Monday, August 9, 2010

The Eve of the First!

Addisyn turns one tomorrow...wow!!

(I haven't posted on here in forever, but I figured this was blog worthy.)

I must admit i've been pretty emotional about her turning one. She isn't a baby anymore. I can't turn back time. People told me to cherish even the times I was up with her in the middle of the night because they wouldn't last forever... they were right. She's such a sweet little girl and I tear up at even the thought of how much she means to me and Eric. I would do, be, give, sacrifice anything for her. She's my precious little "Ad". She's doing so much and growing like a weed! Everyday I laugh at the new things she does and the words she has started to say.

Today when I went up to get her out of her crib after nap she threw her hands up in the air and said "YAY" when she saw me!!! It was like "It's about time, I've been waiting for you. I've got a lot of playing to do!" HAHA!

She keeps me busy, but it's so much fun!

Happy Birthday, Addisyn Faith! Your daddy and I love you more than you will ever know...



Friday, April 30, 2010

So Long Insecurity...Part 1=)

I've started reading Beth Moore's book "So Long Insecurity" and it is amazing! I'm only a couple chapters in, but Beth wastes no time in "telling it like it is." I have a feeling that this is going to be the first of many posts that develop from this book.

First of all, let me say that I am EXTREMELY PASSIONATE about seeing a generation of STRONG, SECURE women raised up!! Nothing gets me more "fired up" then to see a young woman so wrapped up in her insecurities that she is either 1) On the fast track to nowhere or 2) On the fast track to the wrong place.

Now I know that I have been very blessed in my life... I was raised by amazing Christian parents who constantly built security in me. They told me all the time that I was beautiful...that I was valuable...that I was worth something...and that I could do anything I put my mind to. The sky was the limit! I believed them.

The foundation was built from birth, thanks to my Mom and Dad, that allowed my security to be built upon the Rock. Yes, of course I had my moments in high school where I was covered in zits and wearing braces and that didn't feel too sure of myself... but we're talking foundations here.

I didn't chronically date, but I wasn't single long either;) I married my best friend shortly after my 21st birthday. We moved into a beautiful home and now we have a perfect daughter who is almost 9 months old. Some may say that I have had it easy and it's no wonder why I don't battle insecurity like some women do. And I agree...I have had it easy. But that's not the point! The point is Jesus has loved me and saved me and allowed me to lay everything at His feet so that I can build my everything on Him!

Back to Beth Moore... Here is an amazing quote from her book that expresses my feelings perfectly:

"How could I need anything else in this world beyond what I already have? Lord, have mercy. What more could a woman want? As a matter of fact, I'd like to tell you exactly what more this woman could want- and not just for herself. I want some soul-deep security drawn from a source that never runs dry and never disparages us for requiring it. We need a place we can go when as much as we loathe it, we are needy and hysterical. I don't know about you, but I need someone who will love me when I hate myself. And yes, someone who will love me again and again until I kiss terrestrial sod good-bye."

That's what I want too, Beth!

We can always go deeper... He always wants to take us higher...

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

HE NEVER LETS GO!

"Stuff" happens when you are living life on this earth... this song has really been encouraging me today!

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back
I know You are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Chorus:
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We’ll live to know You here on the earth

Chorus:

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

Chorus: (2x’s)


-Matt Redman "You Never Let Go"

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

God and Grass

Since we moved into our new house in August of 2008, we (scratch that) Eric has been working very hard to get some "weedless grass" growing in our yard. There wasn't much yard at all when we moved in and so he has seeded multiple times with multiple types of seed and done other stuff (I don't know what). Overall, there has been little success... I must say too that this has been the issue of many arguments because he has spent A LOT of time and money on various grass projects.

I happen to really, really not care about the grass as long as it as cut and green!! I was overjoyed when some weeds started to grow in our yard, because I don't care if it is cut grass or cut weeds as long as it is cut and green in the summer! I have argued with Eric so many times about the waste of money that it is to try and have a golf course-like yard, but I continue to surrender the battles and just write it off as "a guy thing." (Seriously, grass has been my whole "submissive wife" test!)

