My car accident

I had my first real car accident happen a couple of days ago. Isn't it crazy how you can be having an absolute perfect day and then all of a sudden your day is turned up side down with something upredictable. While I was leaving Deerpark mall a girl pulled out in front of me and I T-boned her, with my kids in the car!! It wasn't good at all. I jumped out of my car and the girl that pulled out in front of me was screaming and swearing at me. She was putting all the blame on me. It's funny how in those moments you can get super defensive. Well I did, because she wouldn't stop screaming at me. Finally, an off duty officer told her it wasn't going to do her any good to yell at me. After a few minutes went by the police and the ambulance arrived on the seen. At that time the girls boyfriend came into the picture and starting yelling at me, crazy, huh!!! The police officer immediately told the guy to back off and leave me alone, thank God!! I really wanted to cry! My kids had to go into the ambulance to get checked out, they were on cloud nine, loved every second of it! You really wouldn't have thought they'd been in an accident, it was hilarious! I wouldn't be surprised if they asked if we could do that again because they enjoyed it so much! So back to the accident, no one got a ticket due to it being on private property. After the accident I had to deal with all the insurance calls. The girl I hit spent a half hour on the phone with our claims guy swearing and telling him how much she hated me! The claims guy called me after his conversation with pyscho girl and told me all that she said. Long story short, my insurance decided that she was at fault because I was on her right, and the state of IL says that you have to yield to the person on the right and that I have the right away. Well, the girl gets the letter in the mail stating that were not covering any of her damage, so I know when she gets that letter she is going to flip out and probably come find me and beat me up!
As for us we now have 2 broken cars and a $500 deductable, that I don't have a clue how were going to pay. So please pray for a miracle because we are in need of that. This was definiately bad timing, but I'm so thankful that God protected us!

Healthy boundaries & the Overindulged Child

If you are a mother of a young child I would highly recommend you to get involved with a MOPS in your area. I've joined MOPS about a year in a half ago and it has been such a HUGE help with advice in parenting.
Last week we had a child therapist come in and share in setting boundaries and the overindulged child. Wow! What a great talk he shared with us. I think a huge problem that moms face is knowing when and how to start putting into place the boundaries that kids need and when your kids want things, how much is too much! Sometimes I also think that as woman we tend to try to act like we've got it all figured out, but in reality we don't have a clue! Parenting is such a HUGE journey, and just when you think you've got it all figured out, you don't!
Ken broke down the morning into 3 catagories:
1. Giving the child too much and too many things (Anything they what they get it)
2. Over-Nurturing your child (Doing things that they should and could do, like putting on clothes, tieing shoes, school work)
3. Soft Structure (Too much freedom too soon. are not consistant with rules in place, lack in discipline)

As I heard these 3 points I thought I was doing it all right for the most part, well then we starting digging deeper and I realized I have a TON to work on. I think it's so hard to find that balance on not giving your kid too much. I can think about Christmas coming up and how we all love to go overboard and buy our kids so many gifts, because we want to see their faces and them to have the best Christmas ever. Sometimes we lose the meaning of Christmas because we so wrapped up in buying the next gift. I think that becoming aware of what your kids have and need and knowing what is really practical and neccessary and what is not. This will help us in the process of what to get them. The over nurturing part, I kind of had to laugh, because I do find myself getting so impatient that I put on my kids shoes because they take forever! It's so easy to do things yourself, then waitiing that extra 5 minutes. I realized with that point that I'm only crippling my kids when I do everything for them. Lastly the soft structure, now Dave is SO much better then me at this. If you are a stay at home mom it gets really difficult not to slack in the rules an diciplining. Because your with your kids all the time, you don't want them to feel like your the crazy woman with all these rules and spankings all the time. Let's face it, kids and their behavior wears on you and it's easy to not follow the rules and lack in discipline. I've really come to realize that it is SO dangerous when you have a soft structure. Kids need consistent rules and structure because they are so smart and will try every second to get their ways if you let them.
Being a mom and a parent there is a lot to learn, but it's important not to act like you know what your doing all the time. I would suggest getting involved with a moms group, reading parenting books, find a woman who has successfully raised her family and asked her questions. There are so many ways to better ourselves as parents, we just have to be willing to find those ways.

