I have been doing some ongoing study on the Holy Spirit lately, my interest being sparked by our Wednesday night Bible studies at church. Mainly trying to figure out if speaking in tongues is THE evidence of being filled with the Spirit. I have yet to come to a definitive conclusion on the matter, because I haven't found scriptural backing, I'm thinking it may be something we will never know for sure.
But whether or not tongues is THE evidence, it is most definitely one of many signs of being filled with the Holy Spirit. I have experienced it for myself, and witnessed it in many others, particularly here lately. Several in our church have recently been filled and spoken in tongues. One, who I am very excited about, was Gabe!! (I assume everyone knows, but in case you don't, Gabe is my husband...) This past weekend, he went with several other men from church to a conference in Jefferson City (put on by the United Pentecostals). Thursday night, the first night of the conference, Gabe was moved, overtaken and filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke in tongues!!!
I had been praying that he would experience God a greater way, but WOW!!
We had just been talking about that a few weeks ago, and he said that he knew it was real, but didn't think he would ever speak in tongues!! I love it - God had different plans!
Anyway, we are both excited about what God has in store for us.
Another recent experience that we were a part of was a few weeks ago. We had praise and worship practice on a Sunday evening, and we started praying in the middle of practice. Shirley Parks, who leads worship part-time, is a Spirit-filled woman, and she usually speaks in tongues during her prayers. She was praying, and using tongues, but all of a sudden, the language changed, there were definite syllables, and it was altogether different from what she usually speaks. I wondered to myself if there was going to be an interpretation. And there was! Basically the message was that God is looking for children to desire Him and His Word, and that we need to be getting ready, because Hi is coming soon. But it was so exciting to be a part of that.
I think that as the body of Christ, we all need to be paying close attention to everything around us, and especially to our hearts and our minds and our lives. Because the way the Spirit has been moving lately, in more than one place, should be making us ponder. I believe that God is moving in His people, so that we will fervently begin to reach out to those who are lost, because time is short. His word tells us this. We definitely need to allow God to work in us, and get us in tune to His Spirit, so that His work can be accomplished, and so we will be ready when He returns!!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Don't Look Back
These are the notes/transcript from a great sermon that our pastor gave. It really makes you think. I hope you take time to read it.
Don’t Look Back
Pastor Jason Yancey
Living Water Ministries
6-21-09
Ezekiel 3:20 “Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand.”
If you know the truth you’re not apt to fall for a lie.
Luke 9:62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
It is easy to start right in your Christian walk, but it is hard to end right, and the ending is what is going to make the difference. Only few will go to heaven.
Luke 13:23-24 Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”
And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
2 Tim. 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
People fail because they take their eyes of the ending.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the lord delivered them out of them all.
Through much tribulation we shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.
If you live in this world you’re going to suffer persecution.
“Saved.” Many Christians are fond of this word. The truth is that no one is ultimately saved until you hear the gates of heaven click behind your heels. You may be in a saved condition at any time in your life, but we have not obtained eternal salvation yet. We merely have the promise of receiving eternal salvation if we continue to live in accordance with God’s word. We have a godly walk to walk. You cannot become a Christian and live like a heathen.
John 1:10-12 “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes (commit or embrace to his teachings) in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
The perishing doesn’t happen immediately, but after natural death, so the same way with our salvation, it doesn’t happen immediately, we have to continue to walk in Godly ways.
Matt. 24:13 “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
If we have truly made Jesus our Lord and Savior then we have made him Lord over our life.
Now God is first in our life, we are second.
Definition of grace:
Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us that he might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people zealous for good works.”
Hebrews 12:14 “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord”
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
If you have sin in your life that you have not repented of, you cannot expect to go to heaven, because sin cannot enter into heaven. That ought to make you want to run to the altars.
If we continue to live an ungodly lifestyle after knowing the saving grace of god we are living with sin in our lives.
Hebrews 6:1-6 “Therefore leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance form dead works and of faith toward God of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God and put Him to an open shame.” 9 – “But beloved we are confident of better things concerning you, yes things that accompany salvation though we speak in this manner.”
Luke 17:32 “Remember Lot’s wife.” She was headed out, was being saved, but she looked back, and perished.
1 Corinthians 9:27 “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
Luke 9:62 “Jesus said to him no one having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
2 Peter 2:20-22 “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them that the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn form the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb. A dog returns to his own vomit and a sow, having washed to her wallowing in the mire.”
The 10 virgins were all ready at one point, but when the bridegroom came, only half were ready.
Live every single day watching for his coming, because he is coming back for those who are watching.
If God is not first in your life, then there’s sin in your life. Sin does not enter into heaven.
God has created us as self-willed creature and he’s given us the freedom of choice. We must make sure our will is his will. We must make sure his plan is our plan, we must make sure his choice is our choice, we must not look back. We must finish the race that is set before us. We must strive to enter in to the straight gate. We must strive to get the checkered flag. You will never take the checkered flag if you’re looking at what’s behind you. Forgetting those things which are behind, reaching forth unto those things which are before you. If you can’t let go of those things that are behind you, you’ll never be able to move forward to what’s in front of you. Keep your eyes on Christ. Don’t look back.
Don’t Look Back
Pastor Jason Yancey
Living Water Ministries
6-21-09
Ezekiel 3:20 “Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand.”
If you know the truth you’re not apt to fall for a lie.
