If anyone gets this before church

PLEASE say a prayer for me. I have to teach for 2 hours and I really need the Lord to show up on my behalf. I have not gone to sleep tonight so it will be all Him if I don't pass out at church. ;)

random, my hair, and morgans princess party...and San Antonio these are my bloggin' peeps that I love so much I am still not finished adding pics

Lisa, the green pullover makes me look fat. It is indeed the pocket...can you photoshop that for me? LOL!!
Pic 1 is of me and Bev, then me and the Preachers Wife, Nikki and Abby, Me and Bev again, Me and Ang Baylis, a waiter that I asked if he could look at my teeth and see if I had anything in them...I mean why was that so weird everyone? Then, is the infamous lunch where I know someone at that table prayed to receive Christ...LOL! Inside Joke. Next, we get to the do. Thank the Lord Amy fixed it. You can't see it all of the way because I had to take the pic myself. Of course you know who the little sweet princess is in the pics. She went to a princess party today. I love that sweet thing so. The ones in the chair are pre par-tay. The last of course is her and Cinderella. More to come...

Yes people...Jenny has lost it.

Well, I can't sleep. I had 4 hours the night before and 3 tonight. Since I have the ulcers I can no longer take NSAID's and now I have to take me some Midol...wink wink...if you know what I mean.

Lately, the dialog between me and the Lord has been about faith and obedience. They pretty much go hand and hand. There are some areas where the Lord wants me to up the ante (is that just a southern phrase? Here is the idiom form if it is: (idiom) To make something more desirable.) and believe Him and obey. Without faith it is impossible to please Him.

Here is the part where I may lose people and you may think I am weird forever but that is OK.
Last night, I got home REALLY late. I am not sure why but it was really on my heart to just walk every inch of my home and pray over it. Not only that, just a symbol between the Lord and I, I got some extra virgin olive oil (no, I wasn't about to bake Him any unleavened bread) and I went around to every door, window, television, computer, and dipped my finger in the oil and would say a prayer and mark each of those places with a cross. I am sure Rod is going to wonder when he gets home why in the world there is oil on the computers and tv's. I realize there is no power in the oil and I was doing nothing superstitious but that I wanted to acknowledge before the Lord that I wanted my whole home to be invaded with His Holy Spirit. Last but not least around 1 am I went to my baby and put some oil on her head and prayed over her (I am sure you are thinking I am really weird and should have kept this to myself). Regardless of anything anyone tries to throw my way about how kids are just going to have to go astray...we all like sheep have gone astray...I am going to believe God for my child. The enemy did everything he could to keep her from getting here. he does not want godly seed. I am begging God every day that she would love Him and walk in His ways and have a heart that hungers and yearns for the Living God. I am very much living in reality but when pessimistic people want to come my way and tell me that she is just going to have to be like every other kid and blah blah blah...I am rebuking those words in Jesus name. I believe that we can still raise our kids to have a passion for God. I believe that there are teenagers who are still keeping themselves pure. God is working and pouring out His Spirit and I am praying that He will put a fire in that stubborn little girls bones for Him. So, I then put the oil in the shape of a cross on our foreheads and just acknowledged that we are His and that I desire to do His will and for me and my house we will serve the Lord. I seriously do not know where I would be apart from the Cross of Christ. The cross is enough for salvation and forgiveness. He made a way for all of us to be right with Him and without the power of the cross and the shed blood of Christ I could not stand. Praise You Lord.
I thought well, me and Morgs may wake up with our foreheads broken out in the shape of a cross but oh well, right. There was my vanity.
As I prayed I thanked the Lord for passing over us and having mercy on us because of the blood of the lamb. As I did this I thought about the passover and just told Him that I was doing this as a symbol of what He told His children to do with putting blood over their door posts (I doubt anyone is reading at this point) and knowing that me and my family can do nothing if we are not consecrated (set apart) for Him and we can do nothing without His Spirit empowering us with everything for life and godliness. I am believing God for my family and let me tell you...He has brought us a mighty long way so far. God has done such a work in my life and my marriage that He alone gets the glory due.

Ask God to help your unbelief and believe Him for your family and for your own life even if you feel you are to messed up to still be used by Him. THAT IS A LIE.

