PERFECT PEOPLE...TRANSFORMING TRANSPARENCY...

FAMILY FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY has come and gone. I didn't post, because I gave myself permission, even though I was going to post about NBF (our VBS Neighborhood Bible Fellowships). One of many things that helps in the transforming process is to be transparent...to admit that I'm not perfect!!! Okay, I'm being transparent here... I'm cranky, tired, and am exhausted from the last week, weeks, months... I need to spend some extra time in prayer and get an attitude adjustment.
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CATCH-UP AND MUST DO SATURDAY: We're all broken and scarred! There's nothing perfect about a perfectionist unless that perfectionist is saved by blood of Jesus. The woman of great worth... the virtuous woman gets her worth from being a child of God... in the blood line of the King of kings... There! Now, that was a must-do! There's nothing else that needs to be said that can't wait until tomorrow. I need some extra catch-up time in sleep and prayer. I hope you can do the same! Talk to you tomorrow~:) GIGATTAATTGIG!
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PERFECT PEOPLE...IN-TO-ME-SEE...

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY!!!

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Life is hard, but God is good! You say that you've heard me say that before? Well let me say it this way "My life is sooooooo hard but my God is soooooooooooooooooooo good!"
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I'm thinking that this past week of my life would make for the beginning of a great novel. Okay! For those of you who have walked alongside me through the years... I hear you! "Week, Patti?" you say, "How about the last 56.5 years of your life would make a great series of novels!!!!" Sigh! LOL...
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This has been our week of VBS, I'm supervising student teachers in summer school, we continue to have a sick daughter in our home AND this week and last anywhere from 5 to 9 vehicles have been out in front of our house...


...at any one time as workers have worked on:
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• electricity
• a new french drain
• a new sump pump
• installing the new refrigerator because the other one fried
• plumbing in multiple places
• dryer issues
• backyard issues
• adding insulation
• and, the transformer on the street that may not be up to code... hmmm... Did I say transformer????

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Let me assure you that I know a TRANSFORMER who is up to code. In fact, He is the creator of THE CODE. I hope you joined me yesterday when we memorized this scripture:

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Romans 12:2

"And do not be conformed to this world,

but be TRANSFORMED

by the renewing of your mind,

that you may prove what the will of God is,

that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

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More than ever, I realize the need for my mind to be renewed daily! I have needed the lessons that Carl and Smitty Brecheen brought to the adults and teens at VBS: Keys to a Better Life!

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Our VBS is now over! Steve took Carl and Smitty to the Philadelphia airport this morning to fly back to Abilene, TX. Dan is leading four van loads that carried some of our church plus those from West Virginia who had helped with our VBS. They'll spend the day in NYC.

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I sit here at my computer much later than I usually post, wanting to share with you something TRANSFORMING that I have been thinking about since Carl and Smitty's VBS lessons. Here it is! INTIMACY!!!
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Let's use this pronunciation of INTIMACY....(IN-TO-ME-SEE)...
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1. I need to be plugged into the blood of Jesus... be a part of His family... so that when God IN-TO-ME-SEES...He sees me perfect because of His Son...

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2. I need to be plugged into God first thing in the morning by renewing my spiritual mind via prayer, scripture reading, praise, and worship... This daily appointment with the LORD, that some refer to as their quiet time, is an offering for Him to IN-TO-ME-SEE. He needs to see that I have fed His Spirit who lives inside of me and not become spiritually anoerexic.

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3. I need to remain plugged into being led by the Holy Spirit of God, walking and talking with Him, quoting His word, allowing Him to grow fruit in me, praising and worshipping Him.... every moment... every place... every circumstance... I need to spend my days continually looking into His wants and His ways as I let Him IN-TO-ME-SEE.



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4. I need to stay plugged into my husband as I let him let IN-TO-ME-SEE... Carl referred to the 4 most important minutes of the day that can be TRANSFORMING when practiced daily. Each requires a full body hug: the first minute together in the morning, the last minute before the first one leaves the house, the first minute that you both are back at home together, and the last minute before going to bed... Of course, those four minutes are in addition to praying and studying together, and living and loving each other....

