Point of View

Back during football season Max and I were able to attend one of Hunter's marching band rehearsals.  We were sitting about mid-way up the bleachers so we had a pretty good view of the whole band out on the field.  We watched as they moved from one formation to the another.  As we watched we listened to the Band Director give instructions.  He was sitting at the very top of the bleachers.  He also had the advantage of knowing what the formations were supposed to look like and he also, having years of experience could instruct his students in a way they could understand.  We watched this for a while.  He would have them do a section of the routine over and over until they did it right.  I heard him say at one point, "I can see all of you and if you will just listen to me and go exactly where I tell you to the whole formation will be right."  From where Max and i were sitting we could see exactly what he meant!  We could see when one person was slightly out of line!  As they ended each formation he would call out the names of the ones who were out of place.  "John, take one step to your left, Cody, move half a step back, now, THIS is where you need to be at the end of this formation!"  As the kids began to listen and obey their instructor the formations became smooth and each section joined together to make some really neat looking designs!

As I watched this Daddy God opened my spirit eyes to see that this is how HE instructs His children!!!  HE has the best point of view to see all of us and He is always instructing us where and when to go and what to do so that we can make beautiful designs.  Sometimes He has to say, Teena, take one step back, Max, move slightly to your left."  His desire is for the body of Christ to work together to bring to light HIS PERFECT PLAN! 

I was in the marching band in high school.  Shout out to the HOPE SUPERBAND!!  WOOT WOOT!  Anyway, I can remember when we were at the beginning stages of learning the routine for the year it was hard to imagine how it was all going to fit together!  As a section, we had our own part to learn and we would practice it over and over, TRUSTING in out instructor that it would all work.  We put a lot into our individual parts!  We would not have tried so had if we didn't have faith that the one leading us knew what he was doing!! (Another shout out to Mr. Hesse!)  Its the SAME with God the Father!!!  If we TRUST and have FAITH that HE KNOWS what HE is doing, we follow HIS instruction!!!  We wait for Him to tell us how many eight counts to go until we halt.  And we do just how were told so that we all succeed! 

Our Holy Instructor, Jesus has given us everything we need to walk out our life.  His Word is our marching orders!  We only have to TRUST Him and KNOW that He is sitting up high enough to see the entire formation.  He knows the beginning and the end.  We just have to trust and obey Him throughout the middle =)

Jeremiah 29:11 “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.”
Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.”

God's Choice

You are God's choice!  He has things that are set for YOU to do!  He has things set for ME to do!  We are all called to walk a path that is prepared just for us.  Want to know what God's Will is?  God's Will is His Word!!!  We find His Will when we know His Word!  When we know His Word we know HIM!!!!

Romans 12:2 says, Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. 

If we yield our hearts to Daddy God, His desires and our desires become the same!  TRUST ME, it is very exciting when you begin to desire the things that God has called you to do!  You do not fear or dread the call.  You look forward to walking it out!!! 

We are precious to Daddy God and He has nothing but the best for each of us.  The enemy will try and come against us but PRAISE JESUS we walk in FAVOR!  As we continue to renew our minds with the Word of God our Spirit man is strengthened!  BELIEVE STRONG!  BE STRONG!  YOU ARE GOD'S CHOICE =)

Giving Thanks

WOW!  It has been a crazy few days!  My book was released on line Thursday (was not even expecting it to be so soon!)  I have been receiving the most amazing messages of support and thanks and LOVE!  GOD IS GOOD!  I am overwhelmed and humbled by the response.  I know that the Lord is bringing healing, freedom and RESTORATION!!!!!!!!  I am so thankful for all the opportunities He is giving me to share what Daddy God has done for me and what He so wants to do for others =) 

So I want to always give thanks to God for bringing me this far and for putting a good word in my mouth to share!  I thank Him for hearts He is opening and healing.  I praise Him for empowering me to do what He has called me to do.  I am thankful for clear visions and the release of any fear to walk this path.  I LOVE MY DADDY GOD!!!!!!! 

I am thankful for everyone that the Lord had placed in my life and for everyone He has set to cross my path in my future! I am thankful for YOU!  For reading this blog.  For praying for me.  For supporting me.  For encouraging me.  YOU really do make a difference!  THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

You are a part of this life changing journey =)  There are so many hurting people out there and together we WILL reach them with the message of HEALING and RESTORATION!!!  

Please help spread the word on the book release!  Going FAR and WIDE!!!  
Book can be purchased here on this blog (through Amazon.com), Barnes&Noble, Books-A-Million, AbeBooks.com, and Authorhouse.

Radical Faith

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).  What do you believe God for?  Do you have faith that He can do it?

