Here With Me

This weekend I went away to a women's conference. I only asked of God that he allow me to feel him intimately working in my heart this weekend.

His presence was so strong in my heart today all I wanted to do was stand and raise my hands or fall to my knees and just let his love wash over me.

My new memory verse was given to me today as well.

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.
~ Zephaniah 3:17

"I can feel your presence here with me, and suddenly I'm lost within your beauty."

What other song could I post today?




Please follow the link in my right hand column to see how God ministers through music in the lives of others.

Thankful Thursday

Once again, it is harder to decide what to cut out so the list stays at five.

1. That I am stepping into a new ministry in my church. I have felt pulled to the women's ministry for some time, but knew it was not in God's timing that I serve there. I also have felt that it is an all or nothing thing. I serve all my time in one ministry and none in others. I know it is not time for me to step away from youth ministry, as I love LOVE the teens in our community, I love my service there, I have grown and am still growing there, and I am good at what I do. I am so glad that God has shown me how to be effective (hopefully!) in each.

2. That I am getting to go away for a couple of days with my girlfriends. I am so busy with what I do in my ministries, as well as work and guarding over my family time (I learned that lesson the HARD! way) that I feel I have neglected some of the friendships that God has blessed me with. I look forward to this weekend to refresh my attitude as well as my relationships with these women.

3. That I have friends that are so affirming and uplifting of me. I am finding that God has given me a talent that I am only starting to poke at. I am not sure what I will do with it, I only know that my friend's have seen this new talent and are already encouraging me and helping to develope and grow it.

4. That it has been TWO WEEKS!!!!!!! since we have gotten a disciplinary notice from Kevin's school. This is such huge deal! I can see that he is trying harder and that he is starting to see that he chooses his reactions, actions and attitudes.

5. That God has, and continues to do mighty miracles in the life of the teen from our youth group that was injured several weeks ago. That his mother recently committed her life to Christ is about as beautiful a thing as I could have wished for this situation, but God continues to provide above and beyond by bringing him further and further back to his former self. He will have lasting damage but nothing even close to what it SHOULD have been and that is all God. If you ever hear anyone say that God doesn't perform miracles anymore, send them my way. I have something to say about that!

Deeply spiritual? Nah, just fun!

So, I saw this quiz over at Falling Around All Apart Me and it was just too tempting to pass up!

Have some fun and head on over to blogthings and find out what kind of Girl Scout Cookie you are!


I'm a peanut butter sandwich/Do-Si-Do

You are easy going and naturally happy. You don't need a lot to make you smile. You genuinely care about people and are a great friend. You're always doing your best to make the world a better place. Even though there isn't an immature bone in your body, you still are like a big kid sometimes. Why make life complicated when the best parts are actually quite simple? You enjoy the small joys of life.

Titus 2 Tuesday ~ April

The Latin meaning of April is "open".

The Shannon definition is "to adapt".

The last few years of my friend's life have been pretty crazy. So much has changed for her and her family that I know there are days that she doesn't know if she is coming, going, or just hanging on by her fingertips. Marriage, friendships, ministry, self, spiritual. They have all gone through radical changes.

Last year her son was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa Since then I have watched a roller coaster/merry-go-round year unfold for her and her family. I have watched them all go through many emotions. I have seen many "down" days. I have seen many "up" days to counter them.

During this time, she and her husband stepped up to the call from God to step out of their safe zone and lead a marriage small group. Of course, as with anything that you are truly excited about and want to make a difference in, the first time out was disappointing and frustrating.

Also during this time she has a teenage daughter. Need I say more?

I have been very honored to watch her battle her way through sadness, anger, depression, confusion, frantic research, more sadness, more anger, more confusion, to a deeper relationship with God.

So many people would allow a devastating diagnosis for their child to then BE the definition of their child. I am so excited that she did not allow that to happen. She has a son who happens to have Retinitis Pigmentosa. It goes along with his sense of humor and gentleness. So many people let the diagnosis change the way they see their children, but she has been able to see him as her son, not his diagnosis.

Likewise, she did not allow the first experience in a new ministry color her vision of what it can and will be. So many times when we get a less than amazing outcome when we step into a new ministry, we are tempted to throw our hands up and say that "I am just not the one that God wants to use for this". I am so excited that she hasn't done that. I can't wait to see how much they grow through this new year and new group!

