I realized that I have another obsession that I didn't include in my side-bar. Unlike my other obsessions, I can trace this back to it's origin. I can also see steps to obsession in my mind like a movie. It started with a sermon and a video and a tug at my heart. Than sweeping...I think sweeping was the last straw.
The story- I sat under a sermon and realized the truth of abortion. I watched a video and saw the truth of abortion. I realized that sin is sin and my sin is as ugly as abortion...I have no right to look down on any sin, because in God's eyes...my sin looks like abortion. At the same time, I realized I WANTED to do something... I must do something. This is a huge mess that we humans have created, if can I do something, than I must! No way to explain it, just that I believe God put this obsession in my heart!
As I swept my kitchen, I swept up a penny. I thought to throw it away, not worth much, right.... than my obsession kicked in and I said, NO, everything I can give to the PCC must be given. Pennys cannot be thrown away, if they can help the PCC. Now, I am to selfish to give all I have to the center, but I have commited a portion of my life to the center, more than I ever thought I would.
The Obsession- The Pregnancy Care Center and the ministry there. I realize it sounds normal and ordinary--but it's NOT! (none of my obsessions are normal to me...they make me go crazy, talk non-stop to strangers, and act insane in front of people.).... Anyway, this is NOT normal, because God works and has His hand there. He answers prayers, like I have never experienced before. I sit with someone in a counseling room and ask what I can pray for them. I pray. Next time they come back.... God answered those prayers more directly and specifically than I could have ever imagined! They are amazed and I am amazed! They 'see' God and my faith is strengthened like crazy! This is just a small example of what I have seen. One day a lady came in and her obstacle to carrying the pregnancy to term made me feel like I should say, "go ahead, end it". But I knew better. Instead, I just prayed. The next time I talked to her, God removed and changed the obstacles!
The benefits- I work with wonderful people... Before each shift we pray for each other for various things... If I ever want prayer...I ask these people. We pray for each other there and God answers in MIRACULOUS ways... it is unexplainable, apart from God.
So than there are the things I DON'T see. We plant little seeds of God's love and God's word in there hearts. We may NEVER see how uses those seeds. We do desire to preserve life. BUT there is so much more that God does there. Our purpose is to LOVE people and show them Jesus. If they get that, we have accomplished a huge goal... If we preserve a life, what an unbelievable blessing. We cannot control what the woman chooses, but we can always plant a seed!
The 31st of May is our annual Lifewalk. I will be there and support my obsession. I still need to raise pledges. I want to go out to my community to ask, but have not made it that far. (that is the confession part of my story- I hate asking for money ;) .... So I am asking you to support my obsession as well... please join the Lifewalk, pray for the Lifewalk or give me money (hate that part). Apart from the Lifewalk, there are many service opportunities at the Pregnancy Care Center... just ask me! I would be obsessed to tell you about it!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Tim
I was reading the girltalk blog today. I very much enjoyed reading how Carolyn met her husband CJ. I was thinking...I have a GREAT occasion to brag on my husband and I want to do that. I did forget to blog a Happy Birthday to my Sweet husband... and so belatedly, I am going to say Happy Birthday and give a little tribute.
I was looking through the pictures of us and our family to find one that he would like on the blog. There are pictures of us at the beach. O, how glad I am that he likes to go to the beach with me and the boys. There are pictures of us at the park. O, how glad I am that he likes to take us to the park... There are pictures of him grilling at the park. I love that he loves that.
I have known and seen Tim to be a passionate person and I love that. If he is going to do something, He is going to do it well! It bothers him when he things are not done well.
Tim is multi-talented. He can do anything. People often want his help. He will say that he can't do things well, but I am always amazed at his abilities and what he accomplishes. Tim is very talented at his job! I am floored by his professionalism and skill. People at work enjoy Tim's company and he is able to deal very professionally with the clients. Tim totally redid our house! The cost to have someone do that would be astronomical! But Tim did it all himself!
Tim may call it laziness, but I very much enjoy that he likes to relax with me. I like to be home doing very little... Those times get farther and farther apart any more, but we both enjoy that, so we will always make time for that! Tim loves to spend time with me and I am so grateful for that... Tim sharpens me in areas that I am weak because he is so different from me and I need that. Tim is committed to dating me. I have found this to be so helpful and refreshing. Especially as a home school mom. Tim has SO much wisdom that it amazes me sometimes. I need his direction and wisdom on many occasions.
