tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38951756074446882472024-02-18T19:43:50.751-08:00The Word "Mommy" A place to share stories of our daily lives, the people in it, the things that impact us and a place to share our faith and truth of our Heavenly Father!Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140526132670400739noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895175607444688247.post-23631156315856725152014-02-10T22:57:00.002-08:002014-02-10T22:57:15.072-08:00<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I Failed the test!</span></div>
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I am going to take this opportunity to be transparent and reveal a little bit more about my personal life.<br />One thing I have learned over the last year is that, if I try to do things on my own my way, I fail! Over and over again I Fail! </div>
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My family faced a few struggles this year, it all seemed to unravel when my husband began having some unexplained pain that he is still dealing with today. I am happy to report he is improving, and that we are grateful for who we serve.</div>
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As my husband dealt with this pain, he began to isolate himself. We stopped communicating as much, I sat at times helpless as I watched him in excruciating pain. It seemed no matter how I tried to help him I would somehow cause more pain. The simple act of touching his arm sent pain through his body. Our marriage felt a strain that it has never felt before. Not to mention the kids seeing there strong dad broken down… it took a toll in our home. Needless to say I was frustrated, lost and overall a mess! </div>
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I remember one night I was so frustrated I cried and my husband in the mist of his pain gently reminded me that our God is no respecter of persons, and that if he had to deal with this pain for the rest of his life he would do so knowing that through this, somehow our God was being glorified. </div>
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I sat back in awe of my husband. How dare I complain when he was the one in pain. At the time I was having such a hard time even praying that I called a dear friend and asked her to pray on our behalf. As she prayed over the phone a thousand miles away. She spoke of visions and dreams that God had given to my husband and I years ago, and how in them my husband was healthy and whole. I wept… How could I forget His promises. That night my prayer changed. I began to declare his promises, and his healing. Whether it was for my husbands body or my thoughts. Yes, I am a sinner… Covered by His grace. I repented, asked for forgiveness for taking my eyes off of Him. At that moment I felt the shift throughout our home. I had tried for so long to fix it myself and I failed, But leaning on Him once again and trusting in our heavily Father has brought my husband and I closer than we have ever been. </div>
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One thing we have noticed is that we try so hard to get to a point in our life when we are normal…. When everything goes according to our plan… But I have said this before on this blog and God has definitely reminded me of this… life happens, and we should never be surprised when it does. It is just Gods way of testing us and revealing to us where we are. Do we trust Him? Do we run to Him first? (I admit I sure didn't!) I got scared and ran in the other direction. I say all this to remind you that we are human, we will make mistakes, trials will come, so how are we going to react? I failed over and over again. God just kept giving me the same test until I passed it! So now I just need to be prepared for the next. Are you prepared for the test? </div>
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<b><i>Stella</i></b></div>
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Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140526132670400739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895175607444688247.post-20114416674534057382014-01-23T21:23:00.001-08:002014-01-24T09:57:18.037-08:00Walk for Life 2014<div>
Thank you for taking a moment to read this post! </div>
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"True Life Choice" also known as "TLC" is an incredible clinic located in the heart of Orlando FL. They provide free pregnancy test, counseling, a sexual integrity program, a help line, abortion recovery bible study, and all while presenting the Gospel when led by the Holy Spirit. To learn more about them please visit<a href="http://truelifechoice.com/" target="_blank"> truelifechoice.com</a><br />
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On March 8th TLC will be hosting a Walk for Life in Orlando at three diffrent locations simultaneously! </div>
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1. Lake Eola (which is where I will be)</div>
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2. First Baptist Church of central FL</div>
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3. University Carillon UMC</div>
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If you are interested please let us know! Or if you want to get your Church involved we can help.<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> And YES you can participate even if you are not local and can not attend the walk. </span></div>
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All you have to do is register at </div>
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<a href="http://truelifechoice.com/" target="_blank"> truelifechoice.com</a> </div>
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OR if you would like to sponser me you can visit </div>
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<a href="http://www.fundeasy.com/m/1656266/">http://www.fundeasy.com/m/1656266/</a></div>
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I actually recieved a check in the mail today and we have reached my family's goal but please don't let that deter you from giving.. Instead let it glorify God that you have helped us go above and beyond!</div>
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If you have any questions please feel free to contact me! </div>
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And if you want to know more about why I have a heart for this please take a moment to read my very first blog post... What would have been if I had a place like TLC I could have turned to?! </div>
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God Bless You! </div>
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<b><i>Stella</i></b></div>
Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140526132670400739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895175607444688247.post-11149550673828073412014-01-23T11:27:00.001-08:002014-01-23T13:03:16.620-08:00Perfectly imperfect!Hello 2014!<br />
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Yes it has been over a year! However I have new and exciting news! I have chosen to blog again.. and to do it regardless of what I have going on in my life! </div>
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2013 was defiantly a year of change.. I believe I was very unprepared for it as well. But now in 2014.. I have rebounded to more of a "bring it on" attitude!! </div>
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I am still working as a preschool teacher</div>
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My kiddos are now 13, 9, and 7!! </div>
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My husband and I are both now full time students.. </div>
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And I am this years 2014 "Walk for Life" Coordinator! Which I am blessed to have such an awesome team for, because with my work and school schedule.. They are there to pick up the slack and they are working hard!!! But more on that later!! </div>
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I have kept myself from blogging partially because I was afraid that only blogging a moment here and there was not enough.. How ironic seeing as the other option was not blogging at all! Either way I'm back and excited to share with you some amazing things! Later tonight I will post about this years Walk For Life in Orlando FL, and tell you more about the nonprofit organization it is supporting! </div>
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So I'll be back later tonight! </div>
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Stella</div>
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P.S. The picture of my family getting ready for pictures... pretty much sums up my family! </div>
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My hubby Rich making sure we are all squared away</div>
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Zia mostly in his own 13 year old world..</div>
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Alyssa observing and planning, and</div>
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Landon being goofy!! </div>
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I'm so blessed! </div>
Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140526132670400739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895175607444688247.post-67114847306075249592013-01-09T21:41:00.001-08:002013-01-09T21:50:00.362-08:00Happy New Year!!I had a wonderful time over our christmas break! Had a chance to visit our family and a few friends in Ohio for a week. It snowed almost the entire time were there and the kids got their fill of snow until next time! However as soon as we where back in the sunshine state I got sick, thankfully I am better now. My wonderful husband and I also celebrated our 10 year anniversary on the 28th of December! So needless to say I have had some time to do a lot of thinking about my goals for this new year. So I thought I would share some to help keep me accountable lol! <br />
1. EAT HEALTHIER!!! We still have good habits, but we want to take to it to the next level.. In the past we have <br />
Quit drinking soda and juice (although we have been slacking and drinking ice tea, which has always been a weakness for me). So milk and water it has been for our family for almost 2 or 3 years now.. No complains from the kids.. They like to splurge with chocolate milk once in a while! And my daughter does like sprite when the opportunity arises at a party or restaurant. And it has worked wonders for our grocery budget too! A Brita is a great investment!! Oh and we do treat ourselves to orange juice occasionally. <br />
We even order water when we go out to eat 90% of the time.. Not to mentions it helps the budget!! <br />
Never fry foods.. It helps I never really learned how to! <br />
