Nominated!!!!! Me?????

First off, let me just say how very honored I am!  I was so very blessed to have had my blog nominated as a favorite by Amanda Rose.  She has a blog entitled "It's the LIttle Things in Life", and she nominated me!  I do not know her personally, but she found my blog and has been reading it as often as I post.  I am thankful and so very honored.  Thank you Amanda!  I look forward to reading your blogs!


If you would like to participate here are the rules:
1. Show your thanks by linking the person who nominated you.
2. Leave links to five of your top blogs and leave a comment letting them know too!
3. Post the award on your blog.
4. Enjoy the Love :)


Now to nominate my top blogs...


1.  A dear friend of mine is a wonderful mother and wife, and an amazing writer.  Colleen's blog is full of godly wisdom, charm, and a real sense of life.  She expresses her heart beautifully in her Becoming Chao blog.  This is a definite must read.


2.  My dear Autumn Rae loves to share all the things God is doing in her life.  She shares so beautifully the things He is teaching her.  She allows others to see how He works through her to constantly change her into who He wants her to be.  Come Away with Me is an awesome blog!


3.  And if it is gardening you are into, you must check this blog out!  Extreme Gardener covers it all.  She is a VERY dear friend of mine who loves the Lord and loves her garden!  She broaches various subjects on her blog: gardening, God, her non-profit that she works with, and the love of her family.  She inspires me every time I read her blog...and it makes me miss her too! :)


I hope you enjoy checking out these blogs and that it inspires you to write all the more!  Happy blogging!

Desperate for Grace

Time after time, day after day, I find myself desperate for grace. With my tremendous need though, comes God's abundant grace. He lavishes it upon me through every circumstance. As I grow more and choose to walk in His ways, I am understanding more of how His grace is readily available when I fall face-down and choose to let Him pour it upon me.

Minute by minute I see my need for grace. For every unkind word I've spoken, He pours out His grace. For every hurtful look I've given, He lavishes grace. For each spiteful thought, His grace. God redeems my mistakes and challenges me to do it right the next time. Do I always follow? I wish I did. But this I do know: because of His AMAZING grace, I WANT to be a kinder, more gentle, forgiving person. His grace causes me to want to lay aside my flesh and see as He sees.

I am desperate for grace. It causes me to see Him more clearly.

Fill 'er Up!

Take a can of soda.

Imagine trying to remove all the bad from it to make it good. Impossible, right? Yes! After a while, removing all the bad has only left you with an empty soda can.

Now, relate that to your spiritual life.

Imagine yourself, day after day, trying to remove all the bad in an attempt to make yourself good. Have you tried it? Does it work? Well, if we are honest, the answer is no. As honorable an effort as that might be, it is not productive and leaves us defeated. We could potentially spend every waking moment trying to rid ourselves of all the bad we find in our lives. At some point we have to begin to fill our lives with good to replace the bad, not simply remove all of the bad.

God has given us so many good things to fill our lives with that we can begin the transformation with any number of them. Seek first the kingdom...see what He has waiting for you. Fill your life with things that are excellent, praiseworthy, noble, and edifying. See how quickly transformation takes place and the junk of our sinful nature subsides. When we spend time pouring good into our lives, we can't help but be changed.

Love Beyond

I was reading through Hebrews yesterday and God just gave me this poem. I LOVE how He does that....


God, being a Lover of Man
reached down with His outstretched hand
His love went beyond all reasonable thought
as He sent His Son to die and therein bought
our freedom from sin and death

He who suffered and those He rescued
now called family, no longer destitute
He calls us His own, we're bought with a price
now one with Him who redeemed all our lives
to live for eternity in glory with Him

I'm Becoming a Cowboy!

I never thought I wanted to be a cowboy, but as it turns out, I do!

We are instructed in 2 Corinthians 10 to "[bring] every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." The word used for captivity in this passage means to lead away as a prisoner. This is similar in context to a cowboy riding a horse and lassoing his prey.

