Friday, 30 December 2005

I am so glad it’s Friday. Three day weekend woohoo!! I got spoiled having off four days last weekend. Of course it doesn’t pay to be off as everything is still there when you get back and it was no different with me. I put off getting the newsletter out and shouldn’t have. Made me work late today. Doing the bulletin and the newsletter the same day is rather tough when I don’t have anyone to help me. At least it’s done now.

While I’m still at work Vanessa calls me and asks if I can come by to get her check and take to the bank. I finally get through about 1:30pm. I get her check and head home to see if Mom wants to make the bank run with me. I had three banks to go to. One for Vanessa, the other for me and one for the church. We head back home and it’s so pretty out I decide to take down the outside Christmas lights. So I got all the Christmas decorations put away until next year.

Keannon and Vanessa left for Houston tonight for the weekend. Keannon has a good friend down there. They took Kaidence with them and I already miss her! When Vanessa does move out and take her I may have to request visitation rights!

Here’s another excerpt from “The God Chasers” by Tommy Tenney. This one I’ve also been chewing on what was said.

            When we discover that God’s best and deepest treasures require death to self, we often don’t pursue Him any further. We don’t ask the questions we need to ask to find out why His presence doesn’t come cheaply. Perhaps it’s because we think it is impertinent or we are simply afraid of His answer. Moses persisted. He had learned that it isn’t impertinent to pursue God for His own sake; it is God’s greatest desire and delight.

            This burning desire to see God’s glory, to see Him face to face, is one of the most important keys to revival, reformation, and the fulfillment of God’s purposes on the earth.

            When Moses told God, “Show me Your glory,” the Lord said, “You can’t, Moses. Only dead men can see My face.” It would have been easy for this man to have been satisfied with God’s first answer, but he wasn’t. Moses wasn’t selfish or presumptuous. He wasn’t seeking material things or personal fame. He wasn’t even seeking miracles or gifts. Moses simply wanted God, and that is the greatest gift and blessing we can ever give Him. Yet Moses had to pursue Him, and it didn’t come easy.

The part that got me was the very last which was my bold and italics.

I must go tonight. I think I’ll meditate on that for a while.

Thursday, 29 December 2005

 Wednesday, 28 December 2005

First day back at work wasn’t too bad. I’ll have lots to do after the first of the year. Year end report, W-2’s, sending out tax statements to members that contributed to the church. But I’ll worry about that after New Year’s.

 

Mom suggested going to see Chronicles of Narnia today so when I got off work we went to the early show. It was an awesome movie! It’s rare that I want to see a movie again but I do this one. If you haven’t seen it I highly recommend it especially if you are a Christian.

 

After the movie we came home and grabbed some lunch. My mother looks and me and says what next? I said “I don’t know. Whatever you want I guess”. She asked me where I got my hair done. She needed her bangs (not bags---fratmom---LOL!) trimmed. So took her to the hair saloon I go to. We didn’t have an appointment but we timed it just right and she was able to use my hair dresser. How cool is that?!

 

We came home and were here long enough to chill at little before church. It was really good. The teaching was awesome but I’ll spare you tonight. Afterwards we invited Omar, Keannon’s friend to come to the house for sausage and egg taquitoes. Everyone that knows me very well knows that Wednesday night is taquito night at my house. It’s easy and very filling. Doyle loves them. Omar brought some of his mom’s homemade chicken tamales. Hmmmmm good! They were fabulous!

 

Well, the hour is late and prayer is in the morning at 6:30am so better get to bed. Let me leave you with another excerpt from “The God Chasers” by Tommy Tenney.

 

            God is calling you to a new level of intimacy. If you dare to answer His call, the Lord will reveal a fresh part of His character. He will pull you so close that you will be breathing the very rarefied air of Heaven. The only way to the place David called “the secret place” is through the door of focused worship when you lay aside every distraction and focus your body, soul, and spirit upon God. When His presence becomes so strong that you are oblivious to everyone and everything else around you, then healing can come in an encounter with God from which you will never “recover.” Your heart will be as permanently disabled with love as Jacob’s leg was left with a limp!

 

Lord I do dare to answer Your call. I want to breath the very air of heaven. I want to be so focused on worship that nothing or no one can distract me from pouring my adoration on You. If it takes a limp to do that in me Lord….so be it, I say yes to You.

Today was another mild one. Got up and went to prayer this morning. Came home and read some more of “The God Chasers” book.  Gosh this is a good book and very challenging.

After I get home from work, Vanessa calls me to take her truck back to the body shop. They didn’t have a part they needed to fix it the last time it was there. So Mom followed me out to the body shop and then drove me back home. She went on to my SIL to visits her. She asked if I wanted to go but I really wanted to take a nap! And nap I did off and on most of the afternoon. It was beautiful outside (75) but I was cold in the house. I had on a button shirt, cotton hoodie and a blanket before I got warm. My blood sugar must have been low or I just didn’t have my blood circulating very good! I finally decide to get myself up as this isn’t very productive. I hate not being productive at least a little. I did manage to take all the decorations off the tree and take the tree down. I think I may try to take down the outside lights tomorrow.  Saturday is going to be full. One of our church members passed away Tuesday from liver cancer. Our church is preparing and serving the family dinner after the funeral Saturday morning. That is also the day of a crop at the scrapbook store. I won’t get much scrap booking done but maybe a little. Hopefully I can get my creative flow going and continue when I come home.

Well, I will leave you with this excerpt from “The God Chasers chapter 9 - Are You Waiting for the Whisper of God?” by Tommy Tenney.

            Have you ever wondered how certain people seem to have a certain attachment to God? For some reason, God just seems to be near them all the time. I can tell you that it isn’t because they preach so well, or because they are such stellar singers. No, they know how to dismantle their egos and glory. They lay it all aside just to worship at His feet in brokenness and humility. And it is for these precious few that God Himself will stop His ascent to Heaven just to whisper His secrets into their waiting hearts.

            Did you notice that God didn’t break Mary’s alabaster box? Mary had to break it. If you want to have that kind of encounter with God, then you will have to “break” yourself. The highest level of worship comes from brokenness, and there are no shortcuts or formulas to help you “reach the top” No one can do it for you; that is something only you can do. But if you do, God will stop just to spend time with you.

            The breaking of your heart arrests the ears and eyes of God, and it begins when your love for Him supersedes your fear of what others may think. You can’t seek His face and save your “face.”

 

Buttons (my mom's dog) and our long lost Joey. He's looking better than when we first brought him home and not hiding so much now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This looks like Mercy is saying "I said enough!!" Kaidence can be and is sometimes a real nuisance. She doesn't know when to quit!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kaidence seems to be saying "Look at me!" Vanessa and Keannon got her a new stuffed toy for Christmas. I know you can't tell here what it is but it's a horse! I told Vanessa I didn't think it was such a good idea for her to have a "horse" to "tear up" because that's what she does. Each hoof has a squeaker in it and another one in the middle of the horse. Can you see the stuffing coming out already? I've sewn it up about 3 times now! She usually grabs it by the middle and shakes it! It's funny to watch.

