NEW IDEA!!!!

Ok..so....my dad inspired me to do a new weekly blog. 

We were walking around the farm tonight and my dad had the boys pose for this picture:

It's the beginning of summer and there is LOTS of corn planted on the farm.  Dad and I were talking about how much the boys were growing....the twins will be starting kindergarten in August (mommy isn't ready so let's stop talking about it before I cry) AND we tend to forget Caden is 15 months younger because he is right there with them on every level.  We were also talking about how much the corn has grown and how quickly. 

That is when dad had the boys pose with the corn. SO....I said..."DAD!  I can take a picture of the boys just like this EVERY Tuesday in this same spot and compare how the kids and the corn are growing all summer!".  Naturally he and my mom LOVED the idea and so did I.  Therefore, every Tuesday will be "SPROUTING UP TUESDAY" and I will post a picture of my babies (yeah I know they aren't really babies but they will always be my babies) in this same spot with the corn for the entire summer.  HOW FUN!!!  I am excited to see the changes...even though I hate to see them growing up so fast. 

Tune in each week!!!

HAPPY TUESDAY!

FAITH HOPE LOVE PRAYER AND SUPERHERO JESUS?

God answers prayer. That excites me. It always will. But the best thing about prayer is that it brings us close to God. He always listens. He always loves. He always does what is good. He's always there.

Prayer is one of the most important activities of the believer. It is central to all that we are, and all that we are called to do.

Prayer is very simple. Yes, prayer has many facets. Yes, it always deals with things beyond our sight, and many times, things beyond our understanding. However, even with all this apparent mystery, prayer is still fundamentally very simple. For prayer has but one ingredient – Faith.

Without faith it's impossible to please God. 

Hebrews 11:6 reads:  And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Our relationship with the Lord is dependent on faith. Faith is what brings the things God has provided for us from the spiritual realm into the physical realm.

Hebrews 11:1 reads: Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Everything the Lord does for us is accessed through faith.

One of the areas about faith that used to give me the most trouble was the concept that I needed to acquire more faith and that some people have much faith, while others have virtually none. I spent a lot of effort, like a dog chasing its tail, trying to get something I already had. Every born-again Christian already has the same quality and quantity of faith that Jesus has. That's awesome!

In Ephesians 2:8, Paul says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" It's God's grace that saves us, but not His grace alone.  We have to put faith in God's grace, but the faith that we use isn't our own human faith. This verse says that faith is the gift of God.

Human faith can only believe what it can see, taste, hear, smell, or feel; it's limited to the five senses. Using natural human faith, we can sit in a chair we've never sat in and believe it will hold us up. We fly in airplanes when we don't fully understand how they work, and we don't know the pilot, but we trust that everything will be okay. That takes human faith, which God gave to every person.

Yet when it comes to God, we have to believe things that we cannot see. You haven't seen God or the devil. You haven't seen heaven or hell. You haven't seen sin; therefore, you wouldn't know what you would look like if your sins were taken away. However, you have to believe in all these things to be born again. How can you believe in things you can't see? The answer is that you can't believe in invisible things with human faith. You need God's supernatural faith.

Romans 4:17 says, "God ... calleth those things which be not as though they were." God's faith goes beyond sight. God's faith operates supernaturally, beyond the limitations of our natural faith.

That's the kind of faith we have to use to receive salvation. We have to believe in God, whom we have not seen, and believe that our sins are forgiven, which we cannot prove by natural means. It takes God's supernatural faith to receive salvation. Where do we get it from? We get it from God's Word.

Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." We access God's faith through His Word.

When we hear God's Word, the Holy Spirit empowers it, and if we receive the truth, God's supernatural faith enters us. We were so destitute that we couldn't even believe the good news on our own. God had to make His kind of faith available to us so that we could believe in Him and receive His salvation. We were saved by using God's supernatural faith to receive His grace.  I know...it sounds like I am talking superhero as if Jesus wears a Superman costume.  You probably have an image similar to this in your head right now:

But it is supernatural in a way.  GOD is more powerful than we are.  He is the ALPHA and the OMEGA...the beginning and the end.  Our GOD is an amazing GOD!!!!

