Redeemed...4 real

New Blog

2006-11-09T22:11:00.000-05:00

I moved my blog to www.rdeemed4real.wordpress.com. Please check me out there...

Hear my voice, O God...

2006-11-07T19:40:00.000-05:00

It's been hard for me to post lately. I'm in a weird place right now. I'm truly being tested. Being challenged. I think I'm a little stretched right now, trying to do too much, trying to be everything to everybody, yet know that I'm not being the best wife and mother and SELF that I can be. I'm letting minister, nurse, and student supercede my family... and most of all God. I'm feeling such a disconnect, like something outside trying to take control of me. I don't feel joy at church, so I need to do SOMETHING to get my joy back.

Really, I'm not looking for any sympathy. I'm just trying to get some balance... a handle on my life... I need to re-commit... again, to my devotional life. It's so easy to get off track... the enemy is trying to get me off track so I can't focus on doing what God has called me to do.

My prayer this week is from Psalm 64:1,2:
1Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

2Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:
God, forgive me for all the times that I haven't come to you first. Forgive me from losing my grip on you. Father, I know what I'm here for... Thank you for all the things that you have shown me and told me. Thank you for the favor on my life. Thank you for my family. God thank you for friends and co-workers that I can pray with and talk with, after I have talked with you. Thank you for showing me my destiny. Reveal to me what it is that you would have me do. Protect my life and my loved ones lives, oh God. O, protect my enemies oh, God. Let your justice reign here on earth. Allow me to do your will. Anoint me, set me aside God so that I might be a blessing to someone else. Father, you are so awesome...If I had ten thousand tongues, it wouldn't be enough... hallelujah to your name Jesus... thank you, thank you.... thank you... in Jesus' name I pray... So be it...

CONFUSION...no, no, no, no... (Public Enemy, if you didn't recognize.)

2006-10-25T10:26:00.000-05:00

You ever see things go so wrong, that it points you in the right direction? Ever been somewhere where NOTHING makes sense... I mean nothing... constantly... You begin to get used to the nonsense. If someone does something that does make sense, it hits you by surprise.
I'm glad that I know Jesus. If I didn't know him, I don't know where I would be. He convicts me when I need convicting, He consoles me when I need consoling, and he loves me when I need love... Even when I don't realize that I need it. I have a goal in sight. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil 3:14)
I have to keep him in focus. I have to look at all the good things in my life. There are lots of good things. Sometimes the distractions keep you looking at God and all the good and great things he has done.

I heard a preacher say recently that sometimes we are chasing after things that God is trying to take out of our lives. We have some junk that we need to get rid of. We've been holding on to it too long. I am determined to get rid of that stuff and focus on furthering God's Kingdom. That is my purpose here on Earth. That is my destiny...I know what I'm here for...

God is still in the miracle making business

2006-10-24T22:04:00.000-05:00

I've been a nurse for a long time. I've seen a lot of death. Been in lots of emergency situations... But yesterday I was in a "code" for over 3 hours... I really didn't think that this guy was going to make it. I prayed... as I was working frantically... we defibrillated, or shocked him over 20 times... It was unreal...
The man is off of life support, totally with it, talking and smiling... less than 24 hours after the incident. He is not supposed to be here. He was blessed to have even made into the hospital before just dropping dead somewhere. I've never seen anything like it. I saw him today and it almost brought tears to my eyes... He reminded me why I do this day in and day out. He is a miracle...
It's funny... some of my administrative coworkers seemed like they were patting themselves on the back for "saving a life." They need to check themselves, because the situation yesterday was not the smoothest situation. I went back today to see what it is that I could have done better. I realize that I am just a conduit that works through. I am convinced that God gives knowledge and wisdom to people. I am convinced that this man is alive for a reason. He has a purpose in his life... I don't know what it is, but God knows and will reveal it to him...
That man is not supposed to be here... Praise God for His healing power... Praise God for His grace and mercy, which endureth forever...

Frustration...

