What He Pours Out

desiring gratitude to be my only response to what He pours out on my behalf


continuing to count …

601. each strand of sorrow has a place within this tapestry of grace

602. thru the trials I’ll choose to say: “Your perfect will in Your perfect way.”

603. green grass

604. the sound of water

605. warm cup of milk

606. a trip to the library

607. more time to write

608. a Vera Wang jacket purchase for myself

609. a trip around target

610. a sunny outside reading spot with coffee (the reading time not the coffee was the highlight)

611. going to sleep thinking about the mother’s I know

612. a mother’s day package from the TX daughter and granddaughter’s

613. waking up to the daughter’s and the mom’s day choir tradition.

614. a photo shoot with friends and family

615. an outside recess day

616. a celebration of a friend’s last year at Edinbrook

617. how deeply grateful I am that by Your Spirit I am alive with Christ.

618. the clouds that appeared as cotton balls

619. a card in the mail sent from a friend

620. the power of the written word penned

621 the sun glistening off the water

622. grateful that He will open my eyes so I may see the wonders in His word

623. the ability to at times to reflect the image you want me to be

624. a Friday night show with my daughter and friends

625. Monday morning alarm

626. a project planned

627. a number of guests at RW

628. being treated to lunch and enjoying the fellowship of the mentors

629. the sound of the rain on the skylight

630. the beginning of a new week

631. prayers prayed for those hit by the tornado

632. knowing that son-in-law, daughter and grandchildren are safe and well in their north Mpls. home

Investing in Women who will Invest in Women

I went on a bike ride tonight ...


I could not stop thinking about our last meeting tomorrow night. How even though it's our last meeting it could be just the beginning for our guests.

Maybe they have read the word but have never studied the word. Maybe they have studied the word but have never applied it to their daily life. Maybe they have no real deep friendships ... women who will pray for them, cry with them, and invest in them.

Real Women has changed my life and my hope is that it has changed yours too and as Andrea has said that we will be prepared to thank and praise God for the amazing things He has done in us this year.

I have a dream that one day every woman at NHC will be engaged in the study of the word through EX 2:2, Generations Bible Study, Precepts or Real Women. What are you dreaming?

Sometimes I wish I could just articulate my heart for women who are younger, women who are older, and women who come from different backgrounds, cultures and upbringings. Women who are married, single, widowed and divorced. I have a deep desire to make disciples of women who in turn will make disciples .... And I can't think of a better place to do this than Real Women.

I have so loved this year knowing that I am "doing life" with Judy, who mentored me so many years ago before WBS. And with Kathy, a dear sister who I have prayed with long before Real Women. And with Karen who graduated with me and helped me through my study in EX2:2. And with Sally, a new person to NHC and a new friend and ministry partner.

Thank you ladies for investing in women. It is my hope and prayer that each of you will continue the path of Real Women that you have started or continued this year. You are loved!

In His Arms,

Beth

"I have a great need for Christ; I have a great Christ for my need." C.H. Spurgeon

If you are reading this post as a follower or guest and want to know more about Real Women leave a comment with your e-mail address and i will get back to you.

It's a Sale You Won't Want to MIss!

It's May and I'm talking sale ladies! Yep, that's what I said sale! Now I know you are like me when you hear the word sale you want the skinny  ...  Here it is.....just click... 
http://www.incourage.me/category/deals

This is where you can check out all the amazing gifts available for purchase this month, May Only ...

DaySpring’s beautiful wood carved wall hangings are on sale.
and the Ichthys hanging is just $29.99.

In addition, an ornate metal collection featuring a cross is on sale. You can get the pressed tin cross for $7.79, the cross serving tray for $17.99, the cross napkin holder for $11.99, the cross trivet for $6.59 and a set of coasters for $11.99.

Really, I'm serious, you are going to want to check it out.!I can tell you that I received a package at my front door last week and I was so excited that I took this picture ...

Then I opened this box and found that my product from Dayspring for review was inside. Go ahead, ask me "what's inside that box?" Gee whiz, I thought you would never ask. It was this ornate, beautiful, solid serving tray with a cross that says, "I love the Lord and how can I serve you all over it". Really, I must be honest the tray did not physically say those words, but  It's what I thought as I sat at my kitchen table and just enjoyed looking at my new gift. Then I decided that I could not just look at the tray I must get it ready for use.