Raising the Bar

Tonight I was sitting in a high school watching a high school play. Usually when I think of a high school play, I think of fun, innocent, you know like the kind that you leaves all happy. Well tonight that wasn't the case for me at all. This play had students, swearing all the way through it, making several sexual remarks, having a gay couple get engaged, and a seen where girls and guys were dancing so provocatively that you almost felt like you were in a strip club! Maybe I'm old-fashioned or something, but I really believe that high school plays should not be like that. I think it's so inappropriate and sad! I can't imagine what it would be like 10 years from now when my daughters in high school.
After the play I got to my car and felt like I need to start raising the bar in my life. I really was convicted with the stuff that I watch or just all the inappropriate things that we all joke around about. All the conversations that are meaningless. I really feel like it's time to raise the bar and make standards that don't budge no matter what. I really want to strive to live life differently, even though it's not the popular thing to do.

When Unimportant Things Become Important

During this past weekend at youth convention, I had a reality check. As I stood and worshiped during one of the songs i starting reflecting and realizing how my life is filled up with so many unimportant things. i kept asking myself "why do I worry about so much that doesn't matter?" I often worry about what we don't have, i worry about my kids and their safety, I worry about not having enough money to pay our bills, I worry about our future, I worry about my appearance, I worry about not having enough time in the day to get all my chores done, I worry about others, I worry about unanswered prayer. My list keeps going, but I realized that my worry for all these unimportant things have become the forefront of my life. Sometimes I become so consumed with my unimportant things that I forget what's most important. The Bible talks about not worrying about our life and the day to day unimportant things, but to "Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you" Matthew 6:25-34
We need to recognize that we're not promised tomorrow, and we need to live each day as it was our lasts. i know the enemy enjoys seeing us get caught up with the unimportant so that we're so distracted we forget about God. This weekend I realized that once again I needed to give God control over my life in every area. I needed to stop worrying about unimportant things and trust in God in every area of my life.

The Best Dad Award

So my husband definitely deserves the best dad award. There are many reasons why he does, but I will only share a few with you. The other day Alexia was looking through her Highlight magazine and there was a project in there of a cardboard box house. Immediately when she saw that she was begging us to find a box so she could make one of these (well not her or me of course, her dad!) I told her that it wasn't going to be possible because I was envisioning this Huge box in my small living room and how ridiculous that would be! Well that's not what her dad thought. Everyday for the last week he has been going store to store searching high and low for the perfect box to make this house. Me on the other hand was praying that we wouldn't find one so I didn't have to have this house in the center of my clean living room. Just a little glimpse of Dave as a dad, he loves building forts all over the house, he puts up tents for our kids right in our living room. Just the other week I came in from the store and my kitchen table turned into a massive tent. Even though the kids love it and Dave loves it too, I on the other hand have a hard time with this because I like my house to be in order. Just when I have it clean, well another tent or fort goes up. I guess Dave and the kids are teaching me to chill out more with not worrying about the appearance of my house. It's a work in progress for me!!! OK back to the cardboard box house...today Dave dropped Alexia off at school, and he told me that he was going to be right back, we 15 minutes went by, 30 minutes and then and hour. Who comes walking in the door...all I could see was this huge box coming through the door, I couldn't see Dave just yet. He immediately said I found it, it was the last one at Lazy Boy Furniture Store. So sitting in my living room, I'm glaring at it right now is a cardboard house. Yep! It's here and Dave just went to go pick up Lexi from school. I don't think their are many dads who actually plays with their kids as much as him. So today I think he deserves the best dad award. Feel free to stop by and see it =)

Long Days...

