Saved and Sanctified

This week's sermon was a much needed explanation of what it means to be sanctified with Christ. I always thought I explained it fairly well as letting God have complete control of your life...the "Jesus take the wheel" mentality but the pastor this week explained it better. Being sanctified means to "set apart" from the world. LOOK!!! this next statement sums it up...Saved is God giving himself to you completely, being sanctified is YOU giving ALL of you to God. That means every thought, every decision, everything you do is given over to him first. Each of us are born with a love of self not a love toward God. God gives us the opportunity through getting saved and sanctified to have a pure love, one that is personal and mutual between God and Man. To be saved is a process...the day that someone asked to be forgiven, there is instant forgiveness and the Holy Spirit comes and fills their soul. The holy spirit is that voice of reason in tough times, the voice of conviction that keeps us from doing what we know is wrong, the comforting presence when we need it most. Being saved does not make us perfect, we will never be perfect until we come face to face with God himself but it gets us one step closer. Being sanctified is letting God use you as his arms, his feet, and with his compassion to reach those around who don't yet know him. To be like him and to strive to be like him is to be sanctified and holy. In 1 Thessalonians 4:3 (a) it says: It is God's will that you should be sanctified:
For more on this see John 17:6 through the end of the chapter. It is Jesus praying for the disciples and for all believers.

Ok...that is what I got out of the sermon. Feel free to re-direct me if necessary...I never know if I hit the mark or I am way off. I just tell it like I hear it.

On another note...We had a wonderful weekend with family. It seemed like we spent most of the time at the grandparents' house. I am sure that they needed at least today to recover and clean up after the boys were there. We spent Saturday planning for my mom's visit at 1pm but as many of you know she tends to make a late appearance so at about 5:30 she finally showed up. I made dinner for all that night and then I stayed around after Wayne took the boys home until about 2 in the morning trying to fix my grandpa's computer. All the time waiting for the computer to update, I spent sorting coupons which was quite a feat since I had about 2 or 3 weeks worth to go through and several copies of each coupon. Anyway...I still have a few more to do. BUT...I did go on Monday morning and purchased $146 worth of groceries for $64. I would have not spent so much if I didn't have to buy the many items for homemade ice cream that are not on sale and have no coupon. Anyway...we had a great time and thanks to grandma and grandpa for opening up their home for us all to enjoy. It was so much better than having everyone at my house that doesn't have an A/C. Also thanks to grandma and mom for going shopping with me. I guess that is all...Sorry to ramble at the end there.

Why do we need to read it?

That was the question this week at church...Why do we need to read the bible? Is there really anything in there that pertains to me and my life in the year 2007? Why?
Here is why:

2 Timothy 3:15-17 (New International Version)

15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Tonight at choir practice we had a wonderful demonstration of how even just one page of the bible pertains to us. The person in charge of the devotional handed out a single page from different parts of the bible to every person that was present and asked each of us to read through and see if we find anything that pertained to us. It was amazing to hear people read an excerpt from their page and how it met there need or spoke directly to their heart. I have been diving lately in my bible for answers that I always looked elsewhere for and I have been reminded time and time again that the answer is right there. I have mentioned in one other blog that I looked several times at Psalms 139 and it has helped me through so much that God knows me and understands me when no one else seems to. He knows when I sit or stand...when I am near to him or when I am straying. He is there all the time. So why the bible...because it not only holds a ton of truths but it has some really wonderful and comforting things to say when we seem to be struggling the most.

Amazing Song...Amazing Singer...

Tonight I heard the most beautiful song and it was sung by my cousin Kelley at the mother-daughter banquet. The words kind of sum up how I have been feeling about my faith and where I am scared I will end up. I don't ever want to lose my passion for Christ...it seems that when people are most on fire for Christ is early in their walk and then it slowly dwindles away, not intentional but as a matter of getting comfortable with just "going" to church or just "living" a good life not passionate about all of our duties to win people to Christ. To get His name out there and let them know that he really does accept you "just as you are" and that there is a place for everyone in the kingdom if they ask to be forgiven.