Goodnight all!

 

Tuesday, 27 December 2005

I was off work again today. It was nice. Back tomorrow though and a lot to do! Have the bulletin to get ready and the newsletter for January to get out. Plus three days of mail to go through.

Went riding today. Way too pretty not to. It was 80 degrees again today. Wind was blowing like crazy though so didn’t feel quite so hot. I’m trying to decide if I should put my turtle necks back in the other closet! It is dangerously dry. There were many grass fires today and many that got severe enough to burn several homes! We are in drought conditions. The weatherman last night said it hasn’t been this dry in our area since 1956! We are desperately praying for rain.

Mom helped me with ironing today so I could go ride. I got so upset because I had several things that needed ironing and had laundry to wash. I wanted to ride so bad and didn’t feel like I could go and leave all that behind. Mom said she couldn’t remember when she had ironed last. It is really my own fault it piled up. I hate it so bad I put it off until it takes me two or three hours to do. If I would just iron it as a load is dry I would be more in control. The riding was just what I needed though. Horse riding for me is very therapeutic. It didn’t solve any problems but it did make me feel better and helped me get a little better perspective on things.

After I get back, Mom and I go to town to check out the stores that have Christmas stuff on half price. Went to CVS and got some pretty nice wrapping paper, ribbon, tags etc. I wanted to buy outdoor Christmas decorations but not knowing where we may be next year it’s hard to know how to plan.

I read something today that really has me thinking. It’s from “The God Chasers” by Tommy Tenney. I’m sure ya’ll were wondering if I was still reading it since I had quit talking about it. I am. I set it aside for awhile but picked it up again.

Excerpt from “The God Chasers” by Tommy Tenney Chapter 8 The Purpose of His Presence.

            Time and again we ask one another, “Why can’t I win my friends to the Lord? Why is it that my family members just don’t seem interested in God?” The answer may shock you in its bluntness, but the truth often hurts. The reason people who know you, aren’t interested in your God may be because you don’t have enough of the presence of God in your life. There is something about God’s presence that makes everything else crumble in comparison. Without it, you will be just as pale and lifeless as everybody else around you. No matter what you do, without His presence, you will be “just another somebody” to those around you.

            I don’t know about you, but I am tired of just being “another somebody “ to the lost around me. I have made a decision. I made up my mind and set my heart to declare, “I am going to pursue the presence of God in my life. I am going to get so close to God that when I walk into secular and public places, people will meet Him.” They may not know that I’m there, but they will definitely know that He is there. I want to be so saturated with God’s presence that when I take a seat on a plane, then everyone near me will suddenly feel uncomfortable if they’re not right with God-even though I haven’t said a word. I’m not wanting to condemn or to convict them; I just want to carry the fragrance of my Father with me.

            If you are really hungry to see Daddy come on the scene, then you have to understand that you must stop seeking His benefits and quit asking for Him to do this and that.

            “Father, I confess that I want to see change in my life and in my church so I can bring about change in my city.

            Give me such a heart and passion after You that I may begin to see Your glory flow out of me to convict and save the lost. Release Your presence through me as You did through Charles Finney when he walked through factories and saw workers drop to their knees under Your glory and cried out for forgiveness although not one word had been spoken or preached. May the faintest shadow of Your presence in my lives heal the sick and restore the lame I meet in the streets.

            “Let Your presence so saturate me that unsaved guests can’t step into my house or be around me with unrepentant hearts. May Your glory bring conviction in their lives that leads to salvation – not because of the words I say, but because of Your presence and power in my heart.

(This prayer is not original but in Tommy’s book but it said what I wanted say so I  personalized it for me. I hope you do the same if the words I posted tonight touched your heart.)

Good night all!

Monday, 26 December 2005

One of my Christmas gifts from my husband was a new computer!! Woohoo!! It was getting to the point I was having to reboot mine several times because it would freeze up.  So I had to wait while my dear sweet husband set it up and got it running.

We had services at our church last night at 5pm so families could be together Christmas morning. We only had a worship service so we meet for an hour. Shortest service I’ve ever attended at Well of Life! Crowd was pretty thin but worship was good. Reminds my of the scripture “where two or three are gathered in My name”. That definitely holds true!

After church we come back home. Doyle finishes setting up my new computer! While he is doing that Mom, Vanessa and I are watching a local network movie with Valerie (great name) Bertinelli and Peter Faulk. It was a cute little movie. After it ended we watch “Hitch” It was hysterical. I really enjoyed it.

Wow! I don’t think I was a good as all the stuff I received! I was so blessed by my husband and daughter. I was overwhelmed! I not only got a new computer but new monitor and printer as well. Got the loading dock for my digital camera and rechargeable batteries with charger. Also got a carrying case for the camera. Got some new clothes. Vanessa gave me some new pajama pants and tank that have cute cartoon horses on them and flipflops to match! It’s a Paul Frank brand which is what they sell at the store. Of course I don’t look as cute in them as she does but that’s okay! I got a new card to put in my Compaq IPAQ which is a small hand held computer device for using like a daytimer. Doyle got me the additional memory so I can put the Bible on it! Is that cool or what!! I of course got some cool scrapbook stuff.

I’m off today and tomorrow. This afternoon it was 80 degrees. I went and washed my truck. It was in major need of a bath! Took Mother to some different addresses of potential rental property. She won’t be coming for a few months yet but she wanted to get some idea of what was available. We stopped at Dollar General and bought some wrapping paper that was half off and some name tags. Headed home. Vanessa wanted to go bowling tonight for something to do. We had a coupon for 1 hour of free bowling. Got in a couple of games. Went to pay for the shoes and because Vanessa used to work there, they didn’t charge us for the shoes either. That was kind of nice. We went to eat at Pulido’s Mexican Food. I think it was the only restaurant in town that was open other than fast food! We actually had to wait about 15 minutes for a table. That is highly unusual in our town.

Vanessa wanted to go to Walmart to use a gift card she got. She wanted to get Toy Story 2 that just came out and a CD. I checked out the Christmas stuff. I was very surprised to see that all the wrapping paper was already gone. Glad I got some at Dollar General. I did get a couple bags of bows, gift boxes and tissue paper. I also got Kaidence another Frisbee. The one she has is so chewed up it doesn’t fly right. I bought her one for Christmas from PetsMart but it’s made a little different and she doesn’t like it! I tried throwing the new one and she went after it but when she brought it back to me she stopped at the end of the porch, dropped the new Frisbee, jumped on the porch to retrieve the old Frisbee and brought it to me!! I couldn’t believe it! I think it has something to do with the shape of the Frisbee makes the new one hard for her to pickup with her teeth.

Here’s some pictures from Christmas day.

