Today, as I was listening to the Dave Ramsey show I got to thinking about obedience. I cannot even tell you how beneficial it is to live life in obedience according to how God has asked us to live. Obedience comes in many forms, it just depends on each person and their purpose according to Gods instructions.
But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience). James 1: 25 (From the Amplifed Bible)
It puts a smile on my face when I realize that because of my obedience, God blesses me in different ways. For example, being obedient in sticking to my budget, I was able to pay off my student loans last month. Then today, I was able to pay my car tags in full without worrying if I had to save up for the payment.
I fall a lot, but then I pick myself up and get back on the budget. I know that if I stick to it long enough, the times that I do fall it won't hurt as much and I won't have to spend as much time trying to fix the mess when I did fall.
The other way I can be obedient is in my diet. You probably read in my last post about my health issues regarding allergies to certain foods. Well, this month I am going to concentrate on not only my budget, but also to what I eat, and make sure that I excersize more. I am so excited to see the results on these things.
More to come.......
Monday, June 7, 2010
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Getting a clue to life.......
This has been a long time in coming, and I have put it off way too long! I have known that I might be allergic to certain foods that I eat, and I am quite certain some of them are yeast, and wheat--maybe even gluten. I am not sure if it is all three, but I will soon be able to tell.
So here's the scoop. For years, since I was a small child I would live in pain with really bad stomach aches either after I ate bread, and sometimes it was a combination of different things like stress and the wrong foods. I just lived with it. Even to this day I just lived with it, thinking this is a norm for me, so well.... just live with it. I don't want to live with it any longer though. I am tired of being in pain, and then having to miss out on things because I feel "toxic" and out of sorts---being constantly bloated and depressed because I do not feel well.
I have decided to lay off bread for the most part and just see how I feel. I was talking to a friend the other day and she suggested that I just eat tortilla's if I feel the need to eat bread, and then if the tortilla's give me pain, then I will know that it could be something else.
Anyway, this is hard for me because I love bread. For so many years I would put what I loved ahead of the need to feel better. I know it's an emotional thing, but I need to do this. It's a bummer. Why do we have to suffer like this? Ugh!!!
But, I am at the point in realizing that my health and the way I live are so much more important than bread. Who would have thunk? Sheesh!
I am thinking of visiting a nutritionist and getting help on figuring this whole thing out. I know so many people have had to remove things like bread, sugar and dairy from their diets because for some reason their body's react differently to them. I know that these people have pushed their way through, and they are better for it. So why can't I? I can do this. I just need a little assistance and God's grace to persevere.
So here's the scoop. For years, since I was a small child I would live in pain with really bad stomach aches either after I ate bread, and sometimes it was a combination of different things like stress and the wrong foods. I just lived with it. Even to this day I just lived with it, thinking this is a norm for me, so well.... just live with it. I don't want to live with it any longer though. I am tired of being in pain, and then having to miss out on things because I feel "toxic" and out of sorts---being constantly bloated and depressed because I do not feel well.
I have decided to lay off bread for the most part and just see how I feel. I was talking to a friend the other day and she suggested that I just eat tortilla's if I feel the need to eat bread, and then if the tortilla's give me pain, then I will know that it could be something else.
Anyway, this is hard for me because I love bread. For so many years I would put what I loved ahead of the need to feel better. I know it's an emotional thing, but I need to do this. It's a bummer. Why do we have to suffer like this? Ugh!!!
But, I am at the point in realizing that my health and the way I live are so much more important than bread. Who would have thunk? Sheesh!
I am thinking of visiting a nutritionist and getting help on figuring this whole thing out. I know so many people have had to remove things like bread, sugar and dairy from their diets because for some reason their body's react differently to them. I know that these people have pushed their way through, and they are better for it. So why can't I? I can do this. I just need a little assistance and God's grace to persevere.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Clouds
It’s time to put that creativity to the test. I am finally feeling ready to start painting. I am actually really excited about it. I might even throw in a little uncertainty in there, but none the less I am ready to begin. I am not sure when the last time was that I touched a paint brush. I know it was last year some time, but goodness, it seems like forever.
