dropping the ball..... so for all of you who tried to come read "in the kitchen Wednesday" yesterday, I am sorry (Sorry Sis D!). My mind has been a bit overwhelmed with getting money up for camp that the blog slipped my mind. No excuse by any means....but I am still sorry!
I have had the idea of this blog subject all week, it has been moving about in my head like a pinball machine, trying to come up with a funny, cleaver, and witty way to explain it, but when it comes down to it, I will have to get straight to the point...
Money.
It is hard to come by for a lot of people right now.
Food.
It is hard to buy healthy nutritious food for your family if you don't have money.
Help.
Where do you turn for help getting food on the table?
I can't find you a job, I can't come up with food to make your dinner.... but it has been impressed into me that I need to share with you, a way to get food.
Angel Food Ministries.
It is a church based operation started in the early 90's, a pastor and his wife felt the need of her neighbors and church family....they needed help putting dinner on the table. From their back porch they supplied food for 34 families, and now they are still supplying food, but on a larger scale. Angel food ministries supplies food for 34 states, and reaching over 500,000 families a month.
Each month AFM offers a menu, and with that menu is enough food to feed a family of 4 for at least a week. And the cost is $30. The average cost of each box of food, if purchased at a grocery store is estimated at $64. Here is what going to be offered for June.
1.5 lb. Ribeye Steaks (4 x 6 oz.)
2 lb. Homestyle Lasagna Dinner Entrée
2 lb. Beef and Bean Burritos (8 x 4 oz.)
2 lb. Boneless/Skinless Chicken Breast Chunks
28 oz. Jumbo Beef Pattie Entrée with Gravy
1 lb. Lean Ground Beef
1 lb. All Meat Hotdog
10 oz. Individually Wrapped Sliced Cheese (16 slice)
20 oz. Shoestring Fries
1 lb. Broccoli Cuts
12 oz. Peanut Butter
1 lb. Rice
1 lb. Pinto Beans
1 lb. Margarine Tub(Zero Grams Trans Fat)
32 oz. 2% Shelf Stable Milk
Dozen Eggs
Dessert
This isn't food that is about to expire, or a bunch of cheap off brand reprocessed food. It is healthy fresh food that is distributed from top national ranking food distributors.
There are also specialty boxes you can purchase....
Senior boxes are $28 and come with prepackaged easy to prepare healthy foods, and this box will last one senior for almost one month.
Allergen Free Box
Seafood Box
Grill Meat Box
Fresh Fruit and Veggies Box
A few of the specialty boxes can only be ordered if a standard meal box is ordered.
But guess what.....there are no applications to fill out to do this. You will just have to find the local host to this and arrange for pick up of your food. There is no limit to how many boxes you buy, so if you are struggling, and know someone who is struggling also, purchase one for you, and bless someone else.
And for those of us who are using EBT/Food Stamps, they also accept food stamps as payment to the food boxes. What a blessing!
I haven't done this program justice in this blog.
You need to go explore their website
www.angelfoodministries.com
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Resources for Prayer on Thursday!
I have been thinking about resources lately. Resources that can help in our prayer lives and so from time to time I get on world network of prayer a link from the UPCI website and there is usually an article or two or three or four that really ministers to me. So I wanted to share with you bits and pieces of those today. The first one is titled Hindrances to Prayer by Lisa Marshall and so I have included her list of what hinders prayer.
1. Not Fellowshipping with God
To fellowship means to partner or spend time with. Why would God answer prayers of someone who never speaks to Him? An example is a friend vs. a total stranger asking you to borrow $100. If a close friend asked, you would probably give it to them – but if a stranger asked, you would be less likely to do so. What if I pledged my loyalty and love to you and then we left church and I refused to speak to you all week. We went back to church on Wednesday and I did the same thing, yet when we left, nothing but silence all week. You tried to talk to me and I ignored you. You wanted to spend time with me but I refused your request. After a few times of this, how much confidence would you have in my words? We say, “God, I will do anything you ask.” He’d better ask on a Sunday or Wednesday or many will never hear the question.
