NO MORE NIGHT AS THE FAMILY FELLOWSHIPS TOGETHER

FAMILY FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY

FAMILYBLESSING!

Hanging out together...

Sending blessings each others ways...

Doing things as a family...

Spreading GOD'S love in many different ways.

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Friday here at Transformed Moms is a time to encourage each other with new and fresh ideas for improving family fellowship within our own little families, within our extended relative families, and within our church families. Come back each week to share ideas that will BLESS other families. So........share with us here AND link us back to your blog if you have more to share there. Please be sure and tell your friends to join us each Friday!

THIS WEEK'S SIKES' FAMILY TRADITION: SING! SING! SING!

Both Steve and my families grew up singing gospel songs, so it was only natural for us to sing with our children, go to concerts together, buy videos, CD's, tapes, etc. of great music and SING! Steve's family had a few that were their family songs that I'd never heard before: BREAD SENT FROM HEAVEN and LED BY THE MASTERS HAND. I can remember sitting in my Granny's living room for hours and singing with my family, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins Stamps-Baxter songs in four part harmony, like: HE BORE IT ALL, LET ME LIVE CLOSE TO THEE, and PARADISE VALLEY.

I couldn't help thinking this week of five different memories that are just a few of the singing memories that I have while raising our children:

1. Singing at night the song: "My best friend, JESUS is my best friend, I am not alone, no I am not alone....My night light, JESUS is MY NIGHT LIGHT, I am not alone..." OR the song, "He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, the wealth of every mine...He owns the caverns and the rocks and rills, the sun and stars that shine. He is your Father and He's mine as well. He is our Father, so let us tell that if He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, I know that HE WILL CARE FOR ME."

2. Tape players beside the kids beds with easy access to Bible stories on tape or Brite Music tapes and books with songs like: "I'm a V.I.P. in my family..." OR "Take a three steps forward and two steps back and you've still made a little progress..." https://www.britemusic.com/default.aspx

3. A special song that went with a special nickname for each of the kids that I could easily break into song and sing to them, like Jessica's was "You are my Special Angel" and Crystal's was "Sugar, Honey, Honey...".

4. Making christian music a priority by listening to it in the car and in the kitchen...going to concerts and meeting the artists-getting to see them as real people with families who have a special ministry. Two of the songs on this weeks playlist are sung by two favorites: Acappella and David Phelps. In fact, GOD even blessed us with being able to have two groups in our home: Acappella and Vocal Union.

5. Devotionals in our home are part of our heritage - singing as a family unit as well as with our extended family and church family. Here are two video clips from this summers Sikes' family reunion where 111 of Steve's extended family were together in the Rocky Mountains.

NO MORE NIGHT: WE'RE ON THE WINNING TEAM

There are no cars on our normally busy road as I write this. I can hear a plane in the distance as it's either preparing to land or just taking off from the Philadelphia airport. Fireworks sound from all directions! The Philadelphia Phillies have just won the 2008 World Series!
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I love the atmosphere around winning teams! Our family has been around our fair share of them over the years from the Indiana Hoosiers to the Nebraska Cornhuskers to the Dallas Cowboys to the... You can get all of that info on Steve's blog.
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Steve and I did not have tickets to the World Series but we live close enough that Monday night we jumped in the car to go experience the history! It was rainy and it was cold. We got a few good snaps with the digital camera through the rain right after game 5 started. We pulled up to the parking lot that was barricaded off. We saw many policemen standing around in their slickers. Little did we know that history would be made in a different way Monday night - the first rain delay postponement of a game in a World Series!
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Last night was sweet for the Phillies! Again, I say, I love the atmosphere around winning teams!



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If you are a child of GOD, you are on THE winning team!

If your family are all christians, you are doubly blessed!

How does GOD do family to make it winning? Well, the ONLY way we win is because of JESUS and what HE did for us is a three round punch: He lived a perfect life, died a terrible death, and rose from the grave...all for us...HE LIVES!

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Last night in our HOW GOD DOES FAMILY class, we used the idea of a GPS (Global Positioning System) to get our minds focused on honoring the differences within our families, reviewing the G & P from the last two weeks and focusing on the S tonight.

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• G - Genogram (gender, birth order, background experiences)


• P - Personality


• S - Spirit led lives and Spiritual gifts

SPIRIT LED LIVES: With minimal observation, it is evident that babies come out of the womb with their own personalities. Over the years there have been many efforts to look at these differences of temperament. However they divide up, the important thing is that each person begin to seek understanding of himself or herself and the other members of the family. Pray that the Holy Spirit will work powerfully through your weaknesses!

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2 Corinthians 12:9-10 says, “But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

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Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

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I have seen the SPIRIT of the LIVING GOD change people's evident weaknesses into strength through His power:

• Unforgiving to Forgiving
• Unemotional to Compassionate
• Domineering to Submissive
• Self Sufficient to Spirit Led
• Sarcastic to Graceful Speech
• Undisciplined to Disciplined
• Unproductive to Service Oriented
• Exaggerator to truthful
• Unstable to GOD centered
• Stingy to Giver
• Procrastinator to Planner
• Indecisive to Decisive
• Fearful to Faithful
• Worrier to Prayer Warrior
• Moody to Even-Keeled
• Negative to Positive
• Unsociable to Sociable
• Critical to Encouraging
• Revengeful to Blessing