When we went to Kansas, I think God opened my eyes even more to the beauty of his nature. The things I saw almost took my breath away. I cannot explain my fascination, but I truly believe that it is Devine intent to show me ways that I can worship Him. Does this make sense? As we were driving to and from Kansas, I could not take my eyes off the skies. The clouds were absolutely gorgeous!!!! They kept changing, moving, forming, and evolving. The sky was such a beautiful blue, and then at times it would turn gray. It seemed as though God was swooshing the clouds here or there just to see what shapes he could make.
Besides all of that, it has taken me a while to feel inspired to paint again. I was going through a lot of emotional healing this past year and half, so it was hard for me to get into it. The last thing I started painting was this dance picture which involved a ton of skin. Skin is NOT easy to paint. Skin has to be translucent and I cannot even tell you how hard it is to do that. Besides, when I paint, I tend to use A LOT of paint because I like texture, and I like certain parts of a picture to stand out. So, I got frustrated and stopped.
Anyway, I wanted to start practicing how to paint sky and clouds. Once we got back from our trip, I thought how great it is to have the opportunity to use some of these photos that I took as my starting point. I am not really sure what it is going to look like because I am still discovering my own style of painting. I try to paint things as natural looking as possible, but common, how natural of a look can you get when you are an amateur at this, plus I use acrylic paints, so it is not as easy to blend things.
Here are just a few of the photos that I have with me of the pictures I took of clouds. I am not sure which one I am going to use, but I will try and post an update as I move toward the finish.
When we went to Kansas, I think God opened my eyes even more to the beauty of his nature. The things I saw almost took my breath away. I cannot explain my fascination, but I truly believe that it is Devine intent to show me ways that I can worship Him. Does this make sense? As we were driving to and from Kansas, I could not take my eyes off the skies. The clouds were absolutely gorgeous!!!! They kept changing, moving, forming, and evolving. The sky was such a beautiful blue, and then at times it would turn gray. It seemed as though God was swooshing the clouds here or there just to see what shapes he could make.
Besides all of that, it has taken me a while to feel inspired to paint again. I was going through a lot of emotional healing this past year and half, so it was hard for me to get into it. The last thing I started painting was this dance picture which involved a ton of skin. Skin is NOT easy to paint. Skin has to be translucent and I cannot even tell you how hard it is to do that. Besides, when I paint, I tend to use A LOT of paint because I like texture, and I like certain parts of a picture to stand out. So, I got frustrated and stopped.
Anyway, I wanted to start practicing how to paint sky and clouds. Once we got back from our trip, I thought how great it is to have the opportunity to use some of these photos that I took as my starting point. I am not really sure what it is going to look like because I am still discovering my own style of painting. I try to paint things as natural looking as possible, but common, how natural of a look can you get when you are an amateur at this, plus I use acrylic paints, so it is not as easy to blend things.
Here are just a few of the photos that I have with me of the pictures I took of clouds. I am not sure which one I am going to use, but I will try and post an update as I move toward the finish.
Monday, May 3, 2010
IHOP- Kansas City Missouri
Have you ever gone to the International House of Prayer, or perhaps visited their site or listened to their music? Well, I have always wanted to go. I have heard so many people talk about what a great experience it is. I will post pictures a bit later.
The weekend of April 30th-May 3rd my roommates and I went on an adventure. This was an adventure that had no boundaries where God was concerned. We literally did not know what to expect. This may be a bit lengthy, but here is our story in a nutshell:
On Friday morning we set out a little before 5am. We packed the car, and off we went. It was a great time of good conversation, laughter and many pit stops. ;-) Anyway, it took about 9.5 hours to get there. Our friend Kari's mom took us in and let us stay at her beautiful home and we are all so thankful for that. She made us dinner and we sat and talked for a while, then went to join a service at IHOP.
We arrived at IHOP around 8:40ish and found that it was closed. Some girls saw us walk around and asked if we were looking for the Prayer Room and directed us to get on a shuttle to go to a different location. So off we went. There were a couple of people already on the bus, and the guy that sat behind us asked if he could pray over us. It was a great prayer and a perfect "entry" time into the Holy of Holy's.
