Merry Christmas...I mean Happy Thanksgiving

Wow, I haven't been a very good blogger. The holiday bussle started last week with:

*the Thanksgiving feast at Drew's school

*a field trip to sing at the nursing home

(isn't it amazing how older people light up when they see a child's face?)

*going to the Drive-In to see Blind Side

*the Scentsy, Uppercase Living, and jewelry party at my friend, Haylee's, house

*baking cookies

*packing to go to Childress

*trying to figure out how to use my new cell phone

*making my Christmas list (and checking it twice)

*looking for a Christmas puppy

*writing my Christmas letter

AND

putting up the Christmas tree. I know it isn't Thanksgiving yet, but...

Drew and Kade have been asking to put up the Christmas tree since Halloween. I gave in Monday morning, and we put it up. By lunch I was kicking myself in the rear for doing it without Ronnie, but Drew and Kade's excitement made up for my exhaustion. Their favorite part was putting up the ornaments...I think Kade is still "rearranging" them as I type. Ha! Yesterday, we decided to wrap Nana's presents. Kade wrapped his first, and I told him to go put it under the tree. Drew and I worked on wrapping his, and then I walked with him over to put it under the Christmas tree. I looked, and looked, but couldn't find Kade's present. I asked him, "Kade where did you put your present." He pointed to the back yard and said, "Under the trees." Ha!!! I love it!
I wanted to put something pretty (but cheap) on my coffee table. I rummaged around in my ornaments, picked some cotton, and viola!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends.

My Week

Last weekend, I had the privilege to serve on the Emmaus team

for the women's walk in Stanton, Texas.

Wondering what a Walk to Emmaus is? Click HERE.
To say, "The walk was amazing," is an understatement.
Two women gave their lives to the Lord.

Hearts were healed, relationships were restored,

and freedom was found as God's grace and peace were made real to women.
His LOVE was tangible.

You could see it, touch it, smell it, feel it.
What I love about Emmaus is that it isn't about religion.

I don't like being around religion.

Emmaus isn't about following religious rules and putting on your "good girl" face.
It's about getting real.

I didn't know "churched women" had "pasts" and still struggle "being good" too.

See, I lived A LOT of life before I was saved at the age of 22.

When I went on my walk, I needed people to be real.

I needed someone to say I was not too "stained" to become a useful vessel in God's KINGDOM.

Emmaus is about God's love, and His power to set you FREE!!!

Free from past mistakes; FREE from present trials.

It's about GRACE, UPON GRACE, UPON GRACE.
It is about real women having the courage to testify about what God's love has done in their lives.

Nobody needs to go on a Walk to Emmaus,
but everyone DESERVES to go.
__________________________
Then when we got back we heard about Alex's fatal car accident.

(I wish I could have uploaded a picture of her, but you can go here to see her beautiful face.)

Our family knew Alex through the Kairos Prison Ministry. You don't usually meet girls like Alex: seventeen years old, on fire for the Lord, talented, beautiful, joyful, funny, smart, and yet she was even more than that. I remember the first time I met her I went up to her mom, Jeanne, and asked, "What have you and Johnny done to raise this girl so well?"

I am not going to lie and say I understand this tragedy.
I don't understand it.
It isn't fair.
My heart is bleeding for her mom and dad.

BUT GOD,

But God is still God.
God is who HE says HE IS.
GOD can do what HE says He can do.
I think the biggest tragedy during times like this is people asking,
"Why did God take Alex away?"
Well, God did not take Alex.
This was not God's will.

(John 10:10 makes this very clear.)
In her father's words,

"Alex was going down a road her mom and I forbid her to go down. Alex was driving too fast. Alex was texting and not wearing her seat belt."
God's love for Alex AND you AND me is so great that He gives us all a free will.

FREEDOM TO MAKE CHOICES.
Free will to not follow the laws that keep us safe.

Free will to choose HIM or reject HIM.

BUT GOD,

But God works all things out for good for those who love HIM,

and

Alex loved God!!!

(Romans 8:28)

During her funeral today over 800 people joined together to celebrate her life.

Not one questioned where she is right now.

NOT ONE.

She wasn't ashamed of the Good News.

Over 20 people gave their life to the Lord during this celebration of Alex's life.

How many people do you know who have led 20 people to the Lord in their lifetime?

God is already working this tragedy out for good.