The Bible lets us know that we have not because we ask not (James 4:2), so what does this mean?  You can pray for anything and if you have faith, and it pleases God, you WILL receive it.  God seeks to show Himself!  He will use those who are seeking Him.  The more you seek Him to more radical your faith will become!  You will find yourself believing God for some radical things!!!  TRUST ME, when you let go of doubt and realize that God is the same today as He has always been, radical things WILL begin to happen!!!  The more He does for us the more we can do for others!!!!  DO NOT be afraid to receive that!

There are NO LIMITS to what Daddy God can do through us!!  NO LIMITS!!  The only limits are the ones we allow others to put on us.  When you KNOW that the Lord has put a dream in your heart do NOT let other people cause you to doubt what GOD says!  In fact, ask and trust God to surround you with people who will support and encourage!  The truth is, when you KNOW you have heard from God, there really is nothing that can convince you otherwise.  When your dreams catch up with God's dreams for you....it's the most beautiful place to be!!! 


So ask yourself::  Are you believing God for the impossible?  Are you believing God for radical things? Are your ready to receive those things?  Are you ready to be RADICAL and CONTAGIOUS???!!!

BE RADICAL TODAY =)

Memorial Day

In Honor of Memorial Day I am re-posting my Blog Post from Washington DC.  It is in 2 Parts and the links are below.  I am HONORED to be the daughter and granddaughter of men who served our country and sacrificed for our freedoms.  As we celebrate with family and friends in whatever way we choose, just remember those who made it possible for us to do so! 

It is also important that we recognize that behind every soldier there is a family that has taken the call as well.  They sacrifice and they serve.  They support and they stand, weak at times, but they always stand!  I am so thankful for those wives, husbands, daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles, grandparents and loved ones who stay behind and stand behind and give of themselves!  I thank God for HIS protection over ALL who serve! 

DC Trip Part 1
http://teenaelrod.blogspot.com/2011/05/washington-dc.html


DC Trip Part 2
http://teenaelrod.blogspot.com/2011/05/dc-part-2.html

Book Release!!!

WARNING:  This blog post may have excessive use of the word "excited" (in all forms), and the exclamation mark!!!! 

I came home from the last graduation to find that my book has been release online!!!  I got so excited =)  I looked at my husband who was siting by me and said, "I'M FOR SALE!"  hahahaha  I have not even received MY COPY yet!  This has been such an amazing journey.  I could not settle down to get to sleep last night! I got to work letting everyone know it was available.  My Mom was on her way home and told me not to tell anyone until she could get home to place her order!  She wanted to be the FIRST!  She is a little EXCITED!!! 

I have to say that there is at least one mistake on the back cover but I am not going to worry about it because it is done and there is nothing I can do about it!  I have asked God to go before it and prepare the readers and I know HIS message will shine through any mistakes that got through! 

That being said, I need YOUR help!  I am self-promoting so I would so much appreciate it if you could spread the word in your circle of friends.  I want to be very clear that this is NOT about making money, it is ALL about sharing the healing power of JESUS!!!  He can and WILL RESTORE your past!  Your hurts!  Your mind!!  My publisher will make the book available to bookstores but that is about it.  I do have a buy back in my contract.  That means when a bookstore decides to put my book in their store if it doesn't sell,  the publisher will buy them back!  It's kind of like insurance for the store.

You can buy my book right here on my blog!  Thanks to my most talented friend, I have a link here for you to order from!  Just click on the cover and you are good to go =) 

So here we go onto the next phase!  It's gonna be wild, it's gonna be great and it's gonna be FULL OF HIM!!!!!!!!!!

Again, you can follow me on Twitter and Facebook!  I LOVE your comments and messages so PLEASE keep them coning!!!!! 

Graduation Day!

Ok, I'm sure you are all so ready for all the graduation stuff to pass so I will move on!!  Hahahah   BUT....you are going to have to put up with me at least one more day!  You didn't really think I would lead you all the way up and then not share THE DAY!?!  Well, I can report that is was a day full of JOY and PRIDE and LOVE!!!  NO TEARS!  NONE!  I asked Max last nigh what was wrong with us!  hahaha!  We were able to have the ceremony outside (which meant everyone could attend).  IF it would have been bad weather it would have been indoors and on 2 guest could come for each senior!  With all the bad weather the past few weeks we could only pray for good weather.  Boy did God deliver on that one!  It was a perfect day!  Sunny and not too hot =)  So the celebration was large!  So large in fact, that we never did find my Grandmother!  She drove in from out of town and there were so many people there she ended up sitting with a stranger (that I believe became her friend by the end)!  Without either of us even knowing it, we ere only a few rows away from each other!  hahaha  I am so glad she was there even if we didn't see her.  She was there for her Hunter and that was all that mattered =) 

Hunter looked so handsome as he walked into the stadium in his cap and gown.  I was so proud when he stood as they called for the Honor Graduates.  Then he walked across the stage!  My heart was about to burst!!!  He just brings me so much JOY!  So now it is over and this new phase of life is beginning and it holds all the promises =) 

Tonight Danille (the Godsend/girlfriend) will graduate and we are all so proud of her!  She is the most amazing young lady and we could not be more pleased to be a part of her beautiful life.  She and Hunter posses the ability to draw others in with their pure and open hearts.  They WILL be a part of changing the lives of people they come in contact with!  They were created for greatness and they walk in the fullness of that greatness!!!!!  All  I can say is that GOD IS GOOD!!!  SO GOOD!!!!

