song ~ can't take away

Can't Take Away
Mike Grayson, Sam Tinnesz, Jason Ingram

All around
All of us
Fear has come and so we must
Ask ourselves
In who we trust
What we have here
Is not enough
So let it ring
In freedom sing

You can take away
Everything that I've been holding
You can take away the sun
You can take away the very air that I've been breathing
But you can't take away my God
Oh, my God


Waves will come
Winds will blow
But it's not here I've found my hope
My beating heart
My very soul
Is held by one who won't let go
And so I'll cling
To You my King

You can take away
Everything that I've been holding
You can take away the sun
You can take away the very air that I've been breathing
But you can't take away my God
Oh, my God


A hope that can't be lost
A love that can't be bought
You can't take away my God
Nothing high or low
Nothing you can control
You can't take away my God

You can take away
Everything that I've been holding
You can take away the sun
You can take away the very air that I've been breathing
But you can't take away my God
No you can't
No you can't
Take away my God
No you can't
No you can't
No you can't
Take away my God, Oh My God, My God.

May 10, 2009 reflection on daily devotion

Perfect Peace
May 10, 2009

"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you."

– Isaiah 26:3
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Prayer is the ship that takes us through life's storms. Board that ship and God will see you through. Another word for "steadfast" is "persistent." To experience perfect peace in our lives we must persist in trusting God.

Brian Tracy Quote of the Day

Progress always involves risks. You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first.

- Frederick Wilcox, writer

May 4, 2009 reflection on daily devotion

Accept what cannot be changed
May 04, 2009
Arvella Schuller

"But godliness with contentment is great gain." – 1 Timothy 6:6

To accept what cannot be changed is the beginning of happiness within ourselves, happiness with those around us, and happiness in a situation we are in that we can do little or nothing about. We can begin our journey to acceptance by making a list of daily blessings that we take for granted. Once a year in our home, everyone makes a list of blessings or assets (one for each letter of the alphabet) for which he or she is thankful. Reviewing this list and adding to it is a mental bath that washes away the negative "I wishes" and "if only’s." The result is a poised and tranquil acceptance of life as it really is. If we find it difficult to accept ourselves as we really are, we have even more difficulty accepting others as they are. ACCEPT, ACCEPT, ACCEPT. This is the beginning of contentment with ourselves as persons—and the beginning of contentment with our mates and families as they are.
* * * * * * *

Ignite the spirit of contentment in your life by making a list of blessings or assets in your life that you are grateful for. Then accept what is.

Brian Tracy Quote of the Day

Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples, don't count on harvesting golden delicious.
- Bill Meyer

April 27, 2009 reflection on daily devotion

Have you ever felt your efforts were too meager to make a difference? Or that you were inadequate compared to others in terms of your financial resources, intellect, talent, or appearance? Have you ever thought, If only I had more…[you fill in the blank], I could make a real difference? Many of us feel as though our meager gifts, our inadequate efforts, are insufficient for God. Yet all God asks for are "five loaves and two fishes" (Luke 9:10-17). Nothing is too small when Jesus uses it. Nothing is meager or inadequate when Jesus blesses it. Nobody is insignificant when Jesus chooses him or her. Where do you need God to take something small in your life and multiply it to provide not only what you need, but more than enough?

April 26, 2009 reflection on daily devotion

Are you down? Look up!

April 26, 2009

Sheila Schuller Coleman

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." – Psalm 121:1-2

Where can we go when we need help? The psalmist tells us we find help when we lift our eyes to the hills. He continues, "My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth." Wow! When we are spiritually struggling, an emergency call to the God of the universe brings him to our rescue! He is just one prayer away. His power saves. His power can invigorate your faith. He loves and longs to help his children. He is never too busy and your problems are never too insignificant—he knows you need him. It's up to you to make the call. It's up to you to look to him for help. When things look down—look up—to the hills—where your help comes from! Your help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

* * * * * * *

If things begin to take a downward turn today, get up from what you’re doing, walk outside, look up to the hills (or the heavens), and say aloud, “I need you, Lord. Please help!”
Share your thoughts...

