pick up your toys

Tonight Rod and I were instructing Morgan to pick up her toys and immediately she began to pray out loud:
her: God, will You please pick up my toys...I can't feeling good. My tummy hurts.

LOL!!!!

Then we were talking about a plate she has from last year and I told her that we would leave Santa some egg-nog and cookies. She said, no mama I needs some cookies...make me some...some sugar cookies. Then it gets better: I am not leaving him egg nog he can have cows milk. Cows milk is yucky. I like egg nog.

She has such a generous little heart...not.

The reason why...

I must be in the word when I get up and when I go to bed. If not I am plain dangerous. I wish it weren't true. Left to my own demise I am in trouble. So, I decided this morning to run to Sears and get a camera and that I would come right back home and get in the word. Well, I have a bit of a side that is bent on rebellion if not dealt with in the Spirit. After working at the mall for a decade, I guess I feel that I should have had an important spot. So, this morning I jumped the curb which I have done for years and years. I just knew in my heart that this may be the day that I get towed. As I live and breathe I walked out and my stinking car was gone. I would love to tell you that I handled that beautifully, but no. Anyway, the mall security (that thinks they are cops) had it towed...but guess what?! They had no idea where it was towed to. So, I finally find out and I asked the mall dude to take me to the gas station until Rod came to get me. Rod went and got cash and we had to get my car out of the impound lot. Give me a break. My dad is a cop and I called him to ask him what he thought it would cost me...120 dollars. He said 100. Well, I was like dad I don't understand why I can't park there but cops can. He said because they are "special". Anyway, I could use NONE of my connections to get out of it...I know people from all the towing companies EXCEPT from the one who towed it. I should have gotten Rod to go in and flirt with the chick at the tow place to see if we could get the price lowered...lol!!

My scriptures the night before were these (and yes I did have a warning in my spirit before I jumped the curb and into the pit):

Mark 9:35
35Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

Matthew 23:5
5"Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries[a] wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.'

OUCH!

I also helped bust a guy who was Driving while intoxicated on thanksgiving and I think I rejoiced so much that my pride caused me to fall.

My dad said that since cops have radios they can park there...well, durn it I need a radio. He said well baby you will have to go through the academy. I just may.

He will wipe away the tears...

Isa 25:8 he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.

Rev. 21:4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Psalm 56:8You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?

Tonight, I got in my car and drove and just prayed and cried out to God. My feelings were so hurt and I just needed to be by myself (please make no assumptions). I felt so accused by the enemy. I did not want to pick up the phone and blast my hurt to anyone so I just cried out to God. I reminded myself that my life is in His hands and He sees every hurt, every accusation, every secret place and that this is not my home. I spoke so many things to Him but one was just, "LORD, You are all I truly have in life. I love You." Then, I prayed for the person who had hurt me. No one understood but God and that is who's arms I needed to take refuge in. My hormones also escalated things in my opinion...but still. As I prayed for blessings and mercy over this person, I told God that He knew my heart and that I really didn't mean those prayers but I wanted His will to be the desire of my heart. It is funny how if you just pray His word He will change Your heart. It truly is a miracle. I have practiced this so many times and had a complete about face toward people who have hurt me. Through God's word I am able to forgive and have my heart transformed. Also, the beauty of it is that when I go to God and entrust the situation to Him...He can work on the thing as I lay it at His feet. I asked one of my dearest friends to pray for me afterwards. I am so thankful He brought me His peace.

ANYWAY, when I got home Morgan was so excited. I had gone to Wal-mart and she was so thankful for the can of corn that had Go Diego Go on it. Bless her...I had to use it in a recipe. Later, when I was sharing my heart with Rod I started to cry. I hate to cry in front of Morgan. She stood up in the chair next to me grabbed my face and wiped (very intentionally, with the palm of her hands) the tears from my eyes. It was so the Lord using that sweet thing to say I hear you Jenny. I love you child.

A few weeks ago I told Morgan that God stores our tears in a bottle because she was crying. To which she replied, "Mommy we are going to have some big bottles." I can't get over some of the stuff she says!

Praise You Lord!

For Darla!!