And if you still don't believe God is real...you should go talk to Alex's mom, Jeanne.

Do you know any mother who has the strength to walk in and out of her daughter's funeral with a smile on her face, praising her God?

I do.

Alex's mom.

Oh...God is real.

God is MIGHTY to save.

This week I have experienced moments were joy was exploding inside my heart, and moments where grief and sorrow caused so many tears to fall I felt dehydrated.

BUT GOD...

But God is stable.

He is an immovable rock,

and when I abide and cling to Him,

His grace and love elevate me above "yo-yo Christianity."

The storm's life throws my way are powerless to move me.

The ups and the downs can't enslave me,

can't steal my joy,

and can't cause me to question God's goodness.

When you know the TRUTH the TRUTH will set you free.

I am walking by faith, not by sight.

When I walk by FAITH, I have to remind myself that my feelings don't get a vote.

BUT GOD...

In honor of Alex's life, I'd like to ask each of you a question.

Let's get real and honest with each other for just a moment, because none of us are promised tomorrow.

Can you draw up in your mind the day you gave your entire life to Jesus Christ?

James 2:19

"You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror."

Giving your life to Christ is more than knowing ABOUT God.

IT'S MORE THAN KNOWING THERE IS A "BIG MAN" UPSTAIRS, because God's Word says even the demons believe there is a God.

Can you picture the day in your mind where your relationship with Jesus began?

Unfortunately, sitting in a church pew for 20 years does not mean you have a relationship with Jesus.

Can you picture the very moment when you realized Jesus really loves you? Has there been a moment in your life where you surrendered it all to HIM, and said, "It all for you Jesus."

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. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

Do you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that when you leave this earth you will be with the Lord?

If you can, great; please pray for Alex's family right now.

If you can't draw up that picture or have any questions...

IT IS NOT TOO LATE.

Don't believe the lie that you can "out sin" God.

HIS SON WOULD HAVE DIED EVEN IF YOU WERE THE ONLY ONE.

Please email me at mommy10_19_04@yahoo.com and allow me the privilege of telling you about Alex's God.

He loves Alex,

AND

He loves you TOO.

Romans 8:28-39, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them...What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything for us... Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?...No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Drew's prayer for Alex's family,

"Oh Father God, you are a big God. You are so strong. We don't have to be afraid of that mean ol' snake. We are the boss of that mean snake, and we tell that snake to leave Alex's mommy and daddy alone. We stomp on him. We say, "Jesus," and that snake has to run away. Oh Father God, thank you for our super power because we are on God's team. We are the winners. Thank you for our muscles. Thank you we don't have to be afraid, because we are on God's team. Help us to kill those ol' Goliafs (aka- Goliaths). In Jesus Name, Amen."

Halloween

Happy Halloween from the Jenkins boys.

Nonni made Drew and Kade's chaps and vests.

Aren't they amazing? The boys were so proud.

Kade told everyone, "Happy Halloweenie!" Ha!
Kade loved his gun.

Mom suggested we paint mustaches on the boys.

Ronnie painted them on with my eye liner.

They turned out so stinkin' cute.

Kade was enjoying smiling for the camera!

Drew was giving all of his candy away to people at their houses and to the kids that passed by.
Drew and our neighbor, Christian.
Decorating pumpkins was fun and really, really messy!

Ronnie's amazing pumpkin he drew and cut free-handed. My pumpkin. (deep sigh) The candy.

Drew had Pajama Day Monday at school for Drug Free Week.

Nonni made these Thomas the Train PJ's for his special day.

Happy 5th Birthday Drew Ryan!

Yesterday my baby turned 5. It was a little emotional for me. Time is flying by too fast.

I sometimes wish I could freeze the boys at this age because they are so stinkin' fun. It seems like it was just yesterday (literally) that we brought him home.

Drew was born October 19, and he weighed in at a hefty 10 pounds 3 ounces. Dr Rauth asked the nurses to bring the scales into the O.R., so she could weigh him herself.
Here he is at 3 months.

6 months
After church on Sunday, we met Nonni, PaPa, Nanny, LaLa, and Sich at Main Event in Lubbock for a family birthday party!

Drew's been counting down the days until his birthday since July.

Drew invited his new "best friend", Nolan, to go bowling with us.

Nolan gave Drew a John Deere Combine. Drew was so excited he could not even speak.
Thanks Nolan!