song ~ the motions

The Motions
by Matthew West

This might hurt, it's not safe
But I know that I've gotta make a change
I don't care if I break,
At least I'll be feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"


No regrets, not this time
I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love make me whole
I think I'm finally feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of this life

'Cause I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"
take me all the way
(take me all the way)
take me all the way
('cause I don't wanna go through the motions)
take me all the way
(I know I'm finally feeling something real)
take me all the way


I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"
I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"
take me all the way
(take me all the way)
take me all the way
(I don't wanna go, I don't wanna go)
take me all the way
(through the motions)
take me all the way

I don't wanna go through the motions

song ~ on my knees

I love music! As you can tell, I blog about songs I get introduced to that really hit me. Many times they come at a time when I am facing some difficulty...this song I heard yesterday on my drive home from work and then I heart it again while I was working late last night here at the house...kinda of like the message was something I needed to hear yet again..."Misty, your need is to be on your knees and listen"...

On My KneesDennis Jernigan

When I don't know what I need
I need to get on my knees
When waves of doubt crash over me
I need to get on my knees
On my knees I find refuge
On my knees I find grace
On my knees I can feel You
Like we're meeting face to face

When I don't know what I need
I need to get on my knees

When I don't have strength to stand
I need to reach for Your hand
When life feels like sinking sand
I need to reach for Your hand
In Your hand I find refuge
In Your hand I find grace
In Your hand I can feel You
Like we're meeting face to face

When I don't have strength to stand
I need to reach for Your hand

When life leaves me with no choice
I must listen for Your voice
When lies confuse me with their noise
I must listen for Your voice
In Your voice I find refuge
In Your voice I find grace
In Your voice I can feel You
Like we're meeting face to face

When life leaves me with no choice
I will listen for Your voice

On my knees I find refuge
On my knees I find grace
On my knees I can feel You
Like we're meeting face to face

When I don't know what I need
I need to get on my knees

song ~ one thing

There is lots going on right now creating fear and chaos in many lives, and today this song really struck home to me and I want to share it with you...
One Thing
by Paul Colman

Here I am
In a river of questions
Can I pour my heart out to a listening ear?
I see this life
Its valleys and mountains
And I think of all the roads that brought me here

I've questioned my reasons
This life I'm living
I've questioned my ability
To judge wrong from right
I've questioned all the things that I've ever called certain
My race, my religion, my country, my mind

But the one thing I don't question is you
You really love me like you say you do
You really love me like you say you do
Hold me
Hold me

I've questioned significance
Meaning and relevance
Does the work I'm doing really matter at all?
Well I've questioned my friendships
Alliance, dependence
Who will still be here when I fall?

Only one thing doesn't change
Only one thing stays the same
All I know at the end of the day is your love remains

1st Quarter Progress on 2009 Resolutions

I received my first quarter email from Glenn Shepard on where I am with my 2009 Goals & Resolutions. This is what I submitted to him on where I stand on my goals for the year (review blog entry on 1/1/2009 for goals set):

1. 75% of this goal is met with anticipation of goal accomplishment by July 2009
2. 10% Not much progress made on this...I need help!
3. 0% progress: have not found exercise routine yet that works with my schedule of two jobs, 6days a week, 12-15hrs a day...I am frustrated with this because I know this would benefit me in many ways if I could just find a way to make it work with my schedule
4. 40% progress: still desire to excel in this even more
5. 25% progress in head knowledge & self talk but not much progress in actual actions

THANK you Glenn for your encouragement!

1 Year Anniversary at my job

Today marks my 1 year anniversary...

