41 and Counting

 










    I couldn't let my 41st birthday pass without a blog post about it.  As I count the 41 years of this life, I also pause to count my blessings.
    Nine of my good friends, Charity is missing from the picture, met me at Santo Coyote to celebrate the night before my birthday.  These women have truly blessed my life with each of their friendships.  I have gotten to know them better with time and I look forward to spending more life moments together with them.  We had a great time devouring guacamole and mexican sopas.
     Sunday was my actual birthday and my friend, Kellie, sang a song about grace for my requested birthday gift.  After church, we met fellow friend and birthday celebrator, Dave, at Casa Mexicana. We shared a joint birthday cake and a time of fellowship.
    My parents gave me a 6' wooden bookshelf for my room.  I doubt I have enough fall decorations to fill it up.. ha.  I did get a new owl from a friend to set on it.
    A friend, Bobby, said that because my birthday was on the Lord's day, that I was at least doubly blessed.  I am blessed beyond measure by the love of family and friends provided only by God's love and provisions for me.  A BIG THANK YOU to all.

FBF PRAYER REQUESTS...SEPT 2012

FBF PRAYER REQUESTS ........SEPT 2012

TED AND PRISCILLA CLARK

Thank you for praying for our youth camps this summer.  Please continue to pray for the Lord’s work in the lives of these youth.  Pray that He would use the teachings they heard and that they would not forget the decisions they made during that time.

Pray for the work of the Lord in the men of the church who will be leading and teaching in our absence.  Pray that He would raise up strong, humble, prepared leaders for this church.

 

MONICA SERNATINGER

1. Please, continue to pray for Jorge and Yazmin's salvation. We praise the Lord that their baby girl is now home with them here in Puruandiro, and has been diagnosed with thrombocytopenic purpura (a reduction in circulating blood platelets which can result from a variety of causes), and is currently under control. She is very precious. May they all come to be saved.
   
2. September 8, our church is planning to have an evangelistic event with a "Noche Mexicana" (to celebrate Mexico's Independence Day). May the Lord's Word reach the hearts of our invitees, and may many turn to Jesus for salvation.
3. Thank you so very much for praying and praising Him with us.

MARTIN AND HANSY TOUHY

1. Town square evangelism. Boldness and wisdom in preaching a clear gospel to the post modern folks here.

2. Sensitivity to Gods leading as we plan trip to US and MX at the end of this year.

BOBBY AND NAMATHA AVILEZ

1.       Praying brothers and sisters at Faith, we just want to thank you for your prayers. They have made really made a difference during these times.

2.       We are still on the hunt for land to rebuild. Pray that the Lord would keep us away from the wrong one and lead us to the right one!

PHILIP AND SANDRA PRIME

Please pray for an evangelistic event that we will be having in our church on September 15 (in conjunction with the Mexican holiday which celebrates Mexico's independence from Spain).

Also pray for the Valdenegro family (Jesús was the one who was kidnapped last December). They are learning to obey and remain faithful to God in spite of the open rebellion of one of their sons, Ishmael.


 

Others First

     When I consider this verse, I think 'I do that' but it is also when it's my idea.  I take people food or do something to make somebody feel special.  Then there are those opposite moments when someone wants let in during traffic?  Whoa buddy, you can forget it!  So, maybe I don't live up to this verse as well as I thought.

     Are we always available to lend a helping hand or is it just when it fits our schedule?  Do we consider another's weakness for alcohol before we order a bottle of wine for the dinner table? Thinking of others first means putting thought into our actions without a 'me' attitude involved. We are each fighting a battle of some sort so we need to be sensitive to the lives of others. We are not all in the same boat and the leak in it is not all in the same place for everyone.

     This verse also reminds me of Marco Rubio's statement last night about how his parents and other parents did what they could in life so that their kids would have more opportunities than they did.  'Others' is not limited to our kids in the verse but we must humble ourselves and be generous to all.

     'You go first' should be said more often than just in risk taking moments.

Getting Older

     This caption just cracks me up and I relate to it more and more with time.  Last night, my church sang 'happy birthday' to me.  It's not the traditional version but goes like this...''A happy birthday to you, a happy birthday to you, every day of the year may you find Jesus near, a happy birthday to you, a happy birthday to you, and may it be the best year you've ever had.''
     As I approach 41 in the next few days, I think about whether I could or would want to do 40 more years to reach the average age of 80.  I can tell you definitely no.  So when is enough?  I don't know and I'm glad it's not up to me to decide.  My life and days are prewritten and my job is just to fulfill them the best I can.
    Shouldn't we celebrate our aging?  I think when you turn 65, you should write 'SENIOR 2012' on your car just like the high school kids.  There are perks like Medicare, discounts and retiring.  The plus side is always there, if you look for it.
    So cheers to the days of our lives, may they be beyond great as we live them out.