It's another good to see you Sunday morning
Though I hardly hear the words roll off my tongue
Looking in myself for signs of something, that's long gone
Oh I stumble through a verse that says You love me
As the voices echo my thoughts drift away
And I close my eyes ashamed I'm feeling nothing
And I pray, I pray
Heal me heal these eyes heal this heart heal my mind
Breathe Your breath of life
Heal me, wake my soul from this sleep
Give me back the joy of when I first believed
Heal me
Oh I lose myself to one more day's indifference
When my eyes are everywhere but fixed on You
I don't have the strength to overcome this distance, but You do, You do
Heal me heal these eyes heal this heart heal my mind
Breathe Your breath of life
Heal me, wake my soul from this sleep
Give me back the joy of when I first believed
Heal me
I don't want to waste another minute
Taking all Your love for granted
I just want to feel Your Holy Spirit rushing over me
Heal me heal these eyes heal this heart heal my mind
Breathe Your breath of life
Heal me, wake my soul from this sleep
Give me back the joy of when I first believed
Heal me

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

You sure have gotten "OLD" er...

I thought I would blog about this wonderful guy that I know. He is not only a great person, a great son, husband and dad but he is also a great brother. I hope that you know what a wonderful person that you are and that I love you for being the rock and supporter of our family. I am so proud of you for pushing through everything that you have been through. I could never express my gratitude for all the times that you have called at the right time to make me laugh or cheer me up. I don't think I could have made it through dad's death without you by my side supporting me, crying with me, and taking time to sit with me and talk over everything. I really appreciate it. I love you and I hope that you have a wonderful birthday.

YOU ARE THE BEST!

God Planned Surprises...

I say this because today a couple of prayers of mine have been answered and something that I have had on my brain for the last couple of weeks was preached about today. God has to be smiling. Don't you just marvel at the way he works sometimes...I was have been kind of worried about the money for the Africa trip while we have been remodeling the kitchen and today someone approached me at choir and asked me if I was still going to Africa. I said yes...then he handed me $125. I was floored...I said thank you but I don't know if it was audible, does that make sense, I know it was and I did thank him. I couldn't believe it and I am sure God was laughing at me for my reaction because he was thinking...you prayed about it didn't you? Then during our Sunday school class another one was answered. I have been stockpiling groceries along with many, many health and beauty items and I didn't know what to do with it all or who to donate it to. One of the ladies mentioned that she was wondering if we could start a ministry to send boxes to the troops in Iraq because she is on leave from the military and her husband is stationed over there right now and they are in need of health and beauty items...HOW FUNNY! I couldn't believe my ears...here was my opportunity to help God answer her prayer.
So God answers prayers and he hears our thoughts because I have been talking a lot about my bible studies that I have been attending with several people and how I felt that Pilate and King Darius in Daniel had a lot in common, they both picked the social status and their "job" over what they believed. King Darius in Daniel, with a lot of pressure from society, created a law that no one could pray God or man for 30 days unless they were praying to King Darius and if they broke that law they would be throw into the lion's den.

Daniel 6
3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5 Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God." 6 So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: "O King Darius, live forever! 7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den. 8 Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed." 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.

This same thing happens in John 19 with Pilate. He was pressured by his job and by his people to crucify an "innocent man". He even had Jesus flogged so that the crowd might see that this man, Jesus, had paid enough. After the flogging he brought Jesus before them as if to say...hasn't he paid enough. He was shocked when the crowd said...crucify. He kept giving the crowd a chance to not crucify and yet the pressure of the people and the thought that he might lose his job if the people didn't like the decision, he caved. He even had the nerve to say to to Jesus...Don't you know who I am? Don't you know that I decide your fate, I have the power to set you free or crucify you. Jesus answered...You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Jesus was showing Pilate that he was just merely a chess piece and that God was the one controlling the moves.

