Dare To Be Different

God is Still God

2011-10-03T22:20:00.001-05:00

It's been a while since I've last posted. My life has drastically changed and has been very busy. I changed jobs within my company, and it's been very hectic, to say the least.

However, I will say that it has been one of the most trying times in my life. I do not have the luxury of time I had before to study throughout the day while sitting on the mountain top. I am now going through the testing fire. It is definitely a time of reflection of my values and priorities. One scripture that continues to come to mind is Proverbs 24:10 "If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small." I don't want to be a weak Christian. I don't want to fail nor do I want to have to go through the test again. I want to learn my lesson the first time.

I also know that God will give me more than I can bear. That's why he's there to help me stretch, grow, and fully rely on Him for all I need. I must take time to commune with Him and keep going in the right direction.

I also know that God never leaves me nor forsakes me. I may not look to Him nor seek Him as I should, but He is always there waiting for me. God is faithful.

I know that when I've done all I can do, then just stand. Know that God is God. Know that through Christ I can do all things. Know that even when the storm of life is roaring all around me, I can listen to God's still, small voice and feel His peace that passes all understanding.

I know that God loves me no matter what. I know that He has placed very special people in my life to keep me encouraged and pray for me.

I know that God is God.

Thank you Lord for everything. I know that I am to be thankful in all situations. I know that if I look with your eyes and listen, I will see where you are working around me and through me. Help me to not become so bogged down with life that I loose sight of you and your will in my life. Lord, guard me, protect me, use me. Help me to find that special time just for you in my day because without you I am nothing and can accomplish nothing. Give me rest and strengthen me for the battle I will face tomorrow to further your kingdom.

What's Up With That Finger, SJ?

2011-08-15T18:31:00.003-05:00

Well, it seems that I've had a string of bad luck lately. Just before I left work Friday, I caught my wedding band on the door handle. My body went one way as I was walking off, but my hand stayed attached to the door.

Thankfully, my finger was neither dislocated nor broken. My wedding band didn't weather this incident too well though. It will need to be replaced once I can wear rings again on that finger.

Guardian Angels Working Overtime

2011-08-15T18:13:00.000-05:00

We have many things to be thankful for. Part of my prayer lately has been "Thank you God for your blessings seen and unseen."

It is by the grace of God that I'm not a widow today. Timmy's guardian angel was working overtime this last Saturday.

As he was traveling on the interstate and a race car transport traveling the opposite side, one of the extra tires came loose from the trailer, flew over the barrier, and slammed into Timmy's truck. Had he not seen the tire nor been able to slow down, it would have made a direct hit into the side of his window. Also, after the tire hit, it flew over the truck back over the barrier to the other side of the interstate instead of hitting his windshield.

All the praise and glory goes to God for keeping his protecting hand over Timmy. I am so thankful for the seen and unseen blessings in life.

A Sweet Send Off

2011-08-15T17:54:00.000-05:00

Friday before I left work, I was surprised by my staff with a sweet send off.

Thanks everyone! You're the best!

Has The Spirit Left You?

2011-08-14T08:15:00.006-05:00

A statement was made at our regional convention..."If the Spirit of God left us, some wouldn't know for 25 years because they know how to have church."

My questions are..."Do you know if the Spirit has left you? Is he moving in your personal life and in your church? Or are you just going through the motions to check off a list to feel good about yourself so you can say that you're a Christian or that you went to church?"

I am not condemning anyone. These are some very serious questions to think about while searching and examining your heart and life. I've done the same as well. As God has brought to light some areas of my heart and life that were not totally in line with his principles and truth I've had to repent and ask him to fix it in me.

I want to have my life's cup overflowing with the Holy Spirit. I want to be all I can be for God. I want to be totally in his will and to be prepared to do his work at any moment. I want to know that I know that I have nothing between me and God.

My heart burns with the desire to know more of him, to seek a deeper relationship with him on a daily basis. I don't want yesterday's knowledge and blessings. I want to grow in him daily and to receive new blessings. I desire to be engulfed by his Spirit daily...a new, fresh annointing. But the only way this can happen is through my desire and willingness to seek him. It isn't always easy. Life throws curve balls at me, but I love God and still find that time to talk with him and seek him so that I can hide his word in my heart.

I encourage you to find that alone time with God each day. It will be the peace in the middle of life's storm.

A New Chapter

2011-08-12T23:33:00.001-05:00

Today marks a new chapter in my life. It's a bittersweet moment. I have been offered a promotion and new position within the company at a bigger facility. I have sought God and prayed for his will in this situation and am at peace with this move in my life. I know that God is directing my steps and that I walk in his grace and favor.

However, it is a sad moment because I have spent the last three years creating relationships with some now very dear friends. It is never easy to make a change that involves leaving friends behind as your life's journey takes you into a different direction than theirs. But I do know that no matter the distance or time, we will still have that special bond. I know that they're just a phone call away to listen, talk, give advice, or pray. I am a blessed woman to have made such friends, and I thank God for these special people that he allowed to cross paths with me.

Some days you wonder if the energy you put into people is worth it or not. Thankfully God let me see some of the fruits of my labor and for that I'm truly grateful. As I was saying my final goodbyes, I was showered with love, appreciation, best wishes, and stories of how I've made a positive impact in their lives. To God I give all the glory and praise for using this vessel to further his kingdom.

I am looking forward to the next part of the journey God is taking me on. I pray that God continues to guide me, teach me, and use me to make a difference in someone's life...someone who needs God's love and the message of Jesus Christ.

Continue to pray for this sister in Christ.

Grace

2011-08-12T16:17:00.000-05:00

Some food for thought...

"Grace is not an excuse to sin but the power not to sin...It is not the great cover up!"

2011-08-09T07:52:00.002-05:00

Praise the Lord! When I hear the trumpet sound, there's no grave that can hold me down! My name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life! I am a child of God saved by grace who is going home to live with my Lord and Savior and to hurt no more! Hallelujah!

Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:1-5
I saw a Great White Throne and the One Enthroned. Nothing could stand before or against the Presence, nothing in Heaven, nothing on earth. And then I saw all the dead, great and small, standing there—before the Throne! And books were opened. Then another book was opened: the Book of Life. The dead were judged by what was written in the books, by the way they had lived. Sea released its dead, Death and Hell turned in their dead. Each man and woman was judged by the way he or she had lived. Then Death and Hell were hurled into Lake Fire. This is the second death—Lake Fire. Anyone whose name was not found inscribed in the Book of Life was hurled into Lake Fire.

I saw Heaven and earth new-created. Gone the first Heaven, gone the first earth, gone the sea. ²I saw Holy Jerusalem, new-created, descending resplendent out of Heaven, as ready for God as a bride for her husband. ^{3 -5}I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: "Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They're his people, he's their God. He'll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone." The Enthroned continued, "Look! I'm making everything new. Write it all down—each word dependable and accurate."

God Is Faithful

2011-08-02T13:41:00.004-05:00

I love how God continually shows himself true and faithful to me. He said that he would never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). Just when the storms of life seem to get out of control and I'm being knocked around, he's there to say 'Peace be still' and calms all my storms. His peace floods my soul and all fear leaves. My mind becomes clear.

I can stand on his promises. His Word is true - the only and absolute truth.

I know that my steps are ordered (Psalm 37:23) and that my path is guarded and protected by him (Proverbs 2:8). I know that as I gain more wisdom I will be filled with joy, wise choices will watch over me, and understanding will keep me safe (Proverbs 2:10-11).

I also know that he has a plan for me, a future, and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11-13) and as I seek him above all everything else, he will hear me and I will find him.

I know that he has begun something new within me and in my life and will make a path for me where there seems to be none (Isaiah 43:19) to which I am very excited.

I'm enjoying the journey God has me on. God lead me and I will follow!

.

Fall To Pieces?

