Sunday Morning!

This is so good I just needed to share it. It makes me laugh every time I watch it, but there is so much truth to it too! I for one do not want to be entertained!!

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

Customer Service in 2010

I was told by Mari that she needed to hear the story of my recent trip to a world wide fast food restaurant, which I won't name, but the Arch in St. Louis reminds me of it (hint, hint), so I thought I would blog the story.

It started on a cloudy Thursday morning this past week. My wonderful son was scheduled to have his braces taken off, so I told him we would celebrate with a chocolate shake at said restaurant.

We drove up the the drive through, and ordered 1 large iced coffee, and 1 small chocolate shake. I got the the window and handed the girl my debit card. She ran the card, then opened the window and apologized for not telling me that their shake machine is not working. "Would I like another coffee drink instead or any of other drink". "No" I said, "it is for a 13 year old boy, and all your other drinks are $1.00 and I spent almost $2.50 on the shake, please credit my card, and while your at it, just take the iced coffee off as well, and we will travel down the street to another said restaurant of the same name".

I then received a strange look as the window closed. My son at this point is looking out the window away from me. I think he was embarrassed for the people, he couldn't have been embarrassed because of me right? I mean I was in the right, right? So while I am asking my son "Why aren't you looking at me? This isn't my issue, it's theirs!" 3 other people join said girl. A man approaches the window it opens and he says "Mame I am sorry for the inconvenience, if you would like to order a frappe you can have one of those". Again I told him the drink was for a 13 year old. How about just giving me a gift certificate for the amount and we will be good". He hands me a card good for an extra value meal. I told him "I don't want an extra value meal, I want my card credited".

He then gave in and credited my card for the shake. Not the shake and the iced coffee as I asked but the shake. He told me I could pick up my iced coffee at the next window. Like Franky from The Middle on ABC, I just didn't see the point in fighting anymore, so off to get my iced coffee I went (after retaining the refund receipt of course). When I reached the window, the girl had a bag and cup of brewed coffee for me. I told her I didn't order that but an iced coffee. She said "They told me you didn't want the iced coffee". I told her "Well since I paid for it I want it now".

As I pulled away on my way to the other fast food restaurant across the street that is fit for a King, I asked my boy if he thought I was wrong in expecting good customer service. He agreed with me quickly (I don't think he was afraid). I had him call his father though and he told his dad "Mom had a hissy fit at @c**n%#*s. I said "I did not have a hissy fit. I felt I was very controlled, but firm."

We reach the other restaurant. I pull up to the drive through, ask if they have chocolate shakes, ask if their shake machine is working, and finally get my son the shake he ssssoooooo wanted! He said it was the best he ever tasted! GOOD ANSWER!

Miley understand this: THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO HEAVEN!

Today I was reading the Parade Magazine, which comes in our Sunday Press. It had Miley Cyrus (oh excuse me Miley Ray) on the cover. I read the article and was taken back first of all by how rude this young lady is, but second and most importantly how her "christianity" is that of the world. Here is the whole article if you care to read it.

“My faith is very important to me,” she says. “But I don’t necessarily define my faith by going to church every Sunday. Because now when I go to church, I feel like it’s a show. There are always cameras outside. I am very spiritual in my own way. Let me make it clear, though—I am a Christian. Jesus is who saved me. He’s what keeps me full and whole. But everyone is entitled to what they believe and what keeps them full. Hopefully, I can influence people and help them follow the same path I am on, but it is not my job to tell people what they are doing wrong.”

Is it hard being openly Christian in Hollywood?

“People are always looking for you to do something that is non-Christian,” she answers. “But it’s like, ‘Dude, Christians don’t live in the dark.’ I have to participate in life. If I wear something revealing, they go, ‘Well, that’s not Christian.’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m going to go to hell because I’m wearing a pair of really short white shorts.’ Suddenly I’m a slut. That’s so old-school.” (This is still part of the quote, I don't know why it's not green)

How sad it is that people will read this and agree. "Let those people believe the way they want to believe. Sure I wish that they believed like I did, but who am I to tell them they are wrong?"

Let's see:

1. Jesus came to seek and to save those who are lost (Luke 19:10)
   
2. He has called us to make disciples (Matthew 28:19)
   
3. He has called us to preach the gospel (Mark 16:15)

So why is she saying it's not her job. If she is a "true" Christ follower, it is her job; she signed up when she accepted Christ as her savior. None (and I mean none) of us get to say we have not been given a job to do by Christ. Not that the works saves us, but just by process of our relationship with Christ we are called out; we are a people set apart (sanctified); we are a Royal Priesthood!

