The more I seek you! - TSMSS

We san this song a few weeks ago at the Praise and Coffee Retreat! It was such a blessing to my heart I thought I would share it with all of you!

Have a blessed weekend!

Biggest Loser - Weeks 10, 11, & 12!!!

So I'm a bit behind the 8 ball! Ya all gotta love me anyway, right?! Sorry for not posting about my journey lately. I have had issues with knowing what to write unless God has laid something specifically on my mind, and I have been able to put it down into words. I actually have another post I'm percolating on, hoping for the right words and waiting to see if I am saying what God would have me say.



But enough about that! Last night was our meeting of "The Biggest Loser". It was a small group, but I so appreciate it. I so need the accountability and support this group offers. I so appreciate the dear woman that has committed to us and leads the group. I would like to talk about her for a minute, not gossip, but praise. I have "known" this woman ever since we have gone to this church. Her husband and her have been (to me at least) a quiet fixture of of congregation. We've never talked that much, but I've always liked her and their constant faithfulness. Through this program I have gotten to know her better, and last night (probably because the group was so small), we were able to have a great conversation that I really needed to have last night! I believe it was God appointed! I learned a few answers to questions I always wondered about that pertained to them and their commitment to our particular local body.



So you see this group is more then just about weight loss! It's about relationship. It's a small way of being the body of Christ to one another! So often we try to struggle alone through things. I know I am good at that. But it is through the help of our family (in this case the church family) that we are supported, encouraged, and grow in the Lord.

Ephesians 4:15 & 16

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

I want to thank everyone that attends this group for being part of my journey!!



Pounds lost: almost 6 (over 3 weeks)

total lost so far: 22

Reach a very important goal!

Feel much better!

God is not ordinary....

Society today wants to bring God down to our level. The main way I am thinking of right now is how often you hear someone say OMG. This is not just those who do not know the Lord, but there are some who are Christians or profess to be Christians that take the Lords name in vain everyday!I have been studying the book of Ezekiel lately and have learned many things. One of the main things I have learned is: GOD PROTECTS HIS NAME! HIS NAME IS HOLY! HE REMEMBERS HIS COVENANTS BECAUSE OF HIS NAME! To think that he takes the saying of His name as ordinary, as O.K. is fooling yourself! I am going to study this further, but I believe the only time his name should pass our lips is when we are crying out to him, praising him, or telling others about him. Do not think that God will excuse your for lack of knowledge!HIS NAME IS HIS NAME!
Listen to what it says in:

Ezekiel 36:21-23

I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone. "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.

Exodus 7:20 (amplified) says:You shall not use or repeat the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, lightly or frivolously, in false affirmations or profanely]; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

Do you honestly think that God is O.K. with you using his name in this way AT ALL! I don't think so!Ignorance is no excuse! If you know God, if you have accepted His Son Jesus Christ, then you need to be honestly seeking Him! He never has made a half hearted effort on your behalf, why do you only give him so little!On the same note but a little different - this verse below talks about unwholesome talk. You may be able to explain away why you speak the language you do, but God has given you instructions. You can choose to follow them, or you can choose to disobey them, but remember God is not mocked! He knows the condition of your heart.

Ephesians 4:29

(amplified)Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it.

Since posting this on facebook the other day God has really worked in my heart! So many places in this post I mentioned YOU! But what about ME?! Why do I do and say that has made God's name ordinary. Just yesterday in church I said "Thank God", but it was not said in a reverent way, but "whoosh, thank God". Immediately he brought to my mind "what did you just say". His name is not his name, but WHO HE IS! I am speaking the essence of who God is when I say his name! WOW, that puts it in a whole different perspective doesn't it! How many times have we all said "thank God" flippantly?

