Progression

Think of what the garden would have looked like. NOW think about what it would have looked like from a spiritual perspective. If you could SEE the garden and what it would have looked like spiritually I picture it as WHITE! PURE WHITE! No spot, no blemish, sin had not entered the world, it was pure! 

yet, there in the middle of the garden, was that one tree. It looked good, and the food was so pleasing to the eye that it was hard to resist. It was bright and drew attention, but told not to touch, until the tempter came. I see this as temptation in our lives as well. 

One bite and sin entered the world. The spotless world that we knew had just had sin enter it. Sin starts to slowly take over. The temptation that you just thought looked so good has now become poison to your world! Everything seems upside down, and you cannot take it back; what was done, is done. 

Your hands are now stained and you are guilty. I think that this picture below really shows, I feel, what adam and eve would have felt: guilt. Their hands are dirty and now they feel the weight of that sin. They feel ashamed and dirty and needed to hide! 

The things that had worth and beauty once are tanted. I feel the picture below really shows me maybe what God was feeling. That beautiful creation that God made, had become dirty and sinful. The creation that He created perfectly was now tainted by a reality of sin. 

It flows and covers that creation. Spiritually I think that when sin entered the world that the above picture is what would have been seen. The pure creation, the pure heart that did not know sin, was slowly being tainted and colored by this black, dark paint. It was like an explosion to the soul, the pureness was tainted. sin had entered. 

sin slowly invades and then can blow up in an instant and we are left with the peices. Shattered peices of our hearts. I am sure that Adam and Eve's whole world knocked over and was turned upside down, especially when they were banned from the beautiful garden they once knew and once called home. 

Sin can leave anyone feeling alone, and broken and dirty! The pureness that once was known is now a foreign thing. The fellowship that once was had with the almighty God has now been broken. Now what?  That is the question.... 

Our sin should have left us here.... broken, alone, death.... BUT!!! 

Jesus came! He took our place! IT IS FINISHED! He saved us from our own sin! His love was greater than our sin! Our filth became His and HE bore it on the cross for US! PRAISE THE LORD!!! He erased all the filth and sin! and reset our hearts! Now when God sees us He sees that white room because of what Jesus did! When God sees our hearts it isn't black with sin, but it is covered and is pure white again!

Pictures from the music video "bombs away" by jonathan thulin and rachel lampa!

Amazing video it touched my heart and I wanted to share it with you. Here is where you can watch it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JngYQFVoVk

I hope it touches you as well! Be blessed today!

what are you searching for?

We are all traveling through life searching for something. For some, its the meaning of life; why are we here?? Some are searching for themselves, and where they belong in this life. Some are searching for fame, and the need for others to know who they are. Some are searching for money and the "stuff" of life. Some are searching for something, but truly are not sure what they are really searching for! Our focus and what our hearts desire, will determine what we are searching for. What is your focus on? I have had my focus wrong before, and so I was searching for things in life that didn't matter or that would keep my eyes off God. This is a dangerous place to be. at times we don't know that our focus is off, since we are focusing on "good" things in life like family, love, kids, husbands, job, etc. These things are not bad things, but if they take our focus off God, they can be wrong. Our main focus in life is GOD! Our relationship with HIM! If you look at the story of babel  we can see that their focus was wrong. They were searching for power, they were searching for things that you see with your eyes. They thought they could get as high as God by making this tower. We get caught up in ourselves and forget about what the TRUTH is about this life!!! we need to keep our focus on HIM! we need to keep the walls that can easily be built up, down! Things of this life can easily start building up a wall around our hearts till we are so off focus that its hard to remember what we are here for, and what GOD's will is for our life! We need to let God soften our hearts so that the Holy Spirit can tear those walls down and make them crumble!

Time and time again I am just reminded of God's pure love and grace! Sin, just one little thing that creeps in, can take hold and be like a bomb to your heart! It can explode from something little to something that destroys! It longs to take a hold of your heart and rip it apart! BUT God is there to love you, show His grace and mercy! He takes that mess and cleans it up and makes something clean and new and beautiful out of it! God is love! and He desires to love you and for you to let Him love you! he wants to clean up your mess, and turn it into a great message of HOPE! Love! Forgiveness! Tonight God has just been loving on me! Showing me that nothing that is in my past and nothing that is in my future can take away His love that He wants to give me! It is nothing that we have done that would make us eligible of such a great love! But it is ALL about what HE did for us!!!!! I cannot earn this love, but I can accept it with open arms and arms of submission raised to HIM! I am so grateful for the love that God has always showed me, even when I felt so undeserving, HE LOVED ME! Thank you Lord for that love!!!!
I have this longing and desire in me to do all what God wants! I want my whole life to revolve around HIM! This life is all about HIM! and I want that to show in my life, and through my words and actions! I am ready for ALL God has!

new video

http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/videodetail.php?video_id=5067


This was a great new song/video that is out! "dont bite the apple of sin". Sin can compromise our lives, but Jesus can wash it all away! Great new video!

reflections......Goodbye 2012, Hello 2013

As I reflect about the past few years, I have to say that at times I have gotten off track. Have I totally strayed away from God and totally denied Him or who He is? NO!!! But There were times where I should have guarded my walk with God so much more! The Bible says to "guard your heart". I look back and see why this is such an important aspect of our walk with God. It is just like guarding our hearts in any other relationship that we are in. We need to keep check on it so that we are not straying from our first love: Jesus!  The past couple years I just feel like I slid through or slid by. I read here and there, I prayed often though. I was in constant contact with God this past year. I really felt that getting a good prayer life this year was something I needed to do! I have to say that I could have been more disciplined in other areas though. 2012 I slid though, but in 2013 I want to THRIVE! I want my relationship with God to be my main focus! I want to never give up and I want to run forward with all I have in me to do all that God has for me to do!!

