The big "M" word

I guess I have been keeping it quite for long enough....2 days is long, right!?!?

Thehubs and I will be MOVING to Hoover this coming weekend!! I'm more excited than I ever have been about any move I've made (which hasn't been many.)

I found our new apartment in the Apartment Guide book of course and they were running a special through the end of March, which is why it's a tad rushed. Thehubs isn't exactly thrilled about the quickness, but deep down I think he's excited too!

For those of you who know me and know how bad the place where we live now has gone downhill can share in this excitement! No more rats, no more drug deals (yeah, I'm pretty sure I witnessed one of those), no more scary neighbors, and no more not-having-a-landlord!! =)

The downside to it all is that Michael's drive to work will be a tad longer, I'm losing some mega storage, and my kitchen is about half the size! =(

I am about to go to the grocery store to pick up boxes they are holding for me and start packing today! YES, I'll be sorta-kinda working while I pack....gotta make some phone calls to schools and stuff today, so that's definitely easy to do while packing! lol

We will more than likely have to move everything next Sunday, which I know, is EASTER SUNDAY!!! Praise God for his son Jesus coming to die for our sins, and defeating death...however I will be praising Him this Easter by loading up a U-haul and moving.

That's possible, right?? Thehubs works EVERY SATURDAY, and in the car industry it's next to impossible to get off on Saturdays, so that's why Sun will be our move-in day. My parents and his mom are coming to help, so we'll get to spend some time with our families, which is always exciting!!!

Oh, did I mention that we'll be about 30-45 min closer to his mom and my parents!?!? YAY!!!!!!!! Now we'll only have about a 30 min drive to his mom and an hour to my parents! Doesn't get much better than that!

Pray for us as we make this big "move"...lol.....and that we get it all done in time! I'll post pics of our new place eventually.....don't hold me to it though!

HAPPY MONDAY!

smart one

So I just had to say that our furry little friend must be a genius!!!!!!

Thehubs has put a trap out 3 separate times with peanut butter on it, and the crazy thing EATS THE PB AND GETS AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So last night, he put white cheese dip all over the entire trap, and put 2 traps side by side. Guess what happened....yep the darn mouse ate it all and got away!!

I mean, it's not even setting the traps off!

Well, today comes the mega sticky pads! Let's see how the little demon likes that! lol

On to another subject, I think my day today will be filled with a walk in the park and maybe some good ol' spring cleaning.....our closet is driving me crazy! Why can't the warm weather STAY??!?!?!

Happy First Day of Spring!!!

furry little friend

So Thehubs found out that we have ANOTHER furry little friend living with us! UGH!

I promise I keep my house clean, and yet this is the 2nd stinkin mouse we've had this year!

I guess the fact that we live in the woods, and we don't have a landlord to maintain our property could partly be to blame for our critters......but I sure would appreciate it if they would just go away!

Thehubs set 2 traps this morning, and I seriously hope we catch it today! I had planned on cleaning the house today, but I suppose I will wait 'till tomorrow to DEEP CLEAN everything once again!

Just had to tell somebody about our new house-mate....and my frustrations in it messing up my kitchen!

Family time!

This week has been a crazy one of course! Thehub's family left to fly back to Arizona on Tuesday morning, so we finally had a quite house that evening after work. It was sorta weird...lol.

Let me just fill you in on all the action from the weekend!

Friday was filled with just hanging out in our PJ's all day, eating, and talking. Thehubs even got to get off work at 2, which is like a miracle in the car industry! He and the boys went to watch a movie while I had to go work for a while. (I had 1 home visit that lasted 2 hours!)

Saturday it was just me and the oldest 2 (ages 10 and 14) for most of the day. We went to the Galleria for a bit, and then came back home and played rock band and hung out. That was a blast!! I absolutely love the fact that I used to babysit them when they were ages 6 and 2, and now I'm their aunt! Had no clue that would happen 8 years ago!

Saturday night we all hung out here at the house. I cooked supper, and it was just us and the 2 kids until Sunday night! Sunday, we went to church, and then to WINTERJAM!!!

Well, before winterjam, we took a nap, and I woke up a bit cranky! From the time we were leaving the house until we got to the concert, I was snapping at Thehubs about EVERYTHING!

First, it was what time we were going to leave, then it was probably something about how slow/fast he was driving. When we got to the place, people were lined up completely around the BJCC and I wanted us to just park anywhere and hurry up and get in line. Well, Thehubs decided he wanted to drive completely around the entire BJCC before parking, to check everything out. We found the end of the line, and there was a parking lot right across the street. I wanted to park there! However, he had already picked out one on the other side of the world!!! So of course I was furious! Selfish selfish me, thinking I know everything! lol

Well, we're standing in line, and I cheer up for the 45 min of standing there until we get up close to the door.

