IMMEASURABLY MORE!

I am not sure if I could truly convey all that God is doing and has done lately without writing a novel so I will try to do it in list form to see if that helps:

1. The Spirit of God fell in our Children's Church service Easter Sunday morning and it was incredible. God spoke to the kids and just blessed us all so much!!

2. God has surprised me and blessed me with a paid trip to Thailand - I had no idea what He was up to or that He was up to anything really - I just thought it wasnt the trip for me to go on - but really God just wanted to bless me in a special way s0 - I AM GOING TO THAILAND!!! ON MY GOODNESS!!!!

3. Youth Convention was amazing - the speaker and worship leaders were incredibly annointed - The Spirit of God fell @ every service - God spoke into our youths lives and my life and our leaders lives - INCREDIBLE INCREDIBLE INCREDIBLE!!! God used me to speak into lives and it was amazing!

4. Family Day service was awesome yesterday - God used me to speak into lives and encourage and uplift. He is working!!

HE IS WORKING!!! HE WANTS TO WORK!!! We've got to allow Him to do what He wants to do even when it makes us vulnerable and we are scared to trust. We've got to be obediant and willing. GOD CAN DO ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE CAN IMAGINE - EPHESIANS 3:20 "...HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO IMMEASURABLY MORE THAN ALL WE ASK OR IMAGINE, ACCORDING TO HIS POWER THAT IS AT WORK WITHIN US..."

5 weird or unknown facts about yourself...

5 Weird Facts...
List 5 Weird or Unknown Facts about yourself.

1) Sometimes I get really low to my desk when I am writing
2) I eat the marshmallows from my Lucky Charms first - by color to get it over with - because I like the cereal better
3) I love the smell of Windex
4) I practice writing with my left hand because I want to be Ambidextrous
5) I do not hear well - especially if there are many conversations going or a lot of background noise

That was fun!

Well it's official Zyrtec zones me out, makes me tired and sleepy but not to the point of actually falling asleep while I am doing something. I am actually getting more done at work, weirdly I can stay focused better. But I stare off when I'm not doing something. But I could go to sleep if I got still and let myself. And I am looking forward to going to sleep when I get home and get packed for Youth Convention. Yay Youth Convention. I wish I were already packed though. *Sigh*

Allergies

To Allergies I say:
Why me?!?!?!?
I never had allergies until three or four years ago with the exception of a freak two years where I was actually allergic to the sun. That was very crazy for sure!
But I now deal with allergies. I am however thankful that Zyrtec is not over the counter!!!
I rushed to buy Zyrtec this morning, as my face was melting off. To which I totally freaked out the guy at the CVS Pharmacy counter, as I, an extremely Red-Nosed desperate individual, demanded the strongest Zyrtec he could sell me. Lol. It was quite humorous, he look at me like I was crazy. Well I felt crazy and desperate, I was losing my face here. However, I believe it is finally kicking in, and I still have eye balls and a nose. Phew that was a close one.
Allergies or No allergies - I welcome Spring with open arms.
I am ready for:
Warmth and sunshine
Trips to the bleachers to sun bathe at lunch
Trips to the lake
Kids Camp
Kids Crusades
Flip Flops
Pedicures
No jackets
No chill in the bones
Sunshine
Warmth

:)
Lord Thank You for Spring and Thank You for Zyrtec!
:)
Oh and I'd like to give a shout-out to Rachel - who told me how to give my blog the facelift it greatly needed!! Thanks Rach! Kiss Nattie's cheeks for me!

Isaiah 26-3-4
People with their minds set on You, You keep completely whole, steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don't quit. Depend on God and keep at it because in the Lord God you have a sure thing.

This is what You spoke to me last night Father and I am holding tight. When I feel myself losing my grip I will remember Your words, help me remember your words.
I love you Father and my heart and my life belong to you.

Crying Out

My Father I adore you more than anything my heart could wish for
I just want you...