He is YHVH! On this website it describes the name this way:

THE TETRAGRAMMATON

The Sacred Name appears in the Hebrew Scriptures as four Hebrew letters Yud, hey, vav, hey, which is closest represented by the letters YHVH. This format is known as the Tetragrammaton. According to Jewish tradition it is regarded as 'not to be uttered' in order never to profane it in any way. In Judaism it is therefore pronounced as 'Adonai', meaning 'Lord'. Notwithstanding this prohibition, the Sacred Name is acknowledged in its usage as part of the names of many Biblical characters, as referred to above - and as any Bible concordance or reference book will provide.

Every word that comes out of our mouth should be edifying to all who here, but THIS NAME is above all names! We need to treat it as sacred and not as ordinary!

If you claim it, PROCLAIM IT!

Interesting statement

I was watching a movie where this statement was made in reference to Martin Luther King -

"His death was just the beginning of his victory".

We soon will be celebrating Good Friday. In our Sunday School at church we have been teaching about Jesus' last week on earth (before his death). In the art workshop the children's parents needed to write a letter to their children about "What is so good about Good Friday". For some this may be a hard question to answer because they really don't understand, but those of us that know Christ and what he did that day also know and have the power of his resurrection within us!

I Corinthians 15:56-58

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Ephesians 1:18-20

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

I find it ironic that the world used this quote to describe a human man. How be it he did great things to help us overcome racism, he was just a man. But the one who brings true victory from slavery is ignored, ridiculed and mocked!

Isaiah 61:1

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,

because the LORD has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners

Now I ask you "In whose death do we truly have the victory?!"

If you claim it, PROCLAIM IT!

I love coming home to surprises! When their good of course!

And this one is good! A couple of weeks ago Hope at Monkey Giggles had a give-away, and I was the lucky winner! Well my gift just arrived in the mail. Here is a picture of what awaited me when I got home from errands:

What is in the basket you ask? A Terry Covered Bath Pillow, a bar of Chocolate Scented Soap, A chocolate scented Candle, Chocolate Silk hand and body lotion, Bath salts, and for the topper - a coupon for a box of Fiber One Bars FREE! Now those who know me well know I love my Fiber One Bars! Some say the cause G*s, and that very well may be, but I love them for a mid day snack. So Patty beware I'm stocking up on the Fiber One bars!!!!!

Thanks Hope for having this giveaway!!!!

Some wonderful Awards From wonderful Friends!

I popped on the google/reader today and this is what I found!

Thank you Brenda for this sweet award! This is a bit late, she gave me this award weeks ago. Sorry it took so long to acknowledge Brenda!

The way it works: let your readers know where you received the award, then pass it on to your favorite "lovely" bloggers. Have fun!

Now add this text:
“These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.”

Kathy at Blessed Builder

Miss Suzanne at I was thinking

Sandy at 4 Reluctant Entertainers

Beth at An Instrument 4 His Glory

Mel at Mel's World

Today I popped over the Joanne's and she had this very sweet little award for me!

Now how did she know I LOVE blueberries! They are blueberries right?! Anyway this is how this award works:

The rules of this award are to choose 5-10 blogs that show kindness and sweetness in their entries. So now I have to choose some more of my lovely friends to give this too! I think because of time I will choose just 5, but there are so many that I would count as sweet and fun to visit with.

Mari at My Little Corner of the World

Diane at My Journey's Path (thought it would make you smile while you recoup)

Hope at Monkey Giggles

Linda @ Mocha with Linda

Cheryl at "Your Friend - Cheryl"

You know this is very hard and very stressful picking! I want you to know that I so appreciate you all!

Well I must go rest now! After an 11 mile bike ride and the above activity and I beat! Not only that but Bekah wants to play a game of LIFE! Aren't I playing that already?!!!

Have a blessed week everyone!!!

If not for God........

Lately I have had an overwhelming sadness, and dare I say despair over the world we live it! I don't watch the news because I get so tired of all the bad news, and all the senseless killings. Just this past few days alone we have had a shooting in Alabama and a shooting at a school in Germany! That on top of the economy, people losing their houses and living in what is equivalent to shanty towns, greedy heads of companies not caring, and our government working very hard to make us a socialistic society! I know that doesn't encompass it all. I know I could go on for quite awhile with all the things that are wrong and evil in this world.

