M.I.A

I'm so sorry that I have been M.I.A lately.  We have had so much going on and so much happening.  There are things that I can't share but know that there is a reason for EVERYTHING!!!!!!  I have no doubt that the Lord is in control and that is the whole point. 
He promised that He would never leave or forsake me and that is what gets me out of the bed every morning.  People/Humans are ALWAYS going to let you down.  There is not doubt about that.  Most don't let us down intentionally but it happens.  On the other hand, Jesus will NOT!!!!! 

The Bible study that I am leading has been such an incredible time.  We are a group of women who love the Lord so very much.  We are learning to have less UNGLUED moments and we are making imperfect progress as Lysa calls it.  We have all learned so much about ourselves as well as more about the other women in the class.  Nothing more precious than having a group of women that care enough about each other and feel comfortable enough to share the biggest joys and the deepest hurts.  THAT IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT!!!!! 

EXPECT is my word for the year 2013.  It has really changed my prayer life, my quiet time, my family life and my church life.  It is just incredible.  One of the main things is that it changes your perspective.  I mean when we consider what our perspective is and how we handle and approach situations and task, it is just HUGE!!!! 
For example...
When you pray......Do you EXPECT Him to answer?
When you approach a mountain....Do you EXPECT Him to move it?
When you approach a difficult situation....Do you EXPECT Him to go ahead of you?
I mean this is BIG STUFF!!!!!! 

I promise not to go M.I.A again!!!!!  I have so much more to share. 

pssst......I get to be a Guest Blogger on Sunday on a friends blog........

Left My Heart in .......

INDIA/NEPAL!!!!!  I'm always amazed at how the little things that come in to my head or see a picture and then the memories just blow me away.  They just flood my memory and I can almost smell the smells of that precious land.  I never dreamed in a million years back in 2000 that I would ever set foot in India and much less Nepal.  I was just amazed when the Lord called and I answered. 

JL Williams of New Directions International had come to preach that night at church.  Marsha (My Other Mother) and Tim had already committed to going.  I sat and listened and prayed and the only thing going through my head and my heart was......"Lord, when is he going to be done so I can commit to go!!!!!!!!"  I don't think the first words of the Invitation were sung before I was at the altar, tears streaming down my face and hugging Marsha and telling her "I'm going with you".  I was just amazed. 

We went that year and then we went again the next year.  It was something that you never forget.  Something that changes your heart.
Something that changes your vision.
Something that changes your sight.
Something that changes the way you live.
It was something that still to this day leaves me speechless!!!!!! 

I found some pictures on the Internet so I don't take credit for any of them but just wanted to share them with you.  Things that I have seen.  Things that I have experienced. Things that broke my heart. 

Holy Cows sitting in the middle of the street

Maha Kumba Mela- Hindu Festival-Only every 144 years

There were MILLIONS of people there that day that we were there!!!!

Aerial shot of the people.  It was overwhelming.  We stood on the banks and could not do anything.  We witnessed millions of people washing in a river and everyone of them lost with out a Savior.

Stupha in Kathmandu Nepal.  Buddhist Temple

Typical shopping area.

Typical area in Nepal, notice the Holy Cows?

Crematoria on the river.  This is up stream from where the people are bathing in the same river.  They cremate the body and them push the ashes off into the river.

Entrance to Red Fort in Agra India

Red Fort- So majestic appearing

Taj Mahal was absolutely amazing.  You must remove your shoes when you go in.  Just mind blowing!!!!  It's such an incredible place and the realization that it is a tomb.  You see the columns on the corners are built at such a slight angle.  You can't really see it when you are standing there.  The lean away from the Taj so that if there were ever an earthquake, they would fall AWAY from the Taj.  INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!

India and Nepal, Oh how I pray for you. Oh that the Lord would allow me to come to you again some day. I just wanted to share part of me and what the Lord can do when you are least EXPECTing it!!!!!!!!

 Blessings,
Pam

Expect It!

Well, my word for the year was EXPECT!  Well sometimes He does things and we were not EXPECTING it. 
Today a new Community Bible Study started. Doing the book of Job!!!!  What a book!!!!!  I had my information to go and had seen one of the ladies and told her how excited I was about coming.  I had it written on my calendar and ready!

Now let's back up a little bit.  Earlier, almost 2 months ago, I started a "Read Thru The Bible In a Year" on my iPad with the You Version Bible.  I LOVE IT!!!!  Part Old Testament and Part New Testament every day.  It was perfect.  I am not perfect and had fallen behind. 

Back to today.  I got up this morning feeling rough.  I had not slept well at all last night and was kind of achy/sore and of course I had 2 thoughts.  First- OH NO I'm getting the Flu.  Second- I over did it at the gym yesterday.  I took some meds and thought I would just stay home and take it easy.  I just didn't feel good.  So I sat down on the couch and thought....."Lets get caught up on my "reading".  Well, I started reading and then figured out that it could be listened to, so I let it read.

I have made it through Genesis, Exodus, Mark, 1st and 2nd Thess.  Well, I got caught up to today's reading.  You will NOT BELIEVE this!!!!!!!  Today started with Job 1 and 2.  I almost fell off the couch.  I could not believe it!  I didn't see it coming.  I had no idea.  It was such a God moment! 

I had made the decision to stay home today and wanted to be at Bible Study.  I didn't EXPECT to have the same Bible study with just me and my Savior.  OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!!  I wasn't expecting it but  did He ever just BLOW ME AWAY!!!!!!!

I will be at Bible Study next week.  Amazing!!!!!!  EXPECT HIM!!!!! 

WORD for 2013

Well, the day finally has arrived me to share my word.  It is something that has really been impressed upon me this year.  I have seen it happen and yet there are times when I don't think that it will.  Even to the point of just doing out of routine and keep going. 

Expect!  That's my word this year.  It sounds a little strange but it's one of those things that you just know its from Him. 

When I was thinking and praying about it I was so convicted over prayer life and the sincerity of it.  When we sit with a group, like Sunday School or Bible Study, and we list out our prayer request.  Some maybe very "simple" so to speak and some maybe a matter of life or death.  The key for me is that when we pray do we expect Him to answer?  Do we expect Him to hear us? Do we expect to hear from Him?  Do we look for His answer? Do we listen to what He has to say about that request? 

I'll be the first to admit that I fall right in to the ones that will put something on a "prayer list" and pray about it then and then walk away and check it off the list and move on.  I don't think that is what we should be doing.  We should be praying and seeking.  Over and over scripture tells us to seek Him, seek Him first, seek Him with our whole heart.  Scripture also tells us that He hears us and that He answers us. 

Do you believe that?
Do you think He does?
Do you expect Him to hear you?
Do you expect Him to answer you?

For sure His ways are higher and greater than mine.  His answers may not be what I think they should be but He knows best and that I can have faith and trust.  I'm excited for this New Year!!!!  I'm excited to see how this is going to change me, my thoughts and most of all my relationship with my Heavenly Father. 

I hope you have a WORD for 2013.  If you don't, please be praying about it!!!!!!  It's exciting to see how He uses it!!!!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Word for 2013

Photo Credit

So, 2013 is almost here.  Can you believe it?  I am still trying to figure out where this year went.  We have had so much happening and so much to be thankful for.  God has been so good.  He has stretched us farther than we ever imagined that we could be stretched.  It is just amazing!!!!!

Each year I spend this time seeking and praying and reading about what it is the Lord wants He and I to focus on.  I am just overwhelmed at times at how He shows me the word and it seems to just appear everywhere and I hear it coming out of every ones mouth.  Its amazing.  Over the years I have had the words
Faith
Trust
Choose
Desperate Dependence
Talk about a ride!  It has been incredible and I wouldn't change a thing. 
What about you?  Do you pick a word and watch the Lord teach you for the year?  If you have done it before I would love to hear about your word.  If you have never done it, I would challenge you to be praying about it and see what He shows you.  It maybe very simple or it could be a challenge for you and Him to work through this year. 