Way Back Wednesday.. Wild Side

     I think this is from Halloween 1983, my last year to go trick-or-treating.  This was my punk rock look with a trash bag as my dress [yes I had shorts on underneath it].  The spray painted hair and heavy makeup completed the look.
     Haven't we all wanted to take a walk on the wild side?  I think stepping out of character from our normal reserved self is fun once in a while.  It takes a little while for me to get up the nerve but I've always loved 'dress up.'  As the daughter of two CPA's, I don't drift that far to the wild side of life... but I try.
     I would definitely put more clothes on now than I did back then.  I'm much more modest now than then and that's a good thing.
     It can be fun to come out of your shell and have a little innocent fun.

Wandering

     Who doesn't?  I sometimes don't realize I'm thinking about something else until after a few minutes then I'm like 'focus!'  Distractions often take us on a tangent that can take us out into left field.  We've all fallen into the trap of an endless, dull talk and escaped to what's really on our heart.
     Yes, our hearts are prone to wander and we feel it.  The world has so many distractions to pull us away from what is important.  Where our minds go is where our hearts are.
     We often say 'God, draw near to me' but it is only our souls that have gone astray.  Our hearts do get hardened and our sensitivity to wrong does get compromised.  'Just a closer walk with Thee' is the path to wander on.  Think on things of benefit and encouragement to yourself when your mind does wander off.
      Don't let your mind be a wandering nomad without direction and focus.  Guide it with a godly purpose.

Isaiah 63:17  ''Why, LORD, do you make us wander from your ways and harden our hearts so we do not revere you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes that are your inheritance.''
Proverbs 5:6  ''She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.''
Proverbs 17:24  ''A discerning person keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.''

Grace

     Grace is unmerited divine assistance given to us for our sanctification.  It is when we are given what we don't deserve just because of God's love for us.
      2 Corinthians 12:9  ''But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.''
     Grace helps us to handle things that are not under our control in life.  We could kick and scream, be angry all the time and be a person not fit for company.  What kind of example would that be?  My friend told me, 'even tho your cough is part of your life, thank you for handling it with grace.'  That's a compliment that I hope to continue to display.
      Grace gives us an accepting peace that helps us to endure the rough moments.  Grace gives a calming effect on you and others, instead of panic and chaos.  God's saving grace is all we need to accept to get us through this race of life.  We must remember it is free, not earned or deserved.  'Grace is more than a prayer we say before dinner.'  It is a gift that makes us more like Him each day.
   
   

Credit

Job 21; 7-9, 13-16  ''“Why do the wicked prosper, growing old and powerful? They live to see their children grow up and settle down, and they enjoy their grandchildren. Their homes are safe from every fear, and God does not punish them.''

''They spend their days in prosperity, then go down to the grave in peace. And yet they say to God, ‘Go away. We want no part of you and your ways. Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey him? What good will it do us to pray?’ (They think their prosperity is of their own doing,
but I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.)''

    Do you ever question the fairness of this life, like Job?  He recognized this foolish way of ungratefulness and rejected it.  We too can get caught up in the entitlement line of thinking and consider ourselves as deserving. We think we can pick and choose the rules that apply to us. We are not promised earthly riches but should see every blessing as a gift from God.  

     When people think 'I've done it', its a misconception because we can do nothing without His help.  People often associate their value with their jobs or possessions.  What a weak scale to measure by? 

     Jesus says 'come just as you are.'  If you want for something, let it be character building qualities....grace, patience, gentleness, generosity, and humility.  If your giving out credit for things in life, step aside and give it to Him.

Only One

    I really like this quote.  I think this is a philosophy that everyone should embrace and live up to.  The 'poor lil ole me' frame of mind does not sit well with me.  We all need a 'can do' attitude, whether it amounts to a mountain or a mole hill in our eyes.
    When the idea of being just one person and what can I do comes up, I think of two people.  First, Adam's fall from grace destined sin to be in the lives of mankind forever.  That was a pretty big impact he made for our lives.  Secondly, God sent one man to save us from sin.. Jesus.  The One taught us, died for us, redeemed us and loves us.
    We can each do something and that is why we are each given different fruits of the spirit.  We aren't all the same and that is why the church body works together for the benefit of the whole.
    We can all claim 'interference', like in a football game, to blocking our actions but that shouldn't stop us from trying.  Make a play, don't hold back.
    You were made by design to fulfill His plan, go and do it without hesitation.

