It's happening again...

I'm going through another one of those times...you know when I can't stand being hundreds of miles away from everyone I left going on 3 years ago wow 3 years...I hope she doesn't mind me mentioning this...but...my Best friend is going through a terrible time at the moment...her grandmothers health is failing and it is not looking well...these are such hard times to walk through and my friend is sounding so brave and strong but I know her heart is breaking...I wish I could take her to coffee to get her out of the house, talk about all the wonderful memories of her grandmother and cry with her at how unfair life feels at times like this...I wish I could make her laugh with one of our crazy memories of a friendship that has walked through many"O MY GOSH I CAN'T BELIEVE WE ARE STILL ALIVE" moments...or just sit together in comfortable silence just feeling better because we are together...I miss you Leslie...I wish I could stand next to you through this time...I love you...

Cheer results!!!

Hey everyone well it is official...Brittani is at the top of the freshman list for Cheer!!! We are so very proud...Coach Camp didn't move any freshman girls up to JV seeing how there were only 6 girls trying out...the good news is that they all made it...and none had to live with the disappointment of not making the team...Of course Brittani was the best...hee-hee...thanks for all the kind words Brittani loved reading all your comments...

Self Talk Soul Talk Ch. 6

Look Up: Hope in God my Soul

Psalm 42:11

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, For I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

some favorite quotes:

Jennifer says:

-Fear betrays; hope never does

-Our problems usually have less to do with our circumstances and more to do with the way we choose to feel about them.

Here is a life style Jennifer talks about that I will probably be working on until Christ comes:

The most hopeful people are those who put their trust in the Lord. Liberated from the need to always be in control, they are able to rest in Him rather than struggle to avoid difficulties in this life. They don't become hopeless because their hope is in God, not themselves or the alleviation of their circumstances.

Isaiah 50:2

Was my arm to short to ransom you? Do I lack the strength to rescue you?

Isaiah 59:1

Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear to dull to hear.

Self Talk Soul Talk Ch. 5

Tune In Awake, My Soul:

wow this chapter really hit me between the eyes...Jennifer talks about our treasures in this life...the treasures that God has given us or in trusted to us...and how distraction has a tendency to push these treasures to the back of our thought closet and the become unnoticeable by us in the midst of all the other clutter and noise around us or in our closets...ugh...I realized through this chapter that my treasures are being neglected...

Here is what struck me most in this chapter:

Jennifer says: When ever I'm asked to speak somewhere I ask my self:

How does this fit into my purpose? If it doesn't fit I don't do it. Even a good thing can become a distraction if it puts my treasure at the rear of the shelf.

When I'm asked to volunteer for something. I ask my self:

How does this impact my family?

Here are two universal questions to ask your soul in any situation:

Does this allow me to value my treasure?

Does this cause me to treat my treasure with less value?

I have some work to do...and praying to do...

Father I give You every part of me this day...I love You...Amen

Cheer Tryouts!!!

Well here she is!!! She did OUTSTANDING...we are sooo proud of her...We wont find out the outcome until Friday...I'll keep you posted...My first booster meeting is tomorrow at 6:00 pm...me a cheer booster mom WHAT? I really didn't see that coming...just when I thought football was soon to be my past...here we go again...I must say I think I will enjoy the games in a whole new way!!! Love you Brit....my little Hanford West Cheerleader...

Passion part 2

I'm in with the passion challenge!!!

And if you're sitting there wondering what the heck I'm talking about...do what I did...Read Rhonda's blog then Leslie's and jump on bored!!!

If anyone out there still reads this blog...please tell me what you believe my passions to be...and be honest!!! I want to learn what God has to teach me through your words and observations of my life...be brutal if you must...I can take it...

And Thanks!!! :)

Passion

Passion?

Webster Dictionary

Passion: 1.The sufferings of Christ between the night of the Last Supper and his death. 2. Strong feeling:the emotions as distinguished from reason. 3. Rage Anger 4. Love; also: an object of affection or enthusiasm.

Wow first of all can you believe definition #1...that is incredible!!! And what passion Christ has for us...

So as I read Rhonda's Blog and Leslie's...I thought...I don't know if I can express my passions well enough in writing...but as I have pondered it I feel pressed to try to do just that...Looking at the truth of my life the inner Brandi whom only God truly knows I've searched for my passions and yes I have come up with not trivial answer's but typical...my Husband, my children, my friendships...I also know I truly have a passion for God Him self to stretch through the boundaries in my mind and truly see Him and ALL that He is...and to help inspire others to do the same...

I feel this question of passion should never ever leave us...that God has not posed this question to have one answer or even an end...but...that we will pick up this question daily carry it with us and ask ourselves what am I choosing to be passionate about this day in this moment and where is God in that...

Just by pondering this question I believe I have been living my life more passionately that every moment has had more meaning and purpose...that it's not all about me but God in me and the life that he has chosen for me to live...

So this is how I am approaching this question of passion...In my everyday and never ending...

God help me to have Your passion in this life...the passion to know You deeper and deeper never being satisfied...but to always long to see you and know you more...thank you for showing Your self to me through so many wonderful ladies seeking after the same Passionate God filled life...help us to see what You are teaching us through each other...thank You for being bigger than we could ever imagine!!! I am passionate for You!!! Without You all I am is nothing...

The Big Day!!

Oh my gosh!!! I had to take the time to write a little bit in hopes that it will calm me down to get my feelings out...we'll see??? Today is the BIG cheer try out day...I can not believe how nervous I am!!! The funny thing is Brittani has made the Freshman squad already...because there were so few soon to be freshman girls trying out...these try outs are for the JV squad...so at least we are not going to go through the agony of she didn't make anything at all...and you know I'm not sure if it's even about that at all...for one thing my baby is putting her self out there in front of everyone which is big for her...she's giving it all shes got!!! I'm so proud of her...but of course our natural instinct is to protect our babies from people who may judge to harshly, not taking into account every circumstance and what about the hecklers in the crowd!!! And of course it's all about a new journey...a journey that I can not go on with her...a journey that I am truly on the out side looking in with only my support to give and I see a future of that happening more and more...my baby is growing up...and I HATE it and LOVE it...it is definitely bitter sweet...

Cheer!!!!

Brittani is trying out for the Hanford West Huskies Cheer Team!!! We've been at practise almost every day for 2 weeks...she started out as the only 8th grader but now there are 6...I knew cheer would be expensive but we got a break down sheet of the cost and WHAT!!!! $1600.00 later my daughter will be officially part of the Cheer Team!!! Not only that the parents are automatically part of the cheer boosters if your child makes the team...and she has these spirit flags to sell that are $13.00 a piece...2 before she even tries out and you know if she doesn't sell them who will be buying them ME!! Yikes...But it's all worth seeing her cute little excited face at the end of each practise...she is absolutely LOVING it!!! Try outs are Saturday...GO BRITTANI GO G-O LETS GO!!!!!

epic's new site!!!

Have you guys seen epic's new site??? Take a look and see what you think!!!
http://www.epichanford.org/

Still Running!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I'm almost at the end of my 1.25 mile week...I have to add Saturday because I haven't made my 4 days yet...but I'm hanging in there...I really can't believe that I am actually doing this...it's pretty exciting...I think I might actually make my 3 mile goal!!! WOW

Self Talk Soul Talk Ch. 4

Speaking Truth To Your Issues:

My favorite Quotes from Chapter 4:

-By faith we receive truth. By faith we believe truth. And by faith we act on that truth.

-Soul talk is faith's companion, not its replacement.

-Our issues can dictate our beliefs, color our actions, and affect our attitudes. But so can our faith.

-When we place our trust in Christ, When we have faith in Him, He gives us the gift of His spirit to help us in this life.

-Gods Spirit is the perfect counselor.

-The Spirit never leads us in ways that oppose the Word.

-I need a better guide than my own thoughts and emotions.

Thank you Lord for your Holy Spirit...Amen

John 14:26

But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you.