2006-10-16T18:10:00.000-05:00

Have you ever been so disappointed in someone that you care about that it effects everything that you do? You try to shake it, but it just keeps coming back? I am at a strange place right now. I am frustrated, trying to do my assignment, the assignment that God has given me, but I keep running into a road block... I have to stay focused on who has given me the assignment. I have to remember that I am here to serve God, to help further His Kingdom... It's hard sometimes. I want to get an A on my assignment. I want to hear "well done, my good and faithful servant..."
I know everything will work out. It's just hard when the people who you think are for you, sometimes are against you... you don't know if it is on purpose... it just hurts...

Christian Ethics

2006-10-04T10:41:00.000-05:00

This class that I am taking, Christian Ethics, is awesome! It is an online class, so there is no real interaction. Actually the interaction on the discussion board is quite disturbing, because I can't figure out what most people are talking about as they are not basing their discussion on the readings... The book is awesome. It's not easy reading, but it has some really good stuff in it. I'm looking at the whole world differently now. The part that is cool to me is the part about how rules are based on principles and that rules can be overridden by principles...Hence the spirit of the law vs of the letter of the law. The Pharisees vs Jesus' interpretation of the Law and Prophets is a key issue. Jesus came to fulfill the law, not end the law.
Anyway, let me get back to my reading... needed to rest my brain cells just a bit...

sorry I've been away...

2006-09-25T05:46:00.000-05:00

I haven't been posting as much lately. Life has been getting away from me. School just started and I really don't know how this semester is going to go. I've never done an online program before and there doesn't seem to be much guidance. I just have to trust God on this one... I'll try to post more often...

Change...

2006-09-05T21:35:00.000-05:00

Well, I did it... today was the last day at my job... It was a hard thing to do. I was in my comfort zone. I was one of the senior nurses there... conditions there have caused me to evaluate what is important right now in my life. Plus, it's more money and less of a commute...
This faith thing is hard. I'm nervous because I've left this job before and lasted 2 months. The job was unbearable. I mean, you shouldn't have to work near tears all day. It was really a bad situation. Yet God worked some good out of it. I ended up ministering there a few weeks ago and the nurses there remembered me. It helped in with dealing with the family... My steps are ordered by God...

I'll be in serious prayer on this thing. It feels more final this time around. I'm going to the same job but different hospital. I'll be going to a job where I can jump in after seeing how they are going to do things. It's a new program...I actually left the hospital 10 years ago. God is bringing me full circle.

Change, change...A wonderful change has come over my life. I usually don't run from change. I have to be careful, because I'll be impulsive and change at the drop of a hat. Sometimes I might be making up for something that is missing in my life. ((A closer relationship with God.)) I have to look at the patterns in my life. I've been like that ever since I could remember. The best change that has come over my life was when I excepted Christ as my Savior.
My life has changed so much. He has picked me up, turned me around, placed my feet on solid ground...

I once was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more. But the Master of the sea heard my dispairing cry, from the waters deep within, now safe am I...
Love lifted me!!!

Scripture focus of the day...

2006-09-03T20:20:00.000-05:00

Romans 8:18-28 ((The Message))

18 -21That's why I don't think there's any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what's coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.

22 -25All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it's not only around us; it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.

26 -28Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Really take the time to read this. I really like how this version reads. My pastor preached on this today, about how pain is the body’s way of letting us know that something is wrong. The same thing happens to us spiritually… Are things going wrong in your life? Stop and see what God might be saying in the midst of everything… you might be ready to give birth to possibility and to purpose… Just hang on…Trouble don’t last always…

It's been a long time, I shouldn't have kept you...

2006-09-03T20:14:00.000-05:00

Okay, it's been a while since I last posted. Life has been getting away from me. School has started for my daughter, I'm going to a new job (thank you Jesus), lots of ministry... you name it, it's been going on. God is good. He is worthy to be praised...

I start school online in a few weeks. I'm actually looking forward to it, believe it or not. I actually cherish going to class and learning. We'll see how I do not going to a physical class. This will be interesting. I'm just going to have to trust God. I have a good feeling about this. I feel like God is setting me up for something. Don't know what it is. I just thank God for my family and friends. It helps so much to have a husband who loves me and cares and a loving daughter. Plus having a best friend who is a minister allows me to be able to bounce all kinds of things off of her... anyway, I'm having an ADD moment right now, I'm so all over the place... I'll talk to you soon...