Oh and as if the day couldn't get one bit better, I got an email that my book is DONE and has been shipped to me!!!!  After I receive my copy and notify the publisher, it will be available for the public!  I will share how and where later! I am still swimming in the graduation water right now =) 

Hunter walking in...

Deep in thought.....

Here we go....

HEART SMILE!

Max and I with our BLESSING =)

Hunter with the Godsend, Danille!

Graduation Eve

 

Well, Here I sit on the eve of Hunter's High School Graduation Day!  I have looked through all my photos and watched all the videos of my sweet baby boy.  This day came so fast!  I can remember people telling me over the years to enjoy each moment because they would go fast and they were RIGHT!  I can say that I have enjoyed every moment and my heart is so full.  Max and I have loved him from the moment we found out he existed.  We have prayed for him.  We have spoken over him.  We have assisted him when needed and allowed him to grow even when my heart wanted so bad to keep him little.  I learned early on that he was not just a possession but a gift from the very Hand of God The Father!  We were called to be his parents.  We were given this time with him to pour love into him, introducing him to his Creator and guide him to make wise choices.  I know we have fallen short at times but God's GRACE has covered it all and so here we are now witnessing this amazing human being that has my smile and his Daddy's eyes enter into adulthood.  His faith touches me and his heart inspires me.  He has made me a better person.  He loves Jesus and he walks in His favor.  So tomorrow his Dad and I, along with our family, will watch with pride as he walks across that stage and into the next phase of his life.  I will have my tissue to catch my JOY TEARS!  I will have my Max to hold my hand as our hearts overflow in the LOVE of our Heavenly Father Who has blessed us with SO MUCH!


Video I made for Hunter!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=2069642105327

Share The Blessing

I have not posted a blog in a few days because I have been enjoying some much needed family time =)   God is so good and His blessings have no limit!  I am so grateful for the times when I get to hang out with my family.  It was a nice time to just go with the flow and enjoy being together.  We did a little traveling and playing around.  This week we have a couple of Senior functions with Hunter and prepare for his graduation next week.  I hope to hear from my publisher this week also! 

I have received emails and messages that this blog has been a blessing, so I encourage you that if it has been a blessing to you...SHARE IT!  Invite your friends to share in the blessing =)  I also invite you to click on the links to the right of this page.....Thes blogs WILL bless you!  They will encourage and challenge you as well =)  So check them out!  Be a blessing to the people The Lord places in your path this week.   Love and Joy to all of you this week!!! 

DC Part 2

YAY!  Blogger has been down since yesterday so I was not able to blog this morning!  Thank goodness it is back up and running =)

Yesterday I shared about our trip to Washington DC and there was just too much to put in one post! 

Not only did our kids get to play the concert at the WW ll Memorial but they had the high honor of taking part in the laying of the wreath at The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier!  Once we stepped onto the grounds you could sense that this was a place of honor and remembrance.  Looking across the cemetery in any direction all you saw was rows of tombstones.  We walked towards the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier and prepared for the ceremony.  The entire time we walked there was very little talking.  The closer we got to the top of the hill the louder the "clicking" noise got.  Once we could see, it was the guard clicking his heels every time he stopped and turned as he guarded the tomb.  We all sat down and just watched as he walked 21 steps, stopped and paused 21 seconds, did an about face and changed the side he carried his riffle, and then walked another 21 steps.....this is repeated over and over!  it sounds crazy, but we just sat there and watched this!  Over and over, for at least half an hour!  Then it was time to change the guards and the wreath.  Our Drum Major and ROTC walked out with the guard and took part in this sacred ceremony!  It was awesome!!!  They played Taps and in the distance we could hear the sound of a 231 Gun Salute!  There was a funeral taking place on the grounds.  I had goose bumps on top of goose bumps and tears running down my face.  I felt privileged and a sense of sadness.  At that very moment I wanted EVERYBODY to see what I was seeing, to feel what I was feeling!  Again I had my Dad on my mind and on my heart. 

After the guards changed and our kids had completed their mission, we all made our way back down the hill.  We then went to the grave site of JFK (and family).  It almost feels like you are back in time when you stand there.  I am so grateful that we were able to experience this trip.  It changed me in a way that I can't quiet describe.  It reminded me that there is so much more than my little corner of the world.  There have been so many families that have gone before us and sacrificed in order for us to have the liberty we have today.  It reminded me that God has been here all along the way and His hand and influence are rooted deep in this land!  Even if some do not acknowledge it, IT IS HERE!!!!!!  HE IS HERE!!!! 