So this past month the Mudd family has been really under the weather. Just when I think we're getting better one of us gets sick again. I have been confined to the house for a while now, it seems like forever!! Taking care of everyone, cleaning up puke, cleaning sheets, cleaning, cleaning, cleaning!! Never did I think back when I didn't have kids that I would be able to clean up puke and even catch it with my hands, I know it's gross!! I guess it goes along with being a mom =)
We just found out that Cayden has pneumonia, which is scary and last Thursday he had a seizure because of the huge fall he took. As a mom it is SO hard no to worry. He will be undergoing an EEG test next wednesday. I actually just found out today that we have to wake him up at 2am and keep him up until 9:30am. then bring him in for the big test. I honestly have no idea how we are going to keep him up, and me too!! So we are asking for lots of prayers. I'm really trying to just have faith that Cayden's tests are going to come back normal, it's just hard not letting the worry overwhelm me.

My Mom

I really don't ever get a chance to brag about my mom, so I thought I would take a second to do just that. I have one amazing mom, she is a great grandmother, wife, friend and mom. She has always put everyone else before her needs. She serves and gives to others like I've never seen before. She has a huge heart for the Lord. My mom growing up and still does run a daycare through her house. Not only did she have four kids of her own to raise, but 7 or 8 others that she took care of. One of her regular days would look like this; getting up at 6am the first kids arrives. Making breakfast for everyone. Making sure lunches were prepped and ready for us to head off to school. During the day with all of the other daycare kids, she has a structured day that has the kids rotating from different activities. Not most people would not be able to handle this, you should see her in action. Even though she has a house full of kids, she takes care of 5 animals, does laundry, keeps the house super clean and make a 4 course dinner every night. Now that us kids are all grown up you would think she'd be sick of kids by now, but no, shes not! She still takes care of kids and ALWAYS makes time for her grand kids. I know, I'm amazed at all that she does! Really there is so much more she does during the day for others it's hard to list it all. you would think after doing daycare all day she wouldn't want to be around kids, but that's not the case at all, she calls and begs us to bring the kids by so she can be with them. As you can see my mom is very selfless. The other thing I admire about her is her faith in God, she prays about everything. Even growing up if she lost something in the house and couldn't find it, she would pray! Pray! Pray! Pray! That's what she modeled for us. She is a giver beyond words can say. When we are struggling, she has always provided my kids with clothes, toys and food. Even when were not struggling she is always blessing us with something. The other thing I love about her is that she makes friends everywhere she goes. We joke around about this a lot because we can be in a grocery store, on vacation, at a gas station or just about anywhere and she LOVES talking to strangers. By the time we leave the store she becomes best friends with people she meets in the check out line. I know the list goes on. I can write a book about her, but I won't for now. This is just a glimpse of my mom. I can only hope and pray that I am like her someday. She is one of my biggest hero's my life.

Mean Girls

So it has started already!! Never did I think I would be dealing with Alexia at age 5 having girls not want to be her friend. Seriously, girls can be so mean! Just recently my MOPS group started up and there is a kids program that they have when I attend. Alexia's best friend happens to go to the same group so I thought it would be so much fun for her to go. Well thats would I thought, but when I picked her up she was so sad and told me she never wanted to go back again. I was really confused so I started asking her why she didn't want to come back. Well she went on to say that her best friend from school decided not to be her friend. She found a new one for the day and didn't want Alexia to come anywhere near her and her new friend. I know sad, right?!? My heart broke for her because like everyone, who wants to feel left out and not accepted. So I went on to ask her if she tried to play with the both of them and she said "Yes mommy I did, but when I went over by them they ran away" Can you believe that! It really makes me so sad as a mom, I know this is life, but i REALLY hate it!! As a parent you want to protect your kids from everything, but in all reality we can't. I just encouraged her and told her to be the bigger person and still be nice to her friend every time she sees her. What I really wanted to say was something else, but of course that would NOT be the right thing to do. So to everyone out there that has young kids good luck because I'm sure everyone experiences their kids being rejected sometime or another. It's not fun, but I know it's just life!