When a cowboy swings his lasso around in the air, his focus is on his prey. He reaches high into the heavens with his hand outstretched, concentrating, focusing on the cattle in front of him. Then he swings his arm around one last time and lets the rope go, lasso falling on the animal in his sight. Once he "ropes" the animal he jumps off his horse and ties the prey up, wrapping him by the feet so he can no longer move around and have free reign. He is held captive by this cowboy.

So it is with us in the battlefield of our mind. We are to take our thoughts that are unpleasing to the Lord, lasso them, tie them up completely, and stop them from roaming free in our minds. Only then can we be victorious and walk this race with endurance, the race that God has set before us. We can be victorious!

Planned Neglect

Most often we would all consider it immature or irresponsible to be neglectful. Neglect is looked at as a sign of weakness or frailty. In this instance, I would disagree.

In our lives we often get so consumed with our daily activities and routines that we in turn become neglectful; neglectful of God, what He is saying to us, what He wants to do through us. We get so caught up in what we are doing that we forget to be attentive to Him.

Maybe the solution is to plan a little neglect. Planning to neglect the things that will distance up from the voice of God, could draw us closer to Him. When we lay aside all things that hinder us, we are then free to fly.

The Bible tells us to "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Hebrews 12:1). In doing this we can be victorious against sin and lead a life that is all that God has planned for us.

Pieces from Greg Laurie devotional, Beyond

Words are not Enough

I am at a loss for words.

God never fails to be amazing. He knows the innermost workings of my heart, yet He continues to lavish His grace upon me. I don't understand or comprehend such beauty and grace, but I am thankful.

I sit here tonight, completely humbled and broken. I have encountered my God tonight in a way that I have not experienced in a long time. I have missed Him.

God has been speaking very sweetly to me for quite some time now, about surrendering ALL to Him. Yeah, yeah we have all heard it before, but this time it is different. God has been calling me away with Him and I have resisted out of pure, selfish, stubborn pride. I have wanted to do my own thing in my own way. But God is too kind and compassionate to allow that go on forever. :) (Thank you LORD!)

Wednesday started out like any other day, but it ended with a challenge from God to surrender all. It came in the form of a testimony from an 18 year old boy, who discovered at such a young age, that life is not worth living unless it is being lived in full submission to Christ. That night I prayed and sought the Lord for strength to give Him all of my fears, my sins, my dreams, my desires...

Thursday brought sweet fellowship with God; just me, my Bible, my cup of tea, my blanket, and my Jesus!. I poured out my heart to Him and felt that this time it was real, this time it was different.

Then came Friday...why is it that when you are seeking God whole heartedly that temptation and sin seem the strongest? Well, I had a setback and allowed my flesh to overpower my spirit.... I HATE SIN!

But TODAY...oh how beautiful my precious God is! Church was awesome and challenged me to be changed in Him. Then I came home and "stumbled" (it was no accident...God had it planned all along) upon a friend's blog that TOTALLY convicted me. I KNOW that God had her write that just for me.

I have not felt this peaceful in the arms of God in a long, long time. I am assured that He is gracefully watching over me and drawing me back in...He is breaking me right now of some things that are hindering our relationship, and it hurts. But I want it more than anything...

As promised, unlike last year, here is the cd insert for the 2010 cd. :) The order somehow got all messed up so I honestly have no idea what order the songs are on the cd...sorry about that. But, at least you will have the name and artist of each song! :) It will be like a treasure hunt to figure out which song is which! :) Merry Christmas, friends!

