verse to reflect on...

‎[my own version of these verses] 
I am fighting the good fight, I am working on the race, I am trying to keep the faith. For I know there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day...
- 2 Timothy 4:7-8

I heard from Terry...

many of you knew of my request for prayers for my brother Terry about two months ago when I said that I knew something was wrong as I was not getting responses from him via text message and all calls were going straight to voicemail.

I received an call from him Sunday night (two nights ago) after I was in bed and asleep.  The voicemail said he was sorry that he had not talked to me in quite some time, he has been restricted to make non-business phone calls on his cell phone before 8am and after 5pm per my parents instructions.  They are trying to "prepare him for the working environment".   [Ummm...let me refrain from comment.]  The voicemail didn't explain the nearly eight week lapse in communication.  With a two hour time zone difference and the above information, I wasn't able to return the phone call until last night.  He broke down in tears, said he missed me and really appreciates me.  The drama story condensed into the pertinent facts is a domestic verbal incident occurred between my mom and brother, a request was made for him to move out in 15 days, fear and other feelings overtook my brother, mom called 911 because of the confused state Terry was in, he was taken to the hospital and went thru the process of evaluation for suicide, drug overdose, therapy, counseling, and rehab services.  All of this is familiar territory for him and in this case all was negative and paranoia on behalf of my mom.  After 6 weeks of this treatment, he is back home and things are calm as of this moment, according to my brothers account.  Please continue to be in prayer for all parties.

It would have been nice to have received a general explanation when I attempted weeks ago to obtain a status update of the situation instead of being told that this information would not be discussed with me.  I truly do have a heart and truly do love and care for Terry to succeed in spite of his continued behavior disturbances and set backs.  I pray that some day Terry will see that He has the power through God to be a different person.  May God continue to give me wisdom and strength to deal with my ongoing family drama.

Quotes

Live Without Pretending
Love Without Depending
Listen Without Defending
Speak Without Offending

verse to reflect on...

The Lord is in this place. What if I became a aware of it? {Genesis 28:16}

Quotes

Deny your weakness, and you will never realize God's strength in you.  
- Joni Eareckson Tada

how to respond to this message?

When you get a message that you don't know how to respond to, what do you do?  I got a couple text messages that fell in this group.  I had wished someone a Happy Birthday two weeks ago.  Today I got a response:


I did nothing special; it was not a 'special day'. You don't know who I am. I don't celebrate my birthday.  Its just another day I'ld like to forget. I hate my birthday and I wish everyone else would forget about it & never remember it again.  I don't feel special when someone says 'happy birthday'.  I feel mocked.  Remembering me 1 day out of the 365, doesn't cancel out being forgotten-or-UNIMPORTANT the other 364! Its retarded!


How do you tell someone their anger at life is evident?  How do you tell someone that they are special, God created them and that this is the day that is yours to remember your birth and another year to serve Him?  How do you tell someone that they are remembered & loved by me, daily, yes 365 days a year even if only notified occasionally?  How do you tell someone that when you get messages like this it creates distance, hurt and pain?  How do you tell someone that you know life is hard but that God gives Strength, Love and Courage for this Journey?  


I don't have the answers...because I have tried and I continue to get these responses.  I pray that God will show me how to help this sibling who is struggling beyond words and is angry at God and life.

Quotes

Its not the load that breaks you down, it's the way that you carry it.  - Lena Horne

my notes from The Great Recovery

Tonight there was a live webcast on a speech Dave Ramsey gave on the economy and the need for recovery called The Great Recovery.  The following is my notes from this event.


Recovery doesn't fix itself.  It takes focus.  It takes work.  It takes effort.  The one true source of Recovery is God.  When there is a fight you have to run towards it not from it.  Right now is all the time we have.
- Jon Acuff


The bible calls you a fool if you spend all your money.  Start handling money God's ways...and you are ready to be prosperous!  Your life works when you do it God's ways, 100% of the time.  God is not a liar...in fact He is crazy about you!


Our people are struggling not the economy, but with hopelessness.  Proverbs 13:12 Hope deffer-ed makes the heart sink.  Have a plan.


God is the author of our Hope.  God is our provider.  He uses me to provide for me...manna doesn't just show up on my door step.  Prayer is not an excuse to not work.


The diligent prosper.  Diligence is excellence over time with discipline!


If you read Proverbs over and over again, you will have a Master's Degree in Finance. Cause and Effect...God's ways work!
- Dave Ramsey

quest for no stress...

will you join me in my quest for NO STRESS? 
none. 
zip. 
zero. 
zilch. 
notta. 
nothing going with stress.
Hakuna Matata

thought for the day...

Depend on it, God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supplies. 
- J. Hudson Taylor

thought for the day...

To find out what God's will is for you, you have to seek His wisdom, His will, His guidance, His understanding...this means you have a relationship to be able to get this from Him.