 

 

 

Vanessa modeling her new beanie and scarf!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Doyle's brother Doren. See the desk behind him. That's where I make my posts and comments on Xanga. That monitor is being replaced with a high-tech flat screen!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keannon looking at his new tool box, a gift from Doyle and I. While he and Vanessa were at her other families celebrating Christmas, Doren and Doyle installed it for him. The dog at the bottom of the photo is Buttons, Mother's new dog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mom and Buttons....Mom didn't like her hair. She had spent the night at my brothers and used her teen-age grandaughter's shampoo. She said her hair was so soft she couldn't do anything with it. She meant to curl the bangs but we got started before she got that accomplished.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I spent a long time playing frisbee with Kaidence. I guess I wore her out. She was even too tired to chew on her bone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Doyle reading the Christmas story out of Luke 2 before we begin unwrapping gifts. This tradition came from my Dad's side of the family and we have carried on the tradition.

Saturday, 19 November 2005

I had a great day yesterday. I once again got to do my two favorite things. Ride my horse and scrapbook! I didn’t get to the horses as soon as I wanted. As usual I was late leaving the office. Vanessa asked me to go to the back for her as she was at the store alone and couldn’t go. I also needed to go by the bank myself. Finally I get to the horses. They are at the back of the 36 acres. So I get a bucket of feed and go after them. Now my bunch that’s all it takes to get them to follow me and they all did. Not Zebe, Leslie’s horse. He decides to ignore me. I get the horses penned, grab a halter and go back to get Zebe. Leslie has made progress with him over the last three weeks. She kept him in a round pen to help get the weight off him and make it easier to catch him to ride. She was preparing him for the stock show she showed him in last weekend. Typically when I go to the horses in the pasture he would always run from me. Not this time. He actually came to me! Well I had to walk most of the way but the last 10 feet he walked to me. That is great progress! I finally get him to the pens and get my horse so I can tack up (put his saddle on). Leslie and I get our horses ready then it’s time to load up. 

I’ve had my horse for 10 years and for 10 years I have loaded and unloaded my horse in this trailer countless times. Well today he decides to act like he doesn’t know what a trailer is and he sure doesn’t want to get in it! OMG! I couldn’t believe it! It took me 15 minutes but I finally WON!! I don’t know what his deal was. Zebe who hasn’t been trailered all that much step right up in the trailer like it was “old hat”! Go figure!! 

I decided to take Leslie to the State Park we have in Mineral Wells.  She has never been. It has a really nice 8 mile loop equestrian trail. I haven’t been in over a year. When I was conditioning my horse for long distance riding I went out there 2 or three times a week. I knew that place like the back of my hand! Well, the Park personnel have been working on maintaining the trails and had changed things some since I was there. It was still a great ride though. I debated on whether or not to buy a disposable camera or just use one of my 35MM. I decided to take one of my 35’s and carry it in a fanny pack for better protection. So it was a choice between my old manually operated 35 or my automatic. I figured my automatic on horse back would be easier. When we get to the park I grab my camera and go to put film in it when I realized it already had film in it and the battery was dead! UGH! So we ride without pics. Too bad because there lots of great pictures to take. We saw lots of deer. One deer spooked my horse and nearly threw me off. I managed to stay on but at the cost of my falling forward and Blue throwing back his head hitting me on the check bone. OUCH!! I’ve decided his head is harder than mine! I have a bruise to prove it. I thought I would have a black eye but I don’t as of yet. May later though! 

We get through right about dark. I take Leslie and the horses back home and drop off the trailer and head back to town. I stop off at the house long enough to let the dogs out and grab my scrapbook supplies and head to the scrapbook store. I was a little late but not much.  I had a great ride but I was tired. I had a hard time switching gears to get started scrapbooking. I finally was able to get about 4 pages done. And just about the time I was getting warmed up it was time to quit! 

I stayed and help Cat clean up and take out the trash. I get home about 12:30AM. I go back to the bedroom and turn on the light to discover my husband in bed! I was surprised because he had gone to work that morning at the fire station and shouldn’t have been home until 7AM this morning! I presumed he came home sick but he was asleep so didn’t disturb. 

This morning I had to go back to the horses to meet the farrier. I left at 8:30AM. It takes about 15 minutes to get to them. The farrier wasn’t supposed to be there until 9am. When I get there he’s already there. Bless Leslie’s heart, she got the horses up for me! She is such a doll! I stayed a little while but needed to come home so made out the check and left. I had a baby shower at the church at 2pm and have to work at Drive Safe tonight. Full day. Gee I was hoping to kick back and relax a little. Maybe next week after Thanksgiving Day! 

Thursday, 17 November 2005

Today after work I spent an hour running errands. I had to go to the bank for the church and another bank for a ministry we support who has their contributions sent to our address. Then I went to drop off my film to be developed. Cat at the scrapbook store had 

ordered me two 12x12 art bins so stopped by to pick them up. I got introduced to these by a friend of mine who ran across these at a scrap book store in Fort Worth and she loves them. They are plastic storage containers that are flat and stackable. I love to use them for storing my scrapbook pages and/or paper. You can put a layout project in one.  Anyway Cat didn’t carry them and I asked her about them. She ordered them and others have began to buy them. As soon as they come in she sells them all. Now when I want one I have to ask her to hold it for me! I think that is so cool that something I suggested is such a hot item! She’s also had pretty good success with the Scrap Artistry photo albums that I showed her.

I am going to a crop at her store tomorrow night. Vanessa is going to join me when she gets off work. (I think I have her hooked!) I so enjoy scrapbooking with her. It’s about the only thing we get to do together anymore.

Doyle got a 20% off coupon to the VF Factory Outlet store that was good starting today and ends Saturday. The next couple of days are going to be so busy for me I decided to go today. I bought two pairs of jeans and two shirts for $58.89! I was excited. Would have liked to buy more but really want to wait until I lose some weight.

I went by and picked up my pictures. I’m disappointed in some of them. I was using a disposable camera and I guess I didn’t turn on the flash for some of the pics. I’ll retake them with my 35MM camera. The ones I took at the banquet turned out alright and here they are.

 

 

 

 

See I have on makeup and am even wearing mascara! (Guys have it so easy!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Not the most flattering picture I've ever taken. My husband though is adorable!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you suppose I could ever deny this child?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keannon, me, Doyle and Vanessa

 

 

 

 

  

Aren't they cute??!!!

Well this post is long enough.  

I plan to ride tomorrow and then go crop so I may not post tomorrow.

 

Goodnight!

Tuesday, 15 November 2005

I will be so glad when I live in the same place as my horses! I haven’t been able to ride in over 2 weeks! I’m having major withdrawals. The weather is good (except for today) Hopefully I can go in the next few days. I miss my “Blue Man”. I did take time to give them all treats and give Blue is “head rub” Saturday after the stock show. He loves me to scratch his head and around his ears. He gets carried away though and tries to help me and then just starts rubbing himself on me like I was a tree but even having 30 extra pounds I am no match for his 1,000 lbs! I just so love his personality! He’s not like the other two. Oh, they like treats alright but they don’t care if I love and rub on them or not! I hope if I get another horse in my lifetime that I can find one with the same or similar personality that he has.