Believing In Yourself

So lately I've been chatting with a lot of my students about themselves. Each of them all had one thing in common. The root cause of why they were feeling the way they were is because they didn't believe in themselves. I can totally relate to all of them because I've been in that place before and often times I still struggle with who I am because the enemy is always bombarding my mind with so many lies about myself. This is exactly what is happening...the enemy continues to fill our heads with so much junk and lies. He often tells us were not good enough, not pretty enough, not skinny enough, not smart enough and we'll never measure up to anyone or anything. I think the list can go on and on. Once these lies come, we continue to believe these lies and then it becomes our reality. We first start believing these lies internally and then before we know it these lies effect us externally. We start making the wrong decisions because we don't think we deserve it. We don't think we can do a certain job or take an opportunity, so we past it up, or fail before we even begin. We don't think we measure up to our friends our those around so we treat them differently, or become jealous and let bitterness well up inside of us.
As I sat here thinking about all of this, I realize how destructive "not believing in yourself" really is. It really determines who become in the long run if we don't change the way we think of ourselves.

So what do we do with such an easy 3 words to say, but not so easy to put into practice??

For one I think we need to take a second and look within and recognize the lies that we are believing. Two, i think we need to write down a list of things about ourselves, or make a mental list of the things that are true and positive...like our gifts and talents and the things that make us...us. The verse Psalms 139:13-14 has really helped me when I am doubting who i am. It's a great reminder of who God made us and reminds me that "we are wonderfully made". The other verse that sticks out is the verse that God knows how many hairs are on our head. That is a HUGE reminder that God made us just the way we are.

Lastly, guard your minds. Philippians 4:8 is a great scripture verse to help you stay focused on the positive instead of the negative. i think its easier said then done to believe in yourself. It is a process, but we need to take control of our minds and let God in and let the lies out!

Stop focusing on everyone else and all that they are and have. Stop focusing on the negative. Start believing in yourself, that you are worth it. God made you just how he wanted to. He made no mistake with who you are. So believe in yourself, set aside what your feelings and chose today that you will believe in the truths about yourself.

Enjoy the moment

I decided to stay in tonight with my kids. It was a night filled with popcorn and Disney movies, playing house, pretending I'm Wendy from Peter Pan, reading stories and playing games with them. After I put Alexia and Cayden down to sleep I went into their rooms to put some clean clothes away and I just stood beside both of their beds and really just enjoyed the moment. Being a parent is difficult at times, but it is one of the greatest jobs in the world. After I prayed for them and left their rooms I couldn't help but think of how my life gets SO busy and I often don't just take the time to enjoy the moment. Life gets too busy with going here and there and doing our daily things and we often forget to stop and enjoy the moment. Tonight was such a huge reminder for me just to SLOW DOWN and don't look ahead and worry about tomorrow, but just be grateful for all the many blessings God has given to me. So my challenge to you is, stop, slow down and enjoy the moment that God has placed you in. Even in the hard times know that there is a reason why you're there and learn what God is trying to teach you in that situation. Lastly, cherish the good times and don't become too busy to recognize all that God has blessed you with.

Parenting

Being a parent is one of the best jobs in the world but often one of the hardest jobs in the world. I'm reading this really great book called "The Power of A Positive Mom" and it is very challenging. Tonight I read a chapter that hit my heart in a huge way.
I guess I will start here, just a couple of days ago I was at Walmart doing my shopping with both of my kids. I had to get one of those big oversized, embarrassing carts (mom's you know what I'm talking about) Anyways, my kids are at a stage where some days they love each other and other days that don't like each other. So I made it all the way up to the check out lines and as always I picked the WRONG line!!! Seriously I really complain about this all the time. (I think God's trying to teach me patience) Anyways, I standing in line for over 10 minutes now and my kids jump out of the cart and grab at all the candy and gum, basically anything they can get their hands on. They start bickering about what they got and who's is better, you know great stuff to fight about. So the wait gets longer, my kids start getting louder, I'm getting more and more angry. Then, I turn my back to unload my cart and Alexia pushes Cayden and he falls flat on his face. Yep, crying louder then you can imagine, people staring and I'm wispering in Alexia's ear how she's going to get a spanking. Now, their both crying, Alexia is yelling out I don't want to get spanked!! Everyone now thinks I'm a child abuser!! Then the stupid, im mean wonderful cashier makes a comment, "oh it must be naptime" I was thinking NO, maybe if you would stop working so SLOW maybe I wouldn't have had any issues at all. Believe me i know it was the wrong attitude. Once again I left Walmart frazzled and stressed out!

