Gratitude unleashes the freedom to live content in the moment, rather than being anxious about the future or regretting the past.(Coosing Gratitude)
Someone has said "If you can't be thankful for what you recieve, be thankful for what you escape."
What impact does your spirit have on those around you? Are they refreshed and encouraged by your thankful spirit? Or are they weighed down by your negative, ungrateful words and attitude?
Have you ever made a thorough inventory of the people who have touched your life? Have you taken the time to thank them?
Blessings
- Salvation
- I have been given tickets to travel to Texas from the Jones's
- My girls are healthy and doing well in school.
- My mom is hopeful.
- My brother Brent has called and is wanting to help me look for a car.
- Phillip is safe and doing well in Mexico.
- My mom has her sister to do things with.
- Krista has some good friends.
- Dr Kellie Lancaster
- All our supporters.
- A fifth wheel that has warmth and coolness.
- Safety while in Mexico.
- A wonderful sending church,
- Friends from all around the USA
- Health
- An opportunity to serve and care for my mom.
- CHM and the parents and children
- All my sisters in Christ in El Higo.
- Food on the table
- Clothes on my back and on the back of my family.
- College scholarships.
- Eyesight, hearing, and touch
The list can go on.
Lets be more thankful for all we have and all we have been rescued from than for those things we think are bad.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
Bad Days?
Wow, what a sermon I heard last sunday. It was just for me. The sermon was on Bad days. But he took the worse day in the bible and showed us how Jesus handeled it. Humbeling!!!!
1. Luke 23:34 Jesus said,"Father forgive them for they do not know what
they are doing."
-As we watch bad things happen or people hurting us or others, forgive.
2. Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him saying, "I tell you the truth, today you
will be with me in paradise."
- When you are hurting, look for someone to help!!!
3. John 19:26b,27 ..."Dear women , here is your son, and to the
disciple, "Here is your mother."
- We need to look around us during our own bad days and take care of
others by encouraging them.
4. Mark 15:34b ...Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama
sabachthani?" -which means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
- its OK to ask questions, just don,t question the answer.
5. John 19:28b ...Jesus said, "I'm thirsty."
- ask for help, we should ask our family of God for help when we need it.
6. John 19:30 When he had recieved the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished."
With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
-We must perservere and these things too shall pass away.
7. Luke 23:46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands
I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.
-Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of
those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
I walked out that day thinking to myself, it is time to not only follow and live the life of Christ but to also live the death of Christ. What beautiful examples of LOVE our Savior has left us to follow until He returns. Yet we still don't get it. I want to live like Christ died. Perservering, seeking to help others find their salvation, encouraging others, seeking and living the will of my Father and accepting the outcome, knowing that all things are for good to those who love HIM.
Gracias Padre por su amor.
1. Luke 23:34 Jesus said,"Father forgive them for they do not know what
they are doing."
-As we watch bad things happen or people hurting us or others, forgive.
2. Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him saying, "I tell you the truth, today you
will be with me in paradise."
- When you are hurting, look for someone to help!!!
3. John 19:26b,27 ..."Dear women , here is your son, and to the
disciple, "Here is your mother."
- We need to look around us during our own bad days and take care of
others by encouraging them.
4. Mark 15:34b ...Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama
sabachthani?" -which means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
- its OK to ask questions, just don,t question the answer.
5. John 19:28b ...Jesus said, "I'm thirsty."
- ask for help, we should ask our family of God for help when we need it.
6. John 19:30 When he had recieved the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished."
With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
-We must perservere and these things too shall pass away.
7. Luke 23:46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands
I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.
-Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of
those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
I walked out that day thinking to myself, it is time to not only follow and live the life of Christ but to also live the death of Christ. What beautiful examples of LOVE our Savior has left us to follow until He returns. Yet we still don't get it. I want to live like Christ died. Perservering, seeking to help others find their salvation, encouraging others, seeking and living the will of my Father and accepting the outcome, knowing that all things are for good to those who love HIM.
Gracias Padre por su amor.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Why love unconditionally?
The words unconditional love have become the foundation of our ministry and of my life.