Last but NOT least. Tim loves God. He wants to walk with God. He want to be obedient to God. Tim wants his relationship with the Lord to be genuine and not fake. He wants his family to be following God. He serves many people and takes responsibility for them VERY seriously. He shares my heart for walking with people and bearing/sharing burdens and rejoicing with them. God has given me an amazing husband and I love him more now than I ever have. We are going to celebrate his birthday this weekend all weekend ...I am trying to give Tim a birthmonth instead of just a birthday!
btw...Tim is a photographer as a hobby, so he is seldom in the pictures... hard to find a straight on shot of him ;)
Friday, May 16, 2008
Sports
Sports with Jake and Andrew are keeping us HOPPIN'....We have had such a busy week, so busy, that I even forgot that Jake had practice last nite! OOOPS....
Jake is REALLY improving in his soccer skills and Andrew is doing SO GREAT! He is pitching this year...it is so fun to watch!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Naboth and me
I was reading yesterday morning (see below). I am not even in this section for my reading, but was reviewing, so I could 'leave' this part. God totally reminded me, through this part that--I was, in my heart, being like Naboth.
Let me back up just a bit. On my Birthday, I try to guard against a 'Its all about me' attitude. I EASILY set up expectations in my mind that if unmet, leave me feeling bitter, frustrated, angry, etc...all those yucky things! Well, I did not expect that to happen this Mother's Day. Tim is always absolutely WONDERFUL about making me feel special, giving gifts, etc, etc...all those nice, sweet things. (He is on my birthday too...but my evil selfish heart wants, MORE MORE MORE!!!)
So I was NOT guarded against this selfishness this time, because I didn't see it coming and WHAM...was my heart ugly! I didn't even notice it till Monday morning... When I woke up, it just hit me! Like WHAT DID I DO? Than I read the Scripture below and saw myself in it. I see that Naboth wanted something and pouted when he didn't get it. He thought he deserved it (many thanks to Jezebel for that). Maybe it wasn't all his fault, but God did punish him for it, so he was at fault in many ways. (Jezebel also gets punished)
Interesting really, because in the previous verses/chapters... He wins 'back' all his own things. Ben-Hadad had demanded all his things, but GOD delivered Ahab from Ben-Hadad and defeated him. SO MUCH mercy, so little thankfulness. Very closely describes me! Thankfully, God forgives and did forgive me and the JOY that that brought is indescribable! :) Funny, when I want, and want and want., I am miserable, but when God brings me back to him... JOY!!!
1 Now there was a man named Naboth, from Jezreel, who owned a vineyard in Jezreel beside the palace of King Ahab of Samaria.2 One day Ahab said to Naboth, "Since your vineyard is so convenient to my palace, I would like to buy it to use as a vegetable garden. I will give you a better vineyard in exchange, or if you prefer, I will pay you for it."
3 But Naboth replied, "The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance that was passed down by my ancestors."
4 So Ahab went home angry and sullen because of Naboth's answer. The king went to bed with his face to the wall and refused to eat!
5 "What's the matter?" his wife Jezebel asked him. "What's made you so upset that you're not eating?"
6 "I asked Naboth to sell me his vineyard or trade it, but he refused!" Ahab told her.
7 "Are you the king of Israel or not?" Jezebel demanded. "Get up and eat something, and don't worry about it. I'll get you Naboth's vineyard!"
8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and other leaders of the town where Naboth lived.9 In her letters she commanded: "Call the citizens together for fasting and prayer, and give Naboth a place of honor.10 And then seat two scoundrels across from him who will accuse him of cursing God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death."
11 So the elders and other town leaders followed the instructions Jezebel had written in the letters.12 They called for a fast and put Naboth at a prominent place before the people.13 Then the two scoundrels came and sat down across from him. And they accused Naboth before all the people, saying, "He cursed God and the king." So he was dragged outside the town and stoned to death.14 The town leaders then sent word to Jezebel, "Naboth has been stoned to death."
15 When Jezebel heard the news, she said to Ahab, "You know the vineyard Naboth wouldn't sell you? Well, you can have it now! He's dead!"16 So Ahab immediately went down to the vineyard of Naboth to claim it.
