The Calling

I am a minister. I minister to the largest mission field in the world. I minister to Children.

My calling is sure; my challenge is big; my vision is clear; my desire is strong; my influence is eternal; my impact is critical; my values are solid; my faith is tough; my mission is urgent; my purpose is unmistakable; my direction is forward; my heart is genuine; my strength is supernatural; my reward is promised; and my God is real.

In a world of cynicism, I offer hope. In a world of confusion, I offer truth. In a world of immorality, I offer values. In a world of neglect, I offer attention. In a world of abuse, I offer safety. In a world of ridicule, I offer affirmation. In a world of division, I offer reconciliation. In a world of bitterness, I offer forgiveness. In a world of sin, I offer salvation. In a world of hate, I offer God's love.

I refuse to be dismayed, disengaged, disgruntled, discouraged or distracted. Neither will I look back, stand back, fall back, go back or sit back. I do not need applause, flattery, adulation, prestige, stature, or veneration. I do not have time for business as usual, mediocre standards, small thinking, outdated methods, normal expectations, average results, ordinary ideas, petty disputes or low vision. I will not give up, give in, bail out, lie down, turn over, quit, or surrender.

I will pray when things look bad. I will pray when things look good. I will move forward when others stand still. I will trust God when obstacles arise. I will work when the task is overwhelming. I will get up when I fall down.

My calling is to reach boys and girls for God. It is too serious to be taken lightly, too urgent to be postponed, too vital to be ignored, too relevant to be overlooked, too significant to be trivialized, too eternal to be fleeting and too passionate to be quenched.

I know my mission. I know my challenge. I also know my limitations, my weaknesses, my fears and my problems. And I know my God. Let others get the praise. Let the church get the blessing. Let God get the glory.

I am a minister. I minister to children. This is who I am. This is what I do.
By: Roger Fields

The first time I read this I broke down in tears this is my hearts desire and the calling that God has placed on my life. Thank you God for calling me to love and teach your precious children. This is going to be placed in my office so that every time I look at it and read it I will be reminded on the calling God has placed on my life.

Yearn

This song is my hearts cry at this moment in my life!

Holy design
this place in time
that i might seek and find my God
my God

Lord i want to yearn for You
i want to burn with passion
over You and only You
Lord i want to yearn

Your joy is mine
yet why am i fine
with all my singing and bringing grain
in light of Him

oh You give life and breath
through Him You give all things
in Him we live and move
that's why i sing

What If???

Yesterday we had a young lady named Jessica come to church and speak about her life as a missionary to Uganda Africa! During her talk I was crying though out the whole thing however one thing really stood out to me! She told a story about how she would always say I love you to the kids in the family home that she works with! These kids have never heard that words I love you! They have never said the words I love you! So it really made me start to think about what would my life be like if I never heard the words I love you!

Never hearing my daddy's sweet voice saying I love you! Never hearing Kate Elizabeth say I love you Miss. Jinny over and over again in a 4 hour period! :) Never hearing my friends say I love you! Never hearing the people I care about the most say I love you! Man how would my attitude be different if I never heard those 3 words!

Here in America we sometimes view those words as cliche words! Oh don't say I love you because you never know what that person might think when you say it! Then there are times where here in American we take those words for granted! But think about thousands of kids who have NEVER hear those 3 words! How would you life be so very different?

Have you ever thought about what your life would be like if you never heard the words "I LOVE YOU"

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday and how blessed I am that she was born on this day 30 years ago right mom? :) Yeah that would mean she had me when she was 7 and Matt when she was not even created yet! lol Oh well you are still young at heart! :) So today I would like to post a prayer over my mom for this coming year! She has not had the easiest life that if for sure however God has big plans for her life that are still to come and I truly believe that with all my heart!

