Happy New Year everyone. I hope that everyone's year was blessed and that 2009 will be even better.
Thank you to all of you bloggers. You have been an encouragement to me so many times through out this year. I apprecdiate the connection with you all that blogging has made possible.
God Bless You All!!
My Goals?
Read the bible through
take a course in counseling
lose some weight
eat better
move more
get involved with sunday school
do some quilting
I'm still working on this list

God is more interested in changing your heart, than he is in changing your circumstances. He has been showing me that in many ways over the past several weeks. It can be very painful, but it is for our good. My prayer today is that God would have "His way" in my spirit and in my heart and in the hearts of my husband and children. It is not easy to see the flaws of character in ones self or to feel the weight of your own imperfections, but it is alot heavier to carry those flaws and it is God's grace that reveals the things in us that need to change and He is faithful to helps us succeed if we humble ourselves before Him and let Him mold us. Some times God draws us aside to a place of aloneness to accomplish such a task. I pray for all that may be in this place today. I pray for complete freedom from anything that binds us and keeps us from the perfect peace God intends us to live in.

On another note, in response to Pastor Kings reading of "A tale of three Kings" last night, my New Years resolution is to not be a "spear thrower." A lofty goal, but I want to conquer any tendencies toward both the character's of Saul and Absalom.
"God give me a pure heart" is my prayer.
Psalm 51
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

I just noticed on the picture of Angie holding up her pj's that had to be soaked in water before she could see them in the slide show below, that the caption said "my turkey" I didn't intend for that to be put on that picture but rather the pic below. LOL I guess she is my lil turkey in a way but I really meant it for my nicely cooked turkey for real!!

Christmas day started with pecan stuffed waffles, scrambled eggs and bacon. After breakfast we opened our gifts. Dad was being silly and wouldn't wait his turn on the stocking stuffers. Kenny spent the night so he would be here for opening gifts in the morning. That was so nice. We really missed David and Jolene, but we have to share with Jolene's parents. We had dinner at 3pm with about 40 people at my house. It was a blast. We played a game of pictionary and just had a good time visiting. I thank God for all my family and friends that made this holiday and this year great.
Merry Christmas to all my family that live far away. I hope your holidays were awesome and I wish you a very wondrful year. I wish you could have all been with me this year. I love you all!!!

A few pictures from Christmas Eve at my house. I tried to get some pics of the boys, but they wouldn't cooperate. Maybe tomorrow. Ken eating pistachios, Kenny's fancy wrapping (He said he was being thrifty),Kenny's makeshift stocking, and delicious homemade candy from David and Jolene.
Just before the kids came home, I turned down the lights and just enjoyed the christmas lights and music. It was a nice few minutes of quiet.

LEXY PLAYING BABY

It is amazing how God puts a scripture in front of you when you need it. I have come across this verse on several occasions over the last few days and I thank God for it. It is so cool how God reinforces what He is trying to tell you at any given time. I love Him!

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”- Jeremiah 29:11

Darlene, Carla, Sheri, Mindy, Becky, Angie, Anna, Melissa, amd I decorated the fellowship hall for the end of the year celebration at the church. Here are a few pics of the results. The light doesn't really do it justice, but it was really pretty.

A few pics of the care group party we had at my house.
Thanks everyone for coming!

Just a few mis. pictures.

If you are feeling low, if you feel you have fallen too many times to bother trying to get up again, just watch the video below and read the scriptures. You have a Father that is rooting for you!!. Winning is not about finishing fisrt, but about finishing the race!!
Proverbs 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:
Micah 7:8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: When I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.
1Cor. 12:12 ,and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith:
Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved
Click on the words below. You have to read this through. The message is powerful and so true.
The race

John just completed his 4 year apprenticeship program and recieved his machinist ticket. He is now a journeyman machinist! Congrats, son. We are proud of all you have accomplished so far!! I know you are an amazing help to dad. We love you!!!!

I am not tempted to cut my hair, but I read this on another blog and thought I would share it as it may help someone struggling with this issue. There is alot of good info and ideas in here. The story at the end is awesome.