5. I need to stay plugged into the body of Christ... I need some brothers and sisters in Christ who IN-TO-ME-SEE!!! I need those who are more spiritually mature than me... those who can walk alongside of me... and those who I am "mentoring"... those who I am teaching... who can IN-TO-ME-SEE!!!


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As I stood on the 11th floor roof of the parking garage near Independence Hall the other day and looked down at the American flag that I posted yesterday, I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs... F.R.E.E.D.O.M. isn't free! Someone had to pay the price for your liberty!!!

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Are you plugged in to the Savior of the world... the freedom writer? Are you plugged into the head of the church? Are you plugged into the transformer who can IN-TO-ME-SEE????? Please, sister, get plugged in today! Make the first step by going back through yesterday's post!!!

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PERFECT PEOPLE...ONLY IN CHRIST...

There was a lot of excitement in downtown Philadelphia yesterday as I headed to meet Steve and Carl & Smitty Brecheen at Independence Hall. I snapped some pics with my cell phone as dozens of television trucks awaited the verdict of yet another senator who had fallen into corruption. The trucks/vans on my left, the court house on my right, and Independence Hall straight ahead.

What a great nation! Founded by men who believed in the One God! Founded by men who based how they lived on the Word of God! What a great nation that at least still makes an effort to right injustices. A nation that trusts in God and believes in liberty... freedom... being united... I can only pray that this nation holds to the truths that our founding fathers found so evident! As we sat in the buggy in front of Independence Hall I took this picture of the flag that stands majestically in front. The way the sun shines down on it makes my heart say, "America may God continue to shed His grace on thee!"

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At first, I didn't know what all the hoopla was about. So, just for a fleeting moment, I hoped that reporters had heard that a great man and woman of God were in downtown Philadelphia, the city of love. Oh, well! The God of love and you and I know that the news reporters missed The Story! Smitty and Carl got in a carriage with Steve and I and took a tour while the news people waited.

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This week, Dr. Carl Brecheen has been the adult teacher for our VBS.

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Carl, like our founding fathers, believes that the WORD OF GOD is "living and active"...it's applicable to our lives. In fact, He spoke last night about being wise and about the woman of "noble character"... a woman who is wise enough to keep herself daily in THE WORD OF GOD... Thank you for joining me on:

The last few days, Carl has stressed over and over again the importance of men and women...

1. meeting God alone first thing each morning to start the new day
2. reading, memorizing, and meditating on scripture
3. praying to God (not just "saying our prayers"); include, praying over scripture
4. singing christian songs
5. being a humble and wise seeker of righteousness

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I ask you to join me right now in meeting God using some of the principles that Dr. Carl has been teaching us:

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1. MEET GOD! Right here! Right now!

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2. SCRIPTURE: READ His inspired Word!

• Romans 12:2 "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

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3. SCRIPTURE: MEMORIZE! Read 4 times! Quote 4 times! Read 4! Quote 4.

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• 1st PHRASE- 1st READ: -"And do not be conformed to this world..." Now, quote it!
• 1st PHRASE - 2nd READ - "And do not be conformed to this world..." Now, quote it!
• 1st PHRASE - 3rd READ -"And do not be conformed to this world..." Now, quote it!
• 1st PHRASE - 4th READ -"And do not be conformed to this world..." Now, quote it!

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• 2nd PHRASE - 1st READ -"...but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." Now, quote it!
• 2nd PHRASE - 2nd READ - "...but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." Now, quote it!
• 2nd PHRASE - 3rd READ - "...but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." Now, quote it!
• 2nd PHRASE - 4th READ - "...but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." Now, quote it!

