"It's the Blood"

What is left of a person when you take away makeup, clothes, jobs, cars, money, cell phones, and all dignity?
When I think of this question, I am reminded of my dad. He is a registered nurse and practical nurse teacher. I will tell you first that this man has a heart of gold and loves being a nurse and everything it means. He has commented to me numerous time about the humility of his patients....how having an illness, tragedy, death, or birth brings a person to thier knees.....how they share thier every concern, fears, hopes, and regret, and hurt with the people that are caring for them...nurses....someone that is not even family, or before hand, friends. At that moment they are completely subject to God's will for their life and no longer have control over their body. complete humility.......down to ground zero.....
I also think of my daughter...whom asked me last night "Momma, if I am buried in the ground when I die......how can I go to heaven". ......our soul....isn't it the only thing that truly matters?
Life is so special. If we could only see what those nurses see..... maybe we could get a glimpse of people's true soul. .......it is amazing how instantly there is no prejudice, hatred, jealousy, or petty arguments....just plain love and compassion for other human beings.......
What is the most important thing in life?......i think of the blood......i think of the the song "its the blood, thats all I have to plea"
I think we have to look at our lost friends, acquaintances, family, and passers by.....and see that humble patient in the hospital bed.......thier soul is sick.....their soul needs attended to.....who will give them the prescription for heaven.....we have to look past that exterior and focus on what is most important.

Can You Do More For God?

When was the last time you were zealous for God?
Have you ever been zealous for God?
Its like when you first get a new job......I was a Sonic car-hop.....boy did I want to be the friendliest, fastest, and most efficient car hop Sonic Drive-In had ever had....I went out of my way to do my best!....I was zealous for my job!
I wish we had an adult church camp. I really think that is what most Christians need...to be surrounded by nothing but other Christians and preachers for an entire week....talk about setting the world on fire I remember when I was sixteen I went to my first teen church camp. Wow! Everyday I would sit under at least three awesome sermons from a man of God. Powerful God inspired preaching....preaching about modesty, music, television, friends, God's will for my life, and just about every aspect of life I could possibly have a decision about. Those preachers told us that we could live for God but we would have to decide to do so. .....no cell phones, computers, unbelievers, etc.....to tell me otherwise. Wow!
Wow! I still feel the fire inside when I think about it.
I remember coming back home after that week. I decided I would live for God no matter what Satan may put against me. I will never forget. My dad was burning brush in the backyard. I took all my music cd's....I would say $500 worth, put them in a paper bag, and threw them in the fire......Woo Hoo....talk about a victory in my heart!
This was a beginnings, but it was definitely a defining point in my life.
We need this fire in our life. I think we get so preoccupied with changing diapers, cooking dinner, keeping up with all the events on the calendar that we forget our self. You, the person, gets lost in the shuffle. What are you living for? Just your children, or God? Where did your zeal go?
It is there. You have to find it! Pray for it! If we could get that "church camp zeal", is there anything that we cannot do? No, just because we have small children or children with activities doesn't mean we are slave to only those duties. We can do so much more. We just have to decide in our heart that we are going to....and God will find a way!

Mentor each other!

"For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: that there should be no schism in the body; that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it"
1st Corinthians 12:24
God has recently put a burden on my heart for this piece of scripture...How well do we really know our christian family? It is a common thing to say in the hallway..."Hi, how are you?"....without pausing to hear the answer. Why did we ask? Do we really want or have time for the answer?
We brush by each other in the copy room or in the nursery....we talk about the weather ....we talk about how rowdy or packed our class is that day....but do we really know each other?
Do you know you sister in Christ well enough to see if they are suffering?
Just as we notice a hurt or ache in our body....so should we notice a hurt or ache in our friends.... then the bible says "that the members should have the same care one for another".
We must break down that facade that we have to act like everything is always peachy. In reality we all have struggles like backsliden loved ones, trouble at work, financial difficulties, depression, anxiety, and etc. We have to ban together....Mentor each other.....Acknowledge that it is hard to be a faithful christian woman.....Talk about our problems and up lift each other. God gave us our christian family for these purposes. We are not alone and we must not have too much pride to discuss our difficulties in order to help out our fellow christian sisters.
So....PAY ATTENTION!....LET DOWN YOUR GUARD!....you can't help someone if you aren't honest......take someone under your wing...let them know they are not alone.....encourage and uplift them....point them to CHRIST....PRAYER... SCRIPTURE.....and show them how Christ helped you.
Facebook Vanessa Hurley

Memories..

