The Life of a Single Gal...

The deep deep LoVe of Jesus!

2010-10-11T17:33:00.003-05:00

I LOVE THIS SONG!!

I heard this song for the first time yesterday in church. If I would have allowed it I would have broke down into the ugly cry. I will never fully understand the deep love of Christ this side of heaven, but I feel I grasp a tiny glimpse from time to time. It is truly overwhelming to me.

A character in a book once said, "I cling to the promises of Christ. That HE alone is enough, that HE is all I need. That serving HIM is all the life, all the love I could ever want, all by itself." I remember reading those words a few years ago and becoming deeply grieved. For in that moment, I knew the Lord was asking me if I could say the same. Sadly, I knew I could not say wholeheartedly that HE alone is enough. It broke my heart!! I so desperately wanted it to be true of me, but I also knew that God could not be fooled. He knew my heart and HE was holding it up saying, "Ok, let's deal with this. You've gone on like this long enough!"

I would like to say that was the beginning of great things, but actually it was quite the opposite. I chose my own rebellious way for a while. I decided to be stubborn and dig my heals in because HE wouldn't give me the one thing I wanted...a husband. This realization proved to me that I never believed that He ALONE is enough, that He is all I need. Nothing would do, nothing would make me "happy" but God AND a husband!! It took about four years...lots of tears...lots of crying out to God...repentance...before I could see and know deep within me that HE truly is all I need.

I'm certainly not where I want to be in life, but I praise Him that I am not where I was four years ago. I am deeply amazed at the deep deep love of Jesus. I know my rebellious ways of the past and still His love for me is immeasurable!! I stand in awe.

>>♪ Oh the deep, deep love...All I need and trust...Is the deep, deep love of Jesus ♫

I hope you experience it today.

Reflection

2010-08-29T15:54:00.006-05:00

Yip, today I am celebrating the big 3-2!!

As I think back over the last year there have been a lot of changes. I moved to a new town, started a new job, a new church (actually, that took a while to find! but now finally feel settled in). Everything seemed new and a little frightening at times. I survived my first year as a "Wacoan." I have enjoyed the fresh start and have met some fantastic people.

I can honestly say, life hasn't turned out exactly how I had it planned in my childhood mind and THANK GOD for that!! I take comfort in knowing that HE knows what is best for me and....it is an amazing life!!

So, in reflecting over my 32 years of life...I am BLESSED beyond belief. I have seen God's hand at every twist and turn. I am excited about this year and anxious to see what the Lord has in store for me.

LIFE IS GOOD at...

Embarking on a Journey!

2010-07-29T18:57:00.002-05:00

I have always thought it was quite ironic that I became a reading teacher. My whole family can attest to the fact that as a child I HATED to read. (I blame it on the whole language approach...I believe I would've been a much better reader had I learned phonics, but that is beside the point!) My mom was the best! She tried everything to help me love to read, especially in third grade. I had to read every single night. Even thinking about it now brings back memories...not very pleasant ones. Some mornings mom would wake me up early and we would go to Dairy Queen where she would order biscuits & gravy (my favorite) and have me read to her. I still didn't like the reading part but cherish the memories and her dedication as a mother. I never became the fastest reader and to tell you the truth, I hated reading all the way through college. It wasn't until after I graduate from college and no longer had "required" reading that I picked up a book and read for enjoyment.

Now I take great pleasure in picking up a good book. I have so many books that I don't have enough shelf space. Some books are packed away in my closet and others are stacked neatly under my bed. Because I struggled so much as a child in reading, I believe it has made me a better teacher. I can identify with those who "can't stand to read!" Sadly, they are the majority!

So...In my (almost) 32 years, I realized that I have NEVER read a classic novel. Yes, you read that correctly...never read a classic novel!! I don't know how I got away with it. Oh wait, we read "Grapes of Wrath" together as a class in high school, but I can't really claim reading it because Mrs. Mills read it out loud. Sad but true!!!

This is where the journey begins! A few nights ago I asked people on Facebook to post their favorite classic novel. The number one choice seemed to be "To Kill a Mockingbird," so I went to Barnes & Noble today and bought it. This is going to be the first of many classic novels I read this year.