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We then talked about SPIRITUAL GIFTS:
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SPIRITUAL GIFTS are given by GOD to each person who becomes a christian. These gifts become the things that the child of GOD gets joy out of doing within the body of Christ. Once each of us understand our own uniqueness within the church family, the easier it is to find our niche. We filled out a little 100 question "inventory" last night to help us determine what might be each of our Spiritual Gifts.
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• Missionary
• Evangelist
• Prophet
• Teacher
• Exhorter
• Shepherd
• Mercy Shower
• Server
• Giver
• Administration

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Over the years, I have taken multiple inventories that are designed to help a person see their Spiritual giftedness. My top 5, strong gifts, are always the same. This time they were in a little different order, but it's easy for me to see why at this time in my life:

1. Teacher
2. Shepherd
3. Exhorter
4. Prophet (forth teller - not foreteller)
5. Administrator

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Whatever your Spiritual giftedness, I want to encourage you to find your place within the family of Christ and joyfully use it for His glory. It's TRANSFORMING!!!

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You can access Steve's blog here to find out more about Winning Team Associations: http://www.cochrist.org/index.php/stevesblog/

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NO MORE NIGHT: IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD?

WOMEN IN THE WORD WEDNESDAY

Yesterday, was a day full of questions for me...hearing them from others...asking them myself...and, then, hearing GOD's own question...

1. There were questions before I left home for Tuesday Morning Ladies Bible Class as I struggled through hours of email / internet problems yet again with Comcast on the phone. I asked many questions like: Why does this keep happening when it rains? How many more times will you need to come out? Why does the "last house on the line" (our house) always have the most service problems? NOTE: as I write this post, this morning, my internet is working but I have no email service....hmmmm....

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2. There were questions during class in relation to our Patriarch study that was primarily camped in Genesis 17, 18, and 19. Yet, the ultimate question was asked by GOD Himself in Genesis 18:14 "IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD?" The answer of course is "NO! NO! NO!"

• GOD had made a promise to Abraham that his descendants would be like the sand of the seashore. Then, in Genesis 18, He tells them that Sarah will be pregnant and have a son when she is 90 years old and Abraham is 100. Whoa! That takes some active faith to believe that can happen. Here's Sarah's response and GOD's question:
  

Genesis 18:9-15
9 "Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him.
"There, in the tent," he said.
10 Then the LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.
Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.
11 Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?"
13 Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' 14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son."

15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not laugh."
But He said, "Yes, you did laugh."

• In relation to our study and discussion yesterday, here are some answers to GOD's question, IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD?
  
• "IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD?" No! GOD made a way for a 90 year old woman to give birth!
  
• "IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD?"No! GOD is willing to save cities because of 10 righteous people!


• "IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD?" No! GOD can destroy cities with a word! Sodom and Gomorrah's remains lie under the Dead Sea today!
  
• "IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD?"No! Even though GOD can not stand sin, He will forgive impure and unholy people who lie, murder, have adulterous relationships, have homosexual relationships, steal, enemies of the cross, etc. because of the blood of His Son.
  
• "IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD?" No! GOD had an intimate relationship with Abraham and Sarah and He can with each one of His children who walk in the LIGHT as the blood of JESUS cleanses us of our sin.


• "IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD?" No! GOD tells the truth, in the Bible, about when His children sinned and messed up. He doesn't cover up, He opens up! What other religious group tells all the junk about their heroes? Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven!
  
• "IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD?" No! Nothing is too hard for the LORD!
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3. There were questions during lunch at Wendy's as we discussed our class, the movie FIREPROOF, and GOD working in our lives and marriages. The bottom line was and is: If we walk with GOD by faith and not by sight...taking one step at a time...not running ahead of GOD or lagging behind Him...GOD remains in the picture and THERE IS NOTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD!!!

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4. There were questions later on last night as Steve and I opened GOD'S WORD and studied 2 Corinthians around a dining room table with 4 "baby christians" full of questions. Some of the things we talked about are along the right sidebar of this blog. The questions about moms being transformed. Bottom line: IS THERE ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD? NO! NO! NO!

• "IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD?"Is it too hard for these baby christians to mature and change from their old way of life? Not if they walk in the LIGHT with the LORD! 1 John 1:5-10 "This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: GOD is LIGHT; in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the LIGHT, as He is in the LIGHT, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of JESUS, His Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives. "

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• "IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD?"Is it too hard to walk in the LIGHT and not get discouraged? Not according to two scriptures in 2 Corinthians......... 3:17-4:3 "Now the LORD is the SPIRIT, and where the SPIRIT of the LORD is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the LORD'S glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the LORD, Who is the SPIRIT. 4:1 Therefore, since through GOD's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of GOD. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of GOD." ..................................... 4:6-17 "For GOD, Who said, "Let LIGHT shine out of darkness," made His light shine in our hearts to give us the LIGHT of the knowledge of the glory of GOD in the face of CHRIST. 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from GOD and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of JESUS, so that the life of JESUS may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for JESUS' sake, so that His life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 13 It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the LORD JESUS from the dead will also raise us with JESUS and present us with you in His presence. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of GOD. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day."
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• "IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD?" Is it too hard to KNOW some things for certain? No! In 2 Corinthians 5, we learned that there are 7 things we can KNOW:


• Verse 1: I know that my body and everything I see is temporal (temporary).
• Verses 2-4: I know that heaven is real and I can long for it.
• Verses 5-8: I know with confidence that I have the SPIRIT OF GOD. (See also Ephesians 1:13-14)
• Verse 9: I know that my goal is to please GOD (and GOD alone).
• Verse 10: I know that there will be a judgment.
• Verses 11-16: I know that the love of CHRIST must be what compels me...no longer viewing anyone from a worldly point of view.
• Verses 17-21: I know that if I am in CHRIST, I am a new creation...a new creature...the Righteousness of GOD. Therefore, I love others and have the same mission or ministry as CHRIST..............RECONCILIATION!!!!!!! There are people who are morally good who still have to have JESUS. There are immoral people who still have to have JESUS. We have a huge ministry before us to bring others to JESUS!

