tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17257237474275291102024-03-05T02:01:50.233-05:00Barefoot Offeringbarefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-36595683905718135692014-01-14T09:25:00.001-05:002014-01-14T09:25:51.484-05:00Bible Study for the BIRDS or OWLS?
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" 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Our first night of Bible Study was a “latte” fun with crazy
coffee cups, tongue depressors, and an excitement for the Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, if you are following our coffee cup plan…</div>
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<strong>DO it!</strong> (Do one day’s
the homework on one day)<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></div>
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" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2" width="326" /></a></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong>REVIEW it!</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Review it
the next day)</div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong>USE it!</strong> (Some time before Bible Study, share it via text,
FB, e-mail, or chat with a friend)</div>
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</div>
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…no matter where you are in your study this week…Congratulations
for getting started, girlfriend!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dig in!
</div>
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</div>
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Now, you might need an entire box of 64 crayons with a
sharpener to finish it, but don’t quit!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sorry, I didn’t get a chance to tell you about all the color coding while
reading the passages of God’s Word with Kay Arthur. (WINK ;)</div>
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</div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This was totally new for me and found it really a unique way
to examine the scriptures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it is new
for you, don’t grumble, try it…you might like it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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</div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Remember literally resting our minds on God’s Word at the
end of the first session together?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we
are going to rest our minds and hearts on His Word, we first really need to
check and see what we believe about His Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Kay is going to help us do that this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you are reviewing or highlighting the
questions that Kay asks you about your own life in light of the scriptures for
your REVIEW days, focus on this:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What do I think of the Word of God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can I count on God’s Word to be faithful?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When am I faithful to lean on His Word? When
am I not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>We will talk more about
this the next time we get together.</div>
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</div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
One more question this week, if you don’t mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given the important topic that came up in our
first session together, answer this:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Early Bird or Night Owl?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
are curious (like me) and wondering when everyone else is finding the time to
do their homework, then, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">leave a comment
with your name sharing if you are doing your Bible Study in the morning or
evening. </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am curious as to whether
we have more early birds or night owls in our group.</div>
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</div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The A.M. gals will love to chat with you and roosters about
what the sunrise looks like while answering the questions in your workbooks!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>LOL!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The P.M. ladies & I will be up late
reading your posts and hoping we win! I will have the comments tallied at the
next session, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Thursday, January 23<sup>rd</sup>
2017 @ 7:00 p.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All those who leave a
comment will have their name entered into our door prize drawing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Aren’t you glad you read this post! ) </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></b></div>
barefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-67587443910554373352014-01-08T11:42:00.004-05:002014-01-08T11:42:35.259-05:00Reliance & Rebounds
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">After the year I had in 2013, I
am terribly excited about leading our new Women's Bible Study starting tomorrow
night! Oh how I have missed hanging out with friends, collectively
being in the Word, and drinking coffee while hearing stories about God working
in hearts and lives...these are a few of my favorite things!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Let me share a story with you as
we get ready to jump into this Bible Study…get the wheels turning, if you will.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">It was cold Friday night as we
passed Christmas lights and headlights on Rt. 8. We walked into the gym
to the hud, hud, hud of new basketballs hitting the wooden surface of the
floor. Excitement was in the air, until the drills started. The
little boy partnered with Jeremiah was trying to pound the ball <u>AT</u> him
instead of practicing passing the ball <u>TO</u> him. Jeremiah’s warning,
“Stop it right, now” was not heeded and a bright red stinger appeared on the
back of his leg as he tried to avoid the next basketball BOMB while the other
child laughed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Now, move with me from the gym
floor to the bleachers, where I was sitting with my hubby, Jason. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Girls, I was about ready to
snatch my “Super Momma” cape right out my bottomless purse, fly down there,
intervene with bracelets of righteous anger and set the situation straight when
I heard, “Wait, April.” Jason held out his hand, patted my leg, and
encouraged me to watch and let Jeremiah handle the situation that we had only
experienced in conversation over the dinner table. You know the one, <em>“When
someone is mean to you, you…”</em> or <em>“When you see bullying, it is
important that….”</em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">How could my husband, an
educator, not see the need to “address” this! I gritted my teeth, watched
and waited. Jeremiah got the coach’s attention and the Coach addressed
it. Our son relied on what he had been taught, heeded our words, and
overcame a difficult situation in a 7 year old’s life. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Although many of us past the age
of 7 many years ago, let me ask you as I did myself sitting there on the
bleachers, <strong>do I heed my Heavenly Father’s words</strong>? <strong>Even
in the difficult situations</strong>? If God came running into our lives
with His absolute power at the need of every rescue, <strong>when would we
ever learn to reply on what He has taught us through His Word and the
indwelling of the Holy Spirit?</strong> It gives God great joy to watch
us trust and implement what He has told us in the Bible...kinda like a parent
seeing their child implement life lessons taught around the dinner table.
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">In this season of your
life, how is God rejoicing over your reliance on: His faithfulness?
His abundance? Or His truth?</span></strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">See you Thursday!</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><br />
barefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-39829902586830775312013-09-13T14:00:00.000-04:002013-09-13T14:00:03.104-04:00Happy Birthday to Me!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqP0adQ6FWLbqWPtp7Rxvi2QSzHE4Sb2BfKiwYBZShO5utT0gRZB4KHoOT11X-wfqQahkeyLHfZWuOWWkf2lSc-X_CmEyorPe5HPTyyRFm84rbB2Tnq7ZdLmWtxcBoYPixI7w6iXU_Ew/s1600/40th+Birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqP0adQ6FWLbqWPtp7Rxvi2QSzHE4Sb2BfKiwYBZShO5utT0gRZB4KHoOT11X-wfqQahkeyLHfZWuOWWkf2lSc-X_CmEyorPe5HPTyyRFm84rbB2Tnq7ZdLmWtxcBoYPixI7w6iXU_Ew/s320/40th+Birthday.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This birthday is really very special, friends, so I write, praise, and celebrate with you!<br />
<br />
- Yes, I turned 40 today!<br />
- Yes, this marks the 5th week of healing and recovery since back surgery!<br />
- And yes, God even gave me a birthday verse today!<br />
<br />
From a summer of pain and the inability to walk God intervened on my behalf, got me an earlier surgery date, and has healed me. During my recovery, I stumbled upon this story and wept. Have you read it before?<br />
<span class="text Luke-13-10"><sup class="versenum"></sup></span><br />
<em><span class="text Luke-13-10"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>Now <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25520A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup>he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.</span> <span class="text Luke-13-11" id="en-ESV-25521"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>And behold, there was a woman who had had <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25521B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup>a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was <strong>bent over and could not fully straighten</strong> herself.</span> <span class="text Luke-13-12" id="en-ESV-25522"><sup class="versenum">12 </sup>When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, <span class="woj">“Woman, you are freed from your disability.”</span></span> <span class="text Luke-13-13" id="en-ESV-25523"><sup class="versenum">13 </sup>And he <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25523C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup>laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and <strong>she <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25523D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup>glorified God.</strong></span></em> <br />
<br />
I don't know if she celebrated her next birthday with black balloons and a Non-fat, Decaf, Pumpkin Spice Latte, but we find her story in the <strong><u>13th!</u></strong> chapter of Luke. This story has comforted by heart in recent weeks and provided an example of how one WALKS through their recovery...glorifying God...much like we are called to WALK through life.<br />
<br />
Not to be outdone by a passage of scripture, God grabbed my attention while reading his Word this week. John 3:6 has stolen my heart and will be a theme for my 40th year!<br />
<br />
<strong>"That which is born of the flesh is <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26116B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup>flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
At the last minute, 40 years ago today, my mom changed my name from "Jill Anne" to "April" saying, <em>"It was a new, fresh, spring-part of her life arriving in motherhood"</em> and wanted to call me April like the month of new beginnings. Awwww....how sweet right? But being born of my parents only allows me to be April, with similar DNA, blood type, and that charismatic Farley personality. I, myself, am limited. However, being reborn of the Spirit did something huge in my life and planted the Holy Spirit in my very being. Now, more than merely out of flesh, I am capable of doing things in the Spirit, by the power of Spirit, and for the Spirit. As the Holy Spirit indwells a believer, we are warned not to quench or grieve it. Follow it, yield to it, and obey it. When we don't, we are limiting how we can live.<br />
<br />
So, Happy Birthday to me! To be born and celebrate 40 years of life, is an amazing blessing! But being reborn and having the opportunity to tap into the divine power of God through His Holy Spirit by the grace of His Son is the only way to truly live.<br />
<br />
The next 40 years is going to be great! What will God want to do with little 'ol me given the resource of the Holy Spirit He has put at my disposal! I'll be writing and let you know!<br />
<br />
<strong><em>April</em></strong>barefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-76348770572798794222013-08-06T15:37:00.000-04:002013-08-06T15:40:18.731-04:00Surgery Scheduled!Friends, I have had a mild break in my pain and I wanted to thank you for your prayers. God has intervened on my behalf and I am humbled and grateful as I type before Him.<br />
<br />
Remember when I asked you to pray for the follow-up appt. to be moved forward?<br />
<br />
Well, in the last two weeks God has intervened twice. First, without my asking, my physical therapist called the Dr. to try and get me in sooner than August 16th because nothing seems to be improving. Nothing could be done to the schedule but they would try. Next, the Dr.'s nurse was at my son's last swim meet, and without my asking, she said she would see what the schedule looked like because she could see that I was in terrible pain. Well, on August 1st, I got to see the Dr. WOW! Two full weeks earlier than expected because of God's mercy.<br />
<br />
At that appt., I learned that surgery is my only option right now because when the disc ruptured, it ruptured at L5, S1 (right above the tail bone), and wrapped around both sides of the spinal cord, and it hung on bone spurs. Leaving it alone stands a greater chance that I could loose control of my bladder and bowels than I do with the surgery. I asked the Dr. to have mercy on me and my family and try to get us in as soon as he could. After he checked his schedule he said it would be today, but it got postponed just a bit and it now <strong>TOMORROW at 7 a.m.</strong> because of God's grace!<br />
<br />
To prep for surgery I had to stop taking the antinflamatory meds, but could keep taking the nerve block. Little did I know how that would awaken the tremendous pain, tingling, burning, cramping, and stabbing pain down my left leg. Relief was found on the floor, propped up on two pillows under my stomach, on a down comforter. My left leg can't bare any weight. But not for long!<br />
<br />
It has been a blessing to see how God's hand has worked! My mind keeps going back to the time when <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%202:1-12&version=ESV" target="_blank">four friends grabbed a corner of a paralyzed man's mat</a>, opened a roof of a house, and lifted him down right to Jesus's feet where he was teaching in the home, asking for Jesus to heal their friend, and Jesus did! The friends did the lifting, the carrying, the de-construction of the roof, the lowering, and the bringing the man right to Jesus. What friends! What faith they had in Jesus to do the work their friend needed! Jesus saw their deep faith in God. When the crowd obstructed the doorway, that didn't stop them, they found another way and didn't stop! The friends knew it would only be by God that the man could be healed, inside and out.<br />
<br />
I am blessed by the many, many prayers that been "carried" to the Father for me and my family. Thank you for taking my heart's cry right to the place where Jesus is. No door, or roof, or appointment book was going to stand in the way of God caring for me.<br />
<br />
Soon, I plan to <strong><em>Arise...put away my mat...and walk</em></strong> without pain.<br />
<br />
The surgery is scheduled for 7:00 a.m. on August 7th. <br />
<br />
Thank you in advanced for praying and having a corner of this...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhelS5F2eUinHWi2wthrDpAq6P95TttAPYPUzCbwtSnw4OIRu4WZGxsVQAFdT1miitS2S62i8xjlDHWpCPOBynYqzwWlUDbcTEMVIk1xqhGnVd5J__9xfFHSR5aQSk1KCfRRJ2x9zans/s1600/100_6494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhelS5F2eUinHWi2wthrDpAq6P95TttAPYPUzCbwtSnw4OIRu4WZGxsVQAFdT1miitS2S62i8xjlDHWpCPOBynYqzwWlUDbcTEMVIk1xqhGnVd5J__9xfFHSR5aQSk1KCfRRJ2x9zans/s320/100_6494.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
(Thanks for the help with the photo, Mom!)<br />
<br />
Grateful Girl on a Mat,<br />
Aprilbarefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-37186361242141394022013-07-15T06:00:00.000-04:002013-07-15T06:00:00.917-04:00Disc-o-gram or "Disco"gram?After reading last week's posts, an elementary school friend reminded me of my "Accident Nut Award" in Girl Scouts (circa 1986-87), I don't think she was surprised to learn of my recent state of back pain from falling down the stairs. <strong><em>Thanks for the smile, Jennifer!</em></strong><br />