1. Your Love Sets mMe Free by The Advice
2. Your Beloved by By the Tree
3. Walking on the Stars by Group 1 Crew
4. Oh, Happiness by David Crowder Band
5. No Matter What by Kerrie Roberts
6. Unashamed by Starfield
7. Angels We Have Heard on High by Relient K
8. Hanging On by Britt Nicole
9. Light Up the Sky by The Afters
10. You Can Have Me by Sidewalk Prophets
11. Revelation Song by Kari Jobe
12. Our God by Chris Tomlin
13. We Are by Joy Williams
14. Starry Night by Chris AUgust
15. This is Our God by Chris Tomlin
16. You ALone Can Rescue by Matt Redman
17. At the Cross by Hillsong
18. Christmas Time by Phil Wickham

Another Blog :)

I now have the Home for Hope blog on blogspot! I hope that you can find it easier now to follow the happenings of Home for Hope! We can't wait to see you there! http://homeforhopeav.blogspot.com/

Did You Miss Me?

Well, friends, did you miss me? I think I have been gone from my blog for quite a while now, but do not fear, I have returned!

I do miss writing and sharing my thoughts, but I sometimes get into a "funk" and decide I don't want to write. But I have purposed to begin writing again, so be on the lookout... more to come! :)

2009 Christmas CD

Hello everyone! I will be working on the cd insert later today, I just have not had a chance as of yet! So, if you are here looking for that, do not fear...it is coming!!!!

To Have Unconditional Faith

The difference between conditional faith and unconditional faith... I've never thought much about it until yesterday. What if a traumatic event occurred in my life tomorrow, would I still have faith in the only One who could heal my brokenness????

Up until yesterday, I have always thought that a tragedy in my life would be the end of life as I knew it, that I would not be able to get up off the floor ever again; but I received a little perspective from God yesterday.

So, what if someone I loved dearly was taken from me, or I was stricken with a terminal illness? What would I do? How would that affect my life? My faith? God showed me very patiently through one of Beth Moore's stories that went something like this: "What if any of those things did happen? What would you do?" asked God. My response, "Well, I would cry, a lot". Then God said, "Okay, then what?" "Well, Lord, I would go into a depression." "Okay then what?" He asked. "I would spend a lot of time on the floor, asking why." "Okay, then what?" He said. "I would read my Bible to find comfort." "Okay, then what? He said. "Then I would miss serving You and desire to be in ministry again." "Okay, then what?" He asked. "Then I would realize that if something horrible happens then YOU ARE STILL YOU."

I spent this morning crying my eyes out and pleading with the Lord to allow me to have that kind of unconditional faith. I don't want faith that is contingent upon bad things not happening to me. When the hard things happen, I want to cling to Him because it is what I have always done. He showed me last night that I cannot rest my faith on things not happening because if they ever do, my entire life support will be taken away.

I need Him now more than I ever have. And I pray that as I learn to love Him more and more, I will be able to see that unconditional faith is worth far more than anything I could hope for. He will still be God, always. If tragedy, then GOD!

New Blog!

Ok ya'll! I know I have not been very diligent to keep this blog updated, but I started a new blog for this new venture I am about to embark on. So, if you have some time, check out http://web.me.com/fishlicity/. I hope you will bookmark that page as well and come back often to see all of the things God is doing!

Beholding is Becoming

Deuteronomy 10:16-17 gives us a very specific command.  It challenges us to "Circumcise [our] hearts therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer.  For the Lord your God, is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the GREAT GOD MIGHTY AND AWESOME!" This is part of the verse that I am memorizing right now.  I have been working on it for a little while now, but today something made me wonder...

The fourth word in this verse says "therefore".  To me that means that because of something previously stated, we should be moved to circumcise our hearts.  So what is the thing that has taken place that should cause me to circumcise my heart; to cut away anything at all that is hindering me from reaching heights with God?

Verse fifteen explains it very clearly.  It says that God has chosen me (and all of us) and set His affection on me and all of those who have come before me.  And because of this act of love that He so willingly gave, I should be allowing my heart to be molded and shaped into the things that are pleasing to Him.  This is a huge challenge and not an easy task, but it is required if any ground is to be gained on this spiritual journey. 

So, in light of God's Word, I am asking Him to help me and empower me to remove all the things that hinder me from meeting with Him and hearing from Him.  I am pleading with Him to get up in my business and remove the junk that I have placed in my heart... 