Luke 9:62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
It is easy to start right in your Christian walk, but it is hard to end right, and the ending is what is going to make the difference. Only few will go to heaven.
Luke 13:23-24 Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”
And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
2 Tim. 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
People fail because they take their eyes of the ending.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the lord delivered them out of them all.
Through much tribulation we shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.
If you live in this world you’re going to suffer persecution.
“Saved.” Many Christians are fond of this word. The truth is that no one is ultimately saved until you hear the gates of heaven click behind your heels. You may be in a saved condition at any time in your life, but we have not obtained eternal salvation yet. We merely have the promise of receiving eternal salvation if we continue to live in accordance with God’s word. We have a godly walk to walk. You cannot become a Christian and live like a heathen.
John 1:10-12 “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes (commit or embrace to his teachings) in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
The perishing doesn’t happen immediately, but after natural death, so the same way with our salvation, it doesn’t happen immediately, we have to continue to walk in Godly ways.
Matt. 24:13 “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
If we have truly made Jesus our Lord and Savior then we have made him Lord over our life.
Now God is first in our life, we are second.
Definition of grace:
Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us that he might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people zealous for good works.”
Hebrews 12:14 “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord”
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
If you have sin in your life that you have not repented of, you cannot expect to go to heaven, because sin cannot enter into heaven. That ought to make you want to run to the altars.
If we continue to live an ungodly lifestyle after knowing the saving grace of god we are living with sin in our lives.
Hebrews 6:1-6 “Therefore leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance form dead works and of faith toward God of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God and put Him to an open shame.” 9 – “But beloved we are confident of better things concerning you, yes things that accompany salvation though we speak in this manner.”
Luke 17:32 “Remember Lot’s wife.” She was headed out, was being saved, but she looked back, and perished.
1 Corinthians 9:27 “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
Luke 9:62 “Jesus said to him no one having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
2 Peter 2:20-22 “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them that the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn form the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb. A dog returns to his own vomit and a sow, having washed to her wallowing in the mire.”
The 10 virgins were all ready at one point, but when the bridegroom came, only half were ready.
Live every single day watching for his coming, because he is coming back for those who are watching.
If God is not first in your life, then there’s sin in your life. Sin does not enter into heaven.
God has created us as self-willed creature and he’s given us the freedom of choice. We must make sure our will is his will. We must make sure his plan is our plan, we must make sure his choice is our choice, we must not look back. We must finish the race that is set before us. We must strive to enter in to the straight gate. We must strive to get the checkered flag. You will never take the checkered flag if you’re looking at what’s behind you. Forgetting those things which are behind, reaching forth unto those things which are before you. If you can’t let go of those things that are behind you, you’ll never be able to move forward to what’s in front of you. Keep your eyes on Christ. Don’t look back.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The Believer's Walk
The Believer’s Walk
Walk Hebrew (halak – haw-lak) to go, walk, come or manner of life
Greek (peripateo – per ee pat eh o) make one’s way, make due use of opportunities
or (stoicheo – stoy icheh o) to proceed in a row as a soldier under command, to live
Walk Google def. - the act of traveling by foot; to live or behave in a specified manner
Scripture gives us many examples of what our “walk” should be like as a Christian.
• walk with God (Gen. 5:22, 24, 6:9)
• walk before god and be blameless (Gen 17:1)
• need to be shown how to walk (Ex. 18:20)
• walk in all the ways the Lord God has commanded you (Deut. 5:33)
• walk faithfully before God with all our heart and soul (1 Kings 2:4)
• (Hezekiah) walked before God faithfully with wholehearted devotion (1 Kings 20:3)
• walk through the darkness by His light (Job 29:3)
• walk not in the counsel of the ungodly (Ps. 1:1)
• walk uprightly (Ps. 15:2)
• walk through the valley of the shadow of death (Ps. 23:4)
• walk in His ways (Ps. 81:13)
• walk within my house with a perfect heart (Ps. 101:2)
• walk in a perfect way (Ps. 101:6)
• though we walk in the midst of trouble, He will revive us (Ps. 138:7)
• walk with integrity so you may walk securely (Prov. 10:9)
• walk with the wise and you will be wise (Prov. 13:20)
• walk blamelessly and you will be saved (Prov. 28:18)
• walk wisely and you will be delivered (Prov. 28:26)
• walk prudently when you go into the house of God (Eccl. 5:1)
• walk in the ways of your heart, but know you will be judged (Eccl. 11:9)
• you will hear, this is the way, walk in it (as opposed to turning aside) (Is. 30:21)
• walk the road (Highway of Holiness) (Is. 35:8)
• wait on the Lord … walk and not faint (Is. 40:31)
• not to be rebellious and walk in a way that is not good (Is. 65:2)
• not to walk in lies (Jer. 23:14)
• walk in the ways of the Lord (Hos. 14:9)
• walk uprightly (Mic. 2:7)
• walk humbly with your God (Mic. 6:8)
• walk with God in peace and equity and turn many away from iniquity (Mal. 2:6)
• walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord (Luke 1:6)
• walk while you have the light (John 5:8)
• walk in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:31)
• walk in the footsteps of faith (Rom. 4:12)
• walk in the newness of life (Rom. 6:4)
• walk properly (Rom 13:13)
• walk by manifestation of the truth (2 Cor. 4:2)
• walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7)
• walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:16)
• walk by the Spirit (Gal. 5:25)
• walk in good works (Eph. 2:10)
• walk in love (Eph. 5:2)
• walk as children of the light (Eph. 5:8)
• walk by the same rule, be of the same mind – note those who so walk (Phil. 3:16, 17)
• walk worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him, being fruitful, increasing in knowledge (Col. 1:10)
• walk in Him (Col. 2:6)
• walk just as He walked (1 John 2:6)
• walk in truth (2 John 4)
• walk in the truth (3 John 1:3)
• we shall walk with Him in white, for we are worthy (Rev. 3:4)
Walk Hebrew (halak – haw-lak) to go, walk, come or manner of life
Greek (peripateo – per ee pat eh o) make one’s way, make due use of opportunities
or (stoicheo – stoy icheh o) to proceed in a row as a soldier under command, to live
Walk Google def. - the act of traveling by foot; to live or behave in a specified manner
Scripture gives us many examples of what our “walk” should be like as a Christian.
