On Sunday, we brought our 7 year old niece and 2 year old nephew home with us to spend the night. We were sitting at the table, eating pizza. I had cut the 2 year old's piece into many little pieces. He took a bite of a piece and exclaimed "I'm done!" After denying him to get down from the table a few times, I told him that he couldn't be done until his pizza was all gone. I was sitting next to him and as I turned to talk with Mike, I saw a little hand coming over from the corner of my eye. He was trying to be sneaky and very carefully placing each piece of his pizza onto my plate and when his plate was empty, he announced once more "I'm done - pizza all gone!" I had to keep my head turned towards my husband so Mason couldn't see me laughing and Mike had to leave the room because he was laughing so hard! Don't ever doubt the mind of children - they will surprise you every time!!!

What are you trying to sneak past God and others around you? Remember, He's always watching! Live your life to respect Him.

Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie

I was so excited about the Scripture we discussed yesterday, I didn't have a chance to tell you about my wonderful weekend. We've been working hard at painting our cabinets and walls in our kitchen. From removing and cleaning knobs and hinges to priming and painting, we wondered if we would ever get done with the 1st phase of the remodel. Well, on Friday night we had some great friends stop by with supper. What a blessing to a woman who really didn't want to cook so she could finish up some things on the kitchen! We finished up for the night, ate supper with our sweet friends and then took a bike ride.

Here's what we have done so far. In phase 2, we will put up a back splash behind the stove (maybe tile and then a row of tile around the top of the counter top) and paint the counter top (sand, special primer, oil based paint, and poly) - avocado green is just not my color!!
We also will be installing a new dishwasher into the empty hole. We already removed our 1976 dishwasher that refused to drain. I will have to post the before pictures at another time - they are on my other computer and it's in the shop. You'll be amazed at the transformation!On our bike ride, Mike's tire tube exploded so we waited patiently for our rescuers to bring us home. Saturday morning we finished the kitchen and knowing that we had a busy day on Sunday, spent the rest of the day resting and hanging out with the kids.

On Sunday, we experienced another amazing service at Pontiac Bible Church (www.pontiacbible.org). We officially became members of the church and then worshipped in song, sermon, and testimony. A heart-felt testimony by Josh Marchetti, reminded me of the power of God and His ability to work good for those who love Him. Sunday was also the t1 year anniversary of my grandpa's death. After a birthday party, we spent the rest of the day with my grandma, parents, siblings and their families. It was a bitter sweet time of remembrance and celebration.

Like I said, it was an amazing weekend filled with God, family and friends - just exactly what I needed to begin a new week of service to Him.

Have a great day

Living fearlessly in Christ

Christie

Good morning and happy Monday! I just read some amazing Scripture that really got my heart thinking. Matthew 14:13-14 Now when Jesus heard about John, (John the baptist had just been beheaded by Herod) He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities. When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.

John was not just the for-teller and preparer for Jesus' arrival but he was also His cousin. Jesus was understandably upset and went to be by Himself. Now comes the part that convicts me - when these people followed Him, He didn't get angry or tell them to go away because He was sad. He felt compassion for them and began healing their sick. He knew His mission and purpose so He moved forward with what needed to be done.

Now, I have to admit that I have spent days and weeks in pity parties and/or times of real grief, only focused on me and my own pain. During these times, I don't feel like I can or want to help anyone else - I'm too busy being depressed to even think about anyone else. Isn't that exactly what satan wants from me? Absolutely! If he can keep me focused on me then I will not be fulfilling my mission from God and satan can so easily step in.

Here's what my Bible's commentary says: Jesus sought solitude after the news of John's death. Sometimes we may need to deal with our grief alone. Jesus did not dwell on His grief, but returned to the ministry He came to do.

What an inspiration to me! We must not waste time focusing on our circumstances but keep our eyes focused on God and the purpose He has given to each one of us. Circumstances change but God never does, so we can stand firm no matter what is happening around us.

Jesus also shows His amazing love in this message. A love that puts others first. A love that we can model when we make the choice to live committed to Him.

Wow! I told you it was goooooood stuff!

Have a great day
Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie

I went on a bike ride last night - it was so exciting because I haven't rode my bike in many years. In fact, it had been so long since Mike and I had functioning bicycles that the base of the baby seat was still on Mike's bike! (Our kids are 13 and 11) It was so cool because I was at WalMart yesterday and thought about how much I've been wanting to ride my bike so I bought the needed tire tubes and the BIG granny seat. Later that evening, we had some friends call and ask if we would want to get some exercise with them outside. We jumped at the opportunity and after Mike got the tires and seat ready, we brushed the dirt and cobwebs off and headed out. My old bike seat was not comfortable (really hurt the old back side) and so in the past I hadn't been able to ride very long but we rode for about an hour last night with my granny seat and it was wonderful! Yippeee - this may just become a daily occurrence. Fun and exercise - I never thought I'd put those two words together!

