Cindy's Mom Moments

Words that fall from our mouths............

2012-01-14T10:09:00.000-08:00

Word's are powerful they have the ability to bring life or bring death, God's Word says the tongue is sharper than any two edged sword wow powerful right. Water and Words our easy to pour out but impossible to recover - A Chinese Proverb so true is it not? As wise Woman of God we must realize that our words have the unique power to give hope where one is feeling hopeless, peace in a place of turmoil, and confidence to a fearful soul. May we as women speak words of Praise and Promise to those around us Words of truth not advise or opinions , Words that build up and NOT tear down. My goal is to speak words that minimize others shortcomings, AND SPEAK WORDS that MAXIMIZE other's strengths and encourage those around us to live life fully for Christ. True Friends see each other through the eyes of forgivness and grace.. is not that how CHrist sees us and are we not to be in The Image of God Himself?? We MUST learn to guard our critical tongues and negative thoughts scripture is clear on doing just that......

"FOR OUT OF THE OVERFLOW OF THE HEART THE MOUTH SPEAKS. THE GOOD MAN BRINGS GOOD THINGS OUT OF THE GOOD STORED UP IN HIM, AND THE EVIL MAN BRINGS EVIL THINGS OUT OF THE EVIL STORED UP IN HIM." (MATTHEW 12:34&35)

" DO NOT LET ANY UNWHOLESOME TALK COME OUT OF YOUR MOUTHS, BUT ONLY WHAT IS HELPFUL FOR BUILDING OTHER UP ACCORDING TO THEIR NEEDS, THAT IT MAY BENEFIT THOSE WHO LISTEN. (Ephesians 4:29)
Some Questions to ponder:
Do you find yourself focusing on the lack in others?
Do you weigh their weaknesses against your strengths?
When we speak what is flowing from our heart to the ears of those around us?
And may we remember (self so included) our words really do reveal the very truth of the attitude of our hearts.

Father I ask for forgivness in my own life where I myself have had critical thoughts and words or where what I have said has hurt or harmed anothers well being may you cleanse me of my selfish heart and help us all to listen more and say less may we see ALL others through YOUR eyes and not our flesh may we focus on peoples strengths and NOT their shortcomings for we ALL have them and we are ALL A "WORK IN PROGRESS" MAY THE WORDS that fall from our tongues be covered in love and grace in Jesus Holy name amen.

God Bless In His Amazing Grace,
Cindy

CHRISTmas Season

2011-12-09T10:21:00.001-08:00

Can you believe it is the nineth day of December already wow right??? I have not been posting on blog often but I plan on that ALL changing in 2012 New Year NEW perspective and ready to share with y'all again.

My family has been Doing the Advent we are doing the one over at my sweet sister's blog spot A Holy Experience (Ann Voskamp love her) then we also found an amazing Reason for the Season devotional as well over at http://www.toddlerbitesblog.wordpress.com/ it really puts CHRIST back into CHRISTmas 24 Reasons to count down to CHRISTmas the first 8 are all about decorating and getting your house ready for CHRISTmas , 9-14 are all about the sights you will see all around town this season, 15-18 are all about celebrating with family and friends, 19-24 Center around The CHRISTmas Story so far it has been amazing and very informative love it great resource.

I also encourage y'all this very busy season to take a few "Silent Nights" and what that is are nights that we turn the noise off phones and computers TV and all distractions that keep us from focusing on the TRUE MEANING of this wonderful amazing season and from our family time. You may during these times decide to watch a quiet CHRISTmas movie but no other noise on all night it is awesome. Whatever your family traditions are please SLOW down and enjoy each other and dont get all caught up in the hussle and bustle the world places on this season.

REMEMBER FRIENDS- AS WE ARE UNWRAPPING GIFTS THIS SEASON MAY WE NOT FORGET TO UNWRAP THE BEST GIFT OF ALL "GOD'S GIFT OF GRACE AND SALVATION" HE wants us to have it, it was free yet bought at such a very high cost. It is EXTRAVAGANT, SO UNWRAP IT, EMBRACE IT, AND MOST OF ALL "LIVE IT" .

READ EPH. 2:8-9

May the Grace of God Bless you This CHRISTmas Season and from my family to all of your families God Bless, Merry CHRISTmas , and Happy New Year

Until Next Time,
Cindy Bolt

Not Perfect....Who is??

2011-11-03T20:19:00.001-07:00

After much prayer and the encouragement of my fellow blog friends I will begin to blog again. I have been discouraged after hearing some commentary by some whom are critical and judgemental,but I have taken it to the Lord and He says He is my defender I must not defend myself to anyone else He will do so. I love what my sis said over at Womenlivingwell.org just said the other day; "I'm a huge disappointment and it's time I embrace disappointing others-to the Glory of God ! It is easy for bloggers to think we must portray ourselves as perfect and we all know that is impossible only Jesus is perfect and my job is to be honest I am a glorious mess and that is OK that is when Jesus SHINES through and the Glory may be given to God.
This blog is intended to share my life and my life only as openly as possible and as real as possible I do ask that when visiting this blog we are leaving Godly edifying comments uplifting and encouraging and if and when we have a concern or question or an offence of ANY kind then as the BIBLE INSTRUCTS I encourage you to bring it to me in private and we can care for it then I wish for this to be a place of EXAMPLE and Love and again where my personal life is shared not what others should or should not be doing. May God Bless each of us and may we turn our hearts into hearts of Thanksgiving this month as we prepare to sit at the Thanksgiving Table.
Until Next Time,
Cindy

2011-09-26T13:04:00.000-07:00

MY SECURITY COMES FROM CHRIST ALONE.................The subtle stabs from others is the enemy being used to try to knock me down and though at times it may knock me down it WILL NEVER KNOCK ME OUT MY VICTORY IS FOUND IN JESUS!! Have a great day friends!!!

In His Amazing Grace,
cindy

2011-09-25T18:53:00.000-07:00

HELLO I am joining with my gal pal over at http://www.womenlivingwell.org/ for the FALL CHALLENGE "MAKING YOUR HOME A HAVEN" below is the start date and what to do you can also see in more detail over on her blog great site as well. God Bless and pray about joining us.
October 3 - Go buy an extra large candle and light a candle everyday in your home. I will be starting mine in the morning! But you can start yours at dinner time. Do what makes sense for your family. I will be placing mine in the kitchen – the main hub of my home. Each time the candle catches your eye, say a prayer for peace in your home.
October 10 – Play soft music everyday in your home. Choose worship, classical or another form of peaceful music that the family enjoys. Focus on using peaceful words and maintaining peaceful relationships. Remind your family to avoid seething anger, tattling, criticism or back talk. As the wife/mother, work on gentleness this week.
October 17 – List a few of the spots in your home that make you visually stressed because of all the clutter.Now go buy something for that spot – like a basket to put it all in! Work on cleaning up clutter – throw things away and encourage the children and your hubby to do the same in their bedrooms or offices or work areas this week. While you’re at it – clean up some clutter in your spiritual life. What gets in the way of your peace spiritually?
October 24 -Keep the candle going, the music playing, and add some tender moments with your family. Have a pillow party in the family room and get out every blanket and pillow in the house and be cozy with the kids or your hubby! Even if you live alone you can do this. Enjoy a cozy evening of hot cider and caramel corn. Give a 5 minute back rub to every single person in your house…and for a double challenge- try to give one every day to each family member! During your tender moment with the family, ask them how they feel about this challenge. Are they enjoying it? Is it helpful? Is there anything they would change. Give your family listening ears. I think you will be blessed by the positive feedback you will receive!
October 31 – Focus on the kitchen, the heart of the home. Cook things with pleasant aromas. Pick a meal the family can cook together – include everyone in a task and take pictures so everyone can remember moments in the kitchen together – test tasting, being creative, laughing and loving. Remove discontentment with your home or family and give thanks to God for the home God has given you to in which to create a haven for your family.

God Bless you all as we enter this new season!

In His AMAZING GRACE,
Cindy

Watching Words that Proceed From our Mouth

2011-09-25T17:25:00.001-07:00

" Let NO UNWHOLESOME WORD proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for EDIFICATION, according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear." Eph. 4:29

2011-09-24T18:18:00.000-07:00

So last week in homeschool we were preparing for Fall my families fav. time of the year and we were on major decoration mode lol still have more to go. We will be learning about different types of leaves and more about the season of Fall love this part. Above is our front porch decor.

There is a season for everything God's word says in Galations 6:9 "Don't grow weary in doing good for in due time you shall reap a HARVEST if you do not lose heart." God Bless and until next time may you be blessed.

In His Amazing Grace,

Cindy

2011-09-24T17:41:00.001-07:00

Please do NOT leave rude comments on this blog or you will be blocked permanently thank you so much!!!! This is a place where we use words seasoned with grace and love I dont mind constructive comments or critisizm but down right rude and judgemental is out of question and everything written on this blog is TRUTH and if that is not accepted please dont visit this site.

REAL LIFE FRIDAY'S

2011-07-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

This is my real life right now living out of boxes in a house mostly packed until the move lol can't wait to just get there hard to live half packed up but blessed to have a home!! :) THANK YOU JESUS

Link up from Media/Monday's with Women Living Well.org

2011-07-07T13:57:00.000-07:00

Hello I wanted to post a little something as I link up for next few weeks with my sis over at www.womenlivingwell.org. She is doing an 8 week discussion on Media and the trouble we can have if not careful. I have to be very honest this has been a major struggle in our home my husband has worked in computer business for well over 10 years he can do it all current title is an engineer at a tech. company he has seen the changes come and go and the explosion to social media first hand. I on the other hand was very computer illiterate and knew nothing yet feeling the pressures to know what I was doing somewhat. All my friends new how and so I taught myself somewhat even surprised my husband and created my very own blog a few years back.

Things changed rather fast as we know it does we now have twitter, facebook, myspace, yahoo chat, you tube and on and on well I quickly learned most of these and wow did it become so addicting in fact I started making it my GOD an IDOL. I no longer got up to read the WORD first oh no instead I put God to the side lines and said I shall read the Word after I Facebook and check all my status updates and let me text now and oh gotta check e-mails ok whoops now I have to quickly read the Word of God so I can start my day well that reading of the Word became less and less every passing day and time on WEB MEDIA grew more and more until I really could notice a yuck going on in my life. I came to my blog one day and had no inspiration nothing to write about and could not figure out why well hello I was dry spiritually dry on empty and on a Media overload and was crashing hard. I decided less Internet more God and really having to purposefully place God where He rightfully belongs FIRST and Family next then other things so I have to make it a habit to place WORD right next to me so in morning the first thing I see when getting up MY BIBLE NOT MY COMPUTER. In fact ladies if your laptops or computers are in your rooms or near where you usually have quiet times with the Lord I encourage you to MOVE them out of view so you are NOT tempted to go to laptop before the WORD of God. Let's face it ladies Media and Social Networks are all here to stay and I am sure grow beyond what most can fathom but we are called to NOT be of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds and to NOT conform to what is going on around us so we can take part but not in place of our time with God, Husbands, Children, Family, Friends, church and etc. let's monitor our time on these things as we monitor our children's time on videos and computers, and TV remember we LEAD BY EXAMPLE that's a hard pill to swallow!!

Until Next Time,

In His Amazing Grace,

Cindy

REAL LIFE FRIDAY'S

2011-07-01T09:47:00.000-07:00

Playing in the park ....my six year old the baby of 7 kiddo's!!

This is Discipling

2011-06-27T20:27:00.000-07:00

I am in full agreement with this amazing video and are we NOT to be like CHRIST!! Something to ponder!

Real Life ~ Friday Link-Up! - Keepin' It Real

2011-06-25T10:24:00.000-07:00

Real Life ~ Friday Link-Up! - Keepin' It Real

I welcome you to this site. I have shared a few pictures and thoughts with you for today and hope to share much more with you all. I pray this sight will always be uplifting and encouraging! May God Bless you

A Day N The Life of My Family Living in Vegas

2011-06-13T15:05:00.000-07:00

Today began late it was 7:45 am in fact. Hubby went to Starbucks to get my usual Skinny Vanilla latte yummo then we pray read God's word oh yeah can't start our day without God. Daddy off to work with a kiss and Lish and I off to a Cardio Kick Boxing Class woohoo wow did it whoop our booties. Then after an hour of that off to FRESH N EASY our local store to shop for healthy Organic foods yummo. Home to unload and been working on Laptop as I read in between with a few kiddo's and answer some text prayer phonecalls and now kids playing, chores done, and we are relaxing in the summer sun, love our times off. See I am sure this sounds like a normal more than likely Boring day that most mom's around the US live. You really can live a NORMAL Christian life in SIN CITY. I will share some more tomorrow God Bless you all!!

In His Grace,
Cindy

Raising 7 Kid's in Sin City

2011-06-12T20:59:00.000-07:00

People are always asking me how can you raise Godly Children in "SIN CITY" ? My response to that is this, God's word says in Romans Chapter 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. We are in this world dwelling and living however we are not to conform to the way of the world so just as that is true so is TRUE for every family pursuing a Christian way of life in what is known as "SIN CITY" we are in Vegas yet NOT of VEGAS. I believe it is such a huge misconception that their cannot possibly be a Godly Christian Wholesome family that dwells in SIN CITY I beg to differ I know many of them and yes I know many whom do live a sinful life style but there are those living in every state in the United States of America. It all comes down to the choices we choose to make and we all make good and bad decisions all over the world. Sure I agree people here struggle a little more maybe because sin is all over and easier seen then in other states however the struggles we have are the same struggles others have all over hence is the world we live in from Porn to Drugs to Prostitution to deprave souls it is the way of life all around and will continue to get darker. For my family and I speak for my family alone ...we focus on God's Word and through the years we devote our lives to serving one another and serving God through Church and now many other venues. The key is to know the Truth to dwell in the Presence of Christ and know the boundaries and NOT GIVE IN TO TEMPTATIONS and ABSOLUTELY NO COMPROMISE PERIOD!! I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO WRITE ON WHAT IT IS LIKE TO RAISE 7 KIDS in Sin City and I am still praying and allowing God to direct me in all I do so here was the start to maybe more on living and raising a Family in Las Vegas and Not loosing are morals and values and Christianity!! Please pray and feel free to leave respectful thoughts and comments God Bless and thank you for stopping by!

In HIS Grace,
Cindy

movie on friends 001

2011-05-14T10:08:00.000-07:00

This is my thoughts and opinions on friendships oh and I found scripture I had stumbled with in video it is found in Proverbs 12:26 "The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray." Another one in same book chapter 13 : 20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed." In Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron so a man sharpens the countanance of his friend."

Proverbs 18:24 " A MAN WHO HAS FRIENDS MUST HIMSELF BE FRIENDLY, BUT THERE IS A FRIEND WHO STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER."

FRIEND'S ARE A BLESSING TELL THEM YOU LOVE THEM TODAY AND DO AN ACT OF KINDNESS TOWARD THEM!!!

In His Amazing Grace,
Cindy

Storms of Life

2011-04-26T23:05:00.000-07:00

I am at a loss hit hard by the storms of life the things we call inconveniences yet others would not think so. I hurt as I sit here and type the physical pain is almost more tolerable than the inner pain. I ask why Lord why now whats to be learned from the Easter Accident my husbands car slamming into another the pain in his face as he comes to share the news with me we go to examine the damage on this now dark windy Easter night. The broken glass, the smashed lights, the dented bumper the cracked windshield the air bag which was deployed. We look not knowing what to say we are thankful not worse and life was spared one more time yet we ask why LORD? Is it even ok to ask why?? Trying to be thankful as we are now down to one vehicle with a house of 9 even that a blessing. We ponder looking at the broken car being reminded of the broken body of Christ we studied the Holy Week before the accident is this our reminder to stay focused and to remain in this state of mind far after Easter? We sit in wonder? I am going about my business and I make a mistake and severely hurt my ankle making it impossible to drive to pick husband up ...now what Lord what must we do what do you want for us to learn by all these events taking place? I trust, I believe, I practice faith this is where I am at right now it is the only place to be I sigh in somewhat relief knowing God is in control and I dont have to be. I press deeper still into the Word of God I fall back into HIS trusting arms I wait as He heals and teaches is it hard yes but we knew it would be. Remembering the message of Easter after the day are you will you must you ?? YES we must not let the storms of this crazy life sway us back and forth taking our minds off of the message of SALVATION AND ETERNITY WE MUST DAILY REMEMBER WHAT GOD DID FOR US ON CALVARY AND THE BLOOD THAT FLOWED FROM THAT CROSS TO DROWN OUR SINS AWAY. God even in the midst of these storms YOU are Good and You remain Good ! Thank you Jesus

Until Next Time,
In His Amazing Grace.
Cindy

DayBreak

2011-04-19T09:54:00.001-07:00

It's the break of day the sun pierces through the sky filled with fluffy white clouds I stare in amazement the wonders of my Lord I am thankful yet thirsty. I come I drink from HIS cup yet still thirsty I dig I press deeper still I ask what is it Lord as I search the deep dark ugly places of a wicked bleeding Heart. Had I lost Jesus?? I had lost Jesus (so I thought). Oh I studied, I researched the Word of God Daily, I still learned about the things of Jesus, but some how I lost HIM. Was it the busyness of this crazy life? But Lord I say How can I be losing YOU even in all this and in the thick of serving in ministry even still I felt the emptiness the longing even after daily drinking from thy cup. Sure I felt Him, and saw HIM in the midst of life and I even clinged and embraced my King, But NOT consistant I began to grow WEARY and tired I wanted to give up on ministry and I did and even at one point wanting to give up on "CHRISTIANITY." This all TAKEN place in a span of 6 months last year seemed like a lifetime I ache I cry out I hurt but though wrestling this feeling thoughts and pain I look back as I search my heart this morning as I am in this state of FASTING and PRAYER for "LENT" I look back and thank God even in this the pain that was felt the lonliness no other knew of.. no other felt and even still I am THANKFUL for those many dark lonely nights of feeling empty and cold within my soul. It was during this time that God reached down and scooped me up from within darkness and despair and it is when I began to pursue again to embrace the truth of God in my life without the noise the hustle and bustle the busyness I am truly able to embrace my King once again I cry I plead I melt into the arms of my Savior I weap as a child and its OK. I began to live again and each day loving HIM SEEKING HIM. He no longer feels distant and far off but close near and continually before my eyes. I realized then and I realize now I need only ONE THING in this life.. JESUS. This truth affected so much in my life relationships with people my family the body of Christ there is NOTHING that draws us to anyone outside of our love for CHRIST we in and of ourselves are selfish and wicked and when my eyes were not set upon the truth that my only NEED and Desire is that of JESUS Christ and a relationship with HIM then all other relationships failed they lacked substanance life truth. I had a measuring scale I measured my life upon am I doing enough am I serving enough is my marriage perfect enough is my life perfect enough to be used by the Lord. I even began to weigh others yikes No longer does service rule my life no longer the THINGS of life but my relationship with Christ that should be thy only measuring stick any of us measure our lives to. The truth is folks that we can ALL be SPIRITUAL, we can ALL talk the good talk its easy to sound CHRISTIAN, we can all learn all the doctrines and be fundemental in our convictions yet still live IN DARKNESS,
with UTTER EMPTINESS and SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS I was.....My way back has not been easy and is not easy even as I type these very words yet I have made the first step CONFESSION .....I had to confess I was a spiritual MESS and in need of a great cleanse. Through honesty and repentance after being ripped from every comfort I knew (including my church home hence is why we left for 6 long months) I WAS THEN GIVEN EYES TO SEE THE GLORY OF JESUS CHRIST ONCE AGAIN, AND THE VEIL THAT CLOUDED MY HEART WAS REMOVED AND I BREATHED IN A DEEP BREATH. You see I was taught wrong ...our survival and HOPE is NOT based on how much we can do or how well we can obey or how well we serve or even how much we serve our hope is not even in how many scriptures we can or cannot memorize or how much doctrine we know our ONLY SURVIVAL FRIENDS IS IN THE PERSON OF JESUS A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM AND THESE THINGS OUR GREAT YET WE DONT FIND A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST IN THESE THINGS. IN CHRIST ALONE IS EVERYTHING I NEED EVERYTHING you need. HE ALONE is our ONLY HOPE. As I was awakened to this truth as I was reminded my drained, empty, broken body was filled to overflow once again and I am joyful. But awakening to this joy also awakens pain. I am reminded still of God's wonderful GRACE and mercy He reminds me HIS mercies are NEW EVERY morning THIS IS THE ONLY TRUTH THAT CUTS THROUGH THE PAIN DEEP[ WITHIN ..PRAISE GOD. Though this past year has been the most challenging year of my entire life thus far I am filled with so much gratitude to God for HIS Faithfulness His love His never leaving my side even as I have failed many a times HE FOREVER REMAINS FAITHFUL. I have so much to share from our journey as a FAMILY and the HARDSHIPS faced this last year in time as God allows I will be sharing very openly with the public until Next time I encourage the one who has lost sight, slipped away, or failed, JESUS is waiting to receive you with loving open arms. He is not there to have you recount all you have done He does not ask us why or where did you go just like the Prodigal son found and spoke of in Luke Ch. 15 he WAS NOT ASKED 50 QUESTIONS he was excepted once again with embracing , consolation and joy that is how our Lord receives us as well when we cry out to HIM for help and as we seek Him again. SEEK HIM TODAY and be RESTORED. I gaze upon this today and I have eyes of Faith and lips of thanksgiving I love you Lord Jesus!!!!

Until Next TIME ,
In His Amazing Grace,
cindy

video 001.AVI

2011-04-18T08:37:00.000-07:00

Good Morning Friends this was a vlog left yesterday! This week my Family is Remembering .... Reflecting......and Rejoicing on Holy Week! As you Noticed I have left a Vlog I plan on Vlogging often Lord willing and leaving them both here and Facebook I have not Facebooked in nearly a month due to fasting for the "LENT" but plan to begin again May 1st I ask for your patience as I begin to vlog again it has been a while love it though it seems so much more personal and also I am a very visual kinda gal so love to see the Face behind the words written on the screen. I pray your Family has an Amazing Holy Week and may we all be in a state of Remembering, Reflecting, and Rejoicing because He Has Risen... HE HAS RISEN INDEED!!

Easter 2011 Finding True Joy

2011-04-15T16:21:00.001-07:00

Finding TRUE JOY is to see God's goodness! Do we see God's goodness and if we do why do we find our selves complaining and grumbling time after time. As I press Hard into the Word of God I wrestle I beg Him to show me His goodness as I find myself all around hurting non-joyful people I myself lack this joy most days why have I been consumed by the ways of this dark cold wicked world or is it the pure dark sin of selfishness. Is it both or have we forgotten to be a thankful people? I press deeper into the arms of Christ I am still in the quietness of an early morning when all is calm and still in my house as they lie asleep with no thoughts to a mom whom wrestles with God to find truth and answers to something I long for the TRUE JOY only found in a life with Christ. I am still HE answers Cindy it's all around you have busied yourself and have chosen not to see the many blessings I daily give His words pierce yet a convicting Truth I ask Him to show me He says look I look and I see it everywhere in the dark sky of an EARLY morning, with the lights that shine in the distance, the breeze that blows on a cool Spring morning, its in a child's laughter echoing from their rooms as they arise in the morning, it's in my aching bones that have just ran their hardest, it's in the body that lies reclined in this plush chair, it's in the whisper of a husband's early morning prayer's as he retrieves my coffee, it's for in the pleasure of enjoying that coffee, it's everywhere can you see it now Cindy ? I see it I cry I beg for forgivness for the selfish heart within. I am thankful I begin to do as a sister' blogger does I grab a bunch of post-it notes and begin the journey of thankful gratitude I place them all around the home everywhere to be reminded daily of all the many many blessings bestowed down upon my family and I cry I am so thankful. Feel thanks and it is impossible to be grumpy or feel angry it is hard to feel more than one emotion at a time so I choose (being thankful I get that choose) to be thankful JOYFUL which emotion will you choose today?? So as I have been searching my heart this "Lent" season He is teaching me to be a thankful person filled with Grace His Grace! I pray He will "Be thou always my vision, oh Lord of my heart" Thankful that God died for a wretch like me yes even me. One day when sin was as black as can be Jesus came to dwell among men like you and I His Word became flesh and the light shined among us Living He loved us, Dying He Saved us, Buried He carried our sins Far away Rising He justified Freely forever One day He's Coming OH Glorious Day isnt' that enough in and of itself to be oh so very thankful for HE Died on a cross nail scarred hands dripping with the blood that covers you and I if that doesnt make one thankful I pray! May we come before God cleansing our hearts this next week as we count down to Easter Matthew 5:8 says ; "God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God " o How I want to see God!!! Lord I am still filthy rags please continue to mold me and reshape these frayed edges of mine into the image and likeness of the Holy One!!! God Bless You as we prepare our hearts for Easter Sunday SEEK to cleanse those deep dark ugly places to find TRUE JOY ! Until Next Time, In His Amazing Grace, Cindy

As Easter Season is Beginning......

2011-04-13T17:54:00.001-07:00

Many people have been asking what we do as a Family for Easter and many have wanted me to share on Facebook but I have been on a month break from Facebook and will not return until the 1st of May been a NICE break yet am starting to miss it. EASTER: Well my family and I have already began preparing our hearts as we are in "LENT" which began on Ash Wednesday in March we have two Boxes in which we have made into the "Repentance" boxes we write things we need forgivness for and fold the cards and place them in the boxes so no one can see it is between the Lord and the individual. This is just a way to prepare our hearts for Easter that we may come before the Lord with PURE hearts. Then the Good Friday before we remember that that was the DARKEST day in the world and the darkness of these sins in the boxs we pray and throw the sins away just as CHRIST shed blood that dripped from HIS body that evening to save our souls for eternity and wash our sins away for good. On the Saturday after Good Friday we begin a Family Reading of the WORD and we light 7 candles the next night one less and so on each night leading up to Easter and the night before Easter Nothing no candles lit and this represents the fact that the tomb was empty and on Easter Sunday we will Eat and tell final part of The Events with ALL 7 candles now lit again to represent that our LORD has Risen "HE HAS RISEN INDEED" For a more detailed outline of how we do Easter and what LENT is you can go to Noel Piper's site and go to the topic titled "The Resurrection of Christ" @www.desiringgod.com We do color Easter eggs and we use it as a time to talk about God and His Trinity the three parts this is a WONDERFUL way to explain to young children that God is still one but HE has three parts just as this egg is one yet still has three parts to it: We take an egg and show it breaking : 1st you have the shell this represents God Himself 2nd you have the yolk this represents Jesus 3rd you have the whites and this represents the Holy Spirit that dwells within but whala you only have one egg they seem to love this and so get it try it ....it is amazing!!! We do alot and my prayer for all of us is to just STOP and be still and really reflect on the EASTER season and the sacrifices made on our behalves sinners such as you and I and may our time as we count down to that day not become all knotted up and circum to redundant encumbrances but that we would truly be blessed and thankful and remember the blood that dripped from the body of Christ that DARK night so long ago to cover the sins of each of us and may we be reminded that day by day we live out our actions in the very presence of a living GOD. Draw me close to the foot of the cross where YOUR blood poured out To save a wretch like me and lead me to your heart !!! May God bless your family as you Celebrate Easter week!!! In His Amazing Grace, Cindy

What Guys Think About Modesty

2011-04-03T17:04:00.000-07:00

I am so compelled by this piece and so convicted and wish that all women would take this seriously because I can almost promise you this does at some point hit ALL of us at home with Father's, HUSBAND'S, brothers, sons, friends or a fellow brother in Christ whom does not go through this daily and to know we may be contributing to such a thing is just awful. I encourage you as SUMMER is coming and at this time we are tempted to where skimpy things cause it is so HOT but before we go to put on those bikinis or skimpy outfits PLEASE re think and put modesty first I will be putting my two piece to rest this year it is not about me but others around me !!! God Bless you , In His Amazing Grace, Cindy

Been Awhile ................