I had won 2 tickets from 93.7 WDJC and so when I pulled them out of my purse, one of the employee guys saw them.

He was like "excuse me ma'am, they won't let you in with those tickets."

Me: "Um, yes the will.....I won them on the radio, and it's my free admission!"

Him: "Nope, not here. Those are the VIP passes, you're sup to sit on the floor, and I'll have to take you somewhere different to enter with those tickets."

Me: "Noo.....these are NOT VIP tickets, I know what you're talking about bc I heard them give them away to somebody else. These are just regular tickets...."

Him: "No ma'am....those tickets are the VIP tickets, you HAVE to sit on the floor- no where else"

Me: " Well, babe (to Thehubs), do you and D (our nephew) just want to take these tickets and get the good seats, and A and I will just find a seat ourselves.

Thehubs: "No, we are not splitting up, we are going to stay together"

(This continued for several minutes, while people behind us where going around us bc the line kept moving and we were just standing there...)

I then tried to GIVE THE TICKETS AWAY to anybody around us, but everybody else was saying the same thing--they didn't want to split up.

So Thehubs convinced me to just shut up and continue on in the line. He said we would just pay $20 more for 2 more tickets if they didn't take them.

Well, we get up to the ticket person, and guess what....no problem in taking the ticket! I was furious once again!!! That guy was ridiculous and didn't know what he was talking about. I WAS RIGHT! lol

Well, when we're trying to find some seats in the nose bleed section, of course I get mad at Thehubs for not sitting here I want him to sit. (crazy, selfish me!) After sulking for about probably 30 minutes, I finally snap out of it and realize how ridiculous I was being!

Ok, that's all of my complaining......! It's kinda funny now. I can't help but realize how sinful I am, how easily it is to fall, and yet how quickly the Lord forgives! Thank you Jesus!

The concert was AMAZING! We were able to go back stage and meet Mac Powell, the lead singer from 3rd Day! The kids were so excited! It was pretty lame if you ask me....He just came in the room and was like "hey!" Everybody was star-struck and didn't hardly talk to him the whole time. It was funny. But we got pictures and it was great for the kids!

So then comes Monday, nothing big happened. Tuesday morning they had to leave =(

Thehubs and I slept in a little, bc he didn't have to work, and they were supposed to leave at 7:30a. I heard some of the kids crying and screaming, (which is very normal when you're trying to get them up and dressed, and out the door quickly) but I just slept through it.

Thehubs tells me later that night, that Aub (6y/o) was crying saying "I want my aunt Heather and uncle bubba!!" and "I don't want to go home" and stuff like that!

That just broke my heart! I asked Thehubs WHY DIDN'T YOU WAKE ME UP!?!? He said, he didn't want to. So sad! Anyways, I miss them terribly!

We seriously need to figure out a way to fly out to AZ to visit them! Maybe sooner or later.....

Lukewarm Christian???

A few weeks ago, I made this post about having lukewarm sacrifices. If you didn't read it...do that NOW!

This morning, I'm finally able to read some more of "Crazy Love," and this is what I've discovered, learned, and wanted to share! I will write word for word what Francis Chan has written, as I cannot put it into words any better. Enjoy!

....In the last chapter we discussed various inappropriate responses to God's love. Now we are going to look at scriptural examples of poor responses to God's gift of love. Before you discount or ignore what I am about to say, read these passages objectively, without preconceived opinions staunchly in place.

My examination of lukewarm Christians in chapter 4 was by no means exhaustive. However, it did serve as a call to examine your heart in light of the points I listed. As I see it, a lukewarm Christian is an oxymoron; there's no such thing. To put it plainly, churchgoers who are "lukewarm" are not Christians. We will not see them in heaven.

In Revelation 3:15-18, Jesus says,

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold-- I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, "I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing." But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cove your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see

This passage is where our modern understanding of lukewarm comes from. Jesus is saying to the church that because hey are lukewarm, He is going to spit them out of His mouth.

There is no gentle rendering of the word spit in Greek. This is the only time it is used in the New Testament, and it connotes gagging, hurling, retching. Many people read this passage and assume Jesus is speaking to saved people. Why?

When you read this passage, do you naturally conclude that to be "spit" out of Jesus' mouth means you're a part of His kingdom? When you read the words "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked," do you think that He's describing saints? When He counsels them to "buy white clothes to wear" in order to cover their "shameful nakedness," does it sound like advice for those already saved?

I thought people who were saved were already made white and clothed by Christ's blood.

...I've spent the past few days reading the Gospels. Rather than examining a verse and dissecting it, I chose to peruse one gospel in each sitting. Furthermore, I attempted to do so from the perspective of a twelve-year-old who knew nothing about Jesus. I wanted to rediscover what reasonable conclusions a person would come to while objectively reading the Gospels for the first time. In other words, I read the Bible as if Id' never read it before.

