Prayer Request

I thought I would post my blog today as a prayer request. Rick and I are really seeking God right now for direction. We both feel like God is getting ready to make some BIG changes in our life. My prayer is that we would be obedient children and wait for his direction. Will you pray for us please?

"This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go." Isaiah 48:17

Heath Ledger

Yesterday I logged on to yahoo to check my email and saw the headline that read "Heath Ledger is dead at age 28." I was so shocked and sad all at the same time. I'm sure most of you reading this right now ( if anyone still reads my blogs) has heard of his death either on the Internet or on the news. I don't know why I am sad about this I mean I never personally knew Heath Ledger, but I guess sometimes I catch myself thinking of celebrities as fictional characters alone, and in reality they are REAL people with REAL souls. Although I may not know the eternity of Heath Ledger; I know that Jesus loves him just as he loves you and me. my heart is stirred to pray for celebrities who have filled their lives with temporary joy and if they are not reached with love of Jesus before it's too late, their eternity is going to be a horrible realization that there is more to life than what money & fame can buy!

Rick's Birthday

Today is my hubby's 29th birthday! I love celebrating birthdays!! I could spend hours in a party store picking out streamers and balloons that match! I guess I just like to decorate and to celebrate of course! Okay, I just got the song..."Celebrate good times, come on" in my head!! I think I roller-skated to that song all through my junior high years! Anyway...tonight Rick and I are going out for a nice dinner and if it's not too late we may catch a movie before the night is over.

Yeah for birthday fun!!

God's Voice???

This morning while I was praying and doing my devotions I felt this voice inside speak something to me. It is something that for a long time I have been praying and asking God for. I immediately began to thank God for His blessing that is soon to come, but in the midst of my rejoicing I started to wonder if that was really God or if it was just me wanting to believe so badly for this prayer to be answered. I have faith and believe that God will answer my prayers, but how do we as Christians know if it is really God speaking to us or our own positive faith inspired feelings speaking to us?! Is it wrong to ask God to confirm what we feel he was speaking to us? Does asking for a confirmation from God demonstrate a lack of faith on my part?

My Catholic Church Experience

This weekend Rick and I attended a christening service for a friend's baby at St. James Parish in Seattle. Now I have been to two Catholic wedding's and a Catholic funeral, so I sort of knew what to expect at the service. As we walked into the HUGE and I stress huge b/c I have never seen a Catholic church this big in all of my life....I was waiting for the Pope to walk in! Anyway, as we walked into the service I was overtaken by the beauty of all of the pillars and stain glass everywhere. The organ was playing loudly and the congregation begin to sing in unison a song I had never heard before.

I stood there looking around (like a child at a museum), and I wondered how many of these people around me really know what a relationship with Jesus feels like?!! I know that there are many Catholics who have a loving relationship with Jesus and have asked HIM to be Lord of their lives, but I also know there are many that just make Sunday morning Mass there routine without any emotion or connection made during their entire time in church. As I had that thought I begin to pray for those around me, and then it hit me it's not just people in the Catholic church, but people in every church around the world that need to know Jesus as their personal Savior! Even people in Assemblies of God Churches (the denomination I grew up in) there are "lost" people who make Sunday services a routine and never really connect with God!

Since attending that service on Sunday I have a renewed desire to pray for the who don't know Jesus and for those who have grown complacent in their walk with the Lord. May we hunger and thirst for Jesus more and more each day!!

I Miss My Husband!!

Well I made it another night without my hubby! Rick has been gone on a business trip to Mexico since Monday morning. At first I thought I could stay by myself while he was gone, but the first night he was gone I slept with the living room and hall lights on. Every time I heard a noise my heart would start race and I would start praying. Last night wasn't as bad b/c I think I wore myself out the first night with my lack of sleep. I don't know how wives who have husbands who travel every week do it. I guess with kids it wouldn't be as lonely, but maybe I'm wrong. I think it is just hard all together! I really miss my husband!!! The good news is Rick is being sent to Australia in March and I get the honor of going with him on this trip! He will work during the days and I will visit the Kola bears and kangaroos! :)

Tonight I am going to head up to Snohomish, Washington, which is about 45 minutes from my apartment to stay with my brother and his family. I love my nieces and nephews, and I know we will have a lot of fun together. The bad part is going to be the commute into work tomorrow on the express way! I am going to have to leave by 6:15 a.m. to make it to work on time! Two more days and Rick will return. YEAH!!!!

A New Year's Commitment!

I'm not big on New Year's Resolutions b/c it seems that every year I make one I seem to lose my motivation about the time February rolls around. It's more like a one month resolution! Ha! This year I want to make a New Year's Commitment! A renewed commitment to live my life as Jesus commanded and to reach out to people with His love! I love to do outreach, but for some reason since I have moved to Seattle I have not had the drive I used to have to tell people about Jesus! I want to make an impact in this world for Christ! I want to see soul's saved, hearts mended, sicknesses healed, and peace restored to everyone in this city that God has strategically put me in! 2008 is going to be an unforgettable year!! My mission is outlined in a well known scripture found in Isaiah 61.

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor

Isaiah 61:1-3