This is true - but Father there are desires that I know you have placed in my heart - I feel them so strongly - at times I even lose myself in them - when I should be losing myself in You instead. Honestly, it's very hard not to. I have been fighting for years now, and I ask not to have to fight this any longer. I am asking You to fulfill Your promises to me. I am tired and it's hard to be patient and stay patient. Know that I will wait for You and for You to tell me when to move, but I am asking You to not make me wait anymore. Let this fight be over. I know there will be more and there will be other places to wait and fight. But I am asking You to bring this one to an end. But Father, You know best, so not my will but Yours be done. And in the meantime, help me, let it be easier for me. Give me what I need to be okay here. Content, peaceful, & patient. I thank You Father for who you are. I love you so much more than I ever thought I could love. Thank you for that. Thank you for loving me and knowing better than I what is best for me. Thank you for being in control of it all and that You have a plan for my life and it is a good plan. A plan to prosper me and not to harm me to give me a hope and a future. And I want that hope and that future to be in YOUR WILL and not mine. In Jesus precious name. Amen.

Friday :)

It's Friday!!

Yay!!
Not only that it's GOOD FRIDAY!
I love the opportunity to be reminded of what an Incredible Lord we have.
Jesus Died for You
Jesus Died for Me
He suffered beyond what we can ever really imagine.
Imagine being hated to the point of death, being beaten, and then your Father having to turn His face from you, even for an instant. I imagine that to be the hardest part for Jesus. That moment when God had to look away because He can not accept sin. But Jesus said not my will but your will be done. Wow What a Lord, what a Savior.
So today we all have a relationship with our Loving Father becuase of that choice Jesus made.


THANK YOU JESUS, SINCERELY FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. THANK YOU, MY PRECIOUS SAVIOR, FOR CHOOSING TO DIE FOR ME & FOR RAISING AGAIN TO BE MY LIVING LORD. LITERALLY MERE WORDS DO NOT BEGIN TO PRAISE YOU. BUT MY HEART PRAISES YOU, THE HEART YOU GAVE ME. I LIVE BECAUSE OF YOU, QUITE LITERALLY.



So today is Friday, the end of the week. A great week really. I am thankful for a great week. As busy season creeps up my goal is to keep Joy in the midst of stress. As stress will surely come, God can overcome in me though. And I am counting on that!



An exciting weekend ahead:
Saturday (tomorrow) a FULL day of ministry!! Woohoo!! I LOVE IT LOVE IT!
Puppet practice @ 9:00
Drama practice @ 11:00
Prayer @ 12:00
Workers meeting @ 12:30
Service starts @ 1:00
Clean up starts around 4:00
I am so excited!!
I can not wait to bless the kids of this community and the parents.
I am praying for both the parents, aunts, grandparents & the kids to really be touched, changed, & spoken to. I want them all to know God's Love & accept Him into their hearts and lives.



Sunday
Family Breakfast @ 8:00
Sunday School @ 9:30
Children's Church @ 10:30
Lunch & Movie
Family Dinner!!!!



I love my family all of them!



So far today has been great. Work load is managable, more than managable so that's nice. Lots of smiles and joy today. Connie(my boss) gave us all beautiful flowers:Aren't they beautiful!!! She is sweet & loves flowers & shares them with us often.

I prayed for my frind Jeannie to be healed, bless her heart she just coughs & coughs & coughs, the doctors havent been able to correct it yet. God put her on my heart this morning & I asked her if I could pray for her & she said yes. So after our morning meeting she came back to my corner & I covered her in prayer & I am believing for her complete healing & restoration! God is so good, she hasnt coughed hardly any since. In fact she has had to leave the customer service meeting several times & today she didnt cough once. God is good, SO GOOD!!! Thank you Jesus!

SO HAPPY FRIDAY TO YOU ALL!! HAVE A GREAT EASTER WEEKEND!!

Changes

So I was reading old posts today and it's so crazy how things change.
Some things made me very sad
Some made me very proud
I know I am different - in some ways good & in some ways bad
But I still love My Lord!

The loudest thing that stood out:
There are alot of relationships that are gone from my life now
How did that happen, why, was it me?

I think I might need to do some searching in that.
Some searching of me.

Food for thought I guess.

