You can't take away

So Thursday in the training that I have to do for my work, we did this little exercise thing where we had to make a list of the 5 most important things in our lives. The leader of the training then went through this story explaing the RC Consent Decree. S My list, along with most of everybody else's list consisted of :

1. God

2. Family (my husband)

3. Friends

4. Work/Education

5. Music (or something they enjoyed doing)

So one by one, we had to cross off each of these, eventually ending up with NOTHING. When it got down to the final 2 thing, smost people had family/friends and God left. Some peopel chose to mark off God before their family, others waited....but when it came down to mark off the last item (GOD) everybody seemed to have a hard time doing this. Most of the people were reluctant to do so and one lady even said "God, she made me do it" others were just complaining about it or whatever saying that they were left with NOTHING. The trainer asked how everybody felt about it, and most were saying sad or depressed and stuff. I had to speak up at this point and I said "I feel fine, because I know that God is the ONE thing you cannot take away from me." I was immediately reminded of the song "Can't Take Away". I can't help but think about our country and where we are today. NOBODY can take away our God. This government can take away and will probably eventually take away our freedom of religion. But let's not let it get that far before we start sharing. Just know that if the world around you is crumblig to pieces, your God is still there.....He always will be!

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, my God

Waves will come
And 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, 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.

Modern day Acts

So I can already see this blog going in a ton of different directions. The thoughts began in my head yesterday morning and have only escalated since then....so get ready.

My Bible ready this week has been in the life and ministry of Paul, and yesterday I began reading Acts 16. I read through verse 10 and was very impressed I guess you could say with what I read. I was reminded of Steve, Shari, Jay and Denise out in Arizona and the work they are doing for our God....I truely believe after reading this scripture that they are the current day church of Acts. What a great thing to be in a world like today!

Verse 5 says "The churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers." If you have read or heard about ANYTHING that is going on out there in Vail, then you would know that they are growing and being strengthened daily! My prayers for them now is that they would continue with this growth....that each day someone would come to know Christ because of the work they are doing.

Verse 7 says "The Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to..." (this is referring to Paul trying to enter Bithynia)

I'm reminded here of when they were first beginning their process of moving out west, and their first thoughts were that they would be moving to Las Vegas to help specifially with that church there. God had different plans and just as verse 7 states, the spirit of Jesus didn't allow them to go. Hence the reason they are now in Vail.

Verses 9-10:

During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." After Paul had seen the vision, we (Luke, Silas, Paul, and Timothy) got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Once again, these verses spoke to me about the willingness of those 4 to get up and go. I'm sure Jay and Steve both dreamt about people out there begging for help. They have described the city of Vail many times as a lost and dying city. One that is so dark, crying out for help. I can't help but think about those who have already began that relationship with the Lord because of their service. They each "got ready at once" and left....they had concluded that God called them to preach the gospel to those people.

Moving forward.....

Verses 14-15 says One of those listening was a woman named Lydia.....The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message...when she and the members of her household were baptized she invited us to her home.

Have you heard the stories of all the FAMILIES there getting saved?? Need I say more?

and finally...

Verse 20 says They brought them before the magistrates (after they had been arrested for sharing the gospel) and said "These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar..."

WOW, how great would it be if the people of Vail said that those at Grace Fellowhip were "throwing our city into an uproar"!!!!!

I suppose I'll close by saying that it is great all the things Steve, Shari, Jay, Denise and even their children are doing in Vail...and those who are about to be there serving, and those who are serving along side of those. That is wonderful, being missionaries for our Lord.

But my question is....what if we, wherever we are in life, started "throwing our cities into an uproar" ?? What if we lived a life of missionaries everyda? I know that we all know that;s what we're SUPPOSSED to do, but when will we begin doing it? God is a God who is big enough to save people. He just needs workers to share his name with those around us.

That's it for now...there are more thoughts bouncing around in my head about this.....those I will dwell on later.