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• 3rd PHRASE - 1st READ - "...that you may prove what the will of God is..." Now, quote it!
• 3rd PHRASE - 2nd READ-"...that you may prove what the will of God is..." Now, quote it!
• 3rd PHRASE - 3rd READ - "...that you may prove what the will of God is..." Now, quote it!
• 3rd PHRASE -4th READ - "...that you may prove what the will of God is..." Now, quote it!
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• 4th PHRASE - 1st READ - "...that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Now, quote it!
• 4th PHRASE - 2nd READ- "...that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Now, quote it!
• 4th PHRASE - 3rd READ- "...that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Now, quote it!
• 4th PHRASE - 4th READ- "...that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Now, quote it!
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• Romans 12:2
• Romans 12:2
• Romans 12:2
• Romans 12:2

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Can you quote this scripture from memory? Try it again tomorrow... how about try it for the next 4 days? Get it deep within your heart!!!!

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4. SCRIPTURE: MEDITATE / PRAY over it with a HUMBLE heart!

• Dear Lord, You are my Heavenly Father! I praise You for making this world and everything in it. Yet, You teach me to "not be conformed to this world". To not get stuck in just doing what everyone else does. I'm thinking about the caterpillar who is basically stuck to crawling on the ground or on a branch. You want me to be all I am intended to be... to fly... to soar... to be beautiful... You want me to "be transformed by the renewing of" my mind. God, I need daily renewal of my mind by being in your WORD. I need renewal by talking to You, being with Your people, and learning from those who are wise in Your ways. When I do not renew my mind, I have so many questions, doubts, and fears. Yet, You say that I should do this "...to prove what the will of God is...". You are so right! I confess to You that when I am not daily renewing my mind... listening to You... that I struggle (like a caterpillar) with what Your will is! I just want to "get it" every day that it is You and You alone Who is "good... acceptable... perfect... " and Who can transform me into the best that I can be. Thank You for opening Your arms to this sinful, unacceptable, and imperfect woman with Your grace and Your mercy. I'm grateful for the hope that I see when I think of the caterpillars transformation to a butterfly. Thank you for seeing me perfect because I am in Christ! Thank You, Jesus!"

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5. SING: I can sing so many christian songs like our theme song of this week:

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There's no such thing as perfect people.
There's no such thing as a perfect life.
So come as you are, broken and scarred.
Lift up your heart and be amazed
And be changed by a perfect God.

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If you live in Jersey, Delaware, or the Philly area,

come tonight at 7 p.m.

and hear Carl speak on

the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT in our lives.

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PERFECT PEOPLE...TRUST GOD...

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There are very few young women who I know that I could look at before they were married and say, "You are a virtuous woman!" Julie Marcum is one of the few. Julie fears the LORD and has a healthy concept of her worth as a child of God.
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Julie was raised as the daughter of missionaries to Kenya. She came to the states to attend York College. At the time, I was teaching there and Julie was my intern. She fell in love with Steve's nephew Josh, a missionary kid from Ecuador. They married! They graduated from college. They worked in youth ministry for a while. They moved to Memphis, TN for Josh to get his Master's of Divinity degree from Harding Graduate School of Religion. They began having children. They joined a team of people and headed to Bolivia, South America to do mission work.
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Over the years, Josh and Julie have been two of my heroes of faith, as I have watched them from near and far, they have chosen that no matter the circumstances, they will TRUST GOD. I'm so thankful that "transformed mom Julie" has not recently become a widow. I'm extremely grateful that three little girls did not become fatherless. I praise God that our nephew, Josh, was spared.

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You see, the last week of June in Bolivia was winter break. Josh had organized a bus trip for a group of their church young people to take them to a retreat. He rented an experienced driver and bus. On the way to the retreat, the bus went over this cliff.


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This is what is left of the bus. The top came completely off! Many were injured and taken to the hospital. Josh broke three ribs.

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These three precious young women were killed. Others remain hospitalized. Many who have been released from the hospital will need extensive rehabilitation.