<br />
Laughing in Sunday School yesterday about my upcoming procedure, I assured them I do not plan to waltz into the OR this week, dancing under a glittering ball, with "Staying Alive" playing in the background. I anticipate hearing a heart monitor, smelling latex, and wishing I had my make-up on and my hair NOT in one of those funny paper hats. It is a disc-o-gram, not a "disco"gram, I explained. But fun thought, though!<br />
<br />
Wednesday's procedure will provide the spinal surgeon the final images needed to determine "IF" and "WHAT TYPE" of back surgery is needed. I don't know what I was thinking, but the "ever-prepared" and "ever-researched" April watched a disc-o-gram procedure on YouTube over the weekend. (WARNING! Please do not try that at home!) The only GLITTERING silver things I saw were the needles placed in someone's spine. <em>Bless you for sharing!</em> Although the surgeon had already explained all this to me, trusty YouTube confirmed:<br />
<strong>- I will be heavily sedated.</strong><br />
<strong>- Large needles will be injected into my back.</strong><br />
<strong>- Additional needles will be placed through the above mentioned needles to reach the finite spots of the spinal discs.</strong><br />
<strong>- The surgeon will wake me up, apply pressure to the discs to determine various pain levels, and wait for my response.</strong><br />
<strong>- I plan to answer somewhere between "None" or "Zero" and "Take Me Now, Sweet Jesus!"</strong><br />
<strong>- Then, I will be re-sedated and the needles will be removed.</strong><br />
<br />
Researching all that on-line Saturday morning only brought on more questions, insecurity, fear, and anxiety. Needing a little more Truth, I turned to God's Word. <br />
<br />
Have you seen Paul's list of sufferings? Almost as if Paul was blogging to his friends in the world-wide Corinth of his day, he painted a detailed visual. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20cor%2011:16-28&version=ESV" target="_blank">Paul suffered:</a><br />
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20cor%2011:16-28&version=ESV" target="_blank">- numerous near death beatings</a><br />
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20cor%2011:16-28&version=ESV" target="_blank">- 39 lashes (more worse in his culture than 40, remember I research!) 5 different times!!</a><br />
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20cor%2011:16-28&version=ESV" target="_blank">- 3 rod beatings</a><br />
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20cor%2011:16-28&version=ESV" target="_blank">- being stoned </a><br />
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20cor%2011:16-28&version=ESV" target="_blank">- 3 shipwrecks</a><br />
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20cor%2011:16-28&version=ESV" target="_blank">- adrift for a day and a night at sea</a><br />
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20cor%2011:16-28&version=ESV" target="_blank">- floods, robbers, dangerous people, sleepless nights, hunger, thirst, cold, exposure.</a><br />
<br />
Friends, I don't think my list compares!<br />
<br />
Because in the end, Paul states that despite all that, he felt the pressure and anxiety <strong>DAILY</strong> for all the churches that he was trying to minister to. Seriously?! That was what was on Paul's mind?! Continuing the call of Christ?! Enduring all this by CHOICE?!?! <strong>DAILY</strong>?!?! AS IN <strong>24/7</strong>?<br />
<br />
My physical pain has just been 7 months and I have found myself rocking from terribly down to just plain whining. I whined about canceling our summer vacation "adrift" on the shores of North Carolina, how I no longer am able to walk through the "dangerous people" grocery shopping in Wal-Mart at the first of the month, and how I am grumpy after a "sleepless night" on the floor of my living room when the pain wakes me from my warm bed...and other various things DAILY!<br />
<br />
Many times, we do not choose what we face, suffer, or try to endure (even if you are an "Accident Nut" like me). But, we can know and call upon a God who will triumph over ANY human weaknesses. Struggling with hurts in the home, the heart, and in the huddle of life, rest assured HE CARES and has a plan!<br />
<br />
Paul's motivation was but a GREAT BELIEF and gratitude for how Christ, had changed his life's purpose from one who sought to KILL Christian believers to one who sought to SAVE them with the knowledge of Jesus, the Resurrected. Jesus, too, suffered. The same POWER that raised Christ from the dead enabled Paul to endure <em>his list</em> and allows me to face <em>mine</em>, Wednesday. I don't doubt that. Do you?<br />
<br />
The reason that Christ endured His suffering was for us. So that we would not have to. So that we could rest in His POWER to overcome all we face.<br />
<br />
Let me ask you something. Are you facing a struggle, hardship, or weakness in your life? <br />
<br />
<strong>Does Christ's POWER reside in you?</strong> It can if you call to Him and BELIEVE!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRzRwg-LUcW_N0JRP-mNu9wCcB4-bVQhkvR6J-Anzf03GBt2MZ3fpX0jnodrDNiAzTOpOcSABcYZyY7KAm7slGbv2ptX2JDpQ2tQ2VR4Ak-o83Kfg4hZmva2u3A0k4ZZcoPIqhNmmHJE/s1600/discoball3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRzRwg-LUcW_N0JRP-mNu9wCcB4-bVQhkvR6J-Anzf03GBt2MZ3fpX0jnodrDNiAzTOpOcSABcYZyY7KAm7slGbv2ptX2JDpQ2tQ2VR4Ak-o83Kfg4hZmva2u3A0k4ZZcoPIqhNmmHJE/s1600/discoball3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRzRwg-LUcW_N0JRP-mNu9wCcB4-bVQhkvR6J-Anzf03GBt2MZ3fpX0jnodrDNiAzTOpOcSABcYZyY7KAm7slGbv2ptX2JDpQ2tQ2VR4Ak-o83Kfg4hZmva2u3A0k4ZZcoPIqhNmmHJE/s1600/discoball3.gif" /></a>With my second cup of coffee Saturday morning, I got some clarity and saw the <strong>GLITTERING LIGHT</strong> of God's Word and it convicted me. Paul quoted King David in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%20116&version=ESV" target="_blank">Psalm 116:10</a> when he translated it from Hebrew to Greek and said, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20cor%204:13&version=ESV" target="_blank">"I believe, and so I spoke."</a><br />
Am I nervous about Wednesday, do I ask myself all the "what if" questions, do I struggle with uncertainty, do I want it all to just go away? Yes! However, I believe in God's power to save us, sustain us, and saturate us during times like these. Christ will see me through this affliction and MORE! So, let me <strong>translate</strong> from Paul to April-ish, "I believe in the power of the resurrected Christ Jesus, so I blog." <br />
<br />
I share my ups and downs (and even my whinings) with you hoping you will see through God's Word, not mine, that it is ONLY with Christ's power we are able to have hope and endure things we face. Anything else is <strong>DULL</strong> in comparison. <br />
<br />
<em><strong>Everyone has been wonderful to ask what they can do to help my family. If you want to do something to help, here are 3 suggestions and let's watch God work:</strong></em><br />
<em><strong> 1. Please PRAY for me on Wednesday as I face the discogram.</strong></em><br />
<em><strong> 2. Please PRAY we will be able to quickly have our follow-up consultation with the doctor (currently not scheduled until Aug. 16th). I would like to see that date be earlier in Jesus' Name!</strong></em><br />
<strong><em> 3. BELIEVE & SPEAK. Share a comment of how God's power ALIVE in you is allowing you to face suffering, endure hardship, or face uncertainty. I am sure it will be an encouragement to me come WednesDAY and even to others "DAILY!"</em></strong><br />
<br />
"Staying Alive" in Christ,<br />
Aprilbarefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-57026799368008383102013-07-11T23:59:00.003-04:002013-07-12T00:05:35.784-04:00Lovin' even the Pits!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDxMYnBLedOCL5nwtO9aitwoXLRynGM7ARvyjlSh3OCCSbBSiWXXr9te9M_j3Yqp5NbI7r4ZX05PlvgKMYVt2YxOQE3bE2W53dfwnqU42PhGPyREggmf2mFCyqZjT9zXOBdQxAmouHi4/s1600/a_bowl_of_cherries2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDxMYnBLedOCL5nwtO9aitwoXLRynGM7ARvyjlSh3OCCSbBSiWXXr9te9M_j3Yqp5NbI7r4ZX05PlvgKMYVt2YxOQE3bE2W53dfwnqU42PhGPyREggmf2mFCyqZjT9zXOBdQxAmouHi4/s1600/a_bowl_of_cherries2.jpg" /></a></div>
Erma Bombeck wrote a book in 1978 called, "If Life is a Bowl Full of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits?" I remember seeing it on my mom's bookshelf when I was younger. Never having read it, I wonder if Mrs. Bombeck knew of my last few months, she would have had me on the cover!<br />
<br />
So, in recent posts I shared I fell down our stairs, hurt my back, seen several medical professions, (1 LPN, 2 Spine Surgeons, 2 Physical Therapist, 1 Chiropractor, & 1 ER doctor to be exact!), survived a myleogram, oxygen when my respiration's lowered after pain meds in the ER, and a self-induced ice pack burn on my back A.K.A "frostbite!") Don't worry though nothing really compares to last night....<br />
<br />
Have you met my better half, Jason? I have known for 15 years that I married up! I could write a blog just about all the ways he displays what unconditional love is on this side of Heaven. Last night, after taking off work to help me live through some of the pain and get it touch with my doctor for some recommendations, he did a late night grocery run. Coming home with something special for me was unexpected. I tore into the bag of cherries...MY FAVORITE! Devouring 1 handful, I quickly got another. Within seconds, my tongue started to SWELL!<br />
<br />
Friends, I can not make all this stuff up!<br />
<br />
"Jeremiah, go tell Daddy that Mommy's tongue is swelling!"<br />
"Dad, Mom's tongues is swelling" with as little emotion as possible running back to a little cartoons before bed!<br />
"WHAT!"<br />
<br />
We were at the ER within 30 minutes. Sorry, no pics taken even though a suggestion was made to update my FB photo! Not happening!<br />
<br />
Long story short, after eating cherries all my life, and one of my favorite memories with my Dad and brother Albert, I am the proud new owner of an Epi Pen!<br />
<br />
But let's get back to Mrs. Bombeck's book! We were never promised that this life will be like a bowl full of cherries, but we are promised that the Lord will "never leave us for forsake us" (Hebrews 13:5) and that this world will be "full of trouble" (Job 14:1), but when faced with it, remember that "no temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is
faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you
are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it" (1
Corinthians 10:13 NIV).<br />
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And as for the pits, that usually describes this life better than cherries, unless you are allergic to them. Did I mention that this is the year that I turn 40?!?! What a whopper! I'll leave you with a few thoughts to carry into the weekend...consider it a mini-Bible study if you relate to this post or are looking for one:<br />
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Didn't God get <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gen%2037:22&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Jacob out a pit</a> and lift him to a position of esteem in Egypt and he even was able to help his <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gen%2047:1&version=NKJVhttp://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gen%2047:1&version=NKJV" target="_blank">family from famine</a>?<br />
Didn't God save <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=lam%203:53&version=ESV" target="_blank">Jeremiah from a pit</a>, and even thorough others didn't listen to him, he remained faithful?<br />
Didn't God save<a href="http://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=957212" target="_blank"> Daniel from a Lion's Den</a>, full of fear and darkness, covered by a lid all night long?<br />
Didn't Jesus' words command <a href="http://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=957212" target="_blank">Lazarus to come forth from the tomb</a> after days?<br />
...and (if you hadn't thought of it already), didn't <a href="http://biblegateway.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=957212" target="_blank">Jesus arise</a> from the grave?!<br />
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All the answers are "YES, and AMEN!" Look up the scripture references just to make sure! So, why would we not believe that we would be able to pray to God just like these men and even King David, <br />
<em>I waited patiently<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14527B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> for the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>;<br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-40-1">he turned to me and heard my cry.<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14527C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup></span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-40-2" id="en-NIV-14528"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>He lifted me out of the slimy pit,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14528D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-40-2">out of the mud<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14528E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup> and mire;<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14528F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup></span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-40-2">he set my feet<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14528G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></sup> on a rock<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14528H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></sup></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-40-2">and gave me a firm place to stand.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-40-3" id="en-NIV-14529"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>He put a new song<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14529I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></sup> in my mouth,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-40-3">a hymn of praise to our God.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-40-3">Many will see and fear the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span><sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14529J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)"></sup></span></em><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><em> </em></span><span class="text Ps-40-3"><em>and put their trust<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14529K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></sup> in him. </em>Psalm 40:1-3</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-40-3"></span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-40-3">...and if it isn't a prayer that you can pray in praise today, it is a prayer you can pray for in hopes of tomorrow</span></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-40-3">!</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-40-3"></span></span><br />
Blessings,<br />
April (with my ice pack and epi pen ever ready!)barefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-61355779522148255612013-07-09T08:00:00.000-04:002013-07-09T11:34:23.363-04:00"BACK" to Blogging from a Convalescent Carpet<strong><em>Thank you for all the wonderful Welcome "BACK" notes. Each made me smile!</em></strong><br />
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Plowing through May, I only found myself face first in the carpet by June. <em>For future reference, friends, nothing gets you thinking about
"control issues" like having to drink from a straw with your cheek on
the carpet because if you move one muscle too many; it will mean another 3 pain-filled hours to find comfortable relief.</em></div>
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So, why haven't I posted to my blog in over year?</div>
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Things had really changed. I was working part-time at
church, volunteering at my son's school, teaching a Bible study, helping on a
few committees, trying not to drop the ball with dishes, dinner, and dental
appts. All good things, right?</div>
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Until I started to feel clogged. Things just didn't resolve as easy in my mind anymore. Conversations
left me strangled at points. I didn't feel I could vent, process, or release my
thoughts in any form...not even texting and you just have a 160
character limit! <em>Just how hard can that be?</em></div>
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<o:p><em></em></o:p> </div>
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No matter. I would buy a big beautiful journal and just write
privately. Finding one on sale at the beginning of the year would be no problem.