As I reflect on the changes in my work history from the beginning of spring 1996 to now, I can't help but have immense gratitude to God for the job I have now...a deep thankfulness of how blessed I am to have a kind boss, caring coworkers, a great working environment not too far from home! Many times, my days are just downright crazy...but even in the midst of these spells I have never lost heart and always am excited to go back another day and work thru the challenges that come. I can't deny that some days haven't been downright grueling or that I never have had tears of frustration...I have...but the year really and truely has flown by. I have not been perfect and have many things I wish to do differently or excel at even more. My first year has had many challenges to wade thru and overcome...some I have accomplished and some I still yet have to do. I worked as a Billing Assistant with the Billing Manager, Jennifer, for the first 6 weeks on the job (April 1st, 2008 to May 8th, 2008) learning the office structure, working at the front desk and helping with billing & collections...until I came in on that Thursday morning in May to my boss greeting me with "Welcome to your new position, congratulations!" I was shocked...sure, I knew what the end plan was, to let "her" go and for me to replace her as the new Accounting Manager, but now I was able to "move on from salad" as my boss had said to me a few weeks previously! A week into the job, some things came up in trying to figure out where we stood with our finances and in my confusion to understand and put things together I had to explain the situation to my boss and he told me he was too busy to help me, I would have to handle this one alone...this was the first time when he left the office that I buried my head in my arms on my desk and cried. What was I to do? How was I to make things happen and meet deadlines? This launched the beginnings of some intense work in the accounting data to find the errors. I have only taken one day off since I started the job to attend Stephen & Tiffany's wedding last October, and my boss felt that I needed a break...so I am off today and tomorrow to chill and do whatever I want but absolutely NO WORK! It actually feels downright weird to not be working - I think I truely must be a workaholic! But today, I want to express my thanks for the great job I have!!!

March 29, 2009 reflection on daily devotion

Never give up

March 29, 2009

Sheila Schuller Coleman

"Persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." – Hebrews 10:36

I dreamed of being a physician. However, my studies suffered due to my over-involvement in extra-curricular activities. I sang in an opera, and accompanied vocalists—just to name a few. After an Organic Chemistry test I was sure I'd bombed, I called Dad in tears. "Talk to your professor. See what he can do," he counseled. Spirit sagging, I went to see my professor. My test was graded "D". "I can't get into med school with a 'D' in chemistry," I told him. "And I can't let down the music department." He offered, "Take an incomplete, then study hard over Christmas break. I'll give you a final when you get back." Dad hired a tutor. I studied eighteen hours a day, aced the final, and discovered in the process that I love Organic Chemistry. Never give up. God never gives up on you!
* * * * * * *
Where in your life do you need to persevere? Do you need to ask for help? Ask a friend to be your encourager and accountability partner. Then keep on going!

As I reflect on this devotional email I received today, I know that each of us face times we just want to give up.  How often we underestimate the reward that comes from perseverence and the encouragement that each one of us can give to another who is at that moment in time when nothing seems worth it.  May I keep my mind fixed on the goal to do the will of God and press on!

March 19, 2009 reflection of daily devotion

God never sees you or me as junk. He sees the potential, the treasure hidden within. He looks beyond our banged up, bruised souls to the beauties we are when we let him redeem, rescue, and restore us.
* * * * * * * 

Are there any ways you may be treating yourself like you're a piece of "junk"? Take a look at yourself through God's eyes today and let him remind you why he treasures you. Then ask him to help you learn to treasure yourself.


I need to think on this...really ponder it!

going to be a bridesmaid!

I'm going to be a bridesmaid in Veronica's wedding on May 16th!!! whooohoooo...I received a package today with my idea of what it is to look like (posted at right), pattern and fabric in the mail today (and many thanks to Amy for getting it from the postoffice since my lovely girlfriend forgot I work two jobs and can't get there during normal business hours - LOL)...my color is similar to the shade posted but slightly different with a dark ruffle and runche at the waist. Veronica writes:
Hey Chicas! Thank You for agreeing to be my bridesmaid and wearing a dress you will hate and not wear again. The one dress that you will allow to take up space in the back of your closet for sentimental value, because you wore it for my wedding!! LOL!!

March 14, 2009 reflection on daily devotion

What songs of faith have been a source of blessing in your life? Choose one of your favorites and sing it as you start and end your day.

"Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise." – James 5:13

Thank you, Lord, for songs of faith that fill my life!

