Wholesomeness

Can't find a title

2010-03-03T09:13:00.000-08:00

I couldn't decide on what to put as the title of this post. It's like I can write about our current trials, my recent reading, my thankfulness study, or the homeschooling. But I think I will just give an update.
First, I need new pictures! I am going to dress the kids up today and get them in among the spring wildflowers growing on the property. Between house hunting and homeschooling I feel like life is just blurring on by.
Kids are doing great. Thankful that the weather is finally turning nice again. I was beginning to wonder if we really moved to South Texas at all!
We are trying to find out own place to call home. We have been living in my in-laws second house out in the country. We still don't have our belongings as they are in storage and I am starting to get really frustrated. Especially with teaching the kids and not having all my books and supplies. I feel wasteful when I have to make a duplicate purchase on something that I know I have. HOWEVER, in light of being grateful, I cannot complain about our time out here. We have grown to like it our here. It's quiet and peaceful and best of all, free! We just take care of the utilities and taxes. You cannot beat that. Who knows maybe we will just remodel it and stay here for a bit! LORD, please send the trumpet down here and blast in my ear what it is we are to do!!!!

I promise to get some new pictures posted real soon.

My latest reading

2010-02-12T12:02:00.000-08:00

I completed the Beth Moore book, Why godly people do ungodly things. I was hoping to uncover somethings about others in my life. Answer a few unanswered questions. Ha, you know when you approach something with that kind of attitude, I do believe it can become humbling. And I know it was for me.

She took the approach about how we are all succeptible to Satan's attack. He doesn't just creep in overnight and lay victory. A spirit filled child of the King can over time lose their grip and do things that are ungodly. And we aren't just talking immoral sexual sins. Anything that isn't in light of God's word is living in sin.

I actually found victory over a huge stumbling block in my life. And that is my conscience. Yes, I talk the gospel, I live the gospel, but my mind has been under such bondage. And it comes from not letting the full work of the cross overcome it. Trusting God when he says He has cast my sins into the sea of forgetfullness, He actually did. For me to still hold onto the guilt is not letting Christ do the full work of what he came for. It's like punishing myself over and over. Feeling tormented. And he said His burden was easy and His yoke light.

My favorite quote from her book was about how we aren't innocent by any means but that our conscience is clear of guilt.

So after some prayer and fasting this week, my steps are lighter and I am ready to face any giant!

5 weeks and going strong

2010-02-10T07:51:00.000-08:00

So we've been homeschooling for 5 weeks now. I often wonder if what I am doing is the right thing. We are not an early rising family that jumps right into workbook activities. We take our time in the morning and then roll into devotion and a group study of whatever has taken fancy. Right now it's about the 50 states. We have this electronic encyclopedia that they read up on and then fill me in on the details. Math and Spelling I am still trying to figure out. Right now it's a hodge-podge of free websites that I find. Reading has been fairly easy. Writing being one of the hardest subjects to find motivation for. I find that as long as I time writing to be one of the subjects to knock out first than the rest is fairly easy.

I see some big changes in the boys. They definitely play better together. For the most part. They have their moments! The whole un-schooling portion has been quite trying at times. The kids are having to see me as their constant authority. Whereas before I could seperate the teacher and mother role...now it's all rolled into one. There are those moments when they talk about their old school life. I try to just listen and let them know that we are making new memories. I hope that they are more joyous than before.

We have learned a few things that before we wouldn't have been able to because of it interferring with their 7-3 schedule. We have been searching for a house and in the process helped a family member dig out their stuck tractor. The kids were able to see first hand how adults try to weigh their odds. It was quite the adventure!

So, now that I am becoming comfortable in the new routine, it's time to start branching out and meeting new people. Our first venture will be a Valentine's party held at another homeschooling family's home. Kids are excited!

Time for updates!