2011-08-01T21:42:00.001-05:00

Proverbs 24:10 TNIV: If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength?
Proverbs 24:10 NCV: If you give up when trouble comes, it shows that you are weak.
Proverbs 24:10 MSG: If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn't much to you in the first place.

How strong are you? Well, in and of ourselves, we aren't strong. You say that you have faith in God and stand on his promises. But how strong are you really? Do you just give up? Do you fall to pieces? Do you whine and whimper? Do you crumble at the slightest bit of trials and temptations?

Or...

Do you stand firm in God and stand on His promises? Do you ignore the emotions that overwhelm at times and just stand on his Truth...His Word? Do you pray the scriptures into your life?

Lord, I know that the storms of life come and go. I know that sometimes I must go through the valley and other times I get the privilege of being on the mountain top. Forgive me of the times that I so quickly let the storms of life overtake me and let my emotions take over. Help me to not be tossed to and fro by life. Help me to learn more of you, walk in your wisdom, have my feet set firmly on your Truth, and have your Word hidden in my heart. Lord, help me to come through the trials of life stronger in you. Holy Spirit, keep me in line and bring to my remembrance the Truth on which I stand. God, continue to remove me and fill me with more of you. Continue to guide me and direct my path. Thank you, Lord, taking care of me even when I may not be able to clearly see the bigger picture. Continue to let me see with your eyes and love with your love. I love you, my friend, my Savior!

Mental Filter?

2011-07-29T12:27:00.001-05:00

Proverbs 29:11, 20 NLT: Fools vent their anger but the wise quietly hold it back. There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.

How many times have we had "diarrhea of the mouth" and just blurted out everything we thought of without being sensitive to others around and how your words would affect them? Or in the heat of the moment and anger, just given someone the verbal beating they deserved? I've been guilty.

Lord, help me to keep a watch on my tongue. There is life and death in the tongue. There is power in the spoken word. Help me to always be mindful to speak positive, edifying things. I want to build others up and be able to testify of your wonderfulness.

Your Great Name

2011-07-28T14:34:00.002-05:00

What a wonderful name! No other name is greater! How my heart rejoices hearing his name!

He is my Savior. He is my freedom. He is my healer. He is my redeemer. He is my provider. He is my everything!

JESUS!

Joyful & Passionate

2011-07-27T11:54:00.013-05:00

In talking with some friends, I was questioned about my joy and passion for God. How did you find your joy again? How are you able to stay so passionate?

I answered as best as I could in sharing a small portion of what I've gone through and faced in the last years. I truly hope that I was able to convey a few key points

Here are some key nuggets of truth that I've learned and stand on:

1. God never leaves me nor forsakes me. He never fails! (Hebrews 13:5 NLT: “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”) I had failed him. I had walked away from him, but he never let me down.

2. I had to take action; I had to make a choice. I couldn't just expect to be rescued without making an effort on my part. God was there all the time, but I was running away from God creating a greater distance between him and me. I had to stop, humble myself, turn to God, and repent of my shortcomings. God isn't going to force himself on us. I had to turn to my 1st love again. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT: "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.")

3. I fell in love with God again. Oh sure, I said that I loved God, but when I truly humbled myself before him, let his love completely wash over me, and his healing process in my heart and emotions began, I learned that my skewed view of God was wrong. He revealed himself in a totally new way to me. He became my loving Father.

4. Looking to anywhere or anyone besides Him for my every need only leads to disappointment. Turning to things or people didn't fix my problems. Yes, God used a friend to help reach me. I'm thankful that I have someone who supports me and whom I can totally trust, but ultimately, I had to put God at the center of my world and turn to Him for all my needs, wants, desires, hopes, dreams, etc.

5. God is my shelter and I trust him. (Psalm 91:1-2 NLT: "Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.)

6. I am free! (Psalm 119:45 NLT: "I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.") (John 8:32 NLT: "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.") God broke the bondage of sin and continues to demolish strongholds in my life (a future blog subject). I know where I was headed and where I am headed now. God is continuing to undo the mess I created. He is replacing all the dark with his light and love. He is continuing to heal me. He is so loving.

7. I am wearing the armor of God. I am learning God’s truth, His Word and how to apply it to my life. (Ephesians 5:10-18 NLT" "A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition, to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.")

8. I am learning the importance and power of prayer. Through prayer, I communicate with my friend, God, just as Moses and God did (Exodus 33:11 NLT: "The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend"). Through prayer, I am able to praise him. Through prayer, I am able to lay my burdens at his feet. (Matthew 11:28-30 NLT: "Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light'") Through prayer, I am able to speak his truth into my life. Through prayer, I am able to hear him and learn from him. We are only as strong as how often we pray, how we pray, and what we pray.

9. God loves me. How can I not have joy and passion for my Savior who loves me for me? He loved me enough to reach to me. He loves me enough to dream about me and sing songs about me? (Zephaniah 3:17 NLT: "For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.")

Lord, help me to always bask in your love and joy. Help me to keep the the love and fire for you burning deep within me. Restore your joy to your people. Restore the passion within their souls. Revive us Lord!

Thoughtless or Thoughtful?

2011-07-27T00:00:00.008-05:00

Ephesians 5:17 NKJV: "Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

Ephesians 5:17 NLT: "Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants to do."

Do we just "go with the flow?" Or are we actually seeking God for His wisdom and finding what it is that He wants to use us to do for Him that day?

This is one of the places I am with God. I want His wisdom. I want to be in His will and not miss an opportunity. Do I fail at times? You bet! But I pick myself up, learn from it, and move on. I continue to strive to be more Christ like each day.

Lord, help me to be mindful of You at all times. I do not want to be foolish and depend on my own understanding. Give me Your wisdom. Let me see with Your eyes where You want me to be and what You want me to do for You at that moment in time. Search me, God. Continue to change me, remove SJ from within me, and completely fill me with You.

A Song In My Heart

2011-07-26T11:29:00.009-05:00

Psalm 108:1 NLT: "My heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises with my heart!"

Each day I wake up with a song in my heart and find myself praising God through singing. Beforehand, I couldn't sing. I was miserable and bound by the chains of sin. But now that my confidence is in the saving grace of Jesus, I now have the freedom and joy to sing continuous praises to him.

Lately my song has been this:

Glory, Glory, Glory to the Lamb

For You are glorious

And worthy to be praised

The Lamb upon the throne

And unto to You

Do I lift my voice in praise

The Lamb upon the throne

Lord, let your praises continually flow from my heart and mouth. You are a glorious, merciful, and wonderful God. You are my love and joy. Continue to make me into your perfect masterpiece.

An Ouch Moment

2011-07-25T05:00:00.003-05:00

You know God speaks to each one of us according to our personalities. I'm amused by the conversations that he and I have. But he always speaks in a manner that I "get it".

I was having one of those parental moments of having to correct my usually very well-mannered son of how rudely his tone and words were towards me. In the middle of that, God smacked me upside the head (like the NCIS Gibb's slap) and said in his gentle loudness..."Sherry, how often have you done that to me? How do you think I feel?" Oh man! That hit home!

I had to stop right there and take a moment with God to ask for forgiveness of my failures, the times I acted like a spoiled brat, and the times I cause him pain and suffering.

God, continue to change me into your image. Help me to be mindful of you at all times and to never take for granted your love and mercy.

House Of Prayer

2011-07-24T15:21:00.001-05:00

Matthew 21:13 NLT: "My Temple will be called a house of prayer..."

While reading this morning, I read this scripture, and in God's gentle loudness, he spoke to me about it. I know in this scripture he was talking about his temple (building), but another thought came to mind...We are not just his temple collectively as a church, but individually we are his temple. (I Corinthians 3:16 NKV: "Do you not know that your are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?")

If we are not praying as individuals in our personal lives, how can we pray collectively as a church? And how effective of a Christian and church will we be to reach others? We are only as strong as how we pray and how often we pray.