Self Talk Soul Talk Ch. 3

Choosing Wise Words

Faulty assumptions...in searching my life for an example of living by a faulty assumption as truth...I came up with one that happens to me quite often...depending on others to get things done...I automatically assume they probably wont be able to be counted on to get it done or to do it correctly so I would be better off doing it my self so I'm not having to do it again later or be disappointed in some way...

Jennifer says: our thoughts and our actions flow from our assumptions.

Root and Fruit:

Jennifer says: Simply put, our assumptions are the root, and our thoughts are the fruit. The root of wrong thinking is always a faulty assumption. The root of right thinking is always an assumption based on truth.

Here are some examples of fruits you may have:

Hypersensitivity with others: hypersensitivity grows from the root of pride and an unhealthy level of self-consciousness...

Perfectionism: this springs from the root of low self esteem or insecurity.

insecurity

angry

intolerance

defensiveness

feelings and thoughts are fruits. Assumptions are roots.

Q: When people look at you what kind of tree are you? What kind of fruit are you producing?

I think I have different kinds of fruit on my tree: insecurity, self consciousness, pride

Jennifer says: we gain knowledge and understanding by examining ourselves, trying, learning and even failing...

Ways to wisdom:

Ask God for wisdom!!!

James 1:5 if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who give generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Q: Whose truth do you elevate most highly in your life? Yours, our culture's or Gods?

Unfortunately I think a lot of times I elevate my own truth first and I feel like God is just standing there waiting for me to grab onto real truth His truth...and I am continuously having to remind my self I am separated from this world...their ways are not my ways...that is not the standard I set my life to...but Gods...it is so easy to get sucked into the worlds way of thinking and setting our truth by the worlds standards...Thank you God for continuously reminding me who you are and where you need to be held up in my life...that you are truth unwavering and unfailing...

You can often receive wisdom through counsel...

Jennifer says: Sometimes we just need to listen to others, learn from their mistakes and experiences, and recognize that others struggle the same way we do. other people can teach us a lot if we'll take the time to listen.

Q: Do you have a wise guide: Do you have someone you can walk with in order to gain wisdom? Maybe you are a guide, and you will continue to gain as you begin to give.

Proverbs 16:23

A wise man's heart guides his mouth,

and his lips promote instruction.

A prayer for epic church...

Colossians 1:9-14

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Amen

Nature

What a BEAUTIFUL day it is!!! God is soooo incredibley good to us...I am really enjoying his creation of nature today...all the colors. Fowers and plants of any kind just amaze me...this beautiful creation springing from sometimes a tiny tiny little itty-bitty seed you can hardly see, let alone the regular size seeds...WOW...God You are the Master Creator....Thank You

A Prayer...

Thank you Lord for another day to serve You...help me to see the Awesomeness of You through out my day...help me keep in step with Your Spirit...to remember I am on a mission...that it's not about me. I want to know Your will for my life after I get up off this couch in every moment of my day. Help me to see with Your eyes, reach with Your hand, love with Your heart. Fill every part of me...my Magnificent, Wonderful, Holy God...Amen

Shout to the Lord!!!

I just got done watching American Idol Gives Back and they ended the entire show by having the cast sing Shout To The Lord!!! Even thow they didn't sing My Jesus at the beginning (they sang My Shepard) the whole song was as written...it was a complete worship song!!! Now that's progress people...I am just amazed!!!!!

Random Question!

Do you ever feel like you're so busy doing everything that you have know time to do anything???

Self Talk Soul Talk Ch. 2

Renewing Your Thought Closet:
Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in thy sight,
O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer

This story made me so sad...
A man named Dennis confided one of the deepest hurts of his life."I have three brothers. All the time I was growing up, when my father introduced us, he said my brothers' names, and then he always said, and this is our retarded son, Dennis. It always made me feel so bad." Dennis Sobbed uncontrollably as the years of heartbreak washed over him once again.

