Sights of San Antonio

My oldest was nominated to play in the Texas All Star Game @ The Alamo dome for the South team
Dustin and Little Brother Lane

MY #1 Center

there were over 13,300 coaches there for the convention this past week

BEAUTIFUL

observation deck of the Tower of America in San Antonio

Lane missing a couple of teeth, Myself and my honey

Chris and Lauren

We don't have these in Kirbyville..... LOL

My family minus one

lane digging for um i am not too sure, maybe silver or gold

Whew that is one hefty man there.

picture I had to take in the elevator that made me leave the kids on the 2nd floor. I could hear Lane hollering "Mom wait. Where are you going?"

I couldn't stop laughing... almost peed my self actually and when i went back up he was standing right there wait..... poor kid

Wes and Lane

Petting zoo

A little too close to the car..... eeekkk

Lane wanted to know how this big thing only walked on 2 front legs.... lol got to love kids

Shamu...... note to self never go to sea world during the summer, watch Shamu performance 1st, and sit in the splash zone. You will smell like fried whale poop by the heat of the day....

She Listens and Is Humbled!

Jennifer Rothschild

Lysa TerKeurst

Proverbs 31 Ministry Team

Stacy and Deb

Me and Heather

I have decided that I will attend She Speaks every year God allows me too.

I have never been to a conference that met so many needs of the women attending. God showed up in a mighty way.... Lives were changed, hearts softened, dreams confirmed and life long friends were made! For me it was confirmation, a revelation, and answered promises. God brought me 945 miles to meet a lady from Houston named Heather who is walking in my shoes.... It is an answered prayer. Gods Grace is So good.

I am learning to love on and depend on my Jesus way more than I have been...... and that is what filled my heart at She Speaks

getting ready......

www.shespeaksconference.com

God has provided the opportunity for me and 5 ladies from my church to travel 945 miles to meet with Him and 600 other ladies that are wild about their Lord. We are all getting the last minute things inorder: clothes washed/ironed, bags packed, houses cleaned, groceries bought, speeches tweeked, book proposals finished. I have been spending some extra time resting in His arms for the reassurance, comfort and grace I will need to get through the weekend. I am so excited to see what He has planned for us all, meet up with friends, make new ones and put faces to some ladies I have grown to love in bloggy land. Most of all I just want to feel the presence of God, and worship Him.
Please pray for all of us at She Speaks this weekend, and our families we will leave at home.

I fight like a girl, how about you?

My name is Amy Sauls and I am a post-abortive woman.

I faced an unplanned pregnancy at the age of 16 that resulted in abortion. The shame and guilt of ending the life of my unborn child overwhelmed me. Although I became a Christian when I was 22, I still felt as though the sin of my abortion could never be forgiven. For 15 years I lived in shame and secrecy, guilt overflowing into every area of my life.
While attending a retreat with my church in October of 2006, I realized that through Jesus’ death on the cross, I was truly forgiven of all my sins, including my abortion. The Lord Jesus Christ was my only source of healing and freedom. And finally, after many years of heartbreak, I was able to experience true freedom in Christ.
In October of 2008, after God dealt with my heart for 2 years, I surrendered to His call into post-abortion ministry. Since that time, God has consistently provided opportunities for this ministry to grow and opened doors for me to speak to the women and youth of my community.
Then in January of 2009, I attended a training conference for Surrendering the Secret, by Pat Layton. This bible study is a wonderful tool for healing the heartbreak of abortion.
In John 4:35, we are told to open our eyes and look at the fields, for they are ripe for harvest. There are millions of women suffering the severe consequences of abortion and are in need of healing that only Christ can give them. Revelation 12:11 tells us, “They overcame him [the enemy] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” These women need to know that they are not alone in this battle. They need to hear what Christ has done in our lives and that He can do the same for them.

Will you join us in the fight towards healing and restoration for Men and Women all over the World?

Pat Layton and her team will be in Kirbyville Texas at my church Trout Creek Baptist on Saturday, September 26, offering Leader Certification Training. You may register HERE.

WIN A FREE STS Certification Training Opportunity complete with airfare.
Simply Join our Surrendering The Secret Group on Facebook and encourage others to join around the WORLD to be entered in our drawing!!

OR

How would you like to win a complete "Surrendering the Secret" Bible Study/DVD Kit for your church, local pregnancy center or counseling office?

Step on over to Pat's blog for a chance to win.

*if you post on your website, blog, facebook or email, please link back to me for my chance at winning too, cause Pat is cool like that!*

Guess Where I'm Going?

I wonder what the Lord will have

in store for me when I go to........

http://www.shespeaksconference.com/

I am so excited to say that I am now registered to attend the 2009 She Speaks Conference. Five of us from my church will travel to North Carolina the last weekend in July.
I know it is going to blow me away......
and I am a little bit giddy knowing that this lady

will be the keynote speaker Saturday night....