BLAH

BLAH

WHAT A BLAH DAY

IT IS ONE OF THOSE FEMALE DAYS IN EVERY WAY...WE REALLY ARE FICKLE CREATURES

* AUNT FLOW ARRIVED THIS MORNING

* I REACTED TO OLD STUFF I DIDNT REALIZE WAS OLD -TO WHICH I SAY - I REALIZE - & IM MOVING FORWARD

* ITS COLD AGAIN - IM DONE WITH THE COLD

* I STAYED UP TOO LATE LAST NIGHT - I KNEW BETTER - I REALLY DID

BLAH

WHAT A BLAH DAY

HOWEVER, GOD IS SO GOOD & HIS LOVE IS MORE AMAZING THAN THE WORD AMAZING CAN COVER - HE LOVES SO COMPLETELY & I AM THANKFUL - I AM BLESSED & LOVED & EVEN ON THIS BLAH DAY THERE IS GOOD

Some of my kids...

Sunday we had a blast at ALL day Drama practice with our fabulous KOR Drama Team...(except we were missing our little Zack)

We had lunch outside in the warm sunshine and then took pictures beneath the beautiful Bradford Pear tree before working hard on the Drama for this Saturday's Easter Egg Hunt...

This is our sweet Drama Team (minus Zack)

Drama Team Leaders (we love these kids)
Della & Lexie

Christopher

JoJo

Lexie

Abby (She looked down)

Miles

The three slackers (We didnt want to go in it was so pretty outside)

Come see my amazing kids do their Human Video on Saturday. It's going to be amazing I am so proud of them!!!

I love my kids!!

And so it FINALLY begins...

Busy season...

I love this time of year because the trips and action begins...

Tomorrow is our first trip to camp for this year with the kids...

It's JBQ Semi-Finals at Springville Camp - and its supposed to be warm!! I am so excited!!! We have not had JBQ in months so it's double exciting. Quizzing, games, service, food, and CAMP!!! And we get to stay in the lodges!! Woot woot, I love the lodges so much better than the cabins. Better bathroom, it's all about the bathroom and shower. It is going to be so much fun. I hope I get lots of great pictures to share with you guys too!! I so love this every year, I have a great time coaching and encouraging the kids, we always have the most incredible service on Friday nights, and then fun in the rooms before lights out!! Oh I love it!! I cant wait. And to top it off I get to sleep late tomorrow too!! Oh yea!!! Sleeping in before camp is always Wisdom!

Next up we have the Easter Egg hunt...
I can not wait I can not wait I can not wait!!! It is going to be so fun!!!

I have spring fever like crazy and I am so looking forward to heading home this afternoon and throwing open the shades and letting the sunlight into my little quaint apartment and getting busy washing and packing for camp. Oh my goodness I am so excited!!

Youth convention is also coming up - another short trip to camp!!!

I love love love love love love love love love love love this time of year and the opportunities to spend more personal time with the kids and youth. The ministry opportunities to touch other kids and youths lives. I have to tell you I know this is the very reason God created me. He created me to serve Him in ministry and I am so excited about that. I love it. I live for it. I love being Called to it!!

p.s. I know my last post was very strong, but I SO needed to feel that strongly about things.

WoW

Wow
So I have had one of the hardest weeks I have had in I cant even tell you how long...
Heart Break after Heart Break
And today I was standing in the back of Children's Church watching these kids that I love so much during worship - we were singing "Becasuse of who You are" and suddenly I re-understood - My praise to God has nothing to do with my situation whether it is good or bad at the time - I praise and worship God because He IS good in EVERY situation - good or bad.

We have so become a society of feelings - I dont feel like doing this or I dont feel that - I dont feel loved, I dont feel safe, I dont feel like I can trust, I dont feel like I should, feel feel feel feel feel - well let me tell you feelings lie and feelings are a major way that the enemy uses us in his destruction. It is not about what we feel it is about the Truth we know.

Truth comes from our loving Heavenly Father. In the words of Barlow Girl at Winter Jam '08 "I believe in love even when I do not feel it, I believe in the Sun even when it is not shinning, and I believe in God even when I cannot hear him."

It is not about us or what we feel it is about truth and doing what God tells us to do. He has written us a book to help us so there is no excuses any more. Not feelings, not lack of knowledge, our only excuse is ourselves.