John 19
1Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face. 4Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him." 5When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!" 6As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!" But Pilate answered, "You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him." 7The Jews insisted, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God." 8When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?" 11Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." 12From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar." 13When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour.
"Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews. 15But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" "Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked. "We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered. 16Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

This conversation between Pilate and Jesus is very significant with our lives. We are either on God's side or against Him. We are either holy or unholy. We are either good or evil. There is a clear way to live and not to live. The pastor said that if just 1 person is committed to God's side, they will do more than 1000 who are just interested in God's side. Satan's plan for our life is to get us discontented...disillusioned, discouraged, disgusted and ultimately destroy us. There is only a black and white for God...Heaven or Hell, no gray. If we keep searching in this world for what we can only find in God...which is peace and understanding, answers to prayer and comfort at our times of need and that reassurance that when our "dash" is over...we are going to get to spend the rest eternity with Him then our life will be much like "a blind man in a dark room searching for a black hat, that isn't there. " Charles Bowen

Sorry it was so long...but I couldn't condense it anymore than I already did. Thanks Powell...what an awesome sermon again!

Happy Birthday Mom!

"Happy Birthday" means much more
Than have a happy day.
Within these words lie lots of things
I never get to say.

It means I love you first of all,
Then thanks for all you do.
It means you mean a lot to me,
And that I'm proud of you.

I really am proud of you and all that you have accomplished as a single mom of three kids. Tonight as I was talking to you about this new opportunity for ministry, I was amazed at the knowledge that you have. Thanks for always supporting me and encouraging me in my many ideas and being brave enough to tell me when I am way off base. I love having conversations with you, nightly, about everything from the kids to the deep stuff about my beliefs and this new found faith of mine. Those particular conversations about the bible and God are the ones that I cherish the most lately as I am reminded of how short our dash in life is. Thanks for being a great listener...and thanks for being a great mom. I love you. Happy Birthday!

Finally...

I know it has been awhile but if you have read the last few posts you will know that we are working on our kitchen. I would like to be able to tell everyone that it is finished but it isn't. We are still working on it and I will not post any more pictures until it is finished. But I couldn't let another week go by without my sermon summary.
So this is actually from 2 weeks ago when Pastor Powell preached. I will summarize this weeks farther down in my blog so this may be a bit long.
So last weeks sermon was on the "Sixth Toe". SEE PICTURE.

His sermon started out with a story about dating someone until you find out that they have a sixth toe even though they are a great person you just can't live with them having a sixth toe. He said it is a lot like this with the church...we date the church and when we find the sixth toe we leave even though we love everything else about the church. He said there are three things that people who are dating the church see the church to be.

1. What they will get...socially what can this church offer me.
2. They are attending because that is what "Christians" are supposed to do but they are never committed.
3. They are very critical...finding the best product for the cheapest price...as long as they don't have to change anything they love this church.

Eph 5:25 says

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her"

We are to marry the church...not just date it. Not just the universal church but a local church. We need to find a local church and commit to it, marry it and not look for the sixth toe.
He used 1 John 1:5-10 as a reference for our commitment to be like Christ who loved the church. It reads

5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all^[a] sin.

8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

He also used this verse:

1 John 2:9-10

9Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him^[a] to make him stumble.

We need to love our church with the following:

Passion, Priority, Philanthropy, and Promote.

We need to have a passion about our church and the direction that it is heading.
We need to make it a priority to come to church and not let other things in our life come in the way. He used Philanthropy (mainly to keep with the letter P, it is a pastor thing)...but as defined on dictionary.com "Philanthropy is the act of donating money, goods, time, or effort to support a charitable cause, usually over an extended period of time and in regard to a defined objective." and finally promote...tell other about your church. Do something...not just mortar and bricks but as the body of Christ...reach out. Read Romans 12...it has become for me my mission on where I want to be as a servant of Christ.

I know I said I would blog about this weeks sermon but it will have to wait, I am tired and I don't want to mess it up. Sorry Mark...you will get your sermon summarized tomorrow or Saturday or...

2 POST IN ONE DAY!!!

I am posting this as a quick pictorial update of the kitchen.
BEFORE.


Destruction...



AFTER (REMEMBER IT IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS)

Toy Story...