Once the tray was prepared with some necessary
items  I was ready  to practice hospitality on
"the golfer" and serve up a bit of tea.














Again, I must be honest, I did not take this picture the golfer shot this photo and those tulips, my daughter gave them to me for Mom's Day and I thought they were a great addition to the tray. Oh, and you may notice that there is no tea in those cups yet ...

... did I already say that this beautifully decorated, ornate, serving tray is available to you for the low, low, sale price of $17.99 here ....?

OK you may be saying, but I don't need a serving tray. That's OK but whatever gift you may need or want that sends the message of faith to those you love you will want to get at Dayspring. And if you are a reader and love good books you will find them at (in)courage as well. I love their products so much you can find my link to therm by hitting the great gifts tab on my blog anytime, day or night.

(*disclaimer* I was given this frame at no cost from Dayspring in exchange for my honest opinion about their product. All opinions are mine and mine alone!)

One more thing .... You can purchase your own Great Gift from Dayspring using the coupon for $20 I will be giving away. In order to qualify for the coupon please leave a comment
1) telling me about ways you have served the Lord lately
2) telling me how you would spend the $20 gift certificate in the DaySpring Store (shipping and handling costs still apply)
3) make sure you leave your e-mail address so I can contact you. The winner will be selected and notified on Monday, May 23.

#1 I've Arrived Boot Camp 2007

July 2007




Dear Family~
Hey you guys! I miss ya'll like crazy! There has been quite a few interesting things that have happened since I left the great state of Minnesota. I've been at reception battalion with the 43rd Unit. There has been a lot of waiting and barely any sleeping, ha ha! I got here at 12 am on Thursday morning and they had us doing stuff til 3:30 am. Once we got to the barracks, we had to shower and get our beds made while it was dark. I got to bed around 4 am and wake up was at 5 am. I got a lot more sleep on Friday night. Today our drill Sgt. told us that 20 of us would have the opportunity to go to a rodeo on Saturday night. He got thru everybody and had people guess the number he picked. By the last five he picked out something in the book that we would have to do. The first thing he asked was, "Who can sing the Army song?" I raised my hand and he picked me. I stood up, sang it loud and got a ticket!! So ... tomorrow I get a break from base already woo hoo!


I got my uniform today. I made me feel really important. Seriously, I feel honored to put this uniform on. It's hot as heck, but that's OK. The girls are nice and so are the guys, I'm actually going to church on Sunday with one of the girls. Please keep praying that everything keeps going well. I love you all so much. I'll write you again as soon as I know my address. Ashley

I am happy to be thinking already mid May about Memorial Day

(a time when we remember our soldiers)

In honor of this time of year I am writing and posting letters home from my soldier

who is set to deploy in the beginning of 2012.

At one time that seemed like a long time away

but now it seems closer than I really want to think about.

Feel free to read some other great posts by women

mpacted by the war here:

Five Minute Friday on Saturday

Want to write more but not necessarily perfectly? Check out this opportunity here;

So, here’s the skinny: I’ve been thinking about writing and how often our perfectionism gets in the way of our words. And I figured, why not take 5 minutes and see what comes out: not a perfect post, not a profound post, just five minutes of focused writing.


Ala-ka-zam - Five Minute Friday was born.

Wanna just write? Without wondering if it’s just right or not. You’re welcome to play along. The rules are easy. Come on over:








I'm writing my heart out for five minutes and showing you what you get ...
OK so I knowt it is Saturday but blogger was down a fair share of the day yesterday and I wanted to play along so ...

deep breath
come Holy Spirit

breathe
indwell in me

breathe
in my thoughts

breathe
in my heart

breathe
in the power of my words

breathe
inspire joy

breathe
peace

breathe
love

deep breath
come Holy Spirit
and breathe deeply through me

I know it is Tuesday but I am still linking up ....

Linking up with Michelle

Mother’s Day May 7, 2011

My pastor preached this amazing message this morning using a Bible from his mother who had passed on several years prior.

He began his sermon by stating that he planned the message using several passages in his mother’s bible that she had underlined. He cautioned us as mother’s to make sure our bible pages were well used, underlined and studied. The transparency in the stories shared by my pastor today was wonderful.