Dear Heavenly Father,
I come before you today thanking you for creating my mom many years ago! I thank you for giving her to me as my mom! I pray that this year will be a year of change! I thank you that you have so many plans for her future and that you have a huge purpose for her still on this earth! I pray that you will show and teach her how to love and trust you again! I pray that you will give her confidence to be the woman you have called her to be! I thank you that you have forgiven her all of her past mistakes and that in your eyes she is totally forgive! I thank you that from this day forward she is going to see herself as a new women in you! That is strong in the Lord and that can do all things through you! I thank you that you are going to take her on a journey of healing and rest! And that she is never going to be the same! I thank you for the women that she is today and the women she is going to be in 50 years! I pray that you will comfort her with your love and peace and that she will know that it is okay to run into your arms again! I thank you for the changes you have made in her life over the last 2 months and for the ones to come in her future! She is such an amazing women, mom, and friend and those who know her are do blessed to have her in our lives! In Jesus name I pray! AMEN

Here is the song that I sing over you today mom! May it feel you with peace and encouragement to leave the past behind and know that WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!

Healer

by: Hillsong

You hold my every moment
You calm my raging seas
You walk with me through fire
And heal all my disease

I trust in You
I trust in You

I believe You're my Healer
I believe You are all I need
I believe You're my Portion
I believe You're more than enough for me
Jesus You're all I need

Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
You hold my world in Your hands

My Heart Breaks!

On Monday night I found out that a friend from high school as well as youth group was diagnosed with stomach cancer! She was 7 months pregnant when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer which meant that they had to give the baby steroids to help the lungs develop faster so that they could deliver the sweet baby girl early and remove the cancer. When they went in to do the surgery they found that she didn't have ovarian cancer but that she had stomach cancer. Her baby is now 2 months and on Monday Alisha was told that her cancer was terminal.

Tonight my heart is heavy and my eyes are filled with tears as I write this post! Alisha has gone to be with Jesus leaving behind a husband, and two daughters ages 6 and 2 months. Words can not even express the pain I feel for them right now! My heart literally hurts for them. My tears are being shade for them. So many times we don't understand God's timing. There are so many questions that are going on in our minds... She was only 26 years old! That is only 3 years older then I am!

To be honest it brings back a lot of the pain and emotions that I went through when my dad passed away! My heart hurts for those two little girls. It was hard to lose a parent at 18 but I couldn't imagine losing one at 6 or 2 months! I wish I knew what I could do for them! I wish I could hold both of those little girls and pray over them! Tell them how loved they where by their mommy and how God has a huge plan for their lives! I wish I could take away the hurt that they are going through. How do you explain to a 6 year old that her mommy has gone to be with Jesus! How do you explain to a 2 month old when she grows up who her mommy was and why she died?

If I could tell them just one thing I would want them to always know that God is a good God. That He loves them so much. That no matter the struggles you may face to always rely and trust on Him. Even when you might be mad at Him, He is there to hold you and comfort you!

For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future!

Jeremiah 29:11

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understandings. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight!

Life is so precious so live every moment to the fullest never looking to the back or to the sides. Keep your eye focused on Jesus and walk with Him daily!

My Hearts Cry!

I want to fall in love with my Savior and Daddy more! This song is totally my hearts cry right now! I might not agree with everything that has happen or will happen in my life but one thing will remain true I love Jesus Christ and I want to sit at His feet for the rest of my life! And I know that God only gives me as much as I can handle!

The More I Seek You

The more I seek you, the more I find you
The more I find you, the more I love you.

I want to sit at your feet
Drink from the cup in your hand
Lay back against you and breath
Feel your heart beat

This love is so deep, its more then I can stand
I melt in your peace its overwhelming

(Repeat all Verses 3 times)

My Hearts Cry!

After my dad past away this song became my hearts cry! I know that God will only give me as much as I can handle and sometimes I ask why me Lord? Why? However as hard as it is sometime I tell Him "I trust you Lord" and no matter what might come in my path I will walk with You! I would be lying if I said that it is easy to say this and every day just gets easier and easier because it doesn't. But I know that God works the night shift and although I may not understand I still "Trust you Him"! It is a day by day trust that I have to be willing to take the step to trust Him. No matter what curve ball might come my way I Trust God and know that He is going to give me whatever I need to catch that ball and run into His loving arms. So these words are my true hearts cry.......

If You Want Me Too
Ginny Owens

The path way is broken and the signs are unclear
I don't know the reason why you've brought me here
but just because you love me the way that you do
I'm gonna walk through the valley if you want me to.