We all strive to give our children a better life than what we had. I think where we go wrong is trying to give them a better materialistic lifestyle.
Looking back, I remember what my parents did with me: my dad sitting in the crowd cheering me on, my mom painting my toe nails, my dad showing me how to bait a hook and how to be patient, my mom showing me how to balance a check book.
I can remember very few things they bought me.
I think we should put a conscience effort everyday into doing things with our children. I know I for one have a bad habit about worrying that the house work is done. No one will remember ten years from now if I let my house go so I can spend time with my children EXCEPT my children.
So read your children books, snuggle next to them during a good movie, paint their toe nails, build a sand castle with them, pray with them, and sing to them.
They will remember...that is one thing $$ or time has no effect on...memories!!!!!!!!!!!!

People Need The Lord!

I remember back to a time when I was a child. I had no worries, no prejudices, and no fears. Life was wonderfully clear.
I was a fifth grader at a local elementary school. Our fifth grade Christmas program would be "Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer". Our class would sing the song as I came hobbling out in my granny attire then I would get knocked down by a drive by reindeer. Finally, a fellow classmate, dressed as grandpa, would drag me off stage. The crowd laughed and cheered.
Sadly I found out recently that, that dear friend dressed as grandpa, passed away.
Today as I pondered about how quickly his life was taken, I can't help but wonder what kind of example I was to him and his family.
"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."
James 4:14
Sure I was just a fifth grader. But I was a christian at that time....was I living and speaking as a christian. I know many children that have led others to the Lord. Also, I think about my children's church class. I know for several of those children, we are the only christian influence they have.
I know I for one, am not a people person by nature. I would rather go, listen to the sermon, teach, and leave. I realize that we all should take that extra time to talk to others. No matter what you may have waiting on your "to do list" or how hungry you may be, talk to people. Tell the your dry cleaner, your beautician, the guy that waved at the car wash, and even that child that comes to your door with a school fundraiser. You never know what could happen to either of you tomorrow, next month, or even ten years from now. As one of my close friends sings "people need the Lord", so tell them how great he is and what he has done for your life. I know I sure want to try harder!

God gives us strength!

Just a word of encouragement for you mothers out there. If you are anything like me, you could use all you can get.
Seems like everything falls apart when I start to cook dinner or sit down to write out the bills. My oldest wants a freezer pop, the middle one gets a stinky or smashs her finger, and the baby starts crying. As soon as I get one pacified then I have to take care of another's needs. It gets rather frustrating at times. I know there are times I feel like I haven't accomplished anything.
I thought about these things as I was listening to my dad's lesson this morning. He spoke about being exhausted in your marriage. I know I get exhausted many times when it comes to being a mother. We faint. That point when you say "I can't take it anymore" or maybe you just want to cry. But he pointed out a scripture that I am sure we have all heard.
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Isaiah 40:31
Maybe you have been helping your child off to college this week, your pulling overtime at the job, or just plain tired of your day to day route. Don't faint! Look to God for your strength. Are you praying yourself out of those stressful situations or are you counting? This scripture promises that the Lord will give you strength in those hard times but you have to rely on him. PRAY...PRAY..PRAY.. So keep slaving over that stove, wiping those snotty noses, and kissing those boo boos. God is right there with you. You are raising those children for the glory of God.. and every little thing you do counts!

The Most Important Thing in Life!

I cannot imagine calling this a "christian" blog without sharing God's plan of salvation. I hope each and everyone of you are saved but this is particularly for the ones that are not.
Are you 100% sure you are going to heaven when you die?
None of us are perfect and the bible tells us so in Romans 3: 23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God"
Those things that we do that cause us not to be perfect are called sin. Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death" Therefore there is a payment for that sin which is hell. But God made a way for us to go to heaven!
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should no perish but have everlasting life"
God sent his son to bear our sin on the cross. He was crucified and rose again.
Romans 10:13 "for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved"
God loves us so much that he made a way. All you have to do is realize that you need him, call upon him and believe in him. It is so simple. You don't have to live a perfect life or go through some twelve step program. Just ask Jesus to come into your heart. He is always there waiting.