Washington DC

A couple of months ago Max and I had the opportunity to chaperon a trip to Washington DC with Hunter's school band.  We were very excited to be able to go and have the experience with Hunter.  It was a very long trip which we took on a charter bus!  I believe it was 22 hours!  The whole trip was amazing but there were a few events that had a special affect on my life.  I also have to add that I absolutely loved hanging out with the kids on this trip! 

So the first morning we were there the kids had the honor of playing a concert at the WWII Memorial.  It was a Sunday morning so there were not a lot of people there but at the end of the concert the band played a medley of songs (from each Branch of the military).  As they would start each branch's song the ROTC would walk out with that branches flag.  As I looked around I noticed several people standing with their hands over their heart.  Then my husband motioned for me to look over my shoulder and there were two old men, in uniform standing in full attention and soulting each flag as it pased by!  I was overtaken by emotion!  My mind went immediately to my Dad and my Grandfather (who both served during war time).  I walked off and pulled out my phone and called my Daddy (who I cannot remember the last time I talked to).  When he answered I could not stop crying!  All I wanted to do was tell him THANK YOU and I LOVE YOU!  I tried to explain to him what I had just witnessed but I was so emotional.  I had no idea that would have affected me like that.  Our whole group was affected by that experience and we couln't stop talking about it throughout the rest of our trip.

The last day we were there was kind of a free day.  The kids could choose whatever they wanted to do but they had to be in a group with an adult.  I had a group of 7 kids that wanted to go back to the Vietnam Wall.  We had all toured it a couple of nights before but it was dark.  So we had to walk over a MILE to get from where our bus left us to the Wall.  We finally made it and my feet HURT!!  haha  As we started our walk beside The Wall one of the kids noticed a note and flower laying by the Wall.  They asked why it was there and I explained to them that people leave "thank yous" to those that gave their lives for OUR FREEDOM AND LIBERTY'S!  Immediately one of the boys said, "I wanna leave a note" followed by another and another!  I dug out paper and pen from my purse and the whole group (who by this time were MY KIDS!), wrote a thank you note that they all signed and placed at The Wall!  I was so moved.  I fought back tears because this wall means something to me.  I don't know anyone on it but I know someone who is NOT!  My Daddy!  He fought in that war and while he may not have died a physical death he was never the same after.  I am glad his name is not on that wall.  I am grateful for the sacrifice they all made.  Watching those 7 high school kids think beyond themselves was something I feel privileged to have witnessed! 

There were MANY other life changing experiences during those few days in Washington DC and maybe one day I can share them ALL =)  Tomorrow I plan on sharing my experience at Arlington Cemetery.  Our ROTC and Band Major had the honor of participating in the laying of the wreath ceremony! 

I know that I have never been more proud to be an AMERICAN and more aware of how God's Hand blesses us everyday! 
Writing the "Thank You" note @ The Wall

                                                           

                                                                 They all signed the note

                                                             Placing the note at The Wall

                                                               Concert @ WW ll  Memorial

                                               These 2 men stood saluting the flags as each on passed!

                                                           This man stood at attention until the band finished

                                               My Daddy, Roger Dale McLelland, Vietnam Veteran

Who is in charge here?

So, the devil has been a chatter box today!  I woke up with him all in my face!!!  Oh yes, the insults started bright and early.  I just kept busy and tried to ignore him.  I have so much going on this month and I think my brain hit overload!  Then it hit me.....I CAN talk back!  So with all my authority I told the devil, OUT LOUD, to SHUT UP!!!!!  Yes, I'm 42, but Daddy God is using me!  Yes, it's a work bigger than me, but there is NOTHING that God can't do through me!  Then when he couldn't get me that way, he tried to get in the middle of my marriage!  Before I even knew what was happening Max and I were arguing over CAKE!!  (the argument was over who was going to call about Hunter's graduation cake)!  Max walked out and went to mow.  I went to taking back some authority!!!!!  I told my enemy that he was NOT going to mess with me or my husband!  Within about 5 minutes Max called to apologize and and we put that little fight behind us!  Then my publishing company called to say that the adjustments to my book that were going to take 2-3 weeks was DONE!  Well, the text is done, the final cover should be emailed to me tomorrow!!!  Satan is NOT in charge here!!!!!  God has my life and everything in it! =) 

I am so excited to share the final cover design!  My excitement grows every time I think about how God is going to use me!  Yes, ME!  He has given me the confidence to talk back to the devil.  To take my place a a daughter of THE MOST HIGH! 

