Horses in the Snow!

Wes just finished up his riding lessons for the year. At 22 degrees, it is a bit chilly to ride horses! But he did! And he loved it! He just told me that all he needed was a couple of extra pair of gloves for his hands and he would be just fine! We love his lessons, all the kids have a blast playing while he rides! I'm so thankful that he has had this opportunity! He will resume riding in the spring. Until then, we will be doing swimming lessons and x-country skiing lessons! So excited for all that God has allowed us to do!


Daddy and Luke watching brother ride! LUKE LOVES the horses!

We got to ride Jewls bareback! He did really good, until he fell off! But no problem, he just got back on again. He blamed it on his slick snowpants! It was kinda funny...only b/c he didn't get hurt though!

Hello Mr. Horse!

Taking the horse back to the pin! So much fun! I'm so proud of my little guy! This is his favorite hobby right now!

Longing...

Have you ever longed for something so heavily that words could not explain the feeling so deep inside? This morning as I sit writing, thoughts of Korea are on my heart. How I loved it there! That will always be a special place to me! I love serving overseas! It is a passion within my soul that only God could have ever set aflame! And it is funny, b/c in "serving" overseas, I have always been "served" far more than my heart could have ever given! God has used those times in my life to break me, mold me, completely remodel my heart into something that resembles more of Him! Why there? Why not here? I've thought of those questions many times...sit and pondered within myself. Here are a few conclusions I have reached...

1. I think being away from your home country makes one vulnerable in ways never before experienced. You are no longer on your own "turf". The language is foreign, the soil is foreign, the culture and people are all different that your "normal". You are FAR from your comfort zone...and it puts you in a place sensitive to God like never before. You are depending on Him in ways that you never have thought necessary. He is all of a sudden, needed EVERY step! Literally!

2. You have chosen to forsake what is "home" to venture out and fulfill the "great commandment." Yes, I know that you can do that here, in the states as well. But when you are willing "go" to a foreign land, you are making a choice to be uncomfortable. So, when the discomfort comes, you expect it. You even smile in the midst of it. B/c you are right where God wants you to be and YOU KNOW IT! Living here, in our normal day to day lives, we forget that we called to "be set apart". We loose focus of our calling to tell others the "good news". We get caught up in "getting ahead"...in "making a name" for ourselves...in climbing ladders...gaining riches...attaining status...bettering ourselves, that we forget about the KINGDOM PURPOSE that all of us believers are called unto!

3. We are on an adventure! All of a sudden, our normal life has taken on this great and crazy adventure! Everything is "different". Fascinating! Just venturing to the grocery store has become a wild excursion! I believe your senses are heightened! You take in everything as new and exciting! All of a sudden, grapes and oranges are the grandest things b/c of the unique and cute packaging! You are eager to drink it all in...eager to learn and experience life in new and wonderful ways! Talking to strangers is a fun and challenging undertaking! You smile at everyone you see, b/c you are different! You notice them noticing YOU! You stand out! And for the first time ever, you love it!

So why is it, that in our own neighborhood, we try so hard to "fit in". We want to even "blend in". We don't want to stand out...we walk with our heads down trying to make it back to our little homes unnoticed and untouched. We don't want to talk to anyone...we are selfish with our time! Smiling and engaging strangers is the LAST thing on our agenda! And heaven forbid we become FLEXIBLE! We have our schedules...and they must be met! Lord help the ones who get in our way!

4. And one last conclusion I've reached is...COMMUNITY! That is something my soul longs for daily! The feeling of community you have overseas in a Christian environment is unbeatable! I have been on many mission trips in my life, and that is one of my favorite things by far! The feeling of connecting with other believers, the joining of hearts, the unifying under the Spirit of God...nothing in all the world can top that! You are all there with one heart, one purpose! You share in each others joy and triumphs, and weep in sorrow for each others struggles and failures. Friendships are formed for eternity! Real, honest, truthful relationships are built and love is formed that knows no end!

