My Heart

Born To Die

2009-12-25T18:35:00.001-08:00

December 24, 2009

I have just one question. Where did 2009 go? So many things happened in such a short amount of time I can hardly believe a year has come and gone. As with any year, we had the good and the bad as always. But lots of big events took place this For starters we sold mom’s house in Texas. This obviously was a very hard thing to do. Not physically, but emotionally. Initially we thought that a friend of moms was going to buy her house, so she didn’t bother with putting the house on the market and instead focused all her attention on doing some packing and retiring from the Texas school system. But, just before it was time to move, plans had changed and mom needed to locate a Realtor.

We put her house on the market and would you believe that the house had a contract on it in just 3 days! The LORD took care of that one in a heart beat. He is so amazing! We witnessed His mighty hand at work all around us during the entire process. The move went very well and mom was on her way to Alabama. We moved her in with us in early June and at that point spent the entire summer looking for houses that would work for all of us to live in together. But to no avail. In the mean time, the LORD was continuing His hand of provision in landing mom a new job at the middle school here (just before the school year started) doing what she loves most…teaching Special Ed. students. And while it was evident we weren’t going to find that perfect home for us, the LORD had something different planned all along. He was building us a house.

I wish I could tell you all of the details that go along with that statement. They are truly amazing. This house is exactly what we were looking for all along. (Of course it is, The LORD is building it!) Another neat thing about this house is that it not only has the perfect set up for mom, but it has lots of extra bedrooms for kids! And since we only have 2 kids….you may be wondering (if you don’t already know) that we are expecting more! The LORD has drawn our hearts toward adoption over the last year and we’ve got our sights set for a baby girl in India! We have been through the most interesting journey of our lives going through the process of adopting a child. We have filled out mounds of paper work and had our family raked over with a fine tooth comb. It has been interesting to say the least.

But we have learned so much about the LORD than we ever expected in this journey of adoption. We’ve learned more about the Father’s heart for the orphan as well as the whole concept of our own spiritual adoption in Christ Jesus. It’s been a mind blowing awakening. In my statement earlier I mentioned “kids”. We are working through the possibility of getting a sibling group of girls from India, but if the LORD wills just for us to have one this time around….then we plan to adopt again. There are too many babies out there that need a home for us just to stop with one. We’ll leave all the rest up to the LORD and just walk forward in obedience as He leads. I hope to be writing this time next year about a new member of our family!

So, lots of good as I mentioned this year but along with the good, came the bad. We had to endure yet another loss this year. I wasn’t sure my heart could actually take losing another loved one. This makes three years in a row that we’ve had to say goodbye to one of my closest family members. First it was my mamaw, then my father and this year it was my papaw. That’s too tough to even absorb. When we lost my papaw, we lost one of the kindest and most gentle souls I’ve ever known. He was a man who gave of himself to others all the time. I watched him literally give up the things on earth that he dearly enjoyed to care for my mamaw when her health was declining. With what little he did have he was always sending me checks in the mail letting me know that “he couldn’t think of anyone he’d rather give his money to”. He probably did that with everyone. Such a precious man. My papaw was loved by everyone and he is dearly missed.

The last few days, I have been reflecting on yet another who gave himself for others. My mind races to Philippians 2:6-9 that says, “Though he (Jesus) was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a servant and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” (NLT) Our pastor says every year “that the main emphasis of Christmas is not on the infancy of Jesus but on the deity of Jesus.” When you look at it like that you begin to realize (as much as humanly possible) all that He gave up to be born in human likeness. Jesus Christ gave up all that was rightly His to step into time to be born as a human being and ultimately humbled himself in obedience unto death.

Let’s be honest. When we think of Christmas, do we just see a baby lying in a manger, or do we see the King of the universe stepping out of heaven, giving up all His privileges to become an ordinary baby headed for the cross? Yes, He was born in Bethlehem but He was headed for Calvary. Putting it another way, He was born to die. Why? Love. It was love that drove Christ to such a humble state for our sinful account so that for all who truly believe might be saved! It’s one of those things you have to ponder deeply to even begin to conceive the slightest bit of its profundity. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around it. Ephesians 3:18-19 That you may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Trees, lights, presents, family and food are all nice at Christmas. But, I’ll take the humble King. Will you worship Jesus with us this Christmas? Not as an infant but as King, born to die so that we might be saved!