Scripture Reading for the day...

2006-08-27T20:31:00.000-05:00

My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.
Isaiah 26:9 (New International Version)

God is sooooo good!!

2006-08-22T22:45:00.000-05:00

I didn't get a chance to post about this weekend. I'll just say that I have learned to trust God more this past week than I ever. He has truly ordered my steps.
My ministry is moving to another level. I was given the opportunity to preach on Sunday, after a very stressful end of the week. It was the first time I preached from an outline instead of a manuscript. I let the Lord lead me and I just preached from my heart.

It is interesting how you will do things in life, thinking you have made a mistake...that maybe it wasn't God's voice that you heard. Then later, it ends up being a blessing. It might be years later. You never know how God is working things out.

I preached on trusting God. My Text was the 139th Psalm. It talked about God's character... His omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. He's all knowing, everywhere, and all powerful... We need to trust God in our lives because He knows all about us...Shoot he created us, so who best to trust with everything in our lives. I know I forget that God is God and want to try to figure things out for myself... Stupid!! The good thing is that God knows our thoughts and our words before we speak them... Anyway... Trust... Trust that He will make a way out of no way. He has done so much in my life. I just can't tell it all!! That's my testimony for the night!!

Wow!!

2006-08-22T22:36:00.000-05:00

All I can say is wow... today my daughter told me that she talked to one of her friends who is Muslim. She said her friend has decided that she doesn't believe in God because she has no proof that He exists. This disturbed my daughter and she tried with all her might to convince her that God is real. She asked her if she has ever read the Bible and she said yes. Then she talked about how God blesses people with money and things and life itself and the girl still didn't believe her. My daughter was so frustrated! She is concerned about her friend and prayed for her before she went to bed. All this from a 12 year old! She sounded like her mother! Really! I didn't know she had it in her! (Let me find out there's a preacher inside of her... watch out!!)
I wonder how many adults would have had this concern for a friend of theirs... I am so proud of Sierra for standing up for her faith and being concerned for her friend. I guess I've done a good job after all with giving her a spiritual foundation... Wow... Thank you God for giving her all that she needed to say. Thank you for your Word, which is true... Thank you for my daughter, who loves you and is learning more about you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Pray for me!

2006-08-18T08:39:00.000-05:00

I wanted to thank everyone who has been leaving such nice comments....I didn't know people were actually reading this stuff. I just hope that I can be a blessing to someone.

Please pray for me... I have to preach on Sunday morning. I'm trying to hear what He wants me to say. It's coming, but it's not together, and I'm on call tomorrow at work.
Lord, use me like You've never used me before...I love ya! Amen..

This is Our Story: 'When the Levees Broke'

2006-08-16T18:20:00.000-05:00

I'm going to make sure I see this...

Katrina was a storm that washed up racism, cronyism, history, politics, poverty, how business trumps life, disdain for the poor, incompetence and all sorts of other national sludge. Another surprise was that Lee was noticeably absent from the screen. Known for his shameless self-promotion, Lee is mute here, saying about 10 words in four hours -- and never on camera (and you know he can't even stay off camera in his features).

Read the rest of the story at the link below...

http://journals.aol.com/bvmovieblog/BVMovieBlog/entries/2006/08/10/this-is-our-story-when-the-levees-broke/1471

Scripture of the Day

2006-08-12T13:55:00.000-05:00

2 Corinthians 8:9 (NLT)

You know how full of love and kindness our Lord Jesus Christ was. Though he was very rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 1997 . Tyndale House: Wheaton, Ill.

2 Corinthians 8:9 (Message)

You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us—in one stroke he became poor and we became rich.
Peterson, E. H. 2003. The Message : The Bible in contemporary language . NavPress: Colorado Springs, Colo.

Here's lookin' to You, Lord

2006-08-09T21:32:00.000-05:00

by John Fischer ((from Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotional))
http://www.purposedrivenlife.com/devarchive.aspx?

Becoming like Christ seems like a daunting task, and it is, but there is a certain grace in its impossibility. Because we can never reach it in this life, this becomes a goal that will never stop driving us – a purpose that takes us through to the end. If it were an attainable goal, what would we do then?