In the case of these shootings, what brings a person to that point? What was missing? Was it the way they were raised? Was it something medical? Was it despair? What?!

It's moments like this, where I see all of these and feel so sad. How far we have moved away from God. We as a society have taken God out of everything. We don't want to be reminded of our sinfulness! We don't want someone else to impose on us their religion! So to make everyone else O.K. we don't mention Him. The world is perishing around us for lack of God! The world is filled with sadness and despair. There is war and rumors of war, sickness, natural disasters, and disasters brought on by man's greed. I am reminded of the saying:

"All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke

I most certainly do not have all the answers. I only have one - GOD

Lamentations 3:21-23

Yet this I call to mind

and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassion's never fail.
They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

On earth we have no reason for hope outside of God!

John 16:33

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

I don't know who all reads my blog. I don't know if you have a relationship with Jesus Christ. I don't know if you believe that there is a God let alone believe in God as God. Your faith or lack there of does not negate God's existence. He is real. He makes himself known through his creation!

Romans 1:20-21

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Things are hard here on earth! Things will continue to get harder, not easier. That is a fact mentioned in scripture. I cannot look at this world and all that is wrong in it and not be sad, BUT I have an anchor that keeps my soul, safe and secure while the billows roll, fastened to the rock which cannot move, grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love. I couldn't find the song with these words in it but I found this beautiful old song! Sit back, close your eyes, feel Him holding you, and comforting you! Seek him in your sorrow, in your pain. He is there and able to take whatever it is that you need to say, whether it's sadness, anger, frustration, fear! That is what I am going to do! That is what I am going to do right now. I am going to crawl into my saviors lap and feel his embrace! Sorry if this post is disjointed and doesn't make since at times. Part of a blog is just getting things off your chest and out of your head! God bless you all!

Is this a picture of the Church in America today?

I posted these scriptures on my facebook the other day, but just needed to share them here too!

Ezekiel 33: 30-32

As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, 'Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.' My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.

God knows your heart. You may be able to fool others, but you cannot fool him

1 Chronicles 28:9

And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

Galatians 6:7 & 8

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Isaiah 55: 6 & 7

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

Is our worship of God genuine? Do we look at him as a genie in a bottle to give us what we want, but when things get tough we turn our back on Him? Are we TRULY seeking him and desiring a relationship with him? Or are we just going through the religious motions, saying the things we think we should be saying to make us sound more pious? I have been thinking of the work "seek" lately.

Deuteronomy 4:28-30

There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and obey him.

Jeremiah 29:13

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

God does not want your religiosity, he wants YOU! He wants you to trust him, love him, and desire to know him and walk with him!

If you do, life will be so much richer and more full. Filled with a joy and peace that cannot be explained! Worship flows from there!

Daffodils!

Daffodils are my favorite flower of all times! I love how hearty they are, and what they tell us about Spring truly being here! I could have a whole yard full of them! Forget the grass give me Daffodils!




Marsha had this poem on her blog the other day and I just needed to post it here, enjoy:

"Daffodils" (1804)

I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way,

They stretch'd in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:

I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.
By William Wordsworth (1770-1850).

Song of Solomon 2: 11-12

See! The winter is past;

the rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth;

the season of singing has come,

the cooing of doves

is heard in our land.

1 Peter 1:23-25

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed,

but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

For, "All men are like grass,

and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;

the grass withers and the flowers fall,

but the word of the Lord stands forever."

And this is the word that was preached to you.

A Birthday Tribute to my Sweetheart!

The song that plays with this is "When you say nothing at all" by Allison Krauss. Whenever I hear this song I think of my strong, quiet guy! There is just not enough words to say what he means to me! He is my gift from God and I am sssooooo blessed to be called his wife!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Happy Birthday Sweetheart

Love, Your grateful wife!