Merry Christmas!

God cannot bless a nation that turns away from Him

2009-09-13T18:13:00.001-07:00

I dare you to pray this

2009-08-01T19:41:00.001-07:00

I had no idea, REALLY!

2009-05-09T17:06:00.001-07:00

Click this link here!

National Day of Prayer 2009

2009-04-30T09:44:00.001-07:00

Get ready to hit your knees!

2009 Nashville Country Music 1/2 Marathon Recap

2009-04-27T18:45:00.000-07:00

So many of you have ask for a play by play detailed description of our day. So, here you go.

The race officially started at 7:00am. But we were assigned to corrals since all 31,000+ could not start at the same time. We were assigned to corral 16. I believe our start time was about 7:36am. I must say it was a gorgeous day for a run, not a cloud in the sky but it started out very warm. Can I just say right off the bat that our entire training was done in temperatures in the 30's 40's and 50's....but NOT in the 70's and 80's which is how our run started and ended. Ugh!

The first 5 miles weren't terribly bad. Aside from a few side stitches and a little sweat, it was a fairly good run. At mile 8, things began to change a little. There weren't many shady areas and there were a lot of hills and it seemed the water stations got fewer and fewer as our miles got longer and longer. Let me just say it was a scorcher! We felt like we were dying.

The entertainment along the way was fabulous and a great distractions. Country music bands, a gazillion fans and cheer leading squads cheering us on and a flat out mob that we were running with. When we came upon an area that had water stations, it was almost like herding cattle down the road because of the congestion. It was insane.

Our team was determined not to stop for a walk until mile 10 which is what we did, but I don't know if it was a mistake or a lifesaver. Immediately after we stopped running and started walking, every muscle our bodies tightened. It caused terrible pain. It felt impossible to begin running again. However, had we pushed our selves in the heat, I am afraid it could have been life threatening. We were all suffering from cramping, dizziness, light-headedness, nausea and stomach issues. We were joined in the suffering with many others who were passing out and throwing up all along the way. I realized somewhere around mile 11 that my left heel was kicking my right ankle bone because of fatigue which caused a nasty bruise as well.

We pushed ourselves best we could to run across the finish line. It was a proud moment of accomplishment. I sure wish it would have been a better run for us. We worked so hard to be prepared. We were prepared for everything but the heat. It did us in. But we made it.

We checked our pace at the 5, 8 and 10 mile marker and we we right on track with our training. It wasn't until mile 11, 12, and 13 that we lagged behind causing us to finish at 2 hours and 36 minutes total. We're happy though.

I must say... just to give you an example of the heat that we all were badly sunburned when it was over. We finished at 10:00am. I have never gotten a sunburn early in the morning like that. Also, I say this lightly as it was a terrible tragedy, but as we watched a few people being wheeled off on stretches that we learned that one of the guys (26 yo male) tragically died when paramedics got him to the hospital. It was a really hard day in the heat to do a marathon.

But, just like child birth (aka- the valley of the shadow of death) when we look back on that painful and difficult day, we can usually say.....ahh, it wasn't so bad and it was totally worth it. And so it is with my 1/2 marathon.

Thanks to all for praying for us.

Here are some pics. We should have some more pics up soon. There is also a link that shows live footage of our finish line if anyone is interested. Here

Here is a picture of our team shirts. We were known as "Team Pink" during the race.

Here we are kissing our medals and very thankful for a finished race.