When we entered the building, we could already hear worship music, and a bunch of people singing and talking. The place was packed!! We looked around for a place to sit to no avail. After a while, we decided that we just needed to find a place to put our stuff, because we knew we wouldn't be sitting much.
To reflect on what was going on Friday night, I was having a hard time getting into worship at first. Things were a bit distracting with people singing and having conversations around the room. I cannot remember how long it took, maybe 10 minutes, but I started feeling God pulling on my heart to pray. It was from then on that God began to move in such a mighty way that I have yet to process it all. I won't share all the intimate things that happened with me and God on this post, but let me tell you, I don't think I can go back to the "Old Me" any more.
There were so many things happening around the room that from a mortal’s eyes, it boggled my brain. I have seen God move in several different way’s in times of ministry and prayer. A lot of the things that I have experienced I saw there, but there was much more. There were different types of anointing that I have yet to understand. People’s bodies were moving in ways that I have never seen. At one point I questioned some of it and wondered what was going on. As I prayed through my confusion and continued to watch the move of God in the room, I realized that what I was seeing was truly from God, but my little brain could not comprehend it. I look forward to the understanding that God is currently giving me and will give me in the future on those things I have yet to understand.
So, Friday we stayed at IHOP until close to midnight and didn't get back to the house until around 12:30am. On Saturday morning, we were off again. We had an appointment for personal ministry time from 9:30am-11:30am to receive a prophetic word. They took our names and we sat in a waiting area just soaking on the Lord and listening to worship. I think around 10am they called me and my roommates into a room together and told us that while one person was being prayed over, the other 2 could be writing down what was being said. God's presence was so intense in that room, that it was a bit difficult to get everything that was spoken written down. Whooo!!!! I cannot tell you how right-on the prophetic words were. These people who were praying over us were so filled with God's spirit, it was over-whelming. Even as I write this I am in awe of God and His continuous work in my life. I am so thankful for Him and His encouragement!! THANK YOU JESUS!!!!
Once our prayer time was over, we experienced such an intense dowsing of the Holy Spirit that God touched us with Holy laughter. Now let me tell you, this is an interesting experience. For those of you reading this, if you have ever experienced this, you will know how silly it looks. For those of you who have yet to receive his Laughter Anointing, I pray that you will soon. Even as you read this, I pray that God will place His hand upon you and show you the fullness of Him. Even then, there is so much yet to see of who He truly is.
Ok, so I just went on a rabbit trail there; back to the story. So, we were touched by the laughter anointing and we were so loud, they moved us into a private room. We could not stop laughing (I am talking about loud, cackling, full stomach hilarity). All we had to do was hear the other person laughing and it was all we could do to not fall off our chairs!!!! The guy who told us to move made it a point to say "This is a good thing, and we want you to receive His spirit, but we also need to make sure that we do not distract the other's who are praying". This made us laugh even more. My goodness, my face hurt and I could feel my stomach muscles working from all the laughing. I am not sure exactly how long we were "out of it" in our “Holy Spirit Guffaw”, but we felt pretty good once it was over. ;-)
After our lovely time in our private room, we ate lunch then visited the IHOP bookstore. Around 2pm, we went to listen to a worship concert for a time of rest. I was so exhausted by that time I decided to take a short nap in the Mini Van. It was a great time of relaxation. There was a cool breeze blowing and the smell of fresh air made me relax.
Around 4:30 we decided to go downtown and have dinner and do some shopping. We wanted to get something nice for the lady who let us stay in her home. We found this really pretty plant at Home Depot. Then we went to the mall where we were going to have dinner. We arrived at our destination and it was really neat to see old Train's and other attractions that they had around. The place where we ate was called Fritzes. It was in the mall we went to but it was decorated with trains. Our food was delivered via train tracks on the top of the wall and then lowered down to our table. A waiter brought us our food and took our picture for us. We were probably the silliest adults in the restaurant because we wore the paper hats that they gave us. LOL! I remember seeing this mom sitting close to us giving us this smile that said “Oh you silly girls!!”. HA HA! It was a fun experience though.
