Picture Perfect Cooking

C and I made a pact with each other to be more regular in our church attendance this year and January was a huge success.  We made it every Sunday!  Woo hoo! I know I have really enjoyed getting back into that routine and have gotten a lot out of the services since we have been back regularly.  Here’s a question for you.  Have you ever been to church and thought that this sermon was meant just for you?  I have heard that all my life, but never really experienced it until the last couple of weeks. 

Two Sundays ago, there was a special speaker and I am so glad that we were there to hear him.  We had heard him speak about 3 years ago and he had come back again.  His name is Bro. Kim Klaudt and if you ever have the chance to hear him preach, please do so!  He is reverent and funny and thought-provoking and entertaining all at the same time.  He started by asking everyone if we had goals or dreams that we wanted to come true.  Most people do and the advice and Biblical back-up he gave was really inspiring.  He said that God has already answered our prayers and that we just had to believe that it was going to happen, but there were things we could do in our lives to help this process along.

Here is the list of his five principles to success:

1. Write it down (Habakkuk 2:2-3)-Literally, write it down.  He said that he truly believed that if you write something down and pray upon it everyday, then this would help you achieve your goals.  He advised writing it down and taping it to your bathroom mirror so it is the first thing you see in the morning and one of the last things you see at night, so C & I did this.  We have some personal goals that we would love to accomplish, so this is what we did.  Now, not just in the morning or night, but every time I go in the bathroom, there are my prayer requests. It’s awesome!!

2. Change your mind-Not this doesn’t mean to change your goals.  No, he means that you need to change your way of thinking by letting go of the worry and the woe-is-me and be positive about what is happening in your life.  Easier said than done, I know, but I am trying.

3. Confess what you are believing God for-Even if you pray 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you may have to wait on the results until it is right in God’s time.  That’s a tough one for me.  Patience is not my virtue! This point means that you need to tell some people (not everyone, we will get to that in a minute) what your dream is and let them pray with you to make this a reality.

4. Don’t confess to everyone, just other dreamers-Not everyone will believe what I am writing here and that’s ok.  I trust in the other “dreamers” to pick up the prayer slack and run with it!

5. Sow into someone else’s dream-You want someone to pray that you get what you want, don’t you?  Then help them too!  Pray for them and with them and support them in any way you can.  Hopefully, that will make both of your goals a reality!

Brother Klaudt also used Philippians 4:4 during his sermon.  If this wasn’t enough, just last Sunday, our regular pastor preached on this topic as well.  Bro. P used verses Daniel 9:23-24 to make his point.  Daniel had prayed for something to happen and had to wait a long time for this come to fruition. Did he give up?  No, Daniel prayed and prayed, but had to wait for the answer from God.  Just because we want something right now doesn’t mean that God is ready for us to have it.  Yes, He has already performed wonderful miracles and all we have to do is believe it and confess it and it shall be ours, but only in God’s time.  Bro. P also said that prayer is so powerful and that most Christians do not use it to our advantage.  His example was someone asking, “Since God has already done all these things, why should we have to pray for them?  Why don’t they just happen?”  He said that, in his opinion, prayer brings the power down from heaven and gives us the chance to receive God’s blessing.  What a message!

Yep, they were both preaching at me and that is ok.  I left both services realizing that all things happen in God’s time, not mine and He’s a lot smarter than me!

Read Full Post »

Let me start this rather personal post by saying that I am no Scrooge, but sometimes I get so overwhelmed this time of year by everything that is happening around me that I almost can’t stand it.  It hasn’t always been this way, but since my mom passed away a year and a half ago, the holidays just aren’t the same.

For those that don’t know, my mom was my closest female friend in the world, so not only did I lose my mom, I lost my best friend.  Mom and I loved Thanksgiving and Christmas and loved planning things together.  We would trade gift lists and go shopping at least once or twice.  She and I planned the menu and decorated together.  To say the least, there is now a big hole in my holiday cheer.

I have had to make myself get in the “spirit” both last year and this year and my husband has helped with that a lot.  If it weren’t for him, I would probably just hide in our house from the middle of November until the first of January to escape it all. 

Now, to look at me, you wouldn’t think this.  Our tree has been up since the last of November.  The gifts are wrapped and the Christmas cards have been mailed.  We have already had one big Christmas gathering and have a couple more to attend, but there are days that my heart just isn’t in it. 

Sorry for this downer post, but I just had to get it out.  I love and worship the “reason for the season”, but sometimes “The Holidays” are more than I can deal with.  Thankfully, the Son and the Father get me through this today and everyday.  Even when I am sad and missing my mom so much it hurts, I know she is in a better place and, one day, (hopefully many many many years from now) we will be together again!

Merry Christmas to all of my wonderful readers and blog friends!  I hope you and your family are blessed beyond measure!

Read Full Post »