Wednesday, January 20, 2010

A Voice

Today I couldn't help but take notice of a Facebook status that read, "Here's a thought: If you so despise our President and our government, you run for office. You fix every problem facing mankind. If not, please hush." This statement was followed by many supporters, saying that we do indeed need to hush and not go against the grain. Live and let live, if you will. YIKES!!! That, my friends, is a scary mind-set to have!
We all have a God-given right to have a voice! It's time we start using it! Let us not be bullied into silence! It's not racism, or anti-Americanism, or even necessarily anti-Obama, to speak up and use the voice God gave us. It's pro-God, pro-Life, pro-Scripture, pro-family, and anti-Socialism. It's time to be "knees to the earth" LOUD!!! I'm not talking about being rude, obnoxious, or disrespectful. That won't help anything, and it's not what God intended either. We need to get on our faces before the Lord and humble ourselves, then stand up for what His Word says is truth!!! We, as believers, need to be a loud voice in Washington!

Let's always remember:

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing" ~ Edmund Burke

The First Amendment
~ "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Journal of the Continental Congress, 1774 ~ "It is our indispensable duty which we owe to God, our country, ourselves, and prosterity, by all lawful ways and means in our power to maintain, defend, and preserve these civil and religious rights and liberties for which many of our fathers fought, bled and died, and to hand them down entire to the future generations."

2 Chronicles 7:14 "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

A big "Thank you!!!", to the people of Massachusetts for going against party lines and using their voices to go against the grain! May the rest of the nation be so bold!!

Monday, January 18, 2010

Goals and Giving Shaving a Try

Yesterday, during the evening service at church, Hunter was writing notes and wrote this ~ It melted my heart. I pray for him everyday, that he will grow in his faith and be a mighty man of God! Lord, help him to achieve his goal!

Today, this same sweet boy decided to give shaving his face a try. He was in the shower, saw his daddy's razor, and the curiosity overtook him. There was blood!
Then there was a wild story about trying to swim in the tub and getting cut on the faucet....after having a long talk about lying, the embarrassing, yet obvious, truth came out and so did an apology for the lie! Bless his heart, he is a good boy! :) After the cut was cleaned up, we all had a good laugh. His brother asked him, in all seriousness, if he felt like a man now! LOL!! This will definitely be one of those memories that will be retold for years to come! Boys....gotta love em!! :)

Sunday, January 17, 2010

More to Come Later

I have so so much to blog about! I cant wait to tell you the exciting things that the Lord is doing! He is giving me courage and boldness, and I am filled with thankfulness and peace! I am working on a post about it, but it's a work in progress (like me!). Cant wait to finish and be able to share! :)

BUT, I do want to share that tonight, after much prayer, Lou Lou became an official member of Lakeside Baptist Church! :D It is so exciting to watch her be obedient to the Lord as He is leading her! Hopefully she will blog all about it later....hint hint!!! ;)

I'm a Work in Progress

I am so thankful that HE who began a good work in me WILL complete it!!!! He is still working on me and I need it! The sanctification is a work in progress.

Last night we had an incident in our home. The dinner burnt. BADLY!!! Filled the entire house with smoke. I'm surprised it didn't ignite, it was that bad! Lee, bless his heart, was supposed to watch it and forgot. I got home and saw the carnage of my meal and lost it. I'm talking a two year old fit. It was embarrassing. Ashamedly, I yelled and cried and stomped and slammed doors. It was terrible. TERRIBLE!!! In the scheme of life, a burnt dinner is not a big deal, a smoke filled house is not a big deal, Lee forgetting to check on it isn't a big deal. But for whatever reason, at that time, to me, it WAS! How could I have let my emotions get so out of hand? My fit, THAT was a big deal. The fact that I was not in the least kind, loving, patient, gentle, or understanding, THAT was a big deal! How could I have let a silly thing like a burnt meal cause me to be such a terrible example? The answer is, I'm sinful. I am a retched sinful human. I could have handle it SOOOOO much better. We could have easily had sandwiches, NOT A BIG DEAL! UGH....my stomach aches remembering my sinfulness.

Needless to say, I was deeply convicted! THANK YOU, LORD!!! I repented and then I went to my husband and boys and apologized for my atrocious behavior. I'm just so thankful that He who began a good work in me will complete it! I am SO thankful for conviction and the faithfulness and forgiveness of God! And a family who is also very forgiving! :)

Next time, hopefully there is never a next time, we will eat sandwiches with smiles and make a nice memory!