• walk with God (Gen. 5:22, 24, 6:9)
• walk before god and be blameless (Gen 17:1)
• need to be shown how to walk (Ex. 18:20)
• walk in all the ways the Lord God has commanded you (Deut. 5:33)
• walk faithfully before God with all our heart and soul (1 Kings 2:4)
• (Hezekiah) walked before God faithfully with wholehearted devotion (1 Kings 20:3)
• walk through the darkness by His light (Job 29:3)
• walk not in the counsel of the ungodly (Ps. 1:1)
• walk uprightly (Ps. 15:2)
• walk through the valley of the shadow of death (Ps. 23:4)
• walk in His ways (Ps. 81:13)
• walk within my house with a perfect heart (Ps. 101:2)
• walk in a perfect way (Ps. 101:6)
• though we walk in the midst of trouble, He will revive us (Ps. 138:7)
• walk with integrity so you may walk securely (Prov. 10:9)
• walk with the wise and you will be wise (Prov. 13:20)
• walk blamelessly and you will be saved (Prov. 28:18)
• walk wisely and you will be delivered (Prov. 28:26)
• walk prudently when you go into the house of God (Eccl. 5:1)
• walk in the ways of your heart, but know you will be judged (Eccl. 11:9)
• you will hear, this is the way, walk in it (as opposed to turning aside) (Is. 30:21)
• walk the road (Highway of Holiness) (Is. 35:8)
• wait on the Lord … walk and not faint (Is. 40:31)
• not to be rebellious and walk in a way that is not good (Is. 65:2)
• not to walk in lies (Jer. 23:14)
• walk in the ways of the Lord (Hos. 14:9)
• walk uprightly (Mic. 2:7)
• walk humbly with your God (Mic. 6:8)
• walk with God in peace and equity and turn many away from iniquity (Mal. 2:6)
• walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord (Luke 1:6)
• walk while you have the light (John 5:8)
• walk in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:31)
• walk in the footsteps of faith (Rom. 4:12)
• walk in the newness of life (Rom. 6:4)
• walk properly (Rom 13:13)
• walk by manifestation of the truth (2 Cor. 4:2)
• walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7)
• walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:16)
• walk by the Spirit (Gal. 5:25)
• walk in good works (Eph. 2:10)
• walk in love (Eph. 5:2)
• walk as children of the light (Eph. 5:8)
• walk by the same rule, be of the same mind – note those who so walk (Phil. 3:16, 17)
• walk worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him, being fruitful, increasing in knowledge (Col. 1:10)
• walk in Him (Col. 2:6)
• walk just as He walked (1 John 2:6)
• walk in truth (2 John 4)
• walk in the truth (3 John 1:3)
• we shall walk with Him in white, for we are worthy (Rev. 3:4)
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Mishaps
This has been a week of accidents for the kids! Hope this streak comes to an end soon! Wednesday, the boys went to a friend's house to play, and Timothy stepped on something and got a small puncture wound in his foot, I had to dig dirt out of it and put a band-aid and neosporin on it, so it wasn't too bad.
Later I was making supper, and had taken the pan off the stove (which is a flat surface electric stove), but it was still hot, and Zachary got up on a stool, and laid his arm right on the still hot burner. He burned about a four inch by 1 1/2 inch oval on the underside of his forearm, to just past his elbow. It blistered up and pulled off some skin immediately. We got it soaking in ice water, then called my mom, who called my Uncle Joe (who's a doctor), who called in some silvadine creme, and we got it all bandaged up. Now I'm changing bandages twice a day... He'd been such a trooper, and not complaining about it too much. It looks like it would hurt really bad!
Then at church that night, Timothy bonked heads with the Pastor's oldest daughter, and Greggory hit the water fountain with his face, and now is sporting a black eye!
Then, to top it all off, Friday, which happened to be our 10th anniversary, I spent about 2 1/2 hours in the ER with Anthony... He was goofing around, throwing his pull-up around in the air, and lost his balance, fell sideways and hit his right ear on the wooden platform under our bed. As soon as I was able to look at it, it was bleeding, and when I got the blood cleaned up with a rag, found that his the edge of his ear had a little split in it. I thought it looked like in needed something to heal back to its original shape, so we went to the ER. Luckily, the doctor was able to repair it with glue - Dermabond - so we didn't have to deal with the trauma of stitching it.
All in all, it has been a pretty accident prone week at our house. Hopefully it will get better!