God has been so good to me! I am very thankful for this opportunity to Grow in Him, Worship Him, Serve Him, Fellowship, make new friends, and the list goes on......

And I get to meet up with my Friend Pat Layton again, So if you have been prayerfully considering attending "She Speaks" you better get your hiney on over to their website and get registered.... Some break out sessions are all ready full.

Examine your Heart!

I got this in an email today....... Praise God for this man!

Guess our national leaders didn ' t expect this, hmm? On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton , Colorado , was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee ' s subcommittee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful. They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The following is a portion of the transcript: "Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out f or answers. "The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain ' s heart. "In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter... I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don ' t believe that they are responsible for my daughter ' s death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel ' s murder I would be their strongest opponent. I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy -- it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best.
Your laws ignore our deepest needs, Your words are empty air. You ' ve stripped away our heritage, You ' ve outlawed simple prayer. Now gunshots fill our classrooms, And precious children die. You seek for answers everywhere, And ask the question "Why?" You regulate restrictive laws, Through legislative creed. And yet you fail to understand, That God is what we need! " Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation ' s history.. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine ' s tragedy occurs -- politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts. "As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain.. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA -- I give to you a sincere challenge. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone! My daughter ' s death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"

Satan's Meeting

SATAN'S MEETING: (Read even if you're busy)

Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.

In his opening address he said, "We can't keep Christians from going to church."

"We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth."

"We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their Savior."

"Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken."

"So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ.."

"This is what I want you to do," said the devil:

"Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"

"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.

"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.

"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow."

"Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles."

"Keep them from spending time with their children."

"As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!"

"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice."

"Entice them to play the radio or CD player whenever they drive." To keep the TV, VCR, CDs, PDAs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly.."

"This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ."

"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers."

"Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day."

"Invade their driving moments with billboards and cell phones."

"Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes.."

"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives. "

"Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night."

"Give them headaches too! "

"If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere."

"That will fragment their families quickly!"

"Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas."

"Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about His resurrection and power over sin and death."

"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive."

"Have them return from their recreation exhausted."

"Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead."

"Keep them busy, busy, busy!"

"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences."

"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus."

"Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause."

"It will work!"

"It will work!"

It was quite a plan!

The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there.

Having little time for their God or their families.

Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives…

I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes?

You be the judge!!!!!

Does "BUSY" mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?

Pick a Quote, Any Quote.

Ponder on these a bit:

Grace gave us what we didn't deserve ~ God's Favor

Mercy restrains what we did deserve ~ God's Wrath

As Christians we do not have free rein to sin.

Make Worship a Lifestyle

God hates sin because it hurts you and violates His Character

God knows every storm we'll ever encounter and provides a way for us in each one.

When Jesus calls us to follow Him, He always pushes us beyond our experience and beyond our abilities.

God allows our circumstances to come for a reason. God can redeem any situation. He can equip us to live in a way that brings Him Glory and He can help us grow in faith through our trials.

God isn't looking for what the world would call the "total package" when He looks for someone to carry out His mission.

Weakness is an opportunity for God to say, "We'll walk this road together -

Just wait & see what I can do!"

Our weaknesses are a funnel for God's power to flow through.

Jesus' death on the cross was the ultimate example of strong weakness

Special Prayers for Stellan

Many of you may all ready know MckMama but I am sure some do not. She is due to have her 4th child in the morning and needs our prayers.

Quoted from her blog:

"MckMuffin is our 36 week old unborn son S--our fourth blessing! He was quite unexpectedly given to us, and even more unexpected was his diagnosis of heart failure: Premature Atrial Contraction at 20 weeks; Supraventricular Tachycardia, hydrops, and intermittent advanced secondary heart block at 23 weeks; and enlargement of the heart at 32 weeks. We were told at 24 weeks that he would surely die. God performed a miracle and MckMuffin is still with us! The doctors are unsure about what will happen to our baby when he is born. But God is not unsure!! We are praying for MckMuffin's full healing, but we know that God is good no matter what He decides."

God has a miracle child due to enter into this world tomorrow morning. Please Pray for her, Stellan, Her husband, and all the doctors and Nurses.

Check her blog tomorrow to get the updates on his birth story. It is sure to be a big one.

another chance to win.

Here is another chance to win a Surrendering the Secret Kit. It is being given away at Pat Layton's Ministry Blog.

The Quilt

"The Quilt"

As I faced my Maker at the last Judgement, I knelt before the Lord along with the other souls. Before each of us laid our lives, like the squares of a quilt, in many piles. An Angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life. But, as my Angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in everyday life. I saw hardships that I had endured, which were the largest holes of all. I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened. My Angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air. Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My Angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness and death, and false accusations that took from me my world as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I had spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully; each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me. And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it had been. I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with eyes wide. Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image. The face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, "Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you." May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through.

By: Author Unknown

link to me

I had Jennisa create me a link button and it is over on the right side bar at the top. You are welcome to copy the code and link to me.

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..................

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

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

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!