Friday, January 15, 2010

Sanctify Me Through and Through

Several months ago, a friend of mine and I started praying 1 Thess. 5:23-24 for one another. I had read the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan, and in the process the Lord had deeply convicted me of my lukewarmness, lack of an obsession of Him, and an unwillingness to be sanctified*. WOW, talk about a punch to the gut!!! It shook me to my very core, and I haven't been the same since. Praise You, Lord!!
When you start praying to be sanctified and surrender all the junk to Him; everything, the worries, fears, the lack of trust, the idols that have built up, the things that you love and hold precious to you, the thoughts and lies that you have held onto, the dreams that you held onto so tightly, the strongholds that have held you captive; He is Faithful and He WILL do it! He will SHOW UP!!
It has been an exciting last few months, but hasn't always been fun. Conviction* is never fun, but He is teaching me to be thankful for it, because it means He is still working in me and making me more like Him. He is also teaching me to act on His commands and be immediately obedient.
He is sanctifying me and making me more aware of Him. I don't ever want to go back to the place I was at in my relationship to Him. I don't ever want to be sucked into that kind of lukewarmness again, EVER! I don't want to take one single step away from Him, not one! I want more and more of Him. I want to be closer and closer to Him and be captivated completely by Him. I am totally dependent on Him. I desperately need Him. I am so unworthy of His love.
So often, I try to fix things on my own, and that never works. I can't tell you how many times a day I take back a worry, or I choose a less than kind word(my tongue gets me in more trouble than I care to admit), or I have a thought that is unholy, or an attitude that is displeasing. But I am so grateful, that my God is Faithful, even when I am faithless (2 Tim. 2:13). "Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and who is my family, that you have brought us this far? Is this Your usual way of dealing with man?" (2 Sam. 7:18-28)
I am left absolutely speechless and weak in the knees at the promises! I am blown AWAY constantly by how amazing He is and how unworthy I am. I am so far from sanctified it isn't even funny and I won't be fully until I am with Him in Heaven, but I can't wait to walk that process hand-in-hand with the King of Kings!
In time, I hope to be able to share all of the things He is currently doing (because it makes me SO excited when He is obvious!!!), but for now I'm simply going to quote Psalm 118:23 "the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes."

*Sanctify
–verb
to make holy; set apart as sacred; consecrate.

**Convict
–verb
1. to prove or declare guilty of an offense

2. to impress with a sense of guilt.

LORD, Most High God, Almighty, Sovereign, Faithful One,
May the God of peace Himself, sanctify me through and through. May my whole spirit, body, and soul be kept blameless at Your coming. I know that the One who has called me is Faithful and HE will do it! (1 Thess. 5:23-24) Help be quick to feel the prick of Your conviction in my life. Help me to be ready to seek forgiveness from You, and others if need be. I don't want to take one step away from You, Lord! I love You and praise Your Holy Name! Receive ALL the honor and glory, I am so unworthy!

I Love My Job

I really do! This week was my first week back to work, and I enjoyed it so very much! I work as a presenter for Reality Check Inc.
I love ALL the people I work with and their passion for what we do.
I love the life-long friendships that I have made with the great Reality Check employees.
I love that my boss is such an amazing person who is strong, passionate about what she does, loving, has the utmost integrity, has a marriage that I can look up too, deserves my respect, and can always be trusted! :)
I love that I get to talk to young people about their futures and the consequences, positive and negative, for the choices that they make.
I love that we talk to them honestly about their sexual activity.
I love giving them up-to-date medical information.
I love being able to finally get them to understand that "Sex is anything, for the top of your head to the tip of your toes in someone else's underwear zone, or their anything in yours".
I love being able to tell them that EVERY choice matters.
I love hearing the incredible goals they have set for their futures.
I love it when they trust me enough to ask questions.
I love questions, it shows me that they really want to be informed.
I love being able to head up X-Factor Games, because it's so much fun!
I love laughing with them.
I love telling them, some for the first time, that they are valuable.
I love looking at their faces as they "get it".
I love telling them that we believe that they are strong enough to set goals and boundaries and stay in them.
I love getting to know all the coaches and especially when they get into playing the games with us!
I love playing the integrity game, it's my favorite!
I love explaining integrity and honor.
I love pointing out the kids who are showing great integrity.
I love giving the students the opportunity to call out their classmates who are showing honor, and listening as they do!
I love it when the definition of integrity "clicks" and they begin to understand that they can live it!
I love reading their awesome comment cards.
I love when I read that they have changed their minds and are choosing to save their sex for marriage.

I guess, in short, I just really love young people and I really LOVE my job!!!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Sassiness and a Gentle Word

Ok, so I've been thinking about this topic for awhile. Lee and I have talked about it recently. And now, I'm going to try and blog about it! It might be a little long....

I have been known at times (or more times than not!) to be sassy, sarcastic, and quick to make a "joke". Lee and I spend a LOT of time with young people, both with our jobs and our ministry, and that seems to be the culture right now. Say whatever you want to and then laugh it off as sarcasm and sassiness. Don't get me wrong, that can be fun and funny! I have been in stitches, even just recently, at the absurdity and hilariousness of sass. I have had others in stitches over my own sass. But it can also be hurtful. Please don't miss understand, this post is for ME, and ME alone. These are the things I, myself, have been convicted of.

