I was so Tired...and God was there...

I was so very tired today. You see I have a seven month old baby boy that is cutting his front teeth. It's quite the experience you know! Well, no we don't know because we can't remember what it is like to have teeth cutting through our gums. I know...way too much information. So, what comes with cutting teeth? Slobber, more slobber, possibly a runny nose and in my case; a child that has woken me up for three nights in a row. He has slept right beside me with his sweet little head on my pillow. I can't wait until his teeth pop through.

What happens when you haven't had enough sleep? Well, in my case anything. I went to Wally World this evening to pick up some nighttime supplies. All with hopes of helping my sweet n slobbery baby to sleep through the night. I pay, put the groceries in the car, drive home, and discover that I don't have my purse. Note: My purse not only contained my visa check card but, Trailhead Church's visa check card as well. I had forgotten to give it back to my husband after buying a few children church supplies the day before. I call Joshua and I tell him that I have to head back to the store, I left my purse in a buggy, outside, in the parking lot, at ten thirty at night. Awesome!

I am thankful that God is there right when you need Him. As I pulled away from my home, I wanted to cry. I wanted to cry hard. I decided that crying would get me nowhere but, prayer would get my purse back. So, I prayed. I pulled into the parking lot and like a crazy person asked every random stranger putting their groceries into their car if they have seen a brown patch work purse. And of course they hadn't . I ran into the store and asked the sweet older gentleman greeting at the door and he too did not have my purse. They just had to have it at the information desk, and they did! Thank You Jesus! This may not seem like a big deal to some of you. But, to a tired mom that has had snot and slobber rubbed on her clothes for the last three days, it's nothing short of a miracle.

I called my Mom and Dad to have them rejoice with me over my great blessing. My Dad had to add to the blessing that God even blesses Ding Dongs. Thanks Dad....

God was and is always there for us right when we need Him. It is amazing how He hears our prayers and answers them even when we are in Ding Dong mode. I just love the Lord!

Walking in l <3 ve

Have you ever tried walking down a gravel road with out your shoes and socks on? Or how about walking with wet socks in wet shoes after riding a water ride at Kings Island at 11 o'clock in the morning and you weren't going to leave the park until 8 o'clock that night. That was the worst! Oh the blisters...and your feet smell so bad by the end of the day.

There are times when walking in love seems the same as walking up a volcano wearing flip flops. The Bible didn't say that it would be easy. Look at Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma. So God's Word tells us that it is a sacrifice to walk in love. What is a sacrifice? It's giving up something for sake of the cause. What would happen if we would choose to sacrifice our feelings and decide to walk in love when we really don't feel like it? For one, I believe the divorce rate would be down. I also believe there would be more salvation's and more people staying hooked in to church. Instead we choose to take the easy road, we choose to say rude things and to act out in a hateful manner to our spouses, our co-workers, our friends. We simply give in.

At the end of Ephesians 5:2 He says that if we walk in love that we will smell really good to God. I believe we will smell really good to everyone when we walk the love walk. Don't you just hate how you feel after you've showed yourself in front of someone? Oh, I despise the way I feel when I say hurtful words to my husband in the midst of a disagreement. If I would've chosen to sacrifice my feelings, my initial thoughts; then I would've caused the situation to have a better outcome.

I have always had to watch my words. It seems like crazy comments would slip out of my mouth before I would even realize it! I once told a boy in the fifth grade that when he grew up that he would end up big and bald just like his father. What a terrible thing to say to someone. I know what your are thinking, that kids say crazy things all of the time. This is true. But, adults say crazy words as well, and most of the time it's been thought out. We do it and then we do nothing about it.

Christ walked the ultimate love walk, he was bruised, beaten and scorned. He was nailed on a cross to die for all man-kind. And the most amazing thing about it was he forgave us all. He chose to sacrifice his flesh and to walk in love. He gave His life for ours. (The ultimate love walk!)

Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

I Choose to...

I choose to not be a psycho spender this Christmas season.
I choose to be joyful while shopping during this Christmas season. It's crazy out there!
I choose to eat less pie / chocolate / random desserts / candy this Christmas season. It's sooo hard..it's all sooo good.
I choose to sing more Christmas carols this Christmas season. If only I could sing!
I choose to not have any scrooge moments this Christmas season. You know what I'm talking about...
I choose to be jolly like you know who this Christmas season. (Santa...he's jolly)
I choose to invite more people to church this Christmas season. Trailhead Church to be exact
I choose to use the mistletoe more with my husband this Christmas season. lol
I choose to not say mean things to bad drivers this Christmas season.
I choose to talk more about Jesus this Christmas season. He is the reason, ya know!
I choose to walk in love at all costs this Christmas season.
I choose to remember to say Thank You this Christmas season!
I choose to be a blessing this Christmas Season.

