Bye bye Christmas!!! Hello New Year!

So all the hype of  Black Friday up until Christmas morning has made it entrance and exit and are we happy yet??? I am!! Christmas of course is much like our own birthday. We get excited about it the month of and the night before and then it comes, we advance yet another number and then there is goes again...  Well the good thing about birthdays and holidays is that it happens same time every year. But what do we do with the time in between those festive days? We LIVE!!! We fight traffic, we eat and drink, and mindlessly shuffle through this journey we call life. I must pause and ask myself and whoever might happen to read this.... are we living a good life and if so how can we make it better or if not what do we need to change to make it good? What do you resolve to do in this coming new year? What visions have you established for yourself and/or your loved ones? I want to live a good life on PURPOSE and live a PURPOSED filled life!!! There is much too many people confused out there to be adding to the numbers. I propose to read more, laugh more, do more for others and give more. I believe in the sowing and reaping principle! I give out what you expect to get back! Love hard and somebody somewhere will love you back....and if they don't always remember God loves you!
My new year goals:
1. Live the vision
2. Go somewhere I have never been
3. Take a plane trip
4. Get a passport
5. Prepare one new meal a month
6. Record 5 completed songs
7. Get to know my neighbors
8. Buy and Learn to play guitar
9. Write a children's book
10. save 2000 dollars and keep it


So I am looking forward to 2010! happy New Year and reach your goals!!!

COMPLETELY

Completely
by Africia Ansari

Words sometimes seem so few
In times when you are going through
Fires burn; Winds and floods

Seemingly drown out your voice

Blinders keep us from seeing your face
From beholding your glory
Pain locks us in our present distress
And fear holds us captive in our misery

Love seems fleeting at times

Like it’s only temporary
We seek but cannot find
We knock but nothing opens

Were ready for change
Overturning the doubt of yesterday
And fears of tomorrow
We are closing in on your
Manifested destiny for our lives

We are walking in the light
Of your beauty
Beauty of your splendor
Your Majesty revealed in us

We knock and new doors appear
We seek the kingdom and we find You
We adorn ourselves in robes of humility
And you crown us with righteousness

We are your sheep
You are our Shepherd
We run hard after you
Because we know your voice

Lead us ever so gently
Quietly refreshing our weary souls
Loving us completely! ©

AS A MATTER OF FACT....

        How do you describe Love and how does it define you?
For a long time I thought I knew what love was, what it was supposed to feel like, look like....but for a while I had it all wrong in my eyesight. You see I had the love of my family, the likes of my friends and the lust of the men I allowed in my circle. Not really understanding loves true beauty, I ran to the wrong images, clung to the facades and dreamed about that perfection that hadn't been attained. I clutched the Cinderella fantasy as if my life depended on it. I believed the fairy tale story and hoped hopelessly that my fairy Godmother would somehow turn my Honda into a Limo and whisk me away to meet my Prince Charming. Well turns out that Prince Charming made plans to do something else and it wasn't with me haha!
Then one day I realized that the love i was searching for first was the love of a Father... I didn't grow up with a concrete view of what a father should look like. First I had no father then suddenly one appeared and then poof he's gone. Just like that! Wow what a example of the dysfunctional family! Nonetheless, I prevailed as a beautiful flower planted by the riverbanks who is continually budding and being refreshed by my HEAVENLY Father who will never leave me or forsake me!

Today my definition of LOVE:

My definition of Love is when my children burst through the door with outstretched arms and proclaim their affection and LOVE for the one who blesses them, corrects them and genuinely LOVES them in spite of everything else. Even when they know they are wrong and mommy has to discipline them, they still snuggle up under my wings like little birds....
Ultimately, LOVE for me is when I hear my heavenly Father speak his soft words of comfort, kindness, forgiveness, mercy and grace over me and I am completely abandoned to him.
Finally, my definition of Love is when I look in the mirror at the perfect being that God created, stare back at me and say "you are a classy Lady". Even with my own definitions of the "not so good look" that i feel at those wretched times of the month...eewww... I still see myself as beautiful! I understand that beauty is not on the surface, but what we express through our heart and soul!
Doesn't matter that my hair may not be perfect all the time or that I have a little jiggle in my middle lol or even the fact that I have big feet (size 10) haha. I had to learn to love the me that I am...however complex, impatient, silly, hardheaded, passionate or tetchy I can be, I can still look at the reflection of LoVe in my mirror and say "as a matter of fact, I DO LOVE YOU!