My reading list:
1. To Kill a Mockingbird
2. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
3. Pride and Prejudice
4. Moby Dick
5. Emma
6. Of Mice and Men
7. The Red Badge of Courage
8. Gone with the Wind
9. The Great Gatsby
10. Grapes of Wrath

I'll write a book review after reading each novel just to share the book through my eyes. I am actually very excited!! Having been a reading teacher for years, I have to admit I am embarrassed that I am not "well-read." There's only one way to solve that problem. So, signing off to pick up the first book on my list....To Kill a Mockingbird. (I really don't have a Mockingbird problem, so I really don't know why I need to know how to kill one, but everyone says it's a good book. ha!)

Be Bold!

2010-07-16T08:47:00.002-05:00

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

I recently heard a story that I can't get off of my mind because it touched me so deeply. It is a true story and it happened just a few days ago. Although the details may not be written down perfectly (because I was not an eye witness...even though I wish I would've been), I think it is the big picture that counts.

Someone very dear to me was in the hospital for a few days. As you can imagine, it was a very stressful time for all who were involved. We are very blessed to know that our hope comes from the Lord and that He is the only one who can give us strength for each and every day.

And the story starts here...
As this couple was leaving the hospital something amazing happened. They were in the elevator with several other people; a little seven year old boy was among them. As he asked what floor each person was going, he followed with..."Does everyone in here know Jesus?" Then he and his mother asked if anyone was in need of prayer!

WOW! I am amazed at the whole situation. I LOVE how this mother is teaching her son to be bold in sharing Jesus to strangers at such a young age. I love how they purposefully sought out to encounter people who were hurting and in need of prayer or more importantly...a SAVIOR!

If a story like this does not call us to action, then I don't know what will! I have to admit that it was very convicting to me on many different levels. What am I doing for the kingdom of God? How many times have I been bold enough to say within a crowd of people, "Does everyone in here know Jesus?" Let's step up to the plate and make a difference. And if you have children, there's not a better time than the present to teach them how to stand up and be bold for the Lord.

Can you imagine what kind of man of God this little boy will become?! What a blessing he has in his mother for training him in the way he should go.

And she shall be called...TIA!

2010-07-08T16:16:00.014-05:00

I have several different roles in life and each one plays a very special part of who I am...daughter, sister, sister-in-law, teacher, colleague, friend.

BUT...On June 3, 1996, I was blessed to add one of my favorite roles to the mix...TIA. (For those of you who don't live on the Mexico border, that means aunt.) Little "Mana" was born three days after my high school graduation and I couldn't have been more thrilled! Since that day, 5 more little munchkins have been added: Mana, Kater Bug, Libby, Sweet Pea, Teeny, and Brother.

The last 14 years have gone by so quickly. Seems like yesterday Mana was born and now she is a whole head taller than me. I am so glad that I am secure in my "shortness" because I am the measuring stick of the family and two have already passed me! I love it. Sweet Pea looked at me the other day and said, "Man Tia, you're short!" I replied, "Yip, I bet you will be taller than me when you're 10." She quickly responded with a slight giggle, "Probably when I'm 6!"

Favorite things about being Tia
I LOVE:

~that all of them still run up to me and hug me when I walk through the door

~all of them still sit in my lap or come jump on me when laying in bed

~talking to them on the phone

~getting emails from Mana (eager to get emails from the others when they are able to get an account)

~that 5 out of the 6 have bitten me at least once (give brother a couple months, I'm sure he will be added to the list) We got Kater Bugs chomp on video---Yes, I think it is funny! It is called what-goes-around-comes-around. I bit my great-grandmother's face!

~sitting by them in church

~tickling their backs, faces, and arms and especially when they play with my hair or tickle my back. Thanks Libby ;)I have been know to pay $$ for it because it feels so good!

~that they keep me in line!
I took my brother's two girls out on the town a few days ago. When we were heading home we were listening to Rise and Shine and give God the glory, glory! Well...I have my own dance moves to the song and thought I should teach them the moves. Teeny looked at me from the back seat and said, "Tia, you need to keep your hands on the wheel and watch the woad (road)." Then Sweet Pea chimed in..."Teeny, I'm with ya on that one!"

