100 Day Challenge

This year I decided that I needed to go and have  a physical done and find out if dealing with any health issues.  After all the blood work was done the results came in my vitamin D and B12 are to low but my A1C  and insulin or too high so with all of that I have been welcome to the world of a pill box where I have all these vitamins and a medicine I don't want to take.  My sweet nurse practitioner Lisa has advised me to eat low-carb which is something I struggle with, which that's telling consider my insulin levels and it is also a diet I have been trying to do all year and have failed. She also advised me to exercise  40 minutes a day which is also I have been trying to get on that wagon all year and I have Failed ( Bad feet , knees and lower back and no energy makes it rough ), She also told me about Intermittent fasting  where I should fast for  12, 14 or 16 hours a day. I have read up on this and doing this my result could be lowering my insulin levels, loosing weight and many other health benefits.  We also talked about how losing weight and eating healthy is a mind thing and how we need God in all this. I found a book last year called spiritual secrets to weight lost a 50 day renewal of body mind and spirit which I have never gotten past day 5 so another thing I have failed.  See a pattern :( For the next 100 days I will be keeping track of my carb intake, exercising,  fasting and reading.  Will I fail?  I'm sure there are days I will. Will I be successful? I sure am praying I will be. It's a day by day thing.  At the beginning of the year at work we did a challenge and when I got on the scales that first day I just knew the scales were wrong because there was no way  I had gained that much weight over the holidays. Thankfully that was almost 20 pounds ago and I know what  losing that has felt like. So on those hard days I will just keep reminding myself what another pound of sugar will feel like losing.  I will be 50  in six months my first big goal is to lose 50 by then.  I want to be able to go to Disney with my husband not feel self-conscious on any of the rides and to be able to keep up for three fast full days. Losing means more to me in being healthy and to have more energy then it does on how the clothes fit which that part would be kind of nice too :)  I have allow fear and the enemy to take over my mind and body for way too long so I am now taking my body and mind back  and with God help I am going to win this!!!  I will need support, help and encouragement  from not only God but from friends and family as well. I have been going to weight watchers for last couple of month with a couple of friends between them and my wwgroup that weekly weigh in and motivation has been a great help . I am not going to post much on Facebook about this but I am going to post my journey on Instagram  for myself as a visual reminder.  I am also going to try to post every 25 days of this journey through my blog.  So if you want to keep up with it and help me along find me on Instagram.  Please keep me in your prayers some of the main things I need prayers for are I have a hard time with discipline,  commitment, making good choices and willpower. So today is day one of a new chapter, a new me, and a new fight!!  With God all things are possible!! 

Words

I was ask to share in Sunday school this morning about my word for 2016 and I couldn't make it through it without a little help and also with out tears and sounding crazy so I figure today would be a good day to blog about My Word no matter if anyone reads this or not I will be able to look back on this time and see God hand at work in my life...

About 3 years ago I saw something on Facebook about instead making new year resolutions pick a word to focus on for the year and I thought that is great I never can keep the resolutions anyway so maybe I can focus on 1 part of my life and make it better for the year so that year I thought about Consistently or Commit since I can't keep a resolution maybe if focus on committing to something and consistently doing it my resolutions would actually happen this year.  Well I wrestle with that and couldn't commit to it ☺ but the word Pray kept coming up and my prayer life was not the best so I decided (well God did I just didn't know it) that my focus for 2015 would be Pray as in Rejoice always, Pray Continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV  This is where I learn it was God who choose my word cause this is my verse that I try my best to live by but I pray when I need to and don't you dare to ask me to pray out loud but it says here to Pray Continually... I had friends going through some difficult things that year I had things, my family did about everybody around me did and I learn that year I can't fix anything but God sure can I just have to Pray. My prayer life 2 years later is my sweet time to talk to my closest friend and my father and to the one who is in control of everything. I actually now will pray out loud may sound like a mumbling dork but God knows my heart and my prayers..
 
