The internet ---an amazing invention. Ministry --- something every christian is called to do. Put them together and you have one amazing and awesome tool to touch people's lives with.
While I am still learning how to tweak my space here in blogger world, I was thinking today about how much the internet has impacted my life, and in a positive way. Besides having an answer to almost any question you have (thanks Google!), the internet has allowed me to meet people that I would have never met and to develop friendships that have stood strong and helped me weather many storms. When I first discovered email lists, I was amazed at how many people had the same interests as me! I have a love for scrapbooking and so those were the first email lists I joined. Then I realized there were "christian" lists for women as well, so I joined several of those. It has been an amazing journey for me personally, meeting so many christian women online, sisters in the Lord, with whom I share many common interests.
Yes, I attend a local church and yes, it feeds me, but I have to say that the christian women I have met online through email lists and now through blogs have truly enriched my life and encouraged my walk with the Lord, as much as those with whom I share a pew.
Owning an email list and writing a blog has allowed me to explore new territory in my christian walk and perhaps go a little deeper into a call I feel is from the Lord. Many years ago, the Lord spoke to my heart about a ministry he had for me, but I allowed Satan to trip me up and though I never lost faith in God, I never felt I would be able to minister to others the way I felt God had called me to. Just recently, God has been stirring something within me and He is taking me to a deeper place, a deeper relationship with Him, and I am starting to believe that God may indeed be "restoring what the locusts have eaten", in my life.
I am excited about what God has in store for me, but I am a little scared of not knowing just how the journey will go. I guess that is normal. One thing I do know is that God can and will and has used the internet to bring His message of hope, healing, and deliverance to many, including myself, and my desire is to be able to give back and share what the Lord has taught me in hopes that it will bring encouragement to others and point the way to Christ as our only hope in this life.
Internet. Ministry. A Good Thing!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
I NEED THE SUN OR IS IT THE SON I NEED?
As winter continues to linger here in the Ozark mountains of Missouri, I have found myself saying repeatedly "I NEED THE SUN!" I just seem to function much better in life when I get sunshine. I have been more irritable and grouchy and I feel like I have so many things to get done, but no energy to do them. Then, this past weekend, we had unbelievable temps! It was in the mid 50s on Friday, mid 60s on Saturday, and on Sunday we hit 72!!! Woo Hoo! We got the carport cleaned off and reorganized, rearranged some furniture in the house, and got my office painted and carpeted! I was walking on cloud 9 from all the energy I suddenly seemed to have.
Then, the thought came to me - if my physical body responds so well to the sunshine, how much more does the spiritual side of me respond to the SON (of God)? Just as I was dragging and being grouchy and irritable because I didn't have the sunshine to energize me, could it also be possible that my grouchiness or irritability came from not spending enough time with the "SON"? How much time have I put into spending time with the SON lately?
These thoughts have really weighed on my mind over the past few days. My conclusion is that if I was spending a little more time with the SON, then I might be able to bear more gracefully the days without much "sun".
Just some food for thought.
That said, this morning we got about 6 inches of snow, but by afternoon the sun was shining bright and the snow was starting to melt already. Come on Spring! And I am looking forward to spring in my heart as well.
Then, the thought came to me - if my physical body responds so well to the sunshine, how much more does the spiritual side of me respond to the SON (of God)? Just as I was dragging and being grouchy and irritable because I didn't have the sunshine to energize me, could it also be possible that my grouchiness or irritability came from not spending enough time with the "SON"? How much time have I put into spending time with the SON lately?
These thoughts have really weighed on my mind over the past few days. My conclusion is that if I was spending a little more time with the SON, then I might be able to bear more gracefully the days without much "sun".
Just some food for thought.
That said, this morning we got about 6 inches of snow, but by afternoon the sun was shining bright and the snow was starting to melt already. Come on Spring! And I am looking forward to spring in my heart as well.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Today's Small Thing
Several days ago I became a "Company Girl". What is a Company Girl? Well, click on this link: http://homesanctuary.typepad.com/rachelanne/ and you can find out all about it.
I have had a great time reading her blog and though I joined several days ago, I haven't made the time to do the "today's small thing" until today. Maybe it is because it is the first of the month and I always tend to get a little excited about "firsts" and the whole concept of starting fresh on something, but whatever it is, I am doing Today's Small Thing and I highly recommend you check it out as well! Anything that makes housework a little more "fun" has to be good for you, right??? :)
I have had a great time reading her blog and though I joined several days ago, I haven't made the time to do the "today's small thing" until today. Maybe it is because it is the first of the month and I always tend to get a little excited about "firsts" and the whole concept of starting fresh on something, but whatever it is, I am doing Today's Small Thing and I highly recommend you check it out as well! Anything that makes housework a little more "fun" has to be good for you, right??? :)
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Sunday Night Ramblings
Well, it has been a good weekend.