~that they make up their own names for me: Tia-pia-Santa Maria, Tida, TT

~watching all of their tricks (sports, rodeo, trampoline, dancing, skunk spraying etc)

~going swimming, four wheeler rides, Mayborn Museum

~making cookie dough and eating all the dough

~playing mama/baby, horses, and being the jungle gym

~getting little ones in and out of the car

~listening to their laughter

And the list could go on and on!

Each one of them has such a special place in my heart. I love them all so much and am thrilled to be their TIA!

Mana sporting her "I love Tia" heart.

Feeding little Kater Bug

The day Libby was born!

Being Silly at Alamo Village

Christmas Fun

Little Bundled up Brother

Ranch Divas

The real us!

Thanks for all the wonderful memories! I can't wait to make many many more :)

Be HaPpY! :)

2010-07-02T14:51:00.006-05:00

As you can tell, I changed my blog design. I don't know if it will stay like this indefinitely, but for now, I really like it. It is a great reminder to look at my life each and every day and be happy! I know I am known in "blog world" and on Facebook as being the girl who overuses smiley faces. That's me! I wasn't nicknamed Smiley when I was young for nothin'! :)

I have always tried to find humor in day to day things. I have been known to laugh at inappropriate times. I do have an excuse for that one though...I believe it is in my genetic makeup; it is something that can't be helped. (thanks mom!) Although, I guess I can't blame all of my laughing skills on mom because I really do have a dumb sense of humor and Lord only knows that that comes from my dad. He and I have the same sense of humor and it really does crack me up. I am blessed to have grown up in a family where laughter was something that was heard on a daily basis. Even when we get together now we give ourselves a hardy ab workout. My sister's girls have fallen right in to the mold as well. They have commented on many occasions, "Mom, your family is crazy!" We would never deny it.

Unfortunately, there are many things in this life that try to suck the life and joy right out of us. In those hard times we have to chose to find those things in life(even if we have to create them) that make us smile, chuckle, giggle, laugh hysterically. The JOY of the Lord is our strength!

PS...If you are down and out and can't find a single thing to laugh about, come to my house. Even if I have to stick you in front of one of the many mirrors in my house and make you watch yourself ugly cry...you will leave my house with, at the very least...a smile :)

My Job

2010-04-15T19:44:00.005-05:00

I went out to eat with some of my friends from school tonight and came home thinking about my job. I will admit that the beginning of the year was very tough. It was rough for many different reasons...new place, new boss, new expectations, new students, new coworkers, new atmosphere, having to prove myself...EVERYTHING was different except for the 100s of files that I brought along with me. Stress was an understatement! But, now that I am nine months into it, things have begun to fall into place and become familiar.
About a month ago, I was very torn as to whether or not I should find a new job. I sent resumes, went to a job fair, and prayed a lot! One morning I woke up and was totally at peace knowing that I would spend another year at my current position. Sure there are challenges, but that's life. I have a calling to work with the more difficult kiddos. I truly love them! Yes, some days they make me want to pull my hair out or scream at the top of my lungs, but deep down I would really like to bring them home and raise them as my own. It makes my day when that student that I have had to get on to a million times (in one day!) comes up to me in the hall and gives me a hug or fist pump OR goes out of his/her way just to make sure I smile at them and say, "Hey hon...have a good day. or How's it going today?"
You see, this life is not all about me and my comfort. Some of my students have a tough life and I realize that my smile and my hug (or fist pump) might be all they have to look forward to in a day. That thought can literally make me start bawling. Sure, my purpose is to teach these children how to read and write, but more importantly...I pray that I teach them what love looks like! Do I blow it sometimes? Of course I do! But, do I ask them to forgive me when I'm wrong?...I sure do, and it blows them away every time.
People wonder why I continue to do what I do; I have to admit that there are days when I wonder the same thing. But then I think back over the years about Aaron, Curtis, the two Kyles, Monika, Donnelle, Eduardo, Daisy...and the list could go on and on...and I wouldn't change it for the world. I know the Lord has placed each one of them in my class for a reason and I pray that through my life they can feel HIS love!!

Life is Good!

