He...

...created the world on purpose

...hand crafted You on purpose

...loves You on purpose

...sent His Son On Purpose



May you KNOW that He does all things on purpose, out of His unconditional love for you!

And His purpose...is to have a relationship with you!

Friday Follow-up

The goal of Friday Challenge was for us to find more of God!

Did you? Did you experience Him this past weekend?

He pretty much took my breath away this weekend!

*He brought joy, and laughter to our home.

*He brought the gift of family to our home, with Uncle John!

*He brought a time of rest, and relaxation to Steve through a MAN RETREAT.

*He brought love, encouragement and great conversation.

*He brought blessings in the form of emails, cards in the mail, and testimonies of how God is working in your lifes!

*He brought yummy dessert on Saturday night!

*He brought an AMAZING service yesterday in church.

*He brought healing through antibiotics.

*He brought a special laughing moment in the Jeep on the way to church through the voice of a little guy in the back seat.

*He brought rest.

*He brought peace.


Thank you Father for bringing more of Yourself! May we continue to see You in each and every moment this week! Amen

Friday Challenge

Hello and Welcome to the blog today! As you read the Friday Challenge today, please know you are being prayed for. God is wanting to talk to you!


Where are you in The Relationship?


He brings us to the cross for our salvation. This is just the beginning of our relationship. He makes you holy and blameless through the cross. With the acceptance of your new life your salvation is Finished. (John 19:30) You see He died to be the ultimate ONE time sacrifice, there is no need to keep trying, or thinking we will ever earn this. He did it once and He did it right!

Have you come to the cross for a new life? For The Relationship, the only one that will make you whole. Are you living a life of freedom? (John 8:32) Are you living a life that is all about confidence in Him and not yourself? Our good works to try and earn salvation are disrespectful to the cross. He so doesn’t need us to try and trump Him on this one!

He doesn’t need our performances He needs our hearts!

Accept His free gift of salvation and allow Him to pour out His grace on you.

And then don’t keep Him in the grave! You see He got out of that grave to be alive and to do His thing! He conquered the grave and He has work to do in us. Accepting your free gift of salvation sweet child of God was just the beginning! (Philippians 1:6) He has written your story and He wants to reveal it to you. He wants to walk you through it. He wants to teach you, to stretch you and to mold you. He wants you to be teachable, to willingly accept His never-ending unconditional love for you. He wants to set you apart and make you more like Himself. All things beautiful, pure, kind, righteous, compassionate, forgiving, loving, gentle, humble and good!

We must personally encounter Jesus to accept the resurrection. (Luke 24:11,12)

We must humble ourselves so there can be more of Him. More of His love in our life, more of His peace in our life, and more of His joy in our life. For our Creator desires to bring good things to us (Matthew 7:11).

For there is power in the resurrection and this same power is what changes us (1 Thessalonians 1:5). Do we really get that? If so, why would we keep it locked up in a tomb and at a distance?

You see my heart is crying, "Bring It On!" Yes the process of change can be sore and uncomfortable, but I know my God keeps His promises, and He promises only good things for His children! (Romans 12:2)

We need to Identify and claim where we are in relationship with our God.

Are we done trying to earn something that is free?

Are we done keeping Him in the grave, at a safe distance, so we don’t have to be a little uncomfortable and be brought closer to Him in the process?

May we know He loves us, may we accept His plan, to have a relationship with Him, that is all about Him loving us like crazy and bringing us close to His heart!

Gettin' Ready

Hello, welcome to my blog today.

I am inviting you to join me today to pray.

I am praying in preparation for this weeks Friday Challenge. God has been doing some great and awesome things in my heart these past few weeks and because I know Him, He isn't going to stop! So I am praying that I will be ready to hear, accept, and act on Friday's Challenge.

If you are new to my blog please feel free to go back and review the Friday Challenges of the past. You see I don't write those just for you, I write them for us! These are challenges that God places on my heart and asks me to share. Please know to that if you don't feel asked by God to participate in the Challenge, then please listen to Him!! For He is in charge!