I have to say that there were a couple of things that stand out to me as a couple great things that God did  this year. The first thing that happened this past year that really stood out was our church LWMC merged with Christian Center. This was such a GOD thing! Just seeing how God lined up our churches and really merged us as one body was an amazing thing to see. Sometimes churches merging isn't taken as a good thing, but when God is in the middle of it and directing the entire thing it is an amazing thing! The two church became one on fathers day in 2012 and it has been the most wonderful thing! I love our "old"church people (people from LWMC), and we LOVE the new church people (people from Christian Center). AND we love the unity and the "oneness" that God has made! God is amazing!

The second thing that happened in 2012 that was amazing was God bringing spiritual parents into our lives! You know, we always knew that we wanted spiritual parents, and we always knew that it was good to have but we never really found true spiritual parents to help us along, pour into us, or gain wisdom from.... It wasn't till we met Pastor and Jane  and that changed! The love that they have! The passion to see people who are called used and grow... I have never seen more  invested people. I have to say that I am so blessed to have them! I have learned so much from them this past year and I continue to gain wisdom and knowledge from them as we are connected and as we spend time with them! They are led by God and they have 50 years of experience behind them, and that is an amazing thing to be able to pass on! I pray that God would  just bless them this year in such a great way for all they have given and done for so many including us! God knows what we need, He knows the desires and He provides! God knew we needed these two amazing people, and He knew that we desired wonderful spiritual parents and He provided the best! I love these two people and know that God has a reason and a plan that we cannot even imagine! I am excited for a new year. I am excited for all that God has, and I am excited to focus on God this year!
This year I resolve that I am going to live a more disciplined life in every area, that I am going to not give up but run toward what God has for  me, I am going to guard my heart and my relationship with God closely so that I wont let it become mundane  or average... that I will live a life on purpose and not happenstance. That everyday I will wake and want to know how I can serve God TODAY! 

Christmas was a great time. We have not been able to have too much family time since we are working, and just busy with everything. This Christmas was so nice just because we were able to get some much needed family time in! The kids enjoyed the gifts and had a nice Christmas, but it was so nice for me because we were just a family and enjoyed the time together. My husband and I barely get to see each other through the week sometimes. With both of us working opposite shifts, We only get a bit of time during the week. I had off a few days and so did my hunny. It was great seeing him for some quality time. We were even able to relax and watch a movie. It truly is the little things in life that really make it worthwhile. It isnt fancy gifts or huge presents, I didn't need anything this year other than time! Time with my family, and time with my love. It was  a perfect Christmas.
But now that Christmas is over, we have some sickly kids. SO please keep us in prayer. 6 Little ones isn't too fun. They are cranky and miserable. They don't know what to do with themselves at times. Plus its hard since they ALL want to be held and loved and comforted, and there is 6 of them, and one of me. So praying this sickness leaves the house fast!

IN the midst of a tragic event.....

With news of the horrific tragedy that occurred today in CT, I really felt I needed to share my thoughts. I cannot share about why this happened... All I know is that we all make our own choices and then we have to live with the consequences of our choices. This young man made a choice, and he paid a huge price, but along with that, many others felt the wake of his choice. God is still there in the midst of this tragic event, and He is mourning the loss of His children today as well, that I believe.... Our God loves us and mourns and weeps when we are hurting and loose those we love way to early. He mourns and has a holy anger when someone chooses to hurt and take a life of His beloved! Today we mourn and cry with those who have lost sons, daughters, grand-kids  teachers, mother/father, and friends.... It was an event that hits close to home. Many have kids, and couldn't even put into words what these people must be feeling! I know that I am greatly saddened and my heart breaks for them in CT. There is something that warms my heart though and I really want to point it out and I really pray that those who have lost a loved one today sees this as well! We are with you! We are praying for you! and even though we don't fully know what you are going through, we stand with you through this very very tough time! I see so many posts of people who don't even know the victims or the families and they are PRAYING! They are thinking of them, and they are saddened and mourn with you today! There are so many posts and tweets filled with love and support and I pray that those who lost someone sees them, and really feels the love, the support and the prayers!!!!

Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn."

psalm 34:18 "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Psalm 46:1  "God is our refuge and  strength, a very present help in times of trouble."

Pray for those who are facing such a hard time right now, and as we are getting closer to Christmas! Be there for them in prayer, and if you are close enough maybe reach out in person! Reach out, be the church, pray for your neighbor who is hurting this day!