The Life I Planned by Beth Moore

2009-02-10T11:14:00.000-08:00

Has someone seen the life I planned?
It seems it's been misplaced
I've looked in every corner
It's lost without a trace
I've found one I don't recognize
Things missing that were dear
Promises I'd hope to keep
And dreams I'd dreamed aren't here
Faces I had planned to see
Hands I planned to hold
Now absent in the pictures
Not the way I told
Has someone seen the life I planned?
Did it get thrown away?
God took my hand from searching
Then I heard him say,

"Child, your ears have never heard
Your eyes have never seen
Eternal plans I have for you
Are more than you could dream.
"You long to walk by sight
But I'm teaching eyes to see.
I know what I am doing
'Til then, you must believe."
He's done so much, I felt ashamed
To know He heard my moans
To think I'd trade in all He's done
For plans made on my own.
I wept over His faithfulness
And how He'd proved Himself
How He'd gone beyond my dreams
And said to Him myself,

"No, my ears have never heard
My eyes have never seen
Eternal plans you have for me
Are more than I could dream.
"Yes, I long to walk by sight
But You're teaching eyes to see
You know what You are doing
'Til then, I must believe."
I felt His great compassion
Mercy unrestrained
He let me mourn my losses
And showed me to my gains.
I offered Him my future
And released to Him my past
I traded in my dreams
For a plan He said would last.
I get no glimpse ahead
No certainties at all
Except the presence of the One
Who will not let me fall.
Are you also searching
For a life you planned yourself?
Have you looked in every corner?
Have you checked on every shelf?

Child, your ears have never heard
Your eyes have never seen
Eternal plans He has for you
Are more than you could dream.
Perhaps you long to walk by faith
But He's teaching eyes to see
He knows what He is doing
Child, step out and believe.

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind
has conceived what God has prepared
for those that love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9

To my papaw.....

2009-02-03T10:23:00.000-08:00

The most precious man I've ever known.

We LOVE you papaw!!

(Feb 18th 1921--Feb 4th 2009)

While I'm waiting

2009-01-29T10:36:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you....but there always seems to be themes in different seasons of my life. Currently the theme for me this year is "Waiting". I've been through the waiting season with the LORD before, but this time it seems that in every aspect of my life, I am waiting on something!

I am constantly before the LORD asking Him, for a yes or no.....
to stay or to go and to hold or let go .....and I find myself again hearing the words....just wait.

If you are waiting like me....maybe these passages will be of help.

Psalm 5:3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Psalm 33:20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.

Psalm 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Psalm 38:15 I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God.

Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.

Psalm 130:6 my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.

Isaiah 30:18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

Isaiah 40:31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Lamentations 3:24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

During this time of waiting that the LORD has appointed....One thing is sure......that I will serve, worship and be faithful with what that LORD has given me, right where I am.....and I will wait.. being confident that God longs to answer and will answer soon.

Love the words to the song below!

I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I’m waiting
I will serve You
While I’m waiting
I will worship
While I’m waiting
I will not faint
I’ll be running the race
Even while I wait

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it’s not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait

I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting on You, Lord

Song Lyrics by John Waller

Lead Me to the ROCK

2009-01-13T11:03:00.001-08:00

Psalm 61:1-2
Lead Me to the Rock
A Psalm of David.

1Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; 2from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Psalm 61 was a similar prayer my father had been offering up to God for about five months. At the news of his cancer, he began calling on the only one who could rescue him. All of us were crying out to God for deliverance from that evil disease. However, God didn’t answer quite how we expected. As I type this letter, a year ago today, this very minute my father left us and was delivered home to be with the LORD.

In his last few days, the cancer had taken its toll on my dad’s body and left him bed ridden and very incoherent. While watching him slowly slip away from us, my mom and I received a precious gift from the LORD the day before my father’s death. We witnessed miraculous things and experienced incomparable joys!

Dad had woken up from a deep sleep and began carrying on coherent conversations with us. His personality came to life as he began his joking and playing pranks on my mom which brought us sweet laughter. We got to huddle and love on one another and talk for long periods of time. We were able to express fears as well as provide assurance of provisions for mom once dad was no longer with us. We spoke of the difficult situation at hand and of how much he would be dearly missed. Precious conversations!

Later, to our surprise, dad sat up in bed and requested his glasses and the news paper, not hesitating for a second to go straight to the sports page. We even enjoyed a playoff football game together where he was happy to share his thoughts and opinions on players and teams as he always did. To our delight, dad didn’t waste a minute to ask to enjoy the sheer pleasure of swigging down 2 chocolate (milk chocolate Bluebell of course) milk shakes. Don’t think for a minute that he didn’t exclaim, “Mmmm, that’s so good!” one more time.

