MY NEW THEME SONG!!!!

I WILL NOT BE MOVED

by Natalie Grant

I have been a wayward child

I have acted out

I have questioned Sovereignty

And had my share of doubt

And though sometimes my prayers feel like

They're bouncing off the sky

The hand I hold won't let me go

And is the reason why

I will stumble

I will fall down

But I will not be moved

I will make mistakes

I will face heartache

But I will not be moved

On Christ the solid rock I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

I will not be moved

Bitterness has plagued my heart Many times before

My life has been like broken glass

And I have kept the score

Of all my shattered dreams and though it seemed

That i was too far gone

My brokenness helped me to see

It's grace I'm standing on

I will stumble

I will fall down

But I will not be moved

I will make mistakes

I will face heartache

But I will not be moved

On Christ the solid rock I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

I will not be moved

All the chaos in my life

Has been a badge of war

And though I have been torn

I will not be moved

I will not be moved

I will not be moved

No

I will make mistakes

I will face heartache

But I will not be moved

On Christ the solid rock I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

I will not be moved

No

Daily Devotion

The Blessing of Giving
Wendy Pope

“In everything I did, I showed that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said,
"It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35 (NIV)

Devotion:
Giving is not always easy for me, is it for you? These ancient words from Acts are very difficult for this mind to comprehend. How can I be more blessed when I give than when I get? I am a girl, and in all honesty, I love to get stuff.

I must confess when God calls me to give; I don't feel like I am being blessed. Perhaps you have had similar experiences. The Lord prompts you to prepare a meal for a family who has been struck with an illness and after a long day at work, you are barely able to get yourself together enough to prepare a meal for your own family. Or maybe when you are physically exhausted and put out with your kids, He nudges you to go get your friend's children because she needs a break. No matter what the situation, when God calls us to give, we must obey and though it doesn't seem like something we want to do at the time, we come out on the other side of obedience being blessed. I can't explain exactly how it works, I just know that it does.

The Lord tells us through the prophet Isaiah that His ways and thoughts are higher than our ways and thoughts. In other words, He knows better. He sees the big picture. He has the master plan written and the only thing we need to be concerned with is doing what He asks of us, without compliant.

The meal He asks you to fix may interrupt or inconvenience your plan. You may want to question His reasoning when the Holy Spirit nudges you to take your rude co-worker out to lunch. You may be baffled by His suggestion to teach your child's Sunday School class so the regular teacher can have a break. Whatever our thought process may be at time, the bottom line is this: our decision whether we think it does or not, has eternal meaning. It means something to our eternity and to the person we are to give something to, or do something for.

Without Jesus in my heart, I would not have the ability to give to others. Basically, I am a selfish person. I remember reading today's key verse wondering, "What kind of blessing will I get for doing for others? Will it be money, a new car, or a finer home?" I am ashamed of those thoughts but they came from an infant Christian who did not understand the blessing one receives is a closer and more intimate walk with the greatest Giver who ever lived. I thankfully receive that blessing now.

Are you currently receiving blessings by being the giver that the Lord wants you to be?

Dear Lord, I need You to help me be the giver I should be. It is hard for me but Your Word says nothing is impossible for You. So Lord, will You please help me. Will you allow me to see the fruit of my obedience? I can't wait to receive and enjoy my blessing for giving: a closer walk with You. Thank You for every blessing You give me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

JOY= Jesus, Others, then You....

"Give up the bitterness, the anger, the sadness

for what isn't, that you wish you had. And embrace the gift of what you do have.
For therein

is really what you want more of:

Joy."

~Elizabeth Elliot

To the Women the Lord has Placed in my Life!

I have been thinking about how blessed I am to have the women I do in my life... I am so thankful that the Lord does not make us walk this journey alone.... He has crossed my path with so many amazing women... Lord, I don't deserve it, but I am SO THANKFUL!!

I found this poem online... I love what it says! AND I love y'all!

My Special Treasure

Author: Julie Carro

God gave a special treasure, to cherish in our hearts.

Not made of gold or silver, yet it lights up every part.

More precious than a diamond, its beauty can't compare.

To the joy of friendship, and the special times we share.

Each and every friendship is so priceless and unique.

It is comfort when we're lonely, and strength when we are weak.

It lends a loving shoulder, to lean our heads upon.

Through every joy and trial, it grows a stronger bond.

A gift of grace, bestowed upon us, by our loving God above.

To help us walk in unity, and be vessels of His Love.

Friendship is a blessing to join our hearts as One.

Helping out each other, to the glory of His Son.

So I take this special day to reflect upon the past.

My heart is filled with gratitude for friendships that will last.

To each and every one of you...

I wish that you could know, What words upon this paper can never truly show...

A heart that is so special, its warmth can flood a room,

To take away another's pain, and end a day of gloom.

Arms that wrap around us, in a hug that says I care.

Smiles that brighten up our days, because we choose to share.

My friend, you are a priceless gem, a special gift to me.

Your prayers, your love, your kindness, in my heart will always be.