Later I was making supper, and had taken the pan off the stove (which is a flat surface electric stove), but it was still hot, and Zachary got up on a stool, and laid his arm right on the still hot burner. He burned about a four inch by 1 1/2 inch oval on the underside of his forearm, to just past his elbow. It blistered up and pulled off some skin immediately. We got it soaking in ice water, then called my mom, who called my Uncle Joe (who's a doctor), who called in some silvadine creme, and we got it all bandaged up. Now I'm changing bandages twice a day... He'd been such a trooper, and not complaining about it too much. It looks like it would hurt really bad!
Then at church that night, Timothy bonked heads with the Pastor's oldest daughter, and Greggory hit the water fountain with his face, and now is sporting a black eye!
Then, to top it all off, Friday, which happened to be our 10th anniversary, I spent about 2 1/2 hours in the ER with Anthony... He was goofing around, throwing his pull-up around in the air, and lost his balance, fell sideways and hit his right ear on the wooden platform under our bed. As soon as I was able to look at it, it was bleeding, and when I got the blood cleaned up with a rag, found that his the edge of his ear had a little split in it. I thought it looked like in needed something to heal back to its original shape, so we went to the ER. Luckily, the doctor was able to repair it with glue - Dermabond - so we didn't have to deal with the trauma of stitching it.
All in all, it has been a pretty accident prone week at our house. Hopefully it will get better!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Music
I have always wanted to write a song, and there have been a few times when I sat down to do it, and the results? Something that rhymed, maybe, but then trying to set it to music??? HA. Anyway, I thought that maybe that was one thing that I was not supposed to do.
Since making the recent transition to Living Water Ministries, our new church, Gabe and I have been doing some singing on the worship team. At first, we were just fill-in, but now we sing every week. I have always loved music, I love the way that music can express the deep emotions that words alone cannot.
A while back, Gabe was at work, and I spent some quality quiet time with Jesus, and poured out my heart and cried, and interceded for several requests that were on my mind, and as I lay in bed that night, one line kept coming to mind, and was interestingly set to music.
So the next day, I sat down at the computer and started typing the line of music that was in my mind. Then within the next couple of hours, the rest of the song spilled out onto the page. As it was coming to me, the music was there too, so next, I sat down at the piano and wrote out the chords that accompanied it. I wrestled with what to do with it then, was it just for me or was it for sharing?? I think a couple of weeks later, we were practicing for worship service, I felt like I was supposed to give it to our Pastor, (who also plays guitar for worship, and very well I might add), and we practiced it a little. Later that week, we practiced it at Gabe's mom's house, who plays the organ, and got it well enough that we played it the next week at church.
They keep calling the song "Brenna's Song", but I call it "I Come Before You." I can't give you the music, but here are the words...
I come before You now,
My heart is crying out,
Your presence in this place,
Seems more than I can take
Fill me with Your Spirit, God
Wash me with the water of Your Word
So that I can worship You in truth,
That's all I want to do
These burdens make me weak,
I lay them at your feet,
Now You can make me strong,
That's why I sing this song.
Fill me with Your Spirit, God
Wash me with the water of Your Word
So that I can worship You in truth,
That's all I want to do
Since making the recent transition to Living Water Ministries, our new church, Gabe and I have been doing some singing on the worship team. At first, we were just fill-in, but now we sing every week. I have always loved music, I love the way that music can express the deep emotions that words alone cannot.
A while back, Gabe was at work, and I spent some quality quiet time with Jesus, and poured out my heart and cried, and interceded for several requests that were on my mind, and as I lay in bed that night, one line kept coming to mind, and was interestingly set to music.
So the next day, I sat down at the computer and started typing the line of music that was in my mind. Then within the next couple of hours, the rest of the song spilled out onto the page. As it was coming to me, the music was there too, so next, I sat down at the piano and wrote out the chords that accompanied it. I wrestled with what to do with it then, was it just for me or was it for sharing?? I think a couple of weeks later, we were practicing for worship service, I felt like I was supposed to give it to our Pastor, (who also plays guitar for worship, and very well I might add), and we practiced it a little. Later that week, we practiced it at Gabe's mom's house, who plays the organ, and got it well enough that we played it the next week at church.
They keep calling the song "Brenna's Song", but I call it "I Come Before You." I can't give you the music, but here are the words...
I come before You now,
My heart is crying out,
Your presence in this place,
Seems more than I can take
Fill me with Your Spirit, God
Wash me with the water of Your Word
So that I can worship You in truth,
That's all I want to do
These burdens make me weak,
I lay them at your feet,
Now You can make me strong,
That's why I sing this song.
Fill me with Your Spirit, God
Wash me with the water of Your Word
So that I can worship You in truth,
That's all I want to do
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
A Muddle
I didn't know what to title today's mess of a post... but that's what I feel like right now... in a muddle, if that's even a word. I have such a strange mix of emotions right now, I'm happy, peaceful, excited, nervous, and slightly miffed, if that's possible.
Happy, because the for the most part, my life is going smoothly at the moment. Besides the upset of being in a temporary living situation, I feel happy about the way life is right now. Everyone close to me is doing well, I have been catching up with old friends lately, making new friends, spending time with people I enjoy, and having a good time trying to strengthen my relationship with Jesus.
Peaceful, because I spent a lot of time reading the Word today, with the primary purpose of studying for tonight's Bible study tonight at church, but ended up finding all sorts of gems that are contributing to my happiness. One of which is John 17, which is a prayer that Jesus is praying for us. I was also revisiting "Believing God" by Beth Moore. I love that study!!
