To Bro Clifton & Sis Betty!
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Thursday, July 27, 2006
I feel very honored to have a VERY special house guest in my home this weekend.Welcome Sister Betty. Love & appreciate you very much.
And she will be here for good - Lord willing in September!
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Want to share a quote with you this morning.
"We must be willing to get rid of the life we planned,
so that we can have the life that is waiting for us." Joseph Campbell.
Now, I don't know who Joseph is, but what he said is true. When we get saved, our whole lives change - including our "hopes and our dreams". Our priorities change along with this. Back in 1993 I had everything I wanted. I had an old "farm house" and a mini farm to go with it. My purpose was to get off to ourselves and become basically self sufficient in every way. That meant, we had a milk cow, named Bessie, for our milk & we made our own butter. We had chickens for eggs & meat. We had some pigs that DD#1 named Cleopatra & Carletta (don't ever name an animal you are rasing for meat) that we butchered, we had plenty of venison as well. We even had a duck named Petunia who love to "help" us plant our flower beds. I had it all, husband making good money & I was able to be a SAHM - my dream was to have a farm that was self sufficient and after it got on its own feet we could take in underpriviledged children for a week at a time and let them "work" on the farm as in the olden days. Give them a taste of farm life if you will. Life was perfect.
I got into a discussion with a relative & we were discussing what women should wear and I voiced what the bible said about it. S he said "Lori, if you believe that way, then why are YOU not living it?" I was so ashamed at that point, and my life has never been the same. You see, God used that phrase to start dealing with me. I looked around my "camelot" and realized that it could not fill the void in my heart. I was empty inside, I was only living for this world - in the end after all my dreams came into reality - where would it leave me at the judgement? I had everything I wanted, but there was a hole in my life, I was miserable, had made a horrible mess out of not only MY life, but our children as well, there was no inner peace, what example was I giving to my children? And if M (relative mentioned above) could live what she believed in, what was I doing - living a way that I knew was NOT right for me? Was I a hypocrit living that way? Living contrary to what I really believed? I sought God with all my heart. I know that he doesn't answer a sinner's prayer except for repentance, but I asked him to show ME what was right for ME - I didn't want to get saved and go to the Church of God just because my mom, sibling & my FIL went there & it would be "expected of me". I wanted to KNOW in MY heart that it was the right way to go. God gave me a strong desire to read & search the scriptures for the answers. I started practicing Deu 22:5 and started looking up what God said about sinning & claiming to be saved at the same time! I wanted to KNOW these things in my heart. I started making a change in my life even BEFORE I got saved. I had to PROVE to MYSELF that I really wanted this way of life. You see, as God was dealing with my heart, the enemy of our souls was there too - he was telling me that "I was a failure - had been a failure - and would NEVER be able to live it. I had tried too many times. I had gone out in sin & done too much stuff, I had almost destroyed my marriage, my children, there was NO way that I would be able to live it & be happy. Just forget about it." Well dear ones, one thing that I have learned, is that "SATAN IS A LIAR".
I was hungry & I was thirsty. Bro Pastor has been preaching a series on the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5: 1-11 and in verse 6 it reads "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." So that was my promise.
I didn't get 'saved' the traditional way, no, I called my FIL (who was Pastor at Westlawn Church of God at the time) and asked if HE had been praying extra for me. I didn't have "plans" to get saved that morning - I was just trying to get my ducks in a row if you will before I took that step. That was at 9am on a Tuesday morning, April 19, 1994. I was in my living room 171 miles away from Westlawn. After counselling & prayer, God forgave me of my sins to SIN NO MORE, God saved my soul.
My life changed completely that morning & its never been the same since! In order to get to church my children and I drove one way (171 miles doorstep to doorstep) for 13 months every weekend. Why didn't we move sooner? Several factors but the most important one is - God didn't work it out right away - he allowed that time to prove myself to HIM that I was determined to STAY saved by God's grace. He told me in Matthew 6:33 - "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you". I did just that & God worked it out that we moved to Huntsville after our oldest daughter graduated from High School. We packed the truck all day long, took time out to go to the ceremony, came home and changed clothes & moved to Huntsville that night!
So, I said all this so that you could see how my dreams have changed - I no longer live for what I want. That was another whole lifetime ago. I no longer do the things I used to do, think like I used to think, act & react like I used to. You see, God made me a new creature, 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." And for me, all things did become new - the grass looked greener, food tasted better, my outlook / future looked brighter, I was a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend. One of my siblings told me they were glad that I had gotten saved as they didn't like me when I wasn't! Wow, that was a shock! But looking back I can see how that was true. I was out for ME ME ME, didn't care what I did - who I stepped over to get what I wanted WHEN I wanted it! I was a miserable person, but Praise God, I am no more! I have that Peace, Joy, and Righteousness the Bible talks about.