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"IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD?"

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There are Emergency Telephone Numbers

straight to GOD that are more effective than 911!

When you...

• Need anything, phone P.R.A.Y. and then click on any of these links below to "phone" a scripture.......
• are sad, phone John 14
• have sinned, phone Psalm 51
• are facing danger, phone Psalm 91
• have been let down byothers, phone Psalm 27
• feel as though God is far from you, phone Psalm 139
• know that your faith needs stimulation, phone Hebrews 11
• are alone and scared, phone Psalm 23
• are worried, phone Matthew 8:19-34
• are hurt and critical, phone 1 Corinthians 13
• wonder about Christianity, phone 2 Corinthians 5:15-18
• feel like an outcast, phone Romans 8:31-39
• are seeking peace, phone Matthew 11:25-30
• feel as if the world is bigger than God, phone Psalm 90
• need Christ like insurance, phone Romans 8:1-30
• are leaving home for a trip, phone Psalm 121
• are praying for yourself, phone Psalm 87
• require courage for a task, phone Joshua 1
• know inflation, recession, and investments are hogging your thoughts, phone Mark 10:17-31
• are depressive, phone Psalm 27
• know that your bank account is empty, phone Psalm 37
• lose faith in mankind, phone 1 Corinthians 13
• think people are unfriendly, phone John 15
• are losing hope, phone Psalm 126
• feel the world is small compared to you, phone Psalm 19
• want to carry fruit, phone John 15
• want to know Paul's secret for happiness, phone Colossians 3:12-17
• want big opportunity/ discovery, phone Isaiah 55
• want to get along with other people, phone Romans 12
• are dealing with fear, phone Psalm 47
• feel insecure, phone Psalm 121:3
• need assurance, phone Mark 8:35
• need reassurance, phone Psalm 145:18

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NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR THE LORD!

NO MORE NIGHT: MEN OF STEEL AND VELVET SHINE LIGHT

I am so grateful for men who follow in the footsteps of JESUS...men of "steel and velvet". These men shine LIGHT along their journey as they head for the land of NO MORE NIGHT.
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What do the words "steel and velvet" look like in a man?
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Abraham Lincoln had these words used to describe him as he led our country. Men who are made of "steel and velvet" are certainly men who live out Jesus' be-attitudes of His Sermon on the Mount. A man of "steel and velvet" is a man who is...

• Strong and courageous, yet poor in spirit enough to confess his fears, weaknesses, and sin. He is a HUMBLE MAN.
  
• Strong to endure when the going gets tough, yet he cries over hurts and the sins of himself and others. He is a TENDERHEARTED MAN.


• A Strong leader of his family, yet gentle enough to be led by the hand of God. He is a GODLY GENTLEMAN


• Strong with moral courage, yet continually hungers and thirsts for righteousness. He is a SEEKER AFTER GOD'S OWN HEART.


• Strong working, responsible with his hands, as he provides for his family, yet he is known for his compassionate hands. He is a MERCIFUL MAN.


• Strong and passionate for good causes, yet when it comes to passions of the heart, he is PURE IN HEART.


• A Strong and decisive problem solver, yet a man who knows the only answers to life's problems start with making peace with His maker...he is known as a PEACEMAKER.


• Strong enough to stand his ground and be unbendable for God's ways which may lead him to be persecuted for righteousness sake. He is a man PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSENESS.

Here are a few men or stories of men who I would like to honor today. Men of "steel and velvet" who shine LIGHT into a dark world and have positively impacted my spiritual walk:

1. Although I do not know THE KENDRICK BROTHERS, I know their work. Their 3 movies tell stories of the making of men of "steel and velvet" - movies that teach, in part, about the christian walk. If you haven't seen the movies, two are on DVD and one is in the movie theaters now:

2. David Phelps and his preaching ministry in song. Here is David signing a CD for me in 2004. Listen to his music videos above and be BLESSED.



3. The elders and preachers of the Pitman church of Christ who truly lead like shepherds. Men of "steel and velvet".








4. The most important in my life and spiritual journey are my husband, Steve, and our two sons Jordan and Caleb who have each modeled JESUS to me by being LIGHT and SALT as they seek to live out the "be-attitudes of Christ"...

Here is Jordan with his wife Jacqueline.

They are expecting our first grandchild in April.

Progress is chronicled on their blog.

Here is Caleb and his new wife Krista

on the weekend of their wedding 7-7-07.

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What about your man/men of "steel and velvet"?
Leave a comment about him/them, so we can be encouraged!
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NO MORE NIGHT: COMFORT AND HOPE

MEDITATION MONDAY

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NO MORE NIGHT: COMFORT AND HOPE! If this is your first time visiting here this week, I encourage you to read yesterday's post and listen to the video above before continuing. It will help you to connect with our meditation for today! Or, if you are great at multi-tasking, you can click on the video and have it as your background music as you read this blog. Whichever, BE BLESSED!
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I have a huge imagination. It has served me well over the years and not so well. When it comes to night and scary things, my imagination does not serve me well. Hence, I needed a night LIGHT , as I grew up, to give me COMFORT AND HOPE so that I could rest well. There is something about the darkness that is just not friendly. I am so thankful that JESUS is LIGHT and "in Him there is no darkness at all."