Shoney's

     Who remembers the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet at Shoney's?  Yes, I know, my mouth is watering too.  Well this picture reminds me of a story about not always having it your way.
     One Saturday morning in Springfield, we were going to go out for breakfast.  I wanted to go to Village Inn [great omelettes] and Marc wanted to go to Shoney's.  He let my pick be the chosen restaurant.  It was good and we both enjoyed it, until the next day.  I saw on the news that a worker at Village Inn was diagnosed with hepatitis A.  Oh great?!  So everyone that had eaten there the day before had to go get a preventative shot down at the health department.  We went and thankfully never got sick.
      So that is a lesson on not insisting that your idea is the best idea.  Sure there was no way for us to have known but I'm sure we probably ignored a little nudge towards Shoney's, or I did anyway.  I think we often ignore little warnings in life because we want to do what we want our way.  I believe the Holy Spirit guides us but we choose to heed that direction or not.  Hindsight often pats us on the back for listening or kicks us in the rear for not listening.  Jesus said, 'Follow Me' but Sinatra sang 'I Did It My Way'...........you choose?

Being Watched

    So who hasn't hit the brakes as soon as you spot the hidden cop car?  We often have our own ideas of what a safe speed is regardless of what the sign says, until we realize someone is watching and could make us accountable.
    One night when I was a teenager, I was running late to make it home by curfew.  The clock defined my boundary more than that speed limit sign in my mind.  As I hurried down Hwy 107 at 65mph in the dark, my eagles eyes missed seeing that cop hidden at the church.  He pulled me over and said I was going 65 in a 40mph zone.  I had the tear factory on at full blast but it seemed to be of no help.  So I remembered to always ask 'if they have it on radar?'  I shut the flood gates and asked for radar proof.  He showed me the confirmed speed and the tears returned.  I took my ticket and paid the consequences.
     We often think we can get away with things but that is never true.  God sees and hears everything we do.  We may not see Him yet but that doesn't mean He isn't there.
Psalm 33; 13-15  ''From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.'' 

WAY BACK WEDNESDAY....HUNTING

     This is me at age 6 from when we lived in Sherwood.  These are two ducks my dad killed and this is as close to being a hunter as I'll ever be.  I did give hunting one try when I was older but my desire to eat my candy bar overshadowed the need to be quiet.  I knew then and there, hunting was not my sport.  Duck is the only wildlife I will eat but other than that it's beef, chicken, pork or fish.
      Many people are hunting for meaning and purpose in this life.  Until you know you were made by God and for God, you'll never understand life.  People that can see, are yet blind and those that hear, are yet deaf to what is really important.  Our target is heaven but our aim is based on our relationship with Christ.  Is your sight set on your future above or the here and now?

The Sparkle in You

     Here is another caption that certainly reflects a part of me.  Blue is my favorite color but pink is one of my favorite colors to wear.  If you add a little bling to it, voila, I'm sold on it.  I love fabric with sequence, rhinestones or any little kind of shiny addition to it.  I think it draws attention and makes it special.
     Do you sparkle in the Light to others?  Do others see you and say I want that?  When our thoughts are on godly things and not our circumstances, we will have a peace that others are searching for.  We are examples to others, whether we want to be or not.  May your words be crystal clear, your actions be like sharpening iron and your thoughts shine on the days to come.

Zechariah 9; 16-17  ''The Lord their God will save his people on that day as a shepherd saves his flock.
They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown. How attractive and beautiful they will be!''

''As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.''  Proverbs 27:17

As I Walk...

     As I begin this week, I can certainly feel His grace, mercy and love upon me.  I've had anxious moments this weekend about my near future but I feel reassured this morning.  Why do I doubt?  When things crash in and my sense of normalcy is gone, I tend to wonder 'what now?'  Reminding myself that my life plan has already been established and blessed helps to calm those fears.
     Who or what do we have to fear when God is with us and on our side?  Our trials strengthen us and the blessings are more appreciated when received after.
     I am blessed by a new helper today.  A caring, friendly sister in Christ who I hope to get to know better with time.  Change can be good and for our benefit if we accept it with open arms.