We allow the lies in our lives to control us and keep us in the same place. We allow the feelings and events that take place to hold us back. Its a choice, we can either allow the lies and the feelings to hold us back or we can actually seek God with all of our hearts and actually devote time to Him and His Word and grow and change no matter how hard and we can actually choose to love and trust even when we have been absolutely CRUSHED over and over and over again.

What if Jesus had decided - nope I have been hurt to much and I cant trust any of these people, so nope I am not going to do what the Heavenly Father created me to do. Nope it hurts too bad and I dont know how and I dont understand why the things that have happened have happened so I am just done. Well wouldnt we all be up the creek. Where would we be? Well where are those going to be that God has planned for us to minister to and be a light to, where are they going to be when we decide it is too hard to change or too hard to trust or too hard to move past the hurt that has been caused to do what God has created us to do? Where are they going to be?

You know what its not about me. We no longer have a choice what we do with our lives. When we give our lives to Christ - who does it belong to? It does not belong to you anymore.

So honestly who cares that my heart was broken and I mean literally shattered multiple times this past week. Who cares how hard I cried or that NOONE saw me when I hurt or that NOONE but one could even help me carry my burden. Who cares that those I love the most hurt me the most. Who cares that the week and everything in it was a struggle and bad thing after bad thing happened that was beyond my control. Who cares that I was exhausted beyond words but still had to give because I have always been the strong one and people can not handle my weakness. Who cares. None of that matters one bit.

I will continue to love and continue to trust and continue to change and grow. I will not allow any of this to hold me back. Because I gave my life to Christ and He has called me to LOVE, to TRUST, to HOPE, to change, to heal and to grow and minister in spite of my self and my circumstance and the condition of my feelings or heart. Christ is not asking us to do anything that He himself has not already done.

It's time to stop making excuses. It's time to stop knowing what needs to be done but not doing it. It's time actually be in love with God instead of this world. Its time to stop allowing our insecurities and issues be our excuses and GROW UP in Christ. Like it cant be done. Come on now. Who are we kidding? NOONE but ourselves. It is time.

COMFORT IS NOT AN OPTION. Who cares if you feel like it or not - make time for Quiet time with the Lord - read His word He spent years writting, pray and ask Him for the things you need, and LISTEN, He has things to tell you. Who cares if it makes you uncomfortable or if you have to give up time on the internet, or with friends, or in front of the TV, or if you have to give up sleep. Who cares.

I will not allow any excuses. I will not allow this past week of hurt and pain to do anything but shove me toward God and change and grow and become more of who He created me to be. You know that everytime you go through something God can teach you something from it.
So how about looking at hardships as getting closer to God and actually looking for the learning in it. You know what life is deep, not shallow. Get out of the shallow. God wants to be in everything. You know what I would even venture to say if you feel super spiritual then you are more than likely on a better path than everything being shallow. God wants to be in everything and be your everything. So I dont care who thinks I am "super spiritual", I would rather be that than shut God out cause that is what the World is comfortable with.

I am not sorry if I said something in this blog that makes you uncomfortable or mad. You might just want to look at and closely examine what did make you uncomfortable or mad. It's probably something you need to work on.

Get up, Get going. ITS TIME TO STOP MAKING EXCUSES. BROKEN HEARTS, PAIN, BROKEN TRUST, FEELINGS - THESE ARE ONLY EXCUSES THAT YOUR ENEMY IS USING TO HOLD YOU BACK - ARE YOU GOING TO ALLOW THAT? ARE YOU GOING TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW THAT?

I AM NOT!

Yes I am exhausted
Yes I am tired of everything in my life being a battle
Yes I am hurt
Yes my heart has been broken

BUT I WILL ALLOW GOD TO GROW ME AND CHANGE ME AND I WILL NOT ALLOW THESE THING TO BE EXCUSES OR TOOLS THAT THEN ENEMY USES.

I cover this blog in Jesus name. Amen!