In 2016 it was very clear that word for this year will be Joy now I know around Christmas you see the word Joy everywhere but I honestly didn't notice it until this year but God place it in places that were not of Christmas and He laid it on my heart. I struggle at first cause nobody can be a happy person 365 days 24/7 so I didn't happiness to be my focus but I wanted my focus to be on Joy of the Lord , my Salvation and finding Joy in all things. Same verse above but in the Message Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.  Well we got prayer going and now lets start having Joy this is going to be a great year.. WRONG!! Under the smile it was a dark year I felt my life falling apart and I just was not the most Joyful person.. There are unanswer things about my birth, there are things I don't understand, I have been hurt, I have been broken down, I have been left out, I don't feel I have a place or a person, the devil was having the time of his life with my brain and I run and stay busy so not to fall so far in the pit.. My mother had stage 4 lung cancer she was found out in September and I went to visit her and the doctor came in and ask her how she was and she said I am doing good I have my 3 daughters here and my sisters but that was just a little chisel off the brick wall. I kept in touch with my sisters to see how she was doing, called her a couple of times but I continue to run. Weeks before she died my sisters were her care takers and all I wanted to do was to help but I was so emotionally withdrawn from her that I didn't think I could do it so I did what I know best I stay busy and I pray her and pray for my daddy cause they have been together for 59 years  and pray for my sisters and their families and pray her (our) family that was about to loose another sibling and I  pray for myself. I was able to see her in the last week on Thursday I drop everything to go and spend the day at her house and took her an apple pie (you know us Baptist women believe food makes everything good)  she knew I was there, she sat up in the bed and ate some she could barely talk but the look in her eyes I felt like I saw sorrow, regret and forgiveness and I felt a peace I never knew before. Sunday she died and  I was in a daze cause I still had hope our relationship might one day be restore that I would get answers, I would have a place and I would have that mother that a lot of my friends have and my kids would have a grandmother. The service was beautiful and my cousin Andy spoke the words my heart needed to hear (would love to have the recording of it) but during this time of sorrow there was joy in my life I was with my family that part is being restore, I have peace cause I am letting go of all the damage and focusing on the good things instead. She is heal physically but also emotionally, mentally too she has found her true joy with our Father. I realize that 2016 was truly my year of Joy it may came in December but I am late for everything so it is understandable. Here is Kay Warren definition of Joy-  Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation. Sorrow and Joy run together some days are wonderful but others are not so while you’re experiencing something painful, there’s the glorious realization that there is still beauty and loveliness to be found. They’re inseparable. 




So for 2017 God laid on my heart and I heard him that this year word is Still as in Be still before the Lord.. Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100:3 I Google verse on Be Still and this came up but I wanted to read the rest

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.

      Serve the LORD with gladness;
            Come before Him with joyful singing.

      Know that the LORD Himself is God;
            It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
            We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

      Enter His gates with thanksgiving
            And His courts with praise.
            Give thanks to Him, bless His name.

     For the LORD is good;
            His loving-kindness is everlasting
            And His faithfulness to all generations

  Whew.. that is my verse to memorize for this year.. I see God hand so much in my life for the last 2 years that blinders have been lifted... I have a place in His kingdom, His love is everlasting, I am His He created me I will sit still before him and will praise Him for all He has done in my life.. I pray that 2017 is a better year, I give thanks for all He has done in my life and I have a joy in Him...