March 13, 2009 reflection of daily devotion

"He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way."   -  Psalm 25:9

Make a timeline of your life, identifying five pivotal points where your life took a turn. How did God guide you through those times? How was he there for you?

song ~ dependence

I heard this song on the radio last week...the words have stirred my heart deeply! I have been playing it over and over online while I cry my heart out to the one who is my only hope...life has been difficult the last few weeks and I only pray that I will allow the circumstances for my good to make me grow stronger and take my faith to a deeper level...

DEPENDENCE

by Jamie Slocum

This is the life I’ve always wanted

To know the prince of peace

To feel my faith restored

As your grace surrounds me

This is the day of new beginnings

This is where my freedom starts

And now death has lost its sting

And Jesus how can I thank you?

Just to know, just to know that you love me

Gives me hope to carry on

What can this world do to me?

No, no

Just to know, just to know that you’re with me

On all these roads I traveled on

When all I have is gone

I confess my dependence on you

There is a lightness in my laughter

There is a joy inside my soul

My heart is overwhelmed

And Jesus how can I thank you?

Just to know, just to know that you love me

Gives me hope to carry on

What can this world do to me?

No, no

Just to know, just to know that you’re with me

On all these roads I traveled on

When all I have is gone

I confess my dependence on you

Dependence on you

Just to know, just to know that you love me

It gives me hope to carry on

You’re the one thing that I can turn to

Just to know, just to know that you’re with me

On all these roads I traveled on

You’re the one thing that I can turn to

Just to know, just to know that you love me

It gives me hope to carry on

There’s nothing this world can do

I confess my dependence on you

Lord, I confess my dependence on you

Dependence on you

The 4 D's of Financial Success

Article written by Brian Tracy

Desire, Decision, Determination and Discipline
If you sincerely want to beat the odds, to achieve financial independence and retire wealthy, you must want it badly enough to make an unshakable commitment and to be willing to make sacrifices. You must make a decision right now to do whatever is necessary, to be willing to pay any price, go any distance, to achieve your goal. Practice Determination and Discipline, which is to keep at it until you succeed in spite of all the problems and obstacles you will experience. Lastly, the discipline to master yourself to develop the habits necessary for achieving financial independence. Those are the four Ds: Desire, Decision, Determination and Discipline.

You can measure how successful you're going to be in the future by measuring how well you're doing in each of those on a scale of one to ten. Resolve in advance that you will persist in the face of every setback or obstacle you face. You will never give up. You will keep on moving forward until you finally achieve your goal.

Wknd in Colorado...

to see the Baker Family...
For those that don't know, Connie Baker is my mom's younger sister. I have not seen them since I was 8years old. Ashley was a baby and I have not met nor seen Miranda or Blain.
After having seen the Jeans and Granpa & Granma...I felt I needed to soon go to see the Bakers. I made my plans in December for the middle of January. Suddenly the weekend was here!

I flew out Friday night, January 16th, at 08.20pm. I rushed home from work to leave my car in the garage, zip up the suitcase and go with Judy Lane to the airport. I arrived on time and proceeded thru security. This time, they would not let me on with the same items I took on my last trip over the Thanksgiving weekend...my deodorant was .1 oz to large and my hair gel bottle too, though it was nearly empty they didn't give a rip. So instead of letting them throw my items in the trash and have to get more when I got arrived in Denver, I decided the $15 to check my bag was not worth the stress of trying to obtain them when I got there. ;) After I went back out front to check my bag and back thru security, I felt pressed for time and rushed to my gate. I hung around for a bit and then saw that they had posted the departure time for later and then my nerves decided to get worse. So I texted Dustin and told him I was nervous and of course he calmly told me not to stress about it and that I would have a good time! Such a pro he is at being calm. :) My plane left 30minutes late, so this gave me time to get a bite to eat at the airport and I went with chinese food, veggie bowl with meat on top. This was my first time ever to go to Colorado and also my first time at the Denver Airport. My American Airlines flight arrived in Denver, CO and I was greeted by Shawn, Connie and Ashley. It was dark, so I didn't get to see much scenery, but we visited on the drive home and they showed me different things as we drove thru the town. Upon arrival, we decided to eat some ice cream...and I also met Blain. Uncle Shawn insisted he give me a hug, which he did with reluctance. ;) Miranda was already in bed as she wasn't feeling very well. We sat around in the kitchen talking and stayed up until 2am my time!


