Whew!

I so thought that my camera was broke.  When we went to church Sunday evening, I was going to take pictures of Wes getting baptized.  Well, when I put the batteries in it wouldn't turn on.  I so thought the kids had knocked it on the floor and broke it and noone was owning up to it.  Well, it works!! I was using cheap batteries and I can't do that.  I really need a newer camera but I love the pics that mine takes.  I only have a few minutes to write today before heading out to work.  I snapped this picture of Gabby's kitten, Princess.  She climbed in my purse to sleep.

She's such a silly cat!! Well, time to get my hair washed and get my scrubs on and head to work.  Will post more pics in the next few days.  We're working on getting our yard cleaned up real well and I am excited about that...has needed it for years!

Baptism

It's a late post today.  I had to work this morning which puts me up at 3am and leave for work at 4am and then back home by 2pm.  Tonight at church my stepson was baptized.  We're very proud of him for taking these steps in his life.  Now we just pray that he continues to grow in Christ and that we are able to be an example to him.  Here are a few pictures of it.  My camera got broke between yesterday and today.  I am so upset about this because I was just starting and wanting to blog again.  Well, I work mornings the next two days and then a couple nights for friday and saturday off.

Here's Wes with Bro. RC

Another beautiful morning!

Awww...yet another beautiful morning this morning.  Second morning to sit outside, drink coffee and listen to some music on my laptop and just be on the internet.  I haven't really been too focused to do my bible study this morning.  Too much on my mind so attempting to fill it with positive stuff.  As I am sitting here just reflecting on a few things I happened to look down the road towards the lake.  Low and behold through the trees there is one opening from my little table and chairs that shows me the lake.  This morning there is a man down there just trolling along in his boat and enjoying this great morning also.  I snapped a few pics of him.

He moved along so slowly and you can just take a deep breath and let it out and feel how relaxing that has to be for him.  My little town I live in is so quiet and so it is just nice to sit and listen to the few noises that you hear.  Here's my partner in crime this morning.  Smokey is just relaxing and watching me type and drink my coffee. 

Smokey has two brothers around here somewhere but this morning it's just he and I.  

I think today I am going to get some pictures of Gabby in the areas around the house.  I need some updated pictures and it's much cheaper if I do them myself.  My camera takes wonderful pictures.  I have an idea of her in this new dress she has and there's a fence across the street with a big wagon wheel on it.  I'd love to get her by that in her dress with bare feet.  Guess we'll see what happens and how our day goes.  Might post more later.

Friday Sept. 16, 2011

Looking at my page I definately have random craziness going on here.  I haven't hardly used my blog at all.  In fact, I have my notes from Beth Moore this year.  It was last weekend.  I'll have to pull them out and post them also.  It was really good, I don't look at a shaker of salt the same way.  This morning I cleaned up my table area under my carport. I should have taken a picture of it before I got started but here's the finished product.

Didn't take too long and it was a nice cool morning which I am absolutely loving!!  This is my favorite time of year....when the mornings are cool and it warms up during the day.  We've been working a little at a time getting the yard cleaned up and getting things looking better around the house.  Our poor yard has been looking like noone has cared about it.  LOL...as I'm sitting here blogging Sassy and Jade are sitting at the door wondering what I am doing.  They could just push the door open but they are good girls they so don't do it.  Here's them looking out the door.

  Jade is the pug..she was my daughters dog when she was a puppy but now that she's older my daughter doesn't do as much with her so she's becoming my dog.  Sassy is the pekinese. She's my husbands dog.  She loves to dance for attention.  She's quite a unique dog..lol. 