I just didn't have time to blog... Blogging just takes too much time: posting, uploading, spell-checking, linking, networking. One more "ING" was not gonna fit in my life. <em></em> </div>
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<em>Then, why was lyING there?</em> <strong>OUCH! </strong>Who is lying? This is really how my life was!</div>
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<em>Genesis 3:1 "Now Satan was more crafty than any
other beast of the field</em>."...and to think that he even knows about
blogging!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYeowBk9JGEW7MABVLy85MDy2Bf9_IdkJcTPUfYBK3L5QEslDS5OdIHhGG3XW8ijAG5f5Ph1PMWONbLHbqoz3uhLWduJeBnm2RxiNag1Vksd_OAm1Bd2zBtRchISJQ9rhXNtBt_tIq_Q/s1600/book.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYeowBk9JGEW7MABVLy85MDy2Bf9_IdkJcTPUfYBK3L5QEslDS5OdIHhGG3XW8ijAG5f5Ph1PMWONbLHbqoz3uhLWduJeBnm2RxiNag1Vksd_OAm1Bd2zBtRchISJQ9rhXNtBt_tIq_Q/s1600/book.png" /></a><o:p>What happened to me could pass me off as Eve's twin sister, only with cute navy-blue glasses. In Karen Ehem's book, <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/stop-running-show-start-walking-faith/karen-ehman/9780310333920/pd/333920?product_redirect=1&Ntt=333920&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Let. It. Go. How to Stop Running the Show and Start Walking in Faith</span></a> she describes what happened like this (pages 48-49):</o:p></div>
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<o:p>Step #1: Satan hissed hurling doubt <strike>April's</strike> Eve's way causing her to second guess God's plan and to question his command.</o:p></div>
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<o:p>Step #2 : <strike>April</strike> Eve didn't stay tuned to God's guidelines.</o:p></div>
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<o:p>Step #3: Satan twisted reality.</o:p></div>
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<o:p>Step #4: <strike>April</strike> Eve convinced herself.</o:p></div>
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<o:p>Here is the short version:</o:p></div>
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<o:p>- Now, remind me why am I spending this time writing? And shouldn't I update the look of it? Is it really even good?</o:p></div>
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<o:p>- I stopped writing for an audience of One and started worrying about who was and wasn't reading my blog. "<em>My"</em> blog? <em>When did we start calling it "your" blog?</em></o:p></div>
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<o:p>- This is taking time away from my family. Family is first, right?</o:p></div>
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<o:p>- I will stop blogging until the Lord tells me to go back.</o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p> </div>
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<o:p>Friends, I was deceived that quick! Lied to. </o:p></div>
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<o:p><strong>Amen, Karen Ehman! It happens! I was fig-leaf frustrated to say the least.</strong></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p>That isn't what God said. What just happened? But the problem didn't just occur with the initial hissing. Know what God really said? Not "Start a blog" or even "Write."<o:p> </o:p></div>
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<o:p>He only said, "Abide." I had long stopped abiding where I was suppose to be. Mere functioning, is not abiding.</o:p></div>
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<o:p>My ESV Study Bible notes say, <em>"Abiding means to continue in daily, personal relationship with Jesus characterized by prayer, trust, obedience, and joy."</em> There were so many things going on in my life at the time from relational conflicts to schedule MISmanagement and it was MY responsibility to keep it all from falling a part. Where was the obedience? The joy? Not on my knees praying and trusting DAILY like I should, I can tell ya that. I thought I knew better and could do better. Than what? God?! </o:p></div>
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<o:p>EVE-idently! <em>(As I've read from Nancy Leigh DeMoss in <a href="http://www.liesyoungwomenbelieve.com/" target="_blank">Lies Young Women Believe!)</a></em></o:p></div>
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Then, it was only a matter of time before the hissing would strike where it would hurt the most. And, it did. Writing before the Lord is where I enjoy my times of abiding the most. An open Bible, paper, pen, computer, prayer list and the ability to see things in the light of His Word. You know, the carpet has never felt so comfy!<br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;">"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you...These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and the your joy may be FULL!" John 15:7, 11</span></em></strong></div>
barefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-61422922467692081962013-07-07T23:45:00.000-04:002013-07-07T23:45:06.604-04:00My Come"BACK"Don't know where to begin,friends. It really goes all the way back to this past January. I realize it is now July and before that, I hadn't even blogged in over a year (more about that in the future), but this has been my recent struggle:<br />
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Going back down our entry way stairs to get more luggage from our New Year's Eve trip, I fell. Seven thuds later, my life has been nothing short of a journey I never expected. What was a hamstring pull, turned into a herniated disc. What was a herniated disc turned into a herniated disc, a ruptured disc, and a vertebrae out of alignment, plus a few other things. It ain't pretty, and I don't need another MRI or X-ray to tell ya. :)<br />
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Sparing you the medical roller coaster ride, just to say, "It ain't over." The reason I am "BACK" is because this physical problem as turned into a spiritual struggle and challenge. If I have said it once, I have said it a thousand times in our girls' Bible study class, "Girls, it is one thing to know the Word, it is another to believe it!" <br />
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My inability to walk at times, grocery shop, cook, do anything, days and nights of laying and sleeping on the floor, medication trial and errors (including oxygen administered in the ER due to falling respirations), physical therapy appts, an ice pack burn (yep, that is a real thing...you can goggle photos of people who have made the same mistake trying to get relief! Honest!), and way too many co-pays have left me often tongue-tired before God.<br />
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Until some words resonated deep within me. <br />
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After a 2 week absence from my job as a part-time church secretary due to back pain, I was finally back at my desk for the first Friday. With everyone asking me how I am doing, I felt lost in how to answer. <em>Do you really want to know? Really? "For starters, I am glad to be out of pajamas today."</em><br />
Know the feeling?<br />
<br />
Music was playing on the computer as I finished Sunday's church bulletin and I heard, "...my prayers are wearing thin..." everything stopped and I felt as if someone finally knew how I felt without asking me. You can hear it, too click <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zulKcYItKIA" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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I e-mailed a link to my hubby (who has been Superman during these last 7 months) and said, this is my theme song right now. Only to be laying in the floor again tonight and surfing through some frustrations and tears on-line to find this...the story behind the song <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGJS5MLgMZc" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<strong>Is it just me or did you notice it too that God changed the direction of this guy's life with a back injury?</strong> I wept at God's love for me in His attempts to get my attention.<br />
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What part of what he said do you want to talk about?!?! WOW!<br />
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Yes, if you are wondering, scripture HAS been by my side, sent to me from foreign countries, texted, e-mailed, written on index cards, but I will never tire of how the Almighty Living God chooses to make Himself audible to a heart that longs for Him, but with ears that are tired, weak, and WORN.<br />
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Will share more later, I'm happy to be "BACK!"barefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-47694897765746563182012-01-19T10:25:00.000-05:002012-01-19T10:25:33.773-05:00This is the Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1W_La2uKNLlBJzCrhETg4lfpW7rCHATfYrpZYLfU8idNXYN_xYtL4ZAHtAMlBxpmlycvZVflJ5ZSvbJM47N3uHVLKuiJWXHK4R0e8kB0DN38h5ftXqntm16rlRKS-wcnoc5Lv-i651T8/s1600/airplane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1W_La2uKNLlBJzCrhETg4lfpW7rCHATfYrpZYLfU8idNXYN_xYtL4ZAHtAMlBxpmlycvZVflJ5ZSvbJM47N3uHVLKuiJWXHK4R0e8kB0DN38h5ftXqntm16rlRKS-wcnoc5Lv-i651T8/s320/airplane.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, this is the day! I am flying to Grand Rapids, Michigan! Beleive me, I have asked myself, "Who flys north in the winter?!" But when God opens a door and provides an opportunity, you go. His Word is filled with examples of men and women doing just that! For one whole weekend, I get to enjoy the company of my friend, Cindy. Here is picture of us from November 2010 when she was invited to fly to speak at a women's ministry event in Knoxville, TN.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542496836326447650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQG5yZFxRckGz81UHXW8VFv2n6YbGDL_wFZmRR6bCeCQRoEW_8_tg3TWt6ewz1HhnRWEH-DGcpLpUX-XOE7vNP236HmHe3pvIzu8cqd3baEC5g2vnRgEV2v0VmSdZ_Z_2TskG8m9J3IaU/s400/Knoxvillle%252C+TN+%257E+Nov+2010+031.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">God has placed some amazing opportunities in Cindy's life and I can't wait to go and hear all about them Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Think we can talk that long?! Oh you just can't imagine!!! We praise the Lord for free long distance since she is in Michigan and I am in Virginia!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now, before you think this is all fun and games. Take a look at <a href="http://cindybultema.blogspot.com/2012/01/thankful-thursday-top-5-in-2012.html" target="_blank">Cindy's week</a>. And as for me and my house,...kinda the same...but we are choosing to serve the Lord and continue to go where He leads. Our week has had a wrecked car in the snow, complicated negotiations with car insurance, complicated one car scheduling, multiple days of errands, a chruch event, a cold sore, computer glitches, and a smashed and bleeding finger in the door at work. I can't make this stuff up...it is painful to type (my fingers still hurt!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then, I get up this morning to check the weather for my son's school project (charting the temp and checking to see if the cup of water on our deck is water or ice every morning), and the Weather Channel mentions Grand Rapids BY NAME in TODAY's national forecast sharing there is a "lake effect snow warning." We DON'T HAVE THOSE IN VIRGINIA! I can only imagine what THAT means!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But, one of the first verses I learned in song and I sing alot around the house with our 5-year old is "This is the day that the Lord has made, but I will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Because I have to tell you the other things that happened this week (many just last night)!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An 8th grade girl from our Bible Study class brought me a gift into my office at the church and said, "This is for your trip!" The card was addressed to me and Cindy, even though they have never met. Another card was signed, "Your Bible Study Buddies" in support of the editing that we will be doing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: magenta;">Thank you!</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another friend returned a platter (shared cinnamon rolls! YUM!) and with it was a wrapped gift that said, "For your Trip!" It was the biggest cookbook for bread machine recipes that I have ever seen! <span style="color: magenta;"><strong>Thank you!</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My buddies have agreed to take me to the airport today and pick me up Sunday! <strong><span style="color: magenta;">Thank you!</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Other friends have agreed to pray for me, my family, and safety while I am gone! <span style="color: magenta;"> <strong>Thank you! Don't stop!</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My mom agreed and was available to come down and spending time with Jeremiah while I finished up things at work. We had a nice visit and I appreciated her help! <strong><span style="color: magenta;">Thank you!</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then, late last night, I check my e-mail and found a link to this <a href="http://broadcaster.guideposts.org/dm?id=590548F8487D2050E3B5861405126E6E" target="_blank">article</a>. I have told my friend, Theresa, that she has a "Forwarding Ministry" through e-mail. She has encouraged me (and I know of many others) with forwarding e-mails of the Word at the EXACT time that I have needed it MORE than even she KNOWS! This article was about SNOW and SHARING. How perfect is that?! For the <a href="http://www.barefootoffering.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-one-wordfor-2012.html" target="_blank">WORDS</a>, that I again needed to hear, <strong><span style="color: magenta;">THANK YOU!</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But most of all, I want to thank my hubby and little one who will brave the weekend without me so that I can follow the Lord. And they are looking forward to it!! THEY minister to ME, too! <strong><span style="color: magenta;">THANK YOU!</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So when I count my blessings and witness the Lord moving in other people's hearts to come along side of me as I go and do something that ignites my heart, how can I not celebrate this day?! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Again, this is the day (planned long ago) that the Lord had made (for me and you...those who support and love me), I will rejoice (by choice no mater what) and be glad (truly cheerful and grateful) in it ~ <em>a little April amplified</em>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Prayerfully rejoicing!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">April</span></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>barefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-42385287985710984082012-01-18T23:42:00.003-05:002012-01-18T23:50:47.877-05:00Believing Beyond UnbeliefMaybe because my name starts with an "A," but I loved clinging on to our "A" verse of 2012 these past two weeks. How I have have been blessed to claim God's Word, even when life wasn't easy! Although, a few days late in posting about my new memory verse with the <a href="http://www.cindybultema.blogspot.com/2012/01/to-z-memory-verse-challenge-b-verse.html" target="_blank">She Sparkles 2012 A-Z Scripture Memory Verse Challenge</a>, I am just as excited! If you haven't joined in, it isn't too late! Check out Cindy's site...she has Starbucks!!<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.cindybultema.blogspot.com/2011/12/scripture-memory-2012-come-join-us-part.html" title="She Sparkles: Scripture Memory 2012 - Come Join Us!"><img alt="She Sparkles Scripture Memory Challenge 2012" src="http://www.cindybultema.com/public/images/she-sparkles-scripture-memory-challenge-2012.png" /></a></center><br />
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<span style="color: red;">"B" - <u><strong>B</strong></u>elieve in the Lord Jesus Christ and you <u>will</u> <u><strong>B</strong></u>e saved. Acts 16:31</span> <br />
(Double <strong><u>B's</u></strong> if you haven't noticed!!)<br />
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Somethings are hard for me to believe. How about you? Have you ever heard yourself fill in the blanks?<br />
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"I can't believe __________________ ." or "I can't believe I __________________ ."<br />
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Usually we find ourselves saying statements like this about something that has already happened and we know for a fact it did, yet we can't get our minds around it.When it comes to believing, are can't and won't the same or different? (You'll have to answer that one for yourself, but keep reading! :)<br />
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Believing is always a choice. You wither choose to believe something or not. It is an extension of your faith that something is real or where you place your trust. <br />
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I'll admit that I have had these thoughts:<br />
~ "I can't believe that God entrusted me with the gift of our son." <em>How many times did I say that when he was in infant and motherhood both engulfed and intimated me!</em><br />
~ "I can't believe that God has blessed me with my husband." <em> By all accounts, a happy and healthy marriage is nothing short of a miracle these days...a miracle!</em><br />
~ "I can't believe that God has allowed me to be a part of so many of His plans." <em>From conversations in a grocery store to leading a teenage girls Bible Study, I am humbled He wants me and then uses me.</em><br />
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But, each of these statements are true of things that I have seen or felt (24 hours of labor pains) and I know that they are true. I do believe them, even though it is hard to get MY mind around it, I know they are true!<br />
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So, how much harder is it to believe something that you haven't seen? <br />
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That is the story of Thomas. He was a disciple, a follower of Jesus to who Jesus hand-picked to come along side him and tell God's story. But, after Jesus died, and laid in a tomb for 3 days, Thomas could not believe he came back to life. Yep. A follower of Jesus, hand-picked, given responsibilities to share the message was having trouble believing. Thomas said something like, "Unless I see the nail holes in his hand, and put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won't (not, can't but, won't!) believe it (John 20:25 The Message). Well, don't worry friends, Jesus loves us so much to die for our sins, and that includes our unbelief.<br />
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The account finishes 8 days later and 3 verses further into the story with Jesus reappearing (after he was dead, buried, and risen to life again), this time in the presence of Thomas. Look at what Jesus said to Thomas, "Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Jesus knew exactly what it would take to make Thomas believe! And Thomas did believe, friends! He did!<br />
