These shoes were made for walking.....(well, maybe!)

I knew I was a little more overwhelmed than I had suspected when in the middle of running errands yesterday (-yes, the middle--of course not BEFORE errand running which would allow me to run back into my house) I looked down to discover this sight:

Oh, the horror!!  

Yep. Those are my feet.  

Yep.  Same shoe-different color.  *sigh*  

I noticed my mishap as I was walking into Kroger (for the second time today I might add.)  The discovery alone sent me into some power-walking that would have landed me a gold metal if given the opportunity.   As I was scurrying through the aisle of the store I started prinking (pray + thinking) and hoping that I wouldn't see anyone I knew.  And if I did run into someone I knew I wouldn't be able to look them in the eye--but then again I'm sure they'd be staring at my feet not my eyes.  My trip to Kroger was short and sweet and my plan to get to my car was afoot (couldn't resist).

Once in my car I was instantly "convicted" of my pre-occupation (and worry) about  my foot-fashion blunder and what someone would think if they "saw" my mishap. My mind went back to something I heard earlier this week:

 Our Master is Jesus Christ and we stand or fall based on Christ's approval not another's opinion.  Stop letting people manipulate you through their stupid expectations of who they think you ought to be.  you be who christ wants you to be and enjoy the journey.                ~ Pastor John Hagee

So what if someone had seen my shoes?  Who would really care and if they did care--why would I care that they cared?   Then my thoughts switched to my heart.  You know, the part of me that is desperately wicked above all (Jerm 17:9).  I was worried what others would think about my shoes when I need to think about what The One thinks of my heart.  He knows everything.  My every thought.  Are the things that I am saying and doing pleasing to Him?  Does He approve of my actions?  My words?  

Galations 1:10 - Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

My errands ended with a good laugh and also a reality check.  Of course I am thankful for having an abundance of shoes.  I am also super thankful for the beautiful reminder that above all I need to care only about what The Lord thinks of me and seek ONLY His approval. 

Today is Friday so I am linking up to Company Girls!

If God is for us...

One night last week it was late and we had just returned home from the hospital.   I turned on the TV to TBN as Kari Jobe was performing (she's so precious I could just squeeze her!).  Kari was singing a song that I had not heard before but the words ministered to me in a powerful way as our family was anticipating the death (or prospering as we say) of MeMaw Burton very soon.  After the show, I searched the internet to find the song but found nothing (guess it would have helped if I had a song title, huh?).    

This morning, as a regular stalker follower of Priscilla Shirer's blog, I was in awe to find the Kari Jobe song posted to Priscilla's blog. 


 The Lord is so precious.  So faithful in every area of our lives.  
Indeed, He is for us!

Check it out, "You Are For Me" by Kari Jobe

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?  Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
Romans 8:31-34 NLT

His Joy = Our Strength. The Choice is yours!

photo from: freedigitalphotos.net

Found this over on my friend's Rebekah's site today.  It blessed me so I thought I'd repost.  No matter what, let's choose joy!!!

JOY by Maiden Princess

Joy is not a feeling. You cannot package it, market it, or sell it in pill form.

Joy is a choice that once made will affect you and everyone you come in contact with for the rest of the day.

Joy isn’t always smiling, it isn’t always laughter. Joy is not floating on Cloud 9 or making sure everybody thinks your life is perfect, without bump or struggle.

Joy is just this, the peace and contentment that comes from knowing that God is in control no matter what happens. It believes that His sacrifice paid the price in full and now we can live forgiven.

Joy is choosing to find “the good” (Romans 8:28) in all situations.

Joy is choosing to let God rule even when your world feels out of control.

Joy is just resting, just accepting, and just knowing that God is in all.

No, joy is not a feeling. Joy is a choice!

She Prospered!

Precious Memaw (my mother in law) prospered yesterday morning.  (If you don't know what "prospered" means, please read this blog post.).  Jordyn made this last night for her "MeMaw".  

Praise and Prosper

On Saturday, Jim's mom was admitted to the hospital.  The family was told she did not have much longer this side of heaven.  The past few days have been spent with her and our family at the hospital.  My sweet mother-in-law (known as MeMaw) is a woman of much faith and her love for Jesus is evident to all who have ever met her.  In these last days she has been trying to sing hymns with her weak voice and smiling when talk of "heaven" and "Jesus" are brought up in her room. 

Late Monday night our family was gathered around MeMaw enjoying precious moments with her.  She was trying to swallow but was unable to do so.  In her weak and frail voice she said to us, “I’m about to prosper.”  Everyone in the room listened intently and asked her to repeat what she had said.   Once again she said , “I’m going---I'm going to prosper.”  We thought we had misunderstood and asked one more time, for clarity, what she said.  She answered again, “ Prosper.  I’m going to go prosper”.  To be honest,  all in the room were a bit stumped by her statement.

