It's a New Year!

Happy New Year!!
It promises to be a good year here in Oklahoma. I've started a new job at our local library-which I am loving so far. It's 10 minutes up the road and such a great place to work. I only wish I had more hours. But on the other hand, I am happy to be part time so I have more time to spend with family including a certain 17 month old blonde haired, blue eyed little boy.
I also have time for Bible study which I am so excited about.
Today was Day 5 of week one of "Breaking Free" for me.....the second time around. I did this study several years ago as a new Christian. Since then Beth has updated the study and I have an entirely new outlook. And a new yoke.
Today's lesson really got me thinking about what "freedom" in Christ would be like. Those thoughts caused me to look up the word "freedom" which made me think about blogging too. Blogging has always been more like a journal to me. As you can see, I am not very good at journaling. Maybe someday I will be better.
Back to freedom. I was so inspired by the definition that I wanted to copy and paste it here from Dictionary.com.


Collins
World English Dictionary
freedom  (ˈfriːdəm)
 
— n
1. personal liberty, as from slavery, bondage, serfdom, etc
2. liberation or deliverance, as from confinement or bondage
3. the quality or state of being free, esp to enjoy political and civil liberties
4. ( usually foll by  from ) the state of being without something unpleasant or bad; exemption or immunity: freedom from taxation
5. the right or privilege of unrestricted use or access: the freedom of a city
6. autonomy, self-government, or independence
7. the power or liberty to order one's own actions
8. philosophy  the quality, esp of the will or the individual, of not being totally constrained; able to choose between alternative actions in identical circumstances
9. ease or frankness of manner; candour: she talked with complete freedom
10. excessive familiarity of manner; boldness
11. ease and grace, as of movement; lack of effort
 
I want that. Don't you?
From today's lesson, Beth writes "nothing needs the infiltration of God's truth more than the heart. We will find freedom to the degree our hearts accept, rely, and respond to the truth of God's Word."
Isaiah 61:1-4 are key scriptures for this lesson.
"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor."
I love the ending of today' lesson.
Beth writes-
~ Christ came to set the captives free- no matter what kind of yoke may be binding them.
~ He came to bind up the broken hearted- no matter what broke the heart.
~ He came to open up the eyes of the blind- no matter what may have veiled their vision.
At the risk of sounding too churchy........Hallelujah!
Oh, I seriously hope I can "journal" more often!
Much Love & Many Blessings,
Angel
Today is week 2- day 4......I never did publish this post. I meant to add pics, but never did...... So I am posting now and again later with pictures. So come on back.

Excited!!

I am excited to be doing this Bible study online!
And all the way over in Virginia, so is my BFF Peg!

Anyone else?

New Year- New Word!

It's 2010!
Are you ready? Cuz I know I'm not!
I've been thinking a LOT about this year and what it holds...most of which I don't even know about. But the things I do know are both exciting and scary.
It's at this time of year that I choose a word, one word, to base my year on as a focus of sorts. I don't even remember what my word was last year. But this year's word will be extremely important to me. After much deliberation I've chosen the word "PRAY".
I've decided to take things "one day at a time" this year and of course take it all to God in prayer, knowing that only with God can I get through it all.
The sermon at our church on December 27th really struck home.
And it was based on Matthew 11:28-30
Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."
And a light load is something I could really use!
What does the year hold?
It all starts with a graduation in May as Brian graduates from college. Then a wedding as he and fiancee Alli get married in July. A retirement sometime soon as Kevin plans to retire from the Air Force. Jake and Megan are expecting so our first grand baby is due in July! And one or both of us will start a new job. Then Katie plans to transfer to K State which means Kevin and I will experience an empty nest!
I have to say 2010 scares me, but I know with a lot of prayers I will get through it!
My computer time is going to be limited this year.
Why?
I am going to get a job this month. I have to. Nuff said.

Brian & Alli have asked me to make their wedding invitations. About 200 of them. I'm honored to do it. But, that will take up a lot of my free time I think.

I plan on keeping my blog account active and I may even find time to post from time to time, but I know it won't be on a regular basis.
I will however, be back later this week with some of my Christmas pictures. I really enjoyed having the kids here. I got some good pics. Wish I would have taken more. Oh well....

I'll be back!!!

graphics courtesy of http://bestdesignoptions.com/.

Providence

Doing my Bible study this morning, I had another amazing encounter with God.
Confirmation.
I am doing the Beth Moore study on Esther and just finished the final lesson. We'll watch the last video tonight (sniff).
Beth gave us 3 scriptures with which we put onto a triangle.
Here is mine:

From Esther- "It's Tough Being a Woman"
"God not only promises that He "works out everything" (Eph 1.11) "according to His good purpose" (Phil 2.13). He promises that "in all things God works for [our] good" (Romans 8.28). In other words, every time He shifts us here or moves us there on this earthbound chessboard, He's not just fulfilling His own pleasure regardless of its impact on you. He's also working every detail- even the dreadful ones- to your and my good." -Beth Moore

The P in the middle stands for Providence!
I love this part! The definition of providence?

prov⋅i⋅dence –noun
1. the foreseeing care and guidance of God or nature over the creatures of the earth.
2. God, esp. when conceived as omnisciently directing the universe and the affairs of humankind with wise benevolence.
3. a manifestation of divine care or direction.
4. provident or prudent management of resources; prudence.
5. foresight; provident care.

