Pressing my way through this madness...

This is a beautiful, powerful video and the cry of my heart...



Much love!
Sue

Guest Post from Denise ~ Take the Jump!

Click on the picture to visit Denise's very fun blog!!

~~~

“Go as fast as you can, don’t worry how you’ll land.”

These words were words of advice from our oldest son (S1) to you next youngest son (S2).

S2 had just been given a new used bike by our neighbor lady. It hadn’t been out of her car for a full ten seconds before he was on it, riding around the driveway, zooming down the field road, jumping it down the old barn path. The bike was just for him, he was sure.

About an hour later, S1 and S2 burst into the house and stumbled out the story excitedly how S2 had finally jumped his bike with both wheels in the air off of S1’s bike jump. S2 has worked at doing this for two years now and today he conquered the feat.

Apparently I didn’t show the proper excitement because they continued to talk among themselves as I worked at getting dinner on and the counter washed down. “See, I told you that if you just go as fast as you can, don’t worry how you’ll land, you’ll be fine and make a great jump.”

I nearly added “and get a broken leg so you can spend the rest of the summer in a cast” but didn’t. He knew that already, we’ve already taken a few trips to the local ER.

They went on their way outside (I was thankful they put on their bike helmets) and continued practicing their jumps. But S1’s words stuck with me…..until God just slammed them into me.

Why don’t we live our lives that way for God? This is the verse that just flooded me “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)

S2’s goal was to jump the bike ramp, to be up in the air. How he landed hadn’t even crossed his mind.

What if we lived our lives so sold out for God, so upward, full throttle,
without any selfish concern?

Of course, there is a balance here. You can be so ‘spiritually filled you are no earthly good’. But if we lived our faith for God as the exciting life it is rather than worry how others would perceive us, imagine the freedom in that? The power.

I was thinking this all through as S4 stormed into the house and slammed the door. “That bike hurt my feelings! I don’t like that bike! I not ride it no more!” And he didn’t. He got out his matchbox cars and lay on the floor and played with those.

He missed the goal. S2 seen the goal, was scared because he’s tried this MANY times, pushed for it, flew thru the air and landed it. S4 gave up. How often don’t we do that? “Oh, I’ve tried church. I’ve tried that whole spirituality thing. I’ve tried God. It was too many rules and I got behind and I’ve got too much to do………..” I don’t need to give more examples; we’re good enough at those on our own.

But what if we just pressed toward that mark, that life God has called us to, just as hard as we could, despite our fears, despite our previous failings?

Imagine if we took that jump………

God Always Has the Last Word!

And here's the proof:

Acts 7:9-10
"Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt; so he made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.
NIV


Keep trusting in Him, He is with YOU too!!!

I'd love to hear what "pit" you've been thrown into that seems impossible to get out of...

10 Things Guys Wish women Knew About Men

I just have to share this article that I found with you, it is excellent!!!

10 Things Guys Wish Women Knew About Men

Hope you're enjoying the last few days of summer!

I'm praying for our marriages,
Sue

I just love girlfriends!

Enduring a Small Hurt Without Lashing Out

Hello ladies! I'm out to the lake with the kids this week, but want to share this great article with you from Emerson and Sarah Eggerich's blog (he is the author of "Love and Respect" and "Cracking the Communication Code").

Here is the link (scroll down past the surveys for article):
“Enduring a Small Hurt Without Lashing Out”

I promise to start blogging again soon!!!!

I'm praying for our marriages,
Sue

It's Really This Simple

Hello girlfriends!

(Here's some of what I've been doing...playing in my yard! )

I am sorry I haven't been blogging much lately. Summer has been a bit crazy- but wonderful! I'm on my way out to the lake today with the kids and my Mom so I won't be around much this week (but I do have a post set to post on Two shall become One ~ Tuesday!)


I am gulity of being on Facebook more than my blog because I can pop in and out and keep in touch with you all. If you haven't added me yet, please do! :)


I had a Praise and Coffee Night this past week and it was so much fun. I really thought it would be a low turn-out because of summer and all, but you blew me away! You all wanted some girlfriend time out!

It was a great evening, we had lots of laughs and then some tears in our small groups. I'm so looking forward to October 8th when we meet again :) My one regret- I forgot my camera so I have no pictures of you beautiful women!

One of the things I shared that night was out of the book of James. I think it holds a very simple yet profound truth for us. The main part I shared was:

James 4:8
Come near to God and He will come near to you.
NIV

Really, so simple. It doesn't matter where you are, or what you've done...if you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you.

I want you to read the rest of the verse because it is all so powerful:

James 4:6-10
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.
NIV

I love, love, love this!