Matthew chapter 6 gives us the prime example of how to pray, The Lord's Prayer. But prior to his giving that example to us, he stated 3 times (verses 5, 6, & 7), "when you pray." Not that praying was a suggestion, but WHEN you pray, stating that it is something that we are to do. Jesus, himself, prayed while here on earth. What makes us think we're any better than he?

We should always pray. (I Thessalonians 5:17 NLT: "Never stop praying") Now that doesn't mean that we don't have other responsibilities and are on our physical knees 24/7, but we are also to keep our hearts and minds in line with God and keep the communication open to him at all times.

God, help me to always take time to pray, to just magnify you, to worship you, to lay my burdens at your feet, and to lift others to you. Teach me to pray your will. Teach me your wisdom. Help us to know the importance of spending time with you and seeking you in all things. I want to be an effective servant for you. Thank you, Lord. I love you!

My Praise & Prayer for Today

2011-07-23T10:37:00.001-05:00

^{Psalm 40:1-3 NLT:}
¹ I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
      and he turned to me and heard my cry.
    ² He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
      out of the mud and the mire.
   He set my feet on solid ground
      and steadied me as I walked along.
    ³ He has given me a new song to sing,
      a hymn of praise to our God.
   Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
      They will put their trust in the Lord

This passage and praise to God sums up the miracle life transformation God is doing in me. I'm no longer in the pit...no longer in despair. My feet are placed firmly on THE ROCK of Jesus. My soul praises him all day long. I find myself waking up with a song in my heart and continuously singing to him because of his wonderfulness.

Thank you, Lord, for never failing me! Thank you, Lord, for never leaving me! Thank you, Lord, for hearing my cry, reaching for me, and pulling me from my mess. Thank you for your transformation of my heart and life. I will continue to praise you all my days!

Lord, use me. Let others see you through me. Let me in some way touch others who are lost, hurting, down and out. Use me to share your love, greatness, and saving grace. I know first hand of the freedom of your awesome love and power.

Thank you Lord for your mercy, love, and grace.

A Friend's Love

2011-07-21T22:17:00.027-05:00

Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times...

I am thankful for my friend, God, and my Christian friends who have stuck by my side even during the good, bad, and ugly!

Sad to say, I've been on a spiritual roller coaster ride the last 10 years of my life. I wasn't seeking God. I wasn't praying daily. I wasn't reading His Word. I wasn't feeding my spirit. I wasn't serious about God or anything that had to do with Him. I had my "pocket Jesus" and would pull Him out only when times were rough. I wasn't serving Him during all circumstances. At times, I appeared that I did. I was "playing Christian." Knowing what others are looking for as a checklist to see if you're a Christian or not, I was able to fool many. But thankfully, my true friends who were plugged in to God knew differently.

God burdened their hearts for me. Not knowing how to approach me, prayers went up first. God was still working on my end of the spectrum. I wasn't ready to receive what He wanted to do for me, but through earnest prayer (not the 2-minute-bless-her-God kind of prayer but the get-down-to-business-go-get-her-God kind of prayer),God began that work in me. It wasn't instantaneous. I fought it, but He was still working.

As my heart was searching for something more to this life than what I was living, God was speaking to me. I did NOT want to hear it, I ran...ran far away...hoping to escape the misery I was in. But running from God only made it worse. Every aspect of my life seemed to fall apart. The more I tried to fix it, the worse it got, and the worse it got, the more I tried to fix it. And the vicious cycle continued. The "I can do it on my own" attitude is great at times, but in this case, I slowly sunk deeper and deeper into the darkest, most miserable, God-forsaken place I've ever been.

I'm normally a strong, don't-need-anybody-to-comfort-me individual (I'm a little prideful on being able to take care of business and do it on my own), yet inside I was crying out, screaming for help, hoping that just one person could see the hurt, anguish, and despair..."Someone please look into my eyes and see that I'm struggling! Help! The storm of life has overtaken me, and I'm drowning!" All to no avail because the front I put up on the outside fooled many. Plus, they had their own battles to fight, and their strength was depleted like mine. Little did I know that God had someone on their knees for me daily. I was looking for rescue in one certain form, but God was answering my prayer a different way.

When the ground of my heart was ready to receive from God what He wanted to do, I was approached by a special friend. This friend was on a mission from God to tell me that God loves me, and in love, not condemnation, exposed the deepest, darkest secret of my heart. Now, I freaked out, about threw up, and about peed myself. I was like..."Uh oh! I'm done for now!" It's a God thing when someone can tell you exactly what you've been going through, and they haven't been there to see it. As scared as I was about this moment of truth, the weight of the world seemed to lift at this moment. God cared enough, loved me enough, to use someone whom I've always held in high regard to love me and reach out to me. Did you hear that? God reached out to me! Wow! As ugly, stinky, awful, gross, sin-covered as I was, God wanted me, the prodigal daughter to come home, to look to Him, to rest in Him, to grow in Him. Yet, I still ran! What a case of stupid! I was looking for God to reach to me. He did. And I still ran like a moron! God had to get my attention. I dream a lot. But one summer night in 2008, He gave me a vision. I died and went to Hell.....talk about a powerful, attention getter!

As my friend continued to just be my friend, pray for me, listen, counsel, speak God's Truth into me, my life began to change. I turned it all over to God. He began and is still continuing a major transformation of my heart and life. But it took action on my part. I had to be willing to give it all to God. I had to be willing to obey His commands. I had to be willing to open up and say, "God whatever it is You have for me, then let's do this." I had to be willing, period. God will never force Himself on us. He gave us a choice. I had to make the choice to choose Him, to choose life everlasting! Thank You Lord for never giving up on me and for using Your willing servant to reach me! You are an awesome God!

Today I was listening to my Casting Crowns cd like I have so many other days, a couple of songs really spoke to my spirit. "Prayer for a Friend" made me stop and think about this time in my life when that's all a friend of mine was able to do...pray for me.

There is power in prayer! I'm living proof of it! Prayer is not a now and then thing to do only when we get in trouble. Prayer is a daily communication with God, our Lord and Savior. Prayer is just as simple as talking with a friend because God is our friend.

Do you really love God or are you just "playing Christian?" Do you really appreciate Him for Him? Are you thankful for his grace and mercy? Are you thankful that He sustained you during your lost times and that you are not living an eternity in Hell? Are you saved? If not, why not? Do you really want to go to Hell?

Have you prayed lately? Have you really gotten down to business with God and given Him every fiber of your being? Have you read His Word to get your daily jolt of "Jesus Juice?" Are you striving to be more like Him each day?

God call us to repentance! You are a merciful, loving God just waiting for Your children to turn around and run into Your arms of love. You are always there! We may walk away from You, but You never change! You are constant. You are truth. You are love. You are willing to forgive. God let the desire to know You more and want more of You burn in our hearts and souls. Thank You, Lord, for loving me and changing me. Continue to remove me and make me into Your image. I love you, Jesus, my friend and Savior.

My Willful Choice

2011-07-18T12:29:00.002-05:00

Thought for the day...

If we choose not to live a life in Christ that will bring glory to him and to live a life of disobedience instead, we can anticipate God's judgement. ~Trask & Goodall

God forgive me of the times I've failed you and blatantly chosen disobedience. I cannot fathom the hurt and anguish I've caused you. Thank you for your mercy and grace. Thank you for your understanding and patience during the times I've acted like spoiled, ungrateful brat.

Lord, help me to continue to humble myself and submit my will to your will. I'm yours Lord. Break away all the pieces of me and mold me into your perfect masterpiece to be used for your perfect plan.

Who Are You and What Did You Do With Sherry Jo?

2011-07-12T10:54:00.002-05:00

Recently, I've received a few comments and questions as to my new found excitement for God. "Who are you and what did you do with Sherry Jo?" sums it up. This has caused me to be puzzled, concerned, and excited all at the same time.