The boys loved bowling (the little boys and the "bigger" boys too =) I didn't know PaPa was such an expert bowler! Pretty impressive!

Watching Kade, Drew, and Nolan bowl was cracking me up.

Thanks for the hay bales and fork Nana and Pops!

Drew has been asking for this hay baler since last March! We've been "cutting and baling" a lot of carpet around here the last 2 days =) Ha!

Drew's first set of spurs. Thanks Uncle Sich!

We all went to eat at Casa Ole' after we bowled. Drew loves thier "green sauce". Nonni made him a Wall-E cookie cake! He loved it! Thanks Nonni!Cheese!!!
Monday morning was Drew's actual birthday. He requested a "green" biscuit!I put a few pictures from his actual "birth" day on the kitchen table. He was laughing at the picture Ronnie took of me right before we went in for the C-Section. To say I was "a little" on the large/swollen side is an understatement. Drew thought that was pretty funny!
Nonni, Nanny, Daddy, Kader Taters and I took another Wall-E cookie cake up to Drew's school to celebrate his birthday with his school friends.
Nonni made party bags for all of Drew's class mates.

Then after school we ate lunch and headed to Lubbock.

Drew requested we go to the "park where baby Mikah lives". It is the park by Covenant Lakeside where they deliver the babies.

Drew' s new John Deere boots!

Kade had a pretty good time too!

I love this picture!

After the park Drew went to Toys 'R Us and used the birthday money Aunt "T" and Nana Jo gave him to buy a Tonka Crane, and he used the rest to buy Kade an "I Spy" book. Then we went to eat at Logan's. Drew decided to forgo the meal and just pig out on the hot rolls and butter. I think he ate at least five. He is a boy after my own heart =) Ha! After dinner we headed over to Market Street to get a few groceries, and then we ended the night with frozen custard from Sheridan's. Drew said it was the, "best day ever!"

What do I know?

Kade

One woman's weed is...another woman's treasure.

Kade loves to pick flowers for me, but I don't know if "pick" is a good word.

He pulls up the entire plant up, roots and all!

I do not know what he enjoys the most: hunting the weed (I mean flower =), pulling the flower, or giving me his gift.

HE is my gift.

Last night Kade told me,

"Mama I love you this much."

Then he spread his arms, as far apart as they would stretch, and finished by whispering,

"I love you more than all the M&M's and 5 Shamu's."

Priceless.

Treasured.

A moment I want to bottle-up and save forever.

A few really cute things about Kade

***He loves to wear "jeams" (jeans).

He wears them all the time

(evidence in the picture below)

The boys wanted to take a picture with all the pumpkins from our vine.

Drew is in real PJ's; Kade dressed himself in "his" version of PJ's =).

***Kade loves to eat M&M's. He and I always get M&M's on Mondays while Drew is at school. When we walk in Wal-Mart he starts saying,

"I am happy, happy, happy!"

***Kade loves the color red:

red pick-ups, red band-aids, red monster trucks,

the red plane on "Jay, Jay the Jet Plane,

red shirts, red crayons, and red boots.

***He loves to ride his bike, and he is incredibly fast for a 2 year-old. It cracks me up when he tries to pop "wheelies" like his daddy.

***He loves horses.

***Lately, he has been pretending (for hours) to be a dog.

He barks.

He crawls.

He licks (the licking grosses me out =)

***When Kade gets really excited or happy, he dances in a circle and says, "Gooda, gooda, goob eye." None of us have any idea what he is talking about, but we love hearing/seeing him do it.

"I praise you (God, Creator, THE ONE who gave life it's name) because (Kade is) fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

Psalm 139:14 (Emphasis Mine)

It's a long one, BUT I think it is one of the best revelations God has ever given me!!!

Paul showed us what God wants for every believer in Eph 1, Eph 3, Phil 1, and Col 1, also called Paul's Prayers. Eph 3:16 - 19 (AMP),

"May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

Verse 16 stands out first, “strengthened…in the inner man”.
Strengthen is defined by Webster’s, “to be make strong (ability to do, endure, power, toughness, solidity, power to resist attack).”
The only way to stay strong and take your place in Christ is to stay hooked up to the power source. John 14:6 "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Jesus is the bridge that reconnects us with the Father, so we can live life. When we hook up the The Vine we form the "ultimate union" as described by Kenyon in his book, In Christ Realities.