2010-03-14T08:12:00.009-05:00

I was just sitting here propped up in my bed trying not to be too distraught about the headache that continues to linger. I am sitting here sucking down my first cup of coffee and eating my ever famous pb&syrup rollover thinking about how good life is. I had some inspiration...In an attempt to enjoy this beautiful morning while still being warm and cozy in my bed, I opened my blinds to find three squirrels eating nuts and playing in the tree. I don't know why it made me laugh, but I stood there for a while watching and even grabbed my camera. A scripture quickly came to mind while watching not the birds but the squirrels: Matthew 6:25-26
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air {squirrels in the tree}; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Don't you just love it when the Lord speaks and you know without a doubt it is Him?

If you know anything about me at all you know I can be "slightly" random at times...This is no exception! If you are family I'm sure you can connect the dots with squirrels and funny/unreal stories in my life. ha!

Funny/Unreal Moments in Life:

~Maternity Home stories: Having to be on guard until the cops showed up to watch a girl with HIV who had just downed a bottle of pain pills...all I was thinking was..."Dear God, please don't let her bite me!" ha! or
~Being cussed out while driving because she decides she no longer wants to go to her NA meeting but to her "baby-daddy" house.
~Sleeping on a hospital floor for 5 nights praying the little premature baby would make it through the night.
~Not to mention all the things I saw and other things I heard...I have a very HIGH shock factor these days!

~Dating stories: Like...he's nuttier than a two p squirrel! or asking inappropriate questions or being stalked at school where I had to turn off the lights during lunch and hide behind my plant so I wouldn't be bothered. :D

~School stories: (this will probably become a whole other post) from being poked in the butt with a pen, writing several kids up for sexual harassment, bathroom walls, one wedging himself underneath his desk screaming, being called the reading b*tch, asking me if I was going to read the book "Puss in Boots" but not in those exact words...and the list could go on and on. There will be many names that are ruled out when I finally have a children...names with such negative connotations.

~Adventure stories: being at the bottom of the Grand Canyon puking my guts up is certainly number one! ha! Spelunking in a dark cave, with water and having to lay on my stomach and shimmy through this tiny little hole called....the birth canal!...makes me breath hard just thinking about it. Then there is repelling off a cliff, white water rafting on the same river the Olympics were held, and doing the Sky Screamer not once but twice (I chalk that up to peer-pressure!)Oh and I almost forgot scuba-diving (another one that makes me breath hard) where I could've gotten my fingers bitten off by an eel!

I think about these from time to time and it cracks me up. I have lived such a wonderful and blessed life!! Full of opportunities that I would never have imagined.

Living Mi Vida Loca!! :)
Pictures are taken from Life is Good on-line store http://www.lifeisgood.com/

Tis the Season

2009-12-19T05:19:00.010-06:00

As we go through the hustle and bustle leading up to Christmas day, let's not forget what this time of year is really about! God sent His Son, the perfect Lamb, to live among us and become the ultimate sacrifice.

I am glad school is finally out for Christmas break. I am one who is guilty of getting caught up in living for the next weekend or holiday break...making a list and checking it twice (or three or four times) trying to figure out what I am going to get this person and mark through the ones for whom I have already bought presents. But now I want to slow down and enjoy the next few weeks and truly reflect on this time of year. Can you imagine a world without a Savior?..Where we would still have to live under the law? Makes you view things a little differently, doesn't it?

I read "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" to my students this year. It was a fun, easy read and the kiddos really enjoyed the humor. I have a few this year who might be related to the Herdmans...with all their cussing and stealing and all!...What they don't know is I chose this book because even with all its humor, it tells the true Christmas story. That could be the one and only time some of those kids hear it. It is sad that now days we have to try to disguise the truth within our schools. But, thank God there are ways around it!

So...as Christmas day is quickly approaching, grab a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, sit in your favorite chair next to your Christmas tree and worship the ONE who is to be called...
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!! (Isaiah 9:6)

I'm not there yet...But...I'm working on it!

2009-11-01T13:36:00.006-06:00

When will I ever become who the Lord wants me to be? When will I finally “get it?” I know at times I can be extremely hard on myself. I feel I am justified in being hard on myself because much of the time I can identify with Paul when he says, “Why do I do the things I don’t want to do and not do the things I should?” I know that there is no condemnation in Christ. I have heard it and read it a million times. I am praying that maybe…just maybe…I am grasping the truth of this. I learned today that there’s a difference between self-condemnation and Holy Spirit correction. Once there is repentance, it is gone!! If there is still extreme guilt it is because Satan is trying to hold me back from experiencing freedom and the will of God.

