Spoiled Rotten...

You know every once in a while, God shows us how incredibly spoiled we are and we have the sense to recognize it, and then there are those times in life when He overwhelmingly seems set upon it being in your face in HUGE ways. When your blessings could not be denied if you wanted to try, and where you feel so incredibly small as you run through the record of your spoiledness.

It's a fact, I am a spoiled girl. Sometimes a spoiled brat, I'd like to think most often I'm just a spoiled girl who is learning how better to handle that and share it and be a blessing because of it. I could spend a lot of time listing just the ways I'm aware of that I have been blessed far beyond anything I deserve, but it would leave out soooo many ways I still don't have sense to see, and it would take an awfully long time to list just the ones I do.

God help us. Help us to never believe we have any of this because we've done something to deserve it or because someone came along before us and was able to create for us a land that was entitled to blessings while others weren't. Help us to understand, to really get that You are the giver of every single one of them and you've asked one single thing of us in them...to be a blessing as we have been blessed.

Help us to understand that better every day that we live!!

LUVIN...

Well today was the 31st day and we were supposed to be able to go and visit Luvin today. I called the gentleman who has Luvin in his center and he told me that unfortunately a couple weeks ago, Luvin had one of his "moments" when he decided he wanted to run away from the center where he is and so it was decided best if we give him a bit more time to adjust and reprogram some of the junk.

We set up a date and time for a week from Saturday to visit, so we're looking forward to that. They have him in an intense bible program right now to help him work through some things that his heart needs to sort out. He will love getting to learn the Bible, he is so sensitive to things of God. I've said for a LONG time that he's going to be a little preacher someday. May it be so Lord that he preaches you whether from a pulpit or with his life.

Anyway just wanted to give you an update, he is doing well, and is safe and sound still at the center, praise God. We appreciate your prayers on his behalf so much and beg for you to continue. God is going to do amazing things in the life of this little guy, I have believed that fro the moment he looked into these eyes and asked if he could call me mom the first day I met him. Good stuff in there, God's just uncovering the diamond that's been covered up with dirt.

I can't wait to watch him shine!!

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of God our Father is THIS...

and it feels as pure and undefiled as anything I've ever experienced, guess He knew what He was talking about!!

Prayers Please...

And by the way, we started with chicken pox yesterday in the house, so if you could all just pray us through that potential epidemic that would be great. :):) I mean with 2 or 3 it is a potential problem, but with 15 well yeah, nuff said!

All will be just fine but for now Fito is scratching and itching with those little lovely bumps all over his chest and arms and we're waiting to see who else will develop them in the days to come.

We appreciate your prayers. Love you all.

I have so much to write to you, and pictures to show you, and I can't find my camera cord at the moment and no one has one to fit my camera so say some prayers it shows up and I'll get on that, but I wanted to pass along this to you today.

Maybe I'm passing it along cause I read it a year or so ago and loved it and when I read it this week I realized how much my heart needed to hear and proclaim it again. I was touched in deep places the first time by it and maybe in deeper places this time, as I realized how desperately I want this, to live this way, be this way, surrender this way, and how difficult that is to do most often.

I've printed it out and put it in my journal to read and reread and reread and reread, maybe daily...think it sums up the best of anything else I've read what my hearts cry really is when it comes to walking this thing out passionately.

So I pass it on to you in the hopes that it touches you as well...and causes you to live differently in pursuit of Him.

A Call to Radical Commitment
by Rick Warren

Today I am stepping across the line. I'm tired of waffling, and I'm finished with wavering. I've made my choice; the verdict is in; and my decision is irrevocable. I'm going God's way. There's no turning back now!

I will live the rest of my life serving God's purposes with God's people on God's planet for God's glory. I will use my life to celebrate his presence, cultivate his character, participate in his family, demonstrate his love, and communicate his Word.

Since my past has been forgiven, and I have a purpose for living and a home awaiting in heaven, I refuse to waste any more time or energy on shallow living, petty thinking, trivial talking, thoughtless doing, useless regretting, hurtful resenting, or faithless worrying.Instead I will magnify God, grow to maturity, serve in ministry, and fulfill my mission in the membership of his family.

Because this life is preparation for the next, I will value worship over wealth, “we” over “me,” character over comfort, service over status, and people over possessions, position, and pleasures. I know what matters most, and I'll give it all I've got. I'll do the best I can with what I have for Jesus Christ today.

I won't be captivated by culture, manipulated by critics, motivated by praise, frustrated by problems, debilitated by temptation, or intimidated by the devil. I'll keep running my race with my eyes on the goal, not the sidelines or those running by me. When times get tough, and I get tired, I won't back up, back off, back down, back out, or backslide. I'll just keep moving forward by God's grace.

I'm Spirit-led, purpose-driven and mission-focused, so I cannot be bought, I will not be compromised, and I shall not quit until I finish the race.I'm a trophy of God's amazing grace, so I will be gracious to everyone, grateful for everyday, and generous with everything that God entrusts to me.

To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I say: However, whenever, wherever, and whatever you ask me to do, my answer in advance is yes! Wherever you lead and whatever the cost, I'm ready. Anytime. Anywhere. Anyway. Whatever it takes Lord; whatever it takes!

I want to be used by you in such a way, that on that final day I'll hear you say, "Well done, thou good and faithful one.

Come on in, and let the eternal party begin!"