It is very important to recognize that there is warfare going on and we have all the ammunition we need through God's Word.  Satan is going to come against us, that is just a fact.  That is why it is so important to keep our minds renewed!  First, so when Satan does launch an attack, we recognize where the attack is coming from.  And secondly, so we have fresh on our minds (and heart) WHO WE ARE and WHAT WE HAVE! 

I feel like I have rambled but it is my hearts desire to encourage you. 

Well Hello Monday!

Here we are again!  MONDAY!  I am happy to report that it has already been fantastic!!!!  I am learning more and more that there are some things that you just have to do on purpose.  Breathing is natural, talking is natural, walking is natural....you get the point!  Being happy, having joy, showing love....these are just a few of the things that we have to do on purpose.  Joy Dancing on a Monday morning after getting 8 kids ready and off to school is something you have to do on purpose!  But after I choose to dance anyway, the joy came quiet naturally =)   I found myself singing and smiling as I spun around the house.  For a brief moment Roxi (my pup) joined me.  She looked a little scared so I put her back down!  Hahaha  All in all I have to say it was another great time of fellowship with Daddy God.  

My next challenge...uh, I mean opportunity is to go for a walk, on purpose! 

I hope all the Mothers had a blessed Mother's Day!  I joked yesterday after my pastor quoted Proverbs 31:28  "And her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praises her".     This was NOT the scene at my house yesterday (or any other day for that matter!!)  hahaha  But he quickly followed it up by saying we probably would hear that until they were grown with children of their own!!! 

I am a very blessed mother and wife!  Here are a few of my Mother's Day "cards".  I love homemade and handwritten cards!  Even the store bought card had been added to by Hunter!! 

 Have a BLESSED Monday!  Be blessed ON PURPOSE =)

The Call

I have had people ask me, "what do you do?'  I tell them.  Then they ask, "how did you get involved in that ministry?"  So I thought I would just share our story of how we found ourselves at Watersprings Ranch!

In 2006 I was directing a preschool out of our church and Max was managing a local grocery store.  Hunter was in Jr. High.  When Hunter was about 4 years old Max and I decided to try to have another baby.  I had some health issues that prevented me from getting pregnant so we tried fertility drugs.  We went through a couple of rounds without success.  I always knew that we would have more kids but I was very frustrated with my body and it's refusal to cooperate!  We just continued on with life enjoying Hunter along the way but still longing for more children.  Max and I had talked off and on about adoption but we couldn't afford all the cost.  We tried to do foster care but we were unable to do that either.  So, in 2006 a friend of mine from out of town called me to tell me she knew of a woman who was pregnant and not able to keep the baby.  She wanted to find a family for her unborn child.  I immediately said YES!  Max said NO!  After a LOT of prayer We agreed to move forward with bringing this baby into our family.  We planned and prepared for the addition to our family.  We prayed for our baby and for the mother who was carrying her.  During a VBS at our church my friend had to deliver the heartbreaking news to me that the mother of "our" child had aborted the baby!  I do not even have words to describe what I was feeling.  I felt like someone had punched me in the gut!!!  I found an empty room, sat in the floor and just cried. 

Very soon after that (within the week), someone told me about Watersprings Ranch.  We knew very little about the Ranch.  We knew some of the kids because they had attended our church over the years.  I told Max that I thought this was a ministry that we were being called into.  He did NOT agree!  After a LOT of prayer we visited the Ranch.  As we drove onto the property there was a peace that came over me and I knew that God had called us here and He would speak to Max.  He did changed Max's heart and by July 2006 we had given away almost ALL of our belongings and moved to the Ranch with our boys!  We went from a family of 3 to a family of 11 overnight!!!  And we LOVED it!!!! 

So we live in a boy's home that houses up to 8 boys at a time.  Watersprings has 2 boys homes and 2 girls homes.  I am going to post a link to Watersprings Ranch at the end of this post and I encourage you to check it out!!!  It is an amazing ministry and we are so blessed to be a part of what God is doing here to break cycles of abuse and bringing these children into a relationship with Christ!!! 

So, that is the story of out journey to Watersprings Ranch =)  I am not allowed to post photos of the kids, but there are photos on the website. 

I have to add this about the events that occurred during our journey here:  I do NOT believe it was God's Will for that unborn baby, that He created, to be killed!  There are lessons to be learned, and there was growth because of what happened, but it was NOT God's plan!  I do not blame God for it, I thank Him for loving us through it =) 

Please visit the website and if you have any questions please feel free to send them to me!

http://watersprings.com/index.htm

Walking on Water

We all know the story of Peter walking on the water.  How he took his eyes (and his mind) off of Jesus and started to sink.  I think we kind of gloss over this very important event.  There was a lot going on there in and around those men and their boat!  First of all, they had just had the stress of feeding well over 5,000 people!!!  Look, I feed 10 a day in my house and that can be quiet stressful at times, I do not know how I would hold up to feeding 5,000!!!  And THEN after feeding all those people they got caught in a STORM at sea!  My faith would have been a bit faint by this point!  Then Jesus appeared and called to them.  I'm not at all surprised that at first they thought it was a ghost!  After the day they had just had,  it would not seem that far fetched!  Jesus instantly spoke to them and said, "Take Courage! I AM, stop being afraid!"  Peter still was not convinced.  He said to Jesus, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You in the water."   It's very important to notice here that Jesus DIDN'T say, No Peter, walking on water is only for Messiahs!!  That is not what He said.  He said COME!

