April

Every calendar in the world has my daughter's name on it today.

Even better though today marks my personal 3 year mark. Praise God.

Isaiah 53

Good stuff.

Back to School

I was finally able to go back to school today. It felt so good to be there again. I was so encouraged by the warm welcome I received from my schoolmates. It feels good to be out learning and doing something to better educate yourself. One of the things that I really like about my school is that I have met a few believers there that I am encouraged by. It is always a good thing to be around other believers. I always leave feeling positive. It's was also nice to come in and score an A on my test.

I am very eager to get my A+ certification. That will open the door of opportunity for so many different good paying jobs. I will do good to get some experience in the IT field. I really think I am going to enjoy it. It is very difficult which makes it rewarding. It also comes rather easy for me. I can tell that it is not forced, it is something that I have a natural ability for.

I am currently in N+ (Networking) but I have yet to really start it. I have been studying for the vendor exam for my 602 in order to receive my A+ certification. I am fortunate to not get nervous on tests. I am rather looking forward to taking it. I just have to wait for the voucher to come in. I am going through the Alamo Work Source to get my schooling paid for. It is a great program. They are very flexible and help me to find work. Right now I don't need work. My instructor says once I get that A+ he will be able to offer me jobs that are constantly coming in. I am looking forward to going to school tomorrow which is good because lately my energy level has been pretty low. I just need to get back into my routine.

I am working towards my MCSA right now. I will finish up my A+ and my N+. After that I go through MCP and then Server 2003. I can't remember what comes next. I usually don't get too far ahead of my schedule or I'll lose what I'm supposed to do right now. I have been told that I would be good for Server and that there aren't enough that know Server. I can't wait to begin working in the IT field being paid to do something I enjoy that I will be constantly challenged at. I intend to go all the way up to MCSE which is more certifications and a lot more money and harder.

Did I mention that I really like and enjoy my school?

He is Risen!

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. (1Cor15:14)

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here: he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " Then they remembered his words. (Luke24:1-8)

Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. (1Cor15:1-2)

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1Cor15:3-4)

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. (Eph2:1-2)

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. (3)

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved. (4-5)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast. (Eph2:8-9)

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (10)

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Eph3:12)

Miley

My Refuge and My Fortress

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty
I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence,
He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.

Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place-
the Most High, who is my refuge-
no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways
On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder,
the young lion and the serpent you will tranple underfoot.
Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation."

Shackles

"For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless tehy are sent? As it is written, " How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"

...So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Grace Rules

I'm not sure who to give credit to on this quote it did come from Journey devotional - March 12th.

"Following rules is about being committed to something. But walking according to the Spirit means being surrended to Someone."

"...if we focus on following the Holy Spirit and doing what He leads us to do, we'll be inclined to keep the do's and don'ts becasue He'll never lead us to sin."

and this one is from the LORD -

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are agaisnt the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do

Jack Johnson

I really like this guy's sound. I found a bunch of him on imeem.

February

A look back at February.

February was filled with Valentine's Day, I love you day, and Russell's birthday. We got two more cats and I completed 24 hours of community service at the Animal Defense League. The Women of Faith Conference was really good. I liked Mark Shultz and Sherri Shepherd the best.

http://www.animaldefenseleague.org/

Legos for your lifestyle

JEEP® HURRICANE

One Sweet Jeep
Show-stopping concepts and extreme expressions of the Chrysler LLC brands aren't new: Dodge had its Tomahawk and Chrysler, the ME Four-Twelve. But when the Jeep® Hurricane blew onto Auto Show stage, it raised the bar for the Jeep brand.
"Jeep Hurricane is simply the most maneuverable, most capable and most powerful 4x4 ever built," said Trevor Creed, Senior Vice President—Chrysler LLC Design. "It pays homage to the extreme enthusiasts' Jeep vehicles in form and off-road capability, but is a unique interpretation of Jeep design. Simply stated, it is the extreme example for the Jeep brand."

