Friday Fill In's #117

This week Janet, took the first sentence in 6 of my favorite books...you fill them in...with the right words or even better, ones of your own. This should be interesting.

And...here we go!

1. "In a hole in the ground there lived a crazy little rabbit, that ate carrots and got into other peoples business, caused all kinds of trouble, but in the end always came out the winner.

2. "You can have, cars, cash, real estate and all the toys you want but that ain't no matter, because it's still a bunch of stuff that will end up in either a land fill, owned by someone else or spent by someone else. Only God can give you something that will last forever, eternal life.

3. "After dark the rain began to fall again, as I snuggled deep under the covers in my bed listening to the drops hitting my window and I listened to the beautiful music God makes with his creation, like a lullaby to put me to sleep."

4. "Gold, and rubies were brought forth from the hold of the Spanish galleon."

5. "There was a hand in the darkness, and it reached out and grabbed my shoulder as we sat in the little rickety car in the county fair Haunted House. My cousin and I screaming at the idea that the tacky plastic monsters had come to life. In complete terror I spun around putting all my strength into my fist with all my 14 year old body could muster, and connected with a face full of fur. I hear a deep groan of pain, my cousin grabs my arm as we turn around right as the doors swing open to let the light of the day into the dark ride, we see the monster it's a werewolf. Oops no it's a carnie worker with a werewolf mask, and he's now removing it to inspect his newly broken nose. "You broke my nose he yells at me" His fellow Carnies laugh, "you shouldn't have grabbed my shoulder" I said full of pride. The Carnies laugh louder, and my cousin and I decide that will be avoiding the Haunted House from now on.

6. "Accidents ambush the unsuspecting, but knowing that the unexpected can happen in your life can make the ambush unsuccessful. Then take strength in knowing that nothing unexpected happens in God's eyes, God will never say "hey I didn't see that coming."

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to getting my hair highlighted, (I'll take a new picture for my blog) a weekend alone with my husband, our daughter is going with her best friend K. to spend the weekend at K's grandparents. So I think we are going to watch the movie Australia tomorrow my plans include of course WW meeting, and then I have no idea we didn't expect the weekend to ourselves. I know I'm going to do my Kettlenetics again, probably program my new phone who knows what else and Sunday, I want to go to church, pick up my daughter, and go to our Pastors house for a connections dinner!

Okay an update from last week. I did my Kettlenitics first level exercise. Great work out really gets your heart pumping and works your muscles. The group of women are not exercise bunnies, and the only tummy view you put up with is the teachers, so much better than others. Really love the work out it's different than anything I've done, but not overly complicated, and she actually has a really good instruction video.

Had to laugh at Stacy, curious in the comments from Tina about my belly button ring. No I don't ware it anymore, but the mark is forever there. I did it when I was in denial about being in my 30's, but then pregnancy and belly rings don't get a long. As far as the tattoo, I never got one, I was to wimpy after the pain of the belly piercing and now well I'm over it. Besides I actually like being in my 40's.

Have a great and fabu weekend everyone.

Carol

ABC's of the Word - G

God Gives

And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

1John 5:13

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:16

It's funny I was actually going to look for a verse on guidance, because I am seeking guidance in an area regarding how my daughter will spend the summer. Then I was caught by the first verse and read it over a few times and the God has given, really caught me. It made me think of how many times in the scriptures that we are told that God gives. Then I really thought about John 3:16, how many times have we heard that verse most of us can recite it from memory. Most children it's one of the first memory verses they learn. But there it is again He gave.

I'm not sure about the people you come in contact with, but I am daily surrounded by people who do not know Jesus. I meet people regularly who are trying to earn their way to heaven, trying to be a good person, yet never acknowledging that God did not say in either verse I will let you have eternal life if you do this, this, and this.