My conclusion? Jesus' call to commitment is clear: He wants all or nothing. The thought of a person calling himself a "Christian" without being a devoted follower of Christ is absurd.

But please don't take my word for it. Read it yourself.

Walking on Sunshine!

Don't you just absolutely LOVE this beautiful weather....that is if you live where I live. It's finally getting Spring time, and I couldn't be happier!!! Curtains/blinds have been open all day today and I'm just loving the sunshine!!

This weekend will be filled with Disciple Now activities at church. I'm leading a group of girls, and I'm so excited! Thehubs was going to lead a group, but he couldn't get off work. =(

Keep us all in your prayers!

Next week we will get to spend some time with thehub's sister and her kids! They are all in from Arizona. Got to see them for just a bit yesterday, but won't get to see them again until Thursday. They have a church plant out in Arizona, and have been here at several missions conferences at different churches. We get to see them Thursday- Monday!!!

Some of the kids will be staying the night with us, so that means some serious spoiling will be going on! Can't believe they're all getting so much older though.

When I met them back around 2000 the oldest 2 kids were 18 months and 4 y/o. Now they are 14 and 10!!!!! And there is also 2 more.....ages 6 and 4!!!

Absolutely love them!

Enjoy your wonderful weekend in the sunshine!! =)

Lukewarm sacrifices

I just absolutely love it when the Lord teaches me something new. Our Sunday School class has been going through Crazy Love and let me just tell you that my faith has never been challenged so much while reading a book. Francis Chan does a great job of writing about the Word of God in such a way to convict and pierce your heart.

We are a little behind in our reading, so I just ready Ch 4 last night. (we did ch 5 in SS yesterday)

Ch 4 was about being lukewarm. I just want to list some of the characteristics that he discussed about being lukewarm and the scriptures he included with them.

* Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe "good Christians" do, so they go. (Isaiah 29:13)

* Lukewarm people give money to charity and to the church....as long as it doesn't impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so. After all, God loves a cheerful giver, right? (1 Chron 21:24; Luke 21:1-4)

*Lukewarm people rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected,nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion. (Mat 10:32-33)

*Lukewarm people do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty. They want to do the bare minimum, to be "good enough" without it requiring too much of them. They ask, "How far can I go before it's considered a sin?" instead of "How can I keep myself pure as a temple of the Holy Spirit?" They ask "How much do I have to give?" instead of "How much can I give?" They ask, "How much time should I spend praying and reading my Bible?" instead of "I wish I didn't have to go to work, so I could sit here and read longer!" (1 Chron 29:14; Matt 13:44-46)

*Lukewarm people probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that, they really aren't very different from your typical unbeliever. They equate their partially sanitized lives with holiness, but they couldn't be more wrong. (Matt 23:25-28)

There were several more that he listed, but I chose these because they got to my core! Lord, help me to be as far from lukewarm as possible!

Now on a slightly different note, I've been ready through Leviticus this weekend. I'm trying to catch up on the read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year thing that I'm doing......almost caught up!

While ready Leviticus, I realized that those people back then sure did have to make A LOT of sacrifices! There was the burt offering, grain offering, fellowship offering, sin offering, and guilt offering. Each had very specific things that were required, and each were required for something totally different.

So, I got to thinking...... Hmm, we have it pretty easy compared to them! I mean, we have direct communication with our LORD. We can go straight to Him in prayer and ask for forgiveness. We can praise Him directly, we can plead with Him for mercy.

But do we do it whole-heartedly? You see, if a sacrifice then was not completely pure or done exactly as commanded, it was impure.....pointless....dishonorable to our God.

Are we giving him lukewarm sacrifices or pure and holy sacrifices????

Our sacrifice to God today is our lives. Luke 9:23 says "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

I've always loved this verse and questioned what "take up his cross daily" meant exactly. It relates back to Jesus taking up his own cross....how he took it and laid down his life voluntarily. We are asked to do the same.

But until this morning, I never really looked at the "deny himself" part except to think that we should put ourselves last. Well, in Leviticus 23: 27 it is talking about the Day of Atonement and the requirements of the people for that day. One of the things is for them to "hold a sacred assembly and DENY YOURSELVES.." It goes on to say in verse 29 that "Anyone who does not DENY HIMSELF on that day must be cut off from his people." (serious stuff, huh?!?!)

So now, I'm like...hmm, that's interesting, that term is used in the New Testament. Well I look in my side notes, and it here is what is says....

How did the Israelites deny themselves?

Typically, this has been understood to mean FASTING-- going without food and beverage. But it may also mean abstentions from things like changing one's clothing, bathing or sex.

Interesting! I just absolutely LOVE it when something from the Old Testament is mentioned in the New Testament.

I may be absolutely wrong in my connection with all of that, so sorry if I am. But that's what the Lord taught me. Thank you Jesus!