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Although horrific, we are so grateful for the short time that God gave these three young women to their families. We are aware that God has been gracious in the midst of extreme loss.
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Julie has kept us updated over the last week+ via her blog. You may read the complete story there, beginning on her July 2 post, as you join me in prayer for their physical, emotional, and spiritual recoveries. It will be a long road. Some will be tempted to blame God. Others will ask "Why?" None are perfect or will have perfect responses to this. Yet, the words of our theme song this week encourage us in our walk with God: .

"There's no such thing as perfect people.
There's no such thing as a perfect life.
So come as you are, broken and scarred.
Lift up your heart and be amazed
And be changed by a perfect God."
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Two places to continue to access are:

• JULIE'S CONTINUAL UPDATES AT: http://jjmarcum22.blogspot.com/
• OTHER STORIES OF GOD'S GOODNESS THROUGH MANY DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES AT: http://GIGATTAATTGIG.blogspot.com - The current post is a story of Josh's mother when she was little girl. You will get a picture of Josh's faith as you read his mother's story of TRUSTING GOD!

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PERFECT PEOPLE...BROKEN AND SCARRED...

MEDITATION
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MONDAY
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"There's no such thing as perfect people.
There's no such thing as a perfect life.
So come as you are, broken and scarred.
Lift up your heart and be amazed
And be changed by a perfect God..."

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Yesterday, was a day most blessed! A day rich and full with the family of God! As my friend Danny said on Facebook a little while ago, "I love my church family! It's so good to be home!" Danny is referring to a church family - both male and female - who are very transparent about their brokeness... a church family who know that the only perfection lies within Jesus Christ and our hearts have been forever changed because of Him!!!!

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This week is our Vacation Bible School. I love the way a lot of churches in the east do VBS. Another church family comes to teach our classes and basically carry on the children's part of VBS while the teens and adults can be part of the teaching of someone who can teach us...fill us.... last year it was Patrick Mead...this year it's Carl and Smitty Brecheen.

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You'd be here all day if I shared with you everything that I've been meditating on from yesterday. Rich! Deep! Life changing! Encouraging! Blessed!

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If you are even a semi-regular to this blog, you know some of my favorite scriptures. Yup! They were there yesterday in Carl's lessons and Smitty's women's class. AND... there were many connections to what we've been talking about in our VIRTUOUS WOMEN series of lessons as well as our new theme song for the week. Who would have thought?!!!? Well, of course, the Holy Spirit of God! You know...the scriptures about...

• fearing the LORD
• earthen vessels and transformation
• loving the LORD
• the blessed life

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Here are these four thoughts/summaries/concepts that I got yesterday from the Brecheen's for meditation:

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1. SMITTY on...

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Fearing the LORD:

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Smitty addressed the fact that we had 5 different age groups of women, all with varying needs. Yet, she said, "all need to fear the LORD!" For years, she has met with the same group of women to pray. The mission statement of her prayer group is this scripture from Malachi 3:16-18 that she emphasized in separate points:

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• A SISTERHOOD OF WOMEN WHO FEAR THE LORD SHOULD SPEND TIME TALKING TO EACH OTHER: "Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another..."
• THE LORD PAYS ATTENTION TO WHEN HIS FAMILY TALKS TO EACH OTHER AND HE LISTENS: "...and the LORD gave attention and heard it..."
• GOD KEEPS A "SCRAPBOOK" OF HIS CHILDREN WHO FEAR HIM AND ESTEEM HIS NAME: "...and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name..."
• THOSE WHO FEAR THE LORD AND ESTEEM HIS NAME ARE HIS CHILDREN WHO HE WILL SAVE: "...'And they will be Mine,' says the LORD of hosts, 'on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.'
• THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOD'S FAMILY AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT GOD'S FAMILY: "...So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him."

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Not only did I love the "book of remembrance" being a "scrapbook", but Smitty also referred to Revelation 5 where our God (who is to be feared) has bowls full of the prayers of the saints sitting on His table. (So, instead of a bowl of fruit or a bouquet of flowers, God has my prayers decorating His table. Sobering! Encouraging!)