2011-03-02T07:21:00.000-08:00

Hello.....it has been a while since I last posted I am in the process of changing some things in my family such as our homeschool plan and some personal things the Lord is working on with me. We have decided (my husband and I) that we are going to use a free curriculum/ school called K12 it is like a private/public school only done from home so we are still homeschooling just we now have teachers and resources at our disposable we did not have before. I AM AT A STAND STILL when it comes to my older kids math and I just cant do it on my own anymore this is one prompting for making this tough decision. At first didn't want to do it I thought what will people think of the long time homeschooler NOT being able to do it on her own and I want you to know that was a lie straight from the pit of HELL I am a better teacher and mom for being able to admit my shortcomings and ask for help rather then sit by and PRETEND my children our doing well and are fine every child deserves a chance to shine and to learn and if you have come to a barrier in their teaching pray and God will show you what He has for you and your family too.
I am blessed that they can still stay home and learn and learn under my care now with just a bit of help thank you Jesus I wanted to share this to encourage others that if you need help it is OK!
PLEASE PRAY for us as many changes have occurred and will continue to to take place over the course of the next few weeks. God Bless each of you until next time,
In His Grip,
Cindy

DISCLOSURE

2011-02-03T19:35:00.000-08:00

I am officially letting the public know that any and ALL info. shared on this blog is NOT to be COPIED or stolen if you like something you read PLEASE ask for permission for use of the info. as I do with any and ALL info. used on my blog that does NOT SOLELY BELONG TO ME!!

You may use my info. if you tell others on your blog where it came from and my blog address thank you very much. Many of us bloggers have been made aware that there is ALOT of coping going on out there and NOT that it has been done with mine however thought it would be a great time to remind all of us the importance of NOT stealing others material and being true to our own identity. God Bless you ALL!!

Until Next Time,
In His Grip,
Cindy

Be My Valentine Marriage Challenge....

2011-01-25T08:33:00.001-08:00

Week 2 January 26th - This week we will be a little more creative with our praise. I will give you many ideas of fun things you can do to praise your husband such as surprising him with a love message on the mirror, a message packed in his lunch, using sidewalk chalk to write on the driveway, write a poem, making a toast to him at dinner with friends etc. Get creative with your selflessness!

Let's not forget the Valentine's Husband Challenge we are in week 2 please visit my friend Courtney @ www.WomenLivingWell.org for more detailed info.!! God Bless and let me know how it is going thus far ladies!!!

In His Grip,

Cindy

2011-01-19T13:38:00.001-08:00

I am joining a gal pal blogger over @ http://www.womenlivingwell.org/ with yet another amazing challenge for our marriages called "25 DAY PRAISE PLAN". We are challenged beginning today to encourage, praise, inspire,admire, build up, thank, and appreciate our husbands for the next 25 days leading to Valentine's Day. May we be SELFLESS this Valentine's Day and make it all about our mates and less about ourselves. Our Husband's carry so much on their plates as the leaders of their homes and the heavy load of working in the harsh secular world all day taking in garbage from this world they have fears and burdens and even insecurities Let's join each other in building them up and pouring our love on them that they may see Christ Jesus in and through us and feel the love of God!! So begin today try to say something uplifting and encouraging towards your hubby if you find this challenging to do pray that God will give you eyes to see your husband as the Lord sees him. God Bless your journey and visit my sister in the Lord's blog so you can get full details!!

In His Loving Grip,
Cindy

Affirming our Husbands!!!

2011-01-18T08:46:00.001-08:00

It Has been a while since I last posted I apologize ladies however I have been placing my time and efforts on being a wife whom builds her house up unto the Lord.
God is amazing, HE had prepared my heart at the beginning of the year to focus on my relationship with my husband and then led me to a woman's bible study for wives in which the book being done is called "CREATIVE COUNTERPART by; Linda Dillow awesome book. I have made it a point to prepare my heart and home every day upon the arrival of my husband so that he may return home to a peaceful house and a peaceful wife. Ladies I know how hard it is at times to not want to unload all the days troubles onto our husbands when they walk through the door but this is not the time nor place to be doing so. We have to remember they have worked in this dark sinful world all day with many pressures they NEED to come home to peace and unwind and be loved on and rebuilt back up not torn down by the stress of our day they have been torn down at work enough all day. Another important thing is to make yourselves presentable to your husbands first and foremost getting our hearts ready before God so we are prepared for whatever mood our husbands come home in also ladies our men DO NOT want to come home to a wife whom has not cared for herself and looks frumpy and unmade and in sweat pants with baby throw up on her lol... now ladies please do not misunderstand me I am NOT SAYING we have to look like a beauty queen everyday we will have those sweat pant days but they cant be the norm. Our husbands want to see us looking and smelling good from time to time they are in fact visual beings. Many of our husbands see the opposite sex at work dressed nice all day everyday and we NEED to give them a reason for wanting to come home and leave NO ROOM for enemy to get in there and entice them to other areas. I once had a friend ask me why do you ALWAYS dress so nice and dress up if you have no where to go I simple said because I am expecting the King to arrive in a few hours and he will not want to see a queen in sweats. My husband is thankful to me he has shared it makes him feel important and loved and he desires to come home to his wife because of that. I do have down days when I am sick or just not feeling it but the majority of the time I do my best to present myself in a way desirable to my husband and also making sure my heart attitude matches. I stop and say a prayer before I know he is about to walk through those doors and I ask God to pour love into me that I may in turn pour love into my husband. Yes there are days I can barely keep it all together but I MUST WILL to LOVE my husband and be that " Wise woman whom builds her house up and not the foolish woman whom tears it down with her own hands" Prov. 14:1
Also ladies we are home ALL day many of us and we need to make our homes presentable as well not dirty with laundry everywhere, sinks full of dishes and toys to be tripped on do a quick clean up before he enters the home as well and maybe light a candle and have kids busy with a task so they dont attack daddy upon his arrival as well. We really do set the moods and tones in our households and ladies this is so VERY IMPORTANT I have been in the opposite place and it is no fun such chaos and maddness none of us were joyful. I can say you will be blessed 10 fold if you just place God FIRST, husband SECOND, children THIRD, home FOURTH and ALL other things to follow this is not my suggestion it is GOD'S DIVINE ORDER and is given for a reason and when out of that order ladies all other things we put our hands to is done in vain ALL OTHER THINGS even being busy in our churches LISTEN CAREFULLY PLEASE I HAVE LEARNED THIS THE HARD WAY AND SEE MANY A WOMEN WHOM STILL DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS................WORKING AND SERVING IN THE CHURCH IS NOT PUTTING GOD FIRST HE IS SPEAKING OF OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM ALONE GROWING AND MATURING IN HIS WAYS , THEN HUSBANDS, THEN CHILDREN, THEN HOMES, THEN OTHER THINGS if any of these things are taking a back seat we are NOT in the perfect will of God there is pleanty of time for service in the church our home lives and especially us mother's our time with kiddo's is so fleeting and our place is in the homes caring for them period if we can find that balance great yet to often than not do I see so many of us doing doing doing and our families our getting our second best NOT GOD'S DIVINE WILL for our lives.
Father God may you give us that balance may we put nothing above you Lord Jesus may we love and respect our husbands next and then may we be strengthened to be the Godly mom's you have called us to be placing the importance on our children and the training of them not becoming overly busy with good stuff that we forsake the training of our precious children, may we tend to our homes making that a priority that our families want to be home Lord Jesus then may you help us all to find the balance with any and all outside duties may we NOT loose sight of what YOU have called us to for a time such as this. Lord may you be glorified in all we say and do and please multiply our efforts as Wives whom wish to build their homes unto You Lord. In Jesus Name I pray amen.....
Until Next Time,
In His Loving Grip,
Cindy

PREDICTIONS 4 2011 We can Count On -

2011-01-02T15:21:00.000-08:00

I generally don't blog on Sunday's however this was so good that I had to share!! At church today we were handed an announcment and on the back had this wonderful list of Predictions for 2011 that we as Christians should hold onto.

As we enter the new year, the T.V. prognosticators are sharing their predictions for 2011. Every year we hear predictions, but seldom do we hear that these predictions come true. The Top 10 predictions that we as Christians can hold to and expect to for sure happen in 2011:

1) The Bible will still have ALL the answers.
2) Prayer will still be the most POWERFUL thing here on earth.
3) The Holy Spirit will still MOVE.
4) God will still HONOR the PRAISES of His people.
5) There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6) There will still be singing of Praise to God.
7) God will still POUR out BLESSINGS upon His people.
8) There will still be ROOM at the cross.
9) Jesus will still LOVE you.
10) Jesus will still save the LOST when they come to HIM.

This is good stuff my friends and ONLY Jesus knows our days and hours left here on this side of Heaven and we must live 1 day at a time depending solely on Christ Jesus to guide.
Man can make his plans ,but GOD alone will direct those plans!!

Thank YOU LORD for YOUR unfailing Word and everlasting LOVE!!!
Serving The King,
Cindy

Saying Good-Bye to 2010 !!!

2010-12-27T07:01:00.000-08:00

I cant even believe CHRISTmas has again come and gone in the blink of an eye no signs of CHRISTmas in any of the stores and even in my neighborhood as fast as it all goes up it also comes down FAST!! I am amazed that as I was shopping yesterday there is ALREADY hints of Valentine's Day and St. Patty's Day things already hanging on the shelves WOW I ask that we STOP and slow down not rush into the next season of life without first REALLY pondering what 2010 has been about...so as we head into the LAST week of 2010 may we REALLY PONDER over the last year as a whole and ask ourselves; "ARE WE WHERE WE WANT TO BE, Spiritually, Relationally, in our marriages, with our children, in our friendships, with our ministries and if NOT WHY what can we do this year to have that closer walk with Thee??? I always try to have a Word of the year or a scripture something to WORK on in the next year to come a focus point instead of a New Year's Resolution for 2010 my Word was TRUST I wanted to Trust God more in every area of life He told me if I learned to REALLY TRUST Him with every part of my life NOTHING could seperate me from the Peace of God! Trusting God with every area of life was NOT easy for me especially with all the change endured this last year my niece went home out of the blue and returned to a hostile enviornment after being in peace with us for a year plus, my ex-husband returned to our lives after 15 years wanting a relationship with his two children now almost 17 and 16, my husband endured a horrible car accident in which we came to find out his health was failing at the age of 38, and then leaving our church after 5 1/2 years all very hard situations in which I was forced to put the word TRUST to the test will I really trust God 100% in ALL these circumstances??? I am thankful to answer YES I did TRUST GOD in ALL these circumstances was I perfect NO (still a work in progress) but I was able to peacefully make it through each circumstance because I chose to TRUST GOD and what HE was showing me rather then trying to do things myself or focus on the circumstance and NOT GOD!! So I am thankful to end 2010 with being able to say I believe I have learned to trust God more at the end of this year then I did at the start of 2010!!!

NOW FOR 2011- My new word or theme for this year is LOVE
I want to LOVE more with an AGAPE LOVE to understand God's never ending LOVE His perfect LOVE. My desire is to LOVE as God loves unconditionally, not based upon feelings, or appearances, or performances, but allow the LIGHT of God's LOVE to soak every part of my soul that it may spill over into every relationship in my life that all around me may know I am a "CHRISTIAN" by my LOVE!!
"And walk in LOVE, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as CHRIST loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [ for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance. [Ezek. 20:41.] Eph.5:2 Amplified Version
this is my scripture to start 2011 and we will see where the Lord takes me from here I am excited to learn to LOVE more like Christ!!! What do you want to grow in the New Year??? something to ponder as we are in the last week of 2010!! God Bless and may you end the year in the Lord and thank HIM for every circumstance in 2010!
Until Next Time,
Serving The Lord Together,
Cindy

Sufficiency of God's Word

2010-12-20T22:29:00.001-08:00

God's word my friend's IS THE ONLY TRUTH there is!!!
Psalm 19:7-14 is the most monumental statement on the sufficiency of scripture ever made in concise terms:

The law of the Lord is perfect,restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are RIGHT, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogehter.
They are more desirable than gold; yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them Thy servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.
Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
Also keep back Thy servant from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Thy sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

I love this God's Word is ALL SUFFICIENT and we must discipline ourselves to live according to BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES not Worldly alternatives. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR SUBMISSION TO SCRIPTURE. Our spiritual health depends on placing the utmost value on the Word of God and obeying it with an eager heart. If we look to anything other than God's Perfect Holy Word for answers to our problems or life in general we are forfeiting the most valuable and only reliable source there is may we not take for granted the satisfying riches of our Lord's Word
for the world's foolishness.
David has ended this amazing Psalm by praying a prayer I pray often," Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer" (v.14) MMM so how can I be assured of having such acceptable thoughts and meditations? Well by meditation we must meditate on His Word day and night so we may be careful to do according to all that is written in it SO MY PRAYER FOR THIS BUSY SEASON IS FOR US NOT to FORSAKe our time in the word of God but to meditate Day and Night on it and to remember the IMPORTANCE of THIS CHRISTmas Season and to remember His Word Truely is ALL SUFFICIENT we NEED No substitute !!!! God Bless you Have A Merry CHRISTmas and a Happy New Year!!!!

Srving The King,
Cindy

Women Living Well Blog: Peace On Earth December Challenge - Come Link Up!

2010-12-10T22:35:00.000-08:00

Women Living Well Blog: Peace On Earth December Challenge - Come Link Up!

Christmas Cookie Recipes | Taste of Home Recipes

2010-12-10T17:31:00.000-08:00

Christmas Cookie Recipes Taste of Home Recipes

Thursday Thought's

2010-12-09T08:44:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Friend's,
Hello I pray you are well this 9th Day of December , I have been so blessed by the Peace challenge this month. If your not sure what that is scroll down my blog and check it out! I am studying God's Word so much this month and the other night my husband came home to share what him and a co-worker chatted about at work and it was a great time of heart and soul searching!! 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 read it if you have a chance the title is this "The Light of Christ's Gospel" I was blessed and thought how appropriate in the month of December to be remembering the Light of Christ the commentary in my Bible says this; " At Salvation every believer REPENTS and TURNS away from sin and devotes their life to the PURSUIT of GODLINESS." REFERRING TO VERSE 2 I was so convicted and challenged by this verse and asked myself the question am I DEVOTING my life given to me by the KING of Kings to the PURSUIT of Godliness that means going deep and pursuing godliness in my speech, my actions, my way of life and I have to admit many times falling very short yet not struck down by that still my pursuit in this life is to be Godly and what does that look like mmmm welp His word tells us and if we are NOT a set apart people glorifying our Lord are we REALLY pursuing GODLINESS or just going thru the motions?? Good QUESTION to ponder!!! I pray today that where ever we are in our walks with the KING may we devote our lives to serving HIM and to the PURSUIT of Godliness IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVING!! God Bless !!!

PLEASE LEAVE ME A COMMENT FOR ALL TO SEE SHARING WHAT GOD IS SHOWING YOU RIGHT NOW IN YOUR WALK WITH THE KING!!!

Until Next Time,
Serving The King,
Cindy

Peace On Earth December Challenge

2010-12-06T22:46:00.000-08:00

Dont forget to turn my music off at bottom of blog before listening to V-blog!!!

Well dear friends this is the amazing Godly gal I have been linking up to for awhile now I really love her insight and focus as she reminds us to focus our lives around the King of Kings this is the amazing challenge I am speaking of listen as she shares and for more info go to her site http://www.womenlivingwell.org/ and may you Find the PEACE that SURPASSES all UNDERSTANDING this CHRISTmas Season!!
God Bless you,
Serving The King Together,
Cindy

The Holiday Season is upon us!!!

2010-11-24T21:41:00.001-08:00

Are you finding yourselves where I have sooooo many times in past seasons trying to create the PERFECT HOLIDAY for your friends and family and being frennzied the whole time??

If we are stressed over trying to figure out how to make a perfect, memorable, special, meaningful holiday..well STOP PLEASE!! GOD'S Word says in Phil. 4:6&7 " BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING, BUT IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION, WITH THANKSGIVING, LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN TO GOD; AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, WILL GUARD OUR HEARTS AND MINDS. Praise God I want that peace during this season!!

We need to STOP and remember the reason for both HOLIDAYS coming up Tomorrow and CHRISTmas..... and that is JESUS HE alone is the reason for our celebrations!! If we place our focus on details and perfection and miss the real mark JESUS CHRIST then we have done all we have in vain!! The decor and food of the seasons come and go yet the heart memories last yet a life time are we creating memories that our fond and loving centered on CHRIST or are we leaving memories of a frenzied mommy who focuses on Perfection and self ouch I have in the past hate to admit!! I ask you this question do you want to be a Martha this holiday season crazy and running all over to reach a perfect enviornment for Christ and miss the chance to sit quietly at His feet or do we want to be a Mary waiting for those moments to sit at His feet and gleen how amazing this season truly is I know my prayer is for all of us to let our quest for "PERFECTION" go this Thanksgiving instead of a frazzled mom who has her table adorned to perfection and food cooked perfectly and instead RELAX and give my family and friends memories of THANKSGIVING NOT "perfection". May we Thank God this THANKSGIVING for the MANY Blessings He Bestows on His Children ....."LET US PRAISE THE LORD TOGETHER"

Happy Thanksgiving Blog Friends!
Until Next Time as we SERVE the King Together,
Cindy

THANKSGIVING..............

2010-11-03T17:24:00.000-07:00

Hello Friend's,
It is that time again the Holiday's are right around the corner! The stores are preparing and so am I !! The holiday upon us though I am afraid sorta gets lost in the mix of things it is sandwiched in between two VERY commercial holidays Halloween and CHRISTMAS, and sad to say if not careful this holiday is looked right over and such a shame!!! This is a very important holiday where my family year after year reads the book Thanksgiving A Time To Remember by: Barbara Rainey It reminds us of the truth about the Pilgrims and ALL they endured for the freedom to worship our Lord and remembering how thankful we are to those who fought hard for those freedoms we take for granted to often!!! It is a time of reflection in our family a time where we look back over the year and marvel at what God has seen us through yet again and look forward to all He is doing even in the hardships the year may have brought!! God Thank you for the simplicity of life for reminding our family just how soveriegn you REALLY ARE and how WORTHY TO BE PRAISED YOU ARE we love and worship you!!! What are you thankful for please leave a comment letting me know what God is doing in your life and what you are thanking Him for this season of Thanksgiving!!!

Do you NEED HEALING???

2010-10-28T16:19:00.001-07:00

So you thought you had to keep this up.. all the work that you do so we think that your good and you cant believe it's not enough all the walls that you built up are glass on the outside so let 'em fall down there's freedom waiting in the sound when you let your walls fall to the ground we're here now this is where the HEALING BEGINS this is where the healing starts when you come to where your broken within the light meets the dark the light meets the dark, !!! This is a few of the lyrics from HEALING BEGINS by Tenth Avenue North it is an amazing song about the healing power of Christ and His blood that He shed for our sins and only when we come broken from within can Christ build us back up Praise God for this beautiful HOPE we are all broken within for something in our lives rest assurred you can take it and lay it before Christ and HE will begin to HEAL us from within. Lord may YOU continue to heal me from inside out thank you Jesus!!!

Until Next Time,
May we continue to Serve the King Together,
Cindy

Been Awhile Again!!!

2010-10-26T08:09:00.000-07:00

Hi sweet blog friends!!! Listen I am sorry it has been awhile life is busy with 7 kids lol!!! I am working on a few things and would love to share!!! First I belong to a wonderful ministry called "PRAISE and COFFEE Night's" it started with a group of Gals wanting to get together for coffee and sharing the things of the Lord. The gal whom started them is a lady named Sue Cramer in Michigan she is awesome love you Sue and her co-founder in Florida Melissa Mashburn another cool lady well these gals have found there was a great NEED for girlfriend time. I was doing something very similar already called "Girlfriend Night's" and was very interested in this and next thing you know I am now a Praise and Coffee leader for the Henderson/Las Vegas Valley area we started with 5 now 16 and counting it is open to any and all whom have a relationship with Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. For more info. Go to my facebook and go to Praise and Coffee. Then I am leaving little faith clips via you tube on my facebook as well trying to leave them on blog too but little more complicated lol soon hopefully. Then some wonderful ministry opportunities happening in near future concerning Greg and myself as a team cant say much more right now sorry ladies PLEASE just pray for us thank you sooooo much!! I am doing a few Bible Studies with Gals across the states and one in my own church so God is good and has me busy with doing things for HIS kingdom !! I pray all are doing well and until next time God Bless you ALL!!

Serving The King Together,
Cindy

Been Awhile ................

2010-09-07T22:49:00.000-07:00

Hello Blog friends...........I know some have wondered what has happened to me ...well I am still here doing well just busy more than expected yet in a good way if that makes sense. I have been throwing myself back into my family life I have been busy with ALOT OF THINGS IN THE PAST and at times more than I care to admit my lovely family took the backseat to my VERY BUSY overwhelming schedule. The Lord has stripped me from any and all duties I was involved in and it has been challenging yet rewarding all in the same time. You see for me this is a HUGE STRETCH and Learning experience.... God made me the same way as my father hhhmmmmm maybe thats why my father and I nearly never get along (prayer needed in that area) you see my father always was a busy man worked since he was 12 and once in early 20's already an assistant manager for a store and keeping insane hours for a man with wife and two kids 16 to 18 hour days and because pressure was so great for perfection he cracked and became an alcoholic in which kept him away for even more hours so rarely saw him. I grew up seeing it was important to work, work, work, and this is where we gained our respect and exceptence in this world. So I to kept a very busy schedule in school and began working full time at 16 and by 19 I too was managing my own store and keeping 12 hour days myself and going to this and that social event in my free time and always trying to one up the store in competition with it became lots for me to bare as well and instead of alcohol I went for starvation (whole other story) so once I became saved I then was jaded in my way of thinking that I must serve serve serve keep up with others whom are serving just as much and they too have families so if they can I must yikes!! I have done this for years now and I am finally at a place in my life of pure surrender in ALL AREAS of my life and I have surrendered this area of busyness to the Lord and HE has taken me out of a situation where I was overly serving again and being tempted to stumble and has made it not an option. Thank you Jesus I have had schedule cleared up more than ever before and it has been life changing , life altering in a magnificent way. I no longer leave to gym my gym is home praise God I run 4 miles every morning now and do my Insanity workouts and I no longer work any other day than Wed. and I refuse to make any appointments before 12:45 p.m. on weekdays because my childrens homeschool is of utmost importance and I have been blessed already because of that obedience and only on second week!!! Because of obedience the Lord blessed me to be able to serve in an amazing Women's Event at a friend's church in August and has me involved in a World wide ministry called "Praise and Coffee Night's" in which I am the one and only hostess for the Las Vegas , Henderson , NV. areas wow and it only involves a once a month commitment and little weekly involment if any still leaving schedule freed for family yay!! I cant tell you how free I feel to NOT be ENSNARED by an overly busy schedule anymore and to know my lot in life is to please GOD and GOD alone and if HE says NO it is really ok for me to say No to other's they will get over it and if not well sorry take it up with God !!
I have learned the hard way to really take every part of your life to God in prayer even your daily planner and calendar and allow HIM to make those schedules.....now I am NOT saying to NEVER plan cuz I still am very much a planner after all my Creator made me this way however I am saying we may plan but we must then allow God to then guide and direct and if that means He may alter our original plans then we must be flexable and allow the changes or go kicking and screaming and forsake His blessings for us. I rather be in HIS perfect plan for me wouldnt you!

Until He allows me to Blog again may God bless you richly,
In His Grip,
Cindy

Today Only Mom Moment's

2010-08-06T08:05:00.000-07:00

"Putting It All Together in a Plan"

Don't put the Bar Too High!

I think something I wish I could have been told is to relax and not expect to much right off ....I went into homeschooling TERRIFIED will I be able to teach them I only have a high school level of education I am no teacher dont have any degrees EXPERIENCE now yes then NO. I have asked the same things I here new mom's asking will we get done will my kiddo's be where they need to be and I say they will more than likely succeed far more than you expect. For example my children two years ago almost 3 now I guess, had taken their first state testing ever and at that time Lish was in 8th/ 9th, Ian 7th, Matthew 4th, Noah 2nd, Daniel K....... Lish and Ian were my starter's good and bad things learned however they both placed average which is great I was thankful many mistakes made in beginning with them yet God answered my prayer to fill the gaps I was proven this when I read Matthew and Noah's test scores Matthew placed above average 7th grade level at 4th grade and Noah well he tested very above average 2nd grader whom placed at a 9th grade level across the board I was so floored and very blessed and my fears were then put to rest I also use to stress about getting all books done well again not always needed MOST FAMILIES WILL DO FAR MORE BY DOING LESS it isnt more important doing alot more than the importance of it being done RIGHT and UNDERSTOOD!!!

"STARTING AND STAYING WITH A FEW THINGS AND BUILDING ON THEM IS FAR BETTER THAN PLANNING MANY THINGS AND FOLLOWING THROUGH ON NONE."

I am going to give you 7 reminders of things to keep in mind as you create your homeschool plan not only that but these are even helpful reminders in raising and disciplining our kids..........

(Also Please remember every families plans WILL be SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT and this is ok

it is the beauty and purpose of homeschool):

SEVEN REMINDERS FOR CREATING YOUR FAMILIES PLAN:

1) BE COMMITTED- Discipline as well as homeschool is something we MUST invest our time to we cant just do it hit and miss especially in the early elementary ages this is when our kids are sponges and take everything in good and bad so very important to be committed to repetition. There WILL be times when it's inconvenient, were tired or busy, or we feel inadequate or unprepared (I still do from time to time)but it is the commitment to the process that will help get us through negative feelings or thoughts and help keep us on track, and to help us see the positive results in the end. Please take these commitments seriously homeschooling is NOT for EVERYONE and that is ok!!!