Through it all she has adapted to each new challenge. I encourage you to check out her blog here.

you may wonder why I picked this picture instead of a more formal one, but this is just her. How I know her and love her. Of course I would pick this one. If you want formal, check out her blog :)

For more great examples of women living the Titus 2 life, click on the button in my right hand column.

I'm a "Guest Writer"!

I was very honored when Tara from Giggles n' Gulps sent me a message asking me to guest write for her website's blog. It isn't often that I get to share this particular part of my testimony, so to do so, and on such a wonderful website, was indeed an honor that I do not take lightly.

Too many women suffer in silence with Post Partum Depression. Feeling too embarassed, scared or alone to open up to even their closest friends and family.

This website is a wonderful resource for women and men who are dealing with the condition of PPD and other perinatal mood disorders.

As always, I am willing to answer any questions or listen to anyone who needs to talk. Also, Please feel free to check out

Out of the Valley Ministries, Inc.


Only by exposing such issues to The Light can we truly put an end to the darkness they bring.

John 8:12

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Please feel free to read about my experience with PPD on the Out of the Valley Ministries, Inc. blog.

Bit's n' Pieces

~ My daughter is the walking wounded. She tripped and fell Friday and bit a huge chunk out of her tongue. It is also cut in a half-moon shape from her teeth where they clamped down on it when she fell. THEN, she fell Saturday and split her lip and then fell again, and scrapped her hands. I feel so horrible for her, especially since she comes by it naturally. I have always been a bit of a klutz so it seems it's genetic.

~ Kevin finished his first week of ISAT testing. He has never had to deal with a state testing environment and I think he did really well! Tomorrow they are having "relax after testing" day and are wearing their pj's to school and having a fun day.

~ Kevin is participating in a math-a-thon for St. Jude's Children's Hospital and has raised over $150.00! I am so proud of him for wanting to do this.

~ Kevin has also been praying for the teen injured in a car vs. pedestrian accident a few weeks ago. Apparently they were buddies and I didn't know it until just this week when my husband and I were talking about the fact that the teen still can not recognize anyone. Kevin was upset but still intent on praying for this teen's recovery. Most of the time I don't think he is deeper than a glass of water (spiritually) but then he up and proves me wrong and makes me so very proud of his depth of understanding.

~ I am so excited that Dancing with the Stars starts tomorrow night.

~ I have been in a dark mood all week because of money. I really hate it and hate that we are in debt. I should be really excited! We paid off our next to last credit card friday, as well as a few medical bills. I guess it just highlighted to me how far we still have to go. I am better now, ready to get back to chipping away at it.

~ I am in the process of testing some "guarenteed" nail products. They make big claims about peeling, chipping, cracking, strength and appearance. I will be updating later in the week!

~ I am getting ready to watch two chick flick movies. "The Secret Life of Bees" (my friends current fav) and "Elizabethtown". I took a nap today for about 4 hours so I am gonna be up late!

Pure

pure

According to Dictionary.com, this is the definations for "pure"

1.
free from anything of a different, inferior, or contaminating kind; free from extraneous matter: pure gold; pure water.
2.
unmodified by an admixture; simple or homogeneous.
3.
of unmixed descent or ancestry
4.
free from foreign or inappropriate elements
5.
clear; free from blemishes
6.
straightforward; unaffected.
7.
abstract or theoretical: pure science.
8.
without any discordant quality; clear and true: pure tones in music.
9.
absolute; utter; sheer: to sing for pure joy.
10.
being that and nothing else; mere
11.
clean, spotless, or unsullied
12.
untainted with evil; innocent: pure in heart.
13.
physically chaste; virgin.
14.
ceremonially or ritually clean.
15.
free of or without guilt; guiltless.



for more songs for the soul follow the link in my right hand column.

How do you really feel about how God feels about you?

My new memory verse is

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Oh Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."

~Psalm 19:14

I chose this verse for several reasons.

First, it is the main verse of the Bible study we will begin this month. We will be studying the lies we as women tell ourselves. I am very excited about this study. It not only will help me to grow in my personal relationship with God, but with other women in my church.