So this morning, I opened my inbox and read THIS by Greg Laurie. So good.

I hope you have a great day and that He will be the delight of your life. I pray that He would be High and Lifted Up before our eyes and that our small views of God would be dispelled. He loves us so.

Oh NO!! I just saw the "I've fallen and I can't get up" commercial. When we fall in our daily living and walk with the Lord, get back up and stand at the cross knowing that the Lamb of God takes away the sins of the world and removes our sins from us as far as the east is to the west.

p.s. I get to the Salon yesterday and they said oh darlin' Cindy is not here. Well, I was like oh they scheduled me an appointment. She asked me if I wanted to come back and I said no, I drove 40 minutes. Well, they had actually scheduled me with one of the owners of the salon...who I love. She did such a good job on my hair. No bad haircut against me prevailed...lol!

H.A.I.R.

Well, I have been keeping this to myself so here goes. Please take no offense.

I got desperate.

It was a weak moment.

I was without Morgan.

Having time to kill.

I went to Supercuts.

I thought the lady with the long frizzy unkempt hair was just the shampoo tech.

Her hair was at least 20 inches long.

Maybe it was a religious thing.

She put the cape on me.

She got the scissors.

I said, "Oh, are you cutting my hair?"

She cut my hair.

She told me about how much pain medicine and muscle relaxers she was on.

Surely, she was not going to cut my hair...my crown of glory.

I prayed. Lord give me favor. Perform a miracle with those scissors.

I was scared. I was trying to cast my cares on Him, because He cares for me and this was a big deal.

She did not dry my hair. You know that is a bad sign.

I asked if she had been to beauty school...reek reek reek...she told me they had to do 40 hours of training.

What? What?

My mother in law said, "don't you know not to go to those places!"

Yes.

I get home.

Dry and try to style my hair.

It was uneven...way uneven and chopped up.

So, today I am wearing it curly.

I will not depart again from my girl at Salon 2000.

I am headed there tomorrow with my hair magazine in tow. I know she will not disappoint.

If you want a bad do...go to this lady on meds at Supercuts. If you need her info just leave me a comment.

Prayers please.

Lesson learned. If you want something stylish stick to your same girl that you have been using for 15 years Jenny (yes, I speak in 3rd person).

Leviticus 10:6 (the Lord takes hair very seriously) JUST KIDDING!
6 Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, "Do not let your hair become unkempt, and do not tear your clothes, or you will die and the LORD will be angry with the whole community. But your relatives, all the house of Israel, may mourn for those the LORD has destroyed by fire.

Alfred E. Smith Charity Dinner

Well, The Alfred E. Smith Charity dinner has been the most exciting part to me of the whole presidential campaign. I AM SICK OF IT. McCain is CRACKING me UP!! I am so getting old...I read the news every day and watch fox...and am a secret Larry King Live watcher. I will leave out my opinions on the election...but lets just say I will not vote for a man who is pro-choice. And I am so glad that oil was $70 a barrel today and that the Dow went back up. I am really looking for some" non-stop hilarity" from Obama as McCain just said. However, I am changing the channel.

Controversy on William Young's "The Shack"

I read the book the Shack and I completely disagreed with (even a fictional) portrayal of The Trinity. Here is an article from Dr. James MacDonald who has been a mentor to me in the faith. I know I have heard several of your opinions already regarding the book...but I could in no way recommend his book to anyone either. We need to guard our hearts with all diligence and whether fiction or not, we need to stick to the God of the bible.

alabama blogs al.com

Alabama Blogs on AL.COM
mine is on here under Pelham..;)

defeated foe

Romans 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

should I say more?

When there are no footprints in the sand

So this is my second post for the day. Oh well. I was dog tired last night and (or maybe I should say this morning since it was almost 2) I was about to pass out. I was laying on my floor reading my bible when this verse jumped out at me. I don't remember ever seeing it but I had it underlined so I must have.

Psalm 77:19

19 Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.

Then here it is in context:

18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.

19 Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.

20 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

No offense to the traditional "footprints" poem....but what about the times when we can't see His set of footprints. When He leads us a way that requires faith in the Invisible Immortal One who dwells in inapproachable light. I am so thankful for the word and how I was even reading this morning about Jesus healing the 9 lepers in Luke and how only one returned to praise Him. What made me think about His humanity is that it tells you the route He was traveling to Jerusalem. His feet touched this earth in a very visible way.