We laughed, we cried, we reminisced, we prayed together, confessed, forgave, loved deeply and reconciled all things. All of life’s earthly pleasures were enjoyed to the fullest one last time. As well, all eternal questions and decisions were completely squared away as we thoroughly discussed salvation in Christ alone, by faith alone. Dad reaffirmed his trust and hope in the LORD as he uttered the sweetest words, “who else do I have?” God demonstrated great mercy and grace to us. Never had we experienced such loving presence from the Father.

But, one thing left mom and I stunned that day. Dad spoke of a dream he just had that morning. As he described the dream, he told us he found himself walking down a long path. At the end of the path he sat on a rock and there he began talking to God. At the time it didn’t make any sense to either mom or I. We pondered it, then accepted it and moved on.

Today we fully know what was happening in what seemed to dad as a dream. It was the answer to the prayer he had been praying all along. “Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I”. It was not an answer of temporary deliverance. Jesus led dad down the path to The ROCK of his salvation, where he would find himself just the next morning, talking with God face to face, permanently. I praise you FATHER for letting us enjoy him one more day before you delivered him home.

Dad, I love you and miss you dearly.
With love always,
Your daughter, BB

Russell Moore: Adoption Awareness

2008-12-31T08:49:00.000-08:00

Do you hear it too?

2008-12-31T08:42:00.000-08:00

Together for Adoption

Merry Christmas

2008-12-22T19:14:00.000-08:00

At the Feet of Jesus

2008-12-18T10:52:00.001-08:00

At the Feet of Jesus

December 18, 2008

As 2008 comes to a close, I find myself in awe over Jesus. Each year I get to know Him in a different way. It absolutely blows my mind that I can personally know the Creator of Heaven and earth. As I look back over different seasons of my life I always find that Jesus not only shapes me and conforms me to His image, He also reveals new characters of Himself to me. I usually can name a new one each time. If I could use one word to describe God’s character revealed to me this year it would be, “Mercy”.

While preparing this letter, I reflected on the past 3 Christmas letters that I have written and I found that each one had particular difficult situations. In 2005 we were waiting on a job. Just around the corner in 2006 we picked up our family and moved to another state for ministry. Last year we lost my grandmother and watched my father battle a nasty cancer. But, none of our family was prepared for what would happen this year. None of us knew that dad would leave our world so soon and enter our Saviors. No one was ready for this! The pain, confusion and grief were indescribable. But during this unbelievable time we witnessed the hand of God and felt His presence like never before. What Mercy!

After spending nearly all of January in Texas with my mom, I whirled home in order to prepare for a brand new women’s ministry the LORD had called me to. Already sure that I was totally incapable of the calling before me, taking on a new ministry while dealing with terrible grief seemed an impossible task. Buried in studies and overcome with speaking anxieties each month, the LORD became my confidence. I was met with intense spiritual battles head on all along the way while serving in this new capacity. But God in His great mercy clothed me with strength to endure every bit of it.

The love and gratitude I have for Jesus overflows with in me. I’m drawn to the text in the gospel of John where I find Mary of Bethany at the feet of Jesus. The account reads, “Mary took a bottle of very expensive perfume made from pure nard and poured it on Jesus' feet. Then she dried his feet with her hair.”(John 12:3) I love this picture. Mary, out of love and gratitude for Jesus is found anointing Jesus’ feet with a very costly perfume. Spending time at someone’s feet was the work of a servant and a woman with her hair unbound was not a common sight in public. The incredible picture that we find in this biblical text is Mary pouring out her life in an intense personal devotion to Christ.

In the verses following we find out that the perfume was worth 3 hundred denarii. (The equivalence of about a year’s wage) Matthew and Marks gospels give testimony that some thought this was a total waste. (Mk 14:4; Matt 26:8) I have a feeling many today would scorn the behavior of one who would pour out a years worth of wages on Jesus’ feet. Think about that for a minute. What do people these days do when they have saved a year’s salary? If it is all spent in devotion to Jesus how do people react? Sadly, I believe that most would exclaim as those already mentioned, “what a waste”. Yet, Jesus describes it as a beautiful thing! (Mark 14:6)

When we get a glimpse of who He really is and what He has done for us, one can’t help but fall at His feet and give it all away! As the great hymn by Isaac Watts says, “Were the whole realm of nature mine- That were an offering far too small- Love so amazing, so divine- Demands my soul, my life, my all.” I can not think of myself in any other place than my life poured out at the feet of Jesus in total devotion, giving everything to Him for all He has done in my life. Saving me from the pit of hell was alone more than I deserve. But the fact that he goes way beyond that and gets personally involved in individuals lives and gives hope, comfort, strength and great mercy when we need it is something I’ll never understand.