Those who know me expect me to act and speak a certain way...like SJ. But there's been an absolute, undeniable change in me that is bursting forth - a hunger for God like never before in me. To some the questions are to explore what caused the spark in me because they are hungry too. But others aren't as receptive. And that disturbs my spirit because I want them to desire to seek God and to have more of Him. To be totally sold out to Him!

On the other hand, I'm totally stoked about these comments. I want all of SJ to be removed and replaced with God. I want people to see God instead of me. Not for me to receive recognition but for God to receive the glory, honor, and praise for His miracle in my life. So when you don't see me but see God through me, I'm EXCITED!

So, SJ, where did it come from? 2 places: (1) Unconditional love and (2) I finally GET it!

It comes from the undeniable, unconditional love of God! God could have easily snuffed me out, but instead, He loved me, just me, enough to reach down, touch my heart, and deliver me from the bondage of sin and the pits of Hell. God's Amazing Grace!

This quote says it all - Dennis Jernigan A Mystery of Majesty:

"and I'll never forget the night God finally set me free from my past and from my sin. For years I had struggled to free myself, but my attempts were in vain. It was as if he were waiting for me to settle down and give up striving. It appears to me that when I finally gave up, he sovereignly stepped in and called me to his side. All I had to do was accept his proposal...The moment I saw my Father's face of mercy and forgiveness-the moment I realized he would love me no matter what-my life was radically changed and irrevocably changed forever!"

I've always been a strong-willed individual - sometimes for the good and sometimes for the not so good. But the realization and truth of the matter is that I cannot do it all by myself. I finally GET it! I've been raised in church and have a certain amount of God knowledge, but it finally made that 12-inch drop from my head to my heart. That drop made such a profound and forever life-changing impact on my life. God has become real to me. He revealed Himself in such a way to me that I never understood before.

God has a plan for me. There's more to this life than just being here. But it took my getting me out of the way, so God could take control; to decide that my desire for Him and His righteousness is greater than any other desire. The desire to know more of Him. And His love burns inside me.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 MSG:

"I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come to pray to me, I'll listen. When you come looking for me, you'll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed."

I'm on a journey with God. Some days are more exciting than others. Some days hurt, really hurt, when God has me take a good, long look at myself and deal with sins and shortcomings. But the reward is great!

Psalm 139: 23-4 MSG is my heart's cry:

"Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I'm about; See for yourself if there is anything offensive in me, Then guide me on the road to eternal life."

I thank God everyday for His mercy, grace, and unconditional love. That He saw me in my worst condition and decided that there was something good in me. That He used other willing servants to love me enough and reach out to me. I pray that God continually molds me into His image, uses me in some way to further his Kingdom and reach others for Him, and for His love to continue to flow through me. Do you love others enough? What are you willing to do to keep them from going to Hell?

Thank you Jesus!

Revival In You?

2011-07-01T11:02:00.000-05:00

This is today's Connection devotion. Love it and wanted to share with all.

We need God. We need to share the news of Jesus Christ with others.

VERSE:

O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

-- Jeremiah 22:29

THOUGHT:

What is absolutely essential for your country and your people to experience revival? First, the Spirit of God must move in a mighty way. Second, the people must open their hearts to hear and respond to the Word of the Lord. So let's commit to pray together, all over the world, that our people will open their hearts to the Spirit and the Word of God!

PRAYER:

Holy and Almighty God, please move powerfully in our day to bring revival. Open the hearts of the peoples to your truth and enable those who proclaim your Word to speak your truth with power.

Please use me to help make a difference in the lives of those around me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Got Jesus?

2011-05-06T12:23:00.000-05:00

The Bible says there is only one way to Heaven

Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." (John 14:6)

Good works cannot save you.

"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Trust Jesus Christ today! Here's what you must do:

1. Admit you are a sinner.

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23)
"Therefore, as sin came into the world through one man, and death as the result of sin, so death spread to all men, [^[a]no one being able to stop it or to escape its power] because all men sinned." (Romans 5:12)
"If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:10)

2. Be willing to turn from sin (repent).

Jesus said: "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:5)
"God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him." (Acts 17:30)

3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried, and rose from the dead.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."(John 3:16)
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us."(Romans 5:8)
"Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)

4. Through prayer, invite Jesus into your life to become your personal Saviour.

"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10)
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)

What to pray:

Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Saviour.

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" (John 1:12)

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

If you have received Jesus Christ as your Saviour, as a Christian you should:

1. Read your Bible every day to get to know Christ better.

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalms 119:105)

2. Talk to God in prayer every day.

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (Matthew 21:22)
"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)

3. Be baptized, worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached and the Bible is the final authority.

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" (Matthew 28:19)
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25)
"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right." (2 Timothy 3:16)

4. Tell others about Christ.

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."(Mark 16:15)
"For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!"(1 Corinthians 9:16)
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Romans 1:16)

Prayer for Friends & Family

2011-03-03T10:57:00.000-06:00

This is a prayer from a dear friend of mine. Wanted to share with all my friends and family. Life is short. Know that you are loved and appreciated:

Dear Lord,
Thank You for all of the amazing people that you have placed in my life. I am truly grateful for all of my friends and family.

I lift each and every one of my friends and family up to you in prayer right now, Dear Lord.

Please touch their hearts, bodies, minds and souls with your grace.

Dear Lord, please wrap them in the comfort and strength of your love and guidance that they may know and follow your will. Please heal their hurts, dry their tears, and fill their needs as only You can.

I thank you for these people and the blessings they are in my life.

I ask for your continued blessings on their lives and mine!

I love you and thank you Dear Lord for everything in my life.

In Jesus name I pray,
Amen.

Peace

2011-02-01T11:22:00.000-06:00

Philippians 4:6 – with thanksgiving, present your requests to God

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6

We’re very familiar with anxiety, but how familiar are we with peace? Just when we get comfortable with one season of our lives we are thrust into the next, where we find our bearings have to change.

Prayer guides us into the seasons of life that we don’t understand because God’s peace transcends all understanding. To approach anxiety with thanksgiving and prayer may seem hard, but it reminds us that we were never in control to begin with. We have a Heavenly Father who sees all things and cares for us. Prayer pulls down our anxieties and fills us with supernatural peace.

The Stone Unthrown

2010-07-12T08:35:00.003-05:00

I receive about 3 daily devotions from different sources each day. This was today's from one of those sources. How many times have we been guilty of throwing stones when we have our own faults? Great reminder.

The Stone Unthrown

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her," (John 8:7 NIV).

Friend To Friend
"What are we going to do with this Jesus," the chief priest asked the group. "He is going about healing people left and right. Everywhere I go the buzz is about Jesus. It's Jesus this, and Jesus that. And the crowds are calling him the Messiah! Everyone knows that the Messiah will not come from Galilee. If we don't get rid of him, we are going to have an insurrection on our hands."

"And ever since the buzz about him multiplying a few loaves and fish to feed over 5,000 people has circulated, his followers have multiplied as well. He must be stopped."

"I have an idea," Lucius responded with a gleam in his eye. "I happen to know a certain married man who is sleeping with his mistress at this very moment. I happened to see him slink into her house last night."

And as the hard-hearted Pharisees gathered round, a spiteful plan to trick Jesus began to unfold.
The sun was just peeking through the securely locked shutters of Morah's bedroom window. The predawn stillness was broken only by the songs of early rising birds floating on the breeze. Morah was a tangle of sheets, arms and legs as the man she loved lay sleeping beside her.

"Oh, Zachariah," she whispered as her fingertips brushed a stray lock of hair from his closed eyes. "If only you weren't married. I know this is wrong, but I love you so. And I have to believe you when you say you love me as well. We are risking our very lives with these frequent trysts."

Morah's musings were suddenly interrupted by a banging on the door.

"Open up!" the gruff voice demanded.

"Who is there?" Morah cried as she scrambled to find her robe.

"Open up or we'll break the door down."

"What's all the commotion," Zachariah mumbled as he groggily sat up in bed. "What's going on?"