I choose to remember what this season is all about...His name is Jesus!

Kids will be kids

Caed: three years old, blond curly hair, very adorable, super smart and tons of personality.

Caed is my firstborn. Isn't it amazing the people that come up to you and tell you how easy your first child will be? "Oh, your first will be your best!" Oh really?

I tell those people that my first is actually my wild one. He is the one filled with massive amounts of personality. Or as his first Sunday school teacher said, "Caed is my lil rascal." I said back to her, "thank you for putting that in such a nice way."

I always told myself that I would never be one of those parents that spoke bad words over their child. Words such as rotten, spoiled, bad apple, stinker, wild, crazy, nuts, the list could go on and on. Most of those words I do not use but, I found myself using a few of them to describe my wonderful lil boy.

Sure, Caed has bit his fair share of arms or fingers, and yes he did go through a screaming phase for about two years. He did punch me in the face one time at Kmart and made me cry. That was not a good moment in both our lives.

But, Caed is also great at saying the famous line,"I'm Sorry." He is the first to start up a rockin cool party. He loves to praise God and learn about Jesus! He will hug you and kiss you on your lips in a second! Caed will help clean up and even put dishes in the dishwasher.(something his Dad is still learning to do) He loves to make new friends and is the best at inviting people to church! He is an amazing little boy.

So, God dealt with me on my confessions over Caedmon. I need to focus on the positives and speak only good things over my precious lil boy. When negatives happen I choose to be consistent with our act of discipline and then reinforce with Godly instruction.

And, it works. God will always give us a plan when we ask for one. Caedmon's has been so much more obedient over the last three months. It has been amazing the change in his sweet lil life. I really did get a great baby for my first. It has just taken a good bit of love, prayer, devotion and SWEAT to get there!

I just love being a mom!

O how He loves me

Do you ever get a song stuck in your head? Of course you do. We all get songs stuck in our brains for hours upon end just hoping to get rid of them with a better song. How many commercial jingles have we all sung out loud in a grocery store line or in a public place with out realizing what we were even singing! I used to sing the Oscar Mayer Wiener song ALL OF THE TIME. I am sure it was annoying.

It's amazing how music can be so influential in our thought life and how it plays on our emotions. I remember in high school I had gone through a breakup and what was the first thing that I did? I listened to the saddest breakup song I could find to help heal my pain. Isn't that so funny? We go to an even sadder form of help to try to make us feel better. It just doesn't make any sense, because instead of helping me feel better, it actually made me feel worse. It seems we find music to fit every occasion in our lives. I just love seeing the people that listen to hardcore music as they work out hoping it will push them through the pain. All I can say is Jock Jams baby...it'll get you pumped up! This is so besides the point.

What I am getting to is; I have a song stuck in head. "He loves me...Oh how He loves me." I It is a wonderful song. It's a song talking about How much Jesus Loves me. And for some reason this is the only part of the song that I can remember! I find myself singing it out loud throughout the day. This isn't just a shower song, it's an all day getting dressed, driving the car, going shopping song. It's a God song.

I have been praying for God to do somethings in my life, personally and spiritually. When I start singing this song, I find myself thinking about how much the Lord really does love me! I am so thankful to be at a place in my life where my world revolves around Jesus. I would probably still be singing the Oscar Mayer Wiener song or possibly Jock Jams (thank you Jesus that I am not) if it weren't for surrounding my world with music that glorifies God. So now, instead of being influenced by sad, sappy songs I am influenced with how much God loves me. And I need that right now in my life. Don't we all!

Faith and Works

Or should I say Faith Works? Yes, I believe I should. Isn't God faithful? Wait, that isn't a question. It's a statement. God is faithful and His faithfulness overwhelms me at times.

As most of my blog followers know, my husband and I just recently started Trailhead Church. Yes, we started it from the ground up, plowing our way through a city via door knocking, door hanging, carnival handouting (so not a word), street inviting, personal inviting and through the local newspaper. I must admit, we have had grand thoughts of Men and Women of all different shapes, sizes and backgrounds flooding in through our Ramada Church doors; praising God until their arms fell off, praying ever so fervently. Did I mention that we have seriously handed out a few thousand invite cards?