Peanut Butter Balls
You may hate me for this
These are so good but way too rich for me!Peanut Butter ballsIngredients12 ounces peanut butter (smooth or crunchy) ...I used smooth1 cup butter (real) (2 Sticks)1 box confectioners' sugar1 teaspoon vanilla1 package chocolate chips or Chocolate brick (for dipping balls)(I used Chocolate Almond Bark)DirectionsMix peanut butter, butter, sugar and vanilla (I melted the butter a little so I could stir it and after I got a handle on the mixture I used my electric mixture to make sure everything was blended). Roll into balls and place on cookie sheet, place in freezer for an hour. Melt chocolate in a double boiler (I melted the chocolate on low in my crock pot while the peanut butter balls were in the freezer...if you melt it on high you could scorch it). Dip balls into mixture. Cool. *The reason why you need to freeze the peanut butter balls is so that the chocolate will stick when you dip the peanut butter balls in it. Also, I laid all of mine on wax paper to cool and then put them in plastic zip locks. I had purchased some cute tubs with snowmen on them a while back from the dollar tree...so I put them in the tubs to give as gifts. This recipe made over 40 peanut butter balls.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies
THESE ARE SO GOOD!!! I usually make them around Christmas and I made a couple dozen last night! Yummy! Let me know if you make them and how they turn out! 1 stick of margarine (soft or melted)1 cup of sugar1 eggCream together then add:1 3/4 Cup of Flour1/2 tsp of baking soda1/2 Cup of Cocoa (I used Hersheys brand)1 tsp of Vanilla Extract (imitation vanilla is fine)1/4 Cup of milkDrop from a teaspoon on cookie sheet (I roll mine into balls but you can do it either way)Bake in 350 degree oven for 8 minutes.Remove from oven.Cut 18 marshmallows in half; press cut side down on cookies.Bake 2 minutes longerIce cooled Cookie (over the marshmallow to cover it) With:2 cups powdered sugar5 level Tablespoons of Cocoa1 tsp of Vanilla3 Tablespoons of melted butter and milk as needed(don't make it to liquidy but thin enough to use as icing)You can top iced cookie with pecan half (I don't like pecans so I make them plain).Yields about 36 cookies!! Make sure you give them away or you will find your self chowing down!!!

Stories...

Morgan makes me laugh so hard and she keeps me in tears at times.

Her newest thing is to ask me a question like this:

her: Momma can I have a cookie? yes or mo, yes or mo, yes or mo (no) real fast....
me: lol!! yes

Then, everytime she gets in trouble or knows she is about to get in trouble...mommy I sowry (sorry) I not want to go to time out. You'd think I abuse her or something with all of her I sowry's. I have had to tell her to stop saying she is sorry to which she says...I sowry.

Her again: Momma my stomach is hungry. She isn't hungry her stomach is. Then, speaking in 3rd person she says, "Morgan is hungry...Morgan needs to go to the potty and etc."

Today I was getting ready upstairs and knew she was up to something downstairs...I yelled Morgs what are you doing baby...
her: I am playing with God.
Well of course!
She had the manger scene out. But the baby Jesus is her she thinks...because she indeed is my baby. LOL!

Then, she said, "Momma I put God under the tree...but if we don't move him how is Santa going to put the presents under there?" That could teach.

Then, she fed the characters of the manger scene and put them in time out. The sinless Lamb of God in time out.

On to the funniest material:
Rod and I were in an argument. I just refused to argue tonight. So usually if I don't answer the phone or he doesn't...the text's begin. Don't you love technology?
So, he sends "me" all these texts. He goes to bible study, gets home, and apologizes. He said, "babe the Lord convicted me during bible study and I shouldn't have gotten on to you and I sent you a text in the middle of the session."
To which I being the text queen reply, "No, I didn't get any texts from you." He showed me his phone and to his horror he had sent all of those rude texts and then an apology to his friend Tim!! HAAAAA!! We died laughing!!! I was just glad I didn't get any of them!!

The Summit Church at Birmingham, Trussville AL

I just heard from one of my high school teachers, Jil Greene, and she informed me that her church home is on the property that I used to live on. For reasons so personal to me I just sat here and cried at the faithfulness of my LORD. We grew up on 20 acres of land and let me tell you it was WORK. I wish I could just spill my guts on here of why this means so much to me...but I'm not.

Please check out their church. I may just have to pop in for a visit.
CLICK HERE.

Morgan and me

Here are the pics that I just had made last week. I am so excited about Wynter's amazing skills and how she captured that sweet baby of mine.

CLICK HERE
the password is jwilliams1



######## NO I don't have to choose pics...I get to have a cd of them all and print them all out! PTL!!!

Breaking Free Intro

Well, here I go. I only have 30 minutes before I have to go get some shoes for my niece.
I can not type word for word what the outline said at Breaking Free esp since it hasn't hit the shelf...but I will share what I have learned.