I was leaving the mall the other night and the normal people that have booths set up tried to talk me into their product. They drive me nuts asking me since I am there most of the week. I am like really can you learn my face or something...I don't want to see ANYTHING AMAZING. They always say "Ma'am let me show you something amazing!" Anyway, a lot of the workers are from Israel and that leads me right into a conversation about Jesus. Well, on Saturday this one guy was trying to sell me a head massager and I asked him where he was from. He told me and I told him how much I wanted to visit the Holy Land. Anyway, he told me I should go during Rosh HaShanah he said it was the same thing as Christmas here. Oh no no no I said, with respect. It is not the same. I believe in a child that was born, walked this earth, fulfilled all of the law and prophets, and is FULLY God and FULLY man. The Godhead bodily. I believe that my sins put Him on a cruel cross and that He took the punishment for our sins past, present, and future. Then, on the third day He rose from the grave and is seated at the right hand of the Father. His heart was so hard toward Christianity. It broke my heart. All of the people that I talk to with this company give me the same conversation. Well, when I finished talking to him I mentioned that I was going to pray for him. He mentioned in the conversation that he believed he was god. Whoo...I told him I needed to jump back on that one. He asked me to pray for him that he would make lots of money (at the kiosk) to which I proceeded to ask him that why if he was god does he work at the mall. I am not being disrespectful either...I was just asking. Then, I proceeded to tell him that if he was the God of the Universe (Jesus) that I believe in, then he would be the blessed controller of all things. So again, God owns the cattle on a thousand hills...we don't need to pray that "God" makes a lot of money. He has everything at His disposal.

Ask God for opportunities to share you faith and know that most will reject Him. We can't save people only Christ. I certainly believe in making relationships with people and sharing the Gospel but I just have many opportunities that are a one chance thing. Look for people who are hurting and at the end of themselves and talk to them about Jesus and what He has done for you.

This guy wanted me to prove that Christ was real and that is just it we walk by faith. I could have stood there for hours and given him testimony of my own life and how I know that I know He is real.

John 20:29

29Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

My Determined Purpose, to Know Him, to take hold of Christ

+++++This is another draft I had saved from when I had menigitis. Just trying to clean up my posts.++++++++

After day eleven of being sick, it was time no matter how much I pushed myself to get out of the house. I waited until it was almost dark to avoid my sensitivity to the light issues (if you want to read about spinal meningitis click here). Rod, Morgan and I loaded up and you guessed it...we headed to WalMart. Normally I go at it alone well I take Morgan to but someone had to drive Mrs. Daisy. Several of the cashiers asked where I had been and one lady there was wanting me and Morgan to come to her sons birthday party (yes I met her at the store) so as I was about to pass out in the isle she was giving me directions to her sons party. I needed to go and get Morgan a few things for Mothers Day Out tomorrow. She went for the first time on Tuesday. She cried a lot and did not eat her lunch. If this keeps up and she doesn't adjust well...we will be having Mothers Day Out at my house. She is a Mommas girl through and through just the way I like it but she has been having some attachment issues. That is okay with me. One day it won't be that way so I will take it while I can get it.
As I was sick I started to feel forgotten. I wondered if anyone cared about me?
Was my life making any difference? As I laid there throughout the past several days I only had very small amounts of time in the word. I was like "Lord, please if you are going to let me lay here at least let me get time with You." I was actually getting mad that I could not read since it hurt so much. The Lord taught me several things over the last few days. Hear me out when I say this I am not saying this to brag...over the last nine years I have not gone to sleep without reading my Bible. My plan is that I read in the morning, get some word throughout the day, and read before I go to sleep. It is especially so I can hear from Jesus, and lay any burdens down from the day. It is also another way of taking thoughts captive and setting my mind on things above. Well, growing up I so wanted the approval of an earthly father that it can be hard for me not to revert to that with God. The Lord taught me that it is okay for me to have not read those two nights because I was sick. It was a matter of the heart and He knows my heart. One night my twin sister had to read to me (even though it was KJV or what I would like to call the Shakespeare version it was the word). Then last night Rod said he was going to get his bible to read before he went to bed so of course I was like please come in the room and read to me. I could have died...He stood away from me in the bathroom and read me four of the strangest prophecy verses in Ezekiel that I have ever heard (because they were not in context it was one of those flip your bible open and read the first thing you come to). He shut the Bible and said goodnight. I was like are you serious? That's it? No one can keep it short like that man of mine. Then I called my little sister and asked her if she was near a bible she found one and began to read. I said "Steph , are you reading me from the Psalm 140's?" to which she replied "yes, how do you know that?" I love the Psalms so much and can relate so much that I read them every day. She read to me Psalm 143