The next day, I was up about 09.00am and we had breakfast shortly. Miranda felt bette so she came upstairs for breakfast. Breakfast was cinnamon rolls, grapefruit, and bacon. We spent most of the morning sitting around the breakfast table visiting and trying to catch up on events in each others lives over the last 23-24years. We then went for a walk down to the park not too far from their house. This is the picture Uncle Shawn took of us standing in their driveway before we took off.

The weather was much warmer than I had anticipated. I had checked earlier in the week when I started my packing and at that time it was int he 30's with the weekend temperatures anticipated at being in the low 50's but I think it was much warmer than that. So therefore, all the warm sweaters, tights, gloves, scarves and what not that I brought I didn't need one of them! Luckly, last minute I had thrown in my San Diego light sweatshirt or I donno what I would have done. The walk was really pretty thru a park with a view of mountains in view. I miss the mountains! We came back and ate lunch and visited some more throughout the afternoon. Aunt Connie would not let me help cook, so I felt like a loose end to some degree.

Saturday nights they have singing and a bible study with any that want come to their place and participate. We had to rush to finish our dinner in time for this event at 06.45pm. They never know who all might come and this night we only had Nathan (Miranda's boyfriend) and Deren. We sang in the front room that had the piano for about 25minutes or so. I knew all the songs, but the first two. Nathan sang a solo and played the guitar while he sang. It was a neat song about Friends. We then moved to the family room in the back of the house and Uncle Shawn shared some things from John 5, about the sick man by the pool, Isaiah, and Psalms. There were comments by some of us as Shawn asked for how we related to what he had read. We then spent the rest of the evening playing and having a blast at a game called Dutch Blitz that Deren had brought with him. I am not a big game person, especially since I live by myself and also because at home these times of games were usually a forced session of family time, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Ashley & Blain had played this game before, but it was new to both me and Uncle Shawn & Aunt Connie. Ashley and I pretty much stood the entire game. At first it was sort of a joke between us and we laughed about it with each other, but then we really felt like we could play better if we stood up to view our cards. I won the first round and Deren won the second. I texted Dustin thru the whole game to make him feel apart as he was sorry he was missing out on all the fun! Miranda called him and put him on speaker but I didn't get to talk to him too much because I was trying to stay focused on my game. Would have loved to have had him there...but maybe another time all us cousins can be togther.

.....this is a picture of us around the breakfast table playing Dutch Blitz


Nathan & Miranda visiting on the couch...they did not play the game with us. ;)


Oh, and yes, we were up up late again! :)

The next day, I was the last to get up...I was so dead! I think from the emotional workout and then also I was really just worn out from the last few weeks of working on year end at 1st Eye Care, plus my throat really hurt. I was awakened by my phone vibrating from Lacey wanting to know how my weekend was going and wishing she was there with Ashley, Miranda and I. We texted for about 30minutes and then I told her I must get up and not be lazy bones and waste the day away with them wondering what was wrong with me. They were already eating breakfast, and I joined them. We had tortilla eggs, hashbrowns and oranges. We then sat in the front room and looked at pictures of my house and a few other things so that they could picture me here in Texas. Then some of the girls they met came over as they were back in town and I got to meet Jasmine, Ellie and Ester. (Jasmine went with them to the California December Camp 2008).

Jasmine, Ellie, Ester

Time was running out fast and I felt I had not learned all I wanted to about them. We then had nachos for lunch before we rushed to leave for the airport.

the last day...a family photo

We didn't leave much time to sit and have a last minute visit at the airport as I needed to get my bag checked and have enough time to get thru security; even though Ashley wished they could come inside with me, we did our goodbyes at the curb and I promised I wouldn't cry in front of them...and I kept my word! ;) I made it to the gate just in time as they were beginning to call the groups to load the plane. Its hard to try to spend a quick weekend getting to know people and then leave again when you feel like there is so much you don't know and you just have begun to connect...but this is life. I really did have a good time and I am thankful for the opportunity to have gone to see them in their home and share with them in their faith and belief in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ashley & Me...one last hug...