Have a great day and a great weekend!

Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie

I got a sweet and loving reminder/reprimand from my accountablility partners last night as we studied the 5th chapter of Luke. Having compassion and seeing others as God sees them is a struggle for me. At times, I see people as an inconvenience instead of an opportunity. I am an overly scheduled person and interruption tends to annoy me sometimes.

As I continued to think about my struggles and how I want to change, I thought of this song:

Give Me Your Eyes by Brandon Heath
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTsYAZvHsEQ

Looked down from a broken sky
Traced out by the city lights
My world from a mile high
Best seat in the house tonight
Touched down on the cold black tile
Hold on for the sudden stop
Breath in the familiar shock
Of confusion and chaos
Are those people going somewhere?Why have I never cared?
Chorus
Give me your eyes for just one secondGive me your eyes so I can seeEverything that I keep missingGive me your love for humanityGive me your arms for the broken heartedThe ones that are far beyond my reachGive me your heart for the once forgottenGive me your eyes so I can seeyeah .. yeah .. yeah .. yeah
Step out on a busy street
See a girl and our eyes meet
Does her best to smile at me
To hide whats underneath
There’s a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie
To ashamed to tell his wife
He’s out of work He’s buying time
Are those people going somewhere? Why have I never cared?
Chorus
Give me your eyes for just one secondGive me your eyes so I can seeEverything that I keep missingGive me your love for humanityGive me your arms for the broken heartedThe ones that are far beyond my reachGive me your heart for the once forgottenGive me your eyes so I can seeyeah .. yeah .. yeah .. yeah
I’ve been there a million times
A couple of million eyes
Just moving past me by
I swear I never thought that I was wrong
Well I want a second glance
So give me a second chance
To see the way you see the people all alone
Chorus
Give me your eyes for just one secondGive me your eyes so I can seeEverything that I keep missingGive me your love for humanityGive me your arms for the broken heartedThe ones that are far beyond my reachGive me your heart for the once forgottenGive me your eyes so I can seeyeah .. yeah .. yeah .. yeah
Give me your eyes for just one secondGive me your eyes so I can seeEverything that I keep missingGive me your love for humanityGive me your arms for the broken heartedThe ones that are far beyond my reachGive me your heart for the once forgottenGive me your eyes so I can see

Lord, I pray for Your eyes in me. Amen

Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie

If God asked you to give up something you really loved, would you be willing to do it? It may be easy to just say yes and move on but really put yourself in the situation - think of something you really love in your life and consider giving it up for obedience in Christ. Could/would you do it?

Matthew 13:44 "The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

13:45-46 "Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it."

Times when my husband and I have been going through our budget and trying to eliminate extras, we couldn't bring ourselves to give up tv, cell phones or internet let alone bigger things. We live in a society that says we should have everything we want, when we want it. Sacrifice has become a thing of the past.

In the past, I have given up things in obedience to Christ but I have to admit, it was some of the hardest things I ever had to do.

Are you willing to give up all you have for something so precious?

I would love to hear your story!

Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie

I'm baaaaaccckk (and somewhat conscious) after a long weekend. My family and I worked a lot on our kitchen. It's not completed yet but it is getting close. I finished up stripping wallpaper or should I say, paste that sticks like super glue on Friday and then it was painting, painting and more painting. We decided to paint the cabinets until we could afford to buy new ones - I didn't realize that I have a total of 40, yes I said 40 doors and drawers in my kitchen. I was elected to sit in the garage and sand and paint them. I'm thinking they were just tired of me giving my opinion (bossing them around) in the house. Let me just say, that painting 40 doors and drawers with two coats of paint on both sides with 6 hours in between each coat, takes a LONG LONG time! I really hope they look great when we get them put back up!

I learned something in class last night that I thought was interesting and hadn't heard it before. We were studying the creation of the universe and had stopped on Genesis 1:7-8. "God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. God called the expanse heaven. And there was morning, a second day.

According to my professor, the "waters below" are our waters here like oceans, lakes, ponds, etc. The "waters above" was a vapor canopy above the world. This vapor canopy was like a terrarium where the evaporation and condensation made the world self-sustaining and so didn't need rain. After the flood, this vapor canopy was no more and it was then that the suns rays were more penetrating on humans. People lived 900 years or more before the flood, but after, peoples lifespans became shorter and shorter.

I thought that was really cool and wanted to share.

Have a great day

Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie