Ash Wednesday

That's TODAY! Ash Wednesday! 40 days before Jesus was resurrected from the dead. Hmmm...what does that mean to me? What does that mean to you? Well from the research I have been doing apparently for the last 2000 years Christians have practiced Lent. Lent is a 40 day season to prepare our hearts for Easter. To remember what Christ did for us on the Cross. Lent means Fast. Why 40 days and why fast you may be asking. Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert, so the season of Lent represents those 40 days where he was tempted, fasted and prayed. Lent is a time where we can examine ourselves, and give up something of value something that is important for those 40 days, in remembrance of the sacrifice Jesus made for us. He spent 40 days in the desert preparing for His ministry and to face temptation. (Matthew 4)

From what I can tell from researching, the 40 days does not include Sundays because Sundays are a mini celebration of the Resurrection, a celebration of Jesus victory over sin and death. So the season of Lent is actually 46 days. I like that idea!

All week I will be thinking about my Jesus every time I am tempted for a Tea. YES I said tea! I have a wonderful green tea with pomegranate or mango every day with a tbs of honey. Mmmmmm!!! Sometimes I have two! So for the season of Lent I am going to fast my tea, in order to prepare my heart for Easter. And on Sundays I think I will have a tea and celebrate with my family that the Resurrection day is coming! What a wonderful way to get excited about the work Jesus did, about his ministry, about his sad and devastating death, and about the celebration of the empty tomb, His precious blood that washed me clean, and His amazing love for the Father and for ME!

I want to show my children that they too can seek the Lord and will find Him. They can participate in Lent with mommy, and we can celebrate together too!! My heart longs for them to really know Him at an early age.

I encourage you to search your heart and ask the Lord what you may sacrifice for Him, because He has sacrificed so much for you. May you be blessed as you seek Him, and find Him. May he wash His amazing love over you. May you find JOY in celebrating with Christians everywhere this season of Lent. May Jesus soften your heart and fill you to over flowing as you give time to Him and prepare for Easter.

Then Jesus was lead out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted there by the Devil. For forty days and forty nights he ate nothing and became very hungry. then the Devil came and said to him, "if you are the Son of God, change these stones into loaves of bread." But Jesus said "NO! The scriptures say, People need more than bread for their life; they MUST feed on EVERY WORD OF GOD". Matthew 4:1-4

Happy Ash Wednesday!

Attack

This evening seemed a little chaotic. Kaehli my oldest was very over tired from a sleep over at a friends the night before so she was short and snappy and grouchy with all of us. This lead to other short and snappy children. Which lead to a short and snappy mommy and daddy. Tory struggled with a sinus cold all day and was feeling miserable and dizzy. Grace has been going through this deathly screaming stage which seems to be what I have been waking up to for the last few weeks which adds to the "short and snappy mommy". All of this to say that we were all kinda bickering and not having a happy night together at all. Supper was rushed and if you know my husband at all you know that he is a TIME WARDEN!! Can't be late!! Anyway we were driving to church tonight at it hit me that the enemy was trying to keep us from going to church. I looked at Tory and said...it's spiritual ware fare! We are being attacked because the enemy is trying to keep us from going to church. So I started declaring that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour and I am a daughter of the King. And from Tory, to Kaehli, Ashley Grace to Cole we all out loud declared this! And instantly I felt a little more relaxed and a peace came over the van.
We got to church and the kids went to their classes, we took our seats with our Starbucks coffee in hand and waited. We had been anticipating this service all week. A Uganda preacher took the stage with our pastor and began to share his testimonies of delivering witches, and soldiers, Parliament leaders, and people. How these men and women use demonic powers to control people and the country. He shared how God told him to take back the land of Uganda. Even the government was scared of these witches who called on demons to give them powers, to burn houses down, kill people, sacrifice children, and worship Satan with alters and human sacrifices and other unclean things. He shared how the Holy Spirit speaks to him with knowledge and wisdom and how he has been used to heal God's children. He has been used to take back the land of Uganda and no witch or demon is stronger than the power of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Many many people came to know our God in Uganda and even one of the witches that was delivered is in ministry now. He spoke over our little congregation, and called out healings that were happening then and there. He ended the service with asking if there was anyone who needed to rededicate their life to Christ, or for the first time give everything over to Christ. He asked those people to raise their hand, and then come up on stage. Over 30 people I would say came up! AMAZING! He told them how when he came to know Jesus, he gave his whole life and never looked back! He told these new Christians to do the same. We worshipped and celebrated together. It was powerful and amazing! God can work and is working in Uganda and God can work here!
I was so happy to have been in this service and wished it didn't have to end because of childcare. God is so amazing and I can't seem to get enough of Him and the testimonies of how he is working all across our nation to save His children. I hope one day I can go and witness for myself these wondrous works of the King. I hope I can be a light in this dark world.