God gave me this analogy:
We all need water. Water makes up over 80% of our body. What is the first thing the hospital does when a person in need of attention enters the hospital? They HOOK them Up to an IV bag. An IV bag hydrates sick people because we need water for many reasons.

One is to flush impurities out of our body. I like what Kenyon said, “…to be rooted and grounded in love is to remove all self.” Yes, Lord remove every impurity from this world, and remove every impurity that is not of YOU! Anything that is not of God, anything that is not pure, true, noble, good, lovely, and praiseworthy, is toxic to the body. What is toxic to your life? For me it is myself. You know the selfish mentality, "What about me? What about my needs? What about what I deserve?" It's toxic, but when I get "hooked up" the Living Water flushes out those impure thoughts and leaves me hydrated.

Water also makes up a large part of the blood which transports “life”, nourishment, and oxygen to every cell in our bodies. The blood of Jesus provides life, protection, and promises to us. If you have never studied the blood covenant, I suggest Joyce Meyer's book, "The Word, The Name, The Blood."

The third function of water is to regulate body temperature. I love this one! Jesus did not like "religious people". Rev 3:16 God says, "So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Staying hooked up to the Life allows God to keep me on fire for Him!!!

The fourth function of water is to cushion our joints, and prevent shock to them. In this world we will face circumstances that "shock", jolt, bounce, and knock us down. When we are connected to the Vine, the storm seasons in life cannot shake us. In fact they get shorter as God's peace covers the believer like a warm blanket. God brings you right through that Storm so you can dance in the rain.

Finally, water is extremely critical in lymph system which supplies antibodies for our defense against disease. Jesus left us His name, and in His name we have all authority against disease, worry, concern, etc. Complete protection!

The more rooted and grounded we become in God, who is Love, the larger the connection, our stem, becomes to the Life Source. I love the way the Amplified says, “securely “ in verse 17. However, I think sometimes our connection can get leaks in them.

Back to my analogy: I can picture a sick, dehydrated person whose line to their IV bag has holes. The liquid becomes diverted, and God cannot get them any peace, joy, grace, or love. It is not God who leaves or forgets us; it is us has the problem with our line. I do not want any links in my relationship with God; I want all that God has to give me! I do not want doubt, unforgiveness, bitterness, worry, busyness, selfishness, strife, or gossip poking tiny holes in my Life-line. Who is poking the holes? Not your husband, not your co-workers, not your children, and certainly not God. We need to look in the mirror sweet sisters, we are the ones poking the holes as we allow doubt, unforgiveness, bitterness, worry, etc. into our lives. It is us we swings the door of opportunity wide open to the enemy whose only purpose is to steal your joy, kill your enthusiasm, and destroy your purpose.

John 4:14, “But those who drink the water I give (the Living Water) will never be thirsty (will never go look for another life source) again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” (Emphasis mine)

Ephesians 3 goes onto say Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge will allow us to be “filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God”
“Filled”- Greek Strong's Number: 4137
Transliteration: pleroo
definition: to fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim

Do you enjoy being full? I do! This is The Truth, The Reality, The Way, The Life, Jesus came to give abundantly. I know by experience it is true; so full of God’s love, God’s grace, God’s wisdom, God’s strength, God’s Divine Presence, God’s Living Water that nothing is left wanting. Nothing!!! No fight with my husband, no problem at church, nothing can steal the joy and peace that guard's my mind in Christ Jesus.

It is us; it is me, who turns away from the life source. Sometimes we literally get up and unhook our IV from the Zoë bag and go plug ourselves into the world’s false promises.

Romans 1:25 (NLT) says, “They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen!”

Kenyon is right. The love at the bar isn’t real, the peace from a “buzz” doesn’t last, and the joy from new things is short-lived. Satan tries to counterfeit and pervert the promises of God, because He has never had an original idea. His promises, the life he offers, leaves people dehydrated, malnourished, and dead.

We know we are hooked up to the wrong source when we can’t get full. We can’t do that “thing” enough. I can’t eat enough. I can’t shop enough. I can’t get enough love. I can’t get enough affirmation. When we can’t get full, when we are desperate for anything, we need to run for God, THE FILLER.

I LOVE THE WORD BECAUSE IT TRULY SATISFIES and FILLS!!!

