tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60936966886810527542024-03-13T15:19:40.666-05:00Sharing What I've LearnedDenisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-86924492805433062652013-04-05T10:49:00.002-05:002013-04-05T10:49:50.463-05:00Mountaintop View<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
2013 has been quite a year already. I've been meaning to write about this but haven't been sure how or when or even what to say. We've walked valleys before and this year has been no different.<br />
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So far God has carried us through:<div>
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abuse</div>
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infertility</div>
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depression</div>
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And now we get to add to our testimony/list:<br />
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job loss<br />
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And God has saved us from Satan and from ourselves during each season. He has proved trustworthy. It's crazy how I read that list and realize how I've always thought we were immune to any of these issues. Oh how naïve I was/am.<br />
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In January Steve lost his job. I'm not going to share all the details because it's painful and it's not my story to tell. Long story made short: After 20 years of volunteer/part-time/full-time service to the fire department his employment was terminated. <br />
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If you know much or even very little about life in a firehouse then you know it's a brotherhood. These men and women live 1/3 of their lives together (24 hours on/48 hours off). Eating, sleeping, playing, working, and at times, holding each other's lives in their hands. The 'boys' that Steve worked with were family. Addie has been close to some of them her entire life. We've known some of them since before we were married. We've welcomed their wives and babies into the 'family'. They were there when Steve had to step away for a while to take care of me. It really is a family.<br />
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Steve's words were, "I feel like I've been kicked out of my home." It was heartbreaking to say the least. He was crushed. Identity shouldn't be found in a badge but it's hard to separate oneself from a uniform you've worn for 20 years. Cleaning out closets of shirts never to be worn again, turning in badges that no longer belong on your chest. I was there and watched and my heart broke along with Steve's and yet I still can't imagine the pain he went through.<br />
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I prayed like I hadn't prayed in a long time. Crying out through tears to God for comfort and peace. It was my turn to be the caregiving spouse. Steve needed me just like I've needed him. And God gave me the strength to lift him up. I can only use one word to tell you how it felt to be by Steve's side during that season: HONORED. I was honored to serve him. Proud to be with him. I can only compare it to riding along side a prince in a carriage for all the world to see. Even though we weren't in a carriage, we weren't dressed in pretty clothes with flowers being flung at our feet. We were kneeling in the darkness of our bedroom. Alone but in perfect unity with our Heavenly Father. It was sad and it was hard and it was beautiful.<br />
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In March an amazing opportunity arose that I still have a hard time believing. Do you ever look back and see God's hand in every part of your life leading you step by step to one point?? This was that moment. A sales position as a manufacturer's rep came available after the company owner met Steve and knew that he would be a perfect fit in the position. It is a very different job of course - public safety to sales - but it is the same arena that Steve has been in for years and years and working with a product that he knows inside and out. Steve has the knowledge, experience, and his network of relationships is just icing on the cake. It's a transition and we're still settling in and we're still praying for strength and comfort and peace. And God is still giving us the strength we need and the peace we enjoy.<br />
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We can look back at yet another valley and see the beauty that God created. He has walked this path with us and we have praised Him each step of the way. The climb is tough but this mountaintop experience is oh so sweet!!!!<br />
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Thank you, God, for having a purpose for our lives. Your plans really are to prosper us and not to harm us. We trust in Your goodness and the eternal view that you have rather than looking to what seems like reality in the circumstances we face. <br />
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<span class="text 2Chr-16-9" id="en-NIV-11519"><em>For the eyes<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-11519M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)"></sup> of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> search the whole earth </em></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Chr-16-9"><em>in order</em></span><span class="text 2Chr-16-9"><em> to strengthen those </em></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Chr-16-9"><em>whose hearts are fully committed to him.</em></span></div>
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<em>2 Chronicles 16:9</em></div>
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I pray that you will be encouraged through this post. I write it only to honor Him and in hopes that it will be a blessing in someway to you!<br />
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Love,<div>
Denise</div>
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Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-2283952259284301542013-01-14T09:00:00.003-06:002013-01-14T09:00:28.015-06:00Happy New Year!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
That would be 2013.<br />
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Seems I didn't post at all in 2012.<br />
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Wow.<br />
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I guess I didn't learn anything new that I could share.<br />
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Ok - not true!!<br />
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I guess I didn't get around to blogging about all I learned in 2012.<br />
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That's going to change. I hereby pledge to post weekly in 2013. I'm already behind 2 weeks. Oops.<br />
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Well, it's not a resolution so there.<br />
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What did you learn in 2012? Please share!</div>
Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-40889945582105348722011-09-24T12:23:00.000-05:002011-09-24T12:23:26.987-05:00I love Jesus. And Zig Ziglar.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Ampere; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Ampere; font-size: x-small;"></span></span><div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">You are the only one who can use your ability.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">It is an awesome responsibility.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">-Zig Ziglar</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">You are God's workmanship,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">created in Christ Jesus to do good works,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">which He prepared in advance for you to do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Ephesians 2:10</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">You.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">You are the only person gifted with your talents, knowledge and experiences. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">You are a completely unique creature in Jesus Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">It seems obvious to say that my path is mine and no one else's.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The work that God created me to do is mine alone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">If I don't get it done - eek.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">But good news!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Whenever God commands us to do something</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">He gives us the strength to do it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Right now I'm praying for the power of the Holy Spirit to give me the strength.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I'm praying that the Holy Spirit will fill me up so that there is room for nothing else inside me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">And I'm praying the same for you.</span></div>
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Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-60398237723728578972011-09-02T14:24:00.001-05:002011-09-02T14:24:53.511-05:00Well, Hi there!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I hope you haven't just been sitting around waiting for me to pop in and blog.<br />
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Sorry, I'm a little... how-you-say? Inconsistent.</div>
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<br />A few exciting things have happened around here:</div>
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<strong>14 years ago </strong></div>