On a little side note I went to Winter Nights at First North Friday night and I thought of all day I don't want to go I need to work, I am tired, even though friends were going I was going alone but something in my soul wouldn't let me back out.. Well God wouldn't let me :).. I went and I will tell you he show out and bless me so much for going and not letting Satan win.. Donna Ward gives out love notes and mine this year spoke so much to me. I am waiting for your step of faith. Just one step into the water, I have already set things in motion that will guarantee your success. What are you waiting for? You do trust me, don't you? I am the Lord your God and I will do this . Step Out! Joshua 3:1-17 
Then her message was from Nehemiah How Am I doing? 
We are free but we live captive lives.
We need to hear God knock on our hearts and he must certainly has been doing that to me I just haven't been opening the door all the way.
We live in holy confusion where it hurts but He is God
We get knock down so much we loose hope
Sometimes God allows us to be wreck to the uttermost so He can rescues us in the most uttermost. WOW fast forward to the end of the night I was wreck like I have never been before.. .
When God is silence go to His word He will speak to you (me). Get into the habit of running to Him and not away..
The damages that have been done to you, the unanswer, the never understandings they are ok cause God is God,  God is sovereign, He is eternal, and from Pastor DJ today He knows all things and Control things.

My break group was with Michelle Johnson and it was on Waiting
She in herself was awesome and I loved hearing her speak she is powerful or I would say She got some spirit in her...
Highlights from her, prayer is the most powerful thing we have, suit up each day in our Armor cause the enemy is real, God is faithful, trustful, Go to His word and remember His promises. We will see God glory on the backside, He works together all things for the good, In the wait worship Him, pray on our knees, and go to His word
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord Psalm 27:14
Her song was Waiting Here For You by Christy Nockels

Donna played Toby Mac When Love Broke Thru and Love Feels like
One song I remember of the band was Love On the Line by Hillsong
God is Love :)

I am being still and not running this year!

   





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Living Hope-Debbie Sobeski

Tonight I was invited to Popular Springs ladies night out with Debbie Sobeski as the speaker. I have heard her speak a couple of times but I decided to go cause being in women ministry I always like too see how other churches do things. It's been 9 years since our heavenly Father took Debbie 18yr old daughter home due to a bout of 6months of cancer. The food was great, got some ideas and had a great night with friends oh and got a cute hot chocolate mug...Now what I got most  out of tonight was Debbie message. I have so many people around me that are dealing with love ones who are sick with cancer and others enemy of health. I was not going to take notes but decided to and feel led to share with you.

Living Hope

The verses she share

A new birth into living hope. 1 Peter 1:3 -4 . Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

His grace is sufficient 2 Corinthians 12:9 My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Preserve my life Psalm 119:107 I am severely afflicted give me life O Lord according to your word

Job says treasure His word more than daily bread Job 23:12 I have not departed from the commands of lips I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.

You saw my affliction Psalm 31:7-8 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love because you have seen my affliction you have known the distress of my soul

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your  thoughts neither are your ways my ways. Declares the Lord.

Psalm 27:13-14 I remain confident of this I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord

Daniel 3:17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace the God we serve is able to deliver us from it and he will deliver us from Your Majesty hand

Psalm 130:5 I wait for the Lord my whole being waits and in his word I put my hope

Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters I will be with you and when you pass through the rivers they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned the flames will not set you ablaze

Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself . Each day has enough trouble of its own

Psalm 73:17 til I enter the sanctuary  of God then I understood their final  destiny

John 11:26 Everyone who lives and  believes in me shall never die

Job 19:25 I know that my redeemed lives and that in the end he will stand on the earth.

Psalm 19 The heavens declare the glory of God

Nuggets
The truth of word of God is the truth off all of us, it never change
The word it's either all true or none of it is true
Chase our children with prayers
We are completely helpless without God
Daniel says God is deliver
Job says as long as have breathe we have hope
God is preparing us for our next chapter
Be prepare for the storm before they hit cause when they do it's to hard to build that relationship
When looking for God He won't disappoint you
Thank Him for choosing me even in the hardship and storms
Turn to Him everyday for his strength

It's a journey, a trail but God will bring us though it... As long as we have breathe we have hope!!!!


She went through the hardest thing a parent could go through and that is losing your child.