Psalm 90:14 (NLT)
“Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.”
Psalm 63:1-5 (NIV)
“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

Satisfy - Hebrew Strong's Number: 7646
Transliteration: saba`
definition: to be satisfied, be sated, be fulfilled, be surfeited, to be satiated the filling and overfilling of appetites and desires.

I am staying hooked up to the LIFE because His love is “better than life.” He is my Interceder, Knight in shining armor, Umpire, Advocate, Encourager, Lord, Friend, Lover of my soul. Knowing that love and knowing it is flowing through me satisfies my every appetite, need, and desire.
How is your connection?
What do you do personally to keep "the ultimate union" strong?
(If you'd like a copy of Paul's Prayers, leave me a comment with your email address. )

In Christ Realities - Part 2

The revelation I have received about my translation from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light has helped me to realize who I am in Christ. I am a visual person. God has given me a the picture of first being a child of satan, ruled by my sense knowledge, and bound in the chains of separation from God. Before I was saved, nothing was ever "enough" for me.
New clothes were not enough.
Marrying a wonderful man was not enough.
A great job was not enough.
It was if I was walking around confused in darkness trying to grasp for anything that looked like hope, love, or peace. I just wanted to be satisfied and content. Each time I reached out for something I thought was "real", I realized it was all a lie. I was always looking for something to fill the empty void in my heart, but what I did not realize was that spot was my "God spot".
I want to go off on a small rabbit trail.
Do you know how you get a callus?
A callus is formed when a place on the body is exposed to an extreme amount of friction and/or exposed to increased amount of pressure. Our skin cells go into over drive to create a "band-aid" to protect us from future pain. The callus does not heal the sore. It just covers it up, making it insensitive to it's environment.

Deut 30:6 (The Message)
"God, your God, will cut away the thick calluses on your heart and your children's hearts, freeing you to love God, your God, with your whole heart and soul and live, really live."

Before God saved me, my heart was so covered with calluses that I was not even living. Satan had dominion over me, and all I knew was his lies about my inadequacies, my failures, my lack, and my loneliness. My 5 senses, my emotions, my feelings ruled my life, but God decided before the World was created to send His Son to shed His blood for ME. He called me by name before the stars started to shine, and planned to rescue ME. He brought Light to my life and showed me the Truth. He tore off the "band-aids" covering my wounds, and healed me COMPLETELY. The Truth set me free and filled me with hope, love, and peace! The TRUTH is who I am in Christ. The TRUTH is I am HIS OWN special, chosen treasure. (Deut 7:6) The TRUTH SET ME FREE! I am not ashamed of my failures, because in Christ God has worked them all out for His good. I am not ashamed of my inadequacies, because in Christ they qualify me for the HELP of the Holy Ghost. I am no longer lonely or empty, because in Christ my God spot is filled.

1 Corinthians 1:30 (Amplified Bible)
“But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, [revealed to us a knowledge of the divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as] our Righteousness [thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God], and our Consecration [making us pure and holy], and our Redemption [providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin].”

I have always dreamed of a knight in shining armor, what about you? We have all been rescued by Jesus and been given an amazing gift, an new identity in Christ. That new identity makes us citizens of heaven with new rights, privileges, and authority. We haves His Wisdom, His Righteousness, His Consecration, His Redemption. I can walk into the Holy of Holies anytime, and not even smell like sin. I can be in the Presence of God, and I can hear His Voice. That is life. That is the life I have in Christ. I don’t have to travel to a temple to fellowship with my Creator; I just have to be still. The Spirit of the Great I AM lives inside of me, inside of every believer. True revelation knowledge of this news should cause every believer, regardless of their present circumstances, to be smiling from ear to ear!

This is the GOOD NEWS.

The GOOD NEWS isn't religion.

The GOOD NEWS isn't about denomination.

The GOOD NEWS has nothing to do with sin and people being "good"!

The GOOD NEWS is about our restored relationship with God.

The GOOD NEWS is the fact that Jesus tore the curtain, and we can fellowship with God anytime.

The GOOD NEWS IS about the JEALOUS LOVE MY GOD HAS FOR ME and YOU regardless of our past!!!

I am smiling from ear to ear, how about you?

Part 3 coming Thursday!

