Our Big Screen Dreams

even more as the day approaches

Posted on March 19, 2011 by PC

you know, i’ve been out of town so i haven’t seen much of the news. upon returning, my FB was filled with fear type messages nuclear meltdowns, sorrows for the people abroad, etc. don’t you know that these are the signs of the times? no really, i know they’ve been saying that my entire life, but LOOK at the world we live in today. i don’t even watch the news anymore to guard my eyes from the things it brings. yes, i need to know whats going on, but the manner in which it is presented brings FEAR to those who don’t know their rightful place in the Lord. you know, we believers, know how this story ends.

so, if we know how it ends, why are we living the same old life? why are we still out partying, not attending church, sleeping with people with whom we aren’t married. i see friends moving FURTHER from the Lord as the day approaches and not drawing nearer….what has a hold on you?? don’t go by “oh, i’m saved, so i can {insert sin}” business. if you are saved sin is dead to you. the Bible says in Romans 6:1-2 ” What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” How can we go on living in sin? We can’t go on flirting with Satan and his way—-dangerous territory my friends.

sidenote: the Bible even says in Revelation 3:16 that the lukewarm Christian will be spewed from his mouth….sent away. the Lord doesn’t care much for the lukewarm, He wants us to be hot on fire Christians. how many say “oh, i’m a Christian” and then turn around and blatently sin? weekly how many attend Church out of religious tradition? how many forgo church at all claiming they will worship at home…where ever they are, etc…. You’ve heard it. Perhaps you’ve said it–I have!

all week long this verse had been stuck in my head– Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. EVEN MORE AS THE DAY APPROACHES!!

As the day approaches are you moving closer or further from God? Are you surrounding yourself with friends that are uplifting and encouraging you in your Christian walk or have you fallen prey to those around you swaying you the opposite way? Are you coming to Church or are you making excuses why you can’t go this week? Romans 10:17 So faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. You must be HEARING (literally hearing it -from church, reading it) the Word of God to live in faith. you want to stop living in fear of what is going on in the world, you better get to church and open your Bible and find out the promises of God.

these are not the times to pull away. this isn’t a strong “you’re going to hell post”—oh no, this is encouragement! well, at least *i’m* encouraged! i’m encouraged to draw near. i’m encouraged to stay the course. i’m encouraged not to tow the line. i’m encouraged to live hot, on fire, for the Lord. i’m encouraged to stop flirting with the enemy.

as my Pastor would say, I’ve preached myself happy…..and the villagers are now waking.

Posted in journal, Scripture | Tagged journal, Scripture | Leave a comment

things on my mind

Posted on March 10, 2011 by PC

I want kids that seek the Lord and never look back. I look at a good friend that we have whose father is a major minister. He never swayed, never left to explore, he stayed in the Word and in the Lord. Met his wife while serving the Lord. Sure, you say, he’s a preachers kid, but come on, you know what they say about PKs….but this is True Love. I’m asking and believing God that I stand strong in my faith while raising these kids. That MY unwavering causes the to never waver.

Posted in journal | Tagged journal | 1 Comment

FIXED

Posted on March 3, 2011 by PC

Well, I can hardly believe it. I fixed my blog. I was doing lots of googling and reading….turns out there is all this fancy schmancy stuff that goes on behind the scenes of a website….imagine that! I was on the phone forever with this poor guy trying to help me switch from pHp4 to pHp5….I still don’t even really understand what pHp is. BUUUUUUTTTTT…..its been fixed.

My last decent blog was in October. How sad is that?? Even more sad is that it was about my dear Mimi who passed away. I have to admit, I still think of her daily. A LOT has happened in 6 months. I’m not even where to start. So, I figure I’ll just pick up and as I find time to go to the past I will.

Posted in journal | Tagged journal | Leave a comment

New tradition

Posted on March 2, 2011 by PC

My favorite night this Christmas was a very random evening. I believe it was Christmas Eve Eve. We had purposing to go look at Christmas lights all season. As anyone with a baby knows, toddlers don’t get the concept of looking at Christmas lights. Kai is all about it, but none of us wanted to suffer riding around hearing Kenlee whine. We had heard about this wonderful LED light display in downtown Ft Worth at the Chesapeake Building where you could get out and walk around with the lights. THAT I knew Kenlee would understand.

We left home around 4 something to avoid traffic. We stopped and had a fun family meal at Cracker Barrel along the way. Even the dinner was fun. The kids were filled with Christmas silliness. I delighted in other people smiling at us. Sometimes I have to almost pinch myself that I’m grown up with two kids making my own traditions.

The drive was so worth it! We got out and walked the entire premises. Both kids LOVED running free. I dunno….it was just one of those nights. Those moments.

Posted in Family | Tagged Family | Leave a comment

Time to say bye.

Posted on October 5, 2010 by PC

My Mimi passed away this last month. It was sudden. She went into the hospital on Monday night and passed away Friday night.

We always pray for death to be sudden and easy, and hers was. She didn’t suffer for days on end, she was relatively pain free. And she left this planet gracefully.