I have tomorrow off so hoping to get a few things done here at the house.  I work for a nursing home as a cook.  Some days it's harder than others.  Tonight I am making Hamburgers for them so they will like that.  Yesterday the power was out for about 10 hours.  They were hooking up a big generator I think to run the facility completely in the event of a power outage.  Was a nice and cool day yesterday which helped so much.  They've had sandwiches for the past few days and they will really enjoy their hamburger and sweet potato fries tonight.  I work sunday morning (5am-1pm) so I will miss morning church but sunday evening we have a Pastor that is teaching on the end of times.  Very excited about this!!  Also, my step-son, Wes, will be getting baptized.  I was very surprised about this.  He took the steps on his own and didn't involve us.  I hope that he takes this very seriously.  God can do great things with him.

Light Bulb Moment

Ok so this morning as I'm sitting outside enjoying my coffee, air1 radio station and doing my bible study (Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World).  I am on Chapter 4 and there is a story of a guy who God has called to haul three stones to the top of the mountain.  He gladly says yes, he's excited to be working for the Lord.  As he comes to people on his journey he's asked to also take their stones, bag of pebbles and what not.  (This is a shorter version of it of course) As he gets to the really steep part of his journey, he no longer is singing praises, or happy to be helping friends out.  He's beginning to get frustrated and tells God that he's called him to do something he just can't do.  God shows up and looks in his wagon and asks what is all this?  The man explains that they are from his friends they asked for him to take with him.  God begins tossing out the items that are not his and tells him that "If you will be content to let others take their own burdens, I will help you with your task."  The guy tells him "But I promised I would help!  I can't have these things lying here."  Here's the light bulb moment!!  "Let others shoulder their own belongings. I know you were trying to help but when you are weighted down with all these cares, you cannot do what I have asked of you."  The man jumped to his feet, suddenly realizing the freedom God was offering.  "You mean I only have to take the three stones after all?"  God smiled and said "That is what I asked you to do.  My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.  I will never ask you to carry more than you can bear."

WOW!! ok...how many times do we try to take on the world when God has only asked to carry something much lighter?  I so do this all the time.  I love this and will be pondering this all day today.  Have a great day and lighten your load!!! Ask God what it is that you're supposed to be carrying and stop taking on more than He asked!

Christmas Cards

How do you send out your Christmas cards?  Do you send out regular Christmas cards? Photo cards? Both?  Since I have started to digital scrapbook I make my own Christmas pictures and then print them out and put them in a regular card with a letter.  This year I want to make Photo cards to send out.  We are hoping for Christmas this year that we will have a new member of our family.  I already have my idea for my card so hoping things work out well.  My oldest step-son may be coming to live with us and I have never met him.  My husband and I have been together for 12 years and I have never met this young man who is now 16 years old. I am leaving to travel home for a few weeks on Saturday and will be able to see my sons.  So, in my thinking on how to make our cards this year I am going to take some great shots with my sons while visiting with them, will get a shot with my husband and his son and then together we have a daughter and I think we'll have one taken together with her and then put us all together as one big family.  I am really excited about this project.  Very much looking forward to this and sharing with the world our new addition to our home.  I will be using Shutterfly this year for the printing of my cards.  Here are some links that I'd like to share with you to make your own photo Christmas cards.

Christmas cards to http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards

photo Christmas cards to http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery

Choose your own card/invitation and URL from our Cards & Stationery page

I hope you get a jump start on your Christmas cards.  Enjoy!!