So I said all that to say this, the chapter I read was talking about our lives are like lesson books. Our kids may read books all throughout their lives and may not remember any of it, but our lives are like books and they are learning everyday what's in it. How do we handle situations? Do we yell? How do we treat others? Are we givers? Do we gossip? How do we act in traffic towards other drivers? Do we yell out? call names? Are we negative and have attitudes? How do we act in grocery stores? How do we treat our spouses? All these questions I had to ask myself. I can honestly say that I fail at some of these at times. I think this chapter hit me so hard, because I want to be like Christ and be a Godly example and handle situations the right way. I think with God's help we can recognize our weaknesses and change our ways and be the parents that God called us to be. So just a last thought, Like it or not our life is an open book, continually read by our little ones at home.
Trying to be an example in our own power leads to eventual failure, but abiding in Christ is the answer. We need to stay connected to Christ daily. Without his power and strength and Him being the center of our household we will fail. The cry of my heart is that I will be a Godly mom that will train up my children in the way of the Lord. I think we can all do that will God's help!

Philippians 4:13
I can do ALL things through HIM who gives me strength

Temporary Fixes

I just had this random thought pop into my head tonight. I was kind of thinking about my life and all that I have and all that I have been blessed with. So with that it brought me to the thought of temporary fixes...

I was thinking how I would love to go shopping for some new clothes for this fall, then I thought to myself, I have a closet full of clothes and at one time each of those pieces in my closet were at one time the latest and greatest thing to me. Then over time the clothes didn't have the same effect as they did when I first bought them.

I can think of my phone and computer...Both when I got them, I thought how awesome they were and I couldn't imagine getting sick of either. Months later new models came out and I find myself wanting the better, cooler ones.

I think of food... how I get excited about certain foods I crave. We all know how that goes, we eat it, then it only fills us up for a moment, then we look for the next food or fix of something else.

I can think of my house...how at one time I loved everything in my house then over time the furniture and decor isn't is cool as the styles in the lastest magazines that are out.

Then I was thinking about the world and others and how there are so many things that we desire to have and do, but they don't fill up our lives only but for a moment. They're temporary fixes. We always want more or something different. In the moment its amazing and feels so good, it's such a rush, but then after a while it fads aways...

It makes me sad that I desire so much of the world, the things that are temporary in this world, the things that in the end won't matter at all.

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

That means He never, ever changes. His love, His, grace, His mercy is forever. He never gives up on us. He died for our sins.

The question I ask myself is, why is God not enough for me.?
I want to desire more of God and less of my self.

For Better...or for worse...till death do us part

A couple of days ago while we were in the hospital room visiting Kelly we were chatting with her husband Bill. The conversation was around Kelly and how she was a good wife and mother. While we were in the room there was a hospital chaplain in the room and he asked Bill if he had many "Quarrels" with Kelly.....I was thinking wow...that’s a strange question to ask at a time like this. Bill responded to the man's question and said honestly, we've been married 20 years and we've had a great marriage. He went on to say that of course in every marriage you have your little fights, but Kelly always forgave easily and just went on with her day.
That conversation brings me to this blog I want to write about marriage. I started thinking about my marriage and really how happy and blessed I am. I don't want to sit here acting as if we have the perfect marriage where we don't go through seasons because I would be lying to you. In American today so many marriages are failing and giving up on the vows that they vowed when they were at the altar. A couple of weeks ago I was in my small group for mothers and the speaker talked about marriage. As we started talking during discussion time about our marriages I was amazed at how many women really aren't happy. A lot of the women were saying their lives are so busy with everything else by the time their husband walks through the door they have nothing left to give. Those conversations really stuck with me, it really made me check myself and ask the question I'm I too busy for my marriage? Have we lost that connection? I really want o fight for my marriage and live in such a way where on don't hold onto things...where I forgive Dave if he hurts me. I think that is happening in marriages today is that we don't forgive, we hold onto things, our lives are SO busy we forget about the person that should be one of the most important things in our lives. As time progresses we don't even know who each other really is.

