I wonder if...

they know we're praying for them in love, out of respect,

for their souls, safety, health, salvation, God's wisdom,

and the list goes on?

(Keep praying for Mr. President Obama and those in

government anyway!) As Jesus himself said, as we nailed Him

to the cross, He PRAYED for us anyway...

"Father, Forgive them, for they do not know what they

are doing." Luke 23 :34

Everything GOOD comes about through PRAYER, and quite

frankly, only through active prayer with a compassionate

heart for people, just like Jesus!

So what if we "Christians" want a day of prayer recognized -

is it really that offensive?? There are SO MANY other things

to be offensive about... believe me!

Prayer is personal yes, but gathering together

shows humility (we can't govern properly

without the Almighty's help), a need for each other, a collective

body of souls uniting for the power of the Lord, a oneness

as we join forces with all different races to pray to the Lord

for whatever our needs are, or simply to give Thanks for this

freedom (that it is)

"Where 2 or 3 are assembled in My name,

I am there among them" (Matt.18-20)

This is a blessing folks!

My Opinion here:

This news is only to bring about controversy, because

America loves it... we thrive on this stuff and Obama just

does everything OPPOSITE of our history because he's the

change we wanted right?

Well... we got it! We all had an opportunity to Vote remember?

Completely, not surprising to me at all.

The world as we know it has been

trying to keep God out of "our secular ways"/selfish desires, for a very

long time - just look around at all of our problems, national,

international woes, moral decline, killing babies and the list goes on...

do we really wonder why?

This is a spiritual GREED/PRIDE battle, and it always has been.

However, the GOOD NEWS is that the Lord of heaven, Jesus Christ -

no matter what man made intentions "try" to do,

Has it all under control.

Satan is the God of "this age" now (because God

has allowed it - by our hands pushing God away),

but his days are numbered (YAHOO), like the rest of us.

JESUS IS KING and we will ALL bow to Him someday,

for it is written - Phil 2:9-11

Also, death (the debt every man(woman) pays), shows that we are not

immortal beings (therefore, needing a Savior),

like we sometimes live. We are all born in sin,

JESUS PAVED THE WAY for us on that note!

JESUS did just that and conquered death so we could

live eternally WITH HIM! How could you want anything less?

We will all give an account, Mr. President, including you.

"Why do the nations rage

and the people plot in vain?

The kings of the earth take their stand

and the rulers gather together

against the Lord

and against His Anointed One."

Acts 4 - 25:26

Many are the plans in a man's heart

but its the Lord's purpose that prevails

Proverbs 19 - 21

All a man's ways seem innocent to him,

but motives are weighed by the Lord

Proverbs 16-2

Finally, PRAY without ceasing... 1 Thessalonians 5:17

go ahead people, You are God's property

no man can tell you otherwise - let them

try to take away your freedom in Christ -

they can't get into our personal relationship with Him

the one inside our hearts and minds... isn't that

what real FREEDOM is? I am FREE and no one

takes that from me anymore. I am SO thankful for this!

Glory to God in the highest...

The Lord Jesus is our King! Let it penetrate your heart

and into all the earth today and everyday!

See Also: 1 Peter 2:13 3:7

Let's ENCOURAGE one another with these words

and run the race before us, for the prize at the end!

I'm on board, how about you?

Post Party Photos & Video

Joshua had a delightfully, tasty birthday party this

weekend! He's ONE and thoroughly enjoyed every

piece of it...lol

My personal favorite photo all the while, clapping his hands

WOW.... This icing is COOL!

Help... my arm is blue, but I just can't help myself!

Genuardi's makes the BEST icing ever!!!

Our family was so excited for Josh's fun day...

Our oldest boys had a baseball game the same day,

Needless to say, a VERY busy day for all, well... Mom :)

Mom and Dad... another year passes so quickly. Enjoy

each moment you have with your children!

Here's the anticipated video of Josh's shining

moment as he discovers... CAKE!!!!

Celebrating Joshua's 1st Birthday!

A digital scrapbooking design by Smilebox

Don't Grow Weary Moms... God is near!

Let us not become weary in doing good,

for at the proper time we will reap a harvest

if we do not give up. Gal. 6:9

Hey Moms!

I've got a challenge for you...

Do you find it difficult to smile or rejoice lately?

Even PRAY? Is it frustrating when every dish is dirty

in the sink and you find them elsewhere too?

When you put on a new shirt and dress up for your hubby

and your baby (or toddler) has spit up all day and all over

you instead? Or if you are a single parent and you don't

know what to do next, you've been feeling helpless?

When your child just doesn't want to sleep?

When the laundry is just never-ending in my household

("a mosh pit") and you find more baskets overflowing upstairs,

when you thought it was all finished? How about when there is a

moment of relaxation (they are there) and you go to take time to

lay down, relax or read and then in a blink of an eye, a scream, cry

or call awakens this tiny bit of freedom you feel is so long overdue?

When you teach your child over and over, the same routine and

they "still" don't get it? Stressed or even thoughts of failure

come to mind...