Hurricane represents the continued success of bold concept vehicles for the brands as a means of demonstrating Chrysler LLC's creative and mechanical expertise. For example, powerful powertrain performance is an understatement considering the Hurricane is not just HEMI®-equipped, but HEMI squared. There are two 5.7-liter HEMI engines in the vehicle: one in the front and one in the back. Both engines deliver 335 horsepower and 370 lb-ft of torque—a total of 670 hp and 740 lb-ft of torque.

Can you have responsible excess? To test the theory, we equipped both HEMI engines in the Jeep Hurricane with the Chrysler LLC Multi-Displacement System (MDS). Depending on the driver's needs, the Hurricane can be powered by 4-, 8-, 12- or 16-cylinders. All of that translates into buckets of torque for climbing obstacles other 4x4 vehicles can't even comprehend. In addition, it has the power and traction to move from 0-60 in less than five seconds.

The power is delivered through a central transfer case and split axles with a mechanically controlled four-wheel torque distribution system. The front and rear suspension is short/long arm independent with 20 inches of suspension travel, controlled by coilover shocks with remote reservoirs.

The design is lightweight with high strength, and it boasts a functional appearance. Jeep Hurricane is an honest, minimalist approach to its design augmented with the Jeep signature seven-slot grille, two seats and no doors. On the inside, occupants will be surrounded by exposed carbon fiber and polished aluminum with Black Thunder and Tiluminum accents.

My dream car has been replaced, sorry silver spur camaro. That Jeep Hurricane is tight! Woo-Wee!

JEEP® RENEGADE

Use Less Fuel ... Have More Fun Out There
The 2008 Jeep® Renegade Concept is a sporty two-seater that is just as equipped to navigate a winding off-road trail as it is to turn heads on the auto show circuit. With its stand-alone, cut-down windshield and doors with their lower sections cut out, it's a minimalistic, eco-friendly approach to having maximum fun. Plus, it combines a lithium-ion battery pack with and a small-displacement BLUETEC diesel engine, which together help the Renegade achieve a fuel economy of more than 110 miles per gallon.

Happy Birthday Russell

Today is my son's birthday. We went to Incredible Pizza today and that was about all I could do today. Now I am just being a vegetable. For Russell's birthday we got him a cat. His name is Otis. We got him from the Animal Defense League. They are running a special on cats until the 29th. 24.95 for one cat and 29.95 for two I think. We already have another orange cat, his name is Milo. We also got him from Animal Defense League. They are doing a great job out there. It's also a great place to do your community service.

In all things, know that God loves and cares for you

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Texas Panhandle Wind

I recieved an email today with this funny little video in it over-exagerrating how windy it will get in the panhandle of Texas. I am reminded of a Scripture and a lesson that God has just retaught me.

But let Him ask in faith, with out doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything form the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. -------->James 1:6-7 ESV

I had become real low on food and funds and was beginning to really worry how we were going to make it. I was worrying that I wouldn't be able to get my children a valentines or get a birthday cake for Russell's birthday. Just as I was beginning to really branch out into worry I stopped myself and remembered that my Holy Father was capable of all things. I remembered that He loves me and that He will take care of all of my needs just as He promises. I layed down all of my worries at His feet as I emptied my concerns and filled myself with peace as I stood firmly on His promises to care for me. I prayed with the reassurance that God would provide and that I had nothing to worry about. 

Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open. --->James 1:6-7 The Message

After I prayed I felt peace. Just then my phone rang and I received a call that told me of the blessings that I would be recieving shortly that would remedy my lack of food money. I also got my paycheck today. God is good. He just wants to make sure we still know it.

Kids, they are such a gift from God

John 3:16

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

This is how much God loved the world: He gave His Son, His one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.

silver spur

http://www.detroitspeed.com/projectpages/silverspur/silverspur_main.htm

I covet this car. Check it out it's all decked out in San Antonio Spurs emblems and what not.