2. Not Asking According to God’s Will
God won’t answer a prayer that’s against His will – even if you have faith. For example: “God would you let lightening strike that person who cut me off in traffic!.”
3. Not having God’s Word in You
John 15:7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done unto you.” Reading the Bible is important. You may even get the answer you need from God – after all, it is His Word.
4. Doubt & Unbelief
James 1:5-8 says to ask God in faith without doubting for your request to be fulfilled.
5. Not praying in Jesus’ Name
“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name.” Colossians 3:7
6. Not Asking or Asking with Wrong Motives
If you don’t ask, your prayers won’t be answered for sure. Don’t pray selfishly. God wants more than your grocery list. “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss.” (amiss defined as wrongly) James 4:3
7. Giving Up
Luke 18:1 says to “pray and faint not”. We must be persistent even if it looks impossible. Don’t give up; the next prayer may bring the answer.
8. Unforgiveness
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your father will forgive yours.” Matthew 6:14
9. Unconfessed Sin
Psalm 66:18 “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:” You may hide sin from others, but you can’t hide it from God.
a. Now that this is out of the way, try the key again.
Another article and resource I thought was really good is titled Creating a Vocabulary of Praise and in this article the writer gives us 31 scriptures with an attribute of God to be praised and he uses them as “Praise Starters” and says this has just been wonderfully helpful. So what he does is uses one scripture a day for a month and starts from at the top of the list the next month. I believe I will be giving this one a try. Here is the list of scriptures and it was taken from Pray Magazine.
1. God the Creator. “Creator God, I praise You because ’you made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you’” (Neh. 9:6).
2. The Only God. “God, I praise You because You are ’the LORD, and there is no other; apart from [You] there is no God’” (Is. 45:5).
3. The Almighty God. “’O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you’” (Ps. 89:8).
4. The Everlasting Father, the Ancient of Days. “I praise You, Lord, as the ’Ancient of Days’ (Dan. 7:9), the ’Everlasting Father’ (Is. 9:6), who lives forever and ever.”
5. A Loving God. “I praise You because You are a loving God, whose very nature is love”
(1 Jn. 4:16). 6. A God of Justice. “Lord, I praise You and magnify You, who is ’just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus’”
(Ro. 3:26).
7. A Faithful God. “Heavenly Father, I give You my praise and adoration, because You are a ’faithful God, keeping [Your] covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love [You] and keep [Your] commands’” (Dt. 7:9).
8. A Merciful God. “’You are a gracious and merciful God’ (Neh. 9:31), and I praise You for Your great mercy.”
9. God, My Refuge, My Fortress. “I praise You, Lord, for You are ’my mighty rock, my refuge’” (Ps. 62:7).
10. A Patient, Persevering God. “Father, I praise You because You are ’patient with [Your children], not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance’
(2 Pet. 3:9). Thank You for Your patience with me.”
11. Eternal, Saving God. “I give praise to You, Father, ’the only God our Savior.’ To You ’be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore’” (Jude 25).
12. The Holy One. “Holy, holy, holy [are You] Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come”
(Rev. 4:8).
13. A Personal God. “I praise You, God, because You are a personal God, who gives me the honor of knowing You personally, even inviting me to feast at Your kingdom’s table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (Mt. 8:11).
14. A Giving God. “All praise and honor be Yours, O God, because You are a generous God, who did not even stop short of giving Your own Son” (Jn. 3:16).
15. A Provider God. “I praise You today, Lord, as my Jehovah-Jireh (the Lord Will Provide), who makes all grace abound in me and generously provides all I need”
(2 Cor. 9:8).
16. God, My Shepherd. “I bless Your name and praise You as my Jehovah-Rohi (The Lord My Shepherd), who will shepherd me and guide me in the paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake” (Ps. 23:1-3).
17. God, My Victory. “Praise to You, my God, because You are my Jehovah-Nissi (The Lord My Banner), God, my victory, ’who always leads [me] in triumphal procession in Christ’” (2 Cor. 2:14).