Part 1 - In Christ Realities

In Christ we are:

*justified (Rom 3:24)

*no condemnation awaits us (Rom 8:1)

*set free from power of sin (Rom 8:)

*sanctified (1 Cor 1:2)

*pure and holy, as if we never sinned (1 Cor 1:30)

*given new life (1 Cor 15:22)

*made right with God, our righteousness is in HIM (2 Cor 5:21)

*one in Christ with other believers (Gal 3:28)

*have ALREADY BEEN GIVEN every spiritual blessing, benefit (Eph 1:3)

*adopted into family of God (Eph 1:5,6)

*forgiven (Eph 1:7)

*identified as belonging to God by the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13)

*have ALREADY BEEN RAISED to sit with Christ in the heavenly realm (Eph 2:6)

*are God's Masterpiece, His Mona Lisa (Eph 2:10)

*can walk boldly and confidently into God's Presence (Eph 3:12)

*Made complete in Christ (Col 2:10)

*Have eternal glory (2 Tim 2:10)

What we have in Him we have to receive by Knowledge.

2 Peter 1:2-4 (Message)
“Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master. Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.”

I have heard the New Testament called the “Living Will” of God. It talks about every spiritual benefit, right, privilege, gift, and authority we have ALREADY been given in HIM as believers. It is impossible to operate in the power God has left us with if we live in ignorance. Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge...”

The reason I chose the Message’s translation in 1 Peter is because of the word “experience.”
Being in the Word is not about head knowledge, it is about heart change.
Spending time with God means you experience Him; you experience the power and faithfulness of His promises. As His daughter, the first time I ACTED on my head knowledge and told the devil to leave, my heart changed because it worked. The first time I obeyed God and loved the unlovely, my heart was flooded with light and LIFE, and my heart changed. My inner man has gained strength because as revelation increases, as God’s nature increases, and LIFE increases in my life, I decrease (John 3:30). I have experienced it; I can testify to it! It is real! The more we allow Christ (The Word) to dwell in our hearts the more we are “swallowed up, immersed, and overwhelmed” (Kenyon) in Love, Zoë, Light, Truth, and the very nature of God. I like Mark Hankins illustration of us becoming pioneers, blazing the trail into the deep uncharted places of God.

Sign me up!

The deeper I go, the more knowledge I act upon, the more of His Living Will I take as my personal possession. For example, if my grandmother leaves me a diamond ring, I have to first know I own the ring. If a millionaire doesn't know he has any money he will continue to live as a pauper.

No thank you, I want what is mine!

However, the true joy from the ring does not come into fullness until I go, take action, and possess what is mine. The words “I can’t” and “God did not give ‘that gift', 'that faith', or 'that ability' to me,” are red flags that we need to go pick up THE WILL and see what God has given us.

God is no respector of persons.

Jesus did not die just so I can get my ticket to Heaven. He died to give me life and life more abundantly; He died so I can reign in this life (Rom 5:17). I want to unwrap every gift He died to give me, because I cannot be truly grateful for something I do not know is mine.

I love this quote by Smith Wigglesworth, “If a thing is in the Bible, then it is so; it is not even to be prayed about; it is to be received and acted upon."

QUESTIONS:

Which REALITY "IN Christ" makes you the most grateful?

Which REALITY "IN Christ" are you going to ask God to help you "unwrap" and totally receive as your own?

Part 2 is coming soon!!!

Important: Moms, You Are Being Called to Stand Up For Your Kids!

I just became a member of http://www.asamom.org/
It is time I stand up for my children's future.
I am a patriot.
I am a conservative Christian.
I am tired of corrupt Republicans and Democrats.
I am proud of the amazing country my grandfathers and father fought to protect.
I am an American.
I am a mother.
I want Drew and Kade to experience America's freedom.
It is time.
Will you stand-up with me?
(If you join, you can help spread the word by leaving a post on your blog!)
***I will get to my In Christ Realities paper tomorrow! (I know you are all dying in anticipation=) Ha!

Warning...read this before you read tomorrow's post!

I haven't been blogging much lately. Sorry followers! I have been working on something kind of important to me.

However, I have had tons to blog about like:

- Our amazing weekend away in Aggieland (a.k.a College Station, Texas) Labor Day Weekend! The hotel, the football game, the quiet drive, the amazing pancakes at The Kettle made the time spent in Aggieland amazing. However, the best part was dinner on Friday night...Ronnie and I sat, talked, and LAUGHED for over an hour after we finished eating.

