This song, by Jonathan Nelson and Purpose, has been ringing in my head for the last week or more.
It fits right with where my head and my spirit are right now. It's all about the victory through Christ Jesus.
All is not perfect, and may never be. But we have such great victory in Jesus, should we choose to believe and walk in that victory.
I've got evidence, I've got confidence...I know who I am...My name is Victory
Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Wednesday Worship and Birthday Blessings
Wow, I haven't said anything in a week. But we'll talk tomorrow.
Today we're celebrating my littlest one's 4th birthday. Hard to believe that much time has passed.
In honor of him, I'm playing his favorite worship song, Israel and New Breed's With Long Life. May he be blessed with a long life, with which to worship God.
Be forewarned, it's a live performance. I think the cameraman was trying to get in on the singing.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABY!
Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Today we're celebrating my littlest one's 4th birthday. Hard to believe that much time has passed.
In honor of him, I'm playing his favorite worship song, Israel and New Breed's With Long Life. May he be blessed with a long life, with which to worship God.
Be forewarned, it's a live performance. I think the cameraman was trying to get in on the singing.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABY!
Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Wednesday Worship: Mighty Praise
Today's worship comes from a long-time soldier in the Lord's army, Alvin Slaughter.
I first learned of Bro. Slaughter and his bubbly, infectious worship back in the 1990's. Then it seemed he either fell off the scene or appeared more sporadically, or maybe I just lost sight of him.
Well recently I've seen quite a bit of Alvin Slaughter's worship on one of the many televised church channels. And I quickly remembered why I enjoyed him so much before.
Giving us a Mighty Praise...Alvin Slaughter!
Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
I first learned of Bro. Slaughter and his bubbly, infectious worship back in the 1990's. Then it seemed he either fell off the scene or appeared more sporadically, or maybe I just lost sight of him.
Well recently I've seen quite a bit of Alvin Slaughter's worship on one of the many televised church channels. And I quickly remembered why I enjoyed him so much before.
Giving us a Mighty Praise...Alvin Slaughter!
Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Monday, March 9, 2009
Humbled but Determined
Is there anything more humbling for a woman struggling with weight issues than shopping for clothing and trying on said clothing in a dressing room?
I don't think so.
This past weekend, Hubby insisted I go shopping for a new pair of jeans. The old pair was so ratty that I was embarrased to put them on. He was probably embarrassed to be seen with me.
Resistance rose up in me faster than another second could tick off the clock. Did I really want to go clothes shopping with my husband and three sons? Could I afford to do so? There is always some bill waiting to be paid, and doing a tight maneuver while we rest on a promised blessing that God has for us in the near future.
Not to mention, I'm one of those mothers who always finds a reason to do for her family before she does for herself.
But a whisper into my spirit said, "Go". Maybe this was the acknowledgement I'd been seeking for many sacrifices and the remembrance that I'm a girl who occasionally needs some girly activity. I did a quick check and decided I could fit a pair of jeans into the budget--while still paying the main bills as well as covering an upcoming basketball camp and a few other children's requirements.
So off we went. The oldest says, "Don't worry, Mommy. I got you. I know style." And that's true. He's the one who always complements me--or lets me know when something doesn't work--as far back as when he was four or five years old. Still does as a teenager and I love him for that. But then he gets all masculine on me while he's waiting in the women's jeans section with his younger brothers. "How do they look, honey?" "How do they feel, Mommy?" "No dear, I'm not going to buy jeans that don't feel good. Just tell me how they look." "I don't know. How do they feel?" Eventually, he told me they looked fine. I thought so too.
Since there was a sale, I decided to squeeze the funds a bit and get two pairs of pants. It will be nice to not have to repeat a pair during the work week.
Well, to my surprise, when I got up to the cash register, the pants were an additional 50% off the sale price. Two pairs for the price of one!
Couldn't beat it. What a blessing! I felt lifted up because my guys supported me 100%, I got some much-needed clothing, and we had a nice afternoon out together. After eating some true NY-style pizza and wings at the food court, we left the mall and headed over to Wal-mart to shop for groceries. Again, I treated myself for a change, buying foods to help me lose weight as opposed to trying to eat smaller quantities of the stuff they love but I definitely shouldn't eat.
And after partaking of the annual Strawberry Festival on Saturday, which meant lots of walking and a little eating in addition to a fun Kool and the Gang concert, I found that I was down 2 lbs. this morning.
Yay!
The goal is 5 more lbs off by the end of the month.
How are you doing?
Peace & Blesssings,
Patricia
I don't think so.
This past weekend, Hubby insisted I go shopping for a new pair of jeans. The old pair was so ratty that I was embarrased to put them on. He was probably embarrassed to be seen with me.
Resistance rose up in me faster than another second could tick off the clock. Did I really want to go clothes shopping with my husband and three sons? Could I afford to do so? There is always some bill waiting to be paid, and doing a tight maneuver while we rest on a promised blessing that God has for us in the near future.
Not to mention, I'm one of those mothers who always finds a reason to do for her family before she does for herself.
But a whisper into my spirit said, "Go". Maybe this was the acknowledgement I'd been seeking for many sacrifices and the remembrance that I'm a girl who occasionally needs some girly activity. I did a quick check and decided I could fit a pair of jeans into the budget--while still paying the main bills as well as covering an upcoming basketball camp and a few other children's requirements.
So off we went. The oldest says, "Don't worry, Mommy. I got you. I know style." And that's true. He's the one who always complements me--or lets me know when something doesn't work--as far back as when he was four or five years old. Still does as a teenager and I love him for that. But then he gets all masculine on me while he's waiting in the women's jeans section with his younger brothers. "How do they look, honey?" "How do they feel, Mommy?" "No dear, I'm not going to buy jeans that don't feel good. Just tell me how they look." "I don't know. How do they feel?" Eventually, he told me they looked fine. I thought so too.
Since there was a sale, I decided to squeeze the funds a bit and get two pairs of pants. It will be nice to not have to repeat a pair during the work week.
Well, to my surprise, when I got up to the cash register, the pants were an additional 50% off the sale price. Two pairs for the price of one!
Couldn't beat it. What a blessing! I felt lifted up because my guys supported me 100%, I got some much-needed clothing, and we had a nice afternoon out together. After eating some true NY-style pizza and wings at the food court, we left the mall and headed over to Wal-mart to shop for groceries. Again, I treated myself for a change, buying foods to help me lose weight as opposed to trying to eat smaller quantities of the stuff they love but I definitely shouldn't eat.
And after partaking of the annual Strawberry Festival on Saturday, which meant lots of walking and a little eating in addition to a fun Kool and the Gang concert, I found that I was down 2 lbs. this morning.
Yay!
The goal is 5 more lbs off by the end of the month.
How are you doing?
Peace & Blesssings,
Patricia
Friday, March 6, 2009
Did You Know Someone Who Has MS?
MS...multiple sclerosis.
This disease affects about 400,000 people in the US and 2.5 million people worldwide. It's difficult to diagnose because the common symptoms look like so many other things. About 200 new cases are diagnosed in America every week but the MS website says physicians are not required to report new cases so the numbers could be much higher. I think they are.
I've known co-workers and friends of friends who have MS but it's hit much closer to home than that. Two members of my family have this disease, my mother and my brother closest in age to me.
Because my mother was diagnosed when I was very young, I have only the vaguest of memories of her without MS. I can recall seeing my mother progress from holding on to counters and furniture to keep her balance to using a cane to a walker and finally, to a wheelchair. She's been in a wheelchair for the last 30+ years, and as such, we grew up with a sensitivity for the physically challenged that most people don't have at an early age.
My brother, who is two years older than me, was diagnosed less than ten years ago. He now uses a cane too.
What I know about this disease from living with it up close and firsthand is that it is insidious. It looks different in each person it affects. Some deteriorate very rapidly; others very slowly and either steadily or in alternating bouts of progression and remission.
The good news is that you can live a very long time with it, as evidenced by my 87 yo mother. There are devices to aide and make life easier for people with MS today that I wished my mother would have had years ago.
This week, Mar 2 - 8, is MS Awareness Week. Click on this link
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/get-involved/events/ms-awareness-week/index.aspx for more information.
If you have an opportunity to support the annual Walk MS, Bike MS, Challenge MS or other fund-raising activities, please participate. The MS society does a lot to not only further research but to help those who are living with this disease.
Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
This disease affects about 400,000 people in the US and 2.5 million people worldwide. It's difficult to diagnose because the common symptoms look like so many other things. About 200 new cases are diagnosed in America every week but the MS website says physicians are not required to report new cases so the numbers could be much higher. I think they are.
I've known co-workers and friends of friends who have MS but it's hit much closer to home than that. Two members of my family have this disease, my mother and my brother closest in age to me.
Because my mother was diagnosed when I was very young, I have only the vaguest of memories of her without MS. I can recall seeing my mother progress from holding on to counters and furniture to keep her balance to using a cane to a walker and finally, to a wheelchair. She's been in a wheelchair for the last 30+ years, and as such, we grew up with a sensitivity for the physically challenged that most people don't have at an early age.