18. God, My Peace. “I praise You with all my heart, Lord, because You are my Jehovah-Shalom (The Lord Our Peace), ’the God of peace [who] will soon crush Satan under [my] feet’” (Ro. 16:20).
19. The God Who Heals. “Father, I praise You because You are the Lord who heals me” (Ex. 15:26).
20. The God of All Comfort. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3).
21. The God of Miracles. “Lord, I praise You because ’you are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples’” (Ps. 77:14).
22. A Forgiving God. “I want to bless You with praise, Father, because ’you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love’” (Neh. 9:17).
23. The Burden Bearer. “Praise be to the Lord, to God [my] Savior, who daily bears [my] burdens” (Ps. 68:19).
24. A Faithful God. “I praise You because ’your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies’ (Ps. 36:5), and ’great is your faithfulness’” (Lam. 3:23).
25. King of Kings and Lord of Lords. “All honor and praise be to You, my God, ’the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light’” (1 Tim. 6:15).
26. God the Liberator. “I will praise You because ’you are my help and my deliverer; O LORD’” (Ps. 70:5).
27. The Lifter of My Head. “Father God, I praise You because ’you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head’ when I am weary or despised” (Ps. 3:3).
28. God of Light. “I praise You, Lord, because You are ’my light and my salvation’ (Ps. 27:1), and because You know ’what lies in darkness, and light dwells with [You]’” (Dan. 2:22).
29. God of Joy. “I give You praise, O Lord, because ’you have granted [me] eternal blessings and made [me] glad with the joy of your presence’” (Ps. 21:6).
30. The God Who Answers Prayer. “I praise and honor You, Father, because You are a God who loves to answer prayer and who begins to answer even before I pray”
(Is. 65:24).
31. The God of All the Earth. “I praise and adore You, Lord, as ’the Holy One of Israel . . . [my] Redeemer . . . the God of all the earth’” (Is. 54:5).
Oh, that all just makes me so excited. I don’t know about you but when I read about all the good things my God is and does and will do. I get an untamable excitement deep down in my heart. It makes me what to just go have a time of praise. So this is what I have for you on Thursday. Until next week and I hope you just go have a Praise Session with Jesus after reading these scriptures. Another thought I am so glad we praise God because he is worthy and not we ourselves because my list would be very short of my worthiness and definitely would not provide untamable excitement down in someone’s heart but YES it is God and God alone who is worthy. Until next week!
Sis. Kim
1. Not Fellowshipping with God
To fellowship means to partner or spend time with. Why would God answer prayers of someone who never speaks to Him? An example is a friend vs. a total stranger asking you to borrow $100. If a close friend asked, you would probably give it to them – but if a stranger asked, you would be less likely to do so. What if I pledged my loyalty and love to you and then we left church and I refused to speak to you all week. We went back to church on Wednesday and I did the same thing, yet when we left, nothing but silence all week. You tried to talk to me and I ignored you. You wanted to spend time with me but I refused your request. After a few times of this, how much confidence would you have in my words? We say, “God, I will do anything you ask.” He’d better ask on a Sunday or Wednesday or many will never hear the question.
2. Not Asking According to God’s Will
God won’t answer a prayer that’s against His will – even if you have faith. For example: “God would you let lightening strike that person who cut me off in traffic!.”
3. Not having God’s Word in You
John 15:7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done unto you.” Reading the Bible is important. You may even get the answer you need from God – after all, it is His Word.
4. Doubt & Unbelief
James 1:5-8 says to ask God in faith without doubting for your request to be fulfilled.
5. Not praying in Jesus’ Name
“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name.” Colossians 3:7
6. Not Asking or Asking with Wrong Motives
If you don’t ask, your prayers won’t be answered for sure. Don’t pray selfishly. God wants more than your grocery list. “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss.” (amiss defined as wrongly) James 4:3
7. Giving Up
Luke 18:1 says to “pray and faint not”. We must be persistent even if it looks impossible. Don’t give up; the next prayer may bring the answer.
