No lie comes from the truth

These verses spoke to me so much this morning. Also, I love-love-love verse 21. NO LIE COMES FROM THE TRUTH!! God is Truth and in Him there is NO darkness at all. NO DARKNESS AT ALL. So good since we live in a world full of deceit from the enemy and his cohorts. His word is truth. Praise You Lord. There is One who is completely Trustworthy. One who does not change. Simple reminders but I need to know them!! We can not walk in Him and deceive others and if we are deceiving others we are being deceived.

1 John 2:15-29

Do Not Love the World

15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

Warning Against Antichrists

18Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

20But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 21I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 22Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son. 23No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

24See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25And this is what he promised us—even eternal life.

26I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

Children of God

28And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.

29If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.

When the Bar is Raised Too High

Luke 10

At the Home of Martha and Mary

38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Oh I hope you did not skip over these verses. I know for a fact that as women we put way too much pressure on ourselves. We have so many standards for ourselves that maybe God didn't intend. Then, in our efforts to reach the bar that keeps getting raised we become frustrated, dismayed, exhausted, and joyless. (Um pause...Donald Trump just needs to let the "do" go. He is on Gretta and the comb over is just way too obvious...but God loves him anyway.)

So, I was in the car tonight just feeling like a failure. I want to know Christ more, I want to mother my child and bring her up in the way she should go. I want to have a clean house, be a good wife to my man, stay organized, serve more, and on and on and on. I have this constant nagging sense of inadequacy and maybe you can't relate at all or maybe you can. As I was thinking tonight about being a Christian woman in general we get this idea that we have to look and be Mrs. Proverbs 31 or we are just failures and we give up because we can't seem to cope.

Were women back then educated? Did they have cars and places to go? Could they just let their child run on their land without worrying about whether their child would be hit by a car or not? Did they have the media blaring in their face telling them how discontent they should be with life, their image...the implosion of MORE MORE MORE! I am not saying there weren't hard times. But don't you think families were closer? They talked more, ate together, shared closer community, they weren't as distracted (this is all just me thinking). Women still felt like we do...and there were a lot of different things then like arranged marriages and etc which I for the likes would not want. Women still felt unloved and a desire to be wanted and respected and accomplished. With more people and as the times are nearer to the Day of His Coming wickedness is increasing. It is just harder to live here on earth without all of the pressure to be and do. We constantly compare ourselves to others and focus on what others are doing, that we aren't. What they have, that we don't. What kind of relationship to their man that they have and how our friends husbands are prince charming's and ours aren't (I am not talking about Rod I am just saying how much we compare and lack contentment...I am so guilty). When in fact we have no clue what goes on in someones house or in their soul.

I think Jesus would take some of us and cup His hands around our face and tell us, "Child I love you. I created you. You are mighty fine...fearfully and wonderfully made. You have been distracted by much but only one thing is required...sit at my feet. LISTEN TO ME, drown out the other voices that haunt you. Lose yourself in me. Pour out your heart to me. Let me hold you. Let me fix you. Be still. STOP. Open your eyes and apply your heart to my word. Stop letting others dictate your worth. No one defines you but me...not your past, not your current place, not the future. I define you, let me use your whole story for my glory...I am the Redeemer. I say that you are washed in the blood of the lamb. I say you are clean. I am enthralled with your beauty. When no one has time for you or attention to show you, I do. I will care for you and provide for you. Set your affections on me...love me with all of your heart and there you will find wholeness and security. No matter who separates themselves from you, I will never leave you. NEVER. I love you. Stop beating yourself down and just be."

Hear me, I am not saying we don't need to do the daily things I just feel like we have a lot more pressure on us than the Proverbs 31 chick! And I love Proverbs 31...yes Lord do those things in us as we seek You but Your yoke is easy and burden is light and we are weighted down by the yoke of our own standards and the yoke of the oppressor. GOD of Heaven and Earth, God who takes up residence by the Holy Spirit, LORD...please help us to believe you and not always see ourselves as failures. Yes we are desperate for You.

I am just sick of beating myself up over everything and becoming frustrated to the point of wanting to give up. That is not what Christ has called us to. He has called us to a life that bears fruit as we abide in Him.

I am getting on my own nerves today...