I am about to type something that will shock some, but it is the TRUTH, and it needs to be said. If anyone, ANYONE believes there are other ways to heaven except through JESUS CHRIST, AND HIM CRUCIFIED, then they CANNOT (I cannot stress this enough) be a true follower of Christ. Christ himself says "I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE, NO ONE comes to the Father EXCEPT THROUGH ME. John 14:6.

His words, not mine. Miley you need to take a good hard look at THE BOOK. Stop falling for this fallen worlds philosophies! The potential you have to do great things for Christ are being ruined (that is if you truly are a follower of THE CHRIST).

And girl don't even get me started on: Yeah, I’m going to go to hell because I’m wearing a pair of really short white shorts.’ Suddenly I’m a slut. That’s so old-school. Oh if I were your mother, first of all you wouldn't be wearing those really short white shorts, and I'd tan your hide for calling me dude so much!!!! Now that my friend is old-school, and I'm proud of it!

Abundant Life!

Hello Everyone, miss me???!!!! Lately it has been hard for me to put more then 420 characters together (because of Facebook), that I seldom blog. Only when God gives me something that truly speaks to me, do I sit down and type it out on here. He just recently showed me something that spoke to me and I hope it speaks to you as well.

Just the other day I was in a local store. I was 2nd in line at the cashier, and overheard he saying hello, how are you. The man replied "breathing". It seemed they knew each other and continued to talk. He asked her "how are you?" She said "I would have to say breathing as well". I thought to myself, how sad. Their live comes down to Just breathing! Where is the joy?! Now I do not know whether these two were Christians or not. If they are not Christians then I can see how their life would amount to only breathing. There is no joy, no hope, no peace, no passion without Christ!

BUT how often do we as Christians say something similar?! Oh I know I have! Complaints, worries, anger, whining. We all do it. Oh at least I do it! But God brought this scripture to mind right there in line:

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

"Have it ABUNDANTLY!" In the NIV it says to the FULL! Filled to overflowing!

Other verses that speak of what God has for us (and these are only a few):

Nehemiah 8:10

Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Psalm 28:7

The LORD is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.

Colossians 1:11-12
May you be strengthened with all power,
according to his glorious might, for
all endurance and patience with joy,
giving thanks to the Father,
who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

God has not called us to a life of woe is me. God has not called us to just exist and breathe (even though breathing is an awesome gift he give us every second of every day!) God has called us to ABUNDANT LIFE! To a life lived to show HIS GLORY! To a life of beauty and thankfulness!

So the next time someone asks me "how are you doing?" what will my response be? What will your response be?

Lessons I learned from my dog......

The other night was not a good night! I was woken up by my husband getting out of bed and then telling me that the dog, who shall remain nameless (maybe) had gotten into the garage; that of course I forgot to stick back under the kitchen sink. So suffice it to say what happened was not all his (the dog's) fault. So being awake at say around 1:00 am, I wambled out to the couch to read and most likely spend the rest of my night, as not to disturb my beloved! Herein lies my night spent with said dog, and the consequences of his previous actions. Surprisingly this lead me to biblical lessons that I would like to share with you.

The first thing that came to mind as I was letting the dog in and out, so he could, well you know, was how we as sinners always tend to get involved in things that are not good for us, and that have consequences to them. Champs (oops, said his name) issue is he loves the good treats that can be found in the trash, like bacon grease, or hamburger grease, etc, etc. Our issues are far more complex, and far reaching. The passage of scripture that comes immediately to mind if Romans 7:14-24 (The Message). In our flesh we cannot have victory over our sin nature. Even Paul, who was the greatest Apostle, struggled with the hold sin can have, in the flesh. That can way a person down. Make them feel like they can never live a life of faith. Oh but that is not why Paul wrote this passage. He wants us to see the victory in Christ Jesus! Take a look at Verse 25.

²⁵The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different. (Romans 7:25, The Message)

The very next chapter says we have been set free from the law of sin and death! Read Romans 8 and feel the victory!

The next thing that came to mind is Proverbs 26:11:

As a dog returns to its vomit,

so a fool repeats his folly.

Isn't that just like us? We can tend to return to things that we have sworn we would never return too. That we thought we had conquered. I think about this in respect to my issue with watching what I eat. I can lose weight, feel I have finally come to understand the hold food and eating have on me, and start to fall back into the same old habits that I was in. I return to my folly. We (I) can forget the promise of VICTORY in Christ Jesus!

I am so glad for Romans 7 & 8! I am so glad that through Christ we have victory and there is no condemnation, because I am in Christ Jesus!

And I am thankful that God uses all His creation (including my sweet little Champerdoodle) to teach us lessons about who we am, but most of all about who HE is!!!