But for now, I recognize that even here in the best place to live in the world we undergo spiritual attack because the enemy wants to rob, kill, steel, and destroy!! I choose to put on the full armor of God for me and my family. Tonight after we put the kids to bed my second daughter Ashley came up stairs weeping. She was so upset because she had a bad dream. It was literally minutes that she had been sleeping, so I thought maybe she was lying just to come out and procrastinate going to bed. I could tell instantly she wasn't lying because of how upset she was though. I said tell me what you dreamt Ashley. She couldn't tell me she said...it was too terrible. I told her that she had to tell me and say it so there would be no more darkness, for where there is light (by her telling me) there could not be darkness. Finally she started to tell me her dream. She slowly told me that there was a knock on her door and when she opened it, there was a..a...a...(she couldn't say it). What was it Ashley? She continued to cry...it's OK I told her. It was a...robber and he had a (really really crying now) a knife. I said Ashley was he coming to get you? Did he hurt you? No she shook her head...You momma he was coming to get you! I grabbed her and held her and hugged her tight and we prayed together out loud. She repeated after me
I am a child of the King Jesus Christ. I am protected and saved and loved by him. His powers are stronger than any other power. He protects my family. His blood washes me clean. He died for me. He loves my mommy and protects her. Nothing will happen to my family that isn't in God's will. ( I continued to pray over her, that her mind would be protected, that the holy spirit would fill her, our house and every room, that she would sleep well and know that we are safe and loved and protected). The enemy has no power here and he isn't going to rob or steel, destroy or kill anything!!!

Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere. Ephesians 6:11-18

His eye is on the sparrow

I love God's word. No matter how I feel as long as I am willing to look past my own selfishness and emotions my father is always faithful to meet me.

Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to Him than a whole flock of sparrows. Matthew 10:30

Do you know how loved you are? Do you know? Do you know God knows every hair on your head and how many He placed there? Do you know you are a son or daughter of the King? Do you know He has His eye on you?

I pray that you would find the Lord this Feb 14th. You are so very loved! More than you know! GOD IS LOVE! And He is the source of EVERY mercy and the God who comforts us! Cor.1:3

My heart is FULL to overflowing for each and every one of you in my life. I love you! And am so very thankful for you! Our only power and success come from Him! 2 Cor 3:5 and each of you are treasures from God!

p.s the heart picture is off a google internet search for hearts, and so is the sparrow.

No Brains!

Ashley has been home sick for the last three days with croup. I can tell she is feeling a little better today. This is what I heard from up the stairs this morning and I had to share it as Tory and I had quite the chuckle!

Grace (who is 4): "Ashley smacked me with her stuffy on my head! And now I don't have any brains!!!! IT'S NOT GOOD FOR YOU, you know!!!"

So Grace's advice to you would be AVOID any oncoming *Stuffies* at all times or you too might be brainless!!

(smile)

Sweet Ashley

Last night was a very sad date night. Tory and I decided we just had to make an effort to be together, alone! So we rigged up our sitter, and left the house around 6:30. We went to the mall and guess what? It was closed. Went to silver city and all the movies had already started by the time we got there or they didn't start for a few hours. So we left. Tried Chapters down stairs...closed. I had a gift certificate to Chapters so we drove to another one, and it was open. I knew what book I wanted already, and encyclopedia on Roses. It is a huge beautiful rose colored hard covered book. They didn't have it. So I settled for another a-z encyclopedia on perennials. It was only 8pm. Now what? Moxie's? Desert and tea? Can't...trying to be healthier and not eat after supper. Hmm....
We ended up renting a movie and coming home. We got ready for bed and got comfy clothes on. Cut up apples and oranges (not quite the popcorn we would like but it would have to do)and jumped on the bed to Watch "What happens in Vegas". It was a pretty discouraging date up till this point, but we really just wanted to be together so it all ended just right.
At 10:00pm Ashley came upstairs not breathing well, disorientated, and out of it. As soon as I heard her coming down the hall way I knew. Croup. My kids are all susceptible to it. And if we went to a movie we wouldn't have been home to help her. I was so glad our date turned out the way it did right then and there. I knew it was Gods plan. Tory and I threw on our house coats and very calmly took our 8 year old baby down stairs. He wrapped her in a blanket and took her outside on the front step and sat with her. The cold air opens up airways that are closed with Croup. I got out the medicine and cough syrup. And put on my coat and a coat on Ashley and we wrapped ourselves up and sat together in the February cold. As I listened to her breathe deeply in and out...I was so thankful to be at home with her.
No hospital trip necessary because of the life experience that God has blessed us with. How Tory and I have settled into our roles as mommy and daddy. Ashley slept well the rest of the night and this morning her chest has already begun to loosen up.

Thank you Jesus for taking care of us and for your perfect timing. Thank you for sweet Ashley and that you love her so much. Help her to heal up fast so she can get back to doing her favorite things. In your precious name Amen.

Brotherly Love

This morning is clean up day in our house. Everyone was sent off after breakfast to clean their rooms, to tidy up the basement and bathrooms. It's amazing to me that in the midst of a "clean up" day my children are hystericaly laughing and finding ways to make it fun!

I found Cole in Grace's room (instead of his own) helping her make the bed. She was standing there with folded arms crossed over her body because in her words "IT DOESN'T GO THAT WAY!". But then Grace would burst out into hysterics because Cole would say some sort of potty talk, or dramaticly throw himself across her bed, or pretend like he was dieing and make some sort of choking sound and fall on the floor. It was too cute! I just love how he is taking care of her even at there young ages of 6 and 4! In the end Grace was content with how her big brother finished the job.

This reminds me of my husband, and how he makes me laugh. How no matter how mad I am or hurt, he somehow gets me to crack a smile! Even when I am determined (and I can be VERY determined) he lovingly, persistanly and faithfully makes sure we get it all out! Somehow ending with laughing/crying exausted from tormenting each other with teasing love. How I can only give in because I can't stay mad anymore. Drives me CRAZY when I want to be mad!! What would I do with out you hun?

I think Cole is going to be just like you when he grows up! Loving, patient, gentle, kind, helpful, taking care of the special girls in his life, loving to make people laugh especially his wife when she's mad! I love you two boys! Atleast I get to keep one of you!!