He told of his mother who was raised by a single mom having never known his dad. His mother came from much family disorder and bondage so his first point in his message was that we must not live in bondage from our past but know that Christ came so we might be free and live free indeed from John 8:32. And if our past is in need of healing his second point was that God specializes in healing broken lives and He does this through Jesus as we see in 2 Corinthians 5:14.

The whole message spoke to my heart but it was the next point where the Holy Spirit spoke directly to me and that was that living for Christ does not come without adversity and he added that adversity may mean you are in the direct center of God’s will as found in 1 Corinthians 4:1,9.

I am grateful Lord, for the knowledge of this word from Pastor Steve this morning. He reminded all of us mothers from Ephesians 6:10 that the prayer of a righteous woman yields much. How well I know this from my own family and how often I pray for them and others. The next point was that I must put God first and leave the rest to him from Matthew 6:25. And with a few short minutes to finish he closed his message with sharing that the greatest gift from his mother was the gift of knowing where she would go when she died. He then had all of the mother’s daughters and women stand and prayed a pray for blessing and salvation over the women of the church.

His message: A Tribute to Mom

My message: Grateful for a Pastor who preaches from the word of God

Since blogger was down the middle of last week I have added Michelle's comment here ... Thanks Michelle for visiting!
Michelle DeRusha@Graceful has left a new comment on your post "I know it is Tuesday but I am still linking up ......":




Wow, what an incredibly impactful message you heard, Beth. I do like what your pastor said about faith and adversity -- too often I think I make the mistake of assuming that because God loves me, I will be spared grief and difficulty in my life. The key, though, is that while I won't avoid adversity altogether, he will hold my hand through it all.



It's never too late to link up ... so glad you did!

"She is worth far more than rubies .... her children arise and call her blessed: her husband also, and he praises her: Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all!"

Happy Mother's day to my daughters who are mothers!

Mother's Day, Sunday May 10, 1998

I could write a wonderful post about Mother's Day but ... in my writings and all that has been written before and saved I found this ...

May 10

There is no one in this world
to which my tenth means nothing.
To cross the sea or go next door
you'll find to all it's something.
And I suppose it doesn't matter
or that you really don't care to hear
what others think of this holiday
whether their loved one is far or near.

Although I have a funny feeling
that you'd like to know my story
why on this day I'm kneeling
and thanking the God of glory.

The reason my friend is,
you.
To be a friend and a mother still
is the greatest gift you gave.
To love so deep that you said
"You're on you own."
but in time of need to say
"Please come home."

To some this day brings sorrow
because their mom is gone.
To others it brings anger
because of all that she's done wrong.
And then their are the few,
that I am also with
who know this day is special
because God gave them a gift.
Their mom.

your daughter, Lisa
Happy Mother's day.

                                                      I  love you Lisa and "Matty Boy"

Do You Dream Big?

OK so I'm reading this book and I thought I was reading it simply to write a meaninfgul book review for BookSneeze. Instead I am 135 pages into this compeling book. I am ready to own my dream to someday publish a book! There, I said it aloud!

When I went to the library, I asked the reference person to help me locate books about  the art of writing stories, non-fiction, fiction etc. I asked specifically for  books  written at a 3rd grade level.

I am sensing one of two things., either I must read about the how-to's at an elementary level for understanding first, or this writing and publishing dream isn't just about me publishing it may be more about me teaching children about publishing.

As I begin to think outside the box, my dream of being published  is now being put to the test. Currently,  I think I have a good start towards my dream as I am actively writing. I know I have a long way to go and I will need to create a map to get there but I am excited to be on the path to published!

Gratitude opens the heart not only to wonder but to freedom!

576. a friend editing what I write

577. all my days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be

578. children's conversations “I got you!” he says. “You save the day? she asks. “Yep I save the day too. That’s my princess crown”, she says.

579. the bread and the cup

580. hugs from girlfriends

581. the golfer relaxing and reading in bed

582. grateful that my Father is walking with me through the valley

583. lunch with the golfer

584. a movie watched

585. pretty blue sweater

586. an Easter morning sunrise

587. family joining me in church

588. grilled cheese on gf bread

589. 4 boys being baptized by their father

590. letters from kids

591. a smile; the universal language

592. Sonshine Girl read aloud to 1st graders

593. writers group

594. the lesson about the complaining Israelites

595. a rainy day with lots of time to read and write

596. the prayer of a 4th grader

597. the desire to wait, trust and obey

598. needing Him

599. the provision of a job

600. the message to eat less and move more