I had an experience today, where I was taken aback and a little hurt over sass. It's not that persons fault. I've kind of let sass define our relationship at times. On top of the fact that I am tired, miss Lee, and am possibly PMSing, not a good combination. So I don't blame that person for my feelings being hurt. They are riding right there on the surface anyway! :) It wasn't even what anyone would have called a big deal!! But all that said, it got me thinking.......

Have I ever failed to be kind and thoughtful by having my automatic response be sarcastic or sassy, no matter how "honest" it is? It literally makes my stomach hurt to think that there is a very real possibility that I have. I know for a fact that my words have caused pain, hurt, and confusion, all for sassiness sake, all for a joke! OUCH!!! That hurts my heart!

As that realization came to me, I immediately thought of Proverbs 15:1 "A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath." and Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Is my automatic response to any given situation gentleness, kindness, joy, patience? I have to admit, No! Even as I say that, I am begging forgiveness, from my Heavenly Father who commands me to be holy, and from anyone that I have ever allowed my words to hurt! I've been thoughtless and unkind, calling both those things sarcasm and sass, and sometimes "just a joke". I'm so sorry!! That is NOT who God wants me to be!

I am so grateful for confiction!! It's part of the sanctification process and means God is making me more like Him! Thank you, Lord!!!

Now, understand too that I don't think ALL sass is wrong, or even all sarcasm. It's just that from now on, I am going to strive to have my first response be one of love, gentleness, and kindness. Lord, help me stay true to my commitment. And by the way, I want others to keep me accountable in this area too! :)

First Basketball Game

This morning was Hunter and Braden's first basketball game. We have been blessed again to be able to have them both on the same team. I'm sure that the fact that we can get away with that wont last long, so we are eating it up while we can! :) I love watching them play together as teammates. Shouldn't brothers always play as teammates? I think so!
Anyway, that game was one of the funniest, cutest, saddest things I've ever seen! I'm going to use the excuse that the team hadn't practiced in a month....Regardless, I cheered like a very-proud momma!
Lee is out of town this weekend and had to miss it! Poor Daddy! We wish he could have been there!
I wish I could have gotten it on video, but as I walked out the door I remember the camcorder and that it's battery was dead! Bummer! My camera also wouldn't take good pictures in the gym so I was only able to get a few shots afterward.

My Uncle Dan and Lou Lou came to watch the boys play! It meant SO much to me to have them there and the boys LOVED having them come! :) We love you both so very much!!

So the first game is behind us, and LOTS of practice is ahead! (HAHAHA!!) Hopefully I'll be able to get some action shots next game! :)
We are now getting ready to head to the Osmon's for little AbiJean's 1st Birthday party! So fun!! Have a wonderful Saturday!

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Sweet Pictures and The Holidays

I haven't blogged about our holidays and what has become a three week Christmas vacation thanks to our crazy winter weather we are having! I don't have enough time in my day to tell you all the stories and all the blessings that this holiday season has brought our family! Just know that it was wonderful and truly a blessed time! That said, I thought I might share just a few pictures that were taken during the break! The ones of our kiddos were taken by Loren King Photography who also has a SmugMug account that you should check out! She is fantastic!

The Wood Family date night to Noodles and the Fayetteville Square to see the lights! A beautiful night with some great memories!

The boys HAD to have their picture taken with the Christmas Razorback!
Hunter ~ I love this picture of him!
Braden ~ Can you tell he can be rough and tumble? :)
Sweet Brothers ~ Again, I absolutely LOVE this picture!
The younger definitely looks taller than the older in this one.......
Cousins ~ It's difficult to get six kiddos to ALL look at you at once, huh Lou? :)
YAY for cousins!

So them! The perfect Hunter face!!!
Sweet Bubba cousins!

As you can very much tell, we Wood/Salas/Alarid's make some pretty ADORABLE children!!!!

Hope you all had a WONDERFUL Christmas, as we did! To God be all the glory, honor, and praise in this New Year!!!

That Name

Verse 1:
This world is filled with darkness
Hope is hard to find
But with the Son comes light
And hope for all the blind
Call out His name

Chorus:

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
There’s just something about that name
Master Savior Jesus
Let all heaven and earth proclaim
Kings and kingdoms
Will all pass away
But there’s something about that name

Verse 2:
When your heart is troubled
Weariness fills your mind
Cry out to the One who
Died to save all mankind
Call out His name

Chorus:

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
There’s just something about that name
Master Savior Jesus
Let all heaven and earth proclaim
Kings and kingdoms
Will all pass away
But there’s something about that name

Bridge:

Light in the darkness
Hope for the hopeless
Rest for the weary
You are
Precious and Holy
Honor and Glory
Grace and Mercy
You are

Chorus:
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
There’s just something about that name
Master Savior Jesus
Let all heaven and earth proclaim
Kings and kingdoms
Will all pass away
But there’s something about that name