Phil 3:8-11
8Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),

9And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law's demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith.

10[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [[b]which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]

11That if possible I may attain to the [[c]spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].

Surrendering the Secret

Sorry for like the 5th post today but I had some scheduled ones that rolled out. Anyway, I am joining in with this. Most of you know about it.

Surrendering the Secret...
We have a secret that is dominating our hearts and taking over the dark places in our livesWe go to church, work, social functions but feel so ashamed because of the burden we carrySometimes it is not our secret or burden but that of a loved one, friend, or acquaintanceThe secret is abortionOne in 3 women in the US have had an abortion but most of them feel too ashamed to even tell anyoneWell there is hope and help to break this strongholdLifeway is offering a great new DVD series called "Surrendering the Secret" by Pat LaytonPlease read the e-mail below for more information regarding this wonderful ministry, DVD series and a fantastic GIVEAWAY to help promote this ministryPlease click Melinda's blog link to register for this giveawayHi Ladies,First of all, THANK YOU to those who've agreed to partner with me for a large giveaway to promote the Surrendering the Secret post-abortion healing study, now available from Pat Layton and Lifeway. It's an awesome privilege for me to work with all of you to get the word out about the healing and freedom available to our sisters who are in bondage to this secret pain. This weekend, Pat will be at the Carenet convention, which is a national umbrella organization for crisis pregnancy centers. They will be putting the word out about the study and their web site/blogs, so I want the giveaway to coincide with when those people will be going to these sites after that conference. Because of this, I've decided to start the giveaway, on Monday, October 6th, and close it on Sunday, October 12th. I'll announce the winners on Monday, the 13th.This is the giveaway:Five (5) Surrendering the Secret DVD Leader KitsTwelve (12) Surrendering the Secret Member Books PER leader kit.I am also going to give each person two chances to enter:1 - Leave a comment2 - Link to the giveaway from their blog and leave a second comment with the link.The Lord brought to mind the five loaves that were given to feed the crowd, and with that offering, He multiplied them to feed thousands, with leftovers besides (Mark 6:40-44).I'm believing God to do the same with this offering of 5 kits; that He will multiply them and feed TENS of thousands and MORE with the nourishment only He can provide.Thank you, again, for joining me. There are SO MANY OTHERS whose hearts will thank you, too.To learn more about Surrendering the Secret, go HERE . To watch the promo video, go HERE . Hugs all around,Melinda

Brooke Fraser

Brooke Fraser's cd is out at LIFEWAY now. I could not believe it. None of her stuff was in the U.S. and I screamed out loud when I saw it on the shelf. Good thing all of the associates already know I am crazy. ;)
Go get Albertine it is on sale for $10.99. I got mine on ebay in a bid war. boo.
View some of her stuff here.

"Modern man is responsible to society- HE THINKS TRUTH IS ESTABLISHED BY MAJORITY OPINION. For religious man, responsible to God, God alone determines Truth, and one should avoid judgments based on false, human criteria. God stands diametrically opposed to world. Men were false- God was Truth: an unbounded abyss separated them." ---Abraham Joshua Heschel "Passion for Truth"

Can I get me a good Samaritan for goodness sake?