Blessings!

A Future and a Hope....

I just have to blog about church this morning. It was so awesome. And to think I almost missed it because I was cold this morning and had a hard time getting going. SO glad I didn't.
The sermon series is called "Tune In" and is all about prayer. We've missed the last couple of weeks, but I hope to get them on CD and listen. Prayer is something I've already been feeling convicted about. I know I don't spend enough time with my God.
This isn't part of my story, but I have to tell you that we had some excitement towards the end of the message. The speakers and microphone started squealing and making some awful racket. They finally had to turn off the sound system altogether. And then someone noticed that one of the speakers on stage was smoking. Crazy. As they carried it off, I thought they were walking towards the baptistery and half expected them to throw it in, but they didn't.
Anyway, after the sermon which was based on 1 Samuel 3, our preacher told everyone to get into a position of prayer and tell God "Speak God, for your servant is listening". He gave us quite a bit of time and as I prayed I was thinking of the burden that has been on my heart a lot lately which is Kevin's retirement. We've been talking about it and I know Kevin has been considering it, but I've been very skeptical about it. FEAR is a better word. I've been the one talking him out of it, pointing out the bad job market. The fact is the very thought of retirement has me sick to my stomach and gripped in FEAR.
But, I sat there in church this morning and I prayed. I prayed for God to speak to me. And I thought of the card in my Bible that I had seen a few seconds before. I had written Jeremiah 29:11 on it in Bible study. (As if to reinforce this thought, the guy 2 seats in front of us was wearing a football jersey with the number 11 on it. God WILL clarify things for you!)
I can quote this verse from memory and I started to do that, but I felt God saying to me to read that verse and what comes after it. I opened my Bible and read and as I read tears came streaming from my eyes.
This is what I read:
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray I will listen. If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me. I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and bring you home again to your own land."
Jeremiah 29:11-14
WOW!
God spoke.
I think I see retirement in Kevin's near future.

My Prayer

An Eventful Day!

I picked up our younger son Brian and his best friend from the airport in Charlotte, NC on Tuesday! He was here to see us and pick up the Jeep we found him. He was really liking the Jeep!

(Before pic)
He left this morning and was on his way back to KS to college. Only 2 1/2 hours into his trip, he was rear ended near Augusta, Georgia and his car was totalled! Kevin and I traveled the 2 1/2 hours to where they were waiting at a truck stop with all of their belongings. I was on the telephone the entire trip there trying to get things sorted out.
We helped him get a rental car and got them back on the road to Kansas.
We just got home.
Brian and his best friend both have big bumps on their heads and a few scratches but seem to be fine.
PRAISE God!!
If someone had been in the back seat they would not have faired so well. There was no leg room left. If you are reading this, will you please pray that the rest of their trip is uneventful? And that things get sorted out okay!
We are having insurance issues already. The accident was not Brian's fault. He had to stop on the interstate for an accident in front of him that had just happened when he was rear ended. Brian kept his wits about him and even turned the wheel as he was catapulted several yards so he flew onto the shoulder instead of rear ending the person in front of him. It was a hard impact. Brian finally found his glasses in the back of the jeep after he realized they were not on his face several minutes later. The other driver who was at fault and driving a company truck is in the hospital and apparently told his employer that he was not at fault. Brian didn't exchange insurance info with him so we don't have any way to get assistance with the rental, etc. The only thing he knew was the name of the business by the sticker on the truck door. I have been in contact with the business. Hopefuly we'll get reimbursed the expenses, but the company (a construction company) is not being cooperative at all. We had only liability. The state police at the scene have stated that it is the fault of the driver of the truck who hit Brian. They were the only 2 parties involved.
It's going to be a bit of a headache. I have one already!
We stopped at the salvage yard where they towed it and took a few pics of the jeep.

The car was parked with the back end at the fence of the yard so it was difficult to get a good photo.
Kevin is very impressed with the way the Jeep was built. It could have been a lot worse I think.
Thank you, Lord for protecting my son and his friend.
God is good!!

The Cross Walk

A friend of mine emailed this to me. I don't know who to give original credit to, but I thought it was too good to not post on my blog!

We complain about the cross we bear but don't realize it is preparing us for the dip in the road that God can see and we cannot.

Whatever your cross,
whatever your pain,
there will always be sunshine, after the rain....
Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall;
But God's always ready, to answer your call....
He knows every heartache, sees every tear,
a word from His lips, can calm every fear...
Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night,
But suddenly vanish, by dawn's early light...
The Savior is waiting, somewhere above,
to give you His grace, and send you His love.

May God fill your day with blessings!!

~Angel

Powerful

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Philippians 4:8

Convicting....

I read this today and it was so good (and SO convicting), I had to share.

"Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of
your calling, for you have been called by God. Be humble and gentle. Be
patient with each other making allowance for each other's faults because of your
love. Always keep yourselves united and bind yourselves together in
peace."
Ephesians 4:1-3

Blessings!
~Angel