Will you join me in praying a dangerous prayer?  "God enlighten me to see myself in light of Your Word, to see myself for who I really am so that I can allow You to change me and circumcise my heart to be beautiful for You!"   

My Beloved

Dear My Beloved,

There has never been, and will never be, anyone more beautiful. I have never met anyone else that I have loved so very much from the first moment I met them.  You have shown me more love and care than anyone else ever could. I cannot imagine my life without you.

The moment I met you my life was changed forever.  There never was any inclination in my mind to turn back from this love.  I was, and continue to be, amazed at the depth of your beautiful love for me.  I cannot, most times, comprehend why you love me as you do.  I have not been the kind of person who deserves the love that you have given.  I am forever thankful, though, that you do choose to love me.  I could not ask for anything more.  

I think back to the beginning and I wonder how it is that you came to desire someone like me.  I know that I never showed you much interest, but you still pursued me to the uttermost.  I never could have loved you like that, yet you gave your all to me.  There never would be a relationship if you had not chased after me with all that you had.  I am thankful beyond words.

The heartfelt conversations we had, and continue to have, are such a treasure to me.  I get to know you more each time we sit and talk.  I love that about us!  Sometimes, I want to sit all day and listen to you: learning and soaking up all I can.  What thrills me more than anything is knowing you feel the same way towards me.  There cannot be a relationship anywhere that compares to the one that we have together.  

Now, as I imagine our future together, I can hardly contain myself.  I look forward to, with such great joy, falling more in love with you as each day passes.  I know we have an eternity to be in love, but I feel like I must know the depths of your love more and more each day. 

You have done all You could do to make sure that I loved You, and I cannot begin to tell You how much that really means to me.  You are my Beloved and are more breathtaking than anyone I have ever met.  You have loved me with an everlasting love and there could be nothing greater.  Jesus, You truly are My Beloved and I am so happy that I belong to You!

Happy Valentine's Day!

What a Teacher Really Means

I love being a teacher!  I love being able to connect with little people!  There have been some seriously amusing situations and comments involving my students, while there also have been some really profound and treasured moments as well.  I don't think there is a better job anywhere in the world!

For Christmas I got a flip calender from one of my students and I love some of the entries.  I thought I would share one of them with ya'll.

What Teacher Says:

Whenever I need help in class, I can always count on James to volunteer.  He genuinely enjoys it.

What Teacher Means:

If the little punk doesn't stop sucking up to me, I'm going to throw a stapler at him!

Hope this makes you smile! :)

A New Call

I never thought that I would ever do anything else but teach.  I can always remember wanting to teach and finally deciding that I  was actually going to do it.  So, with high school diploma in hand, off to college I went.  I  spent five years learning, studying, and accomplishing all I needed to be the best teacher that I could be, always imagining that I would always teach until the day of retirement.  

This year however, will be the second year in a row that I have gotten laid off.  Though I have not officially gotten my pink slip yet, it is coming.  But there is something different this time; I have a complete sense of peace because I feel like God shown me that teaching in the public school system is not all He has for me.

While I was in Bible College God showed me that there was more to life than what I was doing. Ever since then I have felt like I am to start a group home for foster children.  I have no idea how this will happen, but I am so ready!  I have started to work on the Non-profit organization paperwork and get that ball rolling.  While I get that started I also have in my sights on a piece of property that would make this dream a reality... the only problem is... it costs 3 million dollars! :)  But, I do know that if God wants me to do this, He will make it all happen.  

So, if I do really lose my job, I would like to really focus my energy on making this place a reality! So, keep an eye out for anyone willing to donate 3 million dollars to the cause! :)

Fertile Soil Equals Growth

While studying this morning I was led to the parable of the sower in Luke chapter 8.  As  I was reading the comments of Beth Moore on the subject, I got to thinking... what, in gardening terms, is the definition of fertile ground.  So, I did  a little investigating of my own (Mama Shari, aren't you proud... I'll be a gardner yet!) and then viewed it in light of a healthy walk with the Lord.  Here's what I came up with: 

Fertile soil must be:

1.  Rich with nutrients.  For any plant to grow healthy, the soil in which it is planted must be     filled with phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, and nitrogen.  When these elements are present   the soil is then considered to be fertile.  

