BFF code laughter

To this day only a select very few know what the code name BHA means.. VERY FEW.  It was created by my two good friends Diane and Sarah...it was offically started in the 5th grade.  It became a tope secret file and we added really funny things to it... over the years, we remind eacher other of the code and all the things involved with it (i.e. the funny memories)... and we have a real good time laughing about it.

 

Do you have funny memories that you can look back on and they still make you laugh? if so do they lighten your mood and lift your spirits?  I'll be talking more about this on friday. until then, post a funny memory:....

Funny Moments...

Its always good to laugh...  hope you get a few chuckles out of this... we will be talking later on this week about the importance of laughing.

Locker Combinations and Living as a Believer

My coworker, the other day, had something of mine in his locker.  I asked for his combination ... and his answer was "I dunno.. I just turn the padlock out of habbit... I think its..."

This got me thinking ... what if we are like this in our daily lives as a Believer and Follower in the Lord Jesus... we are so use to the motions that we forgot the deeper concept of it, or what the actually answers are to our problems.

So this is a simple analogy to share with you, but to apply it to my life it made me think even harder.

Very Important:  I get so caught up with life that I start losing my joy...and when I'm singing hymns of praise and worship... am I singing it because I know it well and it sounds pretty?  Those words... they usually are powerful... to stop and think about it, changes some perspective...

So my challenge is to you that you don't grow knumb to what you've learned, be open and alert.. don't do things out of habbit.

biannual church: EASTER ADVENTURE

As a small child, I didn't go to church much.. here and there.  But there is one year I remember going on an Easter Sunday. 

I brought my stuffed Easter bunny that the Easter bunny brought himself to my basket in my living room.  It came with me to church.  I think I was in preschool or kindergarten and I didn't know anybody.  I started crying... A LOT!  I remember the teacher asking if I put my bunny aside and I cried harder... I ended up staying really quiet due to the agreement that the teacher let me keep my bunny in my lap.  I don't remember too much, but what I DO remember was coloring a picture of Jesus coming out of the grave and I made it really colorful.

I thought this Jesus was a little different than what I had ever heard, and the picture was interesting to me... of course I didn't think much more about it at that age, but it did stick with me.

So those who go to as many functions as possible with a church three times a week, more power to ya.  But even those who visit on holidays like Easter and Christmas:  you are stepping into an adventure that will stick with you.  It did for me... it got me intrigued.

Forgiven and Loved

Enjoy this song from Talented vocal to powerful words...this is one of those songs when you know you don't have to put on your sunday best...but can sit in your hiding place and talk with GOD.

Forgiven and Loved: by Jimmy Needham

the ceiling fan

A lot of times and pretty much 99% of the time growing up I would sleep with my older sister.  I got scared easy.

One of her favorite things was to have the ceiling fan going in her room whether it was winter or summer.  I asked her one time why she would have it on while it is 30 degrees outside and she told me that it was lulling and comforting to her when she was sleeping at night.  This memory has popped into my head because I'm sitting here in my livingroom with a floor fan going ... and I'm realizing the soothing sounds of the fan. 

It brings back so many memories.. good ones

Do you have a sent, or sound, or texture, that makes you go back in time?

Memory is the way of saying thank for what you have now...

From Winter to Spring

Enjoy this guest blog poem from Joshua Smetzer, a poem that is refreshing for the heart.  And be sure to check out the blog he is a part of at http://www.thescandal.org/

From Winter to Spring

As winter draws to a close,

and spring is on the cusp of full bloom,

so too is my spiritual state.

As the winter freeze begins to thaw,

soften my heart, oh God.

May I resign these dark habits which harden my heart,

and may I soak in the love which You graciously shower on me.

With spring comes life anew,

a transition from the dead and dormant

into a new phase bursting forth with life.

I have fallen idle in Your ways,

hibernating on the faith I had already gathered for myself.

I grew, but only for a season,

and fell prey to thinking I had attained enough to get me by.

And like nature in winter,

I became dormant, waiting for a later season.

Spring is now knocking on the door,

as are you Lord.

Will I answer the call and let you bring me into full bloom,

or will I fail to transition with the seasons and die in my ways.

Take tender care of me oh God,

and nurture me along the way.

This transition is never easy,

but life in the spring of Your love and grace is oh so beautiful.