So, tonight I go to my baby brothers 18th birthday party and decide I am going to show everyone my biking skillz. Just kidding. Anyway, I get on one bike and Morgan starts to follow me out into the road. I grabbed the handle brakes and flipped over a ditch off of the bike and into the road. I kid you not. I flipped over the bike. Almost like the tubing stunt where I sprained my neck. What is the deal. I have a knot on my chin, bruised Achilles and a bruised backside if you know what I mean. Morgan saw me and was screaming for Uncle Will. It went something like Will...help...mommy...road...fell...bike. All of his GUY friends were outside in the driveway and were like Will, man your sister is in the road. My sweet brother was like people get up and help her. He came and got me and the bike. It is all funny to me as I am so thankful nothing was any worse. I just thought my girls that know how clumsy I am would get a kick. I was so thankful that my outfit was not torn or my shoes scuffed...isn't that sad...the road rash was the least of my worries...LOL!! ps my dr. reports came back benign! PTL!

Don't worry it's not loaded

(This is a few months old I am going through my drafts) I debated on putting this up here but I just think it is hilarious. Rod painted his whatever you call it on his rifle and Morgan is already getting ready for hunting season.

Vintage Momma

Vintage Momma
I wanted to repost this since it is Christmas time. I loved loved loved the rings she sent me and she even gave me a free one and it was my favorite color--RED.I learned about Vintage Momma from Debra's site. She is so talented and affordable! She is a mom with 3 kids and I just think her stuff is the coolest. Go check it out and maybe order something.

Easier Said Than Done

Hebrews 11:6
6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.


Yesterday I was giving Morgan a bath and we got to the wonderful climatic part of the scene where it is time to rinse her hair. Usually I am soaked at this point while she checks out her pruned looking fingers and toes and wonders why they are like that. I have tried all kinds of ways to rinse that child's hair from cups, to wash cloths, and etc. Well, yesterday I just laid her back and put her head under the faucet and covered her forehead with my other hand to keep water from getting in her eyes. She fought and fought and fought me because she was scared that I would drop her in the water. So guess what she does...she resists to the point that she is squirming all over the tub and she tosses around and gets a mouth full of water and eyes full of water. I told her repeatedly to trust me as I rinsed her hair. "Morgan, trust me...I will not drop you. Just let me rinse your hair," I said. It was such a visual reminder as if the Holy Spirit was reminding me to trust Him. The Lord will not drop or abandon me. He will not let me sink as I trust Him. He will hold me when there are no footprints to be seen. I can not trust in how I feel. I have to have faith in what is not seen and seek Him diligently knowing that He rewards those who seek Him.

Diligently is the word:
[m;v' shama` {shaw-mah'}
Meaning: v 1) to hear, listen to, obey 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to hear (perceive by ear) 1a2) to hear of or concerning 1a3) to hear (have power to hear) 1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to 1a5) to understand (language) 1a6) to hear (of judicial cases) 1a7) to listen, give heed 1a7a) to consent, agree 1a7b) to grant request 1a8) to listen to, yield to 1a9) to obey, be obedient 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound) 1b2) to be heard of 1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed 1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound 1d2) to sound aloud (musical term) 1d3) to make proclamation, summon 1d4) to cause to be heard n m 2) sound


In the KJV the word for reward is:
misqapodo,thj misthapodotes {mis-thap-od-ot'-ace}
Meaning: 1) one who pays wages, a rewarder

God rewards our faith either here or in heaven when we diligently seek Him. When we listen to Him, when we obey, when we go against our feelings and choose faith. He rewards us when we do what His word says when no one else is looking.

God is for us. Yesterday, I had to spank Morgan for running out in the road. YES I HAD TO SPANK HER. This was not a lesson where she needed a stern talking to. This was a lesson where she needed to know that I meant business (we have gone over this 6 times at least). I yelled for her to stop and she kept going. She has no clue that I am trying to protect her from a car coming and hitting or possibly killing her. I spanked her then talked to her about why and told her that mommy was for her and that I was not going to spank her if it wasn't in her best interest. She needs to know and rely on the fact that if I scream STOP...I mean STOP!! Same way with the Lord. He will use whatever means to get our attention and He disciplines those that He loves. He is FOR YOU. He is for me.

My struggle this morning is a stupid one but I really wanted these shoes a while back when they were 60 dollars. They are sketchers and I saw them at Ross for $24.99. I have reasoned all morning as to why I need those shoes and how comfortable they would be and how cute they would be...but the fact is I don't need them. I could not believe what a wrestle it was for me to surrender that little desire to Him this morning. He is God of the universe and if He really thought I needed them He could put them at my door...but there are bigger fish to fry. Anyway, I even was like Lord, Rod buys this and that why can't I have these shoes? I was looking for a verse for Him to tell me it was okay and then I heard in my Spirit: Submit to your husband as unto the Lord...and Rod said I did not need them...so I would be in disobedience...durn it!!

