the party is over

the party came and went. it was a whirlwind of fun…especially when the guests were supposed to arrive and a thunderstorm hit. I spent so much time cleaning the deck and then we had to bring it all under the lanai. i went to papa johns for pizza and got totally drenched. the house filled up with kids and it spilled over into the deck. there were 17 kids below the third grade and 3 babies. and at least 10 adults in and around the house. it was a zoo-especially when we cut the cake and opened some gifts. jake scored big…in the middle of opening gifts he said “did anybody get me a nintendo ds?” it is so fun to throw a party for the kids you love. its so much work…I picked up a moon-walk and never used it, the pool was full of kids and whatever they could throw in, kids dragged water into the house, and cake was found in some interesting places. all I can say is the party is over…the excitement and joy on every kid was evident…it made me think about how much god is looking forward to throw the party of all ages-welcome home lets sit down at the marriage supper of the lamb and party!

jake is king for a day

today is jakes birthday and he is king for the day. he wanted a mario party, so we have invited his class to come over for pizza, chips and juice bags…of course birthday cake. we have a pool so it should be fun, this morning i picked up a moonwalk bouncer..the house is spotless..until the partiers show up. it sure is fun to love your kids and give them a cool birthday. jake has a crown he’s been wearing all day! today is gonna be an awesome day. I need to go get helium balloons, so I’m out. Jake the big 6 year old! TIME FLIES WHEN YOUR GETTING OLD!

stress…

i hate the thing called stress. this week I have been in some stress that has caused me to lose some sleep…now some of my stress is personal and some is out of my control. bottom line when stress hits like a sick feeling…there is only one place for relief-God is speaking to me this week about my stress. there is a lot of things I stress about that I cannot control, there are some things i stress over that my expectations are high for others and when they don’t deliver…i stress over the fact that the bar has been placed high in my own life, yet I don’t see the bar placed as high in others…sounds like i am venting-but i am not. I am writing about this stress because it is helping me to grasp the need to rest. rest-when everything stops and God takes over. rest- when i can’t work it up and I have to depend on God to make it up. rest-when the world spins around and I stand still knowing that even God can stop the world to do one thing! REST

rest-i need to hold onto him like my son holds onto me in the night after a bad dream.

stress-the one vice that the enemy uses to keep us from rest!

today I choose to simply rest in him!

time to pray…

today was see you at the pole…so i went to a public high school before 7 am…now it was still dark outside and worth every minute. i met some of our students there and we gathered to pray. it was simply an amazing way to start the day. god is really up to something fresh this year. tuesday nights we have a student led prayer meeting, and today at cca students led out in prayer at the pole-props to the class chaplains-you guys truly know how to pray! prayer is the key that unlocks doors in peoples lives! have a great day…and dont forget to pray! set the atmosphere over your life and prayer!

the end of a daniel fast…

well here is what God has taught me during this fast…

1. my season is now…he wants to use me now to be the best I can. But i need more of him this season. the fast got my attention as well as his, but ultimately will bring about his purpose in me!

2. I can control my flesh and fast for a season…without complaining and moaning and groaning. some times we get on a fast and look to the end just to fill our flesh-it seems like the one thing that sustains. really now…leaning on Jesus is the one thing that sustains in and out of a fast.

3. I need to stay in control of my flesh and not let my flesh control me…therefore i need to fast on a regular basis to train my flesh that it is not in charge and my spirit is. control- so many want to be in control- but what they are is out of control. to truly be in control one just has to control the passion of the flesh!

4. the breakthrough is not after the fast…the breakthrough happens in the fast! I broke through in so many ways-God truly showed up! he spoke clearly during this time…i need to look for the breakthrough to happen all around me!

5. after the fast I went to takeya a japanese steak house and ate – not till I was over full- I just was satisfied. Now I believe the hunger that I have for Him will be satisfied in new ways!
the one thing that God wants to do is bring satisfaction to my life…he is the only one that can truly satisfy!

dinner was good…and a starbucks coffee was simply marvelous!

fantasy football week 3

I walked into church this morning and was greeted by team steelmen…he beat me week 1 and said the same thing this week. sorry i am going to have to take you to the woodshed…my reply- not this week! score with one player left to play- TO – the force 125 steelmen 98 hes done! nuff said!

kids just gotta have fun…

yesterday i spent the day adding chemicals and salt to my pool. due to the rain we had my salt level was down, my ph was high and my chlorine was low. I had to drain excess water 2 ties in one day…about 6″ each time. which brings me to my point, i took my boys to the pool store and they asked for everything under the sun, but when we left I saw an inflatable canoe…now that looks like fun…we had to have it so we took it home pumped it up and what ya know a storm breaks out and no one gets to use it. today is the first day of fall and it feels great outside. the boys were inside after i got home from the third service, and they went into the pool…jake was the first one in the canoe..he was having the time of his life…until al jumped in too-its a bit small, so 2 rambunctious boys wont fit. al fell in and then it was on, jake swung with the oar, al spit water and a full blown water war ensued…fun is defined by webster as – behavior or an activity that is intended purely for amusement and should not be interpreted as having serious or malicious purposes. a full out war between 2 boys is just plain fun! man I love my family…I have to say thank you God for giving me 2 boys that love to just have fun!

meanwhile I went out to do what I love-well not really I mowed the yard and jumped into the hot tub. now its my time to watch football and soak-thats fun!