I am praying His word:


And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.
Matthew 21:22


Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.Matthew 7:7-8


Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
Jeremiah 29:12


Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; You will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.'
Isaiah 58:9


The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them.Psalm 145:18-19


Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.Jeremiah 33:3


Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. Mark 11:24

Let's pray together in preparation for God awesome works in our heart!

Words of Wisdom

I had the wonderful benefit of hearing a friend speak on Friday night at a Girls Night Out event and her words will forever be in my heart:


"You are either building the Kingdom up or you are tearing it down!"


So are you on the construction crew today?

People

I am literally sitting here right now in this very moment of my life, amazed at just how great God is. He has truly blessed me with some very amazing people in my life.

I love people! I love meeting people and I enjoy hearing their stories.

I have come to learn that if I allow it, God will use all the people that I come into contact with to make me a better person.

For the people who knew I could do better then "that" thank you for believing in me when I didn't have that belief!

For the people who knew I was just wearing a mask, thank you for seeing behind it.

For the people who loved the roughness off me, thank you for unconditional love.

For the people who were willing to listen to the opinions thank you for your prayers for my heart to change.

For the people who directed my eyes to my true meaning and purpose, thanks for the firm head movement.

For the people who let me pratice Jesus' love on them, for through my learning on you, I have grown and been blessed.

For the people who were genuine, honest, bold and true with me, for you have pushed me right into the arms of all things genuine.

For the people who showed me innoncence and childlike faith, thank you for reminding me that life is so much more simple.

For the people who are different than me, thank you for shining bright a beautiful quality placed there by your Creator, for you draw me to Him in praise.


May we see each and every person through His eyes.

Wacky Wednesday

Join us today for:











We love this day at our house. It is filled with all things wacky. One of the key elements is that we wear wacky non-matching socks. Which the boys just love!

Then we feast on yummy waffles for breakfast.

We will most definitely be getting wet in water, going for a walk. And another of the favorites is the "W" treasure hunt, where we search through the house for all the things that start with the letter "W".

We will also read the book titled Wacky Wednesday, on each page you get to point out all the wacky things in the picture.

My boys are still young, so as they get older Wacky Wednesday will need to be tweeked a little, but it is a day that their mommy will not be able to get rid of. This day is just one way we live life on purpose in our house. We are learning, having fun, and being silly all at the same time.

So today if you need to laugh, come join us and have some fun!

Can you pencil me in?

This has been on my heart and mind lately and I thought I would share it with you.

Okay now go grab your calendar, organizer, whatever you use to organize and schedule all your family’s activities on.

Do you have it in front of you? Spend a few minutes reading it. How does today look? Tomorrow? This weekend? What about next week? Next month?

What kinds of activities are scheduled? School functions, sports, music lessons, swim lessons, playdates, doctor’s appointments, church activities, dates with your spouse, vacations, birthday parties.

Do you like the looks of your calendar? Do you feel too busy? Do you feel like life is just speeding by and you keep checking the calendar to see what activity you are rushing off to next?

What does God think of our calendar? Or did we schedule time to ask Him what He thinks?

Today lets spend some time, schedule it in if you need to, thinking about what we are doing with our lives. Please don’t get me wrong most of what we are involved in are good fun activities. But are they in excess?

Each family has its own heartbeat and thus it will have its own schedule.

May you be purposeful about what you are doing with the precious time He has gifted you with!

Your Current Situation

When we read the end of Deuteronomy we learn that God shows Moses the Promised Land from the top of a mountain and then Moses dies. Moses was a great man, Israel’s greatest prophet. God called Moses His friend, and he was the only man that spoke face to face with God. The next book in the Bible is Joshua. Chapter one starts with the new generation after wandering in the desert for 40 years is ready to enter to the Promised Land as Joshua their leader. First Joshua and the people are taught the importance of courageous and consistent faith.

God is speaking to Joshua:

"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:6-9

Wow, talk about some serious repetition. Our God is cool like that when He really wants to drive home a point to us He will repeat it for us. Have you ever had one of those days where every where you turn the same "theme" for the day is popping up?!