Reduced our eating of red meats to once in a while.. Which has been hard to do because that really only leaves us with chicken since we are not really seafood of fish eaters... So the solution we are branching out and are willing to try some fish! (If you know any good recipes please let me know I'm desperate!)<br />
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So less eating out and more cooking for me it is this year. Which leads me to my next goal...<br />
BETTER TIME MANAGEMENT!! As a full time teacher, wife and mom, not to mention ministry and Institue classes and projects.. This one is high on my list! Which ties in with my first goal.. Better health = more energy!!<br />
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My next goal is to photograph a wedding this year... I should be doing one this June, we just need to confirm a date seeing as how it is in a different state. <br />
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Next... Blog more!!!<br />
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Well these are just 4 of my goals... <br />
It's only January and already we have a lot planned for 2013! So I have some work to do! So if you have any good tips or pointers feel free to share them please! And if you would like to share your goals I invite you too!! We can keep each other accountable!! <br />
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Have a wonderful day God bless you! <br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">So What's New?!</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">As you can see I have been away for quit some time. I know that our lives have drastically changed so I thought I'd share with you what's been going on! </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">My status went from stay at home mom to full time K3 teacher!! Yes that's right.. And it literally happened overnight! My husband and I started talking about me going back to work and less than a week later I was blessed with a job at my children's school! In fact my youngest son's classroom in right next to my classroom! I love it!! The job allows me to work while my children are at school I am close to them and they even get to come stay with me after they are done with school, start their homework in my classroom while my day winds down! And it helps to have my daughter who is a mini me help out with my students when she's done with her homework! I'm home when my kiddos are home, Mon- Fri and all holidays off.. I have been truly blessed! </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">I have 9 very different students! I have my awesome days, as well as my tough days but they are so special! I love to see how they grow and learn. Everyday has been a learning experience for me! </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">So other than teaching, my husband and I have begun to serve as leaders in a youth/ young adult discipleship program called Full Armor... It's a group of youth that want to seek Christ on a deeper level and are dedicating themselves to this program for 9 months. We started in September... We have a group of 13 ranging from the ages of 11 to 25!! We meet 3 to 4 times a week. It an intense group that are learning to pursue God getting to know Him in order to present Him without compromise!! It has been awesome being there watching these life's transformed.. And let me tell these people do not have easy lives!!! I thought I went through stuff at their age but wow!!! These are not all kids who are attending because their parents are there or they are forced to.. Most of these young people are the only ones in their family who even know God! They don't care if they have to walk there.. Catch a ride... Or if they are working jobs, going to school, or being faced with many issues. They made a covenant agreement to be there and they have been. They want more of God and they are willing to make the sacrifice to be there... It's awesome to have the privilege of being used by God for this purpose. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">So with work and Full Armor, my schedule is pretty packed. So learning time management especially with my own husband and children has been a priority. I'm still working on improving it. So bare with me... I have so much I have learned and experienced that I need to share with you. But I did want to explain why I have been MIA... But tonight, I had to just stop myself from thinking about writing something and I had to just do it. So here it is.. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">I know my life has not been the only one with change... In fact it would be nice to hear some other stories about all the change taking place in your life. Maybe we should open it up to share some time management tips!! If you have any good ones please share!</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Have an blessed day!!! </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Stella</span>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140526132670400739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895175607444688247.post-17193182010594267612012-07-14T23:19:00.001-07:002012-07-14T23:24:02.113-07:00The Football Game!<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="text 1John-3-21" id="en-NIV-30601">Dear friends, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30601A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup>if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God </span><span class="text 1John-3-22" id="en-NIV-30602">and receive from him anything we ask, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30602C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup>because we keep his</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="text 1John-3-22"> commands <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30602D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup>and do what pleases him.</span></span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>1 John 3:21-22</i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course I use the "Shoe"... Go Bucks!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few years ago my son Zia was struggling with time management at school. His teacher, my husband and I were doing everything we could to help him.. from charts, rewards, groundings, punishments, to dropping him off at school an hour early so he could catch up on work! We just couldn't figure out how to help him understand the importance of time management! He has always moved at a slower pace than my husband and myself. He could be the first one awake in the mornings and still be the last one ready! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zia is however one of the most laid back kids I have ever known! He is a go with the flow type of kid, and very mild tempered. I can count on one hand the number of times I have ever seen him upset. He is very careful with his emotions. Which can be a great thing... but can be a hard thing for a parent because its hard to measure his feelings on certain things, and the time management set back was one of those things. We just couldn't tell if he was really trying or not. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Needless to say I was frustrated.. I remember one day I was sitting with him while he did his homework. He had 2 weeks to go before school ended, and a lot of work to catch up on. I sat there praying when God gave me a picture.. A football game! Yes thats right a football game! I scooted over and sat right next time him, asked him to put his pencil down and shared with him the picture God had shared with me. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zia was the quarter back! His teacher, my husband and myself where everywhere.. we were in the stands screaming for Zia to throw the ball, we were the cheerleaders cheering him on, the coaches instructing him, we were his teammates blocking the other team from getting to him, the wind was perfect, the lights were bright, everything was in place for the perfect throw, but he had to throw the ball! Thats what we had been doing.. trying to get his attention, telling him the best ways to manage his time, but it all came down to him! In other words he had to care and believe in himself. Something about that story clicked with him because with in 2 days he was caught up and has never struggled with time again. He may still be slow in the morning but I have learned to live with that. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumhi6OFZV4FQ4Ch0TDAhVOpQHog_TJsvvRpmS_E_FdWzbyHS34xVqz4-zSjNtXdtRScEcQcqUl_AH3ifacaib6iTXOYFKm5XOoefywghyEIJ0TvEkkMqb-l6v_HjjAuS2OSSGbq3QsAbK/s1600/great+things.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumhi6OFZV4FQ4Ch0TDAhVOpQHog_TJsvvRpmS_E_FdWzbyHS34xVqz4-zSjNtXdtRScEcQcqUl_AH3ifacaib6iTXOYFKm5XOoefywghyEIJ0TvEkkMqb-l6v_HjjAuS2OSSGbq3QsAbK/s1600/great+things.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are certain things in life that requires we do something.. acts of obedience that God expects from us. It could be praying for someone, calling someone, reading His word a little bit longer so He can show us the answer we have been seeking. Not to mention living according to His guidelines and not the worlds. I sometime picture myself as the quarter back and I imagine how many times God has been everywhere putting all the pieces in the right place and making sure the wind is in my favor. How many times did He wait on me to get it, they way I waited for my son? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can you think of a time when you were the quarterback? Where the only thing left was for you to take the step of faith in order for something amazing to happen and take place?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't think the AHAAA moment comes from us knowing the outcome of the throw, but understanding that God does and having the faith in God that He has already equipped us with the ability to win the game, because He has already won the Super Bowl! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beloved, our Father is our coach, our cheerleader, our water boy, our teammate, our trainer, our chiropractor, our play maker, and our biggest fan. He is everything.. But in order for His will to be done he requires us to be bold and take the step of faith and throw the ball! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Stella</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Matthew 21:21 </span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Acts 11:24 </span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">2 John 6</span></i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheWordMommyBlog" target="_blank">Click here to follow our Facebook page!! </a></i></span></div>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140526132670400739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895175607444688247.post-40503691078817827132012-06-28T23:28:00.000-07:002012-06-28T23:28:11.805-07:00Do You Love Me?