I just cleaned up an overflowing toilet of poop. Thankfully, I knew how to shut off the water quick or I would have been in deep doo-doo!! LOL!! Oh the dailiness. Then, I have had anxiety over the state of my house tonight. I have deemed myself a failure because I just can't seem to get it all done. I tried to plug away at one thing at a time. The mind is so powerful. Sometimes I just want to give up in my overwhelmed state and just surf the net. Morgan and I were going head to head today. I won't go into the details but tonight Morgan was being V.E.R.Y selfish (can anyone relate) and I told her in the car that she was going to get in trouble when she got home. Then, I hear her praying in the backseat. Then, she says, "Momma, God said Mo! (no) I don't have to go to my room when I get home...He said Mo!" Ever the manipulator bringing God into it. Then, at the mall tonight she fell down...looked up toward the sky and said, "God, please help my hand. Thank you. Amen." How I love her!!

On to the real reason for my post. Here is something a good friend of mine, Amy, wrote on her blog. Please go read it HERE.
Also, please say a prayer for her mother she has reoccurring breast cancer and is having a double mastectomy.

Esther It is Tough Being A Woman-By Beth Moore

It is time again! If you live near me (you will know if you do) you are so invited to join us for Esther. It is so easy GO HERE and sign up and then purchase your workbook from Lifeway. They are $14.99 plus tax. The room we are meeting in is s107-108. I hope you can come. Invite anyone that you want! It is going to be great and the workbook was incredible!!!!!!!!!!

Rebellion

1 Samuel 15:23
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
he has rejected you as king."

Well, I have a confession as if you may not already know this, I heart all things clothes and shoes. Last night, I went to visit my brother. He works at Bass Pro Shops and while I was waiting on him to return from his lunch break I saw T H I S. You would have had to have been there to touch it and try it on. So soft and comfy. I "needed" a small and all they had were mediums and larges. Well, I knew with Christmas and all that I did not "need" to buy this. Still, I put it in the cart and just walked around with it for a while. When I touched the thing 1 Samuel 15:23 came to my spirit. Don't you just love hiding that word in your heart so you might not sin against the Lord. Well, I started to justify why I should buy the jacket then I reasoned with myself that I didn't need anything. Plus, Rod and I had already had a talk about not spending since we have had to buy Christmas and etc.

Anyway, in the store I was like "Lord, I know to get this would be rebellion against Rods words, and ultimately against You...but why? I mean rebellion= the same thing as divination. That is steep Lord. But you are for my good and my husband is the head over me...so NO! It's final I am putting it back."

Then, the tempter comes along...lol...my little brother and his friend. They were like Jenny just buy it. No, I said. You don't understand and I quoted the verse to my brother which him and his friend are 18 and Will thinks I am over the top anyway. So, I explained why and that Rod is the authority that God has placed over me. Doesn't seem serious...it's just a sweater. But God takes it seriously when we rebel against God ordained authority. Since I am really trying to work on that (remember me getting my car towed for parking illegally??) I just had to settle the stinking thing and obey.

Y'all you may think I am crazy but little things can turn into BIG strongholds. Rod lets me buy stuff but for now he said no. If I had bought it I would have had to deceive and plan a way to get it without him knowing and when you are being deceived you start to deceive others.

Plus we place such a high premium on stuff and the lust of our flesh and the more we consume and get the more tendency we have to implode in our selfishness. Again, it is not wrong to have clothes to like clothes...mine was an issue of obedience ultimately to the Lord in the small things. How can I stand against any bigger temptation when I can't even say no to a sweater?

Here is the context around the verses and the whole passage could teach for days:

The Lord led His people but they wanted a king like the other nations. So God gave them one. One that stood head and shoulders against the rest but hid among the baggage...Saul. Saul was a proud man and the people looked on the outside for a king and not at the heart. So, God tells Saul to go and completely wipe out the Amalekites yet he brings back the king to parade the victory and the best of the sheep and etc. He took plunder in what was a holy war as the Amalekites were enemies of God's people. There were repercussions even up to Esther with the descendants of the Amalekites because of the partial obedience. Saul tries to pull the bull over Samuel and says that he was bringing the best back as an offering to God...as if. And here is the rest.


1 Samuel 15:22-24

22 But Samuel replied:
"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
he has rejected you as king."

24 Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned. I violated the LORD's command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them.