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My little husband and I committed to a dating relationship. </div>
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We both knew that we were going to be together forever at that point. </div>
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God has blessed our marriage in so many ways!!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVwZPVjm2F7d_s_8PKGvUE56aEbC7vLM4gx8-8iNxscguzyijByNx0jqpv6k7X6AC8EQq0I2D2zvGnJ5z5ZUbErpHfhmHGwoVMRFYI67gsBrKDSNg8e0ZdCns2dlHeLJByclZpWegiwI/s1600/20110608_zel+and+denise_2185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVwZPVjm2F7d_s_8PKGvUE56aEbC7vLM4gx8-8iNxscguzyijByNx0jqpv6k7X6AC8EQq0I2D2zvGnJ5z5ZUbErpHfhmHGwoVMRFYI67gsBrKDSNg8e0ZdCns2dlHeLJByclZpWegiwI/s320/20110608_zel+and+denise_2185.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div>
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<strong>11 days ago</strong></div>
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My little daughter started 3rd grade!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwJuhk8a8A3hnzivAraFVTGqMNRg5EC1GmJi9WO_bml1yq4PVx2X2_XTCtIp6XbUl9fdX_GRdl5KoZMoB-R9JN9tqTGKHzxOHrZZrKG_YsZxJ0COXi_tbpoBAeyhyvi-b_1YDSPJrDic/s1600/20110608_zel+and+denise_2209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwJuhk8a8A3hnzivAraFVTGqMNRg5EC1GmJi9WO_bml1yq4PVx2X2_XTCtIp6XbUl9fdX_GRdl5KoZMoB-R9JN9tqTGKHzxOHrZZrKG_YsZxJ0COXi_tbpoBAeyhyvi-b_1YDSPJrDic/s320/20110608_zel+and+denise_2209.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div>
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Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) starts in a few weeks!! I cannot wait to start The Acts of the Apostles study. So much to learn! And I really thrive in an study that has structure and expectations and accountability. So, yeah! I hope to blog again before the start of BSF but if not you can count on LOTS of posts then.</div>
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Happy Labor Day weekend, y'all! Stay safe!!<br />
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Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-27043951148796596842011-07-27T12:23:00.000-05:002011-07-27T12:23:15.075-05:00Suffering bites... or does it?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Today I'm thinking a lot about suffering.<br />
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It started with the phone call that woke me up. Someone I love dearly was suffering. Financial struggles were the beginning but those often lead to relationship struggles and fear and suffering. We prayed before I got off the phone and I conveniently pointed her to yesterday's blog post on Philippians 4:8. I love how God steps in and provides the tools and resources for those still half asleep. :)<br />
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After I had my coffee and my head was clearing I prayed for a young friend who was having her uterus removed today. No doubt some suffering there.<br />
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Then I thought back to my own suffering. And my husband's.<br />
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I flipped to the concordance in my bible and started to search though scripture on suffering. And there are many. In light of Philippians 4:8 and looking to the good and praiseworthy things let's focus on the scriptures that talk of the benefits of suffering. Wait, what?! Benefits?<br />
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Yep, you know the old saying that God can use evil for good? It's still true.<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Suffering destroys counterfeit faith - Job 1:9</li>
<li>Suffering drives us back tot he basics of faith, Job 3:11</li>
<li>Suffering cannot destroy life's purpose, Job 3:23-26</li>
<li>Suffering tests our values, Job 14:22</li>
<li>How you react to suffering reflects what you believe, Job 21:22, Philippians 1:12-14, Job 32:2</li>
<li>Suffering demonstrates our loyalty to God, Psalm 44:9-22</li>
<li>Suffering will end one day, 1 Corinthians 15:50-53, Revelation 7:17</li>
<li>Suffering brings rewards, Mark 8:32,33</li>
<li>There are benefits of suffering, Philippians 1:29</li>
<li>Suffering may be a sign of effective living, 1 Thessalonians 3:1-3</li>
<li>Sin loses its power when we suffer, 1 Peter 4:1,2</li>
</ul>Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of suffering. It's not fun and it's really tough to experience gracefully. But, His grace really is sufficient for us and is made perfect in weakness.<br />
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Please join me in prayer for those suffering. Prayers that God will be glorified and will provide His grace and peace through their struggles.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><i><span style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-size: auto auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat;">Luke 21:36</span></i></div><div> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></sup></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"> Be always on the watch, </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">and pray that you may be able to escape </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">all that is about to happen, </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">and that you may be able to stand </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">before the Son of Man.”<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% red;"></span></span></i></div><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b></b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>**if you are suffering and would like others praying for you please feel free to ask in the Comments section**</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Love,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Denise</div></div>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-82928903905900511802011-07-24T12:53:00.000-05:002011-07-24T12:53:45.522-05:00Rescue Ops<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevvUXkSukYVOV3K4QxNUxgGfUtToG1Gd9ALfwiyJzsN-qTjxWlcchQg3EbbY2-Dq5UzNKMlje9D_wuuQU5v5m7Am4TyFFMEmMYB-BknnB0p55krPrtEdP9paRB8OtQAwYXmqJfT0tcjQ/s1600/205182_10150163109659763_606734762_6582212_7989464_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevvUXkSukYVOV3K4QxNUxgGfUtToG1Gd9ALfwiyJzsN-qTjxWlcchQg3EbbY2-Dq5UzNKMlje9D_wuuQU5v5m7Am4TyFFMEmMYB-BknnB0p55krPrtEdP9paRB8OtQAwYXmqJfT0tcjQ/s320/205182_10150163109659763_606734762_6582212_7989464_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Have I told you that my husband is not only my personal hero but he actually saves others too? He works for a rescue team that evacuates people from natural disasters, swift water and hurricanes. He's also a firefighter, arson investigator, paramedic and a peace officer. All around rescue hero. (And yes, that is him hanging from the helicopter.)<br />
<br />
July marks one year from the rescue operation to remove me from <a href="http://sharingwhativelearned.blogspot.com/2011/05/and-so-we-wait.html">the pit</a>. I won't call it an anniversary. Hell, I don't even want to remember it. But I will look at the past 12 months and praise the Lord who saved me and my husband who allowed the Lord to use him in the most painful way.<br />
<br />
As I look back over all that has happened over the year I can't help but want to share the parts that might actually be helpful to someone else. I had no idea that I was on the brink of destruction and maybe you're there but don't know it.<br />
<br />
Hindsight is 20/20. Of course it is. It's a cliche but it's true. <br />
<br />
I can look back and see exact moments when I turned from God and point exactly to the scripture I was disobeying and show the outcome of my disobedience. Ah, hindsight.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians%204:8&version=NIV">Philippians 4:8</a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Finally, brothers and sisters,</div><div style="text-align: center;"> whatever is true, </div><div style="text-align: center;">whatever is noble, </div><div style="text-align: center;"> whatever is right, </div><div style="text-align: center;">whatever is pure, </div><div style="text-align: center;">whatever is lovely, </div><div style="text-align: center;">whatever is admirable</div><div style="text-align: center;">—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—</div><div style="text-align: center;">think about such things. </div><br />
This was my favorite verse of scripture for years. I'm a bit of an optimist (when I'm not clinically depressed ;)) and have always felt that if you look at what is true and right and pure you can avoid heartache. I didn't do this, however, I chose to look to prayers that weren't answered rather than what is true. I chose to question the goodness of God. And I started to believe the whispers of the Evil One.<br />
<br />
God doesn't always (in fact almost never) works in ways that we can understand or would prefer. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+55:8&version=NIV">Isaiah 55:8 </a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, <br />
neither are your ways my ways,” <br />