Before Morah could even think to answer, the angry mob of religious men broke through the simple lock and into the lovers' hideaway.

"What is the meaning of this," Zachariah barked. "What do you think you are doing?"

"What do you think you are doing, my friend?" the Pharisee countered. "That is the real question here."

"Morah, daughter of Omar, you are under arrest for adultery under the Law of Moses!" the moral police spat. "Get dressed and come with me."

The Pharisee tossed Morah her night robe, but failed to turn his head as she slipped her trembling frame from the cover of the sheets and into the thin cloak. He grabbed her by the arm and began dragging her to the door.

"Where are you taking me?" she cried.

"You'll find out soon enough," the Pharisee growled.

"What about Zachariah?" the youngest man of the group inquired.

"Just leave him," the Pharisee replied. "We don't need him."

"Why don't you go back to your wife where you belong," the Pharisee called over his shoulder as the group left the room. And with that, the conspiring mob continued their trek to the temple with the half-clad trembling woman in tow. Two men flanked the weeping woman on either side, dragging her through the early morning hustle and bustle of the city. The bait was hooked, and now it was time to reel in the catch.

Like mice following the Pied Piper, a curious stream of townsfolk joined the parade. Jesus was already teaching in the courtyard with a group gathered at his feet. As always, Jesus' message and miracles drew large crowds. A distant rumble interrupted his gentle teaching as the angry mob and curious crowd approached. They marched right into the inner circle of the classroom and thrust the woman at the Master's feet.

Morah's unbound hair fell around her bare shoulders and fluttered in the early morning breeze. Her shame-filled eyes stayed riveted on the earthen floor, refusing to meet Jesus' gaze. Then one of the men pulled her to her feet and displayed her for all to see.

"Teacher," the pious Pharisee began, "this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The Law of Moses commands us to stone such a woman. Now what do you say?"

She didn't need to look at the man before her. She recognized his voice. It was Jesus.
Jesus didn't look at the woman's half-clad body as the others openly gawked. He looked into her soul.
Morah lifted her eyes and looked into the face of love. What do I detect in his gaze? she thought to herself. It wasn't contempt, disgust, or condemnation, but rather compassion, concern, and pure, unadulterated love. Somehow she knew that this was the look she had been searching for her entire life.

As Morah listened to the Pharisee's question, she understood Jesus' dilemma. If he set her free, the Pharisees would accuse him of ignoring the Law of Moses and deem him a heretic. If he sentenced her to death by stoning, then his teachings of grace and forgiveness would be negated.

The religious leaders already held the stones in their clenched fists, anticipating his reply. Their hearts were as hard as the rocks they held in their hands, but rather than give a quick answer, Jesus moved his gaze from the trembling woman and stooped to the ground. With his finger, the very hand of God-made-man, he began writing in the dirt. A frigid chill swept through the Pharisees pious robes. Suddenly they felt the rawness of naked exposure as Jesus' eyes looked up at each of them and without a word, uncloaked their sinful thoughts and desires. With one look from Jesus, they stood soul bare and more exposed than the half-dressed woman before them.

Everyone held their breath. The silence was deafening. The tension was palpable. Finally, Jesus rose and delivered the verdict.

"If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

Then Jesus squatted once again and continued to write.

One-by-one the Pharisees unclenched their fists, dropped the stones, and filtered through the crowd. The older men who had accumulated a longer list of sins turned to leave first, with the younger ones not far behind.

The remaining crowd listened closely as the drama continued to unfold. After the last of the Pharisees cleared the scene, Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?"

"No one, sir," she replied.

"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

The woman turned to leave - but not before picking up a discarded stone to take with her.

"To remember," she whispered.

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, this story of Your great mercy and grace takes my breath away. Just to think that the only person qualified to throw the stone was the very One who set her free. Help me to always remember that You have forgiven me of my sins. Help me to drop the stones I so quickly pick up to cast at others and extend to them the same grace You have extended to me.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
I hope your heart was stirred with the re-telling of this amazing story. We don't know the woman's name. I have simply called her Morah so we can paint a picture of a real woman with a real problem in our minds. Now let me ask a few questions...

When is the last time you held a rock of condemnation in your hand? Not a real rock, but a judgmental attitude?

When is the last time you acted like the Pharisees who were so quick to condemn?

Who do you want to be like, Jesus who showed grace and forgiveness, or the Pharisees who wanted to give her what she deserved?

Funny Moments in Time

2010-07-07T09:53:00.003-05:00

Mr. Maxwell (Max) is such a funny dog. Some days he makes us laugh and others not so much. But regardless of the situation, we still love him.

Max is scared of a few things in life. Baths, showers, and loud noises. You can ask him if he wants a bath or shower, and he will run and hide. Needless to say, July 4th each year is a trying time for us. Max goes nuts and shivers and shakes continuously as the fireworks go off. He wants to be held to feel protected.

Sunday evening as Timmy was showering and Max was by himself in the living room, the neighbors decide to stage their fireworks in the road. Then begins the continuous pops and explosions. The next thing Timmy knows is that during all the commotion Max decided being close to daddy outweighed his fear of a shower, and there the dog stands in the shower with him. Since he was there, Timmy had to give him a bath/shower too. Funny dog we have.

But as I was thinking, we can relate this to our spiritual life too. God, the Father, Daddy, is there to hold us, keep us safe, and let us know everything is going to be ok no matter what storm or noise is going on around us. We should desire to be close to Him at all times.

Are You Right or Are You Gonna Be Left?

2010-07-06T11:48:00.001-05:00

What Must I Do
To Be Saved?

Here are the steps from God's Word, the Bible, that all must take to be saved...

Acknowledge Your Sin

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23First, see yourself for what you are...a sinner. Sin is tragic, vile...it blights, degrades, destroys. It has dire consequences: "The soul who sins is the one who will die." "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Repent Of Your Sin
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out... Acts 3:19

You must also repent. Repentance is not making a resolution to do better. It is not just conviction of sin, for a person may be convinced that he is wrong and still not repent. D.L. Moody liked to describe repentance this way: "Man is born with his back toward God. When he truly repents, he turns right around and faces God. Repentance is a change of mind, a change of heart, and it results in a change of action."As the Bible says, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord...for He will abundantly pardon." You must change your mind about sin and want God to end its mastery over you. After all, sin is so bad it took Christ's death to make forgiveness possible for you.

Believe In Jesus Christ

For God so loved the world that
He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Believe in the completed work Christ accomplished on the cross. You must believe that Christ substituted Himself for you, that He died for your sins (though HE never sinned), and that He was resurrected from death. "The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him." Our sins nailed Him to the cross, and "by His wounds we are healed." "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved."

Make Your Decision

That if you confess with your mouth,
"Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God
has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

You must believe in Christ and receive Him personally into your life by faith if you are to be saved from the power of sin and its consequences. "To all who receive Him, to those who believe in His name, He gave the right to become children of God."Will you pray to God something like this?
"God, I'm convinced I am a sinner, and that Christ alone can save me. I willingly repent of my sinful life and believe Jesus Christ died for me. I want to receive Him as my personal Savior."

God's Chisel

2010-06-15T07:48:00.006-05:00

I saw this at camp and it spoke to me. Hope it blesses you.

Ephesians 2:10. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."

God's Strength

2010-06-12T11:28:00.002-05:00

God is so good! I am still amazed daily by His mercy and blessings. But for Him to work in me and my life, I've had to learn the hard way to get over myself and get out of the way.

I pride myself on being able to take charge of a situation and handle things. And sometimes in life that is what is needed. There is no need to fall apart and crumble at every situation that comes my way. Plus I'm a strong-willed individual, so I like it my way (and Burger King says I can have it my way...ha ha!)

Because of these traits, I try to "fix" things. But when it comes to what God needs to do, I've had to learn that I must get over myself, get out of the way, and let Him handle it. God, my Father, wants me to let Him take care of me. He wants to take care of me daily just like my earthly Daddy has done.