It was payday so did the “Walley World” run for groceries and household. I didn’t get so worn out this time. I think it’s stress that wears me out and not the time on my feet. I wasn’t stressed today. Just took my time. It was one of my more enjoyable trips I’ve made. I think because I wasn’t pressed for time. That makes a lot of difference.

A major cold front came through about 6:30AM bringing winds of 20-30 MPH. It was very blustery all day and then because we got no rain AGAIN the dust was a flying!!! I’m surprised but whatever was bothering my sinuses must have blown out of here because I feel much better today! Guess it wasn’t dust!

Excerpt from “The God Chasers” by Tommy Tenney

It is “death” through repentance and brokenness that ushers in the presence of God and causes you to draw near to the Lord and yet live. God is drawn to repentance

            Fire doesn’t fall on empty altars. There has to be a sacrifice on the altar for the fire to fall. If you want the fire of God, you must become the fuel of God.

            If you are hungry for the fire to fall in your church, then you need to just crawl up on the altar and say, “God, whatever it takes. I lay myself on the altar and ask You to consume me with Your fire, Lord.”

 

You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11 NKJV

A Fragrant Offering by Rita Springer

I bring to You a fragrant offering

I pour out my love and I wash Your feet

I offer up to You, O Lord this brokenness

What You can see in me shall be my confidence

 

May it be a pleasing fragrance

That I bring to You, oh my Lord

I am so in need of Your presence

That I bow before You now.

I pour my vial of worship over You

I pour my vial of worship over You

 

I give to You a humble sacrifice

I pour out my heart and I give You my life

I offer up to You oh Lord this costly gift

With absolute abandon my love I confess 

Monday, 14 November 2005

Excerpt from “The God Chasers” by Tommy Tenney

Don’t resist the Holy Spirit when the hand of God tries to mold your heart. The Potter of your soul is simply trying to “soften” you. He wants to bring you to such a place of tenderness that it doesn’t take a hurricane-force wind from Heaven for you to even know that He is resent. He wants you to be so tender that the gentlest breeze from Heaven, the smallest zephyr from His presence, will set your heart a-dancing, and you’ll say, “It’s Him!”

I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the Lord came to me: O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in My hand” Jeremiah 18:3-6 NIV

Have Thine own way Lord, have Thine own way

Thou art the Potter, I am the clay

Mold me and make me after Thy will

Will I am waiting yielded and still

 

Sunday, 13 November 2005

Sunday, which means in my household that we meet with our fellow church family to worship. Services were good. They usually are. Ever so often we have exceptional services. I long for the day when exceptional is more the “norm”. When people begin to be convicted and walk into our services asking what they need to do to get right with God. I long for the day when that happens in the market place. In the grocery store, at the gas station, Walmart! Wow! It’s awesome just to think about. Lord, I just want to be ready. Prepare my heart.

Made lunch. Grilled steak, baked potatoes, asparagus and brown & serve rolls. Was out of salad fixings and didn’t want to make another trip to the store. After lunch spent a little time choosing songs for our family cell group meeting tonight then laid down for a nap.

We had a good turnout for our meeting (14 people in all) and two of our regulars didn’t show up. We are in need of multiplying. One couple in our group has voiced their interest in leading a group so after the first of the year things will change. We are excited about  this.

Excerpt from “The God Chasers” by Tommy Tenney

The greatest blessing doesn’t come from God’s hand; it comes from His face in intimate relationship. When you finally see Him and know Him, you have come to the source of all power.

Your flesh holds you back from the glory of God, so you are most likely locked in an unending wrestling match between flesh and the spirit as you read these words. It is time for you to just go ahead and tell Him, “Lord, I want to see Your glory.” The God of Moses is willing to reveal Himself to you but it’s not going to be a cheap blessing. You will have to lay down and dies. He can only come close to you to the degree you are willing to die.

          You need to forget who’s around you and abandon the “normal protocol.” He’s looking for people who are hot after His heart.

          Breakthroughs only come to broken people who are not pursuing their own ambition, but who are after the purposes of God. We need to weep over our city just as Jesus wept over Jerusalem.

No, Daddy, I don’t just want the blessings; I want You. I want You to come close. I want You to touch my eyes, touch my heart, touch my ears, and change me, Lord. I’m tired of me the way I am, because if I can change, then the cities can change too.” (This prayer was in The God Chaser” but it says just want is in my heart to say to Father God.)

Saturday, 12 November 2005

Something is in the air and it has my sinuses all messed up! My face hurts, I’m sneezing, my eyes hurt. My nose runs then is stuffy and of course that wonderful stuff called PND (post nasal drip) better known as drainage down the back of your throat. Now have I thoroughly disgusted you?! I said all that just to tell you I feel yucky!!

I started to feel it Thursday night after the banquet but by Friday morning what ever it is had hit me! I came home from work and laid down. I had to work Friday night because I was supposed to work Thursday and switched for the banquet.

This morning I promised a friend of mine to haul her horse to the county stock-show as they don’t have a trailer yet. The horse had to be there by 8AM so I had to leave the house at 7AM. These people are the ones who have the property where my horses are which is 14 miles away. My friend’s daughter, Leslie, was showing several animals, rabbits, goats and the horse. The rabbits were first. She had to be there with them at 6:30AM so I told them I would take care of the horse. I spent the biggest part of the day there. Leslie does best with her rabbits which is her strong suit anyway.

Thursday, 10 November 2005

Hey All! Just got back from the banquet. Hope to have some pics for you in a day or two (down side to not having a digital camera). It was a great evening and I survived being "dressed up" Lots of people commented I looked really nice.

Vanessa and Keannon rode over with us. We had to wait for Keannon to get out of class. He's been in training for a couple of days. We had hoped to leave here no later than 5pm. The dinner started at 7pm and it takes almost 2 hours to get there if there's any traffic. We didn't leave until 5:30pm! We were pushing it to say the least. We managed to get there just as they were starting. (Whew!)

Well, it's late. I need to close.

Wednesday, 09 November 2005

 Thanks for everyone’s prayers. God came through for me as always. I didn’t feel like it was all that good but I did have one person tell me the worship was good. I know it’s not about “how good” I do. I just want to get to the point that it’s not such a struggle or “big deal” every time I lead. I don’t like that part. I always stress. I know I’m not supposed too but I can’t seem to relax and just “be”.

I stayed up too late last night trying to get the ironing done. I just hate ironing.  I should stay on top of it but I always put it off until it takes me two or three hours to do! Cotton might be nice to wear but it’s a pain in the butt to make look nice!!

So needless to say I was tired today. I came home and tried to read my Bible as I overslept this morning and didn’t get it done. I almost fell asleep reading so I finally put it down and kicked back for about an hour. That seemed to help. I then spent some time going through our song book trying to decided what songs to do this evening. God’s plan or my plan, at least I had a plan!

Walked for 2.5 miles. The front had moved through so the wind was out of the north and cooled off our mid 80’s temps. Winter isn’t far away as I heard, then saw a flock of geese flying south. They were beautiful even though I couldn’t see them real good. I guess it was late enough in the day they were looking for someplace to spend the night as they were a bit disorganized. Not their usual “V” formation.

