why i want to be an enemy of the world

"Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?
So whoever wants to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy." James 4

maybe it is because i sat between my husband and my best friend and sang and worshiped His name last night

maybe it is Cool Runnings  "We're different. People are always afraid of what's different."

maybe it is because the Holy Spirit met me when i reached for Him

maybe it is contentment in His greatness

but the fun that this world has to offer has nothing on the joy that a relationship with God can offer

and as Greg Laurie said last night

"if you aren't for God, you are against Him"

but i stand for Him 
i will make enemies in this world
i will not be cool 
i will be a follower of Christ

who are you striving to please today.....yourself or God?

where are you spending you time, your money, and your resources?

whose friend are you the world's or God's?

a culture of complaint

to complain: to say or write that you are unhappy, sick, uncomfortable, etc., or that you do not like something

we have developed a culture of complaining
we believe or act like that it is "ok"

food is not good, send it back and complain
don't like it, tell somebody
life isn't perfect, let someone or everyone know

with social media and technology, in a matter of seconds you can let the whole world know how bad or good your day, restaurant, children, job, spouse, boss, LIFE is
and once words are out....they are out

i often look at the world from my small corner and wonder what makes us different
we followers of Jesus Christ, what separates us from the world

james 3:8-10

But the human tongue can be tamed by no man. It is a restless (undisciplined, irreconcilable) evil, full of deadly poison.

With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who were made in God’s likeness!

Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be so.

words......

said.....

written....

they matter.....

they can't be taken back....

let us not praise His name and curse His children

let us be different

let us not conform to the culture of complaint

Listen to the Music {a post of what i'm listening to}

{back in april i wrote a post about what i was listening to (listen to the music) 
i liked it so much i wanted to do it again
i've been working on this post for a week, things are just a little busy around here}


Friday night I was blessed to see the Oak Ridge Boys.  I grew up with their country, gospel music and it makes me smile.  They sang this song and it really struck a chord in my heart.

I am so guilty of complaining of the things I have to do, but really I get to do them.  I am blessed.

The Oak Ridge Boys - I Get To

My best friend text me and said I heard a song this morning and it made me cry and think of you.  I then went to youtube.  It is such a great song and I love having it stuck in my head.  

Cindy Morgan - Praise The King

Not many dry eyes in the house Friday night when this one played.  It is one of my favorite songs ever, and now that I have kids even more so.

The Oak Ridge Boys - Thank God for Kids

"And we'd all live in a quiet house

With out Big Bird or Mickey Mouse

And kool aid on the couch

Thank God for kids"

I thank God for mine!

I'm old but I'm not that old
I'm young but I'm not that bold.
This is the best song on the radio right now ( i think )
I just love it.

OneRepublic - Counting Stars


I sang this song as a teenager over and over and over!



Barenaked Ladies - One Week


And now they have a new song and I sing it too!


Barenaked Ladies- Odds Are

"But somewhere in the world someone is gonna fall in love by the end of this song
So get up, get up
No it’s never gonna let up so you might as well sing along"




What are you listening to these days?

a prayer for my little she

She has the wildest hair every morning as she looks at me with sleepy eyes.
She is guarded and confident for a 2 year old.  
She plays with tea sets and makes up her own songs.
She giggles at her brother and already argues with her daddy.
She sleeps in restlessness and her will is strong.

And I pray....

she will always find time to be wild
she always guards her heart and keeps her confidence
she remembers to play and sing
she never forgets to laugh and keep her family close
she learns to rest in His arms and He will keep her strong.


Amen

a story of mercy

a story of mercy.....

2 Samuel 24: 11-16

Before David got up the next morning, the word of the Lord had come to Gad the prophet, David’s seer:“Go and tell David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.’” 

So Gad went to David and said to him, 

“Shall there come on you three years of famine in your land?

          Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? 

                     Or three days of plague in your land? 

Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me.”'

David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”

So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.” 

His great mercy.

{how often do i find myself in "deep distress"?  how often do i feel it is human hands i fear the most?  let me fall into you hands Lord.  let me soak in your grace and drink your mercy. help me Lord to know that your will say "Enough." Amen}

what are you thoughts on this story?

lovely linky

five minute friday w/ Lisa Jo Baker

red

fanpop.com

red
a mistake
the color behind your eyes right before the tears start
the color that spreads out your eyes and onto your face
replacing the freckles with itself
so that the color covers the places under and below 
it runs down your face and nose
where the tear falls off
red?
no
but what.....
clear
translucent
washed away
forgiven.


lovely linkys
five minute friday

summer's lessons

i will be honest i am sad to see summer go.  even though fall is my favorite season with pumpkins, cool mornings, football, apples, and school.  but this summer has been everything a summer should be relaxing, laughter, family, sleeping late, reading, birthdays, and sunshine...occasionally.  

owen said a few days ago "i wish summer was 2 years long and then just school for 4 months" but sadly it can't be that way....we must carry onward because there are adventures ahead

2nd grade awaits ;)

these are some things i have learned this summer.........

• no matter how long summer is it is never long enough

• sometimes the best thing to do is nothing

•  pumpkins taking over your garden and your yard may drive a husband crazy and may cause him to say things like "i almost died saving your stupid pumpkins today"

• there are up and perhaps more than 80 different species of lemurs and they only live in Madagascar.....God enjoyed making lemurs 

• God has a plan.....even if we don't like the plan

• Dance in the rain......especially if it rains all summer long

•   Zulily is my downfall

• i forgot how much 2 year olds climb, destroy, and love

• watching fireworks with your family is amazing and terrifying when one child screams the entire time

• do not settle for 2nd hand Jesus through others sermons and stories........read the bible, pray, be still and know....be filled with the Holy Spirit, live your own sermon

•  the world from 50 feet up makes ones feet unsure of their steps.....but the zipline down is exhilarating 

• always be a friend....when it's good, bad, hard, undeserved, needed....be there

• sharing traditions with your children is a must.....

• Paul's words "that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing." 1 thessalonians 4:11-12 teach us to speak without our mouths but our actions and is stirring in my heart

•  a clean house is way overrated but still somehow makes you feel like a real person

looking forward to the lesson's of fall

what have you learned this summer?