8. Unforgiveness
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your father will forgive yours.” Matthew 6:14
9. Unconfessed Sin
Psalm 66:18 “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:” You may hide sin from others, but you can’t hide it from God.
a. Now that this is out of the way, try the key again.
Another article and resource I thought was really good is titled Creating a Vocabulary of Praise and in this article the writer gives us 31 scriptures with an attribute of God to be praised and he uses them as “Praise Starters” and says this has just been wonderfully helpful. So what he does is uses one scripture a day for a month and starts from at the top of the list the next month. I believe I will be giving this one a try. Here is the list of scriptures and it was taken from Pray Magazine.
1. God the Creator. “Creator God, I praise You because ’you made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you’” (Neh. 9:6).
2. The Only God. “God, I praise You because You are ’the LORD, and there is no other; apart from [You] there is no God’” (Is. 45:5).
3. The Almighty God. “’O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you’” (Ps. 89:8).
4. The Everlasting Father, the Ancient of Days. “I praise You, Lord, as the ’Ancient of Days’ (Dan. 7:9), the ’Everlasting Father’ (Is. 9:6), who lives forever and ever.”
5. A Loving God. “I praise You because You are a loving God, whose very nature is love”
(1 Jn. 4:16). 6. A God of Justice. “Lord, I praise You and magnify You, who is ’just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus’”
(Ro. 3:26).
7. A Faithful God. “Heavenly Father, I give You my praise and adoration, because You are a ’faithful God, keeping [Your] covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love [You] and keep [Your] commands’” (Dt. 7:9).
8. A Merciful God. “’You are a gracious and merciful God’ (Neh. 9:31), and I praise You for Your great mercy.”
9. God, My Refuge, My Fortress. “I praise You, Lord, for You are ’my mighty rock, my refuge’” (Ps. 62:7).
10. A Patient, Persevering God. “Father, I praise You because You are ’patient with [Your children], not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance’
(2 Pet. 3:9). Thank You for Your patience with me.”
11. Eternal, Saving God. “I give praise to You, Father, ’the only God our Savior.’ To You ’be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore’” (Jude 25).
12. The Holy One. “Holy, holy, holy [are You] Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come”
(Rev. 4:8).
13. A Personal God. “I praise You, God, because You are a personal God, who gives me the honor of knowing You personally, even inviting me to feast at Your kingdom’s table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (Mt. 8:11).
14. A Giving God. “All praise and honor be Yours, O God, because You are a generous God, who did not even stop short of giving Your own Son” (Jn. 3:16).
15. A Provider God. “I praise You today, Lord, as my Jehovah-Jireh (the Lord Will Provide), who makes all grace abound in me and generously provides all I need”
(2 Cor. 9:8).
16. God, My Shepherd. “I bless Your name and praise You as my Jehovah-Rohi (The Lord My Shepherd), who will shepherd me and guide me in the paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake” (Ps. 23:1-3).
17. God, My Victory. “Praise to You, my God, because You are my Jehovah-Nissi (The Lord My Banner), God, my victory, ’who always leads [me] in triumphal procession in Christ’” (2 Cor. 2:14).
18. God, My Peace. “I praise You with all my heart, Lord, because You are my Jehovah-Shalom (The Lord Our Peace), ’the God of peace [who] will soon crush Satan under [my] feet’” (Ro. 16:20).
19. The God Who Heals. “Father, I praise You because You are the Lord who heals me” (Ex. 15:26).
20. The God of All Comfort. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3).
21. The God of Miracles. “Lord, I praise You because ’you are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples’” (Ps. 77:14).
22. A Forgiving God. “I want to bless You with praise, Father, because ’you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love’” (Neh. 9:17).
23. The Burden Bearer. “Praise be to the Lord, to God [my] Savior, who daily bears [my] burdens” (Ps. 68:19).
24. A Faithful God. “I praise You because ’your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies’ (Ps. 36:5), and ’great is your faithfulness’” (Lam. 3:23).
25. King of Kings and Lord of Lords. “All honor and praise be to You, my God, ’the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light’” (1 Tim. 6:15).
