Quote of the Day

This was a very interesting quote. What do you think?

"People often ask, 'Were you called to minister to the poor'? We are all called to minister to the poor. Such a ministry is the logical obedience of any disciple imitating the attitudes, character and teaching of Jesus. He commands everyone to renounce all (Luke 14:33) , to give to the poor and live simply. But we would need a special call to minister primarily to the rich and middle-class, for the focus of Christian ministry is 'good news to the poor'. Not all, however, are called to a life of identification with the poor by living among them!"

"My message to the middle class could be summed up by the following five slogans: Earn much, Consume little,Hoard nothing, Give generously, Celebrate life."

-Viv Grigg

Compassion to the Poor

Luke 12:32-34- "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Mommydom Leaves No Time For God

I love reading the Revive Our Hearts /True Woman Website. There is always something encouraging over there on Marriage, Motherhood and Biblical Femininity. Just in case you missed it, check out this post on my family blog.
Have a restful Sunday!

32 Hours : The Church In Haiti

My husband and I were just discussing ways to give/ help those in to Haiti. After watching this video, I would love to begin here. Check it out. Viewer Discretion is advised. The LORD I really believe calls us to LOVE...its time we as a church did our part and helped our brothers and sisters in the faith in Haiti.

This special sermon by Pastor Mark Driscoll aired at all Mars Hill campuses on January 24, 2010, just days after he and a team for Churches Helping Churches returned from their relief and fact-finding trip to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Pastor Mark shares firsthand stories and images of pastors and churches in Haiti to give a sense of the devastation there. Jesus calls the church to be on mission both locally and globally, and that includes helping our Haitian brothers and sisters in Christ. Pastor Mark closes by rebuking those at Mars Hill who are not on mission and are unfaithful in their financial giving.

out more about how you can help at

Find out more of how YOU CAN HELP by clicking the link below.

churcheshelpingchurches.com

Gods Glory In Missions

For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

-Malachi 1:11-13

So...I am listening to Paul Washer preach a sermon on Gods Glory In Missions . Here is some of the things that are standing out to me...

God says His name shall be great among the nations...He was angry when he made the above statement above. The people he is speaking of (Israel) could carel ess about God let alone His people. They were apostate. In the midst of this..in the midst of their lack of love, their harden hearts, self centeredness, lack of passion..God says HE WILL MAKE HIS NAME GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS!

What encouragement!! Missions, its goal, has nothing to do with me, has nothing to do with my performance. The plan of the great commission does not depend on any group of men( or person) on the face of earth. God will get HIS WORK DONE!!! No matter what happens around me, how people respond, my times of selfishness, threats, or persecution. God will call forth His people HE has CHOSEN before the face of the earth! I am so encouraged tonight, and so secure and content in the gospel of grace,Gods power, and sovereignty!

When you go to the mission field..don't go after the lost, go after your family. (even that men caught in the sin of homosexuality) Everyone has the potential to be your sister and brother in Christ.You've got brothers and sisters on that field, and they don't know about their Father. They don't know that before the foundation of the world a decree was made to SAVE men. They don't know that 2000 years ago blood was shed on a tree for them.

This is only the first 15 minutes....

Lord give us a heart for your GLORY and for your name to be known to all the nations!!!!

CGM Basketball

Yes, we have just begun a basketball team( LOL!!). These boys are stoked!! (we as a staff are too) We have three teams. One for the 8 and younger, then a team for the 10 and younger and the last time consist of the 12 and younger. (not sure how that works, but hopefully you get the picture)

Check out a few pics of their game. Oh and by the way...we also at the last minute started a cheer leading team!!! Yours truly is the head coach! What in the world was I thinking!? (pics to come) ! LOL! But...I am loving every minute of it. Makes me think back to my younger days! ha! Older boys won their game 31 -10!

Hope In The Hood

I have the priviledge to meet so many young girls on fire for Jesus. Girls who are committed to carrying their cross no matter how hard it is to bear and following him through all kids of fires.
Meet April. She has came into our family and has been such a blessing to me. She tells me that she is thankful that she has my life to model after. I tell her, I am learning from her as well. Its mutual transformation that takes place in all Titus 2 relationships. I am so thankful for her. Read this post by her here.
I love you lil sister :)

Longing For Redemption

I had the chance to get out of the house today. I visited my girl D, went to lunch with a mom in our neighborhood. The Lord even gave me the opportunity to encourage a young man with some family issues he is dealing with. The Lord lead me to have a conversation with one neighbor who wanted me to see her home,( I am suppose to go visit with her tomorrow) she begins to share with me her living conditions,which is in one of the worst conditions I have ever heard. (Lead poison, mold,ect.) Words cannot describe what is happening in my head/heart every time I think about this. There are so many needs. My neighbors are struggling to live, struggling to make ends meet day to day. I mean, we are talking about 30 and 40 year old men and women who cant read and write, which effect EVERYTHING around them!

Everything I saw and heard today was VERY overwhelming. We in America sit here in our little comfortable bubbles,with our HUGE bank accounts, consuming material possessions that will eventually burn up!!!We worry... (and I do mean we cause I am talking about myself)about some many things that are not even worth the time worrying about. AHH!!!!!!!!!!!! I can just yell!!! I am soo upset, and frustrated and angry at how easy we have it. People around me don't have much, but they are smiling, they are fighting, I mean fighting for JOY for real!!! Oh, I am sooo convicted. We are ready to through in the towel when our car break down or the coffee machine don't work. I am so sick to my stomach at our culture and the things we give our hearts away to, when we should be trying to give those things away to the LORD. Placing them at His disposal to do whatever HE PLEASES with them.
I am faced tonight to yet again search my heart, and come to an agreeance with the LORD on where my treasure is. I must also trust the LORD knows the needs of my hood, I really believe that He hears their cries, he sees the injustice, and He will one day, one day... make all things new!!! Lord, may it be soon!!

Isaiah 65:17
"Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

- Matthew 6:20-22
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.

-Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting.

Grilled New York Strip Steak with Beer and Molasses Steak Sauce

I have heard some really, I mean really great things about this recipe. I trust the Neelys, they always have great recipes on their show, so I am sure this one will be a hit! I am going to try it out tonight. (debating if I want to try chicken first instead of steak..hmmm) Will let you know how it turns out.

Prep Time: 10 min

Inactive Prep Time: 10 min

Cook Time:40 min

Serves: 6 servings

Ingredients For sauce:
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 medium onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups ketchup
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup apple cider
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup lager-style beer
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon paprika
3 (1 pound each and 1/2-inch thick) prime-aged New York Strip Steaks
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil ( I use Olive Oil)

Directions
For the sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add onion and garlic and saute for 3 minutes, until softened. Add the rest of the ingredients; bring to a boil, then simmer until sauce is reduced to 2 cups, about 30 minutes.

Preheat grill pan. Season steak with salt and pepper and rub with oil. Grill steak about 3 minutes per side for medium-rare. Let rest 10 minutes and serve with sauce on side.

Battling Fear,Worry and Anxiety...

For years I have wrestled with the sin of Anxiety. Ugh! I hate it! When you are in bondage to fear and worry life is NO FUN and you cause life for many of those around you no fun either. ( as I am sure that is the case with most sin) As we were traveling to Orange Beach this weekend I begin to panic and become very fearful. It always happen when I travel. I am so afraid of car accidents. I hate traveling over bridges because I cant swim.( but I love going to the beach...crazy, I know) The Lord through a sermon years ago convicted me and thats when I begin to understand and accept that fear, worry and or anxiety was a sin. The bible says...

Matthew 6- "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Just that verse alone teaches you that it is sinful to be fearful. I want this area in my life to be gone, but as I am learning, it wont leave without a fight..and if I have not learned anything about being a christian one of the things I know is GODLINESS has to be practiced over and over and over again. God knows what we need, he Sovereignly gave me a opportunity to be in a relationship with him, he left me with all that I needed to complete the task of this calling. In my email today I received this. I can just cry. God hears. He knows my struggles. I was convicted after reading that post because it meant that I still have yet to come close to really know WHO THIS GOD IS I serve. One of the reasons why I am fearful is because of my lack of knowledge about Jesus. DO I really know God, or do I just know about him? I have so much to learn!! God in his goodness still gave me something to be encouraged about and that is the simple fact that this journey is not over, there is still more pursuing Jesus. His sooo inexhaustible! !!