God gave the world His son, we did not barter for Jesus. In fact there is nothing we could give or do that would impress God. We are covered in the filthy rags of our sin, until we except God's most loving and sacrificial gift of His Son Jesus. Then and only then will we know real life.

In Him,

Carol

To find out more about the ABC's of the Word visit Pam at Grey Like Snuffie and find out what others are finding as the search God's word for the letter of the week.

Friday Fill In's - 116

Happy Friday Everyone!!! Okay so it's late but it's technically Friday.

And...here we go!

1. Why do we have to have excersize videos with scantly clad women on them. Okay I don't know about you but these girls do not motivate me, the reason I work out to videos is so I can avoid the gym and the gym boys and girls?

2. Making our own Lattes in the morning is no longer a maybe they are now habits.

3. I have tons of ideas for scrapbook and altering projects yet I can't tear myself from blogging long enough to get them started!. (Hence the 11:00pm post)

4. I had never heard the phrase "chicken, rats, and fadoodles" and it has become a common phrase used at our house to help us not to swear when we are frustrated.

5. I have determined and accepted that I am not organized in a normal way, I will continue to use my random piles to keep track of things the way I always do.

6. How was I to know that blogging would become so fascinating, and that I would actually make friends doing it.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm took my daughter and her friend (hubs went too) to see Race to Witch Mountain, we girls loved mmm dad not so much , tomorrow my plans include WW weigh in I'm 14 lbs down, and then I'm getting a facial my hubs surprised me with, and after that if I don't get to wrapped up in blogging, I'm going to work on a alter project for Brinn's room and Sunday, I want to we are headed to church, and grocery shopping, and maybe I'll learn how to play Wii Mario Kart!

And as a side note, I'm trying a new exercisize dvd called Kettlenetics, hopefully I can get past the trainers outfits, and get into this. It came highly recomended. I'll let you know.

Have a fun weekend.

This weeks letter is F

"just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,

that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love"

Ephesians 1:4

I'm not sure about you, but this verse blew me away the first time I really got what it said. That God thought of me and you before He even created the world. That He knew when, what time, and place He would place us. He knew our part in His plan before the world was created and how our little vapor of a life would be important to our plan. He also knew we would need Salvation, and He made a plan for that so we could be with Him again. WOW.

PRAISE GOD!

For more ABC's of the Word head over to Pam's at Grey Like Snuffie.

Lift Up: Praise The Lord, O My Soul Ch. 11

Well it's hard to imagine but we've come to the end of this amazing book. Jennifer Rothschild has lead us through our thought closet, we've learned to take our self defeating, negative, and condemning self talk and replace it with God's word. The words God has carefully picked out for us and written to us. He's also taught us in His word to take every thought captive, and to not let it in. If you haven't taken the time to read this book, take the time. It is well worth the time. I think I have officially read it 3 times, because I found myself rereading each chapter 3 times so I could just really meditate and pray about the material presented.

I also wanted to let all the ladies who participated I was fed even more with the thoughts and personal experiences you shared on your posts. Some of you I met last study, and some I just met with this book. I cherish the relationships we've built, all of your comments, encouragement, and prayers I feel God's blessed me with meeting so many Christian sisters through this world we call blogging.

This weekend, while at my women's retreat (I'll blog later on that) I had one of those moments that felt so intiment with God such an amazing time of Praise. We had quiet time after the morning session. The Suggested Devotional was Psalm 103 of David. I had just skimmed the first part of chapter 11, and I knew that when I saw the first two verses of the Psalm 103 started out Praise the Lord, O My Soul, that God had something for me. I read through the Psalm, and the material provided with it, and then on my heart came the word of the song East to West by Casting Crowns. I pulled out my ipod and headed outside for sometime completely alone with my Lord. It was cold on the beach about 50 degrees outside (be nice I'm a Californian). I stood on the outer walkway of the hotel over looking the beach, and listened to the song in amazement of the beauty and vastness of God's love for me. The wind was blowing, and I remember my body shivering, but I couldn't bring myself to go inside, I wanted to be outside and looking at God's creation, feeling the cold and the wind like it was God's breath all around me. I remember saying how unworthy I was, and then feeling such fullness of His love that it brought me to tears. I walked along the outer walkway of the hotel, listening to more of the songs that always draw me into a deeper worship with God. It was amazing.