She is a walking to testimony to me, only God could give her the strength she has. She stood up and told about the chapter in their life with Hannah without a tear in her eye and with a smile on her face. When you have Christ in the center of your life and have a relationship with him and you carry that into a storm with you and don’t let go or blame God then  the love you have for him pour out on others around you to either lead them to Him, to give the spiritual dead a thirst and hunger for Him and give believers hope that as long as there is breathe there is hope (she said this over and over). When you don’t have that relationship with Him and don’t depend on Him when you hit those storms instead of relying on Him to carry you through we tend to rely on ourselves, others, drugs, alcohol, we can grow hard and bitter, jealous of others, and live in a negative life. In Hannah interview and what Debbie share was that Hannah wanted to be in the center of God’s will and if her story change one person life then she was completely at peace at whatever happen. I am sure that she change more than one person life during that time. Debbie, laid on my heart the words that God speaks in the bible don’t worry about tomorrow, he will carry me though,  His grace is sufficient, , He knows my affliction, He has great plans for me and I know that He lives and so do I with Him forever and/but I will never fully understand until I enter the sanctuary with God (Psalm 73)  As much as I know this I need to Know the one who spoke them and I need to relay on Him more than anything else cause even though I am not in a storm right now one day I will be and I need to have that strong relationship with Him so I don’t lose hope and try to get though it on my own and become a person that doesn’t show God strength, so that whatever God will is I will be at peace with it and so I will become a walking testimony for others and if nothing else change 1 person life that is why I want to grow not in my knowledge of God but in my relationship with Him.. I fail daily of spending time with Him and I need to learn to be discipline and make that a top priority every day.  I want to be prepare for that chapter in my life…

Where did I come from and how do I love?

For several weeks even months heck probably years I have just gone through the motions of life. As things have happen in life my best way is to laugh, cover it up and move on never deal with it in the way it should be dealt with. Not to long ago I have finish 1 bible study dealing with of those things that I have threw dirt on and move on and it has left me wanting to deal with a lot more so I can have the freedom I deserve. Right as I finish that bible study and was trying to figure out now where I am to go with this my sweet beautiful cousin  posted these status updates on FB and it really hit me and was what I needed that day. I can't tell you exactly what was going on and what my mind thought at the moment but I can tell you it made me cry and thank God for what I call His love notes  of remainder I am never probably going to get out of some people what I should but from God there is healing, He loves me, He wants me, He will comfort, restore and bring me peace.. When I reach for Him... Here is her status update..

Alcohol, drugs, pride, lies, addiction, they destroy families. They leave people empty, hurt and trying to make sense of a painful past. They don't only destroy the one who partakes in those things, the damage goes far beyond that persons mind and body. It overflows to the ones that surround them, that love them, the ones that give them chance after chance to become apologetic and start the process of repairing the damage. But instead of peace and healing they are often left holding, in both hands; hate, resentment, pain, vices and a wound that refuses to heal! To those people, to those families I say this. Jesus is the only one that can heal, restore, comfort and bring peace! Reach for Him! He will never let you down! Don't let the pain, struggle and demons of someone else drag you down! Stand firm in who and what God says you are! You are loved! You are wanted! You are His treasure! Don't you forget that! We pray for bondages to be loosed. And chains to be broken! Amen!

This was the other status update and I wish I could say I was ready to share my full story with you right now but I am not but I know one day I will when Jesus is ready for me too, but I look at this status and it was one I wanted to share with others so they could be free and maybe I could too...

The devil uses your past to keep you in bondage. Jesus uses your past to set others free. Don't let the devil silence freedom, tell your story!

Here is the story I will share...