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If you are learning this "B" verse with us these 2 weeks, let me share this bit of encouragement with you. After Jesus invited Thomas to touch where he suffered for us, the Savior says, "So, you believe because you've seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing'" (John 20:29 The Message). <br />
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What a promise friends! Believe and be saved! Believe (without seeing) and be blessed! Tell God of your unbelief. Tell Him where you struggle with believing that He is real or that He sent His Son to die for your sin because He loves you. Ask Him to help you with your can't and/or with your won't, so that you can believe, and be saved. Thomas did.<br />
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Believing,<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><em>April</em></span>barefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-67464144930440591212012-01-16T23:53:00.001-05:002012-01-16T23:57:19.170-05:00Victorious in the Kitchen, in Life, and On Snowy Days!<span style="color: #783f04;"><em><strong>The smell of cinnamon, sugar, and bread filled our house Saturday morning. I stayed up late the night before experimenting with the bread machine, yet again! When I pulled these out of the oven for my family, I grabbed a cup of coffee, got cozy in my favorite chair, and inhaled the morning. I was victorious on my first attempt at homemade cinnamon rolls...thanks for the recipe, Karen!</strong></em></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em><span style="color: #783f04;"><strong>By night fall, the day had really changed. Snow and ice covered a hill by our house and my husband skidded off the road only to have another car hit his. We are grateful and praise the Lord that no one was hurt. But, disappointment filled the space between us on the phone as I called the police and tow truck, not quite as sweet as cinnamon to be only a few hours later. </strong></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em><span style="color: #783f04;"><strong>As I make plans to fly to spend a weekend with a friend full of prayer, writing, and girl talk, I was reminded that the enemy never quits. He is always on a "roll" to seek who he may destroy, steal what he can, and kill any and all joy or whatever else may bring God glory. Then today when friends came along side me via calls, e-mails, and messages to encourage me with God's Word, I was reminded of a post from almost 1 year ago today.</strong></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em><span style="color: #783f04;">What a good reminder! I hope you don't mind me sharing again...</span></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Wonder what the Proverbs 31 Woman would have thought about me painting sharks yesterday?! Verse 21 says that she is not afraid of the snow. Well, while we hunkered down for bad weather...we painted sharks!! </div><br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561503257202998082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5Q03VVTGXqJDnHAPAWYEv0hSRMpjXVYa4WT807_lR4eqSBZdDJYuE0eVWJw6apYtKTguvwYjYImkw4pljVYtu993g3xYaqt4QPq3OqP04vg85KY5c8IX1mzXFIY9nC40o1WaeReDzSI/s320/100_3866.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
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Go ahead and ask me anything about sharks! I have read enough books, seen enough episodes of "Shark Week," and role-played enough shark attacks to challenge the top scientist at any national aquarium. Well, ok may not "the top" scientist, but defiantly his assistant.<br />
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My son is a huge fan. He reminds me that the tiger shark is known as the "garbage can of the sea." "Be careful, Mom! Sometimes sharks mistake people on surf boards as baby seals!" Even when we brush his teeth, he wants me to brush the "sharpest shark ones." What a hoot!<br />
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Yesterday was also a great day to finish one more exam in my Liberty Home Bible Institute studies. Small bites toward graduation...slow but sure. It just so happened that after shark painting, I took a Final Exam on the Doctrine of another very well know predator...Satan. You know the one who seeks whom he may devour, always lurking to steal, kill, and destroy.<br />
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Despite being inside all day, my little guy 's eagerness to learn about "a predator" really got me thinking. It made me look at myself...like so often we learn from those whom we trying to teach. With everything I learned in the Doctrine of Satan Unit, I am most encouraged by 2 Corinthians 2:11, "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices." We are charged to know how Satan works so that he doesn't take advantage of us when he tries to attack.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" closure_uid_dlgpb4="7" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561515215256590690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcZBiHjPH1OTV4mxfFg9YxbfqHvc3wh6NNFT_-LZ574OS0tvqih_E94u8y_MxAcs0IAtkw3Fme6Qj0BWT__Mjopborli1x3LqTREgWAzl0nrCk_CganbL_7kjsvGaFPaxNHFmlze-HzQ/s320/100_3871.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
Let's not get caught unaware of what is lurking. <br />
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Do we know Satan's devices? Am I trying to learn them or be able to identify them in my own life? <br />
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As I prepared for my exam, I had to learn about how Satan tries to attack us. My little guy would be proud of how much I knew about THIS predator. I found this so enlightening, I wanted to share from Dr. Harold Wilmington's textbook, Wilmington's Guide to the Bible...The 16 Deadly "D's" of the Devil. <br />
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Have you heard of them? Does everyone know these but me?! <br />
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#1. In the attack of Disappointment, let's remember Romans 8:28.<br />
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#2. In the attack of Discouragement, let's remember 1 Samuel 30:6.<br />
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#3. In the attack of Despair, let's remember 2 Cor. 4:8.<br />
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#4. In the attack of Doubt, let's remember 1 Timothy 2:8.<br />
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#5. In the attack of Disbelief, let's remember Hebrews 3:12.<br />
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#6. In the attack of Distraction, let's remember Matthew 14:30.<br />
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#7. In the attack of Double-mindedness, let's remember James 1:8; James 4:8.<br />
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#8. In the attack of Dishonesty, let's remember 2 Corinthians 4:2<br />
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#9. In the attack of Deceit, let's remember Jeremiah 17:9<br />
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#10. In the attack of Dullness, let's remember Hebrews 5:11 and 1 Corinthians 3:1-3.<br />
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#11. In the attack of Deadness, let's remember Hebrews 9:14.<br />
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#12. In the attack of Delay, let's remember James 4:13-15.<br />
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#13. In the attack of Discord, let's remember Proverbs 6:16-19.<br />
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#14. In the attack of Defilement, let's remember 1 Corinthians 3:16-17.<br />
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#15. In the attack of Defaming, let's remember Psalm 101:5.<br />
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#16. In the attack of Disobedience, let's remember 1 Samuel 15:22, Romans 6:14-18.<br />
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So, think Dr. Wilmington is right? Is this how Satan nibbles, gnaws, and attacks at you? I answered "yes" to a few, myself! Let us not tread as victims, but thrive as educated victors! Amen?!<br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #783f04;">May this sweet list encourage you and lead you to His Word as much as it did me today, friend!</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #783f04;">Inhaling God's faithful aroma,</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><em>April</em></span></strong>barefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-34185256856031407052012-01-13T20:38:00.009-05:002012-01-14T10:41:17.899-05:00The Awake Word<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzIhKWBLiQ4dFPYrmF3DxCsh-LHn70PrhY7EylyefcmrtlrxRJfmDmkzaACTjcMUHcfYLmdOTF_to9ILCRwJ9hSpp1bGWwRo6LbGSutuMfmgjFbpp4gPmS6d-Us6TN5WEaJjKTRn_n20/s1600/OneWord2012_Words.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697300743073476546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzIhKWBLiQ4dFPYrmF3DxCsh-LHn70PrhY7EylyefcmrtlrxRJfmDmkzaACTjcMUHcfYLmdOTF_to9ILCRwJ9hSpp1bGWwRo6LbGSutuMfmgjFbpp4gPmS6d-Us6TN5WEaJjKTRn_n20/s400/OneWord2012_Words.png" style="display: block; height: 150px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>Tonight, with my new <a href="http://www.barefootoffering.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-one-wordfor-2012.html">One Word </a>for 2012 being <strong>"Words,"</strong> my newly created snazzy blog button (I love my new blog button, thank you so much <a href="http://www.onlyabreath.com/">Melanie</a>! What a generous year-long gift!) and only <a href="http://www.barefootoffering.blogspot.com/2012/01/first-5-minute-friday-for-me.html">5-Minutes </a>before the timer goes off on the <a href="http://www.barefootoffering.blogspot.com/2012/01/measuring-cups-mistakes.html">bread machine</a>, I join in 5-Minute Fridays! In case you have forgotten how it works...<br />
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1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.<br />
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.<br />
3. Most important: comment and encourage the person who linked up before you.<br />
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OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes on:<a href="http://thegypsymama.com/2011/02/five-minute-friday-prompt-five-years-ago/tote/" rel="attachment wp-att-6944" style="color: #e17d03; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"></a><br />
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<span style="color: #cc6600;"><em><strong><span style="font-size: 180%;">Awake…<br />
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</span></strong></em></span><span style="color: #cc6600;"><em><strong><span style="font-size: 180%;"></span></strong></em></span><span style="color: #cc6600;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>GO!</strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc6600;"><span style="color: black;">When do you awake? No, not like an A.M. time, but what stirs you, excites you, makes you stay up late into the night and not care the next day? </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc6600;"><span style="color: black;">I don't like the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">artificial</span> highs that wake me up like coffee, diet Coke, and sugar that slowly ebb off and don't last (although I am a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">frequent</span> consumer). That is not really "awake" that is more like "pushing." You "push" someone <a href="http://www.barefootoffering.blogspot.com/2012/01/working-on-my.html">out of bed </a>on most days, but you see them come "awake" on Christmas morning! I long for those time where I feel more refreshed and awake. Very little can distract me in those moments (or <em>fortunate</em> seasons).</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc6600;"><span style="color: black;">Think about this. Do you think awake can just happen at the snap of the finger, or do you think awakening comes after rest, slumbering, or snoozing? Is that good or bad? (Can my 5-minutes <strong>just</strong> be filled with questions?! <strong>HA HA</strong>)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc6600;"><span style="color: black;">I took a long rest this past fall, too long. It might not have felt like it with committing to a part-time job as our church's secretary, but after finishing a 4-year long (should have been 2, or 3 for most) Bible course, I took a break from any formal Bible Study. Left to my own devices, I stumbled, turned <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">sluggish</span>, and slumbered. I tried quick fixes, but for me it just wasn't the same as having a routine and motivation. After Christmas was over, literally and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">figuratively</span>, and by the end of the year, I did not understand what was wrong. It was only after the new year when I started reading the Bible through chronologically did I even open my eyes to see what had happened.</span></span><br />
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I awake in the Word. Nothing causes my eyes to open more that hearing God's voice speak to me. Something stirs in me that I can not explain. It isn't so much what happens in me, but it is that the Word itself is alive. It is always awake. The Holy Spirit is always ready to illuminate from it. No <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">pre</span>-setting required. I was the one who was hitting the snooze button.<br />
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Awaking Again,<br />
<strong><span style="color: #000099; font-size: 180%;"><em>April</em></span></strong><br />
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<strong>STOP!</strong><br />
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Enjoying Fridays and linking up with<a href="http://thegypsymama.com/2012/01/five-minute-friday-awake/"> Gypsy Momma</a>!barefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-48156146303237514402012-01-11T12:02:00.004-05:002012-01-11T12:09:13.070-05:00My ONE WORD for 2012!My friends have shared, “April, you have the gift of words.” Not always what comes to mind when I am trying to tell encourage our 5-year old to do something like “let’s draw pictures for thank you notes for your Christmas gifts,” or “time to clean up your room before going to bed,” or “drink your milk PLEASE!”<br /><br />But words do have power, even when we feel powerless. That is not because of gifting, that is because of the Gifter! To quote Beth Moore, “Without exception the most powerful built in instrument God has given us is our mouths.” Re-reading some notes I took while watching her <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8bbPnmSAFo">Believing God Bible Study DVDs</a>, she said, “For reasons ultimately know to God alone, He has ordained that SPOKEN words carry a power, authority, and effectiveness that exceed words we simply THINK.” Words are important and powerful.<br /><br />Oh how it has blessed me when a friend TELLS me that she has been praying for me! How it encourages me when a friend SHARES that she was blessed by a blog post! How it humbles me to have a friend CALL and share when she is just plain stuck! So just imagine how God rejoices and is glorified when we SPEAK to Him and share from our hearts and our mouths, or simply REPEAT His powerful Word to a friend or over a situation! On the other hand, how He must hurt when we ignore it or go against it. Ever know someone’s small words to hurt you?<br /><br />That is why I am giving a lot of thought to my ONE WORD for 2012. You can learn more about it <a href="http://oneword365.com/">here</a>. Simply, you pick 1 word to focus on for 365 days, instead of 365 resolutions to focus on for 1 year.<br /><p style="text-align: center;" mce_style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.oneword365.com" target="_blank" mce_href="http://www.oneword365.com"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7051" title="One_Word" border="0" alt="" src="http://oneword365.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/300_125_b.jpg" width="300" height="125" mce_src="http://oneword365.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/300_125_b.jpg" /></a></p><br /><br />You would be so shocked to learn how quickly I can come up with a 365-item “to better myself” list, yet I have struggled, yes S-T-R-U-G-G-L-E-D to think of just 1 word to focus on this year. I have thought of this ONE WORD for 11 days now, ever since I read everyone else‘s and wanted to join in.<br /><br />The wait is over.<br /><br />My ONE WORD for 2012 is (drum roll, please) <strong>“Words!”</strong><br />Before you think this is just a cop-out or super cheesy, I did some self-inventory before make my decision:<br /><br />I thought of GRACE for days even wrote the word in my day planner to think and pray about it being “the one!” Then, what about LOVE? “Lord, help me with my failure to LOVE like you can!” Even thought about SERVE. “Am I SERVING where you want me to, Lord?”…the list could go on and on, and trust me it did!<br /><br />In the end, I thought of how I love words and so many words have a waterfall of emotion for me. But then again, how perfect are God’s Words! Pop! (in my head, wish you could have heard it!): Do “my words” match “God’s Word?” Can they? All the time?<br /><br />First, took a look at <strong>God’s Word</strong>. <em>Do I know His Word? Am I reading it? Daily? A duty or delight? Are His Words in my heart? Memorized? How am I meditate on them? Do I speak them over my husband and son? What does God want to say to me? Through me?</em><br />Next, took a look at <strong>my words</strong>. <em>What am I saying? Do my words help or hinder? What is the motive of what I say? What is the tone of my words? What is coming out of the abundance of my heart (Matt. 12:34)? What are God’s plans for my words? Do my words reflect God’s Word? Am I courageous enough to speak His Word to those that do not know it? (Is anyone else getting hot in here?)</em><br />I just laughed out loud thinking that I just signed up for Beth Moore’s new Bible Study called, James: Mercy Triumphs! Not familiar with it? Oh, it is the one where there is an entire chapter (Chapter 3) about “controlling the tongue!” HA HA!! Please encourage TELL me to do my homework!<br /><br />What is your ONE WORD for 2012? Got ONE? Think about it!<br />I look forward to your wonderful words,<br /><strong><em>April</em></strong>barefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-62523843590646979492012-01-10T16:41:00.005-05:002012-01-10T18:05:10.975-05:00Measuring Cups & MistakesHave you heard about the new bread machine in our house?! That’s right! I am super excited about making our own bread! My hubby wrapped the big boxed bread machine in <a href="http://www.barefootoffering.blogspot.com/2011/12/few-more-of-my-favoirte-things.html">snowflake</a> wrapping paper with “JOY” plastered all across it for Christmas…I was so excited!<br /><br />Now, before you start shaking your head and saying, “Really? Make your own bread?!! Wouldn't it just be easier to buy a loaf?