MY STORY

We all get heavier as we get older,because there's a lot more information in our heads.That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

GOOD LESSON

This is in honor of all you dog lovers!

THINGS WE CAN LEARN FROM A DOG

Never pass the opportunity to go for a joyride

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them

When it's in your best interest, practice obedience

Let others know when they have invaded your territory

Take naps and scratch before rising

Run, romp, and play daily

Eat with gusto and enthusiasm

Be loyal

Never pretend to be something you're not

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle her/him gently

Thrive on attention and let people touch you

On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body

No matter how often you are scolded, don't buy into the guilt and pout.....run right back and make friends

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk

WITH THE KIDS

Well, here I am with some anxious kids. We're bunked down at a hotel waiting for Junior Talent tomorrow. The kids are so excited!!!! Crossroads' kids are just the best! They are the sweetest group of kids. I love getting to spend some time with them and share in this event.

Everyone keep them in your thoughts tomorrow as they perform and share their talents. They will be critiqued and given points on how to improve their ministry. I was so touched tonight as one of the boys prayed over our meal. In their prayer they asked God to be with them tomorrow because this was "all for You, Lord." I am so proud of them.

Poor Allison, though. She sprained her arm very badly and cannot perform tomorrow. She had to miss out on the trip. Please keep her in your prayers. She's very uncomfortable.

While I'm bunked down, I'm working on something for Pastor for Sunday's service. I am excited about these services. I believe everyone will be blessed by them.

Well, since I'm working on this and it's almost 10:30 and we have to get up early in the morning, I will cut this blog short.

Love you girls. See you Sunday!

HAVE A JOYFUL DAY

This is a rather lengthy devotion, but I really enjoyed it and wanted to pass it on to you. I felt that there was someone out there who needed this today. Have a joyful day!

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! How often we pass over those words without stopping to grasp the amazing truth they hold. Jesus did not come so that we can merely survive life. Pagans can survive life. God’s plan is for us to thrive in the midst of the days, months and years we call life. A continual feast of joy – with every breath we take.

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.” (NKJV) 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, “A cheerful heart has a continual feast.” (Proverbs 15:15 NIV)

Life, my friend, 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.” (NCV)

Author and speaker, Barbara Johnson, says that “One laugh = 3 Tbs. of oat bran.” For many years, we lived in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area where hospitals and doctors developed “laughter programs”. I love it! Doctors are actually prescribing laughter. Why? Because they have discovered what scripture has said for thousands of years - that laughter heals! The documented benefits of laughter are:

· Exercise for lungs

· Increased circulation

· Controlled pain

· Reduced tension

· Strengthened immune system

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!

B. Joy makes us strong.

Joy – humor – laughter – all cultivate inner strength that operates beyond our own human abilities. His joy in us will produce His strength through us. The joy of the Lord in us will produce His strength through us! The words of Nehemiah say it beautifully, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)

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.

Several years ago, one of my friends underwent a mastectomy. Sally was out of work for months, undergoing surgery, radiation and chemotherapy treatments. All in all, it was a horrendous ordeal! She was not known for her inner strength and, in fact, often seemed fragile and frail in her handling of tough circumstances. Sally’s battle with cancer was by far the greatest challenge of her life. Anticipating her return to work, Sally’s co-workers were a little tense, wondering just how this experience would affect her personally as well as her ability to handle the stress of her job. They got their answer on her first day back at work. Sally walked in, smiling, wearing a poster-board sign around her neck. On the sign was a huge black arrow pointing down. The sign read, “It was this one!” Yes, joy and laughter make us strong!

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.” We need to celebrate the ordinary things in life because it is against the backdrop of the ordinary that God’s work becomes extraordinary. As we celebrate the ordinary - as we celebrate the little things in life - we build a life of joy! 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 – celebrate if Dad comes home! My husband is an absolute master at finding joy and laughter in the ordinary and often mundane things of life. Now before I go any further, you need to know that I have his full permission to share the following illustration. I believe his exact words were, “Go for it!”

Several years ago, our family was flying to Texas for the Christmas holidays. Before I could even begin packing, a mountain of laundry had to be done. My sweet husband offered to help. After the first few loads, we turned on the television to watch a Christmas special. Settling into the couch sitting under a wall of windows, we folded load after load of clothes. It was midnight and Dan was bored – a dangerous combination. The drier buzzed and out he went to retrieve the final load. He came back into the room wearing a “hat” which turned out to be a pair of my sexiest underwear. I burst out laughing – and so did the people outside our family room windows!