Cause I'm not who I was when I took my first step
and I'm clinging to the promise your not through with we me yet.
So if all of these trials bring me closer to you,
then I will go through the fire if you want me to.

It may not be the way I would have choose
when you lead me through a world that's not my home.
But you never said it would be easy
you only said I'll never go alone.

So when the whole world turns against me
and I'm all by myself and I can't hear you answer my cries for help.
I'll remember the suffering your love put your through,
and I will go through the valley if you want me to.

My Passion!

Words can not express to you my love and devotion to children! I have had a heart for kids since I was a child myself. It is a love that I can not explain and a passion that can not be blown out. As I write this tears fill my eyes because of the love that I have for these kids.

Many people ask me how can you love a child so much that is not even your own. To which I reply because even though they are not my own they are God's child and God has placed a love in my heart for them that goes beyond any words.

As a teacher and also as a "children's pastor" I met many different kids. Some who come from great families who love God and who treat their children like precious jewels and others who don't love God and who treat their children like extra work.

Many times when you look into a child's eyes you can see what is going on in their hearts. Children just want to be loved, they want to be accepted and they want to know that someone cares.

Because I myself am not a mom I have not been able to experience many things with a child that a mom does. However I am blessed and honored that I have been called to love on these kids as God loves us. Even if it is just as simple as a morning hug, children know when you truly love them. They yearn for your approval and attention.

My heart for your child is that they would know the love of their Savior. That they would be so bold as to say at the age of 7 I am going to take my Bible to school for show and tell. And even when they are discouraged from getting to share it they invite their friends to read it with them while they are outside at recess.

The Bible says to come before Him like children! What does that tell you?

We look at our children's ministry programs as just a place for kids to go while the adults go to service. This is so wrong. We are training your children to be followers of Christ. To love Him and to know Him as their friend.

If you would just come and see these children's faces light up as you tell them that Jesus loves them. That he died on the cross for their sins and that He wants us to be with Him forever. They get it. We as adults have all these "what if's" while our kids are say "it is." They have the faith that it takes to enter into the kingdom of God. We should be learning from them!

When you ask a child what their favorite Bible story is and they know storied like "Jesus Raising from the Dead", and Jesus Walks on Water they get.They understand who Jesus is and how much Jesus loves them! It blows my mind sometimes how much these kids truly understand!

I want you all to know how thankful I am that God gave me a heart for children. They are such a blessing in my life! Thank you Heavenly Daddy for children! :) I am so excited to be a mommy one day! Children are an amazing blessing for God the Father!

Bring the Rain

Over the past week there has been a song that I have made my prayer! There has been many things that I have walked through in the last 5 years and I know that there is still more stuff to come however this song is what my hearts cry is! The words are so powerful and every time I hear them I start to cry! So I hope you enjoy! :)

Bring the Rain (by Mercy Me)

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've been through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life has changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead i draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings you glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise you
Jesus bring the rain

I am yours regardless of
The clouds that my loon above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings you glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise you
Jesus bring the rain
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty

Gods Timing!

This week I have made a lot of decisions about my future! I am starting school tomorrow to get my teaching degree which I am super excited about! And I also made another step for my future that I am still waiting on! But in this time I am really having to wait on the Lord and seeking the plans He has for me!

Just like my dads favorite verse "I know the plans I have for your declares the Lord plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Now waiting on Gods timing is a lot easier said then done! So I have decided to make this my March mission! :) Allowing God to teach me how to wait on His timing! Here is what my calender says for this month.... "Align my heart with Your and give me revelation and guidance so that I nay know Your will for my life. Shine your lamp of truth where I am right now and show me the next step to take" Stormie Omartian Fancy that! The quote for this month is what I am going to be working on this month! :) God works in amazing ways!

Dear Jesus,

Teach me to be patient and to wait on your timing! Show me that your timing is better then my own! Allow me to feel your presence every morning when I wake and every night as I lay my head on my pillow! Direct my steps and guide my path!

In Jesus Name I pray, Amen!

What Are You Teaching Me Lord!