Overwhelmed

I can not even begin to express my gratitude and thankfulness for all of the prayers and comments that you wrote me regarding my last post. Some of you wrote me on facebook as well. I really felt the Lord leading me to just put it out there. I can't stand to not be real and this has been something very real and horrific for me. There were times I thought I know people will think I am crazy. Then, a lot of this started after I quit teaching in the Singles ministry so of course I thought I will never be able to teach again. Rod and I were going to try to have another child and the Lord gave me the verse over and over that no weapon forged against me would prosper. Most all of you know what a horrible time I have with pregnancy and I know that word was an answer to direct prayer. Anyway, the Lord has confirmed over and over that I have been called to a vocational type of ministry and I thought for sure I must have been wrong because there is no way I could ever have the strength and what if I had an episode and on and on. A lot of you know about the time when Beth Moore came to Birmingham and she was talking about Generations: Making a pact for high impact. She told us to go home and do some homework on that Friday night. She said I want all 18,000 of you to go home look at where you have been in your past, where are you now, and where do you see yourself going with how you've been gifted and to get to your promised land. O.K., so I went home and I asked the Lord to confirm His will that I was called to teach. I asked Him to put something on my heart to pray and I prayed the following: "Lord, if you are calling me to vocational ministry then I pray that she would call me out of those 18,000 people and I will know it is You." So, rewind a year or more to the Patriarchs taping...(I am retyping all of this for the ones who may not remember me explaining it before) she is talking about the seed of Abraham and then she calls all of the pregnant people to come up on the stage and she prays over them. Well, I was pregnant and thought wow God has special plans for this child Beth Moore prayed over her. Then, when Shelby died I learned that God's plans were about His glory and that Shelby's life brought Him glory.
So, oneday before Living Proof ever had a blog, I wrote on the comment page that was on her website. I DID NOT WRITE HER. I just shared some of my story in the middle of my grief and encouraged anyone who was going through a tragedy to just cling to the Word of God. Stay in the Word no matter what. Not only do we need a daily relationship through the Word we especially need to walk by faith and keep sewing the Word that God has given us when we don't have goosebumps from the Holy Spirit...if you know what I am saying. When, I lost Shelby I had to believe God even though I didn't understand. That is not being brainwashed it is walking by faith. I learned so much and continue to from walking through that valley. Well, Nancy from Beth's staff emailed me and told me how deeply grieved Beth was and that she would like to get in touch with me so I told her to tell Beth to fly out to AL and we could do lunch...JUST KIDDING. So, Beth sent me the sweetest, most precious letter in the mail. She did not know me from Adam. It meant more to me than anything since she had taught me so much and entered into my suffering and she had been such a mentor in the faith. Well, I sent word through Nancy to let her know that I was pregnant again with Morgan because Beth asked me to send word. I was like oh I will but I know she is so busy why would she have time for this?!?!?
So, I sent her a pic of me and Morgan and a note about God's faithfulness to me.

Back to Birmingham (and y'all please don't think I am boasting at all I am just trying to share this whole thing) she was teaching on Eph 1 and how personal our God is and how when we think He doesn't notice us...HE DOES!! Then, she sees me, stops in the middle of teaching, and she says, "You are the one who lost the baby! Get up here." So, I told everyone what I prayed and she blessed me and it meant so much that God would notice me in a crowd of 18,000. He does see each of us and if we ask anything in accordance WITH HIS WILL He will do it.

So, as the years have gone by I thought well, maybe I made all that up. Maybe I have out sinned God's ability to use me. Maybe God is punishing me with these panic attacks. These are just some thoughts I have had. I even have come to the point where I don't care how or in what form God uses me...I just want to serve Him. Hence the reason I am teaching preschool. LOL! I bought the set off of her website just to have it and Morgan keeps bringing me cd number 2 where she calls me out, and I know I need to listen to it but I just can't bare to. Plus I hate the sound of my voice.

Anyway, in even trying to have a child as soon as they switched my meds I started having more and more panic attacks so I had to go back to what I was on and who knows if I will be able to have a child again but if it is the Lords will I know I will. I am sorry for this taking so long to type but I just need to tell you how much I love you. Please know from my heart how deeply I care for each of you. It is such a crazy thing how God can take something like the Internet, that is used for so many horrific things, and use it to bear fruit.

So many of you I have hugged and laughed with...shared rooms with...prayed with...prayed for. I just need you to know what you mean to me and how you have encouraged me and spurred me on. If I weren't in a house full of company at my in-laws I would bawl my eyes out for your sweet care and concern over me. I love you dearly!! I see now how in the Word Paul would long to go and visit people he had never met as he oozed affection in his letters to the churches. God is so marvelous and I praise Him for this circle of believers that I have.

I love you!!!

desperate for prayer

I have not been real public about something that I have been struggling with so here goes. I am desperate for prayer for deliverance. It has been almost 2 1/2 years when I began to have what has been diagnosed as panic disorder.
I went to several doctors before I found one that looked at my heart and diagnosed it. I thought I was going to die or worse not be able to take care of Morgan. If you leave it untreated it gets worse and worse. They said that because of my mitral valve that it can show up after you have a child or in your late 20's and etc.