2)BE REALISTIC- It is equally important to be realistic about how much you should put on your plate when taking on homeschooling and even disciplining in the early years. Dont expect your homeschooler's to be involved in homeschool group activities multiple times a week on top of sports church and so on to much is NOT GOOD!!

PRAY and agree with hubby about a schedule that best fits your family and kiddo's.

3)Be SPECIFIC- It is important to be specific in a schedule you dont always have to be so ridgid however having a schedule is very helpful with small children and when we have a schedule when things do get off track cause they will from time to time you can then go back to that schedule to help guide your family back on track. This is also helpful in disciplining children to be specific what type of discipline and be specific and stick with it.

4) Be Creative- wedont always have to use the basic rules of classrooms I know families who teach a few subjects outside, some take kids to a friends house where the mom's trade off in teaching there are so many things and resources from which to pull amazing ideas from it is endless.

5)BE ALERT- To your kids learning abilities and the subjects they do well in and not so well in and guide in those areas . Also be alert to your child's changing spiritual needs .

6) BE CONNECTED- Don't go at this alone very bad idea God didn't mean for any of us to be lone-rangers in anything we do get connected in a good homeschool group where you are surrounded and encouraged by other likeminded families whom have same goals as you do.

7) BE A LIGHT- Finally there is no better way to learn than by teaching. Once you put together your families potential plan through the process of prayerfully doing so share it with someone else. Offer to help another family in their process share what works and what hasn't worked and be there to support I have found when I do this it helps me keep it all in focus. I learn as well as I see other's plans and what has worked for them or not. Over all be a light to those watching your kiddo's first and foremost then all those around may we be families set apart from the ways of this world.

REMEMBER THIS IMPORTANT TIP MAYBE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT :

There is no photocopy of what a homeschool way of teaching should be like it is up to You to pray and see what that looks like through God's eyes for your family alone. May we all learn to NOT JUDGE another in their journey....our job is NOT to judge, criticize, condemn or pose our opinions of how it should be done our way is going to be different then any other because our children are different and were made to be different and that is ok Folks it really is. Instead friends we need to be encouraging, uplifting, SUPPORTIVE, The Iron that Sharpens Iron, and above all we need to be LOVING to ALL!!!
GOD BLESS your journey to homeschool if your a first timer or a seasoned homeschooler may God Multiply your families efforts this school year.

Until Next Time,
Cindy

SPEAK TO MY HEART TUESDAY'S

2010-08-03T15:36:00.000-07:00

Well today what spoke to my heart was lots of things but the one stood out the most was being able to encourage a group of ladies in their homeschooling .......I am so not a pro veteran... maybe a veteran but still much to learn myself. I know most want one easy answer to grasp on to and you see there is not one answer every families teaching type, style, curriculum are ALL so different and it really isnt something we can carbon copy there is no mold to follow. Children are also ALL so very different and what works for one family may not work for other's and that is ok it really is. I just read somewhere that when kids are younger Primary(pre-school - second grade) and elementary (third- sixth) are the years they are sponges and should be taught the basics and begin to master some areas more than other's ... we as their mom's have the opportunity to see where they may be gifted in more and steer them in those directions. For instance our Matthew is a computer geek like his dad he is also looking at wanting to do this for a living so we as parents know this and make sure we are more concerned with this areas and not as concerned with others we do it yet not stress over it. Noah wants to be a worship leader / youth Pastor so we focus on things he will need to steer him in that direction and so on for my older three Ian really believes he is called to be a Pastor so we steer him heavily in God's word People skills and other beneficial things for that calling not forsaking other studies PLEASE dont get me wrong however just not stressing over them. Mom's my advice and encouragement is to not mold yourselves after what your girlfriends are doing we ARE NOT TO TRY TO KEEP UP WITH SO AND SO'S CLASSROOM or style but be encouraged that we are all different with different needs and that is ok...............I want to encourage you to do what the Lord speaks to your heart the heart of YOUR FAMILY not the Jones' Family who says they even know what their doing is right when we try to keep up with the Jones' it usually brings destruction so I encourage you to pray for your families LESSON PLANS and then encourage others in their journey too I also really recommend being involved in a homeschool group it really is IMPORTANT!!! God bless you in your 2010-2011 homeschool year!!
Until Next Time,
In His Grip,
Cindy

SPEAK TO MY HEART MONDAY'S

2010-08-02T09:19:00.000-07:00

SO SORRY FOR THE LACK OF POST .....the end of my week got crazy busy but it is all Good!!
Today's thru the word was 1 John 4-5 now this was good however another part of my personal study time stood out to me it is found in Psalm 34:8-10:

"Oh taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger, But those who seek the Lord shall NOT lack any good thing. "

Oh taste and see the Lord is good ....just dig in His Word today and taste and see the goodness He really is here for each of us with our many different needs He is here for us wanting to meet each of those needs through His word all we need is found in the pages of scripture.
Blessed is the man who trusts Him.....blessed(happy, fortunate, to be envied) no matter what the road may look like dark and weary or lit up and amazing we must TRUST Him and in doing so we will be blessed His word says so.
Oh fear the Lord...... this means to revere and worship Him for there is no want to those who truly revere and worship Him with godly fear. So for me this morning I have been encouraged and wanted to pass that encouragement on to you....May we taste and see God's GOODNESS all around today not focusing on any circumstances today but His goodness, may we TRUST ALL He puts in our path may we revere and worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, may we seek long and hard after God and trust that in doing so we shall lack nothing!!

Cindy's Mom Moment's:

"Principles of Obedience"

Have any of you found yourselves at one time saying to your children if you do this or that Mommy (or daddy) will get you a treat!!! Yep yikes I have to admit I have said those words several times and this is bribing parents and NOT effective parenting the way GOD would have us parent. God's word is clear "CHILDREN OBEY YOUR PARENT'S IN ALL THINGS FOR THIS IS WELL PLEASING TO THE LORD." Col. 3:20 doesn't instruct them to obey if they get something yikes ouch. God's word says the following on Bribes:
"Do NOT accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous."
Exodus 23:8
"For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes." Deut. 10:17
"Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous." Deut. 16:19
So there we have it the Lord does not want us bribing our children we need to teach them to OBEY NO MATTER WHAT and in our home this is what we follow;
OBEDIENCE MEANS:
IMMEDIATLY
COMPLETELY
AND JOYFULLY NO TREATS INVOLVED
now I am not saying we can NEVER give children treats I am saying a treat should NOT be given in return for an obedient child our kids need to be taught we obey God and His Word no matter what.
God Bless and Until next time God Bless,
In His Grip,
Cindy

Speak To My Heart Thursday's

2010-07-29T20:14:00.001-07:00

Wow posting late sorry friend's it has been a crazy busy day but a good crazy busy! Let's see stayed home all day did 12 loads of laundry yep that's right all done now thank God oh and that is only till Saturday when there will more than likely be 6 more lol all in the day and a life of a family of 10 + a doggie yikes!! Then worked out and went on a roasting bike ride hee hee then baked some cakearella's (or whatever there called) mmmmm yummo so good, took little kids on walk to a park and collected lots of pine-cones for our fall season coming up it was fun then tossed frissby for a sec. cuz we were dying in the heat. Came home and dinner prep and clean well you all get the point and some point in all that we read word and did our reading homework and played with pup ok tired now. So moral of this story is for me today what spoke to my heart was simple spending precious time with my family and being ok with that it was nice.

MOM MOMENT'S -

When you think of discipline do you only think of the punishment?? I want to share that, that is NOT what true biblical discipline is, it is the process of training and learning that fosters moral development. It is the development that leads ultimately to the formation of Christ-like character in the child. The purpose of Biblical discipline is to teach moral responsible behavior, shaping Christ-like keepers of God's moral mandates; kingdom -builders who live out the fruits of the Spirit and touch others with the character of Jesus. If we only punish and never allow the explaining of what the right behavior needs to be and how God feels about it then our children will obey out of fear and in return one day become rebellious something we would all love to avoid as much as we can.
UNTIL NEXT TIME,
IN HIS GRIP,
Cindy

Speak To My Heart Wednesday's

2010-07-28T13:18:00.001-07:00

LOVE IS NOT IRRITABLE-

"HE WHO IS SLOW TO ANGER IS BETTER THAN THE MIGHTY, AND HE WHO RULES HIS SPIRIT, THAN HE WHO CAPTURES A CITY." Proverbs 16:32

I chose this today because it has spoken to my heart reminding me that as my dear husband comes home tonight from the airport to be loving and supportive no matter how hard my last three days home without him have been. By now I have to say I am irritable for sure first day was fine first night hard didn't sleep much second day pretty good getting tired and grumpy towards night though and so were kids then no sleep really last night either so by today I am soooooo feeling it and just want him home. You sure take for granted what you have and what you are BLESSED with until it is taken for a time or God forbid taken for good. My encouragement for both myself and you is to cherish your hubby and family today you may not have them tomorrow .
Schedule's can wait church functions will come and go but the time with our hubby's and kiddo's is very limited and does not come and go once gone it is gone for good
when I look at it this way it makes every irritability and tiredness and fight just seem foolish and not that important. So I choose tonight to welcome him with loving arms no matter what the day still may hold because I love him Dear and want him to know he is my number one outside of God.
Lord thank you for blessing me with an amazing husband may you give him safe travel mercies tonight and a safe drive home from airport In Jesus Name Amen
Until Next Time,
God Bless you,
In His Grip,
Cindy

Cindy's MOM MOMENT'S -
For those of you who may have never heard of the FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES by: DR. Gary Chapman, I encourage you to get the books and read them ALL I believe there is one for adults and one for children but here they are this is important and once my family found out about these and started filling each other's "LOVE TANKS" we are a much more joyful family to say the least!

There are 5 ways to express our love to our mates and children:

1) Communicating Love Through Words of Encouragement
2) Communicating Love Through Acts of Service
3) Communicating Love Through Gift-Giving
4) Communicating Love Through Quality Time
5) Communicating Love Through Physical Touch and Closeness

For everyone this differs we all have a primary touchpoint for instance my primary LANGUAGE happens to be 4 & 5 does this mean I dont need 1, 2, and 3 no however if my "Love TANK" is being filled with my primary points then when and if the extra ones are done it is iceing on my cake not needed but an extra bonus ...however if our one or two primary languages are NOT being met it doesnt matter what other ones are done and this is when we have mis communication fighting and lack of understanding with our mates/children. I encourage you to find out what Love language each member in your family speaks and start filling those tanks today!!! God Bless
P.S. If you have questions about book please go to find me on Facebook or leave a message in e-mail or comment on blog post thank you!!

Cindy

Speak To My Heart Tuesday's

2010-07-27T12:22:00.001-07:00

Hello Friend's ,
As I have been in heavy prayer for day's now over my blog and where the Lord wants it to go from here I am at peace with the answer "He" has given and confirmed.... I am to be posting daily in what I will call "Speak To My Heart Monday's" and so on as days of week change. I will only be posting Monday- Saturday Giving Sunday to God and Family all Day and during Fall Holiday's I may post every few days as Lord allows!!!!! In these Speak to my Heart posts I will share things that have spoken to my heart thru the reading of the Word or a good book I am in or whatever Lord speaks to my heart. My Passion is to reach, teach, lead, love, and grow alongside of Women of God so we Can be ALL God wants us to be. So here it goes also
please keep my blog in your prayers I know the enemy attacks when we set out to obey God.

Speak To My Heart Tuesday:

Today's thru the Word was 1 Peter Ch. 4 & 5 and the scripture that really stood out was in Chapter 4 verses (8-9) here they are in the NKJV :

(8) And above ALL things have fervent LOVE for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." (9) Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

In the Amplified version of the Bible it says it this way:
"Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offences of others]. [Prov. 10:12] Practice hospitality to one another (those of the household of faith). [Be hospitable, be a lover of strangers, with brotherly affection for unknown guests, the foreigners, the poor, and ALL others who come your way who are of Christ's body.] And [in each instance] do it ungrudgingly (cordially and graciously, without complaining but as representing God Himself). "

For myself I love this passage it is always a great reminder to Love ALL. I really appreciate the Amplified version and the intense wording it stresses such as , have an intense and unfailing love for one another now I dont know about you but with out the Spirit within I dont have an intense Love for anyone and when in flesh we only Love ourselves right? This kind of unfailing Love can only be found in Jesus and as we become more like Him we can start loving people this way as we start to see other's thru the eyes of Christ and not the Blinders we tend to wear often. In a commentary (favorite of My husband and I) by MacArther he puts it this way in verse 8 where it speaks of fervent love that "fervent" means "to be stretched" , to be strained and for me I can say this to be true it is a huge stretch I dont want to have that kinda love for ALL some are just down right mean and nasty people so it is a stretch I am stretched everytime one of these hard to love people come my way however it is what we ae called to do friend's we are not called to only love friend's and family we like and are easy to get along with nope scripture says "ALL".
This kind of love requires the Christian to put another's spiritual good ahead of our own desires in spite of how the other treats us . [ 1 Cor. 13: 4-7; Phil. 2:1-4] "love covers a multitude
of sins." we must be able to over look the sins not to keep record (this doesn't mean to over look the discipline of sins when needed and Lord led in Love) but it does mean we as the body dont stop loving because of ones sins because we have ALL sinned and fallen short (Romans).
It does however specifically say that we should overlook sins against us if at all possibleand always be ready to forgive insults and unkindness. "Be hospitable to one another" scripture also calls us to do this for strangers Heb. 13: 1-2 Love is Practical not just emotional it is also an action not just words expressed so are we showing others around us this "fervent" Love the Lord speaks of ??? Something for us to ponder I know I can honestly say I fall VERY SHORT in this area and Pray I can Love ALL thru the eyes of Jesus. Also I liked in the Amplified version it says to be hospitable and without doing it grudgingly but cordially and graciously without complaining but as representing Christ Himself .... I have to say that I have in the past myself as well as hearing other's say oh no look who is coming over not now I cant deal with such and such right now ..."YIKES" I want to remind you I admitted to doing this myself too ladies however we are called to be gracious and cordial and show LOVE to ALL not just our friend's or new people but even the Hard to Love ones too and we all know of some of those types dont we?
I have started trying something new before I am tempted to say something rude I say to myself wow what if they say that about me mmm the Whole TREAT OTHER'S HOW YOU YOURSELF WANT TO BE TREATED yikes when I look at it that way I sure would not want to be treated in an unloving unkind manner so I better becareful how I am with other's......Well Lot's to pray about I pray you were provoked to study these scriptures more and even convicted thru His Word as I was to be very careful to LOVE ALL People !!!

NOW FOR MY MOM MOMENT'S - To you Mom's out there whom may be struggling to either get back to Homeschooling soon or to Start Homeschool for the very first time may I offer some words of encouragement in which I myself have just been encouraged by: What task has God given to you that He has not allowed you to carry out? Good Question God says when HE starts a good work He shall Finish His work so if He has called us to Homeschool and started that good work HE can and will finish it we just have to have FAITH and allow Him to guide and direct our school year. Wherever He Leads us this Year I have always believed where God Guides He Provides if we are NOT seeing this to be true we may NOT be in HIS PERFECT WILL for our lives and I encourage you to Pray. God will give us all we need for this next exciting Year.
God Bless you Mom's all over the World!!

In His Grip,
Until Next Time,
Cindy

Oh Where, Oh Where Has This Summer Gone?? It's Almost August

2010-07-26T09:47:00.001-07:00

I cant believe it is almost August wow how time flies!! Let's see alot has happened over past couple of months. In the beginning of June we were called to a New Church Calvary Chapel Henderson a church of about 250 people so much smaller than CCGV but a nice fit for us we came from a church of 100 before CCGV so we are use to small. Things are coming along and adjustments are being made a slow progress but a progress none the less. God is teaching us patience and TRUST it is awesome the things He takes us thru. Shortly after leaving CCGV my husband lost his job and was out of work last two weeks of June thru July 19th in which he started his new job making more and better packages so God is so amazing and showing Himself mighty to Greg and my family.... to get a job literally 2 weeks after really looking in this economy is sooo God (Praise you Jesus for Your amazing provision !!!) We had a wonderful time of FAITH Building and Soul Searching as a couple and family while honey was home out of work it was though it was a forced (yet appreciated) vacation where we had no choice but to spend time with each other in prayer in the word and just being together it was amazing and the best part it was the first time we both had complete trust that God was in COMPLETE CONTROL of EVERY part of our lives. The last few months have been some of the hardest yet most amazing at the same time stretching our Faith to a place unfamiliar to us yet been painful at times it also has been rewarding at the same time. We have also gained a new Family Member his name is Poncho (Thank you Johnson Family) he is the best little doggie ever we just love Him so and Steph he has adjusted well and is picking favs already he is very playful and cute he does from time to time Miss you all you can just tell he is to cute thank you so much!!! The kids and I have been living at the pool such a blessing to have been blessed with pool passes for the entire family all summer long thank you to that blessed sis and family. I also have an amazing project in August that I am honored to have been asked to be a part of I will share more as I am able. I have also gotten closer to my ex husband and his fiance' whom has started going to church (Calvary Chapel Lone Mountain awesome) the fact that he even allows her to go to church or is open to God is a pure Miracle in and of itself may God continue to use Greg and I as well as Lish and Ian to shine our lights and win them to the Lord praying for their salvation daily and will update. The children are getting to know him more and more and bounderies are going well thanks for prayers and we covet many more thank you all !! That has been The Bolt summer thus far in a nut shell more to come I am sure and school preperations are underway I will post pics of our 2010-2011 classroom and ideas asap until then God Bless and thank you for stopping by may God bless the rest of your summer and bring you peace!!!
In His Grip,
Cindy

Starting Fresh!!!!

2010-07-12T09:39:00.001-07:00

AREN'T YOU GLAD WE GET DO OVER'S ?? Oh how thankful I am that I am able to take a test over again if I fail in which I often fail. I am thankful we have a loving merciful FATHER AMEN!!
I have fallen more than I care to admit already this year (and will continue "until we all reach ...the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Eph. 4:13) however thankful because it is making me have to draw closer to God!!! For myself I am learning the importance of daily having the Armor of God on and how it really isn't silly to pray for each piece to be on daily I do it with kids so why not myself well good question. I guess we grow complacent or we get to busy but I am sadly reminded the enemy is not busy he is still prowling waiting to take us out. Satan wants us to feel hopeless but we must remember he is a lier because we belong to God and with God nothing is hopeless.
I have just recently failed and allowed flesh to take over and enter into my blog life and facebook life somewhere along the way the enemy talked me into lowering my shield of faith, and I was then no longer able to extinguish satan's fiery darts. He is very sneaky and uses words to seduce us just as he did to Eve back in the Garden. I am learning we never arrive at a place where we are protected from satans attacks or can fight them off ourselves we must have the WHOLE ARMOR of God on daily every hour of the day. I have prayed long and hard and have been confirmed in decision to contiue on blogging and facebooking HOWEVER I do have a wise accountability partner in which will be reading all future posts before going out so that the likes of the enemy cannot use this outlit to cause division and destruction again I want to be so careful what proceeds out of my mouth and how it comes out never wanting to cause another to stumble in their walk. Father I pray today that you help me to place on the FULL ARMOR of God Lord I pray you place the helment of salvation upon my head , and the breastplate of righteousness,the shield of faith, and the sword of the spirit, along with the belt of truth and the shoes of peace that I may be able to withstand the fiery darts from the evil advesary may you help me stay girded in your truth every second of the day and when I fail cause I will being that I am a work in progress may I not stay down but get right up repent and start again Lord thank you for allowing us to start fresh and giving us many do over's Lord I love and praise you in Jesus Name I pray, Amen!!!

You can find the Armor of God I speak about in Ephesians 6: 10- 18
Also "Pray continually." 1 Thess. 5:17

Until Next Time,
Cindy

Apologize!!!!!

2010-07-06T22:33:00.001-07:00

"A FOOL VENTS HIS FEELINGS, BUT A WISE MAN HOLDS THEM BACK". Prov.29:11

I am wanting to publicly apologize for some recent posts I have posted over last few weeks, they have vented some hurt in which my family has endured and instead of learning from it and allowing God to do a mighty work during this time I am afraid I must painfully admit that I allowed myself to be led by satan and vent my feelings via facebook and blog world in which I am truly sorry and ashamed because I know better. I ask you to forgive me for that and may we start fresh.
My intent has always been to use these devices to mentor, uplift, encourage, love,
share, and learn together...... it has never been my intent to allow gossip of any kind, bashing of any kind, or anything ungodly. Please except my deepest apologies and I shall share with you as the LORD LEADS until then God Bless
Cindy

Looking Back on 2009!!!

2009-12-28T15:58:00.001-08:00

WOW I am yet again in awe over just how FAST time continues to go by year after year. I cant believe another CHRISTmas has gone by again. As I now this last week of December try to gain control after the holiday madness lol (good MADNESS though) I find myself reflecting back on this last year 2009. I have endured alot as I know so many have. For me coming out of a personal matter in the first part of year and mid-year enduring my first ever car accident which was major and scary yet saw God's hand every step of the way , to missing dearly a true friend in which God moved away, to the Fall when my niece has come to live with us FULL TIME yes that is a whole other blog post, to many other trials throughout the year yet through it all God was with us every step of the way and I dont doubt that for a second.
I know for many of us marriages have endured heartaches, and children have gone astray, and some gone home to be with our Lord leaving families behind to cope, jobs lost, and financial struggles for many, job changes, or some struggling with addiction, bitterness, anger the list goes on and on doesn't it friends????
For me the one thing I can say after pondering and looking back over this last year is the fact I tried to live a "LIFE OF HOPE" and staying focused on what REALLY MATTERS!!
We are living in a hopeless world and if we take are mind off what REALLY MATTERS (God) and focus on our circumstances and look to the world to help we will stay in a doom and gloom.
I have found a new perspective this last year , one that holds on to the eternal promises of God Himself in order to manage the temporal concerns of life on earth. HOPE takes God at His WORD, letting His promises guide our every decision and every action; hope may NOT change our circumstances, but it will change the way we view them. As believers, a CHRIST-centered hope must be the foundation of our lives. I am reminded that in the end as our time draws to a close we will ALL be stripped of ALL earthly possessions wealth and all things temporal so lets not focus on the bad that happened in 09' but the hope we have in a magnifesent God and focus on all the blessings the year brought and our relationship with Him and the fact we DO have HOPE when there are so many LOST whom have yet to discover that hope FOUND in CHRIST
ALONE. So as we head into 2010 no matter what you are facing look to CHRIST alone to guide and direct you through it good or bad. We have the promise in His word that we can trust God alone in EVERY situation yes every one not some or the good ones but every trial too. (Psalm 9:10,56:3; Nahum 1:7). Let us hold unswervingly to the HOPE we profess, for He who promised is FAITHFUL. Hebrews 10:23
" Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can NEVER perish, spoil or fade, kept in heaven for you." 1 Peter 1:3-4
God bless until next time with much love,
Cindy

CHRISTmas TIME!!!!!!

2009-12-12T13:26:00.001-08:00

This is I have to say one of my fav times of the year.......However I have to ALWAYS be soooo very careful not to get caught up is all the HUSTLE and BUSTLE !! Do you ever find yourselves at the end of your rope right after the Christmas holiday has past wondering to yourself where in the world has this year gone and especially CHRISTmas?? It seems as though we keep our schedules so very busy that CHRISTMAS seems to sneak up on us and in a flash it is gone!! Well friends we only have 13 MORE days LEFT yes 13 and how busy are your schedules in the next 13 days?????? I want to encourage everyone to please STOP and remember WHY we are even celebrating this CHRISTmas for anyway and to reflect on the CHRIST in CHRISTmas and in that I encourage you to be in HIS word for those of us who went to tea I encourage you to start the seven day Christmas Devotion we were given in our gift bags "Christmas Joy" my girls and I started day one today the focus was concentrating on the reason for CHRISTmas Joy. May the rest of this season be filled with JOY ..............HIS Joy and may you find the time to be with Family and Friends and remember the TRUE REASON FOR THE SEASON !!!!!

"I BRING YOU GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY FOR EVERYONE! THE SAVIOR- YES, THE MESSIAH, THE LORD- HAS BEEN BORN TONIGHT IN BETHLEHEM, THE CITY OF DAVID!" lUKE 2:10b
until next time,
Merry CHRISTmas and God Bless,
Love, Cindy

WHY M.I.A. ????

2009-11-17T14:51:00.001-08:00

Well I know I have been M.I.A. for a while now so much has gone on we truly are BUSSSSSSY!!
I now have EIGHT yes eight children living in my home. My 15 year old niece came to live with us and it has been a bit CRAZY however it is going well and she is becoming comfortable and adjusted so that is a praise report!!! I do ask for many prayers to continue to go up I have been homeschooling her and will continue to do just that so adding another to our classroom is a bit of a challenge but "ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD" thank goodness for that I have been clinging to His word alot lately!!! Anyhoo the holidays bring many things to our schedule as well as trying to find some MUCH NEEDED family time so I will continue to be M.I.A. until the first of the year I cant believe I just said that it is almost 2010 wow crazy to even see that date on paper or typing it for that matter............. yikes ok I hope to post more frequent after holidays
and if I dont post before than may you all have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING, A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND A VERY HAPPY HEALTHY NEW YEAR IN WHICH TO GROW MORE CLOSE TO OUR KING!!!!! GOD bless you all!!!

Until next time,
Cindy :)

Best Day Ever!!!!!!