How like our Christian life.  We cannot be a healthy and growing follower of Christ unless we are filled with the proper "nutrients" (the Word of God).  God's Word provides all we need for life and godliness.

2. Tilled.  The hard ground must be broken up and softened for the soil to be considered usable. The process of turning the soil upside down and inside out also allows more oxygen to flow through, giving it benefits to the plants that will be planted there.  

Like the ground being tilled, our hearts must be as well.  The hard heart must be broken up and pliable so God can speak and work.  Though this is a process that is far from "comfortable", it is a necessary part of being a healthy Christian. 

3. Able to retain nutrients.  The soil that retains the nutrients is the soil that produces the most growth.  The magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, and nitrogen all work together to produce healthy growth.

The word of God does that for the believer if we retain and apply it to our lives.  When we hear the Word we must allow it to take root and to allow it to penetrate well into our hearts.  As the Word dwells in us richly and we apply it to our everyday lives, then, and only then, can we become healthy.

Extraordinary Love Part 1

This is my first attempt at fictional writing. I'm not sure I can do it, but here is the first little snippet. Should I write the rest? :)

Extraordinary Love Part 1:

She never considered herself to be the sort that needed anything from anyone. She very much liked doing things her way, in her own time, at her own pace. She was doing just fine, at least that is what she convinced herself of.

Depraved, however, is what she really was. If she were to be honest with herself she would admit her dissoluteness. But wasn't that true of humanity? Weren't most individuals too proud to ask for help, while at the very same moment crying out to be helped? It is the paradox of human existence: living while never choosing to recognize the pulchritude of life as it has been given.

For her, though, she eventually came to admit how very wrong she had been. And now, her eyes seemed to be showing her things which she had never been able to see before; things she had missed and didn't even know she was missing. Why the change? The answer was simple; it was because he stepped into her life and changed it forever...

I Think I'm in Trouble

Today I introduced my students to the Cannonball read, but I put a little bit more of a twist on it. I told them that I would also be participating, and that I challenged them to each read 100 books before I read 100 books. Of course I did not tell them that I could not possibly read 100 books by the end of the school year (4 months from now), but it sure put a fire under their little tushies! All they wanted to do today is read, read, read! I will do my very best to read as many books as I possibly can, but I think I might be in a bit of trouble; their books, you see, are like 30 pages each... mine have to be 200 or more! Any suggestions??

I am putting up a chart with each of our names on it and a little bar graph so that at any moment they can see how many more books they have to read until they get to 100. They can also see how far BEHIND Miss La Rue is! :) This will hopefully motivate them even more to press on with the reading business! I am willing to be humiliated by third graders reading more books than me if will cause them to love to read; I'll take one for the team! :)

Cannonball Read

**UPDATED 3/17/09**

I have long since thought that reading has become a lost art. Did you know that less than 50% of American adults read literature today? That, if you ask me, is an absolute tragedy.

Being a teacher in the public school system, I have seen the decline in the desire to read starting as young as 8 years old.There is no longer a desire. Television, video and computer games have taken the place of reading a good book.

There is so much to be gained by reading. With a good book in hand so many possibilities open up. Vivid imaginations do not just form themselves; by reading frequently the imagination is stirred and thought processes run wild. No only that, the more one reads, the more exposure to print one has; they then become a more fluent reader, the quality of their spelling deepens, and the exposure to good writing is instilled. Most of our younger generation lack all of these skills. It is no wonder that the students we are producing are struggling readers.