HELP I WANT TO CUT MY HAIR!!


HELP!! I am in a dilemma!! I want to go cut my hair or should I say have it cut!! Oh what is a girl to do! Temptation is in the air with 420 Beauty Salons in the Shreveport-Bossier City Area. I look in the mirror and think my hair would be so much easier to work with if it was short. I think I would look good as a blonde, or maybe a brunette, or how about a red head. Ooohh Yeah… Oh No….

What about some bangs, or just a trim off the edges. Could I cut my hair myself, no one would ever know if I trimmed a little off the ends. Oh but what if I messed it up?

{{SLAP}} {{SLAP}} Okay, wake up!! You are a Pentecostal lady who loves God. You should not be tempted to cut your hair. Oh but I am Lord. I am so sorry; will you forgive me?

{{Whine}} {{Whine}} Oh Lord, but I would be pretttttiiieerr if I had my hair cut, more people would be attracted to you, because I would be nicer looking. {{More Whine}} Lord, I would have more time to spend with you because I wouldn’t have to spend as much time on my hair. HELLO KNOCK KNOW HELLO God, are you there? – God, are you listening. You don’t seem to be saying much. Hmmm.. Lord, it doesn’t actually say in the Bible “THOU SHALT NOT CUT THY HAIR”. Does it?

{{{ HARD SLAP}}}} {SNAPS back into REALITY} What am I thinking, okay; let’s look at it in perspective. Why did I stop cutting my hair?

How many times have I gone through this conversation or one similar to it when it comes to temptations of cutting my hair? More than there are toes and fingers in this world to count.

First of all, this lesson is not a lesson to teach you not to cut your hair. I personally believe that it really has to be a covenant between you and God. I see so many women who don’t cut their hair because their Pastor told them not to, they have fell into the rhythm of the church, they don’t because they are not cutting their hair because of their husbands.

Normally, women who are not cutting their hair because of rules and regulations or trying to please men, will most likely fall and cut their hair or sneak around and trim it thinking they are hiding it.

But I want to tell you about why I stopped cutting my hair. It was not because a Man of God, told me not to cut my hair, though I have heard some great teaching on it. It was not because I wanted to be in submission to my husband, though by not cutting my hair I am telling the world I am in submission to authority.

I don’t cut my hair because I made a covenant with God. Making a covenant with God to not cut your hair brings some great benefits and I would love to share them with you. There are many resources that you can study Hair in the bible, I don’t want to get into a long bible study of why women don’t cut their hair, there are too many great studies out there for me to try to explain that. If you are really interested, one of the best is by Pastor Raymond Woodward. Nan Pamer has some wonderful books out for ladies. Many more I just hate to begin to name resources, because there are a lot of studies out there.

I want to give you a personal reason and maybe it will help you to desire to draw closer to God. Let me start with the facts that Pastor Raymond Woodward uses of why Christian Women do not need to cut their hair.

1. It demonstrates her acceptance of her God-given role.
2. It demonstrates her submission to her husband (or father).
3. It brings “permission, influence and jurisdiction” in the spirit realm
(“power on her head”) because of her submission.
4. The holy angels observe a woman’s submission to God’s authority.
5. It is a disgrace (“shame”) before God for a woman to cut her hair.
6. Nature (“instinct”) teaches us these principles.
7. It maintains a definite line of distinction between the sexes.
8. It is her glory (“God has a good opinion of her!”) and reflects God’s
glory.
9. Her submission is a type of the church’s submission to Christ.
10. GOD REQUESTS IT!

You can find all of the reasons in the bible according to I Corinthians 11. “BUT I’M NOT CONVICTED ABOUT HOLINESS STANDARDS.” Your lack of conviction does not give you permission to ignore or rebel against the Bible. You must ask yourself, “What is the final authority for how I live? My feelings and convictions? Or the Bible?” Feelings are deceptive, but the Holy Ghost will never lead you contrary to the Bible. (Excerpted from study by Pastor Raymond Woodward).

The Word of God is definitely where you should build your convictions. Without it, we would have no direction in our lives. But I am a firm believer just knowing the Word of God is not enough. I believe you must apply the word and have a PERSONAL relationship with God to be able to apply the Word. God’s word is ALIVE and Jesus wants to have a personal relationship with you.