2009-09-19T15:19:00.000-07:00

Ok so there has been alot of other best days too however today was the BEST family day in a VERY LONG TIME!!! We have not ever had a chance in last four or five years to all ride along in the same vehicle at once therefore making going places nearly impossible as a whole family or having two travel in seperate cars using twice as much gas so that was only a very rare thing we would do. Today we were able to ALL travel to the Gilcrease Orchards to have a fun time of picking pumpkins , apples, and eggplant it was a real treat and daddy was able to join so even better thanks to our big ol' 1986 Suburban yeah Jesus. After that we headed to lunch at good ol '
Taco Bell where we O.M.G. SAT INSIDE AS A BIG GROUP it was so nice now off to home we travel , once arriving home Bella and I put on our aprons and bake our VERY FIRST HOMEMADE YES FRIENDS I did say homemade apple pie oh my!!!! Can't wait to dig my teeth into that pie it smells wonderful in my home right now mmmmmmmmmmmmm yummo!!! Well I am going to go for now to finish spending my Saturday with my family just wanted to stop by and share it has been a while I left pictures of our day in side bar!!
until next time,
Cindy

First Week of Homeschool For 2009 School Year

2009-08-28T15:03:00.000-07:00

Hello friend's, it has been awhile but with V.B.S. and now school starting I have had no time to even sit for more than 5 or 10 minutes REALLY I need more time lol!!! I have made it through one week of our homeschool year now 35 more weeks to go hee-hee who's counting right?????
So I am really feeling OLD as I was teaching my daughter how to start a car and all the things you do check horn, lights, mirrors and so on WOW I cant believe she is taking Driver's ED. O.M.G. RIGHT??? I remember as though it were yesterday I was teaching her to tie her stinkin shoes and now her DAD will be taking her to drive HIS car I so dont even know what happened to the time it is sooooooo frightening to me. So I was very convicted to not complain to count my EVERY blessing and to CHERISH EVERYDAY as though it were the last cause really friends it very well could be we just will not know when the day or hour may come. I am so blessed to homeschool my kiddo's I cant imagine life without them and this is huge for me I USE TO DREAD homeschool the last few years and could not wait for years end and now I am blessed and desire to teach my children all I can as long as I can and the time really does go by in the blink of an eye we have such a limited window with our kids and we can either be effective in that window or let the opportunities we have with them slip right through our very hands because of our own selfish desires: So I encourage you today if your kids are homeschooled go to public or private schools be involved in their lives make it a priority to put them above your selfish desires, wants, and ambitions there will be plenty of time for those (Lord willing)when our kiddo's are all grown up however the time we have with them as children is fleeting and gone in the blink of an eye so remember the next time you are VERY tired from a hard days worth of work and your child asks you to PLEASE read to me MOMMY OR DADDY and you say NOT NOW maybe LATER that there may be very few laters if any at all really keeping that mind set helps me to grasp EVERY MOMENT I can with ALL my 7 kiddo's....................
Just something to ponder I pray all of you Homeschooled or public schooled have had a blessed first week or week period may God continue to bless each of us and multiply our efforts........

Until Next Time,
Cindy

ARE we COMFORTABLE with Surface RELATIONSHIPS???

2009-08-04T16:24:00.001-07:00

Surface relationships: What does that mean and is that the picture of the relationships in our lives? Well as I have been reading and studying on this topic "FRIENDS" for well over a year now a surface friend is really not a friend at all but an acquaintance. Surface friends are people we may like to a point we say hey to them know somewhat about this person however all we know about them is on the exterior level , for example they are married and yes have kids and live here or there but do we know any of the INTERIOR level this is when true intimate relationships happen. Knowing the interior of another is knowing their struggles and weaknesses and not for our benefit but to be curious and take the time to get to know and encourage them to be restored to Christ and to build one another up for HIS kingdom purposes not that of are own.
As I was looking into this more today I came across this scripture:
"A MAN WHO HAS FRIEND'S MUST HIMSELF BE FRIENDLY, BUT THERE IS A FRIEND WHO STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER." Prov. 18:24
Now I will share the commets again found in my husband's Life Application Study Bible NKJV:
Lonliness is EVERYWHERE- many people feel cut off and alienated from others. Being in a crowd just makes people more aware of their isolation. WE all need friends( my adding of this : God was a relational God and we were created for relationships) who will STICK CLOSE, LISTEN, CARE, AND OFFER HELP WHEN IT IS NEEDED- IN GOOD TIMES AS WELL AS BAD TIMES. IT is better to have ONE such friend than dozens of SUPERFICIAL ACQUAINTANCES. Instead of wishing you can find a true friend , seek to become one YOURSELF. There are people who need our friendship. Ask God to reveal them to you, and then take on the challenge of being a true friend yourself.
The sentence above which says instead of wishing for a true friend you yourself seek to be one,
that has spoke profoundly to me over the last 6 months or so I have for the past 7 or so years been desperate to find one good friend a best friend so to speak. SO many people I know have ALL mentioned whom their "best friends" were and I became jealous/envious and longed to be known as someone's "bestest friend" ever. However I have just discovered in the most profound and convicting way that I was going about it ALL WRONG and for VERY SELFISH reasons indeed.
Let me explain : I have had people in my life ok I am about to get REAL with ya'll even up until this VERY MOMENT in my life whom I have expected to fill a certain hole within my heart and when they of course could not do this I have found myself frustrated with them and even mad,
and in the midst of dwelling in this disappointment of my needs not being met I find that the hole gets bigger and bigger because I have not ALLOWED GOD ALONE TO FILL THIS HOLE WITHIN. i THEN DO NOT ALLOW MYSELF TO TRULY OPEN UP TO THE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT PROVIDING WHAT i IN MY FLESH "THINK" THAT THEY SHOULD BE PROVIDING ME. Until I allow God to come in and truly fill EVERY PART OF MY HEART so that I may say: I truly have "surrendered it all" to Jesus then I will not be able to enjoy the blessings of true Godly relationships wow. See I have been seeking a best friend not seeking to be a best friend yet selfishly seeking a friend to call my own best friend that is super selfish. My focus has now changed from self to how may I be a better friend how may I serve another. I believe we ALL need friends we were created by a relational God to be in relationships with others. I BELIEVE IN "best friend's" however not all can be best friends I believe these are few and are the ones in which we are the most intimate with that truly know us externally and internally they know our good points and bad points they are there to listen and care and help in time of need I also believe we can have this with just a friend too however we cant have it with more than a few these types of friendships require work my friends they are like a marriage and we all know A MARRIAGE ONLY WORKS WHEN BOTH parties put in the effort in the marriage this is also needed with our friendships time and effort on BOTH SIDES IS REQUIRED IF WE WANT TRUE FRIENDSHIPS TO EMERGE. I know we are ALL very busy however I also know the importance of having friends with other women, Yes God should be our BEST friends over all and husbands next however I believe God gave us girlfriends so we may relate with each other to help each other along with issues MOST males do not understand. It is a blessing to have someone come along side of us whom has gone through or is going through what we are to help encourage and get one another through it this is a true blessing to have that kind of girlfriend. My focus has changed now to not who can be my friend to meet all my thoughts and desires but to HOW can I bless another with MY friendship to them how can I be a better friend. I encourage each of us to (if we already dont know who they are and if we do thank God for them) pray for God to show you who those gals would be for us to have CLOSE friendships with and then dont wait for them to seek you out but you seek them out to serve and bless them and allow God to do the rest, and for those whom have those friendships already let those friends know how blessed you are for God placing them in your lives for a time such as this and seek to be that persons friend in an even more powerful way and watch God do amazing things. Dont get me wrong it is not bad to have dozens of aquaintances God puts many people in our lives for seasons for them to learn from you or visa vesra and maybe we are to mentor or many other reasons and that is ok however I dont believe we are called to be intimate with all we meet in fact it is truly impossible to put that much time into so many other people and thus is why they say you are TRULY BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A FEW FRIENDS" or A HANDFUL OF FRIENDS because again it requires effort and time on both parties part.
May God bless each of us on our journey to be a good friend to those He places in our lives and may we allow the walls to come down and let them in to the most difficult parts of our lives and not just be "SURFACE FRIENDS" something to "ponder" our verse says: there is a friend whom sticks closer than a brother" well brothers know us in and out they know ALL our weaknesses and love us anyway. If a friend sticks closer than a brother than HOW MUCH MORE SHOULD WE KNOW OUR FRIENDS make an effort to know REALLY know your friends today and to let yourself be made truly known to them as well.

Until Next Time,
Your Servant,
Cindy

Wednesday July 29th 2 Peter chapter 1 and 2

2009-07-29T11:36:00.000-07:00

WOW the Lord is speaking mighty thru His word and I pray as I share it touches and convicts us all to not just get by as a Christian but to continually grow.
In todays verses again we see the importance of loving others' and of growth in fact growth is essential. It begins with faith and culminates in love for all others', to keep growing we must know God we must keep following Him and to remember what He has taught us and is teaching us. We also need to know His word well so we have discernment to be able to resist false teachers among us.

2Peter chapter 1 says starting in verse:2) Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3) as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the Knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4) by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Many believers want an abundance of God's grace and peace, but they are unwilling to put forth the effort to get to know Him better through the Bible and prayer. To enjoy the privileges God offers us freely, we have "the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord".
speaking about ch.1:3-4 The power to grow doesn't come from within,(that is for sure) but it comes from God we in and of ourselves cant we are not capable. Because we dont have the resources to be truly godly,
God allows us to be "partakers of His divine nature" in order to keep us from sin and to live for Him alone. When we have accepted Him into our hearts He then empowers us through His Holy spirit to be able to do as He wills.
2 Peter ch.1 5-9 reads as follows: 5) But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6)to knowledge self- control, to self- control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,7) to godliness brotherly kindness ,and to brotherly kindness love. 8) For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9)For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
speaking about ch.1:5-9 Faith must be more than belief in certain facts; it MUST RESULT IN ACTION, growth in Christain character, and the practice of moral discipline, or it will die away (James 2:14-17) Peter lists several of faith's actions: learning to know God better , developing perseverence, doing God's will, and Yes again gang LOVING OTHERS'. These actions do not just come automatically, they require WORK. ALSO FRIEND'S THEY ARE NOT OPTIONAL; ALL OF THESE THINGS MUST BE A CONTINUAL PART OF OUR CHRISTIAN LIVES. God empowers us and enables us in doing so thru His Holy spirit within us, but He also gives us responsibility to learn and to grow we must allow this process.
In 2 Peter chapter 2 the one real important thing that stood out to me in all the verses was being able to discern the teaching of false teachers and as our world becomes more and more darker and wicked we see this more and more even some authors whom at one time seemed to be of sound doctrine seem to now be in question this is why it is so important to live our daily lives being in the word of God so we know His truth for ourselves and will be able to say hey wait a minute this is not what God says. Please dont misunderstand there are still many good authors out there in which the Lord uses to minister to even myself however I am saying dont live your life soley by what a book says and always go to the word of God first then use discernment in reading others' books.

Prasie God for your word and for the fact that you do empower and enable us through your Holy spirit may we allow ourselves to be guided and directed by that very holy spirit within. May we take every step in obedience to you Lord.
In Jesus name amen

until next time,
faithfully yours,
cindy

1 PETER CHAPTERS 4 & 5 TODAY'S THRU THE WORD

2009-07-28T13:30:00.000-07:00

HELLO FRIENDS!!!!! I have decided to share with you all some thoughts, insite, or things the Lord is speaking to me on as I go thru the word daily. Today we were finishing up 1 Peter chapters 4 and 5 while reading 4 I again am drawn to verses speaking of Loving one another..................... beginning with verse 7 which reads as follows:
7) "but the end of all things is at hand; therefore be SERIOUS and WATCHFUL in your prayers. 8) And above ALL THINGS have FERVENT LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER, for "LOVE WILL COVER A MULTITUDE OF SINS." 9) Be HOSPITABLE TO ONE ANOTHER WITHOUT GRUMBLING. HERE IS THE DEFINITION I found on fervent: having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit, feeling, or enthusiasm also passionate or impassioned. SO FRIENDS THIS IS HOW WE ARE To LOVE ONE ANOTHER not with a fake love or a forced love(see 1 Peter 1:22) but with enthusiasm and warmth and again to ALL with intensity can you imagine if we all do this how amazing the body of believers could truly be something to ponder.
Again in my husbands bible I would like to share the study part of what it says at bottom of Bible (his bible is the Life Application Study Bible NKJV) :
this is what is said about verses 7-9:
We should live expectantly because Christ is coming. Getting ready to meet Christ involves continually growing in LOVE for God and OTHERS' (see Jesus' summary of the law in Matthew 22:37-40) It is important to pray regularly, and it is also important to REACH out to NEEDY people. Your possessions, status, and power
will mean NOTHING in God's kingdom, but you will spend eternity with other people. invest your time and talents where they will make an eternal difference.
(for more about hospitality see Romans 12:13)
Again we are seeing how LOVING EVERYONE is really not an option it is however a command
it is in countless scriptures and we see it yet again in todays' verses and when we are loving as God has called us to be doing... not suggesting it says here in todays' verse 4:8 that love will cover a multitude of sins. we were shown by a gracious God that same Love in which our many sins too were covered in LOVE so we in turn have a duty to do the same for ALL Jesus paid to high of a price for us to pick and choose whom we will love and not love or accept and not accept if they are a child of God we must accept them all each one with all their differences... following this verse we are called to be hospitable to one another and without grumbling. It says to one another not some not the likable people not our FRIENDS but to one another. I would like to encourage us all (myself always included) to be hospitable to a new face we may happen to see at church this week because I know there are many new faces gang and if we all do it to just one person we see wow can you imagine the possibilities amazing to think about.
I am now brought to chapter 5 of 1Peter and the verses that stood out to me were as follows:
5)Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, ALL of you be SUBMISSIVE to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." 6) therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7)
casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. I love that we can go to God with anything simple or huge and if we cast those cares and burdens onto Him He will care for us and see us thru whatever we may find ourselves in at that very moment if we are faithful in laying it down and not picking it back up again (easier said then done however "with God all things are possible") now in the verses to follow we are warned so to speak to: 8) be sober, be vigilant because your adversary the DEVIL walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour 9) RESIST him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10) but may the God of all grace who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus after you have suffered a while perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. Praise God gang and the only way to resist the evil one is to be in the WORD of God daily
seeking God's face for our lives and being doers' of the word and not just hearers' only we must walk the walk as we talk the talk. May we be encouraged by the word of God knowing He cares for our every individual needs and desires may we humble ourselves in the sight of our Lord that He may exalt us in due time. May we also just be on guard friends that there is a very real enemy out there waiting to destroy us and to be on the look out for his smooth ways however remembering he has only the power we give him so may we not even allow him to get a foothold in our lives. May God bless each one of our lives and multiply our efforts as we serve Him.

Until next time,
cindy

1 Peter Chapter 2 and 3 Thru the Word

2009-07-27T13:24:00.001-07:00

Good afternoon friends,
I want to say regarding my blog entitled "ACCEPTANCE" my intent was not to be harsh but to bring awarness of just how hurtful our very actions can be to those around us and as the song by "Casting Crowns" says : the girls teasing laughing and their laughter is doing damage farther than they know ...... we really need to realize the damage our mouths can have on another's life. It seems to be VERY important to the Lord not speaking evil of another and LOVING ALL TREATING THOSE AS WE WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED even those different, the unlovable, ALL. In today's verses we see these things yet again:
verse 1 of 1 Peter chapter one starts off saying: therefore laying aside ALL malice, ALL deceit, HYPOCRICY, ENVY, AND ALL EVIL SPEAKING, VERSE 17 says: "HONOR ALL people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the King. We now come to 1 Peter ch. 3 and in verse 8 we see again the love we are to have: FINALLY,
ALL of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; LOVE AS BROTHER'S, BEING TENDERHEARTED, BE COURTEOUS; NOT RETURNING EVIL
FOR EVIL OR REVILING FOR REVILING BUT ON THE CONTRARY BLESSING, KNOWING THAT YOU (WE) ARE CALLED TO THIS, THAT YOU MAY INHERIT A BLESSING.
MY HUSBANDS BIBLE HAS THIS TO SAY ABOUT VERSE 8 OF 1 Peter
Peter lists five KEY elements that SHOULD characterize any group of believer's:
(1) "HARMONY" ("of one mind") -pursuing the SAME GOALS
(2) "COMPASSION" - being responsive to each others' needs
(3) "LOVE" - SEEING AND TREATING each other as brothers and sisters
(4) "TENDERHEARTED" - being affectionately sensitive and caring
(5) "COURTEOUS" - being WILLING to encourage one another and rejoice in each others' successes. these five qualities go a long way toward helping believers serve God effectively.
So today I myself am encouraged to live my life as a mirror of Christ... will I fail yes I am sure however I am determined to live my life in Harmony, with compassion, love, being tenderhearted and courteous to ALL that the Lord brings me in contact with. I am encouraged to train my children to do the same and the IMPORTANCE BEHIND DOING SO. Friends I am
only sharing this to encourage us ALL (again self included) to "keep our tongue from (ALL) EVIL" Psalm 34:13 and today's verse "let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. " 1 Peter 3:10 verse 11 " Let him turn away from evil and do good,"
may we turn from ALL EVIL and do good so our Father in Heaven may be glorified truly living a life SET APART from this fallen wicked world we live in.
Father I thank you for your word that we so often take for granted even being able to freely read our bible and in public no less. Father praise you for your basic instructions before leaving earth may we follow them being a mirror of you to all whom look upon our lives. May we do our VERY best to always live in harmony to those in our lives being compassionate LOVING ALL having tender hearts and always being courteous to those around us keeping our tongues from all evil that we may bring you glory and honor in Jesus name amen and amen.

until next time,
cindy

Acceptance......Do we REALLY accept the way Jesus did ????

2009-07-21T19:40:00.001-07:00

Do we accept ALL those around us??READ James ch.2 it speaks of partiality and treating others differently and not accepting all no matter what. I ask you to answer in a very honest answer because if you do I am afraid of what the answers may be. I find myself sad and hurt as well as upset these past few days as I try to process an event that took place among

young ladies whom profess for all to see that they are God fearing Christian girls who's behavior was anything but Godly. I am about to share something that may or may not convict many however I am sharing in obedience to the Lord in hoping to be His hands and feet in getting a message across to even one sister. I will take you back to a few weeks back on a Wednesday evening yes my friends we were at church our very safe haven and the night was great and the service was great the Lord spoke to us it was great until we were on our way out and we pass by a group of gals young gals whom are ALL churched gals whom are all well ....Saved AND KNOW BETTER and what transpires next was heartbreaking to say the least. As most everyone knows my niece was staying with us for about a month or so and she was searching and really needing the Lord . She comes from a broken home and a very messed up childhood which is still not good she has seen and heard things that most of us as adults have NEVER seen and hope to NEVER see in this life time. She dresses differently AS TO TRY TO FIT IN SOME WHERE ANYWHERE however over all a good girl searching for answers. As I am getting to the point she was dressed a little differently this certain night and as we pass by to leave this group of girls were chatting ,look up at us as we were walking by and instead of saying goodbye or goodnight they instead look both my daughter and niece up and down and whisper into each other's ears giving not so nice stares and laughing as they continue to look on and laugh and chatter until I gave them a look of disappointment

though I can't be sure what was said it was something negative for sure and we all know from many of our childhood memories what this feels like... DON'T WE?????

I am sad to admit that I as many of us have bought into the lies of SATAN that who we are is based upon what we look like what we wear what we do or not do how we talk or not talk what are social status is or isn't and how other's think of us is how we think we get our worth.(OUR ONLY WORTH IS FOUND IN CHRIST ALONE) Well my friends we really ought not to be judging other's for any of these things mentioned the Lord did not judge by outer appearances in fact He allowed the sick, poor, harlot's, children ALL types to speak to Him as well as He showed them unconditional LOVE. Matthew 7:1-6 says:

"Judge not , that you be judged." for with what judgement you judge, you will be judged and with the measure you use , it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the PLANK in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Let me remove the speck from your eye and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. " Do not give what is holy to the dogs nor cast your pearls before swine lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."

Why do we in our flesh think we are better than another because of our status wether it be social, riches, hair and skin color, what kind of cars and homes we have, positions we may hold OR NOT hold..... we need to understand gang ALL ARE ACCEPTED IN THE EYES OF CHRIST (IN THE BODY OF BELIEVERS I AM SPEAKING OF) we have ALL sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Roman's 3:23 it makes no difference if one wears Gucci while another wears Wal-Mart brand we are ALL sinner's and in need of the SAME THING a SAVIOR why then must we judge???

Now please my friends DONT misunderstand me I am not saying we may not wear different name brands however dont judge others because they dont wear what you wear or drive the most expensive car's or have the most amazing homes we each have as the Lord sees fit for our personal lives and we dont know what goes on in each family and why they live the way they do it is not for us to know. Friend's all that each of us has ...name brand or not it.ALL belongs to the Lord and He can take it from each of us at anytime and gang if He sees us clinging to it and not being able to live without it He WILL TAKE IT FROM US and I know this to be true from my own personal experiences. Friends church SHOULD BE the one place we can go where we dont have to worry of chitter chatter and gossip and being made fun of and idle talking,

slander's, and down right cattiness, it is not of the Lord to have these traits the Lord calls us to "love one another" and not just the lovable or the ones who look and dress only how we do however His word says: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself". But if you bite and devour one another (which is what we do when we behave this way to another sister or brother in Christ) beware lest you be consumed by one another!Gal.5:14&15

How about the GOLDEN RULE? TREAT OTHERS AS YOU YOURSELF WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED MMMMMMMMMMMM????

He then calls us to be filled with the fruits of the spirit :LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING,KINDNESS, GOODNESS, AND FAITHFULNESS.....

GENTLENESS, AND FINALLY SELF-CONTROL His word goes on to say in verse 25 of Galations that if we live in the spirit LET US ALSO WALK IN THE SPIRIT."26

"Let us NOT become CONCEITED, provoking one another, envying one another.

There is a song we love to sing my kiddo's and I and it says: they will know we are Christian's by our love by our love they will know we are Christian's you see gang the outside world is looking in and if they dont see a church set apart standing FIRM in the word and not only being HEARERS BUT ALSO BEING DOERS of His word so we may be above reproach and not allow the enemies attacks to work and to show the world that we truly are a church set apart for the sake of Christ and that we do Love as Jesus loved THEN EVERYTHING WE DO IS IN VAIN. Another thing to ponder friends is the younger little kids looking on to the Jr. High High school levels as cool examples of who they want to be like and then the Jr. High looking to the High school and High school looking to college and college looking to young 20's and then Mom's looking to older Mom's for guidance, direction, and sometimes even to mirror how they see us living our lives so I ask when we walk out of those cozy church buildings How are we living out our week for all who are REALLY watching to see???? I ask myself and all of you a tough question if your life was going to be broadcast for the church to see on the big screen going back the last few months would our lives reflect the life of Christ or would our lives reflect that of this fallen sin striken world??????

In this fast paced media frenzy world we live in it is so easy to get caught up in all the trappings of technology texting is a big one I speak of Parents are we REALLY aware of the things that our being talked about via texting even our own texting would the things being typed would you consider yourself above reproach or is it questionable if so the Lord already sees and knows our every thought before you think it let alone write it. Mom's I want to remind us (including myself for sure) the high calling we have as Mom's and the little mimics we have sitting under toe watching every move we make every phone call we have every curse word that comes out of our mouth every prayer we make every positive or negative thing we say bottom line the APPLE DOESN'T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE am I blaming the mom's for the girls behavior no of course not HOWEVER I am saying it is a possibility and just a reminder of how are our children seeing us live our day to day lives. Something to Ponder Friends AND I ASK YOU TO NOW SCROLL DOWN TO MY PLAYLIST AND IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY PLAYED PLEASE CLICK ONTO THE SONG BY "CASTING CROWNS" IF WE ARE THE BODY may it convict you as it has my own heart. God Bless

Father may we just see the importance of how we are living our day to day lives outside of church and that we lead only by example and may we be the examples you call us to be living and seeking after you alone and Lord when we fall help us to admit it to repent and to seek you again and again Lord I ask you to forgive us when we do live in the flesh and may you give us the strength to live in you alone Father we Love you and praise you Jesus name amen................

until next time,

cindy

God's Garden!!!!

2009-07-13T13:35:00.001-07:00

I am reading a great book called, "The Power of a Women's Word's" by: Sharon Jaynes it is in our church library. on page 124 I believe is a wonderful little side note titled "God's Garden"
here is what it reads:
In growing a healthy, fruitbearing church, try this plan:
Plant three rows of Squash:

. Squash Gossip

.Squash Criticism

.Squash Indifference

Plant seven rows of peas:

.Prayer
.Promptness
.Perseverance
.Politeness
.Preparedness
.Purity
.Patience

Plant seven heads of lettuce:

.Let us be unselfish and loyal
.Let us be faithful in duty
.Let us search the scriptures
.Let us not be weary in well doing
.Let us be truthful
.Let us LOVE one another
I thought this was amazing and powerful and really friends if we are all doing this we really should not have any problems so I encourage each of us (myself included) to be doing all these things so we may have a church body in which brings glory to our Father in Heaven.

Father I ask you to be with each of us helping us to fill this tall order knowing when we do we shall have the blessings from above and have healthy Godly relationships with the ones we fellowship with. Father if we just get the top three the Squashing of GOSSIP, CRITICISM, AND INDIFFERENCE RIGHT then I believe all the rest will fall into place Father may you bless our church body and continue to grow each one of us for your kingdom purposes in Jesus Name Amen

until next time ,
cindy

Faith................................

2009-07-06T21:31:00.000-07:00

Good evening blog friends I pray all is well with my sister's and brother's in Christ may we keep those lifted up whom may not be doing so well in this season of life.
Today's reading of the word was : Hebrews ch. 11-12 I was blessed as I began my study sometimes in today's world we sometimes get caught up in the news and the trappings of this world and if we are not careful we can lose sight and faith especially if we are waiting to see something then I was reminded in verse 1 "NOW FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN." AND THEN JUST HOW EACH ADDITIONAL scripture reminds(for me encourages) us of men and women of the bible whom had that faith, faith that cannot be seen.... God's word calls us to "Walk by Faith and not by Sight" verse 6 was and is a fav of mine "BUT WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM, FOR HE WHOM COMES TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS , AND THAT HE IS A REWARDER OF THOSE WHO DILIGENTLY SEEK AFTER HIM" IT REMINDED ME to be diligently seeking after the King of Kings no matter what my circumstances are or how bleek life may seem at that time we must walk by faith not by sight and that without that faith anything I do is in vain and not pleasing to my Lord that was convicting for me .
We now come to chapter 12 verse 2 "LOOKING UNTO JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH, WHO FOR THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS, praise you Jesus that you endured that for such a filthy rag as myself I am so blessed .

Then as we go down to verse 11 it is speaking of Chastening and how it is not joyful yet painful however it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those trained by it praise God I have gone through alot of chastening over the last year or so and it has been Very painful yet I am so very grateful because it brings me closer to my Father making me more in His image and not my own thank goodness for that. I was blessed that these chapters were today as I continued to read chapter 12 verse 14 and 15 ended up ministering the most to my heart today as I felt tossed to and fro by a very dark and rejecting family who spoke very unkind things of my husband and I and our faith in God alone. " Pursue peace with ALL people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this may become defiled; 14-15
Today as I was being mocked and pursecuted for His name sake and our beliefs I wanted in my flesh for a brief moment curse at them and say HOW CAN YOU SAY THESE THINGS?? when just then I remembered today's passage to pursue peace with all people not some all even those whom are mocking me as hard as it was and it was HARD but I remembered the second half of the word "WITHOUT WHICH NO ONE WILL SEE THE LORD" I knew then had I responded in the flesh I would have allowed Satan to win and fuel the very fire of the ones being so awful and they would not have seen nor heard the Lord in me so I pursued PEACE and I know that in that I store my treasures in heaven which to me is what matters. So I encourage you to walk and live by faith as hard as our daily lives get and as the attacks of the enemy grow stronger and in numbers may we remember to be diligent in seeking after God and believing that if He is for us who then can be against us??? Amen

Father thank you that you endured the cross for our lives and thank you Lord for being the rewarder of those whom diligently seek after you may we each seek after you wholeheartedly each and everyday no matter what life has to throw at us. Lord when we are persecuted help us to remember that you endured the greatest persecution of all.... the weight of every man's sin upon that cross and may we realize that the persecution in other countries is greater than even what we experience may we count it all joy and continue to seek your face Lord we praise you in Jesus name Amen
until next time,
cindy

Getting Beyond the Accident............