I've been there too! Maybe you can relate somehow to some of this

but, I get caught up in the daily routine of motherhood, as I'm

called to do, however, at times with a sour attitude or a harried type

of mothering, instead of taking each joy, struggle or challenge

with a bit of humility and calming the storms

(instead, I have brought on more storms) I'm happy to share though,

I'm doing MUCH better, with God as my leader this time!

God has reminded me of this so clearly through seeing constantly,

and finally accepting that we are all imperfect people and our kids are too,

BUT IT'S TOTALLY OKAY!!! If you're like me, I must fix every

problem, or have a solution ready and working immediately before the

next thing or stepping on my husband's fatherly duty, Lord forgive me.

Good luck with that mom, doesn't "usually" happen like that does it?

The Lord wants me (us) to call to Him more

in those moments (do I?) (do you?) so He can make the path clearer for

me to mother my children in times of stress and chaos with a

heart of Joy and to be an encourager to them!

I must make this known though,

Not to overlook or give up being passive, instead, to be the

source of knowledge, love and encouraging correction they desperately

need to grow and mature. I'm learning as I go here too... You know,

now that I think of it...

socks on the floor is nothing to get all "huffy" about all of the time! lol

The Lord is teaching me to be more like Him means absolutely,

giving up my reasoning, my rights every day and using His Patient

wisdom and unchanging knowledge that I've gained through

Christ to lovingly teach, train and nurture.

When selfish manners need correction,

a mom is called, when greedy behaviors are taking place, a mom

is called, when our kids are hurt physically or emotionally, a mom

is called. But even more revealing to me, is that GOD IS NEAR

every moment of testing and trial, He is for our family and cares

for us most deeply. Let's never forget that!

Take a moment with me and see our children through the

eyes of God and give yourself some slack, a break and start

to learn to encourage yourself in this high calling!

He trusts You with them - forgive yourself and move on...

The Lord gave these little cherubs to us because He

knew we COULD do it! Let's replace those bad attitudes

and get humble daily to remind ourselves that our children

are not just "our own", but God's Holy property, not burdens

but beautiful bouncing blessings who have an assignment to

fulfill like the rest of us! Have you ever thought about that?

Dear Sweet Lord, forgive me (us) for those

selfish times, and thank You for convicting my spirit about this.

This is an important season to mother very closely and to embrace

it so they can be all that You God called them to be for your

Kingdom, not my made up fantasy "american dream" world.

We are raising them to be on their own someday...

It helps to think more (eternally) when it comes to our kids

(it really helps take a load off when you look at it like that).

Who will they serve? What will they do with their lives?

It begins with Your image Mother, the one you bear

at home when no one else is looking but your little ones

(what do our children really observe?) and this applies to Fathers

too! You see, We can't do this alone... God IS NEAR.

How beautiful is this call to Motherhood... A need so desperately

broken in today's generation. We give up too easily, maybe we've

lost the motivation or are just lazy about it? Everyone has excuses.

THE CHALLENGE!

Every chance we get to hang out with our friends, family and

neighbors, let's joyfully remind other moms of how appreciative

God is of them, as they embrace this beautiful life changing challenge

with the gift of motherhood. Share with them and remind yourself,

that It's our time to be servants of the Holiest King - that's a pretty

important role! When times get tough,

and they will... we HAVE A GOD, named JESUS who is eagerly,

patiently waiting to hear our cries, our struggles, our joys, our

pain - to mend our hearts to help others find Hope and Peace

through God alone.

Investing in the lives of PEOPLE is our greatest natural resource.

I hear my little one now,

calling me!

Let's answer the Call with Love and Grace as we hug these little ones

and steer them into the Way of everlasting life with Jesus.

We are never alone.

After a hard days work... enjoy!

LOVE was demonstrated by this...

Thank YOU, Jesus... My Heavenly Father!

You are so Perfect and Holy, you love me so much

and SAVED me by dying in my place and offering

me a place in heaven through my repentance and

obedience! You are the best, my comforter,

my healer, my shepherd!

Jesus - I want to please You in all I say

and do, help me to be holy and blameless, so

I can honor You with my life.

I thank You for all that you have done for me

and all that You are going to do in my life.

Prayers for Holy Week - GOOD Friday

Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of the dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was depised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hid their faces, he was despised, and we held him of no account. Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.

Isaiah 53:1-5

• Now we are at the heart of Jesus’ mission: to suffer appallingly and to die without faltering in his love for us. This is where the gospel begins and ends. Yet it is hard to contemplate. We shy away from the pain and injustice of the passion.

• I carry the nail marks in my hands from baptism. I may wander far from the cross, but at the end I am drawn back to it.

Prayers for Holy Week - Thursday

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them."

John 13:12-16

•John's gospel describes the Last Supper without mentioning the Eucharist. Instead, it describes Jesus washing his friend's feet.

•On his knees like a servant, Jesus turned human status upside down. Do I celebrate with the community of those who serve?