Once I learned that lesson, all I can say is "WOW!" God has blessed me and taken care of situations in record time. He continues to work on me daily, and as I learn to lean on Him for all situations, He shows me more of His mercy, grace, strength, and knowledge.

I was recently presented with a request which required my standing in front of a group and talking early in the morning. Now many may wonder why that is such an issue with me. By nature, I'm a shy individual, but once I get to know you, watch out! Really standing in front of a crowd is not my "comfort zone." And I'm not a morning person...I require many cups of java to get my motor started.

I knew that God was up to something and that I needed to do this, although I wanted to pee my pants at the thought of it. I must say that by obeying God and seeking Him, I have grown as a Christian. By studying His Word to present in those early morning devotions, I was reminded of God's promises to me and that He will never leave me nor forsake me even when I wander away and try to handle it on my own.

I want to share the verse that stood out and became the motto for our Get a Grip Camp 2010:

Phil 4:13 "I can do ALL things through CHRIST who gives me strength."

Remember that no matter the situation, God is always there and will give you strength to handle anything that comes your way. Trust in Him. Love Him. Get a Grip! Never let go!

Our Sweet 16

2010-05-24T09:50:00.002-05:00

Wow! Timmy and I have been married for 16 years as of May 21st! It doesn't seem that long. Looking back we have been through so much....the good, the bad, and even the ugly. But through it all, we are always by each other's side.

I thank God for Timmy. He is my heart beat, and without him I am not complete. I look forward to our future together.

Thank you Timmy for 16 years. In Love With You!

God's Beauty & Moments in Time

2010-05-03T12:07:00.005-05:00

Little Red River

Old Mill in NLR

Wooden Bridge @ Burns Park

I love God's creation and the beauty and peace of it all. Here are some examples of His beauty. Enjoy!

Sunday's Sermon : How to Commit Adultery

2010-04-12T09:40:00.010-05:00

It was definitely a different title. I must say that Bro. Greg kept everyone's attention. Thank you pastor for addressing those white elephants.

Satan is out to get us however he can. Guess what? He's worse if you're a Christian and trying to do right.

Below are the sermon notes.....

FIVE EASY STEPS TO WRECK YOUR LIFE

HOW TO COMMIT ADULTERY (HAVE AN AFFAIR)

You shall not commit adultery. Exodus 20:14

· Up to 65% of husbands and 55% of wives will commit adultery by age 40. (Journal of Psychology & Christianity)

FIVE EASY STEPS TO COMMIT ADULTERY

1. Neglect your marriage. (Take your marriage for granted. Become just roommates.)

2. Enjoy common interests and form an emotional bond with someone else. (Starts out as friends)

3. Anticipate time together. (Begin to make changes & excuses to be together.)

4. Flirt whenever possible.

5. Make excuses and rationalize your actions. (If my spouse did …..) (We weren’t in love….)

DO WHATEVER IT TAKES (TO FIX YOUR LIFE/MARRIAGE)

1. To radically reduce the risks. (Do whatever to stay away from anything that would be tempting.)

8 Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house, 9 lest you give your best strength to others and your years to one who is cruel, 10 lest strangers feast on your wealth and your toil enrich another man’s house. Proverbs 5:8-10

But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:28

o Many live their life on the edge. Don’t go near the edge! You can fall off!

o Be careful! Don’t even let your mind go there!

o You’ve committed sin even if you think about it.

· Keep a growing relationship with Christ. (If you’re convicted of it, deal with it immediately.)

· Never be alone with the wrong people. (Don’t put yourself in a bad situation.)

· Never talk badly about your marriage with the wrong people. (You’re only giving 1 side of the story. There is another side too.)

· Surround yourself with strong marriages. (If your marriage is in trouble, you need to hang with people who have a strong relationship. Don’t hang with others who are in trouble too.)

· Avoid all inappropriate places and situations. (Watch what you see, listen to, read, etc. Run from those things…Run, Forrest, Run!)

2. To invest passionately in your marriage. (If the grass is greener on the other side, you need to water your own grass!)

18 May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. 19 A loving doe, a graceful deer – may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love. 20 Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man’s wife? Proverbs 5:18-20

Captivated – shegah (shaw-gaw’): to be ravished, enraptured, intoxicated

· Get transparent – Be open. Talk. Don’t hide things from each other.

· Get alone – Be with each other away from family and others. Spend time together. Don’t grow apart.

· Get spiritual – Have God in your life and marriage

· Get help – Go to counseling if needed

· Get naked – SEX! It keeps you close. Sex keeps intimacy in your marriage. It also keeps you and your spouse from looking and going elsewhere for it.

3. To visualize the potential of destruction if you go down the road of sin.

3 For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; 4 but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. Proverbs 5:3-5

What % of people actually marries the forbidden lover? 3 %

What % of those marriages end in divorce? 75%

GOD’S GOOD NEWS

· Even when we are unfaithful, God is faithful.

13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful. 2 Timothy 2:13

· Be guided by TRUTH not your feelings.

· Ask God to forgive you. Pray a protective covering over you, your spouse, and your marriage.

It's Bristol Baby!

2010-04-02T11:21:00.006-05:00

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Mark Martin #5 - Go Arkansas Boy!

Old Glory - Man She's Beautiful!

I think his smile says it all

For Timmy's birthday and part of our Spring Vacation, we went to a NASCAR race at Bristol, TN. All I can say is AWESOME!

Timmy is a huge fan but has never been to a race. So I decided that this was the year he was going to go, and Timmy was so excited!

We get there and the smile spreads on his face. He was like a kid in a candy store. All the activities and booths to visit. Then time to find the seats.

We thought that our tickets were in the nosebleed section. When we finally found our seats, we were on the front straightaway on the 4th row just to the left of the start/finish line! I scored some serious points with the hubster!

The whole experience was great. Lee Greenwood, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and Jason Whitten were a few of the celebrities there. Plus being so close to the track was quite an experience. It was LOUD! The action was AWESOME! And we were still picking rubber pieces from the tires off us that night.

Great family time and worth it all to see that smile on Timmy's face!

Don't Be a Hater

2010-04-02T10:52:00.004-05:00

Haters by Maya Angelou

A hater is someone who is jealous and envious and spends all their time trying to make you look small so they can look tall. They are very negative people to say the least. Nothing is ever good enough!

When you make your mark, you will always attract some haters...

That's why you have to be careful with whom you share your blessings and your dreams, because some folks can't handle seeing you blessed...

It's dangerous to be like somebody else... If God wanted you to be like somebody else, He would have given you what He gave them! Right?

You never know what people have gone through to get what they have...

The problem I have with haters is that they see my glory, but they don't know my story...

If the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, you can rest assured that the water bill is higher there too!

We've all got some haters among us!

Some people envy you because you can:
a) Have a relationship with God
b) Light up a room when you walk in
c) Start your own business
d) Tell a man/woman to hit the curb (if he/she isn't about the right thing)
e) You are a strong person and don't let people run you over
f) You have a strong and loving marriage and they can't get in-between spouses to spoil it

Haters can't stand to see you happy. Haters will never want to see you succeed.

Most of our haters are people who are supposed to be on our side (like some family and friends).

How do you handle your undercover haters?

You can handle these haters by:

1... Knowing who you are & who your true friends are (VERY IMPORTANT!!)

2. Having a purpose to your life: Purpose does not mean having a job. You can have a job and still be unfulfilled...A purpose is having a clear sense of what God has called you to be. Your purpose is not defined by what others think about you.

3. By remembering that what you have is by divine prerogative and not human manipulation.

Fulfill your dreams! You only have one life to live...when its your time to leave this earth, you want to be able to say, 'I've lived my life and fulfilled my dreams, Now I'm ready to go HOME!

When God gives you favor, you can tell your haters, 'Don't look at me...Look at who is in charge of me....'