<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.</b></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>Isaiah 43:18 </b></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I heard this read on the radio once back in Ohio and I hate to admit that I had to pull over to cry.. ok ok.. uncontrollable sobbing is more like it. (You had to be there!). I can't remember what was going on in my life that this hit me so hard but it did.. and I told everybody I saw about it for weeks.. I don't think any further introduction is needed... </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>The Pearl Necklace</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please!"</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere--Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?"</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you."</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"Then give me your pearls."</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess--the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She's my favorite."</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"That's okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?"</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"Daddy, you know I love you."</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"Then give me your pearls."</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my babydoll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you." And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?"</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver,she finally said, "Here, Daddy. It's for you."</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her genuine treasure.</i></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUCykyP6obNM3WcHKlMFj1Q8feK8Vula0jjhUpXFovW7k-Q5KrDC5IRrKnm-d-6RWNEt1mPDmxL6b5RY-wkgKLxsmL0Wv9ah02fbEZaIcBfp3dE0kjZAP2CtolSZW0Y7RnJ6UxXpZ9xr3/s1600/let+go.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUCykyP6obNM3WcHKlMFj1Q8feK8Vula0jjhUpXFovW7k-Q5KrDC5IRrKnm-d-6RWNEt1mPDmxL6b5RY-wkgKLxsmL0Wv9ah02fbEZaIcBfp3dE0kjZAP2CtolSZW0Y7RnJ6UxXpZ9xr3/s200/let+go.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>What are you hanging on to?</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wow those words "what are you hanging on to?" turned my life upside down that day! It made me really think, and ask God to search me, and help me release the things that I was holding on to. things that where hindering God from being able to bless me with the genuine treasure. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As a mother I only want what is best for my children, because I love them so much! My heart aches when I watch them settle for less. So I can only imagine how my Heavenly Father longs to bless us with the best.. but we continue to hold on the the dime store stuff.. what are we holding on to...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our will... over His?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our dream... over the dreams and desires He has designed us for?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A relationship we know we should not be in... over the real love He has in store for us?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A friendship we should let go off that may be holding us back... Over His plans?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A job that we hate.. when he has a better one in store?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Material things we think make us happy... over the true joy He has for us?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">LET IT GO AND LET GOD!!! Whatever it is that we are holding on to let it go!! He wants nothing more than for us to say "Lord it is yours and whatever you have in store for me I want it.. I accept it, over what I feel I should have!". </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But even through all this, this is what God is really asking is: </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><b>Do you Love ME? </b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do you trust me?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do you not have faith?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do you believe in me?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">DO YOU LOVE ME?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do you love Him enough to let go! If you haven't let go yet He is waiting. just like the father in the story He still loves her and sweetly kisses her goodnight.. all while secretly holding on to that box in his pocket waiting for the moment when she said YES I LOVE YOU ENOUGH TO LET IT GO! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wow! I pray this moves you to evaluate yourself. And I am praying that if you find something... that you will be able to let it go. God Bless you..</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">please comment, and share this post! God bless you! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Stella</b></i></span></div>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140526132670400739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895175607444688247.post-52661298209493935262012-06-24T22:14:00.000-07:002012-06-24T22:17:24.076-07:00Music that moves me..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRI0tOy40wWIHphZyy_gN3n3CEtUPh746GDIq4PFKzqC_PnFlN2kdqPCPi1eRQ2Y4NQoi9RzmxUJxkL6ELHjXMCbTFm1y3UogvVFo92g7I0FK2fL_aro0oEWWM9JemIzPfzA_AJD5PILy/s1600/i+love+music+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRI0tOy40wWIHphZyy_gN3n3CEtUPh746GDIq4PFKzqC_PnFlN2kdqPCPi1eRQ2Y4NQoi9RzmxUJxkL6ELHjXMCbTFm1y3UogvVFo92g7I0FK2fL_aro0oEWWM9JemIzPfzA_AJD5PILy/s400/i+love+music+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing;</span></b></i></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b></b></i></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>For the majesty of the <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-variant: small-caps; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lord</span></b></i></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>They shall cry aloud from the sea</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>Isaiah 24:14</b></i></span></span></div>
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For those of you who really know me, you know that I love music!! I don't know if it came from being a dancer, because I was exposed to all types of music through it, but either way I love music. So I thought why not share some of it with you, and maybe share with you why some of that may be good or bad for our children and us..</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now if you are a music lover like me, you probably experience the same music timeline I do..</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">YOU KNOW..... the timeline where you can go back and trace what songs you were listening to during what era or period of your life.. Here's a few examples</span><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How I would Jam and sing into my brush when Mirah Carey's "Someday" first came out. I was about 12 or 13..</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How I would listen to Marc Anthony's old school music with my HS besties around 1996 in the dark and turn it up really loud!!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How my collage room mate would listen to a greek pop artist she loved, or, she would have Titanic's "My Heart Will Go On" because after seeing the movie she decided she was going to be an actress.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When she wasn't around I would listen to Celin Dions "To Love You More" on repeat!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How I was listening to Mya's "Fear of Flying" in the car on the day of my first date with my husband.</span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOE_Gk8JHxZKYGkEZ1gO0RirI2L00sJzwLSYkt-DcEUDXWGWBtv04VQkBEHnKW5uAd6QBzktr6jSxTwQSUP72rXp0BIk3hR5oIaGJNz2Z1DHBN0tiyWYOY9Ks7lVzlUnhCFQ5WiBTKk-Y/s1600/music+in+heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOE_Gk8JHxZKYGkEZ1gO0RirI2L00sJzwLSYkt-DcEUDXWGWBtv04VQkBEHnKW5uAd6QBzktr6jSxTwQSUP72rXp0BIk3hR5oIaGJNz2Z1DHBN0tiyWYOY9Ks7lVzlUnhCFQ5WiBTKk-Y/s1600/music+in+heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOE_Gk8JHxZKYGkEZ1gO0RirI2L00sJzwLSYkt-DcEUDXWGWBtv04VQkBEHnKW5uAd6QBzktr6jSxTwQSUP72rXp0BIk3hR5oIaGJNz2Z1DHBN0tiyWYOY9Ks7lVzlUnhCFQ5WiBTKk-Y/s200/music+in+heart.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have hundreds of these.. but I have to guard my heart and the hearts of my children. What I mean by that is, I can't listen to 90% of the music I use to listen too anymore. Because attached to the music are certain feelings. Sometimes, usually when I am in a restaurant or shopping and I hear and old song.. I realize I will start singing it with out even thinking about it, and all of a sudden I am back to that time in my life. Remembering the feelings attached to that period of my life are there as well. Crazy I know... But there is sooo much more to this. I mean it, I can go on and on when it comes to this subject. But I can only graze the surface on it here, or this would be the longest post ever.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So why do we have to guard ourselves... well here are just 2 of the reasons..</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cXxOXgP4xlpQI8OH1J6ftaI5RjzdwInzWk-jh_y7qnMpISCbSxXbJTC_2SwjukD2xGGRwS-D1HAsuEITcvpz-IgIVNQaNFytukEvxlNrJaulOxkubbYwRlMHH2_dYzLvaqn7HBANowj7/s1600/light+and+music.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cXxOXgP4xlpQI8OH1J6ftaI5RjzdwInzWk-jh_y7qnMpISCbSxXbJTC_2SwjukD2xGGRwS-D1HAsuEITcvpz-IgIVNQaNFytukEvxlNrJaulOxkubbYwRlMHH2_dYzLvaqn7HBANowj7/s1600/light+and+music.jpg" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#1. I as a child of the most High God, I am a different person now. I am renewed, so why would I want to reminisce of a time where I was not in the will of God, and living an ungodly life. I don't know about you but I can't go back there! To take it a step further.. if it doesn't glorify God, it's secular music therefore it is glorifying the world and we do not belong to this world but to His Kingdom!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#2. If we know we should not listen secular music why would we want to expose our children to it?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most secular music talks about heartbreak/"breaking up", an ungodly lifestyle, drinking, drugs, pre-marital sex, and so on. SO why allow our children to hear these things.. just as we speak life into them.. this music also plants a seed that these things are ok. Nothing warms my heart than to hear my kids sing songs that worship God and glorify Him, and trust me on occasion where they do here something secular they are full of questions as to why they are singing certain things.. Children are listening and the are very aware of what is being said. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>What is <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the conclusion</span> then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, </i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>and I will also sing <a data-resourcename=""nkjv"" href="http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/I%20Corinthians%2014.15#footnote1" rel="popup" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 0; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;">i</span></a>with the understanding.</i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>1Corinthians 14:15</i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I must be honest and admit I was one of those teens growing up who though adults where crazy when they tried to explain this to me. However My role models at the time were all guilty of this too. But now that I have a personal relationship with my Heavenly Father I understand.. think what you may, I know it sounds old school.. but it is... it's in the bible.. do the research. I dare you.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please if you have any questions Please Please Please ask! No question is silly! I was once there and had to do my own research and I praise God I had the Bible and the resources to help me though it. email me if you need to at 5blessedkings@gmail.com </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So now I want to share with you some of the music that has touched my life in someway.. So in other word my New Music Time line... enjoy!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnApzks57GQ4lj6vupiYkzkqL5akrTv2_ZdsvuGX0lylUEC7fAW7V8RhWYAPchFDgHMKxdwgze9xdqZTp9-5tRCA0stZdpP_2Iam_kUc2tW72iYevrL32aAvdzqfd4v_LVLJIeS0Yi93wM/s1600/piano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnApzks57GQ4lj6vupiYkzkqL5akrTv2_ZdsvuGX0lylUEC7fAW7V8RhWYAPchFDgHMKxdwgze9xdqZTp9-5tRCA0stZdpP_2Iam_kUc2tW72iYevrL32aAvdzqfd4v_LVLJIeS0Yi93wM/s320/piano.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbBmPYg9M1M" target="_blank">Everlasting Love</a> When I first surrendered my life this song gave me hope.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoC1ec-lYps" target="_blank">How He Loves by Jesus Culture</a> I mean whats not to love about this.. HE LOVES US REJOICE!!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPOKbgNP1ik" target="_blank">Open Up the Sky by Deluge</a> I want nothing but Him.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3OEGnH5x8g"> Waiting Here For you by Christy Nockels </a> What a voice!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbAOujRu7l4">Make Me An Answer by Ricardo Sanchez</a> A call to Ministry.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX7MI6hKLAU" target="_blank">Moving Forward by Ricardo Sanchez</a> Who would ever want to go back after listening to this!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfMYR2TzViY" target="_blank">My Nation Healed by Ricardo Sanchez and Israel Houghton </a>Not much of a video but close your eyes and just listen you will never be the same!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We0Yu6VR3sE&feature=relmfu" target="_blank">Broken Man By Unspoken</a> These Guys are awesome! If you ever get the chance to see them live the are amazing!!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD52bvDTXI8&feature=related" target="_blank">I've Got Joy by Unspoken</a> Love their grove it's like no other!!!!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Whb-XSOog8k" target="_blank">The Healing Has Begun by Matthew West</a> Song he wrote on the topic of abortion. For women who have had one. I was listening to this when God told me it was time.. Time to glorify Him with my testimony. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzHq61v7YBE" target="_blank">Come In My Courts by Deluge</a> He calls us to worship and bask in His presence</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNjH8QDpBFY" target="_blank">Mesjesty (Here I Am) by Delirious</a> Moves me</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLt3-td_07E" target="_blank">Heart of Worship by Tasha Cobbs</a> Worship</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a7RCVDiPb0" target="_blank">Amazing God by William Murphy III</a> Love, Love, Love this!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i> “The <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-variant: small-caps; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lord</span> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">was ready</span> to save me;</i></b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px;"></span></i></b></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><b><i>All the days of our life, in the house of the <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-variant: small-caps; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lord</span>.”</i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> Isaiah 38:20</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">Honestly I could go on and on, these are just a few but ENJOY!!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Stella</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></div>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140526132670400739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895175607444688247.post-81766281598662949742012-06-22T23:38:00.000-07:002012-06-22T23:49:09.484-07:00Answering the Call<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0-4hDW5krT3lAsWcG1I89pP8jTtAbKnOaOYiZlTIZ2WDgwYNHyaLkmcvA_tYCQY6-sEX8HArsz74it7OfAhR06C7n7yHgZLI4ElXh0-L7Ssu2k-EDTiehVfbXinw0QJW4S1xHCgRuwO2/s1600/Gods+Will.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0-4hDW5krT3lAsWcG1I89pP8jTtAbKnOaOYiZlTIZ2WDgwYNHyaLkmcvA_tYCQY6-sEX8HArsz74it7OfAhR06C7n7yHgZLI4ElXh0-L7Ssu2k-EDTiehVfbXinw0QJW4S1xHCgRuwO2/s320/Gods+Will.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. </b></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>Proverbs 16:9</b></i></span></span></div>
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Wow!! It's officially summer. It has been a year since my family made the move to Florida. I still look around sometimes and wonder how on earth I got here, every once in a while I see a palm tree and it hits me all over again. As soon as it does I still have a plethora of feelings that hit me.. Homesickness... (if thats even a word) I miss my wonderful family and friends. Then a moment of realization where I think of everything we have been through this last year.. then excitement because I have Gods word.. and the word He gave us about why He called us in FL.. for ministry. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_2136032948"></span><span id="goog_2136032949"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHeTbprTx6A4e10dzJHfPfFVYu95IxfwBPtGyYjf2qmhmj070Qw_a6vWN5RCY7XVWifyZTZDla9vGXHcleUrwL4Gt0B_pRlvUTTYzLLGuFlaeYF4e6DsJJShNz-Of4ZgCzqlIQDbidpJF/s1600/summertime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHeTbprTx6A4e10dzJHfPfFVYu95IxfwBPtGyYjf2qmhmj070Qw_a6vWN5RCY7XVWifyZTZDla9vGXHcleUrwL4Gt0B_pRlvUTTYzLLGuFlaeYF4e6DsJJShNz-Of4ZgCzqlIQDbidpJF/s200/summertime.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Sooooo I sat and waited for a little while waiting for God to just hit me over the head with what it is that He wanted me to do. (Silly I know, but seriously I can't be the only who has ever done that!!). As I dove into Gods word searching for a map He began to reveal things to me that that he had already revealed but I guess I had forgotten. In my very first post <a href="http://thewordmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/hi.html" target="_blank">(Click here to read it!)</a> I shared a small part of my testimony with you. I also shared that my Heavenly Father showed me that my child's death would not been in vain and that I would glorify Him with this. Of course I still have my moments when I still want to plead with God and I beg Him to let me keep this hidden. </div>
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<span class="text Lam-3-22" id="en-KJV-20377"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>It is of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>'s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Lam-3-23" id="en-KJV-20378"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Lam-3-23" id="en-KJV-20378"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>Laminations 3:22-23 </b></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There is a reason that His mercies are new everyday.. Then I have the moments of clarity that reveals His plan, and my testimony is so much greater than me. So I take a deep breath pray and take another step. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So I know I have been MIA from the blog for a little while. May was an awesome month where we focused on My other Blog, one that I do with a dear friend<a href="http://lightforawomanspath.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Light For A Woman's Path</a>. But I have been taking notes and there is so much I have to share with you! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So in the last month I have had several meetings with different organizations and ministries. I am currently training to become a counselor at a pregnancy center, and the training has been mind-blowing! I consider it a privilege that God would choose to use me.. of all people, in this way. Next month I will also be completing training to lead Post- Abortive woman through the same counseling I went through, and to publicly speak about my child. I have the honor of being used by God to introduce the love and forgiveness that is available to them through the blood of the Lamb. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am blessed to have met amazing people and mentors in this process.. and blessed with an incredible support system that God has provided that spans from Ohio to Florida and New York to Texas!! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I also get to see my children begin to stand on Gods word too. To hear my beautiful daughter pray for the end to abortion. I get to see my oldest stand tall next to me because he knows the pain and has seen my tears and he understands Gods plan. I am Honored to have such a supportive husband who with the grace of God was able to see through my past and has accepted Gods call to protect me and Love me even on my rough days. I also have a little guy who may not fully understand why I cry sometimes, but who God has given the ability to sit in my lap wipe my tears away and tell me I am beautiful even when I have my Rudolph red nose. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So now I ask you.. what is it that God has spoken to you.. What is it that He has called you to? Now if your sitting and waiting for God to hit you over the head.. stop!! There are hurting people in this world who need to hear your testimony now, or who are waiting to hear something that only you can say!</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Remember that for some people out there we will be the only bible they ever read!!! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God is calling you all to be Jesus with skin on, we have the Holy Spirit living in us.. and we have the advantage of knowing how the book ends!! :) can you imagine if we all answered that call!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Now if you are unsure if your hearing from God test yourself!! </b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>1. Does it exalt Christ? (John 16:14)</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>2. Is it Scriptural? (Proverbs 30:5-6)</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>3. Do other Christians confirm it? (Proverbs 15:22)</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>4. Does it produce good fruit? (John 15:1-16</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>5. Does God bring it to pass? (Isaiah 55:10-11)</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I may elaborate more on this in a future post ;)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Stella</b></i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140526132670400739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895175607444688247.post-85158404467865494172012-05-18T15:23:00.000-07:002012-05-18T15:28:20.641-07:00Knock me over the head please!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you ever heard something that hit you so hard you felt like someone knocked you over the head with a bag of bricks! Well it happens to me quite often. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am about to share one with you so please prepare yourself incase it hits you like it hit me!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few weeks ago one of our Pastors said, "Why are we surprised when life happens?" </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a woman and a mom, I have for years strived to have the perfect day!! A day when all the kids wake up, get dressed go to school on time, and NOT ONE of them forgets to pick up their PJs and toys from the night before so their room is not a disaster. A day when you clean, do laundry and your finished early so you cook a fantastic gourmet meal.. that I don't have to google. Where the kids get home and do all their homework in perfect penmanship. A day when your husband gets home and you all enjoy a fantastic dinner together, we laugh, and play, until bed time comes and you have some alone time with the hubby.... *sigh </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead my days end up more like this...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The kids wake up on time but move on the slower side.. my daughter decides wearing bright pink leggings, and a neon green sweater with black winter boots in the FL 93 degree weather is a great idea. My oldest son remembers he forgot to make a cardboard car for school.. while I discover my youngest is still sleeping after he snuck into my bed to snuggle!! So the kids end up being 3 minutes late to school! I get home and I start on the laundry only to discover that I am out of detergent, I google the perfect recipe for dinner only to discover I don't have the main ingredient, I accidentally call my mom while calling my husband to ask him to stop on his way home to get the missing ingredient, to then have my mom talk for what seems like forever and the next thing I know my husband walks in and dinner ends up being sloppy joes.. again... and just when I want to just crash and cry I remember I have to run to the store for detergent or my youngest won't have a clean school uniform for the next day! Ahhhhh!! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok so maybe they are not that bad.. at least it hasn't all happened on the same day! BUT I think you get my point! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do you think of when you see the words tribulation, anxious, trouble & worry?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their definitions are </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tribulation- A cause of distress, a state of suffering or distress</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anxious- Full or mental distress or uneasiness because of fear, danger, or misfortune</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trouble- To disturb the mental calm and contentment of: worry: distress: agitate, annoy</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Worry- To torment with cares, anxieties.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lets see what God has to say about all these...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> Psalm 50:15<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I have said these things to you, thatin me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>John 16:33</i></span></span></div>
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.</span></em></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"> 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 </span></i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Cast all your anxiety on him <sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30473A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup>because he cares for you. </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>1 Peter 5:7</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3hzPhb9zk7kJfaiihd_-R_SgUALG6PjZUGbTJ8FLe5lioB3Pl6XXHa-HDh5dzPNesD2iXbC8NRPy8WpouNBp4aR4cDKE_XTDQ3i0rHZNIRC3O6ATCAiO8B3HJBVROe_cF2fxFZkR_4YN/s1600/light+hearted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3hzPhb9zk7kJfaiihd_-R_SgUALG6PjZUGbTJ8FLe5lioB3Pl6XXHa-HDh5dzPNesD2iXbC8NRPy8WpouNBp4aR4cDKE_XTDQ3i0rHZNIRC3O6ATCAiO8B3HJBVROe_cF2fxFZkR_4YN/s1600/light+hearted.jpg" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our God clearly states that we will have troubles and tribulations.. however, we often think of the big things only.. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loss of a loved one</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Financial difficulties</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">our families dealing with sin</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">we often forget that the little things can affect us too..</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can tell you from personal experience that a mountain of laundry, or a flat tire, or an illness has brought me distress a time or two. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I now ask you the same question... Why are you surprised when life happens??? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life is not life with out the daily mishaps and happenings. We may come close to a few of those really great days.. but how would they be great days if we had them everyday? The highs and the lows are all part life, but it is how we react that separates us from the world. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So lets embrace these moments.. when one of your children falls and scrapes their knee.. take the moment to love on them.. hug and kiss them to comfort them. How many more of those moments will we be blessed with. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When our husbands get sick, take the time to care for them and be compassionate and thank them for everything they do.. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and in those hard times of loss and distress its a wonderful opportunity to worship God! Because He is in control!! We need to rely on him 100% of of the time. Let me wrap it up with this..</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lets make an effort to wake up each morning and spend time with our Father, to ask Him for help in those moments when we feel rocked by life.. so that we may rely on Him for support and not miss the opportunities to worship Him. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Stella</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Can you remember a time when things didn't go your way.. and did you learn anything? Share it with us! </i></span><br />
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I have a very odd way of remembering things that truly impact me. It could be 10 years later and if I remember something in great detail it is because it was either a turning point in my life, something that held great meaning to me at the time, or just something that sticks with me and no matter what I can't shake it or forget it. Tonight one of these memories is has come flooding back and I feel led to share it with you because I believe one of you needs to hear this right now. </div>
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When I was about 19 years old I was reading the newspaper.. (Don't ask me why because that has never been a habit of mine!) I think I was reading the "Dear Abby" colum... At least that's what I think it was, please correct me if I am wrong.. It was either dear Abby or Dear Nancy? But I am leaning towards Dear Abby! Either way, I remember it was a reprint of this poem, apparently she had printed this poem many years earlier and someone was requesting she print it again, and so she did. I read this poem that day and it has always stuck with me, so I decided to Google it tonight and there it was on more than a dozen sites.. So I thought I would share it with you.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Welcome to Holland </i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>By Emily Perl Kingsley </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this...... </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> "Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy." </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay. </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned." </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland. </i></span></div>
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I know that Emily wrote this poem to describe what it was like to raise a child with a disablity but I believe it applies to so much more. I pray that tonight we reflect on all of our plans.. Weather they be for children or for spouses, for ministries, to where you are living. And think of all the times you heard "Welcome to Holland". How many times have we felt our lives turned upside down to sit back and remember its not about us and our plans but the plans that our God has in store for us. His plans are always the best even of we don't understand them.
I know personally I have landed in "Holland" a few times, but looking back I see God purpose for the trip.
