Praises of a Wife and Mommy

My church, We have been pastoring for five years in a small town and small church.  However a new wave of excitement is hitting us.  A new expectation and experience for people.  God’s love is all around and we are so blessed to have him use us in our small town.  

This beautiful rainbow I almost missed.  My kids ran into the church and told me there was a rainbow and I was stuck on my tasks not thinking about it.  My daughter took my phone to take pictures and ran back in within a few moments.  She was yelling, "mom I don't think you want to miss this!"   It finally hit me and I realized my task was not as important as seeing this beauty with her and my son.  It reminded me that I get caught up in the world whrn I need to be still before my Heavenly maker.  I need to hear from him and worship him freely.  

In the newest Berenstain Bear Living Lights title,  The Berenstain Bears Bless Our Pets , Brother, Sister, and Honey Bear love their pets Little Lady, Gracie, Swish, and Cutsie … they are just like part of the Bear family. So when Preacher Brown holds a special Blessing of the Pets service on Sunday, the Bear family joins in. But what starts as a peaceful gathering of Bear Country neighbors and their animal friends on the lawn of the Chapel—including dogs, cats, rats, goats, and even a snake or two—ends up needing a little heavenly intervention. My Review: This new Berenstain Bear book is being released today March 7th!   I'm not going to lie I was a little worried at where this story would go since our Bible does not say a whole lot about pets and heaven, etc etc.   At the beginning it did have Proverbs 12:10- The righteous care for the needs of their animals. An appropriate scripture to start us out with.  The book introduces that the church...

I found this scripture very encouraging this week.   Habakkuk would have been one of those people who always had a hop in his step and a half full type of personality... in my opinion.  Habakkuk was wise in this moment as he had pure joy even when the Babylonians invaded- he understood that he could lose it all but would still find joy in the Lord.   "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation." What a lesson we all could hear as we are putting our fancy Christmas trees and expensive gifts.   Don't allow these things to distant you from praising and rejoicing our giver of true gifts- Jesus!   It seems that many people think they need the next best thing to find joy- they are chasing material items that leave them unsatisfied.   Habakkuk shows us that no matter we should focus on getting our Joy from God and when we praise and rejoice him even through the tough stuff we can be joyful in knowing our salvatio...

I am going to try to do a better job and putting some of my devotionals up.   I hope they encourage you with your walk with the Lord. So this devo happened through reading a kids Bible with my kids before bed.   It got me thinking more and more so I had to get my Bible out and do a little more reading.   2 Samuel 24:14- "I'm in a desperate situation! David said to Gad, "Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands."  Wow! David screwed up again and had sinned against the Lord.   God gave him three options for the sin and even though David didn't pick any of the three the Lord delivered the consequence- three days of terrible things- death of 70,000 people.  David must have felt a lot of pain and heart ache knowing his sin cause the death of so many people.  David though realized that God would still have mercy and after all of this heart ache David built a new alter.   ...

Ready for your first “real” Bible? Great! You’ll love how you can read this Bible all by yourself. The print is easy to read and  The Beginner’s Bible ®art is fun and will help you better understand the stories in the Bible. Features include: Presentation page so you can make this Bible your own. Complete text of the New International Reader’s Version (NIrV) of the Bible—written for kids just like you! Large print is easy to read. 20 full-color pages of  The Beginner’s Bible  illustrations help you better understand the stories. 66 book introductions and outlines explain who wrote each book of the Bible and what you will discover as you read. Dictionary of key Bible words will help you when you come to a word you don’t know. Reading plan of 150 famous Bible stories will give you a great overview of God’s Word. Brand new vibrant, three-dimensional art. My Review: I bet some of you are won...

Don't follow the mold of the world. God has big plans for each of us. Be bold and don't give up. Be the "red" in a world of "white".

I know I mentioned that last week we were blessed when someone Ding Dong Ditched us and left us a basket of goodies.  This week another couple from our church stopped by and had all the back to school shopping done for my kids.  My son is not in school yet but they still made sure he got a backpack and some other supplies.  :)   I was blessed beyond words and my kids were so happy.  They each of them the back pack they were eyeing up.   God sure is providing all that we need during this transition as the new pastors.   So how have you been blessed lately?  Or how have you been a blessing to someone else?   Pass on a blessing to someone near you.  :)

I really liked how Rick Warren wrote this devo so I wanted to share it with all of you!   Have you ever watched a food advertisement on television and suddenly felt you were hungry? Have you ever heard someone cough and immediately felt the need to clear your throat? Ever watched someone release a big yawn and felt the urge to yawn yourself? This is the power of suggestion working within your mind. We naturally move toward whatever our attention is focused on. The more you think about something, the stronger it takes hold of you. This is why repeating, "I must stop eating too much or stop smoking or stop lusting" is a self-defeating strategy. It keeps you focused on what you don't want. It's like announcing, "I'm never going to do what my mom did." You are setting yourself up to repeat it. Temptation begins by capturing your attention. What gets your attention arouses your emotions. Then your emotions activate your behavior, and you act on wha...

It was a fun weekend as I headed back to Iowa to our soon to be new home, new church, new ministries.    My husband has been traveling back and forth each week.  This weekend we had our pastor go and they taught on honor together and it was awesome. The message above is worth listening too and I know your time is precious. Please take some time to listen to it and learn a little bit more about honor and how you can apply it to home, work, and well EVERYWHERE. 

