Stumbling Blocks or Stepping Stones??

"What your Childhood Memories say about you....and what You can do about it"...I am listening to this book on cd by Dr. Kevin Leman - He was a guest on Joyce Meyer show last week. So, I was curious about this book. And WOW - Double WOW!!

I have always struggled with my childhood memories. All I remember is a lot of negative stuff. Being from a divorced family there was a lot of hostility and resentfulness. This is the enemies playground. he can get a stronghold on our minds and well, just get us to sing the gloom - despair - agony on me song... (Hee Haw) - So, through this book...I have leaned that I can forgive and take the hurt from the past and mix them with the hope of JESUS. It's not saying it was ok, but forgiving allows freedom to grow within my heart. We all make mistakes, Mom, Dad, Sister, Brother - ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. ALL - so with this I have let allot of people off the hook - that I held responsible for my less than perfect childhood. As I have revisited my childhood this week, I've realized that I had many sweet times- I wanted to share a few of them with you:

~ My Nanny - she always loved unconditionally - I believe there is nothing I could do so bad that she would cut me out of her life. I remember spending the night with her and she would spoon with me....what's that??? When we would sleep she would scourge up real close and I would fit perfectly - she would hold me real tight - there was no safer place than my Nanny's arms.

My Mama - I loved church. My Mama would let me put my head in her lap and she would play with my hair. With the week being so busy and not having opportunities to put my head in her lap and get undivided attention - well, I looked so forward to Sunday and going to church. I believe that's one of the reasons I love church so dearly today.

Regardless, of your past you have a gift called the PRESENT! Embrace all that GOD has for you, sweet Sista! I want to share this precious Scripture with you that blessed my socks off...

I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Bretheren(sista), I do not count myself to have apprehended: but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14

How about you - what's your sweet memories? You may have endured some trying times and hardships, but Praise GOD - it shaped who you are today. So, do you call it Stumbling blocks or stepping stones?

Praying sweet blessings on you, my Sistas - my Friends!!

Time - Where does it gooooooo?

O.K., so it's been a week...YIKES! I can't tell you what I did in the last seven days...hummm. well, I know I was here and not abducted by aliens...let's see....Friday- Lunch with McDonna and Kay Bird; Saturday - Hanging out with the family; Sunday - Church and Sister and her Hubby came for a visit; Monday - Cleaned house (Ithink); Tuesday - (Cleaned some more); Wednesday - Baked all day - yes, Chirstmas baking with the Christmas music and all - My daughter Ansley said "I love Christmas - everything smells good and feels real cozy" then she asked..."Can we put the Christmas tree up early?" I know that sounds so sweet, but I've been in this trap before....they all want the tree up, but dear ole' Mama is left to do all the work....kinda reminds me of the little Red Hen that wanted help making and baking some bread....so speaking of bread - check below for the picture of my pone of cornbread....YUMMIE!! and the pintos......delicious...they would blow you away....hee hee (I couldn't resist that joke) - so life is good! GOD is GOODER!! Oh, yes, this week I have been preparing for our LAMBS (Love And Ministry Between Sistas) Thanksgiving luncheon...I knew I'd been busy for JESUS!!! Love you, Sistas! Keep looking up ~ GOD is LARGE and in CHARGE!!! Oh, yes a Big Shout out to my new Friend "Georgia Jan" ~ Welcome to the Sista-Hood! :)

MacDonna And Kay Bird and Me at Apple Bee's for Kay Birds B-lated Birthday lunch...I love these Sistas!

Pone of Corn Bread

Rainy Days and Thrusday.....Always....Well....

They don't get me down! I love rainy days - especially when I can be at home. Life brings no simpler pleasure to me than to be at home cleaning and cooking a pot of pinto beans and a pone of corn bread. Pone of Corn bread? It's a southern thing - I think sometimes I just get to busy, running around trying to create joy for me and those around me. When the reality is joy comes from within. It cannot be manufactured - yes, I would agree that happiness can be - but being joyful to me is totally different than happiness. Joy is who you are - happy is what you are! In the latter part of Nehemiah 8:10 it says For the JOY of the LORD is your STRENGTH!
Another scripture that just resonates in my heart Philippians 4:12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
Hallelujah! We can be content and full of JOY!! So today, I want to encourage you to put a smile on your heart that will shine through on your face, flex your sprititual muscles and go put on a pot of pintos!! In JESUS' name! AMEN!!! Love you, Sistas!

GOD HEARS!!!

I love this Song that Russ Lee sang at our church this year! Hope you are blessed!

The Hope Project

Created in co-operation with motion picture producers and distributors around the world, The HOPE is an 80 minute dramatic presentation of God’s epic story of redemption as revealed in the Bible. Click here to check out...

Got Hope??

You know it's easy to lose hope. Trust me I have lost mine time and time again. Only to relocate it at the feet of JESUS! For those Sistas that know me...well, you know I love acronyms. Yes, I do! I am constantly looking at words and making them mean something to me. So with the recent election results I recalled one of my favorite acronyms.....

Holding
On
Problems
Evaporate

I actually had several words to go with HOPE - but I especially liked this one, because my man (Todd) joined in and came up with problems evaporates...I had Peace Endures....
You may say how can my problems evaporate....problems well, there PROBLEMS!! Well, I have hope for you! When things or people go wrong - you have a decision to make...do I add to the problem or do I look for solutions? So that goes to our focus- what am I going to focus on? Negative or Positive...you can ALWAYS ALWAYS find the negative (by yourself or from others) and in a hurry I might add! So to sum it all up, it's about your vision - don't get your eyes on the problem; get your eyes on the purpose. There is ALWAYS purpose in the pain. Look at our example - JESUS! HIS pain was our gain! AMEN?? Yes, AMEN!! So you see it doesn't matter if we are experiencing the mountain top or the valley low - GOD is still GOD and HE is in control!
When we pray it changes our focus! FOCUS on the FATHER!! I'll say it over and over....
GOD is LARGE and in CHARGE!! HALLELUJAH!! I Love You! I pray bountiful blessings all over you today! :)

Is it Danny & Sandy from Grease????

HARVEST FEST AT THE TORCH WORSHIP CENTER 2008

Todd and I worked the Hula Hoop game - We had a BLAST!!

This precious girl was our overall winner with 635 continuous revolutions!!
We gave her a lot of candy - well, she burned up so many calories - I thought she'd probably need the chocolate!

Matthew and Jacob with Todd (Danny)

Now this Sista has it going on!!
Monica Spears....who knew?? Look for her on the praise team :)

Todd (Danny) Alex and Staci (Sandy)

Twins??? Eric Freeman and Todd (Danny)

Look at my cute Man!!! You Go, Sweet Thang!!

Katelynn Bryant and Staci (Sandy)

We're sooo cool with Addie Berry
Look at that Sunset.....BEAUTIFUL!!