I was adopted when I was 4 days old all my life I told of this sweet story about how my parents got me. I never care to know anymore than that story and I was content with life. Then in my 20's I was told of another story and it was not so sweet at all and at that point I started thinking maybe I should really find my birth parents not to meet them or have a relationship with them but to know my medical history. I had already 2 children at the time and going into the doctor them asking about the medical part sometimes I would answer what I knew my adopted parents family had and sometimes I would be truthful and put adopted on the paper work. Years went on and I have had a friend offer to help me search for them even to the point she had the lady in Columbia call me and she left a message and I have kept voice message on my phone for the last 8 years. Then about 5 year ago I had to get my long form birth certificate and on it said I was born in Orangeburg County not in Pickens County like I thought so now the wheels are really turning not only do I want to the see the medical history but now it has come to "where did I come from".. I wish to say I could ask those questions and get the answers but I can't they cause people to say hateful things to others, push you out of their life. So I am left empty of not really knowing my story.. I can say that I God bless me with 2 amazing sisters and some great nieces and nephew and the rest of the family too. I hate I ran from them for so long and miss out on so much of life with my family. I love to see everyone but when I leave I always feel like I was out of place and feeling sad think it is cause I miss so many years that those connections are not there and I am sure it is the devil too... I know that God has already written my story but sometimes I just want to say really God can rewrite those years and go back and do it all over again.. But I trust in Him..  

So while here on earth I may never know the truth of how I got here, where my blood lines are, and what I really need to be watching for as I get older I do have one assurance and that my true adoption was with my heavenly Father, Abba Father!!  He knows my story and even though all the rebellion I have had in my younger years and even today to where I have failed Him, ran from Him, there is on e truth He loves me NO matter what. He chose me and wanted me, He is Father of grace, forgiveness, mercy, discipline, wisdom, comfort and love...He does that for me but how to do I love back, what is love?

That is another subject I wonder around with. I am not telling this to make anybody look bad, to have any pity for me but when you come to a point and face the facts that neither your birth or adopted parents want you and have not felt that love you begin to question what it really is... I am now doing a bible study call He Is My All and it focus on God's love.. I am going to admit it, it has been hard and the devil keeps me busy and keeps control of my mind. So I am praying him away and praying for my heavenly Father to come and guide me through this journey. I don't want a head knowledge anymore I want a heart knowledge. Through my other bible study I had done with 3 special ladies I learn to accept that His love IS for me too and just not for everybody else.so that is step 1.  In this one it talks about loving God with all your heart (spiritual life), soul (emotional life), strength (physical life) and mind (thought life) and I want to love the Lord like this and more so.. I need to learn not to humanize God love and compare it to others because His love is marvelous, faithful and steadfast no human can give you that only He can. So while I am only on week 3 of this new bible study and I am processing on how to love God and to really accept His love for me. There was one part in the lesson this week that really hit home.. "When things go wrong we fall apart and run from the love God has for us. We become disappointed, depleted and worn out" I think I could of wrote that.. I am tired of running I ready to feel that love... Another sweet friend share this with me last night and it was another little love note from my Daddy just what I needed to hear at the time..

 You are not an accident. Your parents may not have planned you, but God did. He wanted you alive and created you for a purpose. Focusing on yourself will never reveal your purpose. You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense. Only in God do we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny.

- Dr. Rick Warren

So pray for me while I try to find the answers to the earthly question where did I come from and pray for me as I learn to love.... :)