So faith without works is dead. We just had our fifth Sunday of Trailhead and it was wonderful. We had a mini fall festival for the children. I would like everyone to know that up to this time the children of Trailhead has consisted of my two boys and a couple of in and outers here and there. I had it in my heart to do a fall fest. I was at first discouraged, because you want children to attend when you put together an event such as this. I am the children's pastor and I want God's best for Trailhead Kid's...even if it is just my two boys! I was praying about the event and God just so wonderfully placed that scripture in my spirit. FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD! It was confirmed, a fall fest we shall have and we will do it in faith.

We had nine kids at our first fall fest...and I am so blessed. Zechariah 4:10 Despite not the day of small beginnings. This is just the beginning of what great things God has in store for Trailhead Kids. We had a wonderful event and the kids were so excited and had the best time. Isn't God faithful!

And yes we will have a group of people ready and willing to praise God until their arms fall off and to pray ever so fervently that revival just has to break loose. I see it now! A people in search of more...how exciting.

Faith without Works is dead

T.V.

I just have to explode for a moment.

Why does it seem that every single channel that you turn to on TV has either explicit language or inappropriate behavior going on... no matter what time of the day. I can barely change a channel with out my three year old hearing a word that we prefer to not use in our household or his eyes seeing something that should never be seen.

What has this world come to? Sit-Com's are dropping four letter bombs left and right. Cleavage is at an all time high and don't even get me started about SEX on TV. Pre-teen girls are dressing like porn stars and having sex with boys right before our very own eyes. What happened to FAMILY TELEVISION? I enjoy watching a good show and even getting hooked on a great story line but, I don't enjoy getting convicted while watching a so-called family program at eight o'clock on a tues. evening. My husband and I can't even sit down and watch a program without our children hearing bad language or seeing naked people. All I can say is, "Thank God for the discovery channel and HGTV."

And thank God for prayer! I am going to pray that television will get a moral upgrade. Anyone in agreement? Please say amen!

Shake It Up!

So I was making chocolate milk for my three year old this morning, as I do every morning. His request is always, "don't shake it mom!" He loves to see the syrup float around the bottom of his sippy cup. Who knows why? I figure it has to be healthier for him, so I just go with it. I was thinking about how I have alot to be joyful about in my life. I have chocolate syrup flowing into my sippy cup all the time. I have a wonderful husband, a great home, two beautiful healthy boys, I only have ten pounds of baby weight left, (lol had to throw it in!) our bills are paid, we have awesome friends and we just started an anointed church! But, so many times I just leave all of my syrup floating around, not allowing it to fulfill it's purpose.

What is the purpose of chocolate milk? Well, for my son it causes much joy in his life. Like that cup of chocolate milk has made his day. He will dance like a crazy kid and sing silly songs the moment I give it to him. It's amazing what will make a child happy! Why can't we adults be more like that?

When I choose to shake up my own chocolate milk real joy will come. Their are times that you just have to stir it up and get happy. We have so much to be joyful about and yet we choose to let our joy just float on by. We focus on the negatives and not so much the positives. What would the world be without chocolate milk? If we would choose to shake it up and allow God to mix in some joy with our daily chores, how much more would we get accomplished throughout the day. How many more lives would we effect in a positive way? We would be the best tasting chocolate milk ever! So, I've decided to shake it up today and everyday for that matter. And I believe that my joy will be full!

More Than Enough

As I was sitting here eating a Totino's Pizza I began thinking about God's Provision in my life. If you don't know what a Totino's Pizza is I shall tell you. It is the one dollar pizza that is consumed by college students and those of us that are needing to save a little cash and still have a good meal! Our family is in love with Totino's Pizza at this moment in our lives. What does this mean? It means that we have More Than Enough.

After living in a comfortable environment where we had a nice home and a nice paycheck every other week, eating Dijorno's on a regular basis, we headed out to Burlington, NC. We stepped out in faith. We made the big move and followed God's plan for our lives. We started Trailhead Church. No, we did not have jobs lined up with mountains of cash flowing our way. What we did have was a promise from God's Word that God would supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). And God has done just that. So who cares that we aren't ordering out for Pizza Hut every week or buying a large Papa John's when I just don't feel like cooking that night. We aren't going to base God's Provision by our one dollar Totino's Pizza's! We will base it upon God's Word and in knowing that we are in His perfect plan for our lives. Isn't that what it's all about?

I am thankful that God takes us through stages and phases that push us to use our faith. This allows me to grow and to really trust in His Word. God is faithful to those that diligently seek Him. We are doing just that and because of this we have More Than Enough!