I could go on & on and tell you what all God has done for me these past 12 years since my life has changed, but I will save it for later maybe. But I am sure glad that I was WILLING to get RID of my OLD plans/life so that I could live the life that God had planned for ME. Glory to God, he gets ALL the praise. Praise His Holy Name.
"We must be willing to get rid of the life we planned,
so that we can have the life that is waiting for us." Joseph Campbell.
Now, I don't know who Joseph is, but what he said is true. When we get saved, our whole lives change - including our "hopes and our dreams". Our priorities change along with this. Back in 1993 I had everything I wanted. I had an old "farm house" and a mini farm to go with it. My purpose was to get off to ourselves and become basically self sufficient in every way. That meant, we had a milk cow, named Bessie, for our milk & we made our own butter. We had chickens for eggs & meat. We had some pigs that DD#1 named Cleopatra & Carletta (don't ever name an animal you are rasing for meat) that we butchered, we had plenty of venison as well. We even had a duck named Petunia who love to "help" us plant our flower beds. I had it all, husband making good money & I was able to be a SAHM - my dream was to have a farm that was self sufficient and after it got on its own feet we could take in underpriviledged children for a week at a time and let them "work" on the farm as in the olden days. Give them a taste of farm life if you will. Life was perfect.
I got into a discussion with a relative & we were discussing what women should wear and I voiced what the bible said about it. S he said "Lori, if you believe that way, then why are YOU not living it?" I was so ashamed at that point, and my life has never been the same. You see, God used that phrase to start dealing with me. I looked around my "camelot" and realized that it could not fill the void in my heart. I was empty inside, I was only living for this world - in the end after all my dreams came into reality - where would it leave me at the judgement? I had everything I wanted, but there was a hole in my life, I was miserable, had made a horrible mess out of not only MY life, but our children as well, there was no inner peace, what example was I giving to my children? And if M (relative mentioned above) could live what she believed in, what was I doing - living a way that I knew was NOT right for me? Was I a hypocrit living that way? Living contrary to what I really believed? I sought God with all my heart. I know that he doesn't answer a sinner's prayer except for repentance, but I asked him to show ME what was right for ME - I didn't want to get saved and go to the Church of God just because my mom, sibling & my FIL went there & it would be "expected of me". I wanted to KNOW in MY heart that it was the right way to go. God gave me a strong desire to read & search the scriptures for the answers. I started practicing Deu 22:5 and started looking up what God said about sinning & claiming to be saved at the same time! I wanted to KNOW these things in my heart. I started making a change in my life even BEFORE I got saved. I had to PROVE to MYSELF that I really wanted this way of life. You see, as God was dealing with my heart, the enemy of our souls was there too - he was telling me that "I was a failure - had been a failure - and would NEVER be able to live it. I had tried too many times. I had gone out in sin & done too much stuff, I had almost destroyed my marriage, my children, there was NO way that I would be able to live it & be happy. Just forget about it." Well dear ones, one thing that I have learned, is that "SATAN IS A LIAR".
I was hungry & I was thirsty. Bro Pastor has been preaching a series on the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5: 1-11 and in verse 6 it reads "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." So that was my promise.
I didn't get 'saved' the traditional way, no, I called my FIL (who was Pastor at Westlawn Church of God at the time) and asked if HE had been praying extra for me. I didn't have "plans" to get saved that morning - I was just trying to get my ducks in a row if you will before I took that step. That was at 9am on a Tuesday morning, April 19, 1994. I was in my living room 171 miles away from Westlawn. After counselling & prayer, God forgave me of my sins to SIN NO MORE, God saved my soul.
My life changed completely that morning & its never been the same since! In order to get to church my children and I drove one way (171 miles doorstep to doorstep) for 13 months every weekend. Why didn't we move sooner? Several factors but the most important one is - God didn't work it out right away - he allowed that time to prove myself to HIM that I was determined to STAY saved by God's grace. He told me in Matthew 6:33 - "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you". I did just that & God worked it out that we moved to Huntsville after our oldest daughter graduated from High School. We packed the truck all day long, took time out to go to the ceremony, came home and changed clothes & moved to Huntsville that night!