So much for my exciting life…

Excerpt from “The Pursuit of God” by A.W. Tozer (recommended by Tommy Tenney and many others)

The stiff and wooden quality about our religious lives is a result of our lack of holy desire. Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth. Acute desire must be present or there will be no manifestation of Christ to His people. He waits to be wanted.

We must first determine to find Him, and then proceed in the way of simplicity. We must simplify our approach to Him. We must strip down to essentials (and they will be blessedly few). We must put away all effort to impress and come with the guileless candor of childhood. If we do this, without doubt God will quickly respond.

I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3-4 NIV

Tuesday, 08 November 2005

Would you guys pray for me? I really need to hear God about what He wants to do during worship tomorrow. I had hoped to “get away” for a little while this evening but that didn’t happen. Tomorrow afternoon is my last chance and that window is short as I have someone coming tomorrow afternoon around 4pm to help me learn QuickBooks. That will probably take a couple of hours not leaving much time between that and church at 7pm.

I went walking this evening after getting home from shopping. I was asking God what He wanted to do during worship tomorrow. I just started talking to Him about my heart being hard and needing Him to change my attitude and my heart.  I think right now I’m too focused on me and not enough on Him. I don’t want to be but that’s just where I am right now. I can’t seem to do anything about it. I was questioning whether I wanted God to tell me what He wanted to do in worship because I don’t want to look bad or did I really want to be His vessel to use so the people could enter the Holy Place. I think it’s the latter I want but my heart is so deceitful. He alone knows my true motives. I am asking Him to reveal any wrong motives, anything that is keeping me from hearing Him and being sensitive to His leading.

Oh, God how I need You! How I want You! I want to desire You more than food, more than land, more than a healthy healed relationship with Doyle. Cause my eyes to see You alone.

There is none like You, O Lord (You are great and Your name is great in might); Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For this is Your rightful due. For among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You. Jeremiah 10:6-7

But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King.  Jeremiah 10:10a

Monday, 07 November 2005

Our internet problem was the modem. We got it changed out so we are up and running again. I was amazed how “hooked” I am on it! I thought being without it for a day and a half was “forever”!

I talked to Dad today. He sounded really good. He’s glad to be home. Right now his “bathroom trips” or as he likes to call it “his porcelain visits” are rather frequent right now but I think that will change as he is able to eat more and exercise more. He still says with the frequency it’s still better than “the bag”.

I got my little over 5 mile bike ride in today. I want to try to up my exercise by riding my bike and walking. But that does consume a lot of time. It’s hard for me to carve out 2hours for that but then I guess we do what is most important to us. Guess I need to make it a priority. I still struggle with having enough hours in the day to accomplish all I want too. Guess I have too many things I want to do.

Vanessa and I are going shopping tomorrow for outfits to wear to the MJBI Banquet. You may remember me talking about it a few posts back. It is this Thursday and I’m quickly running out of time! I did try on the outfit I wore last year and could wear it again though it fits more snuggly than it did. I just hate dressing up!!! My idea of dress up is a nice pair of colored Rockie Mountain Jeans, with a nice crisply starched western shirt and of course boots! What am I going to do when my daughter gets married?!!! (Which hopefully won’t be very soon) I’ll have to dress up for that too! Guess I can sacrifice for her! Maybe I can talk her into a western themed wedding (NOT!!) She is set on the traditional wedding….I guess I better be saving some money!

I lead worship this Wednesday and I don’t have a clue what God wants to do. It would be nice if I could just get away for a few hours to be still before Him. Once again my life is full of other things! Things, things and more things! UGH!! I so want to WANT HIM more than things or stuff! At times I think I do….but how quickly my eyes get diverted.

Excerpt from Daily Meditation & Personal Journal companion to “God Chasers” by Tommy Tenney.

Retire from the world each day to some private spot, even if it be only the bedroom. Stay in the secret place till the surrounding noises begin to fade out of your heart and a sense of God’s presence envelopes you. Deliberately tune out the unpleasant sounds and come out of your closet determined not to hear them. Listen for the inward Voice till you learn to recognize it. (A.W. Tozer, Worship and Entertainment)

(My comments)

The words of a worship chorus so speak what I feel right now and want to happen.

Jesus draw me close

Closer Lord to You

Let the World around me fade away

Jesus draw me close

Closer Lord to You

For I desire to worship and obey.

Oh, Father. There are times like now that it feels as though the world is running my life. Instead of “me in the world”, it’s the “world in me.” I’ve missed You Daddy. I want to be with You. I love You. I want to hear Your voice.

“Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews 4:7b

P.S. Everyone needs to exercise their freedom to vote by voting tomorrow. In our state we are voting on “defining marriage as a union only between one man and one woman” That’s not the only issue but the biggest! May God have His way in our great state!

Sunday, 06 November 2005

 Hi All!

This will be short and sweet. Our internet service is down at home. Doyle thinks its the modem we use for cable. Anyway, I'm at the church office using this computer. I know my mother will be checking in the morning. We had services tonight because we had a guest speaker. We went long (from 6pm until 9:30pm) so won't be on here long.

Wanted everyone to know my Dad surprisingly was dismissed from the hospital today and came home! I haven't talked to him yet. Learned that from my grandmother who I couldn't get off the phone with in time to call before church and now it's too late. Oh well, I don't mind. I don't talk to her on the phone that often.

Well, I got a call from my brother during worship tonight so need to get off and find out why he called. He doesn't "just call". Hopefully it's because Dad went home today.

Hopefully we can get a new modem tomorrow and have internet service.

Saturday, 05 November 2005

The weirdest thing happened yesterday. While I was standing in the doorway to Pastor’s office, his insurance agent and son walked in. When they walked in all of a sudden one of the plate glass windows at the front of our office  popped and shattered. Scared the fool out of me! No car drove by, no one walked by, there appeared to be no explanation for the glass shattering but it did.

While I was putting the finishing touches on the bulletin for Sunday I got a phone call from my other part time job. They were short handed and wanted to know if I could come in. I didn’t really want to but since they’ve cut my hours I thought “why not”. I went to lunch at North Oak Dairy Queen again with Doyle and Pastor Kirk. Pastor didn’t know we had been there the day before.  I left from there and went into work. I was there from 2pm until 5:30pm when my relief showed up. I came home and gathered up my scrapbook supplies to go to the crop at Cat’s store. My friend Kelly was there and Vanessa joined us after she got off work. I didn’t get all that many pages done. The first two pages went well but I hit a snag on the next two. I never did get those finished. I wanted to do some journaling with these two pages and I do better with that when I’m home. Still had a good time. Helped Cat clean up and take out trash then came home. It was after 1pm before I got to bed!

I got up at 8:30am and made myself get up. Wanted to spend a little time with God before my friend Jean came to get me this morning. We were to go pickup my cell member Sherri from the nursing home. She is the diabetic who has had so much trouble with her foot. She’s 57 years old! She was in the nursing home because she has no family here and none of us were able to care for her the way she needed care. She was released today to go home. OMG she accumulated a lot of stuff in 4 months time! We got her and her stuff into her apartment and then went to the grocery store for her.