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When we each began our walk as a christian we became part of the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. also called the KINGDOM OF LIGHT! Our journey from darkness to LIGHT had more than begun. Yesterday was such a wonderful Sunday in the Son! In part, it was because I experienced so much LIGHT as I fellowshipped with so many brothers and sisters with such transparent hearts. I've thought about our themes this month: SWEET FELLOWSHIP, THE LIGHTHOUSE, and HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD. My mind kept connecting these themes with what I was experiencing yesterday:
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1. Sunday morning Bible class: TREASURED IN MY HEART led by Linda Krinks
2. Sunday morning assembly singing, praying, worship, and fellowship perfectly connected everything we've been talking about together both on the blog and/or in person.
3. Sunday morning assembly sermon on ISAIAH 40 preached by Steve Sikes as a first in a 2 month series on Isaiah.
4. Out of state friends from Indiana joined us at worship and then their family of four came to our home for lunch and fellowship
5. Evening surprise "pounding" for returning France missionaries who have moved here to be part of our church family.

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Colossians 1:11-23 "...joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the KINGDOM OF LIGHT. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the KINGDOM OF THE SON He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

• He is the image of the invisible GOD
• the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him.
• He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
• And He is the head of the body, the church;
• He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy.
• For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him,
• and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation...

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...if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the HOPE held out in the gospel."

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Okay, so there's alot to meditate on today through my LIGHT experiences from yesterday. Feel free to take one, some, or all and find COMFORT AND HOPE for your journey:

1. TREASURED IN MY HEART - Linda Krinks continued from last week as she shared that strongholds from her past continued to "push my buttons". Two scriptures that really helped:

• Hebrews 4:16 helped, "Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need."
• Psalms 103:11-12 "For as high as the heavens are above the earth,So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west,So far has He removed our transgressions from us."

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Throughout the richness of Linda's class, here are some things that she learned along the way from the beginning of her journey as a christian and her journey as a mother (they began about the same time):

• Be proactive for yourself (this will help your whole family, too): sit at feet of Godly teachers (take notes); be mentored by Godly christian sisters; get into the Word of God - read the Bible and apply it to your life; read christian books to help you in your walk out of darkness, like THE BLESSING by Gary Smalley; become an active part of the body of Christ by volunteering for a "job" that's yours - Linda and Greg began teaching the 2-3 year olds Bible class; don't expect too much or too little from yourself; look for GOD STOPS - look to see where God is working; be aware of the battle and satan...so, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus; go to http://www.lisawhelchel.com/
• Be proactive for your children (this will help you, too) : set clear boundaries for your kids up front and give realistic consequences...don't use the removal of church or church activities as a consequence; find something to help you with family activities-Linda used a book called FAMILY NIGHT TOOL CHEST; send kids to christian camp; let other christian families love your children; be hospitable-have others in your home; try not to "fix" everything for your children...teach them to talk to God...encouraging them with words like, "God needs to hear from you about this"; choose not to speak with sarcasm to your children (little ones don't understand it and can take it personally); be constantly aware of "teachable moments"; pick your battles; have "church bags" for your kids full of things that they can use during the assembly to help them connect and not distract; say "I love you"

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One of Linda's stories that really stood out to me was when Linda, a child of divorce since the age of 4, learned from her dad (when she was 28) that she had a half sister. It was after this that Linda wrote her dad a long letter. The next week, she received a phone call from the Sherriff's dept. in his town. Her dad had passed away and they were able to find next of kin by finding her letter in his mailbox. Also, in some of the things that were left behind by her dad was a scrapbook that he had kept on her and her sister - even though he had been out of the picture for all those years. This brought some measure of COMFORT to Linda, knowing that she had not totally been forgotten.

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Linda concluded with James 1:12, reading it as if it were read to a group of women, " Blessed is a woman who perseveres under trial; for once she has been approved, she will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."
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Thank you, Linda, for being transparent about your life and matters of the heart! You brought much COMFORT AND HOPE to many through your two lessons.

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(NOTE: Linda and Greg shared with me last night that they went to see FIREPROOF on Saturday and highly recommend it. Once again, I cannot encourage you enough to take your husband and go see this movie!)

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2. SUNDAY MORNING ASSEMBLY - How Great is our God! Our singing, yesterday, included some "oldies" that connected with so many of my thoughts in the last few weeks...

• OUR GOD, HE IS ALIVE included words like "framed the worlds with His great might"; "Whose voice the prophets heard"; "the God Who we should know; Who speaks from His inspired Word"; "in Him, we live and we survive"; "He is our God, the GREAT I AM"...


• FARTHER ALONG hit me instantly as it brought to my memory that this was the other song that my dad (last Sunday's post) loved. It includes words like, "tempted and tried we're oft made to wonder why it should be thus all the day long. While there are others living about us, never molested tho in the wrong"; "Farther along we'll know all about it, farther along we'll understand why...cheer up my brother, live in the Sonshine...we'll understand it all by and by..."


• HE LEADETH ME has been my "theme song" at times throughout my life with words like "He leadeth me: O blessed tho't! O words with heavenly COMFORT fraught! Whate'er I do, where'er I be, Still tis God's hand that leadeth me."
  