So on this special day, in celebration of true love.

I want to thank you for your friendship, you are my treasure from Above!

A friend loveth at all times...Proverbs 17:17

The Mother I Want to Be
Glynnis Whitwer

“Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.” Ecclesiastes 7:9 (NIV)

Devotion:
I should have responded better. Patience and kindness would have been a more appropriate response than the unjustified annoyance that laced my tone of voice. In a regrettable moment of anger, I spoke words that left my son sad, and me wishing I could press the rewind button and keep my mouth zipped.

Unfortunately, I often respond better to the bigger challenges of parenting than the everyday frustrations. If you were a fly on my kitchen wall for a one day, you would wonder why a minor event sparked an annoyed response on my part. If your house is like mine, the answer is because that minor event actually happens frequently. Hence, I fall into the “If-I’ve-told-you-once-I’ve-told-you-a-thousand-times” trap of thinking, which doesn’t lend itself to much mercy.

When my patience wears thin, I find myself strikingly similar to the person spoken about in Ecclesiastes 7:9: a fool with a lap of anger. Unfortunately, when that lap is full, it only takes the slightest spark for frustration and anger to spill over onto some unsuspecting victims.
I know God is calling me to deal with this anger in a healthy and godly way. When my spirit is provoked, my first response should be to hold my tongue. While that doesn’t deal with the heart issue, it does keep me from speaking hurtful words that can never be withdrawn. But I can’t leave it there. I must address ongoing parental frustration as a spiritual issue and bring my concerns to God in prayer. I find that as I honestly confess my sin, the door is opened for God to bring His healing peace into my heart.

Anger over injustice is good. Anger over childish behavior isn’t. When I don’t confess my inappropriate anger to God, it just starts building up, making me a fool with a full lap. I’m so glad God offers me forgiveness when I mess up, and puts me back on the path of developing a sweet spirit of patience and gentleness within me. That’s the kind of mother I want to be.

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me in spite of my weaknesses. Thank You for providing a way for me to deal with anger, and to become the kind and gentle woman we both want me to be. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Sound The Alarm

Isaiah 43:8-13

8 Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf.

9 All the nations gather together and the peoples assemble. Which of them foretold this and proclaimed to us the former things? Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right, so that others may hear and say, "It is true."
10 "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, nor will there be one after Me.
11 I, even I, Am the LORD, and apart from Me there is no savior.
12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I Am God.
13 Yes, and from ancient days I Am He. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?"

BACK TO SCHOOL

YAY! IT IS BACK TO SCHOOL TIME!!!! Drakester and his friends were ready to go! It was a little chilly this morning...

It was a little weird with the house being so quiet, BUT I GOT OVER IT!

They had a great first day! Thank You Lord!

Wilderness

I found this excerpt online about being in a "spiritual wilderness"... (nothing increases your strength and your character like the wilderness does. That's why the launching pad for Jesus' public ministry was 40 days in the wilderness...

You may be asking, "What's wrong?" God's answer may very well be, "Nothing's wrong! Something's right!" He believes in you, He wants to build a warrior out of you, He wants to bless you more, use you more, make you more like His Son Jesus, but that will take the heat and the hurt and the stress of the wilderness!)

I have been in the wilderness before... I know that it is necessary, but sometimes I still cry about it... I know that the Lord is working things out in me, that I can't do myself... But, it can be scary sometimes... In this particular wilderness, I feel very alone... I am not even sure who I can talk to... In the past there was always someone I could talk to about it... Right now I feel like the Lord just wants me to seek HIM...

I miss Trent...

SONG: Praise You in the Storm

I was sure by now God, You would have reached down

And wiped our tears away

Stepped in and saved the day

But once again, I say Amen, And it's still raining

But as the thunder rolls

I barely hear Your whisper through the rain I'm with you

And as Your mercy falls I'll raise my hands and praise the God who gives And takes away

I'll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are No matter where I am

Every tear I've cried You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

I remember when

I stumbled in the wind

You heard my cry to You

And raised me up again

My strength is almost gone

How can I carry on If I can't find You

But as the thunder rolls I barely hear You whisper through the rain I'm with you

And as Your mercy falls

I'll raise my hands and praise the God who gives And takes away

I'll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

Every tear I've cried

You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn I will praise You in this storm

I lift my eyes unto the hills

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord The Maker of Heaven and Earth

I lift my eyes unto the hills

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord The Maker of Heaven and Earth

I'll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are No matter where I am

Every tear I've cried

You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

Song of Solomon 8:5 Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?

LOVE

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but do not have love, I have become a sounding piece of brass or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophesying and am acquainted with all the sacred secrets and all knowledge,and if I have all the faith so as to transplant mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my belongings to feed others,and if I hand over my body, that I may boast, but do not have love, I am not profited at all. Love is long-suffering and kind.Love is not jealous, it does not brag, does not get puffed up, does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury.It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things,hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. ...Now, however, there remain faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.--1 Corinthians 13:1-8, 13