So my question to you now is, have you ever been to Holland, or are you in Holland now?<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>He says, "Be still and know that I am God; <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">I will be exalted </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14625B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">among the nations,</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-46-10" style="position: relative;">I will be exalted in the earth.” </span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Psalm 46:10</i></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Stella </i></span> </div>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140526132670400739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895175607444688247.post-35489476498701028392012-04-08T21:58:00.000-07:002012-04-08T21:58:05.625-07:00A Living God<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has Risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, "He is going ahead of you into Galilee. there you will see him, Just as he told you."</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Mark 16:6 & 7 </i></span></div>
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What a glorious Easter Sunday my family had. Praise God He is Risen.. He is alive and living in us.<br />
I just want to take a quick moment and share a little something that happened on good Friday. We attended a wonderful service and as it came to a close our children rejoined us from their activities. There was a presentation a group of young adults did that was spectacular, but during the presentation they played clips of the film Passion of the Christ. I was watching the young adults and looked down at my daughter who was sitting beside me, and she had tears streaming down her face. I quickly looked up and followed her eyes and realized that while I watched the presentation, she was watching the gruesome images on the screen. (It is a wonderful film and I recommend it.. just not for little eyes) I quickly hugged her, and she just sat there with tears still coming down her little 8 year old face, I asked her if she was ok and she simply said "I don't like what they did to my Jesus". I took that opportunity to remind her that He went through all that for her because he loves her that much. she sat there for a moment took a deep breath, wiped her tears away and said.. "praise God He rose on Sunday!"<br />
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How right my little girl is! He rose.. there for He is no longer a dead God but a living God! Through Him we all have a savior, we have the choice to seek Him, be forgiving, be made white as snow and be a new creature. A new person! What I mean by that is to take all the pain, sadness, and hurt that we have experience or caused and to be forgiven by Him, to allow Him to come in and help heal our past. We serve a living God! I can barely contain myself as my heart pounds with excitement that its not over! That my heavenly father has a plan for me and it is a life changing one. So lets rejoice and honer him with every step we take.. with every decision we make. not just the big ones but the small ones as well, God doesn't want to be a visitor in our lives He wants to be LORD.. But it is up to you weather you allow Him to be or not! In Deuteronomy 30:15 it states "I lay before you life and good, and death and evil.... choose life". Have you made that choice?<br />
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If you have, praise God I rejoice with you!<br />
If you haven't its not to late, He is waiting you. He loves you and has a wonderful future in store for you.<br />
If your not sure than declare it today! right now. He will meet you right where you are. He loves you!<br />
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If you have any questions or you are unsure how to go about things, please feel free to contact me. 5blessedkings@gmail.com I would love to tell you about Him and what He has done in me. if you have read my previous post you know I was a mess! if you haven't read them and you will understand why I say that! share this post with anyone you feel needs a new start, needs forgiveness, needs healing.<br />
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How has this resurrection weekend affected you?<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Stella</i></span>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140526132670400739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895175607444688247.post-4611753993087150212012-04-04T21:37:00.002-07:002012-04-04T21:37:25.592-07:00I am no super woman!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>He found him out in the wilderness, in an empty, windswept wasteland. He threw his arms</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>around him, lavished attention on him, guarding him as the apple of his eye.</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Deuteronomy 32:10 </i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>MSG</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Marker Felt'; line-height: 20px;">I must first take a moment and apologize for not posting anything in a while.. I am happy to announce that We have finally moved into our new home and are in the final phase of finishing the renovation.. It is down to all cosmetic things. I have painted all but 2 small areas our closet and laundry room, 3 if you count the garage! But I am happy that my kids are finally settled and adapting well to the house and their new rooms. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
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Of course with all this transition and work that we still had left to be done, our schedules have taken a hit and we are working to regain our routine. It has been hard when my husbands days off where still focused on mudding and texturizing the new walls.. Not an easy task when you are living in the space and trying to keep the area you are living in dust free, and i am not talking regular dust i am talking joint compound dust that takes over everything! Again I am happy to be done with that! </div>
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However after a few weeks of focusing on that I must admit I began to feel like I was losing my mind. Our schedule was crazy and I stayed up later and later trying to catch up on things.. Therefore not getting enough sleep, and as we all know that is not a good thing! I began to feel inadequate as a Christian, wife and mother. I couldn't find school papers, I fell behind daily tasks, I couldn't keep up with laundry, needless I was having a bad couple days... Have you ever had one of those? Where you just feel like you can't get it together no matter how hard you try!? Well that was me.. And I would say to myself "tomorrow will be better" and then it was worse than the day before! Hehe well I would pray and thank God I was alive, that my husband and children where healthy, and praise Him for all the blessings in our lives.. But still I felt I was falling short daily.</div>
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Then one evening I was sitting on the couch tired, exhausted and ready to cry at the drop of pin... When my beautiful daughter who was not feeling her best came and sat on my lap and snuggled up to me. She needed me! ME! At that moment when I felt like I was failing her she needed me. That was my Awesome All knowing heavenly Father and His perfect timing, that was His gentle reminder that she doesn't see my short fallings, she doesn't see me the way I was seeing myself at that moment. To her I was just her mommy and that was all she needed from me at that moment. She didn't need me to be the super woman I felt I needed to be. Of course at this moment I did cry, because it also reminded me that God too does not see me the way I was seeing myself. Praise God for that! So I went and spent some time with my Heavenly Father and gave it all to Him.. I left all my concerns and worries at His feet making sure I didn't pick them all back up the next day, or the day after that. </div>
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My beloved Women.. When we feel down or have a rough time lets not forget who we are! Who our Father says we are! our families need us and count on us, but let's not forget that we need our God, who is ready and willing to guide us every step of the way. I thank God I am still a work in progress... Because that means He has not given up on me, and here is the Good news He NEVER will!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>How precious and weighty also are Your thoughts to me, O God! </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>How vast is the sum of them!</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Psalm 139:17</i></span></div>
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If you have doubts or your not sure and wondering what God does say about you.. Please feel free to contact me. There are no wrong or dumb questions. We all start some where.. In fact as we get closer to Easter this week, my son and I were just having a conversation this morning about why Jesus did have to die on the cross for us. I loved hearing him talk about the love he knows God has for him, I admitted to him that for years I heard this amazing story and still didn't understand it... How could one man do that and why.. How I just didn't comprehend who he was and why. I know now but it took me a while to understand. <span class="Apple-style-span">So please feel free to email me any questions or concerns you have at 5blessedkings@gmail.com </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Search me [thoroughly], o God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wickeder hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Psalm 139:23&24</i></span></div>
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Feel free to comment, follow "The Word Mommy", and share this blog with your friends and family. coming soon is this blogs Facebook Page! I will keep you posted! </div>
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Be blessed</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Stella</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Marker Felt';"> </span></div>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140526132670400739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895175607444688247.post-90124842953204889562012-01-31T07:09:00.000-08:002012-01-31T07:09:24.411-08:00Puzzle Pieces<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I watched my youngest son start a puzzle tonight on the kitchen table. He didn't get far but he had a good start. I had been thinking about my next post how I felt God was leading me to write about healing. I watched as he put so much careful work into the pieces, that when diner was ready I was prepared to serve it around the puzzle pieces. As soon as I announced that diner was ready I realized my son began taking apart the puzzle without a second thought. I told him there was no need to take it apart and he simple stated "it's ok I can do it again tomorrow". I watched him carefully put all the little pieces back In the box, making sure he didn't lose any. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> As I continued serving diner I thought about how many times I felt I was broken in my life.. How many times I felt like my life was in a million puzzles pieces, spread out not knowing where to begin to put my life back together. Which lead to me to think about what it is that makes people feel like they are broken.. A broken heart, loss of a job, death of a loved one, and so on. I have had a few of those in my life including, my abortion. I thought about the moment that I realized God forgave me for my sin, and how in that moment God showed my a picture.. A glimpse of my life after allowing Him to work in me, I saw a happy life, full of joy, and happiness, I saw laughter and moments of pure happiness. But then the glimpse was gone and I saw the task at hand. I had to let Him help me put the pieces back in place. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I thought of the journey and all the times I thought I was ready, the times I would start the puzzle get a few pieces together only to realize the hurt was still to strong.. So I would take it apart again. Making sure I would try and remember those few, where they went, what they felt like and tuck them away so I wouldn't lose them. I took me years of taking the puzzle out of the box, trying it one more time, each time getting a little further than the last. It took a few times of God showing me the picture, the one of hope before I could again try. I also remember the day that I took out the puzzle and thought this is it.. This time it will be done.. This time with Gods help I can do anything. It took me a few months I would at times walk away, but I wouldn't put it away, because God had finally shown me the BIG picture. The one where I realized its not just about me but the other women He is trying to help, it was time I get it done so I could move on to helping other women to heal. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbZry8u3qPQnHnk07-0JVGfK-56xiPu7nep9Jl7uXpQ6y8KZ-8pFVDlOKsoYF9iyAu-7hNvJK3kF7ix9u5RAt3nxnRT3-ZzwOULemSo7tNu5SOQqScZSxapQngJYmjPR37f4V3NnNtPIk/s1600/DSC_0805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbZry8u3qPQnHnk07-0JVGfK-56xiPu7nep9Jl7uXpQ6y8KZ-8pFVDlOKsoYF9iyAu-7hNvJK3kF7ix9u5RAt3nxnRT3-ZzwOULemSo7tNu5SOQqScZSxapQngJYmjPR37f4V3NnNtPIk/s320/DSC_0805.