Came home to get the saddle I sold to take to the Shipping Station to ship to the purchaser! Now I need to get the other one listed and see if I can get it sold. These two saddles were impetuous, unnecessary buys at the time I got them. I’m thinking that the proceeds I get for selling them I want to present to my husband to go toward a snow skiing trip. He loves to ski and we’ve not been able to go in several years because of our finances. He is always sacrificing for Vanessa and me and this is one small way I could show my appreciation. I’m not very good at planning trips like this. Doyle usually does that. He is so meticulous and thorough. I’m more like the “bull in the china closet”. Anyway, I’ve been debating whether to give him the money with a note at Christmas or if I should have someone help me go ahead and plan a trip. Either way I know I will surprise him. It’s been a really long time since I have actually surprised him with anything.

Excerpt from “God Chasers” by Tommy Tenney

My ministry requires me to travel quite often and when I come home to my family, I don’t get too excited when I am peppered with my children: “What did you bring me, Daddy? Did you get me anything?” I realize that is normal for little children, but what I really want, what I dream about almost every day I am away, is the moment my six-year old just crawls up in my lap and “loves” on me with no thoughts about what toy I’ve tucked into my suitcase. Father God wishes for the same thing.

We are too easily satisfied with things that are not quite what they ought to be. There is a greater purpose behind the meetings taking place around the world (and it isn’t just for us to get blessed). God wants to break open the heavens over our cities so the people who are without God will know that He is Lord and that He loves them. Now that is the true purpose of God’s visitation among men. We need to get our eyes off the toys and onto the purpose… God is not coming to people who merely seek His benefits. He’s coming to people who seek His face. If we seek His face, what we will get is His favor. God is looking for enough hungry people to receive His presence. It all begins with the prayer of the hungry: There’s got to be more…..

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?” Who has ever given to God that God should repay him? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:33-36 NIV

Thursday, 03 November 2005

I am so excited!!!! I sold my endurance saddle on Ebay!!! I set a reserve and got  $45 dollars over that! WOOHOO!!! Now I need to get the other saddle listed.

I had a full day. After I left the office I cam home and let the dogs out. I had planned to go to a dear friend’s house (Teresa). Her place is where my horses are staying until we find something. Well, Teresa sells makeup and I was in desperate need of some. She sells BeautiControl. In fact it was the makeup that caused my path to cross Teresa’s and looking back now it was Divine intervention. Teresa is the one who God brought into my life through the prayers of my mother. She disciplined and mentored me. She is the reason I am where I am in my walk with the Lord today. Anyway, our lives have changed and our circles of contact have changed and I don’t see her like I used to. Anyway, we set aside today to talk makeup and of course some other stuff. I got home in time to let the dogs out one more time then go to work.

I plan on cropping tomorrow night at Cat’s store…6pm to midnight. Vanessa is going to join me when she gets off work. So unless I manage to post tomorrow afternoon that may not happen until Saturday.

Gosh, I’m tired! I wasn’t thinking when I stayed up last night until 12:30am! It was Prayer this morning at church at 6:30AM! At least I didn’t fall asleep this time!

Well, need to get to bed. Busy day tomorrow too!

Excerpt from “God Chasers” by Tommy Tenney

We should be willing to work for the Lord, but it is a matter of grace on God’s part. I am of the opinion that we should not be concerned about working for God until we have learned the meaning and the delight of worshiping Him. A worshiper can work with eternal quality in his work. But a worker who does not worship is only piling up wood, hay and stubble for the time when God sets the world on fire.

(A.W. Tozer, Worship and Entertainment, 16)

Excerpt from "The Pursuit of God" by A.W. Tozer

God is a person, and in the deep of His mighty nature He thinks, wills, enjoys, feels, loves, desires, and suffers as any other person may. He communicates with us through the avenues of our minds, our wills and our emotions. The continuous and unembarrassed interchange of love and though between God and the sould of the redeemed man is the bhrobbing heart of New Textament religion.

Being made in His image we have within us the capacity to know Him. In our sins we lack only the power. The moment the Spirit has quickened us to life in regeneration our whole being senses its kinship to God and leaps in joyous recognition. For now begins the glorious pursuit, the hear's happy exploration of the infinite riches of the Godhead. That is where we begin. But where we stop no man has yet discovered, for there is in the awful and mysterious depths of the Triune God enither limit nor end.

...that I may know Him..... Philippians 3:10a

Wednesday, 02 November 2005

Hi Everyone. Sorry I didn’t post last night. It was our monthly church leadership meeting at our Pastor’s house and we didn’t get home until midnight.

Thanks to all of you who prayed for my Dad. Surgery went well. I talk to him today and he sounded really good. The doctor did have to make a regular incision instead of doing it laproscopically (sp?). We had hoped otherwise.

Let’s see what happened yesterday…hmmmm. Not much. I had intended to do the “wally world” run but talked myself right out of it. Went today instead. It just wears me out. I think I’m just overwhelmed by all the stuff to choose from and then having to find a place to put it once I get home!

Had lunch with Vanessa and Doyle today at our local “North Oak Dairy Queen”. It is locally owned though it is the Dairy Queen franchise. We always see someone in there we know. Unlike other Dairy Queens it has its own flavor by offering “Sweet Tea”. They have some other “in house” things they make but you can still tell it’s a Dairy Queen.

After lunch came home and made a list of what I needed. Checked “My Ebay”. I had been outbid on some items, won a couple and looked to see how my endurance saddle was fairing. The listing ends tomorrow. I’ve had a few bids but all under the reserve I set. I’ve had several emails asking me additional questions about it too. I have 23 “watching” it right now. My prayer is that God will let it sell for at least the reserve I have on it. I’d like to get more….if I was a “real woman of faith”, I’d be believing for more! I don’t know what I’m going to do if it doesn’t sell. Maybe wait a couple of weeks and try again.

I’m going to try to list my other saddle…the one with the horn tomorrow or Friday.

Worship tonight was good and so was the teaching. The person who led worship tonight also had the teaching. She called her teaching “Systems of Equations”. Sue is a former math teacher and related a math equation to our relationship with God. I won’t be able to do the teaching justice. I did take notes.

Here’s some of the notes I took.

There is a purpose and timing of God. God does certain things at certain times.

Psalm 127:1-2 Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep.

She said when we do things in the flesh that is what you do…rise early, stay up late and eat the bread of sorrows.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor – it is a gift of God.

She asked how many of us were enjoying our labor. Most of us said “no”. She went on to say “God doesn’t want us to be driven. God doesn’t want to drive us He wants to “tend” us. (I personally thought this was good!) She also said “God is steady, consistent, dependable…He doesn’t change.”

Malachi 3:6a For I am the Lord, O do not change; therefore you are not consumed.

Sue was using the analogy of the math grid the “y” axis and “X” axis and the point that they “intersect. If they don’t intersect then you have “parallel lines” which you don’t want because there is “no solution”. She did a great job of making the spiritual analogy.