Excited, because I'm so looking forward to what God is showing me, and is going to show me in the coming days. Also I'm excited for Sarah, because she got a job at Perry Christian Academy, as a teacher's aide, and will be moving closer to home. (Now if only the guy I have picked out for her is available...) I am excited that our new house is getting closer to being done, and we are getting closer to being 'home'.
Nervous, also because of the new house, because it is really stretching my faith, because I feel that it is something that God has provided, and has shown Himself along the way, but doubt tends to creep in. We have to buy the house from my Aunt and Uncle when it is finished, and we haven't begun the loan process yet. Today, I dug my reminder out of my 'Believing God' book, the word that Billie Sue gave me, and the verse that Leanne gave me speaking to that very subject. I even wrote in that note, that I would go back and read it as a reminder of God's goodness. I had to get it out a while back as well, when I was stressing about selling the other house, and God took care of that as well. So I know I need to trust Him in all things - sometimes it is more difficult than others. That reminds me of a quote from the movie "Faith Like Potatoes" (which is very good, by the way, but sad) - "Little miracles require difficulty, great miracles require impossibility." It feels like this is going to be a great miracle!
Slightly miffed, because as I sit here and type, Gabe is at the office again... He had called to tell one of his employees that he needed to talk to him in the morning, and when he called, something obviously wasn't right, he said he'd be right there, hung up forcefully, and got his stuff and left... He usually tells me what is going on, and he didn't. I was hoping to get to talk to him about some things I've been thinking about lately - I'll probably blog about that when I get a chance to talk to him first...
Well, I should have been in bed a long time ago, but I was kind of wound up, so I decided to put my energy to a good use. I guess you can consider blogging a good use of time...right? Good night, or good morning, rather, since it is now in the a.m.!
Happy, because the for the most part, my life is going smoothly at the moment. Besides the upset of being in a temporary living situation, I feel happy about the way life is right now. Everyone close to me is doing well, I have been catching up with old friends lately, making new friends, spending time with people I enjoy, and having a good time trying to strengthen my relationship with Jesus.
Peaceful, because I spent a lot of time reading the Word today, with the primary purpose of studying for tonight's Bible study tonight at church, but ended up finding all sorts of gems that are contributing to my happiness. One of which is John 17, which is a prayer that Jesus is praying for us. I was also revisiting "Believing God" by Beth Moore. I love that study!!
Excited, because I'm so looking forward to what God is showing me, and is going to show me in the coming days. Also I'm excited for Sarah, because she got a job at Perry Christian Academy, as a teacher's aide, and will be moving closer to home. (Now if only the guy I have picked out for her is available...) I am excited that our new house is getting closer to being done, and we are getting closer to being 'home'.
Nervous, also because of the new house, because it is really stretching my faith, because I feel that it is something that God has provided, and has shown Himself along the way, but doubt tends to creep in. We have to buy the house from my Aunt and Uncle when it is finished, and we haven't begun the loan process yet. Today, I dug my reminder out of my 'Believing God' book, the word that Billie Sue gave me, and the verse that Leanne gave me speaking to that very subject. I even wrote in that note, that I would go back and read it as a reminder of God's goodness. I had to get it out a while back as well, when I was stressing about selling the other house, and God took care of that as well. So I know I need to trust Him in all things - sometimes it is more difficult than others. That reminds me of a quote from the movie "Faith Like Potatoes" (which is very good, by the way, but sad) - "Little miracles require difficulty, great miracles require impossibility." It feels like this is going to be a great miracle!
Slightly miffed, because as I sit here and type, Gabe is at the office again... He had called to tell one of his employees that he needed to talk to him in the morning, and when he called, something obviously wasn't right, he said he'd be right there, hung up forcefully, and got his stuff and left... He usually tells me what is going on, and he didn't. I was hoping to get to talk to him about some things I've been thinking about lately - I'll probably blog about that when I get a chance to talk to him first...
Well, I should have been in bed a long time ago, but I was kind of wound up, so I decided to put my energy to a good use. I guess you can consider blogging a good use of time...right? Good night, or good morning, rather, since it is now in the a.m.!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Dorky Bank Guy
Gabe and I were talking about the doofus guy that works at the bank... He's one of those people that just makes you wonder. The other day, I pull up to the drive thru, and he says, "Hey, Bernie, where's Ernie?? ha ha ha" (My aunt Lois works there too, and those were names that my cousin Erinn and I had as children...) So intent was he on making a retarded joke, that he puts my deposit in my Mom's account instead of mine... Then someone, I'm assuming it was my Aunt, put it back in my account before I even had to call...
Then Gabe was telling me that he ran in to the bank to tell my Aunt something, and as he walks into the bank, with a couple of other patrons there as well, "Everybody get your hands up...the po po is here!" ner ner ner, so funny.....
This guy used to be a public safety officer in Mexico, he retired, and now annoys people in the bank!!
Then Gabe was telling me that he ran in to the bank to tell my Aunt something, and as he walks into the bank, with a couple of other patrons there as well, "Everybody get your hands up...the po po is here!" ner ner ner, so funny.....
This guy used to be a public safety officer in Mexico, he retired, and now annoys people in the bank!!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Kiddo Quirks
Timothy -
Let's see... Earlier today, he was recalling something that happened yesterday, and he wanted to tell Sarah. He went up to her and asked, "Have I told you about our little incident yesterday?" I love it when kids use phrases they have most likely heard from me, and they use it correctly and in context.