What can we do about this you ask? Well, I am not sure I can change the world, but I am going to try. Starting with my little class of 3rd graders (who hate to read) I am challenging them with the cannonball read (a challenge that I am also undertaking myself). The cannonball read is a challenge to read 100 books in one year. Yes, it is designed for adults because the books have to be more than 200 pages and are not to be short stories, but I am adapting it to my class and just asking them to read 100 books each. What is the incentive???? I told them that those who succeed will get a limo ride with Miss La Rue to a movie and lunch destination of their choice. So, may the challenge begin! Anyone else up for it????

January 2009:

The Sunday Philosophy Club by A.M. Smith

The Shack by Wm. Paul Young

February 2009:

The Soloist by Steve Lopez

Currently reading: The Warrior by Francine Rivers

3 done, 97 more to go!

To Do Them All...

Being the very good student that I am, when given an assignment, I do it. So, thanks to Heather, I have an assignment to do. The assignment is to create sort of a bucket list. I am to write down things I would like to do in my lifetime. I will start the list of with the things I wish to do in 2009 and then the rest of the list will be what I have my lifetime to achieve. If you feel so inclined, jump right in and join me and post your list on your blog too!

2009:

• read 100 books
• mentor a child in the Big Sister program
• start a homeless food kitchen through my church
• teach the struggling readers in my class to read
• buy a house
• memorize 100 scriptures
• see prayer really change lives
• take a writing class
• start my Master's degree
• write blogs that encourage others to walk with Jesus
• take a Spanish class and learn the language fluently
• sponsor Compassion Sunday at my church in April

To accomplish over my lifetime:

• write a book (or two)
• build Hope House for orphans
• read all the Newberry Award winner books
• help a child achieve their dreams
• become a good cook
• study EVERY book of the Bible inductively the Kay Arthur way
• meet Beth Moore and tell her how much she has inspired me
• spend a month in England
• learn to play the piano
• learn to play the guitar
• become a linguist
• see my family come to Christ
• be a part of the rapture of the church (Oh yeah!)

I can't think of anything else right now. I will let you know when I add more. But for now, that should keep me busy enough!

Birthday Blessings

There were great plans for the weekend. A birthday day at the Happiest Place on Earth... that's right, Disneyland! Since this year you get in free on your birthday I was going to take advantage of it. My mom, Step dad, and brother were all headed to visit Mickey right along with me, but that sort of fell apart when my mom got bronchitis and was at home in bed all weekend. It was no big thing though... I know we will get there eventually. I was kind of bummed since I was looking forward to hanging with the fam at my favorite place in the world, but another time I suppose.

Instead I got to spend the day at home sitting with my Bible and being blessed by gifts and flowers, hugs, birthday songs and phone calls. I enjoyed my day at home.

I got to spend my birthday evening with my Grandma, my brother, and my stepdad at my favorite restaurant, Claim Jumper. I got to indulge in some delicious fare and an even more delicious dessert... the CHOCOLATE CHIP CALZONE! Ok, I am not even a chocolate fan, but this dessert is AMAZING! It is better than amazing; it's deliciously, deliriously, delectable (do you like how I used all d's to describe the dessert). If you have not had the pleasure of giving yourself over to one of these desserts, please do so immediately!

The Poor, Pitiful Blog

I must not be a very good blog writer. Seriously. My friends are getting nominations for best blog of the year and I can't get a comment to save my life! Who knows if anyone is even reading this thing! I even sent out Christmas cds to 50 people with the blog address and not ONE reply! NOT ONE! Wow... I better step it up a notch!

I guess I could write about what time I got up, what I ate for breakfast, or how long it took me to drive to work this morning... maybe those things would be more interesting to my readers (which apparently I have none) than what I am currently writing about. Wow! I better research some creative ways to get people to interact with me on this thing! (Now picture me pouting with my lip stuck out really far and my puppy dog eyes all droopy like)...

Back to Basics

Every year, for the last five years, I have asked the Lord to give me a scripture for the year; something that is between Him and me, something we can work on together. Each year He has been faithful to show me a specific scripture that has been a challenge and a blessing all at the same time. This year is no exception.