<br /><br />Have you ever tasted real homemade bread? There is just nothing like it. And if I am going to eat the CARBS, well…let’s just say, I AM going to eat the carbs; I want them to be yummy!<br /><br />You should know the first FOUR loaves (and first BAG of FLOUR) were total flops! The first Oatmeal Buttermilk loaf I made was tasty, but after the first slice, it got so hard, I was worried about dropping it and hurting our kitchen floor. Seriously! Then, I got flour all over the heating elements while it was mixing the second loaf (filled it too full) and the entire house smelled of burnt flour and I had to turn the machine off prematurely. We did not want our New Year’s Eve horn and whistles to be fire trucks (aroma was not pleasant, either). The third loaf did not rise. The fourth crumbled like graham cracker pie crust.<br /><br />However, we just finished the fifth (and only successful) loaf and it was so delicious, I only got 2 slices total!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqL6Ve0U-J1X_skvim4nuwRO3ZdsKMCwJqNpailZLk96nWmPTPJZw_bL-2YXSqftV29QE7uhsGe3fb4kKoID4t7Nr-JWbL7No_6lBMZIiJil0V53dK31GGAGv5_og6RRzhfNg-O65rFd0/s1600/100_5103.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696141624074623122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqL6Ve0U-J1X_skvim4nuwRO3ZdsKMCwJqNpailZLk96nWmPTPJZw_bL-2YXSqftV29QE7uhsGe3fb4kKoID4t7Nr-JWbL7No_6lBMZIiJil0V53dK31GGAGv5_og6RRzhfNg-O65rFd0/s400/100_5103.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Getting ready to make another loaf, I wanted to sit here in the kitchen and share.<br /><br />Know what the problem was with the first FOUR loaves?<br /><br />Measuring the flour. Pretty basic, right? You know, one of the MAIN ingredient in BREAD!!!!<br /><br />I was measuring the flour like one would measure brown sugar: Grab a measuring cup, any one will do, thrust it in the flour, scoop it along the side to pack it in, and add. Then, do that 3 times. Why do I do it this way? I don’t know. Is there a different way to measure things? <em>C’mon, is there anyone else who just uses the same measuring cups for both dry and liquid ingredients? How about those of us who don’t measure at all and just “eye ball it,” you know who you are!<br /><br /></em>So wrong in the bread making world, friends, as I quickly learned.<br /><br />With all my failures to my record and this exciting new present from my husband, I was glancing back over the instruction booklet and saw this page that said, “Tips: Use Exact Measurements” and I re-read what I had originally skimmed over. It was right there in black and white:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>“ Measure dry ingredient by GENTLY spooning flour, etc., into the measuring cup<br />and then, once filled, leveling of with a knife. Never use the measuring cup to<br />scoop your dry ingredient directly from a container as this could add up to one<br />tablespoon of extra ingredients. Do not tap the bottom of the measuring cup or<br />PACK DOWN.”<br /><br /></blockquote><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Oh these were like sweet words to me! There was still hope!<br /><br />How had I missed them? Now, like most things in my life, I thought, “Look at all the spiritual principles here!” Yes, we should always go to God’s instruction book, the Bible, when we feel as if we are failing to let it correct, train or disciple us. God’s Word can also act as a recipe for a faith-filled life of abundance.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />However in this situation for me, I am reminded of “portions.” Last Friday, I sat down for lunch with a dear friend and our conversation swirled around our “portions” in life. More is not always better. Amen? Packing too many things in, like grams of flour, will inhibit us from even being able to consume what is rich.<br /><br />There is much to be said about GENTLY scooping things into our lives, allowing the Holy Spirit to measure them against God’s Will and Word, rather than just saying “Yes.” Then, once filled with confirmation, level off.<br /><br />As the New Year begins, where are you? PACKED DOWN tight or FILLED by your Portion? Who is your Portion?<br /><br />As you choose this day whom you serve and how you do it, choose God to be not only your portion, but choose Him to also be the CUP! “LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure” Psalm 16:5. Just simply beautiful, do you think? Where ever your lot is, however your lot is going in life, when you CHOOSE to make God your portion, even your CUP, He holds it secure in His Hands.<br /><br />May it overflow with praise, not false priorities.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#000099;"><em>April</em></span>barefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-78733167792624099882012-01-06T16:37:00.009-05:002012-01-06T22:07:25.076-05:00First 5-minute Friday For Me!From the <a href="http://www.findingheaventoday.blogspot.com/2012/01/5-minute-friday-sale-sale-sale.html">Finding Heaven</a>:<br /><br />Let’s do it. Let’s<strong> just write</strong> without worrying if it’s just <strong>right or not</strong>. For only five short, bold, beautiful minutes. Let your mind and your words and your heart fly free; wild – no editing, no over thinking.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zjRjzVs_98PP8y5q0hVClrQypdFMsyxfAIwaWj7Gl3_eVvG1wPbgbH0yahf687Uyc57cYStxFSSnk0mpIzQtkrYk5pLifYqtLAN9gKdumI0VRh4ftgcjrCFm7EZGqUUZjAyPIHw47jo/s1600/5-minute-friday-1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 199px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694638460666520754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zjRjzVs_98PP8y5q0hVClrQypdFMsyxfAIwaWj7Gl3_eVvG1wPbgbH0yahf687Uyc57cYStxFSSnk0mpIzQtkrYk5pLifYqtLAN9gKdumI0VRh4ftgcjrCFm7EZGqUUZjAyPIHw47jo/s400/5-minute-friday-1.jpg" /></a> The Rules:<br />1. Write for 5 minutes flat – don’t edit; don’t second-guess.<br />2. Link back here and invite others to join in.<br />3. Must: leave a comment for the person who linked up before you – encouraging them<br />in their writing!<br /><br />OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes on:<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Roar…<br /></span></strong><a style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #e17d03; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0px" href="http://thegypsymama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Roar.jpeg"></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>GO!</p><br /><br /><br /><p>Good thing that I have a timer on the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">bottom</span> right-hand corner of the computer screen because 5 minutes feels like a wink to me, but then again it is sweet buying time when I say, "You have 5 more minutes, son." He loves that! So, these are 5 precious minutes to me.</p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0jHSihGse7Nlr6siO4EFZ8SSgseugHVv3SXt5U-JPjT09dPyp4Nah1p_NFkyLU5KxVqrOtM6Bo_fM_uIsupuIPRdnfGeMlNLMLW1wTC7rCwvrZk4s1YkKZTpRt6-s4osf7M5TGHLQN0/s1600/lion.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 296px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694715235276383026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0jHSihGse7Nlr6siO4EFZ8SSgseugHVv3SXt5U-JPjT09dPyp4Nah1p_NFkyLU5KxVqrOtM6Bo_fM_uIsupuIPRdnfGeMlNLMLW1wTC7rCwvrZk4s1YkKZTpRt6-s4osf7M5TGHLQN0/s400/lion.jpg" /></a></p>I got a question. Usually how I start all my thoughts and ramblings. When you look at a still picture of a lion with it's mouth open, is he roaring or yawning? You don't know unless you actually "hear" him, right? So true of the Enemy.<br /><br />This lion here is just yawning (at least that is what the caption said), doesn't look like it does it? Right? But just as I have <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">experienced</span> in my own life, "the Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch YOU napping" (1 Peter 5:7 MSG). Oh, how True!<br /><br />Step 1. Do not nap...the Devil doesn't.<br />Step 2. Don't stand to close...the Devil pounces.<br />Step 3. Don't listen...when the Devil ROARS, it will just be like he is yawning to you...no effect!<br /><br />The hardest step is 3. Lies deafen our senses to the Truth. But the Devil has no power over us if we do not listen to his <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">hissssss</span> or his ROOOOOOOOOAR!<br /><br />STOP!<br /><br />(2 minutes over for photo searching! I'll try again next Friday!)<br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:180%;color:#3333ff;"><em>April</em></span>barefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-61027790591598278052012-01-04T22:00:00.005-05:002012-01-05T16:55:47.325-05:00Working on my "A+"<em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)">The house is still and quiet. Out the window and across our neighborhood, pink, blues, and purples hoover over the houses and streak the sky. Waking with the sun is something that I wished I would do more. There is calm. When it is time to go into my son's room, I remember all those times I would walk quietly into the nursery and peer over the crib just to watch him sleep in the twilight. The rise and fall of his chest and alabaster cheeks was the perfect picture of peace. Now, this morning, I hold my breath and whisper his name, "Little One," I say. First, there is a crinkle in his cheek and smile, but his eyes don't open. </span></em><br /><em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"></span></em><br /><em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)">"Time to wake up." </span></em><br /><br /><br /><br /><em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"></span></em><br /><em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)">"But I don't want to go to school." Eyes clinched shut.</span></em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"></span></em><br /><em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)">The bright sun peers through the room like his words do to my ears. Oh Lord, please help us have a good morning, I pray. Thousands of beams of thoughts rush in my mind and are on the tip of my tongue like:</span></em><br /><em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"></span></em><br /><em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"></span></em><br /><em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"></span></em><br /><em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"></span></em><br /><em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)">You are well in mind and body! You live in a land with enormous opportunity. There are children all over the world who are not well enough to go to school or don't have a school to go to. Do you know that? You are blessed! Other children might go to school but don't have the care that their teeth are brushed or that their breakfast is filling to start their day. What a blessing to sleep later than most and be driven to school. You have a wealth of resources! You have been given so much to grumble EVERY morning! Open your eyes!</span></em><br /><br /><br /><br />Tell me, did Joshua understand a mother's morning getting kids up for school in Chapter 24 of his book? Over and over, Joshua points out all that the Lord God had done. Now, in the wealth of the new land that had just simply been given to them by God's hand, they had a choice. Joshua challenges the Israelites by recounting all that God had brought them through and then says go ahead and worship another god if you want, but I am not and neither is my household.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 166px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 166px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694229236717252210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1T2fhnKWxqirq_Xg3mQYOilvpb3lZfnuKZ5Mq7gRtiJ0HYl_fZoPu-uMViTqDH_0b3SZcdInDAi699aUPBeZ3hdjjM1Ybz4OaXrRHpMOmz06_mnRpAJJe_4zmaZPh0Hl5pM9gX6-sR4/s400/scripture.jpg" /><br />Our "A" verse in the 2012 Scripture Memory Challenge is Joshua 24:15b "As for me and my household we will serve the Lord."<br /><br />When asked what that verse means to me, the word "serve" stuck out. <em>How am I serving him? Not just doing, but serving? When do we serve him? Is it so for my whole household?</em><br /><br /><br />So you know me, right?! I looked it up! :)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMuWsliB5T5flY9YKi_495cvCgiImSnRyQyfIfAjySed0o1wCeuAU9LUzQdJHNvCQXdd4khPPVftIFvBM9TmFnWYctZfEG2FVy4hfBJiqmP_Qm8vCn9edblL3QcRV4wIvMzOYLv3Z_yTU/s1600/scripture.jpg"></a>The word serve is "abad" in Hebrew, pronounced (aw-bad) a verb meaning to work. Remember when Jacob <em>served</em> Laban (Gen. 29:15) and the Israelites <em>served</em> the Egyptians (Ex. 1:4)? I read on. To quote, "When the focus of the labour is the Lord, it is a religious service to worship Him. Moreover, in these cases, the word does not have a connotation of toilsome, but instead a<span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"> joyful experience of liberation</span>."<br /><br /><br /><br />Liberation.<br /><br /><br /><br />Joshua was telling the people who didn't attack the walls (they fell down), who didn't work for the land (it was given), who didn't cultivate the land (it was flowing with milk and honey), and who who didn't build the cities (they were already constructed), that if you think you'd rather SERVE someone else, other than the one who did all that for you, go ahead.<br /><br /><br />What?! Joshua told his people to worship someone else?<br /><br /><br />Well, if they didn't serve the On True Living God, weren't they doing that anyway? The god of ease? The god of comfort? The god of wealth? Or worse, the god of "me."<br /><br /><br />The "the joyful toil of liberation" that the definition spoke of is the beauty of worship. Putting forth effort acknowledging that God is greater than me or anything else; liberates me.<br /><br /><br /><br />It is a freeing experience to serve<br />the God who provides .<br />the God who comforts.<br />the God who is faithful.<br />the God who rescues.<br />the God who saves.<br /><br />Know what that means? He does, so we don't have to.<br /><br /><br /><br />I serve the God who is, so I don't have to be.<br /><br /><br />I don't have to provide everything.<br />I don't have to solve everything.<br />I don't have to be everything.<br />I don't have to do everything.<br /><br /><br /><br />Like Joshua's Israelites, I have a choice to SERVE, WORSHIP, LABOUR, TOIL for the One who does.<br /><br /><br /><br />I don't have to rely on me. God doesn't even need me, He WANTS me! Do I want him? Did the Israelites after Joshua challenged them? You don't have to go too far, just pages over from the book of Joshua, and you will find that although they claimed they would never want another god, they lied.<br /><br /><br /><br />The true test of memorizing Truth and hiding His Word in my heart, is when the situation becomes most difficult, I make the right choice to forget myself and SERVE the Lord.<br /><br /><br /><em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)">Stroking his hair, I don't depend on my super mommy skills, I speak to him about the Lord and we start ANOTHER morning. "This is the day that the Lord has made, right? Let's rejoice in this day, Jeremiah." </span></em>barefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-39363040794368770462012-01-01T17:56:00.004-05:002012-01-01T22:26:00.405-05:00ReNEWing, ReFUELing, ReSO(U)Lting!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1_8QHYEc0GBRIVMHiBqJxZCOMhkzIhz2ld9_wVl806SA4v4PzSYVYjoCjYaNwnSKjMzKHgUyH3d6d8_buwiisS1XMVcgfu53lQKeu5PCg7YIedreTOVb8sk8V_mgAhmf9Wajl6gbT_M/s1600/She_Sparkles_A_to_Z.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 166px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 166px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692801734201096370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1_8QHYEc0GBRIVMHiBqJxZCOMhkzIhz2ld9_wVl806SA4v4PzSYVYjoCjYaNwnSKjMzKHgUyH3d6d8_buwiisS1XMVcgfu53lQKeu5PCg7YIedreTOVb8sk8V_mgAhmf9Wajl6gbT_M/s400/She_Sparkles_A_to_Z.jpg" /></a> Hi Friends! Happy, Happy, Happy NEW Year!<br /><br /><p>I am so thankful for a NEW year. I thank God that He, and HE alone, has the power to make all things NEW! That includes me, not just the year. And, the shocking thing is, HE wants to...in me and in YOU! Year after year, after year!</p><br /><br /><p>Last fall, I accepted a part-time position and our only son started kindergarten. Although this felt like an expolsion to the "stay-at-home" norm I had known for the last 5 years, that is when everything started to smolder. The vibrant flames of deep, rich time in the Word were snuffed out with rushed mornings, travel mugs of hot coffee forgotten on the counter, and e-mails of apologies for things I forgot to do, messed up while doing, or could not commit to do. <em>Know the feelin'?</em> Thanks to all those of you who extended me GRACE in 2010 <em>(more to share about that this month!)</em>. But, praise the Lord, His Light can not be put out! </p><br /><br /><p>A new year has sparked, my friends!</p><br /><br /><p>Not to conform to the list of self-striving resolutions, I seek to be transformed by His reNEWing of my mind (Romans 12:2). Want to join me? Here's how....</p>A favorite blog (and a dear friend),<a href="http://www.cindybultema.blogspot.com/2012/01/she-sparkles-to-z-memory-verse.html"> She Sparkles</a>, is hosting a <strong>2012 A-Z Scripture Memory Verse Challenge </strong>and we are invited! Every other week, our hearts and heads will be challenged to reNEWed with a truth from God's Word all the way from A to Z! We are not talking about passages...just verses! Click <a href="http://www.cindybultema.blogspot.com/2012/01/she-sparkles-to-z-memory-verse.html">here</a> to learn more about it! <strong>Wait!</strong> Before you click over, let me share something. There is a limitless number of things that we can add to our lives and lists, I know. Often, they suffocate and burn us out. But, a fire needs only <strong>3</strong> things to burn bright: oxygen, fuel, and a heat source (checked that fact out with my Seach and Rescue hubby!). Think about it: With the Source of All breathing His Life in us, the fuel of God's Word is one that will never fail, only prevail!<br /><br />I am super excited to share some thoughts about our "<strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">A</span></strong>s for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" verse from Joshua 24:15b later in the week. Want to join us?<br /><br />Happy ReNEWing Year,<br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>April</em></span>barefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-91838875206981110392011-12-16T14:41:00.009-05:002011-12-16T16:13:15.520-05:00A few more of my favorite things...So, I recently shared about "bows" being one of my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">favorite</span> things and you can read about it <a href="http://barefootoffering.blogspot.com/2011/12/bowsare-few-of-my-favoirite-things.html">here</a>. But yesterday, when a friend complimented my snowflake pin, she said, "You should blog about that" after she heard the story.<br /><br />Here I am with SNOWFLAKES...another one of my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">favorite</span> things.