Trying to copy from the ORIGINAL artist

have you ever see this ad before:

People try to see how well you can draw these images.. closest to the prime example.  Some people get it spot on, while others get an "E" for effort.

Its fascinating how an artist has their "MARK" or their "STYLE" or "SIGNATURE" when you see their work.  I can look at a Van Gough and tell its a Van Gough.  His brush strokes and use of color are unique and with a particular purpose.

our MAKER is the ORIGINAL artist.  Many stories are made up of deities, and many proclaim to be the Messiah, but there is only one and that is Christ Jesus.  Some people might be close in trying to be like HIM , but what they don't realize is that they are WAY off. 

You might be trying to say you are perfect and without flaws...but you are WAY off.  But just like the ORIGINAL ARTIST, we can learn to be like HIM, to design life around us like Him.

Watch out for the wanna-be's and look to the original artist.

Children's Easter...well and Grown ups too :D

To start out this time of Lent and leading up to Christ's Ressurrection, here are some of my personal recommendations for children's and adult easter books to read along with some books that I've heard can be of use.

Kids books/dvds

Books/dvds for Grown ups



40 days

Drawn to the aticipation of Celebrating Christ Jesus' Death and Ressurection, LENT is a time to reflect upon many things and drive one's focus primarily on Jesus the Lord. 

Lent lasts for 40 days- like the symbol of Jesus spending 40 days in the desert, and Israel waiting 40 years in the desert.  We are given the opportunity to turn our daily focus of ME into a daily focus of the RISEN SAVIOUR

Enjoy this music video focusing on the 40 days.

Note:  Lent starts this week if you want to participate.

Journey that Helps you grow

We are all on a journey

a journey that Helps you grow

so you may know

Shalom

But where does it start

in the heart?

yes indeed

please heed

what the Creator

is saying to you.

Follow Him

climb that mountain

and maintain

the stamina

to go on

Keep climbing up

up to the top

and when he says stop

you listen again

crawl through that valley

if He says so

because He goes

too

And in this journey high and low

you know

that Shalom

you seek it

you find it

in the LORD.

So the journey you take

is the peace you make

grow more

as you

journey more

And your ventures through thick and thin

lets you begin

the outward spiraling of PEACE

and you grow

as you KNOW

the LORD more and more each day

A Memory to share

A memory to share... we love sharing about our past, or cool adventures we've been on.  As I sat here thinking of what this BAREFOOT CHILD would share, I thought of nothing... but earlier this evening I was talking with a girl in my church that's about 7 or 8. 

She started telling me cool stories of her times on vacation, and randomly jumped into exciting details about what happened at school last week.  She mentioned something about P.E. and I asked if she would participate in "field days" (where classes are teams and there are fun games all day long during the school day.).  she said yes and with that I told her I used to also.  She got excited and we started sharing the games that we would participate along with other great memories.

We had a great conversation!  And what was fun about it is that we both got to share our memories and got excited talking about it.

Share a MEMORY with someone!  Don't just tell a memory, but share, ask what their similar memory was.

I'm not who I was

This is a great expression of how we feel after saying YES to the LORD and declaring our change.

We are still our same person, but at the same time we have been changed... we have been transformed.

Sometimes others around don't realize that change... maybe you have wronged somebody long ago and now you have changed.  Brandon Heath expresses situations such as these in his song.. saying "I wish you could see me now, you know I'm not who I was"

Enjoy... and comment your thoughts

I'm Not Who I Was by: Brandon Heath

Connect with Creation

There is this app I have on my phone called "Creation Moments". I came across it on the radio on 89.7 Power FM and there is a gentleman, Ein Taylor, who talks about nature, its mulecular structure, space, why girrafes have long necks, the language of bugs, the generousity of God through his designed creation, etc..  Its amazing the many things we don't know.  From the time we walk outside and then get in our cars and drive to work, or shopping.  There are things you see in your own backyard that are happening to glorify God, and functioning to bless you.

I say we start now by "connecting with creation". (and please don't take this out of context)  When you sip on your coffee, go on your porch and watch the sunrise, thank your Creator for His splendor.  When you walk through a park, look at how the trees provide shade for you, fruit for you, and homes for the birds and squirells.  When you take an evening walk or drive, glance at the stars and ponder on the thought that the stars are endless, and God placed them in a certain pattern to direct us with time, harvests, and direction.