These are just a few thoughts that I have been reflecting on this morning. God has been BEYOND good to me! He has allowed me to be apart of His work...here and afar! He has allowed me to meet some of His favorite children...and share in their lives here on earth! He has woven friendships within my heart that will stand until eternity! And the precious souls that He has used to help mold me into His most glorious creation...let me just tell you..."we are gonna dance together on those streets that are golden!" We will one day worship our King, hand in hand, before His very throne! I am so thankful that I have had the privilege of knowing you this side of heaven...and I can't wait for the day that we will...."join in the song of the Lamb!"

"Gearing" up!

Hormones, how I hate you some days! The past week has been "not so great" of a week! I have been down! Depressed! Sad! Out of sorts! Normally, I am a pretty up-beat kind of girl! I roll with the punches and can get out of a funk pretty quickly. But my latest "funk" has lasted all of a week and I am NOT liking it at all! I felt like I couldn't get my "happy" rolling! I prayed, spent some time with my friends, chatted with my momma, hung out with my hubby, laughed at my crazy kiddos, but inside I felt icky. (I am also a HUGE people person!) So, when being around people didn't help me...I just sat down and cried! A good, long CRY!

And then, after about an hour of so, I determined..."THIS HAS GOT TO COME TO AN END!" No one wanted to be around me...goodness, I didn't even want to be around me.

So, this morning, I woke up early with the very intent of laying some stuff down on the alter! I needed this "pity-party" feeling to END! And glory to God, it did! I was reading in Eph. 6 and realized I hadn't put the "armor of God" on in so long. My defenses were down...Satan was throwing all his fiery darts my way and I was getting slammed at every turn. So, I had a "gearing" up moment...and peace and joy flooded my soul! And let me tell you, this day has been wonderful! Every dart cast my direction has fallen short...cuz I am protected, aware, and ready to face those giants head on! What a wonderful feeling...to claim our victory and WALK IN IT! Thank You Lord!

Just like Dad

"I want to be just like Daddy!" I'm kinda glad this kid has got a good one! Love this picture!

I Love You Lindsay!

Friends are wonderful! The fact that God is a relational God thrills my soul! And the fact that He made us women relational excites me and inspires me! I love relationships! Whether old or new...young or aged...near or far...relationships are the heartbeat of my life. People are my hobby! I love to talk and to listen. I love people's stories! You can always see God's design, just listening to people's joys and failures...their victories and blessings. God is good...and I love to discover His thread of goodness in the lives around me.

And today, as I was busy at home...doing school with the kids, baking cookies for Bible Study tonight, folding laundry, cleaning the house, organizing toys...I finally had a minute to sit and look at my blog. And one of my favorite things happened! I had someone who left a comment on things that I had written. See, I love to write...as if you couldn't tell! This whole "blogging" world is so much fun for me...b/c it gives a glimpse inside peoples inner-most parts of their lives. People blog about all sorts of stuff...and I love reading the stories...the recipes...seeing the pictures of their precious little people! It is a joy! And...I love to write about my life too...to have an outlet to release my thoughts and prayers. SO...When someone comments on my writing...it is like Christmas to my heart! Like unwrapping a present! Even if that person doesn't agree with what I have said, it is still fun to communicate! And today, one of my dearest, sweetest friends commented TWICE! It blessed my heart to no degree! I love you Lindsay! You encourage my heart so many days! Your blog is always God-honoring...your life is spent loving on the precious loved ones around you. I count it an honor to be called your friend. How many days have I spent praying for you, Rodney and Jeff. I just know that if I lived closer to you girl, we would be "bosom buddies". For your passionate desire for our Lord inspires me and draws me closer to our Creator! So, I just wanted to give a "shout out" to a very dear girl who gave me reason to smile and rejoice today! Thanks Lindsay Sublet!