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2. Smitty on...

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Earthen Vessels and Transformation:

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2 Corinthians 4:7-18
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,

that the surpassing greatness of the power

may be of God and not from ourselves...

...knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus

will raise us also with Jesus...

For all things are for your sakes,

that the grace which is spreading to more and more people...

...Therefore we do not lose heart..."

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Smitty encouraged us to:

• be empowered by God
• be intimate with God (come to Him broken, scarred, poured out)
• pray!
• discover GRACE!
• have faithful women friends who fear the LORD (our sisterhood)

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3. Carl on...

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Loving the LORD...

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Carl and Smitty are both very practical teachers. Carl shared the Shema as the most important scripture in the Old Testament. For many years, Carl has gotten up early to spend time with the LORD. This is the scripture that He starts out each new day with:

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Deuteronomy 6:4-9
"Hear, O Israel!

The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!

And you shall love the LORD your God

with all your heart

and with all your soul

and with all your might.

And these words, which I am commanding you today,

shall be on your heart;

and you shall teach them diligently to your sons

and shall talk of them when you sit in your house

and when you walk by the way

and when you lie down

and when you rise up.

And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand

and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.

And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house

and on your gates..."

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To help us make this practical, Carl shared that He and Smitty made it a point to sit in a circle with their children everyday to learn/discuss:

• scripture
• prayer
• song

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When they put scripture to memory, they actually memorized it in two specific ways:

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a. Separating a scripture in sections and repeating it 4 times in those sections, such as, the first 2 verses of the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5, might be separated and memorized like this....

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• SIX WORDS: "And when He saw the multitudes, (read 4 times; quote 4 times)
• SIX WORDS: He went up on the mountain; (read 4 times; quote 4 times)
• FIVE WORDS: and after He sat down, (read 4 times; quote 4 times)
• FIVE WORDS: His disciples came to Him. (read 4 times; quote 4 times)
• FOUR WORDS: And opening His mouth (read 4 times; quote 4 times)
• FIVE WORDS: He began to teach them, (read 4 times; quote 4 times)
• ONE WORD: saying..." (read 4 times; quote 4 times)

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At this point, Carl says that not only can your kids tell you a lot about what is happening but they have the scripture put to memory. (Oh, you know how much I love Matthew 5!)

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b. Carl and Smitty also presented, studied, discussed, memorized a Proverb for the day to their children. On the first day of the month, it would be a proverb from Proverbs chapter 1. Today, since it's July 13, it would be a proverb from Proverbs 13, like verse 1:

• "A wise son accepts his father's discipline, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke."

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4. Carl on...

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THE BLESSED LIFE...

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You got it! The Sermon on the Mount! Yup! Carl had my attention. Do you know what? I learned some new things. We've spent a lot of time on this blog on this topic, but last night Carl gave me more to meditate on...new things...and things that I hadn't thought of in a while:

• A disciple is a learner.
• Some scholars use these words in the Beattitudes in place of "blessed" or "happy": "TO BE CONGRATULATED" .... what a great thought... God says, "Way to go! You are to be congratulated! You 'get it'!"
• Here, let's try it...
• To be congratulated are the poor in spirit (the humble)...
• To be congratulated are those who mourn over sin...
• To be congratulated are those who are meek/gentle and allow God to harnass them (bit/bridle/lead) for His task/glory...
• To be congratulated are those who hunger/thirst for righteousness much like someone who is drowning is "hunger/thirsting for air"...it's Christ's righteousness we need...
• To be congratulated are the merciful... (not giving people what they deserve)...
• To be congratulated are the pure in heart...the heart of Christ...the only heart with no contaminants...
• To be congratulated are the peacemakers...who work toward an absence of hostility between people and their God and mankind...
• To be congratulated are those persecuted for righteousness sake...
• To be congratulated are those who have been insulted, persecuted, and lied about because of their lives in Christ...