declares the LORD. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Friends, we need the full armor of God to protect us from the Evil One and to keep our spirits and our minds focused on the Lord at all times. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A10-18&version=NIV">Ephesians 6:10-18</a> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29349"></sup> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. </div><div style="text-align: center;">For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, </div><div style="text-align: center;">but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world </div><div style="text-align: center;">and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29351"></sup>Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, </div><div style="text-align: center;">you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29352"></sup> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, </div><div style="text-align: center;">with the breastplate of righteousness in place, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29353"></sup>and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29354"></sup> </div><div style="text-align: center;">In addition to all this, </div><div style="text-align: center;">take up the shield of faith, </div><div style="text-align: center;">with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29355"></sup>Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, </div><div style="text-align: center;">which is the word of God. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29356"> </sup>And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. </div><div style="text-align: center;">With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">My only hope in writing these truths and scriptures on this blog is that they will glorify God and help someone else. Use the tools He has given you. I'm praying for you today!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Love,<br />
Denise</div></div>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-13829718396160959022011-06-18T20:30:00.002-05:002011-06-20T12:57:02.256-05:00Happy Father's Day!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiV7MI3S7cN6c3dLgG39o9zQBtYF9e7sfc5QKJDQZ1D4o_-Fvg5xv4fSjloTGkRIhbcWznZx9jOJTye972rrbEtDODEpAK7CJJbcqMZrUpK9nIzJTVV65pcxIovo9ZIdqmC2pEODvD2k/s1600/20110608_zel+and+denise_2161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiV7MI3S7cN6c3dLgG39o9zQBtYF9e7sfc5QKJDQZ1D4o_-Fvg5xv4fSjloTGkRIhbcWznZx9jOJTye972rrbEtDODEpAK7CJJbcqMZrUpK9nIzJTVV65pcxIovo9ZIdqmC2pEODvD2k/s320/20110608_zel+and+denise_2161.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Can I tell you about the most amazing Dad on the planet? He belongs to me but he's not my Dad. He is my husband. Our daughter has to be one of the luckiest little girls on Earth. She has the greatest Dad ever. And she'll tell you that and much more.<br />
<br />
He is the military style parent. Not a pushover and certainly not one to tangle with. He won't put up with disrespect, disobedience or whining. He's quick with a spanking if it's needed.<br />
<br />
He's also the most selfless, loving person I've ever known. He makes Addie pancakes at least three times a week. He leads our family prayers every night that he's home (and most nights that he isn't). He is our protector and leader and lover of our souls.<br />
<br />
The day he taught Addie how to ride her bike is one I'll never forget. I wasn't there. But when I came home my little angel was sitting on the couch with an icepack on her mouth and blood all over her shirt. She had turned too sharp and took the handlebars in the teeth. Her gums were black and blue and her teeth were loose. And her Dad made her ride the bike home. And she's never, ever been afraid to get back on and ride.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">A few things Addie wants to say about her Dad: </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">"Well - this year whenever he found a birds nest on our porch he didn't spray it down. He let the babies stay and grow up and be strong. They're flying on their own now!"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"He buys us pool passes!" </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"His pancakes are fantastic, like a real deal chef's."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"He's a fantastic Dad and helps Mom put me to bed every night."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
"I hope Dad reads this!"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"We love you so much!!!!!!"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"It's our pleasure to have you in our family." :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
"PS - I think the mother bird is feeding her babies right now! 6/18/11 - 8:18pm"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"(I also really wish I could keep one.)"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KkF1CgCJWsGGmnqC4BhEgTCjtF2K46wEhzgyvXms53q3p0oafaAnrW6eaROMX8bcMX7iNaVssWYu0sHJaIahS911ESPxUTkB0e5iMd-TZT8FrLHxRFDVyz6-5ur2fNAMwEpoubG6AhU/s1600/20110608_zel+and+denise_2117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KkF1CgCJWsGGmnqC4BhEgTCjtF2K46wEhzgyvXms53q3p0oafaAnrW6eaROMX8bcMX7iNaVssWYu0sHJaIahS911ESPxUTkB0e5iMd-TZT8FrLHxRFDVyz6-5ur2fNAMwEpoubG6AhU/s320/20110608_zel+and+denise_2117.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Jesus, thank you for this man. Thank you for building this family. Our lives are forever blessed because you joined us together and you are at the center. We praise you for all the goodness that we've been able to experience this year. Please be with each and every person who does not have a Dad like this one. It is in your Holy Name I pray. Amen.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0XlWKRFPKedEnkoPXOKut6o5UJmluLPqmU-_S3qKloEJlZuYUJuHASgxMYr9Vh-zoR90LgpWSDiPSawdgnqOX3Mg_xA1NTAaEHUHQt9MCI50m4qJ0oyCSeHiFaAh9G7hoj_63jA7BOg/s1600/20110608_zel+and+denise_2219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0XlWKRFPKedEnkoPXOKut6o5UJmluLPqmU-_S3qKloEJlZuYUJuHASgxMYr9Vh-zoR90LgpWSDiPSawdgnqOX3Mg_xA1NTAaEHUHQt9MCI50m4qJ0oyCSeHiFaAh9G7hoj_63jA7BOg/s320/20110608_zel+and+denise_2219.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
You're the best Dad on the planet!!!</div></div>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-42920989815854711512011-06-12T11:59:00.000-05:002011-06-12T11:59:34.404-05:00Wake Up with The Sunlight<div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote><span style="color: black;">He made the moon for the seasons; the sun knows the place of its setting. You appoint darkness and it becomes night, in which all the beasts of the forest prowl about. The young lions roar after their prey and seek their food from God. When the sun rises they withdraw and lie down in their dens. Man goes forth to his work and to his labor until evening. </span></blockquote></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: black;"><b>Psalm 104:19-23 </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Today I slept until 11am.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Oops.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Yesterday</span> <span style="font-weight: normal;">was a day filled with 7 year old Girl Scouts. </span><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">And family. And fun.</span></b></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Wonderful rest today. </span></b></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Is it a Godly kind of rest or is it a lazy glutton kind of rest?</span></b></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">I'll let Him be the judge.</span></b></b></span></div>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-52538206509915597582011-06-10T12:28:00.000-05:002011-06-10T12:28:07.013-05:00Avoid Heavy Meals and Drowsiness<div style="text-align: center;"><blockquote><span style="color: black;"><strong></strong></span><i><b><span style="color: black;">for drunkards and gluttons become poor,<br />
and drowsiness clothes them in rags. <strong></strong></span></b></i></blockquote><blockquote><i><b><span style="color: black;"><strong>Proverbs 23:21 </strong></span></b></i></blockquote><br />
For some reason I am surprised when the bible gives real<br />
practical nuggets of wisdom.<br />
~okay, not really surprised~<br />
<br />
But I often think it should be more complex or difficult to<br />
understand than some verses are. <br />
Oh, avoid heavy meals and drowsiness? <br />
That makes sense.<br />
<br />
Especially when it's 100 degrees in June in South Texas.<br />
<br style="color: #999999;" /><span style="color: #999999;">And I'm craving a giant plate of enchiladas and a nap.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhys3GBwjTe3KBsOhUH-xhmVtKhYbCkvUxGWx-QyNUHHeFTgU4wGEPeze0NhaBv36PG6awrMPloerMutkfM9dj7BZAhHXXnWl_jNQURnIbMZcNJtC5VdIaS1whDiqCAYVuosDXlY8p1E10/s1600/enchiladas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhys3GBwjTe3KBsOhUH-xhmVtKhYbCkvUxGWx-QyNUHHeFTgU4wGEPeze0NhaBv36PG6awrMPloerMutkfM9dj7BZAhHXXnWl_jNQURnIbMZcNJtC5VdIaS1whDiqCAYVuosDXlY8p1E10/s320/enchiladas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://simplyrecipes.com/photos/chicken-enchiladas.jpg&imgrefurl=http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/moms_chicken_enchiladas/&usg=__Td6CEIl6USKQK4HQVIh587K21jk=&h=240&w=360&sz=16&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=AfEFnkdQTKkOlM:&tbnh=125&tbnw=167&ei=v1PyTbfkAs29tgegvPj2DA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dimages%2Bof%2Benchiladas%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1600%26bih%3D685%26tbm%3Disch%26prmd%3Divnse&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=489&vpy=85&dur=1991&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=113&ty=65&page=1&ndsp=34&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0&biw=1600&bih=685"><i>photo</i></a></div>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-52737588929263317982011-06-07T07:05:00.000-05:002011-06-07T07:05:04.825-05:00Avoid Perfectionism and Accept Uncertainty<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Sow your seed in the morning,</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>and at evening let not your hands be idle,</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>for you do not know which will succeed,</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>whether this or that,</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>or whether both will do equally well. </b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Ecclesiastes 11:6</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wow! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Ecclesiastes has a lot to say. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Solomon wrote this book. The purpose was to spare generations the bitterness of learning through their own experiences that life is meaningless without God.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm sad to say that I don't think I've read it before. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You could probably tell.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In an attempt to avoid perfectionism in this post (HA!! None of them are perfect.)...</div><div style="text-align: center;">...I'm going to cut this short and just say: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ecclesiastes is short and the time taken to dive in is going to be well worth it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Go read it!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">:)</div>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-66804360091639956912011-06-06T11:08:00.000-05:002011-06-06T11:08:16.505-05:00Do Not Fear<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://sharingwhativelearned.blogspot.com/2011/06/lazy-summer-days-ahead.html">Part Two...</a><br />
<br />
<i><b>The lazy man says, “There is a lion in the road!</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>A fierce lion is in the streets!” </b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Proverbs 26:13</b></i></div><br />
<br />
Proverbs 22:13 says basically the same thing:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The sluggard says, There is a lion outside!" or,</b></i><br />
<b> <span style="font-size: large;">"I will be murdered in the streets!"</span></b></div><br />
<br />
<br />
How many times do we throw things completely out of proportion? I don't want to do chores. In fact, I better stay inside where it's safe. There are no lions near my couch! Really? You think you'll be murdered if you go to work? <br />
<br />
Excuses, excuses, excuses.<br />
<br />
The less I do, the less I want to do. The more I sleep the more I want to sleep. <br />
<br />
Fear is a big struggle for a lot of us. Even when we don't realize that it's fear holding us back. At times that is the beginning of lazy habits. It's much easier to NOT do something than to do it and FAIL. It's easier to avoid than achieve. One of my favorite sayings is:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> "If at first you don't succeed...</div><div style="text-align: center;">....SHRED all evidence that you tried."</div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: center;">It's funny but it's not productive. </div><br />
<br />
<div style="color: red; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">What would you attempt to do if</span></div><div style="color: red; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">you knew you could not fail?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Thoughts?Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-41409283617015096402011-06-03T11:30:00.000-05:002011-06-03T11:30:26.323-05:00Be Happy and Thankful<span style="color: black;"> </span><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. <strong><span class="redheading"> </span></strong></span></i></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><strong><span class="redheading">Nehemiah 8:10</span></strong></span></i></div><div style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i> </div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><strong><span class="redheading"> </span></strong><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29622"></sup>Be joyful always;</span></i></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29623"></sup>pray continually;</span></i></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29624"></sup>give thanks in all circumstances,</span></i></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"></span></i></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. </span></i></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18</strong></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong> </strong></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong> </strong></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Let's face it. Sometimes we're not happy. </span></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Sometimes we're grumpy. </span></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Stressed. </span></strong></span><span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Heartbroken. </span></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Sometimes evil chases us.</span></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">At times we're the evil ones.</span></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">And then s</span></strong></span><span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">ometimes we're just plain tired.</span></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The scripture at the top of this post isn't a hokey, pie in the sky, feel good, positive thinking, kind of baloney.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">God gives us the strength we need to be joyful always. He knows that it's not 'natural' in our human bodies to give thanks in all circumstances. Really? Expecting us to be thankful when we're battling depression? Or cancer? Or children in the midst of their summer screaming, "I'm bored!" </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Do not be grieved, for the JOY of the Lord is your strength. Really. It's true.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">How many times have you wondered,<b> "What is God's will for MY life??"</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I know I have. </div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: center;">(insert whiny voice when asking the question above. </div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: center;">possibly thrash on the floor in a tantrum. </div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: center;">not that I would have done that.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And who knew. He states it clearly right there in the bible. </div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: center;">Hmm... If only I had opened that book sooner!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><strong><span class="redheading"></span></strong></span><span style="color: black;">Be joyful always.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Pray continually.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Give thanks in all circumstances.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">I encourage you to <i><b>simplify</b></i> this summer. It's very easy to want God to drop His master plan in your lap and tell you His will for what job you should take, or what medical treatment you should try, whether you should adopt, make a mission trip, or even spank your child. It would just be so much easier if He would just tell us what to do!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">And imagine that - He did.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">In the middle of the uncertainty - <b>Be Joyful.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Rather than go to Google for answers - <b>Pray and ask Him.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">The last might be the hardest. But if you can look follow <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians%204:8&version=NIV">Phillipians 4:8</a> and really focus on </span><br />
<b><i>...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy...</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">You really can <b>Be </b></span><b><span style="color: black;">thankful in all circumstances.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> So I challenge you this summer. To follow God's will for you. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">And I would love to hear how it works out for you!!</span></div></div><span style="color: black;"><strong></strong></span></div>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-50043105297778336732011-06-01T08:30:00.000-05:002011-06-01T08:30:58.917-05:00Lazy Summer Days Ahead!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ha0dz3CybYP_0mtY5XRA4MC7ZKZ6wyIna1KX_hdFOYdaF1TQ2M11IURdAVwCSarA3GcOjNgrmOkiwNDMy2RdEvSXtujQR5XbMZwedIyCwFKvLdGKuZDvVG4WfT7EoAh7ZE1PA1ENOF8/s1600/IMG_3921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ha0dz3CybYP_0mtY5XRA4MC7ZKZ6wyIna1KX_hdFOYdaF1TQ2M11IURdAVwCSarA3GcOjNgrmOkiwNDMy2RdEvSXtujQR5XbMZwedIyCwFKvLdGKuZDvVG4WfT7EoAh7ZE1PA1ENOF8/s320/IMG_3921.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Tomorrow is the last day of school!! I work from home and my husband is home a lot also. The summer can be a time when we all get to spend days together. At the park, at the pool, not necessarily working hard. <br />
<br />
Some folks I know lean towards being classified as a work-a-holic. You could never put me in that category! I ere on the side of lazy. Sleep is one of my dearest friends. And lounging can quickly steal hours from my day. So to combat the tendency to sit like a bump on a log for days, weeks, months during the summer...<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I NEED A PLAN.</div><br />