Psalm 143:8

Love just makes all the difference. It is God's love for us that changes us. It's that love that breaks us and brings us to repentence. What an honor to be disciplined by the Lord our God. He loves us enough to not let us continue on our path of unrighteousness. 

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I put my trust in you.
Show me the way to go, for to you I lift up my soul.

It just makes all the difference when I begin my day in God's love. Take advantage of the message of the Bible and this Valentine's holiday and let people know how special they are to you and how much you love them.

God is love

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn't want what is doesn't have.

Love doesn't strut,

Doesn't have a swelled head,

Doesn't force itself on others,

Isn't always "me first,"

Doesn't fly off the handle,

Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn't revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.

So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

February

I love February. It is by far my favorite month. It's my favorite time of year. I don't just celbrate February 14th as Valentines' Day. To me the whole month of February is a an excuse to celebrate love and to have pink, red, hearts, and what not. I have named February 18th as "I love you day" but I'll tell more about that later in the month. Love, love, love, la la love-makes the world go 'round. That's from a Power Puff Girls video. Maybe I can find that. Hold, please.

Cool. I'm such a Bubbles. I certainly have a Buttercup mean streak in me though. I try to allow Christ to overcome it and fill me with Bubbles. Ne Way, that's not at all what I was talking about. I love February, especially when it's 84 degrees outside. AMen! I sure do have my reasons for liking Texas. I am far too tired right now from driving across Texas for the last two days.

Today is also Victoria's birthday. She's 3 now. She's real cute. I would need some permission to post her picture though.

Happy Birthday, Victoria.

Aunt Brandi loves you.

He Loves You

NCCC

NEWTON COUNTY CORRECTIONAL CTR.

Rt. 3 Box 22 - 100
Highway 87 North
Newton, Texas 75966

Phone: 409-379-3000
Fax: 409-379-3011

Pro-Life

Connie's last year

Memories

Nannie

Mrs. Connie Jo Gray went to be with the Lord on January 7th, 2008 at the age of 62.

She was born on March 3rd, 1945 in Carlsbad, New Mexico to Nelson Pritz and Betty Jo Lewis.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 44 years, Bill Layne Gray; daughters, Layna Harvey and Darla Nail; son, Tim Gray; 8 grandchildren; 1 great-granddaughter; father Nelson Pritz; 2 brothers and 5 sisters.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 12th, 2008, 11:00 a.m., at Parkhills Baptist Church, 17747 San Pedro Ave., 78232.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,It is well, with my soul,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:

If Jordan above me shall roll,

No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life

Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,

The sky, not the grave, is our goal;

Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!

Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,Even so, it is well with my soul.

Top 4

My top 4 places to eat would have to be:

1. Papadeaux
2. Pei Wei
3. Pappasitos
4. Freddy's Custard

My top 4 menu items:

1. Mandarin Kung Pao w/fried rice (Pei Wei)
2. Blackened Snapper Diablo (Pappadeaux)
3. Filet Marsala -medium rare (Carabba's)
4. Cheese Enchiladas (Pappasitos)

My top 4 favorite ice creams from Davinci:

1. peanut butter
2. hazelnut
3. cheesecake
4. rum raisin

My top 4 favorite others are:

1. White chocolate rasberry truffle -HEB creamy creations
2. Chunky Monkey - Ben And Jerry's
3. Banana Cashew - HEB creamy creations
4. Cherry Garcia - Ben and Jerry's

My top 4 places I would like to visit:

1. Jerusalem
2. Hawaii
3. Jamaica
4. British Columbia

My top 4 most cherished memories:

1. Russell's birth
2. Lauren's baptism
3. preaching the gospel in Africa
4. camping/fishing in the Ozarks

Top 4 favortie albums:

1. Illuminate -- David Crowder Band
2. Chronology I or II -- Third Day
3. Hymned! -- Bart Millard
4. Peace Like A River the hymns -- Chris Rice

Top 4 favorite Scriptures:

1. Galatians 5:1
2. Psalm 143:8
3. Psalm 119:11
4. 2 Corinthians 5:15

My top 4 favorite stores:

1. Family Christian Store
2. Kohl's
3. James Avery
4. Best Buy

My top 4 candy:

1. Butterfinger Crisp
2. Nutrageous
3. Snickers w/ Almonds
4. peanut butter cups

1. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free; therefore stand firm, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. --> Galatians 5:1
2. I have hidden your word in my heart, so that I might not sin against you. --> Psalm 119:11
3. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I put my trust in you. Show me the way to go, for to you I lift up my soul. --> Psalm 143:8
4. And he died for all, that those who live may no longer live for themselves, but for Him who for their sake died and was raised again. --> 2Corinthians 5:15

-----> For extra fun tell me yours in the comments section; maybe come up with some more.

This lady is nuts

Suprise I got you a new cat, Eric!

Hey, Eric I found a cat that would be perfect for you. Maybe you could practice your sermons on him. Hee-hee. :]

go light your world

Q & A

Why are some songs only playing for 30-seconds?

"When you find a song on imeem that is a 30-second preview, it means that the artist or record label that has registered the song in our database has not approved full-length streaming for our users. Consistent with copyright fair use principles, the song will be streamed to you as a 30-second preview.

If you already have the song on your computer, upload it to your imeem profile and listen to it full-length. You can always listen to entire songs that you’ve uploaded to imeem; they will not be converted to 30-second previews. If you do not have the song on your computer, you can buy it on iTunes or Amazon.com

Just so you know, there are already millions of songs on imeem that we have permission to stream at full-length. We are constantly working with labels and artists around the world to add more, and we are adding thousands of songs each day. Stay tuned! "

So now I know. You see when I'm on my imeem they still play full length. I don't know until I've posted it that it will only be 30 seconds long. Now that I do know that I would be expecting lots of new music to be cycling through this blog.

Plan B

I had a plan. My plan was to introduce people to the music I listen to . My plan was to change the song on my blog site every so often that way people could listen to my kind of music. Let us just suppose I had someone very in particular that I wanted to play some of my music to. Let's just call him "Eric". Suppose "Eric" doesn't listen to much Contemporary Christian music and past attempts to introduce him to such music have failed. My plan was to play different ones on the blog and the end result would be that "Eric" would have been exposed to spiritually fulfilling music, that is if he keeps visiting my blog.

So... I am trying to figure out why my imeem only lets me play 30-second pieces of songs instead of the full length version. That wasn't the case in the beginning and now the only song I can play all of is Chris Rice's "Go Light Your World." The only reason is that one was saved prior to the "change." I don't know much about HTML but I'm guessing there is a slight change in the HTML that only permits me to be able to listen to as 30 second bit of the song. Sigh... I have spent lots of time on trying to remedy this and so I am now officially on a break.

In the meantime, please enjoy The Mean Kitty Song.

I bet if "Eric" had kids they would love this video. That is if "Eric" gets around to pushing the play button. P.S. I would hope that "Eric" knew that I was just picking on him becasue I love him. Well, I mean if there were an "Eric".

Thanks for the love

We are enjoying them, thank you Little Miss Bear Room B. You girls rock. I have had a lot of fum imagining you girls scheming, shopping, acting like teenage girls giggling and smiling. I've also been having fun trying to figure out who got what. You girls are really great to me. Thank you. God is so kind to me through you ladies. God is so good. I hope your Christmas was just as good.

embedding from computer hard drive

It's all good

We had a great Christmas. God blows me away with his love for me. Some of my co-workers suprised me with a pile of presents for my children and I. We opened them tonight after we got home. Wow. God is good, my friends are good. They got me some really nice things. Thanks girlies.

My mother-in-law was home from the hospital for Christmas. Thank you, Lord. Merry Christmas all.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS

tea time

Our newest church member.