Up on the good foot!

So today marks 12 days since my foot surgery and i am still wearing "the shoe". There is nothing nice about trying to maneuver on one foot and crutches. I have a new appreciation for those who have to use them. So I have made my home on the sofa in the living room because I'm afraid I might try to sleep on my tummy and totally bust open my stitches or bend the pin in my toe **ouch** that would certainly send me screaming!!!! Everyone has been wonderful!!! It pays to be nice to people because they will be nice right back. So friday it's back to the Doc to get these stitches out yaay!! Will update later. Check me out!

Soul Mate DVD

Every Woman Should have...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...a youth she's content to leave behind....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .. a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...one friend who always makes her laugh.. and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her
family...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for
a meal, that will make her guests feel honored...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... a feeling of control over her destiny..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to fall in love without losing herself..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend
without ruining the friendship...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips,
or the nature of her parents..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... that her childhood may nothave been perfect...but it's over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.... how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... whom she can trust, whom she can't, and why she shouldn't
take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... where to go... be it to her best friend's kitchen table.. or a charming
Inn in the woods.... when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...What she can and can't accomplish in a day... a month...and a year...

Refuse to Fail and commit to recover.doc

Refuse to Fail and commit to recover!

 

Mark 11:24

 

Last night as my Assistant Pastor was teaching Bible study, he spoke on being healed and not just looking for something to happen in an instant. Healing for some is a process of recovery. He gave the example of how we rely on the words of Doctor’s before we rely on the word of God.  For others healing can be attained instantly because they have believed and not doubted God and came with an expectant heart and willingness to let go and let God have his way with their situation.

 

Healing is not just a physical phenomenon as it is most commonly believed. Healing is defined as restoring to health or soundness or to cure.  It also means to set right; repair. Finally, it means to restore a person to spiritual wholeness. Whether the healing is for your mind, body, soul, relationships, finances or spirit it is still healing.  Seek to get some healing for those past hurts you thought you could never overcome. Seek healing for your finances so you can be a blessing to others; seek healing for  broken relationships so you can sleep better at night; seek healing for your body for your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and without a clean temple it is a set up for destruction; seek healing for your mind…. Less is more! De-clutter emotional baggage, clean out the skeletons in the closet by delivering them first class postage to the Father; spend time in prayer…because if your mind is on Jesus you are in perfect peace; and most of all take time for yourself!  You can’t be a blessing, minister to or lead anyone else if your life is not right before God and them.  Make up in your mind that you refuse to fail because there is no failure in God.  And just as when you receive doctor’s instructions to wait before resuming a certain activity before complete healing; begin to wait on God for your breakthrough!  Failure is not the outcome refusal because at least you tried; however, success should be the result of many missed attempts at success.  God loves you no matter what stage you are in and will help you through recovery time and those missed attempts until you achieve success!! 

 

So here we are again at the Noland Trail taking our 5mile trek! I am becoming the runner I didn't want to be! Thanks be unto God who causes us to triumph and gives us Victory! I am overcoming the doubts I had about becoming a runner for life. I am destined to win and with help and support om friends and God of course all things are possible.

Runners Club

Whose Report will you believe?

Whose report will you believe?

"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed".
(Proverbs 16:3)

 

You know it always seems that when you think you know something or someone you don’t. Or why is it that when you believe you are trying your best, others see it as your worst. What happened to “only what you do for Christ will last”? I know that so many of us feel we must meet the expectations of society. How we parent our children, what clothes we wear, how many friends we should have and many more stipulations that society places on us. But what about what characteristics Jesus has set for us in his many examples? He has taught us to love our enemies as ourselves, treat people the way we want to be treated, give and it shall be given back to you and above all else, love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul. True there are many other design features placed in us but sometimes they never get used because the user has not sought the user’s manual. At times we can be like that annoying blinking clock on the VCR or DVD player blinking; waiting for someone to reset us. Other times we are like the buttons on the remote control which never get used because we don’t know its proper function. Isn’t that how we are in the body of Christ? The Bible is our remote control! We use the main controls or we speak the scriptures we know by heart and leave the other scriptures because we haven’t investigated its true purpose or sought to understand its function in our lives.