So I did a quick google search on what the Bible has to say about laziness. Wow. I found some good tips! I've got a lot to say on these and you'll hear more about each in the blog posts ahead. But for now here is the list that I'll be working from:<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><strong><strong>Be Happy and Thankful</strong></strong></span></h2><b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. <strong><span class="redheading"> Nehemiah 8:10</span></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><strong><span class="redheading"> </span></strong></span><span style="color: black;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29622">16</sup>Be joyful always; <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29623">17</sup>pray continually; <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29624">18</sup>give thanks in all circumstances, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. <strong>1 Thessalonians 5</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><strong></strong></span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>Do Not Fear</strong></span></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><blockquote><span style="color: black;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-17154">13</sup> The lazy <em>man</em> says, “<em>There is</em> a lion in the road!<br />
A fierce lion <em>is</em> in the streets!” <strong>Proverbs 26:13</strong></span></blockquote><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">Avoid Perfectionism and Accept Uncertainty</span></h2><blockquote><span style="color: black;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17520">6</sup> Sow your seed in the morning,<br />
and at evening let not your hands be idle,<br />
for you do not know which will succeed,<br />
whether this or that,<br />
or whether both will do equally well. <strong>Ecclesiastes 11:6 </strong></span></blockquote><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>Prepare Your Tools<br />
</strong></span></h2><blockquote><span style="color: black;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17107">27</sup> Finish your outdoor work<br />
and get your fields ready;<br />
after that, build your house. <strong>Proverbs 24:27</strong></span></blockquote><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">Avoid Heavy Meals and Drowsiness</span></h2><blockquote><span style="color: black;"><strong> </strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17066">21</sup> for drunkards and gluttons become poor,<br />
and drowsiness clothes them in rags. <strong>Proverbs 23:21 </strong></span></blockquote><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">Wake Up with The Sunlight</span></h2><blockquote><span style="color: black;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-15591">19</sup>He made the moon for the seasons;<br />
The sun knows the place of its setting.<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-15592">20</sup></span> <span style="color: black;">You appoint darkness and it becomes night,<br />
In which all the beasts of the forest prowl about.<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-15593">21</sup></span> <span style="color: black;">The young lions roar after their prey<br />
And seek their food from God.<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-15594">22</sup></span> <span style="color: black;">When the sun rises they withdraw<br />
And lie down in their dens.<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-15595">23</sup></span> <span style="color: black;">Man goes forth to his work<br />
And to his labor until evening. <strong>Psalm 104:19-23 </strong></span></blockquote><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">Observe and Emulate</span></h2><blockquote><span style="color: black;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-16547">6</sup> Go to the ant, you sluggard;<br />
consider its ways and be wise!</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-16548">7</sup> It has no commander,<br />
no overseer or ruler,</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-16549">8</sup> yet it stores its provisions in summer<br />
and gathers its food at harvest.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-16550">9</sup> How long will you lie there, you sluggard?<br />
When will you get up from your sleep?</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-16551">10</sup> A little sleep, a little slumber,<br />
a little folding of the hands to rest-</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-16552">11</sup> and poverty will come on you like a bandit<br />
and scarcity like an armed man. <sup class="footnote">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%206;&version=31;#fen-NIV-16552a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> <strong>Proverbs 6:6-10</strong></span></blockquote><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">Go Hungry</span></h2><blockquote><span style="color: black;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29673">10</sup>For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29674"> 11</sup>We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. <strong>2 Thessalonians 3:10-11</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-16867">26</sup> The laborer’s appetite works for him;<br />
his hunger drives him on. <strong>Proverbs 16:26 </strong></span></blockquote><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">Move Your Body</span></h2><blockquote><span style="color: black;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17410">12</sup> The sleep of a laborer is sweet,<br />
whether he eats little or much,<br />
but the abundance of a rich man<br />
permits him no sleep. <strong>Ecclesiastes 5:12 </strong></span></blockquote><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">Avoid Idle Chatter</span></h2><blockquote><span style="color: black;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-16796">23</sup> In all labor there is profit,<br />
But idle chatter<sup class="footnote" title=""See">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%2014:23;&version=50;#fen-NKJV-16796a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup><em>leads</em> only to poverty. <strong>Proverbs 14:23 </strong></span></blockquote></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><strong> </strong></span></div>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-25051839931118417872011-05-28T22:33:00.001-05:002011-05-28T22:34:37.839-05:00Apologies!I skipped out on the blog yesterday. I apologize. Really.<br />
<br />
It's Memorial Day weekend (as you probably know) and I'm spending time with the fam. My amazing husband and wonderful daughter.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrz5PKOnGYPrXSy6A-W7enXtUEtgikA40takF4CdghYKV3lhNQEi5p6-Ox6jgJT04MymJQiwBSyO1THXPUcPfhF13M5kr2c_PdaumHe-Vv4VliNkMtu70D0MxTztIZBqznivb8K3QhXU/s1600/DSC04820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrz5PKOnGYPrXSy6A-W7enXtUEtgikA40takF4CdghYKV3lhNQEi5p6-Ox6jgJT04MymJQiwBSyO1THXPUcPfhF13M5kr2c_PdaumHe-Vv4VliNkMtu70D0MxTztIZBqznivb8K3QhXU/s320/DSC04820.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
I won't be back til Tuesday but felt I should at least pop over and let y'all know!<br />
<br />
Enjoy your long weekend and please remember our troops and keep them in your prayers. Thank God for all they've done for us and our freedom!!<br />
<br />
XXOO,<br />
<br />
DeniseDenisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-92180155528550856702011-05-26T21:56:00.000-05:002011-05-26T21:56:11.835-05:00Weeds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtgC8R3IEimZl6lQknsLwVyuP5iTSV7eM64xV7kleMO56xVhfU1unpZM4INuxvTppsJwdRRonIhaeu-D312t9CBtXKMdBR1purzUmPtwizruaistUFCZy4NrJ8Pfn1QHNO6MzfbqtJw8/s1600/DSC04884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtgC8R3IEimZl6lQknsLwVyuP5iTSV7eM64xV7kleMO56xVhfU1unpZM4INuxvTppsJwdRRonIhaeu-D312t9CBtXKMdBR1purzUmPtwizruaistUFCZy4NrJ8Pfn1QHNO6MzfbqtJw8/s320/DSC04884.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I really need to wash my truck. And mow the yard.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Kidding, kidding. (Ok, I do need to wash my truck.) But I spent my morning mowing and pulling weeds. My yard is in the progress of being transformed and recently we tilled the entire backyard and laid sod in a certain pattern. Now we need to go back and fill in the giant dirt patches with beds and shrubs and flowers and mulch and river rock and... you get the picture. PS - this picture is not of my yard, or my truck.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In those giant dirt patches there have been weeds sprouting. And so I strapped on my gardening gloves and went to work. The weed pulling today was actually a lot of fun! Because we had tilled recently the weeds that were there didn't have strong root systems. They came right up with a gently pull. Joy!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">As I was working I couldn't help but think about how sin in our lives is like a weed. When we let little sins stay they tend not to stay little. They grow. And the roots dig deep. If ignored, weeds can take over an entire yard (or truck as shown above) and kill everything living in their path. Sin grows and spreads like a disease and can take over your life. It can damage your health, your relationships, your finances, your faith. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm suggesting that we keep our noses in the Word of God and keep our prayer lives active in order to weed the sin out of our lives. And when it does sprout up - it will be much easier to pull by the roots and get rid of. </div><br />
<h2 id="passage_heading" style="color: purple; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Song of Solomon 2:15</i></span></h2><h2 id="passage_heading" style="color: purple; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17570">15</sup> Catch for us the foxes, <br />