2010-01-07T14:59:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's been almost a year since I made my last posting. I guess it's time for some updates. I am sure I don't have that many followers who worry about it!
So for a quick year in recap here we go.
We have retired from the Air Force. Louis served 21 years active duty. During the 7 years we have been married we have lived in North Dakota, Iceland, and California. Now we live in Texas. Which is probably going to be where we call our home state for the rest of our years...God Willing.
Before we moved here to South Texas we lived 3 months in a 23ft travel trailer with 3 kids! Quite the tight space! We took our time moving back to Texas plus banked in some of the money that the AF paid for our housing allowance. The travel trailer experience had its ups and downs for sure, but all in all it brought us closer and definitely more appreciative for space.
We moved into Louis' parent's second house out in the country. We don't plan on being out here too much longer, but it's rent free and in today's economy we aren't complaining.
I will post some of our travels later but for now some of the most recent changes would be the fact that we have decided to homeschool the kids. It has always been a desire of mine but wanted to get some heart issues cleaned up first. God has been faithful to hear that cry of mine. With the gentle persuasion of a neighbor and friends we did it. And then of course they are moving! So I feel a bit dissappointed about that but I know I am smart enough to take it on! It will be okay. First we have to start with some unschooling to help clear out the old practices which is proving challenging. But even now I see some differences in the kids.
Louis will be attending school as well. We haven't found any jobs here so he's going back to school. Then in the midst of all this we found a 1880's Victorian house that needs some serious love. If it works out in the next few months we may have our own really cool place to live in!

Foregiveness

2009-02-17T09:53:00.000-08:00

There is a parable Jesus tells about a man who is forgiven alot of money...probably like in our times a million bucks. That's alot of money to just be told, okay you can walk away. Who then turns around and to someone who owed him just a few dollars, told him to pay up. When the person couldn't pay it up had him arrested and beaten. WOW! How can that happen?! The morale of the story is, Jesus came for our sins and forgave us this huge debt. One that we could never pay back. Why then do we turn to others and hold them ransome?
Well, as life goes on...I have come to the conclussion that in my own life I have not been forgiving people and hanging on to the bitter ugly. How God uses the tough stuff of life to weed it out! But one thing is for sure, I am a child of the MOST HIGH GOD! And even in all my faults and failures He loves me enough to keep putting me to the test! Pslam 139:23...try me O God and know my heart...
1Peter 4:12-16
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And,
“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

There is a verse that I cannot place at the time but paraphrasing it goes like this...God uses things in our life that the world looks at as weird to make us better to serve him....yeah paraphrasing!

God is at work in our lives in this little family. Even though the trials and tribulations can seem so hard and difficult at the moment...I choose to forgive. If I can't forgive than I am not giving room for God to work. So it's up to me to make room for Him!

There is a contemperary Christian song that goes on about chaos but it's peaceful. That's me right now. I don't understand, and don't "get" it at times but God knows my heart and has a plan for me. Even in the midst of trials and tribulations His plan will get done! So it's up to me to focus and let Him work!!! Yeah!!!

disclaimer: it's easier said than done some days...all content of this message is to tell my story to others so that they know they aren't alone on those days... lol

Random thoughts this Friday...

2009-01-23T14:26:00.000-08:00

I know I haven’t been very active on here lately. On my list of to-do’s it’s a low priority. I mean I haven’t even been able to keep up with the laundry. Starting to become a serious issue…
One thing for sure is our retirement! We are in a 4 ½ window now!!!! WOWIE!! I cannot believe I am 30 years old and gonna be a retiree!! Now I am laughing! Well, guess that’s what happens when you marry an older man.
So we are planning this great camping vacation across America. What a hoot it’s going to be.
Our first stop: Yosemite. The process it took for me to even get a reservation on that place is a whole other blog.
After that stop we want to try our hand at panning for gold, sifting for opals and digging dino bones! Stopping at a few breath taking National parks but all in all, just relaxing at various wonderful places our Creator placed on this earth. Can you imagine what it’s going to be like waking up drinking our coffee at some of these places? It will be absolutely amazing.
It was funny because a few days ago we experienced another Vandenberg special: POWER OUTAGE # 23. We should receive special duty pay for those days!
For some of you who may know me I spent some time in my youth without power. We would have it briefly in the evening and on special occasions but for the most part of my stay in Bolivia we had no power. I also grew up without TV, radio, electronics…except for the sewing machine. So for me, a day without power is okay. NOT the end of the world.
However the next day I hear complaint after complaint about how awful it was not to watch their television shows. I mean, REALLY? Life revolves around that? I don’t know, maybe it’s just me…but I think there is more to life than that. So I tried to share that with some folks. HOW BLESSED WE ARE IN the US; when our biggest gripe in life is no power. No entertainment. Some people in the world right now have no heat because of monopolies of huge money hungry countries.
I think some of it stems back to something our pastor said last Sunday. My response to him is, “I want to be on fire for God”. Not stuck in this endless cycle of what’s on TV. and who’s doing what. But more so, what can I do for God? How can he use me? CALL ON ME JESUS BECAUSE YOUR SERVANT IS READY!
If you want to know more or just need to be feed some Word of God, I follow the blog and weekly download to Words of LFC. Check them out, great messages…and they are free!!!
So that’s my ramblings for now. Had to get that off my chest.