My winning ways.....

Lately I have been on a winning streak! I thought I would wait until they all came in the mail before I showed them all off! Well here are my winnings!

Let's see if I can remember what I won first!!!

1. Healing Sands by Nancy Rue and Steve Arterburn - I won this from Linda @ Mocha with Linda. This is actually the 3rd book in a series called the Sullivan Crisp Series. I asked Linda for advice for a book for our book club to read and she recommended Healing Stones, which is the first book. First of all Linda is an awesome book reviewer. I have read so many of the books that she has reviewed and have loved them all. These books are awesome! You really get involved with the characters. In all truth, this is the one I related to the most.
2. I can't really remember the order I won them in any more, but the next win is the Mosaic Bible, this also is from Linda's blog. Since I have so many Bibles, I am praying God will show me who to give this one too. That is exciting!
   
3. Camp Club Girls bag. I won this too off Linda's blog. Can you see a theme here!? She has alot of giveaways because of the review she does. If you are a reader, her blog is a must read! This prize came with 2 of the Camp Club girl books, a journal, a flashlight, key-chain thingy and this cool bag. Bekah is enjoying the books and uses the bag to bring her stuffed animals places we go.
4. The next one is the 2 books "Fearless" and "Fear Not" by Max Lucado. I won these from Iris at Grace Alone . These books are part of a series Iris is doing called "Living Fearlessly" I am looking forward to possibly giving them away at a Praise and Coffee Night in the future. Thank you so much Iris!!!!
   
5. O.K. did you miss prizes from Linda? The next book I won was "White Picket Fences" by Susan Meissener. Great Book! I have since read other books of hers! She is a great author!
   
6. Finally, the last book to arrive was The Chic shall inherit the earth. This book came from Linda's blog as well. It is written for high school age girls. I have donated that to my church Library.

Woosh! I think that's it! That was fun! Thanks to these two awesome ladies for giving me something exciting to look for in the mail!!!

Marriage Monday - Celebrating Valentines Day all year long!

Want this button?

Solomon 7:10

I belong to my lover,

and his desire is for me.

Today is the first Monday in February, so it's very appropriate that Marriage Monday has a Valentine Theme! E-Mom asked us to share with each other how we celebrate Valentines Day all year long. How do we keep the romance alive? Well I thought about it all weekend. Laughed a little at the things that are TMI, and came up with my top three. Now these are very simple things, and they are not the only ones, but they were just so much a part of why I feel so close to my husband.

1. We laugh alot! We are always saying to our children, what a weird family we have, because we do so many strange things that make us all laugh. This past weekend Steve and I got to go on a mini date to shop for bathroom fixtures. It was so exciting! It's amazing to think that shopping at Lowe's would bring such excitement, but we were just two tickled lovebirds, every once in a while sneaking a smooch when we got a good deal on something! What I realized at lunch was we laugh alot when we're together. We thoroughly enjoy each others company! Steve is my very best friend! The one I go to first, (after God of course), so it just makes sense that we would find each other amusing too!
2. We pray together. Now this doesn't happen every night, so we're not like some super couple who is very righteous. But I can see how praying together keeps you talking and close. God meant for us to bond through our relationship with him. After all his Son is the Bridegroom and we are the Bride. So it just fits that when we are doing something that honors him together, he draws us closer together. I love how Steve prays over me at times too! He knows when I need to be covered in prayer. When I'm at the end of my rope and I just need his arms around me and a prayer said over me! Oh I love that!
3. We encourage each other. Just yesterday was when he encouraged me. Spent some time with the SMIL, which can be difficult because she is a opinionated woman, and if it's not done her way, she says things that can be hurtful. I'm not going into the whole sorted story, just suffice it to say Steve know I needed to be built up after that, and he did! We both do that for each other. Now I may feel that I don't do it as well as he does, but we HAVE EACH OTHERS BACK!!! Also we were just talking with weekend how it seems that when one of us is discouraged about a certain issue, the other is able to give encouragement. It is very seldom that we are both down at the same time.
4. O.K. so I said three and now I am putting a 4th one. I just thought of it when I found the verse above. This is more about Steve, and it falls into the encouragement category, but I think it's great what he said and this is what God give us as couples. I have struggled with my weight FOREVER, always feeling inadequate, and defeated. A couple of years ago when I was lamenting again Steve said "but Kim, God made me addicted to you". He loves me! When he sees me he desires me, not anyone else! God made him addicted to me and me to him! As far as I'm concerned Steve is the most handsome guy on the planet!!!

I hope you have enjoyed stopping by today! God bless you all, and God bless our marriages!!!