- The Biggest Loser (seriously, what is wrong with the crazy woman on the purple team???)

- Ronnie finally cut pumpkins from our vine in the back yard. Drew and Kade have been carrying them around like infants. We sleep, eat, and cuddle with those three little pumpkins.

- Ronnie's 34th birthday surprise, a romantic night on the town without the kiddos AND a juicy steak at Texas Land and Cattle Co. It was the best steak I have EVER eaten...wowzers!!!

- Ronnie catching Kade on the potty taking care of "business" while Drew was tinkling between Kade's legs. They do get two points: one for creativity and one for time management...I guess ;)

- The next class I am taking (by correspondence) from Lubbock, Prayer and Fasting.
- Drew and Kade's conversation this week-

Drew: "I really love you Bubba."
Kade: "I love you too. You best friend."

- The Walk to Emmaus I am working on in Stanton, Texas, will be here in 5 short weeks. Woohoo!!! I am getting ready to preview a talk for the walk on October 17th! I should be nervous because I haven't put one word on the computer yet(totally unlike me...usually I finish projects weeks ahead of time), but I feel God asking me to wait on the Holy Spirit!

- My mom and day won Grand Champion Bull at the Beefmaster Bull Futurity last weekend. Whoot! Whoot! I am so proud of them!

- Drew and Kade have decided to be green and red cowboys for Halloween. I think the fact that the get to carry ropes and guns won them over!!! Ronnie's mom, Reta, is working on chaps for them.

- The fact that I have had an EXTREME case of baby fever for 3 plus months, and Ronnie has offered to get me a dog instead. Yes, you heard me right, he said he'd buy me a dog. =) Seriously??? ;)

- My brother is getting closer to buying his first home in Houston, Texas. Wonder if he will want the boys and me to stay 1 or 2 weeks??? Ha!

- My new sweet, sweet friend, Erin. God dropped her right into my life last Friday!

- The possibility that we might have finally found a church home (this is a story in of itself that I'll post later...Oh why not share it now.)

Drew started Pre-K August 18th, and since that day I haven't been able to get one of the moms out of my mind. Seriously, her face would pop into my head multiple times a day. Anybody had that happen? She has a son Drew's age, another one Kade's age, and a 10 week old. What a woman, right? Well, since I could not quit thinking about her I assumed God wanted me to take her a pot roast or something.?! =) I have been praying God would move me out of the "all about me and my needs rut" and help me really love on people He puts right in front of my face.

Anywhoo, I finally found out this mom's name, and asked her to come over last Friday to hang out...because who wants to take a pot roast from a crazy girl they've never met. Hmm...I digress! Erin, see bullet above =), came over, and I just knew she was an answer to two prayers (a new friend and a possible lead on a new church home). She told me all about The Church at the Barn that she and her husband attended in Lubbock. Ronnie and I visited there last Sunday, and WE LOVED IT!!! The people were genuine, and the sermon was challenging and FULL of the Word. I am going to have to go get out my cowgirl boots and dust off my sparkly belt for this Sunday! =) Ha!

So, you ask, "What has Dawn been working on that has kept these amazing, interesting, fascinating, page-turning stories from the blogging world =)?"

Drum roll please...

The paper I have been writing for my college class, In Christ Realities. Are you a little disappointed? Sorry =) Did the thought of reading a paper get ya snoozin'???

Some have asked to read the paper, so I thought I'd share parts of it with you over the next few days. Warning: IF, and only IF you are interested, grab some coffee, a comfy seat, and stay tuned for Part 1 tomorrow!

UPDATED: Great Question!!! Come on back Anonymous!!! Let's Talk!!!

***Update***
Dear Anonymous,

Thank you for you comment/question about Wigglesworth's first quote.

"I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am ONLY moved by what I believe."

I wish I knew your name, so I wouldn't have to call you "Anonymous", but I am hoping you will comment again when you read this.=) I agree COMPLETELY with you. I too believe we are constantly seeing God in all of His glory in creation, sunsets, babies, the smell of fresh rain, birds singing, waves crashing, autumn leaves falling etc. I can not speak for Wigglesworth, but I can share with you what I think he was saying. What we see, what we hear, what we feel are senses that belong to our body, our flesh.