On Friday, I went to a friend's house and we cooked 3 meals and 1 dessert in about 3 hours time. They are all nicely tucked away in my freezer and we will probably eat them sometime during this week. I am already planning my next cooking day. It was so much fun and I can really see how this is going to save time and money. My friend and I even discussed that when we feel like we get this down to a fine art, we may offer to teach other ladies at our church how to do it.
Saturday was a shopping day. We went to the Super Center (Wal-Mart) and bought groceries, paint for my office, and computer equipment (to hook up the computer for the girls to use). We went out to eat at Colton's Steakhouse and then had a nice evening at home.
Today, I didn't make it to church because my back is still bothering me a lot (herniated disk flare up), but I did make it this evening and the service was our monthly singing/eating service. It was nice and I had a good visit with friends while we ate.
Some goals I have for the week:
On Friday, I went to a friend's house and we cooked 3 meals and 1 dessert in about 3 hours time. They are all nicely tucked away in my freezer and we will probably eat them sometime during this week. I am already planning my next cooking day. It was so much fun and I can really see how this is going to save time and money. My friend and I even discussed that when we feel like we get this down to a fine art, we may offer to teach other ladies at our church how to do it.
Saturday was a shopping day. We went to the Super Center (Wal-Mart) and bought groceries, paint for my office, and computer equipment (to hook up the computer for the girls to use). We went out to eat at Colton's Steakhouse and then had a nice evening at home.
Today, I didn't make it to church because my back is still bothering me a lot (herniated disk flare up), but I did make it this evening and the service was our monthly singing/eating service. It was nice and I had a good visit with friends while we ate.
Some goals I have for the week:
- Work on my daily bible studies more diligently
- Work up a menu plan for the week
- Work up a list of meals to cook for the freezer this weekend
- Work on my price book (for comparison shopping- groceries)
- Do extra MT work
- Get school records updated
- Start on Jalen's cross stitch project
- Scrapbook 4 pages
- Make 5 cards
- Start my daily food intake/exercise log along with my blood sugar/blood pressure diary again
Do any of you set weekly goals? If so, how many do you set? What do you find to help you accomplish them better? Please share anything you want to!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Expressions
Yesterday while running errands, Shelby made a comment that Jalen was "happy as a lark". I chuckled a bit at her phrase and she asked me what was funny and I told her it was just the phrase she had used. She laughed too and then said, "I don't even know what a lark is." LOL
Isn't it funny how we grow up hearing phrases and we somehow figure out the context they are used in, but we really don't know what they mean? So, according to www.wikianswers.com :
Lark may be a noun: 1. it is a bird 2. a prank
or a verb: 1. to have fun; to frolic and play 2. to make fun of; to tease
I am not really sure Jalen was happy as a lark after all, since he was just sitting in his carseat looking around, but the phrase matched the mood I guess...:)
Another phrase Shelby has been using lately when Jalen falls asleep is "out like a trout". I didn't look that one up, but I am assuming its only relevance is the fact that the first and last words rhyme.
So, what are some expressions you find yourself saying and do you know what they really mean? I would really love to hear them, so leave them in my comments, okay?
Isn't it funny how we grow up hearing phrases and we somehow figure out the context they are used in, but we really don't know what they mean? So, according to www.wikianswers.com :
Lark may be a noun: 1. it is a bird 2. a prank
or a verb: 1. to have fun; to frolic and play 2. to make fun of; to tease
I am not really sure Jalen was happy as a lark after all, since he was just sitting in his carseat looking around, but the phrase matched the mood I guess...:)
Another phrase Shelby has been using lately when Jalen falls asleep is "out like a trout". I didn't look that one up, but I am assuming its only relevance is the fact that the first and last words rhyme.
So, what are some expressions you find yourself saying and do you know what they really mean? I would really love to hear them, so leave them in my comments, okay?
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
A Season for Everything
A season for everything.....
I know that our lives are much like the seasons that most of us get to experience. We have spring, summer, fall, and winter in our personal lives, just like that which occurs in the world we live in. Sometimes I find myself, no matter how much I enjoy winter, when we have been under a barrage of sleet, freezing rain, and/or snow, longing for the warmer temps of spring, and seeing the new buds sprout on the trees and bushes. Then, before long I start finding myself longing for hotter days so we can go swimming in the river. And so on and so forth it goes....
But in my spiritual life, I find myself going through seasons as well, but for some reason I don't seem to embrace them as well as I do the seasons in my natural life. Yet God clearly states that there is a season for everything. (See Ecclesiastes 3:1-10).
So, no matter what season I am in my personal life, I need to recognize that it is not a shock for God to see me in that season, because He has clearly orchestrated the seasons of my life. So, if I trust Him, then I should be able to embrace each season and learn from each season what He wants me to learn. So much easier said than done though.