So, I said all this so that you could see how my dreams have changed - I no longer live for what I want. That was another whole lifetime ago. I no longer do the things I used to do, think like I used to think, act & react like I used to. You see, God made me a new creature, 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." And for me, all things did become new - the grass looked greener, food tasted better, my outlook / future looked brighter, I was a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend. One of my siblings told me they were glad that I had gotten saved as they didn't like me when I wasn't! Wow, that was a shock! But looking back I can see how that was true. I was out for ME ME ME, didn't care what I did - who I stepped over to get what I wanted WHEN I wanted it! I was a miserable person, but Praise God, I am no more! I have that Peace, Joy, and Righteousness the Bible talks about.
I could go on & on and tell you what all God has done for me these past 12 years since my life has changed, but I will save it for later maybe. But I am sure glad that I was WILLING to get RID of my OLD plans/life so that I could live the life that God had planned for ME. Glory to God, he gets ALL the praise. Praise His Holy Name.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Friday, July 21, 2006
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
As children bring their broken toys
with tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God
Because he was my friend.
But then instead of leaving him
in peace to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help
with ways that were my own.
At last I snatched them back
and cried, "how can you be so slow?"
"My child," he said, "what could I do?
You never did let go">
Let go & let God..............
I do not know who the author is of this poem, but it
is one of my favorites of all time. "Let go & Let God"
pretty much sums it all up.
Good night everyone.............Where ever you may be...........
Today is Wednesday, looking forward to church tonight. Gives me a break from the world &
a re-charge for the the rest of the week!
I was going to put something important in today's blog - but I forgot what it was - I was going to make a comment on the phrase on my little perpetual calendar, but since it is at home, I can't look at it to jog my memory! Isn't that sad??
Well, I was going to sit and do some serious scrapbooking last night, but being OCD, I had to clean/organize/re-position my scrapping area before I could do that, and by the time I got it all done - it was time to check my blogs & go to bed. Maybe I can get some done tonight after church if its not too late...........
I love to serve my Jesus, a priviledge sublime........
Ever looked at words & thought "hm, that don't look right - wonder where they came up with that one at?" Take the word "hospital" - how did they come up with "pital"? I know it comes from Hospitality, but WHY did the put "pital" in there?? Enquiring minds wanna know! LOL
Ok, enough now, gotta go back to work, break is over.........
a re-charge for the the rest of the week!
I was going to put something important in today's blog - but I forgot what it was - I was going to make a comment on the phrase on my little perpetual calendar, but since it is at home, I can't look at it to jog my memory! Isn't that sad??
Well, I was going to sit and do some serious scrapbooking last night, but being OCD, I had to clean/organize/re-position my scrapping area before I could do that, and by the time I got it all done - it was time to check my blogs & go to bed. Maybe I can get some done tonight after church if its not too late...........
I love to serve my Jesus, a priviledge sublime........
Ever looked at words & thought "hm, that don't look right - wonder where they came up with that one at?" Take the word "hospital" - how did they come up with "pital"? I know it comes from Hospitality, but WHY did the put "pital" in there?? Enquiring minds wanna know! LOL
Ok, enough now, gotta go back to work, break is over.........
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
This is the quote on my calendar - thought it very good & wanted to share it with you.
"As soon as you notice the slightest sign of indifference..........the loss of a certain seriousness, of longing, of enthusiasm and zest, take it as a warning." Albert Schweitzer
We can apply this not only to our physical side of life, but it also can apply to our spiritual side. You know backsliding doesn't happen over night - no, you backslide gradually. A little here & and a little there, till discouragment sets in & "poof" your gone. But if we take heed to the little warning signs as this quote states and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, instead of just ignoring it - you can stay saved. When I first got saved I remember a beautiful saint of God makeing the statement "If you WANT to be kept, you CAN be kept". That has stuck with me through the bad times I faced in my life. The song that Bro & Sis Nordstrom sing - "Hold a Little Tighter - Tighter (no, its not Tiger) to the line" is an encouraging song & has a strong message in it that keeps me holding tighter to the line. God has been so good to me - I never want to fail him. I want to finish my course KEEPING the faith.
If you visit my site - please leave me a note & let me know you've been here. Thank you.
"As soon as you notice the slightest sign of indifference..........the loss of a certain seriousness, of longing, of enthusiasm and zest, take it as a warning." Albert Schweitzer
We can apply this not only to our physical side of life, but it also can apply to our spiritual side. You know backsliding doesn't happen over night - no, you backslide gradually. A little here & and a little there, till discouragment sets in & "poof" your gone. But if we take heed to the little warning signs as this quote states and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, instead of just ignoring it - you can stay saved. When I first got saved I remember a beautiful saint of God makeing the statement "If you WANT to be kept, you CAN be kept". That has stuck with me through the bad times I faced in my life. The song that Bro & Sis Nordstrom sing - "Hold a Little Tighter - Tighter (no, its not Tiger) to the line" is an encouraging song & has a strong message in it that keeps me holding tighter to the line. God has been so good to me - I never want to fail him. I want to finish my course KEEPING the faith.