26. God the Liberator. “I will praise You because ’you are my help and my deliverer; O LORD’” (Ps. 70:5).
27. The Lifter of My Head. “Father God, I praise You because ’you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head’ when I am weary or despised” (Ps. 3:3).
28. God of Light. “I praise You, Lord, because You are ’my light and my salvation’ (Ps. 27:1), and because You know ’what lies in darkness, and light dwells with [You]’” (Dan. 2:22).
29. God of Joy. “I give You praise, O Lord, because ’you have granted [me] eternal blessings and made [me] glad with the joy of your presence’” (Ps. 21:6).
30. The God Who Answers Prayer. “I praise and honor You, Father, because You are a God who loves to answer prayer and who begins to answer even before I pray”
(Is. 65:24).
31. The God of All the Earth. “I praise and adore You, Lord, as ’the Holy One of Israel . . . [my] Redeemer . . . the God of all the earth’” (Is. 54:5).
Oh, that all just makes me so excited. I don’t know about you but when I read about all the good things my God is and does and will do. I get an untamable excitement deep down in my heart. It makes me what to just go have a time of praise. So this is what I have for you on Thursday. Until next week and I hope you just go have a Praise Session with Jesus after reading these scriptures. Another thought I am so glad we praise God because he is worthy and not we ourselves because my list would be very short of my worthiness and definitely would not provide untamable excitement down in someone’s heart but YES it is God and God alone who is worthy. Until next week!
Sis. Kim
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Family of God
Hello, All,
Last week God impressed a blog to write upon my heart and I wrote it but today I feel impressed to go in a different direction.
I want to stop and say, "I love my church family." Ever have one of those days when you just feel so grateful for the love and support of our fellowship?
Recently, I have had several hard knocks and the breath knocked out of me. Know what I mean? Does life every come at you that hard? I had probably five of those knocks on Sunday and Monday. But....I absolutely felt no anxiety, instead, I just felt so at peace with my church family. I went to bed on Sunday night bruised and battered but woke up Monday morning with a heart of purpose and joy. The fellowship of the brethren will cause this to happen. We are each other's strength.
Sunday night was such a sweet, refreshing time of consecreation. Over and over I looked around the sanctuary and became so grateful for the lives I saw. So many hard times represented but yet so many hands praising God. I heard the message on SIN..and saw some of the young people who have only been there less than two months be the first to stand in support. I saw the elderly saint of God raising his hands and face to a God who has carried him many miles. I saw the young child who was alone overwhelmed by the sweet presence of a God that cares. I saw families binding together in consecration. I saw men praying for each other. I saw ladies reaching out a caring hand. I saw the church celebrate lives consecrated and serving in youth ministry for so many years and heard the plan for those lives to be used in even greater ways. I saw the laughter and heard the conversations of a church enjoying each other in fellowship. I saw the church come together and work as a team putting together a celebration. Last Wednesday night was much the same...the laughter and conversation was long gone from the auditorium but there was one lone teenager still in the altar drinking in His presence.
We have a great church family that has been through tumultuous times but is still standing. When I think of where we are going, I become so very excited. Are you ready, my friends?
I love each of you so much and wanted to take an opportunity to say that when life knocks me down, you are the first group of people I run to and what a delight to be part of the family. I can't wait for us to meet at the river and join hands and cross over into the promised land shouting, "We made it, we made it." Yours is the hand that I want to grasp.
With lots of love,
Sis. D.
Last week God impressed a blog to write upon my heart and I wrote it but today I feel impressed to go in a different direction.
I want to stop and say, "I love my church family." Ever have one of those days when you just feel so grateful for the love and support of our fellowship?
Recently, I have had several hard knocks and the breath knocked out of me. Know what I mean? Does life every come at you that hard? I had probably five of those knocks on Sunday and Monday. But....I absolutely felt no anxiety, instead, I just felt so at peace with my church family. I went to bed on Sunday night bruised and battered but woke up Monday morning with a heart of purpose and joy. The fellowship of the brethren will cause this to happen. We are each other's strength.