Dennis has disabilities and maybe back when he was a boy people didn't understand disabled children had feelings. I don't know. In my mind no excuse will suffice.
What was his dad thinking!!!! I can't Imagine saying something so mean and hurtful to my precious babies!!
So the point being each of us has things in our thought closets that we wish weren't there. We all have thrown things in without really considering where they came from or if they belong there.
Jennifer says: Imagine being in a park and finding a filthy blouse over by the Dumpster. Could you ever see yourself picking it up, taking it home, and hanging it in your closet by your best Little black dress?
Only it's worse. We're not just taking a mucky piece of clothing and hanging it in a closet; we're taking dirty, ill-fitting words and storing them in the sanctity of our minds!
We have borrowed unbecoming beliefs from other people and hung them in our closets. We have grabbed clumsy considerations and careless characterizations and made them part of our wardrobe even when they didn't come close to fitting.

The words you say to yourself both true and false have the same impact as words you speak to others or that others speaks to you!!!

I am absolutely positive that I would not let others talk to me the way I talk to my self especially someone like Darin (my hubby)... if he told me...man you've got a problem you can't remember anything!!! or You idiot what were you thinking!!! I know I would have a few choice words for him...Hmmmm I wonder what that means?

I'll leave you with Proverbs 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death...

Self Talk Soul Talk Chapter 1

Not So Well with My Soul:

A great analogy: The (my) Thought closet...

Jennifer says: I seem to have a secret closet tucked somewhere in the hallways of my mind. A thought closet. And what I had been storing in that closet wasn't good at all: shelves and racks and bins full of hidden thoughts, secret insecurities, lies, illusion and reminders of former failures.

Hmmm...I can relate to this all to well...as my reading of this book unfolds I am realizing I really do have a thought closet that I need to work on...I made a conscious decision to write down some of the thoughts I have about my self on a pretty regular basis here are just a few...

"You idiot"

"why did you ever think you could do this"

"you can't remember anything"

"get it together before people realize you're an idiot"

Ugh...not pretty is it. I challenge who ever is reading this to take some time to really be conscious of what you say to your self. I bet you will be surprised as I was just how much we haven't put on the mind of Christ concerning our selves...

Jennifer says It's time we take inventory. The stale contents of our overstuffed closets should not be the source of our musings. It's time to update the wardrobe.

Romans 12:2

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

When you speak truth to your soul, you'll live out the truth. Your soul talk really can help it become well with your soul.

Verse of the week/Goal of the week

Romans 12:2

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

We've started an all girls no children or husbands book club at epic called Coffee Talk Book Club!!! I am so excited about it...our first meeting was this past Thursday with 12 ladies ready to get closer to God and each other...how exciting is that!!! The first book we are tackling is called Self Talk Soul Talk by Jennifer Rothschild...its focus is on the dialog we as women have with ourselves on a minute by minute basis and how our own thoughts of or to ourselves can keep us from being and becoming the women of God that He has created us to be...it is teaching us how to put on the mind of Christ and not believing the lies that the enemy would love for us to believe about our selves. I will be blogging about this book weekly for the ladies who will not be able to come every week and to give them a place to chat or ponder about what they have learned from God through this book...

Ladies I pray that all of us receive all that God has for us during this time we have set aside for him...Thank you God for your faithfulness and grace that continues to cover us each day...amen

Morph Blog!!!

There's a new blog in town!!! We have started a blog for the new middle school ministry at epic (Morph)...we launched our first gathering this past Sunday and had a great time...we took some pictures of the fun and posted them...take a look...and don't forget to pray for God to reach the middle schoolers of Hanford...we expect big things to happen!!! GO GOD!!!!!
You can get to it from my link list...

What do you think? Really!!!

Hmmmm...I got this on one of my good friends blog today...entitled Don't Drink The Cool-aid...along with her I will ask you to forgive the sales pitch at the end...I would love to hear your thoughts on this particular subject...

So far so good

1 mile today!!! I really can't believe it...and let me just say I'm not looking forward to doing it again tomorrow...Thanks Sis!!! It's working...Love ya