the little foxes <br />
that ruin the vineyards, <br />
our vineyards that are in bloom. </i></span></h2><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Foxes. Weeds. You get the idea.)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Say your prayers,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sweet dreams,</div><div style="text-align: left;">I love you,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Goodnight!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Denise</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-53741530560973937272011-05-25T22:37:00.000-05:002011-05-25T22:37:30.094-05:00Prayers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRvOtBPUayJ1tI0xOBAuQAT9l4LoSIwDqv5VaKysaRk0wppHgPfOea5d9iOj-bORL-fQuH7OSqa53ujyIczBwdFkuxSCVHtxebGus2QTU2J8M5gSGPNYWV9RRztMe64xyvfZzn4AOV2s/s1600/DSC04727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRvOtBPUayJ1tI0xOBAuQAT9l4LoSIwDqv5VaKysaRk0wppHgPfOea5d9iOj-bORL-fQuH7OSqa53ujyIczBwdFkuxSCVHtxebGus2QTU2J8M5gSGPNYWV9RRztMe64xyvfZzn4AOV2s/s320/DSC04727.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoENCi7Je2OopqBX3o54qO6u8czsD93xGvUYyCWqJHrioHyVU1qzOu233jNfRr0KNgUV3KK4L5XyKxslaJSkwC7x2qgGHiAu5bycS0qxE8e_eunSQJDBID7EcijNA76WewFo6i8bsg7Q/s1600/DSC04728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoENCi7Je2OopqBX3o54qO6u8czsD93xGvUYyCWqJHrioHyVU1qzOu233jNfRr0KNgUV3KK4L5XyKxslaJSkwC7x2qgGHiAu5bycS0qxE8e_eunSQJDBID7EcijNA76WewFo6i8bsg7Q/s320/DSC04728.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Can I share with you a few tips that really help me keep my prayer life real?<br />
<br />
<ol><li>Pray daily. Many times a day.</li>
<li>Talk to God. Talk to Jesus. They know your heart and can understand your words. You don't have to get all King James on them. Prayer doesn't have to be made complex or extravagant.</li>
<li>The Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf and is ready to do the praying for you if you don't know what to say. Ask for His help.</li>
<li>If you tell someone that you'll pray for them, for goodness sakes DO IT. Don't let 'prayer requests' be a thin disguise for Christian gossip. God knows the difference.</li>
<li>Pray daily. Many times a day.</li>
</ol>If you need some material to work with please consider the following:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Victims of the recent tornados.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Children with pediatric cancer.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Our world leaders, our pastors and our emergency personnel. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Folks who are lost in this world and don't have a home to go to. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The mentally ill suffering silently or in hospitals and prisons.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Your friends, family and most of all your enemies.</div><br />
Remember to be THANKFUL, ASK FOR FORGIVENESS, and PRAISE GOD in each prayer. <br />
<br />
Something my sisters (have I mentioned that I have 5? and a brother) and I always said before going to sleep:<br />
<br />
<div style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Say your prayers... sweet dreams... I love you... Good night!</span></i></div><br />
Nighty, night my sweet readers.Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-32160751149224864152011-05-24T16:24:00.000-05:002011-05-24T16:24:06.328-05:00A Promising Future - and what to do until then...<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Last post on <span style="font-size: large;">waiting</span>, I promise. :)<br />
<br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-size: x-small;">PS - I have memory loss issues both short term and long term and cannot really promise this will be the last post on waiting as I might forget that I wrote about it already.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tired of sitting around like a bump on a log? Is there action to take while you're waiting on God to fulfill His promises or answer your prayers?</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">You bet!! Here are some of the verses that really helped me </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">as I climbed out </span><span style="color: black;">of <a href="http://sharingwhativelearned.blogspot.com/2011/05/and-so-we-wait.html">the pit</a>.</span><b><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255, 255); color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span>Where is your focus?<span> </span>Where is Jeremiah’s focus here…</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Lamentations 3:19-23 </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><b><sup><span style="color: black;">19</span></sup></b></span><span style="color: black;"> I remember my affliction and my wandering, <br />
the bitterness and the gall. <br />
</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><sup><span style="color: black;">20</span></sup></b></span><span style="color: black;"> I well remember them, <br />
and my soul is downcast within me. <br />
<br />
</span><b><sup><span style="color: black;"></span></sup></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: purple;"><span>Then Jeremiah changed his focus…</span></b><b><sup><span style="color: black;"></span></sup></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><sup><span style="color: black;">21</span></sup></b></span><span style="color: black;"> Yet this I call to mind <br />
and therefore I have <b>hope</b>: </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><sup><span style="color: black;">22</span></sup></b></span><span style="color: black;"> Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, <br />
for his compassions never fail. <br />
</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><sup><span style="color: black;">23</span></sup></b></span><span style="color: black;"> They are new every morning; <br />
great is your faithfulness. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><sup><span style="color: black;">25</span></sup></b></span><span style="color: black;"> The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, <br />
to the one who seeks him; <br />
</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><sup><span style="color: black;">26</span></sup></b></span><span style="color: black;"> it is good to wait quietly <br />
for the salvation of the LORD. </span></span></div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><b style="color: purple;">Know where to find your strength...</b> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Isaiah 40:27-31 </span></span></div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><sup><span style="color: black;">27</span></sup></b></span><span style="color: black;"> Why do you complain, Jacob? <br />
Why do you say, Israel, <br />
“My way is hidden from the LORD; <br />
my cause is disregarded by my God”? </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup><span style="color: black;">28</span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"> Do you not know? </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> Have you not heard? </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> The LORD is the everlasting God, </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> the Creator of the ends of the earth. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> He will not grow tired or weary, </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> and his understanding no one can fathom. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span></span></div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><sup><span style="color: black;"></span></sup></b></span><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><sup><span style="color: black;">29</span></sup></b></span><span style="color: black;"> He gives strength to the weary <br />
and increases the power of the weak. <br />
</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><sup><span style="color: black;">30</span></sup></b></span><span style="color: black;"> Even youths grow tired and weary, <br />
and young men stumble and fall; <br />
</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><sup><span style="color: black;">31</span></sup></b></span><span style="color: black;"> but those who hope in the LORD <br />
will renew their strength. <br />
They will soar on wings like eagles; <br />
they will run and not grow weary, <br />
they will walk and not be faint. </span></span></div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span> <b> </b></span></span></div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>God's grace will come. His promise will be kept. You will be blessed...</b></span></span></div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Isaiah 30:18</span></span></div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
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</style> <![endif]--> </div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><sup><span style="color: black;">18</span></sup></b></span><span style="color: black;"> Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; <br />
therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. <br />
For the LORD is a God of justice. <br />
Blessed are all who wait for him! </span></span></div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></div><div style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Where is your hope?</span></b></span> <h2 style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Psalm 130:5 </span></span></h2><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup><span style="color: black;">5</span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"> I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, <br />
