Rearranging...

I can hardly believe it is Friday already.  A busy week as always.

Today, I want to finish decluttering the hall closet.  We are doing some rearranging and I need to give back the buffet in the dining room to its owner.  So I am putting the contents into the hall closet on the shelves there.  I hope it works!  And I am getting rid of some things that I am not using and are taking up needed space of those things I do need.

Also, we are going to plant our flowers today in the ceramic planters the girls have.  It is one of the things on our summer bucket list. :)

So off to our Friday! 

Hope and Change

"Change is not a destination, just as hope is not a strategy."  -Rudy Giulliani

This is a great thought as you begin your summer.  Just because you implement change does not mean you have reached where you need to be in your life or specific goals.

As well as hope is never a strategy.  You always need a plan...and then work that plan.

This thought will help to keep me on that right path.

What I Don't Know Anymore

The older I get, the more I realize what I don't know.  Yet, the older you get, the more wisdom you obtain.

I am at the point...I ask myself..."Do I know anything anymore?"

This is a very frustrating place to be.  Frustrating only to myself.  It brings about a feeling of insecurity...lack of confidence...what good can these feelings bring?

1.  Fact:  I don't know everything.  Therefore, every man is my teacher.

Every person knows something I do not know.  Every person can therefore teach me something I do not know.

2.  Fact:  When I don't know anything, the only way to go is up!  It is like restarting your journey with no mistakes in it.

3.  Fact:  When I don't know anything, I am in a good place.  I am humbled.

Want to be like Jesus?  He was humble.  Even though being humbled is not fun, it is needful.

Days when I am frustrated.  Days when I feel like I should have it all figured out.  Days when I am tired of trying to figure it all out.  I can look to these thoughts and know there is One who has it all figured out.

Memorial Day 2013

Memorial Day is a favorite of mine.  As kids, we would go to the home town parades...see the veterans walk down the street.  In my younger years before he passed away, my Grandpa Holt would go with us.  He served in World War II...The greatest generation.  Truly a generation unlike any other.  Today, I will reminisce on that...Remembering him and others that gave their life so that we have the country we do today.

God bless America!

Our Trip to Vegas

This morning, my husband and I are flying to Las Vegas for a three day trip.  We will be visiting a pastor and church - Pastor Josh Teis and Southern Hills Baptist Church - who have taken us on for monthly support while we work towards our goal of becoming full time in the ministry.

Pastor Teis has graciously set up a schedule for us with his staff and assistant pastors where we can talk with them, sit in on meetings and see how their ministry is ran.  This is a wonderful blessing for my husband and I and we are very much looking forward to it.

Pray for us for safety and that much will be accomplished.  Also, keep in prayer our goal of becoming full time at the church.

Sunday

Sunday...a full and fulfilling day.

I arrive at church at 8:20 am.  I start to do my morning routine....make the coffee, set out the announcements and order of service for my husband, set out and organize my Sunday School items and also my items for Junior Church.

When my family arrives, I style all my daughter's hair.  LOL!  (We do this at the church because I come from work and am not home.)  We then have singing practice for whatever individual or group is singing that morning.

Sunday School, I teach the Primary class - ages 6-8.  My oldest daughter, Addie, who is 9 years old, asked if she could teach a Bible lesson in my class.  She prepared her lesson and items and she taught about Daniel.  She did a wonderful job and it blessed my heart. 

I also taught a lesson on David and friendship.  We did our class worksheet and we also worked on thank you cards for our veterans for next Sunday.  

Then I set up for my Junior Church class and headed to play the piano for the morning service.  My daughter, Addie, played a piano special with me for the offertory - I've Got the Joy.  We had a mixed ensemble sing the special as well.

Then off to Junior Church to teach about the topic of self-control.  We had a great lesson, game and Bible memory time.

After church, we had lunch with our visiting missionaries - Chris and Irene Williams.  They are joining the team in Peru and he will be using his skills as a pilot in this ministry.  Please pray for them as they are on deputation.  Pray for all these missionaries!

After lunch, I made a trip to a couple stores for some needed items for the graduation.

Then back to church for singing practice.  We had our kindergarten graduation for James Traynor and our daughter, Sierra Tastet.  That was fun and they did a great job saying verses, singing and talking with Pastor Eric.  Then our missionary, Bro. Williams, presented his work and gave the evening message.  I am blessed to hear what they want to do to reach the city of Lima and surrounding areas for Christ.