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The richness of the morning could have stopped there, yet we communed with each other in memory of our LORD and prayed to our Heavenly Father together as we were filled with COMFORT AND HOPE.

Then, Steve brought us a lesson from Isaiah...

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3. STEVE'S SERMON - ISAIAH 40 continued one of the themes that had already been so evident yesterday morning - COMFORT and HOPE! This sermon was entitled: A MESSAGE OF COMFORT AND HOPE IN TROUBLED TIMES! Steve introduced it as an ongoing theme that is continued by Isaiah from chapters 40-66. I hope you have time today to read Isaiah 40. Wow! What a picture of our GOD. I have put Isaiah 40, in part, at the end of this post for your reading. Steve's lesson went like this:

• Isaiah 40:2 - Sins are forgiven!


• Isaiah 40:3-5 - God is coming!


• Isaiah 40:6-8 - The WORD of God stands forever!


• Isaiah 40:9-11 - God is coming to pay back enemies, to reward faithful, and is coming like a shepherd!


• Isaiah 40:12-26 - God is OMNI...God is Omnipotent (all powerful); God is Omnipresent (all present -everywhere!); God is Omniscient (all knowing).


• Isaiah 40:27-31 - God gives strength!

Steve gave us great COMFORT and HOPE as he guided us through this chapter but also gave us greater perspective in two other ways: 1. With his blog / bulletin article (see http://www.cochrist.org/index.php/stevesblog/. ) And, 2. In looking at this galaxy below and learning how amazing it is. Steve said that this galaxy is not as important to God as how He views each of us and His love for us. He shared this picture from our post from a while back of God's creation.. ttp://momstransformed.blogspot.com/2008/10/how-great-is-our-god-let-all-earth.html

The Sombrero Galaxy (28 million light years from Earth) was voted best picture taken by the Hubble telescope. The dimensions of the galaxy, officially called M104, are as spectacular as its appearance. It has 800 billion suns and is 50,000 light years across.

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4. SWEET FELLOWSHIP - I love the daily and weekly fellowship that takes place among believers in the KINGDOM OF LIGHT. Yet, there is something very special when it happens with brothers and sisters who you haven't seen in a while, yet have a rich history with. Such was the case yesterday with a family of four from Bloomington, Indiana who came for a visit - first, to share the assembling of God's saints with us and then, to come to our home for extended fellowship.

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Have you ever been driving in a dense fog and been frightened that you would not make it out alive? Such has been the case in my spiritual life on numerous ocassions.

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Even though, I am journeying in the KINGDOM OF LIGHT, I have not reached my final destination, so along the way there will be tears, pain, discouragement, grief....fog! It was at one of those times in my life when Steve and I were walking through a dense spiritual fog and God provided sisters and brothers to help light the way. They truly helped us survive!

Our visitors, yesterday, have been some of those lights. Our time together yesterday was short but, oh, so sweet! Christian friends who know how to give COMFORT and HOPE!

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5. SURPRISE "POUNDING" FOR NEW FAMILY - Aren't surprises wonderful!?!??!!!! Last night was no exception. One of our new families has been missionaries in France for 20 years and are returning to the states to settle in Pitman and worship with us. Last night, they thought they would be hosting a Life Group in their new home for the first time. Instead, they hosted the church! Surprise! We brought food for supper, gifts, and "pounds" of different kinds of staples to fill their pantry. Cars lined the block. The weather was warm which allowed many of us to stand outside to eat. Steve led us in a BLESSING for this family and their new home. Then, we sang: "BLESS this house, O Lord we pray, Make it safe by night and day . . . BLESS these walls so firm and stout, Keeping want and trouble out . . . BLESS the roof and chimneys tall, Let Thy peace lie overall . . BLESS this door that it may prove, Ever open, To joy and love . . . BLESS these windows shining bright, Letting in God's Heavenly light, BLESS the hearth, a blazing there, With smoke ascending like a prayer! BLESS the folk who dwell within, Keep them pure and free from sin . . . BLESS us all that we may be, Fit O Lord to dwell with thee . . BLESS us all that one day we may dwell, O Lord! With Thee!"

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Isn't that what it's about...that one day we will dwell, oh Lord, with thee...what COMFORT AND HOPE...where there is NO MORE NIGHT!

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Isaiah 40

15 Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket,

And are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales;

Behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust...

21 Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

Has it not been declared to you from the beginning?

Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

22 It is He who sits above the vault of the earth,

And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers,

Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain

And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

23 He it is who reduces rulers to nothing,

Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless.

24 Scarcely have they been planted,

Scarcely have they been sown,

Scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth,

But He merely blows on them, and they wither,

And the storm carries them away like stubble.

25 "To whom then will you liken Me That I should be his equal?" says the Holy One.

26 Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars,

The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name;

Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power Not one of them is missing.

27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD,And the justice due me escapes the notice of my God"?

28 Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The Everlasting God,

the LORD,

the Creator of the ends of the earth

Does not become weary or tired.

His understanding is inscrutable.

29 He gives strength to the weary,

And to him who lacks might He increases power.

30 Though youths grow weary and tired,

And vigorous young men stumble badly,

31 Yet those who wait for the LORD

Will gain new strength;

They will mount up with wings like eagles,

They will run and not get tired,

They will walk and not become weary."

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Andrea adds more COMFORT AND HOPE in her post today:

http://mom4boys.blogspot.com/2008/10/in-light-of.html

NO MORE NIGHT

Join us on Sunday in the SON

as we look forward to

NO MORE NIGHT!