and in his word I put my hope. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
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</style> <![endif]--> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">How can you know that God will keep His word?</span></b></span></div><h2 style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Isaiah 55:10-11</span></span></h2><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><sup><span style="color: black;">10</span></sup></b></span><span style="color: black;"> As the rain and the snow <br />
come down from heaven, <br />
and do not return to it <br />
without watering the earth <br />
and making it bud and flourish, <br />
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, <br />
</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><sup><span style="color: black;">11</span></sup></b></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span>so is my word that goes out from my mouth: <br />
It will not return to me empty, <br />
but will accomplish what I desire <br />
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.</span></span></div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">How do the two verses prior reassure us when the delay is long or the process is confusing?</span></b></span></div><h2 style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Isaiah 55:8-9 </span></span></h2><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><b><sup><span style="color: black;">8</span></sup></b></span><span style="color: black;"> “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, <br />
neither are your ways my ways,” <br />
declares the LORD. <br />
</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><sup><span style="color: black;">9</span></sup></b></span><span style="color: black;"> “As the heavens are higher than the earth, <br />
so are my ways higher than your ways <br />
and my thoughts than your thoughts. </span></span></div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">What are the benefits of believing God while we wait?</span></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </div><h2 style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Romans 15:13</span></span></h2><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><sup><span style="color: black;">13</span></sup></b></span><span style="color: black;"> May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="color: purple;">So what will you do between now and the big day?</b></span> </i></div>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-16194971512130348392011-05-23T22:00:00.001-05:002011-05-24T14:14:38.728-05:00Does Jesus Wear Rose Colored Glasses?<div style="text-align: center;"><i>I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I will guide him and restore comfort to him, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>creating praise on the lips of the mourners in Israel.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Isaiah 57:18</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> </i></div> <br />
God saw my ways. He knew every sin that I had committed, He knew each and every one of my days before the first one came to pass. He saw me there in the mud. Completely broken. With no redeeming qualities except for one:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I BELONGED TO HIM</div><br />
And He chose to heal me. He guided me home and restored comfort in my heart, mind and spirit. This comfort and peace is so real and so unbelievably good that I have a hard time believing that I was the wreck that I was in 2010. I will be praising God as long as I have breath to do it.<br />
<br />
Waiting on His promises - that is hard work, I know. But He gives the strength for any task He asks of us. We must keep our eyes on Jesus. Drown out the whispers of the Evil One with praise and prayers to our Lord in heaven.<br />
<br />
God brings comfort to the contrite. He lives forever in a high and holy place, but also with the lowly in spirit. We will never be good enough to deserve it. And thankfully we'll never need to be.<br />
<br />
<br />
Jesus - I am yours.Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-59071865676092353142011-05-22T23:07:00.000-05:002011-05-22T23:07:34.776-05:00And So We WaitWaiting on Jesus. Another day without our Savior on earth. It seems really funny to me that one man had preached (and actually had people believing) that he had figured out the day Jesus would come back. But <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2024:36&version=NIV">Matthew 24:36 </a>clearly says that no one knows the day or the hour that Jesus will return, not even Jesus himself.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">God has purpose in waiting to fulfill His promises.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><span class="woj"></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="woj">I've been a little reserved in sharing the whole story of my desert experience here on this blog. But I am going to do it, honestly and openly, in hopes that my transparency might bless someone else. If anything here resonates with you please feel free to contact me. Or seek help. Please.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In January of 2010 I began to long for Jesus. I couldn't stop thinking about how I wanted to be with Him. And rather than dive into my bible in order to be closer, I let my mind wander. Little by little I fell into a serious depression. It was a perfect storm of emotional stress (fertility/hormone treatment), physical stress (job transition), and mental stress (twisted thinking). As the months went by I couldn't understand why God was holding Himself back from me. Why wasn't He answering my prayers? I wasn't praying for something evil. I was praying for a baby (didn't He say to multiply and inhabit the earth?) and I was praying that Jesus would return (throw me a bone! I'm ready to live with You.). But nothing. No baby. And He didn't take me to heaven either. What started as a seemingly innocent request twisted into suicidal thoughts and a downward spiral like I never thought possible. If you don't know me personally you're just going to have to believe me when I say that I had a really, really good life. Married to a wonderful man, mother of a beautiful girl. Loved by many, many friends. A homeowner, very little debt, with our slice of the American dream. What more could a girl want? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">But I did my very best to rebel against God and His love for me. My husband and his love for me. If the semi truck in the oncoming lane wasn't going to drift over and send me straight to Jesus then I would just walk away from everything I knew and go live in a van under a bridge. After a few weeks completely detached from reality I was saved by my husband. I told him everything I was going through. After a lot of tears, a few phone calls, and one doctor visit my husband took me (voluntarily) to the hospital. I was admitted to the psych ward and yes it is as horrific as you might think. That was rock bottom.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="woj"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="woj">With the help of prayers from others, anti-depressants, and most of all - my husband</span><span class="woj">'s faith, love and sheer dependence on God; I began to crawl my way out of the pit. It was a long hard journey. I still have to live with consequences and memories of that horrible season. But it's over. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="woj">Could God really have a purpose in making me wait? Absolutely. I know Jesus like I never could have before. I am humbled because I realize what a sinner I am. The things that I did during this season - He died for those actions. It breaks my heart that my sins were on Him as He died on the cross. And It took time to accept it. It took time to accept His love. It took time to find my true <a href="http://sharingwhativelearned.blogspot.com/2011/05/who-am-i.html">identity</a>. It took waiting. But God had a purpose in it all. Oh, did He ever. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="woj">God blesses the meek and humble. He has lifted me out of the mud. Wiped me clean. And called me His. And today I read His word, I do all I can to glorify His name, and I share it all with anyone who will listen.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="woj">Redeemed by Him,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="woj">Denise</span><i><span class="woj"><br />
</span></i></div>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-59499286465397402202011-05-21T13:36:00.000-05:002011-05-21T13:36:50.090-05:00Psalm 118:24<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This is day that the Lord has made!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Let us rejoice and be glad in it!! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0hbMvnlrxfTfho3LIRZtW0yeW24X7Sg98ktEjt-sudWj1g5b9ytl3q0NhLs73bFU1-Dh15dyyySHLtT56qv07xRBRa6TLJ4cORxLvC7XqWjIIeNFeSrEdE_si2Lvb_Lxd5AciJ7mVwA/s1600/DSC05679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0hbMvnlrxfTfho3LIRZtW0yeW24X7Sg98ktEjt-sudWj1g5b9ytl3q0NhLs73bFU1-Dh15dyyySHLtT56qv07xRBRa6TLJ4cORxLvC7XqWjIIeNFeSrEdE_si2Lvb_Lxd5AciJ7mVwA/s400/DSC05679.JPG" width="253" /></a></div>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-46740282119964612672011-05-21T00:13:00.000-05:002011-05-21T00:13:46.846-05:00The Wheelbarrow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3b1cIyf7tdG_zu34ces953X6GdT6-oCrp41_BbaHIyhBPxL4-OfS2pT5WlX51RAyrX3cATQwgZ8XPiVQ93Oc_gzsoTiAXX6-uJXhav5_oukoP4VxTiUhcLqNu7Bs7EN91N7rbAE261o/s1600/blondin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3b1cIyf7tdG_zu34ces953X6GdT6-oCrp41_BbaHIyhBPxL4-OfS2pT5WlX51RAyrX3cATQwgZ8XPiVQ93Oc_gzsoTiAXX6-uJXhav5_oukoP4VxTiUhcLqNu7Bs7EN91N7rbAE261o/s320/blondin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I came across this story last year while I was on the road to trusting God with my life.<br />