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> For some the journey is long for some it is short, for me it took years. But it was the right, and perfect time because I didn't do it alone. I did it with my heavenly Father, and His timing is perfect! He was grooming me for this season. I am so grateful for the journey and all the things I have learned as well as all the people in my life. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbZry8u3qPQnHnk07-0JVGfK-56xiPu7nep9Jl7uXpQ6y8KZ-8pFVDlOKsoYF9iyAu-7hNvJK3kF7ix9u5RAt3nxnRT3-ZzwOULemSo7tNu5SOQqScZSxapQngJYmjPR37f4V3NnNtPIk/s1600/DSC_0805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> What a wonderful Father we have! It amazes me to think of the greatness He is. Yet how much He loves me... How gentle and tender He was with my heart. How patient and careful He was when pressing in and molding me into the woman He created me to. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> He is waiting for you! So I encourage you to take out the puzzle of your life and start just one pieces at a time to put it together. God is with you, in fact He is our biggest fan! We can't do it alone, we have to do it with Him in order to get it right, because He has the picture, He sees us as whole completed, all of our potential and greatness inside of us. If you have any questions about where to begin just ask me and I prayerfully lead you in the right direction. I am so excited for you! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Stella</i></span>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140526132670400739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895175607444688247.post-89914888618469003332012-01-23T13:14:00.000-08:002012-01-23T13:17:34.595-08:00Lack of Knowledge<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I use to joke with my husband that I wouldn't mind trading our sin, PLEASE let me explain. See my husband use to be an alcoholic, believe me I don't make light of that at all! I know alcoholism is very serious and has ruined many lives!! But compare abortion next to that and you would think abortion is worse!! Hard to imagine that to our Heavenly Father sin is sin, no matter how big or how small it is to us He sees it all the same! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now I use to joke and say that to my husband because I lost count of how many alter calls I have been a witness to that asked for anyone who had or has a drinking problem, not to mention drug addiction. But I can count on one hand the times I have heard one for abortion... Now I totally understand why! Because what woman in her right mind would want to walk up front for that one. Maybe pastors don't do it for fear no one will step out, and that makes me wonder why that is. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Bible is filled with this Knowledge that is spoken of.. Of Gods law! I could write about it endlessly. So to keep this short I will put it simply as this.. God Forgives all!!! Here are just a few examples;</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Come now let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. </i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions. </i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>All the profits testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins though His name. </i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here is what I don't understand.. how come with this truth... because it is TRUTH.. do so many churches continue to ignore the topic of abortion? How is it that is it ok and acceptable for an alcoholic to step forward and accept healing and prayer then it is for a woman who has had an abortion? I will go out on a limb and say it is because of the lack of knowledge! Not on the behalf of our leaders but because of the lack of communication from the leaders to the congregation. I, like someone who commented on one of my earlier post can only recall hearing </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">abortion is wrong,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">abortion is a sin, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but again I can count on only one hand the times I have heard...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">if you have had one you are covered by the blood</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you can be forgiven if you ask</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you can have healing if you ask for it</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God Loves you even if you have had an abortion</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">now don't get me wrong we hear that about sin in general but still we rarely hear abortion named in the list.. adultery, drug addiction, alcoholism, liars, pornography, and so on.. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would venture to say that maybe.. just maybe if that were knowledge that were openly discussed in a church setting you would have a lot less hurting women! You would have more women coming forth at an alter call.. more women seeking out healing.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that I have said that I will also remind you that we can't put all the blame on church leaders. We have to be able to seek Gods word on these topics on our own as well. We need to be digging into Gods word to discover what God says about us all. I do say the above for the those who have little knowledge those seeking God for the first time.. the newcomers, the people who don't now how to read the bible yet. But we have a responsibility as Christians to share the word of God.. I heard a saying years ago that has always stuck with me, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Sometimes we are the only bible someone will read!</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How true is that! How many people do you know that won't pick up a bible but will sit and listen to you talk!! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How many woman and men need to be destroyed because of the lack of knowledge that the blood Jesus shed was enough for our sin as well. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So that is why I use to joke with my husband.. because I myself would find it easier to run up to an alter and say "Yes I use to be a alcoholic" out loud than to run up and say "Yes I had an abortion!".. but then again I don't think I ever had that opportunity...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will wrap this post up (trust me its hard to stop myself sometimes) by telling you about a woman I had the honer of meeting. She is in her late 50s early 60s maybe... and she had an abortion over 30 years ago. She had never... and I mean NEVER told anyone of her abortion until the day I met her. Not her husband her children no one! I could feel some of her pain but could only imagine the deep pain she felt that day, the fear of rejection that lived inside of her. I watched her hold back tears as she learned of Gods forgiveness. There were more people that day that I learned had never told anyone and still felt so much shame and pain. These were all Christian, church going, educated, well respected women. Some worked in the medical field, some where leaders in there churches, some were homemakers. All seeking Gods forgiveness.. I say this to again remind you that you just never know! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't judge, don't turn your backs on them, love them as Jesus would and tell them about Gods forgiveness.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness </i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140526132670400739noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895175607444688247.post-63428115318967339652012-01-17T21:56:00.000-08:002012-01-17T22:16:48.418-08:00You Never Know!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
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About a year ago I was researching how to explain that life begins the moment of conception, I have read many examples in the Bible including in one of my favorites Psalms </div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mothers womb.</span></i></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Psalm 139:13</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Marker Felt'; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
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But I wanted to be able to explain it to some who who was either a non believer or someone who just needed to understand it better.. I need to be able to explain it to a believer of the 2 misguided theories "it's not a baby yet" and " it's just a lump of tissue". My search led me to a YouTube video where Mike Huckabee interviews Kathy Ireland, and simply put she explains how a newborn baby does not look like a toddler but is still a living being, a toddler does not look like an adult but is still a living being and so on.. Just like a baby at 2 hours of conception does not look like a newborn but is still a living being! Obviously she goes into further detail, lol but that is the part that stood out to me the most! I will post the link below! </div>
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I remember I couldn't sleep that night... Because for me, every revelation was a deeper understanding of my own experience. What if I took my 5 year old Landon, to a Dr. that specializes in ending 5 year old lives? For whatever the reason... How would you react? Well the truth is that is what I did. Just with my five week old baby in my womb. I don't beat around the bush or try to sugar coat what I did.. And even though I am able to type this without crying right now doesn't mean my hands aren't shaking. All I can say is thank you Father for your mercy! ... Where would I be without you! </div>
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So again why talk about this over and over again... Because people need to hear it. Again 1 in every 2 1/2 women have had an encounter with an abortion. One of the women i went to church with, who shared the link to my blog on her Facebook page summed it up perfectly when she said don't judge a book by its cover.. She's right. She had no idea that I had dealt with this in my life, and honestly a lot of people in my life still have a hard time believing it. But I did, so you never really know! </div>
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I met a woman once who had 2 abortions in her past.. She is now a 50 some year old woman never married and has no children and I watched cry and mourn the family she should have had, the 2 children she aborted, the family she will never have on this earth, she said she never imagined she would never be married and childless. My heart ached for her. Again... You just never know. </div>
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Today I look at my children And I try, I try everyday to be the best mom I can be. I hold them, hug them, kiss them... I love talking to them and watching them grow into these wonderful little people.. I praise God for entrusting me to be their Mommy.. I am so grateful for the people God has placed in my life, especially those who have been Jesus with skin on for me. Who have never given up on me, and who make me strive to be the best mom I can be!</div>
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Again thank you for reading, I encourage you to comment, email, subscribe and share this blog. You never know who will read it and find out they are not alone, and that mercy is there for the taking, it is abundant and never failing! </div>
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Stella</div>
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</span>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140526132670400739noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895175607444688247.post-30617581508162179212012-01-10T19:34:00.000-08:002012-04-09T19:31:52.359-07:00My Why..<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you all so much for the awesome support and for the comments, that means a lot to me. But for those of you asking why... Here it is. I am not huge into statistics, in fact I very rarely keep up with them and you won't see me use to many of them, however for this post I will. Statistics show that 4 out of every 10 pregnancies are aborted, that is about 1 out of every 2 1/2. To put it another way nearly half of pregnancies are unplanned and over 22% of American pregnancies are aborted. Aren't those numbers scary? Just because something is legal does not make it right. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All I can think about when I see these statistics is, if God Has a plan for each of our lives then what lives have been taken? How many future Doctors, mothers, fathers, spouses, teachers, preachers, and future presidents have been killed.. Maybe the reason that the cure for cancer hasn't been found is because the person that was destined to find it was aborted before they were even born?! How many lonely people do you know that feel like they never found the "one" for them, maybe it's because the one God had destined to be their husband or wife was aborted before the had a chance to live. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It hurts to think about all the moments, hugs, snuggles, kisses I miss out on. Or to think about what type of future my child would have had, what lives they might have touched, or who is the person they were supposed to marry that will never meet him or her... Even what grand children I should have had. This is a hard truth. I don't say any of this to make you sad, only to inform you of the one that loves us. I praise God that in Him I have found forgiveness and peace.