The most recent development was that Eric hired a guy to come out and spray a "pre-emergent" (spelling?) on our yard which would basically kill everything that wasn't grass (a.k.a. everything). This way he could start from scratch (again) and re-seed once the weeds were dead. I was not happy!! First of all, this all sounds expensive....Second, we're going into Spring and all the lawns in our neighborhood are starting to green up again. I DON'T WANT TO BE THE ONLY BROWN YARD! I DON'T CARE IF IT IS JUST WEEDS!

I caved.... Because the Bible tells wives to submit to their husbands....

(This is going somewhere...)

Recently I have realized that while I didn't see the bigger picture at the time, Eric was right and I think this is going to work! Yes our yard is entirely brown, but there is fresh growth of real grass peeking through everywhere!!



(And this is where it goes somewhere...)

Over the past few days, God has used my yard as a picture of how He wants to work in our lives. Just like I have been willing to settle for weeds in my yard, so many times we are willing to settle in our lives. We settle for second best... settle for partial healing/deliverance... settle for kind of holy and almost righteous... Why? Because we still want to fit in...we don't want to seem weird...we don't want to be the one yard with brown grass when everyone else's is turning green.

God wants so much more for us if we will just die to ourselves 100%! He wants us to be extreme and be willing to kill off everything that is of us in order to allow Him to bring His growth. The best part? God is not going to leave us with dead yards...He makes all things new!

My prayer is for God to kill my yard even more! I don't want to settle for a green yard of weeds... I want real grass:)

And if my husband reads this.... you were right. I was wrong;)

He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." Revelation 21:5

Friday, April 9, 2010

Contending for the title of "Superwoman"

This weekend I am keeping my 5 month old niece, Julia, while my bro-in-law and sis-in-law are out of town. I picked up Julia (also know as Jules, Ju-Ju and Ju-wa) this morning (Fri) and I will be passing her off to her other Aunt on Monday. So far it's going really well! Julia and Addi are both happy babies, so I am hoping for the best! The little cousins are so cute together=) I will update later...



Monday, March 22, 2010

Biblical Confessions

To those of you who think it's funny that I haven't blogged in a few weeks and then now I have blogged twice in 24 hours: yup, thats just how I roll sometimes.

This morning I was reading my Bible and searching the internet for some good verses and Biblical Confession sheets. I have been asked to share with the 5th and 6th grade girls at our church this upcoming week about "What I know now that I wish I knew at your age, or that I learned at your age." I have been thinking/praying about this for a few weeks now and feel like I want to talk to the girls about security and Spiritual identity. I believe that one of the most important things that girls need to grasp at an early age is the concept of who they are in Jesus: strong, beautiful, smart, secure, powerful, overcomers, worth something!!! Throughout their lives, they will be continually bombarded with people who try to tell them that they are less than who God says they are and they must know how to fight back! When I was young and then through college, I had a number of Biblical Confession sheets that I was supposed to look in the mirror and say! Things like: "I AM MORE THAN A CONQUERER IN CHRIST JESUS" or "JESUS SEES ME AS HOLY AND BEAUTIFUL!"

Well after "googling" confession sheets I found one that had been put up by Joyce Meyer and I love it! I think it's great to know that we are not alone in some of our trivial thoughts as women. I mean, one of Joyce Meyer's confession's is "I have a beautiful wedding ring." Anyways, hope you enjoy as much as I did...

List of Confessions by Joyce Meyer

I love all people, and I am loved by all people.

I prosper in everything I put my hand to. I have prosperity in all areas of my life – spiritually, financially, mentally, and socially.

All my children have lots of Christian friends, and God has set aside a Christian wife or husband for each of them.

All my household are blessed in their deeds: we’re blessed when we come in and when we go out.