 

I had an opportunity to become offended and back away from what I know to be true and right in the eyes of God. I had an opportunity to think the worst of myself because of what someone else was saying about me. But God knows the truth and he knows me!.  I know that I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus; I know that I have the mind of Christ! I know that I don’t get it right always and sometimes I flat out mess up; BUT GOD! He is my source and his word is the lamp unto my feet and the light for my pathway.  I know that I am delivered from evil and when I mess up or stray away from his presence, he lovingly taps me with the rod of correction to deliver my soul from hell.  I know that when the devil starts messing that a huge blessing is on the way.  I am not concerned about the report of the world, but it is Jesus’ report that I believe.  If I commit my way unto the Lord, my plans will succeed. I don’t hate or dislike those who have ill words towards me. I love them continually and pray for their deliverance and freedom. Love is about encouraging one another, building those who are weak, enriching those who are poor. It is not about holding grudges or keeping a record of wrong. Whose report will you believe today?

Carnival

Last night I took the children to the Carnival in town. To my surprise I only had to pay for two of us. Ok, so you pay 2.50 to get in and a million dollars to ride rides and play games. Don't even mention the food.... another hundred thousand for funnel cake and cotton candy! What about those people that they get to work the carnival??? I have one word to describe... WEIRD! Ok so my kids got to ride two rides, we walked and got food and it was was wrap! Just as long as they are happy I think that is all that matters. I love my little flowers!

Yesterday my wonderful teenage daughter made a commitment before God, family and friends to remain sexually pure until the day she marries! I am grateful to God for people of God who think it's important enough to give our youth the opportunity to choose to remain pure in a world full of sex and sensuality. She is a beautiful Lady of Virtue! Kisses to you baby.

Thorns are growing!

Luke 4:22
All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. "Isn't this Joseph's son?" they asked.

---

Oh how I mess up often when it comes to correcting my children. Often I lash out with words that do not edify, build confidence in them and in the end makes them more saddened then the act warrants. I am one who likes order in my house and when it is not neat and tidy it sends me into a whirlwind of emotions. Of course I believe every one has a part in helping to maintain the common areas in the home and the kids each have their duties. “But what does mom do?” They ask. Well mom does everything else! I say. But of course a mom’s work is never done.

So, I have been running the conversation with my children back through my mind asking myself, “why didn’t you say it like this or you could have said that a little gentler.” I also asked myself “what fruit of the spirit are you exhibiting?” Of course I say, LONGSUFFERING!! And with a chuckle, I must remind myself constantly of the word of God. I want my words to be like Jesus’ words. I want my children to be amazed at the gracious words that come from my lips daily. I want them to speak well of me. I desire to build them up and instill in them the character of Christ and not the madness of mom! I love them dearly, however sometimes I feel I am at my brink and I will explode. But then I remember to hold my peace and 1. Choose not to fight or argue; 2. Use my natural gift of nurturing; 3. Get a clue that God is all knowing and he knows what we can handle. Thank you Lord! For your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

A heart to heart with myself!

Ok so I am a real mom! I had a "coming to Jesus meeting" with my child last night and I' m sure I was just having a conversation with myself for the most part. It felt liberating to be able to release all the frustration I had bottled up inside. After the conversation, I just knew that I had hit a tune on her heart strings and she would just pour out her feelings about what we had just discussed. Not to my surprise, there was the usual silence! Ok so I have to remember to keep it short and sweet and there may just be a hint of interest that would make her engage me in coversation.

It is better to fail in a cause that will ultimately suceed than to succeed in a cause that will ultimately fail.

Hello all!

So this is my first blog! I am really excited about sharing my life with you. At times it gets a little complicated but whose life doesn't anyway right? So drop in sometime for just a minute and I will try to keep it interesting.

Peace