So I am sure some of you have read my mom's blog about the snake story that Josh told Sam, if you haven't you should. Anyway...I thought I should share a funny story about Sam. He has been watching a lot of the movie Toy Story and for christmas this year they got Buzz and Woody, the characters from the movie. And if you have seen the movie you know that there is a bit of a war over territory between Woody and Buzz over Andy's room. Well...the other night I heard Sam in his room talking...I couldn't make out what he was saying so I asked. He said he was talking to Buzz. Ok...I said...what did you tell him. Sam said...I told him that if he really does come to life after I leave that he can be the boss of all of the other toys. I must of smirked a little because he quickly said...it probably isn't true but if it is he can be the boss. I told him good idea and walked away with a huge smile on my face. He is so funny.

On another note...we are slowly getting our kitchen back to normal. We installed all of the cabinets, laid the tile floor and Wayne is installing the backsplash as I sit here and blog. I am not helping today because our friend Dave came over to help...THANK YOU! We are hoping, or at least I am hoping, to be able to have it finished by next Sunday. I would even settle for being able to cook and run the dishwasher. It has been quite a waiting game getting this done...it is one of those hurry up and wait projects. We bought the unfinished oak cabinets so that meant we had to stain everything and staining one side at a time on the doors, then we put 3 coats of polyurathane on everything and of course there is nothing but waiting for all of that to dry. When I look at everything we have left to do it seems a bit overwhelming but if I look at what all we have accomplished then I realize we have come a long way.

So that is my quick little blog for the day.

Must have...

Since so many of you have asked about where I find these deals, here is a quick list of the must have links on your computer if you are going to shop for either groceries or online for non-grocery items.

http://www.thegrocerygame.com/ This is the site that I use for all of my great grocery shopping deals. The message boards on this site are priceless for non-grocery deals. (you don't have to be a member to read the message boards.) But the membership dues are well worth the savings.

http://www.currentcodes.com/ This site is great because it gives you 90% of the current promotional codes that you can use when checking out at online stores.

http://www.momsview.com/ This is another site for getting those promotional codes...but it is not as user friendly as the one above.

http://www.thefrugalshopper.com/directory/links15.html This is one I stumbled onto today that gives some great sites for being able to print off coupons or get free samples.

Just had to share...

We got Samuel's school pictures and as you can see he looks a bit older than 5. He is growing up so fast. I knew it was going to happen but it hit me this week as I watched as he braved getting his tonsils out with the bravery that not even some adults have. He said he had to be brave for Josh, who also had tonsils out the same day. He was very understanding of the process and told us many times that he didn't like the medicine that he had to take for pain but that he knew it would feel better if he did. He is so amazing! So as I said...the whole tonsil thing went well and I would do it the same way if we could go back and do it again. They were such troopers and they really took care of each other. The worse part was having them here together with me for 2 whole weeks! Once they started feeling better they were bouncing ideas off of each other on what they could get into. These last two weeks have been a constant 2 weeks of hearing Joshua talk, and talk, and talk. I prayed he would talk but maybe I should have set a limit on the amount of talking. He talks continuously as my mom can attest for. He barely breathes in between sentences and to make matters worse...most of it I can't understand so then he screams it to me, which only makes understanding it more difficult. If I am not focusing right on what he is saying he has a tendency to grab both sides of my face and make me look at him and he says "I talkin to you mom".
I have to throw a picture of Josh in here...his rottenness is covered with a smile....DON'T be deceived!!!

I came back!