So today whatever your current situation is:

Depression

Sickness

Loss of a child

Bankruptcy

A marriage that is not safe

An illness that doctors can’t heal

Loneliness

A new city

An addiction

Loss of a job

A new ministry



Your God is telling you to be strong and courageous!

Friday Challenge

Hello, welcome to my blog today. Are you up for a challenge?

Have we ever been in a room full of people and join in conversation and say something that is so not cool?

Have we ever said something rude or demanding out of impatience to someone?

Have we ever said something that crushed our child’s spirit?

Have we ever disrespected our husband by saying something to a friend about him?

Have we ever said something, and then thought, ‘where did that come from?’

Today’s challenge is about asking God to "go there" with you today, down to the heart of the matter. You see we don’t just blurt these little things out, they have a source, and they all come from the heart.

You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:34-37

He reminds us that what we say reveals what is in our hearts. You see we can’t fix our heart problem by cleaning up our speech or changing the words that come out of our mouth. We must allow God to change our hearts.

May we allow Him to "go there" and cleanse our speech at its source.

Okay Girls Get Your Pink On!

I know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but my personal feeling is we need to be aware and caring about this issue EVERY Month.

I know that breast cancer will touch each of our lives in someway or another. Whether it be personally, a mom, a sister, a daughter, a close friend, it will touch you in someway.

Cindy (http://armygirlsx4.blogspot.com/) has been on my mind and heart everyday since I first learned of her story about two weeks ago. She is being very courageous and brave to blog her journey so we can see the power of God working in her life. Cindy is not the only one going on this journey, her sweet and precious daughters and her husband are on it too.

What can we do?

We can educate ourselves, support those around us that are in the midst of this journey and pray!

May we know that God cares about each and everything that touches our lives!

Just give 'em a toothbrush

True story, I had a patient who I met for the first time when he was in his early 20’s. He was engaged to get married to a very nice girl who had been my patient for a few years. He came to me for his first ever dental visit. He had never been to the dentist before, his parents never took him. So I reviewed his health history with him, nice healthy young man. Asked him if he was excited to be getting married, found out what he did for a living. We took some x-rays, I did an oral exam and found a ton of stuff going on in his mouth. He had developed the early stages of periodontal disease, decay, and his mouth looked like a mess. So I finished my exam and then sat the chair back up. I reviewed with him what we had found, discussed with him what we could do for him to get things healthy and repaired and answered his questions. I then educated him on how to take care of his mouth, mainly focusing on regular brushing. Yes I am a hygienist who rarely harped on their patients about flossing, while I think it’s very important some people needed to master brushing first. So I supplied him with a toothbrush, floss, and recommended some mouth rinses to help things get healthy in his mouth. We then went out to reschedule him to come back so we could clean his teeth and start on some of the restorations/fillings for the teeth with decay. So the next time I saw him, he seemed a little more comfortable about being in my chair. I asked him how things were going and he started to tell me "well I have to be honest with you, I have never owned a toothbrush, this whole toothbrush thing is new to me, I am excited to find out if I have been doing it right." What? You have to be kidding me, a guy in his 20’s in the United States of America and he has NEVER owned a toothbrush. I had a ton of questions in my head…What about his parents? Where they neglecting him, or did they not know about toothbrushes? Had he ever watched TV, and wondered what people were doing with a small hair brush in their mouth? And what about the fact he was engaged to get married? I don’t know about the rest of you, but brushing your teeth was most definitely a pre-requisite before I said Yes to the big question! Yikes! I was speechless for what seemed like an eternity. I was trying not to let this shock me or throw me off my hygiene chair…but too late. I tried to collect my professionalism and thoughts quickly as I didn’t want to give him a complex. "Well let’s lay you back and see how you have been doing!" As I lay the chair back I am thinking…I wonder what he thought the small white string was used for?!?!


Do you know that there are people around you in your circle of influence that need Jesus, but maybe have never been introduced to Him? Yeah you might wonder, "how in today’s world could someone not know of Jesus?" Just like I wondered about the whole toothbrush thing.

Maybe we just need to "give em" Jesus!