This was certainly the error of the religious leaders of the day when Jesus was here on Earth. They thought their strict adherence to the requirements of the law had earned them a place among the righteous. They had arrived, in other words. Of course they hadn’t, and this was something Jesus was continually trying to bring to their attention. The only thing they had arrived at was their own interpretation of the law, which was sorely inadequate to produce the true inner character of righteousness that God is after. They were measuring themselves by a scaled-down version of the law and looking at those who they deemed worse than themselves in order to make themselves acceptable in their own eyes. Had they looked at Jesus, something very different would have happened.

When you look at Jesus, at least three things happen. 1) You realize your own shortcomings and how far you have to go. 2) You realize God’s love and accept the forgiveness made possible through Christ’s death for us on the cross. 3) You reflect his glory, not your own. It’s the only way you can still stand in front of his perfect righteousness and not be consumed – you receive, as a free gift, a righteousness you cannot earn. Looking at Jesus makes you humble and holy all at the same time. Not holy like the Pharisees, mind you, but holy in that you are totally counting on Christ for your own righteousness because you realize how much you lack.

Humphrey Bogart made the line famous in Casablanca: “Here’s lookin’ at you kid.” It was a special look – a secret he and Ingrid Bergman shared as unrealized lovers. In the same way we go through our day looking to Christ; it’s a secret we know about but not necessarily information shared by everyone. Our love for God and his love for us make up for the deficiencies in our character and the distance we still have to go to have Christ fully realized. And yet, as we keep looking to him, we begin to reflect something of him in our lives, and without even knowing it, we become like “mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18) May we reflect him today in everything we do.

I hear you Lord!

2006-08-08T21:21:00.000-05:00

Lord, I am so tired. You go on vacation just for a week and come back and the bottom just falls out of everything at work... My job is so demanding. I just don't know how I make it some days. Yesterday we had 4 nurses call in sick which left us with 3 nurses for 30+ cases. It was horrible. Plus, I was on call, so I had the potential of getting called in at any time. I got home around 10 pm, so I was cross-eyed. It is so true how God never gives you more than you can bare. I know I would have cried if I had to go in last night.

Today I was through, just so through with it all. Doctor's getting on my nerves, patients getting on my nerves, co-workers getting on my nerves...I don't think I have a nerve left. I really don't. I'm so glad I'm off tomorrow. It really gets to the point of whether I am being the best I can be for my patients. When you get so tired, you sometimes lose focus on why you are there in the first place. Without patients, I wouldn't have a job. Sometimes you begin focusing on your needs instead of the patients and families needs.

Sometimes this happens in ministry also. Things sometimes don't go the way you would like. People don't think like you think and you start to lose focus on why you are even in this thing. You take your focus off of God and things get all messed up. You think about how someone hurt your feelings and think about why you didn't get credit for all the work you are doing and God just jumps out of the way. He can't be in the same place as all of that. He becomes displeased. It's easy to lose focus.How can I break this cycle? How can I get back on track. I know today I just had to go off to myself, cry a little and ask God, what is it that you want me to do? I lost my focus for a second, but He regained it quickly... at least today, anyway.Thank you God, for smacking me around a little today. I needed the wake up call...

I'm Baaaaack!!

2006-08-03T16:30:00.000-05:00

Well... we're back from vacation. I tell you, it has been much too long since we took a vacation. We will not make that mistake again... We ended up buying a timeshare! God blessed us with the opportunity to buy yearly vacations. The timeshare is sweet! I'm excited! We had so much fun as a family and we realized that this is what it's all about. We have been working so hard at living that we haven't stopped to enjoy life.
The ocean was beautiful and the air was so relaxing. It was like heaven on Earth. I believe that God wants us to have heaven on Earth. I don't think it is meant for us to suffer all of the time. Anyway, I'm all ready looking forward to my next vacation, because i've got a lot of work cut out for me starting next week...
God sure is good!

More Scripture Before I leave...(I can't help it!)

2006-07-31T07:34:00.000-05:00

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.

Galatians 5:16-17 (New International Version)

Scripture reading...before I go...

2006-07-30T20:43:00.000-05:00

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:1-2 (New International Version)

Time for vacation!!!!