Anyway, I am embarrassed to tell you that that was such an issue of laying down my fleshly desires this morning but it is and I just want to be obedient to God. I remember one time I bought a pair of shoes (patent leather black birkenstocks) and I knew I was not to buy them. Y'all I had to get rid of those sin shoes they made me so sick to look at. It reminded me of this verse (because material things can become such an idol): (I had to add the verse before because it is so good.)
Isaiah 30:21-22
21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." 22 Then you will defile your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, "Away with you!"

I had to throw those shoes away (I gave them to my mom) like a menstrual cloth (who wants to keep that??) and say Away with you!!! For real. I know you all think I am crazy if you made it this far.

But if I could just say three things today:
1. God is for you.
2. Walk by faith in an area you are struggling with today and ask Him to help you and fill you with His Spirit.
3. Ask Him to show you where you are being disobedient and shrinking back the Holy Spirit and work on that with Him.

**I wrote this last year but was reading back over it and thought I would post***

**I wrote this last year but was reading back over it and thought I would post***

THE PIT!

A few months ago I began to read through Jeremiah and these verses struck a cord with me:
Jeremiah 38:6
6 So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king's son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.
In the Bible when some one spoke of enemies digging a pit for them or their adversary hunting them down, they were being VERY literal. I don't think (unless we are familiar with war) that when we read we understand that these were literal enemies opposing people like David and Jeremiah. We clearly have real enemies but a lot of ours are in the unseen realm since our battle is not against flesh and blood. Sometimes I wish my battle was in the seen..so that maybe it would be easier. Don't get me wrong, I DO NOT want to be on the run like David was, hiding out in caves and etc. That is not for me! My point is that in combat the enemy would literally dig our pits or cisterns for whoever they wanted to trap or kill. The Psalms speak of pits over and over...just take a look for yourself. Read the following verse and consider the word pit in the Hebrew with me:
NIV Psalm 28:1 Of David. To you I call, O LORD my Rock; do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who have gone down to the pit.
The word for pit is Bor meaning: "pit, hole, cistern, well, dungeon, grave. Empty cisterns were used for prisons (Jer. 38:6; Zec. 9:11). The Hebrews conceived of death as a giant pit..."

My point is that when Jeremiah sank down into the mud in the cistern or pit that was dug FOR HIM...he would have seen this as the same this as a grave dug for him. Jeremiah is known as the "weeping prophet" and if you study him you will see that...but what stood out to me was that he was obedient to God and rejected by man over and over. There is something about the truth that cuts like a knife...people either love it or hate it. I am sure you know like me that there have been times when you wanted to close your ears to the truth and do your own thing. The truth is not popular and it is costly. My life is pathetic in comparison to Jeremiah. God told him what to do and he did it. It is my constant prayer that I would obey the Lord. Whenever I choose my way over His I end up suffering. In the words of my favorite preacher (James MacDonald) "Choose to sin, choose to suffer." Yet sometimes we will suffer and face being struck down or shipwrecked so to speak from following the Lord. If obedience gets us a cistern who wants that right!?! Be honest the second Christ starts to cost us something and we start barreling into trials we want Him to take His hand off the thermostat of our fiery furnace. That's me anyway. But I have been there with Jeremiah...only mostly I have jumped into my own pit. We are not to be unaware of our enemies schemes. He wants to trap and ensnare us in all manner of sins. The enemy really sets traps for us. He tries to lead us like a lamb to the slaughter. Of course everyone knows that Rod is a hunter...he spends a lot of time camouflaging himself, putting doe urine on his body (SICK!), and he even plants fields during the middle of the year to feed the dear and bait them in. He has cameras that detect motion and take pictures to see where the deer are feeding. My point is that he goes through great lengths to lure the deer in, camouflage himself and bait those sweet things in. All Rod can think about right now is the hunt and if you know anything about deer hunting in Alabama you will know that the rut is about to kick in. This is mating time for the deer. The bucks completely throw caution to the wind as they try to mate. They let their guard down and this is the perfect time to bag that Big Buck. I don't get it...but I like to draw the analogy. In my life that is they way satan works with me. Don't get me wrong I can get into trouble without his help. He will lure me, bait me, camouflage sin and bam he's got me in the pit. He wants to destroy our testimony and make us ineffective for the kingdom. Thankfully when we do blow it, like me so many times, we can come back to the Lover of our souls. I was thinking about David the other day and wondering if after he blew it did he hang his harp and quit playing? Maybe he did for a time but I think God restored him and put a new song in his heart. One of the things the enemy tries to get us to believe after we have taken a fall is that we are worthless and that we can no longer go to God. That is a lie from the pit. We need to get back with the Lord regardless and restore our fellowship with Him. My friend called me yesterday and she was telling me about a sermon she heard at church and she said that the pastor kept saying that if we are still here that God has a plan for us. Believe that in your own life. Don't quit getting in the word. Don't quit surrounding yourself with believers. The worst thing you can do is separate yourself...we need each other. Trust in God's ability to forgive and restore you...don't trust in how you feel. Like Peter, when you have turned back, strengthen the brethren. Warn anyone who will listen that the pit is like going down to death and that they want to stay walking on the straight and narrow. When God pulls you out of your pit, learn from it and make the enemy sorry he ever messed with you.