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Matthew 9:35-38

May we not assume that Jesus is a "given" for everyone!

Check-up Time

Have you had a check up lately? There are two categories of people, those who stay on top of their yearly check-ups going faithfully every year, and those who only step foot inside the doctor when something is definitely broken. They wear the t-shirts that say ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it!’

I have to wonder how I handle my "check-ups" with God. Am I going to the "check-ups"? Do I acknowledge when God is examining me? Do I embrace conviction?

Am I seeking out preventative care? Do I wait until something is evidently broken to call out to Him for fixin?

So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, 'Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.' So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.’ " Hebrews 3:7-11

God is concerned with the health of our hearts. Is there something that is keeping your heart unhealthy? Hardened? What things have hardened your heart? When our hearts harden we have a much harder time hearing Him whisper to our hearts. What whispers have you been missing from Him?

"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve." Jeremiah 17:10

May we spend some time allowing Him to give our hearts a "check-up"!

Commitment

There once was a girl who had planned out her life. She had all of it lined out to work just fine. She was good at making sure things looked perfect and kept everyone smiling. She got really good at it to a point that when she couldn’t do it anymore she doubted even God could love her again. From her controlling nature she sought to fill her loneliness. So what did God go and do with the big huge mess this girl made, He dumped a whole bunch of love and grace right down and covered her up. This is where the knight in shining armor enters the picture. He came to protect, he came to build her back up, he came to fight for her, and he came to bring love. He resisted the girl telling him she was strong and okay, for he knew her heart. He brought a new world to her one that was built on simplicity, humor, friendship, and commitment. He made her his princess. He built her up. He taught her to know she was loved. When she got lost, afraid, and felt like life was not worth it, he came. He has provided the applause, the tissue, the shoulder, the ears, and the arms to lift her up. He has continued to keep her as his princess.

Thank you babe for 9 years of listening to God and being my knight in shining armor. Thank you for loving me how He has asked you to love me. Thank you for making me know I am your princess.

I love you!

Happy Anniversary Steve!

A trip to the orchard

Last night we went out to the pear orchard. My husbands flight instructor owns an orchard. He has been picking the pears this past week and invited us to bring the boys out for a visit. The boys had a great time. They got to go in the "big refrigerators" where the pears are stored, they picked pears off the tree, they met Molly the farm dog, they fed the chickens and collected some eggs, they walked down and fed the cows some pears, they watched Molly roll in some cow poop, they rode in the back of the truck through the orchard, and they had some milk and cookies in the farmhouse.

As we rode through the orchard in the back of the truck, seeing all the pear trees reminded me of the lesson about the pollinator trees.

When my husband was up in the air with his flight instructor one day he noticed the orchards below and asked why some of the trees were obviously different. His flight instructor told him those were the pollinator trees, they were strategically placed in the orchard so that all the trees could get pollinated and then produce fruit.

God has a better view of things from up there. He can see the bigger picture; He is the creator of the bigger picture. He strategically places us where He needs us. He asks us to share love with the people around us.

Psalm 107:37 (New International Version)
They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest;

Proverbs 11:30 (New International Version)
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

John 15:16 (New International Version)
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

Colossians 1:10 (New International Version)
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

May we be fruitful today.

Blessed

In follow-up to this past Friday’s Challenge I thought I would ask, do I feel blessed? Do you feel blessed?

When I read in Matthew chapter 5 I am realizing that feeling blessed has nothing to do with me, but Him. Read this passage and listen with your heart.

Matthew 5 (The Message)
You're Blessed
When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:
"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.
"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.
"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.
"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.
"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

Do I feel blessed?

Here are a few ways I feel blessed today:
*I feel blessed to be loved by my God

*I feel blessed to have a healthy, fun and happy family

*I feel blessed to have this blog and to have received an award from Lee at Prayer Gifts (http://prayergifts.blogspot.com/)

*I feel blessed that Cindy had visited my blog and gave me the opportunity to have a new friend and lift her up in prayer. (Army Brats and Me http://armygirlsx4.blogspot.com/)



Do you feel blessed?