Quotes

If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere. – Frank A. Clark

song ~ stronger

Stronger
by Mandisa
Hey, heard you were up all night
Thinking about how your world ain't right
And you wonder if things will ever get better
You're asking why is it always raining on you
When all you want is just a little good news
Instead of standing there stuck out in the weather


Oh, don't hang your head
It's gonna end
God's right there
Even if it's hard to see Him
I promise you that He still cares


When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain't gonna last forever
Things can only get better
Believe me
This is gonna make you stronger
Gonna make you stronger, stronger, stronger
Believe me, this is gonna make you


Try and do the best you can
Hold on and let Him hold your hand
And go on and fall into the arms of Jesus
Oh, lift your head it's gonna end
God's right there
Even when you just can't feel Him
I promise you that He still cares


When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain't gonna last forever
In time it's gonna get better
Believe me
This is gonna make you stronger


'Cause if He started this work in your life
He will be faithful to complete it
If only you believe it
He knows how much it hurts
And I'm sure that He's gonna help you get through this


When the waves are taking you under

Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain't gonna last forever
In time it's gonna get better
Believe me
This is gonna make you stronger


When the waves are taking you under

Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain't gonna last forever
In time it's gonna get better
Believe me
This is gonna make you stronger

Psalm 139:1-5 & 23-24 Revisited

Lord you have examined me and known me
        (Search me O God)
You know when I stand or sit and every thought
        (Know my heart)
You know all my ways and where I rest
        (Lead me in Your paths)
Every word is heard before I speak it
        (Know my thoughts)
You go before and follow after and bless me
        (Lead me into everlasting life)


from: Joel's One Poem A Day

verse to reflect on...

It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don’t you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?
- Psalms 127:3-4

Quotes

Your own life is your testimony.  - Vanessa (a friend on Facebook)

HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY Michelle

One of my friends, Michelle, turned 40!  Of course, you have to have a PARTY!!!  No matter if they say: I want the day to skip me by, I don't want a party, I don't want anything, I want to ignore the fact that I am turning 40.  


Kathy & I have been planning this deal for several weeks and today was The Day!  I won't go into all the laboring details that will bore you on how we got this to work and obtained a list of fiddle players she knows and plays music with whom we had no connections with, but let me tell you persistence and determination pays off!  


We got the guest list completed of friends and mailed out the hand made invitations.  With 21 RSVPs, we started firming up our plans.

The Menu:

Marinated Grilled Chicken

Cilantro Lime Rice

Veggie Skewers

Roasted Carrots

Balsamic Glazed Asparagus

French Bread

Sweet Tea

Water

Oreo Mud Pie

Strawberry Cheesecake

The plan was for Michelle to meet me at my house at 7pm so that I could take her out to dinner, in this case a restaurant of her choice and she picked Del Norte.  BTW: If you are a local and have not been there, ummm, they have really good food!


I love planning parties, helping with parties and hosting parties...but the one thing that I have not mastered is how to plan the event, cook some of the food, be the host...AND take PICTURES!  Yah, you got it, I can't seem to do all that though believe me I wish I could.  So, the following are the last minute shots I got.  You will have to use your imagination as they are missing all the really pretty, nice finery and details that made this event so special...some of which were white cloth napkins with napkin ring, clear glass goblet sparkling with an ice cold beverage, the individual name place settings with a pink stamped flower, the white plates before they were filled with food, the mix of white flowers with a touch of deep purple, and a picture of everyone with the party girl!

in my backyard, the Guests enjoying the evening and visiting after dinner

Joy, Michelle, and Sherry {L-R}

Joey with the guitar & Jillian with the fiddle

they played us 3 pieces

Joey with the guitar & Michelle with the fiddle

they played us 2 pieces

It was a really fun event and I am grateful to everyone that came and participated for this special occasion for Michelle!  and doubly sweet for everyone that was such a good sport when I burnt the bread when I put it in the oven to get it hot...wow, that was some charred french bread top!!!  

Quotes

There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.

― Charles Dickens

Saturday's...

sometimes Saturday's are spent being lazy: sleeping in, reading a book, hanging out by the pool...sometimes they are spent doing a fun project: refinishing a piece of furniture, sewing something for the home, making a new outfit, painting something to give it a fresh new look...sometimes they are spent doing not so fun projects: cleaning out the garage, extra yardwork, extra housework, and other mundane projects that take lots of work...sometimes they are spent still working on clients work that didn't get done during the week...


but I must say - they ALWAYS fly by!!! and somehow another Saturday seems a way off, but one will be here again in just 7days!


What is your favorite way to spend a Saturday?

update on tests...