Today I received a great Christmas present. My father-in-law walked the aisle today and joined the church. I have longed for this moment for so long. It's one thing to have someone in your family. To have that individual in your church family as well, priceless.

I didn't know he was going to do this today, but God did and He prompted me to get the camera now and to not wait until after the service. I wanted to take a family picture since we were all in our Christmas attire and we were all there. I left the sanctuary to go get my camera out of one of the nursery rooms which caused me to walk into the service during the singing. I was going to wait and do it later but I was lead to do it now.

Fortunately, I really enjoy our pastor and so therefore I am usually on the third or fourth row. I would sit right in front of him, but I'd look like a stalker. Did I mention I really enjoy hearing our pastor speak. N-E-way. I was able to get a great picture of my father-in-law as he was joining my church family. ☺

Merry Christmas
To You
From My Family To Yours.

2007

Baby Jesus - The Lamb of God

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

Today as I was driving I came across this nativity scene and had to pull over and take a picture - especially because I happened to have my camera with me. The house sat on a corner lot and this was the scene at the corner of the yard.

Impressive.

Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

And He died for all, that those who live may no longer live for themselves but for Him who for their sake died and was raised.

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

J is for Jesus

Look at a candy cane, what do you see?

Stripes that are red like the blood shed for me

white for my Savior, Who's sinless and pure

"J" is for JESUS, My Lord that's for sure

Turn it around And a staff you will see

Jesus, my shepherd, Is coming for me.

Jesus Gentle Shepherd,
this cane of red and white
proclaims the sweet love story
born on Christmas night

This cane, you see, when turned around

begins your name of Love
and now becomes a symbol of peace

proclaimed above

The lively peppermint flavor

is the regal gift of spice
The white is your purity
and the red your sacrifice

And so this cane reminds us

of just how much you care
and like your Christmas Gift to us
it's meant for all to share

Sanctified Through His Word

Happy Birthday, mom, I love you.

Today is my mother's birthday. My mom is a pretty amazing lady. I don't think I even know just how amazing she is. Being as she's my mother she has probably shielded me from some of the heroic things she has done on my account. I wasn't always the best daughter. She always has been the best to me though. My mother has definitely made life smoother for me. She always smooths out the rough edges of life before it comes my way. One could easily take this for granted and grow up to be ungrateful and spoiled. Fortunately God opened up my eyes and was graceful enough to create in me a new heart. I never really understood how great my mom was until God started changing my heart. I realized just how undeserving I had been of her love. She loves me regardless of my behaviour. I can better understand the love that a mother has for their child as I come to understand how God sacrificed His Son for me because He loves me.

My life could have been a lot harder for me and it would have probably even been a real good lesson for me. My mother wouldn't have it. I should be struggling now, but everyday God blesses me through my mother. Thank God I am finally a blessing to her. I can't even imagine the amount of time my mother spent before the Lord petitioning on my behalf. For God's mercy. For God to intervene. For God to protect me. I became the unlovable and my mother's love for me didn't budge. I probably drained it from time to time. Never once did she fail to make me feel like she wasn't there. She has always been there for me.

When I didn't believe in God and I felt alone and helpless. I never felt abandoned or without a friend. I always have had my mom. My mother has been instrumental in my salvation. She has prayed many of prayers that have probably saved my life many of times. I love my, mom. She introduced me to God's people and encouraged me to be a part of His church. I'm at my church because of my mom's faithfulness. I'm in my Sunday School class because of my mom's love. I am a part of my church because of her faithfulness to the body of Christ that she has modeled over the years. She showed me that church is something important and to be taken seriously. She made me want to belong. That has been powerful in my walk with the Lord. I have grown so much through our church.

I have three of my own kids and all the time they remind me of how great my mom is. Mother's are heroes. Mine is. She's my hero. I love you, mom. You have been the one constant stability in my life. Thank you for that. You are such a blessing in my life. You are a blessing to my children. Thank you for the way you love on my children. They think you're great. You are.

----------------------

I LOVE YOU, MOM.

----------------------

fruit