Now all was going well until Peter remembered the storm that was going on.  He shifted his focus off of Jesus on onto the storm and he began to sink.  As he sank he cried out to Jesus, "SAVE ME!"  Jesus didn't wait around for Peter to frail around in the stormy water until he learned his lesson!  Jesus INSTANTLY held out His hand and caught Peter and saved him!  He did, however, note Peter's lack of faith was the reason he got into trouble in the first place.  When we call out to Jesus, He INSTANTLY holds out His Hand to us!  Our faith in HIM will determine the outcome!  We can cry out to Jesus all day long, but if we do not BELIEVE He will do what He has promised us, we have determined the outcome for ourselves.

Fear is what prevents us from walking on the water!  I know for me, I have to purge fear from life on a daily basis.  I have to remind myself that I am rooted in God's Love.  God's Love has NO FEAR!  I replace fear with TRUST.  I replace lies (from the enemy) with promises of my Savior! 

God The Father is calling me to step out of my boat and come to Him.  To come to where He is.  The only way that I can do that is to keep my focus on Him and not on the storm going on around me.  The storm is anything that tries to distract me from what God is calling me to do.  Anything  that The Lord calls us to do is important (no matter how big or small it seems by the worlds standards). 
He will take this natural ability that I have and cause supernatural change in the world around me! 

What is Jesus calling you to do?  Forget the storm and STEP OUT onto the water and step into your purpose!!!  It's time for us to be "water walking people"!!!!!


BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!

Prayer, Power and Authority

These three words really say it all.  It is hard to use one without the others.  When we pray, we don't just ask God for stuff, we praise Him and command things, in HIS NAME!  By using our authority we are proving who God is!  You wouldn't call things out in His Name if you didn't expect Him to do it, would you?  I think a lot of times we get weak in prayer.  I know for me, there have been many times when I have allowed the enemy to sway me into thinking that there are things that God may not "want" to do, so I leave it alone. 

I'm going to tell you a story:  Several years ago, along with some of my coworkers, I went to a training class a couple of hours away.  The weather was really bad and it rained on us the whole trip.  As we got a few miles from our destination we came up on a really bad wreck.  All we could  tell was that it involved a small truck and a semi.  The little truck looked pretty bad and we could also tell that it had just happened because there were no emergency vehicles there yet, but we could see them coming.  There were people around the scene.  I was driving and I  turned to my friend and said pray for those people!  She immediately began to pray and we all joined in agreement with her. 

We went on to our training but I just could not get that off my mind.  My mother lives about 5 miles from where all this had occurred so I called her during one of our breaks and asked her if there was anything on the news about this wreck.  She said she had not heard about it but that she was working later that night and if she found out anything she would call me.  My mother is a nurse at a hospital.  My friends and I talked about it off and on but I just had a stirring in my spirit that would not let up!  I needed to know what happened to those people!

We finished up our day of training a drove back home.  Later that night my mother called me and said, "You are not going to believe this..."  The driver of that car was taken to the hospital and was MY MOMS PATIENT!!!  The emergency people and doctors said they could not understand how she made it out of that wreck as well off as she did!  There was also a child in the backseat that was perfectly fine!!!  As soon as I got off the phone I began to thank God!  He not only heard our prayers and answered them, He saw fit to make sure I KNEW He had taken care of them!  Because He is concerned about the matters of my heart.  I also got this vision in my spirit of Satan pulling on that lady (trying to take her), but because we claimed OUR AUTHORITY through prayer, she was saved!  It was like we said, "No, No, Satan, you will NOT get this one!"  NOT ON OUR WATCH!!!!!  He HAD to let her go because IN THE NAME OF JESUS WE CLAIMED HER!!! 

Many times I sense in my spirit to pray for someone and I go back to that day and that wreck.  I may be in town running errands and get a tug in my gut to drive by my son's school and just plead the blood over the school.  I will drive all around the outside of the school and just call for protection over the kids and teachers and workers.  There have been times that I feel impressed to pray specifically for "anyone who walks onto the property."  I KNOW that those prayers have stopped the plan of the enemy!  See, we don't have to wait for something to happen to pray.  We can actually pray and prevent things!  (Psalm 91)

By renewing our minds (ALL THE TIME), we become sensitive to the things that go on in the spirit realm and adjust ourselves accordingly.  This used to all sound way out there to me!  It not only is confirmed in
God's Word, but I have experienced it FIRST HAND and I have been convinced of it's reality! 

