I'm Sad...

Got such sad news today...I feel like my heart is ripped out of my chest and somebody stomped all over it...sob...it hurts...please pray for my family...we are loosing someone so dear to us...my grandma Cathy...she will be sitting with God in glory soon...thank you Lord...but we will be sitting here without her...and it will be painful and hard...

Thank you

B

Just feel'n it today...Oh how He Loves Us......

In all of our humanness in all our imperfection...the God of heaven and earth...the creator of all LOVES US...oh how He loves us...thank you Jesus

Fresh and New...

I'm feeling much more rested since my man is home!!! Isn't it such a great day...I love the crisp touch of fall as it tickles my face and wiggles my curls...

I finally posted on Reach...what super meetings we had yesterday!!! You girls ROCK!!!

oxoxox

B

Sleepy...

My man has been gone for a couple of days and I feel like a walking zombie...I have the hardest time sleeping when he is away...at this mornings "Reach" meeting as our expression of worship we each went around and thanked God for something...and I just had to say I am so thankful for my man...there are soooo many things that he brings to my life that I take for granted...just his presence alone brings a calm to me and the kids...as I talked about being thankful for my wonderful husband my friend Sarah said "well you are one and when one of you is missing your missing part of your self"...so wonderfully put my friend...

I love you Babe...glad you'll be home today and I'm looking forward to my growling lump of peaceful calm being right where he belongs as I fall into my much needed sweet sleep this evening...Zzzzzzzz

Monday Prayer...

Listen and worship, reflect, pray...thank You Lord...

Oh Lord You're beautiful...Your face is all I seek...and when Your eyes are on this child Your grace abounds to me...

Praise You my precious Lord...

Praying for you today...

The Heart of The Artist Ch 5

Handling Criticism and How easy are you to work with:

A small tribute to my Parents…Jim and Bonnie Flores

The first picture is about 1 year before my parents became Christ followers…and as the story goes 2 or 3 years before I started ministering with them singing in 3 part harmony…the second is a picture of my parents just after they devoted there entire life to Christ...My dad got his first job that wasn’t playing music in a night club in 1973…and well the rest as they say is history…There has never been a time in my life that has not had music in it…I come from a long line of it…my first recording session memory is me standing on a crate because there was only 1 vocal microphone singing my heart out in the middle of my parents watching the reel-to-reel thinking wow that thing is so cool…as I read through this chapter I couldn’t help but think of my parents and feel thankful…thankful for their wonderful loving stewardship of the gift that God has given me…in the development of this ministry my parents always taught me that a teachable spirit and being coachable is of upmost importance… being flexible, being willing to adapt and going with the flow goes a long way…they have also taught me that being sensitive and respectful to others is incredibly important…and know matter how big or small anyone’s gift is…it is to be valued and taken seriously…they also taught me that constructive criticism is a good thing and necessary…it helps you grow…it can make you a better artist it can also help you see things in a different way…meaning it takes you out of your self and gives you more perspective to add to your own thoughts, style etc…there is another important thing that happens during a time of constructive criticism on both ends…it helps you see into the heart of the giver and the receiver…it helps you get to know that person as an artist and get a glimpse of their artistry and even their insecurities their perceptions…what they are trying to say with that particular expression of that piece…yes taking constructive criticism is not always easy…but as an artist it is inevitable and in my opinion it can be extremely valuable…

The Heart of the Artist Ch 4

Perfectionism…
As I read this chapter and prayed for God to search my heart…at the beginning I honestly thought I really didn’t have issue in this area…but as I let my preconceived ideas go and allowed God to soften my heart he revealed to me my struggle in this area…I’m even now hesitant to share…I’m not sure why…I guess it’s because I’m always so worried about keeping my motivations right and pure…I never want to be like hey look at me…look what I can do…and also in throwing it out there accountability comes…and that means…you got it…my perfectionist weakness rears its ugly head and reveals its self…but here it goes…I’m a song writer…there I said it and yes I claim it…God has given me a gift to write worship songs…and my perfectionist attitude...thoughts like...is this good enough...what will so and so think of this song etc...keeps me from sharing my music at all...and that's just bad...God has reminded me that this is a gift He has given to be used in honor of Him to glorify His name to show Himself to others to give them words that they feel but can’t find to say…how selfish it is and wrong of me to horde the gifts He has given...for what ever reason...not allowing Him to use them for his honor…forgive me Lord…well there you have it…the cat’s out of the bag now…Thank You Lord for revealing truth to me…I ask you to change this displeasing way in me…I’m so sorry…I will remember my audience of one is all that matters…here are some lyrics of one of the songs God has given me… it is my prayer…

Help me see with Your eyes
Reach with Your hands
Love with Your heart
Fill every part
Make me in Your image
Take my will complete
To be pleasing for You
Your love makes me new…make me

Amen…

Monday Prayer...

God....I love you...you fill me up with yourself and as you do I feel overwhelmed...thank you for being willing to forgive me over and over never leaving me or forsaking me...help me to give you all of me...change me from the inside out...help me not to forget you in my day...in my moments...in our moments...direct my every step...my every word...my every thought...help me to share you with others...help me to live a life that paints a true picture of who you are...forgive me for the times that I have not...I love you so...