I praise HIM for his grace and mercy, because without it I would be doomed to hell. I am very aware that there is nothing good within me except the Holy Spirit. This is another one of those concepts that I have heard and believed but not until recently has it become very evident. I am thankful and praise Him for beginning to reveal His Truth to me. I think the difference now is I know that I can do nothing good apart from Him. I know because I’ve tried doing it on my own…it doesn’t work. As much as I hate some of the choices I have made, my heart overflows with gratitude that HE can take those horrible mistakes and turn them into a heart that seeks after Him even greater than before.

As I was writing I began to think of when Jesus healed the blind man in John 9. I thought of him because I remembered that Jesus didn’t touch him and instantly heal him. (I find myself many times wanting a “quick fix” and getting irritated with Him if it takes longer than what “I” would like) HE made mud pies and put them on the man’s eyes. Then HE told the man to “Go wash.” Can you imagine if the blind man didn’t obey?! Or began complaining…”I thought this was going to be easy. How do you expect me to make it to the Pool of Siloam? Don’t you remember Lord…I am blind!!” Think about what he would’ve missed out on!!...a miracle that forever changed his life. Sometimes we expect God to do things instantaneously. Obviously, that’s not always His plan. He will give us everything we need but then we have to take the step and “GO.” It doesn’t matter how bleak or impossible it seems. Be obedient!

I just reread this passage and several things stood out to me:
1. His blindness was not caused by anything he or his parents did, but that the
work of God may be displayed in his life.
2. Jesus spat on the ground and made mud and put it on his eyes, which HE could’ve
just healed him by touching like He had done many times before, but that was not
in HIS plan for this man.
3. After putting mud in his eyes, Jesus said, “Go wash,” and he went. (What if he
hadn’t obeyed? He wouldn’t have been healed! or it would've been delayed...I think that is a lesson in itself).
4. Then, while all (even his parents) were afraid of the Jews and being kicked out,
he stood boldly and declared how he was healed and Who healed him.
5. And, the Jews did throw him out. But when Jesus heard this HE went to find him.
6. Because he was obedient…because he was bold…because he stood up and declared the
One True God, he had a personal encounter with Jesus.
7. He didn’t care what his parents or anyone else said…He knew the Truth and the
Truth set him free!!
8. He not only gained physical sight but the eyes of his heart were also opened.

When I think about who God is and how magnificent, powerful, and loving HE is, I become irritated with myself that I would ever stray from what HIS will is for my life. I honestly don’t get it! Why would I, knowing the greatness of God Almighty…knowing that His plans are best for me…ever chose to do what “I” want to do or chose to do something that pleases others instead of God? This is beyond my comprehension, and yet day after day I find myself making poor decisions. Decisions that please my flesh or others instead of pleasing God. Personally…I am sick of it!! I am overjoyed that I am no longer blinded in this area and am ready to begin letting the Lord work in this area of my life.

HE is worthy of so much more than what I’ve been giving. I am realizing that life is way too short to get caught up in this world and fleshly desires. This world is temporal; we are here today and gone tomorrow. We can’t make a difference in the kingdom if we are overly concerned about how others might perceive something or doing things the way “we” want to do them. It’s time to take it to another level…Let’s…Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Let’s…not be concerned with what others might think. Let’s…throw everything else aside and run the race He has called us to run. Let’s…begin thinking with eternal eyes. Let’s remember…we can do NOTHING apart from Him!!

Love and Blessings!!

Fall Family Fun on the Farm!

2009-10-25T08:27:00.012-05:00

Anyone who really knows me well knows that I LOVE fall! It is definitely my favorite season of the year. I think it stems back to my cheerleading days. I always loved football season and getting ready for the games. It was so exciting to me. Actually, I think my memories of fall date back way before then...but it still has to do with cheerleading, football, and fall. I remember going to football games in Olton. Everyone in town was there. The air was crisp, the band was great, and of course, I couldn't keep my eyes off of the cheerleaders. Wonderful memories!! So, needless to say, I believe I am a little like Pavlov's dog when that first cool front blows in. No, I don't salavate but I do become VERY giddy (wait...did I really just compare myself to a dog?!). To be honest, it lasts until I have to go back to school after Christmas break. Fall=Family Fun!!