At Christmas, in the midst of all the buying, decorating and celebrating some may give Jesus a glance. Others may perhaps meditate on what the birth of Jesus meant. But I hope you do more. I hope you’ll find that there is no greater place to be in this life than to be poured out at the feet of Jesus. Not just at Christmas time but at all times. There you’ll find that there is really no cost and no loss. Nothing wasted. There you’ll find all you need.

Soli Deo Gloria,
Brittnie

All the way my Savior leads me

2008-12-09T06:51:00.000-08:00

All the way my Savior leads me
Who have I to ask beside
How could I doubt His tender mercy
Who through life has been my guide

All the way my Savior leads me
Cheers each winding path I tread
Gives me grace for every trial
Feeds me with the living Bread

You lead me and keep me from falling
You carry me close to Your heart
And surely Your goodness and mercy will follow me

All the way my Savior leads me
O, the fullness of His love
O, the sureness of His promise
In the triumph of His blood

And when my spirit clothed immortal
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages
Jesus led me all the way
Jesus led me all the way

All the way my Savior leads me

Lyrics by Chris Tomlin (Hello Love Album)

Last Man Standing (Preteen Fall Retreat)

2008-12-07T22:01:00.000-08:00

New Adventure in God's Word

2008-12-01T08:58:00.001-08:00

about to embark on this starting Wednesday! Woohoo!

My Husband- a man of many talents

2008-11-25T13:12:00.000-08:00

He loves tater tots!

The Home Depot Hot Dogs

2008-11-14T07:07:00.000-08:00

I couldn't help but share!

Understanding the Times

2008-11-05T13:00:00.000-08:00

I felt like posting this again. I wrote it this time last year.

Understanding the Times
Daniel 9:1-3 In the first year of Darius son of Ahasuerus, who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom- in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

This passage so stuck out to me that I couldn’t help but write about it. Let’s look at this together. For a little background, All Israel had transgressed God’s law and turned away, refusing to obey the LORD their God. (Dan 9:11) and because of their unfaithfulness to the LORD, He scattered them both near and far in all the countries. (vs.7) In particular God had exiled Judah to Babylon and the people were in captivity. Daniel was one of those from the tribe of Judah who had been exiled to Babylon. But Daniel, even as a young teenage boy resolved not to let the pagan culture in which he now lived to be an influence on his life as a child of God. He lived in faithfulness to his God all the days of His life.

And here we are at this passage when Daniel was old in age and we see him searching the scriptures. He is reading the prophecies of Jeremiah which tell of a 70 year captivity and he understands that the LORD will deliver His people out of captivity just as He delivered them from slavery in Egypt. Daniel understands the times. He realizes that through the Prophecies of Jeremiah and the length the people have been exiled that the time of captivity is drawing to a close and the LORD will be faithful to restore His people.

Now Daniel, understanding the prophecies and believing in God’s soon coming restoration does something so interesting. He turns to the LORD God and pleads to him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. Amazing! Why did He do this? Why wasn’t he sitting back and carrying on with his life while waiting for Gods restoration? We see very clearly through his incredibly passionate prayer that he offers up to the LORD in verses 4-19 that he is praying for his sins and the sins of God’s people will be forgiven and he is mourning over them. The people that bore the very name of GOD had been living life their way and were not turning to the LORD and God punished them. Daniel prayed for his people to turn from their sins and return to God.

This raises the hair on the back of my neck. Daniel KNEW the times and he prayed and fasted for his people!
Do we know the times that we are in? As believers are we searching scripture to understand where we are at in our day and age? In Matthew chapter 24 Jesus gives us signs of the close of the age. Jesus tells us in vs.12 that in the last days we will see an increase in wickedness and the love of many will grow cold. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 tells that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.