My brother, who is two years older than me, was diagnosed less than ten years ago. He now uses a cane too.
What I know about this disease from living with it up close and firsthand is that it is insidious. It looks different in each person it affects. Some deteriorate very rapidly; others very slowly and either steadily or in alternating bouts of progression and remission.
The good news is that you can live a very long time with it, as evidenced by my 87 yo mother. There are devices to aide and make life easier for people with MS today that I wished my mother would have had years ago.
This week, Mar 2 - 8, is MS Awareness Week. Click on this link
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/get-involved/events/ms-awareness-week/index.aspx for more information.
If you have an opportunity to support the annual Walk MS, Bike MS, Challenge MS or other fund-raising activities, please participate. The MS society does a lot to not only further research but to help those who are living with this disease.
Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Wednesday Worship: You Are My Joy
I couldn't find a live performance version of this one but I had to put this song up. When I sing along, my heart speaks directly to the Lord. If I'm feeling a bit stressed, the lyrics and melody soothe me. If I'm feeling upbeat, the song takes me to a place of communion.
Lord, You are my joy!
Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Lord, You are my joy!
Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Monday, March 2, 2009
Back from the Abyss
Last week was rough. Still working through some stuff and my middle son took ill. A case of food poisoning at school via a corn dog.
Took 6 days for this to pass through his system, three of which he didn't eat at all. We had to force him to drink so he wouldn't get dehydrated, and Friday night, when his temperature hovered in the 103.5 range, I was sure we were destined for a trip to the ER.
But a little God-enabled Motrin, and some mother/father love, prevailed. The fever broke and my baby awoke feeling a little better. After a quiet Saturday, he got up Sunday morning and began devouring everything in his path, it seemed.
Now Littlest One is not feeling so hot but I'm hoping it's more fatigue than the stomach bug, which the doctor assured us was indeed contagious.
I've been listening to Pastor Bill Winston lately. I've always enjoyed his no-nonsense, straight to the point teaching style. He's been talking about faith. When he talked about the need to fuel our faith, it hit me that I haven't really been doing that. It's possible to live in a godly manner, attend services, listen to Christian music, read Christian books, fellowship with other Christians and talk faith but not really live it.
Because faith believes when evidence suggests impossibility.
Faith knows no boundaries or limits.
Faith doesn't argue against well-thought out analysis; it simply can't fathom the not side of things.
Faith doesn't fear spreading its wings or receiving blessings that appear unimaginable.
Faith doesn't seek to control or contain circumstances.
I realized that even as I've been acknowledging the glory of God and thanking God for recent blessings, because of circumstances, I've put my blinders on, reducing that which I desire or expect God to do to fall within my limited purview.
God forgive me.
I don't want to be bound by my lack of vision, lack of belief, or lack of faith.
My God "...is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us..."
For that which I desire from the Lord, which includes a deeper walk, I'd better start refueling my faith.
Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Took 6 days for this to pass through his system, three of which he didn't eat at all. We had to force him to drink so he wouldn't get dehydrated, and Friday night, when his temperature hovered in the 103.5 range, I was sure we were destined for a trip to the ER.
But a little God-enabled Motrin, and some mother/father love, prevailed. The fever broke and my baby awoke feeling a little better. After a quiet Saturday, he got up Sunday morning and began devouring everything in his path, it seemed.
Now Littlest One is not feeling so hot but I'm hoping it's more fatigue than the stomach bug, which the doctor assured us was indeed contagious.
----------------------------------------------
I've been listening to Pastor Bill Winston lately. I've always enjoyed his no-nonsense, straight to the point teaching style. He's been talking about faith. When he talked about the need to fuel our faith, it hit me that I haven't really been doing that. It's possible to live in a godly manner, attend services, listen to Christian music, read Christian books, fellowship with other Christians and talk faith but not really live it.
Because faith believes when evidence suggests impossibility.
Faith knows no boundaries or limits.
Faith doesn't argue against well-thought out analysis; it simply can't fathom the not side of things.
Faith doesn't fear spreading its wings or receiving blessings that appear unimaginable.
Faith doesn't seek to control or contain circumstances.
I realized that even as I've been acknowledging the glory of God and thanking God for recent blessings, because of circumstances, I've put my blinders on, reducing that which I desire or expect God to do to fall within my limited purview.
God forgive me.
I don't want to be bound by my lack of vision, lack of belief, or lack of faith.
My God "...is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us..."
For that which I desire from the Lord, which includes a deeper walk, I'd better start refueling my faith.
Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
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