Pledgarism

Ok, I was reminded of a song that has been dear to my heart since I heard it...maybe it will minister to someone else as well:

If You Want Me To

by: Ginny Owens

The pathway is broken

And the signs are unclear

And I don't know the reason why You brought me here

But just because You love me the way that You do

I'm gonna walk through the valley

If You want me to

Cause I'm not who I was

When I took my first step

And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet

So if all of these trials bring me closer to You

Then I will go through the fire

If you want me to

It may not be the way I would have chosen

When You lead me through a world that's not my home

But You never said it would be easy

You only said I'd never go alone

So when the whole world turns against me

And I'm all by myself

And I can't hear You answer my cries for help

I'll remember the suffering Your love put You through

and I will go through the valley

If You want me to.

Written by KYLE MATTHEWS, GINNY OWENS

UNIVERSAL MUSIC MGB SONGS

This is my heart....and I know it is the heart of many....but sometimes we need to remind ourselves that this is truly how we feel...instead of letting the enemy or ourselves get rooted in there and try to make us believe things about ourselves and our walk, that really are untrue. Again, I hope this song ministers to someone.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Renewing Our Minds

We had a great bible study last night. We are studying (via a video series by Chip Ingram) Romans 12...and last night was about the renewing of the mind. We were asked what the most effective means of renewing our minds were in our own personal lives, and also challenged to be in the bible at least 15 minutes a day this week. Of course, the most renewal of my mind occurs when I read His word...but we all challenged ourselves to think beyond that....we can't be reading every minute of every day, although, frequently throughout the day, we need a renewing of the mind...so how do we do it...each answer being a personal answer. Many interesting responses from the group...it was quite enjoyable. For ME, I get up in the morning and walk, and I have an iPod, so I can listen to preaching every morning on my walk....I also, during the day, like to listen to some sort of praise and worship music, some sort of christian music...but most of all....I look like the crazy lady because I find my self in constant communication with God. I am ALWAYS talking to Him, frequently out loud. I KNOW, for me, being in constant communication with my Lord, keeps my mind from thinking things I should not be thinking, desiring things, I should not be desiring and putting into action things I should not be putting into action. Don't get me wrong...I make STUPID choices, say stupid things...etc...we do have a battle....but God knows that or He would not call it REnewing of the mind...so, I take those thoughts captive into the obedience of Christ...and renew my mind with Him.

How would you describe your most effective mode of renewal of your mind?

Have a wonderfully blessed day!!

Redwood Creek Part 2

What a busy week we have had...we did finally make it up to Redwood Creek this weekend...almost all of us. Tom was working, so it was just Erik and I and the little ones...the previous pictures I posted were from a year or so ago and over the winter, the weather ruined our canopy that was on our deck, so here is another picture with what we did this weekend. Of course, it looks better when you are actually there. We opted for a screened tent so we can easily take it down at the end of the summer and not have to worry about the weather.
We had a nice time getting a couple of things done, there is still a little bit to get done, but it won't take long. We have decided (THANK THE LORD) to not do a whole lot this year...we would like to just actually enjoy it instead of working it the whole summer.

Anyway, just thought maybe you would like to see the update on the property. Can't wait to enjoy it as a family....and can't wait to enjoy it with friends....hint hint!!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!!

Redwood Creek

Today is the first day of a new week....one that should prove interesting...why interesting....I would have to ask if you have met my husband....he is interesting indeed!! I love him with every fiber of my being, and he certainly makes this life we live a roller coaster ride, with very few stops. The sun is out...which means he pretty much has one thing on his mind....REDWOOD CREEK!

Redwood Creek is a wonderful place that is owned by the Jackson Family, and it's big enough that we all can stake out our little piece of land and do what we want with it. It's right on a creek with a great swimming hole, sitting near the bottom of a beautiful valley.