Isaiah 9:4
4 For as in the day of Midian's defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.

Isaiah 61

The Year of the LORD's Favor

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, ^[a]

2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.

Judges 6:1-6

Judges 6

Gideon

1 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites. 2 Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds. 3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country. 4 They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys. 5 They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count the men and their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it. 6 Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the LORD for help.

I hope you read all of those scriptures because they are important to the points.

Usually in God's word when He is speaking of freedom He is speaking to those who are free yet who are living in captivity. That is HUGE. So often I used to think well after so many years I will get this life down. Why do I still struggle? Why am I disobedient? Why have I gotten into my own pits of sin? I love church but so often you will have the message relayed that you can only be used of God if you haven't done the dirty dozen or whatever. But where does that leave people who knew better yet sinned anyway? As if to say Christians don't get in a pit. We couldn't be more wrong in relaying that message and I would like to say that that is part of how we get there. This is all just me but say you are really struggling with something and you have prayed about it yet it is still gnawing away at you. You sit in a room week after week with people that are believers and you think man they all have this thing together and I am really struggling over here. I bet no one else struggles with the things that I do. That is not true it is just that we tend to mask our sin and we sure don't want to let our guard down too much to let other people know that we don't have it together which is duplicity. Do you air all of your business...no. But for goodness sake let's get real people. What would things look like if you accepted God's forgiveness and could turn back after you have denied Christ and strengthen the brethren. What if your testimony could be a wake up call to someone who is dying on the inside to know they are no alone. For example, I have a lot of single women ask me (and guys) how do I know if I am called to be single? My pointed question is this: Do you desire to have sex? Most always the answer is an honest yes. Then, you aren't necessarily called to be single. So keep giving your desires of your heart over to God in prayer. I am not saying that is an easy one. Especially to the woman who is in her 40's and has had the desire to be married yet where is her prince charming. My whole point is that we are all fellow travelers in Christ and I am so blessed to have a friend who I can call up at any given time and tell her listen to what I am struggling with and it just sort of snuck up on me. Will you pray for me? Thank you for letting me expose this to the light and nip it in the bud. If you don't have someone like that pray for that. There is no telling what this has saved me from. So as children of God we can live under great oppression...

The enemy of our souls wants us to be unfruitful. He is not worried about unbelievers. His goal is to smear the testimony and witness of the believer. I am so thankful that God is greater still than even our deepest darkest sin. He is greater than our enemy.
The enemy is wanting us to live in a constant state of distraction. He wants to oppress us to make us just waste our life. So what do we do? Examine yourself today and see if he has got you ensnared with too many distractions. When I hear people tell me that they have to love themselves before they can love anyone else I WANT TO SCREAM: THAT IS A FARCE. Nothing could be more incorrect. Jesus has called us to die to ourselves. Our problem is that we are lovers of ourselves instead of lovers of God. Yesterday Morgan and I went round and round. She cried so bad because she does not want to share with anyone. I mean she was stinking hysterical. It occurred to me as the day went on that in her sin nature and her just plain being 3 years old, she thinks that this world revolves around her. We think the same way at times. Get up in an airplane and look down from thousands of feet above and you can see that the Lord looks down and we are like grasshoppers (Isa. 40:22). My time is up and I haven't even gotten to one of her points...to be continued.

Simplicity

Rod is snoring so LOUD that I am hoping I can get my thoughts together over the snores. I have had something on my heart so much tonight.
As I have been reading some of our great cloud of witnesses books of authors who are now in heaven, I have been so in awe of the depth, purity, and clarity that they write with. When I am reading some of their works I am just struck to the core. Then, I ask myself where are all of these people in this day and why doesn't this generation have the depth that these followers of Christ had. Hear me out...I love so many teachers of our day. Just see my list somewhere on the right side of the page. I esteem these teachers so much.
As my mind traveled on (while I was cleaning the house) it so occurred to me that we are a generation of people who are so distracted. As technology increases and we are so able to entertain ourselves we are missing out on Jesus. When I think of families breaking down I am reminded once again that it is so hard to have intimacy with your family when you are so busy on the phone, the computer, or watching t.v. There are so many things that we are serving that really have a hold on us but we are missing the prize. The One who is so worthy of our attention and our affection. The Only One that can make us whole, that can make us full. I wish you could hear my tone as I type this because it is not one of condemnation. I have had to hear this word before I can even type it out. He is our pearl of great price, the beginning and the end. Our lives are like a vapor, hear one day and gone the next and what in the world are we going to make with this thing called life? We will continue to serve ourselves or will we be a vessel for God to pour out on this generation.
Here is what got me thinking:

Luke 17:20-22

The Coming of the Kingdom of God

20Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."