Watch out for Haters...BUT most of all don't become a HATER!

'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'

My Big Catch

2010-03-15T11:13:00.008-05:00

My 1st trip to Nowhere, AR (aka. Heber Springs) this year was supposed to be one of total relaxation and a time of celebration. For the most part it was....except for that one moment on Saturday.

I managed to do something I've never done before. While trying to remove my lure from the fishing net, I hooked myself. Nothing I did would make it come loose. The barb on the hook was digging in further. At this point, I'm attached to the fishing net and the lure!

So, off to the ER I went. I was totally embarrassed, but to the staff it was nothing. They see many people attached to hooks each year.

We've had quite a laugh and I've had to take a few ribbings about my carelessness. Just another story to add to the funny tales of my life.

Our new adventure - Archery

2010-01-28T11:30:00.004-06:00

Taylor has always been interested in outdoor activities (hunting, fishing, tractors, etc). He has begun a new adventure - competition archery. He absolutely loves it and continues to improve with each practice and tournament.

Keep up the good work, Son! I love you!

Since he and I have similar interests, I have decided to join in on this adventure. Now mind you it has been over 20 years since I last pulled a bow (and I'm not THAT old!). Plus I've had to learn how to shoot left-handed for various reasons. It has been challenging and rewarding at the same time. It is another outlet for some great mother-son time since we can't go to the fishing hole while the water is high.

We competed in our first competition together and did quite well. But most of all, we had a great time joking and shooting.

One Year Later...

2009-09-27T23:18:00.002-05:00

One year ago today, we faced losing the patriarch of the Owen family. The road since then has been a tough one to follow. Each day brings smiles from wonderful memories but also tears from the pain of losing a loved one. However, I can rejoice in the fact that Pa is in heaven and feeling no pain. I will get to see him again and have that party!

Pa, you are forever in our hearts! I love you and miss you! Party on!

New Beginnings

2009-09-27T23:04:00.008-05:00

www.pinnaclefaith.com

Today was our first service in our new church building. Quite an awesome time! God has begun an awesome work in all of us. We are looking forward to bigger and better things to come!

Come join us!

Happy 40th Birthday!

2009-09-23T08:49:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday, Tim! You are a great brother and friend! I have always admired you and your never give up spirit. May God continue to bless you and give you many more successful years.

Love you!

Traditions Continue Through The Generations

2009-08-31T10:10:00.006-05:00

I have grown up fishing the Little Red River and have used flies to fish but have never used a "fly rod" to do this. So I ventured into this timeless sport over the weekend. I grabbed my grandfather's fly rod and went to work. Needless to say, it is a technique that must be practiced over and over again. My arms received a workout like never before.

Even though my arms were tired, there was a peace like no other place can give...standing in the middle of God's beautiful creation, the sound of the river flowing, ducks and geese sounding off, the swish of the fly line as it whips through the air. It was just me and God standing there.

As I pondered many things in life, I had a nostalgic moment. This was my grandfather's fly rod. Four generations have used it and caught fish on it (Pa, Dad, Me, and Taylor). Wow! I felt honored to have the opportunity to be part of something so special. I do miss my grandfather, but I know he would have been proud of me and given me a pat on the head or hand.

My goal for the day was to learn the technique of fly fishing and to catch a trout on my 1st day using the rod. I had a successful day. I have the basic techniques down...of course they do need some fine tuning. And I caught a nice little brown trout. It was awesome to feel it hit the fly, and then the fight was on!

Taylor was there to help me land it in the net, but the fish didn't really want to go there. It kept swimming upstream away from him. After pulling it in close enough, the crazy thing swam around Taylor's leg like a dog does a tree when on a leash. Quite a funny moment, and I'm sure the others were laughing at us trying to get this fish from around his leg in the middle of the river. At least he and I had a good laugh.

Great times and great memories!

Timmy's Trophies

2009-08-31T09:35:00.026-05:00

Well, Timmy finally went fishing with me instead of just sleeping in at the camper or sitting on the bank in a chair sleeping. Fishing is not his "thing", but he finally gave in to all the harassment that Taylor and I have given him about fishing with us. It was very nice to have the whole family fishing together.

We have a little bit of a competitive spirit in us. If we can make a competition out of something, we will.

So we have come up with what we call "trophies."

1. The 1st catch of the day
2. The smallest catch of the day
3. The biggest catch of the day
4. The most fish caught

Needless to say, Timmy rocked 3 of the 4 trophies on Saturday. He caught the 1st fish, which was also the smallest, and the biggest fish! He and I tied for the most.

All 3 of us had fun enjoying some family time and making great memories!

Weekend Peace

2009-07-28T12:04:00.002-05:00

With all the craziness that exists during the work week, my weekends now consist of trips to Heber Springs (aka Nowhere, AR). The camper stays there year round, and I get the chance to get away from all life's noise. No cable, no internet, no distractions. Just peace.

It's according to what side of the Greers Ferry Dam I decide to go on as to what activities I partake in. I grew up fishing on the Little Red River, and lately that's the side I've been sticking to. It is so peaceful, and I absolutely love fishing. There's nothing like standing in the middle of a cold river, catching a trout, and putting it fresh on the grill. Mmm..Mmmm..Good!

I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to have a place to go to relax, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and spend time with family.

I Am Still Amazed

2009-07-21T09:14:00.002-05:00

I am still amazed by God's grace and mercy each day. Even though I don't deserve all of his wonderful gifts and blessings, He loves me - despite all my short comings. Just when I think I've had it, He is there to gently hold me and love me.

Thank you to my friends who are sensitive to His Spirit and are always there for me.

Love you all.

Where Did The Time Go?

2009-06-23T22:01:00.004-05:00

Ok. I just looked at my blog and realized that it has been 6 months since I've posted. Wow! I've been so involved with work that I haven't taken time to post lately. So I promise to do better and keep up with this.

Toodles!

Happy New Year

2009-01-02T01:05:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year! Wow, I can't believe another year has already come and gone. Time seems to be going by so fast these days. As I reflect on 2008, I see where God had His hands on me and my family. Some days were good...some not so good. But we are just fine.

I am looking forward to a new year to experience what God has for me.

I hope you have a wonderful year.

God bless!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2008-12-25T23:24:00.003-06:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

This has truly been a great day. Timmy, Taylor, and I stayed home to celebrate. We continued our family tradition by opening gifts at midnight. Then staying up into the wee hours of the morning together. I finally got to bed around 4 am. We also made our annual trip to Walgreen's on Christmas Day. Then Tom, Steph, and the boys came to visit, eat, and exchange gifts. Moments like these make for great memories.

We are blessed, and I'm thankful for my family and friends.

It's Been a While

2008-12-08T17:51:00.002-06:00

Well, it's been a while since I've posted a blog. Just been out of commission and in a funk.

I celebrated my 34th birthday this year. My grandfather and I always celebrated our birthdays and Thanksgiving together. This was the 1st one without him. I must say that it was difficult, but I had support from family and friends to make it through.

Christmas is around the corner, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. Guess I'm just not in the spirit yet. Hopefully, it will bite me soon!

Love to all!

The Old Fashioned Way

2008-10-27T21:43:00.006-05:00

Tonight we had hot dogs the old fashioned way...over a fire. Now we weren't exactly "roughing" it. But we did enjoy a nice fire in the pit on our patio.

It was a great spur of the moment thing to do. None of us really wanted to cook or eat out, so Timmy and I went to the store while Taylor started the fire. He was pretty stoked about that!

I can sit by a fire for hours. Something about it is mesmerizing. All the outside noise of life disappears, and I'm able to think about what is important in life.

I am making a conscious effort to enjoy more moments like these in life. Time away from the race, time to think and reflect, and time to make great memories with the family.

Party in Heaven

2008-09-28T10:39:00.010-05:00

Well, I've had to finally come to a point in my life for which I've tried to prepare myself. But somehow, you can never really prepare yourself for losing a loved one.