Aunt Connie, Me & Uncle Shawn

until next time, goodbye my friends & family...
Martha picked me up at the airport and we stopped and had dinner at Cheddars. I got home about 10.30pm and checked a few emails and crashed.

Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps

If you want to get out of debt, you have to have a plan that you will do one step at a time. Here is the one designed by Dave Ramsey called the Seven Baby Steps:

1 ~ $1000 Emergency Fund
An emergency fund is for those unexpected events in life that you can’t plan for: the loss of a job, an unexpected pregnancy, a faulty car transmission, and the list goes on and on. It’s not a matter of if these events will happen; it’s simply a matter of when they will happen.  This beginning emergency fund will keep life’s little Murphies from turning into new debt while you work off the old debt. If a real emergency happens, you can handle it with your emergency fund. No more borrowing. It’s time to break the cycle of debt!


2 ~ Pay off All debt using the Debt Snowball
List your debts, excluding the house, in order. The smallest balance should be your number one priority. Don’t worry about interest rates unless two debts have similar payoffs. If that’s the case, then list the higher interest rate debt first.  The point of the debt snowball is simply this: You need some quick wins in order to stay pumped up about getting out of debt! Paying off debt is not always about math. It’s about motivation. Personal finance is 20% head knowledge and 80% behavior. When you start knocking off the easier debts, you will see results and you will stay motivated to dump your debt.


3 ~ 3to6 months of Expenses in Savings
Once you complete the first two baby steps, you will have built serious momentum. But don’t start throwing all your “extra” money into investments quite yet. It’s time to build your full emergency fund.   Use this money for emergencies only: incidents that would have a major impact on you and your family. Keep these savings in a money market account. Remember, this stash of money is not an investment; it is insurance you’re paying to yourself, a buffer between you and life.


4 ~ Invest 15% of income
When you reach this step, you’ll have no payments—except the house—and a fully funded emergency fund. Now it’s time to get serious about building wealth.   Dave suggests investing 15% of your household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement plans. Don’t invest more than that because the extra money will help you complete the next two steps: college savings and paying off your home early.  Why shouldn’t you invest less than 15%? Some people choose to invest a small amount, if anything, because they want to get a child through school or pay off the home in a hurry. But the kids’ degrees won’t feed you at retirement, and if you throw all your money into your mortgage at this point, you’ll end up having to sell the house and buy the book 72 Ways to Prepare Alpo and Love It. Bad plan.


5 ~ College Funding for children
By this point, you should have already started Baby Step 4—investing 15% of your income—before saving for college. Whether you are saving for you or your child to go to college, you need to start now.  In order to have enough money saved for college, you need to have a goal. Determine how much per month you should be saving at 12% interest in order to have enough for college. If you save at 12% and inflation is at 4%, then you are moving ahead of inflation at a net of 8% per year!

Never save for college using:
Insurance
Savings bonds (only 5-6% growth)
Zero-coupon bonds. (only 6-8% growth)
Pre-paid college tuition (only 7% inflation rate)
The best way to save for college is with Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) and 529 plans. Remember, college is possible without loans!


6 ~ Pay the Home off early
Now it’s time to begin chunking all of your extra money toward the mortgage. You are getting closer to realizing the dream of a life with no house payments.   As you attack this last debt, you will gain momentum much like you did back in the second step of the debt snowball. Remember, having absolutely no payments is totally within your reach!


7 ~ Build Wealth & Give
It’s time to build wealth and give like never before. Leave an inheritance for future generations, and bless others now with your excess. It's really the only way to live!  Golda Meir says, “You can’t shake hands with a clenched fist.” Vow to never hold your money so tightly that you never give any away. Hoarding money is not the way to wealth. Save for yourself, save for your family’s future, and be gracious enough to bless others. You can do all three at the same time.