DAY eternal and NIGHT no more

LIGHTeternal and DARK no more

TRUTH eternal and LIES no more

GOOD eternal and EVIL no more

LOVE eternal and HATE no more

JOY eternal and TEARS no more

HEALED eternal and PAIN no more

COMFORT eternal and DISCOMFORT no more

HOPE eternal and DESPAIR no more

PRAISES eternal and CURSING no more

SINGING eternal and WAILING no more

RISEN LAMB eternal and DRAGON no more

ETERNAL LIFE eternal and DEATH no more

HEAVEN eternal and HELL no more

CHRIST JESUS, THE KING eternal

and SATAN, THE LIAR no more

The GREAT "I AM" eternal

and the GREAT DECEIVER no more

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The lyrics below are to the video above. For today, we will have no music playlist...just the words to this song and the music from the video. Feel free to leave the video off and just read the words or turn on the video to hear the music and then scroll back down to these words and follow along. The words transform me everytime I read or sing them. Be transformed!

Lyrics to No More Night :

Words & music by Walt Harrah

As sung by David Phelps

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1.

The timeless theme,

Earth and Heaven will pass away.

It’s not a dream, God will make all things new that day.

Gone is the curse from which I stumbled and fell.

Evil is banished to eternal hell.

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CHORUS:

No more night. No more pain.

No more tears. Never crying again.

And praises to the great "I AM."

We will live in the light of the risen Lamb.

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2.

See all around, now the nations bow down to sing.

The only sound is the praises to Christ, our King.

Slowly the names from the book are read.

I know the King, so there’s no need to dread.

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CHORUS:

No more night. No more pain.

No more tears. Never crying again.

And praises to the great "I AM."

We will live in the light of the risen Lamb.

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3.

See over there, there’s a mansion,

oh, that’s prepared just for me,

Where I will live with my Savior eternally.

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CHORUS:

No more night. No more pain.

No more tears. Never crying again.

And praises to the great "I AM."

We will live in the light of the risen Lamb.

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All praises to the great "I AM."

We’re gonna live in the light of the risen Lamb.

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*NOTE: Heaven is referred to in today's song as the first and second heaven noted below:

• 1st heaven: SKY
• 2nd heaven: SPACE
• 3rd heaven: ETERNAL HOME

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HE WILL CARRY ME WHERE I NEED TO BE: FIREPROOF

Ketchup (Catch Up)
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It's been a wonderful week of encouragement. I want you to know what a blessing it is for me to know that you visit this site. I pray that it is a blessing to you. It's like us putting our arms around each other and walking this journey together. I'm thinking of two specific sisters who at the first of the week were really struggling and I see them allowing JESUS to carry them.
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How are you doing? Is there something you need prayer for? I pray that this week's theme has ministered to you. I had next week's theme all planned out and then Steve and I went out on a date last night and my mind is swimming with things I want to share. In fact, that leads me to what I must do.
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Mustard (Must Do)
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I must encourage you to go see the movie that we saw: FIREPROOF. Go! Walk! Run! Ride! Fly! Let JESUS carry you! Just go see this movie!
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FIREPROOF: The Movie
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The "trailer" above gives you alot of information about the movie. The group Casting Crowns sings several of the songs. Here's a link to one:
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-8SYA6rfbs
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I plan for us to talk about this movie several times over the next few weeks.
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HE WILL CARRY ME: BLESSING ME ALL THE WAY-part 2

Family Fellowship Friday

GOD is a BLESSER!!!

He wants His children to be like Him!!!

That's one way GOD DOES FAMILY FELLOWSHIP!!!

Very soon, we'll be starting a new tradition on Transformed Moms. Every Friday, will continue to be FAMILY FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY. I invite our blogger friends to link to us AND to share their stories of favorite family fellowship times. Be thinking about some of yours! The more we share, the more ideas we get, the better possibilities everyone's family fellowship will be. Since a common definition for Fellowship is "two fellows in the same ship", lets look at the types of family fellowship I am talking about. Positive activities that bond...

1. ...your entire nuclear family together.
2. ...husband and wife
3. ...mom and kids.
4. ...dad and kids.
5. ...sister/sister or sister/brother or brother/brother.
6. ...grandkids with grandparents.
7. ...kids with extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins.
8. ...your family with your church family.
9. ...you with your sisterhood.

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Get your ideas ready for next Friday and come here to LINK UP!!!

FOR TODAY:

PATTI'S FAMILY FELLOWSHIP IDEA: THE BLESSING!!!

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I love this picture of a network of people choosing to bless one another by giving shoulder massages while using encouraging words to bless the receiver of the massage.

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The first book of the Bible, Genesis shows us a trail of blessing, a trail of faith, as men and women who could not see into the future still knew that God was THE BLESSER and it was He who some chose to trust and obey. Some were deceptive about the blessing, stealing the blessing, wrestling with God in spite of their blessing, and even almost murdering because of the blessing. Words were used to bless! How are you using your words? Bless God! Bless others! Blessing God for Who He is! Blessing others because they are made in the image of God!

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The concept of “blessing” is used 521 times in the Bible, using the words: bless, blessed, blesses, and blessing. There are 66 books in the library of the Bible and God, in all His love and wisdom, chose to use this concept 81 times in the book of Genesis as He modeled His family to us. God blesses His children! He loves to bless us!

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Today, as you bless with your words, use your hands for a pat on the back, a hug, a massage, a foot rub...