You'll notice that it's not too often people sit around bragging about the marriage they have because it's not the popular thing to do, instead it's quite the opposite people complain about what their husbands are not. I don't know about you but I would love to see the divorce rate in this world change, I would love to see people willing to fight for their marriages, I would love to see people willing to die to themselves and forgive their spouses. I know this is obviously easier said then done, but it takes work on both parts. I don't want to forget my vow to Dave...for better...or for worse...till death do us part! So the challenge to myself and everyone reading this is, cherish the marriage that you have, fight for your marriage, take time to do things for one another. Life gets so busy and we forget about taking care of our marriage and spending quality time together. I've decided today I'm going to go out and get Dave something little to let him know I love him, maybe do the same for your spouse, it doesn't have to be a gift, maybe just a card or letter saying how much you love them...Just a thought! Sorry this is so long....

The air we breath..

Yesterday was a really difficult day. After a great week in Peoria we got a phone call from my sister letting us know that a friend of ours that had been battling an illness was not doing well at all. The doctors said her body was completely shutting down. When we arrived at the hospital it was very difficult. In the waiting room was family and her kids. When we got back to see our friend in the ISU, it was so hard. As i stood back and just watched her on the ventilator it really made me think a lot, it made me think how I take the little things in my life for granted. After we prayed and hung out in her room for a while we went back to the waiting area. As I sat there Dave and I were reminiscing with the kids about there favorite memories with their mom and as a family. All day my heart was so heavy. It really made me stop and just thank God for everything, my family, my health the air we breath. I really want to cherish every second with my family and not get caught up with the busyness of this life and the things that aren't important at all.  I want to do everything I can to be the wife, mom and friend that God has called me to be.  The air we breath is really such a gift from God and I'm so grateful for that gift!

  My heart goes out to the Wilton's and prayers too. I'm so proud of her family and how they've pulled together and have been strong through this difficult time.

Wonderfully Made

I think today it's so hard for not only girls but guys to look in the mirror and like what they see. With the way society is protraying that we should look it's difficult really to except the fact that were are "wonderfully made"

Pslam 139: 13-14
For you God created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mohers womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Do you believe what this scripture says. I think its so easy to look around and think we are missing out, that God has made everyone else wonderfully made except for you. One of the biggest problems is that we compare ourselves to everyone else and we allow the enemy to fill our minds with a bunch of lies. If we allow those lies to consume our minds on a daily basis we never be able to except ourselves for how God made us. I think we all forget that God made us just the way he wanted to. I often forget to just praise God for things that we don't even realize we have the things we take for granted. If the enemy can fill our minds and make us believe this lie that we aren't good enough and not pretty enough he is taking control of this area of our lives. I have come up with 3 ways that I tell our teenagers to help with this battle.

The K.E.Y. to believing you are "Wonderfully Made"

Know - who you are in God

Don't put on masks and be who everyone else wants you to be. I think having a solid foundation in our relationship with God is so important because we are able to find out who we are in God and see the positives in the way He has made us. Don't let others dictate your worth. When we do that we see ourselves through others eyes and not our own. The world makes us believe we need to be this perfect flawless image. In all reality that isn't true. In the end none of the external things will matter they will all fad away and the thing that matters the most is whats on the inside. The things that are internal last forever!