22Then he said to his disciples, "The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.

Luke 8:18
18Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him."

The kingdom of God is within us but how much are we diminishing the power that the Holy Spirit applies by quenching the Holy Spirit and grieving God through our lack of obedience.
And not just obedience, what about the plain fact that we won't be still long enough to even have a relationship of depth with Christ. Again, this doesn't apply to every one it is just something that got me thinking.

He who has will be given more. Has what I asked myself. As I meditated on these verses I thought about how often I hear the word yet don't obey the word fully. How I go as a woman and look in the mirror and forget what I looked like and have to go back and check myself out again. My point is that I don't want us to miss Him and what He is doing in our frantic search for significance. I want us to be the Mary's sitting at the feet of Jesus. Most of you that I know personally or have read your blogs, I know enough to know that you are smart women. I know that if we would just press in to touch the hem of His garment, He would bring healing in ways that we never could have imagined. What if we really put down our search for communion with others through the amount of time we spend on the Internet and etc and really focused more on God and His kingdom. The Lord has given us EVERYTHING we need for life and godliness but am I using those things...are you using those things that He has freely given us through the Word and His Spirit.

I have been feeling an extra amount of freedom from some struggles in my mind since I went to the taping of Breaking Free and my point is for myself and all of us. Lets get serious, even more serious about being intentional with our walk with Christ. That is not legalism. If we can not love Him with all of our hearts we are not effective. It's just the truth. When we seek Him and pray for a heart to love Him above all things that is His will, He will answer that prayer. We can not have a divided heart, so Lord give each one reading this an undivided heart that fears Your Name.

I just realized how distracted I have been with lesser things that are keeping me from a life of abundance.

Let us be free and walk in that freedom and praise Him for all of our days. I don't even know if any of this is even going to make one ounce of sense in the way that the Lord impressed it on my heart.

Pinky Promise

When I get home this afternoon I am going to start putting my notes out from what I learned at Breaking Free and about the trip in general....pause...there is a man sitting in front of me falling asleep at the mall. Just thought you needed to know.
I will give you the whole Megillah. That is a new term from my Esther study.
Megillah is the Hebrew word for scroll. Anyway, I have lots to share and I just wanted to check in. BTW, Morgan found her Christmas presents. She was telling me that I needed to give her her Rose Petal Cottage now. She doesn't want presents from Santa she said she wants them from Walmart. I told her I didn't have the Rose Petal Cottage (lie...sorry Lord) and she said, "Yes a do...it's in your trunk. GO GET IT!" I just had to tell her I had no idea what she was talking about.

***Since I got so many comments on this one maybe I should photo shop you all in!!

This precious woman, Beth Moore, means so much to me. I have no clue where I would be without God using her so profoundly to point me to Christ.

I love her so and I am in debt to her forever and to Christ. He is Glorious!!

Back scratcher story

HERE are my links to the back scratcher story...

More pics from New Orleans

CLICK HERE

Can I get a what? what?

Oh it's me.
Um here I am seriously in the race to finish Esther. LOL! No but for realz it is so so so stinking good!!

HERE is a link to some pictures!!

i will explain later..breaking free taping

Prayer

I received news this afternoon about a friends father dying in a car accident. She is a sister in Christ and I have known her since elementary school. She goes to my church and I had not seen her for years until I saw her there, her name is Wynter. Anyway, she has two younger children. Please pray for her mom and her whole family.

If you would like to leave her a comment or prayer I would love to pass it on to her. Her photography link is on the right side of my page.

Also, I am headed out tomorrow for the Breaking Free taping. Please pray for everyone involved. I know the taping will produce fruit for years to come as Breaking Free has meant so much to me. I am nervous about leaving Morgan for that many days...let me just be honest.

Thank you in advance for your prayers for Wynter. My heart just aches for them.

love jenny

Morgan and Jax

Here are some more pics!!

doodlebops

Watch what your kids are watching...
We have never watched doodlebops before but let me just say it totally freaked me out and Morgan is NEVER watching it again. I had to make that clear with her today.

***It just totally scares me...that is all. I have never been a clown type person...and etc.

And the award for the girl with the least common sense goes to....