2006-07-30T20:15:00.000-05:00

God is so good...God is so good... God is so good, he's so good to me!!!
Just wanted to sing God's praises for all that he has done in my life. He is so amazing.... If I had ten thousand tongues, it still wouldn't be enough... He saved my soul...He saved my soul... He saved my soul, he's been good to me!!

((I think I'm about due to preach... I actually have been asked to preach on the 20th, so...It's about time. It's been months.))

We are going on vacation tomorrow!! Yea!!! We haven't had a true vacation since 2001, so we are due. I'm so looking forward to lying on the beach, chillin' like a villian... I'm just thankful that tomorrow is vacation, because my church just celebrated it's 22nd anniversary and we had 3 services...I'm whipped... The AC got a little tired by the time we go to the 4 pm service...Poor thing...all them black folk up in there... sheesh!!
I know I'm due for a break, because people were starting to get on my last nerve...Thank God for the Holy Ghost, because he held back my tongue... Church folk can be a trip...Love 'em to death but some times you need a break...
Anyhoo... I'm going to take time out and return back here on Friday, so stay cool and be blessed!!

My Baby...part deux...

2006-07-27T22:21:00.000-05:00

Okay... remember yesterday how I waxed mad nostalgic? Remember how I said my baby is growing up? Well, I take it all back. The girl is trippin'... she called me 3 times last night, saying she was homesick. Today she complained about a heat rash, complained about the food, complained about the lack of air conditioning... Just plain complained... I was beginning to wonder if she was learning anything about basketball. I mean, that is what she went to camp for, right? I had to ask her to look at the positive things. She told me the girls next door were having a party. I told her to go have fun... so we'll see. I was at one point going to go up there, but I am so tired from working all day and doing some ministry stuff at church that I don't think I could drive. I would have just put baby powder on the rash anyway... sheesh!!

My Baby...

2006-07-26T15:19:00.000-05:00

Okay... today I took my daughter to overnight basketball camp... My baby is growing up. Where did the time go? I got her set up in her dorm room and gave her the usual... "remember to lock your door and remember to wear your shower shoes when you take a shower..."
She started out a little scared, but once she saw her friends, she forgot all about me. Just up and left me... It took me back to when I went off to college. I was so excited that I just up and left my parents. Just left them. My mom just knew I was going to be scared and cry. I left them. Went off and enjoyed life. Made new friends, found a new boyfriend... It was the life!
This was a pre-cursor to when she really goes off to school... It was kinda scary. She's 12. Not much time left. I need to enjoy our time together now, before it's gone... An eye opener, to say the least... God keep her and watch over her. Wrap a hedge of protection around her Lord. In Jesus' name... So be it...

Let's Do It Your Way...

2006-07-24T07:14:00.000-05:00

by John Fischer (From Purposedrivenlife.com)

"Lord, there are two ways we can do this, yours and mine. Mine is not working. Let's do it your way."
Someone sent me this quote as part of a pretty spectacular near-death, out-of-body experience that involved a heart attack and quadruple bypass surgery, but I don't believe you have to be facing all that to understand such a statement. In fact, I think this is a pretty good way to think about going through every day of our lives: "Lord, there are two ways we can do this, yours and mine. Mine is not working. Let's do it your way."
That is one of the notable things about Jesus, especially as recorded in the Gospel of John, that he always loved doing the will of his Father. He said that he and his Father were one, and he never did anything that his Father didn't initiate. God and he worked together like hand in glove.

It's not quite so with us. In our finest moments, maybe, when we are relying totally on the Spirit of God, but we have a sin nature to deal with that Jesus didn't have. We're going to pretty much have to be saying this every moment of our lives: "Lord, there are two ways we can do this, yours and mine. Mine is not working. Let's do it your way."

It is comforting to know that Jesus, in spite of his love for doing his Father's will, struggled with it when facing his own bitter end. He struggled so hard that blood was forced out of his body as perspiration. The Bible teaches that the sin of the world was laid on him on the cross, but there is reason to believe some portion of that identity with sin began in the garden the night before his trial when he prayed a prayer that could have just as easily been translated, "Lord, there are two ways we can do this, yours and mine. Mine is not going to work. Let's do it your way."

