A-Z Scripture Memorization - G

Its time for a new memory verse. I could have used this one last weekend. I drove my U-Haul to WV and for about 30 miles of it, there was the most awful hailstorm. It was on the road like snow and you could see tire tracks even there was so much of it. I went through every scripture I could remember about God keeping us safe and protecting us. I have my camera cord packed or I would post pictures. It was really neat though because once we got to Beckley WV, the sky was full of rainbows and double rainbows. I took a bunch of pictures. I am considering it a sign from God that this move was the right thing for me.

Please continue to remember my dad in your prayers. We are still trying to deal with the grief of losing my baby brother.




A - As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15b

B - Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Acts 16:31

C - Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

D - Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ~ Colossians 4:2

E - Every good and perfect gift is from above. James 1:17

F - For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

This week's verse is
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

TSMS- American Dream

I love Casting Crowns but never heard this song before until I saw it on another blog. I love the whole idea behind it. Sometimes I get so caught up in living this life, I forget there is another one to come that is way more important and I should really be focusing on preparing for that life.

Easter Crafts

Here are some crafts I found to do with your child for Easter. These need a little extra time so I am posting them now for you.

This one is like an Advent calendar done with eggs.

Resurrection Eggs

Grow your own Easter Grass

Its not a fetus its a baby

I saw this song on another blog and it touched my heart. I have been against abortion for years but I guess right now with the death of my brother, I just think, what if he had never been. What if I had never known him, what I would have missed out on. I have so many friends who are pregnant now and they eagerly post just how dhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifeveloped the baby is each week. Yet the world tries to say its not a baby until the baby is born. In Florida sadly a woman was just killed who was 7 months pregnant and they said the fetus died also. Got news for you folks, I know a number of people who were born and lived at only 7 months. I bet that grieving father isn't calling the baby a fetus.




LYRICS

Mommy keep me safe, Mommy keep me warm,
Handle me with care, Mommy help me to form
I'm 10 weeks old and I know the time will come
when you will give birth to me.

The gift you gave to me are a pair of bright blue eyes
So someday I will see you smile and love me
I've already got my arms and a little podgy nose
And at the end of my feet I've got five little toes

I look forward to my life, ice cream and slimy snails
Teddy bears and little fairy tales
Going for walks in the park
Running home before its dark
And being tucked into bed with a kiss

Where are we going today?
Am I in a boat or bus?
Why are we lying down
Being drawn on four wheels

And we go through the door
And there's people dressed in green
Everything seems so strange and clean

Mommy, if they hurt you just let out a scream
And I know someone will come to help you and me
Mommy what's going on, I'm starting to cry
Come quickly, they're forcing me to die

They're killing me Mommy
They're pulling me apart
My arms and my legs
And now they're at my heart

And I wont see the sky or the grass or the trees
And I wont see the moon or feel the breeze

I love you Mommy dear, you know I really do
But I only wish you could have loved me too!



This pro-life song written by Father Francis Maple has saved at least 20 babies! Their mothers were considering abortion but changed their minds after hearing it.



If this video has touched your heart, please consider passing it on.


If you or someone you know has had an abortion and requires healing, there are many online resources available, here are links to just two of them:




http://www.safehavenministries.com/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx


http://www.priestsforlife.org/postabortion/shepherdingtheflock.htm

TSMS-Hold Me Up

I heard this on the radio on the way home from work and it so fits how I feel right now that I know it was a message from God for me. I am so heart broken that I can't make it through on my own. I have no strength left in me. I never imagined pain like this. I just can't accept not being able to see my baby brother again. I alternate between falling to the floor sobbing hysterically or being so mad and just wanted to hit things over and over again. My dad's heart is broken and he is holed up in his house and won't answer the phone or come to the door. We need you, Lord.

Chad

If you read my blog yesterday, you heard the horrible news about my baby brother. I am just trying to cling to God during this time. I just feel so absolutely heartbroken. The thought of not seeing my baby brother again just overwhelms me and leaves me sobbing hysterically. I am clinging to yesterday's memory verse because I have started having panic attacks driving to work. I work 3rd shift and have to go in during the night. I can't see that well and it fills me with fear. Chad was walking on the road in the night and was hit by a SUV and I just keep picturing that. I will be so glad when I get moved back to WV and will be working days so I don't have to drive in the dark for a long time.
I remember when Chad was born. He was such a pretty baby but he had colic and cried for ages. I remember taking him for walks with my stepmother. Chad was one of those super friendly people who never knew a stranger and was always laughing. I just keep seeing his smiling face in my head. I don't know if he was killed instantly or if not how long he lived. I do know that until the accident at least he wasn't in a saved state and thats another thought that is driving me crazy. I am asking God for a sign and praying that Chad had time to get right with God. I think of all the lost opportunities to witness to him. All the pictures I didn't take. All the I love yous I didn't say. My heart is broken and I feel like I am losing my mind but I am holding onto yesterday's memory verse again.
For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7


This is Chad dressed to take a friend to Prom


Chad worked as a coal miner and this is him after work


Chad showing how tough he was


Chad and his tattoo. I love the close up of his face.