Had to respost this from a blog I follow

2009-01-01T10:40:00.001-08:00

"Once, when the people of God had become careless in their relationship with Him, the Lord rebuked them through the prophet Haggai. “Consider your ways!” (Haggai 1:5) he declared, urging them to reflect on some of the things happening to them, and to evaluate their slipshod spirituality in light of what God had told them.
Even those most faithful to God occasionally need to pause and think about the direction of their lives. It’s so easy to bump along from one busy week to another without ever stopping to ponder where we’re going and where we should be going.
The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.
What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?
What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?
He continues:
So let’s evaluate our lives, make plans and goals, and live this new year with biblical dilgence, remembering that, ‘the plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage’ (Proverbs 21:5). But in all things let’s also remember our dependence on our King who said, ‘Apart from Me you can do nothing’ (John 15:5)."

Merry Christmas to all

2008-12-24T10:06:00.001-08:00

I just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year! We have so much to be thankful for. "The Lord Gives and the Lord Takes away. Blessed be His Name"

Just a quick little Christmas letter from us.

We are in California for just a few more months. Louis is retiring and we are moving back to Texas. That's the plan for now!

We survived all the fires and rains of this year. We live in such a moderate area that to see other places get slammed with snow and floods makes us thankful! However beautiful we are ready to get back to family.

We gained a beautiful daughter this year! Irelynn Rose. She is now six months.

Jorryn started Kindergarten and has grown up so much.

Hunter is in 2nd grade and is losing all his teeth!

Me- raising my babies oh, and I graduated with my BS this year! Yeah!

Louis- just trying to slide under the radar for a few more months. Thank you hunnie for all your service to our country!

I hope you all cherish your families this year and remember the reason for the season! JESUS!

Love to all, the Alcosers

Traditions

2008-12-16T12:29:00.001-08:00

When I was a young girl about the age of 12 my parents decided that Christmas was a pagan holiday. They made that decision based off the passages in Isaiah 44 and the workers who make graven images from trees and worship them. Then they told us children that is what we do to the Christmas tree. We set it up, decorate it, then sing songs like "O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree...how beautiful." And that was idolatry to them. Hey, I am not faulting the conviction and obedience to God's word, but I think in their haste they faulted.
It has taken me many years to get into the spirit of Christmas. Is it idolatry? Are we bowing down to a pagan ritual? I passed off those thoughts and eventually realized that it's what you make of it. What are the holiday's truly about? I mean we tell our kids the Biblical accounts and we keep "Christ" in Christmas, but why do we make it a special occasion? I found my heart's burning questions!
I was reading a book recently called Across the Kitchen Table by Pamela Read Von Gohren. She writes about home education for our children and some of her observations. I have been thinking about homeschooling my children and broke out all my books to seek some answers. She dedicated a whole chapter to traditions and she tied it into the Old Testament. During the many years the children of Israel wondered the desert God himself gave them feasts and days of celebrations. Some of them lasting several days. He didn't do it for them to build golden idols and worship them, He did it so they could be together and reflect on their abundance that He provided. He desires us to be together. To pull our resources and enjoy each other's company with Him being the focal point.
I am so thankful that I can give these holidays to my children and teach them some traditions. Not to get caught up in the rituals but what it's about. Of course I need to remember that myself as I prepare! I mean yesterday I baked about 18 dozen cookies for the young folks here who won't be going home and by the end I was cranky! Not sure if that teaches them anything right now but it is something we do every year to give a little of ourselves for those who don't have anything.
Hunter and I rang the Salvation Army bell together. It was a great time! We also will be giving to less fortunate children as well. These things teach them that even though we don't have a whole lot ourselves we can still give. We are well blessed above and beyond we could ever deserve.

my own convictions

2008-12-16T12:19:00.000-08:00

I have been allowing bad attitudes to creep in lately. I know why. I have not been spending enough time with the one who can clear it up. I received an email from a website I signed up with a long time ago. It's my own fault I know but during the day I have been just praying that God help me help my children. I see anger and frustration creeping into them as well. My oldest has become so critical of everyone around him. I have forgotten all my Love and Logic training! And as to an answer to my prayer I GOT MAIL!!! lol

So I am just going to copy the article into my blog for this round. Not sure if anyone reads it, but I think it's pretty convicting.