Currently, I am dealing with all teenagers and many times I find myself saying either out loud or under my breath, that I would rather change poopy diapers all day long than deal with a teenager's mouth or attitudes.
I remember an older lady who was a close family friend telling me one day when all 3 of my girls were very young that I should enjoy this stage of their lives because it would be gone all too quickly. And I can clearly remember thinking, "You've got to be kidding!" There is no way I can enjoy all the work it takes to care for 3 little ones when I get very little sleep, am always dealing with one fussy kid or another, etc., etc. Of course, now that I have teenagers I see the wisdom in what that dear friend was trying to impart to me.
So, what have I learned, after almost 20 years of being a parent/wife/adult? Embrace each season because it too will pass and you will be embracing another one before you know it. So now, even though some days I have to grit my teeth, I really do try to not rush the stages my girls are in. I am actively looking for the positives of each stage that they are in and I find that helps me to enjoy life much more.
So, no matter what season you are experiencing in your life right now, just remember, that God is in charge of the seasons of our lives and the seasons will come and go, but you can trust that God will be there with you through each season you pass through.
I know that our lives are much like the seasons that most of us get to experience. We have spring, summer, fall, and winter in our personal lives, just like that which occurs in the world we live in. Sometimes I find myself, no matter how much I enjoy winter, when we have been under a barrage of sleet, freezing rain, and/or snow, longing for the warmer temps of spring, and seeing the new buds sprout on the trees and bushes. Then, before long I start finding myself longing for hotter days so we can go swimming in the river. And so on and so forth it goes....
But in my spiritual life, I find myself going through seasons as well, but for some reason I don't seem to embrace them as well as I do the seasons in my natural life. Yet God clearly states that there is a season for everything. (See Ecclesiastes 3:1-10).
So, no matter what season I am in my personal life, I need to recognize that it is not a shock for God to see me in that season, because He has clearly orchestrated the seasons of my life. So, if I trust Him, then I should be able to embrace each season and learn from each season what He wants me to learn. So much easier said than done though.
Currently, I am dealing with all teenagers and many times I find myself saying either out loud or under my breath, that I would rather change poopy diapers all day long than deal with a teenager's mouth or attitudes.
I remember an older lady who was a close family friend telling me one day when all 3 of my girls were very young that I should enjoy this stage of their lives because it would be gone all too quickly. And I can clearly remember thinking, "You've got to be kidding!" There is no way I can enjoy all the work it takes to care for 3 little ones when I get very little sleep, am always dealing with one fussy kid or another, etc., etc. Of course, now that I have teenagers I see the wisdom in what that dear friend was trying to impart to me.
So, what have I learned, after almost 20 years of being a parent/wife/adult? Embrace each season because it too will pass and you will be embracing another one before you know it. So now, even though some days I have to grit my teeth, I really do try to not rush the stages my girls are in. I am actively looking for the positives of each stage that they are in and I find that helps me to enjoy life much more.
So, no matter what season you are experiencing in your life right now, just remember, that God is in charge of the seasons of our lives and the seasons will come and go, but you can trust that God will be there with you through each season you pass through.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
And we're off!!!
Well, the New Year is certainly moving along isn't it? I can't believe we are already halfway into February. And of course, as you can tell by my blog, I haven't made but just one entry since 2008 arrived. I have great intentions, just not enough time to fulfill those intentions. Well, actually, time is not the problem, management of my time is the problem, which will definitely be the topic of future blog entries.
For now, let me just give everyone a quick update on what is happening in our lives.
Kayla got off to college again on January 22 and her classes have been going well so far. The newest thing happening in her life is that she is about to get braces put on. In fact, tomorrow is the day she gets the bottom braces put on. Then, somewhere between 6 and 10 visits later, she will get the top braces put on. The prognosis right now is that she will have them on for about 30 months.
Shelby is adjusting to life as a mama and is doing very well at that actually. I always knew that she would make a great mama as that is really all she has ever wanted to do. She wants to get married too (not anytime soon though), and of course her dad and I would have preferred the marriage first, then baby later for her, but things don't always go the way we hope or expect them too. But despite all that, God is good to us and Shelby is doing great. She just went back to work at Sonic also - she works twice a week for about 5 hours each time - and she is glad to do that, though misses Jalen when she is gone. We live just about 3 minutes from her work and are able to take Jalen to her when he needs fed and her boss is wonderful about letting her take a break to feed him, so she is really blessed.
Jalen is growing and getting bigger everyday. He is starting to actually smile now and not just when he has gas...lol He is staying awake longer and looking around at things, and especially loves to look at light. He really is a very happy and content baby and only fusses when he is hungry. What a blessing he has truly been to our lives!