<br /><br />The story goes that in 1992 when I met my husband, Jason, we shared our first kiss at Concord College. We can remember the exact location in the science building parking lot and what happened next...it started snowing! This is no Hallmark movie friends, it really happened!<br /><br />That year, we made ornaments for each other and one was a snowflake I painted. This is the ornament that started it ALL!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfYVBiTwmO_gxA1VPW4sma3Y8yNxamW0oAXKhZg_SvNcs0BbnkcNFcCzMyVXrODed4J0EDv2sQDAWWiqltfIfzEEo8sA9dS5PpvBFxCsiaJy8tie4LyeTiDwqQ5_RTlPTvAs0R4X1epE/s1600/100_4851.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686817411714267970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfYVBiTwmO_gxA1VPW4sma3Y8yNxamW0oAXKhZg_SvNcs0BbnkcNFcCzMyVXrODed4J0EDv2sQDAWWiqltfIfzEEo8sA9dS5PpvBFxCsiaJy8tie4LyeTiDwqQ5_RTlPTvAs0R4X1epE/s400/100_4851.JPG" /></a><br />The idea caught on. We started exchanging snowflake ornaments every year. Now, almost 20 years later, we have a wonderful marriage, a tree full of snowflake ornaments, and a son to share them with.<br /><br />There aren't really any rules, but it goes something like this...each of us picks out the other a snowflake ornament in secret, wraps it up as a Christmas gift, and we usually open them on Christmas Eve. Then, after Christmas, each snowflake is delicately wrapped in tissue paper, put into a zip lock bag, with an index card filled-out sharing who it was to, who it was from, a short description of the snowflakes (so we can can tell them apart), and any reason it was chosen for the other. Then, each year as we trim the tree, we get out our snowflakes and read the cards back to each other.<br /><br />Here are a few of my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">favorite</span> ones...<br /><br />TO: April<br />FROM: Jason<br />Golden snowflake with a picture of our ultrasound of Jeremiah<br />"Celebrating our first Christmas as parents with our GIFT, Jeremiah!"<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAgIbzJgnFydcz5TpLlDBcPmJIpvyfzrcpsrmLin8LY1H0zcDROToyvvneYTaCGBAOzjJrt5QD9v8u6xalknmwqEIacKwzdeNns2KfsqSq5OAj82LrmyuLSumRSE6V_-e_UlYlBIVAKU/s1600/100_4842.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686818390366826386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAgIbzJgnFydcz5TpLlDBcPmJIpvyfzrcpsrmLin8LY1H0zcDROToyvvneYTaCGBAOzjJrt5QD9v8u6xalknmwqEIacKwzdeNns2KfsqSq5OAj82LrmyuLSumRSE6V_-e_UlYlBIVAKU/s400/100_4842.JPG" /></a> TO: Jason<br />FROM: April<br />Red and white felt snowflake<br />"Jason's new job as an elementary school principal and "Daddy" has made him soft around the edges."<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzNiAEGh6jo4EEUHb8hx92fqVJ-E4dIE8XfHMk0y6u1J4DKW2v3kgHDiV-hy3T83xP4kXmINzW8CITM7EC7htVrvuVmxvcoVMQcyqGyFVs_sTIXVel4x7V4tTM2WRtLFdn8A69jxXlNk/s1600/100_4843.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686819442601877170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzNiAEGh6jo4EEUHb8hx92fqVJ-E4dIE8XfHMk0y6u1J4DKW2v3kgHDiV-hy3T83xP4kXmINzW8CITM7EC7htVrvuVmxvcoVMQcyqGyFVs_sTIXVel4x7V4tTM2WRtLFdn8A69jxXlNk/s400/100_4843.JPG" /></a>TO: Jason<br />FROM: April<br />Snowflake Bell<br />"Honoring Jason's mom's passing and a wonderful life...When do "angels" really get their wings?"<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDi5ofgLIN5JpgkyFRyf4gw8qyY9rgshzlPGzQ3mKwYIA-LA73ah5Dz2wJGOxmP2-H-EBo-14q9W12S6DBHp8CaIYRCzjsCQVHtMy0zmUiK0CnxvaSUC_QzeAKMmoTSphL_YNK2cZaSE/s1600/100_4849.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686819948510034162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDi5ofgLIN5JpgkyFRyf4gw8qyY9rgshzlPGzQ3mKwYIA-LA73ah5Dz2wJGOxmP2-H-EBo-14q9W12S6DBHp8CaIYRCzjsCQVHtMy0zmUiK0CnxvaSUC_QzeAKMmoTSphL_YNK2cZaSE/s400/100_4849.JPG" /></a><br />TO: April<br />FROM: Jason<br />Snowflake Jingle Bells<br />"Having our son in preschool has given us a lot to make a joyful noise about!"<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBOEZwfdbu3biV-OKcbLPAQfqz8rHlGTSiajfT3hMYzmIOGBpmT7aJd5jnMewS1rcWbuQE4fSmlk5rxoC7IB49bBzNvI0jWQ9LZDumxCDhg-6EgKGbRbPAkAlweISOozkbDRIm__Kidg/s1600/100_4856.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686822466110809490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBOEZwfdbu3biV-OKcbLPAQfqz8rHlGTSiajfT3hMYzmIOGBpmT7aJd5jnMewS1rcWbuQE4fSmlk5rxoC7IB49bBzNvI0jWQ9LZDumxCDhg-6EgKGbRbPAkAlweISOozkbDRIm__Kidg/s400/100_4856.JPG" /></a><br /><br />...just a few of my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">favorite</span> things. I could go on and on. Somewhere in the mix, Jason started picking up snowflake pins that I wear through the holidays. Each is sentimental (although not wrapped in tissue and kept in a zip lock bag with an index card - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">LOL</span>!) Thanks for encouraging me to share <a href="http://simplylovincountry.blogspot.com/2011/12/michael-w-smith-agnus-dei.html">Amanda</a>!<br /><br />Now, I have a question for all of you. I want to hear from you. As we celebrate God's gift to the entire world, His Son Jesus, who hung on a tree, displaying God's love to forgive us of our sin, and His power to rise again from death that we might have life abundantly...what has that life looked like this past year? If Jason's snowflake ornaments, remind me of our life celebrated together and of his love for me, what would God's ornament to you look like from this past year?<br /><br />A heart as He reminded you of His Love? A dove symbolic of His Peace? A smiley face as you experienced His Joy? A lamp to remind you to be is His Light?<br /><br />Think about it and let me know what you come up with. What God hung on the tree for us is ETERNAL, no seasonal and He is ever faithful to remind us. Celebrate Him!barefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-56544486957098151032011-12-11T14:46:00.004-05:002011-12-11T15:24:59.237-05:00Bows...are a few of my favoirite things!Hi Friends,<br /><br />Remember me?! As our family has faced lots of transition and illness since school started, I have <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">struggled</span> to continue to post to my blog. But as recent events over the weekend displayed God's faithfulness, I had to visit and share with you.<br /><br />On Friday, I received an e-mail from a friend who is leading me and a few girlfriends in Bible Study. She was reminding us to not get lost in the stressfulness of the holidays. I replied with some thoughts that had been stirring in my heart all week. I had them scribbled down on the back of an envelope by my night stand with an orange felt pen (Writer friends, you understand, right?)<br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;"><span style="color:#ff6600;">I love to gift wrap. In my opinion the way a gift is wrapped and how it is given is just as important as what is inside. So, I take my time wrapping and love cloth and hand tied bows instead of the adhesive...what a display of beauty, time, and concentration!<br /><br />But don't let that EVER stop ya from sharing a gift with me (HA HA) because, in the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">hussell</span> and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">bussell</span> of Christmas, it never fails that I end up grabbing a couple of the plastic adhesive bows and slapping them on a gifts. Never fails. You know the feeling...<em>not really what I wanted to do, but I didn't <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">WISELY</span> plan or prepare for what my heart really wanted to do.<br /><br /></em>Now, think of the WISE men.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"></span></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"><span style="color:#ff6600;">As they really gave their gifts to the KING, not just to Mary and Joseph, how did they do it? <strong>Bow</strong>, is my answer. Not just any person was born, Jesus Christ was named King of Kings and Lord of Lords. They had made such plans and preparations following the star, traveled so long and come so far to find HIM, my heart (and the Word) tells me they didn't stand at the door and offer the gift to the parents.<br /><br />The WISE men HAD TO enter the place, come close to Jesus, take time after <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">preparations</span> and planning, and <strong>bow</strong>, as they presented their gifts.<br /><br />Now, I am not going to get all tied up about the timing of when they got to Jesus,<em> was it right away or 2 years later. Should they really go with the nativity set or not....</em> The story of their gift giving to Jesus is in the Word and I just want to learn from their humble hearts, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sacrificial</span> time, concentrated effort, and gift giving. Even Herod told them to go and <strong>"seek diligently"</strong> (Matt. 2:8), but we all know <em>his</em> heart! But the whole reason the wise followed the light, came to Jesus, gathered in His Name was "we have come to <strong>worship </strong>Him" (Matthew 2:2). I will admit, I don't really think of "worship" when we are under the tree? So, when they did arrive there on that day, to celebrate the birth of the King, look at what it says "And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, <strong>and fell down</strong>, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh" (Matthew 2:11).<br /><br />We always pray before opening gifts, trying to keep Christ in Christmas, but this year, before the first<strong> bow</strong> is</span> </span><span style="color:#ff6600;">given, I think I will invite my family to pray and share <strong>"a bow"</strong> with me to give Christ our worship as a gift this year, the first gift....a real <strong>bow</strong>, not just our heads in prayer, but our whole beings (on bended knee) in worship before God to truly thank Him for the gift of His Son.<br /><br />Then, maybe after all the adhesive bows are gone, that <strong>one bow</strong> will stick in our hearts! </span><br /><span style="color:#ff6600;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">As Friday came to an end, I thought, "I will, I will" when another girlfriend replied to me saying, "you must blog this BIG time!" So just imagine my surprise<span style="color:#ff6600;"> (and conviction)</span> when the VERY NEXT day came along and Saturday brought this gift of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">pose-able </span>action figures for our son, Jeremiah, from his Great Aunt Gerry.</span><br /><br /><p><br /></p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmelwY50NNuDdzJAUSKL8kpIJxSV_JHEHne8g5LuDhKXqCxw4ZmQgRsNHC1oljlKm2h2vUPslL7FyyFBWoXm-aWNCtjekW4pzRqWhzoYOk47KFFQjxfWhgqawsEPQIl4_4tq8y2z3X2fk/s1600/100_4836.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684964330036884050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmelwY50NNuDdzJAUSKL8kpIJxSV_JHEHne8g5LuDhKXqCxw4ZmQgRsNHC1oljlKm2h2vUPslL7FyyFBWoXm-aWNCtjekW4pzRqWhzoYOk47KFFQjxfWhgqawsEPQIl4_4tq8y2z3X2fk/s400/100_4836.JPG" /></a><br />Yep, I fell down in the floor and admired each of the 12 pieces. I bended their knees...even the camels and took this picture for you! Thanks Aunt Gerry...it was not only a gift to Jeremiah this year, but an encouragement to me! And to my girlfriends who encourage me to write and post on the blog...that is a gift I am thankful for, too. Merry Christmas, I am so glad that we share our gifts and present them to Christ first, then others.</p><br /><p>Have a Worship-Filled Christmas,</p><br /><p>April </p>barefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-25691211205317995292011-08-23T20:07:00.004-04:002011-08-23T21:00:05.176-04:00The Student Becomes The Master, She is!So, there was a whole <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">lotta</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">shakin</span>' <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">goin</span>' on today, friends!
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<br />Where were you on August 23, 2011, the day that the earthquake hit Virginia? <span style="font-weight: bold;" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">That</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> is my new question!</span>
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<br />Well, as for me, I was here at the computer in our home office downstairs and I simply thought I was loosing my mind. The house creaked and made noises, the windows sounded like they do in a hard mountain storm, and I saw the flat screen computer monitor shaking and I felt unbalanced...more than on my most frazzled day. <span style="font-style: italic;">You know what I am talking about Shannon!</span> I shared with a friend that it felt like when you are a little girl playing outside and you twirl around and around making your dress fly, then stop. You know, that dizzy feeling? That was me at 1:51 p.m. today, August 23, 2011.
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<br />Thanks for those who called and checked on me or sent notes on-line. :) God blessed us all and we are fine!
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<br />But, to be honest, I kinda panicked and called my hubby at work and said I thought something was wrong with the house like a water line ruptured or gas line exploded. I was even leaving a message on a voicemail when I heard the news just moments later and I said, "I was just in an earthquake" and hung up. <span style="font-style: italic;">HA! I did call back later and explain. :)</span>
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<br />I was fine, but what an out of control experience! Not just physically, but emotionally. I did mention that our son, Jeremiah, just started Kindergarten, didn't I? Oh my! Just thinking about him at school without me was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">overwhelming</span>! It was those "first day of school feelings" all over again. Was he at recess? Did he feel it? Did it scare him? Is he <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ok</span>? Is he ok? Is he ok?
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<br />You know why cell phones were jammed this afternoon, don't you? Mommas!! Because mommas were checking on their once kindergartners no doubt!
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<br />Tonight I am praising God for another reminder, one that registered 5.8, that He is the one who moves Heaven and Earth and cares for those who dwell there. Thank you God that we are never ever too far out of Your Reach, even when our kindergartners or college freshman are. Whew!
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<br />But I have to share this story about the end of the day. I was on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">FB</span> and checking on friends and their funny post about the day. Everything from Jerry Lee Lewis's song to posts about "shaking things up" made me finally laugh about it. But then, sweet <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Rebecca</span>...
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hPucS87uQk56Yl8L2WfCZktG_m96fhChHeUFLasaH9J6XZMqEPpINXl_5w-uH_gnyg4ZQ9kQ_NcDf9AJYUb0iq56aqMPL5m0_CPBxRcZJTJwwhn9CkBgA0YzwCDwGkaLSkX3WWLkhDA/s1600/Rebecca.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 343px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hPucS87uQk56Yl8L2WfCZktG_m96fhChHeUFLasaH9J6XZMqEPpINXl_5w-uH_gnyg4ZQ9kQ_NcDf9AJYUb0iq56aqMPL5m0_CPBxRcZJTJwwhn9CkBgA0YzwCDwGkaLSkX3WWLkhDA/s400/Rebecca.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644211811322808098" border="0" /></a>...I read about her "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">EE</span>" Earthquake Experience from early at the high school <span style="font-style: italic;">(we just finished <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">prayin</span>' her into cosmetology class her Junior year) </span>and she just blew me away. She instantly shared that today's events made her think of Matthew 24:6-13.
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<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Ummm</span>...I wasn't totally sure what that reference was, so I had to look it up before I could reply. From verse 7 and 13,<span class="woj"> <span style="font-style: italic;">"Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places...</span></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-style: italic;">but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."</span>
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<br />I sat at my computer and just smiled. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Rebecca</span>, a high school Junior, ministered to me today...<span style="font-style: italic;">her soon to be <a href="http://barefootoffering.blogspot.com/2011/08/waves.html">Soul Surfer</a> Bible Study leader</span>.
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<br />This must have been what Yoda felt like with Luke <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Skywalker</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">(new craze at our house...thanks McDonald's Happy Meals!)</span>. Hey <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Rebecca</span>, you wanna teach this year? Hey wait, she did last year and will be this year some nights with Kaitlyn and Bethany, too! WOO <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">HOO</span>! Yep! Our class even has a <span style="font-style: italic;">"Bethany!"</span>
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<br />Thank you for the reminder of verse 13, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Rebecca</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold;">"But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." </span> A gentle reminder that when everything around us shakes, crumbles, falls, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">collapses</span>, cracks, gives way, and trembles...AND it will...we have a PROMISE to CLAIM that if we stand firm on the name of Jesus, stand firm in Him and His promises, we will be saved..from it all.
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<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Where were you on August 23, 2011?</span> I was in the Word with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Rebecca</span>! Thank you, friend!
<br /></span>barefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-1121998456572285312011-08-19T10:29:00.004-04:002011-08-19T12:51:06.379-04:00Beginning or Ending?!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZF4jfS5I8oLYU0HWGVOBuF6Q9suBOOWeg9N1Y1pLKs20BmZicpDrHqG2ilNbOu9aPnJiKQOJqzzeKNBrEm_9EwHyzlDyKQxvwWFzebEVsdajgz9z6DG14AneYbfmWoudBk-g-w5IKE0/s1600/100_4624.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZF4jfS5I8oLYU0HWGVOBuF6Q9suBOOWeg9N1Y1pLKs20BmZicpDrHqG2ilNbOu9aPnJiKQOJqzzeKNBrEm_9EwHyzlDyKQxvwWFzebEVsdajgz9z6DG14AneYbfmWoudBk-g-w5IKE0/s400/100_4624.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642596142195345234" border="0" /></a>Under this picture of my son's first day of school, I wrote, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ecclesiastes</span> 3:4 "a time to weep, and a time to laugh." Which is it, friends? Are we beginning or ending?