Anyway, once we were done eating, we went back to IHOP for more Holy Spirit dowsing. When we arrived, they were having a church service and the guy who spoke was pretty funny. It was a good change for me. So, after the sermon they began worshiping again and throughout the service, people were being slain in the Spirit, receiving the Laughter Anointing, and being healed all over the room. It really was an amazing thing to see God move in such miraculous ways that I have never seen before. We again didn’t leave the service until a little before midnight.
In conclusion, on Sunday we had to leave. After we were on the road I began to feel sad that we were leaving and I didn’t want to go back home to the hum drum of everyday life. I wanted to continue to experience His presence like we did at IHOP. The cool thing is though; God doesn’t JUST show up in Kansas City MO, He shows up wherever He is invited. I am so excited to see what He is going to do from here on out. I don’t have to go to some special place to be anointed or hear from him, I can commune with Him every day, anywhere and anytime. This of course isn’t a surprise to me; I have always known this, but it is good to be reminded from time to time. ;-)
The weekend of April 30th-May 3rd my roommates and I went on an adventure. This was an adventure that had no boundaries where God was concerned. We literally did not know what to expect. This may be a bit lengthy, but here is our story in a nutshell:
On Friday morning we set out a little before 5am. We packed the car, and off we went. It was a great time of good conversation, laughter and many pit stops. ;-) Anyway, it took about 9.5 hours to get there. Our friend Kari's mom took us in and let us stay at her beautiful home and we are all so thankful for that. She made us dinner and we sat and talked for a while, then went to join a service at IHOP.
We arrived at IHOP around 8:40ish and found that it was closed. Some girls saw us walk around and asked if we were looking for the Prayer Room and directed us to get on a shuttle to go to a different location. So off we went. There were a couple of people already on the bus, and the guy that sat behind us asked if he could pray over us. It was a great prayer and a perfect "entry" time into the Holy of Holy's.
When we entered the building, we could already hear worship music, and a bunch of people singing and talking. The place was packed!! We looked around for a place to sit to no avail. After a while, we decided that we just needed to find a place to put our stuff, because we knew we wouldn't be sitting much.
To reflect on what was going on Friday night, I was having a hard time getting into worship at first. Things were a bit distracting with people singing and having conversations around the room. I cannot remember how long it took, maybe 10 minutes, but I started feeling God pulling on my heart to pray. It was from then on that God began to move in such a mighty way that I have yet to process it all. I won't share all the intimate things that happened with me and God on this post, but let me tell you, I don't think I can go back to the "Old Me" any more.
There were so many things happening around the room that from a mortal’s eyes, it boggled my brain. I have seen God move in several different way’s in times of ministry and prayer. A lot of the things that I have experienced I saw there, but there was much more. There were different types of anointing that I have yet to understand. People’s bodies were moving in ways that I have never seen. At one point I questioned some of it and wondered what was going on. As I prayed through my confusion and continued to watch the move of God in the room, I realized that what I was seeing was truly from God, but my little brain could not comprehend it. I look forward to the understanding that God is currently giving me and will give me in the future on those things I have yet to understand.
So, Friday we stayed at IHOP until close to midnight and didn't get back to the house until around 12:30am. On Saturday morning, we were off again. We had an appointment for personal ministry time from 9:30am-11:30am to receive a prophetic word. They took our names and we sat in a waiting area just soaking on the Lord and listening to worship. I think around 10am they called me and my roommates into a room together and told us that while one person was being prayed over, the other 2 could be writing down what was being said. God's presence was so intense in that room, that it was a bit difficult to get everything that was spoken written down. Whooo!!!! I cannot tell you how right-on the prophetic words were. These people who were praying over us were so filled with God's spirit, it was over-whelming. Even as I write this I am in awe of God and His continuous work in my life. I am so thankful for Him and His encouragement!! THANK YOU JESUS!!!!
Once our prayer time was over, we experienced such an intense dowsing of the Holy Spirit that God touched us with Holy laughter. Now let me tell you, this is an interesting experience. For those of you reading this, if you have ever experienced this, you will know how silly it looks. For those of you who have yet to receive his Laughter Anointing, I pray that you will soon. Even as you read this, I pray that God will place His hand upon you and show you the fullness of Him. Even then, there is so much yet to see of who He truly is.