1. BLESS YOUR SPOUSE! Use your hands and your words to tell your spouse how he reminds you of our big brother JESUS…give a vision for his future by being a “talent scout”…


2. BLESS YOUR CHILDREN! Use your hands and your words to tell your children how they remind you of our big brother JESUS…give a vision for his/her future by being a “talent scout”…
   

EXAMPLES to get you started:

• JESUS is A-Author of life – Acts 3:15 I see how you are like JESUS by how you use written words. You are an author!
  
• JESUS is B- Beginning and the End - Revelation 22:13 I see how you are like JESUS by how you finish what you've started.


• JESUS is C- Creator –John 1:1-3 I see how you are like JESUS by how you love to create things, coming up with new ideas and implementing them.


• JESUS is D-Deliverer-Romans 11:26 I see how you are like JESUS by the way you help those who cannot do it on their own.


• JESUS is E- Eternal Life-I John 5:13 & 20 I see how you are like JESUS by how you live your life for eternity.
  
• JESUS is F - Faithful & True-Revelation 19:11 I see how you are like JESUS by how you keep your word and are consistent.
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I am again amazed at how GOD works. I have been planning this post for this week and new christian sister, Kristi, was convicted to write a post on her new blog about the same topic. GOD, you never cease to amaze me. Thank you for transforming us, one day at a time, into Your image. It's good to look like our DADDY!

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When I read Kristi's post last night, it shocked me...I couldn't respond for almost an hour...she chose to BLESS me...I felt humbled, honored, thankful for GOD's family and my new sister, and affirmed of a talent that I have. Her BLESSING helped to give me strength for my journey. GOD's BLESSING of connecting our thoughts without us even talking about it gives me great joy.

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May your mouth be full of blessing today!

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http://thehallsjourney.blogspot.com/2008/10/bless-this-day.html

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HE WILL CARRY ME: HONORING MY DIFFERENCES

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY

HOW GOD DOES FAMILY!
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What do these license plate letter combinations have in common?

What do they mean?

• M M C G
  
• W F C L

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Well, that's a no brainer, Patti, the "C".

I have no idea what they mean!

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You're right about the "C"! And, what's more...it stands for Child.

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Last night, in our HOW GOD DOES FAMILY CLASS, we continued our discussion about the diverse make up of people within a family unit. We encourage each other to HONOR THE DIFFERENCES. Last week we talked about a family being made up of people of different genders, birth order, and background experiences. Last night we built on that by talking about different personality types.

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I've spoken briefly on former posts about various personality types. Let me give it to you as briefly as possible. A common personality theory includes 4 basic personality types that are attributed different names depending on the study or research group. The first recorded time, that these personalities were referred to was by Hippocrates, the "father of modern medicine". He assigned an anatomically referenced name to each of the four personalities: SANGUINE, CHOLERIC, MELANCHOLY, and PHLEGMATIC.
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Over time, different researchers with different studies have come up with the same conclusions. I will list a few below for you to investigate yourself. Some of the links are free and some charge. But, before you do that, let's go back to my original questions: What do these license plate letter combinations have in common? What do they mean?

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To sum up our last two classes, last night, we made our individual license plates. The first letter stands for whether or not you are MAN or WOMAN. The second two stand for whether or not you are FIRST CHILD, MIDDLE CHILD, YOUNGEST CHILD, ONLY CHILD. The final letter stands for which personality you are according to the animal names. The first license plate "number" listed above is MMCG. That is Steve's: Man/Middle Child/Golden Retriever. The next license plate "number" is mine: WFCL - Woman/First Child/Lion. We found, as we raised our children that we had a zoo at our house: MFCL, WMCG, MMCB, and WYCO.

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It was fascinating to watch at the end of class last night, as we joined others who had the same license plates. Who would have thought there was such diversity? Who would have thought there would be such connection?!!!! Who would have thought that there would be so many differences to honor?!!

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It takes alot of studying of one another...getting to know needs...spending time with each other for families to transform into what GOD intended them to be. Do you know your family? Really know them? Do you pray about honoring the differences? We'll continue this discussion next Thursday, but in the meantime, check out some of these links below and see what you can learn.

1. Mary Misicin-TRUE COLORS: YELLOW/RED/BLUE/GREEN

http://www.truecolorstest.com/True-Colors-Personality-Test.html

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2. Smalley/Trent-ANIMALS: OTTER/LION/BEAVER/GOLDEN RETRIEVER http://www.dbu.edu/jeanhumphreys/SocialPsych/smalleytrentpersonality.htm
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3. Florence Litteur-PERSONALITY PLUS: STAR/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER/ AUDIENCE http://www.classervices.com/Online_Store2.html
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4. Professional Learning-SOCIAL STYLES: EXPRESSIVE/DRIVING/ANALYTICAL/AMIABLE http://www.professional-learning.com/ss360.htm
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5. THE 100 ACRE PERSONALITY QUIZ: TIGGER/RABBIT/EEYORE/POOH

http://www.half-asleep.com/pooh/interact/quiz/quiz.php

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HE WILL CARRY ME: BECAUSE HE IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS

WOMEN IN THE WORD WEDNESDAY

Ever try to arrange or manipulate an event in your life so that it would work out just the way that you think it should work out?

• Have you done it by using the silent treatment? GUILTY!
  
  
  


• 





• Have you done it by using the temper tantrum? GUILTY!
  