A-Z Scripture Memorization - F

I am behind on week's newest verse. On the day this was sent out, I received word that my 21 year old baby brother had been killed in an accident. I know there isn't a time when anyone is ready for this but I never thought since I am 43 yrs old that I would bury my brother who is 22 years younger than me. The entire family just feels so completely devastated. I keep hoping to wake from this nightmare. I am just clinging to God and praying for the best. I don't know how to get through except one moment at a time.
I am trusting that this week's verse is a message from God. I have been feeling afraid and second guessing every decision in my life as a result. I have been so nervous and my hands keep shaking. I think my biggest fear has been that my dad would kill himself over this. My sister and I were part of Dad's life but never like Chad was. Dad doesn't have a relationship with God and without Chad there isn't anything left in Dad's life. He is on disability so he doesn't work. He has been bolted in the house and not answering the phones since this happened. Please trust with me that God is moving in Dad's life and he will get saved and be safe.

A - As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15b

B - Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Acts 16:31

C - Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

D - Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ~ Colossians 4:2

E - Every good and perfect gift is from above. James 1:17

This week's verse is
F - For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

Thursday news

Right now I am only on day 3 of my healthy lifestyle changes. I have done 3 days of this video. Its only 10 minutes of cardio and a minute of stretching but I am so out of shape that the first day I could only do 6 minutes. But the past 2 I have done the whole thing. I am proud of the fact that at least I can do the whole video and that I have done it 3 days in a row. As soon as I get this one mastered I will be adding or switching to new videos. Its a shame that I am this out of shape but without working at the beginning, it will never change. I haven't lost any weight and as any dieter will tell you thats discouraging. We want to see instant results. I just am telling myself that the results might be slow in coming but that they are coming and even if its only 5-10 lbs a month in a year that will be 60-120 lbs less. I just have to keep on keeping on.
My left knee is sore today, I think I over extended during the stretches yesterday so today I did a little more marching and less of the other exercises but I did at least keep moving. RA makes diet and exercise a challenge. I haven't really started cutting any calories, right now I am just trying to make better choices. If I want something junky, I ask if its really worth it and weight my options. I won't lie, day 1 I did eat some barbeque potato sticks but I knowingly made that choice and I have done better on day 2 and 3. I got some really cool popsicles at the store on clearance and they are only 20 calories each and taste really good. Lets face it, part of my problem is that I like to snack and I have to find better snack choices if I am going to make it. Its just not realistic to say I am going to stop snacking.

Online Exercise Videos

One of the things I am trying to do is to exercise more. I want to lose weight and be healthy. One of the problems with having rheumatoid arthritis is that you keep losing flexibility and its pretty stealthy. You aren't aware of how much is going so I want to do some exercises to increase both strength and flexibility. I have tons of videos but lets face it I am lazy :) By the time I turn on the tv, open the case and load the dvd player I am out of the mood. So for me an exercise video online is perfect. I found some awesome videos at Sparkpeople that are just the right length since I am just starting and they are pretty easy to follow. I am trying to do the 10 minute cardio bookcamp daily and working my way up from there. Hopefully as my new meds start to take effect I will be more able to do things. I go see a rheumatoidolgist next week for the first time ever. I have high hopes for him helping me. I want to halt the progression I see daily.

Philippians 4:13

One of my very favorite scripture verses is Phillipians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me". I love that verse and have blogged about it before. It amazes me how the Holy Spirit can keep teaching me so much in just 10 words. I had a hard time memorizing this verse because I keep trying to change the which to the word who. It just didn't make any sense to me why it would refer to Christ as a which not a who. Then out of nowhere tonight while typing this verse on another site, the Holy Spirit opened my blinded eyes and I finally saw that what strengthens me is doing all things. If you write the verse as I can do all things which strengtheneth me, you will see it. I had completely been misunderstanding this scripture. I can't do everything or all things, only those that are designed to make me stronger and help me grow in Christ. Those are the things that Jesus helps me to do and to overcome. Not everything that we do is profitable for us, spiritually, emotionally or physically. I now understand the context of this verse and see why its which and not who. He opened my blinded eyes :).

A-Z Scripture Memorization - E

I found a wonderful new blog. Anyone one who knows me, knows that I love anything family oriented and love making every day a fun special day. Just from the few posts, I have already read I love this woman's blog. She has a wonderfully neat meme for memorizing scriptures following the letters of the alphabet. I love scripture memorization and I really have wanted to do the letters of the alphabet every since I saw a little 5 year old boy at church go through the alphabet and know a scripture for every letter. I felt put to shame to think I hadn't put as much effort into learning God's word. One of my favorite scriptures is Psalm 119: 11 "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee". I don't have enough of His word hid in my heart so I can't wait to learn theses verses. I am a little behind but will be working hard to catch up. I hope you will join in and learn some wonderful new verses each week. I am just so excited to be part of this new meme.

Here are the verses so far that I need to catch up on.

A - As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15b

B - Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Acts 16:31

C - Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

D - Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ~ Colossians 4:2

This week's verse is
E - Every good and perfect gift is from above. James 1:17

TSMS-Tell the Mountain

First I would like to say that sadly I will not be commenting on most of my fellow TSMS posters. Its just too hard for me to read the captcha things and most of you have them on so I have decided I am no longer going to make myself frustrated trying to figure out what the stupid letters are. Just know that I do visit your blog, I just won't be commenting anymore.

Now onto new topics. I have had a very stressful week at work. I will be so glad when I am done with this job. God has opened another door for me and I am going thru it in the very near future. I am so happy that it feels like my heart is going to burst out of my chest. I heard this song on the radio not long ago and I just loved it so as soon as I got home I googled for the song on You Tube. I hope you are as blessed by this song as I am. Since I come from the great mountainous state of West Virginia, I can see the beauty in mountains. My goal is to learn to see the beauty in the mountains that God leads me through. I hope as you encounter mountains in your life, you turn to and trust the best guide there ever was or will be to guide you through.