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<br />We don't always want to be in "transition," do we? That is like riding the <a href="http://barefootoffering.blogspot.com/2011/08/waves.html">ups and downs of ocean waves</a> and never overcoming the fear to mount one and surf. Or never being courageous enough to wipe out and let a ride end even if you have a great faith story to tell. <span style="font-style: italic;">Yep, still prepping for our Soul Surfer Bible Study.
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<br /></span>Seriously though, if I hear the word "transition" one more time in our house, I might scream or go grab a bar of soap...FOR ME!
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<br />Although God graces and comforts during transition, He even calls us to it, that is not all He has for us. We have to join Him in our endings and beginnings.
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<br />There has been so much <span style="font-style: italic;">transition</span> in my life, (NO! NOT THE SOAP!). I am grateful for long distance friends who share and close friends who care. Recently, two friends who fall into both categories, have ministered to me.
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<br />A dear friend of mine just transformed her classroom theme from bees to frogs. <span style="font-style: italic;">We are "Coyotes" through and through around here. ;) </span>Anyway, she recently shared that she was using the word "<span style="font-weight: bold;">b</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">usy</span>" too much.
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<br />How many of us do that?! <span style="font-style: italic;">How are you</span>, they ask. <span style="font-style: italic;">I am good, just super busy</span>, we answer. This year, the bees have flown away from my friend and the frogs have leaped in! She isn't even using the "B" word. What a commitment! Now, only replacing the old word with "fruitful." I love that, friend! Who would ever want to be <span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">shhh</span>! </span><span style="font-style: italic;">b-u-s-y</span> swimming a tadpole's life without the transforming hope and power of hopping onto a blooming blessing?
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<br />Thank you for modeling how to "end" something, friend.
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<br />Another friend and I grabbed a few minutes over the phone this week and I said the word "prune" and she began telling me about this message she listened to 3 times! As "fruitful" and "fruit-filled" as she is, what would make her want to begin watching something 3 times!?
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<br />I began to get was curious and hit the "arrow" button. You know, the one that points you in a new direction.
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<br />What an awesome message from Dr. Henry Cloud that he recently gave about "Necessary Endings" at Willow Creek Community Church! He knows all about letting things end, even pruning them, so new things can begin.
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<br />Thank you for modeling how to "begin" something great, friend.
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<br />With so many HUGE things going on in my life right now, I need to take a knee. I need to end how I have been praying, and begin praying differently.
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<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">Father, help me support and encourage my husband as his job </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">ends</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> and <span>he</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> begins</span> something new. Give me what can help him.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Father, I praise you for 5 and 1/2 years at home! As they come to an </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">end</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> and new opportunities are </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">beginning</span><span style="font-style: italic;">, let me only say "YES" to what you are saying "YES" to. Give me new ears. </span>
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<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Father, I ask for wisdom at church as one ministry <span style="font-weight: bold;">ends</span> and a new one <span style="font-weight: bold;">begins</span>.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Both "goodbyes" and "hellos" can be difficult.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Father, I thank you that our Wed. Night Bible Study <span style="font-weight: bold;">ended.</span> Thank you that we waited and You have given us something new to <span style="font-weight: bold;">begin</span> now.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> I am so excited to dive in!</span><span style="font-style: italic;">
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<br />Father, for my deepest needs, let me know Your Love enough and trust You enough to fill them. Teach me that <span style="font-weight: bold;">ending</span> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">does not have to leave me empty. Your filling is not a </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">beginning</span>, </span><span style="font-style: italic;">but better. It is complete.</span></blockquote>
<br />So, what about you?
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<br />Dr. Cloud has some great questions to ask you. If you are interested in listening you can click <a href="http://www.willowcreek.org/mediaplayer/playerHome.aspx?cid=3&id=14">here</a>. If you are in a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">tran</span>....., I mean, if you are not too b...... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Ummm</span>, let's just say, I'm ending the blog post so that you can watch now and let God begin to speak to you.
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<br />Working on my first assignment of the school year,
<br />April
<br />barefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-55362208301867311132011-08-17T11:29:00.007-04:002011-08-17T13:54:29.538-04:00WavesGrateful for the sunshine, the smell of morning, and the cool air, we walked up to the corner of the yard.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_lEKawIF0fS6HN17uIiCEb4N1XRogUF7JR9YMPHEMHHUQSjvfNi1ULRA-B3yyghBhO1xFtqWZhlPfIdZMrpaAFYZ_Hp2jslf4NNyeDyUMaUI3PiclxVsADCdGWgmsKf_h4F-DsVYWUI/s1600/100_4623.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_lEKawIF0fS6HN17uIiCEb4N1XRogUF7JR9YMPHEMHHUQSjvfNi1ULRA-B3yyghBhO1xFtqWZhlPfIdZMrpaAFYZ_Hp2jslf4NNyeDyUMaUI3PiclxVsADCdGWgmsKf_h4F-DsVYWUI/s400/100_4623.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641879663741851346" border="0" /></a>We heard the rumble of the engine before we saw the yellow of the school bus.
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<br />That's when it happened, friend.
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<br />My son, Jeremiah, urgently almost breathlessly said, "I wanna pray!" <span style="font-style: italic;">Didn't we just do that last night and this morning?</span> The bus was turning the corner and my kindergartner dropped to both knees...on the street....in his new jeans, and prayed for his day. Got up, climbed on board, took his seat, and went to his first day of school.
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<br />I have never seen someone begin their day more humble.
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<br />What is a momma to do? <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wave</span>.
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<br />Recently, I have been doing a lot of reading about waves as we gear up for our teenage girls Bible Study on Wednesday nights. <span style="font-style: italic;"> How can you do the new </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.soulsurferwave.com/home">Soul Surfer Bible Study</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> without talking about waves, right?! </span> But I was struck by the description of how from shore, surfers look like they are just sitting out in the middle of the water on their boards and doing nothing, but they are. They are watching waves come and go. As they are moved up and down in the water, they wait for the right one. They wait until they "feel" the right wave arrives, then they ride it.
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<br />My <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">wave</span> came today. I have been preparing, watching, teaching, instilling, and praying. Yes, there have been many ups and downs as I have stayed home for 5 1/2 years. But, I knew this day would come. I have felt the rise in the tide this summer...tying shoes, picking out what he thinks matches, not asking for help in the bathroom, sharing opinions and even asking the hard questions. Friends, that big WAVE came today.
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<br />God has waves for each of us. Some are meant to just ebb on by...not all are ours. Others are meant to swell and specifically train us. A few...those few amazing ones are meant to be enjoyed, ridden, and rejoiced in. Today, tasting the salt water of my own tears, I trust in Jesus. I trust He is preparing not just me to be the mom that He has called me to be, but I trust that He is preparing Jeremiah.
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<br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Ride on, Jeremiah. You are called to ride waves that arrive for you, buddy. Each wave is different. You won't score perfect 10's every time. God provides and appoints; Momma stand on the shore and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">WAVEs</span>. My heart swells with love for you today, son.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friend, are you riding the right wave for you? Praise God if you are. But if not, stop. Find God's best for your life. Learn to wait on Him and for His plans. Ask Him to teach you and give you eyes to see it, even if it far off on the horizon. Trust in Jesus.
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<br />If you are like my friends moving to South Dakota, and it is rough, choppy, and you are barely hanging on. Trust in Jesus.
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<br />But, if you feel like you are sitting in the middle of the Pacific (and have been) waiting on "the big one," remember you would not want to be any other place when God sends it to you. So, Trust in Jesus.
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<br />No matter your answer, today this is for me and for you...
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<br /></span>Waving, but Trusting More,
<br />Aprilbarefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-67678936411193092462011-06-23T22:51:00.009-04:002011-06-24T00:13:10.035-04:00Milestones & Waterfalls<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygB67hpyuX4lV3lQbs00rY7igxoZWDLlNL2w-UmXs64JdLcbVMMV8P4NsgpsXgUvlDO8YSpzEtYsv-h5EEx1Lfve78w5ut1zlRynkhVYJwvHX7pPEYsX48oskFYEpHhevmup3wjmFLr0/s1600/100_4476.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygB67hpyuX4lV3lQbs00rY7igxoZWDLlNL2w-UmXs64JdLcbVMMV8P4NsgpsXgUvlDO8YSpzEtYsv-h5EEx1Lfve78w5ut1zlRynkhVYJwvHX7pPEYsX48oskFYEpHhevmup3wjmFLr0/s320/100_4476.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621614183915512018" border="0" /></a>Have you ever casually taken "that" picture while on vacation only to realize later that you hold in you hands "that" one snapshot that captures everything?<br /><br />The week did not start out very good. It was the day before I was suppose to send an ENTIRE week with my 3 younger brothers for the first time EVER. If you really know me you know the planning list was long, the activity list was thorough, but the festive grocery list was even longer! So, what started out to be a routine run through the ATM lane, turned in to a $2,000 body repair on our mini van. The ATM ticket flew out of the machine, the door was opened, the car was not in park, and I heard "CRUNCH!"<br /><br />Needless to say, that is not how I wanted to start one of the most important weeks of the year. My 3 brothers are 12, 11, and 9. We have spent the last 10 years building a loving and close tie despite living 2 hours away from each other. I have seen them graduate elementary school, be baptized, and laugh until milk comes out of their noses, and meet for traditional birthday lunch dates. But, how would I cope with 4 boys (including my own) under the age of 12 for a week with NO VAN!<br /><br />As my hubby met me at the bank, handled all the calls with the insurance company, body shop, and car rental agency, I prayed and told the Lord that <span style="font-style: italic;">"Satan would not steal my joy!"</span> and whispered <span style="font-style: italic;">"and please don't let him nab my peace!"</span> UGH! I had to rely on faith that He would control this long awaited time with my younger brothers, even if I could not.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The first day</span> = Albert and I sat on the carpet and played board games while my Jeremiah napped. In my first turn, I drew the letters S H A L O M. I felt God speak to me and reassure me that He provided "peace" like picking up letters off the floor during a game of "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">UPwords</span>."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The fifth day</span> = We hiked the Cascades. I have blogged about it before. But this time, we were <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Geocaching</span></a> and the boys were loving it! Me? I was "glissening!" :)<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9WHTVvoc95466-TVt-eyStBZw80CRll0qITDgtzeXpa8yc8cbAyBTsL0n2bZWelc7LCpsit08QfGUCRHEOQHcTHLQX6rg4uOIuZ27HWSLc93-CJsFRiYPU8YpWCkhQF8UYQPDGtANi0/s1600/100_4483.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9WHTVvoc95466-TVt-eyStBZw80CRll0qITDgtzeXpa8yc8cbAyBTsL0n2bZWelc7LCpsit08QfGUCRHEOQHcTHLQX6rg4uOIuZ27HWSLc93-CJsFRiYPU8YpWCkhQF8UYQPDGtANi0/s320/100_4483.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621619745891176594" border="0" /></a>(Jackson, Albert, Nicholas, me, and my Jeremiah)<br /></div><br />I snapped a couple of pictures thinking I wanted to capture the "fun" we were having. You know, 5 miles of hiking for the girl who doesn't want to "go" in the woods. Well, that failed because after a bottle of water, I HAD TO GO! The surprise creek crossing that had me whining about having to take off my shoes and socks and go BAREFOOT...we did that TWICE! And when I said, "Well, I guess we are "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">MAKIN</span>' MEMORIES!" That became the chant of the day well before we found the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Geocache</span>...and it was true!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRd4UDp8bfrd9w1Cxw5gNdugDza1D3Z16o4H6tx1aUlpQpXYNXgFqKeLAam3S_2lgHEBoeN0y9PUSC3x8cFiy2FZ5pfKDeOb2ysDXqImMEV5e6kYj4RtCAuxRRRQFfixBWzR-rA9c_lVE/s1600/100_4491.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRd4UDp8bfrd9w1Cxw5gNdugDza1D3Z16o4H6tx1aUlpQpXYNXgFqKeLAam3S_2lgHEBoeN0y9PUSC3x8cFiy2FZ5pfKDeOb2ysDXqImMEV5e6kYj4RtCAuxRRRQFfixBWzR-rA9c_lVE/s320/100_4491.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621619747247599698" border="0" /></a>(What treasure! Hubby & Son at bottom,<br />Brothers Michael, Albert, Nicholas and Jackson at top clockwise)<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The eighth day</span> = I cried the whole way home after dropping them off. Off and on, I would reminisce and waves of emotions would just wash over me. <span style="font-style: italic;">Any of you traveling through Virginia today, who passed that lady who looked like she was crying a waterfall, that was ME!</span> There was a mix of gushing happy tears right beside cascading sad ones. I was glad that I was in one car and my hubby was in the rental. <span style="font-style: italic;">Sometimes a girl just has to cry and get it all out. </span>In that moment, I thanked God for not having the mini van, having the time with my brothers, and milestone memories of great times with my family.