Zachary -
Which leads me to the incident to which Timothy was referring. Yesterday, the kids and I were getting ready to leave for Thompson, so Mom could watch the kids while we went to meet everyone in Columbia. I walked outside to tell the boys to load up in the van while we waited for James. When I got out there, I saw a boy in the yard who was not mine. He says, "Hi, I'm Ian. I was wondering if I could play with your kids." So I said, "We're getting ready to leave as soon as their uncle gets here." He said, "Well, can I play with them until their uncle gets here?" I said, "I guess, but boys you better get in the van as soon as Uncle James gets here." Then I asked the boy if he lived here in the neighborhood, and he said, "No, I'm here visiting my Grandma, she lives over there.."
Pretty soon, the boy goes running off saying, "Let me go ask!" I asked the boys what he was going to ask about, and they said, "Zachary asked him if he wanted to go to Grandma's with us." I had to yell and inform Ian that the boys' Grandma was watching them so we could go out, and he couldn't come with us. Keep in mind that this kid was supposed to be visiting his own Grandma - he must have been really bored!
So, needless to say, I had to get after Zach for over-zealously inviting strange kids to go places with us, especially without asking!
Greggory -
Let's see the most recent memorable act of Gregg's was last night when we went to pick up the kids after being out on our 'Blast from the past'. It was about 11:00 p.m. when we got there, and two of the boys were asleep, but Tim and Gregg were both still up. Which means they were very tired. They started throwing punches while they were getting their shoes and socks on, and Gregg got in trouble. Then normally very mild-mannered Gregg throws the biggest fit I've seen him throw in a long time - he stomped down the hall and hid in the bedroom, and when I went after him he jerked away from me and stomped to the back door and stood there sulking.... He was being pretty out of character, but I'll blame it on his need for his bed...
Anthony -
Some of you may have heard this story by now, but we were shopping at Target last Friday for Kelli's shower gift. We were at the mall, where Anthony astonishingly remembered the carousel in the Cafe Court. We got our shopping done, and headed out to the car to go eat somewhere. As we got closer to the car, Anthony started to cry louder and louder. He also does not normally do this sort of thing, and we finally ascertained that he was expecting to ride the carousel, and we did not go there! He worked himself into such a tizzy, that I had to fight him into his car seat! We had to drive by the big windows by the carousel, and luckily it was stopped for the moment. We told him it wasn't running right now, and we'd have to come back sometime. He took that to mean it was broken, and needed batteries, of course! So since that day, at least once a day he will remind us that 'go round round broken' 'new batteries?' 'columbia?'.
Let's see... Earlier today, he was recalling something that happened yesterday, and he wanted to tell Sarah. He went up to her and asked, "Have I told you about our little incident yesterday?" I love it when kids use phrases they have most likely heard from me, and they use it correctly and in context.
Zachary -
Which leads me to the incident to which Timothy was referring. Yesterday, the kids and I were getting ready to leave for Thompson, so Mom could watch the kids while we went to meet everyone in Columbia. I walked outside to tell the boys to load up in the van while we waited for James. When I got out there, I saw a boy in the yard who was not mine. He says, "Hi, I'm Ian. I was wondering if I could play with your kids." So I said, "We're getting ready to leave as soon as their uncle gets here." He said, "Well, can I play with them until their uncle gets here?" I said, "I guess, but boys you better get in the van as soon as Uncle James gets here." Then I asked the boy if he lived here in the neighborhood, and he said, "No, I'm here visiting my Grandma, she lives over there.."
Pretty soon, the boy goes running off saying, "Let me go ask!" I asked the boys what he was going to ask about, and they said, "Zachary asked him if he wanted to go to Grandma's with us." I had to yell and inform Ian that the boys' Grandma was watching them so we could go out, and he couldn't come with us. Keep in mind that this kid was supposed to be visiting his own Grandma - he must have been really bored!
So, needless to say, I had to get after Zach for over-zealously inviting strange kids to go places with us, especially without asking!
Greggory -
Let's see the most recent memorable act of Gregg's was last night when we went to pick up the kids after being out on our 'Blast from the past'. It was about 11:00 p.m. when we got there, and two of the boys were asleep, but Tim and Gregg were both still up. Which means they were very tired. They started throwing punches while they were getting their shoes and socks on, and Gregg got in trouble. Then normally very mild-mannered Gregg throws the biggest fit I've seen him throw in a long time - he stomped down the hall and hid in the bedroom, and when I went after him he jerked away from me and stomped to the back door and stood there sulking.... He was being pretty out of character, but I'll blame it on his need for his bed...
Anthony -
Some of you may have heard this story by now, but we were shopping at Target last Friday for Kelli's shower gift. We were at the mall, where Anthony astonishingly remembered the carousel in the Cafe Court. We got our shopping done, and headed out to the car to go eat somewhere. As we got closer to the car, Anthony started to cry louder and louder. He also does not normally do this sort of thing, and we finally ascertained that he was expecting to ride the carousel, and we did not go there! He worked himself into such a tizzy, that I had to fight him into his car seat! We had to drive by the big windows by the carousel, and luckily it was stopped for the moment. We told him it wasn't running right now, and we'd have to come back sometime. He took that to mean it was broken, and needed batteries, of course! So since that day, at least once a day he will remind us that 'go round round broken' 'new batteries?' 'columbia?'.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Chaos
Well, once again, it's been almost a month since I last wrote. I think that I last wrote on the day they were looking at the house. By the way, the people that came and looked that day signed a contract, and we should close on March 17, barring any unforseen tragedies... Anyway I am amazed at God's timing again, though by now I shouldn't be. I mean, I had just been struggling with my "unbelief", or at least unwarranted anxiety over selling our house. Then after hearing a sermon on Joshua and Jericho, and Mom gave me her little reminder later that same day, which just "happened" to be two days before they came to look at our house!!!! I mean is that God or what????