It's the way we first come to Christ, it's the way we learn to walk in his purposes for our lives, and it's the way Christ purchased our salvation through his death on the cross. In fact, it pretty much sums up the Christian life in a nutshell: "Lord, there are two ways we can do this, yours and mine. Mine is not working. Let's do it your way."

When you do it his way, even the end is doable.
http://www.purposedrivenlife.com/devarchive.aspx?ARCHIVEID=TODAY

Eternal AC

2006-07-22T17:31:00.000-05:00

Okay... today I spent a majority of the day in a hot gym without air conditioning...It was HOT!!! I mean, ridiculous hot...
Can I say that I would just HATE to spend eternity like that? Can I say that I am going to study the Word even more seriously?? I'm going seek His face like never before...Sometimes you just have to stop and think, where do I want to spend eternity? Really?

Just my thoughts on salvation...if you haven't excepted Christ as your savior and you are reading this, you just might want to consider doing it not now but RIGHT NOW!! The only way for you to get into heaven is through Jesus, so it is better to begin to get it right now. If you wait until you get things straight in your life, then you'll be waiting forever... You'll never be perfect... so you might as well start working towards perfection with the Lord Jesus on your side and the Holy Ghost as your helper...
Okay, I'm done now!! (whoo... thank you Lord for Central Air!!)

Life is so precious...

2006-07-19T15:17:00.000-05:00

I don't think we realize how precious life is. I work in a hospital and I deal with life and death everyday. Usually it is strangers, so it doesn't affect me the same as it is when I know the person.
As Christians, we say that we are just "ambassadors" here temporarily...but when faced with our own mortality, how do we really feel? How do we cope? We are supposed to live with a hope that others don't have. We know that we serve a Living God, the One and Only "I AM."
Yet when we see loved ones suffering or we experience the loss of a loved one, it is difficult to trust.
Yet... as Tye Tribbett says, I have no other choice but to trust You...It's all I can do.

It's hard to see all the destruction that goes on all over the world. We witness it on tv and on the internet everyday...It all seems so far away...Yet, have we forgotten Sept 11 already, or the Sniper that tormented us one fall... we need to remember who we serve. we can't live in fear, but we need to be aware that the world is changing before our eyes... Hold on to your faith...Work your faith...God IS in control... remember all things work together for the good, for those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose... Notice the catch... you must love Him first...

why can't I wake up?

2006-07-17T06:20:00.000-05:00

Why is it that I can't wake up refreshed on Mondays? I don't care how much sleep i get, I struggle getting up... It doesn't help that i have to get up at 4:45 am...I'm not a morning person. Trying to figure out how to get enough rest so that i can be awake enough to have devotions in the am before i get to work... haven't seemed to have figured it out yet...

One day i'll figure it out...

Lord, allow me to be a blessing. Allow my hands to be a help not a hinderance. Allow me to cause no harm either verbally or physically...Enlarge my territory. Bless all the patients here, all the staff, and all the families. A special blessing to all of the patients here. Show your healing power, Lord. I trust you and believe...
In Jesus' Name I pray... So be it...

Equipping of the Saints

2006-07-16T16:20:00.000-05:00

Ephesians 4:11-12

11 The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ
The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. 1996, c1989 . Thomas Nelson: Nashville

I'm reading The Seven Laws of the Learner by Bruce Wilkenson. I'm on the chapter on Equipping. This book has been revolutionary for me and my ministry. I have been teaching youth Bible Study for a while, and recently was asked to teach the Primary class in Church School. This book has totally changed the way I look at teaching. It made me realize that I am responsible for learning to occur... right now I'm reading the law of Equipping. God created teachers to equip the saints, or believers. It is our job to get them ready to go out and make disciples. How can we make disciples if we have never been discipled? How can we go tell a dying world about the goodness of Jesus if we have never experienced him for ourselves?

I am having so much fun teaching the Primaries... When I first started teaching, I was not given a teaching manual and was not given any direction as to what I was supposed to be doing and how to go about doing it. I am a process person. I'm a nurse. I have been taught the Nursing process and it is a part of me. I go through this process whenever I do anything, whether it is nursing or not.
I assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate on a constant basis. When this is out of order, I don't do very well. ((Often trying to do things by myself, without God's help.))

