Releasing what you love

You know the old saying, "If you love something, let it go....If it comes back to you it is yours, if If doesn't it never was yours." Well I know that in Gods kingdom things are the exact opposite, ie; when you are last, you are first. When you humble yourself you will be exalted etc. This is a lesson I have experience for myself this past month....When a person ministers for Christ whether it be doing youth, street ministry, working with the elderly or with couples some would say "this is my ministry" or "I belong to this ministry". I have been known to say both. Most recently I labeled myself as a youth leader but we found ourselves in a situation where the Lord was nudging us into a whole new season and whole new ministry. It just about killed me when I thought I was "losing" my ministry and the kids that have been in our home for the past 2yrs. You see, our hearts were never set on leading youth but 2 yrs ago it was clear that that was an area in which the Lord wanted us to serve, to lead, impart and grow ourselves. It has been one of the most wonderful, fun and honestly stretching times in our life! We were so blessed to be a part of these kids lives and when Brian and I made the decision to accept the calling I was scared to death. I was petrified of teenagers SERIOUSLY!! PETRIFIED! But you see, this is how the Lord works...He tells us that His perfect Love will cast out all Fear and with each week that we met, or event that we attended and relationships that were built the Fear that was there was turned into a perfect healing and complete JOY! in my heart to be with these kids. They taught me sooo much more than I could have ever dreamed! To watch them grow in their gifts, to see their hearts worship and love the Lord and each other has been one of the greatest gifts I will ever receive. So when I heard the Lord saying it was time to release them I will be very honest....I fought, I cried, I got angry but the Lord in His infinite mercy and grace waited for me to throw my fit and in His tender way reminded me of my hearts desire....That is ....to work with people who are in troubled marriages. In Gods kingdom, when you let go of something that He is telling you to, He will only open the doors wider to another path, One that will glorify Him and stretch you ....YET AGAIN!






this is just our girls.....all that we love and adore!

For Today...

Outside my window... the sun is shining and will be warmer with each hour that passes

I am thinking... about so many marriages that are under attack and praying for them to be restored


I am thankful for... being able to watch my husband be an amazing grandpa this past weekend. I fell completely in love with him in a whole new way!

From the kitchen... I ended up not cooking because my mom took all the grandkids to dinner and a movie tonight.....what a treat for everyone!

I am wearing... jeans and my pink hoodie tshirt with my pink one star converse

I am reading... Esther & The Lord will Provide

I am hoping... I can begin to lose weight and start tanning again. I disgust myself.

I am hearing... silence, for the first time all day!

Around the house... I need to get the office organized and start spring cleaning

One of my favorite things... knowing more and more and Gods love for me

A few plans for the rest of the week... doing hair tomorrow, bible study and time with Nicole on Thursday and Easter this weekend!!!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...





This is my precious grandaughter Rylee Nicole. She brings amazing joy to our lives and I am so blessed to be her NONI.

menu

Monday- Taco Soup, bread
Tuesday- Chicken Enchiladas, rice and beans
Wednesday- Turkey Patties, scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole
Thursday- Grilled chicken salad
Friday- any leftovers you can find in fridge ;)

Hope all have a blessed week! and a wonderful Easter

HE IS RISEN!

FOR TODAY APRIL 1ST, 2009...

Outside my window...
The sun is shining, wind is howling and it is still chilly

I am thinking...
How God cares for me and the Special ways He has shown me this past month

I am thankful for...
New Friendships
Seeing God move in the area of Forgiveness in my parents


From the kitchen...
I love watching the birds of all different colors eating our of their different feeders


I am wearing...
my pajama bottoms, and hoodie


I am reading...
John 15, Jesus Lifecoach, and Esther

I am hoping...
to have a good meeting with my Lifecoach tomorrow

I am hearing...
so many things that break my heart of marriages separating right now and praying for all of them to not give up!

One of my favorite things...
Just being with my children, I know some roll their eyes at that but I cherish every moment

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Friday with my mom is the best day we have soo much fun! no matter what we do
Here is picture thought I am sharing...

monday- dads burgers fries (2nd week in a row) requested by kids
tuesday blackened chicken alfredo
wednesday- grilled chicken salad
thursday- porcupine meatballs salad garlic biscuits
friday- pizza night :)

spring time snow

When you live in Oklahoma, one thing is for sure....the weather will never disappoint you. My family pays pretty close attention to the forecast...My husband is a weather nerd of sorts ;)Anyway, I saw that we were being forecast to have snow over the weekend but at the time were in the midst of 70 degree temps so honestly didn't think it was possible. I even texted my daughter on Thurs. that we were suppose to get 6 in. of snow on Saturday followed with a baahahahahahaha. Well the joke was on me. I didn't do the usual run to the store and stock up thanks to my menu planning and mostly I just didn't think it was going to happen. When I stop to think of it....It is mostly when I think that way that the storms come and in this case....come it did. We woke up Saturday morning and it was snowing, then thundering then very quickly it became blizzard like conditions. The visibility was awful. My daughter had to work early and brian had planned on driving her but bc it wasn't doint anything nor did it look like it was going to do much he went ahead and let her drive. Well they (her boss) figured out the weather was turning bad so he decided to send her home early....at this point it was still just the light snow. So Brian told her to drive safe and that quickly....it turned into a blizzard. We were praying and pacing the kitchen. We didn't want to call her since she shouldn't be driving and talking but this was serious! Brian was ready to get in his car and go rescue his princess :) We ended up calling her and she was in fact scared to death, had almost run off into a ditch and truly couldn't see the lanes but she made it home safe and sound PRAISE THE LORD!!
The rest of the day was wonderful, we had family time, we played in the snow and then went to housechurch. As I reflect on the day and the snow I felt the Lord saying to me "Loren, My love is like the snow....it covers you like a blanket. And just like you doubted it coming, it came. It was slow, then full force but steady all throughout the day. That is how my love for my children is.... a steady and beautiful love whether you can see it or feel it, it is there" ALWAYS.