Beth Moore Simulcast

Wow!! What a day today.  This morning my neighbor and I went to the simulcast at one of the local churches to hear Beth Moore speak.  We had no idea what she was speaking on.  Were we in for a surprise!  Memory verse for the session is Proverbs 31:26 She opens her mouth with wisdom; and on her tongue is the law of kindness.  Oh man, Proverbs 31 and boy that tells us from the beginning that we're going to be convicted.  We're talking about the perfect woman!!  We all fall short there...lol.  There are two reasons why we are studying the law of kindness. 
1. Why we need kindness on our tongues
a. Exhibit A: It’s becoming a meaner world 2 Tim 3 - people will be more proud, abusive...
b. Exihibit B: "She openeth her mouth"
i. When Jesus came back from the dead he appeared to women cause he wanted to get the word out.
ii. We are all publishers (tweets/emails/fb). We need God as an editor
1. Eat it before we tweet it, good look it before we Facebook it, flog it before we blog it
2. 8 Tastes of Biblical Kindness
a. Kindness is NOT weakness
i. Luke 6:35-36 “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
1. If you haven't found anyone in the past 2 weeks that is difficult to be kind to then you are either not kind enough or not getting out.
2. Nice comes from latin word nescius meaning ignorant - from nescire meant not to know
a. Old way of thinking: if you can be that nice you must be an idiot
3. Nice is fine but kindness is divine
b. Kindness is NOT an action it is a disposition
i. Kind - comes from the Greek word chrestos (profitable, fit, good for any use...good natured)
ii. You can fake Nice you can’t fake Kindness
c. Kindness wears down when we do
i. Daniel 7:25
ii. What is that one relationship that wears you down? It is the relationship that is a continual challenge. Good place to start.
iii. Matt 11:28-30 - WBC translation “My yoke is KIND”
1. God knows when you are worn down!!
iv. Things that can wear us down -
1. 2 Tim 2:24 - Resentment
2. Gen 37:4 - Hate
v. When I am worn down we need to built up.
1. Often the biblical examples of being built up in the spirit are in the context of the body of Christ. It is the contact of Christian brothers/sisters.
a. Not just church, also a handful of close believers
2. Eph 4:12 - so that the body of Christ may be built up
3. Eph 4:16 - the whole bold and builds itself up in love
4. Eph 4:29 - do not let any unwholesome talk come out... but that which builds up
vi. Beth shared a great example of using daily accountability texts with a friend to report on her “problem relationship” and be accountable.
d. Kindness looks pain in the face
i. When we see pain/suffering if we have kindness we will LOOK
ii. We are surrounded by people in pain. Open our eyes, look them in the face, don’t look away.
e. Kindness is a Savior!
i. Don’t get so caught up in a virtual reality that we forget that there are real people with real problems that need us in a real way.
ii. Titus 3:3-8 - “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy...But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us...because of his mercy.”
1. God is the ultimate philanthropist.
a. Our culture is trying to take God out of social philanthropy. He is the author of loving mankind.
2. Titus 3:4 - “when the kindness and love of our God appeared”
a. Appear come from Greek word epiphaino... epiphany. Literally His love and kindness was wrapped in the appearance of the person of Jesus Christ.
b. Titus 2:13 - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
c. The apostles/believers did not lay down their lives for someone they “thought” was Jesus Christ, they knew.
3. He saved us - not denominations, not family, not works. His mercy given freely.
iii. You are never called to be the Savior
1. We are called to help, aid, and love but there is already a Savior provided. Do not be burdened... we are just pointers to the light.
2. Kindness cannot mean that I become any one's everything. It’s hard being God when you’re not one.
f. Kindness has good memory
i. Psalm 106:7 When our fathers were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles;they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.
1. When we have gotten away from the law of kindness it is because we have forgot that God has been good (kind) to us.
2. Great analogy about a dog getting excited for going for a walk by grabbing on leash. Our cord to God is love & kindness and we should be excited to be clipped on and led by God.
a. Even when we let go he doesn’t!
g. Kindness craves an outlet
i. When we have an acute awareness of God’s kindness to us we are bursting to share it.
1. 2 Sam 9:1 - David asked, "Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake?"
a. He needed to show it
2. There is always someone around you in need of YOUR kindness.
h. Kindness leaves a legacy
i. Acts 28:1-2
1. Unusual kindness- 83% of ppl on Malta give to charities
ii. All it takes is 1 generation to fall on their knees and surrender to God to affect entire future generations
1. Is it worth it to do whatever you have to do to leave a legacy of kindness on your family.
iii. Nothing has the authority to take control over you when you are under the yoke of Christ.

These were the notes taken and I wanted to share to see if anyone else could benefit from such a great study.