Entering into USAF Family

Whew, what an experience it has been the last 8 1/2 weeks.. Ryan left us on August 8th 2011 to enter into the USAF BMT in San Antonio TX. Alot of prayers were made during this time and God truly show me what it means to trust, have faith and answer prayers during this time not only was Ryan going through AF training more God was showing Himself more to me during this time and I think Ryan too. One of the happiest things for me is that he did share his faith with a wingbrother, he did stayed in chapel just pray he will continue this..... The 1st call we got from him we both broke down and the next was so much uplifting, then from there the moods were either happy, stress whatever it was I could start to see a change in his voice. I have never been a fan of snail mail I will buy cards and never send them but during this time I try my best to send him a letter a day and thankful that I did. We had some wonderful prayer partners, he got letters on a regular base from a sweet wonderful couple, a girl that I know my son thinks the world of and 2 of the greatest sisters.. He got letters from others too and he was thankful for each and every one.. We also have a wonderful group of friends that took some stress off of the total cost of trip between what we had saved up and what they all donated too was enough for our airfare, hotel, and rental car. I dont think they will ever know what that meant to my family and I and those that know me know I am not a receiver of gifts so I have to say it truly humble me and made me see more of what giving is. So, you see God was every so faithful in this process.. Our trip started out going to Atlanta to take a straight flight to San Antonio on Wednesday night it was Tyler 1st flight and he was a champ and mine since I was 16 everything was smooth getting there well except our one wrong turn to the park and ride parking lot it was the 1st of many.. We got to ride through the base on Wed night cause we had to get to one gate to the other to fix Stephen pass it was quite and peaceful and I was holding in the tears knowing Ryan was near.. We stayed at Hamptonn Inn downtown/Riverwalk it was close to the highway and downtown and riverwalk just wish I could have gotten one on the Riverwalk..lol... Thursday we had to be at the base by 7am for the briefing and then the Airman run by 8... We made it there by 6:30 we listen to the rules of the weekend and the schedule and then we made our way out to street to fine a spot to wait for Ryan to run by with his flight..He spotted us on his way back and we got a smile, then we went to the Coin Ceremony where he would be receiving his first coin from his TI this was a 2 hr wait and Stephen decided to stand up and was so glad he did he was the one to tap Ryan out and that hug was the sweetest hug I ever saw them do it warm my heart and show me the love between them, then Tyler jump in and got his, then my turn and we both crying but it was tears of happiness's and proudness.. After this we went to lunch on base with his friend Maynor and his family from down near the beach and listen to stories from their time, from there since we could just stay on base this day we went shopping at the BX got him a new garment bag and new backpack for his carry on, tour the model planes where he told us all about them (he was a walking book of knowledge), he taught Stephen & Tyler how to march and Tyler is still marching he says he is going into the AF too, we also chill out at the community center and the brothers played each other in Madden then we went to have dinner at Burger King near his dorm met a couple of other of his wingbrothers during the day.. Friday was the graduation parade that started at 9 and we got there at 7:30 and got GREAT seats we were the first of 20 there.. lol.The graduation in itself was surreal no words for it.. there was about 700 graduating getting there ribbons and stripes and to hear them take the creed, be sworn in, there marching in their blues the flags, the planes in the background it was all so real I am now a mom of Airman, I always protected him and now him and his wingbrothers will be protecting us.I realize then he is not my baby boy anymore he is a man and I am proud of the way he is starting his life as one.. After the picture taking we walk back to his dorm to see his stuff and where he had been living for the last 8 1/2 weeks and meet his TI, heard a couple of stories, even his TI didnt think he would make it and he told him he was proud of him.. But we know Ryan can have Shelton moments, well lets just say if you are ever hear make sure he goes back from final inspection before town pass.. He didnt, and supposedly the guys had to wait for 10 to 15 mins before they could leave some of the guys took it out on him by flipping his bed, stealing