That has been the topic of many discussions over the last month or so. I have discussed with several people who were raised "in" the church, as I have, about why we all came back to the church. I guess it all starts as to why we left in the first place. I left to find out what I believed for myself. Sure I found a few things that were fun in the process or activities that seemed to bring me happiness but nothing that sustained me. Nothing like what I have today with Christ. I left because I was raised in the church...does that make sense? I know some don't always go through this process (which I am sure their parents are glad) but for me it was a necessity. I needed to know what I believed for me and no one else...not for my mom, my grandparents or some loyalty to a church that I had attended but for me. I have always relied on others to tell me right from wrong. To dance or not to dance, to drink or not to drink, to play cards or not play cards, what is appropriate attire for Sunday and what is not. I looked to the "people" in the church for the answers to all of those questions and then I sat back and watched to see if they really believed their answer. This is where my heart grew cold toward the church. I saw those same people who said it was wrong to dance, out dancing, those who said it was wrong to drink, have a small glass with their dinner, and some who dressed to impress play the same cards that they had said were so wrong. The problem was not those people, it was me. I had put my belief in them and not in HIM. I had let their failures or mis-steps interfere with my beliefs. I had let my judgements become my beliefs and the "See they are no better than me" motto rule my life. The great thing about that statement is that it is true...they are no better than me and I am no better than them. I have my hang ups and I have my struggles and I don't know all the answers but I am human and with the human nature comes imperfection.
So why did I come back? I came back because in all of my searching for who I was I lost myself and some where deep inside of myself I knew that getting closer to God was probably my only chance at true happiness. I also wanted my kids to have some sort of basis so that they would have a place to come back to if they decide to explore like I did. I want them to have that little voice in them that warns them when they are skirting the line between world and God called convictions.

As you get older you say...if I knew then what I know now...well...knowing now what I looked for then, I am going to try to live as close to God and how he wants me to be as I can so that those people looking for me to trip up will have to look a little harder. I don't want to be anyone's stumbling block.

Romans 14:13
Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.

MY MOM POSTED....CLICK ON HER LINK

I MUST BE CRAZY!!!

That is what I have heard most of this week when I tell everyone what is going on around here. We are taking both kids in on Thursday to have their tonsils removed. To compound the problem, Wayne is most likely working this next weekend and we have almost completely gutted our kitchen for a month long remodel project. I say a month with much optimism. I didn't realize how much I rely on my stove and oven. I forgot that you can boil water in the microwave since we never use the microwave except for hot dogs. I am going to start tiling the floor in the next two days and my dear ole husband thought it a good idea to tile both the dining area and the kitchen. If you have ever been in my house you know that our kitchen is really large...12x24 to be exact. Since I like to tile and I voluteered for that part of the project...he changed his mind about carpeting half thus reducing some of his projects in there. Actually we work really good together in these home improvements. So...IT WILL BE FUN....IT WILL BE FUN...IT WILL BE FFFFFUNNN!

I thought that since I haven't done my weekly sermon update from last week's sermon I thought I would squeeze it in before tomorrow. I would like to say that everyone has been asking about the lack of sermon but I think all of the preaching has left some of my loyal readers with nothing to say...surprising from some...I must say.

This weeks' sermon was titled "What are you going to do with your dash?"
Dash? you might ask. Yes, dash...the one that seperates the year you were born and the year that you die. Like my dad's dash 1945-2007. It is so little but so significant. Are we letting the world pass us by from our "EZ" chair or are we out there doing something with our life? God has given us that dash between birth and death for more than just the "EZ" life. He wants us to be open to his calling to do something big. If we look at the different people from the bible that were called to something big by God then you will see it is neither easy or comfortable. Take Noah for example...God didn't say...I have this boat over there that I have loaded animals and I need you to get on...No he said...I want you to build a boat (ark and you need to collect the animals. He did it in faith of a promise that was unseen. I am sure he was ridiculed by on lookers and mocked about his faith but he stood strong and did what the Lord had asked him. He answered that intial calling. But the calling doesn't just stop there. God gives us reassurance that if we remain faithful that he will reward us for our faithfulness. Becoming a Christian doesn't remove our suffering but many know that if they didn't have the reassurance of God during their suffering their suffering would have been unbearable.
Lately I have been straining to hear the calling for what I am to do with my dash...I want to make an impact, I want to be remembered for more than just someone's daughter, granddaughter, mother or wife. I want my life to impact someone. Wayne and I both have this awesome opportunity to go to Africa to help with the mission work that is going on there. We are excited and a bit fearful. Not afraid but apprehensive of how this will change our lives. Some have asked why Africa...well the truth is...why not Africa. I feel like people in other countries don't have the opportunity and resources that we have here. We have been blessed with so much and we are ready to give back. I don't want this "mission" work to stop in Africa. I want to reach out to those around me. I watched this really neat video a couple of weeks ago in my bible study and it has really been a reassurance for me that what me and Wayne are doing is the right this (There is that reassurance after the call that the pastor was talking about). The video was of Reggie McNeal at the M7 leadership conference for Nazarene leaders. He was talking about how we "the church" have a tendency to yell from our steps "COME TO OUR CHURCH...WE HAVE THE ANSWERS...BE LIKE US AND YOU WILL GET TO HEAVEN" What we need to be doing is getting out in our community and becoming friends with the community and examples of Jesus. He said maybe all of the "churchy" people are already in church. That makes sense to me. Maybe we are going about this all wrong maybe we need show by example and then if they come to our church they are there to further their knowledge of the bible and it's teachings.