Once we receive God's supernatural faith at salvation, it doesn't leave us. Galatians 5:22-23 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, FAITH, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (emphasis mine). Faith becomes a permanent part of our born-again spirits. We sometimes use the God kind of faith that's present in our spirits and other times we don't.The truth is, it is always present. There is no lack of faith within any true Christian. There is just a lack of knowing and using what God has already given us.

The more you know about faith and how it works, the better it will work for you. If all you knew was that you have the same faith Jesus has, then that would remove hopelessness and motivate you. People would eventually see results if they just kept trying, but they give up easily because they believe they don't have what it takes. That is not true. The Lord has given us everything we need, including all the faith we need. We just need to acknowledge what we have and begin to learn the operation of God's faith. We just need to learn to TRUST Him and to BELIEVE in Him and to speak to Him in Prayer and to PRAISE him no matter what we are facing in our lives. 

FAITH  HOPE  LOVE  PRAYER AND YES MAYBE EVEN A SUPERHERO JESUS...AFTERALL HE SAVED ME!

Friday Faves!!!!

1.  After my blog about storms last night, we got a HUGE storm here at the house last night!  It was scary at times but beautiful all the same!

2. Family who is my everything! There is nothing better, as well, then when a friend becomes family!

3.  The new toy that Paw-Paw has purchased for his 6 grandbabies!!!

4. This awesome song from Toby Mac...I am LOVING this song!!!

5.  My Hubby...he sacrifices so much for this family.  I am NOT always the most supportive of his Army career but I want him to know I am PROUD of him and I RESPECT him so much for what he does.  I know that as bad as it is for me to not have him here, it's even worse for him.  I am honored to be his wife and I love him with all that I am. 

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE!

ENCOURAGEMENT THROUGH THE STORMS

Several times this week, friends have come to me and asked me to pray for them.  Each of them weathering a "storm" in their life, a storm that has them reaching out and asking for prayers.  I myself have weathered my own storms in my life this week.  Nothing serious...just normal everyday, dealing with 3 little boys type of storms.  Even so....a storm is a storm.  No matter how big nor how small. 

I did a little research...quickly...as my friends were needing prayers and words of wisdom....to find the PERFECT scriptures to share with them to offer them encouragement and support.  I have never been on good at knowing exactly where to turn in the Bible for needed scriptures.  But Hey...I am learning! 

Today, I decided to share my words along with the scriptures I found.  I felt led to do so, afterall...we all have storms in our lives at various moments.  We could always use encouragement and scripture. If nothing else, as a reminder for how AWESOME our GOD is...how UNCONDITIONALLY HE LOVES US!  HE is always there!  I don't know about you, but that truly fills me with JOY!

TO MY FRIENDS or anyone else who may come across this and need encouragement:

FIRST AND FOREMOST:   GOD LOVES YOU!!! HE MADE YOU AND KNOWS YOU INSIDE AND OUT.  YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE BECAUSE HE CREATED YOU!  THEREFORE YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL AND FULL OF POTENTIAL!

Psalm 139
You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts,^[a] God!
How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand —
when I awake, I am still with you.

¹⁹ If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
²⁰ They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
²² I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
²³ Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

Philippians 4

New International Version (NIV)

Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity

4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

² I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. ³ Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Final Exhortations

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Thanks for Their Gifts

¹⁰ I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
¹⁴ Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. ¹⁵ Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; ¹⁶ for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. ¹⁷ Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. ¹⁸ I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
²⁰ To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

²¹ Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. ²² All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.
²³ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.


We all face times in our lives when we feel inadequate and that the world would be better off without us. However, you MUST remember that you were created by God. He loved you enough to create you in HIS image and works daily to conform you to his likeness through the Holy Spirit. Genesis 1:26-27  reads:

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

²⁷ So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  
 God did not make ANY mistakes! He is all knowing, all powerful and He rules over all creation. Read Psalm 139 and remember that God made you fearfully and wonderfully. Also, read Philippians 4 and meditate on the things in verse 8. In verses 11-13, Paul states that he knows how to respond in every situation because Christ strengthens him. Paul also reminds us in Philippians 4:19 that the Lord will provide all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus!

BE ENCOURAGED!!! You are a child of God and He LOVES you. He HAS A PLAN and PURPOSE for your life that he planned even before you EVER existed (Psalm 139:16).

"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus"
(2 Timothy 2:1).

