he needed to be at 15 lbs. We have tried to be good but he just loves to eat, and those big brown eyes just melt my heart. Surely just one little bite won't hurt....well today they went back to the vet and we lost 2 lbs! yeah, I tried to tell them he was retaining water.... they didn't go for that. Lucy is so tiny and totally obsessed with balls, in the 2nd picture dexter had gotten her ball. She unlike dex would rather play than eat. I guess that is why she is still on regular food not the diet food :-)

My Creations 3-Ring Binder

2009-06-29T20:54:00.000-07:00

Here is my Mom's Mothers Day gift. It was so much fun to make. I used CTMH 3-Ring Binder and I just took pictures of my fav things about my Mom. Then I created tabs and journaled on them, so they are hidden and Mom can pull them out to read. She said this was her favorite thing that I have made in a while.

We are God's creation

2009-06-29T20:25:00.000-07:00

I came home from work today and looked out in the backyard and saw that my hibiscus had finally bloomed! It was turned that it was almost hidden in the other flower pots. I turned it so I could enjoy it's beauty. I have to wonder if that is how God looks on us, His creation. We are doing the fruit of the spirit study and God is laying so heavy on my heart how in the OT in the temple, in the Most Holy Place, between the two cherubim facing each other with their wings spreading out over the ark of the covenant - His glory, His presence would...be.... so Holy that mere man would never dream of just walking in - the God we serve is so Holy, do I forget?
But, ....... now through Christ, we who have died to self and are walking anew, have this gift, this precious gift of the "Holy Spirit" living in us, we are the temples for God. He has given us a part of Himself to dwell within us. Imagine the Spirit coming down from heaven into us, then it is to fill us up and depart out through us making the image of the cross. Oh Father forgive me for not realizing daily what an awesome privilege it is to be a Christian. I pray that I will get rid of the me junk and be "filled" to the fullest with Him.

50th Wedding Gift

2009-06-29T20:14:00.000-07:00

June 7, 2009 we celebrated my parents 50th wedding annv. This is our CTMH Memory Keeper that I used and decorated. It turned out great. Mom is keeping all of her cards in it. I have a My Creations Memory Showcase that I still need to scrapbook with all the pictures from reception that also will go inside the box. These are such a great gift idea and fun to make!

2009-06-27T19:16:00.000-07:00

Fruit of the Spirit - Living Beyond Yourself. We just started this Bible Study on Monday nights. This was my first Beth Moore study that I ever did and (one) of my fav's. I wanted to take it again to review, grow more into the Spirit and to stay disciplined through the summer. God is amazing, I emailed a huge group and just left it up to God. I had the idea I am going to do this and if anyone wants to join me I would love to have ya. The first introductory session we had 3 ladies, we now have 8! Wow it will be a blessing. I started out Bible Study with several of the young moms and lost most of them to busy school schedules and just needing to be home with their babies, now alot of them are coming for the summer study. I think I love nothing more than to see young moms digging for God's truth - It makes me know they are learning God's Way and will pass it on to those precious babies. I am praying God blessing on this study.