Endure - what the world's portraying about self image

I think we need to endure the pressures of being perfect all the time, like being Skinny and having the best clothes. Focus on the things that matter the most, like your relationship with God. Try to make a list of the positive things about yourself, maybe even the gifts that God has given you. We often look at how gifted we think everyone else is and forget that we have areas in our lives where were gifted too. Focus on those things.

Yield - to stop believing the lies

2 Cor. 10:5 talks about taking every thought captive under the obedience of God.

Recognize that the enemy is out there destroying lives in so many ways. One of the greatest ways he is destroying is through our minds. It all starts there. On the outside we may put on a mask and act like everythings ok, but so often so many of us really don't like who we are when we look in the mirror. You can change that today. I believe it's a process, but with the help of God and prayer you will have the strength to believe that you are "wonderfully made"
Don't believe the lies. Believe that God made you just the way He wanted to, and He wants you to take the focus off yourself and others and out it on Him and His purpose for your life. You are special, you are unique, you are one of a kind. You are God's child and He loves you for you. You are WONDERFULLY MADE!!!!

Phil. 4:13
I can do ALL things through Him who gives you strength

Posted Note

Have you ever had one of those dreams where you know your dreaming. You actually tell yourself this is only a dream "Wake Up!" I had the weirdest dream, really there was so much going on it was hard for me to figure out just what actually went on. Well I ended up waking up aroud 6:30 am which never happens to me, I'm not a morning person at all. As I laid awake I had a thought that popped into my head. I kept on trying to fall back to sleep but I couldn't, so I figured this must be something that God placed on my heart for a reason. So I got my journal out.

The past week I've been very burdened for the students of Faze who have fallen away from a relationship with God. As i journeled during the week I kept on asking God why? Why does this keep on happening to so many students who have a strong relationship with God.
That brought me to the thought of a posted note. I know what your thinking "this is a weird thought" Thats what I was thinking as I wrote this all out in my journal. Our relationship with God is like a posted note. The sticky part represents our relationship with God and the bottom part represents all the distractions in our lives. When we are distracting by the things of this world we are putting our "posted note" on so many different things. Before we know it the sticky part, which is our relationship with God loses its stickyness and before we know it we fall! I think this not only applies to our students and why they fall away from a relationship with God but it applies to everyone. The more the enemy can distract us from serving God with our whole heart, the more we grow further away from God. This thought that God put on my heart challeneged me to contiune to check myself and make sure I'm not being distracted by the things that might cause me to grow away from God. It's a daily battle to fight for our relationships with God. Be with His strength and power we can do it.
Phil. 4:13
I can do ALL things through Him who gives me strength.

Answered Prayer

Dave and I have been praying for over a year now that somehow we would be able to get another car. For a long time now we have had one vehicle to get us around and it is SO hard to coordinate or schedules with one another. Just this past week we were given a vehicle!! We are thrilled and feel SO blessed. We are so grateful that there are people out there who are so giving. It's so cool that God is always looking out for us. Even when our prayers aren't answered immediately, in His time He comes through. It just once again reminds me of the power of prayer. Sometimes it's so easy to underestimate how powerful it really is. So just a little side note...if you're praying for something your in need of, don't give up because God will provide.
Mark 11:24
Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you will receive them, and you will have them.

Ok with being invisible!

A few weeks ago Dave's band played at the Target Conference.  During one of the sessions the speaker asked us all a question.  Are you o.k. with being invisible?  As I sat there and listened to his message I asked myself that question.  A lot of times in ministry we are doing so many things for people.  I think it's easy to get caught up with doing things for people to give us praise and see how awesome we've done at what were gifted in.  Don't get me wrong of course when you're doing a million things for people and the ministry its nice to get the recognition, but honesty thats not the purpose God intended it to be.  Even with any job ask yourself the question, am I doing this for the right reasons or am I doing this for others to see.  In all reality the thing that matters the most is where are heart is and what God thinks.  I was challenged to not lose sight in why I do things.  It should be for God and God alone! Even when you are working your butt off and nobody notices, God notices and he will bless you with the right heart and motives.

Matthew 6:21

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.