Here is few pics that just spoke to me







and here is some fun we had make a springtime snowman


God is sooo good, His love ....may it cover you all the days of your life!

Going to the Throne with confidence

Prayers. That beautiful word and its meaning has changed soo very much for me these past few years. When Brian and I stepped out of the traditional church and began going to a home church prayer at the point in my life was something we may do on occasion, for ourselves, or for others or even going to the altar to be "prayed for" At times when we were a part of a street ministry we would pray over others and God would give us downloads for those individuals and it blessed me as much as it gave hope and encouragement to them.
But when we got into our house church setting everything changed ....for me. It was so very intimate, quiet at times so that everyone knew what was being prayed and I went from a "Prayer warrior" to basically a silent pray-er....Why? FEAR. would I pray right? would I hear from God? and pray His will and NOT MINE? I am a very emotional and open person and usually people are drawn to tell me personal things. Over this past year God has done some amazing teaching in my Spirit and my heart. My desire (which he gives us the desires of our heart) truly was to pray His will and not what I thought they needed bc of the personal things I knew for people so FOR ME this meant....being still, and listening. It has been almost 1 year since I have been at home "not working" I must be honest and say at first it KILLED me to be away from my friends, clients but God has filled that whole with so much love that He has for me teaching me who I am in him, what my new ministry looks like and a new level of trust for each new season we walk through with Him holding our hands. I have learned that truly I can dialogue with the Lord every minute of every day because He is here with me wherever I go. Sometimes, I just sit with my checklist of whys?? sometimes I mourn over the marriages that have been broken and the addictions that people fall prey too. Lord, why are so many afraid to walk through the fire? To persevere as your Word tell us too. To understand that You love us soo much and want those wounds healed but in order to be healed they must bring it out into the light, some must confess, some must repent....Lord knows I did! We all struggle but when we humble ourselves and PRAY, God says he will heal our land. That can mean....our lives, our homes, our marriages and our childrens marriages. Its endless because Gods love for us and the work only He can do for us is above anything we can ask or imagine.
The Lord longs to have intimacy with us and for us to be transparent with one another. Only He knows and searches our hearts. He hears us even before we ask, think, or cry out....He is with us and longs to teach, to listen, to discipline, to help us out of the miry clay and set us on solid ground. He truly is a Father who adores each and every one of us.

menu march 23-28

monday -Cereal bc i am so behind and had noooo food :)

tuesday- dads burgers and homemade fries

wednesday- beans and cornbread

thursday- grilled chicken salad and garlic biscuits

friday-chicken spaghetti, salad and breadsticks

spring break 09'

We had a week that was full of most every emotion possible and we have seen Gods hand at work in soo many lives. We began the week with intentions of going to Dallas on Tues. evening after the meeting Brian had at work for the potential sale of his company. It took alot longer than we had thought and the emotional drain was also more than we had considered soo needless to say we decided at the last minute not to go anywhere out of town. Soo I began asking the Lord for some fun and creative ideas to do with our kids and in the voice of Emeril "BAM" IT hit me.....Take the kids and play a family game of "amazing race" OHHH my goodness it just flowed! The Lord and I dialogued back & forth, I then called my mom and asked her if she could prepare a course and how we could not receive the Next clue until we emailed the completed task along with picture. She did an amazing job and we had soo much fun! It was girls against guys and I quickly figured out why in the show they have taxis bc OMG the competitiveness comes out and you want to drive like crazy!! LOL. The game was cut short when we received a call that Brians mom had been taken to the hospital. She has C.O.P.D. and her oxygen levels were at a very dangerous level. She was transported to Tulsa and the dr says she has a bit of pnuemonia and will be there until mon or tues. We are happy she is improving but also know that with this kind of sickness (copd) we need nothing short of a miracle healing.

My brother had been planning his girlfriends 30th surprise party for about a month now and the day finally arrived! She was soo surprised and so many of her friends & family came to celebrate with her! It was fun seeing the joy in her eyes and the love in my brothers eyes. He truly did an amazing job!



Well I am going to leave you with some of the pics from our amazing race and also my garden that we transplanted into planters....yep you can call me FARMER MCGHEE :)

One More WEEK til Spring Break!! We are all looking very much forward to having a week off from school and work! This will be a quick and very busy week (which ones aren't anymore?)

This weekend I planted some herbs and some veggies thanks to the help and encouragement of Nicole! I will be amazed to see any sprouts from them and like her will find it to be a miracle if I get anything to grow but am hopeful and found it very peaceful just planting all of them! We even did a strawberry basket so I really hope that will be a success!

Menu this week is as follows:

Monday: sloppy joes and macaroni and cheese

Tuesday: tuna casserole salad and biscuits

Wednesday: Youth --snacks on your own

Thurs: Grilled chicken, scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole

Friday: Potato Bar-make your own, and a salad

Have a Blessed week!