Please know that if you have had one, we have a God that loves us, places people in our lives that will also love us, and that we can live a life full of abundant joy. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4TxAWgZCMUqXXEBGkMqUdYFGC1fstELta40OarfQvmwcW-Oq5Syzj18G1gH_R_Hh14ZnTZb8jLC-nQ0NywKTiwFVFPGqGLI4g3-athmqkGDKFyffAHiAPV4gxQpMFCROyFvzCXOd8qGN/s1600/100_2789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4TxAWgZCMUqXXEBGkMqUdYFGC1fstELta40OarfQvmwcW-Oq5Syzj18G1gH_R_Hh14ZnTZb8jLC-nQ0NywKTiwFVFPGqGLI4g3-athmqkGDKFyffAHiAPV4gxQpMFCROyFvzCXOd8qGN/s200/100_2789.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My son Zia :)</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I struggled with the timing of this blog for the mere fact that to start it would mean I was putting myself out there for anyone who has ever had a part of my life to read! I refused to start this until my own children knew.. I didn't want them to find out through someone else.. So a year ago this month I told my children, as best as I could for the 2 younger ones of course lol. But my oldest now knows. He didn't reject me as I had imagined so many times, in fact he hugged me tight and cried with me because he hated the fact that I had hurt so long due to this. He is just as supportive as my wonderful husband! I also told my younger sister whom I love so much! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I just chose now to live my life helping others, in any way that I can. I pray God continue to give me boldness to speak about these things. Now I thank you again if you have read this far! :) but just a reminder this is a part of the blog but not the focus. Being a mom is one of the most beautiful things ever, and I plan on sharing that with you too. Again thank you so much! Please share this blog with all your friends because the truth is you never know who it may touch. Comment, follow, subscribe, and anything else this page offers lol! Have a good night! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> Stella</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Consolas, 'Courier New', Courier, mono, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140526132670400739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895175607444688247.post-56403894215440008582012-01-09T22:09:00.000-08:002012-01-10T19:37:21.702-08:00Hi :)Welcome and thank you for clicking on my blog on this day, I am nervous and excited all at the same time. My name is Stella and I want to tell you a little bit about myself and about my family to help you better understand the purpose behind this blog.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczpRLOcEkCiUkUMUuR0wRMXWB5s7eYQW54vq0NSpGjG3ecLMBBd4CPA25apD7Syvsjotu8D0Nhv3ueT9ey5Zmxzjq2Yg9LHAX_Bam8mHwiOSUBVwFDiF96L7q_8BtxxuX2VHy8lWHd95-/s1600/DSC_0684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczpRLOcEkCiUkUMUuR0wRMXWB5s7eYQW54vq0NSpGjG3ecLMBBd4CPA25apD7Syvsjotu8D0Nhv3ueT9ey5Zmxzjq2Yg9LHAX_Bam8mHwiOSUBVwFDiF96L7q_8BtxxuX2VHy8lWHd95-/s320/DSC_0684.JPG" width="288" /></a>I am a Christian woman, married to an amazing God fearing man named Richard, I have three incredible kids.. actually I have 5! Let me explain.. I have three living and 2 who are with their heavenly Father. I want to tell you a little more about them. Zia is my 11 year old son he is such an amazing kid! He of course has his moments but he truly is a blessing to me and in many ways his birth saved my life (I will explain that in a little bit). Then there is Alyssa my beautiful 7 year old, who is a mini mommy, she has such a huge heart and she's not afraid to show it. Finally there is my 5 year old Landon, who is my snuggler. He is so sweet and loving but it was a journey! He was what Dr James Dobson calls a strong willed child.. but wow has God done a work in him!<br />
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Now in 2005 I had a miscarriage which of course is devastating, but the fact that I know I will meet him or her someday brings me peace. Which brings me to my last child, which is my first child. Now please understand that this is still hard for me to talk (or write) about, but I know that I must, because it is a part of my testimony. In 1999 I was a married 19 year old, but I was very lost. I was in the Army and far from home. I didn't have the best self esteem at the time and after my wedding I learned that my husband was verbally and physically abusive. I learned I was pregnant 2 months after our court wedding. My mentality at the time was that with a baby I would never be able to escape my husband so I made up my mind to have an abortion.<br />
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Now before I continue please know that I am 100% Pro Life now.. but I made that choice as a 19 year old, and completely uneducated on the decision I was making. I will say that moment changed my life! After the abortion I fell into a deep depression and shorty after that I began having suicidal thoughts. After a restraining order I was finally able to get a divorce, but my depression continued and I had no idea how to deal with it. When I found out I was pregnant with my oldest son I was encouraged by people to have another abortion, but I just couldn't. I was still in the Army and stationed in Germany. When my son was born at Wright Patterson Air force Base in Ohio my life again changed. I became a "Mommy". The joy that I have from that is beyond anything in this world! My life had a new purpose, to be Zia's mom and raise him the best way I could.<br />
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Now believe it or not my story doesn't end there! After my miscarriage my Pastor called to check on me.. during this phone conversation he comforted me by reminding I would meet them in heaven some day. I remember the fear that came to me that night, the questions I had.. my attention was turned to my abortion, I thought I would meet them and when I did would they hate me.. would they be angry.. would I ever be forgivin for the sin I committed, was I being punished!? And for the first time I understood the depression I had felt so many years earlier. I had sinned, I had chosen to end the life of my baby, and for the first time I allowed myself to mourn!!<br />
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Years later God placed a woman named Julia in my life who has a For Life Ministry, I have to say I love how my God works!! I was asked to help with an event she was putting together and I agreed. But as I sat in the meeting I found I couldn't hold back the emotion and left to room. I felt shame, Julie later came to me and to my surprise hugged me. She knew, and I felt relief because no one other than my husband and the 2 people who had encouraged to go through with it knew.. She was gentle when she spoke to me and let me know that when I was ready she was there. She has no idea that her hug was the start of my healing. I saw Julie a few times a week for years and she never pushed me, she would occasionally check in with me, but she never pressured me. The love and compassion she showed me revealed the love of Christ. I learned that this was the same love and compassion he had for me. That the blood Jesus shed on the cross was enough to cover the sin I thought was unforgivable.<br />
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Years later I called Julia and meet with her in her home where she pointed me in the direction of H.E.A.R.T Healing the Effects of Abortion Related Trauma. Now by this time I had processed a lot of the pain and healing. But I knew that I could not let my baby's death be in vain, That I had gone through this and that all things would be turned to glorify God. I have a message and a testimony that is meant for women who have had an abortion and now feel the same helplessness and shame that I felt.. and with this message came a message from God. Yes you sinned, but He has covered your sin. He is just waiting on you to ask for forgiveness, to turn away from your sin, and never do it again.<br />
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So yes I will talk about my abortion... I am here if anyone else wants to talk about it as well. But I will also talk about being a mom, the daily gifts our kiddos give us, the Life that God wants us to have, and how to be the best moms we can be. This is a blog about Life and all the joys that come with it.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b> You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. </b></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b> Genesis 50:20 </b></i></span><br />
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So I would love it, if you comment, share this page, subscribe, and join me on this journey, on this Mission from God that he has set me on. And let us explore all that is included in the word "Mommy".<br />
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<br />Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140526132670400739noreply@blogger.com15