Bad Attitude
By: Michael Pearl
"In one of our recent seminars, a mother complained to Debi, “The children frustrate me so much...
...I tell them to do their school work, and they just piddle around. I tell them to clean up their rooms, and they fuss over who is to clean up what. They are always irritating one another. It frustrates me so much, trying to cause them to maintain a good attitude. They are always complaining and whining about something. I get frustrated and spank them, but it seems to do no good. They just don’t seem to care. They pick on each other continuously. I get so frustrated....” Debi interrupted her mournful complaints to answer, “Yes, it is an attitude problem.” The weary mother hastily agreed, “That’s it! They have bad attitudes.” Debi responded, “No, it’s you that has the bad attitude.” The mother’s widening eyes and gaping mouth expressed her dismay as she stood waiting for the forthcoming explanation.
Are you a frustrated parent? Is your brow drawn tight as if pulled by draw strings? If parenting is not enjoyable, be assured, you have a bad attitude. When your children look into your face what do they see? They are not fooled. They know what you feel toward them. Your face is a graph of approval or rejection. Verbal “positive affirmation” is not enough; in fact, it is worse than nothing if there is not genuine delight in your heart. Children can see through a parent who is made of muddy water. If they see disappointment and criticism they will answer in kind. Discontented parents breed discontented children. Your attitude is the root of the family attitude tree. A bitter root cannot produce sweet fruit.
Parental attitudes are highly contagious, and the children usually come down with a worse case. “More is caught than taught.” And children seem more highly susceptible to catching a bad attitude than of being taught to have a good one. They can catch the disease of bad attitude while being passive. On the other hand, they must exert themselves to have a good attitude.
Your children are playing follow-the-leader. They are deaf to your words, but they “hear” your attitude loud and clear. Example has always been more effective than theory. Where parents are constantly modeling the bad attitude; a good attitude is just a theoretical concept to the child. Try as they may, they can’t quite fathom the meaning of a good attitude—it has been so long since they have seen one. If you dress your children in tight pinching shoes, don’t blame them for having sore feet.
The bad news is that you are responsible for the condition of your children. The good news is that you don’t have to be frustrated over attempting to change them. You only need to change yourself. Since their attitudes are reflections of your own, you need only change your attitude, and the reflections will change.
I know you are only expressing your displeasure over their foolishness. You are using your disapproving scowl as a threat to induce them to shame. They are supposed to so crave your approval that they make great sacrifices to win your smile. It is not working is it? Actually, you are working against the very thing you desire to achieve.
There is a natural principle you must understand: Children living under condemnation are not motivated to good works. None of us seek to please someone who is condemning us. You have trained your face to display a nearly constant look of disapproval, disappointment, and frustration. You may nag or gripe them into relenting to your will, but you can never bad-attitude them into a good attitude. Children cannot be intimidated into positive character. To stand off and criticize their performance will not induce them to a rectifying shame. No one has ever been motivated to climb out from under a pile of disapproval to win the praise and affections of his or her accuser.
The law of human nature is such that condemnation and shame cause an alienation that only produces more disobedience. Paul said
“The motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death (Romans 7:5).” “Because the law worketh wrath... (Romans 4:15).”
But if you become so disappointed with their failure that you assume an air of judicial condemnation, they will unwillingly accept the blame, but THEY WILL NOT HAVE THE MORAL COURAGE TO CHANGE. Law and condemnation never produce righteousness. If you are always ready to show them what is wrong, but do not constantly exemplify what is right, they will cower under your judgments while continuing to grow into the likeness of your graceless bitterness.
The parental spirit of displeasure holds the child in “death.” A new spirit in the parent will allow the child to serve from a joyous spirit and not from the strengthless bondage of legal depression. In our relationship to God, it is called “newness of spirit.” “But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter (Romans 7:5-6).”
Mother, if every time you looked at your husband you saw dissatisfaction and disappointment, if he sighed with defeat over what a lousy wife you are, would you feel inspired to make improvements? Absolutely not! You would withdraw. If your are spunky in spirit, you might fight back and give him further reason for rejection, but if your are broken in spirit you would quietly withdraw. You would then seek friendship and approval elsewhere.
Your children will begin to develop positive character only in an atmosphere of forgiveness and acceptance. The first step to recovery and the ground on which it continues is the parent’s smile. In our book, To Train Up A Child, we have a chapter called Tying Strings. Parent, you need to tie strings of fellowship through your smiles, strings of trust through a display of trust, strings of respect through mutual respect, strings of kindness, grace, and forgiveness. You can not disapprove your children into heart compliance, but you can example them in, smile them in, care them in, patience them in, and woo them in with a heart that exemplifies Christ-like character.
If “the joy of the Lord is our strength” surely the joy of the parents is the strength of a child. If fellowship with God provokes His children to holiness, what will be the result of a child’s fellowship with his parents? The best training is done under the supervision of a smile. There is a time for discipline, rebuke, spanking, and even controlled anger, but such should be temporary signposts on a path of communion that you walk with your children. If they see your delight and appreciation, they will have the courage to try to maintain that sweetness.
Parent, relax. Lay back. Slow down. Enjoy the trip. If you can’t train your children to meet your high standards, lower the standards until they can reach them. We are not talking about the law of God. We are talking about muddy feet, carrying out the garbage, picking up dirty clothes, doing school work, etc.. Put the bar low enough so that with the effort they are willing to give, they can clear the hurtle and finish each day a winner. Raise the bar a little at a time so they can improve, but will always be a winner. If you set the standard, not beyond their abilities, but beyond their willing efforts, you will cause them to cease trying. They will be like the kid in public school who is already behind two years. He cares so much, to keep from being further hurt, he pretends not to care at all. He is just killing time until he gets old enough to quit.
Find a place to confess your sins, and then go smile at your children. "
http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/articles/child-training/attitudes/article-display/archive/1996/january/01/bad-attitude/?tx_ttnews%5BsViewPointer%5D=2&cHash=f5127032c0

