The Power of Words

I was shopping at Michael's in the dollar section and came across this funny set of coasters. I purchased them, they were only a dollar after all. Here is what they said:

This was probably the least sarcastic one of all the different products with cute little 50's style women doing household chores with witty comments. I put my coaster next to my bed that night, giggling.

Days passed by and everyday I looked at that coaster I really started thinking. I am not like this coaster at all. In fact, I do enjoy keeping my home and cooking for my children and making this a comfortable, safe place for my family to relax. Some days I do not feel like doing it and some things fall to the wayside.Some days aren't perfect, but those days are just another day of learning and growing in God's word. The more and more I thought about the words on the coaster, a scripture came to mind:

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

I had never thought about the coasters that way. I just thought they were funny. God clearly is doing a work in my heart to make me think differently. I am not saying that as Christians, we cannot laugh and make funny jokes sometimes, but looking at that coaster everyday, really got me thinking. I have such a wonderful, blessed life. I could be homeless, out of food, no heat or a bed to sleep on at night. To someone who is going through that, they might see that coaster and be saddened. I understand that this is probably a "heavy" discussion over a coaster, but if you think deeply and ask God to help you understand more deeper, these kinds of things kind of catch you by surprise. I did not intend to offend anyone when I purchased these, but maybe my husband would feel badly if he read it and took it to heart.

We never want to cause any ill will or harm by our words, but the fact is, WORDS ARE POWERFUL and they can hurt even when we aren't meaning to. I know how it feels to be on both sides of words. I have said things that I did not intend to hurt or harm. One thing we can do to humble ourselves is when we find out that we might have offended someone with words we have used, is to apologize. Our Pastor spoke about this in church yesterday, and he made a very well put point. When we humble ourselves and ask for forgiveness and put our pride aside, we will be respected and looked up to even more. It is hard sometimes, since this world is cruel. I have had a lot of words said to me over the passed two years and I have finally let most of them go. Holding them in just make life miserable. Give that up to God. Don't wait until tomorrow or the next day, if you can just pray and ask Him to carry your load, He will. He always does.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

So, just my thought for today.Remember that words are powerful.

A wise family member once shared that with me...I have never forgotten that.

Love,

Great song to check out

This song speaks such volumes. Enjoy.

Here is the story beind this song....

Love,

Angela

Daily Bible Verse

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."

Matthew 5:6

 

 

What a great thing to hunger for. I hunger for a lot of things in life. Success for my children, my love for my husband, but do we remember to hunger and thirst for righteousness? Sometimes it is easy to just go along our day and just put God to the side until the end. When I do that on those days, I feel empty. This scripture says that if we hunger and thirst for Him, we will be filled. How wonderful is that! Now if we can just live by this verse. As my oldest son turns 17 this month, I am reminded that we have just a short time here on this earth. How do you want to spend your short time here? I want to make an impact. I want to serve Him with all of my heart, my mind, my soul and my strength. I want my children to do the same. I just pray that they will and always will. We want our children to be filled with good food and ideas for their future, but don't forget this scripture. The most important thing to be filled with, Him.

 

God is so good. Have a great rest of the week.

 

Love,

Angela

Harrison's 8th grade Grad

I cannot believe that my second oldest is going to be a freshman in the fall. I know I say this like a broken record, but where did the time go?? I am so proud of him. He loves to care for people, he loves Jesus, his parents and he makes a great first impression on any adult he meets! We had a great time at dinner before the ceremony. We met, Uncle Joey, Uncle Scott, Uncle Steve, Aunt Cathy M and Aunt Cathy S at Macayo's for dinner before heading over to the Phoenix Convention Center for the AFHE Junior High Commencement. Most of the family was out of town on the annual girls trip, but we were so glad that some were able to make it! The ceremony was awesome! The kids that had performed for the ceremony were amazing!! Two played the piano, one the violin and one girl, from Flagstaff, had pre-recorded an ice skating performance that they showed on the big screen. Another girl did sign language to a Christian song. It was pretty cool! We are so very thankful for our three children. I am always thanking the good Lord for them daily...

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

3 John 1:4



Love,

I will pray

The weekend proved to be an interesting one for the family. I have seen so much in my life, but nothing quite like this before with someone so close. I am just praying for God's will to be done. I am not sure how to handle these emotions I am feeling. I just wished that they would see how much care we have and that we are not condemning them. They are on my mind constantly. I am crying constantly in prayer. I know that God is good and I know that he is bigger and stronger, but at times I feel my faith slip. Why? Maybe because the world says so. Maybe because I have seen other outcomes in this situation go horribly wrong and I can't help but feel like this one will go the same. Regardless of all of these emotions, I am praying for strength and the realization of the situation. Sometimes I get entirely too emotional, but this time it is extremely different. It is so not about us looking like we care, but that we do care so very much.The world is so corrupt and evil and it can get ahold of any of us. Until we can see some changes, I will diligently pray. I will seek the Lord and sing and praise Him. I will remember those that cannot care for themselves and hope that they are in His hands. All in all, He is the one we will answer to in the end. I pray that I can stand up tall and say that I did Him proud in my short days here on this earth and that He will say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:1-3

Love,

Angela

So glad to have family...

What a week and weekend! So much going on..4-H BBQ, family and two church services! WOW! I am always reminded why I love summer so much. Family comes up to visit. Having lost both of my parents has really made me appreciate them even more. Friends can come and go, but family is forever. God is so good and I am not sure where I would be without Him or family.

Our annual fundraiser went really well. Seems like Andrew and I loose about two days worth of sleep getting it ready, but in the end it is very worth it for the kids! We are so thankful for our regular donors and consumers.
Our church service was especially wonderful as our Las Vegas friends came up for the day. It was so nice to fellowship with them. We were moved by their special music. Such sweet friends.