<br /><br />Then, <span style="font-style: italic;">if you know how good God is, this won't surprise you</span>, when I got home, I found out that my first story of hiking the Cascades from last October had been published on the <a href="http://www.liesyoungwomenbelieve.com/index.php?id=19">Lies Young Women Believe blog</a>. (Click here to <a href="http://www.liesyoungwomenbelieve.com/index.php?id=746">read</a>.) What joy! What celebration! What love that my Father had lavished on me today! When I got the news, I thought back to this picture I had taken of the trail marker from the hike. It was this huge rock with an arrow pointing forward, marking the right path. I thought of Psalm 18 where God is praised as being My Rock. Verses 1-3 shower us with these words, <span style="font-weight: bold;">"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."</span><br /><br />The van is still in the shop. The rental is still in the driveway. And, the house is quiet and I miss all the laughter and fun. But, what a milestone this week has been in my life knowing that joy can stay and peace can stand on Our Rock, even when we feel rocky.<br /><br />Which way is He pointing you? Are you being asked to relinquish control of your lists? Take off your shoes and cross shallow or deep places? Or just love and make memories? Ask yourself this, Psalm 18:31, "And who is the <b>Rock</b> except our God?" <br /><br />Look to Him to point you in ALL the right directions...and watch out for ATM lanes! :)<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A special loving thank you to Jon and Susie for letting the boys stay with us. I could not have done it with out my hubby's help and week of vacation. It was definitely a milestone for me and a cascade of blessing!</span>barefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-53950391100266972772011-06-01T21:21:00.006-04:002011-06-01T22:54:55.213-04:00Mmm...Mmmm...Good! May is over!Hello Dear Friend, June! I welcome your days!<br /><br />When I was young, I CANNOT count the number of times I would introduce myself, <em>"Hi, I am April!"</em> only to hear, <em>"Really? Where are May and June?" </em>HA HA, big laughs...not after the 5,000th time!<br /><br />Well, to all those that have shared that famous line, let me just tell you that this APRIL is glad that MAY is gone and JUNE is here! Amen?!<br /><br />Whew...I don't know about you, but May was a whirlwind! I know, I know, some thought I was cyberfasting, others thought that I was protesting social media as some grand political or moral statement, then I was even asked, "Have you disappeared?!" Ummm, not according to my calendar! :) The truth is, I just got overwhelmed and busy.<br /><br />Right now, I am sitting in our NEW deck furniture listening to crickets with rope lighting illuminating the laptop. Mmmm...Mmmm...Good! Not only am I welcoming a new month, but a fresh season. Fresh veggies! Fresh fruits! Fresh air! And a fresh page on the calendar! Welcome June!<br /><br />Would you like to see where May went?<br /><br />May was filled-in with Mother's Day, preschool activities, T-ball,<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJ68IgJT7-8XhZWSex4i37KMTW5oQTZ7w8uwgiay0mH4aaK3XF0p_OYEFTzwR_SeNdichrtL9jIToK2Ydx2DDfezgTFsxUDXghLIL7lAlr5ncLDMSq_qCNb3W1L7yORrESTNy-d1Jetg/s1600/100_4256.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613448886418532802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJ68IgJT7-8XhZWSex4i37KMTW5oQTZ7w8uwgiay0mH4aaK3XF0p_OYEFTzwR_SeNdichrtL9jIToK2Ydx2DDfezgTFsxUDXghLIL7lAlr5ncLDMSq_qCNb3W1L7yORrESTNy-d1Jetg/s320/100_4256.JPG" /></a><br />a speaking opportunity at a Mother/Daughter Tea,<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613445092524473586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_c087Nb3Rdc3-quVfRufwRS1zO_JRDxrrO_Hlgvfd_ozgc6A5PRbH5gS02535QW1P8BkmJRj9R2pgyJKocEDUCrgd8mi_b-AQcIJ49q9tFoc97itsjzuzNnsWNG2vIftb_CCc3hQlVM/s320/100_4280.JPG" /><br />the end of our first girls' Bible Study (with a great teaching team by the way),<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqN8eLSEVYLyScYIvaYLliPwM2n3j7-uIhRD2cq02tD46-ouvom9FHS616-YJtkQOL8hgTB91knRVzyqEitTYgjHBMJKOWXxjfNkeyQVCxmzsRq7DnMz_2ntrJ-qDSufeeM1HsEfQAIA0/s1600/100_4271.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613445087297318594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqN8eLSEVYLyScYIvaYLliPwM2n3j7-uIhRD2cq02tD46-ouvom9FHS616-YJtkQOL8hgTB91knRVzyqEitTYgjHBMJKOWXxjfNkeyQVCxmzsRq7DnMz_2ntrJ-qDSufeeM1HsEfQAIA0/s320/100_4271.JPG" /></a><br />Birthday Traditions,Preschool program (see red-headed clown) and graduation (see red-headed sweetheart), 2 shots at Jeremiah's 5 year check-up,<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbkfoljM4q98R4W-1AaYpAEA7nKBkH9mrN0r0Sm1NKuOwjsvD3C-vcp8FwIid_5WLpDeovpIXSvg5ytbYVHxWXK8tRKkftMvbXmwe0KZl1IFLCUyJjS_qfdtFWuithZhCeX6c9gGQ82c/s1600/100_4339.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613447601459564850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbkfoljM4q98R4W-1AaYpAEA7nKBkH9mrN0r0Sm1NKuOwjsvD3C-vcp8FwIid_5WLpDeovpIXSvg5ytbYVHxWXK8tRKkftMvbXmwe0KZl1IFLCUyJjS_qfdtFWuithZhCeX6c9gGQ82c/s320/100_4339.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbkfoljM4q98R4W-1AaYpAEA7nKBkH9mrN0r0Sm1NKuOwjsvD3C-vcp8FwIid_5WLpDeovpIXSvg5ytbYVHxWXK8tRKkftMvbXmwe0KZl1IFLCUyJjS_qfdtFWuithZhCeX6c9gGQ82c/s1600/100_4339.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zxm-5PKEj95erYhidBa3OtM0wuMoDwjryQkWW3q8pZuhJIT8u0g6Li-3Y4Hhk9801VA0BoDQKDYRJV4PM6kpY_gTIvaYvfhJUnNu4wqorA6hHLgqbYbH3ws15KWbJhoGiDsS2J-O9GI/s1600/100_4406.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613447597461170146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zxm-5PKEj95erYhidBa3OtM0wuMoDwjryQkWW3q8pZuhJIT8u0g6Li-3Y4Hhk9801VA0BoDQKDYRJV4PM6kpY_gTIvaYvfhJUnNu4wqorA6hHLgqbYbH3ws15KWbJhoGiDsS2J-O9GI/s320/100_4406.JPG" /></a><br />our 13th anniversary (...thus the new deck furniture)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-bAL17bmpKYe9E98QSuJFEcK7XYogI2oq-Vhuy5TIERn0GvpJVJH3p22Y3OpLhAJ7_VbCVvyv5Q4nmSkT2-nATIqMji1vphUCYjayelReO7Crn2DHJhqumnIMNzwQEatEkuTgYOoL5k/s1600/100_4297.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613445094950995330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-bAL17bmpKYe9E98QSuJFEcK7XYogI2oq-Vhuy5TIERn0GvpJVJH3p22Y3OpLhAJ7_VbCVvyv5Q4nmSkT2-nATIqMji1vphUCYjayelReO7Crn2DHJhqumnIMNzwQEatEkuTgYOoL5k/s320/100_4297.JPG" /></a><br />and the most demanding time of the year for my Hubcap's job...just to name a few things on the Family Calendar. Look or sound familiar?<br /><br />There was just so much going on, I had to focus on what was important and immediate. At the start of the month with several doctor appts. and tests, I even took a break from blogging, Facebook, and things that I could, when I was having some tingling and numbness in my face. Praise the Lord, I got a clean bill of health and have been feeling fine with no more symptoms. All is well, but later this summer I will follow-up with the neurologist to see if any more migrane symptoms have continued.<br /><br />So, what is so fresh about June, you ask?<br /><br />I wrote this verse on Jeremiah's preschool graduation inviations to go along with a poem that was printed, <strong>..."Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" </strong>(Ps. 90:12). So with that in mind, I want to have more of a quality summer, than a quantity one. Are you in?!<br /><br />I counted there are 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Did you know that? So, with school starting well before that, I want to be intentional about these days that I have with my family (specifically with Jeremiah before Kindergarten).<br /><br />In the coming days, I hope to share about teaching Jeremiah to read (we have been working on Mmmmm...Mmmmm, as you might have guessed), our Friday Faith-Based Field Trips, family visits, and reflecting on the Liberty Home Bible Insitute Pogram as I take my last two exams. We focus so much on timing and planning, and God's Word does tell us to be mindful of our days, but so that they mmmm...mmmm...may bring us wisdom, not weariness.<br /><br />So, join us for a FUN summer!barefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725723747427529110.post-17368256258449262032011-04-20T09:32:00.004-04:002011-04-20T09:36:49.891-04:00HisStory is the Making!Hi Friends,<br /><br />In honor of Jeremiah's brithday, I am reposting his story. It was 5 years ago today that he came into my life and displayed that God keeps His promises.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB28JTlgYE775Yw9A6HrZn0TbDg7cwbnY5qH2TvzQvggZX1OmrwnKmS-f3LKeDF78ZDSPCXsMwY7gr883iA6a6aY6EAsquNU00VEydhH2mI08CbT_3iYbR5fv67nZ0_k_iMVjND-RxKyc/s1600/100_4156.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB28JTlgYE775Yw9A6HrZn0TbDg7cwbnY5qH2TvzQvggZX1OmrwnKmS-f3LKeDF78ZDSPCXsMwY7gr883iA6a6aY6EAsquNU00VEydhH2mI08CbT_3iYbR5fv67nZ0_k_iMVjND-RxKyc/s320/100_4156.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597658789967387442" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Friday, I combed my little guy's hair, ironed his shirt, and washed toothpaste out of the corners of his mouth. <strong>It was picture day!</strong> At virtually the same time that I was at my first a Kindergarten Open House as a prospective parent, Jeremiah posed in his cap and gown as a soon to be Preschool Graduate! A day with a little tear in my eye, but a great day to rejoice.<br /><br />The big block letters on his photo order form stood out to me, I thought...<em>J E R E M I A H.<br /><br /></em></span><em>If you don't mind, I'm going to grab some tissues (sniff*sniff) and tell you the story of how Jeremiah got his name. Many friends have heard the story before, but I have never "written" it. Join me as I give God praise for answering me like only He could...and still continues to do.</em><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">This is the chair that I sat in when I asked God to speak to me.<br /></span><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQun0i0YAPtp7fLDTD3gTjDk4Yz2N5bidDLtLsSON-CJrTiztZEfnHYfRBzCbhcbQuO4YArWzYLyEAToLZ5mjr7do9uCMqk0LarqMEXK7msIa6X0kir_-pzSznuAw6wD1pX12SNihV3U/s1600/100_4053.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578596736860684082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQun0i0YAPtp7fLDTD3gTjDk4Yz2N5bidDLtLsSON-CJrTiztZEfnHYfRBzCbhcbQuO4YArWzYLyEAToLZ5mjr7do9uCMqk0LarqMEXK7msIa6X0kir_-pzSznuAw6wD1pX12SNihV3U/s400/100_4053.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The house was hot. Sun came in every window and winds blew the two large maples in our yard. Yes, it was spring, but I knew no life was in me. I thought it was cruel humor to endure our second miscarriage on April Fool's Day. I vividly remember exactly what the picture looked like on the ultrasound monitor that day. Many days after that, I don't remember, but there is this one....<br /><br />I was angry. I had done all this before. I had cried until I had no more tears. I accepted God's sovereignty and comfort last time. I had made the phone calls just a year and half ago. I had endured the pain before. <strong><em>But again! Really?!<br /></em></strong><br />The house was quiet except for my footsteps, I was stomping toward our dining room table. I grabbed my Bible and a concordance, and sat and cried in my tattered bath robe. Not little light tears, but the huge hot ones that burn when they run down your contorted cheeks. <strong><em>Why would we have to endure this again?<br /><br /></em></strong>As I LOUDLY poured out tears and my heart, I TOLD God, "I am not getting up from this table...I WILL NOT get up from this table until you tell me how I am suppose to go on with so much sorrow!! Until YOU tell me everything I need to know about MOURNING and how to get over it, I will not move!!" And I meant it!<br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">I was worried that I would never stop crying.<br /></span><br />I searched, read, and wrote out every verse in the Bible that had to do with mourning. I still have the papers. God loved me enough to not focus on my tone or attitude, but on my heart. I was so hurt and needed comforting like no other time in my life. Verse after verse, I was reading but nothing was resonating with me. I wrote and read half the day. Worried that my grief was immovable, I was feeling hopeless. However, in His Wisdom, He lead me to words that I needed to hear.<br /><br />For the second or third time, I read Jeremiah 31:13,<span style="color:#ff0000;"> "...for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow."<br /><br /></span>I wiped my eyes and asked, does it really say, MAKE THEM REJOICE<br />Yes!<br />With that I had no choice. I could not carry the grief, sorrow, and mourning. It was too great to bear. But, if God said that HE would turn it into joy and HE would MAKE me rejoice, then I would get up from the table and TRUST. I did.<br /><br />He did not tell me how I would rejoice, He just told me that I would. And at that time, that was enough.<br /><br />For over a year through tons of blood work, lots of testing, hope in a third pregnancy, daily Heparin injections, an inuetero EKG, ultrasounds, biophysical profile ultrasounds, 6 doctor appointments EACH week for the last 6 weeks, fatal monitoring, and an inducted pregnancy, I TRUSTED God's promise from that verse EACH AND EVERY SINGLE DAY.<br /><br />In the throws of labor, breathlessly I wanted to tell my story. No surprise if you know me, right?! I hollered<em> (yes, "hollered")</em> at the doctor to "come here, I want to tell you something!" I laugh now, but at the time I was serious! I made him come all the way up to my head and looked him in the eye and said, "We don't know if this is a boy or a girl, but I want to tell you if it is a girl, her name will be JOY and if it is a boy then his name with be JEREMIAH because after our second child died, God spoke from Jeremiah 31:13 and said...." There were tears in that room, too<br /><br />My friends, get a kick out me sharing that when they laid Jeremiah on my chest for the first time, I erupted in the Doxology..."<em>Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here below, Praise Him above ye Heavenly Host, Praise God Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen!" I didn't even leave off the "Ahhhhhhhhmen!"</em><br /><br />He caused me to rejoice.<br /><br />Today, look who sits in that chair ready for picture day.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kkRjK0cp5oU4l5QtRT5d2o0RzSmEx2RvGHuh_OFPCigMz1PC5petruybOXRAfWYPJIT-9cPSJnB8hpgQAcEBz7UvNrYcZym0X94-4aBfBScp-Khdv2eiEL7kBSKiuWn8xzvqPSvkgOI/s1600/100_4055.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578596739160215378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kkRjK0cp5oU4l5QtRT5d2o0RzSmEx2RvGHuh_OFPCigMz1PC5petruybOXRAfWYPJIT-9cPSJnB8hpgQAcEBz7UvNrYcZym0X94-4aBfBScp-Khdv2eiEL7kBSKiuWn8xzvqPSvkgOI/s400/100_4055.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#3333ff;">I guess mommas never <em>really</em> stop crying. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>God, thank you for collecting my "happy tears" in the same bottle as the sad ones. </em></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Just this week, I was blessed and excited to have a friend share a new verse from Jeremiah 23:29 with me, <span style="color:#ff0000;">"'Is not my word like fire,' declares the Lord, 'and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?'</span>"<br /><br />Again, I answer "YES!"<br /><br />That verse in the chair at the dining room table was the hammer that <strong>broke through</strong> my grief and <strong>built up</strong> my trust. <strong>What is yours?<br /><br /></strong>I never assume that my blog is of any new revelation. All wisdom and revelation is from the Father through the Holy Spirit. I just share stories of how I see God in my daily walk with Him offer a blog in praise. But if you are experiencing "rocks" in your life or in your heart today, I pray that the Word will break them.<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#3333ff;">Father, for all the women who have children in your arms, I pray and ask that you comfort those parents, mommies and daddies, on special days and in their tender times. Illuminate your Word in their Wilderness as you did for Jesus. For those facing adoption, Father make a way for them to be Your Hands and Feet to your precious creations, not only do you know where they are, but you know the hairs on their heads, and the arms you want to place them in. Hold them tight until you are able to unit them with their parents. Thank you for the special place we have in You, where we abide and know only love and acceptance. In name of My Rock, Redeemer, and ever Restorer Jesus, Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhmen. </span></em></span></p>barefootofferinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484520439232095907noreply@blogger.com1