My Report

Thank you all so much for your sweet messages and your prayers. I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy yesterday and I had a large ulcer and a small one. They are biopsying the ulcers and will let me know something next week.
I also have a redundant colon. Good to know. All of my roommates in San Antonio will get our inside bathroom joke...LOL!!
I am still not feeling great so please pray for the Lord's peace over me. I love you all!!!

I hesitate to ask

I hesitate to ask for more prayer as I feel I have used you guys up...LOL!
I am having some GI problems and have been miserable tonight and last night. Anyway, I am having a colonoscopy and endoscopy in the morning. Please just pray for God's hand on me...I have spent most of the day crying from pain. Seriously. I love you all.

Sunday and Praise with Travis Cottrell & the Travis-ettes.

playdough cake with a billion straws. yummy. morgan made it for me


me and morgan with her dress over her head

her with her "bippy" paci hiding

Me and Boo!

Me and Mrs. Jill waiting to get our praise on with Travis Cottrell. Don't worry I did not hurt her with the praise...lol! Go check her blog out and say hey!! She is a siesta!! She taught me everything I know about computers and she still looks 20 years old.

Me and Julie Goss's daughter...the precious little thing got her praise on!

Julie Goss (she is the one with the POWER HOUSE voice from San Antonio) who is one of Travis Cottrell's praise team members. I know some of us were like where did that voice come from out of that little bitty thang!!

Travis and Boo

Me and the head Miesta...Travis. Y'all I had to convince some of the older people at FBT that his name was not Travis Kat-trail. LOL I did have a massive headache after praise and worship. I guess I got so into it that I worked up a headache. What is up with that?

Weeeeeeeeeer'e BACK

We are back from what Rod is telling Morgan is "the cabin". I just need to share that last night she said "Momma, I can't stay here...I just can't!" Well, out of the mouths of babes. We only lasted at roach motel for one night.
Rod told me there was no work for him to do in the morning and asked if I wanted to go home. YOU HAVE NEVER NEVER SEEN ME PACK SO FAST IN MY LIFE.
A couple of highlights:
1. I have not been down there in two years. MEANING: The place has not been cleaned in two years!
2. I spent all night cleaning the place and as I live and breathe I promise you (and the Lord knows) I moved furniture like crazy to clean underneath and I must have vacuumed up 1000's yes THOUSANDS of dead bugs I am not kidding. The first place I started to clean was the toilet. I won't go there. Then, the shower. I asked Rod when the last time the shower had been cleaned and he said, "I have never cleaned it." Meaning: The last time I cleaned it. I think there was an ant bed in the side of the shower. I am not sure but I would have to say yes it was an ant bed.
3. Upon arrival I noticed the sink was full of dishes. So there is no telling how long they were sitting there but I will tell you I hate dishes being left in the sink. Much less I WOULD NEVER EVER EAT OFF OF ONE OF THOSE DISHES. Even if I was starving. I decided to pop morgan some popcorn (just before I forbid him to EVER let her eat off of one utensil in the place) and he told me not to look in the microwave. Y'all it was AWFUL. I had to get one of those metal soap pads to clean it out.
4. Wasps got all in the trailer and I was doing all I could to spray them to their death. At one point all I could find was some X-14 shower foam cleaner and I just sprayed them with foam to death. It worked. Rod informed me they are just living in the paneled walls so I needed to keep the place real cold so they wouldn't come out. Oh I just could rest at ease after that comment.
5. We were riding a ranger type all terrain vehicle and we got stuck in some major mud. At that point I said MORGAN YOU NEED TO PRAY. It wasn't looking good. As soon as she prayed "God, please help us get out of this mud, amen" we got out. PRAISE YOU LORD.
6. Morgan asked when we could go to the mall...LOL!!!
7. I found some wonderful presents that Rod's friend gave me TWO years ago. Thanks for bringing those home for me dear!

