I'm in!

I'm joining my sweet bloggy friend Susanne in the "Shrinking into Summer" challenge. Care to join us? The more the merrier!

UPDATE: 2-4-09: I lost 2.4 pounds since this post...not bad seeing as how I didn't really get on the wagon til Friday. Thank you, Lord...You are a very PRESENT help...

Let Me Hear...

I hear so many things throughout a day. If I hear nothing else, let me hear this.....

"Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning;

For I trust in You.

Teach me the way in which I should walk;

For to You I lift up my soul.

Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies;

I take refuge in You.

Psalm 143:8-9

"Lord my sorrow makes me deaf - let me hear.....Only God can take away from our weary ears the din of our care and charm them with the sweet notes of His love."

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Praying your listening.....

Minister's Wives Conference

Last weekend I had the absolute joy and blessing to attend Lifeway's Minister's Wives Conference led by Beth Moore. What made it even more special was being able to go with my dearest friend of nearly 28 years, Sarah. She and her husband David and me and my husband Mark, have been friends since college. Both of us married our men after graduation, knowing what we were getting ourselves into....life in the fishbowl....life in the ministry. We had no idea what lay ahead (thank you, Jesus!), but we loved our God and we loved our men. We have walked through the good, bad, and the ugly of ministry....and have found God faithful at every turn. Both of our husbands and us and going through great difficulty in ministry right now, so this conference was a much needed time of refreshment and renewal. We were not disappointed! Beth brought it as usual! She taught and admonished us from the book of Galatians...the topic? "When Misery Visits Ministry". Wow! How did she know? Only God! She helped us recognize 6 aggravations in ministry, then gave us 6 alternatives for them. I have listed them below...all Christians (since we are all made ministers by Christ) will be able to identify with these:

1. Aggravation:
Ministry by default. Life long misfit.

Alternative:
Chosen by God. Have holy fit.

2. Aggravation:
Seek Their Approval. Become Their Slave.

Alternative:
Seek God's Approval. Find Your Peace!

3. Aggravation:
Work With People. Expect Titanic Problems.

Alternative:
Choose to Trust. Not to Rust.

4. Aggravation:
Trade Your Bondage. Keep Your Chains.

Alternative:
Don't Ignore. Get Restored. Then Restore.

5. Aggravation:
Sow the Flesh. Reap the Dregs.

Alternative:
Sow the Spirit. Reap the Life.

6. Aggravation:
Lose What Counts. Watch Misery Mount.

Alternative:
Keep the King the Thing - JESUS!

Not only did God give us a word, but He gave us such a sweet time of fellowship with other minister's wives. I even got to meet some siesta's.....Georgia Jan, Amy W., and KristiB!

That is Amy on the left, then Jan, yours truly in red, and Kristi on the right. You would have thought we had been friends forever! Isn't it amazing what Jesus does? They were the sweetest things!

Keep the King the Thing!

Quotable Quotes

I love a word fitly spoken...or written. I like to collect quotes. I have them written all over every Bible I own ....well, not every Bible, just the ones I use in my study, because that's usually when I find great quotes. I especially love the ones that have reference to God's Word. Here are a few of my favorites........

"The Scriptures are in print what Christ is in person."

A.W. Tozer

"The Scriptures are the swaddling bands of the holy child Jesus; unroll them and you find your Savior."

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

"You don't have to out shout him or out muscle him to be free of his influence. You just have to "out truth" him. Believe, declare, and act upon the truth of God's Word and you will thrwart Satan's strategy."

Neil Anderson

"All the reverence we owe to God must be paid to His Word."

John Calvin

"This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My word."

God

(through Isaiah the prophet)

Would you share one of your favorite quotes with me? I would love to add to my collection!

Enjoy Him today!

Funny Friday

A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing...Proverbs 17:22 (Amplified)

Showin' the love....

I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Exodus 20:4-6

The beginning of our family's next generation that God is graciously showing His love to...

Brandon Andrew "Andy" Powell, Jr.

Born August 22, 2008

With the birth of this little guy, 3 generations on my side of the family know and love the Lord, 4 on my husband's side. Praise His faithful name! What about you? What is your godly heritage? I'd love to know.....let's give Him some glory!