Snow

It's late. THe world is asleep. All is quiet. Still. Peaceful. And as I look out my window, it's SNOWING! Perfect snow! Big, fluffy, snowflakes floating from the sky! I love the snow. There is little else that compares. The actual snowfall is unbeatable, HANDS DOWN! To stand in an open field, and look up at the big sky as the snow falls all around you...there is nothing like it in the world. That moment is perfect! It is serene. To stand in the falling snow...everything else disappears. The noise of everyday life is left for just a moment...the world is hushed. You can feel the pressence of the Lord as He enjoys His great creation. You can almost hear Him laughing in delight over the magnitude of the beauty He designed!

Tonight was the first snowfall of the year...well, the first TRUE snowfall. It just keeps falling...covering everything. I couldn't stand sitting inside. I know it is late, and the kids are sleeping, but I just had to be out in it! So, I bundled up and went and played in the snow! Yes, by myself...it was a moment my soul needed! And in that moment, I felt God's loving arms engulf me! He surrounded me with the most perfect, complete, and awe-inspiring hug I have ever been apart of! I felt Him! I heard Him. In the stillness of the night...I heard Him shout my name in the Whisper of my soul! He loves me! He created me! And he created this night...for me and Him! One of the most amazing moments of my life.

God is Light...and in Him there is no darkness at all!

What kind of stand are you willing to take? Do you stand upon the Word of God with passion and faith...willing to bend for no man? Do you stand firm? Or are you wobbling...fearing a fall at the next breath of disagreement? Truth is raw! It isn't watered down, smoothed over, or socially acceptable. It is what it is! God's truth is what will set us free from the snares of this world. His truth alone is what will bring us to glory!



Why this sudden definition of truth? Well, every year around this time, the discussion of "Halloween" becomes a topic of choice. People take all kinds of stands on this subject. Some hate it, others embrace it, some LOVE it, others ignore it...but few are willing to define it. Well, for the sanity of my own soul, I need to define it...and here is my outlet!



The origin of Halloween wasn't intended for evil. It orginated in Scottland and Ireland. The original purpose was innocent enough. But, that was LONG ago...and we are responsible to respond to what it has become today. We say it is all fun and games...a time to dress up and have a "good time". We, as parents, don't want our children to be the only ones on the block who don't get to participate in trick-or-treating. It is harmless right? Purely innocent. BUT...the reality is...it ISN'T. In our day and time, this "holiday" is intended for all kinds of evil. To convince yourself otherwise is foolish. 1Timothy states that..."Perfect love casts out all fear. And that God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of love and of power and of a sound mind." Halloween lives to create and instill fear into peoples hearts. All the way down to the decorations...it is intended for evil...NOT FOR GOOD! We can justify our sweet little children's costumes of Peter Pan and Cinderella...and say that we are not representing "evil"...but the fact is, participating in this day is teaching our children that it is okay to overlook the wicked all around us, instead of standing against it and living out our calling to "Be set apart from the world".



We need to open our eyes...look around us. What this "holiday" promotes has NOTHING God honoring about it. The movies, the decorations, the costumes...and that is just the commercialized part. Let's not overlook the truly disturbing aspects...the pure evil and satanic realm that is so easily ignored...but VERY much carried out. Satan has a field day with this "holiday" b/c we have chosen to close our eyes to what is represented and even take part!



The Bible doesn't come straight out and say..."Halloween is a sin." But it does say that "witchcraft" is...any kind of "sorcery" is a sin. Our fight is not against flesh and blood...but of a spiritual realm that we can not see with our eyes...at least not all the time. But it is there...at war always.



When I was 7yrs old, we lived in Texas. A small town. My dad was a pastor of a church right off the highway. My brother and I played out front everyday. Until one day. The police came to our front door and warned my mother that, just down the road, a practicing cult had plans to kidnap and sacrifice my 5yr old, blond hair, blue eyed little brother for Halloween. They did something like this every year...on October 31st. And this year they had targeted my brother. PRAISE God we were warned. But we lived in fear for a time...not allowed to go outside...fear. And even though God kept my little brother safe that year, another child was killed in honor of this grand "holiday". Fear paraded it's ugly self in fine array that year. How is that God honoring?