Well, I have got to crash. Last nights sleep in the twin bed with Morgs hurt.

I am boldly going where no woman should have to go....

Me and Morgan are headed to the hunting club-trailer. PLEASE PRAY!!!!! Yikes!! Rod just told me in front of Morgan that there are a lot of rattle snakes this year and I told him I would take my Glock and Morgan got scared to death about the snakes. We really need to watch our words.
HERE is a previous post on the hunting club.

If I don't come back I love you all!!! ;)

Parable of the Soils...which one are you?

*****I am not finished with this yet.

I am wondering how long I have before my Morgan Hope comes busting down here because she can't go to sleep without me. I have had so many things going through my mind lately and no time to share.

I am in the middle of two bible studies right now that kind of coincided with the other for me this week.

The first time I did "Stepping Up" by Beth Moore I could not get out of my head a story that she told of visiting Angola. I don't have it sitting in front of me so I will try to give you the general idea. She was talking about how her and Keith went to this village and the people who lived there did not even know how to travel to another city since it was so war torn they were afraid to anyway. So, she goes on to say that Isaak the guy who works over there from Life Today told them one of the most frustrating things that they dealt with. They would give the people seed so they could plant and harvest crops but instead of planting (or sowing) the seed the people were so hungry that they would eat the seed.

So this gets me on the parable of the soils in Matthew 13:18-23. Please stay with me even though it is so familiar.

We basically have four types of people here (and really two categories...1. Those who are children of God and 2. Those who are children of the devil). And of course when I say seed I am talking about the Word of God.

1. One who hears the message and doesn't get it because the evil one has snatched it away from their heart. (The seed sown along the path)

2. One who receives the word at first with great joy, but has no root and under trial and testing falls away. This is the type person who has head knowledge yet uses human logic. The one who goes through a trial or loss and says hey if God is good then why is this happening. I thought I was going to tap into this Christian thing and live on easy street. Being a Christian is not for them. And this person falls away quickly. (The seed that fell on rocky places)

3. And for this one I just need to stick the whole verse in here: 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. (emphasis mine)

This is where I would say cultural christianity comes in. Especially for those of us who live in the Bible belt. This third person is the one who does not mature in their walk with Christ. They go to church on Sunday to check it off their list. They do not fully yield their life to the Holy Spirit and miss the Kingdom agenda and their purpose for being here because they are SO distracted. This person is unfruitful because the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke their life out.

Mark 4:19 says this in speaking of this verse: 19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Luke 8: 14 says 14The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.

So three more things that I think come in to place in believers who are "lukewarm":

a. the worries of this life

b. the desires for other things

c. distracted by the finer things in this world system: riches (the deceitfulness of riches) and pleasures

This is so easy for us in the United States to take up "friendship" with the world.

Travis Cottrell is coming to Birmingham!!

I am so fired up!! Travis Cottrell is bringing it to Birmingham!! I am so there.
He is going to be at First Baptist Trussville!!! I know you siestas that don't live here will be jealous with a godly jealousy that I will get to go get my praise on!!! ;)

ps. Mrs. Jill in Alabama I am going to get you for not telling me!! I know it is paybacks since you didn't get to go to San Antonio! ;) LOL