Frogs and science

2008-11-23T12:46:00.000-08:00

"26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."

ICorinthians 1:26-31

Last night Louis and I watched the new movie by Ben Stein called 'Expelled'. Talk about convicting yet solidifying of one's faith. So that I don't ruin it for you, it's basically about how the Science community is under fire. Our society either puts you in 2 categories. A believer in Evolution or ID (intelligent design). And if you are a creationist you are on the black list. And don't you dare talk science and intelligent design in the same sentence.
I grew up believing in God created the heavens and the earth. Period. But never really took the time to just sit back and breath that all in. It takes faith. Yet those who don't believe in it also have faith. Evolution takes faith, too. I mean you have to have some great faith to believe you went from nothing to a single celled amoeba all in some kind of happening. The chances of which are like 1 trillion-trillion-trillion of 250 different proteins aligning and possibly combining to grow ONE cell. Ha, that's a lottery that cannot possibly happen. So you see that takes some faith. Imagine if those folks who put so much effort into that kind of faith had a heart change? WOW!
So this has me thinking of what my children are learning. They are being met with these evolutionary theories everyday. They were a single cell, crawling out of soup, changing into monkies, and then cavemen and now humans. Crawling around, headed for death just so that mankind might evolve into something more supreme.
Are you kidding me?! And you wonder why there are problems in this world? Why care about the sactity of marriage? LIFE? Kids committing suicide? Why bother living or let life live when it's just serving the purpose of what? Human kind progressing to be something more? Sounds like the tower of Babel to me...let's reach the status of gods....
Dear Lord, please come quickly for these people are lost and do now know you. Help me to be a light and show them Your Way. You are I AM.
So you see my dear readers that's why Amber won't believe in anything but creation.
During the movie there were many inverviews from scientists around the globe. They all made mention that in the US, scientists are restricted from studying anything but what is "accepted" science. And if they do study or theorize anything else they are shunned. Somehow to me that is not freedom.
I kid you not, in the midst of these interviews Louis happened to mention that if this is truly the case and this freedom of science is being taken away then the 20 years he has spent serving our freedoms has been for naught.
I love science and have passed on that love to my children. It's becoming evident that I will have to do more to make sure that they can understand WHY we believe. I think that it is important to understand both sides of the argument so that they can witness to others. Not judge them but to be a light in this world as well.
So this week, we have tadpoles! Metamorphisis is amazing. Our little froggies don't have legs yet but are just happy swimming around in their little pool. Thanks G! She gave it to Jorryn for his B-day gift 8 mos ago. It took the company that long to send them. So they are leopard frogs and are names Marty and Sparkles. I will post more progress and lessons we have learned from our these amazing little creatures. I added a picture of our adventure with the raccoons in the front yard tree and Irelynn in her jumping device while I gardened. She's growing so fast. 5 months old already! Oh yeah, do you love seeing the sandals still? LOL!