Unconditional love is a guiding light, illuminating the darkness, Gary Chapman wrote. I believe Jesus is that light. Who understands unconditional love more than Jesus.
This morning we had a book review meeting with the parents. We discussed love and unconditional love for our orphans. It is a tall order. Yet it is a order. Mark 12:28-31.
How do we love people? We tell them we love them every day. God's word says in 1 John 3:18 "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tonque, but in deed and in truth.
I am choosing to love unconditionally every part of my life. My call in life even when the problems seem bigger than their solutions. I choose to love it when it is fun and easy or when it is relentless and lonely. My children, I choose to love them unconditionally. When she chooses to be separated from you for the things she feels are more important or when she has her arms around me whispering "I love you momma". The people I minister to in Mexico, I choose to love unconditionally people who may be ungrateful or unable to love back. I choose to love myself unconditionally no matter what past mistake or present failure I am encountering in my life or when someone else attacks my reputation or my decisions. The list goes on and on.
When I am not sure what unconditional love should look like I remember the day I accepted my Lord and Savior and how accepted and forgiven and loved I felt when at that moment I was the filthiest I had ever been.
We as God's ambassadores, His children are called to live a life of love and I believe this is love unconditional.
Pray that WE, you and me, can love every part of our lives unconditionally with that meaning ALL people in our lives.
Unconditional love is a guiding light, illuminating the darkness, Gary Chapman wrote. I believe Jesus is that light. Who understands unconditional love more than Jesus.
This morning we had a book review meeting with the parents. We discussed love and unconditional love for our orphans. It is a tall order. Yet it is a order. Mark 12:28-31.
How do we love people? We tell them we love them every day. God's word says in 1 John 3:18 "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tonque, but in deed and in truth.
I am choosing to love unconditionally every part of my life. My call in life even when the problems seem bigger than their solutions. I choose to love it when it is fun and easy or when it is relentless and lonely. My children, I choose to love them unconditionally. When she chooses to be separated from you for the things she feels are more important or when she has her arms around me whispering "I love you momma". The people I minister to in Mexico, I choose to love unconditionally people who may be ungrateful or unable to love back. I choose to love myself unconditionally no matter what past mistake or present failure I am encountering in my life or when someone else attacks my reputation or my decisions. The list goes on and on.
When I am not sure what unconditional love should look like I remember the day I accepted my Lord and Savior and how accepted and forgiven and loved I felt when at that moment I was the filthiest I had ever been.
We as God's ambassadores, His children are called to live a life of love and I believe this is love unconditional.
Pray that WE, you and me, can love every part of our lives unconditionally with that meaning ALL people in our lives.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Words
Something I am striving for personally is to make my words count for good. Look at all the scriptures that speak about our mouth, tongue, and words. John spoke sunday morning on the power of words. Power to build up and the power to destroy; the power to cause action and the power to quickly stop action. In Ecclesiastes 3 1-8. This is not speaking of our timing but the timing of our Lord. My tongue will not be the one that determines what time it will be. Too many people we minister to have had detroying words in their lives. I don't want to be a part of those words. I believe their are times when we must speak truth but it must always be with LOVE. I desire LOVE to be heard in my words. In my past, my words were not always pleasant. What I said may not have been wrong but how I said them and with what feeling that I said them with was many times. We are all quilty of this, and I am sure I will mess up occasionally, but I am striving for a better tongue.
My words are so limited with my 15 year old now that we live apart. When we can talk I want my words to be meaningful and loving and words that inspire her to strive for a righteous life. My time talking with my mom has drastically lessoned due to us living in a different country. With her circustances in her life I want for my words to be comforting, compassionate and understanding. I want her to know that I will walk beside her even if we are hundreds of miles apart. The ability to talk with my closest friends has become difficult but when we connect I want to be a friend that doesn't judge but encourages, points them to their ultimate councelor and listens without always having answers for their problems. Because my husband and I serve side by side 24/7, I want my words to be loving and patient, accepting. What a tall order this will be but God says with Him nothing is impossible.
I can be a women of many words, but I want my words to be few and the words of my Lord and Savior to be more. I hope this challenges you as it does me to guard our words.
