Family Rocks!

THANK YOU!

So, we are here at Thanksgiving and it makes me sit back and really take the time to thank the Lord for each of my friends and family. I know this is a silly picture, but I was searching through pictures and came across this. I was having a tough time with my government class last semester and as a "cheer me up" my cousin Kristen drew this AWESOME picture for me!! (on a dry erase board). The moments like this I truly cherish. The little things in life that we don't HAVE to do for each other, but we LOVE to do because it makes us happy. Thank you Jesus for dying for our sins. Thank you to ALL of my family for loving me, putting up with me, making me laugh, making me cry, helping me grow and picking me up to help put the pieces back together when I seem to fall apart. Thank you my beautiful friends for loving me for who I am... I love you for who you are. Thank you for the forgiveness you offer when I might be having a "bad day". Thank you to those who read this blog and take any of it to heart and reflect on things you might be thankful for. I love you my family. I love you my friends... but most of all... I love you my Jesus. You are my rock, you are my fortress. You are the reason I CAN be thankful for all of the above.

I love you all, and until next time........

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Indecision is a fatal decision

So, have you ever been faced with making a decision? Well, if you are human then the answer is YES. Do you always make the right decision? If you are human, then the answer is NO. If you could go back and change your decisions, would you? MAYBE. Well... I am here to tell you that when it comes to salvation, "indecision is a fatal decision".

John 4:36 "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him".

There are a few things that I would like to point out in the verse above.

1.) Notice the verse doesn't say "will have" eternal life... it says "has" eternal life. When you believe in Jesus as the savior of your soul, and confess, you will be saves so whosoever "believes" "has" eternal life! So... if you believe, you have it!

2.) The verse says that whoever rejects the Son won't see that life. In other words... that means Hell! Sorry, but I love you all and don't want you to go there... this is why I am asking you to search your hearts. I want you all to be in heaven with me :)

3.) The next thing I would like to point out is that "Maybe" is not yes. There is no such thing as "maybe" or "later" when it comes to "Do you want to accept Jesus as your savior?". When it comes to THIS question...... MAYBE=NO and YES=YES.

I pray that each of you say "yes". Remember, you could die in a car wreck tomorrow. Or die in your sleep tonight. You don't control when you die. Please be prepared. If you have searched your heart, and you are still contemplating... please, at least just pray to God and ask him to reveal to you that you are a sinner and ask that he reveal to you the need for salvation and the love he offers. Then please ask him to come into your heart and life and be Lord of your life for now until eternity.

What will you answer? Yes, No, or Maybe??

(Bible says "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God", it also says "For the wages of sin is death {Hell}, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord", it also says "For God so Loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life).

Hulk"ish"

I think this might have been me today. Do you ever have one of those days? You know, the ones where you want to just put loud music in, jump on a treadmill, run until you throw up just so you can release frustration? I am not exactly sure why I felt so "hulkish" today, but WOW! I must say, I sure am glad I can listen to some "loud, but good, music" from TobyMac. I think I listened to "Boomin" like 6 times. Work sort of got to me today, but it's okay now... well... at least I am not green anymore! Haha. OK... I am better now. LOL. Actually I was better earlier. Just had to share that my "green side" came out today! Thought you all might want to know I turn into the incredible hulk from time to time. ;)

Who can we trust?

Today at work we got some interesting news out of the blue. Bucyrus is being bought by Caterpillar. All I can say is WOW. We have only been Bucyrus for almost 9 months and now we will be going through another acquisition with our number 1 competitor. Am I upset? Of course not! I am not upset because it should be a good thing because CAT doesn't offer a drill line and they just bought one. That means it shouldn't affect me. The only thing I feel was brought to light was that we cannot put trust in "man". We just had an "all hands meeting" not but like a week ago where questions were asked of the CEO about acquisitions and he said "Of course acquisitions of new companies will take place, but the large one like when Bucyrus bought Terex Mining might be a while, but we spent millions in purchases and renovation and we are not shy about spending millions more on expansion" Nothing at all was mentioned about a bid even being in. We "trusted" that we had that promise in Bucyrus... that promise of greatness (not that I think it won't happen now)... the whole point is, we can't put our trust in the world. We can only put our trust in Jesus Christ. If we put faith in the world, they will only "sell out" and I mean that figuratively and literally. But what God says... he will do! His word is the truth.