So why do I not cut my hair? It is about a covenant I made with God. When I first started living for God, I always wanted to cut my hair but was afraid I would disappoint my pastor. I realized shortly after I was married, I better figure out why I was not going to cut my hair instead of depending on whether I was pleasing to a man.

I did the study and came to the conclusion that I wanted to make a covenant with God. This would be one thing that I would commit to Him, my hair. I would not cut it. I would suggest everyone should do a study on “cutting covenant”.

It was simple I went to God, and said, Okay, I know you don’t want me to cut my hair scripturally and spiritually I see all the benefits, BUT I want to personally commit this part of my body to you for your glory and no one else. This is not about my husband, my neighbor, my pastor or anyone else; this is about a covenant between me and Jesus!

Well I would love to tell you the Holy Ghost rushed in, I felt dripping hot oil treatments going through my hair and God gave me the most beautiful hair in the world. NOT!!!

Nothing happened but life. I have watched my life through the years and learned that when I was tempted and was looking for the closest beauty salon, I was running on empty of the Holy Ghost.

My covenant container was leaking and it was getting dry, so I was looking for a way to please my flesh by making ME feel better about myself. Every lady loves to be pampered. Don’t get me wrong you can go and get you a new “do” but it is a seasonal “do”. It too shall pass away and you are still empty. There is nothing wrong with being pampered. You should from time to time, but don’t break a covenant with God, just to for a pampering to your flesh. Find a way to get relaxed without breaking covenant.

So I learned that when I am standing at the mirror with scissors in hand, I stop and slap myself to reality and ask “Why did I stop cutting my hair?”

Because I love Jesus more than anything.
Because I want the Angels to know I am in covenant with God.
Because I do want to please Jesus and be submitted to authority
Because I do want to keep the commandments of the Lord, so that the world will know that I am his.
Because I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ
Because I am a lady and want to look like one.
Because I am in covenant, I have authority!
Because when I am in covenant with God, He will pour out his Glory in my life.
Because I have chosen to look like Jesus wants me to look.
Because I think Jesus loves me just the way I am.

Oh believe me it isn’t easy, after I have reminded my self why I stopped cutting my hair; I have to ask myself “Why I am I wanting to cut my hair?”

So I ask myself a few hard questions, and many times call an accountability partner and give my answers to the following questions.

How am I doing spiritually? How is my prayer life, my bible study, my fasting? Normally I can answer this question with a definite “ TERRIBLE”.. “ME? Spiritual” Ha ha Ha.

Okay I stop laughing and go on to the next question.

Am I stressed? HA HA HA – “Yes Always”
Am I handling the stress? “NO” Obvious answer.
Am I being rebellious against someone in authority? (ouch.. pain someone give me a Band-Aid)
Am I mad at God? (oh did I ask that question?)
Am I feeling disconnected with other believers?
Am I lacking Discipline in my life? (oh my the questions are getting harder)
Do I still love Jesus? (OH YES Of Course)
Do I still want to live for God? (Honestly?)
Do I want and need restoration in my life physically, mentally, spiritually, or socially?


Did I say I asked myself EASY questions? NOO!!!! Matter of fact I asked myself real soul searching questions, that sometimes, I find myself in prayer just to get my flesh in control enough so that I can answer them honestly.

After I have answered these questions HONESTLY, I have realized that I am desperate need of restoration. Personally don’t think I am dealing with a hair issue and you may not either if you step back and look at your situation before you cut your hair. But, it is a issue of whether or not I am feeling spiritually strengthened! When I am spiritually weak this is the first area that I am attacked (AS is every other Pentecostal woman I know). It is always a way for the women to be attacked in order to break covenant with God. From the very beginning with Adam and Eve, Satan has come to women to get them to break covenant. Eve was tempted by breaking covenant by not eating of the tree in the Garden. The devil is very deceptive and will use many ways to get a woman or a man for that matter to break a covenant. The devil will come with all kinds of words that sound right, that FEEL right, but just are not RIGHT. If you remember nothing else you have read today, REMEMEBER THIS, NEVER MAKE A DECISION IN A HASTE (especially out of emotions). When you are tempted, call you an accountability partner!! Get help! Slow down. {{Slap}} {{Slap}} Wake yourself up and back into reality.