Because it all happened so fast, it took a few days after her burial for it all really to set in. In fact, I still have moments where I think, did that really just happen?

What’s hardest for me is, unlike my Mamaw who died in April, Mimi was fully aware of her surrounding leading up to her death. I held her hands and prayed peace over her the night we got to the hospital. I spent time talking to her the next few days. But, the hardest was Thursday, the day before she passed.

I got to the hospital early that morning as for some reason the Holy Spirit the night before had told me I needed to. I think I was there around 7. She had just gotten a bath and was in such a great mood. We laughed and chatted about my kids. She left for an x-ray and upon returning her mood had saddened. Sensing this I crawled up in her bed and took her hands. She looked up at me and said, “I’m going to die.” I never expected to hear those words. I had no idea what to say or what facial expression to respond with. I just did the only thing I knew to do…pray. I prayed that the time she had left on this earth would be filled with peace. That she could rest comfortably and know that we would all be okay. Really, I’m not even sure I said most of that, but my heart was saying it. You see, we were told it was grim, but the doctors had advised us not to discuss that with her as it only made their final days harder….but in that one statement it was clear that she knew her time here was ending. I’m crying for the first time in weeks thinking of the conversation, but I don’t ever want to let its importance slip from my mind. She knew, and she wanted us to know she knew.

That afternoon she was transferred to a nursing home. (medicare red tape about not being able to stay in the hospital) I had plans that evening that I really wanted to get out of but had to attend. I wasn’t planning to go see Mimi, but just as I was feeding the kids I knew I needed to go. She was alert but becoming less responsive. She had slept most of the day (as we had prayed for). She was enjoying the company of my cousin, a great grandchild and my uncle. We prayed before I left.

Early the next morning I got the call that we needed to go to the home and that the time was approaching. She had become unresponsive overnight. They gave us time to say goodbyes and what not. But I had no goodbye to say. I felt semi-awkward NOT saying something, but I knew it had all been said. I knew that she was ready and I knew it was her time.

We all left at 3, she passed at 7 with my mom and aunt by her side.

It still hasn’t sunk in. I’m not sure when it will. I guess the first event that she misses. I may not have gone to see her as often as I should but she was always there. Every birthday, holiday, graduation, birth, you name it….The thought that just weeks before we celebrated her 92 birthday is kinda unreal…fast. It was just so fast.

So I guess that’s it. There isn’t much more to say. I received this sometime during it all and want to share it.

God saw you getting tired,

a cure was not to be.

So He put His arms around you

and whispered, “come with Me.”

With tearful eyes we

watched you slowly fade away.

Although we loved you dearly

we would not make you stay.

A golden heart stopped beating,

your hard-working hands put to rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us,

He only takes the best.

Posted in Family | Tagged Family | 1 Comment

History Repeating

Posted on October 5, 2010 by PC

Is it history repeating or have we just never gotten our act together??

The more I study the Bible, the more amazed I am at how similar we still live. I mean, clearly chariots have been replaced by cars, we have power, etc, but the overall nature of man is the same.

When studying Moses, you see time and time again the unbelief of the Israelites. I in particular always remember those that stored up the manna from Heaven. In Exodus 16, the Lord provides the wandering Israelites with food. He tells them to only collect what they need for the day, no more. But some, in verse 20, kept manna overnight. In the morning it was filled with maggots and stinky. Those that kept their manna showed unbelief that the Lord would provide again the next day. And that is just a small example in all of Moses’ time — hello, wandering 40 years because they didn’t believe. God brought them out of Egypt and still they had a hard time. How much more do we struggle with this unbelief?

Now, studying Isaiah, looking at the sins of Judah. They are all things we still deal with today. In chapter 5 alon God condemns 6 sins 1) exploiting others 2) drunkeness 3) pride in their sin 4) confusing good and evil 5) conceited 6) perverting justice. How many of these six things do we see in todays society? Um, how about ALL? The one that gets me the most is the pride some people take in their sin. Another verse called it “parading” their sin. How true is that? People are no longer ashamed of things any more. Now they openly discuss their problems almost with a sense of pride, have TV shows, and write books all centered around sin that they still aren’t giving up.

This whole history repeating “theme” was really getting to me when I started thinking how many times I’ve thought, “I can’t relate to the Bible.” Or when I hear others (well, I know I said it in my teens) say that the Bible is old fashioned. This whole book contains stories and people who haven’t fallen victim to the same sins and temptations that I face. Sure, they didn’t have the TV or internet flaunting things in front of them, but their society was very elaborate as well…..prostitutes were everywhere, drinking, adultery, murder, idol worship….just as much today as it was in the Bible. ANd you know what, we STILL haven’t gotten our act together. And I’m not just talking about the lost, what about us as believers??

So why do we think we are any different? Why do we think the Bible is “old” (well, besides the fact that it really is)? Most importantly, why can’t we just see that God wants to best for us and all He asks is that we obey and surrender? Why is it so hard to do? Why is it so hard to do even when we’ve seen in the Bible the results of disobedience and unbelief? I’ve actually read things in the Bible and thought, “gosh, if they only could see what he has in store” — Why can’t **I** take that same thought and apply it to me?

aaaaaaand……back to my study……guess i just needed a good rant.