“…Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever]." (Romans 8 AMP)
When we are born again, our spirit is made new AND brought into union with God, but our soul (mind, will and emotions) is not!!!
We are a three-part being. I am a spirit. I have a soul, and I live in a body. My mind must now come under dominion of my recreated spirit by renewing it in the Word (Romans 12). I think sometimes, I personally, walk by what my body sees, hears, and feels, therefore I do not always live in victory.

For example, I have a family member who is suffering with infertility. If I choose to walk by what I see in her body and what I hear her doctor's saying, I could be doubtful about whether or not she will ever be a mother. Doubt is sin; it does not come from God. I believe she is ALREADY a mother in the spiritual realm, Thank you Jesus! I am now praying that God will hurry and let the new life promised be manifested it in the physical realm (Go check out Daniel 10 starting in verse 12) I know another friend who is struggling in her marriage. My sight, my feelings, and my hearing of their problem might lead me to think their marriage is past the point of return, but that does not line up with the Word.
Matthew 19:26 "Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Even when I feel flu"ish". If I've prayed for my body to heal and believe my body will be strengthened by the Holy Spirit living in me (Romans 8:11), then I cannot continue to pay any attention to or talk about my visual symptoms. I have to believe, "I AM HEALED." My symptoms my be visible to my eye, my cough might be heard by my ears, but I am not moved from believing I am healed by the stripes of Jesus.

The world is ruled by the satan (2 Cor 4:4) and my senses gain all their knowledge by what the world displays. We know satan as the king of lies. So when my senses cause me to doubt, look like a victim, feel rejected, or set themselves up contrary to the Word of God, I AM NOT MOVED BY THEM...I AM MOVED ONLY BY WHAT I BELIEVE!

Woohoo!!! I am not a victim to my senses and the lies of the enemy any longer!!! This begins my walk in VICTORY!!! That is the moment I begin reigning in life with Christ (Rom 5:17)!

I BELIEVE AND I SPEAK to the mountain, move it (Matt 17:20)!

Infertility move it! Strife in marriage move it! Infertility you have a name, divorce you have a name, flu you have a name, and every name comes under the authority of the Name of Jesus!!!
I think 2 Corinthians 5:7 sums it up, "We live by faith, not by sight." I remind myself of this verse by paraphrasing it this way, "I live by faith, not by my senses." I hope this helps. Thank you for being bold and leaving an honest comment/question!!! I look forward to reading more from you and other viewers!!! Have an amazingly blessed Sunday!

Quotes from Smith Wigglesworth

http://smithwigglesworth.blogspot.com/

"I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am ONLY moved by what I believe."

"If a thing is in the Bible, then it is so; it is not even to be prayed about; it is to be received and acted upon."

"The Acts of the Apostles were written because the lives of the Apostles bore the fruit of active faith. To them faith was an everyday fact."

"Faith is the audacity that rejoices in the fact that God cannot break His own Word. Faith is not agitation. It is quiet confidence that God means what He says and we act on His Word."

"The Word of God is eternal and cannot be broken. You cannot improve on the Word of God, for it is life and it produces (only) life."

I Stand Amazed...

Pumpkins and Scarecrows and Worms...OH MY!!!

Last year, Drew and I took the seeds out of our pumpkin and planted them in the field behind our house.

The seeds grew, and here is one vine that is growing behind our house. This is a picture of the largest pumpkin of the seven we've counted so far...it is about the size of a cantaloupe. Ronnie thinks we might get 10+ pumpkins off this one vine!!!! =)We had to get a scarecrow at Wal-Mart to keep the birds from nibblin' on our pumpkins. Ronnie thinks my scarecrow is too small to scare anything away (sigh),

but if it doesn't work, I have heard putting newspaper under the pumpkins will keep the birds away????

The boys digging for worms.

The prizes from their treasure hunt...a grub (at the end of Drew's stick)
and

an earth worm.

"A Boy: a noise with dirt on it."

Exciting times in Levelland, Texas.

O.K. I am jumping in!!!

My sweet friend B, www.happyascanb.blogspot.com, asked me on my last post,
"Where is your FOLLOWERS button?"
I admit, I haven't added one because I thought to myself,
"Why would someone want to follow me?"
But I after reading Jerri's blog, I am jumping on her band wagon with both feet.
If I am going to doubt, I am not going to doubt myself,
I am going to DOUBT MY DOUBTS!!!
So, I added the "Follow Me Gadget" to my page,
and it is ripe for the clickin'! Ha!