LACK OF SLEEP = NO GOOD IN MANY WAYS

I HAVE DECIDED THAT I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT DO WELL WITHOUT PROPER SLEEP
I DONT THINK AS CLEARLY:
IM A GRUMP
I COMPLAIN MORE
NOT TO MENTION IT PUTS ME RUNNING BEHIND IN THE MORNINGS WHICH MEANS
1 - IM RUSHED
2 - I DONT GET MY QUIET TIME IN
I NEED TO NOT BE RUSHED AND I DESPERATELY NEED MY MORNING QUIET TIMES - DESPERATELY

SO TODAY I AM VERY GRUMPY AND COMPLAINTIVE - IT'S NOT A PLEASING THING - I HATE BEING THIS WAY AND I SO DONT WANT TO AFFECT THOSE AROUND ME

I FEEL TODAY LIKE MUCH IS PRESSING DOWN ON ME AND BOY AM I MISSING MY QUIET TIME MORE THAN EVER
MY DAYS JUST ARE NOT THE SAME WITHOUT IT

I DIDNT GET QUIET TIME YESTERDAY OR TODAY IN THE MORNINGS - MIND YOU I WENT HOME YESTERDAY AND HAD SOME QUIET TIME - BUT IT SO WAS NOT THE SAME

BUT...AND THIS IS A GOOD BUT...

I LOVE THAT I LOVE MY MORNING QUIET TIMES AND THAT I MISS THEM SO MUCH WHEN I DONT GET THEM - I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE ABLE TO GET UP AND HAVE TIME IN THE MORNINGS TO DO THAT - AND NOW I LOVE IT SO MUCH I ACTUALLY MISS IT WHEN IT DOESNT HAPPEN - SO I AM TRULY THANKFUL FOR THAT - TRULY!

YOU KNOW THERE IS ALWAYS ALOT GOING ON IN LIFE - AND IT SEEMS WHEN LIFE GETS BUSIEST THAT'S WHEN WE GET WEAK - I BELIEVE FOR ME SIMPLY BECAUSE I DONT HAVE TIME TO SPEND IN GOD'S PRESENCE LISTENING AND LEARNING AND ALLOWING HIS PEACE - WELL I AM DETERMINED TO GET MY MORNING QUIET TIMES IN - AND THAT MEANS GETTING TO BED AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE - SADLY I JUST DO NOT HAVE THE STAMINA TO STAY UP LATE AND BE FUNCTIONAL THE NEXT DAY - SO KNOWING THAT ABOUT MYSELF IS GOOD SO I KNOW HOW TO MAKE SURE I GET MY QUIET TIMES IN!

OH AND A QUICK NOTE ABOUT INCORPORATING PICTURES INTO MY BLOG - I DO NOT YET HAVE A FAMILY TO TAKE PICTURES OF - SO UNLESS I WANT TO PUT IN SILLY PICTURES LIKE THE LAST BLOG IT WOULD JUST BE PICTURES OF ME AND TATER - WHICH HONESTLY WOULD NOT BE VERY INTERESTING - SO ILL POST PICTURES OF KIDS CRUSADES AND TRIPS AND SUCH WHEN I TAKE THOSE BUT AS FAR AS EVERY DAY PICTURES - NOTHING PICTURE WORTHY HAPPENS EVERYDAY - ILL INCORPORTATE A CUTE PIC OF TATER OR MYSELF IF ONE ARISES BUT I DONT LIKE MY LAST POST OF SILLY SURFACE PICTURES SO I DONT THINK I WILL DO IT THAT WAY

SO WITH THAT SAID I ACTUALLY DO HAVE A VERY CUTE PICTURE OF MY TATER KITTY TO SHARE... THIS WAS TAKEN ONE MORNING LAST WEEK DURING MORNING QUIET/STUDY TIME - HE JUST LOOKED SO SWEET AND HIS FACE LOOKED SO LITTLE LIKE WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER THAT I COULDNT HELP BUT SNATCH UP MY PHONE AND TAKE A QUICK PICTURE - HE'S SO ADORABLE - I JUST AM IN LOVE WITH HIS LITTLE FACE EVERYDAY - I CANT WAIT TO HAVE CHILDREN TO FEEL THIS WAY ABOUT - HEE HEE - BUT I AM THANKFUL FOR MY TATER KITTY - HE KEEPS ME COMPANY AND IS A VERY SWEET SWEET KITTY - HE'S VERY CUDDLING AND LOVING!

THAT'S IT FOR TODAY - HAPPY TUESDAY :)