Ok...I think I will end there. But let me leave you with a passage that has sustained me a few times in the past. ***It is a bit long but I couldn't share it unless I shared the whole thing.

Psalm 139

1 O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
3 You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
4 You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
5 You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!

7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave, you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! ****THIS IS MY FAVORITE LINE
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.

17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me!

19 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!
Get out of my life, you murderers!
20 They blaspheme you;
your enemies misuse your name.
21 O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you?
Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you?
22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred,
for your enemies are my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Example of Great couponing...

So tonight I had a great find...I spent a total of 20.27 and I saved 104.81 and this is how. Kroger's this week has their Pillsbury items on sale for 10/$10 and I had a lot of coupons for these plus if you bought 10 you get $5.00 off your next order. So I rang up the first 10 and paid for them, with coupons my total was 5.00 and I got my 5.00 off my next shopping order. So I rang up the next 10 and because I had better coupons this time...my total was only 4.20 and once again the 5.00 off your next order printed off. Then I rang up the bulk of my order which included the following items, for which I had coupons 2 tubs of ChiChi's Taco Meat, 1 bottle of children's Advil, 3 packages of listerine breath tabs, a can of LaChoy fortune cookies and soy sauce, a package of bumble bee albacore tuna 4 boxes of Totinos pizza rolls, 3 4pk of Bic Razors, 6 boxes of Hamburger Helper, 2 packages of dole fruit cups, and once again 10 pillsbury items which included cresent rolls, sweet rolls, pizza dough, cookie dough, breadsticks, and french loaf. Since I used the U-scan checkout lane I was able to use all 3 of my 5.00 off your order coupons plus all of my coupons for a grand total for that order of 11.07. YIPPEE...that is a savings of 89%.
I was so excited that I wanted to show you what it looked like so I took a picture...here it is.

GROCERY COUPONS!!!

So I figure the title will get a few of you reading because I know for a fact that there are a few stockpilers and couponers in our midst. I have to say that this whole concept is new to me and I would have never tried it had it not been for my sister-in-law and her closet of anything and everything you can imagine and most of them were free or almost free. So I set out on adventure that has turned into a bit of an "game" (some true couponers will understand why I call it a game). Anyway...this month has been extremely nice to me and so tonight I was explaining this new passion of mine to a few people and they asked how much I have save this month and I couldn't give a number so I came home and did a little math. Not granted this is not an average month for shopping because I was building up my stockpile and our Kroger's had super double coupons (doubling 1.00 up to 2.00), so here are the numbers

Out of Pocket	$340.72
Total Savings	$537.67
	mfg coupons	$167.15
	coupons doubled	$144.13
	Kroger Plus Savings	$226.39
Percent of Savings	60.60%
Items Purchased	294

Now this is not just the bulk kind of things...included in these totals are pop, milk, bread, hot dogs, mac and cheese, diapers (essentials for kids) laundry detergent, cleaning supplies and a lot of medicine for colds and flu and a lot of other things that we need or use on a daily basis. But on the bulk side of what I was getting for my buck was 20+ boxes of cereal (now with dates on them so I know which ones to use first), 15 boxes of toothpaste, 10+ deodorants for me and 10+ deodorants for Wayne plus I have about 15 bottles of shampoo and enough toilet paper that I could wrap the world twice.
The neatest thing about this "game" is getting free or almost free stuff. Like I will never pay another dime for toothpaste (that would be paying TOO much). The reason for the incredible amount of cereal is because cereal is one of the items that always seems to be on sale and for under .50 a box with a coupon. So those are just a few examples and I feel I can type about this because my sister-in-law doesn't have a blog and she can't show me up in all of her savings.