Many of you that know I have been having some health issues and was asking for prayers and patience as I awaited the results of the Lab Work and a Adrenal Test that were done 6 weeks ago...today was the big day for the results.  I must tell you, that I have mixed feelings over my appointment...my Adrenal Test showed that my condition/problem is worse than the test I had done in 2009.  This is good news in the fact that what I have been experiencing is reflected in the outcome of the test results showing the condition is real, once again confirmed and clearly outlines why I have such an extreme battle with fatigue; but it was difficult for me to absorb and hear because that means the treatment plan for nearly two years has not improved my condition...yet.  I came home from my appointment and took the rest of the day off of "work" and spent time out by the pool in tears. I do not want to loose heart, and I am determined to change what I need to change to have different results...results that will create healthy adrenals that will inturn help my ongoing hormone disease and issues.  In the meantime, I continue to covet your prayers.  A new treatment plan is in place, repeat labs is scheduled to be done in 8 weeks, and I will be doing more research on this topic to become even more educated and in learning more, hopefully help myself!  In the meantime, I continue to seek the Lord for His strength to face each day.

verse to reflect on...

I am eager to learn all that you want me to do; help me to understand more and more.
Psalm 119:32  (CEV)

Quotes

Be who you are in every situation. 

– Michael Johnson

reflections on today's message...

Why Love God?

if I don't have Love...I have nothing!

Love:  Penetrating consideration into the needs of one loved, in order to bring about rich and abundant life, fulfillment and complete satisfaction.

Should I live a life of self-denial, to serve a God I cannot see?

Love God with all your heart, soul and might.  God will work with you if you let Him work in your heart...He will use you.  Serve the Lord.

Love with a pure heart.  Don't put out your light for the world to see or you will stumble.

reflections on Tyson's life...

Today is the memorial for Tyson Motto.  


In my heart, I wish I could be there...I wish I could see the pictures that will be shown, listen to the words said about him and his testimony for God, hug his family and let them know that the God of all comfort is there available to comfort where we can't...I wish I could.


I have followed lots of the comments on Facebook about Tyson and had conversations with others about their relationship with him.  The things everyone has to say about him are a clear message of the fact that he was loving, spontaneous, friendly to all (children and adults alike), he enjoyed having fun, made sure he enjoyed life, spent lots of time in God's creation, was always smiling, and showed an evident love for the Lord in his life and this was seen by all he came in contact with.  His life touched many people.  He made it clear that he was there to be your friend.  He was there to include you.  He was there to help you.


When someone leaves this life suddenly, we all are faced with again the fact smacking us in the face that life is short.  The person we love is gone.  Suddenly.  But we all know we have no guarantee of tomorrow...but it still gives you an awakening, if you know what I mean, because life has its way of turning into a routine and we forget that life is a vapor and will fly away like a dandelion.


Being 6 years older than Tyson and a girl, I didn't pal around with him like many did so I personally don't have as many stories as many others will have...but because he is a friend of my brother's and my parents were very good friends with his parents and we stayed often at their house when we were visiting their area for the weekend or attending the large camps, I was around him frequently, more in my childhood than in recent years.  I would love the chance to tell him some of the little things I noticed and the testimony he was to me, even from a distance.  If I could, I would love to ask him some questions...lots of questions, because I like to ask questions...things like:
...how he made time for everyone when the demands of life and schedule is always pressing in on you? (this is personally something that is a HUGE struggle of mine.  I am constantly always evaluating and reflecting on with the demands of a job and home and life, even though I am single and many people think that it should be simpler for me - I seriously believe things just seem to take way too much time and life is way more complicated than it was meant to be...ummm, another post on this later)
...what did he choose to focus on daily to keep the grin always ready on his face?
...what was his favorite verse in the bible?
...who was a mentor and role model to him? and why?
...what is one nugget he would leave with me?
I know I can ask them here, but it won't generate those "deep conversations" everyone talks about having with him.  I don't know if he is able to read all these things we are saying and writing about him...don't you think that would be cool if he could?  Wouldn't it be awesome if he could fly a note down from Heaven so we could know he was watching?  Regardless, can you imagine Tyson bounding into Heaven with his enthusiasm?  His grin?  Him running around greeting all his old friends who went before him?  However it is and whatever he is doing, I know he doesn't regret not being here with us...I know he is enjoying walking the streets up in glory land!!!


The things Tyson will leave with me as memories and things I want to implement are:
...making sure I make time for my friends!
...making the most of life, each and every day, and have fun with it!
...encouraging whomever I make contact with, letting them know they are special because God created them and ultimately LOVES them, no matter if I ever see them again!
These are the "Tyson Things" that will stay with me.


Link to News Video re: the Memorial ~
http://dig.abclocal.go.com/kfsn/video/2011/07/01/110702_KFSN_6PM_Teacher-Remembered.mp4
http://www.kmph.com/category/170789/video-landing-page?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=6015505&flvUri&partnerclipid

word for the day...{enthusiasm}

en·thu·si·asm

[en-thoo-zee-az-uhm] noun

absorbing or controlling possession of the mind by any interest or pursuit; lively interest; an activity, or pursuit in which such interest is shown


Enthusiasm - The word "enthusiasm" comes from two Greek words, En and Theos, which literally means "God within".