I take good care of my body. I eat right, I look good, I feel good, and I weigh what God wants me to weigh.

I operate in all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are tongues and interpretation of tongues, the working of miracles, discerning of spirits, the word of faith, the word of knowledge, the word of wisdom, healings, and prophecy.

I know God’s voice, and I always obey what He tells me.

The love of God has been shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost.

I do all my work excellently and with great prudence – making the most of all of my time.

I am creative because the Holy Spirit lives in me.

I love to pray. I love to praise and worship God.

I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. I will speak forth the righteousness of God all the day long.

I have humbled myself, and God has exalted me.

I am a giver. It is more blessed to give than to receive. I love to give! I have plenty of money to give away all the time.

I cast all my care on the Lord for He cares for me.

I don’t give the devil a foothold in my life. I resist the devil, and he has to flee from me.

I don’t have a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.

I am not afraid of the faces of man. I am not afraid of the anger of man.

I am a new creature in Christ: old things have passed away, behold, all things are new.

I have died and have been raised with Christ and am now seated in heavenly places.

I am dead to sin and alive unto righteousness.

I am a doer of the Word. I meditate on the Word all the day long.

I am not passive about anything, but I deal with all things in my life immediately.

I do not judge my sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus after the flesh. I am a spiritual man and am judged by no one.

I take every thought captive unto the obedience of Jesus Christ, casting down every imagination, and every high and lofty thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.

I am a responsible person. I enjoy responsibility, and I rise to every responsibility in Jesus.

I have been set free. I am free to love, to worship, to trust with no fear of rejection or of being hurt.

I have compassion and understanding for all people.

I catch the devil in all of his deceitful lies. I cast them down and choose rather to believe the Word of God.

I am Anointed by God for ministry. Alleluia!

Work is good. I enjoy work. Glory!

I have a teachable spirit.

I do not think more highly of myself than I ought to in the flesh.

Pain cannot successfully come against my body because Jesus bore all my pain.

I am a teacher of the Word.

I lay hands on the sick, and they recover.

I do what I say I will do, and I get where I am going on time.

I don’t hurry and rush; I do one thing at a time.

God opens my mouth, and no man can shut it. God shuts my mouth, and no man can open it.

The law of kindness is in my tongue. Gentleness is in my touch. Mercy and compassion is in my hearing.

As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he; therefore, all of my thoughts are positive.

I do not allow the devil to use my spirit as a garbage dump by meditating on negative things that he offers me.

I am a believer not a doubter.

No weapon that is formed against me shall prosper, but every tongue that rises against me in judgement, I shall show to be in the wrong.

I am slow to speak, quick to hear, and slow to anger.

I cast out devils and demons; nothing deadly can hurt me.

I never bind a sister or brother with the words of my mouth.

I am always a positive encouragement. I edify and build up; I never tear down or destroy.

I will cry to God most high Who performs on my behalf and rewards me.

My son (name) has a sweet personality, and he is not rebellious.

I don’t speak negative things.

My children love to pray and study the Word. They openly and boldly praise God.

My children make right choices according to the Word of God.

I am an obedient wife, and no rebellion operates in me.

My husband is wise. He is the king and priest of our home. He makes Godly decisions.

I use my time wisely. All of my prayer and study time is wisely spent.

I walk in the spirit all of the time.

My car is paid for.

I am rich – very rich.

I love to bless people and spread the Gospel.

I am an intercessor.

I receive speaking engagements in person, by phone, and/or by mail every day.

My daughter (name) operates in Godly wisdom and discipline, and she is full of energy.

I have a finished basement.

I have a beautiful wedding ring.

We have all the new furniture we need. We have a new car.

I never get tired or grow weary when I study the Word, pray, minister, or praise God; but I am alert and full of energy. And as I study, I become more alert and more energized.

I will to study the Word of God. I will to pray.

My husband can see perfectly. By the stripes of Jesus, he is healed.

I do not hate or walk in unforgiveness.

I do not fear. I am not guilty.