I’d say that describes our day pretty accurately, wouldn’t you? And by reading these God breathed texts what are we doing about it? Jesus says in Matthew 24:32-33 that we can learn a good lesson from the fig tree: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he (Jesus) is near, at the very gates. Check your own spiritual pulse and the pulse of professing believers today. Do we understand the times? Or are we still going about our daily lives unconcerned about the sin in our lives or the spreading of the Gospel and totally disconnected from the Kingdom work that is to be done before Jesus’ return.

I am quickly reminded of Matthew 24:37-40 which says for as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Let this not be us! Let us be like Daniel who searched the scriptures and understood the times and cried out to God with prayers and petitions and with fasting on behalf of their sin and let us turn to the LORD with all our hearts to be ready on the day that the Son of Man returns. The time is drawing near.

Brittnie

A United House

2008-11-05T07:31:00.000-08:00

A United House by Beth Moore
(from her Blog)

To my beloved Sisters who I esteem so highly and consistently find to be part of the solution to our problems in the Church rather than the cause,

Please join me in praying for our President-elect Barack Obama, his wife Michelle, and his precious daughters, Sasha and Malia. Go with me before the Throne of our sovereign God and ask Him to grant wisdom from above to President-elect Obama and the indwelling presence and power of Jesus Christ. In the words of the Apostle Paul, "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior..."

Please also join me in the active and deliberate pursuit of unity and purity in the Body of Christ at this historical time in our country. I implore you in Jesus Name to have zero tolerance for prejudice whether it is regarding party-affiliation, color (whether you are Black, White, or Brown), economics or the like. Disagreement is not sin. Prejudice is. Satan has plotted events and planted attitudes that, should he be successful, will result in havoc. We must not stand for his schemes or cooperate in a single way. We would severely displease God and invite untold chastisement upon Christ's Church in our nation. Speak clearly to your children and graciously but emphatically draw a line in your work places and social circles regarding your stand against prejudice of any kind.

"Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, 'Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.'" (Matthew 12:25) A united house stands. A divided house falls. The devil has much to gain. But he also has much to lose.

We are the Body of Jesus Christ and we have an opportunity to show His character. This is our watch. We stand for what is right not from our feet but from our knees.

I humble myself before you and make these pleas under such bold direction of God that I could not resist it nor disobey it. He made it a fire in my bones.

I love and esteem you so much. Shoulder to shoulder, Dear Siestas. Let's leave not one inch for the enemy to come between us.

Every Tribe, Tongue and Nation

2008-10-28T10:56:00.000-07:00

Revelation 5:9
With your blood you purchased people for God from every tribe, language, people, and nation.

I had the opportunity to minister to refugees from Liberia two weekends ago. It was an incredible experience. I got a glimpse of what Heaven will be like!

Here are a couple of videos of the people worshiping in their tongue.

Another quick clip of this awesome experience!

Here are some pics of the day of us joining together our brothers and sisters from Liberia!

Squirrel Wars

2008-10-23T13:52:00.000-07:00

Every so often I'll look out in the back yard and see a big pile of leaves that have covered the ground just beneath one of our big trees. I just saw a new pile of them this morning! These are fresh green leaves with the limbs still attached. They aren't dead leaves that are falling due to the season.

Recently we came home from a trip and noticed all the leaves on the ground and we wondered if it could have been some kind of big storm that blew through and knocked down all the leaves or..... lightening maybe that struck the tree and sent leaves sailing to the ground??

We do have tons of squirrels in our back yard and I have thought that maybe it could be them. But they are small and don't look like they could cause much damage.

UNTIL I saw this and then realized....COULD IT BE??

It's time for a break!

2008-10-22T11:05:00.000-07:00

Psalm 69:13-18 (The Message)

13 And me? I pray.

God, it's time for a break!

God, answer in love!
Answer with your sure salvation!

14 Rescue me from the swamp,
Don't let me go under for good,

Pull me out of the clutch of the enemy;
This whirlpool is sucking me down.

