Spiritual Sundays

To join in or read other Spiritual Sunday posts go here Thank you Charlotte and Ginger for all you do :)


This week has been so Rich in the Lord! Most of you know the plan was for me to be in Florida for the week but due to the ice/snow storm and two cancelled flights last weekend, I relented to stay home. Last week I shared with you all that I committed to keeping my Mind stayed on the Lord and HE promised to give me Peace.

Because I had NO PLANS to be anywhere (except one day that got cancelled bc of a stomach bug) I was able to just bask in the Lord and spend some serious time with HIM, which turned out to be somewhat of a mini retreat. Only I didn't have to go to a hotel, listen to a speaker....NOPE. It was just me and the LORD, HIS Word, and the HOLY SPIRIT.

How my hearts swells with JOY and with PEACE. I cannot describe how many ISSUES the Lord dealt with me over, or how many times He has ministered to me.

I learned this week that I have allowed some OFFENSES to build up in me. As I drove to bible study on Thursday, I found myself crying out to the Lord "WHY??? Why did Daddy not have more time, why was he not able to have surgery to remove the tumor and take a portion of his lung etc." Well, guess what Bible Study was about.... Guess what the video at Bible Study was about......yep, being offended. I have never known with so much certainty that I was to be EXACTLY where I am! Each time I walk in to Bible study someone says something that causes me such pain ( mournful pain...for instance ~ the #1 prayer request this week goes something like this....I am on my way to Oklahoma City to be with my Dad. He is dying. He has lung and liver cancer and has gotten pnuemonia so we know his time is short....GULP ~ here come the tears ) BUT here is the thing.....It allows the Lord to minister to me even when I didn't know it was necessary !!! Here are just some bullet points I want to share with you for you to ask yourself.

When offended and you get mad ~ what do you do in your anger? are you afraid to get in there and try again?

Do you go into seclusion? or do you just disengage your heart and put on a pretty smile anyway pretending to be happy to be at church or sing those worship songs?

David was so upset when Uzzah was killed for touching the Ark of the God (2 Sam 6). David was angry and afraid, he went off to be alone and was very mad at God.

Here is the thing that STRUCK me that Beth Moore shared....
your enemy is BANKING ON us STAYING in the anger and fear! He desires for us to not only stay mad but he wants us to LOSE ground in our walk. We LOSE ground WAY FASTER than we gain it my friends!!

David had a heart after God....even though....he committed adultery....he committed murder.....he got mad at God. But even when David did these things he repented and sought the LORD.

I know I do not ever want to allow the enemy an opportunity EVER to have a foothold in my life or my walk NO MATTER what comes my way

As David says in 2Samuel 7:18

Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that YOU have brought me this far??

Thank you Lord

T.G.I.F.

I am sooo glad it is Friday! Today is my MOMS bday !!! Happy Birthday Momma ~ I love you soooo very much! I will be posting all the pics next week since we will be having her party at my house this weekend. My DH FINALLY returns tomorrow and I CANNOT WAIT to see HIM :) Today I will be going to lunch with my Mom and one her dear friends and I think my daughter will be coming along as well :) what fun we will have!


Well, you know today is Funny day so without further ado..... Enjoy this funny video and PLEASE go visit KIM and give her some L♥VE okiedokie :)



T.G.I.F

Pursuing L♥ve

I l♥ve meeting new friends here in this blogging community! I l♥ve seeing Christ in them as well! I just recently met Marsha from Marsha's musings. She is going to be doing a series on L♥VE for the next 14 weeks!! I know she would l♥ve it if you joined in!

This first week is L♥ is Patient Wow, what a way to start out with a bang huh?!

Some of her questions are....

Have you ever built a wall around you to protect your wounded heart from being hurt?
In what way(s) do you drink deeply of His love for you?
Do you have a passage of Scripture about God being patient in His love towards us you’d like to share?

In answer to the first question...YES! I have built some pretty big walls around my heart and sometimes the Lord shows them to me and other times HE gently nudges me either with HIS Word or sometimes my actions will show me that the building is under construction and I better get to repenting! I have to say that those walls going up FELT very legitimate. I was wounded. I was broken. In some instances, I had even lost a relationship that I cared about deeply ~ a relationship that played a role in my life daily and now it was no more. Yes, I was wounded~ VERY WOUNDED. (Feelings should never be what I allow to lead me because they will most definately lead me astray.) But in my pain as I began building the walls around me ....protecting my heart and Not being willing to put myself out there for anyone.....I began to hear the Lord say

"Yes I know my beloved"
"Yes, I am so sorry that has happened"
"Yes, I know you miss that relationship"
"I understand Loren but, can I have it now?"

You see, I was carrying it. I was puting myself on the cross and not laying the situation at the feet of JESUS to bear my burden. WOW ......"can I have it now?" Our Father is sooo very PATIENT! Even when we attempt to be a junior Holy Spirit for ourselves! HE longs to to heal our broken hearts. HE longs to make us whole and get to the root of those feelings so that your relationships will be healthy in the future.

Yes L♥VE is Patient. The Lord L♥VES us unconditionally and is truly Patient with us EVEN when we attempt to build walls. He waits ~ He speaks to us through His Word and the Holy Spirit whispers....I know and I am so sorry but ....can I have it now?