I pray the LORD continues to fill my heart with knowledge of Him and in all my findings and in all my getting the LORD brings those precious ("Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed for I am your God; I will help you, I will strengthen you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand"-Isaiah 41:10) and great promises("none of us lives to himself and none of us dies to himself; if we live we live to the Lord and if we die we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and rose again: that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living-Romans 14:9-11) to my remembrance!


Lord..please help me to remember!!

Always and Forever

Kevin and I will celebrate 8 years of being married on February 23. Ya'll, everytime I think about being with someone that long I get goose bumps thinking about the GRACE of our LORD. I mean, that might not be a big thing to you, but in the culture and even in the church for that matter, jokas are not even staying married past a year without their being some form of infedility, abuse or jsut selfishness in generally that leads to divorce.

I am so thankful for my man. He has endured a lot with my sinful tail. I KNOW apart from the GRACE of God we would not have the marriage we have today. I am still learning and growing and being humbled in so many ways. We have been through so much together. Parents, of friend, own a condo down on Orange Beach. They have graciouly allowed us to use it starting tomorrow up until Monday to celebrate our anniversary a month early. *sighing* Things can be a bit overwhelming at times, so for the LORD to send us away to be revived I can just cry. I cant begin to tell you how thankful I am. Our lives are so busy now. For me personally, with trying to grow in godliness through being a wife and motherhood( not to mention homeschooling and urban ministry) things can be quite a challenge.

Yet, when I look back on all that we have had to face these 8 years, I would not change anything about it. Not even the sufferings or trials. They, matured us in ways we WOULD HAVE NEVER even dreamed. They have given me a greater appreciation for the LORD and His word. I am still learning and growing in what it means to be content in the way the LORD has created me(infertility, body image, personality) and Kevin I must say has been encouraging me along the way.

I say all this to say, (LOL, yes after all that) thank the LORD for your boo today! God is Sovereign over our marriages, He knows what we need, and He knows how He will bring it about. We lack nothing when it comes to honring Him in our relationships with our spouse.

Would you pray that Kevin and I get much rest and that our time with one another would be very precious. :)

I Asked..She Answered

I normally blog about our homeschool happenings here. But you have gots to hear this...

Kaiya and I were working on her list of spelling words. This week its words that make up the Short u sound. One of her spelling words was the word 'club'. I asked her to define it- ( which if she doesn't know the definition she has learn to pull out her dictionary and look it up)this time, she just thought she knew what the definition was ...she then begins to say, "I know exactly what that is...that's the place you go out to kick it and dance and party at night..you know, da club??

Me- "Uh, no mam, not that club precious!!" (laughing husband in the background)

Has she been reading the Urban Dictionary?!

Oh the life of a home schooled child who lives in the hood.....

Growing Leaps and Bounds

"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." - John 15:24-25




This was the first verse Red memorized and recited to me during our weekly D-group meeting. I was so proud of her!! After reciting her verse she says, “I get it, and I memorized it, I didn’t think I would remember”!!! then she gives this cute, crazy laugh she always has when she is proud of herself. (LOL) This was such an exciting time . She is growing leaps and bounds in her walk with the Lord. She is responding well to accountability and she also growing in understanding the importance of what it means to be consistent in her daily devotional life. We are studying the Black Book published by Campus Outreach Ministries along side the book of 1 John. She recently had the chance to attend the New Years Conference sponsored by Campus Outreach and sense then her growth and conviction to do what is pleasing in the sight of the Lord has grown tremendously!!!
She has recently enrolled in college, and is own her way to attain her drivers license. We couldn't be more proud of her and thankful to the LORD (because HE is the ONE doing all this, NOT US!!!!!)

Please continue to pray for ‘Reds’ maturity. Pray that she becomes convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demon, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate her from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Pray she would continue to learn and grow in what it means to walk her faith out practically.

Pray as well that I would lovingly admonish her, teaching her with all wisdom. This has been the beginning of such a precious friendship!

Scripture Memory- Week Of January 10,2010

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature,having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

2Peter 1:3-4

2010: The Year of The Lion

My husband and I are excited about Sho Baraka second studio album Lions and Liars. If this album is going to be anything like this dudes godly character, ( which I'm sure it will) you are in for some REAL christianity!! Go hear to hear the first single off the album entitled Word.