A Wonderful God-Filled Weekend!

This past weekend I and 200 other women got the privilege of going down to a little town called Plainwell and spending some time with God! Sue from Praise and Coffee put a retreat together using a "Retreat in a box" from Beth Moore!

I got to room with 3 great ladies, my sister Kam and friends Karen and Amy. We had an awesome time of worship, with a very talented praise band. We began the first session on Friday night and won't you know if God showed all of us right away that he ordained our time there. In our Wednesday morning Bible study group we have been studying 1 John. We had just done chapter 3 on Wednesday. Well guess our text for this weekend - yep you guess it, 1 John Chapter 4! We all looked at each other and were amazed!

I learned to "Love Well" this weekend! One of the songs we sang really touched me too, I think I'll post it Saturday!

My friend Karen is going down to Guatemala with her daughter over spring break. Sue was gracious enough to let her sell some little stuffed monkeys and some delicious see foam to help with cost. She sold all her monkey's and has all the money she needs to go! She was overwhelmed by how God showed her he would take care of it!

My wacky friend Deanna! This retreat just would not have been the same without her! We've retreated together many years now! She gives wonderful hand massages!!!Here's our little group. It's good to see I'm not the only one in the family that blinks in pictures! We were part of a larger group, I just never got us all together! To busy enjoying myself!Sue thanks for listening to God and putting this on!

Oh how could I forget! We also raised money and brought down goodies to be put in bags to give to women in crisis! With the money and goodies they were able to fill 100 bags and still had $500 left over to give the Crisis Center! God is so Good!

Looky, Looky what SteveMade

Did I ever tell you that I have the best, most talented husband around?! Well I do! For years I have wanted Adirondack chairs, but we just couldn't afford them. Lately Steve has been looking on line for plans. He found the plan for this chair and then adapted it a little (he is so good that way). He just needs to make one more so he has one to sit on! TEE HEE, just kidding, I'll let him have the first one!
Picture this: a balmy summer morning in Michigan. Kim brews a cup of her favorite coffee and goes to spend some time with the Lord out on the deck. Can you not see a big ole' mug on that beautiful arm! I LOVE IT!!!

Biggest Loser - Week 9 - Temptation

Well tonight wasn't the greatest night weight wise. Just up a little bit. I need to remind myself that I am in this for the long haul. That it's not just about weight loss, but how I'm feeling, which is much better. So I will get over my discouragement and keep my focus where it should be and that is on growing closer to Christ.

This week the devotion that hit me was called "The Nature of Temptation". Alot of what the author mentioned in there I already knew, but it is so good to be reminded over and over again, because even though we may have heard it before it can so easily be forgotten.

One verse she used was James 4:7 " Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

It is in submission that we have the strength to resist temptation. When speaking of the sin of Adam and Eve the author wrote this about temptation. "Keep in mind the temptation itself did not lead to the fall of mankind - yielding to it did.

How many times have I yielded?!!! How many times have I not claimed the power that I possess through Christ! To many to count, but praise be to God I don't need to count them! Christ has paid the price for me, and I am forgiven! I must continue to submit to Him! I will not let the devil get a foothold here. I know he knows my weaknesses, but he also knows who I have put my faith in!

So I continue on!

Up .4lbs
Down one pant size!!!!!

I've got nothin'

I'm here, but my brain is to full of other things right now to think "BIG" thoughts! I will tell you one thing though! I am so excited for this weekend. Friday about 11:00 am myself and 3 friends are heading down to Plainwell, MI where we will hook up with about 200 other ladies, some from around here and will do a little "Beth in a Box Retreat". This is compliment of Sue over at Praise and Coffee! This is going to be some kind of weekend! I am looking forward to meeting with my Lord! If your heading that way, we'll see you there!!!!