2009-07-02T18:45:00.001-07:00

Well tomorrow will be 2 weeks ago that the accident happened and already we have another car thank you Jesus. Prayers were answered and we can now move on from that terrible day. Thanks for all your prayers family is good and we are healing well some healed already all the way. The Lord is good and it amazes me that He truly does turn EVERYTHING for the good to those whom believe upon Him. We truly are a blessed people and we need to know that even in the midst of a trial no matter what it may be the loss of a job, tight finances, troubled marriages,car accidents, hard to handle kids, friendships, family feuds, doubt whatever it may
be we can trust with the Lord we can get through even these little things and dont get me wrong I know these things are not little as we are going through them however in the big picture of things they really are little and we have a VERY BIG GOD whom can see us through anything so I encourage you today to put your trust solely in Jesus alone and watch Him see you through any issue you may be going through. Will it be easy NO but I know without HIM it is sooooooo much harder if not impossible. "but as for me, I trust in you, O Lord; I say you are my God" PSALM 31:14

"Be of good courage , and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord."Psalm 31:24

"Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him " Matt. 6:8
Father we thank you that you do go before us and know our every need even before we ourselves know. Father thank you for your provision and may you provide for
each of us in your timing and as we wait may we wait upon you and take comfort and peace knowing you have always provided and will continue to provide our every need not greed. Father may you just be with all whom find themselves without a job Lord may you provide for them through whatever means you see fit and open the doors to a new job. Father for all of those with marriage problems may you just provide healing and maybe use the Love Dare to minister to their marriages. Father no matter where we may find ourselves this Thursday night in July of 2009 may we first just seek your face may we then listen for your still small voice and then may we wait patiently as you begin to work in our lives. May we place our trust in you now may we surrender ALL to you now in Jesus holy name
amen.
I pray you all have a very blessed and safe 4th of July weekend may you have a great time with family and friends and until next time GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!

His very humble faithful servant,
cindy

1st and Prayerfully Last Accident !!!!

2009-06-23T18:03:00.000-07:00

"I will love you , O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;My God my strength in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised so shall I be saved from my enemies." Psalm 18:1-3

Hello my friends...........as most of you know I was in a very bad car accident on Friday the 19th day of June at about 1:45 ish in the afternoon. I was on the 215 headed towards The Lakes well to be exact it was going to my old neighborhood to drop my son off for his regular get together time with some friends it is a part of the freeway I have traveled 1000 times before I was in the middle lane of the freeway in between the Stephanie Exit and the Gibson Exit and I was needing to get into the fast lane and as I look over my shoulder to see if I was able to make a lane change I see blue coming into my current lane and try to move over so he doesnt hit me only when swerved it was very jerky because I didnt want to hit car on the otherside of me so I ended up not being able to gain control and spun out into two complete circles hitting the middle wall which seperates the sides of freeway once and then again spinning my car back into freeway across all three lanes and by the very GRACE of GOD parked on side of highway not even in the rocks that was amazing uh??????

As the car was spinning out of control and cars are flying past us and stopping to not hit us all
I could see was the life of my precious three children(Matthew 10, D.J. 7, and Bella 4) flash before my eyes and then my own and I remember everything happening so slow and saying Lord I cant do this please Jesus take the Wheel from my hands and protect me from these passing cars please save us. I was also thinking am I ready to be before Jesus and was overwhelmingly convicted and was brought to my Knees in prayer the whole night after.
The Lord was truly the ONLY thing that saved us that Friday afternoon I truly 100% believe that to be the case. Every witness was in amazment they wondered HOW ???? How no one hit me and I hit no one and how we were alive and how did I see over airbags in a smoke filled car to
get it to safety and Matthew and I kept saying Jesus our Lord thats how. It was so amazing and Matthew was so concerned and didnt care about his injuries at the time he wanted in the car to check for his bible. It was so sureal in many ways my son asked me later mom did you feel like you were out of body and it wasnt real I said yes son that is sorta how I felt. I am so very thankful for my life and have not been putting anything for granted the last few days life is to short and we truly dont know how many days we have left. The Lord spoke to me in that car and it was profound and one message that spoke the loudest was Cindy you want me to take the wheel of this car but HOW ABOUT THE WHEEL TO YOUR LIFE?????? WOW Lord HE WAS right and the words rang loud and clear I need the wheel to your life EVERY PART OF IT not
just the ones you are cozy with ALL parts 100% so I have searched deep in my soul and am rededicating myself solely to the Lord of Lord's and King of King's being ready in any event to go home and be with my Lord. As for the accident the car is God's we do for sure NEED another right away yet we are trusting in God for that I do ask your prayers in that though if you will.
The children are fine bruised and sore but will recover, I am very sore and still suffering minor headaches so prayer for continued healing is great. I also am still a little nervous and shaky while driving so but other than that PRAISE GOD FOR GIVING US MORE TIME and His mercies are new every morning and this is His Day we shall be glad and rejoice in it. As for the blue car whom caused the accident he got away never stopped to admit he was what caused the accident
my family prayed for him for he knows not his ways the Lord knows and that is the important thing. There were great angels the Lord sent to stop and wait with us as well as witness the whole thing so that again was God. We really do my friends serve an amazing AWESOME God.

I ask you now my friends are you allowing the Lord to take the wheel of your life or are you still hanging on to that last piece of sin or pride or hurt whatever it is be real before your King admit
humbly that you cannot do any of it on your own and allow Jesus to take your wheel and lead you to safety. Without my Lord that day may have ended very tragicly and we know that and are blessed. I was reminded that as mundane as it is to pray everytime you get into the car you really NEED TO it is so important also saying good by to family members I recall not saying a proper goodbye to my husband and being so convicted we may have NEVER seen each other on this side of heaven again yikes. Life my friends is but a vapor and we really dont have time to get right the time is now to be right("but the hour is coming, and now is,when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and TRUTH ;for the Father is seeking such to worship Him." John 4:23) get on your knees today and seek wholeheartedly after our King
as will I and am blessed that I am able. God Bless you all and may God continue to keep each of our families safe.
Father you are truly amazing I am honored to be your daughter, I ask you to forgive me for the way I have been living my life half way in so many areas and Lord I do give you the wheel to my life every last part of it I ask you do what you will with my life and thank you so much for saving the 4 of our lives. Lord I thank you for steering us to safety that hot Friday afternoon I praise you that when I called out you answered I praise you for the things you are working on in and through me and my children you are awesome. Father may we all seek you before any other thing in this awful sinful world. In Jesus HOLY name amen

until Next time,
your humble sister,
cindy

Mom's Don't Forget Your Hubbies This Father's Day

2009-06-17T12:50:00.000-07:00

Hello blog friends.................. I am a few days early however it is on purpose I want to remind us all to plan in advance a special day for our hubby's this Sunday for Father's Day maybe breakfast in bed.... well ok maybe not for those of us that have to be at church by 7:00a.m. but maybe a nice lunch or early dinner just a time all for him to spoil him and love him. I want to tell my Honey he is the best hubby/daddy ever he deals with alot having a huge family and a crazy emotional wife. He has a big family and loves us all and continues to provide for us and we just want to publicly (well over blog world) tell everyone how great he is and that we love you so much thanks for being the best Daddy ever May God bless your Father's Day this year we love ya daddy..............................................................................

Happy Father's Day Babe

ARE MY WORDS PURE???????????????

2009-06-16T14:40:00.000-07:00

Great question to ask ourselves on a ..................well all the time basis!!!! I have found myself asking this question lately as I have well been hurt over the last few months over careless words spoken to me. Are our words pure, gentle, peaceable, full of mercy grace and good fruit, unwavering and without HYPOCRISY?? Wow thats a tall order to fill uh however with God's help we need to be filling this order daily. What a great world we would live in if we all just thought about our words and how and what to say before saying them. I would love to ALWAYS measure up to these attributes above myself but it is hard to do this everytime we open our mouths I have to admit I fall short to many times more than I would like to admit sadly enough. There are 2 important scriptures I am reminded in the book I am reading 1) "speaking the TRUTH in LOVE" Eph. 4:15 NOW THIS MY FRIENDS is a very touchy subject you see we have to be careful to not come across as holy rollers and go up to people saying all kinds of truth and claiming to say your doing it in LOVE. I THINK we need to be REALLY CAREFUL the truth we speak to one another and make sure you have prayed to the Lord and have His ok to share.
I have had people speak things to me that later they even realized themselves should NOT have been spoken to me .. and even though it was truth it was not the time nor the place so I ask you to just be wise and use discernment before speaking the TRUTH in LOVE with someone make sure that is what the Lord would have you do at that moment. 2) "Never forget to be TRUTHFUL and KIND" Prov. 3:3 Love ,or kindness, and truth must be inseparable.
A passage from Words that Hurt Words that Heal is great it says; Unfortunantly, at times we think we are being loving by not speaking the truth. At other times we speak the truth , but are unloving as we do so. I wish I could place love and truth deep in my mind to filter every word I speak. Amen to that!! If we can ALL (myself included) just realize the power of our tongue the good and evil that falls off of it "The tongue has the power of life and death" Prov. 18:21
for me I am making it a must to think before speaking and ask myself these few questions
1) Is what I am about to say Glorifying to God?
2) Is it uplifting and encouraging to the hearer?
3)If it were posted for all to see I wouldnt be worried/ or would I????
If I have answered yes to the first 3 then I may say it if not yes to all three it doesnt need to be shared. I encourage us all to be more aware of what and how we speak to others starting today
and may our words be filled with God's love and encouragment.

Father I pray you would forgive me for every unkind, unGodly thing spoken from my mouth I pray Lord you would give all of us the awareness of what comes off our tongues and may we only speak truth in Love when you appoint for us to do so with one another. May we be the iron that sharpens iron and again only in LOVE. Father help us to think before we speak and ask for your wisdom and discernment. Father I ask this in Jesus Name Amen.

Friends I believe as we spend more and more time in the word of God we will be filled with Him and able to speak as Jesus did to those around us . As we spend time drinking from the river of His delights we will be filled to overflowing with His love, joy, and peace which shall then spill over into our speech God Bless you my friends!!!
until next time,
Cindy

Memories From 2009.........................

2009-06-12T18:15:00.001-07:00

Hello Blog Friends,
we had a graduation party for my kiddo's and a few friends today it was great and something needed to be done. I have an 8th grader going into 9th and a 5th grader going into 6th or Jr. High he says lol. So we needed some recognition time it was great we reflected back over the year and just how blessed we are to be homeschooling and ALL my kiddo's are blessed and really want to stay homeschooled so that was encouraging for a mom/homeschool teacher to hear it was music to my ears. In the side bar I am posting a few pictures of my kiddo's today!
God Bless your weekends until next time,
Cindy

What's Up????

2009-06-01T20:55:00.000-07:00

Well friend's nothing to exciting going on in my life right now ...............ok not true it is exciting being home that is apart of what I am learning. See friends I think that is a HUGE MISCONCEPTION on our parts is we think that if we are at home more and not serving for all to see or in the lime light so to speak then we are not doing anything of importance or exciting and that is such a lie straight from the pit of HELL my friends. WHEREVER THE LORD HAS US IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE and being home with our families is of utmost importance and God's devine order for us is God, Hubby's, kiddo's, work, ministry so if we are not in this order we are not in God's perfect will ................... my friends and I have all found ourselves in many different seasons and though some of those seasons are tough for some and not so tough for others we all know we are right where the Lord wants us and there is no better place to be. He is growing all of us in different areas of our lives bringing us all closer to thee which is all we can ask for. I want to encourage you mom's whom find yourself in the season of being HOME there REALLY IS NO GREATER MISSION FIELD right now then for us to pour our lives into our children there will prayerfully shall the Lord tarry be plenty of time to serve in the future however there is only ONE CHILDHOOD and friends it really does go by in the blink of an eye so cherish every moment and be thankful for that moment that so many other's never get. I am missing serving so much but I am also loving spending more family time with my kid's and hubby and dont get me wrong I can still serve just not at every event and function there is I am learning to truely take all things in prayer and allow God to plan my days not me telling Him what I will do it has been refreshing. I pray whatever season we find ourselves in today that we find that perfect peace only found in the Lord as He leads the way.
God Bless,
Cindy Bolt

"DISAPPOINTMENT"

2009-05-21T14:13:00.001-07:00

Hello my blog friends,
I have to admit I have had a week filled with disappointments all around me.............I turn the T.V. on and find many disappointing things, I have been disappointed by family and friends this week and many more disappointments life is unfortunately filled with many disappointments isn't it???? However I need to not allow the enemy to continue to rob me of my joy and the truth that God even through the disappointments of life gives me hope that NEVER changes and LOVE that will NEVER fade away Praise God. In the disappointments of life we must stand tall and remember the Lord will give us the ability to over come the struggles that are apart of everyday life. "we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character, and character hope. Now hope does not DISAPPOINT, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the holy spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:3-5
Well my friends as we are more and more circummed in this darkened world I think it is harder and harder to stay focused but we must we must be a "SET APART PEOPLE" IF YOU are facing disappointments as I have this week if it is from the news we recieve or our friends or family or whatever it may be may we remember as God has so gently reminded me that we are ALL in a fallen world with IMPERFECT PEOPLE whom will as do we fall short from time to time and is why we must rely upon the Lord SOLELY for ALL of our needs not some or most but ALL
and I believe when we do this 100% then when the time comes when someone does disappoint us we wont be so taken back by it.

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 corinthians 4:17-18

Father thank you for NEVER disappointing us and always there for us thank you for your grace,
mercy, love and hope you give to each one of us. Lord help me to look beyond my circumstances
and struggles of this week and to see your purpose for me and my life alone I do thank you LORD FOR THE CHALLENGES you put before me in which I know bring me closer to you and help to make me into your image give me the strength though to go through them as they are at times difficult. I thank you for the growth that is continuing to take place in my life I pray this in Jesus name Amen
I ask that you keep my family in your prayers we have had a very challenging week to say the least we know God is good and faithful and are trusting in that He will see us through this time and guide and direct us every step of the way as He always does you are amazing Lord.
Until Next Time,
Servant to Christ Alone,
Cindy

School Year Coming to an End!!!

2009-05-19T13:31:00.001-07:00

WOW I CANT BELIEVE I AM SAYING THE SCHOOL YEAR IS COMING TO AN END
but it is.
We have about 3 more weeks in our home were done Friday June 12th 2009 woohoo.
not really outside of all the emotional changes our homeschooling journey has endured this year it has thankfully been the best year to this point as far as time wise and progression. I am though looking forward to a very laid back summer break we will read thoughout the summer through a few different reading programs but other than that we are on a break and will resume normal schedule Monday August 31,2009. I have to say we covered alot this year and if we missed something praying the Lord fills those gaps.
I have to say I would like to address a few commits I have received in the past few weeks about homeschooling not that I know it all I certainly do not however I have been at it for 13 years now and researched many things however I still learn daily and keep a teachable heart myself .I believe though many are researching and asking themselves is this for us next year or not and friends only God can and should answer this for you however if I can be used to encourage along the way then PRAISE GOD.
1) I was asked how I do it by someone whom is having a hard time? Well the answer to that is simple I am NOT doing it the Lord does it all with out Him in and of myself I can do nothing.
2) I was asked how we can afford it because it is so costly?? I HAVE TO SAY YES SOME CURRICULUMS are very costly however they are NOT the ONLY CURRICULUMS out there. I think we need to research what is best for our personal families we all may not BE USING what EVERYONE ELSE is using and friend's it is OK NOT ALL of our children are the same or learn on the same level and that too is ok that is the beauty of homeschooling we have that ability to individualize their curriculum to fit their exact needs how awesome is that????????
We have many resources and some are absolutly FREE you just have to search the internet but the time is well worth your effort. Also there are many book fairs and trading of curriculum or other's whom sale their's for a fraction of the cost you just have to do the homework. Also I will be VERY HONEST it is a financial sacrifice however I believe where God guides He also provides
the means for where He is guiding so if He has indeed called you to homeschooling He WILL provide your every need when you need it. We started homeschooling 13 years ago a full Pre/K
curriculum and He has provided every year after even the grim years where it looked absolutely
impossible REMEMBER NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH CHRIST and "I CAN DO ALL THINGS WITH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME."
Phil.4:13
3) I have been asked about schedules ??? Friend's this is VERY important Scheduling can look different in each household and I find this is very ok it is something we need to realize though thru the seasons needs to stay flexible leaving room for field trips, sports etc. however it is very important this is were in our family if we dont follow a pretty tight schedule the enemy gets in and we dont function well. Do we follow our household schedule perfectly all the time YEAH right I wish but it is always there to get us right back on track when we need it which is great.
4)Do you ever struggle with the choice to homeschool each year or do you just know??
This one is hard...................for our family back 13 years ago I NEVER could have imagined I would give up working and money to come home full time and then on top of it homeschool for the long hall. I will be honest I was digging my heals in fighting with God at first and really thought to myself ok I will do it for a couple of years but the long hall um yeah no sorry Lord and then I would just send them to school .........................................................................................Well
the Lord had a VERY DIFFERENT PLAN and I am blessed that I chose to obey that plan.
However we do struggle every year with the questions am I qualified, do they know enough, are they socialized enough, is this still Lord's plan, maybe I should go back to work to help support our large family, maybe kids would do better in public school, are they missing out on things,
and with those doubts every year the Lord assures us HIS long hall meant LONG HALL. So we do pray about it every year to make sure this still is what Lord wants for all 7 kids and we are flexible in knowing at ANY time the Lord may take us down a different path but for now we are called to continue on in what we started 13 years ago.
5) ARE YOU AGAINST PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SCHOOLS???? wow this was a tough question
I pray I have NEVER come across in a way anyone would feel as though I am judgemental or not in support of these types of schooling and if so I apologize not my intent ever.
I believe that Where ever God is calling you to place your children that is what I am all for.
I just read in a great book " The Mom Your Meant to Be" ch. 34 something great and profound and this is what I believe and hold to and encourage "There is no perfect SCHOOL" amen for that commit public schools, private schools, or homeschooling households are ALL ran by imperfect people and each place will have it's challenges and problems as well as it's benefits and blessings. I too as the author of this book said believe that the outside school's come with bigger problems however we cant stereo type every public school as being terrible. I do strongly urge parents of both public and or private schools to BE INVOLVED at the end of the day wether we homeschool or send them to school we are the responsible ones for what is going on in our kids lives we and only we answer to God for the raising of our gifts. I also want to strongly let you know Greg and I believe the best place for any child to be taught is in the center of the LORD'S WILL PERIOD. If it be His will to have you homeschool or send to school He will protect and they can shine where ever planted. We should support and not judge the decisions of our friends and families we are all called down very unique and Different Paths so may we embrace them all.
I have many more however need to run as well as this is already long enough so over the next few months leading into the next school year I will share as Lord leads and if you have any questions , concerns, commits please call , e-mail, or even stop by for pointers if you wish.
God Bless you all as you seek to follow the Lord's will in this area of your lives.
May the LORD MULTIPLY OUR EFFORTS AND GIVE US PEACE IN OUR HOMESCHOOL/PUBLIC SCHOOL/ PRIVATE SCHOOL JOURNEY'S AND REMEMBER WHEREVER OUR KIDDO'S ARE PLANTED TO "STAY INVOLVED" AND "TRUST GOD"
God Bless
Until Next Time,
cindy

Created to be His Help Meet!!!!

2009-05-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

Hello my blog friends ..... as I posted a few days back I am now reading a great book called "Created to be His Help Meet" Chapter One is titled "God's Gift" :
A wise woman doesn't take anything for granted. She is thankful to be loved and seeks to make herself more lovely.
It is a gift to be a Help Meet AND TO BE BLESSED WITH A HUSBAND for that I am thankful.
God gave Adam the most precious gift a man can receive - a woman. "And the Lord God said, It
is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him." (Gen. 2:18)
"Brought her unto the man" (Gen. 2:22) " Whoso findeth a wife findetha good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord" (Proverbs 18:22)
We as wives were created to fill a need, and in that capacity you are a "good thing" a helper suited to the needs of a man. Gals when we are the help meet to our husbands as we are called to be we are also a helper to Christ doing as we were created as a wife to do. "A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband" (Proverbs 12:4)
Our divine calling as wives is not that of how the world views women as doing just as the man does our roles however are to come alongside our men and help them to do the job God has created them to do loving and respecting him as he is.
In this book there is a "TIME TO CONSIDER" section almost like the Love Dare has challenges and work to do. In today's it says let's get Serious with God locate in the word the following traits/words as they relate to women of God and ask God to work each of these attributes into your character:
1) Virtue
2)Graciousness
3)Wisdom
4)Prudence
5)Goodness
It goes on to say a Good Help Meet has a Passion to be in service, Our first calling (outside of God) is to be in service to our husbands, then our children, and WHEN TIME AFFORDS,her passion of service will spill over into serving others.
Father, thank you for my husband in which you have blessed me with going on 12 years married 13 together Praise God.....Lord I ask you to work each of the mentioned attributes out in my character as well making me a Godly help meet that would build my husband up and not tear him down.FATHER GOD please place in my heart that servant's heart toward my husband ,that I might reach out to him in Love and not in flesh and help me to remember it is only by YOUR loving grace I AM EVEN SAVED and Father please continue to strengthen our marriage and help me to make the changes I need to make rather than pointing out his changes I am called to be his Help Meet NOT HIS HOLY SPIRIT.............. Father bless all whom come across my blog in Jesus Name Amen
Until Next Time,
Faithfully Serving God,
Cindy Bolt

Adjusting to God's Plan ........and not my own!!

2009-05-14T23:15:00.001-07:00

MATTHEW 4:18-22
19 "Then He said to them,"Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

Wow no questions asked they just dropped their nets and followed .......so WHY cant I follow Him when he asks me to???? I will in time however it isnt immediately as did the men in these verses. The Lord has in the last few months asked me to do some things in which have been rather challenging however I am learning to adjust to His plan you see the Lord doesn't change His plan to suit me or my purposes instead however He asks of me (and you) to align our lives to His will alone. The Lord has asked of me to modify or change the way my family has done something for over 10 years now and this has been taxing to say the least however I do know I am to trust and obey even when it makes no sense what He is asking. Saying yes to Him has meant seeing friends and being social less frequently and being home bound more often which all that know me know this is VERY HARD for me to do. I do know however that in trusting Him and obeying Him He promises a great return on any sacrifice we make(Matt. 19:29) I know God's plan is the best plan so why the hesitation well change is hard I think even harder when you really dont expect it you know......However I do know that I know God's plan's for my family is based upon His goodness and Love and Mercy for us. I love the song Trust and Obey the lyrics that say:
Trust and obey , for there's no other way To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. Lord may I trust and obey as you carry me through another season in life.
I shall meditate upon these comforting verses:
"TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT YOUR PATHS. Proverbs 3:5-6

Father I thank you so much for the changes you bring and though hard and I have found our most recent changes to be difficult I know you are in control and are growing us and molding us making our family into the family Of God in which you see fit. Father give me strength to trust and obey and to shut out all outside advise and opinions and only focus on your still small voice in all our upcoming decisions in which need to be made Father I ask you to guide, direct, and protect my family and may we adapt to any and all changes you send our way In Jesus Name Amen

Until Next time,
Cindy

Done with the Love Dare Now What???

2009-05-12T23:35:00.001-07:00

Wow ....... so I found myself asking mmmmmm what shall I do next it seems easy enough when you are following a great devotion book and it is sorta holding you accountable so to speak before the Lord and now I have finished now what?? Well I stumbled upon a great book I have already read and the title is: "CREATED TO BE HIS HELP MEET" by : Debi Pearl it is a great book she doesn't leave anything out or sugar coat our roles as God Fearing wives and filling the roles the Lord has intended for us to fill as wives. I have decideded to reread this book to kinda fill the spot of reading the book I had been doing. I will share as I am led today I came across the page first thing opened to page 228 and it is titled ABC'S OF BEING A HELP MEET:

A. Admit when you are wrong
B. Be positive
C. cuddle
D. Do it his way
E. Encourage him
F. Fix His breakfast
G. Give back rubs
H. Hug often
I. I love you , should be said many times daily
J. Joke around in a playful manner
K. Know his needs
L. Listen to him
M. Manage your home well
N. Never hold grudges
O. open your eyes in the morning and smile
P. Pray for him
Q. Quit nagging him
R. Reminisce about good ole times
S. Show respect and honor
T. Trust, and earn his trust
U. Understand his need for reverence
V. Vulnerability is a feminine trait; cultivate it
W. Wink at him
X. is for private times(woohoo)
Y. Yearn to please him
Z. Zealously guard him with your love
Awesome isnt it I was reminded of ways I ought to be encourageing him along every step of the way so I am encouraged myself to follow these things on a daily basis tall order to fill however
"ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH AN AMAZING GOD " AMEN
May God bless us in our marriages and may we just love on our hubby's and encourage them to be their very best.

Until Next Time,
Cindy Bolt

Love Dare # 40

2009-05-11T13:24:00.001-07:00

Hello sorry I have seemed as though I was MIA (missing in action) I have to be honest it has been a hard few days for me emotionally I am tossed up about being done with the Love Dare as well as mom's group wrapping up in a month or so and Bible studies wrapping up for summer I have sat this one out so by the time it comes again it will seem as though a lifetime has gone by as well as not being involved in an active homeschool group for the first time ever in which has been somewhat of a challenge for our family however Lord is in control AMEN and AMEN.
So just an odd season I have found myself in and trying to adjust A BIT.
Let me wrap up with the last day of the Love Dare.................................

Day 40 "Love is a Covenant"
Well they start the devotion out by congratulating me for making it through the Love Dare journey woohoo this day really talks about the commitment we have made to our spouses and to look at it as what it is a covenant and NOT a CONTRACT because contracts can be broken at anytime and a covenant is intended to be unbreakable. the devotion today was awesome talking about how marriage is the strongest covenant on earth between two people .
I am praying on how I will do today's Love Dare it says;
"Write out a renewal of your vows and place them in your home. Perhaps, if appropriate, you could make arrangements to formally renew your wedding vows before a minister and with family present. Make it a living testament to the value
of marriage in God's eyes and the high honor of being one with your mate."

well this is awesome idea and as I said I am praying for what to do in our marriage would it be private or publicly mmmmmmmmmmmmm must ponder that!!