If you visit my site - please leave me a note & let me know you've been here. Thank you.
Monday, July 17, 2006
The day started out not very promising.
I will look for the good in it as Bro HKG would say.
And there is good in it, here are just a few of my blessings.
I woke up this morning & got ready for work & went out & had a flat tire. Wouldn't be a bad thing necessarily, however, I just had a flat fixed last week on the same side but the back tire. So now I had a flat on the same side but on the front (intentionally trying to confuse you - did I succeed?). Well needless to say - I must have found a bed of nails or something, cause that is the culprit in both tires. :-( So I got to work late this morning & and I guess getting out of my routine is not a good thing. But I will get over it.
I do however want to share this bit of info with you - as a single woman I find it hard to find a mechanic that will be "honest" with me & NOT rip me off just cause I am a woman. I found a one when I had to get the flat fixed last week. I went in & had intentions of pricing a new set of tires all the way around for my car, but when he went out to check them - informed me that I had over 10K miles left on the current tires. The tread looked good and he didn't find in a necessity at that time. (NOTE: Now, when I had my oil changed last month I was informed by the manager at the dealership that my tires were in bad shape & would need replacing immediately and had me sort of concerned about even driving it. This is the same said people who priced a transmission job for me at $38oo - when I informed them I didn't have that amount of funds came down to $1800 - what is up with that? - They didn't get to fix it either)Return now to the new mechanic - when I complimented him on his honesty & thanked him for being honest with me - he said that "in his business its hard to be honest, but that they work extra hard at it." So they will get my return business for sure - Let me introduce you to Bush Tire on the Parkway - otherwise known as "BF Goodrich".
So life is good, and I am glad that I am still here!
I will look for the good in it as Bro HKG would say.
And there is good in it, here are just a few of my blessings.
1. I am Saved, Sanctified & Unified with the Body of Christ
2. Am alive & am in good health
3. Have a wonderful family (and a newly saved Daughter)
4. Have wonderful Grandchildren
5. Have a good job with a wonderful boss
The list could go on & on & on, but I will stop now.
I woke up this morning & got ready for work & went out & had a flat tire. Wouldn't be a bad thing necessarily, however, I just had a flat fixed last week on the same side but the back tire. So now I had a flat on the same side but on the front (intentionally trying to confuse you - did I succeed?). Well needless to say - I must have found a bed of nails or something, cause that is the culprit in both tires. :-( So I got to work late this morning & and I guess getting out of my routine is not a good thing. But I will get over it.
I do however want to share this bit of info with you - as a single woman I find it hard to find a mechanic that will be "honest" with me & NOT rip me off just cause I am a woman. I found a one when I had to get the flat fixed last week. I went in & had intentions of pricing a new set of tires all the way around for my car, but when he went out to check them - informed me that I had over 10K miles left on the current tires. The tread looked good and he didn't find in a necessity at that time. (NOTE: Now, when I had my oil changed last month I was informed by the manager at the dealership that my tires were in bad shape & would need replacing immediately and had me sort of concerned about even driving it. This is the same said people who priced a transmission job for me at $38oo - when I informed them I didn't have that amount of funds came down to $1800 - what is up with that? - They didn't get to fix it either)Return now to the new mechanic - when I complimented him on his honesty & thanked him for being honest with me - he said that "in his business its hard to be honest, but that they work extra hard at it." So they will get my return business for sure - Let me introduce you to Bush Tire on the Parkway - otherwise known as "BF Goodrich".
So life is good, and I am glad that I am still here!
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Thursday, July 13, 2006
 | Tenderheart Bear |
Doing my daily devotions Monday - this scripture stood out to me. Bro Sanford preached a wonderful message in Lakeland & quoted this verse. What does it mean to me? I went online to find where it was located & came across this "e-letter" & thought I would share it with you.