I know there are those who will say things like, what if it was God's Will for this or that to happen?  That is why renewing our minds is SO IMPORTANT!  When we know the nature of Daddy God and we know His Word, then we know how to pray!  John 10:10 tells us that it is the enemy (Satan) who comes to kill, steal, and destroy....to take us out!  But God comes to GIVE LIFE!  Give ABUNDANT life!  So I know that The Life Giver did not try to take the lady in that wreck!  It was the LIFE THIEF!  Satan!  And we have authority over that! 

Bad things happen; Satan wins a few small battles, but THE VICTORY is CHRIST!!!  It was not God's Will for me to be raped.  It IS His Will for me to live a life of VICTORY!  The enemy has won many small battles in my life but the Victory covers them all.  God took what the enemy did to me and bound him up for it!  That is how I am able to live a life of JOY, PEACE, FREEDOM, and LOVE!!!!!!  And that my friends is why am so passionate about this message of knowing Who we belong to!  I am a precious child of Daddy God and I will NOT be made to feel any less!


Be blessed today and be aware of things going on around you.  Be aware of the things going on within you.  Pay attention to those "gut checks", when you feel deep in your gut that you need to be alert, and take action! 

BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!

Monday Madness

OK, so last Monday I made a vow to not speak ill of Mondays!  Guess what???  Today it is raining, AGAIN, I have a sick child who I have been up with most of the night, AND I do not have any MILK!  I drink milk everyday and I ran out of milk this weekend.  No milk for 2 days!!!  I broke down and ate a pancake just to spite the evil forces that are coming against me today!  hahaha
For those of you who do not know me well, I have a strange addiction to pancakes!  I tried to "kick the habit" but have since fallen off the wagon!  haha 

Let me just say now that because of lack of sleep, I will not be held responsible for anything I ramble about today =)  This morning as I was cleaning and disinfecting EVERY SQUARE INCH that my sick one had touched, walked on, sat on, BREATHED on........!  I noticed that my Lysol was coming out white!  I just sprayed more and continued to clean when I noticed I was spraying PLEDGE!  So I am happy to report that there is no dust on the toilet, sink, floor, basically  ANYWHERE in the bathroom!  You may be thinking....did you not SMELL the pledge?!  Well, I had this virus last week and will NOT get it again, so I was holding my breath as I sprayed the Lysol/Pledge!  haha

I am hoping to hear from the publisher today sometime.  I sent in all my adjustments and am so ready to sign off on the book to go to print.  In the meantime I will just continue to engulf my house with Lysol and prayer!!!

In other news, that really has no significance to anyone but me!  hahaha  I am up for a hair makeover!  I have been trying to grow my hair out some and since I have had it dark for some time now, I'm ready for a lighter color and highlights!  Maybe a cut.  Still thinking on that one.  I am longing for what I like to refer to as, my "summer hair"!  I think that blonde with a bit of darker undertones is by far my favorite "natural color" of my hair =)

Well, I'm off now to go call down all sickness in my house!  I am praying for each of you to be blessed to day!  For the love of God The Father to overflow in your life!  I also want to express again just how blessed I am by the love and support I have received through this blog!  I only hope that I encourage you half as much as you encourage me everyday!  I get so excited when I sign on and see another "follower" has been added =)  I love the emails and messages!  I have even gained some amazing "friends" on my facebook page!!!  THANK YOU! THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  God is SO GOOD =) 


BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!

Beyond Myself

I have been asked why I am so determined to tell my story.  Some people don't understand why I would expose something so private, or open my life up to strangers.  The answer is really simple.  The Lord made the call!  He has placed a call on my life and it goes far beyond just me.  For years I had my journal  in a binder that I could share with someone here and there.  It was very rare that the person reading it was a stranger.  I either knew them or knew who they were (through a friend). 

When I first began to realize what God was instructing me to do with the journal (and my story), I was really nervous.  I thought, why?  I had been faithful to share it with people when the opportunity would arise.  Why would He want me to do more??? 

I have learned so much over the years and a couple of those lessons are that, when God The Father tells me to do something, it is always in my best interest to just do it!  The other is that it is not all about ME!  His call on my life goes far beyond ME!!!!  There is a lost and hurting world out there and I have a message of healing and restoration that they need to hear!  I can testify FIRST HAND of the power of God!!!  Of the supernatural love that He wants to express through His children!  He wants to express it through me!  No matter what Satan says, God wants to use me.  I believe that my book is going to open many doors!  Doors that will lead me to people and places to share what The Lord has done in my life.  What He wants to do in the lives of others!  He has done so much more in my life than what can be read on the pages of my book! 