I'm praying for you today...leave your name, your request, your thoughts...what ever you feel comfortable leaving and know that I will be going before our Lord on your behalf...

"Reach" You're invited...

Hi Ladies…
Just wanted to share something that God has laid on my heart to do...and give you a chance to be a part of something that I am sure God has BIG plans for...I am (along with the help of two of my friends Sarah and I'm hoping Josie) starting a women’s group called “Reach”...the idea first came to me as a women’s bible study but as I talked to God about it the shape of the group has grown…here is a description in a very small nutshell...
A community of women reaching together to touch God, our community, our world. Realizing our purpose. Serving with the gifts we’ve been given. Growing in the God we serve…
We have two meeting times one in the morning for women who can only come during the day…children are welcomed no childcare provided…and one during the evening for women who can only come during the evening…ladies only…for that one...
Where: My house
Times: Tuesday mornings 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Tuesday evenings 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Our first meeting will be this Tuesday October 20
Pray about it…and see how you feel…this first meeting will be getting to know each other and giving the details of what this group will be…
Thanks for considering it…
Oh here is a link to our blogging community… "Reach" take a look

Talk to you soon,
Brandi

The Heart of the Artist Ch 3

Relationship matters and You can’t serve out of an empty cup:

After this chapter these are the two things I have been mulling over most…I think relationships matter stands out to me most at this point because starting a in a new church is really hard when it comes to building all new relationships…I know building relationship is important especially when you are battling side by side in ministry together…but authentic relationships are hard to build…surface relationships for me are easy…but taking responsibility to really get to know the people around you has it’s challenges…I’ve learned we must be purposeful in this area…I have seen people sit back and wait for the relationship to come to them and I’ve seen them disappointed time and time again…so I will step out of my personal comfort zone and try…and when I fail or give into my personal comfort zone I will refuse to give up…
Serving out of an empty cup…wow God really grabbed me with this one…it really hit me when the book said… -you can't serve out of an empty cup, so make sure you’re healthy spiritually. Don’t be the one holding the spirits anointing back by being spiritually lazy- Wow I must confess I had to repent at this point of the book…even though I do have a regular devotional time…I’m positive I haven’t been filling my cup to it’s potential…and have been pondering and working on this since I read it…

Poor Guy...

Darin has pink eye...ahhhh...it really stinks!!!! It actually looks a little better in this picture...

Confused...

I had to take a CPR first aid class last week from 8:00 am until 2:00 pm...ugh...anywho after a couple of hours and a couple of cups of hot tea I had to use the ladies room...as I entered this was the sign above the toilet in the yes Ladies only bathroom...needless to say I was a little confused...what else could I do but take a picture and share it with you all...in case you are having a hard time reading it the sign says...Ladies...Please Leave the toilet seat down!! Hmmmm thoughts anyone???

Monday prayer

Do you ever feel frustrated?? I know I do...sometime I let life bog me down and I let my emotions get in the way of where my focus should be...but sometimes frustration can be good...it could mean your on the verge of something...change...refocusing on what is right and good...maybe it's going to get you're heart posture back in the right place...God help us to get frustrated...frustrated with complacency...frustrated with stunted growth...frustrated with falling into the same bad habits...help my frustration to bring change...good change...change that transforms me into who You are...amen

Praying for you today...

My day...

I had a great day today...I met with a great friend this morning for a great convo...in doing so touched bases with someone very dear to me...got to have a venti decaf pumpkin spice latte!!! It was a co-worker/friends birthday and we celebrated by having lunch from one of my favorite places to eat with my very favorite salad...topping off the celebration with ice cream cake...yippi...came home talked to one of my cheekas on the phone...about very important life stuff...it's good to know we aren't the only ones going through the mud up hill sometimes you know what I mean...went to church and had a great discussion on James my fav book in the B-I-B-L-E with people I hardly know but felt comfortable getting to know...got a text from my big sis...miss you girl...came home to my fam eating taco bell after colton's long hard baseball practise that he absolutely loved...my girl doing exactly what she's supposed to...my man smiling at me when I walked in the room...and hey they got me a bean and cheese burrito no onions...gotta love that!!! So all in all...ROCKIN day...

Monday Prayer

Leave your prayer request, your name, or the name of someone you would like prayer for...I'm praying for you today...

Thank You God for Your faithfulness...thank You for being a magnificent God...thank You that there isn't one thing going on in our lives to big for You to handle...give us faith courage and peace...help us not to get caught up in emotion of circumstance but to know that You are in control of everything...amen

Here I go again!!!!

This+ This...should = This right? I want to be Fergielicious!!!

Is this too much to ask!!!!!!!!

Friday Night Lights!!!

Well it's that time again!! Another home game tonight...I'm actually feeling some excitement for the game tonight...it is getting colder and really there's nothing like sitting on those cold mettle bleachers under the blaring lights hearing the strike of the armor with the drums of the band and the battle cry from our girls!!! With the weather change NOW it feels like football season...it would be a perfect world if it wasn't for the concession stand...ugh...pray I get everything done...I'm already running behind!!!