15 Don't let the swamp be my grave, the Black Hole
Swallow me, its jaws clenched around me.

16 Now answer me, God, because you love me;
Let me see your great mercy full-face.

17 Don't look the other way; your servant can't take it.
I'm in trouble. Answer right now!

18 Come close, God; get me out of here.
Rescue me from this deathtrap.

Vote

2008-10-17T06:18:00.000-07:00

I'm not catholic, but this video that the Catholics put together to encourage their people to vote is very powerful and should be seen by all.

Mission

2008-10-16T06:51:00.000-07:00

Very early Saturday morning, a team of about 17 people are headed to Georgia to minister to a large group of refugees from Liberia. Will share more details later, but would you be praying for us? I am super pumped to be able to go and love on these people and share the gospel. What could be cooler than that? hope to post about it all when we return.

Something is changing

2008-10-16T06:36:00.000-07:00

Something is changing. I don't have a clue what it is....but something is definitely changing. Both my husband and I can sense it. I know most definitely that we are under a spiritual attack and have been for some time. And I am certain that it is regarding some major changes that we are making in our family in order to honor God with EVERY aspect of our lives and to seek first the Kingdom of God. These changes are an offense to the kingdom of Hell and the adversary won't allow us to continue with out a big fight.

But, at the same time that is taking place, there is something else happening that I can't put my finger on. Something more. There have been several situations/circumstances that have come about recently that have caused some kind of stirring in my heart that I don't know how to communicate in words right now. I don't know if it is about me personally, or our family, or one of our ministries or if He is gearing us up for something else. Hmmm....not sure. But, God is up to something. REALLY up to something. So, I am earnestly praying for discernment and for us to be fully prepared when ever God reveals what He is working on.

9 months yesterday

2008-10-14T17:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday marked 9 months since my dad's passing. How insane is that? Something that happened just a few short months ago....yet seems so long ago. Even though I can rejoice of his salvation, all those memories of the moments leading up to his death are such a bitter pill to swallow. Can I press on? Sure. Will it be easy? Absolutely not! My heart still aches and grieves for the emptiness that I feel inside of not having my daddy.

*sigh*

I can't even begin to imagine a life without my heavenly Father in the absence of my earthly one! Thank you so much LORD for your presence!

Deer

2008-10-14T16:22:00.000-07:00

I have to share this story. Yesterday while making supper, I turned around to put something on the table and in my kitchen window stood a deer glaring right at me. It terrified me! I screamed, nearly wetting my britches. Thought that I was going to throw up until I realized that my husband was the culprit. He had his target deer that looks JUST like a real deer and was holding it up in the window to spook me. It looked so real though! We do have deer occasionally so it wasn't totally unrealistic for there to be a deer in the window, but then the kitchen window sits up about 10 feet from the ground, so it would have to be a GIANT deer to be able to peer through the window. Either way, bad husband! Bad!

I have giggled about this throughout the day as I have been startled a number of other times when looking out one of the windows to our back yard and seeing a "deer" leaning up against the tree where my husband left him. How many times am I going to be scared by that thing every time I see it! It throws me for a loop every time! Maybe I ought to get out my man's bow and shoot that thing! LOL! Thank you LORD for some laughter today! I desperately needed it!

Longing

2008-10-08T18:41:00.000-07:00

To long to hold a child you've yet to meet. Yearning to love someone that you don't even know. How are these things possible? Only the LORD can put such desires in my heart. How long LORD do we wait? Where is she? How do we know where to find her?

Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them. You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so mere people can no longer terrify them. (Psalm 10:17-14) Please show us the way soon.

Time with the men in my life

2008-10-03T15:33:00.000-07:00

It has been far too long since I have spent time with the men in my life. Ministry has pulled me away from them a lot lately, and I can't tell you how excited I am to snuggle up to all 3 of them while watching IRONMAN and slamming M&M's till we're sick tonight!

Praise 150

2008-10-03T15:31:00.000-07:00

Can not wait til Praise 150 this Sunday night!

Another Blog

2008-10-03T11:34:00.000-07:00

Well,
I have a ministry blog and a family blog and a Sunday School blog. I guess I should have one for just my self, right? Hope to find this as a place to just spill my heart.
We'll see what happens.

Brittnie