After the service, we had a fun reception with cake and orange dream punch for our graduation.

I am honored to serve at my church, Sierra View Baptist Church, for my Lord and Saviour!

Recipe: Kale Chips

Here is a yummy and healthy treat!

Kale

Olive Oil

Sea Salt

Rinse and pat dry your kale.  Tear into bite size pieces removing the stems.  Lay onto baking sheet, spray with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes.

Enjoy!

Tip:  I bought a small travel size spray bottle in the cosmetic aisle at Wal-Mart.  I keep olive oil in it to spray my food items.  It uses less oil than trying to drizzle it.

Goodwill Steals

Yesterday, we went to the Goodwill and here is what we found...

the best deal was this ski jacket for my husband.  It is brand new with the tags still on it - brand Burton - originally for $249...I got it for less than $5!

A few new tops for me.

A top for me and a green tablecloth.  It is always nice to snatch up various colors of tablecloths for different holidays and occasions.

Two sets of snow boots for next winter for Addie and Summer.  This time of the year when people aren't wearing those items, they often clear them out and give them to Goodwill.  So it is a good time to find them.

Top for Addie and kitchen towels.

Cute hoodie and Old Navy top for me.

Skirt, swimming top and sport top for Addie.

Human Tragedy...

"Miracles burst forth out of the moist, cold soil of human tragedy.  Moist with tears and cold with hopelessness."

This quote came across my path today.  What an encouragement to my heart and soul.  I hope it blesses you today on this Friday!

Wrestling

Just a reminder to pray for your fellow Christians today...

You never know what private battles one may be going through.  You don't know the demons that may be tormenting their soul.  You don't know what private hurts they may carry throughout their life because they are never free to share them.

And it is often a person that seems to have that perfect life...one that has it all "together".

Cover yourself and others in the wings of God today.  Saturate yourself with God's promises.  Soak yourself and others in prayer.  

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."  Ephesians 6:12

When Worry Attacks...

When worry attacks...

What is worry?  It is the anticipated loss of some valued possession.

The word for worry is "wyrgan".  It means to strangle.  It is the picture of a dog with a shoe in his mouth.  He just moves his head back and forth...shaking that shoe as hard as he can.

Isn't that how worry feels?  It feels like a dog is inside you...ripping your emotions, heart and soul...shaking the life out of them.

Worry starts where faith ends.

How do you know if you haven't given your worries over to God?

Are you saying these statements?

1.  "I don't believe you are aware."

2.  "You must not care."

3.  "I don't think you are able."

What are YOU worried about today?  Health, finances, adult children, your marriage...

What must you do? 

 Give ownership of ALL you possess to God.  

Because when you do lose a valued possession, there is nothing left to worry about.  You have already given that possession to God.

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."  Phil. 4:6

Prisoner or Captive?

Often times, we are stuck in circumstances that are not of our choosing or making.  Many times, it is a situation as a result of a family member.  Here is a quote that I heard this morning and it was a help to me...

"You are not the prisoner of a dysfunctional family.  You are the captive of the Lord Jesus Christ."

I love that.  I hope that if you are in a situation that is not in your control, this statement will help you.

Your Number One Tool In Your Ministry

One of the most effective things to do in Christian ministry is one-on-one time with another person.  

You don't have to be a pastor's wife or be in full-time Christian service to do this.  It is simply taking time to get to know someone else.  

My Sundays are very full.  From the time I walk in the door at 8:30am, I am doing preparations for the day.  Making coffee, setting up chairs for Sunday School, singing practices for that service and so on.  I then either work in the nursery or teach a children's class for the Sunday School hour.  Then off to play the piano for the services and every other week, I teach our Junior Church class.  This doesn't leave much time for me to talk to the ladies that attend - especially if they only attend Sunday morning services.

I then teach a ladies Bible study once a month - and this is a special time where the ladies can fellowship and get to know one another.

But often, like going on a date with your husband, you just need one-on-one time with people.  Time to concentrate on just them and listening and learning.  A simple way is to meet at a coffee shop for a cup of coffee.  Or meet for a lunch somewhere.  It doesn't have to be fancy or elaborate.  I have even brought Subway and met a friend on her lunch break.  We sat in my van and talked for 1/2 hour.  

Today, I treated a lady to lunch and she said..."This was the first time that anyone has ever treated me to lunch...just to get to know me."  She is in her 60's.

Time.  A most valuable asset that we all have.  And what a wonderful gift of ministry that you can give to a fellow Christian friend.