Lindsay is doing well also. She is very diligent about getting her school work done and her dad is working with her on her science, which has been a good thing for the both of them. She is also very involved with our church's drama team and has been practicing a lot lately with them. She has also been working out with my sister in law as they have both joined a "Biggest Loser" competition at our local family/youth center.
Tom is doing well and his job is going great. There was an issue recently that he went through at work that we saw God literally do a miracle in that was so encouraging to us. Whoever says God doesn't hear our heart's prayers and answers them just doesn't know the God we serve. He is enjoying having a grandson too... he was great when our girls were little and he is still great with little ones. He is also still teaching Sunday School and that is going very well, to God be the glory!
I am still working from home part-time doing medical transcription work, and of course still homeschooling the girls and I am loving being a Nana. I always write out my goals for a new year, but most years I never make it even through a couple of goals. This year, I am doing better, but still not where I want to be. One thing though that has definitely changed for me though, is that I am doing a lot more bible study and praying than I have ever done before and I feel like I am starting to see results of that in my life, which is exciting, encouraging, and certainly builds my faith. I am really anxious to see what God has in store for my life as I continue to build this habit in my life.
Some other new things so far this year that I have been doing is I have actually set dates for scrapbooking days at our church and have been actually getting some scrapbooking done. And a friend and I are going to try our hand at "batch cooking" this Friday to sort of get our feet wet so to speak. We have chosen 3 ground beef recipes and will make them up for the freezer, then the next week or so, we will try some chicken recipes. We are excited about this and hope it works out well for us. Then, we might do it at our church and invite more ladies.
So, that is the latest in our lives so far. I do feel like God is taking me to a new level in my walk with Him and I will be sharing what I am learning here in this blog. Also, I am learning how to manage my time a little better also, which will enable me to have the time to share in my blog, so hopefully, you will be hearing more from me soon.
For now, let me just give everyone a quick update on what is happening in our lives.
Kayla got off to college again on January 22 and her classes have been going well so far. The newest thing happening in her life is that she is about to get braces put on. In fact, tomorrow is the day she gets the bottom braces put on. Then, somewhere between 6 and 10 visits later, she will get the top braces put on. The prognosis right now is that she will have them on for about 30 months.
Shelby is adjusting to life as a mama and is doing very well at that actually. I always knew that she would make a great mama as that is really all she has ever wanted to do. She wants to get married too (not anytime soon though), and of course her dad and I would have preferred the marriage first, then baby later for her, but things don't always go the way we hope or expect them too. But despite all that, God is good to us and Shelby is doing great. She just went back to work at Sonic also - she works twice a week for about 5 hours each time - and she is glad to do that, though misses Jalen when she is gone. We live just about 3 minutes from her work and are able to take Jalen to her when he needs fed and her boss is wonderful about letting her take a break to feed him, so she is really blessed.
Jalen is growing and getting bigger everyday. He is starting to actually smile now and not just when he has gas...lol He is staying awake longer and looking around at things, and especially loves to look at light. He really is a very happy and content baby and only fusses when he is hungry. What a blessing he has truly been to our lives!
Lindsay is doing well also. She is very diligent about getting her school work done and her dad is working with her on her science, which has been a good thing for the both of them. She is also very involved with our church's drama team and has been practicing a lot lately with them. She has also been working out with my sister in law as they have both joined a "Biggest Loser" competition at our local family/youth center.
Tom is doing well and his job is going great. There was an issue recently that he went through at work that we saw God literally do a miracle in that was so encouraging to us. Whoever says God doesn't hear our heart's prayers and answers them just doesn't know the God we serve. He is enjoying having a grandson too... he was great when our girls were little and he is still great with little ones. He is also still teaching Sunday School and that is going very well, to God be the glory!
I am still working from home part-time doing medical transcription work, and of course still homeschooling the girls and I am loving being a Nana. I always write out my goals for a new year, but most years I never make it even through a couple of goals. This year, I am doing better, but still not where I want to be. One thing though that has definitely changed for me though, is that I am doing a lot more bible study and praying than I have ever done before and I feel like I am starting to see results of that in my life, which is exciting, encouraging, and certainly builds my faith. I am really anxious to see what God has in store for my life as I continue to build this habit in my life.
Some other new things so far this year that I have been doing is I have actually set dates for scrapbooking days at our church and have been actually getting some scrapbooking done. And a friend and I are going to try our hand at "batch cooking" this Friday to sort of get our feet wet so to speak. We have chosen 3 ground beef recipes and will make them up for the freezer, then the next week or so, we will try some chicken recipes. We are excited about this and hope it works out well for us. Then, we might do it at our church and invite more ladies.
So, that is the latest in our lives so far. I do feel like God is taking me to a new level in my walk with Him and I will be sharing what I am learning here in this blog. Also, I am learning how to manage my time a little better also, which will enable me to have the time to share in my blog, so hopefully, you will be hearing more from me soon.
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