God is in Control

I can't understand why we have such a hard time grasping this concept. God is in ultimate control over our lives. Yes, we have choices to make. And yes, we do need to make the right choices that are ultimately led by the Word of God. But, why do we make those choices and still not put the entire situation into God's hands. I love the Lord with all of my heart and I have given him my all but, at times I try to do it Anna's way rather than God's way. It never works out as planned when I follow my guidelines. Now, when I choose to not worry, to not get in fear and to place the situation in the care of my Heavenly Father; the job gets done. I believe we just want it all right now. We don't want to use our faith or actually trust in something that we can't see.

It's all about trust, you know? We have the hardest time trusting. I don't feel the need to elaborate on that, it's just true. I have realized the people that choose to trust God with all their might are the people that are blessed the most and that live in a state of peace. They know that God is coming through even when it doesn't look that way. I am striving to always be a person of trust. A person that trusts in what God says and knows beyond a shadow of doubt that it is truth. A truth that will come to pass. God is in Control. That is truth.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Hesitation

1 : to hold back in doubt or indecision 2 : to delay momentarily : Hesitation or Hesitating

Why do we hesitate when God wants us to do something? I feel like through life we second guess ourselves so much that we miss Godly opportunities. We allow amazing open doors to just pass us by. Over the last couple of weeks I have so much wanted to be a homebody. We just moved to a new city for the purpose of meeting people, building relationships and to start and amazing church. And I found myself not wanting to go anywhere. I was allowing fear and hesitation to rule my thoughts. I believe the two work well together. Hesitation was ruled by fear of the unknown. It's hard moving to a new place and not knowing a single soul outside your normal friend circle. I am normally not a hesitant type of gal. I pride myself on following God's plan for my life and was quite unhappy that I was holding myself back from God's Best. So, I decided to just go for it. I took a step of faith and it paid off. I have made friends, invited people to Trailhead church, witnessed about God's faithfulness, and shared about God's love.

John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease."

It's not about me, it's all about Him!

What Beauty Is

We all know the phrase Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder. I would like to focus on the Beholder for a moment. I just had my second child, and a few weeks ago I was feeling pretty down on myself. You know the feeling, like you just don't have it all together. Aka a pity party. What brought this up you say? Well, I had seen a picture of a friend that seemed to look perfect. My self esteem immediately began to spiral downward as I felt the need to look as beautiful as her, or at least as her pretty picture. I then, went to my husband and complained about how I need to lose the last ten pounds of baby weight, how my hair was a mess, and how I need a new wardrobe because I am so out of style. He then comforted me and said I was beautiful and as sweet as that was, it wasn't enough. Thank God for the Holy Spirit, because as I was standing in the bathroom looking at myself in the mirror, feeling low and picking apart my exterior, a scripture arose on the inside of me. We will get to that later.

I feel we are looking for beauty in all the wrong places. We think that our friends are our Beholder because they seem to know what beauty is, or at least what the media and Hollywood portray beauty to be. I want to throw in there that this is not just a teenage epidemic. As a woman in her late twenties I feel that at any age we all want to be thought of or looked at as beautiful. We try our hardest to stay up with the latest fashions and we exercise or diet until our bodies can take no more. Then when that doesn't seem to work we add in plastic surgery to get the job done. Now, don't get me wrong I have no problems with the occasional nip, tuck or enhancement. I do have a problem with the obsession that we can't be accepted as a beautiful person until we have the perfect look, the perfect bag, or the perfect pair of shoes. Please hear me out, I believe we should always look our best. The Word of God said our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost. And I believe we should treat our bodies with the utmost respect, but this respect doesn't come packaged in Prada, or Gucci. It comes packaged in self worth and in loving the person God created you to be. I truly believe that when you take your focus off of what the world seems to deem as important and put your focus on what God's Word says is important,that your inner most beauty will shine out and cause your outer body to match with the inner person. Why do we get so down on ourselves when we have gained five or ten pounds, when our hair isn't cooperating with the weather, when we don't have the money to buy the newest clothing item, or when we have a random breakout. It's because we haven't placed our beauty in the right eyes. Who is the beholder that we should be concerned most about? Simple, it's Jesus.

Proverbs 31:30 says, Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Keep your focus on Jesus and off of the things of the world and your happiness will be complete, your trials will turn into victories and your self worth will sky rocket to new heights. As God brought this scripture to my heart, I immediately felt an inner peace. I would much rather be known as a woman of God than a woman focused on worldly acceptance. Thank You Lord for showing us that their is so much more!