My words are so limited with my 15 year old now that we live apart. When we can talk I want my words to be meaningful and loving and words that inspire her to strive for a righteous life. My time talking with my mom has drastically lessoned due to us living in a different country. With her circustances in her life I want for my words to be comforting, compassionate and understanding. I want her to know that I will walk beside her even if we are hundreds of miles apart. The ability to talk with my closest friends has become difficult but when we connect I want to be a friend that doesn't judge but encourages, points them to their ultimate councelor and listens without always having answers for their problems. Because my husband and I serve side by side 24/7, I want my words to be loving and patient, accepting. What a tall order this will be but God says with Him nothing is impossible.
I can be a women of many words, but I want my words to be few and the words of my Lord and Savior to be more. I hope this challenges you as it does me to guard our words.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Things I am grateful for!!!!!!!!!!!
So many blessings.I am determined to stay focused on the blessings and then when I must draw my attention to those things that are difficult, they will be in the proper perpective to my blessings.
Where to start.
First-Breath every morning
Everlasting forgiveness not from man but from my Savior.
A God fearing husband who has accepted his call in this world.
A set of parents who have remained married for 50 years.
A grandmother that poured her whole self into her grandchildren.
A praying and trusting mom who did not give up on me even when I gave up on myself.
2 amazing daughters who loved me through my mistakes as a mom and accepted my apologies when I was wrong. They are probably the best part of me. Thank you GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!
A country that allows me to leave and serve in another. Freedom.
A country that allows me to enter theirs with the Good News.
A scenery that takes your breath away every sunrise.
The example of Christ for me to follow instead of blindly living.
Friends that love unconditionally. You know who you are!!!!!!
The many followers who support financially when I know times are hard and it could be easy to forget to send.
A home, food, warmth, clothes, and purpose.
An amazing call that I know was made specifically for me.
The list could go on but does it need to. WOW this can sustain me for the rest of my time in this world until I get to go HOME.
Where to start.
First-Breath every morning
Everlasting forgiveness not from man but from my Savior.
A God fearing husband who has accepted his call in this world.
A set of parents who have remained married for 50 years.
A grandmother that poured her whole self into her grandchildren.
A praying and trusting mom who did not give up on me even when I gave up on myself.
2 amazing daughters who loved me through my mistakes as a mom and accepted my apologies when I was wrong. They are probably the best part of me. Thank you GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!
A country that allows me to leave and serve in another. Freedom.
A country that allows me to enter theirs with the Good News.
A scenery that takes your breath away every sunrise.
The example of Christ for me to follow instead of blindly living.
Friends that love unconditionally. You know who you are!!!!!!
The many followers who support financially when I know times are hard and it could be easy to forget to send.
A home, food, warmth, clothes, and purpose.
An amazing call that I know was made specifically for me.
The list could go on but does it need to. WOW this can sustain me for the rest of my time in this world until I get to go HOME.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Planning!
Planning is a thing that prepares your mind and body for action. It is a good exercise but our plans are just that, exercise. So many circumstances change our plans. I am preparing my mind, body and emotions for action. I have a magnet in my kitchen that says "We plan and God laughs".How true is that. As I am planning for this stage I am continually praying in Your will God. I am so thankful for those friends and family that are saying we have plane tickets, we are praying, what ever we can do let us do it, we support your decisions and just we love you. I love the CALL in our life, I am so thankful that God allows us to love and care for our family while we serve where he has called us to. My deepest prayer is that in all I do that it will bring Glory to my Lord Savior.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Reflecting
Today I have began reflecting. The thing that is different today than the other days of reflecting is that I will be releasing my reflections. Sometimes those things in our past good or not so good can cause us to continue to revisit them more often than we should. I have certainly been guilty of this these last 3 years. The past is not bad to revisit if it is to help you make a better decision or to remind you of a poor one but to have it swell up all the hurt that comes with that reflection is when it is unhealthy. I am releasing the last three years. I am sifting those hurts and keeping those things that I have learned. Life is way to short to relive over and over the things of the world. It is on those eternal things that we must cling to. I believe that God's call is one of those things and I believe family is one of those things. My question is How can you cling to your family and yet serve Your God separated from them. With much creativity. This is where my journey of 2011 will begin.
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