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Monday, April 28, 2008

Jesus said, "Come to Me"

Matthew 11:28
Then Jesus said, "Come to me,
all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you
rest.

NLT

He said come, and I came.

I will never forget the day that this verse became alive to me and I asked the Lord to help me through this dance called life.

I didn't 'sign on' to any certain religion or church.
I simply prayed to God and acknowledged that I could not do this life on my own.
I needed Him.

I asked Him to forgive me for the sins I had committed and come into my life and lead it.
I don't remember any fireworks, but I do recall having a sense of peace inside me and hope for my future.

My life has gone through ups and downs, mountain tops and dark valleys.
I've experienced joy and pain.
I thank God for the joy and I hold on to Him tightly during times of pain.

I love the word hope, I think that the word hope is an acurate desciption of what God puts in all of us who choose to surrender our lives and goals for His.

I'm so glad that I came....

My hope is in Him,
Sue

Friday, April 25, 2008

Friday Fluff and other random happenings


****** Well, the hubby had a birthday last week. 43. That makes me almost 41.

Hmmm. Now I'll be IN my 40's.

See, when you turn 40...it's kind of like the top of the 30's...now 41 is actually over the top (it's not a hill, just a top...like a muffin top) and into the next decade.

OK- it's my little fantasy...let me have it!

But hey, this is about him anyway right?

Happy Birthday Hubby!


****** Cooking for 12 at the drop of a hat
I've never been so happy that I bought all the ingredients for a double batch of White Chili!
12 people showed up at our house to ride motocycles on our motocross track.

It's so fun to use words like..."I threw this together when I saw you were all here." As if I'm some sort of always prepared - on top of it all - kind of woman.

My friend said, "my throwing something together is grilled cheese sandwiches, yours is chicken chili!"
I was honest and admitted that I thought we may have riders over and I stocked up.

They came to ride motorcycles, they left with full bellies, better than a sharp stick in the eye.
White chili
Double batch (in case 12 people come):2 large glass jars of Northern beans (not drained)
1 large (Hi-C fruit juice size) can chicken broth
1 small can of chopped green chili's
1 large chunk of monterey jack cheese shredded
1 large chunk of pepper jack cheese shredded
3-4 cooked and cubed chicken breasts

Throw it all together until the cheese is melted. Always awesome the second
day!

Top with a dollop of sour cream if you so desire and
serve with slices of Italian or French bread
*****Steph took her driving test last week
After the road test, the almost 16 year old daughter decides she wants to stop at KFC for some raspberry tea. Being the cool Mom, I'm all about it, after all- 3 year old daughter is home with Dad- so she swings into the drive thru with our jumbo-size Excursion.

As we sit and converse about her new life as a driver and the freedom she is about to experience (and I smile and carry on while cringing and weeping on the inside because my baby is not going to need me anymore...) now that she can drive herself around town...(more internal weeping)...

Suddenly we realize that the car in front of us is slowly creeping backwords....
...I notice it's reverse lights on...
...it starts to pick up speed...
...as it comes within inches of slamming
(maybe not slamming...maybe bumping...but slamming sounds so much more exciting)

...into us, I yelled BEEP!!!
(not AT the car mind you...it was an order to my daughter to warn this obviously confused person)
and as I'm yelling, Steph throws the truck into reverse causing the truck to fly backwards at an alarming rate of speed and with tires screaching she lays on the horn.

The crazy-backwards driving person- slams on their brakes and stops abruptly as we jerk backwards. I couldn't tell if he hit us or not.

My daughter throws it into park and jumps out of the truck....I seriously thought this child was about to rip the guys head off! I couldn't believe my eyes.

She looks at the front of the truck and sees that we did not collide with one another as the man steps out of his car. He apologizes and thankfully she smiles and nods while climbing back into the truck.

It was so much more exciting than parallel parking.


******* Seeing myself in my kids...

Lately Lauren is telling on me in a big way. The other day she dropped her marker on the floor and made this loud huffing...sigh-like...kind of growly noise. My husband's head swung towards me so fast I'm sure he got dizzy, as I shrunk back into the couch.

There it was. She's got my growl. That's not good.

But it was funny! The first time.....

So, now she does it all the time and the cuteness is gone. All that's left is the blinding reminder of my lack of patience and discrection.

Ok, ok...but in my defense, she also feels the need to pray anytime someone is hurt, especially the dog. Not that the dog gets hurt much, ( I promise) but the other day she was limping and Lauren kept asking me to pray and she would bow her head so cute and...shouldn't that count for something!

Have a good weekend!
Sue

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

What Neeeds to be New in Your LIfe?

I'm writing at the Internet Cafe today, please come see me!

Monday, April 21, 2008

Lauren Elizabeth
















Friday, April 18, 2008

My man racing NASCAR

I mentioned in the last post that Mark went to MIS to ride in a Sprint Nascar. I wish I could have gone, I love Nascar! (I had an appointment I couldn't get out of.)

Here are a few pictures that Steph took:


Getting the checker flag.
Reaching speeds of over 160 MPH.
I just love my man!
A big thanks to Allen at Snap-On!

Earthquake felt in Michigan!

I was shaken awake this morning by an earthquake!
Actually it centered about 400 miles south of here at 5.4 in Southern Illinois.
I hope everyone there is ok.