In fact a friend sent me a message today with this verse in it and she added..."we are not called to run from the devil, but to resist him."

Think about it.

We are not to flee when trials and struggles come (as is so often our natural response) but we are to stand-resist-and fight! Then the devil will flee from US.

Girls, fight that good fight- don't back down. Don't give up. Don't run away from the battle. Be strong in the Lord and His mighty power and fight-resist until he flees.

This is no time to be double-minded. The enemy is not double-minded, he is determined to take you down, so stand and take back the things he's stolen from you...hope, joy, peace- those are promises to God's children, they are rightfully yours.

We start by drawing near to Him with a humble heart...I promise He'll walk you through each step after that if you trust Him to!

It really is that simple!

I'll try to keep in touch this week if I have service at the lake!
Much love,
Sue

Your Marriage Restored

This Two Shall Become One ~ Tuesday, I want to share with you a really great website about marriage. This couple shares a wealth of information with us and offer some great videos also.

Check them out!

Your Marriage Restored

They have a really great post on right now about "Making Love"!

August Winner!!

The winner of the August Praise and Coffee is:

Just Mom!

I love it when a friend I've been blogging with for a long time wins!!!

Hop over and check out her blog, you'll love her!!

Loving Women That Despise Us

Jesus was asked this question:
"And who is my neighbor?"

Here is His response:

Luke 10:30-37
30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.

31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.

32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.

34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.

35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
NIV

Mark spoke at a Backyard Bible Blast this week and his message was: "Who is my neighbor?"

He did a great job teaching the kids about helping others and reaching out to those people who need us no matter who they are. Under normal circumstances, the Jews would have had nothing to do with the despised Samaritans, but that was exactly who ended up reaching out to this Jewish man, a despised Samaritan.

I was thinking about this for myself and the girlfriends in my life (including you!), who is my (our) neighbor, and how do we reach out to them?

Looking at the story literally, I can not imagine walking by a woman who is laying there bloody after an attack or having been abused by someone. Of course any one of us would reach out and take care of her wounds.

But let's look at this from another point of view.

What about the women who are hurting emotionally around us? What about those women that are living with pain in their hearts everyday?

It's easy to love the one sitting with us over coffee while tears in her eyes telling us her story of pain. But let's think about the women in our lives that have hurt us. What about the ones who've spoken bad about us or our family. What about the women in our lives that are despised?

AND: What about the women that despise US?

Who is our neighbor?

Will we love those women who have not always been so good to us?
What about the ones who have hurt us?
What about the ones that don't like us at all?

Jesus' message of love goes so much deeper than I have even begun to understand. I pray that He shows you and I how to reach out to women around us that need us, and ultimately that need Him.

Backyard Bible Blast ~ Otsego, MI

Two Shall Become One~ Tuesday will return next week!

If you're from my neck of the woods,

I want to invite your kids out this week for a great time.

"Backyard Bible Blast!" It's like VBS on RedBull!

Before my husband was a pastor he cut his teeth in children's ministry and still has a huge passion for kids. Northpoint Church in Plainwell asked him to speak at their event and he's excited to be a part of it. He has some fun stuff planned for these kids, I promise they won't be bored!

Here are the details:
August 4-7th (Tuesday-Friday)
6:15-8:00 pm
It will be held at 206 ~15th St, Otsego
(Right off of 102nd which is the road Plainwell Schools is on)
And just to clarify- this is not my home.

The theme is: "Who is my Neighbor?"

based on the story of the Good Samaritan.

All kids ages 4 through (completed) 5th grade welcome.

Expect games, snacks, crafts and LOTS of FUN!!

Note: I am not leading any part of this, if you have any questions, email me and I'll forward them on to the proper authorities :)

Secrets of Peaceful People

I'm over at the cafe today,

I'd love you to stop by and leave me your input over there!!

Have a wonderful day!

Click here for article: Secrets of Peaceful People

August Praise and Coffee Giveaway!

I can hardly believe I wrote AUGUST!!
Hope you are having a wonderful summer, sorry I have not been blogging much, I've been outside playing a lot!

This month's Praise is this devotional on praise:



You'll also get "Praise and Coffee" label coffee!!
You're going to love it!

PLUS, our good friends at Bayview Cards are giving you a beautifully handmade box of cards!

TO ENTER DRAWING:

~> Post a comment to THIS post telling me if you took a vacation this year...where did you go, and did the economy affect your choice??

~> Please make sure that I have a way to contact you-PLEASE!

~> If you have one of my "Praise and Coffee Giveaway" buttons on your blog, let me know and you will be entered twice. Here is a link to all my buttons: Blog Buttons