Thinking...

Just thinking about some things today. My heart is heavy for so many things. I have heard of a friends' diagnosis of invasive Melanoma, relationships at odds, not just one! I know that the ENEMY is alive and well and roaming in this world. I know that this is HOLY WEEK and we are to be surrounded by the thoughts of Christ and what he went through to save US from the eternal damnation. I just am saddened by the weight of the burdens that are being placed on people. People need to "lean not on their own understanding, but in all their ways acknowledge HIM!" (paraphrased) I just am claiming the Lord's victory over the life of my friends that are being afflicted with this heavy weight, that they may lay their burdens at the feet of the cross and KNOW that HE died for those things. Leave them there, let them go, give them to GOD.

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This was a fabulous part of our trip that I didn't get to add to the first smilebox, so enjoy this one as well.

Spring Break

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This is just a small sampling of the pictures we took on our little vacation to Driftwood Shores in Florence, Oregon. We had such a great time together. This is one of our last real family Spring Break trips, since Bugg will be heading off to college. So it was bittersweet. Extra special times. :~)

Here is the real story :~)

The hubs and I don't lack for vehicles at our home. We have 4 rigs, two boats, a trailer, 3 bicycles and I am sure a few other things that could mobilize us. All of the rigs are paid for and so when considering getting something newer than 11 years old comes to the conversation, we slightly balk. You see, neither of us want to go back to payments. We have thankfully made it to the only "bill" being the house payment, besides utilities. So, Hubs truck is old! Like a 1991, before we were married year, right? It has a temperament and often decides to do what it feels it wants to do, not always what we think it should do, right. So he has been eyeing this rig down at the lot by our house, we are officially on vacation with the girls for Spring Break and we aren't going out of town yet...so let's look at this pickup. OK, that sounds reasonable. He gets this nice young kid to go with him for a test drive, on the way out he says to Peanut and I, "take a look around and see if there is anything you like!" Was he intentional? I am not sure, but Peanut and I went cruising about the lot. We found this one rig that was listed for less than $13,000 and it was a 2004, TAHOE! Had power everything and a built in DVD player. Must be a mistake. He comes back and he really, really likes the truck. I tell him that is great, get the truck. While you were out, we looked at this......

Peanut is with us as Hubs does all the negotiating. She is a quick learner and quite bright, if I might add. So she is going right along with her Dad on this one. They are wheeling and dealing and guess what? Long story short...we brought this one home and haven't got the pick up yet. But maybe before too long. Nice day out with the family for me :~).

Lynsey turns 18 :~)

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Just when I think that life may slow down, my little girl turns 18! Crazy!

When God Seems Silent | Kyria

When God Seems Silent | Kyria

Laugh it UP!

March 8, 2011
Laugh it up!
Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth
“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10, NKJV).

Friend to Friend
Jesus lived and died so that we can experience abundant life. Jesus did not come so that we can merely survive life. Pagans can survive life. God’s plan is for us to experience joy and peace – no matter what life holds.

John 10:10 clearly states the promise of God, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” In this verse, “abundant” literally means “going beyond; full or exuberant.” In other words, an abundant life is a life filled with joy. Even in the midst of a joy-less world, we can live a joy-filled life for one simple reason – God is in control. And because He is in control, we are promised, “the cheerful heart has a continual feast” (Proverbs 15:15 NIV). Life should be an ongoing celebration.

Now, be honest for a moment. Is your life a continual feast, a daily celebration? Would those who know you best describe you as a woman of joy? Laughter and joy are treasures from God, valuable to us for many reasons.

1. Joy heals. Proverbs 17:22 “A happy heart is like good medicine, but a broken spirit drains your strength.”

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In other words, God created us to illustrate the truth, that if we laugh more days, we will have more days to laugh. Joy heals.

2. Joy makes us strong. Nehemiah 8:10 “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Joy – humor – laughter – all cultivate inner strength that operates beyond our own human abilities. The joy of the Lord in us will produce His strength through us. A life without joy is like a car without shock absorbers. It will be jolted by every bump in the road. Laughter and joy are the shock-absorbers of life and can radically change our perspective of life and the tough times it holds.

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C. Joy makes the ordinary special.

Someone said, “If you have to move ten inches from where you are now to be happy, then you will never be truly happy.” As we learn to celebrate the ordinary things in life, we build a life of joy because it is against the backdrop of the ordinary that God’s work becomes extraordinary. We don’t have trouble celebrating the big events in life. Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries – are celebrations we anticipate and execute with great planning and forethought. We tend to place unrealistic expectations on these celebrations because there is no daily celebration of life.

So celebrate, my friends! Celebrate Tuesdays, half birthdays, haircuts, new jeans and report cards. Celebrate the day braces go on – and especially the day they come off. Celebrate if Dad comes home early. Hey, just celebrate if Dad comes home. ...

I want it all. I want everything God has for me. I want to celebrate life, but I often get so wrapped up in the urgent things that I lose sight of the important things. A celebratory attitude is slowly siphoned from our souls by the countless “joy robbers” the enemy sends our way. Guard your heart and mind. Refuse to surrender your God-given joy to anyone or anything. Join me this week as we celebrate Jesus. Party on, girlfriends!

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