Recharge

God doesn't get stressed or tired. He never wakes up sleepy or has restless nights. His body doesn't ache from being over worked. He doesn't need to take Advil or Tums. What did God do after a big project? He rested. He actually took the time to step back, cease whatever it was he was doing and relax. Should we take a lesson?

It is important that we take time to recharge physically, emotionally and spiritually from the demands of life. We need to take time to evaluate where we have been, where we are and where we are going. We need to take the time to be a friend, a mom and a Christian.

Studies show that people who fail to recharge their mental and physical batteries are more susceptible to illness and mistakes on the job. When my brother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer the doctors told him that stress promotes cancer. He held a management position at the time and dealt every day with high level stress in his job. Just remember that high level activity doesn't equal a quality life.

In addition to rest we must take time daily to sit at the feet of Jesus. Reading our Bible and spending quality time with our Lord will rejuvenate our spirit and life. Cultivating that relationship with Him will carry us through the mud of this life.

I pray that you will find time to rest in Jesus today. Blessings friend!

Credentialing Ceremony

Thankful Thursday - The Little Things

As we have been studying in my Sunday School class the past several weeks, we often take "things" for granted in our lives. It seems that November is the big month to express thankfulness to God for all that he does for us. Shouldn't that be a daily process?

I am thankful today for an awesome church family who made my birthday Sunday very special. There were so many cards, gifts and flowers. God has blessed Bobby and I with an awesome church.

I am thankful today for an incredible husband. Bobby performed my credentialing ceremony Sunday and it was an awesome experience. He was very emotional and that is one of the things I love so much about him. He has such a compassionate and loving heart. I am blessed.

I am thankful for coffee and Starbucks gift cards! I can't imagine my day without COFFEE!

I am thankful that my asthma and allergy meds are working! Yippee!!

I am thankful for my new laptop that my hubby bought me. It is such a blessing to connect with folks all over the world who have a passion to serve Christ.

I am thankful for our patio and patio furniture. I love sitting on my patio. It is my place of rest.

I am thankful for friends who believe in me and pray for me every day.

I am thankful for the numerous opportunities that God has given me in ministry. I am coordinating the Potomac District ministry for Women in Ministry for pastor's wives and credentialed women and it has been such a blessing. I am looking forward to connecting with many of these ladies this weekend at the Ladies Winter Conference in Williamsburg, VA.

I am thankful that God still listens and answers prayers.

What are you thankful for today? Iris at Grace Alone is hosting today. Check out the blogs from the other ladies on this topic.

Blessings to you!

Tour 29:11 Springfield

Tour 29:11 Springfield http://www.tour2911.com/ will host their event tonight in Springfield, MO at Gillioz Theatre. Brandon Shank, Evangelist http://www.brandonshank.wordpress.com/ is a powerful speaker and anointed by God.

Thank you for praying these past weeks for this event. Will you continue to pray with me for God's divine favor over this ministry? Let's pray that this crusade evangelism will touch thousands of students in the Springfield area. Let's believe that lives will be transformed never to be the same!

Blessings!

Thankful Thursday - Love

This week Iris is hosting Thankful Thursday and her topic is Love. Scoot on over and check out the other blogs on this subject.

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Love is more important than all the spiritual gifts exercised in the church body. Great faith, acts of dedication or sacrifice, and miracle-working power produce very little without love. Love makes our actions and gifts useful. Although people have different gifts, love is available to everyone.

God's kind of love is directed outward as in expression toward others, not inward toward ourselves. It is utterly unselfish and totally not about "me". This kind of love goes against our natural inclinations. It is possible to practice this love only if God helps us set aside our own selfish desires and instincts, so that we can give love while expecting absolutely nothing in return. The more we become like Christ, the more love we will show to others.

I am so thankful today that God's love never fails. It is steadfast and solid and He loves me even when I mess up.

I am thankful that my hubby's love never fails. I am thankful that he forgives me when I am stressed and not always treating him the way he deserves to be treated.

I am thankful for the love of Brooke, Jesse, Luke, Tori, Brandon and Casey. God has blessed me with a beautiful family.

I am thankful for a Christian mother who just celebrated her 75th birthday.

Blessings to you!

In "other" Words - Love

What is love, from a kid’s point of view?

When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s love.

When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth.

Love is when someone hurts you, and you get so mad, but you don’t yell at them because you know it would hurt their feelings.

Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is okay.

Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.

Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.

Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.

Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.

You really shouldn’t say "I love you" unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.

These are so precious!

Karen at In Love W.I.T.H. Jesus is hosting In "other" Words this week. Check out the other ladies blogs on this topic.

Blessings and love to you today!

Thankful Thursday

Iris at Grace Alone is hosting Thankful Thursday today and she has chosen "Change" as the topic this week. Visit her site and also read the other ladies comments today. You will be blessed!

Change..... Many despise the word because they refuse to change anything in their lives. I welcome change. Even as I get older I love change. Change is exciting and brings with it new challenges. I believe as a Christian we must be willing to accept changes. Shouldn't we always be changing in our walk with Christ? In order to grow in our relationship with Him don't we need to change in some areas of our lives?