I came home from Monetrey this weekend and read Jennifer's quote "Open the door of your thought closet and look inside. What consumes your thoughts? When you have an idle moment, where do your thoughts wander? When you talk to yourself, what are you usually saying?" Hmm I never thought about that way.

So what does consume my thoughts. My family, particularly my daughter lately as she is becoming more teen than girl. My husband battles with addictions, and remembering to continue to lift him in prayer. More praying for my daughter. Work and the economy. My quiet time, hobby, illness, my weight, my appearance much more emphasis on the last that I liked seeing. My friends, and how badly I am about communicating with them, oh yes and my blog what will I write today. How far behind I am in my to do list. Oh yes God He was in there too, but in a smaller place than I had realized. Then I hear the spirit say "yes but am I the first thought of your day, and the predominate thought of your day, and the last thought of your day.", Sheepishly I admit, "not usually Lord" Some days, but sadly not everyday. Over the last few months I have spent more time in my relationship with the Lord, but I'm not satisfied with it. I want more of God and less of me. I love to read and I love to read my studies, I believe these last two studies have really opened my eyes to how much more space I need to give to God.

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

I know fully what it's like to live my life with out God at the center of my focus, and boy does my life go out of whack when I do that. I love how Jennifer talks about when we really enjoy something or someone is important to us we talk about that thing, or that person constantly. Everyone who knows me knows that I think my little girl is amazing, and that I have a wonderfully loving and giving husband. They know that I love to scrapbook and alter things and create with my hands, and many figure out that purple is my favorite color. But do they know how much I love God? Is it evident that I love God and I am so grateful for Jesus and the redemption that He's sacrificed Himself for? I can say on many occasions yes they know I'm a Christian, but I don't really know if they have any idea of the depth of my love for Him. So how do we show that outwardly. PRAISE HIM!!!!

In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever Psalm 44:8

Praising God is really about enjoying God. Praise is all forms, not just singing and worship songs, but reading His word and desiring to learn about Him, sharing Him with a friend, praying for yourself, and for others, going to church, talking about Him with your children, walking and looking at His creation, and the list can go on and on. "Conversely, when we shut the doors of our thought closets to the God who loves us, we are most cruel to our own souls. Lifting up self barricades us from true happiness. Ironically, our own selfishness deprives us from what we long for most."

How priceless is your unfailing love!

Both high and low among men

find refuge in the shadow of your wings.

They feast on the abundance of your house;

you give them drink from your river of delights.

For with you is the fountain of life;

in your light we see light

Psalm 36:7-9

So our soul craves to praise our Lord, it's what keeps us on His path and connects us to God and makes it possible to hear His voice. When we are selfish and self focused we can't praise anyone but ourselves. I'm not sure about you, but that hasn't worked out so well for me.

So I'll end this book study with the quote Jennifer shared from C.S. Lewis, "As long as you are proud, you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you."

Keep looking up to the Heaven my friends,

Carol

Oh and of course Lelia has brought to us another wonderful book study, An Untroubled Heart, Finding a faith that is stronger than all my fears. Author Micca Campbell. So join us in the next study for more details head over to Lelia's blog Write From the Heart

Friday Fill Ins - #115

It's Friday, and it's time for the random post. I love these don't know why just do.