Let me back up just a bit. On my Birthday, I try to guard against a 'Its all about me' attitude. I EASILY set up expectations in my mind that if unmet, leave me feeling bitter, frustrated, angry, etc...all those yucky things! Well, I did not expect that to happen this Mother's Day. Tim is always absolutely WONDERFUL about making me feel special, giving gifts, etc, etc...all those nice, sweet things. (He is on my birthday too...but my evil selfish heart wants, MORE MORE MORE!!!)
So I was NOT guarded against this selfishness this time, because I didn't see it coming and WHAM...was my heart ugly! I didn't even notice it till Monday morning... When I woke up, it just hit me! Like WHAT DID I DO? Than I read the Scripture below and saw myself in it. I see that Naboth wanted something and pouted when he didn't get it. He thought he deserved it (many thanks to Jezebel for that). Maybe it wasn't all his fault, but God did punish him for it, so he was at fault in many ways. (Jezebel also gets punished)
Interesting really, because in the previous verses/chapters... He wins 'back' all his own things. Ben-Hadad had demanded all his things, but GOD delivered Ahab from Ben-Hadad and defeated him. SO MUCH mercy, so little thankfulness. Very closely describes me! Thankfully, God forgives and did forgive me and the JOY that that brought is indescribable! :) Funny, when I want, and want and want., I am miserable, but when God brings me back to him... JOY!!!
1 Kings 21
Naboth's Vineyard1 Now there was a man named Naboth, from Jezreel, who owned a vineyard in Jezreel beside the palace of King Ahab of Samaria.2 One day Ahab said to Naboth, "Since your vineyard is so convenient to my palace, I would like to buy it to use as a vegetable garden. I will give you a better vineyard in exchange, or if you prefer, I will pay you for it."
3 But Naboth replied, "The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance that was passed down by my ancestors."
4 So Ahab went home angry and sullen because of Naboth's answer. The king went to bed with his face to the wall and refused to eat!
5 "What's the matter?" his wife Jezebel asked him. "What's made you so upset that you're not eating?"
6 "I asked Naboth to sell me his vineyard or trade it, but he refused!" Ahab told her.
7 "Are you the king of Israel or not?" Jezebel demanded. "Get up and eat something, and don't worry about it. I'll get you Naboth's vineyard!"
8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and other leaders of the town where Naboth lived.9 In her letters she commanded: "Call the citizens together for fasting and prayer, and give Naboth a place of honor.10 And then seat two scoundrels across from him who will accuse him of cursing God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death."
11 So the elders and other town leaders followed the instructions Jezebel had written in the letters.12 They called for a fast and put Naboth at a prominent place before the people.13 Then the two scoundrels came and sat down across from him. And they accused Naboth before all the people, saying, "He cursed God and the king." So he was dragged outside the town and stoned to death.14 The town leaders then sent word to Jezebel, "Naboth has been stoned to death."
15 When Jezebel heard the news, she said to Ahab, "You know the vineyard Naboth wouldn't sell you? Well, you can have it now! He's dead!"16 So Ahab immediately went down to the vineyard of Naboth to claim it.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Airsoft
We are beginning to enjoy the weather that comes this time of year! Here's one of our favorite family outings! We grill some supper and than we go out in the woods and shoot each other.
It is fun, till you get hit! Than I have to pause a second, cuz it HURTS!
Well, can't wait to go out again. The beach is calling us too! That of course is our other favorite activity!
Thursday, May 08, 2008
I like to laugh!
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Date Nite
At the end of our date we went to the BEACH!!! I almost fainted!! ;) yay, my first time at the beach( except for vacation of course ;)
It was soooo beautiful...It always is, but it was GOLDEN!!! the sun on the water was so AMAZING. I wish you could have seen it in person, but these pics will have to do....
BTW. We took about 15 pics of the 2 of us, and this was the only one I can post-- I kept shutting my eyes, or opening them to wide, one looked like I was ill!
I hate getting my picture taken!
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
This CRACKS me up!
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Soccer Star?
He won't be a soccer star, he is WAY to laid back... (that's fine with me! -I don't think I handle intensity to well) These pics are TOP speed for Jake. He really enjoys himself though. Half time breaks involve a Gatorade and a snack... that evidentally makes it worth all the "effort"
Mexican Fiesta
Well, kinda...Not exactly a fiesta...but it sure was fun.... I did try to get out of the pics...but Tim caught me in one... :)
This was a small group party that we had. We had a work party about a month ago and we decided that we needed to play together as well. We sure had fun! Working and playing ;)
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