I could go on.  Connect with HIS creation and say thank you. Enjoy it!

1,000 piece Puzzles

Growing up, it was me, my sister, and my grandmother at home.  When my grandmother was at work, my sister and I would play "queen and servant" or pass notes from underneath the door to each other like it was a secret or something (don't ask).  But when it was all three of us, we would have time mostly on the weekends if possible and take time to put together a 1,000 piece puzzle, it was more like a billion piece puzzle to me... maybe because I was young.

We would group the colors together, and then we would group the edges together.  My favorite thing abou this time is that we would just sit in quietness working together on a project with the same end set goals.  Another thing I loved was that we could interact with each other and not have to wait until commercials to talk.

Maybe we incorporate something "unplugged" with our families.....

You Make EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL

This video is touching... and TRUE.. the Lord makes everything beautiful in its time... BEAUTY from ASHES.

waking to birds

The other night I fell asleep with my windows open since the weather was so nice.  With this, I woke to the sounds of birds singing and the wooden chimes dancing in the wind...

It was the most pleasant thing I woke up to in a while.  Usually its just my alarm and the cat meowing for breakfast.  This time the outside world woke me, and my alarm was still at rest and the cat was cuddled at my feet.

The rest of the day was wonderful.  Why? because I set my mind on the good things.  The "things" that the Creator made for our pleasure.  Very thoughtful of HIM

So my encouragement to you world is to surround yourself by things that are beautiful and fully of mystery (in a good curious of splendor kind of way).  Do this and your day will start out spectacular!

Think about your five sense... what are good things that relate to your senses?  or things that connect to good memories..
i.e.

1. Sight:  rainclouds with contrast of sunlight coming in
2. Smell:  coffee brewing, rain, fresh baked bread
3. Sound:  birds, leaves rustling in wind, creek trickling with water, a fan
4. Taste:  coffee, bread, ice tea, juicy orange
5: Touch: wind, sunlight, toes in sand

I hope you get to "wake to birds" each day.


strive to.

"Mommy Look!"

"Thomas! Thomas! Tomas the train!!... Mommy Mommy look!"

"Where sugar?.... oh! its right in front of me!"



When My sister and I would go to Wally world, or even just the grocery store, our mission was to make it to the "pink aisle". You know what I'm talking about?  Barbies, baby dolls, etc.  we were on a mission, and we could spot it from a mile away.

Well yesterday at my work, this toddler boy kept spotting Thomas the Train everywhere, and she didn't believe him because she couldn't spot it out.

I thought to myself, maybe its because he is tuned into what he's after so he is aware of anything blue and grey and train shaped.  Apply it however you prefer, but what if we are zoned in our goal of Christ and pleasing Him that opportunities are going to come up all around us, or His blessings are going to be more OBVIOUS, right in front of us like Thomas the Train.

Light Up the Sky

Do you ever feel like you need a song to reach out and GRAB YOU! and to delcare and expression of HOPE!?  This Video HITS the SPOT! and you might need a tissue... be prepaired

Light up the Sky  by: the Afters

Taking the first step

"Just take the first step..."

That can be the hardest thing to do! But afterwards.... you  gain strength, you gain a new ability to proceed forward greater than you were before! 

Diligence

Wisdom

Strength

Patience

I will use a couple of examples:  I've been trying to save money and plan a future with my current boyfriend (such things like: marriage, family, etc.).  With that comes buckling down with my financial budgeting.  ... cutting coupons, no impulse buying, not eating out so much...  These are some things that I have had to take a "first step" in.  After taking that first initial step... the other steps become easier, and if not easier, I feel strengthened and more ready to take on the next challenge.  I haven't perfected it yet, but my boyfriend and I will cook together, and when we sit down to eat, we point out how much it "cost" us to make dinner in comparison to eating out to Whataburger or IHOP etc.  It encourages us that our choices are working for the good of our budgeting.

Working out is another challenge that I think a lot of us face everyday.  I love to workout because of how I feel afterwards, ...rejuvenated, energetic, alert.  Taking that "first step" is the hardest part.  Just the other day, I "made" myself workout on the wii fit plus for 30 minutes.... I loved it so much I wanted to keep going, but I was running out of time. 

So I ask you what challenges are you facing? 
What first steps do you need to take?
Take a challenge and "take the first step"

Grow up!

have you ever had someone tell you to "grow up!"