Sunday night was such a sweet, refreshing time of consecreation. Over and over I looked around the sanctuary and became so grateful for the lives I saw. So many hard times represented but yet so many hands praising God. I heard the message on SIN..and saw some of the young people who have only been there less than two months be the first to stand in support. I saw the elderly saint of God raising his hands and face to a God who has carried him many miles. I saw the young child who was alone overwhelmed by the sweet presence of a God that cares. I saw families binding together in consecration. I saw men praying for each other. I saw ladies reaching out a caring hand. I saw the church celebrate lives consecrated and serving in youth ministry for so many years and heard the plan for those lives to be used in even greater ways. I saw the laughter and heard the conversations of a church enjoying each other in fellowship. I saw the church come together and work as a team putting together a celebration. Last Wednesday night was much the same...the laughter and conversation was long gone from the auditorium but there was one lone teenager still in the altar drinking in His presence.
We have a great church family that has been through tumultuous times but is still standing. When I think of where we are going, I become so very excited. Are you ready, my friends?
I love each of you so much and wanted to take an opportunity to say that when life knocks me down, you are the first group of people I run to and what a delight to be part of the family. I can't wait for us to meet at the river and join hands and cross over into the promised land shouting, "We made it, we made it." Yours is the hand that I want to grasp.
With lots of love,
Sis. D.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Decorating With What You Already Have
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Friday, May 15, 2009
A Few of My Favorite Things
Christian Historical Novels
I love to read Christian Historical Novels. My favorite authors are Brock and Bodie Thoene. The best novels that they have written are the Zion Chronicles and the Zion Covenant. This is a series of stories set in the pre and post WWII era. Filled with adventure, love and spiritual journeys of its primary characters, these stories are, to me, enlightening. Even though they are not true accounts of that tumultuous time in world history I have still learned a lot from them.
Usually, in these novels there is always a moment when one or more characters receive salvation. No, they do not receive salvation the way we teach (as in receiving the Holy Ghost) but Christ is included in every story. I’m looking for someone in the UPCI to take up this issue and write stories like these authors but also add the Total plan of salvation. So far I have not discovered any one that compares to these authors. You have to try their books. If any are interested in more about these authors, I have all the books in these two series. You can also find these books at any Christian Bookstore.
Bookstores
Okay, I love Mardel’s Christian Bookstore. I cannot just go there and stay 5 minutes. I have to look at their music collections and the book section. Hey, its book heaven and they are all Christian! Love it! I can stay in there hours.
I also like Barnes & Noble. Good bookstore. You can get any book you need there but it doesn’t compare to Mardel’s. Oh, and 1/2 Price Books is an awesome store, too!
Gospel Music
My favorite Gospel music is Black Gospel. Favorite artists: Hezekiah Walker, John P. Kee, Kirk Franklin. My favorite of all is Kurt Carr. The best song he has out is “For Every Mountain”. That one’s a classic. I don’t know the story behind this song but it is awesome. I also like Israel Houghton and Martha Munizzi which is more Praise and Worship but they usually have good collections.
I really like Mark Condon, too. Love the release, “Worship The King”. Every song on this CD is good and is great for your worship time. You can go to his website and order this CD or you can also get it through the Pentecostal Publishing House.
So, these are just a Few of my Favorite things. Hope you enjoyed this Foray into MY thoughts and Favorite things. Guess I put myself in the spotlight this week… Scary, huh? See you all next week.
Love,
Kimmie
Christian Historical Novels
I love to read Christian Historical Novels. My favorite authors are Brock and Bodie Thoene. The best novels that they have written are the Zion Chronicles and the Zion Covenant. This is a series of stories set in the pre and post WWII era. Filled with adventure, love and spiritual journeys of its primary characters, these stories are, to me, enlightening. Even though they are not true accounts of that tumultuous time in world history I have still learned a lot from them.