Tuesday morning while Jim was doing his Bible reading he “happened” upon  Psalms 22.  As he read through the Psalm He found this precious treasure-- here is what The Lord shared with him (and the entire Burton Family) from Psalms 22:29-30

 29All the prosperous of the earth
 Shall eat and worship; 
 All those who go down to the dust 
 Shall bow before Him, 
 Even he who cannot keep himself alive. 
         
 ³⁰ A posterity shall serve Him.
 It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation,
 ³¹ They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, that He has done this.

It won’t be long before MeMaw goes to “prosper”.  She will be missed but we will rejoice that she made it to see Jesus.  I can truly testify that this amazing woman of God has His “praises on her lips” to the very end. 


May we all learn from MeMaw and may we, too, praise Him until we  ‘prosper’.  

It's finally Friday!

Today is Friday so I am linking up with other Company Girls over at Home Sanctuary!  I've missed a few weeks but I am glad to be 'back'. 

I have been thinking about this picture a lot this week.  

I posted this picture last summer but wanted to re-post.  Last summer I painted a fresh coat of paint on my old outside glider this week.  I decided to cover the old, faded white paint with a nice, bright red.  While painting, I found myself singing some of the old "blood" hymns I knew from years ago.  (What can wash away my sin?  nothing but the blood of Jesus!!!!)   After my paint job was complete, I went inside to 'wash up', when I glanced at my hand.  It was a God wink and a wordless picture to me about what one drop of Jesus' blood means to all and how much He LOVES us.  


One drop of blood gave me freedom. I am forever thankful!

Today the words of a song, Jesus Blood, (Delirious? version) is rolling around in my mind and heart:  

"There's a secret I must tell,  of all the love I've found

and it's hidden in my heart.  The day you tore my world apart.

Hallelujah, King Forever.  Friend and Savior"

Love that never fails me......

Have a great weekend!

Thankful for.....

I could not let Thankful Thursday end without posting this video of my grandbaby, Miss Jaelynn.  Hard to believe that little laughing bundle of joy is 9 months old.  I wish they lived closer (they just got stationed far away) but I am thankful for videos and technology that lets "Mimi" watch her grow. 

Prayers for Joanne and family

Will you please keep blogger and sister-in-Christ, Joanne (The Simple Wife)  in your prayers.  She suffered a major stroke this week.  

photo from thesimplewife.typepad.com

Go here (Mustard Seeds Blog) to see how you can help encourage Joanne and her family.

  

Who's Your Daddy? Meet Mine....

My sister-in-law posted this clip on Facebook today and boy did I need to hear this amazing reminder from Priscilla Shirer.  (I am looking forward to attending one of Priscilla's Going Beyond Events with my church gals soon!  Yippee!!)

With no further ado, take a listen to learn about my Daddy!!!

Sunday Night Rambling

  This morning I taught our Ladies Bible Study Class from the book of Habakkuk.  (What a great book!  I may have a new favorite OT book.)  

 For some reason the Amplified version of Habakkuk 3:1 totally made my  week:

"A PRAYER of Habakkuk the prophet, set to wild, enthusiastic, and triumphal music."

Wild, enthusiastic and triumphal music?  Really?  No pipe organs?  No hymns? Now we're talking!  I love me a good 'ol hymn or two from time to time so please don't misunderstand me.  I'm just a gal that loves to clap (a lot!) and bust a praise move from time to time.  So this verse just made me giggle.  I couldn't help but wonder what would be on Habakkuk's Ipod play list if he were living in 2011?    Just a thought. 

Also, today was the 6th Anniversary/Birthday (still not sure which term I want to use) of  C.C.F. (our church).  Hard to believe it has been six years!!  As my man always says, "It is all God's work and we just have front row seats."

Stand up and fight....

There are just some days. You know what I mean. Let me just say the past few days have been "one of those days" so to speak. Nothing in particular yet everything in particular.  Ladies, I know you know what I mean.  Hormones?  maybe.  But, I believe it has been more on the spiritual warfare side. Whatever it was/is I just wanted it to be done.  gone. finished. kaput.

 I woke up this morning and just needed to hear a little Kirk Franklin. I had been thinking of this song for a few days but finally listened to it today while getting ready in the bathroom.   I listened it to it not once, not twice but three times! My make-up brushes didn't know what hit them when I started using them as microphones as I was getting my praise on (yes--in the bathroom). I think my flat iron received a little "victory" this morning too!! (Amen ladies?)

I know some people that have word themes to help them describe the upcoming New Year. Words are fine but since I'm more visual and not so 'wordy' I think I'll use a song theme.  This might just be my 2011 song. 

(If you are a Kirk Franklin fan then be sure to crank-up the volume on this and do a little praise dancing!!  And if you are not a Kirk Franklin fan-- well, do it anyway!  Either way, listen to the words.)