My family and some friends have worked very hard to make our little section what it is now. It's beautiful, we are blessed. All that being said....my dear, wonderful husband gets slightly obsessed at this time of the year and most of our talk is Redwood Creek talk....it is currently 9:30 in the morning and he should have left for work an hour and a half ago....but instead got caught up in Redwood Creek talk. In the past, and creeping into the present, is the sheer frustration I get when all he wants to talk about is Redwood Creek...I don't know why, but it just irks me. As I start the feel the fingers of that frustration creep up on me this morning, I also felt the Lord "creep" up on me too and remind me of a couple of things: 1) I really do love Redwood Creek and feel incredibly blessed to have access to it. and 2) He is my husband and I need to honor him, and sometimes honoring him means listening with great intent to his million and one plans for our little slice of land down there, and then listen to him change his mind a million and one more times, and know that in the end it will all work itself out...I just need to be patient. Honoring my husband is the most important thing to me in all of this...we may not see eye to eye, we may have totally different idea's on what to do, but honoring him means letting him know my idea's and conceding to what comes out in the end.

Tawny asked in her blog if we ever annoy ourselves....and I will give a hearty YES to that....I annoy myself when I fall into wanting things MY way, and forgetting that this life is not all about me, that I have a Lord to live for, a husband to honor and respect and love, and children to adore and raise to HIS glory...I do fit into all of it, because when I live for all of the above...I AM living for me, just not ABOUT me!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!!

Thankful

I love going to Medford and seeing my friends. I always miss them terribly when it's time to come home...but I am so blessed to be able to go and visit them. We brought back Tom's truck...so he is in hog heaven right now!! And now it's official....Tom is a under contract and is a future soldier of the United States Army! I am so proud of him...and still going through this time of disbelief that he is growing into a man. He is only 17, so he does not ship out to boot camp for a little over a year, but there is much for him to do in the mean time...and he is ready for it. What a busy weekend it turned out to be.....tooo short of a visit to Medford, and a son joining the army....almost makes my head spin. I am so thankful at how good God is to me, and my family. He always takes care of us, no matter what the circumstances may seem....He ALWAYS comes through....Thank You Jesus!!
Well, I must get going on my daily lineup....have a wonderfully blessed day!

The Beat Goes On.....

and on and on and on.....

Just when you think life is going to get back to normal....another explosion of activity (not the normal explosion that is my life...new explosions) encompasses us (me) this week. I did have plans for a nice quiet day at home...doing school, making dessert for bible study tonight, and getting the house picked up....BUT NNNOOOOOO!!! The day started of with a bang...and it looks like the rest of the week will be that way also....of course the light at the end of my particular "tunnel" or week, is that I get to go to Medford again and see my wonderful friends!! WOOHOOO!!!
Again, I struggle for quiet time...and again, will not be denied!! I am clinging to His word...and in particular:
Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
I am so thankful for HIS guidance, HIS joy and HIS pleasures forevermore!! I am so thankful that when I am weak...HE is strong...He is my strength and HIS joy is my strength...I just need to remember to keep every thought captive into the obedience of Christ...THEN I have HIS joy and in turn HIS strength!
I love the Lord SSSOOO MUCH!!!!
Have a wonderfully blessed day!

FINALLY!!

Man, it just seems like forever that I have been able to get on here and blog. I guess that gives you some kind of indication of how busy our lives have been for the past couple of weeks.
Well, I went to Stockton to spend a week with my sister and her family. We had a very nice time, they through a little surprise party for Noah since his birthday was coming up...he LOVED it!! We made it home, only to be bombarded with a hugely busy week...and I think today is the first day this whole week that I don't have to leave the house, and can try to get the housework caught up. WHEW!!
God has been good to us through it all. I love His peace...I covet His peace and I am so thankful to have His peace. I know that as busy as I am, if I did not have the peace of the Lord, I would lose my mind....it's not like there is much left to lose! ;-) I am still learning to stop and have some sort of quiet time with HIM...I guess I should not be surprised the the thing that brought me so much joy and peace a couple of weeks ago (finding quiet time and the value of it...) would be the primary target of my enemy, he certainly does not want me to take that quiet time and draw near to the Lord...he would much rather my focus be somewhere else, anywhere else, good or bad, as long as it is not on the Lord. Well, greater is He who is in me, than he who is in the world...and I am not going down without a fight. I will find my ways to have my quiet time, my veg out with God time...even if it means I have to wait until all my little chickadee's are in bed, and I am alone in my room at night before Erik comes to bed....if that is what my quiet time has to be...so be it...I'll take it!
Hope you are all having a great week and looking forward to a great weekend!
Have a wonderfully blessed day!