Usually, in these novels there is always a moment when one or more characters receive salvation. No, they do not receive salvation the way we teach (as in receiving the Holy Ghost) but Christ is included in every story. I’m looking for someone in the UPCI to take up this issue and write stories like these authors but also add the Total plan of salvation. So far I have not discovered any one that compares to these authors. You have to try their books. If any are interested in more about these authors, I have all the books in these two series. You can also find these books at any Christian Bookstore.
Bookstores
Okay, I love Mardel’s Christian Bookstore. I cannot just go there and stay 5 minutes. I have to look at their music collections and the book section. Hey, its book heaven and they are all Christian! Love it! I can stay in there hours.
I also like Barnes & Noble. Good bookstore. You can get any book you need there but it doesn’t compare to Mardel’s. Oh, and 1/2 Price Books is an awesome store, too!
Gospel Music
My favorite Gospel music is Black Gospel. Favorite artists: Hezekiah Walker, John P. Kee, Kirk Franklin. My favorite of all is Kurt Carr. The best song he has out is “For Every Mountain”. That one’s a classic. I don’t know the story behind this song but it is awesome. I also like Israel Houghton and Martha Munizzi which is more Praise and Worship but they usually have good collections.
I really like Mark Condon, too. Love the release, “Worship The King”. Every song on this CD is good and is great for your worship time. You can go to his website and order this CD or you can also get it through the Pentecostal Publishing House.
So, these are just a Few of my Favorite things. Hope you enjoyed this Foray into MY thoughts and Favorite things. Guess I put myself in the spotlight this week… Scary, huh? See you all next week.
Love,
Kimmie
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Look and see what the Lord has done!
Wow, we have had some church! God is so awesome!
I wanted to share with you about some things I have been praying about and have seen come to pass because it is good for all of us to go through that list for ourselves. Take time to review things you have sought God on and how he has answered because it helps you keep the right mind set in prayer. I guarantee if you start to think of all the answered prayers and situations God has worked out and all Gods done you will be able to go through whatever you have to.
Sunday night was incredible for me and it was more incredible than maybe just an onlooker would have seen. We had 4 or 5 receive the Holy Ghost and it was so incredible to have the opportunity to be praying with the children that were at the altar. Also did any of you see the little girl setting next to me she would imitate everything I was doing during service. That just opened my eyes because the children really do watch what we do and I think about that responsibility and take it very seriously but while she was doing that I also felt in my spirit the hunger that she had and she did receive the Holy Ghost that night. She was so ready that even before Pastor announced the invite to the altar she was gripping the pew in front of her ready to go and she had the most serious approach about going to the altar I have ever seen in a child.
Here is the neat thing in all of this. A couple of weeks ago I wrote the blog and I talked about when God has you pray for someone and sometimes you know who and you see the results of this well this is my list I get to review with you today of the amazing ways God answers.
It starts with Sis. Duvall and when she got up to say about a year ago about reaching the children in the apartments around the church so that was the beginning of God answering. Not long after that about 9 months ago I was setting at my computer during the day and God had impressed upon me to go pray for the apartments around the church and it was one of those prayer meetings that God was waiting for me to respond and we had a time and I know when he pushes like that some things going to happen so I didn’t need to grow impatient just watch and see.
Then the next phase in all of this is Kids prayer. I knew I needed to start kid’s prayer one of those things God and I had a talk about and he decided to not let me go to sleep until I caught the vision. He is such a good God. So after I knew it was going to happen I started praying a long time before the very first Kids prayer about what direction to go and I just couldn’t get direction and it was about a week before and I was so excited God spoke and told me to pray about the kids in the community and he wanted me to pray about the enemy being silenced. I was so excited God spoke to me about this it was in the middle of the day on a Saturday and I just started to cry and get excited and my son thought I had lost my mind. I was so excited I had to text Sis. Duvall and say I have direction for kids prayer. She might have thought I was a little crazy too but when you have a relationship with God and he speaks to you it is just the best feeling in the world. No, I know she didn’t think I was crazy she is the best in believing in people in becoming what God has called them to be.