Posted in random musings | Leave a comment

Affect vs Effect

Posted on September 30, 2010 by PC

Reading back on my last post I was bothered by the spelling of effect vs affect. It bothered me this morning but it was early and I didn’t feel like checking because I tend to never publish the posts that I go back and work on!

Honestly, I’m as bad at grammar as I am spelling, but luckily most programs correct spelling.

So, I’m publicly bookmarking THIS SITE!

Posted in random musings | Leave a comment

Acceptable Sin

Posted on September 30, 2010 by PC

The other day I was listening to a BSF lecture when the leader asked, “What has become acceptable sin in your life?”

At first I scoffed, who me? Sin? Not in my house! But the, she went further listing out sins such as fornication, profanity, slander, gossip, false promises, white lies, etc. You see, as society, we knda brush these sins away and focus on the “big” sins like murder and adultry…but guess what, SIN IS SIN. There is no sin that is greater than another. In God’s book me telling my 5 year old a white lie is no different than me killing someone. Now, I know that sounds extreme because socially there is a larger effect, but you get my point.

In my head, I kept going back to a list of sins in Ephesians 5. I know there are lots of places all over the Bible to find sins, but this is what *my* heart was focused on.

³But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. ⁴Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. ⁵For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.⁶Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. ⁷Therefore do not be partners with them.

I began evaluating around my home things that I had started accepting and not even really realizing. The first major influence was TV. How much more accepting had I become towards the things I watched on the TV? Foul language had always pricked at my heart, but suddenly I was hearing things that weren’t necessarily foul, but certainly weren’t edifiying either. Do I want the little ears in my home hearing such things?? Even when they aren’t paying attention those words are still flowing into my home. Was I beginning to have looser talk because of what I was hearing on TV??

I started seeing where the slightest amounts of sex on TV effected me mentally. Some people don’t see sex on TV as immorality, but I’m a lot more accepting of that TV couple sleeping together before marriage—-but that is teaching the lesson of immorality is it not?? What is that teaching my family when *i* accept that? (I know my kids aren’t of the age to understand but they will be). When I see it on TV it effects my thinking about how things are in my relationship with my husband. It effects men in their thought life — so am I harming my husband as well? So even by accepting the smallest amount into my home I’m effecting the entire family.

What about those white lies that I may tell my child? Are those not still lies? By not just telling the truth, even if it is a little over his head or hard to explain, I’m teaching him to lie. I’m teaching him that sometimes its okay not to tell the truth.

I addressed gossip— in the celebrity form— on my blog about a year ago. I can honestly say that cutting that out from my life made a HUGE difference. Why did I care so much about the empty life of celebrities??

This is just a small list/explanation of my revelation. I know some people will read this list and think, “that’s so extreme!” But really, it is?? Eph. 5:3 clearly states, “not even a HINT.” Look at the long term effects of the little things you are doing and accepting now. Even if you don’t have children to influence look at how your acceptance effects those around you!

I’ve personally come to the decision that if I shouldn’t be watching/hearing/doing it in front of my kids comfortably, then I should be evaluating it. If my Pastor (I would say Jesus himself but some people have a hard time with that thought) was sitting right next to me, would I be embarrassed to use this same language or watch that show??

Sin comes in so many different forms. It’s sometimes hard to remember some of these “smaller” sins, but remember that they are no different than what society considers “big” sins in God’s book. Look at how they are influencing you and your family and CHANGE! It’s as simple as turning off that show, changing the radio station, or changing your words.

Posted in Scripture | Tagged Scripture | 1 Comment

Playlist

Posted on August 23, 2010 by PC

I always ask everyone what they are listening to, so why not post what I’m listening to?

This is my current worship playlist. I don’t always listen to this much worship. I go through seasons but for the last two weeks this is all I want to listen to. I guess if someone was looking for a place to start this would be where I’d point them. Enjoy.

All I Need Is You – Hillsong

You Are Holy – Christ for the Nations

Here in Your Presence – New Life Worship

His Glory Appears – Hillsong

I Will Exalt You – Hillsong

Heaven’s Song – Gateway Worship

So Beautiful – Christ for the Nations

Rescue – The Desperation Band

The More I Seek You – Christ for the Nations

We Cry Out – Gateway Worship

Revelation Song – Kari Jobe

Lead Me to the Cross – Fancesca

Yahweh – Hillsong

New Doxology – Gateway

It’s You Love – Hillsong

From the Inside Out – Hillsong

At the Foot of The Cross – Christ for the Nations

Amazed – Desperation Band

And then a ton of Planetshakers songs that I never make it too because I start the list over. It’s always like that. I add my new favorite to the beginning and older stuff moves down.

Worship music is so important to me. Many many many reasons. When I’m dealing with my fleshly emotions and thoughts, I can crank this up and let the Lord wash over me. It drowns out my own thoughts and forces me to focus on God. Worship brings you into His presence. Sometimes its just nice to sit at His feet and sing. It calms my babies. It heals my wounds. It makes me repeatedly fall in love with my Savior.