Ok, so I just went on a rabbit trail there; back to the story. So, we were touched by the laughter anointing and we were so loud, they moved us into a private room. We could not stop laughing (I am talking about loud, cackling, full stomach hilarity). All we had to do was hear the other person laughing and it was all we could do to not fall off our chairs!!!! The guy who told us to move made it a point to say "This is a good thing, and we want you to receive His spirit, but we also need to make sure that we do not distract the other's who are praying". This made us laugh even more. My goodness, my face hurt and I could feel my stomach muscles working from all the laughing. I am not sure exactly how long we were "out of it" in our “Holy Spirit Guffaw”, but we felt pretty good once it was over. ;-)
After our lovely time in our private room, we ate lunch then visited the IHOP bookstore. Around 2pm, we went to listen to a worship concert for a time of rest. I was so exhausted by that time I decided to take a short nap in the Mini Van. It was a great time of relaxation. There was a cool breeze blowing and the smell of fresh air made me relax.
Around 4:30 we decided to go downtown and have dinner and do some shopping. We wanted to get something nice for the lady who let us stay in her home. We found this really pretty plant at Home Depot. Then we went to the mall where we were going to have dinner. We arrived at our destination and it was really neat to see old Train's and other attractions that they had around. The place where we ate was called Fritzes. It was in the mall we went to but it was decorated with trains. Our food was delivered via train tracks on the top of the wall and then lowered down to our table. A waiter brought us our food and took our picture for us. We were probably the silliest adults in the restaurant because we wore the paper hats that they gave us. LOL! I remember seeing this mom sitting close to us giving us this smile that said “Oh you silly girls!!”. HA HA! It was a fun experience though.
Anyway, once we were done eating, we went back to IHOP for more Holy Spirit dowsing. When we arrived, they were having a church service and the guy who spoke was pretty funny. It was a good change for me. So, after the sermon they began worshiping again and throughout the service, people were being slain in the Spirit, receiving the Laughter Anointing, and being healed all over the room. It really was an amazing thing to see God move in such miraculous ways that I have never seen before. We again didn’t leave the service until a little before midnight.
In conclusion, on Sunday we had to leave. After we were on the road I began to feel sad that we were leaving and I didn’t want to go back home to the hum drum of everyday life. I wanted to continue to experience His presence like we did at IHOP. The cool thing is though; God doesn’t JUST show up in Kansas City MO, He shows up wherever He is invited. I am so excited to see what He is going to do from here on out. I don’t have to go to some special place to be anointed or hear from him, I can commune with Him every day, anywhere and anytime. This of course isn’t a surprise to me; I have always known this, but it is good to be reminded from time to time. ;-)
Thursday, April 29, 2010
I have a new cousin!
My cousin Cindie, who lives in Arizona, just had her first baby. He was 10lbs 4.2 ounces born today 04.29.10. His name is Obidiah Xavier.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Photo Shoot
It was a cold, over cast day. I made my way over to join CAMA with a bit of excitement and uncertainty of what lay ahead. As I walked into the house, Cara smiled at me and said “You ready to go take pictures in the rain?” All I did was smile and she giggled.
That was the start of our adventure. Cara, Melody, April and I snuck into April and Kyle’s bedroom to begin our “Photo Op Fixin’s”. Cara cut up a dress and had me wear the skirt part, and then she fluffed up my hair and gave me a necklace to wear. April had an old wedding dress that she found on Craig’s List that Cara spruced up with a shawl and belt. Melody wore an old recital dress. Cara found a skirt that she found at Good Will. It was fun just having the four of us together playing “Dress Up”. After we were finished, we all shuffled out the door with all our shoes and fun photo props and were off to Ellicott Colorado to do a photo shoot in an old junk yard. This particular one had some really great "Old" cars.