his flashlight, making him do EC duty double or even try triple shift for the 2nd night but his other wingbrothers came in took that 2nd night shift for him cause like they said yeah man you missed up, you took your yelling, paid your dues no need to take it out again another night.. You know the boy can have his moments but I am so proud how he handles himself in those moments esp when others are giving him a hard time.. Anyway, on Friday he went to spend the day with his dad chillin at the hotel after having all you can eat Chinese buffet..While he was there we walked downtown, riverwalk, went and meet Kim & Jacob Weunschel and their kids, it was great catching up with them and seeing the kids.. I do have to say I did cry alot this day, moody, didnt sleep and I prayed alot too cause I had no clue what Ryan TI was going to do about him coming to inspection so didn't know if we were going to get to see him or not the rest of the weekend but again God answer prayers he just got yelled at and we got to spend Saturday with him we took the Alamo Trolley tour we enjoyed it somewhat cause we got to go and see 2 of the missions out of downtown but we were rush it was not a trolley tour like we have done in Savannah or St Augustine I wouldn't do it again.. We walked through the Alamo, did the riverboat tour after this he was ready to go back and chill at the hotel which was fine w/ me since i had not slept I could nap too..lol.. It took him 45 mins to get back on base on Fri so we decided to leave by 5:30 and go on back base and eat at Godfather pizza then we went back to the BX to look for him some earbuds and laptop sleeve and he made it back without being rush.. Once we drop him off we just went and walked the riverwalk again and saw all the Saturday night crowd.. Sunday since Ryan flight won Warrior flight they had town pass from 9-6 but his chapel service was at 11 so we went and got him at 9 went to another BX that had a bigger food court in it for us to chill, the boys to play games got Ryan 2 1/2 gallon zip lock bags (they roll their clothes and put in these bags and take the air out that is how they pack) it was pouring rain (thankful they got some, ALOT of rain even heard a tornado hit close to the base early that morning) so we had to stay inside and drive around, then we went to his chapel service at 1100 it was something else to see the music before hand they are playing is very uplifting, the AB cant sit down until told us, the graduates and family fill in the back rows.. DJ should see this service all durning the service some of the guys in tech school security force they walk up and down the aisle making sure nobody is asleep and poking them if they are, there are sf at the doors too you have to let know why you are leaving and it was not the freedom you would think of.. Then after chapel Ryan went to eat with his dad and then we went by and got him and went to hang out at the hotel he taught me how to roll socks to show a butt and a smile and to roll shirts lets just say my sock is better than my shirt..lol... We packed him up with his new bags and took him back to base and watch him eat supper before saying our good-byes until Christmas or Feb..It was hard but knowing we can talk, text, FB him now it made it a little easier.. We went to Tower of America after we drop him off we saw the sunset and it was BEAUTIFUL seeing SA like that.. Afterwards if you look at the brochures or web site for SA and you see the restaurant on the riverwalk w/ all the different color umbrellas it is call Casa Rio (I think that is the name) but we ate their that night and then headed back to the room to pack up for our flight home... We had a WONDERFUL time watching my boys all of them including Eric laugh with each other, talk, just being around each other, we have not had a trip where the 5 of us have all gone in a long time and this one I just sat back and watch my guys enjoy each other and my heart was full.. Seem like everywhere we went people would say congratulation and thank you to him my heart would just be smiling and looking up to him in awe, the way he carried himself, the way he spoke to people I could not be more proud of him, watching him being a big brother to his younger brothers was something else too, I do have to say TYler is 1 lucky boy w/ 2 older brothers that are so good to him, he looks up to both of them so much. Still getting use to the fact he is not going to be walking through the door tonight.. He is off to NAS Pensacola FL with 9 other wingbrothers (this is a Navy base) to learn Aircraft Structural Maintenance hopefully in 2 wks we will hear his first base assignment he thinks it will be between Virgina Beach, Missouri, New Mexico or Alaska.. mom is hoping Virgina Beach.. Standing proud for our USAF Family.. Airman Ryan Shelton we love you..