<br />
The Wheelbarrow Story goes something like this:<br />
<br />
Charles Blondin was a famous tightrope walker in the 1800's. He had done amazing stunts all over the world and had never fallen. His manager had seen him perform many times. The two men came to Niagara Falls where Blondin would string a rope across the raging falls. Many people came to watch him as he walked the rope. He walked blindfolded. He walked on stilts. He rode a bicycle. The crowd was very impressed. Charles Blondin then pushed a wheelbarrow across the falls on the tightrope. His manager, who had seen him many times do these tricks, was there. Blondin asked this man if he trusted that he could push the wheelbarrow back to the other side of the falls. "Of course! I have seen you do this before. You have never fallen! Of course, I <i>believe </i>you can do this. I <i>trust </i>you."<br />
<br />
And Blondin said, "Then get in the wheelbarrow."<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wait-WHAT?!?!</span></div><br />
<br />
I have known God my entire life. I have believed in Him. I have believed His word. <br />
<br />
But I found that believing and trusting are not one in the same. It wasn't an easy thing to do. To make a decision to get in the wheelbarrow. It was, in fact, the scariest thing I've ever done. And I continue to make that choice each morning.<br />
<br />
Safety should not be our god.<br />
<br />
The safest place to be is with God Himself. Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-45204174504778126682011-05-19T22:04:00.000-05:002011-05-19T22:04:46.396-05:00Who am I?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]-->I recently went on a search to figure out who I was. Not in an Eat, Pray, Love kind of way (yes, I have the book, no I haven't read it or seen the movie.) There is a great song that says: "I don't think Hank done it this way." I don't think Julia Roberts done it this way, either.<br />
<br />
I searched and found these descriptions in Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians and Timothy. This isn’t me being arrogant.<span> </span>I certainly don’t deserve this identity and could never have earned it.<span> </span>These are truths from the Word of God. <br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I am justified</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">No condemnation awaits me</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I am set free from the law of sin that leads to death</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I am made holy and acceptable </div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I am righteous</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I will be made alive at the resurrection</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I am a new creation</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I receive God's righteousness</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I am one with other believers</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I am blessed with every spiritual blessing</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I am holy and blameless</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I am God's child</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I am FORGIVEN</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I am under Christ's authority</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I belong to God by the Holy Spirit</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I have been raised up to sit with Christ in glory</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I am God's work of art</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I am near to God</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I am promised blessings</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I can come with freedom and confidence into God's presence</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I am a member of Christ's body, the Church</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I am made complete</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I am set free from our sin nature</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I have eternal glory</div><br />
There are times that I certainly don't feel these truths with my emotions and my brain can't quite comprehend a few of them even on my good days. <br />
<br />
But God says they are true.<br />
<br />
And so they are.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow I will tell you a bit more about what I've learned in the past year. About God. About myself. About His amazing promises. <br />
<br />
Until then,<br />
<br />
DeniseDenisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-57772865057307924362011-05-18T10:13:00.000-05:002011-05-18T10:13:34.450-05:00Rise and Shine<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>“We can only appreciate the </i></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>miracle of a sunrise</i></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>if we have waited in the darkness.”</i></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>-Author Unknown</i></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8dMYZIoA1hRfP_KEAy8KAANJ4MiPVxY0ej9PJXgReFWdFc8MCryBv65MKw72DQ3FLrFirThbir2K7znbvJpXu78svSrr4TZpn2kuLOAf8QzCHB4KbAsgUMrqkmCaYzj88hpZb-fHbcU/s1600/sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8dMYZIoA1hRfP_KEAy8KAANJ4MiPVxY0ej9PJXgReFWdFc8MCryBv65MKw72DQ3FLrFirThbir2K7znbvJpXu78svSrr4TZpn2kuLOAf8QzCHB4KbAsgUMrqkmCaYzj88hpZb-fHbcU/s320/sunrise.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I have waited in the darkness.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I have waited alongside my husband and daughter.<span> </span>Sitting quietly, whispering, and giggling.<span> </span>Wondering, is it is our imaginations that it is getting lighter?<span> </span>Or is the sunrise really near?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And then in glorious, slow motion we see the peak of this orange arch coming up over the bay.<span> </span>And it gets bigger and bigger until we notice that we are no longer sitting in the dark.<span> </span>We are no longer whispering or giggling.<span> </span>We are in awe of the gift that God has presented to us. Once again.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It is a new day.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And we are in love.<span> </span>So many possibilities arise with the sun. We are alive.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">What are you waiting for?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0c343d; text-align: center;"><i>“Arise, shine, for your light has come, </i></div><div style="color: #0c343d; text-align: center;"><i> and the glory of the LORD rises upon you."</i></div><div style="color: #0c343d; text-align: center;"><i><b>Isaiah 60:1</b></i> </div>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-10691227031567020652011-05-17T09:17:00.000-05:002011-05-17T09:17:45.740-05:00I'm no longer trapped under a heavy piece of furniture.Being that tomorrow will be one month since my last post I felt that I should write SOMETHING.<br />
<br />
I've been hiding under a rock lately and nothing exciting has happened so there was nothing at all to write about in the past 30 days.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Lies!! All Lies!!!</span></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;">(quote from one of the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/">best movies ever</a>)</div><br />
I have been wrapping up BSF (sniff, sniff), working hard, vacationing, taking naps, hmm.. what else?<br />
<br />
Here is my pledge to you:<br />
<br />
I will post something on this blog every. single. day. for the next 30 days.<br />
<br />
I'll do my best to make it exciting, readable and most of all worthy of your time. <br />
<br />
Thanks and see ya tomorrow!! Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093696688681052754.post-22339822555256845562011-04-18T19:58:00.000-05:002011-04-18T19:58:10.129-05:00You.We went to <a href="http://www.ahumc.org/">church</a> on Palm Sunday and heard the most amazing message. <br />
<br />
In <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2014:%2013&version=NIV">Matthew 14:13</a>, Jesus is mourning the horrific death of his friend, his cousin, John the Baptist (or as my pastor calls him - JTB). Jesus withdrew by boat to a quiet place. No doubt spending time with His Father, looking for comfort and peace, as we all have at some point when we're heartbroken.<br />
<br />
Well, the crowds saw Jesus and followed Him on foot from the surrounding towns. They needed healing and when Jesus saw them He had compassion. He stopped thinking about His broken heart and He gave all He had to heal them. <br />
<br />
The disciples were there, of course, and went to Jesus when it was getting dark. They told Him that He should send the people away so that they could go to town and buy dinner. <br />
<br />
And Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."<br />
<br />
YOU. <br />
<br />
You feed them.<br />
<br />
And at that point Jesus turns His ministry to the disciples and gives them the responsibility. <br />
<br />
He is asking them then, <b>as He is asking us now,</b> to be His hands and His feet to the world.<br />
<br />
Yes, you.Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705296376911083137noreply@blogger.com0