In years past the scriptures have always been ones that have challenged me to move forward and to allow God to use me in the things He desires. I have always been very excited about the possibilities of what He will do. This year, however, He seems to have given me a back-to-basics type of scripture and I completely understand why....

This past year has been a rough one for me in so many ways, but especially spiritually. I had sort of tuned God out because I had a very bitter and angry heart. I wanted nothing to do with a "religion" that told me I had to "be of good cheer" all the time because I was definitely not cheerful. I'm sure I could fool most of you into thinking I was doing just fine, but to a select few I was definitely not alright.

Recently though, a precious, precious friend of mine finally stood up to me and called me out on NUMEROUS things. She had to be very rough with me to make me open my eyes to the horrible attitudes I had claimed as mine. In all reality I knew exactly what I was doing, I was just so mad and hurt by life that I did not care how I treated others. Such a sad state to be in...

By the complete grace of God He allowed me to be broken enough to take to heart all the things she had to say to me. It was only then that I could see all the damage I had done. He had to completely break me and make me see that was not who He had chosen for me to be. He desired so much more...

All of this to say...this year God is taking me back to the basics. He is leading me through the fundamentals of my faith: prayer and scripture memorization. I am so thrilled that He is ushering me into this season of truly putting Him first. My scripture memorization begins with the verse that I feel He has given me for this new year ahead: "How can a young man (woman) keep his (her) way pure? By living according to Your Word. I seek you with my whole heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden Your Word in my heart that i might not sin against You. Psalm 119:9-11.

I know this is a VERY long post, but I feel the need to "speak" it out loud and share my heart, because none of us is too far past His rescuing. Our heart and our flesh may {will} fail, but GOD is the strength of our heart and our portion forever! He will redeem and save those who call upon His name. I KNOW it's true... He has done it for me!

"Call to Me and I will answer you and teach you great and unsearchable things which you do not know" Jeremiah 33:3

God Is...

Thanks to Auntie Cari, I discovered this cool site called wordle. So, while I was there I created a wordle and thought I would share. Doing this helped me to reflect on the AWESOMENESS (is that a word?) of our God! He is truly amazing!

Adventures in Snow

I was awakened this morning by an unusually bright, sunny day. When I looked outside the glimmer and sparkle of the white snow against the sunlight was beautiful! I could not help but jump out of bed, bundle myself up, and run right out into the cold, snowy morning. Here are some some pictures of the silliness..

You Know it's Snowing In Cali When...

This morning on my way home from the training that got canceled, I stopped at Walmart to pick up some much needed items. While I was there I stopped on by the gloves isle to pick up a pack of gloves for the missionaries down in Mexico. When I rounded the corner into the gloves section there was a line, yes, a LINE! It snows one day in sunny, southern California and everyone flocks to Walmart to buy gloves. We are much more used to the sun, so when it does not come out, and snow starts falling, everyone goes into panic mode and bundles their children and drags them to Walmart to buy them gloves. Gotta love us Californians!

~* 2008 Christmas CD Insert*~

Music has always been very special to me. I seem to be able to have my deepest feelings expressed easier through music than almost any other way (except writing of course). I absolutely LOVE worship music and I find that some of the sweetest connections with God have come through music. So, this year, I thought I would put together a CD of the songs that blessed me over the past 12 months, for one reason or another, and share them with you. I do hope you are blessed each time you listen to it! Merry Christmas!

1. Beautiful, Scandalous Night--Robbie Seay Band

I first heard this song not that long ago, but the words are beautiful! I can hardly imagine what that day was like, but that day changed life as we know it, forever. There is such freedom because of the events of that beautiful, scandalous night.

2. Believe--Mainstay

It is not always in my strength to believe, but somehow God always gives me the ability and the grace to trust Him. Sometimes I am so disgusted with myself because I have such little faith, but I pray that I will always believe, even if I don't feel like it! He deserves at least that!