So then after we had that very first Kids prayer, we have had incredible results of reaching people in our community. Those kids touched God and watch and see what else will come of Kids prayer. Along with God using kids prayer he continued to impress on me to pray for the kids in the community. I remember a couple of weeks ago and I could not do anything but pray and cry for the children of the community and it was such a gut wrenching prayer that I could only utter the words my babies and I just kept it up until there was that release to stop.
Then Rodney and I had a couple of kids over this last weekend and God impressed on me to talk about him as much as possible so that is what Rodney and I did. We had children’s church going all weekend every time we could use an example we did. Then came Sunday night! You know you just can’t plan God but you can trust him and follow his lead and that has been such a rewarding experience. Every time I go over my lists of prayer or go over situations God has answered and seen me through it is usually following his lead or just seeking his way.
This is not the whole story but a just of it. I wanted to share because God is the mighty God and this is not the end of the story it is the beginning. One of my favorite things to do is hear about the awesome things God has done and then I get that in my spirit and start to pray God I know you did this and you did that so lets see this and that. We serve a prayer answering God! Another thought came to mind before I end. While in prayer one morning I had this feeling of God why do I have such a burden for these kids I don’t know and I have my own children and children that I know in the church already, I am just being real here so I hope nobody thinks less of me but as clear as the day God told me to take care of them and he was going to take care of mine which is ours because I was speaking of our children. So I thought I better share that promise God has given to me. Sorry for writing and writing but I just wanted to share with the best bunch of ladies in the whole wide world.
I love you all sooooo much!
Sis. Kim
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Making the kitchen your space.
What makes the perfect kitchen for you?
My dream kitchen is as follows:
Huge open kitchen
dark hardwood floors
matching cabinets (to the floor that is)
Stainless steal appliances
Huge Fridge
A pantry the size of Texas
Double gas stove (restaurant style)
Pretty wall color
I haven't thought about this much as you can see....ha ha.
But as I sit in my apartment, I have a kitchen that is so small there is no where to put anything, cooking Thanksgiving dinner is a nightmare....and the half broken stove is nothing to write home about.....
BUT.
I have learned to love it. Not for what it is, but for what I can make out of it.
The best ways to give your house a "homey" feeling
My dream kitchen is as follows:
Huge open kitchen
dark hardwood floors
matching cabinets (to the floor that is)
Stainless steal appliances
Huge Fridge
A pantry the size of Texas
Double gas stove (restaurant style)
Pretty wall color
I haven't thought about this much as you can see....ha ha.
But as I sit in my apartment, I have a kitchen that is so small there is no where to put anything, cooking Thanksgiving dinner is a nightmare....and the half broken stove is nothing to write home about.....
BUT.
I have learned to love it. Not for what it is, but for what I can make out of it.
The best ways to give your house a "homey" feeling
...is to bake something sweet. You can light candles all day long, leave them burning till there is nothing left, but it will not replace the homemade cookie smell.
....Try to make it a point to invite the kids in the kitchen to help you cook or bake.
(At age 5 I started peeling potatoes and by age 10 I was making whole meals....)
...Make meal clean-ups a family affair. Working together will not only help you get it done faster, but is also give you a chance to teach your kids proper clean up as well as give you more time to chit chat.
I may not have the fanciest appliances. And I may only be obtaining things like, mixers, food processors, and such for church bakesale (ha ha)....but fancy or not, it gets the job done, and it is done well.
I may not have the fanciest appliances. And I may only be obtaining things like, mixers, food processors, and such for church bakesale (ha ha)....but fancy or not, it gets the job done, and it is done well.
Here is a poem I found, I think it fits my kitchen, does it work well with yours?
My Little Kitchen
God bless my little kitchen
I love its every nook
And bless me as I do my work
Wash pots and pans and cook.
And may the meals that I prepare
Be seasoned from above
With Thy great blessing and Thy grace
But most of all Thy love.
As we partake our earthly food
The table before us spread
We'll not forget to thank Thee, Lord
Who gives us daily bread.
So bless my little kitchen, Lord
And those who enter in
May they find naught but joy and peace
And happiness therein.
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