Leather Bounded Bible

Leather bound Bible

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.
As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car.
Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study.
His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bounded Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold.
Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible? And stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.
Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day.
Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.
When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages.
His father had carefully underlined a verse, Matt. 7:11, "And if ye, being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father which is in heaven, give to those who ask Him?" As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words....... PAID IN FULL!

How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected?
Do not spoil what you have, by desiring what you have not, but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for..................

WFW 8*27*08

Come over and be blessed
with "Pictures" at 160 acre woods

My kiddos

Ok here are the pictures from Monday

First day of 11th gr for Dustin, 9th gr. for Lauren, 4th gr. for Wes, and Kindergarten for Lane...... He looks so excited doesn't he?

Lane getting ready to go to school


Lauren in her "G" outfit for the cheer dance at the Community Pep Rally

lauren is up on the left.
My beautiful Red Head.

My over 6ft, starting Varsity, Baby boy.......

Our 2008 Varsity Team

And our future QB

Wes Pee Wee football 2008

our first day

Monday was a milestone for me as a mother....... The last of my children started school. We have been preparing for this all summer. He was excited about his classroom, his teacher, his backpack, and his red lunch kit. He even rode the Bus home today, with his older brother of course. Chris was home today waiting for them. Now today, they will be going to the babysitters house after school and last year that was the same bus for either stop. But this year is a different story. The bus that comes to my house is now driven by a lady I know and so yesterday morning the Lord really laid in on me to call her. I just wanted to tell her how if the older kids are at home then the boys would get off at my house and if not then they would continue on to the baby sitter's house at the end of the route. Well good thing I called her, because she no longer goes by my baby sitter's house. They have combined some of the routes. Even though the school didn't inform me of this. Now my kids will have to remember another bus #. Anyway, long story short I am so thankful that I called her. So last night I was explaining to Lane that he would be riding a different bus today because he will be going to Mrs. Amber's. His reply was....... "Oh no I'm not riding the short bus there am I?" I couldn't help but laugh....
I have some pictures but I have not got them off my camera yet.
Also last night was our Community Wide Pep Rally....... Lots of fun. They introduce the football players, volley ball players, cheerleaders, and flag guard. The band plays and the cheerleaders cheer. It really gets us "Pumped Up" for the football season. Our town is small and we are all fans of our high school football. We dropped down in a division this year and we are predicited to really well. I am exicited for Dustin, he made first string Center.
Pictures to come.......

Happy Birthday Baby!

Happy Birthday to the One I Love

I'd like to give you

so many things

for your birthday.

But the thing I would most

like for you to have

is something that I'll never give

to anyone else but you.

A love... that lasts and lasts.

A love shared... that every day

grows more lovely,more meaningful,

and more important.

And a life so good

and so happy,

all for you... with love from me.

- Carey Martin

Be Still Sunday

F.A.I.T.H.

Becoming a Christian is a matter of Faith.

F- is for forgiveness

*Everyone has sinned and needs God's forgiveness.

- Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"

*God's forgiveness is in Jesus Christ Only!

- Ephesians 1:7 "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of God's grace"

A- is for Available

*God's forgiveness is available for all

-John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

*God's forgiveness is available, but not automatic.

- Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

I- is for impossible

*According to the bible, it is impossible to get to heaven on our own

- Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast."

*So how can a sinful person have eternal life, and enter heaven.

T- is for Turn

*If you were going down the road and someone asked you to turn, what would he/she be asking you to do? Turn means to Repent. Turn away from sin and self.

- Luke 13:3 "I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

*Turn to Jesus alone as your Savior and Lord.

- John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

*Here is the greatest news of all.

-Romans 10:9-10 "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

H- is for heaven

*Heaven is a place where we will live with God forever

-John 14:3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

*Eternal life begins now with Jesus.

-John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Quote this.......

I got an email today with this in the signature line.......

I would have to say that I agree.

I believe...... That our background and
circumstances may have influenced
who we are, but we are responsible
for who we become.

If your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light........ Mt. 6:22

By God's grace I am what I am..... 1 Corinthians 15:10

WFW 8*20*08

Come over and be blessed

with "Pictures" at 160 acre woods

Happy Birthday Wes

Happy 9th Birthday Wes!

9 years ago my 3rd child was born in the

afternoon weighing in at 9lbs 8 oz. 22 in. long.......

