Friday, April 28, 2006

My devotion for the night. Really makes me think about life.

April 27, 2006

What Do You Want?

LISTEN:
READ:

Do you seek great things for yourself? —Jeremiah 45:5

Are you seeking great things for yourself, instead of seeking to be a great person? God wants you to be in a much closer relationship with Himself than simply receiving His gifts— He wants you to get to know Him. Even some large thing we want is only incidental; it comes and it goes. But God never gives us anything incidental. There is nothing easier than getting into the right relationship with God, unless it is not God you seek, but only what He can give you.

If you have only come as far as asking God for things, you have never come to the point of understanding the least bit of what surrender really means. You have become a Christian based on your own terms. You protest, saying, "I asked God for the Holy Spirit, but He didn’t give me the rest and the peace I expected." And instantly God puts His finger on the reason-you are not seeking the Lord at all; you are seeking something for yourself. Jesus said, "Ask, and it will be given to you . . ." ( Matthew 7:7 ). Ask God for what you want and do not be concerned about asking for the wrong thing, because as you draw ever closer to Him, you will cease asking for things altogether. "Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him" ( Matthew 6:8 ). Then why should you ask? So that you may get to know Him.

Are you seeking great things for yourself? Have you said, "Oh, Lord, completely fill me with your Holy Spirit"? If God does not, it is because you are not totally surrendered to Him; there is something you still refuse to do. Are you prepared to ask yourself what it is you want from God and why you want it? God always ignores your present level of completeness in favor of your ultimate future completeness. He is not concerned about making you blessed and happy right now, but He’s continually working out His ultimate perfection for you— ". . . that they may be one just as We are one . . ." ( John 17:22 ).

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

I got this forward in my email and it blessed me so I thought that I would share. Just a little story. Hope all is well with everyone!!!

DADDY'S EMPTY CHAIR
A man's daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her father.
When the minister arrived, he found the man lying in
bed with his head propped up on two pillows.
An empty chair sat beside his bed.
The minister assumed that the old fellow had been
informed of his visit.
"I guess you were expecting me, he said.
'No, who are you?" said the father.
The minister told him his name and then remarked,
"I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up,"
"Oh yeah, the chair," said the bedridden man.
"Would you mind closing the door?"
Puzzled, the minister shut the door.
"I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter," said the man.
"But all of my life I have never known how to pray.
At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer,
but it went right over my head."
I abandoned any attempt at prayer," the old man continued, "until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me, "Johnny, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus.
Here is what I suggest.
"Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair.
It's not spooky because he promised,
'I will be with you always'.
"Then just speak to him in the same way
you're doing with me right now."
"So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it
a couple of hours every day.
I'm careful though If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm."
The minister was deeply moved by the story
and encouraged the old man to continue on the journey.
Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the church.
Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her daddy had died that afternoon.
Did he die in peace?" he asked.
Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock,
he called me over to his bedside, told me he loved me
and kissed me on the cheek.
When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him dead.
But there was something strange about his death.
Apparently, just before Daddy died,
he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside the bed.
What do you make of that?"
The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said,
"I wish we could all go like that."

Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive.
I asked God for water,
He gave me an ocean.
I asked God for a flower,
He gave me a garden.
I asked God for a friend,
He gave me all of YOU...
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God.

Monday, April 24, 2006

Okay, Adam got our computer working enough to do this much. It is quite an ordeal. Anyway, it should be fixed in the next few days and then I will be able to post the more recent pics I have. Keep checking in! :) God bless!

Easter with the family.

Just missing Stephanie and Caitlin here but a great shot of the rest of the kids after doing the easter egg hunt at David and Kristi's house on Easter Sunday. We all went there for a great Easter dinner. Kriti always makes a great turkey dinner.

Jarred, Joshua, and Annabelle having a great time on Dakota's trampoline.

A few late pics from my mom and Bernadette's visit here.

I thought that this was so cute. He got so tired he crashed on the couch the last night that my mom and sister were here. So much like a man... remote in hand. haha

Annabelle and Joel. They will always remember Nana's special baths in the sink.

Alex, loving every minute of it!

Happy Easter!!!

This year for Easter, actually good Friday, Mike and Moe, the pastor at our church and his wife, invited the whole church over for soup and buns, fellowship and fun! It was a blast! The kids did and easter egg hunt and coloring contest. My mom got to visit a lot with all her friends who she hasn't got to see much in the last year or so. It was a really blessing! In the evening a lot of the church went to the church building and watched The Passion of the Christ on the big screen there. We weren't able to go because there was so much going on. I thought that it was a great idea though!

What good kids I have!!! haha

There was an easter egg hunt for the kids and they were very pleased with the treats!

Gabe and Grace

Joel, trying to stay out of trouble. It is hard for him these days.

Speaking of fake smiles!!!

Me and Joel, he loved that candy!!!

Gabe, feeling a little sorry for himself as he tells me, "Mommy say no downstairs". He was being so obedient! It was so cute!

This must be the age for fake smiles! haha Annabelle and Gabriel. They are just 2 weeks apart in age. What cuties!

Joshua was so proud of this. He entered the church coloring contest and won! This was his prize, a really cool Easter basket. What a blessing.

Sonja, Moriah, and Michelle looking at Starla's maternity pictures. A great time with friends.

Ruth taking care of Jordan. Ruth is such a blessing to all the kids. She loves all of them so much!

My good friend Starla with her oldest son Gabriel.

Me and my handsome nephew Eric, having his night time bottle.

My mom reading to Eric and Joshua, they both loved that! Eric and Joshua got along great! Eric is holding one of his favorite books, Larry! Very cute.

Sunday, April 23, 2006

Well, for anyone who doesn't know, our computer is down for an indefinate amount of time. We are not able to upload our pics so there will be next to no post for probably a couple weeks at least. What a week! Our fridge broke and we had to buy a new one and in the same day our motherboard fried on our computer. What a downer!!! But we have a nice new fridge now and soon a good computer again. Hold tight and keep checking, we will try to be back as soon as possible.