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The next time your kids walk out the door, say to them, "Be a blessing!!!!" If they choose to be a blessing, they are to be congratulated! They have been SALT and LIGHT to a flavorless and dark world.

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Thank you, Carl and Smitty! I can't wait until tonight! I like this kind of VACATION Bible School!

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"There's no such thing as perfect people.

There's no such thing as a perfect life.

So come as you are, broken and scarred.

Lift up your heart and be amazed

And be changed by a perfect God..."

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PERFECT PEOPLE

SUNDAY IN THE SON

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We'll spend this week and next discussing the Virtuous Woman as a "woman of worth". Our theme song of the week came quickly to mind. It's been on the top 20 list of christian songs recently on K-LOVE and BILLBOARD:

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Natalie Grant sings...

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS PERFECT PEOPLE

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I have put the words here so that you can follow along with the playlist.

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1.

"Never let 'em see you when you're breaking

Never let 'em see you when you fall

That's how we live and that's how we try

Tell the world you've got it all together

Never let them see what's underneath

Cover it up with a crooked smile

But it only lasts for a little while

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[CHORUS:]

There's no such thing as perfect people

There's no such thing as a perfect life

So come as you are, broken and scarred

Lift up your heart and be amazed

And be changed by a perfect God

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2.

Suddenly it's like a weight is lifted

When you hear the words that you are loved

He knows where you are and where you've been

And you never have to go there again

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[CHORUS]

There's no such thing as perfect people
There's no such thing as a perfect life
So come as you are, broken and scarred
Lift up your heart and be amazed
And be changed by a perfect God

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3.

Who lived and died to give new life

To heal our imperfections

So look up and see out

And let grace be enough

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[CHORUS]

There's no such thing as perfect people
There's no such thing as a perfect life
So come as you are, broken and scarred
Lift up your heart and be amazed
And be changed by a perfect God

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By a perfect God [5x]

Be changed by a perfect God

Be changed

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HE IS EXALTED...GIGATTAATTGIG...

KETCHUP AND MUSTARD SATURDAY

Join me over a burger for a little

Catch Up and Must Do

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1. Yesterday I read a note that said, in essence

• the more I pray, the worse it gets!!!!! Why pray? My friend said that it seemed the more she prayed, the harder things got.

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Yes, I have noticed that with our family and with others! In fact, yesterday, I was also talking with Jessica about it and I brought up our reading "Pilgrim's Progress" as a family when the kids were younger. It's a great book about the "journey of life". We read a revised edition for kids with pictures. She said, "How could I forget!?!!? I've spent much of my life stuck in the wilderness!"

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My friend, Jessica, you, and me... we all need to help each other carry our burdens... love and serve... love and serve... love and serve... life is a journey over tall mountains and treacherous valleys. It's not for the faint of heart! Here's a MUST DO.... Please repeat after me 6 times... "LIFE IS HARD, BUT GOD IS GOOD"...
Yes, GIGATTAATTGIG!

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2. If you have not seen the Schwamb video yet, it takes the whole idea over the top of LIFE IS HARD, BUT GOD IS GOOD...please take a few minutes and view it at http://GIGATTAATTGIG.blogspot.com

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3. All you VIRTUOUS WOMEN, who we've referred to as STEEL MAGNOLIA'S who "fear the LORD" no matter what... please remind yourselves of that discussion and remember that GIGATTAATTGIG... Mandy sent this to me from her cell phone yesterday:

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4. Our little grandbaby, Chloe, turned 3 months this week. I pray that she will stand strong on her life journey... GIGATTAATTGIG.... Check out the stories at http://jordandjacqueline.blogspot.com

. 5. If you are a Pitman gal, remember tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m., Smitty Brecheen of Abilene, Texas will speak to us in the fellowship hall. We need to hear the wisdom of those who have traveled this journey and stood strong! See you there!!!
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GIGATTAATTGIG!!!!