Rapzilla.com did an interview with Sho Baraka while he was on the road. Check it out below for updates on what he's up to in ATL, his church, and his upcoming album Lions and Liars.

I have Hidden Thy Word In My Heart...

“I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture. . . . No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified” (Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994], p. 61).

I love the WORD! I mean, I really, really love reading Gods word! I get excited about many things, but to get together with some godly sisters and to hear what the LORD is teaching them and how He is transforming their hearts... *sighing* its like heaven on earth!!!

I have recently committed to participating in the new Revive our Hearts Scripture Memory challenge. For the month of January we are in the book of 1 Peter. Scripture memory has sooo many long lasting eternal affects. To name a few, memorizing scripture I have learned help makes our gaze on Jesus steadier and clearer, it helps us to daily win the fight over sin, helps us to daily win the fight over Satan, helps one to communicate the gospel to non believers, I always see it helps me to comfort and counsel the people I love, lastly it helps me to commune with God in the enjoyment of His person and ways .


I am excited to be a part of this challenge, its soo beneficial, wont you join me?!

Pure At Heart

Man, I have not blogged consistently in a while. I hate that. I love to write, I love as well keeping you updated on all the happenings in our hood and family. But there is just too much to talk about. I will however, tell you about one thing the LORD is just confirming more and more in my heart.

From the time of salvation I have had an overwhelming burden for girls and their sexual purity. Before Christ and even for a little while after Christ this was my own personal struggle. If I didn't know anything, I knew I wanted the LORD to use me to tell the next generation how important abstinence was. After being married for a short time the LORD lead me to a non profit organization called Sav-A-Life. Here I was a volunteer counselor, teaching and training girls/women on the importance of sexual purity,abortion and STD's. We would offer free pregnancy test, share the gospel and allow each girl to see her baby with a free ultra sound. I watched many women and girls wrestle with the decision to keep their child or either abort. Sadly, some left choosing the latter.

I continued to pray over the next couple of years off and on for the LORD to continue to give me opportunities to share His heart on sex before marriage. Oh, and boy did He!

I am sure you remember this conversation I shared about the girls in my hood as young as fourth grade wanting to have sex. That conversation sparked something serious in my prayer life. As a result of that and many other conversations. The Lord has opened up the door for me to begin a purity club/ bible study in our neighborhood. I cant even begin to tell you how thrilled ( and frightened) I am about this. Beginning at the end of this month, over the course of nine weeks, I will lead (along with the help of other staff) a small group of 13 girls (ages 7-13) through the book The Princess and The Kiss.

The Princess and the Kiss is a marvelous parable of God's gift of purity. A loving king and queen present their daughter with a special gift from God-her first kiss-to keep or to give away. We will have the chance to observe the wise young princess following the counsel of her parents, keeping her kiss safe for the man she will perhaps someday marry. The study will conclude with a purity cermony where each girl will be prayed over with her parents and presented with a certificate and special locket to remind her of her committment to purity. Oh Father, I pray this encourages them to a lifestyle of purity!!!

What a burden... The Lord has confirmed to me through the counsel of my wise husband, staff members and friends that this is definitely something he wants me to do. Even tonight, as I was catching up on my blog readings, I read an article that said, "by the time she is sixteen, a Christian girl has a 50/50 chance of surviving life without the experiences of sexual sin, eating disorders and depression...." it continues on to say, "The foundation for building an emotionally healthy teen girl-who stands free from the norms of an at-risk culture-is built between the ages of 8-12."

8-12?! Lord help us!! The title of the article is Sexual Purity Starts at Seven. I thanked the LORD for more conformation. Please pray for me as I begin to prepare for this 9 week study.

Please pray that the LORD uses this to impact these girls in a HUGE way, pray for what you would believe would be the impossible in this situation and lets watch the LORD answer all of our prayers.

Pray for the mothers and daughters as well...that the LORD would soften their hearts to the truth of the Gospel and that they would joyously live in complete submission to His authority.That these girls would grow to be girls who are wise and pure at heart.

I am overwhelmed at this task, yet I anxiously await to see all that the LORD will accomplish. This sex craze culture is coming full speed a head at these girls. Lets teach them how to be armed with the TRUTH so that when the day of evil comes (which is NOW!!), they may be able to stand.