Well, this year isn't any different than all the others in the past. Fall is here and I am one giddy chic! :) The weather this weekend was wonderful (so glad it stopped raining for a while) so, Amy, Joaquin, the kids and I went to Kaska Family Farm. It wasn't a huge production but it was still a lot of fun. I love watching my nieces get excited about the little things in life. Watching them reminds me of how much fun I had as a kid (ok, so I probably liked it just as much as they did!)

Here are a few pics to sum it up!

Ready for the hay ride!

Duck Races!

MOOOOOO!!

Definitely my favorite pic of the day...Giddy up Cow Train!

Hugs in the pumpkin patch

My favorite saying of the day after someone left their duck in the sand... FINDERS...LOSERS...WEEPERS!

Even brother had something to say about the farm!
(Please tune me out!)

We had a wonderful time!

Family

2009-10-18T18:37:00.011-05:00

I cannot even begin to express how blessed I am to have been born into my family. I thank God all the time for each one of them. I have always known that I had an awesome family, but it wasn't until my mid-twenties when my eyes were truly opened to just how blessed I am.
Having worked in the school system for seven years and two years in maternity homes, I have witnessed those who are not so fortunate. It breaks my heart. I have thought on many occassions..."If he/she was in a different family they could really shine!" I have heard terrible things that go on in some homes and it is almost hard for me to believe that such things really happen. I praise God and want to say thanks to my parents for sheltering me. I know and have always known that I am loved! It is because of my mom's love that I know a glimpse of God's unconditional love. I hope she knows that my love for her is the same. I have always been encouraged and told that I can do anything. I realize now just how far that has taken me in life. I get so excited to hear of someone who has had such a hard childhood and have overcome those obstacles to become someone great for God. I'm not so sure I would have been one of those success stories had I lived such a traumatic childhood. God is good and His plans are perfect.

MY MOM...My best friend, my biggest encourager and the one who taught me how to love. I still love crawling in your lap, vacationing with you and riding around drinking coffee. Thanks for being my prayer warrior! I am who I am today because of you!!

MY DAD...I love that we have the same sense of humor! Thank you for being such a great provider throughout the years. Some of my favorite memories are cruising the ranch looking for deer and stockshows!! Singing oldies and watching you "walk the dog" will forever be engrained in my mind. I still love laying in your big bed when I first get home and talking. Baby Squirrel will ALWAYS be my favorite nickname. I am so grateful that the Lord let you stay here with us that day in February!! HE knew we need you.

MY BROTHER...You are my protector! You have always looked after me. You are the one I go to for advice. I know you will "tell me like it is" and I love that. I have loved living here in Waco and being around you and your family. I hope I marry a man who is even half the daddy you are! You are an AMAZING father.

MY SISTER...You are the BEST sister a girl could ever ask for!! From the time I was little I have always run to you..."Where's my DD?!" You always seem to cheer me up when I am down and know the right things to make me laugh. I enjoy our two hour talks on the phone. I am ready for another road trip....BORN TO BE WIIIIILD! :)

Each one of you are so very special to me. I couldn't imagine life without you guys. I am proud of my family!!
I am so glad God had other plans and mom and dad didn't stop at two children. I don't know what y'all would do without me!! LOL! ;)

God of This City

2009-10-04T15:10:00.002-05:00

A few years ago the Lord put on my heart to pray for Del Rio and the surrounding areas (Brackettville, Quemado and Eagle Pass). I have to admit I wasn't very faithful or committed to praying until I moved to Waco. I became caught up in my own life and became so busy (Being Under Satan's Yoke!)with everyday things that I put that on the back burner. I guess sometimes God has to take you out of a situation to be able to see more clearly. Now that I am getting my priorities back in order I feel the urgency once again to pray for this area.

Here are a few things I am praying and would love for you to join with me:

1. For the preachers and priests...That they will be committed to teaching their flock the truth of God's Word. If they aren't committed that they will be replaced with someone who will.