Tomorrow I am hoping we can all go bowling and just start the summer off together. We haven't been bowling in months! This will be such a treat. We have been eating too much food, peeling, cutting and freezing peaches from Marisue's in laws trees and just laughing and having a great time. This all makes me so thankful for all that God has given us.



"Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

Deuteronomy 5:16

Have a blessed weekend!

What a wonderful day to be a mom....

I woke up this morning missing my mom terribly. Thankfully, the first thing I hear this morning is "Happy Mother's Day mom!" from my oldest son, Tyler. I am so thankful for that. I know that I do not need a holiday for them to appreciate me, but it sure feels nice. I got Allison dressed and ready and we all headed to church for a really nice service. Right before worship, I was visiting with a dear friend and we both were talking about how this day is nice and yet very hard at the same time. Isn't it funny how you cannot wait to leave your parents to go out on your own and be more independent and then when you do and they are gone, you just can't believe it and miss them so much. I didn't have the best relationship with my mom, but she adopted me and gave me so much more than I could have imagined. She took me diligently to voice and piano lessons and sent me to a Christian high school to better my relationship with Christ. So, as I walked up the steps today to lead worship for our church service, I closed my eyes and saw mom in heaven clapping and smiling looking down on me as I began to sing. There aren't words to express my happiness at that moment. To know that she was proud of me and because of her drive to keep me in music lessons, I am a better Christian today because of it. I so happy to sing for my King. So, even though my mom wasn't the best cook and she had alittle different fashion and style, I still miss her and loved her so much. I still can smell her perfume on some of the jewelry I took home after she passed away.

Today, my oldest son took the day off of work and we all went into Flagstaff for lunch at Red Lobster. It was yummy! Then we went downtown to the Old Towne Creperie for some yummy crepes! I then did some window shopping while Allison and Andrew ran around Hertiage Square! That girl never stops! Then we headed to the movies for our final stop before home and now I sit here in bed, thankful and happy to have the wonderful family that I have. Even though mom is gone to be with Jesus, I know that one day, I will be with her again, and I look forward to that day when it comes.....

Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her..

Proverbs 31:28

Happy Mother's Day to all of my friends!

Love,

Good weekend

We had Luke and Elizabeth up this last weekend until yesterday. We had a lot of fun with them. Wii, Flagstaff for some food and alot of laughing. We wished that they would just move on up here!
Church was super great on Sunday. The spirit of God just moved so much in worship, we just bathed in it. I am so glad that I live in this country where I can worship freely. My scripture verse for the day is this one, since my faith has been kind of up and down alot lately.

Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. James 1: 3

It gives us something to ponder when we can't control the situation and have to just have faith.

My hubby is leaving to go down to the valley for an AG district mens meeting. I do not like it when he is gone! I cannot sleep! Does anyone else have this problem, or do all of you enjoy that you can have the remote and the whole bed to yourselves??

Have a great Tuesday!

Angela

This is your life, are you who you want to be?

Yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead
Yesterday is a promise that you've broken
Don't close your eyes, don't close your eyes
This is your life and today is all you've got now
Yeah, and today is all you'll ever have
Don't close your eyes
This is your life, are you who you want to be?


The lyrics to that Switchfoot song always gets me thinking. Lord, what do you want me to be? Who do you want me to be?
I am so thankful for all that I have, but what does He want me to be?

Last year was a seriously hard year for us. We lost some friends, we gained some friends, but in the end, we are still a happy, God fearing family that trusts Him daily. What else in life should matter? I want to do what He wants me to do for Him and Him alone. When we leave this place, I am excited that I will be able to sing His praises all day, every day. What a joy that will be. It saddens me to think of all the people that do not have Christ that have really no hope for what happens when our time on earth are over. If we didn't have Him, how depressing. We have a wonderful thing to look forward to. No more sickness, no more pain, but just the chance to sing and praise our God and King.

As I have gone through my day today, I am reminded that these little faces that I take care of are only a few years away from moving on to be adults somewhere else. My oldest only has a year and a few months before he is 18. My youngest is only 2. This major difference in their ages has made me more sensitive to that. I don't want to miss a day of what my little girl might do. My son is growing to be a handsome, God loving,young man and I am thankful for that. My time with them means more to me that anything. I strive to be that perfect mom and wife, and I know that I will fail. Nobody is perfect. Although we are trying to be that perfect person for our family, they don't see us as imperfect. Has anyone ever thought of that? We put such a high expectation on ourselves and we forget that others aren't as critical. If we just follow along what God has for us, live for Him daily, we can achieve our goals.

I am excited to be starting a new venture. Andrew and I have been meeting with the worship leaders from another church here in town and we are serious about taking worship to the dark corners and low places. Our friend Mark is a wonderful singer/songwriter and Marlene has an amazing voice. We want to take our worship higher and for it to become more passionate. I am so excited about this. This is something that I have dreamed about for so long. I love to sing for Christ and I love to bring the people into His presence. Please pray for us as we start this group. We are now trying to come up with a name that speaks volumes. We want to record. I am just so happy that I have this opportunity. God is so good.

So, no dream is too far away.Do it to your best and God will fill in the rest. I have learned that. No matter what kind of day that I have had, I can take 5 minutes to pray and thank Him for all that I have and feel worlds better. I wish that more people would. He is there for you. For the lonely. For the broken. For the lost. He loves each and every one of you. Don't forget that.

So, This is your life, are you who you want to be? Or who He wants you to be?

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28

Have a good week!

Love,
Angela