So I do not move into this call for myself.  My Daddy God has placed a deep, very deep desire in my heart to see others set free!  He is still growing that love in me.  When I think about the things that I know He is moving me into, I used to dread, and doubt that I could even do, but more and more I find that I now desire in my heart to do those things!  I now WANT to do those things that I know will only be possible for me to do with Him.  It excites me when I think of stepping into this call and allowing Jesus to use me to bring others to Him!  To live BEYOND MYSELF!!!!  To love, REALLY LOVE others because of the Love of God!  You know, when you have found something so good, you want EVERYBODY ELSE to have it, too =)

Oh, somethings moving!  Somethings changing!  See His Glory!  Feels like Heaven on earth!!!
(song; "Heaven on Earth"  by:  David & Nicole Binion)

BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!

Book News!

I am super excited!!!  I have been waiting for my book proofs to come and yesterday THEY CAME!! 
They had told me that the cover may have to have some adjustment so I could not hardly wait to see what it would look like.  It is a little different (more like I had originally wanted it).  I LOVE IT!  I cannot wait to share it with everyone!  I also had to read through the "inside text", which is my life, to make sure I was happy with the layout and design.  I am happy to say that I sent it back with only 3 adjustments!  After those adjustments are taken care of, it's DONE!!!  Wow, I have been on this journey for so long it feels a bit strange to think that it is coming to an end.  But as this phase ends I know that a much different phase is just beginning, and I am SO EXCITED!  The Lord has filled my heart with this love story and I am ready for it to be told!  I am ready to tell it! 

As I read through the "text" of my book yesterday I was reminded once again just how far Daddy God has grown me and I was (and still am) overwhelmed my His LOVE for ME!!!  Then I daydream about the future He is leading me into and my heart feels like it is on the verge of bursting =)  

So now I just wait..... but I have found so much joy in the waiting.  After I sent in my transcript and began talking with the publisher about the process of publishing, I knew there would be "wait" times.  I'm normally not a very good "waiter"!   Then, the publisher suggested I start this blog.  My first thought was, oh no!  I really had no idea what I was doing. But I dove in and just worked my way through!  I began to pray for God to show me how to increase my blog.  I knew He was working on my behalf and I just trusted that He would show me what to do. HE NEVER DISAPPOINTS!   He has sent me a helper (I will share more about this later).  I will say that, just like He always does, He has sent the perfect person to help me!  He never does anything halfway, but always wants the very best for His children =)    I also must say that it didn't take long at all for me to fall deep in love with the world of blog!  God has blessed me through the lives of those who have joined me on this journey. 

GOD IS GOOD!!!!!!!  SO GOOD!!!!!  There is absolutely nothing He cannot do through a willing child!  He has given me BIG DREAMS!  I dream them on purpose!  I dream them almost like I am practicing them before they come to pass!  Oh, the things He has in store!!!  Hope, joy and excitement rise up on the inside of me and fuels my expectation for my future!  It's gonna be WILD; it's gonna be GREAT; it's gonna be FULL OF HIM!   (from the song; "Come away with Me" by Jesus Culture)  I listen to this song and just allow my Daddy God to minister to me =)


BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!

FREE

John 8:36  Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed!

There is power in saying out loud, "I AM FREE!"  When the enemy throws daily junk in my face all I have to say is, sorry devil but I AM FREE!  I do not have to ingest the lies of my enemy because the TRUTH lives inside of me =)  Sound too simple?  Well, God did not create us to jump through hoops and live confused.  He created us to LOVE HIM and LOVE OTHERS!  YES, it is THAT simple!

The deeper I love Him, the easier it is to love others.  I am amazed at times when I look back over my journey and see just how deep His Love has taken root in me.  I can almost physically feel it. 

I have come to a place where I give myself completely to God and I trust that The One that created me, knows me, and loves me, will cover me and provide for me.  He goes before me and prepares my path!  THAT IS FREEDOM!  I do not have to worry or try and work things out because He has already done it for me.  All I have to do is TRUST Him!  He tells me to renew my mind with His Word.  I replace every lie of the devil with His TRUTH about who I am and WHO I belong to =)   The same God that CREATED ALL OF HEAVEN AND EARTH favors ME!  That is all I need to know!  I do not have to worry about how others treat me because I am favored by Daddy God!  I just love, (and the more I love the more I love!).  Receiving justice when I am treated unfairly doesn't control me, I only crave GRACE!  HIS GRACE! 

I am a Daughter of The KING OF KINGS!  I walk in His favor!  He is my DADDY GOD!!!!!
Nothing is too big or too small for Him.  I can trust Him for everything, and I do! He has never disappointed me =)


Tomorrow I will be sharing another excerpt from my book that is soon to be released!




BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!