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

Chicago Here We Come!

We are off to Chicago for Christmas!

Merry Christmas to everyone! May you have a blessed New Year!

Christmas Shopping

In a few minutes I will venture out in the pouring rain (big surprise here in Seattle) to do the last of my Christmas shopping! Over the weekend Rick and I went to the Seattle Premium Outlets to do some shopping and the people were like vultures there!! I picked up a sweater in Banana Republic only to find that it was a large when I needed a medium, as soon as I went to lay it back down on the table a lady came up from behind me and grabbed it! I guess that's what happens seven days before Christmas!

Well we leave for Chicago on Friday morning....two more days left in the countdown! The thing I am most excited about over Christmas is seeing my friends and family that I have not seen in awhile. I miss my Mom more than ever, and I miss all of the wonderful friends that I have in the Chicagoland area. It will be fun to just relax and hang out with people I'm close to!

Well...I'm off to fight the crowds at the mall, but first I must make a much needed stop at Starbucks!!

Waiting

Waiting is so hard at times!! Okay, so maybe it's hard all of the time. Right now I'm pretty tired of waiting. Hopefully someday I will look back and be thankful for the waiting that I have had to do this year. All I can do now is to keep waiting with hope and faith that the waiting will soon be over and the blessing will be given!

A Boy's Wise Words!

This morning when I got to work I did my daily routine of turning on my computer and checking my email. As I scrolled down my email I came upon a forward that was sent from my sister in law Liz. I clicked on the link that she sent to listen to a little boys conversation with a man on the radio. I began to cry listening to this boy's understanding and heart for God!! Matthew 18:2-4 came to my mind as I listened.

"He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Please take a moment and watch this clip. Hopefully it will touch your heart the way it did mine!

http://www.ksbj.org/eblogs/morningShow/