Rainy day activities.....

Blah...on those rainy days I wish I could sleep all day! I don't know about you but my kids get cabin fever easily. They need some way to get their wiggles out so they don"t feel couped up. I have a few ideas to keep those little minds and bodies busy.
....CARD MAKING- get out some construction paper and let the kids color and draw whatever they want. If you really feel frisky, let them finger paint or use chalk on black constuction paper. Then when grandmommie or daddy's birthday comes up, fold in half and add a title on the front and names on the inside. Wah..la...instant card and it saved you from spending 5 bucks at Hallmark.
.....MOVIE TIME- grab some popcorn and a classic movie. Its a great way to get the kids settled down before nap time.
.....WATER CRAZY- now for this one you must go beyond your natural instinct mothers. Let them play in the rain. Get that great plastic pool out and dump some bath toys in it. They will love it...and trust me, they will live through it.
.....MEMORY VERSE- don't forget to practice those memory verses...and rainy days are the best days to catch up.
.....BOOKS- read, read, read....read to your children, have them read to you, or if they are old enough let them read to themselves....this is a great way to increase their vocabulary and thinking skills.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to ideas that can kick the gloom out of your rainy day. Keep your mind and body active and that rainy day will fly by.

Hear Ye...Hear Ye..

Gossip, Gossip, and more Gossip. Everyone has their pets and I think this is one of the worst. No matter which side you are on, spilling the beans or just listening to those beans being spilt, the outcome is never good.
Just last Sunday night my pastor was preaching about character and I have to say that this hits directly home when talking about gossip. Just remember you must speak truth and also have mercy. Gossip is almost always negative and usually hurts someones feelings.
Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause.
Exodus 23:1 (KJV)
We all must forgive and go on. Because as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ we have to work with and see each other weekly. So like I read on a local sign the other day " a spoken word can never be unspoken, so THINK"!

Overworked church worker?

Do Sundays feel like a day of work instead of a day of rest?
Do you feel like you give and give without any reward?
Look up my fellow sisters in Christ for the scripture says we shall be renewed daily. Your work is not in vain.
"For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but through our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, whis is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are tempral; but the things which are not seen are eternal."
2nd Corinthinans 4:15-18 (KJV )
Have you ever watched a widow work her fingers to the bone to help with various things at your church? They rarely get praise for their hard work but yet they press on. Have you ever notice that young teenager happily volunteering to help do what he or she can, only to be pushed away or ignored? Or how about that overworked mom with her hands completely full yet she still finds the time and energy to teach or volunteer in the nursery.
SMILE! You may not feel as though you are appreciated but you are....by God. You are a big part of the much bigger picture. A child may not get saved in your sunday school class or in the nursery, the pastor may not pat you on the back for all those smiles and hand shakes you meet the congregation with while greeting, and you may not get a thank you for all the help you give to throw a baby shower for a new mother to be......but God notices you. A much bigger reward awaits for you in heaven. So keep your chin up! No matter what, you will influence a child, mother, unsaved person, or fellow christian in some way. So make sure that influence is postive and accounted for the glory of God and not yourself. I know it is hard at times but that is why we have each other as brothers and sisters in Christ, to encourage and push to press on.

Structure is Best....

Whether you have one child or five....I have one word that is a must STRUCTURE STRUCTURE STRUCTURE.
A schedule...I don't know about you but my children do better in any situation when they know what to expect. This holds true to even something simple such as going to the grocery store.. Surprises are not welcomed...like a UPS delivery man ringing the door bell during nap time..talk about a damper...first the children don't get to the rest they needed and second they are completely grumpy. Something I like to do is park beside a buggy return at the grocery store. Next I explain to the children what we are going inside to do and if they behave in a decent manner than I will reward them. From there I load the children in a buggy and truck it to the inside. Try to keep some type of schedule this keeps the children knowing what to expect and helps you avoid the ever so dreaded temper tantrum.