Just like Adam and Eve when you break covenant you bring shame into your life. When a woman cuts her hair it brings shame. Shame is always a way of cutting covenant with God, from the very beginning with Adam and Eve. God can heal shame so if you are a woman who has broken covenant, thank God for a merciful God who loves us and forgives us. Repent, and recommit! Don’t live in shame any longer.

Shame is a very hard emotion to live with because it can do so many things to women. It can make you have low self-esteem. Shame can make you do things you would never do. Shame will numb your feelings for yourself. Shame will separate you from your relationship with God.

Sorry but addressing the issue of cutting your hair is like you are trying to cure the flu with some Tylenol Cold medicine. When I say the flu, I am speaking of an attack of the adversary. The only way to cure an attack of the adversary is to find a way back into the arms of God.

There are ladies that are really hurting, they are tired and they really need a refreshing. Are you tired of the same ole same ole everyday? You may be one of those ladies reading this or your wife may be one of those ladies or you recognize a lady that is tired. Please pray for the ladies in your life. If you are in need of a refreshing, please find the well of Living Water and DRINK from that well deeply.

Pentecostal Lady! You are worth something! You are valuable. You deserve your Passion restored. You deserve your hope restored. You are anointed! You do have value in God. You are a precious treasure that has “covenant” written all over it. It is not about the scripture; even though I can show you all this in scripture; it is about the value you are to God. When you make a covenant with God, you are of great value, because you are now a WOMAN OF HONOR!

I am closing with this analogy: There was a lady, for sake of the story we will call her Ms. Holy, who’s Great Great Grandmother gave her an old antique desk. She treasured this desk for years. But after some time decided her house was too small for this treasure and put the desk in the garage for year. It was spring time and Ms. Holy, was going to get ready for the first garage sale of the season and she came across this desk. She thought no one would buy this piece of junk. It is so run down and beat up. Ms. Holy wondered if she should just cut up the old desk into firewood.

She let her mind wander to the days of watching her grandmother sit at the desk pouring over her bible studies. Her mind went to how beautiful it was back in the day sitting in her house. How many times she set down at the desk to right a quick note to a friend? She remembered how smooth the desk felt under her hands. Ms. Holy remembered how lovely it smelt after she had just waxed it down with furniture polish.

Ms. Holy began to dust off the old antique desk and decided to bring it back in the house and begin to restore the desk. She polished it, cleaned up the hardware and completely restored the antique desk. Oh, so beautiful!! Now many others see what a valuable precious antique desk is in Ms. Holy’s house. The value is placed at a much higher value than it was when it was in the garage. Now Ms. Holy desires to show it off instead of cut it off.

Maybe you like Ms. Holy have put a covenant in the garage? Go and see what treasure you have buried. Bring it out with complete restoration in the Hands of the Master.

The newest additions!! We have 2 new little boys. This labor did not go as well as last time. We ended up losing one pup and Jade had to have a C-Section delivery. It has been a long and expensive day!! I am thankful that it is over and Jade and the 2 pups are doing well.

WE TOOK LEXY SKATING THE OTHER NIGHT. SHE HAD A BLAST!! SHE DID NOT WANT OT GET OFF THE ICE! IT WAS HER FIRST TIME OUT. WHAT FUN

Preston and Deidre's little girl has finally arrived. She is just beautiful and Perfect. What an amazing miracle!!

The Holy Bible: King James Version. 2000. The Psalms 100

An Exhortation to Thanksgiving
A Psalm of praise.


1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

2 Serve the LORD with gladness:
come before his presence with singing.


3 Know ye that the LORD he is God:
it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.


4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise:
be thankful unto him,and bless his name.


5 For the LORD is good;
his mercy is everlasting;
and his truth endureth to all generations

I am thanking God for all His mercies and love today!!