That was the start of our adventure. Cara, Melody, April and I snuck into April and Kyle’s bedroom to begin our “Photo Op Fixin’s”. Cara cut up a dress and had me wear the skirt part, and then she fluffed up my hair and gave me a necklace to wear. April had an old wedding dress that she found on Craig’s List that Cara spruced up with a shawl and belt. Melody wore an old recital dress. Cara found a skirt that she found at Good Will. It was fun just having the four of us together playing “Dress Up”. After we were finished, we all shuffled out the door with all our shoes and fun photo props and were off to Ellicott Colorado to do a photo shoot in an old junk yard. This particular one had some really great "Old" cars.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
HELP Me JESUS!!!
So, I haven't blogged in a while. I guess I just haven't felt the umph to do it, although there are so many ideas raging through my mind at different times. I guess, to be completely honest, I have had a lot of things on my heart that I have been wanting to tackle and I keep wondering "Is this something that I can blog about? Can I really be THAT transparent with everyone?" Well, in some way's I think I can.
Today's issues: Hurt, Forgiveness, Trust, SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ever felt like that? Ever wanted to just turn around and run as FAST AS YOU CAN???
Man o' Man! Sometimes I even think it would be easier to just turn my back and run; choosing to not deal with the pain and discomfort of the IN YOUR FACE issue set before you.
In the last 10 years, I think I have faced some of the BIGGEST trials ever! I thought that moving to Colorado would make my life easier because God told me to move. I mean, life in AZ was certainly not a bowl of ice cream. I can tell you that as soon as I stepped into that U-Haul truck, my troubles were beginning, not ending. I certainly have had many blessings, but there have been too many times where my heart has been broken.
I have to wonder about the process after being hurt. For some people, they can just brush it off and move on. For others it becomes a huge issue of doing just that. How do you learn to trust others? I mean, none of us are perfect by any means. We all hurt each other in one way or another, sometimes without realizing it. This brings to mind that verse in Proverbs 3:6-8 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
I know how easy it is to be focused on that pain. To be focused on how that other person hurt me. To be too focused on how I am going to get through this without crumbling. I love that this scripture tells us point blank how it should be. Who should we trust? Jesus! Who should we lean on? Jesus! Who do we keep our eyes on? Jesus! How do we keep from lashing out in our pain? Stray away from evil and keep our eyes on him! Jesus will bless us when we are willing to follow these guidelines, no matter what. THANK YOU JESUS FOR YOUR WISDOM AND YOUR LOVE.
As I am writing this, I see where and how God has been strengthening me and maturing me into the woman He wants me to be. I can only hope that as long as I do not turn my back and run away; keep my eyes on Him, then I will be a stronger person in the long run.
Today's issues: Hurt, Forgiveness, Trust, SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ever felt like that? Ever wanted to just turn around and run as FAST AS YOU CAN???
Man o' Man! Sometimes I even think it would be easier to just turn my back and run; choosing to not deal with the pain and discomfort of the IN YOUR FACE issue set before you.
In the last 10 years, I think I have faced some of the BIGGEST trials ever! I thought that moving to Colorado would make my life easier because God told me to move. I mean, life in AZ was certainly not a bowl of ice cream. I can tell you that as soon as I stepped into that U-Haul truck, my troubles were beginning, not ending. I certainly have had many blessings, but there have been too many times where my heart has been broken.
I have to wonder about the process after being hurt. For some people, they can just brush it off and move on. For others it becomes a huge issue of doing just that. How do you learn to trust others? I mean, none of us are perfect by any means. We all hurt each other in one way or another, sometimes without realizing it. This brings to mind that verse in Proverbs 3:6-8 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
I know how easy it is to be focused on that pain. To be focused on how that other person hurt me. To be too focused on how I am going to get through this without crumbling. I love that this scripture tells us point blank how it should be. Who should we trust? Jesus! Who should we lean on? Jesus! Who do we keep our eyes on? Jesus! How do we keep from lashing out in our pain? Stray away from evil and keep our eyes on him! Jesus will bless us when we are willing to follow these guidelines, no matter what. THANK YOU JESUS FOR YOUR WISDOM AND YOUR LOVE.
As I am writing this, I see where and how God has been strengthening me and maturing me into the woman He wants me to be. I can only hope that as long as I do not turn my back and run away; keep my eyes on Him, then I will be a stronger person in the long run.
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