Well, I tried not to take anything for it for a long time until I had a really bad episode that lasted like 6 hours and I had tachycardia with it. Rods family really helped me and took me to the dr. and etc after the fire department had to come to my house. I was worn out from that, and completely horrified. If you have never had one I praise God for you.

I have prayed every prayer I know and so has Rod. Please ask God to deliver me and please pray for me. I had one this morning and I am headed to Rods moms house just so I can stay and she can help me with Morgan.

If you aren't familiar here is a list about it (I experience everything on the list)

Common Symptoms of Panic Disorder

An estimated 1% to 2% of people experience panic disorder at some time during their life. The diagnosis is 2 to 3 times more common in women than in men. Most cases of panic disorder begin between late adolescence and the mid-30s.

A family history can put you at risk. If a biological parent or sibling has or has had panic disorder, you're up to 8 times more likely to develop it yourself.

Panic disorder is characterized by repeated and unexpected panic attacks followed by a period of constant worry about when the next attack will occur. These panic attacks include at least four of the following symptoms striking suddenly and peaking within 10 minutes.

Review the list of symptoms of a panic attack.

• Racing or pounding heartbeat
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Feeling short of breath or smothered
• Choking sensation
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Nausea or stomach discomfort
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Surreal or detached feeling
• Fear of losing control or going crazy
• Fear of dying
• Numbing or tingling
• Chills or hot flushes

Panic disorder also involves 1 month or more of the following reactions to a panic attack:

• Persistent fear of more panic attacks
• Intense worry about possible causes or effects of the panic attacks (for example, losing control, heart attack, going crazy)
• Significant behavioral changes

I know some people will judge and think I am crazy but for those of you that I know won't PLEASE pray for me.

I got this award from sweet Darlene:

As part of this award, I guess I am supposed to answer a few questions:

Answer the following questions with single word responses. (or, if you're like me, answer them with as many words as you want!)

1. Where is your cell phone? I can't ever keep up with it.
2. Where is your significant other? in bed
3. Your hair color? dark brown
4. Your mother? not sure...I guess her house
5. Your father? depends on which one...my sperm donor (not sure). The dad who adopted me is probably working
6. Your favorite thing? laptop My Keyword study bible. I can't live without it.
7. Your dream last night? something crazy. I usually wake up bruised and sore from sleep. I am a rough sleeper.
8. Your dream/goal? get my house completely organized. Finish some online courses.
9. The room you’re in? guest bedroom or what Morgan refers to as Stephanie's room. My sister has been over a few times in her first year of marriage so Morgan thinks it is her room. LOL
10. Your hobby? bible study, blogging, facebook, exercise, and reading. I do like to bargain shop.
11. Your fear? missing my promised land...and wandering in the wilderness.
12. Where do you want to be in six years? Growing daily in the Lord and I hope to be able to afford to color my hair. bummer.
13. Where were you last night? home
14. What you’re not? I am not defined by what people say of me but by who God says I am.
15. One of your wish list items? A Mac Laptop and a new bed for all of my neck issues...dream on.
16. Where you grew up? Alabama
17. The last thing you did? read the bible with morgan and she prayed for like 15 minutes. I treasured it in my heart. She is so hilarious.
18. What are you wearing? my workout gear.
19. Your T.V.? off
20. Your pet? NEVER!!!!!
21. Your computer? warming my legs
22. Your mood? optimistic since I decided to go back on the pill today. I have been an emotional roller coaster.
23. Missing someone? YES!
24. Your car? 4 Runner
25. Something you’re not wearing? shoes
26. Favorite store? American Eagle, Ross, JC Penney, Aeropostle and I could go on.
27. Your Summer? went to the pool almost everyday!
28. Love someone? YES!!!
29. Your favorite color? pink, green (pastel), and red
30. When is the last time you laughed? tonight when Morgan asked me if I needed to "take a dump"...that would be courtesy of her dad.
31. Last time you cried? yesterday...my feelings were hurt...Rod says its just my hormones. =)

now I pass the torch to April, Bev, and Misty. And yes these are all my real live friends!!

Thanksgiving pics

Rod's side of the family. Honestly, I don't know everyones names or I would list it. There was some extended family there and I didn't know their names.



my little tom-boy


Morgan and her cousin "ye-ye". Her name is Leah.


Morgan and "Kate-bug" that is what Morgan calls her.


Ace Ventura: "Put me in coach...I am ready to play...I know there's a lot riding on it but I just have to stay in a positive frame of mind...blue 22...rover rover..."

My child is Ace Ventura and I am Dumb minus dumber. On my way to Aspen. LOL

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