  

• Have you done it by using your gifts of organizing and arranging things? GUILTY!

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Ever try to use your age or circumstances to rationalize why you behaved a certain way? GUILTY!

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Then, why are we so hard on our Bible friend, Sarah, who not only tried to manipulate GOD's plan for multiplying Abraham's seed but most probably used the age card?!?!?!!

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Linda, who I talked about in Monday's post, facilitates our Tuesday morning Beth Moore Bible Study on the Patriarchs. Yesterday, we landed in Genesis 16 and 17. Rich! It was basically one and one half hours of discussion about Sarah, Abraham, and Hagar. Thank you Linda for continually steering us back to our focus with comments like:

1. "What do you think about the comment in the book on page....?"



2. "Where do you see God working here?"



3. "Where have you come from and where are you going?"
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I especially liked our discussion after reading on page 39 of THE PATRIARCHS by Beth Moore:

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"...consider that by GOD's grace, He has a plan even when we leave it. GOD didn't call the baby 'that maidservant's child'. He called him by name: Ishmael meaning Yahweh has been attentive to your humiliation. Read these words as often as you must to absorb them into your own belief system. "YAHWEH HAS BEEN ATTENTIVE." To you, Dear one, to you!"

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We spent much time in discussion about how GOD has been attentive to us, in relation to a continuing thought by Beth:

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"Then something happened in Genesis 16:13 that is unparalleled in Scripture. Hagar gave GOD a name. No other character in the Old Testament, male or female, ever does such a thing. Only Hagar, the Egyptian maidservant.....In Hebrew, El Roi...THE GOD WHO SEES...

Is there any particular reason why that name means something special to you right now?"
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In our class, others shared their stories of how GOD did see their circumstances... how He was in the mix. Some confessed to not waiting on the LORD and running ahead. Others told of fear or lack of courage in certain situations. Still others talked about how GOD remained there for them, even when they had doubted and not acted as if He was Who He says He is.


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As usual, our rich discussion continued over lunch. GOD showed Himself as we sat around the long table at Pizza Hut. GOD is in the details of our lives and it seemed especially evident yesterday as He worked through some wonderfully SPIRIT led transformed moms.
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As I have mentioned before, October is often a month that many struggle with signs of oncoming depression because of seasonal changes. So, as I tell you another story from Pizza Hut, I will not use anyone's real name.
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Brandy has been feeling overwhelmed in the last couple weeks. She had volunteered to teach a Wednesday night Bible class for children for the fall quarter. This is not her gift but she was willing. She found out later that Steve and I would be teaching a Marriage and Family class on parenting: HOW GOD DOES FAMILY. She was disappointed that she would miss it. Last Wednesday night another sister asked to be relieved from her duties as Wednesday night childrens' Bible teacher because of extentuating circumstances...so...her class and Brandy's class were combined.

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Brandy has been sharing with me for the last couple weeks how she has been battling feelings of depression. Yet, yesterday around the table she told us how much she was dreading another Wednesday. It loomed before her as she got closer to her Wednesday night Bible class. As she talked her mouth began to quiver. Bingo! Everyone around her took note! We began listening with ears of compassion. We began seeing with the eyes of GOD.

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Several in the group had the gift of teaching, the gift of mercy, the gift of administration, and the gift of serving. By the time we were finished with our lively discussion, Brandy is now being relieved of her duties by Menda who is a gifted teacher with a great big servant heart. Danette used her gift of mercy to say, "I'll go in with you as the aide and serve however I can."

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Now, mind you, they weren't the only two that jumped in with offers. But by the time we were paying for our pizza, our sister Brandy seemed like the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders. She'll be going to the Wednesday night parenting class. Someone who has the gift of teaching will be using it for the first time at our church. But that's not all...
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The huge thing that I think came out of all of this was affirming Brandy's giftedness. After the class thing was settled, Brandy said that she "still needed something to do...I still want a place to use my gifts." Bingo again! Brandy is the most compassionate and merciful person with the elderly and on top of that she has a nursing degree. Darine asked, "What do you like to do?" Brandy responded, "I like to be with old people." By the time we paid our bills, Brandy also had a plan of how to involve herself in a ministry to the aged and dying. Her smile lit up the room!

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Ever try to arrange an event in your life and tweak it the way you think it should work out? Brandy could not have orchestrated the solving of her problem like I saw GOD do it yesterday. I give praise to THE GOD WHO SEES our circumstances. YAHWEH HAS BEEN ATTENTIVE!!!! I give thanks for His daughters who have the heart of their DADDY and want to see what He sees.

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Isn't it interesting how GOD chooses to "carry" us? Yesterday, He chose to carry Brandy right into a new ministry that will be the "right fit" for her gift set.

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In the future, we will look some at scriptures about spiritual gifts within the body of Christ. For today, this is the WORD that I can't get out of my mind. May it prick your heart, too:

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2 Corinthians 3:17-4:1

"Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart..."

. UPDATE AND THANKSGIVING FROM EVAN'S MOM:

Hi Everyone,

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I cannot thank you all enough. Your kind wishes and prayers and support have been such a blessing. Thank you Steve for coming out so early this morning to be there with us for Evan's surgery. He certainly loved your company. I just am so overwhelmed with the love everyone has shown us. Evan is doing really well and I hope he continues to feel comfortable as the pain meds and anesthesia wear off. He had a great afternoon and didn't seem to be in much pain at all. Amazing. God is so good. We cannot wait to see you all again.

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Love, Marlene and Bruce

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