That is it. OH one more thing...AFRICA HERE WE COME. We are making plans to go to Africa and we are excited about what God has in store for us there. We are going with an open mind and an open heart and so much excitement. I can't wait. We will be going in October.

I didn't make it...but Wayne did

Strange title and a great sermon this past Sunday. The pastor had a wonderful illustration for the whole congregation. I am going to try to relay what happened but it was definitely a service that was better witnessed first hand. It started out simple enough. We were all handed a card when we entered the sanctuary with 3 questions for salvation

Do you admit that you are a sinner and that you can not save yourself?
Do you believe Jesus Christ died for you sins?
Do you confess your sins now to him and declare him to be your Lord and Savior?

On the other side of this card was a number. So he starts off by having 6 staff members come forward and he asked them these 3 simple questions for which they answer yes to, and he says...now they are saved. Then he asked those same people to pick up props that were sticks with churches on them and he said each of these people represent a church. Then he had 6 volunteers who were the congregation of those prop churches and he told the our congregation that if the prop churches' congregation approached them and asked them those 3 questions then we were to get up and go to the nearest church and stand and follow the rules of that church. So off they went asking several people in the church, Wayne was one of the first and so he got up and went and stood at the nearest church. Then the pastor asked them to stop asking people and watch the big screen. On the screen was a scene of a plane crash that goes up in flames. He said, if you were asked by one of prop churches those questions and you are number 1, then you can make your way to heaven (the stage). If you have a number 1 and no one asked you, please get up and head to the back of the church where the last three rows have been designated as hell. Then he told the churches to continue asking...some churches did, some churches just stood there and talked among themselves but it wasn't long until again they were asked to stop and again...watch the big screen. This time it was an earthquake that had taken the lives of people. The pastor said...if you are a number 2 and someone asked you then make your way to heaven and those who are 2's and didn't get asked head to hell. This went on until the church was divided in half...I was unfortunately a number 4 who never got asked. It was weird...I wanted someone to ask. Wayne could have told me but he had went to a "fellowship" church and they were not allowed to ask anyone they were just there to socialize and have fun with each other, no need to witness. There were tears throughout the church as each person realized that a mother, a father, a son or a daughter had not made it to heaven He then asked everyone to take a seat and then asked if anyone wanted to share their impression. Many of all ages stood to share their heartache as they watched those they love not get asked by anyone. Some shared the joy as they saw their family in heaven. One man in particular said that he was one of the first people who made it to heaven and he had to watch as his family sat and didn't get asked by anyone. He said he ran out of time to ask them himself and he was hoping as he watched from the stage that someone would ask them. It is exactly how I have been feeling for years about my great grandparents as they watch from heaven. Are they thinking...if only I had talked to them more then maybe or are the looking with joy in their eyes as they see each of us come to Christ? So I ask myself am I running out of time on witnessing to anyone and everyone I know about this wonderfully simple message of Christ. Am I relying on someone else to ask?
It struck me that he used the numbers as a way of dividing the church because it is often said...you never know when your number is up.

Why?

Why? That is the question the pastor put out there this morning...why are we here? What is our purpose? We live the first 20+ years of our lives in what we can accomplish first...our first house, our first car, our first house/apartment, our first love...our momentum of life is all about firsts. It is more about what we can achieve, how much money we can obtain, what social status we hold, and we don't have a care in the world.
But it isn't long until we all stop and think "Why am I here?" What is my purpose? Some of look upward for that answer while others start looking for a change of scenery to find their purpose...they get a new car, a new house and often times a new husband or wife. They are not finding the purpose...they are just postponing the question of "why?". Finding our purpose in life is what centers us and brings our life in to context. Matthew 5:14-16 says what our purpose is to be...