This week has been a very long and tiring week at work! Plus there is a lot that God has been showing me about myself! A lot that He is trying to teach me about where I am in my life! I was reading a devotional book yesterday that was talking about how we view God as our (Lord)! How we use Lord so flippantly in times where we "feel like" He is Lord over our lives but what about the times when we don't ALLOW Him to be Lord over our lives! When we say I will never do this or I will never do that! Saying that God is LORD over your life means more than just a word it means that He is Lord over you everything about you! Here is what the Webster's dictionary definition of LORD is 1: one having power and authority over others, a ruler by hereditary right or preeminence to whom service and obedience are due. So allowing God to be Lord over my life means that He is Lord over everything! I can not say you can be Lord as long as this it is this or as long as it is that or put restrictions on what I will or will not do! I have to trust that He has the best things in life for me! That He knows my deepest desires and my deepest dreams and wants them to come to true! But in His timing not in mine! I have to stop putting boundaries on what God (Lord) can do in my life and in what time frame and instead allow Him to take full control! To listen to His voice and know that He is speaking to me! That He loves me no matter what and that He has only the best in mind for me! This is going to take time for me because I am a check list type of person! If God could just give me a check list and say when you have completed this list I will bring you a husband or I will fulfill all your dreams. I would be so happy and excited to see all the things get checked off and have my dreams come true. But He is not a God that gives me To Do lists He is a mountain moving God who in HIS TIMING will bring the man of my dreams into my life and in His timing my dreams will come true not when I finish a To Do list! Here is the prayer that is on my wall calender this month..... Lord, help me to be content where I am right now on Your path for my life. I know you are always growing me into Your likeness and will not leave me where I am forever. Here is the verse for this month on my calender as well "Godliness with contentment is great gain."1 Timothy 6:6 How amazing is our God that in a time where He is teaching me about allowing Him to be Lord over my life this verse and this prayer is what I look at every morning before I get out of bed and every night before I go to sleep! How Great is our God! So my challenge to you as well as to me is .... Are you allowing God to be Lord over your life with no limitations or are you putting Lord in a box?

Will you STAND?

Today at church Mark Palmer challenged me with an amazing word! In life we are thrown a lot of straight balls, balls that we expect weather they are good or bad we know they are coming. And in those times it is so easy to STAND and say how amazing our God is but it is in those moments when we are thrown a curve ball when it is the true test!

Is God still an amazing God when someone we are close to dies? YES

Is God still an amazing God when we lose our job? YES

Is God still an amazing God when our family is a mess? YES

Is God still an amazing God when it feels like our whole world is spinning out of control? YES

Is God still an amazing God when the decisions we make have bad consequences? YES
Is God still an amazing God when all of our earthly possessions are taken away? YES

Is God still an amazing God when our loved ones are making choices that effect you in a negative way? YES

Is God still an amazing God when it feels like Satan is attacking you the worst and it feels like it will never stop? YES
Is God an amazing God when we turn our backs and try to find our way on our own? YES
Is God an amazing God when we question who He is? YES

Is God an amazing God when we feel like we have no clue what the future holds? YES
Is God an amazing God when our dreams are not coming true in our time frame? YES

And when those curve balls are pitched at us are we ready to STAND and say YES MY GOD IS AN AMAZING GOD! Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and FOREVER!

Memories!

So many times I get so stuck on the well when this was like this and when this happened I did this that I do not allow myself or God to think outside the box. I put limitations on myself and even on God thinking well you can't or won't do that. I am not good enough for that or I am not wise enough to speak into that persons life. But now I am beginning to realize that God is God nothing is to big, to small, to stupid, or to made up for Him to accomplish. I am learning that I can do ALL things through Him. That no matter what I might be going through, coming out of, or stepping into God is big enough and when I call on He is there. I need to stop looking behind me, to the left or to the right and begin looking in front of me. At the amazing, beautiful, and wonderful things God has in store for me. No longer holding on to memories for dear life but holding on to the hand of my loving father who is saying come with me I will find you rest and comfort. I will show you who and what I have called you to BECOME not who you where. I have a plan and a hope that is MUCH BIGGER than your own. I want to be the dream re leaser and giver not the dream taker!

Okay so that is my random thought for the night! Good night! :)