I love you big boy!

digging up something old

Our Women's Bible Study class is studying "Living Beyond Yourself" right now. It is an amazing study by Beth Moore. It is a study that encourages women to know the freedom of a fruitful, Spirit-filled life. We just finished the lesson on peace. Well not me actually since I am a week behind, but that is the video session we watched yesterday. If I am not mistaken I think I was the only one in the whole room..... I think she wrote that whole video segment for just me.
Have you ever experienced that before? The Lord spoke through her just to me, or atleast that is what it felt like.

It was moving. I left there so flustered, chest pounding, sick to my stomach. I just could not shake it. I have no idea why I felt that way.

Let me back up a few days, I had a doctors appt last week and on my way I called a friend at church to check on somethings she was going through. Before we got off the phone I had shared some really dark secrets, sinful areas of my live that I know no one else at my church knows about. Now this is an area in my life that I am completely ashamed of, but also the season of my life that the Lord pulled me back to Church and to him. I have had my eyes set on him ever since. It is not something that I am at all comfortable to share here because too many of you "I know" personally. Anyway she really made me feel better after sharing this with her.

Now back to Sunday, I left church and went to p/u Lauren from a friends house. On our way home I had to pass the church back up again...... I was scoping the parking area to see if her vehicle was still there. Yes it was. I pulled in and took off to find her. When I got in the fellowship hall I waited for her, as her stuff was still sitting there from early. And praise God here she came. Like I said before I don't know why I felt the way I did, but I knew that I had to get to her to talk with and pray with her.
You see there is alot left unsaid with my husband about that dark sinful area in our live. It is something that I put a cap on just as soon as the Lord told me to get out of it. But we have never really talked about it and I don't feel peace in my heart about that. I know that we need to discuss things but that would also mean for me to dig it up. I have just shoved it away, and not dealt with it. I think that the Lord wants us to talk about it, pray about it, and heal together over it.

This is a little sketchy, I know, but some suggestions or prayers would be nice. I am very clear that this needs to happen but the question is when and how.

Be Still Sunday

Marriage Testimony

"Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams." Acts 2:17b

November 11, 1996
Today I saw a vision from God. I went to use the restroom and as I was in there I was suddenly an onlooker at a wedding. I was against the wall in the middle all the way to the right of South Park Baptist Church. It was beautifully decorated, the church was full of people. The Groom was at the alter and the Bride was at the rear of the church; waiting to walk the aisle to her Groom. It was Chris and I. I was in a beautiful wedding gown. I was only there for less than a minute, but that is all it took for my question to be answered. Chris and I were to be husband and wife. I cried at what I had just experienced and praised God for sharing it with me.......
Chris was to come over that evening and I couldn't wait for him to get there. I wasn't sure how I was going to share with him what had happened. While we were sitting at the table eating dinner he told me that we were getting married. And I replied with "Yes, I know that we are getting married." "No, I mean I know that we are going to be married" he says. To his surprise I came back with the same comment...... So he asked me how do you know? That is when I told him what I had experienced and he just sat there in total amazement. Not because he didn't believe me or anything, but within the same hour the Lord had shared with him the same thing.... Just in a different way. He shared with me that while in the shower that evening he all the sudden was looking over the shoulder of a person reading the newspaper. Chris was able to read our wedding announcement.
It was something that neither of us had experienced before and we had been praying for God to show us what our future would hold for us as a couple. He answered that question for us that day.
We have not had an "easy" marriage. I know that God put us together and we have something to hold on to when we get weak in our marriage. I truly believe that we sometimes have to work harder to stand in our promise to each other and to God because of what he showed us 2 years before we were married.

This summer we celebrated our 10 year anniversary and I pray for many more blessed years with him.

WFW 8*13*08

Come over and be blessed with
"Pictures" at 160 acre woods

Winner Winner Winner.......

Well I did it again..... I won another giveaway. I tell you the Lord has been really good to me. This time it is from Brandi Wilson over at Brandi & Boys. She had a giveaway of 3 different books last week and this is the one that I won.......

Not to go into deals or anything But I SO need this book...... And I am finding out that I am not the only gal out there that needs this book. My plans are to read it, study it and memorize it....... well ok I am going to read this book and then I am passing it around to all that would like to get there hands on it...... Share the Love so to speak.
After I do read it I will let you in on some of the secrets I learned.......
But if you are interested in getting your self a copy it is only $10 and you can go here to order one.
Thanks Brandi.......

Be Still Sunday

Fireproof Trailer

If you need to mute my music player at the bottom

God is Like.....

God is like.

BAYER ASPIRIN

He works miracles.