God Bless you all on your journey's for a better Godly marriage may God bless each of us. Jesus Name Amen

Until next time,
His servant,
Cindy Bolt

Day 39...... WOW

2009-05-05T22:15:00.001-07:00

Can you believe on day 39 already ??? I dont know if I want to be done ironic I know I remember first starting this and not wanting to continue and now my friend's I dont want it to end.
Love Endures-
"Love never fails." 1Corinthians 13:8
As the devotion says ,"Of all the things love dares to do this is the ultimate.
Though thretened, it keeps pursuing. Though challenged, it keeps moving forward. Though mistreated and rejected, it refuses to give up. Love never fails.
Often when marriages are in crises we want to give up especially when our spouse seems to not budge .
LOVE if it is REALLY LOVE doesnt waffle when it's not received the way we want it to be received. If love can be told to Quit loving, then it is not really Love at all. Love that is from God is unending and unstoppable. If the other party doesn't choose to receive it, love keeps giving anyway.
Love Never Fails......................
NEVER
Jesus ' love for us is unconditional and this is how we are to Love ALL THOSE IN OUR LIVES starting with our mates. we dont love because of anything they do or do not do we simple love because Christ first loved us.

Today's Love Dare was this:
Spend time in personal prayer, then write a letter of commitment and resolve to your spouse. Include why you are committing to this marriage until death, and that you have purposed to love them no matter what. Leave it in a place that your
mate will find it.
Father thank you for this challenging yet amazing journey I have been on through this Love Dare you have taken us on we have come a long way and by no means have arrived however we do have a stronger marriage then ever before and I thank you for that. Help me be obedient to you and your word may I live by it moment by moment of everyday. Father I lift up to you now all the marriages who are now going through this Love Dare challenge I ask you to give them strength in the times where it is easier to give up yet may they be encouraged to see it through and reap the blessings because of it. Father I now ask these things in Jesus Holy Name, Amen.

Until Next Time,
Your servant in the Lord,
Cindy

Day 38 LOVE FULFILLS DREAMS....................

2009-05-03T18:45:00.000-07:00

I will usually not blog on Sunday's ever....... however I believe it is Lord Led as well as having permission from hubby he has had to work on his car ALL day yesterday and part of today have to do what we have to do so that free's me up to blog for a second so here it goes God Bless!!

" Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4
What is something your spouse would really, really love? And how often do we ask ourselves this question????? I have to be honest as I read this I thought to myself wow I dont know and I dont think I ever have sad yet truth. The devotion for this day had said it is common sense we cant give our spouses everything they may want however have we allowed no to become our response to their wants and desires everytime???? Love sometimes needs to be extravagant. To just go all out. Love sometimes needs to forget the technicalities and just bless because it wants to. We also need to not just do it to do it but to put our whole heart into it. Dreams and desires come in all shapes and sizes. But LOVE takes careful notice of each one.

.Love calls you to listen to what your mate is saying and hoping for.

.Love calls you to remember the things that are unique to your relationship, the pleasures and enjoyments that bring a smile to the other's face.

. Love calls you to give when it would be alot more convenient to wait.

. And LOVE calls you to daydream about these opportunities so regularly that their desires become yours as well.

The book says : we dare you to think in terms of overwhelming your spouse with LOVE.

Today's Love Dare: Ask yourself what your mate would want if it was obtainable. Commit this to prayer , and start mapping out a plan for meeting some (if not all) of their desires, to whatever level you possibly can.

Father may we all just seek to please our mates and meeting their hearts desires and not only thinking of how they can meet ours may we go into this next week seeking to know our mates better and really seeking what it is they truly do desire in their hearts. May you kiss every marriage on the foreheads of each mate and bless them , Lord draw nearer to us all as we draw nearer to you my Lord....... In Jesus Name Amen

Until Next Time,
humble servant,
Cindy Bolt

Day 36 and Day 37

2009-04-28T15:02:00.000-07:00

Hello my friends I apologize for the delay in sharing life had gotten in the way it was awesome though not complaining however I have not posted since last Thursday I have however kept up with the LOVE DARE I am only going to share two for today though because otherwise it will make for a VERY long reading.
DAY 36 "Love is God's Word"
"Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105
In this devotion it speaks of the importance of being in the word ,first and foremost ourselves however also finding a time you may read the word together as a couple. The three main points the devotion points out are as follows:
1) BE IN IT - meaning to be in the word no matter how long 10 minutes or a couple of hours it is not so much the amount of time as it is just making sure it becomes a habit to seek Him first each day period. We can only love as Christ loves and in order to have that to give back we need to be soaking it up in His word on a daily basis. His word should become to us " more desirable than gold" (psalm 19:10) .
2)STAY UNDER IT- we need to be in church as that covering staying under that authority His word is at times very deep and we need the teaching through sermons at times to allow the word to be explained in detail where we may not have understood it on our own also it is needed for accountability as well as coming together in fellowship with likeminded believers going down the same journey as you in this life.
3)LIVE IT- that we would not just be hearers of His word but doers also (James 1:22)
Those around us are always watching the world ,families, husbands, children, we ourselves need to be living out the word of God I think especially in our marriages we tend to right away point the finger and blame instead of laying ourselves aside and seeking after the Lord first and allowing Him to take care of Hubby's.
Today's Love Dare was to if your not already doing it commit yourselves to reading the word of God everyday for at least 10 minutes a day and then asking your Hubby if you two can maybe read a bit together............

ok now this brings me to DAY 37-
Love Agrees in Prayer:
"If two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My
Father." Matt. 18:19
So for me this is so very hard isnt that weird I have NO PROBLEM praying in front of a crowd or kids or family or friends but with my own hubby seems so very foreign to me sad but true for some strange reason. The love dare devotion for today states that one thing that would significantly change our marriages is praying together as a couple. We are joined together in the most intimate of ways so how can we not feel the need to pray with husbands??? mmmmm good question I just dont know why maybe we dont want to show them our weakest moments maybe
there is deep bitterness toward our spouses enabling us to be comfortable to pray with them maybe they are not walking whatever the case I pray we can get there. I have started over last few weeks and I have to tell you we have grown closer than ever before and Greg knows more of an idea of where I am coming from in certain areas of my walk or life issues as well as I know his
with work or kids and challenges he has that I never thought about asking and he never thought about sharing however when your real and open praying together before the Lord these issues freely come out it is amazing. I have to say I will be very honest as the book says as well at first this felt very awkward and uncomfortable however the more we do it the less awkward and the more intimate our relationship is becoming it is wonderful.
TODAY"S LOVE DARE WAS :
Ask your spouse if you can begin praying together. Talk about the best time to do this, whether
it's in the morning, your lunch hour, or before bedtime. Use this time to commit your concerns,
disagreements, and needs before the Lord. Don't forget to thank Him for His provision and blessings. Even if your spouse refuses to do this, resolve to spend this daily time in Prayer yourself.

Father I PRAY YOU WOULD WORK in the hearts of everyone whom may not want to do this and bring each couple together in a time of prayer and sharing, we know your word says where two or more are gathered you are in our midst so may we all gather as a couple lifting up our request, concerns, and disagreements unto you and in doing this may each of our marriages grow more intimate and stronger in you as we allow you to be at the head of our lives Praise your holy name Lord Jesus Amen

Until Next Time,
Your Humble Servant,
Cindy

DAY 35 "LOVE IS ACCOUNTABLE"

2009-04-23T13:33:00.000-07:00

"Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." Prov. 15:22 (NIV)

A paragraph from the Love Dare reads as follows:
A couple that faces problems alone is more likely to fall apart during tough times. However, the ones who interlock their lives in a network of other strong marriages radically increase their chances of surviving the fiercest of storms. It is CRUCIAL that a husband and wife pursue godly advice, healthy friendships, and experienced mentors. EVERYONE NEEDS WISE COUNSIL THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. Wise people constantly seek it and gladly receive it.
Good marriage mentors warn us before making a bad decision. They encourage when we are ready to give up and to cheer you on when you reach new levels of intimacy in your mariage.
I do caution(me speaking now) it be someone of mature faith and not a friend you just go dump all your marriage problems to because if their marriage is not healthy or is not to the level of your marriage they are only offering opinions and we all have VERY DIFFERENT OPINIONS AND OPINIONS ARE OPINIONS NOT TRUTH. So in that my encouragement would be to find someone whom is led by the unchanging Word of God and not opinions. We all need accountability partners I am just now learning myself what this should look like as well as the very importance of them. I also agree that we need good healthy Godly relationships (meaning whom we spend our time with) to model as well as support the way a godly marriage should look as well as help encourage us and remind us in times of difficulty. An important reminder from scripture: "Each one of us will give an account of himself to God." (Romans 14:12)
The author of Love Dare advises that our husbands and ourselves have godly friendships as well as mentors on a consistent basis. The Bible says: " Encourage one another day after day.... so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." (Hebrews 3:13)
we often isolate ourselves from others and we need to be very careful not to push the people that love you the most away. If you find your marriage in trouble today I want to encourage you
to call the Pastor, a bible believing mentor/counselor or seek a marriage class conference or study. I know from experience our Pastor is great and looks at it not as a man but on both sides and directing it to biblical truth and is very helpful. In my own personal experience I will be REAL HONEST I was putting off seeing the Pastor or any kind of help at this time we had already seen counselors and I was ashamed and prideful and only was thinking of how it would make me look well I have to say I could not have felt better than I did after meeting with him for the first time. Now you may be saying to yourself well I KNOW my mate WILL NOT GO AT ALL first pray next you make an appointment for you alone and watch as things work, and remember the scripture I spoke of few minutes ago says each one (of us)will give an account
and only for our actions and choices not our spouses. Today's dare was to find a marriage mentor if you do not have someone already someone whom will be loving and honest with you one whom seeks the Bible in finding the answers.
Father this is so hard for us personally and for many I KNOW yet I also am learning the importance so I pray you would place these mentors, friends, counselors, and Pastor's in our path may we be transparent and lay all pride aside seeking to have a whole-hearted godly marriage that you intend for each of us to have. Father I pray for the marriage right now that may be in trouble for one of them to make the first step and seek help and know as the devotion reminded we ALL NEED COUNSEL from time to time and that too is ok it is just another hiccup on the path to becoming more like you WE ALL NEED AN EXTRA HAND OF GUIDANCE
FROM TIME TO TIME. Father I pray for those mentors and friends that you would be their mouthpieces make them sensitive to the situations give them that agape love we all need Father we lift our marriages to you now and ask you to do a mighty work throughout each marriage in our church body. In Jesus Name Amen

On a personal note I ask you to pray Greg and I would find some godly couples to hangout with from time to time we just dont have that to this point we did and they moved away so it has been hard for Greg. Also thanks so much for prayers my shoulder/neck and back is all better I woke up today and pain is 99% gone just a little sore now and tummy is doing better today too but may need to consult the doctor on this one though so praying for guidance and direction.
Until Next Time,
Cindy

Day 34 "LOVE CELEBRATES GODLINESS"

2009-04-22T13:08:00.001-07:00

" [LOVE] does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the TRUTH." 1 Corinthians 13:6

Hello friends, todays devotion speaks of the way the world pulls us away from the truth the second we close our Bibles each day and tries to drown us with it's lies. What things pull at us and do we rejoice in them or the things of the Lord??What overjoys us most about our hubands when they get a really good raise at work when they win a golf tournament trophy or when they
gather our families for devotions and bedtime prayers and read the word of God ? we are the most influential people in our spouse's lives have we been using this influence to leadthem to honor God, or to dishonor God?? "LOVE" rejoices most in the things that please God. When our mate's are growing in Christian character , persevering in faith, seeking purity, and embracing roles of giving and service- becoming spiritually responsible in our home the bible says we should be celebrating this. I know these things are important in my own marriage when I see these qualities in Greg I rejoice and fall more in love with him it is wonderful. However I think we need to becareful to encourage these things yet not to condemn in the times they stumble because they will indeed stumble as do we though right. For me the Lord has really convicted me to stop reminding my husband of all the things he hasn't done or has failed in and start Praising him for the things he does do and be thankful not to mention the fact would I like someone ALWAYS pointing out my faults ummmmmmm NO. So let's celebrate the godliness in our husbands and our lives. The LOVE DARE for today askes this:
(Find a specific , recent example when your spouse demonstrated Christian Character in a noticeable way. Verbally commend them for this at some point today.)

Father thank you for yet again another challenge may we all just encourage our mates in their walks with you and may we compliment them when we see them following after you may we all seek to follow whole heartedly after you and you alone and may each of our marriages grow stronger in You with each passing day we love you and thank you in Jesus Name Amen

Until Next Time,
Your humble unworthy servant,
Cindy

Day 33 : "LOVE COMPLETES EACH OTHER"

2009-04-21T17:07:00.001-07:00

" If two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?" Ecc. 4:11

God creates marriage by taking a man and a women and uniting us as one. However "love" must be willing to act alone when and if necessary, it is always better if it is not done solo. Love can function if there is no other way, but there is a "more excellent way" (1 Corinthians 12:31). our bodies were made for each other God created Eve from the rib of Adam for the purpose of being his helpmeet so he would not have to be alone. Praise God he has created it to be when one is weak the other is strong (in most cases) when one needs encouragement and building up the other is able to do this. We multiply one another's joy and divide one another's sorrows. Scripture says, "Two are better than one because they have good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one whom falls when ther is not another to lift him up." (Ecc. 4:9,10). Basicly in today devotion it speaks of the importance that we need each other in the marriage we need to be striving to go the extra mile we need to both be giving 100% in this marriage it is not up to the other mate solely or up to only us the dare for today was as follows:
" Recognize that your spouse is integral to your future success. Let them know today that you desire to include them in your upcoming decisions, and that you need their perspective and counsel. If you have ignored their input in the past, admit your oversight and ask them to forgive you. "
Wow uh I know for me this is huge I would make all my decisions I would pray and go to God yet it would stop there until the Lord showed me I need to seek husbands insight as well. I have since than started going over calendar events with my hubby and finances and asking him pretty much before I make ANY decision that involves my time away from home and or family. I also have learned this open's up all lines of communication and has helped us so very much.
one of the questions under the dare asks this :
" What are some upcoming decisions you can make together with your mate??
"What did you learn about the role of your mate?"
For me I learned we are in this marriage together and the decisions we make affect the entire family and need to at least be talked about with our mates ......because let's be honest I know in our marriage if Greg makes a decision without telling me and it affects our whole family it makes for some very heated fellowship if you know what I mean and can be avoided if we just communicate to our spouses so if we expect them to communicate things to us then how much more should we give it in return???

May God bless each of us as we continue in the good and bad times of our marriage, in fact I try not to look at them as bad times anymore however the growing learning experiences in which the Lord allows growth and maturity.

"Father thank you for another day, may we continue to learn on our journey's and may we put you first our hubby's next and then all others to fall into place. May we come together as husband and wife in all decision making and trust in you for the outcomes.
Jesus Name Amen
Until Next Time,
Cindy

Love Meets SEXUAL Needs Day 32.................

2009-04-20T13:48:00.000-07:00

"The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and LIKEWISE ALSO THE WIFE TO HER HUSBAND.--- 1 Corinth.7:3

PLEASE NOTE THIS BLOG HAS SENSITIVE MATERIAL THROUGHOUT IT AS WELL AS BEING KINDA LONG .....................
God Bless
I know , I know what you are thinking oh no not this topic...........HOWEVER this topic is important and MY LADY FRIENDS it is totally ok and ALOUD woohoo. What perfect timing since Pastor John is doing the study on Wednesday night on the most romantic love story ever , yes that's right the "SONG of SOLOMON". In Christian marriage, romance is meant to thrive and flourish, after all it is what was created by God himself . In the Song of Soloman we see sexual things described in a poetic detail ,showing us how each one responds to the other. It expresses how honesty and understanding in sexual matters go hand in hand in leading to a life of confident love together.

It is important to know sex is of course not the ONLY aspect of marriage however it is a huge part of it. If one mate is more in tune with it and the other really doesnt care which way not really looking for intimate relations unless absolutly needed then the other mate may start to feel threatened and endangered. Here is when our weaknesses come into play if we have been
avoiding intimacy with our husbands then we open a door wide open for the enemy to come in and tempt our men with sexual desires in which are not intended for them to partake of such as beginning with harmless looks and flirtation which may lead to porn and clubs which will eventually lead to 9 times out of 10 an actual affair yikes I know hate to talk about these things however they are very real and the enemy is ALWAYS LURKING waiting for an opportunity to destroy as many marriages as possible we must not allow that to happen. Now please ladies do not get me wrong k I am not suggesting that we alone cause our mates to cheat (lets just not leave any room for enemy to work) and I am also not saying that we must allow ourselves to be used as doormats and giving husbands intimacy EVERY single night I know there are seasons this just cant happen However my friends if we are using the excuse often that we have headaches or we are tired (so are they sis) or we start using sex as a bargaining chip to get our selfish desire met. And ladies withholding of sex without both of you in agreement and for a time of prayer is a sin God will reign down consequences. Though there are times of not being intimate that is understandable however God has divinely designed the heart of marriages as one of giving ourselves to each other to meet the other's need not our own need. So the truth is it isnt about us we as wives(and hubby's) need to make sure we are mindful to our husbands (wives)and their needs and do our VERY BEST to meet those needs again so enemy may not come in to destroy.

"stop depriving one another," the bible warns, "EXCEPT BY AGREEMENT FOR A TIME, SO THAT YOU MAY DEVOTE YOURSELVES TO PRAYER, AND COME TOGETHER AGAIN SO THAT SATAN WILL NOT TEMPT YOU BECAUSE OF YOUR LACK OF SELF-CONTROL"

1 CORINTHIANS 7:5

I have to say I am about to be very transparent right here and share some very recent hurtful issues in my own marriage I so didnt expect to share this however I must obey the King so here it goes I only ask you not to judge. (thou not judge lest ye want to be judged yourselves just a reminder) our marriage is more opposite than your comman marriage for us the roles are reversed so to speak I am the one who's desire for intimacy is beyond that of your average male
so I am the one who as the husband likes to( well you know do it ALL THE TIME............... )my husband however is very different, and he is wonderful yet didnt know for years how to handle this at all and would start withholding and to the point of maybe once a week to then once a month and worse so of course being weak as the Bible spoke of on top of being an emotional gal started assuming (first lie I listened to) that something was wrong with me like oh am I to fat or am I not attractive enough anymore is there SOMEONE ELSE??? what in the world was wrong with me because really wasnt it every guys dream to have the girl with the crazy sex drive since we know most dont.
This became so huge of an issue in our marriage it started a wall to go up on both sides leaving it harder to communicate or even think about being intimate it would be weeks and weeks before
it would happen leaving me YES WEAK I was tempted by the enemy in many ways I am so blessed that nothing happened it never went farther than looking and thoughts of what it would be like to have a different mate (yes evil I know) we know though the Lord says in His very word if you have even lusted with your eye you have already committed adultery Yikes serious

I am so blessed that the Lord as I cried out came in the 11th hour placed things in our lives to make us deal with this harmful thought process and we have been restored in our marriage it is not easy however we know we MUST communicate, SACRIFICE, and do our best to meet the other's needs in which we are learning each passing day to do. I guess my point being ladies is that having been on the Man's side so to speak I want to stress the IMPORTANCE NOT to WITHHOLD from Him UNLESS biblically needed or I am telling you from experience you are headed down a path of devistation leaving room for enemy to come in lie, entice, conquor, and finally destroy what the Lord has intended for the marriage bed to be.

The Dare for today I will share with you and challenge you to do this evening as well:

TODAY'S DARE #32:

If at all possible, try to initiate sex sex with your husband today. Do this in a way that honors what your spouse has told you or implied to you that they need from us sexually. Ask God to then make this enjoyable for the both of you as well as a path to a greater intimacy..........

I have learned in our own personal journey that God's plan for the marriage bed is for us as mate's to meet in the middle and come to a place of agreement and as we ourselves have been doing this the intimacy is 100% better than I ever could have dreamed of so know there is hope if this is indeed an area of difficulty. If this is a place of hurt for your marriages as well my friend remember the ONLY WAY TO RE-ESTABLISH A LOVING UNION BETWEEN EACH OTHER IS "LOVE" and just letting go and "LETTING GOD" God bless you all in your marriage journey.

Father I pray you work in the heart of both husbands and wives in this sensitive area may you protect each marriage of being defiled and from the lurking enemy waiting to entice when we fall weak be our strength Lord Jesus may the walls fall down and may we all know what a beautiful thing the marriage bed was intended to be and that it is ok to be very sexual with our mates as long as it is the way you intended and may we seek to please the desires of our mates within reason and may you make this enjoyable to all in Jesus Name AMEN AND AMEN

Until Next Time,
cindy

"Love Dare" Day 31

2009-04-18T17:39:00.000-07:00

Day 31 : "Love and Marriage"
Leave. And cleave. And Dare to walk as one.
Are there issues in our marriages in which we refuse to let go????? Today's devotion really talked about that oneness God intended for our marriages and how we leave the family so to speak and become that one flesh. It also poses the question .... if you have done this great however are there things hovering in your life in which you are holding to tightly to which may be affecting that oneness. For Greg and I we really dont have an issue in this area of parents being a problem...HOWEVER in the beginning of our journey together it was a HUGE issue both his side of family and mine it nearly almost took a turn for the worst until the Lord stepped into the situation and sent a very Bold, Godly, loving Christian family into our lives in which mentored us and later became our families best all time friends. When we finally did as the Bible said it was amazing the changes were night and day and family on both sides of course were angry however they too soon came around and began to give us the space needed for a marriage to work. So for today's I was reminded just to make sure I always remember to keep that oneness alive with my mate and becareful not to let guard down and if you are holding on to any situation to tightly and it is affecting your oneness with your mate give it to God and let Him work. May God just continue to convict our hearts and restore our marriages to their fullness.
Thanks for stopping by I will not be posting tomorrow I actually only do the Love Dare Mon.-Sat. taking Sunday off for the Sabbath hence is also a reason why not yet finished with this devotion book. SO I SHALL HAVE MORE TO SHARE ON MONDAY for Day 32...................

until Next Time,
God Bless,
Cindy

Day 30 " LOVE DARE"

2009-04-17T08:26:00.000-07:00

WOW I cannot believe I am on day 30 ..... 10 days left to this 40 day challenge it is bitter sweet I love doing it so I dont want to stop maybe I shall keep going we shall see.
Well today's devotion is "LOVE BRINGS UNITY" unity ,togetherness, oneness just like the trinity we have the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit yet they are three in one unified as should we be in our marriages: even in today's thru the word in Mark ch.10: 7-9 "for this reason a man shall leave his parents and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh so then they are no longer two ,but one flesh therefore what God has joined together let not man seperate."
So we even see here we are to become one in unity one with another. In the trinity we see that they serve each other, love each other, and honor each other. though equal they rejoice when the other is praised. though distinct, they are one, indivisible. It needs to be our mission to do EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to promote togetherness of heart with our husbands and when we finds ourselves on two different pages before making a plea that our way is the right way may we examine our hearts to the Lord and make sure all flesh is laid aside and then if we still are led in the direction lovingly bring it before our hubby's and pray for the Lord to guide and direct.
Unity is what the Lord desires for ALL the relationships in our lives and this can only be done through his agape love so my prayer today is that we may see everyone through the eyes of Jesus may we keep the lines of communication open always and live in unity with all those around us starting at home with our husbands and families.

until next time,
Cindy
May you all have a blessed family filled weekend reflecting on Christ and His love for us and His desire for us to be unified with all our brothers and sister's in Christ Jesus.................

Day 28 and 29!!!!

2009-04-16T19:05:00.001-07:00

Day 28 "Love makes Sacrifices" Jesus laid down His life for us, we should then also lay down our lives for our brothers (husbands) we see this in 1 John 3:16

Well as you can see I have bunched two days up today's and yesterday's I was unable to post yesterday however I did do the Dare and needed to share in order so here it goes :
Yesterday's dare was making sacrifices for our mates because true Love makes sacrifices even when our mates may be having awful days and stresses that with their words of personal accusations, love shows compassion rather than becoming defensive making matters escalate I have to say I am guilty of this it is hard when we have our bad days and they have their bad days yet we must not repay evil for evil so to speak. This is where the sacrifice needs to begin we choose to sacrifice our mood to love them no matter what or how our day has been greet them with loving open arms when they walk in from the daily grind of being in this awful world. We need to make sure we dont greet them with the trouble of the day right when we see them there is a time and place for this. Instead we need to pray that the Lord will make us sensitive to the needs of our mates not our own needs.
IS OUR MATE " HUNGRY" - NEEDING YOU SEXUALLY, EVEN WHEN YOU DONT FEEL LIKE IT?

ARE THEY "THIRSTY" - CRAVING THE TIME AND ATTENTION YOU SEEM ABLE TO GIVE EVERYONE ELSE?

DOES HE FEEL LIKE A "STRANGER" - INSECURE IN HIS WORK, NEEDING HOME TO BE A REFUGE AND SANCTUARY?

IS HE "NAKED" -FRIGHTENED OR ASHAMED , DESPERATE FOR THE WARM COVERING OF YOUR LOVING AFFIRMATION ?

IS HE FEELING "SICK" - PHYSICALLY TIRED AND NEEDING YOU TO HELP GUARD HIM FROM INTERRUPTIONS??

dOES HE FEEL IN "PRISON" -FEARFUL AND DEPRESSED , NEEDING SOME SAFETY AND INTERVENTION??
LOVE is willing to make these sacrifices to see that the needs of our spouse are given our very best effort and focus setting our needs aside to bless him instead when we do this we our blessed
by the Lord and the fruit of this will show maybe not right away but it will soon.
So ask yourself what is one of your spouses greatest need and meet it today if possible.

So I cannot share all areas I have sacrificed or am however I can share a very simple one in which I did yesterday that was blessed. Well let me take you back I am excited to see each day in the Love Dare book so I tend to browse through the next days the night before so Tuesday
night I looked a little bit into yesterday's (day 28 the one I am sharing now)about sacrifices and the Lord laid on my heart to ask my hubby a simple odd question about how he likes my hair I know it is my hair yet I also like to make myself attractive for my hubby so in the past I would grill him so you like my hair blonde uh or darker well if your not happy find someone who makes you happy (I know right awful I cant believe I shared this ugly moment however I did it) so needless to say you can understand his hesitation to answer a loaded question only this time my whole way of asking was soft and approachable so he said you really want my honest opinion and I said yes of course so he said ok PLEASE DONT CUT IT I LOVE IT LONG I said oh I dont want to cut just trim and I was going to color it darker again it is almost time (I know seems I do it every other week right lol) so he said oh WELL can you not do it dark and this is when in the past I would lose it and say OH SO YOU DONT LIKE IT BLAH, BLAH , BLAH (POOR HUBBY)
but I thought to myself oh yes Lord sacrifice lay my desire aside for his so what is your fav look for me well we got some pictures out and he showed me and I said oh ok cool that is awesome he was so shocked and wondered if I was feeling ok so it was great then we cuddled and went to sleep which brings me to yesterday I trimmed my hair and had the lighter color put in and presto he came home and to his surprise I had sacrifised what I wanted and did what he liked even though I had no intentions on doing it because it is high maintanace with lots of up keep but because I did it with a happy joyful willing heart for him the Lord blessed me and it came out better than ever before I am happy with it and more importantly he is VERY happy with it so Praise the Lord ..........................................................

ok sheeeeeeeeeeeeeewwww this is long now today DAY 29 "Love's Motivation"
Love motivated by mere duty cannot hold out for very long. And love that is only motivated by favorable conditions can never be assured of sufficient oxygen to keep it breathing. Only love that is lifted up as an offering to God - returned to Him in gratitude for all He's done- is able to sustain itself when all other reasons have lost their ability to energize us.
Love that has God as its primary focus is unlimited in the heights it can contain.