In some cases that's appropriate, because grown ups have to make grown up decisions, and live in the grown up world.

But the Lord says to have faith like a child. (Matthew 18:3-4)

Have you ever walked through a store where you see to your right the "toy section", and you want so badly to see the toys, but another part of you says, "no, you're too old for that".  With a giggle in my sentence, some of you might be old enough to have kids, so you can get away with the justification of looking at the toy section for your "kids".  I end up going down the aisles anyway, not really concerned of how "grown up" I am or should be... toys are FUN!

Take that concept with your "faith".  You want to live it out with such joy and excitement, and energy, and love, but sometimes we "grow up" in our faith and forget to keep the essence of a childlike faith, not questioning God so much, not trying so much to take matters into our own hands...etc...

So YES, continue to "GROW UP"

But also continue to "grow in your childlike faith also.  GO THROUGH THE TOY DEPARTMENT!  Push the shape buttons on the preschool steering wheel, flip through the coloring books, even maybe purchase one and color pictures and put them on your fridge or mail to a friend.  why not?

The Lost get Found...

Enjoy this expression of reaching out to OTHERS, telling the good news..  by: Britt Nicole.

HELPER

Have you ever asked for help and guidance and you will get good helpers, ones that help you to the best of their abilities; the okay helpers, there are usually strings attached; and the helpers that aren't helpers at all?

People can help, but I will tell you even a greater HELPER..

When Jesus spoke about HIM leaving soon, HE said "And I will ask the Father, and HE will give you another Helper to be with you forever" John 14:16

THE HOLY SPIRIT   aka  THE HELPER

This past week I can testify that when I broke down my pride and started asking for HIS help and guidance, it has come at me like a freight train.  .. in a good way..  But I say this because HE will never let me down, HE will never leave me, HE won't forsake me. 

I was just a whispered plea away... and HE came to my aid!

Have you ever asked THE HELPER for guidance and help?  I promise, your outcome will be the best for God's Glory.

Temptation: the Butter Bowl

When Nanny (my grandmother) said "girls, set the table", my sister and I would start setting out the plates, silverware, ..... condiments, such as ketchup, A1 sauce....and my favorite BUTTER.

That's right!  I was known to stick my finger in the BUTTER BOWL!  Every time we set the table, I was tempted to stick my finger in and scoop out a delightful cloud of butter goodness and eat it.  I got away with it a few times.  Here and there, my sister would tell on me.  Sometimes my grandmother just KNEW and would shout out from the other room, "Jamie, you better not be putting your finger in the butter bowl!"  I was tempted... I loved it!

TEMPTATION:  its a nasty business, and it starts when we're little, like butter bowls, video games, putting down others in order to be cool.
Later as grown ups we deal with it in the form of laziness (someone else will get it for me), food, overspending, pornography, lying...etc.

The best way to explain it is through this video.  Its a song from the VeggieTales Video:  "LarryBoy and the Bad Apple"  There is a villain that is a BAD apple named Temptation, and she out to take over the town and eventually the world.  She fights with tempting individuals with their weak spots, easy to trap them.  This song puts it into perspective.  ENJOY!

The BIGGEST Decision You Make

(An Expression through a dream: a conversation with the Anointed One: His expression to me)
My Love
How have you been?

I've been right here. Waiting for you to come to me again. I've been looking for you and I to have communion... to come and rest in me and regain your strength through your hard times with MY strength. You say I have forgotten you, ....you have forgotten ME and MY power and might...my love

Lord of All Creation: by: Jamie Cook

I want to remind you that you didn't just join a club or social group called "church", you entered into the BIGGEST decision you would ever make. You even said this choice was even bigger that who you would choose to marry and spend the rest of your life with!

You said "YES" to ME.
I am yours
you are MINE.

I gave everything (my life) to you
and I ask only 10% of your life back to ME, please give ME all of you, so I can have LORDSHIP over your life, and you can enter into MY peace.

Consider this my love.

I miss you.

Don't forget the decision you made, it changes the rest of your life

Afraid to Ask...

Have you ever been afraid to ask questions?

This issue is something I'm not so gentle with (as far as if its a waste of time to ask questions or forbidden).  There are questions always to be asked.  There is always room to grow.  There are always moments you want to know the truth so you feel complete. 

Nothing wrong with it, and I will stand up to anyone who believes differently.