She went on to say that there are five things that cause us to intersect God

1.      the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:12,13 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Psalm 73:27,28 For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry. But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works.

Psalm 145:18-19 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.

God always initiates. He’s the initiator.

Jeremiah 31:3 Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.

2.      Repentance

3.      Loving wisdom

Proverbs 2:4,5 If you seek her (wisdom) as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

4.      Knowing Him in the place of worship
 

5.      Trouble (causes us to intersect God.

Psalms 91:14-16 Because he (us) has set his (our) love upon Me (God), therefore I will deliver him (us); I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.

I think I butchered this teaching but maybe you can get some nuggets at least from the scriptures.

Blessings to each and everyone of you!

Monday, 31 October 2005

Cold front moved through this morning bringing us MUCH NEEDED RAIN! Thank you Lord! We are 12 inches behind for the year. It came through a little bumpy with high wind, thunder and lightening. Then it turned very cool.

Doyle and I went to lunch with the family before his Aunt’s funeral. It was just down the street from the office at Southside Church of Christ. I have told people we need to rename the street “Church Row” as there are four churches all different denominations within a mile of each other!

After lunch we headed to the cemetery where the graveside service would be held. I find most funerals to be sad….I hate to admit it but this funeral was boring! The minister who did the service was a relative and I think he is semi-retired. He said a lot without saying anything! That was sad! Most funerals I go to are very evangelistic or at least have cute stories and memories to share. That didn’t happen. He did mention heknew she had been “baptized” but no one knew when. He said “she was very private about personal matters such as these.” Since when is talking about your relationship with God “private”?! I left the service thankful it was over and sad that there was no more depth to it then that. Doyle gave me an option to not go but I felt like I should if he was going to take off from work to attend. It was cold today too! The wind was blowing 15-25 MPH out of the north and the high was mid 50’s! I’m so glad the service was held in a covered shelter with one solid wall and three other walls that were sliding/folding. We would have been chilled to the bone otherwise.

It was also sad as this shows how dysfunctional our family is. The only time I’ve met some of these people is at funerals! That’s a heck of a way to have family reunions! One of Doyle’s Aunts (his dad’s sister) I never met but went to her funeral and Doyle and I had been married 7 years when that happened! Oh, well, I know ours isn’t the only family like that. My side of the family gets together a little better than that but that doesn’t mean they aren’t dysfunctional. The truth is all families are dysfunctional…just some more than others!

Talked to Dad today. He was admitted to the hospital to prep him for his surgery tomorrow. Those of you who might not know or don’t remember, he had nearly his entire large intestine removed last part of July. He is going in to have his small intestine reattached to his rectum so that he can do away with the colostomy. Surgery is scheduled 7:30AM tomorrow. I’m very much at peace all will go well. I’m mostly praying that they will be able to do this procedure with small incisions instead of evasive surgery. He will recover faster. If you see this before then and even if its after to pray for him. I’d appreciate it.

Excerpt from “God Chasers” by Tommy Tenney

God is everywhere, but He doesn’t turn His face and His favor everywhere. That is why He tells us to seek His face. Ye, He is present with you every time you meet with other believers in a worship service, but how long has it been since your hunger caused you to crawl up in His lap, and like a child, to reach up and take the face of God to turn it toward you? Intimacy with Him! That is what God desires, and His face should be our highest focus.

I’m not there Lord, but I want to be! When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” Psalm 27:8 NKVJ

Sunday, 30 October 2005

Services at church today were not our usual. Which was really cool because in my time with the Lord this morning I was asking Him to not let things be “as usual”! We moved into a time of spiritual warfare with our worship. People came forward and gave testimonies or read scripture. One guy came forward who’s been visiting for several weeks now. He said he had been seeking the Lord but it seemed everyone else was getting something but him. That everyone else seemed to be way ahead of him. I could so relate to him. People came forward to pray for him and one of our leaders came and got me. ( I was on the platform with the worship team playing guitar) He said “you need to come down here and pray for him because you have been were he is”. I said “I still am”. So I went down. I was standing behind him praying for him when the pastor’s wife came down and moved me to the front of him saying “I believe God told me I was supposed to move you to the front of him.” Then Pastor Kirk handed me the microphone. I told him he was not alone that I felt the same way. Then before I realized it I began prophesying over him and praying for him. All during the worship service I was getting a couple of scriptures going through my head. Just bits and pieces. Being one who likes to know exactly where the scripture is and exactly what it says I began looking through my concordance to see if I could find it. The two phrases I was hearing was “the enemy melts like wax in His mighty presence” and “He was riding on a white horse and written on his thigh was King of Kings and Lord of Lords".

Once I found it I held on to it until there was a place I felt like in the service that I could share. The first phrase came from Psalms 68:1-4 NKJV

Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; let those also who hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice exceedingly. Sing to Go, sing praises to His name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds, by His name Yah, and rejoice before Him.

The other scripture was in Revelation 19:11-16 NKJV

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

It was a real neat time indeed. Thank You Lord for Your presence and stirring up Your people.

Tonight we had our annual Church hayride. We don’t hold fall festivals because several churches in town do that. It was fun. Had to use a grill to cook hotdogs as its so dry that there is a burn ban county wide. We’re 12 inches behind in rainfall for the year.

Found out yesterday that Doyle’s Aunt passed away (his mother’s sister-in-law). The family is holding graveside services tomorrow. Not what I had hoped to do tomorrow but guess I will anyway. The family isn’t very close and the only time we seem to see anyone is when there’s a funeral.

Excerpt from “God Chasers” and Daily Meditation & Personal Journal by Tommy Tenney

What you really need is Him. And the way to get Him is to get hungry. If we can get hungry, then He can make us holy. Then He can put the pieces of our broken lives back together. But our hunger is the key.

Good things have become the enemy of the best things. It’s time for you to make your life holy. Quit watching what you used to watch; quit reading what you used to read if you are reading it more than you read His Word. He must be your first and greatest hunger.

Lord, You aren’t always my first and greatest hunger. I ask that you do that in me. Cause me to desire You more than anything on this earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled. Matthew 5:16

Saturday, 29 October 2005

Hello Everyone!

I had a very full day yesterday. I was working at the church office until after 3PM yesterday! I usually only work until 12:30PM.  I was trying desperately to get the newsletter out. I like to have it out about a week before the first or at least several days but I still don’t have everything working smoothly since my computer crashed two weeks ago. And now the pastor wants to change the format. He had a lady in our church design a newsletter format with color pics. It’s on 11x17 but will fold to 8 ½ x 11 and then fold in half again for mailing. All I will input is the monthly stuff that changes. I’m not sure how all this is going to work. I figure I will have to design 4 different pages around the pre-made design and then cut and past or we will have to find a printer that can print 11 x 17. I don’t know. Guess I’ll just have to wait and see. I’ve had so much catching up to do getting all the date re-entered into my computer so that has taken a lot of my time.