QUOTE: "It’s easy to get discouraged when you are faced with adversity. But that’s no reason to give in, no reason to listen to that voice of discouragement, that voice that says to quit, no one will know or care, you have a good excuse to not give it your all, people will understand. God knows, and you know if you've given everything you have. Our example is Jesus. When He was faced with the cross – a horrible death by crucifixion – and the torturous beatings leading up to it that left him nearly unrecognizable as a man, what did He do? He persevered. He went and did what He was born to do, offering up a perfect, sinless sacrifice. He did it out of love for His people, His sheep, His followers, and multitudes of people in all... and you and me. How can we ever justify quitting when the going gets tough when we have the example of Jesus Christ, who loved us and gave Himself for us?" (unquote)
My Thoughts:
This is pretty profound & it makes me realize just how much I must rely on God on a daily basis for strength to press the battle on. (I am in NO way discouraged - I'm more determined then ever to serve God) I sit here reflecting on what all God has done for me these past 12 years and I give Him praise for EVERYTHING - all the hard times, all the trials, temptations to give in have only made me stronger in my daily walk with Him. When those around me fall by the wayside - there is sadness in my heart that I cannot describe in words. I know the heartache and the wickedness they face out there & it is so NOT worth giving up the wonderful life God has for them. Why, oh why, do they want to throw it all away & go back to the sinful life they had, to a master that cares NOTHING about THEM as a person - he only wants the for a trophy? After he has discouraged them, he isn't finished with a person just because they have backslid - NO, he will not stop till he has TOTALLY DESTROYED them & everything GOOD about them & they are in the grave. How sad, when the Heavenly Father gave HIS ONLY Son to die for YOU & ME & forgives you of your sins & your sinful past & then gives you power to say NO to sin on a daily basis & has made provisions for us that we can live HOLY on a DAILY basis. I thank God that he delivered me from a rotten & terrible messed up life. He has changed my life COMPLETELY. I am a NEW CREATURE (2 Cor. 5:17) - I am NOT the woman I used to be. Why oh why would I even THINK of returning to that horrible wicked person I once was? Adversity - no, its not always pleasant, but neither was dying on the cross so that I could be saved. I owe my life to HIM - I WANT to be enslaved to HIM - God, I love you - thank you for giving your Son so that I could be saved. Thank you God for the wonderful life you've given me. My prayer tonight is that someone will read my thoughts & that it would provoke them to think about the life they are living now & have a desire for a life like I have tonight. Love, joy, Peace, Contentment, Happiness - there are just no words to describe it.
QUOTE: "It’s easy to get discouraged when you are faced with adversity. But that’s no reason to give in, no reason to listen to that voice of discouragement, that voice that says to quit, no one will know or care, you have a good excuse to not give it your all, people will understand. God knows, and you know if you've given everything you have. Our example is Jesus. When He was faced with the cross – a horrible death by crucifixion – and the torturous beatings leading up to it that left him nearly unrecognizable as a man, what did He do? He persevered. He went and did what He was born to do, offering up a perfect, sinless sacrifice. He did it out of love for His people, His sheep, His followers, and multitudes of people in all... and you and me. How can we ever justify quitting when the going gets tough when we have the example of Jesus Christ, who loved us and gave Himself for us?" (unquote)
My Thoughts:
This is pretty profound & it makes me realize just how much I must rely on God on a daily basis for strength to press the battle on. (I am in NO way discouraged - I'm more determined then ever to serve God) I sit here reflecting on what all God has done for me these past 12 years and I give Him praise for EVERYTHING - all the hard times, all the trials, temptations to give in have only made me stronger in my daily walk with Him. When those around me fall by the wayside - there is sadness in my heart that I cannot describe in words. I know the heartache and the wickedness they face out there & it is so NOT worth giving up the wonderful life God has for them. Why, oh why, do they want to throw it all away & go back to the sinful life they had, to a master that cares NOTHING about THEM as a person - he only wants the for a trophy? After he has discouraged them, he isn't finished with a person just because they have backslid - NO, he will not stop till he has TOTALLY DESTROYED them & everything GOOD about them & they are in the grave. How sad, when the Heavenly Father gave HIS ONLY Son to die for YOU & ME & forgives you of your sins & your sinful past & then gives you power to say NO to sin on a daily basis & has made provisions for us that we can live HOLY on a DAILY basis. I thank God that he delivered me from a rotten & terrible messed up life. He has changed my life COMPLETELY. I am a NEW CREATURE (2 Cor. 5:17) - I am NOT the woman I used to be. Why oh why would I even THINK of returning to that horrible wicked person I once was? Adversity - no, its not always pleasant, but neither was dying on the cross so that I could be saved. I owe my life to HIM - I WANT to be enslaved to HIM - God, I love you - thank you for giving your Son so that I could be saved. Thank you God for the wonderful life you've given me. My prayer tonight is that someone will read my thoughts & that it would provoke them to think about the life they are living now & have a desire for a life like I have tonight. Love, joy, Peace, Contentment, Happiness - there are just no words to describe it.