Okay, now for the GENTLE part of this issue.  We must be gentle with each other when questions ARE asked.  This means not incorporating anger and degrading looks when the questions begin. 

For example, I have always been taught some moral standards to stand by according to the church body... along the road I've had a few questions about what the bible says, and what the christian says.... with this intrique I am not out to be angry or spiteful towards anyone, but when I have asked certian questions in the past, I have gotten replies back in anger, or "how dare you doubt" looks.  All I was looking for was more council and wisdom to know what is right and wrong. 

A part of me wonders if that is our instinct when confronted with something out of the norm... we start to take defense right away.  ... our duty is to be GENTILE and COMPASSIONATE towards the person asking.

Another example right now:  I have a lot of questions about "missions" and "being a missionary" and being "missional".  Because I have these questions, I'm not in doubt where I'm abandoning all hope or something, I'm simply asking questions that I don't have answers to... with hopes that I'm not judged for asking.

So my question for you is, ... Have you ever been the one asking the questions (which challenge the faith), or Have you ever been the one presented with such challenging questions?  if so on ether end, how have you delt with it?  please share.

The Coolest Interview EVER!

It was 6th or 7th grade, in our history class, and we were assigned to interview someone that went through the Great Depression.  I got to visit with a lady in her mid 70's .

It was the Coolest Interview EVER!  I remember sitting at her kitchen table, eating cookies, and a glass of ice tea.  Her wrinkled hands folded over, breathing calmly with each questions I asked.  Me being just a kid, I could relate to a lot of things she said, because SHE was just a kid when she remembered going throught the great depression.  She would tell me about how it seemed "different", and their food they ate had to change.  And that people were sad.  She also told me some good memories that she and her brothers and sister would play fun games even though times were tough.  Even as a kid, I was amazed to hear her story.  NOW as an adult I think I would have appriciated it more hearing her stories!

But growing up through the years I have heard great stories from my own kitchen table.  My grandmother at times would tell awesome stories, and she still does!!  One of my favorite stories is about her step brother having a pet monkey, and that it would eat her mother's lipstick all the time.

She would tell me stories about living around farm life, about the pros-and-cons of then and now.  She will tell stories of when my mother was a baby.  She even tells stories of her tough times she went through.

OVERALL these stories bring together HISTORY : where we came from, why we are here now, and what will we do next. 

Don't neglect listening to the older generation's stories... you will gain, understanding, knowledge, wisdom, and RESPECT... you'll start to see the BIG PICTURE.

Who are you going to interview?

I wonder WHY

I wonder why...
why do some bugs fly
and some do not
some have stripes
and some have spots

why do some plant grow flowers
while others grow food
some are poisonous
and some are good.

and I walk down the trail and look at the birds...

Why does each one
 have their own song
some notes are short
some are long.

I keep walking and look up at the sky

Why does the moon show his face
while the sun is still setting
why do the stars twinkle
when the sun is just waking

Why does the Lord
love somebody like me
I'm nothin' special
you see.

But just like the bugs, the birds
and the plants, and the sky
His purpose is pure
and I need not ask why

He answers with
these words so true
3 words:
"I MADE YOU"

New Year, New Day

Happy New Year to everyone!  The holiday schedule kept me away from my regular scheduled blogging, but I'm Back!

Every Year ..by the time its October, and I know there is Halloween candy, then Thanksgiving Dinner, then Christmas Dinner, then New Years Dinner... my first resolve is that I'll let myself go in my eating habits til new years and then make a resolution to diet, eat right, exercise more.  By the time May or June hits my commitments to the right diet have started to deteriorate for the year and I'm back in the cycle of October again.  I hate that I do this, but I'm trying to change it!  Have y'all ever done this?

We start something, start it well... and then.... ............. ... we start to ease up on the discipline.  What if we treated each day like New Years day?  wake up.... say its a new day... and I'm going to do .... (fill in the blank).

What if...
1.   we celebrated "Happy New Day"!?  That would totally change our perspective!

"Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new EVERY MORNING; great is Your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3: 22-23)

2.  Its good to make change each year (or day)

(Romans 12:2) "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

3.  Follow through..... FINISH

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4: 7)


So whatever your new year's resolutions are make them your NEW DAY's resolutions starting now. :D




*Note:  I'm back on schedule as of Monday.  Apologies for the missed blogs.**