Second, it is a good reminder that we have to pay attention to not only what we say, but what we think in our hearts. Sometimes we feel like if we don't say what we are thinking, we are OK; we conveniently forget that God sees the INTENTION of our actions and words. I have gotten much better about being a good gatekeeper of my words. I will try to judge for myself if what I am about to say is going to lift up, lead in a Godly way, or educate the person I am speaking with. I am working on gentleness with my words. I am much better at it than I was a year ago anyway. But, I tend to have this inner monologue that runs all the time. I am pretty sarcastic in my thoughts and even though I know it is wrong, I still tend to lead with that attitude. So, the meditation of my heart is still pretty prickly, not gentle.

Third, I really struggle with the way I talk to myself and think about myself. That inner sarcastic voice? Well, it is directed at myself way more than it is ever directed at others. I was asked to do a short devotion in January for a women's game night. For the entire month I struggled with thoughts like, "What do I have to offer? I'm such a screw up that there is nothing I can offer them". Or, "I'm sure no matter what I think of everyone else will already know it. What's the point?" Even after I spoke, I was thinking about the part I skipped, that silly remark that got a laugh, but probably made them all think I was stupid, and how I should have talked about THIS instead of THAT. I do this kind of thing no matter what I endeavor to try.

So, I have chosen Psalm 19:14. It is making me look at how I talk to myself and how I even approach my relationship with God. I have been asking myself, "How do you REALLY feel about how God feels about YOU?" It's easy for me to read in scripture about how much God loves us, what he has done for us, how he sees us...but I still put limitations on how much I think God can really love a screw-up like me.

I have learned that the best way to change something is to start with something small, and work my way up. so right now I am going to work on changing the way that I think and talk to myself. it's so much easier for me to change the way I treat others than the way I treat myself. Maybe I should take a cue from the grace I extend to others and start giving some to myself. After all, Jesus thought I was worth dying for. That should tell me something, shouldn't it?

Titus 2 Tuesday ~ Anne

I have a friend who will call me from hundreds of miles away just to tell me that she is really excited about my blog.

She will then go on to tell me exactly why she likes it. Then she will answer a question that I had never asked but that she knew I would have echoing around in my head. Then she tells me how excited she is for me in all the growth and connection I have made over the last several years.

Oh, and did I mention that she is the one who planted the seed many years ago by inviting me to a Bible study? (I grew up in the church, but drifted away before I was a teen). It took several more years and a couple of really big tragedies in my life to get to Christ, but she took my shoulders and turned me in the direction of the path I would need to walk.

She is one of those friends who never struggles with telling you the truth, she just more often than not does it in such a funny way that you don't ever have the chance to figure out if you should be insulted, angry or hurt. It's just all good.

I miss her a lot and look forward to the day that she moves closer again. We have talked about it and have already started making "someday" plans to visit back and forth.

I guess if I had to pick one Titus 2 quality to highlight, it would be the fact that she started me on the road to knowing Christ in my adult life. They say salvation is like a chain. There are many links that get you there. She is definitely one of the first.

Update on the teen from my youth group

I have had several requests for updates on the teen from our youth group that was hit by a car last week.

I am so sorry I haven't updated!

He has had a recovery full of miracles that can only be explained by God's amazing power and mercy.

As of this morning he was responding to requests, his breathing tube was removed and he is healing well! He doesn't remember anything about the accident, and there are some gaps in his memory and recognition that they are hoping are temporary (considering all the miracles God has brought out of this situation, I am confident that he will recover from these things too.)

Never again will I limit God's power to my little box of understanding.

Our teen:

should have died at the scene
should have died in transport from hosptial to hosptial
should have died in lifeflight to the third hospital
should have died during surgery
should have many more injuries from the impact than he did
should have more brain injury than he apparently does

The ONLY way to explain why all these should have's haven't happened is because we all prayed BELIEVING that God would work a full recovery in this situation. Never once did we pray "just let him". When we pray for God to use his full power to do all the mighty and amazing things that we not only know to ask for, but for all the things we DON'T know to ask for, he can run wild blessing us with YES!

Thank you so much for praying for him this past week, and we ask that you continue to pray for him in the weeks and months to come. There is still much recovery to go through.