Well, as you can imagine, now my house is in utter chaos, as if it isn't the norm here.... We are attempting to do this better than the previous hundred times that we have moved... and NOT leave everything till the last minute. But I am thoroughly convinced that I perform best under pressure, as most things in my life are done at the last minute.
We do have lots of boxes packed and ready to be sent to storage - where most of our stuff is going to be until we make our final move to our new house, where we will be until we die, are raptured, or Jesus comes back, whichever comes first!!!
Well, hopefully we will get some more stuff packed, and maybe some things moved out to the storage unit this week, before Friday anyway. We are going to take a little mini vacation, since Uncle Joe and Aunt Lois, along with Mom and Dad will be in Cozumel (aaahhh, someday....), Gabe will not be working on the house this weekend, and we are going to Springfield, Sarah is going with us, and we are going to relax for a couple of days.
I think that I could win the prize for run-on sentences.......
Meanwhile, I am going to keep praying for an extra dose of belief, because we still have some hurdles to jump, but I believe, therefore I speak....God will be with us, and give us what he has promised....
Until next time...Brenna
Well, as you can imagine, now my house is in utter chaos, as if it isn't the norm here.... We are attempting to do this better than the previous hundred times that we have moved... and NOT leave everything till the last minute. But I am thoroughly convinced that I perform best under pressure, as most things in my life are done at the last minute.
We do have lots of boxes packed and ready to be sent to storage - where most of our stuff is going to be until we make our final move to our new house, where we will be until we die, are raptured, or Jesus comes back, whichever comes first!!!
Well, hopefully we will get some more stuff packed, and maybe some things moved out to the storage unit this week, before Friday anyway. We are going to take a little mini vacation, since Uncle Joe and Aunt Lois, along with Mom and Dad will be in Cozumel (aaahhh, someday....), Gabe will not be working on the house this weekend, and we are going to Springfield, Sarah is going with us, and we are going to relax for a couple of days.
I think that I could win the prize for run-on sentences.......
Meanwhile, I am going to keep praying for an extra dose of belief, because we still have some hurdles to jump, but I believe, therefore I speak....God will be with us, and give us what he has promised....
Until next time...Brenna
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Wondering Why
I've never heard a definitive answer on wheter or not it is okay to question God. I am having a bit of a struggle today.
Yesterday, our realtor called and said they were going to show our house today. So we busted our butts to get the house as perfect as we could. I guess you can imagine that cleaning around four kids is no easy task. So we are dusting everywhere, picking up the piles of stuff that has the tendency to accumulate over the weeks, straightening up, finishing laundry, trying to make the house smell more inviting, all those things we all do to try and get our houses presentable.... or at least I do. My house does not stay clean!!! I stressed that to our listing Agent, and supposedly they are going to respect that.
So this morning, I loaded all my kids up, plus two of my babysitting kids, and went to Mom's to hang out.... it's 2:00 p.m. and I'm still here!!!!! They called this morning, and said that the other agent that was to show the house cancelled on them, but they might have another showing this afternoon. I had asked our agent to run by and take pictures since the house is clean, too... So here I am hanging out at Mom's with six then seven kids, my other babysitting kid came later, and waiting to hear when we can go home.
Then she calls and says the lady looking this afternoon, has a 60,000 limit to what she can afford, and our house is priced higher than that and we can't afford to drop the price that much.
But then just a few minutes ago, our agent calls, and says when can I show your house?? aaaaahhhhhhh
Anyway, recently, I have once again been struggling with fear that things are not going to work out with selling our house, and getting our new house once its built, and things like that, now that the new house is getting closer and closer to being finished... Some of the same fears that I'd had back in June. Mom showed me the note that I had written to myself the night of the Bible study at Billie Sue's. I think I need to get that out and staple it to my forehead.... maybe it would sink in then.
Today I was upset, because I always get my hopes up when someone looks at the house, and when they cancel, I get upset again... I guess I wonder what the purpose is in that, and what God could be trying to teach me through this. I mean ultimately, He has control of everything... so why let me get my hopes up about something only to have them dashed??? I don't know, maybe He's trying to teach me patience and trust, only two things that I can't seem to get a grip on... I guess that may be the answer to my pondering.
On the flip side, I feel guilty that I even stress about this when so many people around me are dealing with circumstances much more difficult than my own, with sickness, cancer, financial difficulties, and other things. Right now I feel that we are very blessed and I have no right to feel the way I do.
Anyway, I'll be praying that God would give me peace in the midst of this storm, and that I would learn to trust Him no matter what.
Yesterday, our realtor called and said they were going to show our house today. So we busted our butts to get the house as perfect as we could. I guess you can imagine that cleaning around four kids is no easy task. So we are dusting everywhere, picking up the piles of stuff that has the tendency to accumulate over the weeks, straightening up, finishing laundry, trying to make the house smell more inviting, all those things we all do to try and get our houses presentable.... or at least I do. My house does not stay clean!!! I stressed that to our listing Agent, and supposedly they are going to respect that.
