Free

I have been listening lately to Delirious?

Early on in my walk with Jesus, I bought this worship CD and it is ministering to me just as much today as it did back then! I have been playing the song 'The Message of the Cross" over & over as loud as my stereo will play it! I think I may be getting saved all over again...for reals! Jesus is all I need and He is all that everyone needs...and so the most significant thing that any of us can do is to bring people to Jesus! I was counseling a friend recently and I was listening for a long time- to her and to the Spirit and trying to act on what I should do or say in this situation...and I finally came to the place of "I dont have to do anything...JESUS is going to do it!" And so I asked her if I could pray for her. It was great.

Message Of The Cross
This is the message of the cross, that we can be free,
To live in the victory, and turn from our sin,
My precious Lord Jesus, with sinners you died,
For there you revealed your love and you laid down your life.

This is the message of the cross, that we can be free,
To lay all our burdens here, at the foot of the tree,
The cross was the shame of the world,
but the glory of God,
For Jesus you conquered sin and you gave us new life!

You set me free when I came to the cross,
Poured out your blood for I was broken and lost,
There I was healed and you covered my sin,
It's there you saved me, this is the message of the cross.

This is the message of the cross, that we can be free,
To hunger for heaven, to hunger for Thee,
"The cross is such foolishness to the perishing,
But to us who are being saved, it is the power of God!"

You set us free when we come to the cross,
You pour out your blood for we are broken and lost.
Here we are healed and you cover our sin,
It's here you save us,

You set me free when I come to the cross,
Pour out your blood for I am broken and lost
Here I am healed and you cover my sin,
It's here you save me, this is the message of the cross.

Let us rejoice at the foot of the cross,
We can be free, glory to God. (repeat)

Thank you Lord, thank you Lord,
You've set us free, glory to God. (repeat)

Written by Martin Smith ©1994 Curious? Music UK

He is faithful

There are things in my life that feel as if they will never change. I'm talking about character flaws, sins that I wrestle with and behavioral patterns that I desperatley want to be free of! I live with my self everyday and so it is easy to feel like change takes forever- especially when I wanted it yesterday! No matter how difficult it may seem, no matter how long it takes, I am encouraged. I can't change myself anyways! Sean was just preaching on transformation being something that God does- He changes us by His power. It is so true! I just wish sometimes that it was a faster process. However, Christ is faithful! He has a purpose even in the timing of our transformation! Each step of the way He is in control of- if I am surrendered to the process- He will make good out of EVERYTHING!

"God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won't stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns."

Philipians 1:6

Love

"The success of love is in the loving - it is not in the result of loving. 
Of  course it is natural in love to want the best for the other person, 
but  whether it turns out that way or not does not 
determine the value of  what we have done." Mother Teresa 

Am I carrying the word?

How many times in my walk with the Lord have I received a prophetic word, but not seen it come to fruition? Could it be that I am not carrying that word? There is a difference between receiving a word and carrying a word. When we carry a word- our lives are changed from it! We believe it- we pray it- and, we prepare for it! God does not speak a word to tease or taunt us. He does not lie! We need to believe the things He speaks in our lives and over our cities. We will know that we are carrying & believing the word when our life has changed from it! So, a challenge to us: re-count all the times the Lord has given you a prophetic word and start to carry that word! God is doing and wanting to do amazing things; may we not miss out on what our part is in His incredible story because we stopped at receiving...but may we move on to carry the word!

Rocky Racoon Stepped Into the Room

Sunday night I found out that we have another pet in our full house... As Janine and I sleep in the "loft" of the house, we keep the windows open all night, and with that, we allow the wind to cool us off and a tree climbing raccoon eager to eat leftover cat food. And oh yes, he is quite sneeky, he comes in while we sleep!
Rocky is a tough one too, he came back the night after I got him off the roof with pebbles and then drenched him with a hose while he hugged onto another tree. I think this just made him hungrier though, as this morning I awoke to evidence of the empty food bowl and raccoon paw-prints around the floor...
eljefe 1. Rocky 2. and still counting.

Lumbar Sacral Epidural Steroid Injection

Do you want to feel like your going to pull out your hair for no good reason what so ever?

Just go get a lumbar sacral epidural steroid injection...that'll do ya good! Aghh...

Hey- at this point it can only get better.

My Buffalo Souvenir

Our missions trip to Buffalo was incredible...we saw 2 of our friends surrender their lives to Christ, many people's lives touched by the love of Jesus & all of us where challenged & encouraged in our personal walk with the Lord. As Buffalo is my home town, I knew I would wrestle a little bit with how to spend my time. Actually though God settled that storm in my heart & I felt that I was in His will perfectly & completley each day of the trip. When we place our lives in His care with all the details...it is always SO MUCH more incredible than we could ever imagine or dream or think of! Alot of Steve & Tamy's ministry is on the West side of Buffalo- and my sister and my niece & nephews live very close to there. I was able to connect very easily with them & the kids were able to come & hang with us at the outreaches & BBQ's...it was amazing! Mary P. was able to connect with my sister & I'm praying now for a deeper connection there between them. What was so surprising & out of the blue (God likes to do that to me...) was that my beautiful 8 yr. old niece ended up coming back to California with us! She will be with us for at least 1 yr! I dont understand how it all works and what Gods purposes are all the time...but He definetley has a plan for this little girls life! It was a total miracle...we had 4 connecting flights back to CA and we were able to get Asia on every flight! So far it is going good. I'm loving having her around and getting to care for & nurture this sweet little girl is a blessing & an honor! Wow...God is good! She has just started coming out of the "honeymoon" phase and entering "miss mommy" land wich is totally natural. Please pray for me to have wisdom and grace and that Asia will be open to Jesus love for her. I know that she already is...she walks around signing " Halleluia...you make all things new..." Precious!