Have you been believing a lie from the enemy?  If so then you need to get your bible out and start reading and quoting the truth's about who you are.   Psalm 46:1  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Deuteronomy 31:6  Be strong and courageous, don’t be afraid, nor be scared of them: for Yahweh your God, he it is who does go with you; he will not fail you, nor forsake you.” Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.  (one of my favorites)  Numbers 6:25    Yahweh make his face to shine on you, and be gracious to you. Luke 12:32    Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.   

In prayer we honor God in relationship, and then in power we honor His revealed vision and shared dreams. Today we take a look at Hannah in 1 Samuel 1 If you listened to the message above then you just heard my husbands message on Mother's Day at our new church in Iowa.   “I remember my mother’s prayers, they have always followed me. they have  clung to me all my life.” ~ Abraham Lincoln Prayer is awesome and I am thankful for each prayer my other prayed when she was alive. I have been blessed to find some prayers for me that she wrote in her bible.  :)  I think she knew I would marry a preacher!!!  :)    AMEN- God wants to honor you!  :) In prayer we honor God in relationship, and then in power we Honor  His revealed vision and shared dreams. Three things happen when we approach God. 1. We are ruined. But you can't stay there 2. We are cleansed and qualified. But you can't be afraid to mess up 3...

There have been many times in life when I complain and I will assume you have too.  Kids are the pro's of complaining.  Have you ever gotten angry or whiny when God has different plans for your life then what you had?   Jeremiah 29:11 11  For I know the plans   I have for you,” declares the   Lord , “plans to prosper   you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.   Proverbs 16:9 n their hearts humans plan their course, b ut the LORD establishes their steps.

Time to spotlight another Children's Bible!  From the bestselling Author, Tracy Harrast Pens, a colorful new learning bible helps new and young readers.   About " My Learn to Read Bible "- This Spring brings the arrival of a new animated storybook Bible from  bestselling author Tracy Harrast, which contains a learn-to-read aspect for children ages 4-7.    Unique to this genre,  MY LEARN TO READ BIBLE (Zonderkidz; $19.99; March 2013) incorporates the New International Reader’s Version (NIrV) of the Bible with the rebus method of teaching – a popular learning technique using special symbols in place of words to help children expand their vocabulary and acquire more confidence in their reading. The book includes a glossary introducing 50 iconic Biblical images found in the text—such as an angel, a baby, a cross—and simple terms from everyday life like tree and bread . My Review-  Praise God!  Tonight we read the first chapter and...

I love finding books that incorporate faith with another life passion.  It is easy to see that Joseph has a deep relationship with Papa God but also has a love and desire for his motorcycle.   I may not be a biker or even a biker babe for that matter,  but my husband did own a couple of bikes for a short season and maybe when we can afford a good bike rather then a bike constantly needing fixing we can make it happen for him.  My husband sold his bikes after a small accident which you can read about in my post titled,  Thank You Jesus for Protecting Him .   I know my husband deep down somewhere would like to have a bike again some day so it was a good eye opener to read Joseph's book and hear about his journey to getting a bike.  The humor he involved in telling his story is awesome!  Reading this book allowed me to think about my husband in another form when it comes to the topic of motor bikes!   Beyond the stories from ...

Beloved VeggieTales Characters Enrich Young Readers with Their  Own Spin on Three Classics in a New Collection Junior Asparagus, Laura Carrot, and many other  VeggieTales  characters return with three popular adventure-filled stories by Cindy Kenney packed into  one colorful new book,  VEGGIETOWN VOYAGE (Zonderkidz; $7.99; February 2013) . With an added emphasis on strong Christian values, the stories recall a classic television show ( Lost in Space)  and two iconic movies, ( Cool Hand Luke  and  Ben-Hur ), with each told in child-friendly text. My Review: I adore finding books that are filled with valuable lessons and Biblical teachings.  Veggietales does a great job of delivering that in their story books.   These three stories include wonderful artwork and have a lot of humor for children and adults alike.  :)  The first story teaches a lesson about never being lost because God is always with us! ...

Today as I was driving home from work and enjoying listening to the radio this verse just hit me on the head.                                              James 4:8a- "Draw near to God and He will Draw near to you."    I have had so many people young and old tell me some of these things, "Where is God, I don't feel him anymore."  "I don't think I'm a christian anymore because God is so distant."  "Why is this happening in my life, where is God."   That is something most of us have asked at some point. You don’t need to experience this alone. Reading Living Church of God reviews and other resources across faiths and denominations, you can always find somewhere to fit in and worship together. Now my immediate response is, "those are all lies from the enemy wanting you to feel those things."  Which I do believe is true but when I sit and thi...

This was an awesome weekend!!  It has been a challenge to sit down and type this post with all the amazing and exciting things I want to share and tell you!  This might be a very long post but trust me if you hang in and read it all I believe God will touch you too!!!  :)  Lets start with Friday evening! The speaker was Lori Slaughter from  http://covenantfreedom.org .  The conference was called "Above All" and the scripture was Ester 2:17   " And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti." The story of Ester has always been one of my favorites.  I love her bravery and  VULNERABILITY.  The word vulnerability was a big word for me that weekend.  It is a great word and I love how Lori gave this analogy.  "Lord, let me wear Suran Wrap so you can see through me bu...