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Friday, February 27, 2009

Renewing Your Mind

You know, I almost feel bad for always posting someone else's stuff this week but I love things that are simple and to the point and right to the heart...and this is the best daily devotional I've ever signed up for. Almost every morning it's THIS GOOD...simple...and pointing you to Jesus. Thank you Rick Warren for these wonderful daily devotionals!

I have been wanting to write...I have a few things I want to share but I have been overcome......totally overcome......by.................ALLERGIES! I've never had allergies in my entire life...I never understood but oh boy do I now. Yesterday I was all but wiped out and unable to function. My poor boys...my eyes were on fire all day long and the kind of red that makes you wonder if I hadn't done some serious drugs...eye drops didn't help...benadryl didn't help.
Yes...that is a picture of someone with conjunctivitis...and no, I didn't have pink eye...but that's how red my eyes were...but worse around the eye...I rubbed my eyes so much because of the itching and burning that the skin around my eyes was bright red too!
I think I used ANOTHER whole box of kleenex yesterday and I counted at least 40+ sneezes....oh the misery....
As I stumbled through my day...I developed compassion for the allergy inclinde....and I realized by the end of the day I owed my boys a big apology. Man...it was a hard day. I kept praying and trying to get in the word any spare moment because besides the physical torment everytime the boys fought AGAIN I felt my blood boil.
I really believe this specific devotional is for me today...in more than just one way. But specifically the auto pilot that I am in with my children...when they act up I almost default to this thinking that they are doing it on purpose...hardly leaving room for them to just be children. I know they aren't doing it on purpose to spite me...at least not yet! I know this!
But when Josiah aggrivates his brother for the 100th time and I hear that high pitched squeel of frustration and anger...I could just hit the roof! I feel like it's such disobedience and my thoughts of training up a child in the way he should go and all of my training in having "the end result" in mind in my discipline...go right out the window....sometimes screaming in fear!
LOL...I'm not THAT bad...but I won't pretend like I don't loose it cause I DO! My boys fight more than I ever thought kids could fight. I don't know if it's their ages...that they are both strong willed....or if it's like most people tell me: they are just boys! Whatever it is...my frustration and reaction is not their problem...IT'S MINE! I have to allow God to have all parts of me and all parts of my day. Without that all hope is lost for a sane mommy all day long.
I'm sorry if this sounds extreme...and I know some women who take care of 4+ children and don't seem to have this problem. But I do...and one day...if God allows me too and when I get through this...I'm going to write a book called "HELP! I want to abuse my children!" or "Motherhood...when your just not cut out!"
Do I abuse my children...? For the record...NO! Of course not...and the minute it ever came to that point I would seek serious help...do I feel not cut out for motherhood...sometimes...but what mother doesn't?
I'm sure there will be many times when I don't feel like I have what it takes but God doesn't put anything on you that you can't handle and I know God gave me my children. I am the mother of Josiah, Jude and Jossalyn and I have been chosen as their mother, with all my gifts and issues considered. AND I KNOW they are very strong...wonderful...unique...little people and I will cling to God and allow him to change my heart so I can be the best Mommy I can be to them. Jesus help me...help me truly repent and raise my children as you would have me to.
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Discipleship: Renewing Your Mind
by Rick Warren

Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. Proverbs 4:23 *** *** *** ***

To change your life, you must change the way you think. Behind everything you do is a thought. Every behavior is motivated by a belief, and every action is prompted by an attitude.
God revealed this thousands of years before psychologists understood it: "Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts" (Proverbs 4:23 TEV).

Imagine riding in a speedboat on a lake with an automatic pilot set to go east. If you decide to reverse course and head west, you have two possible ways to change the boat's direction.

One way is to grab the steering wheel and physically force it to head in the opposite direction from where the autopilot is programmed to go. By sheer willpower, you could overcome the autopilot, but you'd feel constant resistance. Your arms would eventually tire of the stress, you'd let go of the steering wheel, and the boat would instantly head back east, the way it was internally programmed.