3. Bubbly-- Colbie Callait

I love Colbie's voice. She is great! I played this a lot while I was cleaning... it's the happy music!

4. Captivated--Vicky Beeching

This song is special to me because my friend Jessica and I shared this song with each other this year. Makes me think of her and how much we both desire to always be captured by Jesus' gaze!

5. Desire--Phil Wickham

I love anything by Phil Wickham. He is such an awesome song writer. His music always reaches into the depths of the heart and draws you to God.

6. Divine Romance--Phil Wickham

I love this song for many reasons, but probably the most because God really has wooed me with His love. He has shown me the beauty of a romance with Him; there is none more precious.

7. From the Inside Out--Hillsong

I first heard this song in Spanish while I was on a missions trip in Mexico. Then I heard it at my church here in the US... so this song reminds me of Mexico and I love that! It is such an awesome song because it really says what I have never been able to put into words. I do want my love for God to be real, coming from the inside and pouring out all over those I meet.

8. Healer--Hillsong

This song is so powerful to me! I know God can heal, but before hearing this song, I don't think I considered it personally. There is a line that says, "You heal all my disease. I trust in You." I really thought about this and I came to realize He is my Healer... He has healed me from the gravest of diseases... sin. I am so thankful that He walks with me and heals me when I need His touch.

9. Hosanna--Hillsong

This year has been a Hillsong kinda year. I started going to a new church and they are all about Hillsong music, so I hear a lot of it. I really do enjoy it! This song is great because I want to see as Jesus sees. I do not want to always be focused on myself, though I have been for much of this past year. I want God to change the way I see...

10. Hosanna-- Paul Baloche

Not the same as the previous song, but it does have the same name. This song is a special memory for me because they sing it at the church I used to attend in Murrieta. It reminds me of the year I got to spend there and how blessed I was.

I also love this song because only when I ask for God to reveal Himself to me do I find strength to walk in the Spirit each day. Otherwise, I am in my flesh and it is an ugly mess.

11. Jesus Take the Wheel--Carrie Underwood

I am sure everyone already knows this song, but I love it. I do want Jesus to have all of my life and to be the One in control. I do not want to hold the reins at all, because I only mess it up when I do.

I used to be a country girl, but I don't listen to it anymore. But I heard this song and I liked it a lot. She really does have an awesome voice.

12. My Wish--Rascall Flatts

This song is super special to me because it is the song that I dedicated to my 6th grade class at the end of last school year. I miss them a lot and I love to listen to this song because it makes me think of them.

13. Peace--Robbie Seay Band

"When we feel Him move, we cannot stay the same." I so wish I would not be the same after I feel God move. I have to choose to move on with Him and to not go back to where I was...

This song is so awesome because it reminds me that God still moves and works. I want to breathe Him so deeply that I am completely changed!

14. The Stand--Hillsong

Yes, another Hillsong song, but they are so good! This song reminds me to continually offer my heart to Him. Sometimes this has to be a moment by moment choice, but when I do offer it to Him, He can do amazing things!

15. Undo--Rush of Fools

This song expresses all that I have allowed to happen in my heart this past year. Though I am not proud of who I have become, God is so much more powerful, and I am SOOOO tankful for that! He is the only One who can undo all that I have become, and I know He will if I will allow Him; and I want Him to so desperately! I am so glad He does undo all that I have done.

16. When I Think About the Lord--Shane and Shane

This is a great song! It reminds me to always have my thoughts on the Lord; looking at things as He would. When I take the time to think about Him throughout the day, I am more centered and able to live beyond myself and for Him and those around me.

17. The 21st Time--Monk and Neagle

WOW! This song is so true! How many times have I walked by that homeless person and thought nothing of it. I want to be one who helps others because of all that Jesus has done for me. If there is a need, I want to help in any way that I can; I don't want to just walk away. I say that I am the body of Christ so I need to step up and act like it!

Live Simply

Give Generously

Learn Continuously

Love Without Limits

Merry Christmas!