Life's demands

So my car is broken....again! It's not that it absolutely won't crank, it's just that it doesn't want to, AND when I try to accelerate, it acts like it doesn't want to go.....like it feels like there's a skip in the gas or something wierd. So in the meantime, Michael's work looked at it and did the little diagnosis test thing and like 3 things are wrong with it. For them to fix it, it would cost like 7 or 800 dollars! Michael has a friend who has a friend (ha ha, but seroiusly) who fixes cars, and this friend can get the parts at cost or whatever. So what I'm hoping is that when he takes my car to the friend of a friend (confusing, huh?) that he will be able to fix it for much MUCH cheaper....like $700 cheaper!! (yeah right) So then I'm thinking about the fact that this is the 3rd time in less than 8 months that my car has been in the shop, and my parents forked out close to a grand 8 months ago, and Michael forked out about a hundred in May.....so my question is.....if we spend the $700 now or whatever it's going to cost....are we going to be in the same boat again in a few months?????
Uuuuuuggggghhhhhhhh...........why can't life be so perfect?!?!
On another note, Carnival STILL hasn't refunded our money from our cruise that we never went on, and that we canceled the beginning of MAY! Hopefully that money will be coming in soon, and what was planned to be used on purchasing a new mattress and putting the rest in savings will more than likely be used to fix my piece of crap car or put a down payment on a new one.
Sorry if I sound like I'm complaining....I guess I am sorta, so I'll get on to another subject. Something more positive....spiritual....what I usually write about anyways.

A good friend from Mt. Vernon gave me the book "The power of a praying wife" before we got married and told me to read it about a month or two into our marriage, once we got settled down. So I started reading it this week along with another book Michael had here at the house called "The pursuit of holiness" and let me tell you that I have felt the voice of the Lord speak to me and seen the schemes of Satan try to pull me down all in the same moment. I've learned AGAIN that Satan hates to see children of God get on fire and determined to make a difference in their life. As I've been praying that God will be the center of my life, Michael's life and our marriage, he has thrown so many darts at me to make me ill or whatever. Life is wonderful.....as far as the marraige is going so don't start thinking that just because I'm in prayer over something that there is a problem. That's my point....don't you think we should pray about it BEFORE it becomes a problem? I'm determined to have a marraige glorifying to God and honoring to him everyday. I want to be that wife who is still so goo-goo-eyed over her man 15, 20, even 50 years from now! I love Michael with all that I am, and I want to life him up in prayer everyday (hence the book).
I just realize that the Lord test you and Satan tries to bring you down. It's only by the grace of God that I am even where I am today. I'm so blessed, so thankful. As I think back to the earlier part of my post, I realize that my little car problem is so stupid. I mean, there are people out there who don't even have a car....or who don't have a home either! I think I can handle having to take Michael to work and pick him up (while he so graciously lets me drive his car everywhere) until we get something figured out! (oh how selfish I can be sometimes!)

Well, I guess I've rambled enough....off to pick up prince charming!

God runs

"...He got right up and went home to his father. When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him." Luke 15:20

When God ran by Phillips, Craig and Dean...see/hear it here

Almighty God, the great I am
Immovable rock, omnipotent, powerful, awesome Lord
Victorious warrior, commanding King of Kings
Mighty conqueror, and the only time
the only time I ever saw Him run

Was when He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said,
“Son do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise when God ran

The day I left home I knew I’d broken His heart
And I wondered then if things could ever be the same
Then one night I remembered His love for me
And down that dusty road ahead I could see
It was the only time – it was the only time I ever saw Him run

And then He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said,
“Son do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise as He brought me to my knees
When God ran – I saw Him run to me

I was so ashamed, all alone and so far away
But now I know He’s been waiting for this day

I saw Him run to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice I felt His love for me again