Mark left around 5 AM to go to Michigan International Speedway to ride in a Sprint car, so he was gone.

My bed shook and my dresser handles were rattling.
I stood up and felt it moving below me, I went out into the hall and Steph's door was rattling in the hinges.
I called Mark and he was like...O...K.... (she's crazy...)
I was so glad the news confirmed it soon after!

A couple of weeks ago there was a tornado 2 miles away, now an earthquake.
What's next?! :)

I have a Friday Fluff post, I'll try to get it out a little later.......(it may be a Saturday Stuff post!)

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Hot Topics~The Church of Oprah

Let me start by saying...I am NOT against Oprah. However, I, as a Christian who believes the Word of God to be Holy and wholly true, I must take notice at what is being said and know how to battle this mindset.

We cannot as Christians just respond with a, "Oh I don't watch Oprah and never will."

If you do, you have totally missed the point.
She is just a voice for this movement. A very powerful voice.

She is also a wonderful humanitarian and does incredible good things for others, I respect that in her. No matter what her motives, she is a good person.

BUT, this is a dangerous teaching that is sweeping the globe right now and we should not bury our heads in the sand. We should pay attention and know how to address this issue with the truth.

It breaks my heart to see how Oprah has misunderstood the Lord's jealousy, and to see Christians hungry for this message just grieves me.

My challenge to you is....leave a comment with input about how to deal with this God's way. What would you say to someone hearing this?

Remember, it's the kindness and love of God that draws men to repentance.

Rom 2:4

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? KJV

It is love that she's offering, it's just not the One who IS love.


Monday, April 14, 2008

It Is Well With My Soul

I saw this video a while back and it has stuck with me.
It is an amazing account of how this song was birthed.

Powerful!



Our hope is in Him,
Sue


Now that you are spiritually encouraged, you just have to go HERE for a good laugh today!!

Friday, April 11, 2008

Friday Fluff and other random happenings...

I had the pleasure of meeting a blog friend yesterday!


Karen Hossink of Surviving Motherhood was speaking at a MOPS meeting in my area so I met her there and then we went to lunch.
I had such a nice time. Karen is just a doll and as you can see, she's the cutest little thing!
We had some awesome "girl time" and talked all about our kids, family and faith while having lots of laughs in the process!

I hope we get to meet up again sometime, she's the real deal and if you get a chance, go meet her at her blog and get her book while you're there! Her message to the MOPS group was so honest and encouraging.

Her book called "Confessions of an Irritable Mother."
It is a must read for anyone with young ones in the home!!

***************************************************************

Speaking of young ones in the home...

Here are some pictures that Lauren's big sister took of her while Mom was gone!


Can you see the love on Macy's face?!

(Disclaimer: No animals or children were hurt in the taking of these pictures.)

Riding her "motorcycle."




She "cased" it on a jump in the garage!


Being silly!!!











Oh my joy! She keeps life fun!

As Karen and I talked about yesterday, we have to enjoy these days...they go by so quickly!

Have a wonderful weekend friends!
Sue

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Hope


I opened my front door this week to a devastating sight. A young couple that my husband and I had ministered to on many occasions was standing there completely distraught. I could see it immediately. Their faces were heavy with pain and it scared me. I just said,
“what?!...what?!”

Then she fell into my arms and told me that she had lost her baby at 22 weeks in her pregnancy. They came in and we spent some time talking and praying.



For the rest of the article, come to the Internet Cafe'


Congrats to the April Winner!

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The Praise and Coffee winner for April is:

TammieFay at His Word is Life to Me!!!
She wins the latest Mercy Me CD
and a bag of Starbuck's coffee!
Thanks to all who entered, come back May 1st for another giveaway.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Speak to my Soul Sunday

Hello!
I am going to be out of town for the weekend and I won't have my computer, so I wanted to tell you that I am honored to be a "guest contributor" to Mel's World on Speak to my Soul Sunday this week.

I felt that the Lord really directed me to write this specific devotion and I always know it must be from God when it blesses me too! It is filled with His Word and I hope it touches you like it did me!

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Come see me at Mel's World!
Don't forget to sign up for the April Praise and Coffee Giveaway,
just scroll down to the April 1st post!

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Wives

Just a reminder of the reasons God brought us into our husbands life.

Prov 31:12
12 She brings him good, not harm,all the days of her life.
NIV

Prov 12:4
4 A wife of noble character is her husband's crown,but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
NIV

Prov 18:22
22 He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.

NIV

1 Peter 3:1
1 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that,
if any of them do not believe the word,
they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives
NIV

Let's be a GOOD thing to our husbands!!

Our hope is in Him,
Sue

EDITED to ADD:
I searched and searched but couldn't find anywhere that said our husband would fill us with joy or make all our dreams come true....but there was this other man...Jesus

Ps 16:11
11 You have made known to me the path of life;
You will fill me with joy in Your presence,
with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.
NIV

Enjoy your marriage but find hope, purpose, joy and completeness in HIM!

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

April Praise and Coffee Giveaway!

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Comment to this post to win a praise CD and a bag of Starbucks coffee!!
Winner announced on April 10th!
Comments closed. Stop back May 1st for another giveaway!

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