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...Jenny!!
I AM HORRIBLY EMBARRASSED at what I am about to type. For 4 days (yes 4 days) I have been hearing an unusual sound coming from my refrigerator. Well, I just chalked it up to the fact that every time I went in the kitchen the thing must be filling up with water for the ice maker or something.

NOPE. About 45 minutes ago...I pulled back the fridge and to my horror saw a hose coming from the back of the fridge spraying water all over the place including the electrical socket. I have no clue why it never ran on the floor. Water went all the way up the sheet rock for 4 DAYS. So, our wall is ruined and will be molding. I am not even kidding. I was a bit nervous about waking Rod up because he is a grouch at night...but I tell you it was totally the Lord because he did not raise his voice or even get mad at me. He just told me that I needed to tell him whenever I heard anything unusual.

I feel so stupid right now. It reminds me of the time I had an Eclipse and did not change the oil in it and the engine blew up.

Oh I am off to pray and cast my anxiety on the Lord. The president I preferred didn't get elected, Tommy Tubberville is going to Clemson, I am an idiot, and my pets heads are falling off (dumb and dumber), now we have to take out the wall and replace the sheet rock all because I didn't take heed to the noise. There is so much application for my walk with the Lord in that. But tonight I am thankful that I have Esther (beth moore) and that God is on His Throne.

I kept asking Rod why he didn't hear it either. He said his ears are not as good as mine.

One thing I must say about that man is he is as smart as a whip. Dude can fix ANYTHING. He amazes me with his skillz. I am so thankful for that.

Esther by Beth Moore

Because I am crazy like that!

The New ESV study Bible

FIRST THIS IS ME SCREAMING FOR JOY IN ALL CAPS!!!! I HAVE ESTHER BY BETH MOORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE BEEN WAITING AND WAITING. This is more exciting to me than growing up and looking forward to Christmas (because of presents) or my birthday as a kid.
I can hardly contain myself!! Also, I am reading a book called the Spiritual man by Watchman Nee. It is incredible. It is also a classic.

OK now about the ESV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE IT!! IT IS ONE OF THE BEST STUDY BIBLES I HAVE EVER SEEN!!! I highly recommend that you get it!!

I am on a little bit of a high right now and I am counting down the days until I fly out to the breaking free taping. WHOOO HOOOO!

Because on election day 5 skirts for $10.75 with tax included is important!

I am just trusting God tonight and I have decided to switch gears and show you that I brought these skirts from afar (prov 31). I got 5 skirts...yes I said 5 skirts...for $10.75 tonight at Walmart (NOT) Old Navy!! Old Navy was having a big clearance sale. I would have not gone out and bought these but I have hardly any skirts and could not pass up this kind of deal.

1

NEWS FLASH!!!!!!!!

I am going to vote today but I don't even care about the elections anymore. I JUST SAW THAT LIFEWAY'S SITE IS SAYING THAT ESTHER IS AVAILABLE. GUESS WHO IS GETTING UP IN A FEW HOURS TO PURCHASE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????????????? ME!!!!
I AM BEYOND EXCITED!!!

For MiMi and Pop

CLICK PAUSE ON THE MUSIC PLAYER TO THE RIGHT

For Women Only

So, for the past few days I have been eating something salty, then sweet, then salty, then sweet. You would think that this would clue me in to a certain pattern that I have had going on for the last 17 years. Whenever I go into this mode it means "my friend" is about to visit me for a week.

Sooooo, tonight Rod hurt my feelings and I promise the smallest thing made me want to snap. We even got into an argument. And guess what he says: Are you about to start?
Me: NO!!!!!!!!!!! I have legitimate reasons to be irritated with you.
Him: I am going to bed (at 8:00pm)
Me: WHATEVER

He even asked if he could read my new bible and I was like NO! I asked you if you wanted me to buy you one. Talk about stingy. I mean I need a lesson in sharing just as much as Morgan does (I did let him read it just so you know...the truth won out).

Well, guess what...it turns out Rod knows my patterns better than I do. My friend is here. I had no idea that the curse of Eve was even about to be upon me.

People I promise and it is just truth, a woman's hormones can make her crazy on a serene day. Or at least mine can. ;)

and another

Here are some more pics of Morgan.

Because my child is so spoiled loved, I had to make one of these for her real quick. So now she has 2.

Here is a little stool I made for my friends baby shower. I seriously had to paint it in 5 minutes last night so it's not that great. I did give her something else. ;)