cool breezes and reflections

2008-11-21T09:53:00.000-08:00

It's fast approaching the Hoilday's and closing of another year. WOWIE!! Amazing how fast things fly by. A slight recap for my new audience. Let's see...oh yeah, Irelynn was born! My five year old started Kindergarten. And we are now within a fast approaching 6 month window to retirement!! Ha! Yep, I am 29 years old and retiring! Made my millions in the military and now it's time to sit by the lake and drink coffee until noon. Yeah right. Nope, I married an older man and he has served 20+ years. Louis joined out of highschool. Many deployments later, a new baby, and his heart has changed. He is ready to settle near family and raise our family without being sent to the war torn countries. He has served, and done his time. I admire his dedication to this country. I couldn't hack it. I served 4 years and was DONE! Wow, I have been around the AF for 10 years now.

This time of the year always brings back reflections for me...so now that I am done strolling down memory lane for a bit...But it's also a time here in CA when the cooler breezes start to flow in. This time of year brings about change on this earth but most recently a change I had.

I have only a few more minuted before my daughter will finish her cat nap. But I do want to write about something. Since I am striving for a wholly life...balance in all that I do. I wanted to comment on an experience I recently had. Healing Prayer.

The power of prayer. Amazing. Simply amazing. "Be still and know that I am God!" Not just prayer about me, me, me and everyone around us, but sitting there and listening to the Holy Spirit. He does speak. "Speak Lord for your servant listens..." Many times it's easy to kneel for a few minutes and say our quickies. But when was the last time you just read the Word and waited for God to reveal himself? I challenge my readers to learn more about it. I am so thankful for my friend H who introduced it to me. If you read this H, I am blessed to have you in my life. God is doing a work and "He who started a good work in you is faithful to complete to the end..." all my scriptures above are paraphrased because I have to make this quick but are hidden in my heart from years of memorization. But just the other day after a morning of some more Healing prayer I was asking the Lord to fill me in an area I felt void. He refreshed my memory about mana. The mana he gave the children of Israel in their wonderings after Egypt. I don't know if you have ever read much about it, but the mana was fulfilling. It met their every physical need for food. When Jesus talked about himself in the New Testiment he told his disciples that He being God's son was our mana. He used the phrase I AM the bread. Not that he was something to take and met our need, but that is our everything. Something to cling to and not let go.

It was very refreshing to know that even though I can get caught up in my emotions of not being met here on earth I can stop and cling to Jesus. He is all I need.

It also can be tied into the above paragraph of our fast approaching retirement. It can be so easy to stress and worry about this or that. The economy, our house, schools, family. But if God can take care of the sparrow, he can take care of me. Why? Because I mean sooo much more that that bird for I was made in HIS image!!!

Incase I don't have time to jump on here before Thanksgiving I hope that you all have a great one and that you also reflect on this year. Count your blessings! The Lord gives and the Lord takes away...blessed be His name.

Taking a stab at it

2008-10-24T16:55:00.001-07:00

I have decided to try a new blog place. I have blogged in other locations and such but usually for business and marketing. Since I am not pursuing it right now I thought I might try my hand at this. However it's hard to keep up with my facebook and myspace at the same time. Maybe I should do away with those and keep to one? Hummm, simplicty is always better. I will give it some more thought.
Here are my interests though. God, family, children, simply living, green living, parenting with Love and Logic, and people. Loving other people. Reaching out to them and letting them know that they aren't alone in this world. I wonder all the time if I am doing enough. Is my life a testimony to others. When they meet me are they feeling Christ or are they just categorizing me as "another one of those?" Am I a good enough neighbor? Or friend? Do I worry to much about what they think or am I being me?
Anywho, that's a start! I hope to keep up with this!