 Even through the hard times and times you think GOD has forsaken you, He has a plan, even though at times you may not see it for years...it's just HIS way. One of the best things I can tell you is to NEVER give up....To NEVER let go of GOD...pray and pray and pray....worship him and give him your worries and fears and burdens. I can promise you that HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!!! I have learned that the hard way and I can promise you that what I say is true. I am living proof!!

 I LOVE Jesus. I KNOW that He is the ONLY WAY to a happy and a fulfilling life. Through him you were given life and through him you can fully experience life. It's a love and joy like no other. 

Isaiah 41:10 says "Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Isaiah 43:2 says that "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. And when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you."

God is not missing in action when our lives get stormy. God is HERE! Encouraging us. Helping us. Orchestrating every situation and circumstance in accordance with the purpose of His will.

The good news is that in the middle of our own personal storm, God gives us a word of hope! A message of encouragement!
In ACTS 27:22-25 Paul says to the people:
  "Keep up your courage, because last night, I got a message from God! An angel appeared to me and said, "Do not be afraid. You must stand trial before Caesar, and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you. So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me."

Isaiah 41:10

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 43:2

New International Version (NIV)

² When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Paul had a word from God to help him through the storm. And so do we.

God uses the storms in our lives to get our attention. To make us more receptive to His word. Although sometimes there is nothing we areselves can do, there’s something that God can do.
God cares about our stormy circumstances!!!
And not only does God give us a message of hope for the storm. And a ministry for the storm. But He also gives us a purpose for the storm. GOD always has a REASON! He doesn't MAKE the bad things in our lives happen, the storms per say, but he USES THEM to MAKE THINGS RIGHT in our lives!!! It's not always easy to remember that. We want to ask GOD why He did it or why He allowed it to happen...it's human nature. It's just important to remember that HE LOVES US and our happiness is EVERYTHING to him....so he will use the BAD things to MAKE GOOD things. Our GOD is merciful and LOVING and he wants us to be HAPPY and COMPLETE. With HIM as our #1..we CAN! 2 Timothy 4:18 says that "The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack bring my safely to His heavenly kingdom." My message to you is that you can trust God when your life gets stormy. You can trust God when things go unexpectedly wrong. And you can trust God even when things seem hopeless. I pray that you would be receptive to His love for you and to His plan for your life. I pray that you will trust where he lead you to go for he would NEVER lead you astray! I also pray that you would allow Him to still the storms in your life. I will be praying for you and I am here for you!!!!!!! Be strong and be faithful!!!!

SORRY I HAVEN'T BEEN BLOGGING BUT....

WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE FARM LIFE IN ALL IT'S GLORY!  I have been SO BUSY ENJOYING LIFE that blogging was the last thing on my mind.....and I am kinda glad for that.  Life has gotten so technologically busy that it's easy to loose track of just LIFE.  I was guilty of that until we moved too!  Moving out onto the farm has helped changed that..BIG TIME!  We have been taking time to "stop and smell the roses" ...well in our case the manure!  LOL  Either way though...life has been great!!!!!! 

I have literally LOVED every single second of this life. 

This house.

These fields, ponds, barns and trees! 

THE COWS AND TRACTORS!!

Our time as a family has been AMAZING!

Watching my boys having this way of life is a blessing in itself!  They play outside and use their imaginations and just literally have a BLAST! 

We have had LOTS of company.  After our first week here we hosted a mother's day cookout and 20 friends and family came!!!!  As soon as we grilled the food the rain began but we moved EVERYONE into our 2 car garage and had a blast!  We even had a bon fire complete with smores while the drizzle fell. 

I've had friends come out we've had the funnest of fun!!!

EVEN THE DOGS ARE HAVING A GREAT TIME!!

SO....

IF MY BLOGGING SEEMS TO BECOME FEW AND FAR BETWEEN AT TIMES....

THERE ARE MANY REASONS FOR IT.....

FOR INSTANCE....WE COULD BE CHASING A TRACTOR:

 OR......HIDING IN THE CLOTHES LINE

MAYBE WE ARE JUST SITTING OUTSIDE ENJOYING THE SKIES, GOD'S BEAUTY IN PERSON!

THERE IS EVEN A SLIM CHANCE THAT WE ARE OUT RIDING DOWN THE LANE IN OUR BIRTHDAY SUITS!! :-)