I am thankful today for so many things. God is just so good to me and continues to pour out His blessings upon my life and ministry.

I am thankful today for the doors of opportunity that continue to open for my ministry. God is awesome and continually full of surprises!

I am thankful for a mom who loves Jesus Christ and will celebrate her 75th birthday next week.

I am thankful that Jericho (our BIG dog) was ok last weekend after eating six large chocolate candy bars!

I am thankful that God helps me to welcome change in my life.

I am thankful for my position at the District Office. I recently celebrated ten years at the office!

I am thankful for a wonderful husband who is a man of God, loves me and appreciates me for who I am.

Blessings to each of you today!

Proceed With Caution

Last week we had a storm which was mostly ice. It made walking very hazardous to one's body parts! I helped shovel our driveway late in the day and it was extremely difficult to navigate on the ice. Taking the dogs out to the potty was also a very stressful journey!

My hubby and I have been pastoring for a long time and often times we see the warning signs and flashing lights in people's lives long before they do. We have both counseled many who were living life in a very loose and careless fashion only to find themselves in a very bad situation later simply because they did not heed the warning signs. Bad choices are a result of ignoring the caution signs as we walk through this life. The end result - pain, humiliation and suffering.

As I navigated gingerly on the ice last week I was cautious as I carefully took each step. I didn't assume my shoes would not allow me to slip and fall. Matter of fact, I slipped often but thankfully did not fall. Since the neighbors were also outside shoveling their driveways that would have been quite embarrassing!

We should never take for granted God's warnings to us in his Word. Any of us can slip and fall in our Christian walk and when we come to the place where we feel we are exempt from making those kind of mistakes - look out! The enemy is on the prowl waiting to devour those who love and serve Christ. We each have weaknesses and the enemy is fully aware of what those weaknesses are. Reading our Bibles, praying and cultivating a close relationship with Christ is imperative as we strive to be more like Him. When we become "slackers" in Christ we might find ourselves in deep waters of temptation. As we pursue holiness and Godliness in our lives we must proceed with caution. Ignoring the warning signs could be extremely hazardous to our spiritual health.

Visit Amy at In Pursuit of Proverbs 31 to check out other ladies blogs on this topic.

Blessings!

Marriage Monday - The Surprise of Christian Marriage

Marriage Monday is a new post I have discovered in blog world. It is hosted today by Lynn and the topic discussed today is "The Surprise of Christian Marriage".

My hubby and I will celebrate our 36th wedding anniversary in July. WOW! How time flies when you are having fun!!! Seriously, time has passed so quickly. Our children are grown, married and now we are grandparents.

Marriage is a tough assignment and if someone tells you otherwise I am not certain they are being completely honest about the journey or else they are still on their honeymoon!

Bobby and I were married very young. We were high school sweethearts and married a month after I graduated from high school. The following month we left to attend Bible College in another state. Those were extremely challenging years. Not only were we young and immature, but we were trying to adjust to marriage, college, living in another state and ministry!

Just because two Christians decide to marry doesn't mean you will be exempt from challenges, stress and heartache. Life happens and Christians are faced with trials just like anyone else. The one significant difference in our lives - we have Jesus.

If I have to identify a "surprise" about our marriage it would have to be the fact that I had absolutely no idea ministry would be so difficult. Many times the stress of ministry overwhelmed both of us and it created so much stress in the early years of our marriage . But as the years passed we have learned to be a support for one another and that is extremely important. Ladies, pastors deal with so many challenging issues and they need someone who will listen to them. If we are not that person they may find someone else who will.

I am very involved in our ministry and we confide in one another. Friday nights are our "date night" and we try very hard to keep that as a sacred time together. Life gets very hectic and you need time to simply enjoy each other's company and reconnect after a busy week of events.

There are many challenges that come along with ministry but through the years those challenges have made our marriage stronger. We have learned to trust God in all circumstances. Praying together and allowing God to guide our next step has certainly been the answer to many situations we have faced.

The one thing I realize after all these years is that I love my husband more today than the day I married him. As each year passes my love grows even stronger. He is my best friend, an awesome father to our children, an incredible grandfather and the love of my life. I cannot imagine my life without him.

Blessings!

You Have Blessed Me

I am still in shock! I cannot believe that my blog has been included in the Internet Cafe Devotions Top 100 Christian Women's Blog for 2008 as a Pouring Proverbs 31 Blog. WOW and WOW! What an honor!

I started my blog over two years ago as a ministry tool. All honor, glory and praise must be given to my Lord and Savior. He is so awesome and continues to bless me in so many ways. Without Him I am nothing. He continues to open doors I never thought were possible.

Thank you friends for nominating my blog. You have truly blessed me more than you will ever know.

Congratulations to the other incredible ladies who were also nominated! Please visit the Internet Cafe and check out their blogs.

Blessings and hugs!