On a separate note I'll just say I was texting with a "friend" about some down times and stuff in life. Life is rough sometimes.... and to the point where all you want to do is just go to sleep and not wake up... or at least crawl under the covers and not come out for a while. I have been there! Life is stressful, Life is hard... BUT I have victory in Jesus and know that the battle has already been won. For me... hell has been defeated when I accepted Christ into my heart.

To anyone who might be having "trust" issues, or "life" issues... please read the verses below.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Relationship - Most important

So I called my sister tonight and talked for like 2 hours! We talked about some pretty deep stuff on the phone but also some pretty light stuff too (LOL), I told her that through taking this art class that I have been inspired to create some art... she then reminded me it has been a while since I updated my blog. WOW it has hasn't it?? So I sit here and wonder what to say... well....

God is Good... or have I already mentioned that a time or two? I could make a list a mile long, but I think the most important one on the list is "relationship". See... too many people put so much into denomination and doctrine that they move into vain repetition and stage performance worship. What happened to the good 'ole one on one relationship with the lover and savior of our soul? Isn't that salvation and service what God is looking for? I mean don't get me wrong... doctrine and denomination is important in guiding us to do what is right and helps direct us down straight paths, but if you have examined your life, accepted Christ as your savior because of the sins you have, are and will commit, repented and turned your life over to Christ... isn't the relationship with him what matters most?

When we are hurting, he is our friend and comforter. When we are scared, he is our protection and shelter. When we are happy, he is a friend walking side by side laughing with happy heart too. He is our everything. Anything you could ever want in a person, he is.

Brandon and I were witnessing to one of our little bible buddies on Sunday night (1st grade) and he was able to repeat the things we said, and he understood... but he doesn't have that deep understanding yet for the need of salvation. Should we continue to talk to him? I think the answer is no, we shouldn't "convince him", because he may falsely think he is saved when he doesn't. We have planted that seed, now we should pray for him, water the plant... and feed him with more scripture, and ever so often hint on the need of salvation. But to "convince" someone of something they haven't come to know by questioning their heart isn't them giving over to God... it is them giving over to man. That is not what should happen.

I challenge you to view your own heart. Do you have the "Mighty Messiah that Manifests Miracles down in the depths of your heart"? (Veggie Tales Song). When you die, where will you go? If you said heaven... think and answer why do you deserve to go there? The bible tells us we don't deserve heaven... our sin deserves hell and the bible also tells us we are all sinners and that is our destiny... but because he loved us so much, he sent his only son to take our sin and for him to BECOME sin, Christ was forsaken by God (because God doesn't "know" sin). But wow... so many people think that is the "end" of the story... the glorious thing is that it isn't. 3 days later Christ was risen (He is risen indeed!) and is now alive in the believers hearts as well as the right hand of the father.

He gives us a choice of heaven or hell. The path is so easy! John 14:6 (by Jesus) "I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE, and NO MAN comes to the father but by ME". In other words... he is the only way to get to heaven... there are not many paths.

I challenge you my friends to review your own lives and search within your own heart...

Do you have the "RELATIONSHIP"?

Distracted

So, I am sitting here wondering why it is that every time I sit down to read my history lessons my eyes want to SLAM shut, but as soon as I move away from it I am awake. I am distracted. But what am I distracted about? Nothing in particular... my mind just wants to wander... it continually wanders towards heaven. What do I mean by that? Well... I just start thinking about God and his creation. All of these things he has created for his glory and my enjoyment, Oh wait, is it for me? When I look up in the sky on a cloudy day, I think of my sister telling me "All clouds have flat bottoms" and it makes me smile and laugh and remember all the good stuff. When I see a butterfly it reminds me of how short life is, but the beauty it becomes in the end. When I hear the wind outside, it reminds me to be thankful for the shelter provided. God really does care for me. What a wonderful feeling. I am so blessed. I went for a short walk today at work outside and the sun shone on my face, the wind whispered through the air, a cool breeze passed by me, the clouds were beautiful and all I could do was say "Thank You God"... What more could I say?