Today's Verse

   Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:6,7

Quote of the day.

Since I have been sending...or used to send...quotes to most of you, I have decided to just post them on my blog instead.  So you can come here for your daily inspiration...or daily boredom...whatever it means to you!

"In the confrontation between the stream
and the rock, the stream always wins
- not by strength but by perseverance."
- H. Jackson Brown

God put a rainbow in the sky

Sometimes God puts storms in our lives. 

But I'm so thankful when He places a rainbow in the sky.

It reminds me He is still there.

He is living.

He won't break His promises.

And He loves me and you.

He will never leave.

And I'm SO thankful for that reminder.

He knows when to place the rainbow in the sky.



Prayer Request

I have this friend who is struggling with the world, with her faith, with God.  Satans grasp is so strong, he won't let go, and she's very weak.  My mind drifts to David in the bible and I thought of his many psalms he wrote to God.  He too, had many struggles and always, always took them to God in all sincerity.  I found strength just looking through his psalms and I wanted to share some with you.

Psalm 102: Prayer of an overwhelmed saint:

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.
Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.
For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.
By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.
I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.
Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me. 

It continues on, but its a beautiful veiw into the heart of David.  He had his struggles, just as we do, and as my friend does.

And another I read- Psalm 61- A prayer when overwhelmed:

Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
  Thou wilt prolong the king's life: and his years as many generations.
He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.
So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.
  

And then I went on to read Psalm 46 of God's refuge and strength:

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

And it helped me to remember that GOd is there.  He is ALmighty, the counselor, omnipotent and living.  What my friend is going through, and how overwhelmed I am with it all, can be cast upon the Lord and He WILL provide.  But I feel my faith is so weak so I ask for your prayers.  For my friend.  And for me as her friend. And that BY HIS GRACE I can be the friend that I need to be. Love you all.

The Car

Safely we made it to florida around 6:30 on monday.  We rented a car, and found out that we got to choose the type of car we wanted.  Talk about a kid in a candy store! We walked out to the parking garage and found the line of "full sized cars" (Since thats what mom rented) and began siftin through them...we finally decided on a dodge charger...

Now that's what i'm talking about! ;)  Okay... okay... to some of you, it may not be the greatest...but drive around a rusty red honda for a few years and then almost anything looks  pretty sweet! ;)

But now that i've feel like I've put myself on a peddistal...this verse is a good reminder to me:

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh,

and the list of the eyes, and the pride of life,

is not of the father, but is of the world.

~1 John 2:16



Alas...we made it to Florida!

Monday June, 13

Whew... what a day we had on monday...well actually, let me start back on the weekend.  There has been numerous country break-ins around our area and we found out that the people that are behind it are these guys who have been going around selling school books to people.  They get in your house, get to know their way around, and then come back later to rob it, at least that's the rumor. Anyways, after we heard all of this that was going on, mom realized that she told one of those guys (they came to our house to try and sell us books... you think we bought any?!?! NO!!!) anyways, she told one of those guys that we were getting ready for vaca and didn't have time for him.  Great..she thought later...because now these guys know were going to be gone and we are prob going to be robbed.  Thus, started the packing of all our valuables and we shipped them to my sisters incase of a break in. 
On sunday, I was talking to a few of you and you gave me the great idea of placing a bible out in the open with a note for the intruders.  Here's what I came up with:

Incase you can't read it, it read

Dear intruder,

This is the most valuable item we have in this house.

Please take a moment to read it and consider its words.

And please, feel free to take it with you!

God loves you!

And I opened it to Exodus 20:15- THOU SHALT NOT STEAL

Hopefully they get the point...! 

So monday began bright and early (actually, Karla, you were probably up before me! ;) ) We loaded up my car and headed to b-town, and I had to drive so dad could make some phone calls.  (I figured it would be more safe for me to drive, than dad trying to drive and talk...men just aren't multitaskers...) Little did I know that he probably woulda gotten us to the airport safer than I... we decided to make a stop at Mickey D's and I was making a right turn. There was a car in front of me and he started to head forward like he was pulling away, so I looked left and started to turn b/c no one was coming... OOPS.  To my complete humility, the van infront of me had not pulled away and I bashed into him.  So much for turning 21 w/out any accidents (and running into a parked trailor does not count....it wasn't my fault ;) ) So... my day started out wonderful! haha. (and the people I hit were not the nicest guys around...good thing we left our house valuable-free b/c they now have our address...YIKES!) So then... lets see... what happened next...?  Oh yes... I put too many pins in my hair...stupid hair... and had to get fully padded down at the airport.  You know how hard it is to try and keep a smile on my face?! GRrrr.  So we traveled to our gate, and who do we meet there, but my high school assistant principle, Mr. Quam.  Little did we know they would follow us all the way to florida on the same planes and end up staying at the same resort! WEIRD!  I guess Jesse will start out on his good side!
More info later...