This is what happens when you try to change you life with willpower; you say, "I'll force myself to eat less ... stop smoking ... quit being disorganized and late."

And, yes, willpower can produce short-term change, but it creates constant internal stress because you haven't dealt with the root cause. The change doesn't feel natural. Eventually you give up and go off the diet.

There is a better and easier way: Change your autopilot; in other words, the way you think. "Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think" (Romans 12:2 NLT).

Change always starts first in the mind. The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel influences the way you act, which means "there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes" (Ephesians 4:23 NLT).

To be like Christ you must develop the mind of Christ. The New Testament calls this mental shift "repentance," which in Greek literally means "to change your mind."

To repent means to change the way you think - about God, yourself, sin, other people, life, your future, and everything else, and you adopt Christ's outlook and perspective on life.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Spiritual Growth Is a Collaborative Effort

Rick Warren did a great job explaining this so I thought I would repost it:

Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)

*** *** *** ***

Once you decide to get serious about becoming like Christ, you must begin to act in new ways. You'll need to let go of some old routines, develop some new habits, and intentionally change the way you think.

The verse above shows the two parts of spiritual growth: "work out" and "work in."The "work out" is your responsibility and the "work in" is God's role.Spiritual growth is a collaborative effort between you and the Holy Spirit. God's Spirit works with us, not just in us.

This verse, written to believers, is not about how to be saved, but how to grow. It doesn't say "work for" your salvation, because you can't add anything to what Jesus already did!

For example, during a physical workout, you exercise to develop your body, not to get a body. When you work out a puzzle, you already have all the pieces – your task is to put the pieces together. Farmers work the land, not to get land, but to develop what they already have.

God has given you a new life; now you're responsible to develop it "with fear and trembling." That means to take your spiritual growth seriously, because it will determine your role in eternity. When people are casual about their growth in Christlikeness, it shows they don't understand the implications.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

For fun...

Monday, February 16, 2009

Validation, Malaysia, Prayer Requests...

It's been a while since I've written. While God is still the Lord of my life I found myself struggling with a few of the things I thought I was over. We're here in America...and I can honestly say my heart is here now...it's here...content in what God has planned and as much as I hate to add a "but" to that...I must say...

BUT I struggle with viewing ourselves as missionaries to America. I know that's how we returned...and no we're not through a mission board but we're on God's mission board...and the big man said go back to America...but yet as a dear Pastor friend gave us their support for us as missionaries in America I felt as though we weren't qualified or worth them giving into us. Our dear family church, Liberty Lighthouse gives to us faithfully every month and this last time when I went to deposit the check I felt unworthiness set in and an overwhelming gratitude.

I suppose inside I struggle with feeling like we aren't giving up enough (our families are in the same country!, I can speak my heart and people understand, we have AIR CONDITIONING!!!)...or not doing enough to be qualified...but then reality hits me and we were never QUALIFIED to be missionaries. Matter of fact, many laughed in our faces and guessed how many months it would take before we returned from Thailand. 4 years later, here we are...more different that I could have ever imagined we would be with so many lessons under our belt I can't even count them.

Where do I get this idea that giving up things and being officially branded as a missionary makes you a missionary? Why does this pleague me so? What makes us missionaries? Missionaries are people who, with reckless abandon, leave behind any ambition of creating a life of stability for the assignment of our God to live to reach a people group. Dedicated to giving their lives to a God given mission...

I can stand before man and God and say that we are missionaries. Does that make us special? No...I believe that God would have us all to be missionaries...dedicated to our God given mission. As my blog numbers dwindle I realize how much I depended on knowing that people are reading...even though we're not in Thailand in a dangerous place anymore I still covet the fellowship and prayer that comes with it. I am also scared to admit to myself that maybe a bit of my man pleasing issues rises up because I'm not receiving as many hits...in turn causing me to feel less loved.
(I really loved this picture I found...It says: "Validation - pre-purchased ticket" think about that for a bit...)
Now, don't get me wrong...I love blogging...just for blogging. But at times I suppose I got some kind of validation for what we were doing from it...and as sad and sick as that is...it's true. Now, most of my validation came from the Lord but I see now in myself that a bit came from all the support we were receiving. But our validation does not come from man...but from our Lord. I thank God that I can share how I am feeling on my blog and express what's going on in my own heart and I thank God that my husband doesn't share my validation issues!! HAHA! He's always so strong and sure...like a strong oak tree with roots going down deep into Him.