And...here we go!
1. When I look to the left, I see my bookshelf with pictures of my family at different stages of our life together.
2. The living room is the room that has the best view in my home, of course you have to have all the blinds closed and only look out the little stack windows so you can see the sky. We live in a mobile home park and everywhere we look out the windows is other homes. My favorite thing to look at is my 6 photo frame scrapbook picture of our family.
3. Let it work itself out you can't fix people who just want to complain, that's what I tell myself when I feel like other peoples drama is taking over my family time, just pray for them.
4. Nothing is done dirt cheap, I live in California! Well unless you ask ACDC they have a song about blankety blank done dirt cheap.
5. Voting is a responsibility that all qualified citizens must share.
6. If you have any encouraging thoughts feel free to share.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to starting off my weekend Women's retreat, catching up with ladies I only see once a year and seeing the beach at sunset, tomorrow my plans include breakfast and morning session, lunch in maybe Carmel and some shopping hopefully a walk on the beach and evening session and Sunday, I want to get up a bit early and have some one on one time with God as I watch the awesome power of his creation the ocean come in and out at His hand!

Have a great weekend.
Carol

Look Back, Chill Out, and March On Ch. 8, 9.&10

Wow where has the time gone. Somewhere between a 9 year old with a fever for 4 days, gma's hospital stay (she's home and doing well thank you for all the prayers) personal doctor appointments, and a date night that turned into almost a weekend (not complaining about that), I've never gotten to post my thoughts on the last 3 Chapters of Self Talk, Soul Talk by Jennifer Rothschild. Now Yes to God Tuesday is Yes to God Thursday 3 weeks late. Don't forget to head over to Lelia's blog Write From the Heart and see what others have shared from these 3 chapters. Also we are getting ready for our next book study. So if you haven't done so yet join us, it really is fun, and no pressure Lelia's got all the info on her blog. As an added bonus you'll meet some of the most wonderful Godly and encouraging women.

So I thought I'd just share a bit from each, and hopefully I'll get to post in full on Chapter 11 next week. I make no promises though because I'm off to a women's retreat as you may know, and I want to focus my attention on the topic there. So I guess you'll just have to be surprised.

So now on to the book, as has been the norm for this book, I have underlined and nodded in agreement over and over and these next 3 chapters were no different. In Chapter 8 Look Back: Forget Not His Benefits, O My Soul, the topic was milestones. You know those times and decisions in your life where you look back and know that was something that affected the next portion of your life, and that effected who and where you are today. Looking back at our memories and milestones can be pleasant and painful, we tend to only want to look back at the good. However we are reminded in this chapter that looking back at the painful is important too, as long as it is profitable. So what's that mean. Jennifer explains it this way, "Profitable memories are those that add to your soul wellness rather than subtract from it", "Profitable memories contribute to your personal depth and understanding. They challenge you to think broadly rather than narrow your perspective."

So sometimes are memories are pleasant, like the first time I held my daughter, it was life changing, and is still one of my most precious memories. However at that same time the memories attached to that are the feelings of rejection from divorce, and knowing that Brinn and I would be a family of two, and not a family of three, at least at that time. It's a painful memory of a difficult time in my life, but one with great profitability. Why because I can look back and see how God worked through that time to bring me to Him, I can remember how He provided for me, how He changed the relationship between me and my sister, from just realitives to a closeness we'd never shared together. The other thing about looking back on those painful memories is to relabel them. When you look at the memory that caused you pain, and see the hands of God covering it and leading out of the dark time you can remove the negative connotation from it. God will remove the sting from that memory, and when you look back you'll see how God drew you close, and used it to strengthen and make you who you are today.

My favorite quote from Jennifer in Chapter 8 is "Remembering can turn even the most difficult milestones into stepping-stones on a path of gratitude, contentment, and peace." She also warns if you have truly horrific memories, that bring utter agony such as horrible situations of abuse or cruelty, that those kind of memories can require you to seek professional, and spiritual intervention. If that is your situation, please do find someone to guide you through the healing process. Advice well spoken.

Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Hebrews 10:32

I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. Psalm 143:5

So now that we've Looked Back and seen where God's taken us it's time to Chill Out. Chapter 9 Chill Out: Be At Rest, O My Soul. Oh yeah, this is good. As one who loves to burn the candle at both ends I needed to read this chapter. Now it's no secret that I have an illness that can get out of control because I'm not suppose to get overly stressed, over committed, or over tired, but the reality is I do. For me God has provided a trigger in my body to force me into physical rest. My body just plain shuts off sometimes for 2 to 3 days. So I get physical rest.

Only recently have I realized the need for my spiritual rest. Where I take time to read God's word, pray for others and myself, and fill myself with His peace daily. It's essential to me, and on the days that I don't get my time with God, I can feel the difference in my spirit, and it's evident in my attitude as well.

What Jennifer said here really spoke to my heart, "When we are physically and emotionally spent and worn, we become susceptible to the enemy's attack. We become easy targets, sitting ducks. Our enemy attacks us with despair, depression, illness, impatience, and myriad other maladies...all results of a fatigued soul and body. Speaking rest to our souls is critical."

The other thing I really enjoyed is the advice she shared from Pastor Rick Warren about a formula for rest:

Divert Daily: a power nap, a walk at lunch, people watch. Just do something daily to create a temporary diversion each day.

Withdraw Weekly: It can be all day or just a few hours, just make sure you step back and out of the weekly chaos that is your world once a week.

Abandon Annually: Yep, you know it VACATION! Something that many of us don't do. It doesn't have to be expensive, you just have to take time to leave your regular life behind for a few days. For me that's this weekend. From Friday morning to Sunday afternoon, it's retreat time. I spend time with my sister, stay in a hotel, eat food I only have to order off a menu, go shopping, walk on the beach and fellowship with other women who love the Lord and just have good old girl time. I always come back spiritually renewed.

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29 NASB

The Lord replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest" Exodus 33:14

We've Looked Back and seen what God has brought us through, and we've taken some much needed Chill time with God, it's time to go to Chapter 10 and Press On: March On, O My Soul. This Chapter has given me much to ponder on. You see I'm one of those people who can take the one negative thing I did and make it over shadow all the good things I've done. Jennifer reminds us not to focus on our failures but to focus on our success's. I so need to do this. When I focus on all the negative things and how much I haven't done or didn't do, exactly what Jennifer says happens occurs I feel despair and I feel overwhelmed. I'm not talking with soul talk to myself, I'm just talking myself out of things I can do or am more than capable of doing.

We are reminded that we are not defined by our struggles or are failures. These things are not who we are "What you do and how you feel may loom large on your radar. But what really counts is who you are. Determine your true identity and the act upon it. Don't let the struggle define you; use your true identity to properly define your struggle." When you feel overwhelmed with the task don't give up and don't quit. Sometimes it takes many tries to get something right. We must continue to tell ourselves we can't do something, we will continue to believe it and eventually give up on it.

This is a totally new concept for me. For years I've always looked to far ahead into the process of something, felt overwhelmed by it, and then told myself I can't do it. So the ideas stop there, and have never moved on. Paralyzed by the fear of failing, and overwhelmed by looking to far ahead, and never even thinking about asking God to help me with it. Now I'm pondering this. I first really have to figure out who I am, I need to spend time in prayer over this. I really have no idea where or how God wants to use me in this world. I am going to spend my quiet time this weekend in prayer over this. I'd appreciate your prayers in this as well. I want to March On I just don't know where. I'm going to start by speaking soul talk into my soul and not looking at my flaws and unsuccessful attempts as failures but as growing points. I'm also going to spend sometime in the Soul-Talk Starters she shares with us in the Appendix 1, to remember who I am in God. The other thing I feel the need to do is begin journaling. I've done it here and there but not regularly. So I will keep you updated as I learn to take one step at a time and March On.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witness, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

But we're not quitters who lose out. Oh no! We'll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way. Hebrews 10:39 MSG

In Him and Through Him,

Carol