He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said, “Son”, He called me Son
He said, “Son do you know I still love you?”
He ran to me and then I ran to Him
When God ran

boredom survey

8 Things I am looking forward to:

1. The weekend (as usual)....but this one I get to help the girls paint!
2. One day (in a few years) having children!!!
3. my first REAL paycheck.....I've had a couple, but they haven't been the full amount due to being off for the wedding
4. Baby Claira Elisabeth to get here!! (Valerie & Jason's little girl....due in nov)
5. One day buying a house and actually having room to USE all our wedding gifts that are now in a closet!
6. Getting my own clients at work, and not having to shadow everybody.....that will happen in a few weeks once training is done!
7. getting my hair all chopped off SOON!
8. Growing old with Michael


8 Things I did yesterday:

1. studied for the social work license test
2. took back some wedding gifts
3. ate lunch with mom and dad
4. cooked supper
5. bought groceries
6. fell asleep in my husbands arms
7. bought some thank you gifts
8. folded some clothes


8 TV shows I watch:

Well, each of these are watched VERY rarely, considering Michael and I don't have TV....but at least they are shows that I like.

1. Grey's anatomy
2. Extreme Home Makeover
3. Jon & Kate (at least back in the day when they actually loved each other!)
4. Ghost Hunters (only bc Michael LOVES it)
5. Surviverman (once again, Michael watches it)
6. I love Lucy
7. The Golden girls
8. all time favorite.....Boy Meets World


8 People I tag:
Don't think you really tag ppl on blogger......oh well.....

just a thought

I've learned today that no matter what life is throwing your way, there is always someone out there going through something worse. You may be asking yourself what it is that I am going through...well that's the thing, I am blessed beyond measure, and I absoulutely could not be happier in life right now! I look at where I am right now, and I realize how much I really take things for granted. I know of 2 men who left yesterday and today to go to Iraq and Baghdad. One I know personally from years ago (Josh Converse) and the other is my preacher's son. Both left their families and each had a wife they left behind as well.

I mention that because I have been thinking/praying for both of those guys today and thinking about their wives. I am so thankful that my husband is here with me. I don't know if I could survive an entire year without him period, much less with the worries of him fighting a war. I am so thankful that there are people in America who are willing to do that, and yet so humbled by the fact that they go. They leave their comfort and their families so I can stay here in comfort with mine. wow....

Another thing I've been thinking about is all the sickness and pain people go through. I am thankful and blessed that I have not experienced any hardships on that end of the spectrum. I've known several people within the last year or so be diagnosed and even a few lose their lives to cancer and other terminal diseases. One of my dearest friends from my early high school days was recently diagnosed with Lyphoma. She told me that the cancer treatment place is depressing because everybody there talks about all the things wrong with them and their type of cancer. She then said that this one lady she was talking to has a type that comes back about every 6 months, no matter what kind of treatment they give her. My friend then responded with one of my favorite things I've heard.....she said that she just feels like she's gonna have the flu for about 6 months and then she's gonna be over it! That right there is determination and what the power of our God can do!

I'm pretty sure that I'm sounding like I'm rambling now, but I guess the point that I am trying to make is to be thankful. Pray for, support, think about those who are going through worse things than you are. Know that our God is Mighty to Save. He gives strength to the weary, and supplies all your needs. I'm thankful for my husband who loves me and adores me more than anything else on this earth. I'm thankful he tells me that, and shows me that in so many different ways! I'm thankful for parents who support me and who have been there for me nonstop throughout my 22 years of life! I'm thankful for a God who is always right beside me, showing me my next step, even when I can't see.....

Sorry about the randomness, just had to get if off my chest..........

Dreams came true!

Well, it's Wednesday evening....the wedding and honeymoon is over and we're back to reality! I cannot think of one single thing that could have went better about the wedding. The weather was perfect, I didn't cry (too much) and there were so many people there. Of course the most important thing is that Michael and I are FINALLY married! After 2 years of dating, and falling in love more and more....wishing we were married, we finally are! I have never been happier in my entire life! We both went back to work on Monday, which was pretty crappy....but I think we were both ready to go back, its just the whole getting up early and getting home late thing that kills us!
Well, I'm off to finish up supper.....it's some kind of cheesy chicken stuff that you put on pumpernickel bread! thanks to the crock pot and the crockpot cook book that my aunt and cousins got me, that's called an easy supper! YAY!!