What are you holding on to? Are you building any walls? The Lord is there for you PATIENTLY waiting to take the pain, to carry the burden and to heal you!


Thankyou Lord ~ for L♥ving me and for being sooo very patient with me. Thank you for helping me tear down those walls and be more of who YOU have designed for me to be!

Please go visit Marsha here and join this wonderful Pursuit of L♥VE

In HIM,

Beth Moore's So long Insecurity

Tyndale Publishing is proud to announce Beth Moore's new book titled "So Long Insecurity"

Perhaps one of the biggest issues all women face is their own insecurity. Beth Moore, one of today’s most admired and trusted Christian writers, wants women to be free from the insecurity trap. So Long, Insecurity will strike a chord with women everywhere, as Beth speaks truth into the lives of readers, showing them how to deal with their innermost fears, rediscover their God-given dignity, and develop a whole new perspective—a stronger sense of self. Women of all ages and backgrounds will resonate with this message of security and discover truths that will free them emotionally and spiritually and lead them to a better life as they walk with God.


I received this book free from Tyndale and in return I was asked to share my humble opinion. Being a follower of Beth's blog that she shares along with her precious daughters I have been blessed to read posts from Beth in regards to some of these insecurities but what has amazed me the most are the comments that she receives daily from women all over the world. Beth shares in her book that she loves to research and in this particular book she received input from over 1000 men and women. Wow! This book is awesome and if i shared everything that I highlighted or that spoke to me well lets just say It would be a book in itself :)
This book goes so quickly and it's like Beth is sitting down and you can just smell the coffee while we chat! She takes the subject of insecurity VERY SERIOUS. She shares the different kinds, the roots and then lovingly shares how we along with our Heavenly Father and the power of the Holy Spirit can overcome it! I have to say one of my favorite aha moments (and I had many) was when I learned that because of my personality I already am oversensitive and like Beth that adds to how we respond to circumstances and as she puts it...."I feel everything. My joys are huge and so are my sorrows. If I'm mad, I'm really mad, and if I'm despondent, I wonder how on earth I'll go on. Then I will get up, pour some coffee, and move on to the next emotion and forget how depressed I was an hour ago. Ever do that?"

I HIGHLY recommend this book to any woman or any teenage girl. We as women experience insecurity in some form and this will help you pinpoint how to hit it head on and not let it control us or keep us from experiencing the life that our Heavenly Father desires for us to live!




to purchase this book please go to tyndale.com
Love and Blessings!

A must see for parents and teens

I want to share a movie that has been released but only in a few areas. It is called "To Save A Life." It is a Christian movie with a powerul message for todays youth! Go here to check out the story or find out if it is in your area and if not how you can bring it there. My daughter and I saw the movie and I really felt compelled to share it with you all. I think every parent should see this movie with their teens. It is so relevant to what they deal with but also a story of grace along with having a heart to seek after the Lord no matter what life brings our way. To stand for Christ. I highly recommend this and I will be buying this movie when it comes out on DVD. If any of you work with teens this would be a great night out with everyone!

Here is the movie trailer for you to watch

Spiritual Sundays

This is definately not my typical SS post because I had myself a pity party, and I DO NOT LIKE pity parties! Why? because it is the UGLY FLESH in me trying to overrule the Spirit.

My 2nd flight was cancelled last night so I would not be joining my DH in Florida as we had planned nor would I be seeing my stepmom during the week while DH attended business meetings.

I was most upset about not having the alone time with him. We desperately needed it. This past year has been one loss after another. We celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary having lost his mother days before we were to go on a trip to a wonderful bed and breakfast and so that trip was cancelled and we had a house full of family here after her funeral. Within a few days of saying goodbye to her, the kids and I were on the road to Florida having received the diagnosis of Lung Cancer in my dad. As most of you know I spent most of the summer there apart from my DH and most of December as well. I still can't believe that we lost Daddy in such a short amount of time.

Now that things have calmed just a bit this trip came about and Brians job requested the spouses attend the weekend portion of the trip and were providing an airline ticket and hotel. Since I had been gone so much we had a family meeting and the kids were completely on board and supported me going and actually encouraged us being "away" together. On Wednesday morning (before he left for the airport) Brian and I came together and called upon the Lord surrendering this trip to HIM knowing the impending storm and possibility that I could not make it. After our prayer time we looked into each others eyes and just hugged for the longest time. It was a precious moment.

So if I surrendered this then why did I continue to press through when the doors were clearly closing? (flight cancelled, power went out)
because my flesh didn't want to accept the truth? obey? I was being selfish!

As I woke this morning and saw the beautiful snow and sat in quiet I repented for all of the selfishness and trying to make things happen. I cried to my FATHER for various things and you know what....HE met me, HE comforted me, HE forgave me and in HIS way HE gave me hope and strength. HE gave me HIS Word and spoke volumes.
HE led me to Isaiah 26... A song of Praise. Words like TRUST, PEACE, MIND STEADFAST ON THE FATHER!