Each year, our church youth decorated Christmas trees and delivered them to the older members of our congregation - a wonderful act of service. They also had a contest to see who could produce the ugliest tree, which was always delivered to the pastor’s home on Christmas Eve. However, since we would be out of town on Christmas Eve, they had chosen this particular night to deliver the prized tree. Outside our windows stood youth workers, youth and the youth pastor – laughing hysterically. (Some of them are still in counseling today!) That ordinary chore has become a favorite family story. Joy and laughter make the ordinary special.
I want it all! I want everything that 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!

Let’s Pray

Father, I celebrate You! Thank You for bringing joy and peace into my dark world. Thank You for a love that never fails and a peace that meets every need. Help me to remember that because You are in control, I can have joy every step of the way.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Evaluate the joy-level in your heart and in your home.
Identify any “joy-robbers” present in your life and make a plan to eliminate them.
Plan a party, announcing that the flag of joy will be flying above your home from now on.
Memorize the key verse today and make it one of your life verses.

Answer the following question:

Would your family describe you as a woman of joy? I encourage you to examine your life to discover who or what you are counting on for joy. I often wonder if it grieves the heart of God to see His children living joy-less lives when He came so we could experience abundant joy. I truly believe that attitudes can be healed by joy and laughter.

I FOUND THEM!

...I found my pajamas!!! Okay, well, I'll repent, I didn't really find them - Rebekah did. Hurray for a daughter-in-law who knows how to shop for what you need. We saw a lot of good ideas out there - and plenty of them in clearance. Of course, you creative girls can probably make something great out of what you have. I wish I were that talented. Go for it girls!!!

While we were out, we got the door prizes too. I promise you don't want to miss out on a chance for them!! Ladies, this weekend is going to be so about you and having fun! My only regret is that it is still a month away. But...that's probably a good thing. It gives you time to get those pj's and plan your non-talent!!

Remember, I've got some resources if you need help with the talent part. I can download songs/music, have some karaoke... also some skits. Start thinking about some funny things that have maybe happened to you or just funny things about being a woman or mom....and begin writing about it. You'll have a song, story, cheer, or something out of it before you know it.

Love ya, Sisterz!!

EXCITED

Not that I'm trying to rub it in, but I'm so glad to be on spring break this week. I started my morning by making biscuits and gravy - Abby's request - and building a castle out of Wonder Blocks. (Thank you, Glyn, for leaving those behind when you left home!) After telling the kids goodbye, it was off to the computer and files to work on the retreat.

I am so excited about the retreat! We have so many great plans and ideas for it. I came up with an idea for the nontalent night. Simon will just love it!!! (Yea, right... like Simon likes anything!) I'm still working on my pajamas. I had an idea, but I haven't been able to find what I need. If I find them..... well, all I'll say is that it's gonna be totally out of character for me! Girls, that in itself will be worth coming to the retreat for!

What about you? You've still got a month, but I hope you're thinking and planning. You girls are so creative - I know it's going to be tough competition.....and a great show both Friday night and Saturday. You are some of the funniest girls I know! I'm looking for your best - especially since Simon and Paula (maybe Randy) will be here! Who knows - you may be the next one going to Hollywood. : )

If anyone needs help - maybe downloading a song or video or finding a skit or a song on karaoke.... I've got some resources and would be glad to help. Just let me know. And remember, it doesn't have to be a song. It can be a pantomime, skit, poem, cheer, monologue, drama, .... and you can do it individually or as a group. Be creative. You're not restricted to what I've listed here. The sky is the limit.

Don't forget to pass the word about retreat also. Everyone I've told about it has been excited. You'll never know until you ask if they would like to come also. After all ALL GIRLS WANNA HAVE FUN!!!

ALWAYS BE YOURSELF

"A Woman Had a Heart Attack"


A 54 year old woman had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital. While on the operating table she had a near death experience. Seeing God she asked "Is my time up?"

God said, "No, you have another 43 years, 2 months and 8 days to live."

Upon recovery, the woman decided to stay in the hospital and have a face-lift, liposuction, breast implants and a tummy tuck. She even had someone come in and change her hair color and brighten her teeth!

Since she had so much more time to live, she figured she might as well make the most of it. After her last operation, she was released from the hospital.

While crossing the street on her way home, she was killed by an ambulance..

Arriving in front of God, she demanded, "I thought you said I had another 43 years. Why didn't you pull me from out of the path of the ambulance?"God replied: "I didn't recognize you!"