We are excited about what God is doing!! I am soo happy to report that at this time God has moved Trent and Amy Pruett back to Texas. Yes! The SAME Trent and Amy Pruett that we worked with in Thailand are back in Texas!!! And even more amazing is that Trent and John are working together now at the office (www.jglm.org). We would have never imagined in a million years (ok MAYBE in a million years...that's a long time!) that we would be back in Texas together, much less, WORKING TOGETHER.

Curry, John and Trent (and Josiah) left today for a week long trip to Denver, Colorado! While I'm going to miss John and Josiah horribly I am soo excited for them because I know this trip is going to be a blast for them! They are holding a Divine Healing Technician Training in Denver, Colorado and they are all very excited about what God is going to do!

So while they are gone this week I'm so thankful that God is continuously working on me and allowing me to take him at his word and be more than a conquerer. With one less child I am praying that I am freed to do much more ministry this week.

I am going to have a lot of time to focus in on allowing God to refine me in the month of March! John will be gone for the entire month of March to Malaysia and Indonesia with his father, Curry Blake (www.jglm.org)!! He is leaving on his birthday (March 3) and will be arriving the day after his father's birthday(April 2)!!

Please be praying for them...there could be upwards of 80,000 people at some of these meetings!!! Malaysia is one of the closed countries of Asia...so it is an honor an a priviledge to share the gospel there. Please pray with me for these meetings and protection and boldness for our men and for me too...becuase let me just tell you...one week with out my husband is heart wrenching for me...so a month could be really rough but I'm asking God to help me be prepared and strong.

Another prayer request is that you be praying for our future home - wherever that may be. We still do not have many many things that we need to have a home (ex. beds, appliances...) and we will be moving from the missions house at the end of April.

Thank you for reading...

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Be Blessed!!! In Jesus Name!!!



Sunday, February 08, 2009

Quickie...

I'm really sorry I have not been consistant with posting...I'm starting a new this week. So 2 thoughts to leave you with for now:

1. FIREPROOF...WOW...haven't seen it?...go...now...

2. I did this 25 random things about me thing and it was fun...despite the fact that I did it twice...and lost sleep redoing it...but it was suprisingly difficult to come up with 25 things and then to have them all gone with a click of a button!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Luckily I could remember about 20 of them...5 are lost forever and replace by new facts. So...it was fun...here's mine...you should try it...


Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I think you are an interesting person and would like to know more about you.
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I just wrote and worked on 25 random things about me for a good 45 minutes and they were gone in the blink of an eye...I was on number 26....:(:(:(:((...I think I'm done...no wait...I think I see it...I think I see an ounce of willingness deep down in there to try again...ok here I go...

1. I have 9 stupid human tricks that I can do...and no, I won't list them. If you know 6 of my stupid human tricks then we are close...if you know all 9...then you are a girl and we are two peas in a pod!

2. I am a parenting/marriage counseling book junkie...

3. I love books like "This Present Darkenss" by Frank Peretti. I love imaginary worlds like Narnia and stories like "The Neverending Story" and wish I could write books like that.

4. I think I got more out of Thailand than Thailand got out of me...and I'm sad about that...but there is always round 2 right?

5. I love to sing although my voice is not that great...I have a huge passion for dramas...writing them, acting in them, directing them...

5 1/2. I do this:.... WAYY TOO MUCH...SERIOUSLY...but I like it...so it STAYS...:)....