I had allowed myself to have a pity party ~ to let my mind manipulate ways to get what I want ~ but the Lord in HIS infinite grace and mercy covered me with HIS Wings ( a blanket of snow) and waited until I cried out to HIM and brought me comfort and forgiveness. I layed down my thoughts and made them obey HIM and now as I go throughout this week I will keep my mind steadfast on HIM and because of this I will have perfect PEACE....HIS Word tells me so!


Thank you Father for your Love. For your Word. For meeting us even when we are pitiful and loving us despite ourselves.

For other Spiritual Sunday post go here

Love and blessings,

update and Friday Funnies

Power is ON (aaaaaaaa ~ my best opera singing voice ;)...) and I have rescheduled my flight to tomorrow. Going thru Minneapolis?? Only thing available ~ weird I know! sooo, if this one gets cancelled then I won't even go! I am drinking my 2nd BIG cup of coffee :) Life is good. The snow is coming down hard and has been for quite some time now and they are saying the worst of the storm isn't even here yet....WOW! so anywhoooo

Enjoy this cute little video my kids found last night!






Go see Kim and meet her friend Maurice ~ Happy Friday

Love and blessings

TWO words

Ice storm 10'

No power!

Flight cancelled!

No coffee!

Snow Falling!

More coming

Keep you posted as I need to save power on computer....Happy Friday everyone! We got Jesus...each other....and a warm fire for now!!

Love you all

Quick little bit of news

Hey friends ~ I just wanted to share a quick PRAISE REPORT

You know I have been sooo concerned that I would have to have a "manipulation" done on my shoulder. This is:
putting me to sleep and RIPPING my arm through the scar tissue so that I could have some more range of motion in my arm.
I have been going to Physical Therapy 3-4 times a week for the last 4 weeks and also doing some work here at home. Well, today was the day I went to the dr. to see if I had to have it done. I have been sooo concerned as have been my physical therapy girls bc I am still not at 50% of where I should be BUT I have made serious improvements since being home from Dad's. Sooo ~ I go in and he checked me out. He asked ...
Can you shampoo your hair or dry your hair yet? NOPE
Has driving improved. YES
Chores at home ~ have they improved? Yes, I am really pushing myself and stretching. It is still difficult but I see an improvement for sure.

He looked at my progress note and said you have definately improved so I want you to continue with physical therapy for 6 more weeks and we won't do the manipulation for now. We will recheck you in 6 weeks and see where you stand.

I WANTED TO KISS HIS CHEEKS!!! GIVE HIM A HUG!! SOMETHING....I WAS SOOO HAPPY!! and RELIEVED!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Here is a quick update on the STORM
They let school out early just a tad today and it is already cancelled for tomorrow. It is currently pouring down freezing rain (BAD BAD BAD NEWS) and they say it will do this most of the evening. If we got anything this is the worst case scenario. This means power outages are more likely. We had a severe ice storm here in 07 and were out of power for 10 days....It was awful!! Actually our neighbors were only out for 8 days and we kept thinking it would come on any minute. Finally we called and who ever turned on the power forgot our little street and the culdesac. Now it's kinda funny but then NOT AT ALL!! We didn't get the generator until about day 5! After that it was so much better. Now you know why we are all so panicked!

I tried to call to see if my flight has been cancelled...I was on hold for exactly 1 hour and then was told to call back....SAY WHAT??? I guess I will keep you posted.....

Unexpected Thankfulness

Lynn is hosting Thankful Thursdays for the month of January and today we are sharing our Thankful hearts ~ specifically the unexpected moments.

It didn't take me long as I began to ponder what the Lord has given to me that I found unexpected....

Yesterday as I went about my day with the impending storm on everyones minds, on the radio and tv we had the MOST BEAUTIFUL sunshiney day with the temperatures reaching 65!!!! SIXTY FIVE!!!! NO WAY .....COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED :)
I drove with the windows down and just relished in the sun and warm air. As I was walking in the mall I overheard a older woman tell her husband "Come on Honey ~ lets get out there and say hello to the sun....Lord knows we won't see it for another week" Too funny Thank you Lord for the Sunshine and the Warm Air ....so unexpected

I shared with you all about our preparations for this storm. One of those being firewood. Well we were suppose to have a rick of wood delivered and stacked during the day, so when 5 pm arrived and we had no wood I called the person to see where he was. He explained something had come up and wouldn't be able to make it. OH NO!! WE ARE OUT OF WOOD and every other call my husband had made before he left he found that each person was either out of wood or couldn't make it until the weekend which was too late. Sooo I knew we were in a pickle. I texted my husband and then just prayed. At nine o'clock last night I received a phone call from one of our best friends. He told me he and his wife had some wood and he was in our driveway ready to drop it off and where did I want it??? HOLY SMOKES :) We all unloaded it together and then He left me with some IceMelt and assured me that if we lost power he would return to hook up our generator and also bring my children some deer jerky! Total Blessing Thank you Lord for Friends like the Stumps!... unexpected to say the least :)

I hope everyone has a VERY BLESSED DAY today....Praise the Lord for whom ALL BLESSINGS flow!! What has HE shown you unexpectedly?? Tell me about it and we will praise HIM together!