After leaving the office and dropping the newsletters in the mail, I stopped by the fire station to see Doyle. The post office and fire station are a block apart. I was convicted by the Holy Spirit that I needed to apologize to him for my response to his idea. I told him it just took me off guard and all these questions were running through my head (the ones I expressed in my post). I told him that I realized he was only trying his best to provide for me what I desired. He said he knows that he can’t give me that on what he’s making right now or by working for anyone else. I told him I would give it another chance and would read the info when I had a little clearer head. He has definitely been doing his research and it certainly has potential to give us the money we need. I just need to pray and trust God He will look after me. Doyle looks after really good but he is still human and makes mistakes (like us all). I know I can trust God for my destiny and future.

I cropped last night (scrap booking). My Creative Memories consultant had a crop 6PM until midnight. She holds the crops in her home and she lives about 15 miles from me. Vanessa went with me. We really had a good time. I got 6 pages completed. It just took me like almost 3 hours to do the first two! It always takes me a while to get going but once the “creative juices” start flowing it’s hard to shut down and come home! I still need to do some journaling on the last two pages I did. I was gone nearly all day except for coming home around 2:30PM to let the dogs out since it had been since 8:45AM. Then let them out before we went to the crop. When Vanessa and I got home they were both bouncing off the walls! Spent about 30 to 45 minutes playing with them to work off all that pent up energy.

Vanessa was pretty tired. She had just come home after spending a couple of days in Dallas at market. Already buying stuff for summer! She is learning so much and enjoying her opportunity to be a store manager at age 20! The store she works for advertises on a radio station called “The Ranch”. They gave away four VIP tickets to the store to a concert at Fort Worth’s Sundance Square to hear Jack Ingram, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Deryl Dodd and Bonnie Bishop. Vanessa’s boss is out of town so she, Keannon and a couple of friends are going. She is really excited.

Well that’s enough. My I’m getting awfully “wordy” these days for someone who thought they didn’t have anything to say! LOL

Here’s a little excerpt from “God Chasers” by Tommy Tenney

God doesn’t really care about anything you can “do” for Him; He only cares about your answer to one question: “Do you want Me?”

How long has it been since you came to church and said, “We are going to wait on the Lord”? I think we are afraid to wait on Him because we’re afraid He won’t show up. I have a promise for you: “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31a). Do you want to now why we’ve lived in weakness as Christians and have not had all that God wanted for us? Do you want to know why we have lived beneath our privilege and have not had the strength to overcome our own carnality? Maybe it’s because we haven’t waited on Him to show up to empower us and we’re trying to do too much in the power of our own soulish realm. There is so much more. You can “catch God – ask Jacob (Genesis 32:22-32) –and it might ruin the way you’ve always walked! But you can catch Him.

Ya’ll have a great day!! 

Thursday, 27 October 2005

My friend and cell member (Kelly) worked at the Scrapbook store today. She called me to see if I would go pickup lunch for her. Gave me an excuse to go see her and go by the store! (Like I needed one!) Yep, I bought something. Since Vanessa started cropping again she was using my pages from my album to put her pages in so I bought her some until she can buy the album she wants. It’s the one by Scrap Artistry that is just dogs. It’s really cute but the albums are about $32. 

 ENDURANCE SADDLE

I spent the rest of the afternoon setting up to sell some saddles I have on Ebay. I finally got boxes big enough to put them in and took them to the shipping station to see how much they weigh. I had actually been working on this for several days. It’s much easier to be a buyer than seller in my book.  Anyway, I finally got one of two up on the web.

 

I chose to sell them on Ebay because I figured I had a better chance of getting what I want for them. One is an Endurance Saddle and the other is an Australian Stock Saddle. Both were used for long distance/endurance riding. I used to do that several years ago for a couple of years. I found this description and thought it said it better than I could.

An endurance ride can best be described as a cross-country competition of 50 or more miles. It is controlled by veterinarians who monitor the horses before, during and after the event. Several times during the "ride", there will be veterinarian check points. Pulse recovery is one very important factor used to determine the condition of the horses. The ride veterinarians will set and announce the pulse rate criterion before the start of the ride. DRUGS OF ANY KIND ARE PROHIBITED!! Veterinarians will remove horses from competition if they find they are not in optimum condition to continue. The first horse to cross the finish line, that has met the completion health criteria, is the winner.

The course for an endurance ride varies with the topography of the area. When laying out the course, the ride manager attempts to avoid obvious hazards such as deep bogs and sheer cliffs, but the endurance horse is expected to take in stride most natural obstacles.

Temperature, climate and footing will determine the speed at which the horses will travel. It is both personally challenging and rewarding to ride one's mount 50/100 miles and finish with a sound, willing horse. Much of the challenge of endurance starts with preparation up to a year or more before one's first ride. This athletic competition requires both horse and rider to be physically fit, have a good sense of pace and work as a team.

I started off with a few “long distance rides” first to get my feet wet which are 25 mile rides. I never did a 100-mile ride but I did do some 50’s. I think I must have been out of my mind!

Worked at Drive Safe tonight. Wasn’t much going on. When I got home Doyle brought me about 100 pages of paper he had printed out about a potential business opportunity. I didn’t handle it very well. He is looking for something else to do before he retires from the fire department which is fine but it was obvious to me he’s been thinking about this for a while and is just now discussing it with me! He wants to open a miniature golf, driving range, batting cages place (for lack of a word to call it.). If I were going to have a business it wouldn’t be that! If he does this it will require both of us to make it happen! I’m not particularly interested in spending ALL my time at this place! That is NOT how I see my future….and I don’t see horses in it at all! He’s thinking is it will generate more income to buy me the kind of place I want to have the horses on. Granted that is true but how long is it going to take in the mean time. We’ve had the horses 10 years now. Five years at this place, 5 years at that place. Where they are now isn’t ours. How long will it be before we’re asked to leave here?! Then what?! I’m not content to wait five more years for them a place! I know I shouldn’t have overreacted but I felt like he just sprung it on me. I would have done better if he had been talking to me about it instead of asking me to read a “manual”! Can you tell I am a “little upset”?! I know he’s really trying to give me what I want. I should be more appreciative. Again, Lord change my heart and my attitude…it stinketh!

Well to get a better perspective here’s an excerpt from “God Chaser’s” by Tommy Tenney.

That’s an interesting phrase, isn’t it? Catching Him. Really, it’s an impossible phrase. We can no more catch Him than the east can catch the west…It’s like playing chase with my daughter. When she comes and tries to catch me, I really don’t have to run, just artfully dodge this way and that and she can’t even touch me, because six year olds can’t catch an adult. But that’s not really the purpose of the game. In a few minutes she laughingly says “Oh, daddy,” and it’s at that moment that she captures my heart. I then turn and she’s no longer chasing me but I’m chasing her, and I catch her and we tumble in the grass with hugs and kisses. The pursuer becomes the pursued. So can we catch Him? Not really, but we can catch His heart. And if we catch His heart, then He turns and chases us. That’s the beauty of begin a God chaser. You’re chasing the impossible, knowing it’s possible.

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you says the Lord. Jeremiah 29:13,14 NKJV