I had a second cousin who seemed to have it all together. She was a beautiful girl...full of life. Until one day, on October 31st, she drew a pistol to her head and fired the trigger. She had dedicated herself to Satan. She had gone through a ceremony...a satanic ritual... to become his bride. She killed herself so that her soul could go on to live with him forever. She had been blinded by the darkness that seeks so earnestly someone to consume...to devour.



Many things take place this night...many things that we choose to ignore and pretend doesn't exsist. But the "face" of this holiday says enough...it defines itself.



Evil. It is out there...all around us. We must stand and claim our victory.



I am passionate about this...but I am not trying to "push" it on you. This is where I stand. This is how I want to raise my children. To love the truth. To dance in the LIGHT. To stand firm against Satan and all his ploys...to resist him and know that he will flee. It feels good to be different...to have purpose. It is lonley sometimes...not many agree. But it is okay. Walk in the LIGHT. Leave the darkness behind...all forms and all it represents. Because..."GOD IS LIGHT! And in Him there is no darkness at all!"

Judging Others

Judge. We all do. Some of us more than others. Some of us louder than others. But we all take part in something that NONE of us ever should! God is the ultimate Judge...the only rightful ONE. He is the only One who has the accurate ability and reason to do so. He is the only One who looks into our heart. 99% of assumptions are wrong! We judge NEVER knowing everything involved. Oh, we might have a pretty good perception of the situation, but we can't see motives, or hearts, or souls. Yet, we throw our opinions around like they actually matter...and they do matter...but mostly only to us. And we say hurtful things b/c it makes us "feel better" or makes us think of ourselves a little better than someone else...at least for the moment! We enjoy the judgement...just so long as it isn't cast our way. Funny though, the ones who judge.

...there is always someone out there ready to cast blame, dish out judgement, throw their stones, or see the speck in their brother's eye. But, my thought for the day is why don't we stop. Why don't we start spending all that time we USED to spend thinking of what others are doing wrong, and use that time to reevaluate our own lives. Spend that time praising Jesus that He is not just the Judge, but our LOVER and MASTER as well. I think that our lives would be holier if we did that. B/c judging someone else takes the spotlight off of me...and as long as we can keep the light on someone else, we don't have to look inside our own hearts and see what God is telling us to change, to correct, to repent of, or to celebrate in! I judge...I do. But I am trying to change that...to love others and when tempted to cast judgement, to pray for them and ask God to reveal to them what He sees fit! Awww...life gets alot sweeter with that perspective! I promise!

MORE

We are more than the choices that we make. We are more than the successes that line our memory wall. We are more than the failures that people seem to always remember. We are more. We are more than the reflection staring us back in the mirror. We are more than the status people label us. We are more than the relationships that define our days, our moments, our years. We are more. We are VICTORIOUS! We are CHILDREN OF A KING. A KING who rules the heavens and is coming back for this earth! We are rescued, saved, chosen! We are more than the sin that entered the world with our first cry! We are a royal preisthood, a chosen generation. We are a people who the God of this universe created with His very own breath! We are worth HIS Son dying to bring us life! We are covered in the blood of a perfect, sacrificial LAMB! We are HIS!

So, let nothing else define you. Let nothing else steal the miracle that you were set aside to represent! B/c friend, you are HIS! I am HIS! And b/c of that, I am more!

Colorful Smiles

Lately I have been sick! Just plain, awful, yucky sick! And depressed! Depressed b/c I have been sick and felt horrible. But just when I think I can't take another step...just when I think life is gonna get the best of me...just when I am ready to throw in the towel, the rain stops pouring. The sun breaks through the ugly gray clouds. And God smiles the most amazingly colorful smile known to man!

1 Corinthians 10:13 "There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man. But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you can handle, but will with the temptation make a way for you to escape that you may be able to handle it." Thank You Lord for Your Word. Thank You for Your truth. I love you Jesus.