May we be motivated to love not as man loves (the world's way) but may we be motivated by our maker to Love the way Jesus loved "UNCONDITIONALLY" PUTTING OUR NEEDS ASIDE AND MEETING HIS. Well the thing I learned in today's devotion is we should not be motivated by anything else but our need to obey the Lord and in that should be our only motivation to love unconditionally and to NOT be motivated in order to ourselves recieve anything in return.
Father may you please keep us focused on the prize which is our treasures in heaven not being
comfy cozy here on earth at all times may we seek to make our mates cozy and loved and may we just see the fruits of our labor and rely on you alone to meet our every need when our mate just may not be able to meet our needs this side of heaven. Father may our love know no bounds and may it be given abundantly to all those around us In Jesus Name Amen.........

Until Next time,
Cindy

Day 27 "Love Dare"

2009-04-14T13:59:00.001-07:00

Hello friends,
Today's devotion is titled "Love Encourages" have you encouraged your spouse recently???
Now I am going to be VERY open here this is for me another hard core day ....you see this is my gift...... so I have been told (as well as I love to do it) is to encourage those around me as much as possible. The Lord convicted my heart today as He has shown me I am always concerned with encouraging all those around me ACCEPT MY HUSBAND (OUCH THAT HIT A GOOD SPOT) I
was so taken back because He was so right I guess I was holding my husband to a higher standard or as today the devotion shared many times we have "unrealistic expectations in which always breeds DISAPPOINTMENT" I am expecting him to Always meet my needs and my desires even though I fail to do that very same thing myself wow who am I????? We must choose instead of living by expectations instead live by encouraging ALL THOSE IN OUR LIVES NOT JUST OUTSIDERS and then give the husbands parden my french but what the bird leaves on the fence. We too our just as imperfect as our mates as Jesus puts it as He paints us this picture in the word of God; when He speaks of us looking at the speck in our brother's eye (husband) while we seem to NOT notice the LOG IN OUR OWN yikes.....In the devotion today after this it asks "DOES YOUR MATE FEEL AS IF THEY ARE LIVING WITH A SPECK INSPECTOR"?? OH YIKES so today I have realized most of the problem is me, myself, and I,
I have made my hubby in the past feel on edge, fearful of always failing to live to any of my expectations and giving him a sense of disapproval rather than acceptance and shouldnt our husbands come home to a place of acceptance yes it should be the one place they can we never want to push our hubbies away from us leaving them with no desire to even be home that gives the enemy so much room to do damage. We dont want to make our mates ever feel beat down,
and defeated but instead loved, accepted, encouraged, even when we dont feel like it we must choose to love any way. Will we be perfect at this no however we should be striving in our marriages to be better putting God FIRST AND HUSBANDS NEXT even if we dont feel like it remember Love is not a FEELING but a choose in which we are COMMANDED to do period.
I will now just leave you with a few scriptures to ponder on and meditate on:

"Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble" (Isaiah 35:3

"Encourage one another and build up one another...Encourage the fainthearted, help the weak,
be patient with EVERYONE" (1 Thess. 5:11, 14)

"When you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things." (Romans 2:1) HCSB

[LOVE] always protects." (1 corinth. 13:7)

"The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her hands" (Proverbs 14:1)

May we all (myself included) just remember these things must start at home or all we do outside of the home is ALL IN VAIN!!!!

Father I pray you give each of us no matter what our marital circumstances may be in at this time the strength to love and to be that love in action not just by words may we be that safe haven for our husbands to come home to and when we are upset may we come to you first to make sure our hearts are in the right place before speaking to our mates and when we do may it always be in Love Father thank you, thank you, thank you for my loving husband in whom has endured a lot from me and stayed by my side may you bless him abundantly in Jesus Name AMEN
Until next time,
Love,
Cindy

LOVE IS RESPONSIBLE!!!

2009-04-13T12:55:00.001-07:00

Good Monday afternoon blog friends,
As I mentioned in my previous blog I would be sharing from time to time what I am going through in this whole LOVE DARE Book............so as I mentioned I have gone back several times plan on not doing that again so anyhoo I am now on day 26 in which as it said in the devotion one of the hardest days but as we seek God for His wisdom and strength we will be able to get through it. Well let's see as the title says day 26 is , "Love is Responsible" we must take personal responsibility for things we too have done in our marriage own up to them and humbly ask our mates to forgive us (as well as God). this is one of the hardest things we can do for sure we tend to as the love dare states: believe our views are the correct views, or at least much more correct than our mate's. This one has I have to say truly been the harder days for me I am guilty of these things more than I care to admit. Love as the book says , doesn't pass the blame so easily to our mate's or justify our selfish motives (ouch) love is not nearly concerned with its own performances as with others' needs. When love does take responsibility for its actions, it's not to prove how noble we are however to admit how much further we need to go. Love doesn't make excuses and is willing to admit and correct its faults and errors up front.
LOVE calls us to take responsibility for our partner in marriage. To love them. To honor them.
To cherish them. The question it addressed today was this: Are you taking responsibilty for your own faults? Have you said or done things to your spouse- or God- that are wrong? Love desires
to have a right relationship with both God and our mates, once we get this right the stage is set for other areas to fall into place. Humility and honesty before God and our mate is crucial for a healthy relationship and for forgivness and restoration. I have had to eat huge humble pie during this whole process but oh my friends how sweet it has become and is becoming we are slowly becoming closer and breaking down huge walls in which we have both placed before our marriage that are finally breaking brick by brick day by day. So I just want to encourage you to
make sure your hearts are right before God and then before your spouse to allow God to do His amazing work and healing in your marriage. I also want to encourage you if you are doing this book and find yourself at a loss dont give up you will see the fruit of your labor in do time as Gal. 6:9 says:
"DONT BECOME WEARY IN DOING GOOD, FOR IN DUE TIME YOU SHALL REAP A HARVEST IF YOU DONT LOSE HEART".........

May God bless you all until next time,
Cindy
***** Please keep Greg lifted up in prayer he will be flying home from Arizona tonight at 6:00p.m. pray for a safe flight home please thank you.

2009-04-09T17:16:00.000-07:00

HAPPY EASTER WEEK.................... WOW I cant believe it is April already where did the time go seriously???? well I pray all whom are out of town on get-a-ways are blessed and relaxed!!!!

It has been crazy the past few months leaving me little time to blog or Facebook and after much prayer I will no longer be facebooking however am feeling called more than ever to continue on a weekly basis to blog, it is more of a ministry for me to share my life with others and PRAYERFULLY BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT to all who stop by.

Let's see what have we been up to hmmmmm well we have had two birthdays in the last few weeks my oldest girl turned 15 on March 22nd and Bella my youngest just turned 4 on April 5th
I REALLY CANT BELIEVE THAT AT ALL(you can see birthday pics. from both birthday's on right side of screen). I am feeling a little old however I refuse to let that bug me lol ok well trying not to let it bug me. It seems as though yesterday my Bella was being born OK who am I kidding it seems as though yesterday Lish my 15 year old was born wow I have been a mom for 15 years looks funny on the screen ok not old ................NOT.
I also in last few weeks (ok month in a half really) have been doing the LOVE DARE from the movie FIREPROOF well I have skipped some days and started over at one point and now picking back up with day 24 wow I know right crazy I have learned it is all me if I just focus more on how I can love, serve, pray, and submit more to my husband it would be so much better. Instead I am SELFISH it is hard to redo how you have done things for a long time however with God all things are possible so I am staying focused on God and not the troubles in my marriage cause when you get down to it the troubles generally start with something I have done or not done yikes. I encourage you who have not seen movie by now to PLEASE GO GET IT, and then I would love to encourage you to get the LOVE DARE and begin doing it today.
I will share more on how He is moving in our marriage in another blog. We have also been spending lot's of family time together it has been a blessing for all of us. Homeschool is going right on schedule we are trucking along I am though looking forward to our Summer woohoo cant wait. ok well for now just a few lines to catch up and I will leave you with this my friends.

MAY THE WORD'S OF OUR MOUTH AND THE THOUGHTS OF OUR HEARTS BE PLEASING TO YOU, O LORD, MY ROCK AND MY REDEEMER. PSALM 19:14

until next time,
Hugs to you all,
Cindy

2009-02-24T19:06:00.000-08:00

Hello my blog friends it seems as though it has been a decade since I have been on here. Life has just been VERY BUSY a good busy but needless to say BUSY. If you all dont know by now we have moved into a newer bigger home ....... thank you Jesus. Up until now 9 of us have lived in a 3 bedroom home where 5 boys occupied one room 2 girls in second and in the Master mom , dad, office, scrap room , it was crazy. Now I am so not complaining we made that our home and were blessed by that home for going on 7 years this April and have MANY amazing memories in that home so we our thankful by all means(1 Thess. 5:18 Give thanks in every circumstance of life: "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (NKJV) ... however we for sure out grew the home just a little bit lol I had already had 4 children upon moving into that home and had 3 more while there so you can tell that it began to get a little cramped. We have been blessed to move closer to church in a newer 4 bedroom two story home
which is also a bit closer to church yet still in a good location for us we are more than blessed. I will post pics of both new and old home when I get a chance I am only jotting this all down very quickly and need to run I have little priorities yelling for MOM so need to get to it I have a million things to share and as the Lord provides time I will do just that so for now I pray you are all blessed and healthy and cant wait to chat and share real soon.
Until Next Time,
Cindy

Surrendering it all.............................................

2009-01-18T21:22:00.001-08:00

Hello my friends as the Lord Leads and time permits I will share what the Lord is doing in my life. As of the last few weeks He is operating on my heart and as I am being purged of all the junk it is painful however needed in order for growth. As I am going through some painful things the Lord has shown me some things and one being that we have operations all the time to help us, fix us, and at times even save our lives so who wouldn't allow an operation if it meant any of these things however when we are put on God's operating table we tend to want to jump off(at least myself personally) and not allow it the second He begins that heart surgery it is painful and ugly and down right yucky however when He is finished if I would just allow Him to finish it will be so amazing we can all have hearts of Gold if we would just be still and LET GOD purge out all the garbage in our wicked sin filled hearts and not pick it back up. EASIER said than done I know however it can be done if we just trust, Walk by Faith and not by sight!!!! As we go through these times of purging may we take comfort in knowing "The Lord is near to all who call on Him,to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; he hears their cry and saves them" Psalm 145:18-20
"you will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy" John 16:20
Praise God we can sit on His lap go to His word and find all the comfort we need thank you Jesus
The Lord is showing me that there cannot be victories in my life without battles and no mountain tops without valleys so the things we go through good or bad are all important to get us through the next journey He has planned for each of us. I am also learning more and more to "keep my eyes focused on what is right, and look straight ahead to what is good." Proverbs 4:25
In these times of purging it is easy for us to allow enemy to trip us up and attack us to take our eyes off of what is good and right and on to the yuck being taken from us so my prayer for us all in these times is the verse above as well as Phil. 4:8 and 2 corinth. 4:8 and take comfort in knowing that everything we go through is for our good by a loving Father who only wants the best for His Kiddo's (you and I)....................................................
Father I thank you that you care for us enough to purge out the garbage in our lives I thank you for allowing me to see the difficult situations in my life I had not yet truly dealt with and as these difficult situations are arising please continue to comfort me as well as provide me the strength I need because I know in and of myself I cannot handle it alone Father I boldly except all the difficult times that will continue to arise because I know that in these times intense personal growth is taking place and for that I am blessed and excited Lord please keep attacks from the enemy at bay and keep me focused Father I pray that if anyone reading this is also in a time of purging and or reflection in their lives that you bring to them the same comfort you are bringing to me and may we keep our eyes focused on you may we stay in your word and on our knees and may we count it all JOY Jesus name amen......................................................................................
Until next time,
Cindy

Why a Troubled Heart???

2009-01-15T21:59:00.000-08:00

The thru the word was so perfect for me today ................... have you all just ever sat down and felt as if the pages were coming to life and speaking directly to you as if God were setting you on His lap and speaking to you as a babe needing guidence and direction????? well this is how I felt today......... I have been in a state of solitude lately for a time of reflection, evaluation, and guidence in some area's of my life for 2009 and just in general and it has been trying and rewarding at the same time. In the beginning of the year I prayed for God to show me what He wanted for me in this next year for myself and family and He really convicted me on my schedule and family time and to stop almost eveything until I hear CLEARLY from Him not my flesh or any outside influence and that is what I have done I have felt led to sit this Bible Study out and not do so many extra curricular things dont get me wrong I am not ever doing any again however the Lord is teaching me it is OK to NOT go to EVERY SINGLE THING every single time, there are seasons for everything even resting and sitting things out. This is where my struggle comes in you see I have ALWAYS been one who has to be at everything I am a go, go , go, and do, do, do, kind of person I cant sit still for to long and this has been since I was about three however the Lord is showing me I need to learn to be still more in order to hear His still small voice and also to REALLY look and evaluate my life and where I am right now. When you get to busy you tend to overlook these things. I have had a very emotional week attacked every which way and beaten down at least several times a day (it seemed like that anyway) it didnt help I had that thing that visits most of us one time a month so emotions were higher than ever you'd think we would learn to take that into consideration oh no not me not till after the stinkin fact of coarse. Things transpired
this week in ways in which just continued to unravil the weeks events and at one point I was having very selfish pity party and on Wednesday an event took place that would be the icing on the cake by now I am frustrated, emotional, hurt, confused, irritated, and down right in the flesh
and it was noticable to others yikes.....................................................................................................
so I knew I was clearly in need of repentance and time with my Father to reflect on when and where I had gotten in this yucky mood I was in and He showed me duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....
How quickly we(I) forget(ok speaking for myself here) we are His and not our own and that He has our everyday planned just for us and has given us the directions and tools we need for each day we just have to choose to come before His throne daily and ask Him to guide and direct and lead our every move throughout the day mmmm I let the attacks of the enemy get to me instead of remembering the Lord is my Shelter ALWAYS no matter how bad the storm is that we may be facing in our lives His love for us will set us free from any storm and that we can rise above it in His strength not our own PRAISE GOD!!! So today as I humbled myself before His feet crying out to Him with my hurts and frustrations as I begin to read the very first verse in thru the word I am gently reminded by my loving "Father" "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me." John 14:1 I could hear Him asking me Why Cindy why is your heart troubled and confused you believe in me right??? well yes of coarse I say then as I continue to read in verse 6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life(am I not? I heard Him say yikes that was convicting)
if I am the way the truth and the life WHY is your heart troubled my daughter? I heard as I continued on with my quiet time then skip down to verse 27 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. (and again) let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." By now I am so comforted yet at same time feeling pretty silly for not in the mist of all the craziness this week remembering to just count it all joy and remember God has my back no matter what else is going on so I now am approaching last few verses of the day in John 15 verse 11 to be exact and what does it say????? "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." WOW you are amazing God I love it when His word comes alive to me and reaches me right where I am at that moment (not that His word isnt always alive) so I repented melted into His arms and released all that I was in the flesh holding on to it was awesome and amazing. you know the more I look deep into why I have these moments the moments of pure weakness it always breaks down to my selfishness and or sin or lack of communion with my Father.... so today as I began and first cried out to my Lord He opened my eyes and allowed the healing to begin He allowed me to see it wasnt Him that had gone anywhere but that it was I that stayed in my pity party instead of laying it all down at the foot of the cross and allowing Him to see me through it all and realize He allows these times to enter my life to teach me and grow me and I should be allowing them and counting them ALL as PURE JOY mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm I love you Lord!! He truley is Lord of Lord's and KING of KING'S. As I continue in my season of rest and solitude I am going to count everything thrown my way as pure joy and know it is the Lord at work perfecting me into the Cindy He wants me to be AMENNNN. It's not about me it is ALL ABOUT HIM, if we can all just remember this we would have such an awesome peace I seek that peace for myself as well as pray for all of us to find it and it can only be found in our Lord there is nothing in any of us worthy of anything only in His strength, Remembering few days back in John 3:30
" He must become greater;I must become less and less" ........... May God bless you
Until Next Time,
Cindy

Happy New Year!!

2008-12-30T18:54:00.000-08:00

To all my friends and family we wish you a very blessed, healthy, joyful, and prosperous New Year!! My prayer is that as we enter into 2009 we will all have a hunger and thirst for our Lord as never before and to faithfully daily seek His face and His will for our lives. I pray that as our stay here on earth continues to spiral away faster and faster that we would find our comfort and peace in the hands of our loving FATHER. God bless you all we pray your New Year is safe!!

Until Next Time,
Cindy Bolt

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

"LET IT SNOW ,LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!!!

2008-12-17T23:52:00.000-08:00

SNOW IN VEGAS????? Well yes indeed we are covered in snow....... my mom says NO WAY 5 INCHES(well in Henderson that is)?? I said yep even news says so lol. When it first started I was on my way to Wal-Mart to run an errand and pick up some gifts I told myself when going into store oh well it sure is nice but I doubt it sticks well 20 minutes later and a whole lot of snow later to my surprise there it was all over the parking lot and cars . I had to scrape the snow from car before I could even drive go figure having to do that here. So I start driving and it didnt take long to become frazzled with the drivers around however said a prayer and the Lord reminded me not everyone has driven in snow before and for me to just becareful and do my part and praise God I OBEYED AND MADE IT HOME SAFE and so did Greg woohoo!!! When daddy arrived it was play in snow time we had a blast it was an awesome adventure in our own backyard and frontyard snow fights, snowmen,
snow angels you name it we did it . The best part of the night was the cuddle time which I am getting back to in a sec. however the coolest part of night was our Bella looking out window and saying very dramatic on the phone with her NaNa as she is looking out window, holding phone with one hand and useing the other hand to talk with and says "NaNa oh boy GOD IS SO AWESOME HE CAN EVEN MAKE THE SNOW IT IS BEAUTIFULLY " that's how she says beautiful lol. It was cute as she sat there and marveled at His works it made all frustrations of the day seem so meaningless and we sat and looked out the window in awe. I pray you all got to play in the snow and if not that you were able to just stop and marvel at His wonderful works and enjoy our "WINTER WONDERLAND" may God bless you all and keep us all safe on the roads tonight and tomorrow!!

God Bless you, May you all have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND BLESSED NEW YEAR!

Until next year,
Cindy

JESUS.......... THE TRUE MEANING OF THE SEASON!!

2008-12-04T21:22:00.001-08:00

Hello my blog friends,
I am not really blogging yet ......however I have felt led to share a few things with my sister's so here it goes and then I will Lord willing return to blogging in middle of January.
I know for most of us we have already been very busy and my prayer is that after the tea most of us can slow down some to REALLY ENJOY the season in which we are in. I pray every lady is truly blessed by all three nights of the tea we are so blessed praise you JESUS. I know there are many parties to still attend and dinners to be made, looking for the perfect gifts, wrapping those gifts, baking goodies, getting together with families (many in which are not saved and have no real knowledge of the true meaning of this season) and this if we dont stay focused can cause stress which in turn becomes worry for most and as we worry we turn our eyes off the very meaning of the season and onto the circumstances around us.
How can we buy for everyone on our list? Will friends and family understand that this year cant be like years past due to economy?? What will we do about the kids?
Well here is an awesome answer to those very questions .......God loved us soooooo
much He gave us His one and only Son that we the SINNER can live a life everlasting (John 3:16) wow that is the most amazing GIFT OF ALL isn't it??
Well yes it is we deserved death so I am thinking it is for sure the best gift ever,
so if that is the best gift then we should give it to all we come across our families,
the people standing in those very long lines, to the check out clerks whom for hours have dealt with the harried customers ALL DAY LONG , the people sharing our road ways with us, and so on... may we be filled with HIS LOVE ,GRACE, MERCY, PATIENCE, JOY, PEACE, GENTLENESS, KINDNESS, AND SPREAD IT TO THOSE AROUND US THAT IS THE GREATEST GIFT WE CAN GIVE. As far as our families and the giving of less I read a devotion this past week which had a thought to ponder "MAYBE THE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP WE ARE ALL FACING IS
FOR THE VERY PURPOSE OF TURNING OUR HEARTS SOLELY ON JESUS THIS SEASON AND NOT THE TRAPPINGS OF THIS WORLD " MY PRAYER FOR MYSELF FIRST AND FORMOST AS WELL AS ALL OF US IS THAT WE WILL BE CONTENT WITH OUR PERSONAL SITUATION AND TRUST THAT WE ARE RIGHT WHERE THE LORD HAS US FOR A TIME SUCH AS THIS.

"The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited with evil". Prov. 19:23

"Now godliness with contentment is great gain." 1 Tim. 6:6

May we abide in the satisfaction only He can give and may we be content with whatever we can provide this season..................................

Father I lift up this Holiday season to you this evening I ask you to calm our hearts may we not be anxious for one thing but in ALL things come to you trusting you will provide what is needed. Father may we remember to be Filled with your JOY putting JESUS FIRST, OTHERS NEXT, AND OURSELVES LAST, Father do give us strength as we are out in a world in which is so rushed and rude that we would stand in the gap and be the piller of salt and that lamp that shines brightly
to those around may we all take time this season to share you with our families and may not one of us look back over this CHRISTmas and ask "WHERE DID IT GO AND WE DIDNT DO SO MANY THINGS BUT INSTEAD MAY WE BE FILLED TO OVERFLOWING WITH YOUR LOVE FOR US AND WE REALIZE HOW OUR SALVATION IS THE BEST GIFT EVER AND SHARE THAT WITH ALL AROUND.
Lord we are a blessed people and we thank you for the birth of Jesus .....................................
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS
IT'S IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY AMEN
FROM OUR HOME TO YOUR HOME "WE WISH YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTmas
AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!
Until next time,
cindy

Battle of The Will's

2008-11-10T12:39:00.000-08:00

Hello my friends,
It seems as if it has been a lifetime since blogging however only merely short of a month........I was on a little break to focus on cleansing my heart out yet again and was not planning on blogging this soon however the Lord had a bit of a different plan. I have to say I battle with a strong will inside more than I care to admit and as I heard Pastor say in a sermon recently about when left to ourselves, "if we are left undone even for a moment we are misrable human beings wicked to the very core"; wow not a sight I want to envision. Let me explain I have been in a season of forgetfulness and had taken my eyes off the Lord and onto self for a short time in which also seemed like a lifetime I'd say for about 2 months now in which I was in a wicked state. I had taken eyes off the Lord and onto a couple of my life circumstances and because of that not truly having that real fellowship with the Lord and it was a dangerous place to be in. The Lord over this weekend through a sis in Christ as well as hours in His word, has shown me many things almost to the point of being overwhelmed .....however He does only allow what we can handle so I know it was just what I needed at the time. FIRST He showed me I had been lying to myself this whole time about dealing with a serious issue in my life and in order for Him to use me in the mighty way The very way I had been praying to be used this would HAVE TO BE DEALT WITH I however had been in denial for sometime now. He had sent sister's in my path to speak to me about it and used other circumstances and everytime I said it was all good and it really wasn't or I would put a wall of protection around me in fear of being judged or admitting I was a mess how can I be used if I am in a mess??? The real truth though is we are "ALL" a mess if left to ourselves and take our focus off of the Lord Jesus you see HE IS STRENGTHENED IN OUR WEAKNESSES so the fact that we are weak shows our very need for Jesus in our day to day lives. I had needed (as we all do) to fix my eyes and hope upon Jesus no matter what or how hard the circumstances ,
life has purpose and meaning yet only in Christ not in my flesh. The Lord has promised to keep watch on us always as a shepherd cares for his sheep(Matt.28:20;John 10:14) Through our troubled times by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT these circumstances become opportunities
to learn more about God's faithfulness, draw on His strength, and experience personal growth woohoo.......
I want all those things. Here is the big one we need to resist our former lifestyle, when trouble comes it is tempting to revert to ungodly habits or to take up new ones (in which was my case)
In these seasons of life , Satan will encourage us to pursue any path that leads away from the Lord in my case it was denial of the real matter at hand. I needed to remember I am a NEW CREATION whose lifestyle is to match my position as a child of God not of this world. Next thing
that has been revealed to me over this weekend is that we need (starting with myself) to make holiness our main goal, being "holy" or set apart begins with :
GIVING UP CONTROL OVER THINGS IN OUR LIVES AND ALLOWING THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE AND DIRECT OUR PATHS IN EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES NOT MOST,
WE MUST SUBMIT TO HIM AND WITH ABSOLUTELY NO CONDITIONS. NOW this one knocked me back a few feet .....you see for the most part I have been pretty obedient in most areas of my life wow that is what I was getting tripped up on God wants every area to be given to Him and I up until now wasnt willing I held on to an area where I thought I could control it and the other circumstance being in my marriage I was being soooooo VERY SELFISH and doing things out of expectance and with conditions scary place to be trust me I just have learned this lesson THE VERY HARD WAY . Taking control of what is God's (which is my very life and all within it) and not my own is sin it had me focusing on self which is idolatry YIKES. We all want the FULLNESS of what the Lord has for us and unless we focus always upon Him we will not be blessed with that fullness and then we are robbed of our true joy in which is found in Christ alone. As I am coming out of this season in which has been very difficult I KNOW I HAVE BEEN RESTORED back to the Lord I have been so blessed that we serve a God who if He sees fit will bring us out of our trials just as soon as we put our focus back where it belongs. You see my friends He has given us free will and we wake up daily and it is up to us to choose whom we will serve will it be PICKING UP OUR CROSSES AND FOLLOWING AFTER HIM OR will it be to choose self and the things of this world which in essence following Satan????? I dont know about you but as for me and my house we shall choose this day and every day here after to Follow the Lord I WILL NO LONGER SERVE MY FLESH may I decrease that He may increase..........