14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

We are to be a light to all who are around us. People need to be able to see "God" in us and recognize it as "God", not as mere characteristics of a nice or generous person. A little bit of light goes a long way in a lost world. We are not just "stuck" in our lives...we have be strategically placed here to impact somebody's life. We shouldn't feel abandoned in the life we have we should find our purpose and be contented with what we have and use what we have to show God to others.
Once again...a great sermon and one much needed by me during this time of reflection and looking for my purpose in life...am I doing what I was placed in life to do?

Out of Control

So the title says it all. I feel out of control of what is happening in my life and in the life of others around me. I have watching the Buck/Grate family struggle with their lives and their many obstacles and wondered what would I do if I were them, what could you do? This week has got me thinking a lot about the power that I hold in my own life. I have realized that I don't have any control of what happens. I have been through a ton of tests this week to determine if I have something wrong with my heart and they are testing some level in my body where the word cancer and tumor has come up and it has me worried. What would I do if it were something? It doesn't seem too long ago that I was asking myself these same questions when I was going through mammogram after mammogram. I have asked these questions when I was going through the death of my father from cancer, and my other times in my life...what am "I" supposed to do about this?
So, I have decided to let God work his magic. It is funny how it takes something like this to jolt us enough to throw our hands up in the air and say...Jesus...YOU TAKE THE WHEEL...I can't do this on my own.
I know I have said this before...but sorry if this doesn't make sense...It was a bit of a rambling blog.

Pray for more...

So today's sermon was on praying and making sure it is not just a routine prayer. We have had a similar sermon earlier this year from Pastor Powell but today the sermon was preached by Brent Fox, our new youth pastor. They had a skit that I thought I would try to redo here...if possible.

This is a one man praying...he starts out...

Our Father which art in heaven...

YES, son?

Baffled the man looks around...and begins again
Our Father which art in heaven...

I said yes...you called my name.

Quit interrupting me...I am trying to pray...and this would go so much faster if I could just get through this and go to bed...this is my nightly ritual...so 'shhhh'
Hallowed be thy name...

Do you know that that means?

Well...NO, I didn't write this prayer...so what does it mean?

It means my name is holy and when you speak it to me I know that you know that I am holy, but continue...

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven...

Really...do you mean it...you want my will to be done. Then lets start with you...

Wait a minute Lord...I go to church, I live a good life, better than some people...

Yeah but they aren't calling on my name right now...you are...so let's focus on you.
You could be living a better life and doing more of my will, living as an example...right?

Right, Lord...of course you are right...aren't you always.
Give us this day our daily bread...pause...

I think you have had enough bread...but continue

I am not sure I want to...you are picking on me...and I already know what you are going to say...

Maybe...but finish...please.

Ok...And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors

What about 'Amy'?

See God I knew you were going to bring her up...but you don't understand...she owes me money and I want it back and if she doesn't pay me the $3.00 she owes me...she is going to be sorry...
you can see why I can't forgive her...would you?

Yes, son I would...but you have to forgive her too...it will make you feel better...I promise...come on, say it with me...I forgive Amy.

I forgive Amy...you are right...I do feel better...
And now the anger and discord is on Amy...not you.
Ok...well I am going to finish this up Lord...this is taking a little longer than I am used to...
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil...

But have you forgotten that you need to remove yourself from places of temptation? Don't put yourself in a place where you know you can't handle...

But Lord...I don't know what you mea....OK...you are right there is that one thing...I will work on it.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
WHEW...Glad that is over with..

Thank you son...for your time...talk to you soon.

It is so often that we pray our ritual prayers and forget the meaning behind it or forget that we are having a conversation with God. Not just reading a book or listening to a teacher talk but we are having an ongoing conversation with God.

So as we go forward and Wayne and I pray about this possible mission trip to Africa...pray that we can be open to God's will for us and that we can fulfill what we are sent there to do. I added the song "Open the eyes of my heart"...I think it is fitting right now for what we need to do...let him talk to us.