God is like.

a FORD

He's got a better idea.

God is like.

COKE

He's the real thing.

God is like.

HALLMARK CARDS

He cares enough to send His very best.

God is like.

TIDE

He gets the stains out that others leave behind.

God is like.

GENERAL ELECTRIC

He brings good things to life.

God is like.

SEARS

He has everything.

God is like.

ALKA-SELTZER

Try Him, you'll like Him.

God is like.

SCOTCH TAPE

You can't see Him, but you know He's there.

God is like.

DELTA

He's ready when you are.

God is like.

ALLSTATE

You're in good hands with Him.

God is like.

VO-5 Hair Spray

He holds through all kinds of weather.

God is like.

DIAL SOAP

Aren't you glad you have Him? Don't you wish everybody did?

God is like ..

the U.S. POST OFFICE

Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet nor ice will keep Him from His appointed destination.

God is like.

Chevrolet. ... . .

the heart beat of America

God is like

Maxwell house. . .

Good to the very last drop

God is like.

B o u n t y .. . . ...

He is the quicker picker upper. . can handle the tough jobs. . and He won't fall apart on you

Battle Cry......

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson

about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all....

One is Evil.

It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt,

resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good.

It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy,

generosity, truth, compassion and faith.

"The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather:

"Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one that you feed."

author: Douglas McClain Sr.

Galatians 5:16-23

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. Against such things there is no Law.

August 7

Happy 30th Birthday to my Baby Sister!

MORE THAN A SISTER

Your more than a sister

that began with being a good listener

Through the years of fighting and fussing

the screaming, shouting and cursing

I never saw you as just a person.

Now I know for certain you've become a best friend to me

Someone to lean on when in need

We've grown so close,I never could have thought

after all those years that we had fought

that you would become my friend

I've seen you struggle and strive

just to keep your family alive

We've dealt with deaths and births

even though some we thought were a curse

Tears and laughs that only we understand

especially the ones involving a man

After all these years, I just now know

how proud I am to let it show

You are my sister and my friend

You are definitely a GOD send

Author:
Melissa G. Brady

WFW 8*6*08

Thirsty for More of the Word

in "Pictures" Visit 160 acre woods

I am Honored......

Another award..... I am honored! Thank you to Jenelle for my award.
Stop by and visit her blog!

Below are questions I have to answer and post onto my blog. Then I have to choose 7 fellow Brillaint Bloggers and pass this award along!

A. Attached or single? Attached
B. Best friend? Angela been BFF since age 3
C. Cake or pie? both
D. Day of choice? Sunday
E. Essential item? Chap stick
F. Favorite color? Brown, Pink and together is better
G. Gummy bears or worms? Bears
H. Hometown? K-ville, Tx
I. Indulgence? Shopping
J. January or July? July
K. Kids? 4
L. Life isn’t complete without? Jesus
M. Marriage date? June 6, 1998
N. Number of brothers & sisters? 1 sister 1 brother
O. Oranges or apples? Apples (only the green ones)
P. Phobias? Snakes
Q. Quotes? "Until you are convinced that prayer is the best use of your time, you will not find the time for Prayer"
R. Reasons to smile? It is Raining today. We need it bad!
S. Season of choice? Spring
T. Tag seven peeps! (see below)
U. Unknown fact about me? I have 2 areas on my sternum where freckles form triangles.
V. Vegetable? love vegetables! except Eggplant
W. Worst habits? smoking but trying to quit...... Pray for me, if you will.
X X-ray or ultrasound? X-ray, ultrasound reminds me of Pregnancy and I hope that I am done with that season of my life........ 4 is enough for me.
Y. Your favorite food? Chocolate and CARBS
Z. Zodiac sign? Aries

7 Brilliant Bloggers I am passing this along to:

Katherine
Misti
Stacy
Chelsey
Natalie
Tricia
Joanne

Please take a moment to visit each of their blogs you will be blessed......

Congrats Ladies you have blessed me in more ways than one with your Blogs
Keep Blogging for Jesus!

Don't give up

Never, ever give up on God....... He hears your prayers. I have prayed for my brothers salvation for a very long time. My brother that is 28 years old, a drug addict and now in jail from drug charges, and He has excepted Christ as his Savior. Praise the Lord, thank you Jesus for answering our prayers. He says better late than never, and I say all in God's time. Thank you to any of you that have ever prayed for him. Although this is just the beginning of a tough time for him, it eases my mind knowing he is in jail, safe and sober. Please pray for him his name is Adam.