Hold Fast

This past weekend I went to Charlotte to see Beth Moore and wow what experience it was and I wanted to share...First off there were 9400 ladies there and being an arena with those women and hearing Beth speak the word of God, singing praise music with Travis it is something unreal esp when the band and singers stop and it is just women sing I have to admit I had a time singing cause of the tears it was the sweetest most blessing thing to hear. She told us that she prays for each event for a word from God to be given to her and ours was Hold Fast and that instead of points to be given to us by 1,2,3,etc we were going to by HOLDFAST instead so here is what she taught us. Our main focus was in Deut 10:11-21 but you know Beth she likes to move around..

V 20- Hold fast to Him- cling to Him, hold onto, glue to be stuck together.. This is how we should hold onto our faith with God.

H- His affection is set upon me
O- Only He is your praise
L- Loving Him awaken your true heart
D- Doing His will does us good
F- Fleeing to him means fleeing with Him
A- An tighten embrace will also replace
S- Satan wants our faith
T- The Lord is your life

God chose me, He keeps His promise oath and brought me out, I am a treasure possession, I am loved with a faithful love, joy love, enduring love. God will never betray you but He will heal you...
Deut 7:6-10,1 Peter 2:9-10,Esp 1:37, Is 38:17,Deut 7:7. Is 53

Live as dearly loved children, loved by God of universal, He is your praise

He has set His love upon us, we are to love our Lord your God, He will bring everything and we should too. Life works when we show Him the same affection as He does us. You know don't know your heart until you truly love God.
Psalm 119:25, 2 Tim, Acts 20

Walk in obedience, He will lead us the right way. He has no darkness in Him, He doesn't lie. Everything we good through is what God is doing in us, he uses us to impact our community.
Deut 10:13, Romans 8:8,Ex 29

As a mother we are looking at our kids and asking "why do you do the things you do" God is like that with us too. The promise & the oath are 2 things that are unchangeable with God.Live as we are loved and forgiven, Flee that refuge onto the cross. Jesus is with you always.
1 King 1:5-6, 1 Kings 1:48-51, 1 King 2:28, Heb 6:18, Heb 13:20, Matt 28:20

What and who am I holding unto the tightest, you have to hold fast with both hands. Get in healthily relationship, we can't fight the battles only He can. There is only 1 God and we ain't it and neither is anybody else. Most people don't want you to be clingy to them but God does. Death to self, life to God. Stronghold is when we let go of God and hold onto something else beside God. We need Jesus.
2 Tim 3, Mark 7:8, 2 Tim, 1 Kings 11:12, Rev 3:11

Satan wants our FAITH more than he wants our marriage, our children , our health, he wants our faith... Now this is the one that really got me cause never thought about it that way. We have to hold onto God commandments so we may by strong enough to enter the promise land. We have to hold on tight to get in and hold on tight once we get in cause Satan will come at you when you are not holding on tight. Josh 23:6-8 Be very strong, hold fast to God.. Satan goes through our trash he uses it to take our treasures. In the cloudy mess when we are not holding onto we will not see God promise. Holy passion does not destroy only lust and pride does, protect our minds, hearts, be cleanse with the Holy Spirit, repent from what is keeping you from holding fast. Get rid of toxic relationships. If God is speaking to you obey do not let the dust settle.
Deut 11:8,Josh 22:5, Josh 23:6-8, 2 Sam 23:8, Esp 4, Deut 3:8, Jerm 29:11, Deut 30:19-20

Seek things above, Chris is my life, If you don't let God in your marriage, your parenting, your life He can't do His will, He lives where we allow Him to. Whatever hinders us from living a life with Christ we need to put aside. Love the Lord your God, obey Him, loyal to Him for He gives you life and enables you to live. Hold fast to God...
Col 3:1-4

Notice the bookends- His affection is set upon me-The Lord is your life...

draw a heart in the middle right Love the Lord your God and then on the outside of it around it write.. .walk his way, fear the Lord, Serve the Lord, be obedient

Say this chant over and over until you believe it...
H-O-L-D-F-A-S-T God has set His love upon me,H-O-L-D-F-A-S-T God has set His love upon me, H-O-L-D-F-A-S-T God has set His love upon me , H-O-L-D-F-A-S-T God has set His love upon me...






The sweet ladies I got to share it with.. Melissa Woo, Tanya Stewart, Susan Pruitt & Maya she is from China and this was her 1st time in US she had only been her for 5 days. I believe that God spoke to each of us this weekend..

Resume

I have been thinking about it for awhile (well since we got our computer back up and running) that I wanted to start blogging again but just have not yet. Alot has change since my last post a 1 1/2 ago from vacation esp the big one of the cruise (one day I need to add this to the blog), to having 1 child graduate, basketball & baseball with the kids to what God has been doing in my life. So as of today I am going to resume, start back up and start sharing. Maybe just for me to look back on or for you to come and glimpse into my life..