When I didn't have a teacher training, I kinda freaked... I got through the class, but I don't know what the kids got out of it. Then I started reading this book... boy was I convicted...

Anyway, my pastor always tells me that my job is to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. It's not my job to do everything. It's my job to give people what they need so that they can do ministry... I can't keep my knowledge to myself...
Just a little bit to chew on...

Health Esteem

2006-07-14T12:50:00.000-05:00

Health Esteem
What does your health mean to you?
By Paula Chaney

America is fat! Over 60% of American’s are overweight and/or obese. The question I want to ask you is, “Do you have Health-Esteem?” Webster’s definition of the word esteem is “to regard with respect, high regards”. So once again I ask, “Do you have Health-Esteem?” Hopefully this article does not apply to you. If not, please pass it on to someone that you have identified that has low Health-Esteem.

Does this get your attention? If so... keep on reading...

http://christianhangsuite.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=9&tabindex=3&t=4

Today's temptation

2006-07-14T12:19:00.000-05:00

I struggle with a passion to shop... I LOVE to shop... I'm a confessed shopaholic. When I get bored, I want to shop. I think of ways to spend my money, especially if it's payday.
What is this about? Why have I been wired like this? I love buying new things. It could be from the grocery store, and I get excited...

I have to pray for strength, because I can get really out of control. Some days I'm okay, but others... watch out.
If I don't focus on my purpose, on the promise that is on my life... I can allow the temptation turn into sin... I need to realize that is okay to shop, but when I obsess over it and HAVE to do it... that's when it becomes an idol...

Romans 6:11-14
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 . Zondervan: Grand Rapids

Scripture of the Morning

2006-07-14T08:37:00.000-05:00

The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 15:33 (New International Version)

Heaven on earth? Candy bar claims to aid PMS

2006-07-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

NEW YORK - Every once in a while, a product comes along that is so cunningly conceived and so flawlessly executed that the only proper response is reverent awe...
It's chocolate that is specially formulated to help women alleviate the symptoms of PMS. Would you like a moment to process that?
It's a hunk of chocolate, designed specifically to alleviate the effects of premenstrual syndrome. (More than, say, a Snickers bar already does.) The irritability, the anxiety, the moodiness — all of it is allegedly soothed by the Wonder Bar, at $3.69 a pop. As it says on the wrapper, "Take sweet revenge on PMS, menopause and everyday cravings with this delicious Swiss chocolate, rose oil, herbs and soy."

Wow...where can I get this? I think my whole family would buy a case just for me and my daughter...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13849336/

No other choice...

2006-07-12T22:29:00.000-05:00

This ministry thing is a trip... you can go from one extreme to another. From teaching and preaching to dealing with life and death...within minutes...seconds even...

This song keeps on playing in my head..I have no other choice but to trust You, it's all I can do... Can't get away from it... God has done so much, I've seen it with my own eyes, I have no other choice but to trust Him...but it's hard. How can you see people struggle just to exist? How is it that good people suffer and die? How do I deal with it personally and be strong for others as they go through?
Anyway...I have to go to bed now... gotta get up early for work... Just wanted to get this out...

In the beginning...

2006-07-12T16:31:00.000-05:00

Focus Verse of the day
Psalm 32:1,2
1 Oh, what joy for those
whose rebellion is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!
2 Yes, what joy for those
whose record the Lord has cleared of sin,
whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 1997 . Tyndale House: Wheaton, Ill.

Today's focus is on forgiveness... It's interesting that we had been praying and fasting starting last week, unrelated to our VBS... our lesson tonight is on forgiveness... God is all up in this...

This is my first entry... don't know if anyone cares about what i'm thinking, but here i go anyway...

I thank God for the spirit that has taken over at church. things were a little crazy, but I think that God just wanted us to know who really is in control. I'm really getting into this teaching thing. VBS has been so good this week. everybody seems to be having fun... I know I am. Anyway, time to get ready to go and be blessed again...
Thank you God for the Word... Thank you for feeding us when we are hungry... Thank you for your son...AMEN...