2013 is going to be hear soon.....we need to be ready!!!!!!!

Catch-Up

So, we are 12 days from Christmas Eve and 13 days from Christmas Day.  Are you ready?  Is your calendar over flowing with more activities than you have time for?  I know our calendar is doing that and we seem to be adding more every day!!!!!!

We have Christmas Musicals at church, Pajama Day at Kaleb's class and a Christmas Party.  Bo is having his department Christmas party here in our home.  I am excited!!  We are doing a covered dish party so there is not a lot for me to do which of course makes me VERY happy. 

We have a sweet friend here in Amory and she had seen a post on Facebook with a picture of my bread that I have started making.  I enjoy making it so very much.  I actually make it with 2 hands and yeast.  No bread machine here!!!!!  Anyway, I made her 3 loaves the other day.  We were talking and the next thing I know, I am making a loaf of cinnamon pecan bread.  It was amazing!!!!!  I will making more of that.  It was so easy and so very tasty!!!!!

RACK----Random Acts of Christmas Kindness.  This has been so much fun.  I actually RACK'd my Mail Lady and our Garbage Men.  It was so much fun!!!!!!  I have some others planned and I will let you know how that goes.  I even got RACK'd in the McDonald's Drive-Thru.  Granted, I knew Robert but it was just a neat experience.

Christmas is coming and I have so many things planned.  Kaleb gets out of school next Wednesday.  I have bought some stuff from Michael's so we have a projects to do.  Of course we will be making cookies and by all means a "Happy Birthday Jesus" cake.  Kaleb is now old enough to help more and so I am sure we will have a lot of fun doing that!!!!!  It's going to be great!!!! 

I read a blog today that was recommended by a friend of mine at church.  I took the time today and read through the post today.  It has had me thinking all day.  Of course, I will continue to think on that and post about it tomorrow.  It was just amazing.  The title started and then it just kept going.  Guess what....you will have to wait til tomorrow to hear about that!!!!!

Last but not least, Word for 2013.  Have you thought about yours?  Have you been thinking and praying about what that word might be?  I know I am leaning towards one and it is scaring me silly but I'm open.  He will have to probably knock me over the head but that is what He usually does anyway!!!!! 

Lots to write about and share.  Hope you are having a wonderful week.  Remember that He is the Reason for the Season and We are the Reason He Came!!!!!!

WORD FOR 2013

Can you believe that 2013 will be here in a matter of weeks?????  Where in the world has the time gone?  Well as some of you know, I usually pick out a word for the year.  It's not to early to start praying and thinking and seeking the Lord to find out what your word might be.  Mine last year was for sure one that I hung on to.  It ended up being what I would call a "Double Word".  I'm already thinking about next year.  I have a great friend back in NC and her word was Joy.  She took photos all year of things that brought her joy.  It was such a neat experience to log on to Facebook and see her photo's.  

What about you?  Do you have a word for the year?  I would love to hear yours.  I will for sure share mine.  It is something so precious.  Just listening for it is great!!!!!!

For you of those who maybe new to my blog, my Word for 2012 was Desperate Dependence.  I learned this over and over and over!!!!!!!!  TOTAL DESPERATE DEPENDENCE!!!!!!  Looking back over this past year.  Those are the only words that I can even ponder and consider. 

Kaleb turned 5
I became a Mi-Mi
Hubby changed jobs in April
I was settling into working at a hospital
I had a great job
Hubby offered a new job IN A DIFFERENT STATE!
I left my job.
Hubby accepted new job IN A DIFFERENT STATE!
Leaving children and grandchildren
Leaving family
Leaving friends
Leaving a church home
Kaleb starting Kindergarten
Kyle ventures out on his own
Moving to another state
Don't know a soul
Get to be a stay at home Mom
Get to participate at school
New church family
New friends
New adventures
New home
New town
Adjustments
Missing children, grandchild, family
Missing friends
In all of this!!!!!  Desperate Dependence on Christ!  He has brought us through so much!  He is so faithful!  Blessed beyond measure!!!!!!!