2. That the Lord will begin to break down the strongholds of idol worship, superstition, and witch-craft

3. That the body of Christ will come together and worship as one body

4. Those of us who are Christians will become bold in proclaiming His name within our city and get our hands dirty for the Kingdom (Every other group is standing up for what they believe in...we MUST do the same before it is too late!)

I believe God wants to do GREAT and MIGHTY things within this area of the world. I am asking that you begin praying every Thursday for God's will to be accomplished within Del Rio and the surrounding areas.

I just wanted to share what was on my heart hoping you would join me in prayer!

We are only here for a split second in the realm of eternity...Let's make it count for HIM.

Temptation

2009-09-13T18:20:00.003-05:00

Last year I was part of a bible study group called First Place for Health. Obviously it was supposed to deal with health issues, but I believe God used this particular study to help me in other areas of my life that I was dealing with at the time. I need to go back and reread it. I was reading through my journal the other night and ran across a few things I had written down about temptation. I have thought about it many times since the bible study so I wanted to share it with you. (All of this information comes out of the First Place for Health Bible study book.)

TEMPTATION

*Pray that you will not fall into temptation. (Luke 22:40)

*Temptation had predictably followed their promises of faithfulness.

*Temptation always follows commitment.

*God tests us to build up our faith, to show that we are sincere in our
commitment,to confirm that our eyes are fixed on Jesus.

*Satan uses temptation to lure us into failure.

*Satan always begins his temptation by inviting us to question God's goodness and
love.

*The evil one would like for us to believe God is withholding something from us that
we need in order to be whole and complete.

*Temptation always offers us something appealing that it cannot give us; it offers
to satisfy a need, but it does not have the means or substance to deliver.

*Satan is an opportunist, an enemy who always strikes when we are vulnerable.

*Temptation is always an invitation to fill a legitimate need in an illegitimate way!

So what do we do:

1. Recognize the voice of Satan.
2. Resist him and he will flee, but you must be persistent. He does not give up
easy.
3. Memorize and quote scripture!
4. Believe God's Word to be true.

May 25, 1986

2009-09-12T16:01:00.005-05:00

Do you know what you were doing May 25, 1986? Many of you may not know that exact date, but once you begin to read through this blog it just might jog your memory.

I happened upon this date randomly. I am trying to get my lesson plans together for next week. We are teaching non-fiction literature for the next couple of weeks. We have to incorporate biographies, autobiographies, and poetry into our lessons. I really don't know how Michael Jackson was thrown into the mix, but he was!! Not a huge fan of MJ. Truth be told, the only reason I thought he was even slightly cool was because he had the same birth date as me AND because he invented the moonwalk. (which by the way, my dad can do the BEST moonwalk...especially in the Waco mall! I love it).
With a big plan to make learning FUN, we have to bring in lyrics because they are a lot like poetry. We were going to use MJ's song, "Black or White," but the first line says something about taking a girl out for a bang! Don't really know what he is referring to but I know my 6th graders would take that and run.

SO, with all that being said...I remembered "We are the World." It was written by Michael and Lionel Richie. "Yes!" I thought to myself. I think I can work with that. "We are the World" lyrics, music, video...USA for Africa...world hunger issues and equality. Ok..so maybe the MJ lesson won't be too bad.

All of that was just a build up of why "We are the World" and, with that, Hands Across America would even pop into my mind. Why kids remember some things and not others is beyond me. But this is MY story about May 25, 1986...

I remember watching all the commercials promoting Hands Across America and wanted to go so-super-badly! I just knew my mom would want to go and take all of us. My mom is cool; she always did things like that this with us, so I knew this would be no exception. I was in the second grade and just the thought of people being in a line holding hands from NY to LA was so cool to me. Well, the day came and went and the only person's hand I held was my own! My sister, on the other hand, got to go with her best friend.
The only thing to get my mind off Hands Across America was to put on my leotard and practice gymnastics in the living room. The moment she walked in the door I knew I had missed out. She had her face painted and cool HAA paraphernalia. Man, she was so lucky! I think when she walked in the front door I did a roundoff and said, "Bono at your service ma'am. Always good for a laugh; always good for a laugh!" (inside family joke). Inside I was bummed!

Anyway...I see now that I didn't get to go that day because God knew I would need some inspiration for my Michael Jackson lesson plan!!! ha!