So this morning, I loaded all my kids up, plus two of my babysitting kids, and went to Mom's to hang out.... it's 2:00 p.m. and I'm still here!!!!! They called this morning, and said that the other agent that was to show the house cancelled on them, but they might have another showing this afternoon. I had asked our agent to run by and take pictures since the house is clean, too... So here I am hanging out at Mom's with six then seven kids, my other babysitting kid came later, and waiting to hear when we can go home.
Then she calls and says the lady looking this afternoon, has a 60,000 limit to what she can afford, and our house is priced higher than that and we can't afford to drop the price that much.
But then just a few minutes ago, our agent calls, and says when can I show your house?? aaaaahhhhhhh
Anyway, recently, I have once again been struggling with fear that things are not going to work out with selling our house, and getting our new house once its built, and things like that, now that the new house is getting closer and closer to being finished... Some of the same fears that I'd had back in June. Mom showed me the note that I had written to myself the night of the Bible study at Billie Sue's. I think I need to get that out and staple it to my forehead.... maybe it would sink in then.
Today I was upset, because I always get my hopes up when someone looks at the house, and when they cancel, I get upset again... I guess I wonder what the purpose is in that, and what God could be trying to teach me through this. I mean ultimately, He has control of everything... so why let me get my hopes up about something only to have them dashed??? I don't know, maybe He's trying to teach me patience and trust, only two things that I can't seem to get a grip on... I guess that may be the answer to my pondering.
On the flip side, I feel guilty that I even stress about this when so many people around me are dealing with circumstances much more difficult than my own, with sickness, cancer, financial difficulties, and other things. Right now I feel that we are very blessed and I have no right to feel the way I do.
Anyway, I'll be praying that God would give me peace in the midst of this storm, and that I would learn to trust Him no matter what.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Well, I'm sure my "followers" will be shocked that I acutally posted something on here. I've been terrible about this idea of mine to start a blog. I really intended to try and put some tidbits of my life on here for those who might be interested, but I don't get a whole lot of internet time, and usually it is spent checking e-mail or facebook as quickly as possible, before my children completely wreck my house for the fortieth time today... Wow, how's that for a run-on sentence! Anyway, I am completely busy, but today, we had very little school left for the week, (it's Friday), and I came over to Mom's to use their much faster internet. I needed to do Gabe's sister's taxes, and didn't feel like laboring over them on our ancient dial-up... Anyway, the kid's are all miraculously taking an afternoon nap, or at least resting, so I decided to catch up. I read all of Megan's blog for the last two months, and will check up on the Ladies and Room 133...
I guess I am in a state of transition, since we have switched churches. I don't know if it is a bad thing or not, but in a lot of ways, church and home school group have been my social life for the last, oh forever... So I am going to have to push my comfort zone a little, both for my sake and my kids'. I don't know why it is so hard for me to reach out to people outside of my own little comfortable space at home, and previously at church. I know that until recently it was because of my own petty, selfish insecurities that I have battled for years, and I guess now it is force of habit that I keep to myself. Over last year (2008) through the Beth Moore Bible studies especially, the Lord has done a major work in my life in that area. I was able to see the unforgiveness that I had been harboring most of my life, and give that up, and forgive the people that had caused past hurts in my life, and to own up to the problems that had been kind of self-inflicted as a result. I was able to see myself more clearly through the eyes of Jesus than through my own perceptions. Don't get me wrong, this is still an ongoing process, but God has definitley jump-started the process. Anyway, a huge burden was lifted last year and I am so grateful for that.
So now, as I begin a new chapter of my life, I just want to seek God, and find out what it is that He has planned for me, and I need to crawl out of this comfortable rut that I have called home for so long, and just get out more. Call someone when I think about them, write a letter or a note of encouragement, invite people over, help someone out when I get a chance, things like that...
Reading Megan's post has inspired me to try to update this more often. I love reading what she puts down, and hopefully what I put here is of interest to someone, if not just a good exercise for my own mind...
Anyway, ...until next time!!
I guess I am in a state of transition, since we have switched churches. I don't know if it is a bad thing or not, but in a lot of ways, church and home school group have been my social life for the last, oh forever... So I am going to have to push my comfort zone a little, both for my sake and my kids'. I don't know why it is so hard for me to reach out to people outside of my own little comfortable space at home, and previously at church. I know that until recently it was because of my own petty, selfish insecurities that I have battled for years, and I guess now it is force of habit that I keep to myself. Over last year (2008) through the Beth Moore Bible studies especially, the Lord has done a major work in my life in that area. I was able to see the unforgiveness that I had been harboring most of my life, and give that up, and forgive the people that had caused past hurts in my life, and to own up to the problems that had been kind of self-inflicted as a result. I was able to see myself more clearly through the eyes of Jesus than through my own perceptions. Don't get me wrong, this is still an ongoing process, but God has definitley jump-started the process. Anyway, a huge burden was lifted last year and I am so grateful for that.
So now, as I begin a new chapter of my life, I just want to seek God, and find out what it is that He has planned for me, and I need to crawl out of this comfortable rut that I have called home for so long, and just get out more. Call someone when I think about them, write a letter or a note of encouragement, invite people over, help someone out when I get a chance, things like that...
Reading Megan's post has inspired me to try to update this more often. I love reading what she puts down, and hopefully what I put here is of interest to someone, if not just a good exercise for my own mind...
Anyway, ...until next time!!
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