6. I am pretty much bilingual although I'm not fluent in Thai and I miss speaking Thai horribly.

7. I don't remember anything before I was 10 years old...only a few little snap shots and that's it!

8. Sometimes I think that John and I are the only people on the entire planet that love each other the way we do...no really...it's THAT good!

8 1/2. I weep at alter calls.

9. Part of me desperately wants to go back to college and get my Bachlors or Masters in Christian Counseling and do marriage counseling for the rest of my life!!! There is nothing like seeing a marriage restored from nothing...and seeing a forgotten love...remembered...it reminds me of the love of my savior...

10. Names of movie stars stick with me. I don't even have to try - I can be standing in line to check out somewhere and see a tabloid on the rack...and BAM - I know who Eva Longoria is and I can recognize her and remember her name F-O-R-E-V-E-R!!! Weird?

11. Parenting is alot harder than I ever imagined it to be...and it's not because of my children...eventhough I think it is sometimes...I'm learning I'm not ask patient, kind and gentle as I always pictured myself to be...I had just yet to be truely be put in a position for my patience to be tested.

12. I love things that sparkle iridescently. I have a fingernail polish called "Fairy Dust" and if I could paint the world I live in with it...I WOULD! (although John wouldn't like that very much)

13. I lost my father to bone cancer when I was 7 and I'm just now realizing how cognitivly developed you are at 7...I always thought I was too young to be affected and remember. Now I realize that I was too protected to be affected...God protected me and brought me through many things...He truely first loved me and because the lamb that was slain is worthy of His reward...I am His eternally.

14. I have a passion about keeping things simple and seeing through peoples words to the matter at heart and how that relates to my King...

15. I twirl my hair obsessivly...at times, twirling with both hands unknowingly. I find it incredibly hard to stop even if I want to...

16. I really enjoy exercising (especially to salsa videos)...although I have to motivate myself enough to get up and do it...I even love that painful burn that happens.

17. I always hold people to standards that they set for themselves...so much so that my friends are careful to admit wanting to go for something - such as staying away from junk food or making commitments.

18. I usually give advice when I should probably just shut up and listen.

19. I love people's idiosyncrasies. LOVE THEM! Like one of my beautiful friends who signs anything she might see while she's thinking...or the way John's hands look when he turns pages...or my friend with the permenant tickle in her nose that causes her to rub her nose in a circle in a cute kinda way...or the way MB seems to speak purposefully with each word pronounced beautifully...or how a dear friend of mine will trail off in mid sentence and then come back to me within a few seconds...oh I could go on forever.

20. I am a MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional) in TCP/IP and a Certified Novel Administrator - I'm also a Network Engineer who has abandoned her career for the journey of a life time and loving every minute of it.

21. I can type 80 words per minutes...that is, unless it's cold - then I'm down to 60 wpm.

22. I like to know the facts and be well informed before talking about a subject and it really frustrates me when people put forth their own assumptions as truth without any knowledge or study about it.

23. I have a SERIOUS weakness for icecream...and an ultimate weakness for snickers ice cream bars.

24. I LOVE how my husband and I are who we are together...and I LOVE that I can trust him with my whole heart...holding nothing back. And I love that the way he looks at me never falters...and his laugh...it's so contagious and joyful. And I...wait...does this still count as 1?

25. I feel priviledged to have been a missionary in Thailand and hope to return soon. I feel a bond with missionaries and a desire to be a support for them that is a bit hard to cultivate...I'm priviledged to have first hand knowledge of what it is like to be on a foreign mission field...unique doesn't describe it.

26.(just because I can) I love this (look at him dance!):
http://www.%20youtube.%20com/watch?v=jJ_-CmwHWPo&eurl=http://profile.

This is beautiful and amazing:
http://www.%20youtube.%20com/watch?v=25VGdNU3nrU&eurl=http://profile.

And this is one of the best dramas ever done:
http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LnRhbmdsZS5jb20vdmlld192aWRlby5waHA/dmlld2tleT1lZGM5YzU5YjJlYjI5Nzc2MDI3YQ==