I'll leave you with this song. Take a little trip down memory lane. AND if you know what you were doing on May 25, 1986...PLEASE let me know.

http://www.80s.com/Spotlight/hands.html

I'd Need a Savior by: Among the Thristy

2009-09-06T12:43:00.003-05:00

I have been so busy lately with school starting and haven't had much time to blog. I'm not going to blog much today either. I would rather take a nap. :) I do want to share one of my new favorite songs though. I LOVE it!! It is one of those songs that I have to turn up the volume and belt it out every time it comes on the radio. I hope you enjoy it too.

FREEDOM!

2009-08-06T09:36:00.005-05:00

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is FREEDOM. 2 Corinthians 3:17

Oh how I know this scripture to be true. I have heard many Christian speakers refer to the freedom that we have in Christ and always believed I knew what they were talking about. It wasn't until recently that I became aware of true freedom.

Many of us think freedom is being able to make our own decision and doing things our own way---making things happen in our own timing. It seems like a backwards concept to think of freedom as submitting and being obedient to something other than ourselves. Life...GOD...has a way of opening our eyes to the lies we have been believing and revealing HIS truth.

For those of us who have blazed a trail and tried to find freedom our own way, we have been disappointed with the outcome! We don't realize it at the time, but those "free choices" we are making end up coming with a HUGE price. We wake up one day and realize that what we thought was freedom wasn't really freedom at all but bondage. It is a shocking and overwhelming realization. It is then, if you are a child of God, that you realize living life the way "you" want to is not going to cut it. It is only after true repentance and submitting to the authority of Christ can you truly find that freedom you always wanted. The freedom that reaps peace and joy. Freedom from depression, fear, worry, stress, etc. This freedom you can not have by living life your way.

I encourage you to take inventory of your life. Are there areas in your life where you are trying to do it all by yourself? Are you being stubborn, rebellious, or just wanting to be independent? As my great friend Brother Bob would say...STOP IT!! Take it from someone who's been there, it is NOT worth it.

Not until you come to the point in your life where you realize that it is not about you but about living for HIM, do you experience true freedom!! (I am not saying I am there yet. I am a work in progress!) So, let HIM break the shackles off your feet so you can dance and be free to do the things HE has called you to do!! ;)

OUR VALUE

2009-08-03T10:57:00.004-05:00

I was reading Joyce Meyer's book "Approval Addiction" the other day and found this to be a wonderful picture of our worth in Christ. Here is what she had to say:

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a fifty-dollar bill. In the room of two hundred, he asked, "Who would like this fifty-dollar bill?" Hands started going up. He siad, "I am going to give it to one of you, but first let me do this."
He proceeded to crumple the bill up. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air.
"Well," he replied, "what if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty.
"Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.
"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth fifty dollars."
Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, we will never lose our value in God's eyes. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, we are still priceless to HIM.

Even with all His foreknowledge of our weaknesses and the mistakes we would make, He still chose us on purpose and brought us into a relationship with Himself through Christ.

So...we can do whatever we want?! Of course not...Read Romans chapter 6...what shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!!

For those of us who have made mistakes in the past (which is all of us!) I find it very encouraging that He still chose us and still loves us!!

Getting Started

2009-08-02T14:51:00.010-05:00

I have to admit that as I was thinking about a blog the title came to me rather quickly. The picture, however, was all God's doing. My first thought was to have a picture of a woman in Paris shopping or laying out on the beach somewhere....Then having a picture of a crying baby, nagging husband and baggage to the side with an X over each one. The description was going to read...Ahhh the single life! No baggage!! :) But then that really isn't my picture of being single at all.
You see, since I am almost 31 and still single, this has been one of my biggest adventures. Though it has been tough, I can honestly say I wouldn't trade it for the world!! The Lord has used this time in my life to purify me and humble me. At times I have kicked and screamed and all out wanted to punch HIM for not giving me a man...right now!! HE has always brought me back to the place of knowing that HIS timing is perfect, HE really does love me through all my fits, and HE really does know what is best for me.
So back to the picture and the scripture...that was HIS picture for me (from the poem Footprints in the Sand). Though life has not always gone exactly as I have planned, HE has proven time and time again that HE will NEVER leave me. And for that...I give HIM praise. HE really is worthy of it!!