My grandfather, Pa, passed away Saturday night around 20:30. His health had deteriorated in the last few months, but he was still getting around every day looking around the farm to make sure everything was just so-so. Wednesday morning he fell out of bed and broke some ribs...plus we learned that he had pneumonia in his right lung. It was just too much for his frail body to handle.

I received the call Saturday morning about his being rushed to the hospital because he was in so much pain. I rushed there to see this strong icon in my life reduced to a frail little man who couldn't speak. He knew who we all were and tried to communicate to us. All he could do was nod his head or shake our hands with affirmation. All day I watched the horror, as his last few hours were so painful...just to breathe, hurting from broken ribs, tired from living such a long life.

As I walked out of the room that evening to catch a breath of fresh air, I grabbed his soft, but leathered hand from all the years of work and looked him in the eye. I said, "Pa, I love you." He looked me in the eye and said "yeah." I knew then that would probably be the last time to communicate our love to each other here on earth.

I prayed that God would ease his pain and take him home to be with Him. Pa had lived such a wonderful life and being selfish at that point would not have been in his best interest. Before he passed, he looked around the room at those who were with him and looked toward Heaven and smiled...as if to say..."Don't you see it...It's beautiful". At that moment, peace came over him and he rested. Drawing his last few breaths with all of us around him, he peacefully left this world to be with Jesus.

Now as I sit here saddened and crying but relieved, I can only imagine the party that he's having with his Lord and Savior. We were planning a 100th party for him in November, but nothing we could have given him would ever compare to the party he's having right now. I can't wait to party with him!

I love you Pa. Thank you for always having that sparkle in your eye when you saw me. Your gentle loving hands to hold me and pat me as you said "I love you Sugie." I will see you soon. Enjoy the party!

Resist the Devil

2008-09-14T14:20:00.005-05:00

James 4:7
Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

This verse has come up twice within the last 4 days. I guess God's trying to get His point across to me - He's always there but we must take action on our end too.

It's as easy as giving it all to God and then telling satan to leave you alone. Now that doesn't mean that he's not going to continue to try to tempt and bother you. But you don't have to handle things alone. No matter what the situation you are faced with, give it to God. And when satan tries to tempt you, tell that low down liar to leave you alone. God is always there with a means of escape.

Lord, help me to always remember that you are always watching over me. All I have to do is turn to you and lay everything at your feet. You will always take care of me and any issue I'm faced with. Give me guidance and strength in all situations.

A Childhood Moment

2008-09-06T12:31:00.007-05:00

Watch your thoughts; They become words.
Watch your words; They become actions.
Watch your actions; They become habits.
Watch your habits; They become your character.
Watch your character; It becomes your destiny.

I read this quote today, and it was a profound moment for me. I was taken back to my childhood and remembered a simple little song we sang in "Gleaners" (yes COGOP peeps I know I'm dating myself).

"Be careful little eyes what you see...Be careful little ears what you hear...Be careful little hands what you do...For the Father up above is looking down in love..."

When we allow little things to creep up on us, we don't realize the impact it is taking on us until satan has us bound by the things we see, hear, and do. These things can lead to traps that affect our destiny.

My destiny is HEAVEN; therefore, I must guard myself daily with God's word and prayer.

Ephesians 6:10 - 18

¹⁰ A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. ¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. ¹⁷ Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere

Priority or Option?

2008-08-21T17:23:00.003-05:00

"Never make someone your priority and allow yourself to be their option."

I've heard this quote and like it. But for some reason, I've heard it almost daily for the last week. It really spoke to me in a different way this time.

I'm so thankful that God doesn't live by this quote. How many times in our lives have we strung God along as option B, C, or even D? We have always been God's priority. Even after His perfect plan was tainted by sin, He sent Jesus to die for our sins to bridge the gap and create a way for us to be with Him again.

I know I've been guilty of having a "pocket Jesus" and pulling Him out only in times of need. But He desires that we make Him our top priority - just as He does for us daily. All we have to do is turn to Him and give all our issues to Him. He's always there.

Lord, help me to always make you my priority - I can't make it alone - I need You!

Under Construction

2008-08-17T19:13:00.002-05:00

OK. It's been a while since I've posted a blog and some are getting on to me for that. I must say that the last month has been a huge life changing experience for me...I've been under construction.

God has been tugging at my heart about some things and has been doing a great work in me. Plus, I've taken a new position within the company and now have my own account. Needless to say, I've been very busy with this new position and haven't had much time to sit and write my thoughts about life.

Thanks to all my friends and family for continuing to pray for me and for loving me. I love you very much and couldn't survive without your support!

Until next time...

Fact of Life - Phones Don't Float

2008-07-21T09:43:00.006-05:00

over the weekend i was reminded of the cruelty of gravity and that certain items don't float. and i'm sure some are still wondering how my phone ended up swimming with the fish....so here goes....

i enjoyed a wonderful, peaceful, relaxing weekend with my son and brother at greers ferry lake. went tubing, swimming, and caught some good rays. i made it the whole weekend without messing anything up.

it was at the end of the day saturday that life decided to remind me of that wonderful thing i learned about in science...gravity. i sat my phone of the dock box, so it wouldn't get wet in my pocket. little did my brother know that it was setting there when he opened the box. i saw this little red information packed device of mine (that i can't live without) fly through the air and heard "plop". as much as i wanted or willed it to float, the phone & memory card were sinking to the bottom to live forever more with the fish.

now many may think that i would get mad. but somehow, i found the humor in the situation and laughed as i told bobo that my phone just went into the water. of course, he felt awful. but it was my fault for leaving it there instead of a safer place.

i have been looking at phones the last month and was trying to decide whether or not to upgrade to a "big girl phone". i was able to make it back to alltel before they closed and made my purchase. so now i can carry my "big girl phone" while wearing my "big girl panties"...LOL!!!!

please send me your digits, since i am building my information database again.

My Favs

2008-07-10T07:13:00.007-05:00

as i have had my reflective moments and chats with God lately, i have been constantly reminded of some of my favorite scriptures i learned as a child that have helped me throughout my life. so i thought i'd share them with you...may you find peace and comfort as i have.

thanks to my friends for being relentless in reminding me, always being there for support, and loving me no matter what! i love you dearly!

i am still amazed that when you have reached that moment of despair and teetering on the edge of the point of no return, God is there ever so gently tapping us on the shoulder and pricking our hearts to let us know that he is there with arms wide open ready to hold and protect us. no matter what mess we've gotten in to or what we may have done...all we have to do is take off the blinders and look for him. he is always standing there...we just have to turn and give it all to him. thank you God for never giving up on me!

Philipians 4:13
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Isaiah 40:31
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Psalm 91
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.

3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.

4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.

6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.

7 Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.

8 Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished.

9 If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter,

10 No evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.

11 For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.

12 They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.

13 You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.

15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.

16 I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”

Our Weaknesses...

2008-07-01T07:07:00.007-05:00

St Paul had a weakness. He called it “a thorn in the flesh.” Nobody knows what it was. But we all find ourselves dealing with our own thorns.

Whatever the weakness was, St. Paul prayed for God to remove it. Here is his answer from God:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Here is St. Paul’s discovery:

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. -2 Corinthians 12: 10

Like St. Paul, no matter what physical, mental, or spiritual baggage we carry, when we decide to advance the mind and heart of Jesus Christ in whatever context we find ourselves, God’s power makes up for our weakness.

Thank you God for always being faithful and helping us through our weaknesses. With you, nothing is impossible.

Life...

2008-06-23T23:28:00.000-05:00

Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't.

Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it.

Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.

I'm Here!

2008-06-23T23:23:00.000-05:00

ok. so i've been a member here since february 2007 but didn't do anything with it. since some of my friends don't like myspace, i decided that i would humor them and post blogs here too.

stay tuned for more of my world!