Have you prayed with your spouse today?...

I am presently studying the book of Daniel...finishing up Chapter 7. What a blessing it's been to me personally to study this particular lesson.
Daniel 7:25 he shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.

In the author's study, she shares that "one of Satan's most effective schemes is simply to wear God's people out. Satan uses exhaustion and profound discouragement to persuade us to give up opposing him. We must not give up! As believers in Christ in whom the Spirit of God dwells, Satan may be able to wear out our human strength, but he CANNOT WEAR OUT THE HOLY SPIRIT'S!!!! We can call upon God's supernatural strength to fight the good fight of faith and persist in our proclamation of Christ, the son of the Most High God".

So, are you tired today, worn out, discouraged....do not give up hope! Satan is going to try his hardest to harrass you until you are miserable. Anyone ever been there? Ever thought..."can anything else go wrong in my life"? This lesson was actually very encouraging to me. It reminds me that no matter how hard Satan tries, I will NOT give up! My hope is in the Lord! When you're out there on the front lines fighting for the Lord, Satan is going to try his hardest to make you quit! Colossians 1:29, To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. Let's call on God to fill us with His all-surpassing power day in and day out to fight the devil. Beth Moore quotes...Let's not wait until we're at the end of our strength to utilize God's power!

God loves you. He sees your hurting heart; your struggles. Stay on your knees; keep praying. In our Sunday School class, Scott had our class make a commitment to pray together as husband and wife. The divorce rate for spouses that pray together is only 10% vs. 50% for those that don't. Don't allow "things" to come before your time with the Lord. And on this beautiful Sunday, when most churches are cancelled, there are no excuses to not having time with Him today! There isn't anything to control your time this morning...to come between you and the Lord. Talk to Him today. You'll be so glad you did!

Families that pray together stay together!

Happy Birthday, Honey!

40 (cough, cough) years ago today, God brought someone very special into this world. 24 years ago, He allowed our paths to cross and I was fortunate enough to win his heart...actually, he won mine, but that's another story.
I'm thankful for every day that we are blessed to spend together!
Scott, today we celebrate you and thank God for giving us the most amazing husband and Dad.
Happy Birthday!
We love you,
Kim, Heather, Lindsay, Caleb (and Max :)

Lovin' my "toys"...

I don't know what I love more (besides the Lord and my family, of course)...

is it my Vita-Mix? My Keurig? My hot-air popper? I'm a sucker for inventions, and I've got a few of the great ones!

Some sweet friends introduced me to the Keurig coffee maker about a year and a half ago. I was instantly hooked. I was given a Visa gift card from my boss around the same time to buy something special. Great timing! I was online and ordering :) Each morning I can just pop my little K-cup (the individual coffees) into my machine and viola...perfectly brewed coffee for one. It's perfect because my husband doesn't drink the stuff, so I can make just enough for me. I love all the flavors. At http://www.keurig.com/ I can order whatever flavor of coffee you can imagine (and there are hundreds). If only I could get a referral fee, I'd be rich, because many of my friends have now ordered this wonderful machine.

And what can I say about my Vita-Mix? Oh my...one of the greatest machines ever invented. It's a blender that I cannot even describe. If you stop by in the morning, you're sure to hear it running. It's healthy eating at its best! Each morning, I make Scott and I fruit and veggie smoothies. Two of our favorites: 1) Carrot juice - water, whole apple (peeling, core and all), orange, chunk of fresh pineapple, 3 carrots. Just drop it all in, blend for 60 seconds and enjoy! 2) Green smoothie - green grapes, pineapple, banana, water, lime wedge, and fill the blender with fresh spinach. Blend for 60 seconds and enjoy! Oh my, it is deeee-lish!

I'm trying to make more and more with this sweet blender. I make peanut butter.....just drop in 3 cups of honey roasted peanuts...blend for 60 seconds and enjoy! No additives, preservatives, high fructose corn syrup...none of that! Just healthy eating. You can make basically any meal in minutes. Every recipe is healthy. You can make your own wheat flour, applesauce, anything you can imagine. And let me tell you about desserts....homemade strawberry icecream (1 lb bag frozen strawberries, 1 cup fat free half-and-half, 1 cup ice....instant icecream); and Shrek icecream (1 cup Welch's 100% white grape juice, 1 banana, 1 lime wedge and 2 cups spinach...looks like green sorbet and delicious). 1000's of recipes...http://www.vita-mix.com/

For a person who struggles with weight, it's been a life-saver. Since September, I've dropped 17 pounds, with only 5 more remaining to lose. I wish I could contribute it all to my vita-mix and exercise, but I can't. I've simply cut back on snacking and eating healthier....taking it one day at a time and not obsessing over it; looking to the Lord for my comfort rather than food!

Is there anything more precious?

Scott had the privilege this morning of baptizing his mom. He flew to Florida yesterday and was able to spend some time with his parents. His Dad wanted to fly us both there but the prices were expensive for two. After hours of searching on his part, I decided it was much more important for Scott to go alone than for us to drive that far for a 24-hour trip. It was a little cheaper to take a connection but that was almost the same amount of time that it would have taken to drive; a direct flight was only 1 hour, 20 minutes.

Scott and his parents said it could not have been more perfect. His mom said it was the greatest gift she's ever been given to have her son baptize her. I'm so thankful that God worked out every detail and gave Scott that blessing.

Merciful and gracious...

Psalm 103: 8-12... The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

I'm so thankful to serve a God who loves me unconditionally; He is merciful and gracious to me; He does not hold grudges against me; He does not treat me the way I deserve to be treated.

Thank you, Lord, for blessing me despite of who I am.

Things that make my heart "proud"...

1. Having a husband provide for his family...taking care of all their needs...well, and their wants.
2. Seeing my kids tithe and budget their money.
3. Having my oldest attend a worship conference for college students and hearing how excited she is to come home and tell us all about it.
4. Seeing my middle child go to Lifeway Christian bookstore last night because she couldn't wait to get a new devotional...and then walking into the playroom to see her and her boyfriend reading it together and discussing it.
5. Watching my youngest excited about public school and telling us about the kids he's already asked about their faith.
6. Knowing all my kids love the Lord and will spend eternity with Him...true peace!

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

No longer a teenager....

Today, our oldest turns 20! So hard to believe. This is also the first time ever that I've been away from one of my children on their birthday...actually, it's Heather that's away. She's at The Passion, a worship conference for college students. There's no where else I'd rather her be. I know she is having an amazing time.
Happy Birthday, Heather! We thank God for you everyday and we love you.