Scream

     I didn't blog yesterday because when I feel like I have to much to say, I know it is best to say nothing at all.  This face painted caption reflects my feelings the past couple of days.  I can't write about mercy, patience or forgiveness when I am all out myself.  Maybe I should go read some of my own blogs?
    Haven't we all felt this way?  The best way to keep my mouth shut is to think about my own faults and shortcomings.  [sigh]  I think about the fact that we are measured with mercy with the same amount we give to others.  Then I think, woah I'm in trouble.  My friend says 'mercy is not your gift.'  I'm trying to give more but it is not easy.
     'Blessings are mine, with ten thousand beside' is what I'm trying to focus on.

Allowed Where?

     'An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.'  Do you believe that?  Of course it's never too late to start but teaching the Bible to children is the best life guide you can share with them.  The government may block Biblical teaching but your home is a perfect setting to not only teach but to imitate Godly principles.  It can have a 'trickle down' effect from your kids to other kids at school.  The written Word may be banned in public schools but the power of a Godly babe's mouth cannot be shut.
    'Be still and know that I am God.'  Sometimes God uses hardship, like prison, to take away worldly distractions so that we may turn to Him.  I often think God allows people to be locked up not only to protect the city but also to protect them from their own destruction and allow some maturity to take place.  Prison ministry is a life altering chance for many to let them know there is always hope awaiting them.
    Why do we wait?  We are not born with a moral compass but must be taught right from wrong.  If we begin by building a firm foundation within our children, they are less likely to fall to the worldly storms they will encounter.  When they do turn away, lead them back to standing once again on the Rock.
    'When we are no longer a nation under God, we will be a nation gone under.'  Ronald Reagan

Way Back Wednesday.... Hair

     So here we are at Christmas 1988, or should I say HAIR we are... haha.  We all had more hair back then than we knew what to do with.
     Yes, we were all stronger back then in our younger days.  I was walking, driving and had the world in my reins.. or so I thought.  Both my parents had full time jobs back then and were after the American dream. Proverbs 20:29  ''The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.''
     Yes, the hair has fallen and faded just as our strength has with time.  Yet we are all still here running the race of life for Christ 24 years later.  His grace and mercy has protected us and brought us thru all those years.  Isaiah 46:4  ''Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.''
      Although I think overcoming my past hardships is worthy of gray hair, I'm blessed to not have had to travel that road yet.  The 'fall out' was a rough enough road to endure.  Whether you can see it or not, my parents have attained their earthly crowns as they wait to one day trade them in.  Proverbs 16:31  ''Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.''

Don't Show It Off

     Have you seen more than you wanted lately?  Do we really need to know whether you're in boxers or briefs by the naked eye?  Isn't it called 'under'wear because it's not to be seen?  The practice of wearing your pants half down and your underwear half showing puts a spotlight on your lack of thinking ability.  Buying a belt or pants that actually fit will do you more good than just to your waistline.   Modesty is not a lost art.
    Have you heard more than you wanted lately?  Knowledge is good but only to a point.  Action speaks louder than words every time.  Some of the most recognized people on earth that are considered intelligent are totally ignorant on what's truly considered valuable knowledge.  It is said, 'when we open our mouths, we remove all doubt on whether people think we are foolish or not.'  Wouldn't you rather have someone show you what love is thru their life than just quote the verses?   ''But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.'' 1 Corinthians 8;1-3
      

Opportunities

    Did you pass on an opportune moment today or did you make the most of it?  Each day we are nudged by God to bless someone else with what we are able to give.  If we would take a moment to think about the hardship of another and act upon it, then the blessing is not just given but received.
    There are opportunities everywhere to be an example to others.  Taking cupcakes to my doctor's office today shows them that I appreciate what they do for me.  It's a little way to say 'thank you for doing more than just your job.'
     I cannot cook anymore but I can afford to buy a meal.  An older couple I know that have served in the church for many years are struggling themselves to stay at home themselves.  They are often overlooked and are not in the spotlight.  Taking them a meal today not only helps them nutritionally but lets them know they are loved and not forgotten.
     I don't write this to boast about my efforts but just to show we can all serve others in some way.  Showing God's love is an endless blessing to be poured out by each of us.

Temptation

     So my dad and I went to see 'The Bourne Legacy' movie today.  I don't know about you but the smell of movie popcorn to me is like a drug.  It smells soooooo good and yet I know it's a sure fire road to coughing for me.  So I try to get out of the intoxicating concession lobby as quick as I can.  I take my air machine with me now to movies and it's a good thing.  The only drawback is that it concentrates the room air into my mask so if I sit next to someone with popcorn, that is all I can think about.  Luckily, no body today was near with popcorn.
     We are each tempted by different things but if it is going to harm you physically or spiritually, AVOID IT.
'Lead me not into temptation.'