I'm dedicating this post to David, John, Kenny and whoever is lucky enough to marry Angie, in honor of Daddy (aka: PaPa Pops). He was and is a wonderful father!
I'm watching you dad

Tribute
I want everyone to go here and then tell me if you're not having a fantastic day!!
It's time to get out of ourselves!
Read the update and then watch the video "A tribute to bishop Willoughby"
Warning: Be somewhere where you can put your dancing boots on!!

These 2 parts of scripture have been going around in my mind today!


The Excellence of Love
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love in my heart, I am only a noisy gong.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love in my heart, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love in my heart, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not arrogant.

Love is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered, or resentful.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

For where there are prophecies, they shall fail, where there are tongues, they shall cease, where there is knowledge, it shall vanish away.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.


1Corinthians 13

THE EIGHT BEATITUDES OF JESUS

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."


Gospel of St. Matthew 5:3-10

Whatever you lose, do not lose joy. Keep the spirit of spring in your heart and keep sweet!

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the
way
one of the kids will walk into the room while I’m on the phone and ask
to be
taken to the store. Inside I’m thinking, ‘Can’t you see I’m on the
phone?’
Obviously not; no one can see if I’m on the phone, or cooking, or
sweeping
the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one
can see
me at all. I’m invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a
pair
of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open
this??

Some days I’m not a pair of hands; I’m not even a human being.. I’m
a clock
to ask, ‘What time is it?’ I’m a satellite guide to answer, ‘How do you spell hippopatomus?’ I’m a car to order, ‘Right around 5:30, please.’

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the
eyes
that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude -
but now
they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again.
She’s
going, she’s going, she’s gone!?

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return
of a
friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous
trip, and
she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting
there,
looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard
not to
compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic,
when
Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, ‘I
brought
you this.’ It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I
wasn’t
exactly sure why she’d given it to me until I read her inscription:
‘To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are
building
when no one sees.’

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would
discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after
which I
could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals
- we
have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives
for a
work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and
expected
no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith
that the
eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the
cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a
tiny bird
on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, ‘Why are
you
spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be
covered by
the roof, No one will ever see it. And the workman replied,
‘Because God
sees.’

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was
almost
as if I heard God whispering to me, ‘I see you, Charlotte. I see the
sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No
act of
kindness you’ve done, no sequin you’ve sewn on, no cupcake you’ve
baked, is
too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great
cathedral, but you can’t see right now what it will become.

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a
disease
that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own
self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder.
As one
of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished,
to
work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the
book
went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our
lifetime
because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don’t want my son to tell the friend
he’s
bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, ‘My Mom gets up at 4 in
the
morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey
for three
hours and presses all the linens for the table.’ That would mean I’d
built
a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come
home.
And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add,
‘You’re
gonna love it there.’

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if
we’re
doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will
marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has
been
added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
Author unknown

For all you readers out there, You may enjoy this new author.

http://emilyannbenedict.com/

Here is the last chapters of my Mom's story that I received in the mail the other day. I hope you enjoyed the little glimpse into her life and were some how blessed by it.

The hardwood floor and newel post all installed. No stain yet. they tell me the 24th now.

Weeping may endure for a night, but Joy cometh in the morning
This is a promise.. This is God's word!

Yesterday,I finished reading through the booklet of the stories mom told to Patsy. There is so little. I wish she'd had more time to tell her story in it's entirety. What there is, I am posting.

My Mother's story
I just received this in the mail this afternoon and have decided to share it with the world. It is not written fancy. It is mostly in her words straight from her heart, written with the hope that it would encourage someone else even after she was gone. She did not have an easy life, but she loved God and He was her all in all. I hope you are blessed. I have only read the first page and the tears are streaming down my face. I know some of what she faced. I have been blessed and did not really understand or appreciate the mother she was. She was a very special person who loved deeply and I miss her very much. If I can be half the person she was, I will be happy. I will post the story in segments. You may have to click on the picture to enlarge it so you can read the words.
Fonda, I love the letter from Destiny and the pictures of Destiny and Preston. The letter goes in my treasure box. I love you all!