If we are given to the Lord with the right heart , willingly and cheerfully, the results will be that we will always have everything we need. we will have all sufficiency in ALL THINGS.
words by: Chuck Smith off of the verse 2 cor.9:8

we need to trust in God alone ......trusting in ourselves is an invitation to have Satan enter in and start to destroy our lives and once we allow this it is a very fast downward spiral to destruction in all areas of life our own lives,those around us such as family, friends, our ministries the very things God has blessed us with and I know for me personally I dont want that to even be an option so I choose Jesus. I am thankful for the body of Christ and for the wonderful sister's the Lord has placed in my life to love me, befriend me, listen to me, iron in which to sharpen my iron, to rebuke me when needed in love, to be about their Father's business THANK YOU you know whom you are and your prayers and encouragement and love and rebukes have meant so much to me and am so blessed we serve together in a church where restoration is a priority.

I DO ASK YOU TO ALL PRAY EVEN THOUGH I KNOW I HAVE BEEN RESTORED , I ALSO KNOW THE ENEMY WANTS TO STOP THAT ....... WHILE STRUGGLES AND TRIALS WILL INDEED STILL COME MY WAY AS THEY ARE APART OF EVERYDAY LIFE I KNOW I AM NOT TO BE OVERCOME BY THEM AND NOT TO LOOSE SIGHT AND KEEP FOCUSED REMAINING ON CHRIST ALONE TO SEE ME THROUGH THEM ONE DAY AT A TIME.
MAY WE FIND HOPE IN OUR LORD THIS DAY AND AS THE THRU THE WORD SAID TODAY IN CHAPTER 10:5 b may we "bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" as hard as our days may seem may we daily hour by hour minute by minute hold every thought captive and choose to pick up our crosses and follow hard after Him and not the things of this world in which are but only for a moment. God bless you all

Until Next Time,
Your Sis in Christ,
Cindy

The Mom You're Meant to Be..................

2008-10-17T14:00:00.000-07:00

Hello it has been a while I know please forgive me I have been very busy then again who hasn't lol?? I have to allow the Lord to do a work in me and then await His timing and as He leads then and only then do I share, so that has been another reason for the delays please forgive me this one is a long one lots to say.

So as the title said ,"The Mom You're Meant to Be" that as some of you know is the title to the once a month mom's bible study book in which we were able to get last night . I have to say it is a fabulous book I didnt want to put it down however my husband insisted on me getting SOME SLEEP ummmmmmmmmmm I said whats sleep lol??? The title says it all for me that is what I long for..... to be the mom God has meant or intended or created me to be I have to say though I fall so short so many times. I hear all the time lately how do you do it, you are great, you rock, you are such a good mom, and on and on and I have to say THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR NICE KIND ENCOURAGING WORDS however I am a mom just like you. I have times I look to the Lord and say why me Lord I cant handle 1 child right now let alone 7 what were you thinking of course He reminds me He doesnt give me more than I can handle THANK YOU JESUS AND I know that however there are those days I wonder if I can handle another second!!! My husband was a one and only child and I only had a sister we both came from non-christian homes

and we truly learn as we go and when the Lord blessed us with each new baby we finally said to each other "WOW WE DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THIS" but the Lord gets you through thank goodness. My husband and I fail often and our prayer has always been this; Father as we fail because we know we will, may You come in and fill those gaps ,and Father where we lacked in love and discipline today please fill those gaps as well Jesus name amen. For me I am trying to tackle many seasons at once it is very difficult at times I still have a little toddler, a 5 and 6 year old, the two elementary age boys 8,and 10, then the dreaded teen years my 13 year old boy and my 14 year old daughter both very different and each have very different challenges and strengths. For us one of the hardest things too is having kids all over the board as far as behavior and issues and learning that EVERY CHILD IS VERY UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT THAN THE NEXT no two children have the same make up they are each seperatly and fearfully,wonderfully made by our awesome Creator. I think another REAL important thing (in which I had to learn the hard way) is to remember to NOT COMPARE our kiddo's to each other or with friends and their children. We all have different situations in life we have no idea what goes on in some peoples homes and lives as well as all of our kids have different temperments and ways of doing things. I am finally starting to understand each of my children's uniqueness and differences and finding joy in them. The third chapter in the book is Dont put off Joy......... I love this one cause we do so many times say wait to have fun or enjoy time with our kids cause we have to clean ,or do this and that ,or go here and there, next thing we know as was said in the group that night our kids are grown and out of the house and now have no time for us.

I know we are approaching a very busy time of year for many of us and it is not only busy this year but also stressful this year as many are in financial difficulties and so much uncertainties lurking in the back of minds I urge all of us to take deep breath and SLOW DOWN THIS SEASON put your trust in the Lord and take moments to be with your kids I THINK WE TEND TO GET SO CAUGHT UP IN HOLIDAY PARTIES AND GOING HERE AND THERE AND BEFORE WE KNOW IT THE SEASONS HAVE PASSED AND I CANT REMEMBER A FUN MOMENT I SPENT WITH KIDS HOW SAD IS THAT???? I believe the parties are fine however not at the expense of family time. In all honesty we are not even promised tomorrow and with the uncertainty of our times this could very well be our last Christmas with our families as we know it now( not a prediction just a thought because our time is unknown) in the book in chapter 5 it speaks of people being more important than things which is a good reminder to those of us with the financial struggles the time with our families is more precious and priceless than any gift we could place under that tree. Now I will let you into my childrens lives (just a little) and share with you their temperments and issues:

Alisha is my 14 1/2 year old 9th grader whom is entering young womenhood and the issues we endure in doing so please pray for this. She also is very stubborn and has hardened heart to a few things I pray her personal walk grows and she becomes more in the image of God. She was the first our growing experience all trial and error more error than not she is however not ruined and still teachable.
Ian our 13 year old whom didn't start talking until 5 and still has challenges as he was given the label of being slightly autistic on the very wide spectum now he reads from the bible and shares the good news in an old folks home and blesses many I never would have thought that I thought my child would never speak.
Matthew our 10 year old the child whom has to have the last word and is very stubborn he has the gift of art and drawing I love that , he also has the mind of his father when it comes to computers he was born knowing what to do seriously lol ............................
Noah our 8 year old very smart above average on test scores however he is my strong willed child yet can be so loving and sweet he also loves our holiday traditions all of them and always makes sure we do them as close to those traditions as possible every year after year.
Then there is our Daniel our 6 year old whom has just recently been confirmed to also having austism and is low on the spectrum charts as well however does indeed have it. He also learned to talk late and is still trying to learn to read yet doing very well lots better. I have to say though
he is a sandpaper child and one day I shall share more he loves Jesus already though.
Then there is Joshua our 5 year old yes these two are the closest in age which makes for some difficulties for sure, He is precious yet also a sandpaper child. His brother and he fight alot due to being so close in age. He is so sweet though and is awesome big brother to next in line Bella he also always tries hard to get everyones attention and be funny and cute all the time.
Last yet not least of the clane is our IsaBella 3 1/2 year old princess the one I pray I will mess up on the least because of many lessons already learned oh please Lord. she is a handful she is so smart and always learning quickly (because she wants to do as sliblings do) she is my little sponge right now so I pray I don't waste these important opportunities with busyness. They all have different learning styles as well which is good to know so you can help strengthen those areas and encourage them. I think the biggest thing I am learing and have been learning over the years is not to compare to never lose sight that they are HIS not mine and I am not promised the length of time I am able to spend with them so I want to make the best of everyday as if it were the last we just never know when it may very well be our last. Also to remain teachable as a mom and never pridefully think I have all the answers (I so do not)
to know as each season brings changes some joyful some hardships to remain on bended knee
I have to admit earlier this week when my two boys (8 and 10 year olds) had the day from down under I had my guards down not expecting that to occur and it totally through me for a loop ,made me dig deep and get honest when was the last time you prayed really prayed in detail for these two in paticular I have to say I was convicted and guilty. It also reminded me that because we are doing this study as mom's SATAN will attack and make us feel less than capable mother's so let's be prepared for that and remember to stay armored up. God Bless you all and may He multiply our efforts as mom's in every season we may find ourselves in today.
Until next time,
Cindy
"train your child in the way he shall go and when he is old he shall not depart from it."
prov.22:6

.......YES I HAVE NOW BEEN TAGGED!!!

2008-10-11T08:21:00.001-07:00

Ok I have been tagged by my friend Kristin and have limited time however wanted to play so here it goes at least 7 facts about myself:

1) I love to collect tea pots and tea cups with the plates to match I have passion for this and love tea.

2) my favorite color is purple however I do love the turquoise and blue combo and the pink and brown combo.

3) I grew up near the beach in California and LOVE Huntington Beach it is my favorite , if I could afford to have a house on the beach I so would.

4) I am not a cook cant cook at all.... I do however cook I just stick to what I know and dont try alot of new things.

5) I have only been scrapbooking for 3 years and I am loving it . I t is becoming a passion of mine.

6) I have been with my husband for 12 years 11 of those years married in fact our anniversary
is this month on the 19th we have 7 great kiddo's in which we homeschool.

7) ok this may shock you all I didnt get my driver license until I was ..................................24
I know crazy isnt it I have to say there is a whole story behind that I will share with you on another blog some day lol !!!!!

"The Battle is The Lord's"

2008-09-29T13:21:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends,
You know I cant really put into words just how amazing the retreat truly was.......I have to say for me this was the best retreat yet. It was just amazing........I have to say the favorite for me was the quiet times I am sorry I loved the rest however that was my alone time with just me and my daddy my "Abba Father" it was so amazing to just be still before my King and really hear from Him in an amazing kind of way no worries, no kiddo's in the background, no responsibilities lurking, just the beautiful hot springs and the nice weather the awesome view it was amazing. Before I left I was very overwhelmed there are many changes taking place in my life right now some in which I cannot share at this time and some a few already may know of anyhow I have been in a health battle and am to scared to go to a doctor (not with eating) I know ridiculous, then my parents were just here and left the Tuesday of the retreat week before they left they dropped a bit of a bomb on us and that gave me lots to ponder and pray as well as seek God's will for our lives, then in middle of week I sat down to catch up on the news which as for most of you .....you know I dont do the news can't it has never been my thing dont like to watch it so I was clued into Presidential things as well as finding out our bank(WAMU) has just been seized by government and bought out by "CHASE" in which my husband and I do not like at all.
So I have to say I became overly overwhelmed and scared and wanted Greg to go get any and all monies out and keep at home of course he disagrees so that was issue...... I NOW AT THIS POINT AM FRANTIC and told Greg see this is why I dont watch news I cant stand it. I finally went to the Lord in prayer and realized that it was all warfare as I was about to leave in two days on retreat so I calmed down some what I have to admit though that I was still ,fearful,
nervous, scared, and worried just not as bad. You see I wanted to have a plan of action I wanted answers........ was that God's plan NOPE it was a plan of my FLESH. As I got to the retreat the Lord was already beginning a work in my heart and it just continued to unfold as the weekend unfolded our retreat as you all know was titled "VICTORY IN CHRIST" wow how amazing is God on His timing ????? I am continually amazed at how the Lord works everything in His ways and His perfect timing ........Amber had no idea the state of our fading world and how things may have unfolded in a year however God did and He gave her the perfect Retreat for the perfect time His TIME I am thankful we are in a church in which the Pastor and his amazing wife obey the Lord's calling and seek His face for all they do. This title came at God's perfect timing as the world around us (in my opinion) is now fading away more quickly than ever before and many of us are fretting and worried at times it is hard not to..............................HOWEVER we really need not to because the battle belongs to Christ alone it is not ours to pick up and try to win it has been won already by the "KING OF KING'S" so we should be celebrating cause it is done over with thanks to Jesus. I wanted to see results and see that our monies would be ok and no one can touch it and the Lord said am not I your Father in Heaven Have not I promised to NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU I ANSWERED............................. OF COURSE LORD THEN WHY THE WORRY IN THE PASSING I HAVE PROMISED TO MEET YOUR EVERY NEED
AND THAT IS WHAT I SHALL DO ....................duh how can I have been so lame ummmmmm
my flesh, praise God He shows mercy on me, how often I forget that it is He whom is in control of my life not me, me, me ,me oh whoops. See it doesnt matter whom becomes President or what bank carries our money or what goes on in the day to day news I am as well as all His children just passing through this crazy place awaiting something more beautiful so as the world around us continually fades
away and the cross comes closer and closer to our view may we not become restless in the things that are out of our control and find peace in knowing our Lord sees our lives He knows our needs and has promised to meet each one right where we are.... does that make life easy ??? NO however it does give us peace knowing that this for us is all temporal we are just passing on through until we meet our Lord praise the Lord!!!!! Now we all have many different battles going on right now, it may be the worry of our fading world, it may be a failing marriage, or
the salvation of family weighing heavy on your hearts, it may be personal, there are 100's more
just know the way to find true "VICTORY" in any of these area's is to let go and let God just lay your battle at the foot of the cross and allow Him to care for you...... real victory is His accomplishment not our's the battle belong's to the Lord. We need to trust He will meet our every need (not greed my friends) we need to stay in His word daily to fight off the attacks the enemy will continue to throw at us and take everything to God in prayer and trust Him alone to provide.
I read this in the little book we receieved at the retreat it says this:
"THE SECRET OF VICTORY IS NOT PRAYING, BUT PRAISING; NOT ASKING, BUT THANKING" may we remember to be praising and thanking our King on a daily basis!!!
I leave you with this which was also found in this great book in which is called:
"VICTORY IN CHRIST" by Charles Trumbull

"PERILS OF THE VICTORIOUS LIFE"

In the truly victorious life, the Christian believer, having put on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:11) moves forward under the protection of the shield of faith, wherewith he is able to quench ALL the fiery darts of the evil one (6:16).

God's word is absolute on the completeness of the victory that is the experience of every child of God who trusts wholly in Christ for that victory. It's not a once-for -all victory, but a moment-by-moment victory as the believer remains "looking unto Jesus,as the author and finisher of our faith." (Hebrews 12:2)

awesome book please read if you have not already started and those who didnt get to go see if our library at CCGV can get you a copy I am sure it is possible.

Father we thank you for you the amazing "CREATOR" you are Lord and Father I ask you to forgive me of my doubt and wash me anew Father I pray that as we look to You alone and knowing that makes the enemy more fired up that you would remind us to put on that armor because as we put our complete trust in you for Victory in our lives we know that puts us on the frontline trenches of Christian warfare and the attacks it brings may you give us the strength needed to come through those attacks stronger than ever Father I pray that there is not one person reading this whom feels as if there battle is just to bad and to hard for them to get out of because we know Lord that that to is a lie from the enemy because we can do "ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHOM STRENGTHENS US"
so Father I pray you be there strength right now and give us all peace in this fading dieing world Father we love you and are so grateful that our Victory is found in you Praise you Lord Jesus for the gift of Victory and the freedom it brings
I love and praise you Jesus Name amen

Until Next Time,
God Bless,
Cindy

The Love Of Our Lord..................

2008-09-21T21:26:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends,
As many of you know , the Bible study is back in full swing. I am excited to see the mighty work of our Lord for each of us doing the study. As you know it is on the Book of Ruth which is an awesome love story of all times. Nancy had said something in the video that makes me sad ...that is that so many feel isolated and alone even in our churches today. I pray that if any of us find ourselves feeling that way that we allow the Lord to work in our hearts and get to the root issue of why we are feeling this way as well as realize we are "NEVER" alone with God :
"THE STEADFAST LOVE OF THE LORD NEVER CEASES; HIS MERCIES NEVER COME TO AN END." (found on page 21 of our "Ruth books" upper right corner) the Lord is always there for us and His Love can never be taken from us. Some thing that touched me was on the bottom of page 20:
The Meaning Of Genuine Love: the purest kind of love is completely selfless and unconditional .
Only GOD can love perfectly. As long as we are clothed in human flesh, our love will be imperfect.
I think if we can wrap our minds around that and realize in and of ourselves we can love no one this way and no one can love us this way(outside of God) then we can be more forgiving and less lonely as we find those around us are just as imperfect as we all are. We love others alot of the time based on feelings and feelings as we know often lie to us in fact: "feelings rise and fall, but genuine love endures." (page 21 in book) I pray we all find that genuine love and may we all be touched mightily through the word of God as we study the book of Ruth...................................

As many of you are doing I will be preparing to go to the retreat this weekend due to that and my hectic schedule I will not be posting until some time after the retreat. I pray we all have a week filled with no warfare and all goes effortlessly when at retreat:

Father I pray a mighty work is done this weekend I pray hearts will be changed for a life time.
I pray we would not just hear the message that will come forth however that each of us would live that message in our day to day lives. I pray Lord for travel mercies and for the women to be blessed beyond measure each one of them. Father I pray this as well as many other things in Jesus name amen
until next time..............................
Cindy

What's New With Homeschool????

2008-09-16T20:46:00.000-07:00

Hello my bloggie friends,
How are you all doing?? We have had our good days and more challenging days for sure however this has been a little bit of a fun week. I LOVE THE FALL..........
I mean I really love it so we couldnt wait to get started on Fall crafts (oh did I mention my kiddo's love Fall too???) SO my house has pumpkins hanging from the ceiling and paper plate crafts covered in leaves it has been so fun and it is only just the beginning for us I am a bit crazy but my kids love it especially when we share the fun with friends and family. I dont know about you guys but I am so ready for the cold and the fall fashions my fav. hee-hee!!
My days are hectic but I am making my way and feeling real good with how much we accomplish on a day to day basis we dont always get everything in ....HOWEVER what is getting in is sticking and to us that is the MOST IMPORTANT. Spanish has been difficult however my kids love it and are having fun with it I think I am the one struggling the most go figure lol. Well that is all for now I have been busy and want to stay focused so I will blog here and there when I can and not be stressed about it. I am planning Lord willing on doing the women's Bible study and the Mom's once a month so lots of time in the word and doing homework just pray I keep my eyes on Him with all I do thanks ladies!
God Bless each of you and may He multiply your efforts abundantly until next time.........................................................................................................................

Cindy

Homeschool Challenges.........................

2008-09-10T22:24:00.001-07:00

Well my friends can you believe most of us are at the end of our 3rd week??? where oh where does the time go. I have had a few challenges along the way starting with my best student to this date not wanting to cooperate with the rules this year and he is an older one I was expecting some of that with the 5 year old not the older sibling. I have learned that you just dont know from year to year it is different each time.................. and you have your better years for sure.
I am homeschooling all seven this year yes even the 3 year old! She is ready it helps having 6 siblings ahead of you it tends to motivate you to want to know as much as they do so we are taking full advantage of this while we can lol. My two oldest are doing ok with their Math we started with some stuff from last year they were not doing well so really wanted to go back and go over concepts make sure they were understanding all there was to know before moving on.
please keep the older ones in your prayers that the Lord gives them eyes to see and ears to hear and that it would be truly applied to their brains. Lets see some have asked for my schedule this year so here it goes:

5:00 a.m.- I hear the dreaded alarm clock (lol)

5:00-5:30- I have half hour quiet time(only first half)

5:30- 6:30 - GYM

6:30 - 7:15 - the rest of my quiet time(7:00 kid's up and I fed them)

7:15- 7:30- PRAYER (kiddo's cleaning and getting themselves dressed and prepared)

7:30-8:00- get anything ready for the morning and going over kid's devotion

8:00-8:45- Bible/ devotion seat work

8:45 -9:30- Math

9:30- 10:15 - Reading

10:15-11:00- Science

11:00-11:45- History

11:45- 12:30- Big Kid's do seat work while I tend to little guys

12:30- 1:00- LUNCH

1:00- 2:00- Spelling/ English/anything not done
we are all done by 2:15 at the latest ............... well on the good days that is lol.
from 2:00-3:00 it is play outside time and 3:00-4:00 put house in order 4:00-5:00
the only hour my children watch T.V. all day long during the week PRAISE THE LORD
5:00-6:00 PREPARE SUPPER
6:00- 6:30ish EAT
6:30-7:00 CLEAN DISHES AND MESS
7:00-8:00 Daddy is on bath duty praise God thank you Daddy
8:00-8:30 Bed process...... teeth, read,devotion,prayer.....
8:30-8:45 LIGHT'S OUT AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

9:00 -????? MY NIGHT BEGINS cleaning or blogging or catching up on e-mails or doing projects or spending some time with hubby lights out most nights 11:00p.m. and yes start at 5:00 the very next morning!!!
some of you have said you dont know how I do it well guess what me neither It is all the Lord
also I have always been this way go go go and hardly on any sleep however it is getting harder as the years go on and I become older and older bummer I know. Any how we all have to find our families balance and what work and what doesnt work so just continue to pray and dont lose heart my friends you will reap a harvest sooner or later. God Bless you all

Until next time my hearts and prayers go out to each of you,
cindy

Friday School Success!!!

2008-09-06T12:01:00.001-07:00

"THANK YOU MOM'S................... we had an awesome Friday school I did final count 52 of us in all in my home.....awesome we sure have grown. That was 16 mom's and 36 children. However 4 mom's were missing so that gives us a total of 20 mom's and with their kiddo's 46 grand total 66
for elementary side that is absolutely amazing. God is so faithful in the growing of our group I pray His will may be done in the guiding and directing of our group. I thank you all again for your patience ,your help was truely a blessing without a team effort it really isn't possible ........many hands make the load lighter. So thanks to you all!!! I also wanted to let all the mom's know who were seriously interested in coming and watching me homeschool let me know a morning best for you and I will set up those times it really is no bother in fact my bestest friend ever who has moved to Tennessee allowed me to do the same and it was a huge eye opener as well as HUGE HELP......... SO anytime ladies my house is your house sister's in Christ and I am all for encouraging anyone along. God Bless you all and may every Friday school be as successful as this one was and may we continue to lift one another up in prayer as we go along side each other in this journey the Lord has set before each of us to homeschool our children.

Until Next Time,
Cindy

Holiness!!! (What is Holiness??)

2008-09-02T16:06:00.001-07:00

Have you ever asked yourself what is Holiness truely and what does it look like??? I have alot lately and here are some things I have found:

I have found as well as read it is certainly not a subject easily discussed not a topic on the list of most peoples lists which is heart breaking because it really isn't an option in our lives "we as children of God are called to be in His image and He is 100% HOLY. Holiness is not an option for those whom belong to the King. The Lord wants us to understand there is blessings to living a holy life and consequences to living an unholy life. The new testament authors call us to live a life of absolute purity here are some of those very scriptures:
"you therefore must be perfect,as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matt. 5:48

"Keep yourselves pure." 1 Tim.5:22

"Awake to righteousness, and do not sin." 1 Corinth. 15:34

"Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity(sin)." 2 Tim.2:19

"Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good." Romans 12:9

Holiness my friends is not just for the spiritual giants and church leaders it is for you and me and every single child of the King it is for everyone who names the name of the Lord we are "ALL"
CALLED TO LIVE HOLY LIVES.
By all means this is not easy and is hard it is a day to day process however that is the key it is a process there should be a process in all of our lives it is a part of being "Sanctified" we are a continual work in progress we should be trying to be more Christ like and less self like.
How you ask can we have true holiness well it is cultivated in the context of our relationship with God Himself. His love for us moves us to reject all things fleeting that sin can offer and as our love for Him grows we are then motivated to aspire holiness.
True holiness starts from the inside with our thoughts (are we holding every thought captive?)
our attitudes(are they following the golden rule to love others as yourself or for that matter as Christ would) our values (do they reflect that of the world or are we truely set apart?) our motives(are they pure or are they for selfish gain)these are our innermost parts gang the parts the Lord
sees just as they "REALLY ARE" over time the things above affect our outward and visible behavior: "BE HOLY IN ALL YOUR CONDUCT" 1 PETER 1:15
It all comes down to our sin by which if we dont repent sooner or later sin will rob us of everything that is beautiful and desirable and to walk in that holiness is amazing to know the joy of having clean hands ,a pure heart,a clear conscience,and one day to stand before our KING and not be ashamed........ and to Hear Him say "well done thy good and faithful servant" with that why settle for anything less this is something I am longing for the more and more I soak up His word we serve an amazing God friends. Please dont get me wrong I still have not come to the end with learning about holiness I in fact have just been studying it in depth and it is so amazing and soooooo very convicting cause for sure I am "FAR FROM HOLY" however it has opened my eyes to a life I am truely longing for. There is a verse I have recently stumbled across and now can see it was by no accident it is 1 Peter 1:15-16
"BUT AS HE WHO CALLED YOU IS HOLY , YOU ALSO BE HOLY IN "ALL" YOUR CONDUCT, SINCE IT IS WRITTEN, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."
The Lord was speaking especially to me and wanting me to see that as I am seeking to live Holy
that means in my "EVERYDAY LIFE AND CONDUCT" I am to be "set apart" our lives are to look believable to our world and was mine as I yell at my children in public or get impatient in line at the store or at a red light or in traffic do all around see His image ???? So I was asked WHAT DOES YOUR LIFE REFLECT TO THOSE AROUND YOU??? and I asked myself some hard convicting questions .......do my attitudes, words, and behavior give others an accurate picture of God or do I profane His holiness and as I was painfully honest with myself I have to admit more times then I care to admit it has been the latter??? wow deep things to ask ones self although I think we should be doing a heart check often for the heart is wicked if left to itself. So you may still be asking how do I know how to be Holy well.......... God is our standard
for Holiness, and He alone is the Source of our Holiness so we must have a relationship with Him and be in His word daily to learn what that very holiness looks like. I read this in a book recently it says" to be holy is to be clean from sin, to be clean from sin is to be free from the weight and the burden of that very sin." Another eye opener for me in this quest to be more like Christ is
knowing that without being holy we cannot fellowship with God because he cannot fellowship with unholy people....... Matthew 5:8 says: "blessed are the pure in heart," Jesus said "for they shall see God." We cannot cling to our sin and have fellowship with God at the same time.

"For what fellowship has rightousness with lawlessness? and what communion has light with darkness?" 2 Corinth. 6:14
You see we all must be seeking that holiness because without holy hearts we cannot draw near to our Lord and as children of God that should be our every desire to draw near to the King.
So for now I believe as my study continues (and I may share periodically) the thing I am praying about for the day to day is that others will see in me a reflection of Christ as I live out my day to day life for all to see. I pray that if I am the only Bible someone may read it is of your holiness and goodness and nothing in me. Father I pray that we all seek to be holy and more Christ like that we all would truely be able to call ourselves a "set apart" people may we never blend in or look as the world may we always be mindful of our actions and words our attitudes and motives may we do a heart check often on ourselves and stay armored up in your very word daily and even hourly if that is what it takes to hold our every thoughts captive Lord I pray you will continue to empty me of all unrighteousness of all selfishness and fill me to over flowing with "YOUR LOVE, GRACE, MERCY, JOY, PEACE, KINDNESS , GOODNESS ,FAITHFULNESS AND ALL THAT IS OF YOU IN JESUS HOLY AND PRECIOUS NAME I PRAY AMEN.
Until next time friends,
Love,
Cindy