HFTCN: Evening Service

Evening Service ~ Church of the Open Bible

Song by Trish and Jeremy Eisele , "I won't go back"

Prayer ,
Father, remove the chains on this nation. Drugs, alcoholism, abuse, oppression. Soften hearts to the Gospel. Give your ministers BOLDNESS to go where there is need (even if that means me)
Call us out God, to go! Call Your people out of their sin!

Worship: I'm Forgiven
                Your Love Oh Lord
                Where the Spirit of the Lord Is.... (there is freedom)
                We Wait For You (To Walk In the Room)
                The More I Seek You

GOD:  I'm in the little things AND the big. Invite me in!

Pastor Joel Niles : Anointing, Power, Presence

                  I Could Never Thank You Enough

Father, break through the barriers
              we're not good enough
                             strong enough
                             smart enough
                             capable enough

Replace it with God-Confidence

Break chains of distraction

"There is a HUGE need, right here!" ~ Pastor Eisele

***** Give me a heartbeat that says, "What can I do?"

*Filled with the Spirit every day

Anticipation

Don't yield nor submit to the enemy

Ephesians 5: Our fight is not with flesh and blood, know who you are in God

45 CHILDREN TODAY!!!  (each day we saw an increase)

HOPE for the Crow Nation ~ "I'm a Transformer"

 <3 5:1-5="" p="" romans="">FAITH triumphs in trouble
(Transformational, not just functional)

Romans 5:3-4
and not only that, but..."Lord, where are You now!? God, what are You going to do with this?"

Mogli ~ Jungle Book, "We've got to learn them all we know"
     <3 glory="" in="" p="" tribulations="" your="">
My father did not tell me how to live, but lived and let me watch

*** God's plans are not the same as ours ***
God, why have You stopped me here?   Listen

2Corinthians 12:9 ~ But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me

His grace is sufficient

Things may not be going the way I planned, but God is still in control
Jeremiah 29:11

Don't think small
Is everything I have sufficient for Him?

<3 2corinthians="" 4:17="" p="">2 Corinthians 4:17 ~ For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison

(Be a Proverbs 31 woman)
worker, doer
Don't look for a husband
Do what God has called you to do today
Be a victor, not a victim

He has given me everything I need to do what HE has called me to do *today*
(I tend to look waaay far ahead into the future, which gets depressing)

Romans 8:18
<3 5:1-5="" p="" romans=""><3 glory="" in="" p="" tribulations="" your=""><3 2corinthians="" 4:17="" p="">For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us
Am I lifting up my problems more than my praise to God
<3 5:1-5="" p="" romans=""><3 glory="" in="" p="" tribulations="" your=""><3 2corinthians="" 4:17="" p="">
<3 5:1-5="" p="" romans=""><3 glory="" in="" p="" tribulations="" your=""><3 2corinthians="" 4:17="" p="">Romans 5:3-4 , produces character
<3 5:1-5="" p="" romans=""><3 glory="" in="" p="" tribulations="" your=""><3 2corinthians="" 4:17="" p="">² Through him we have also obtained access by faith^[a] into this grace in which we stand, and we^[b] rejoice^[c] in hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

Philippians 2:22 (we shall be doing the same today)
But you know Timothy's^[a] proven worth, how as a son^[b] with a father he has served with me in the gospel.

brother from another mother, brother from the same father

Joint heirs

In my weakness, His strength is perfect
His grace is sufficient

Be transformed, to be a transformer

D.O.G.S. ~ Disciples of God's Son

WORSHIP: Peace Like a River
                    Open the Eyes of My Heart
                    Let it Rise

In our fellowship time after service, I had the opportunity to share some of my life story with Pastor Red Star.  Very encouraging





<3 5:1-5="" p="" romans=""><3 glory="" in="" p="" tribulations="" your=""><3 2corinthians="" 4:17="" p="">
<3 5:1-5="" p="" romans=""><3 glory="" in="" p="" tribulations="" your=""><3 2corinthians="" 4:17="" p="">
<3 5:1-5="" p="" romans=""><3 glory="" in="" p="" tribulations="" your=""><3 2corinthians="" 4:17="" p="">


<3 5:1-5="" p="" romans=""><3 glory="" in="" p="" tribulations="" your=""><3 2corinthians="" 4:17="" p="">
<3 a="" be="" not="" p="" victim="" victor="">



 

HFTCN :Proverbs 18:6 ~ A fools lips walk into a fight and his mouth invites a beating

Pastor Harris Red Star Hardin Bible Church
Proverbs 18:6 ~ A fools lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating

I serve a God who is mightier
They (the world) want a brother, sister, encourager
My prayers are powerful!  Even more powerful than a pastor sometimes

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

Pastor Jeremy Eisele : Smith Wigglesworth ~ God said it, I believe it, that settles it!

Empty me Lord, and fill me with You!

"Indian Time" (when church starts, usually an hour later)

my prayer : "Lord, stir up a hunger for You, to know You! 
(God answered one night when children rushed to the altar when they were asked who wanted to live for Jesus. 

WORSHIP: Pastor Jeremy Eisele  ~ Protect your pulpit
"Oh Happy Day!"
"Here for a Reason"  ~ speaking right to me, a pep-talk of sorts, to myself
*NEW* Come Like the Dawn
Take Me In
     my prayer, "Lord, don't let me come out the same!"
Oh, the Blood of Jesus
<3 in="" jesus="" p="" victory=""> 

Hope for the Crow Nation ~ God Wants Us Here for a Reason

Sermon ~ Pastor Joel Niles (Hamilton Assembly of God children's Pastor)
  Why Did God Save Me?
Worship: To tell others (Michali)

God did not save me to go to Heaven. There is a work for us to do here on Earth.
Be obedient when He tells you to do something.
 <3 ask="" do="" equip="" for="" god="" he="" me="" not="" p="" something="" that="" to="" will="">Even in my discouragement God, give me the means to do , to give me the strength what He has me to do.
     Philippians 4:13 ~ I can endure all things.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving ; when you are discouraged, think of something you are thankful for
 <3 eyes="" keep="" open="" p="" spiritual="" your="">
***<3 u="">Tell the enemy he HAS to flee!

I
am a 'Game Changer' ~ Pastor Redstar  (Hardin Bible Church ~ Hardin, Montana)

HAOG Missions Trip 2016 ~ "Hope for the Crow Nation" VBS/Revival

Months before this trip, God implanted the desire in my heart to embark on a missions trip quite like the trips I had taken with Chi Alpha from the University of Montana. I prayed every night, for a solid week; but the enemy crept in, then, sorta forgot about it. March rolled around and the desire once again was stirred in me. Wednesday night before teaching Rainbows, my Sunday school, helper talked about a missions opportunity she was embarking on. I must have looked interested in it because the next thing I know she is asking ME if I wanted to go. Out of my mouth before I could think came a resounding, "YES!" Oh, but then I gave an excuse that I didn't have someone to help me with my evening and morning routine, not to mention a few extra's.  She said she would be willing to help wherever needed. (Prayer answered!)
  At church two days later, the missions opportunity was presented by a husband and wife from our congregation. An opportunity to minister on the Crow Native American reservation. The opportunity stirred something in me as I immediately began to recall a ministry opportunity on the reservation in Canada with Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship on the university of Montana-Missoula campus. (What tribe, I am drawing a blank). I remember sharing my testimony and my college pastor's conversation with me afterward; how much their youth pastor was touched by my testimony and how he felt it was good for the youth to hear.
     This current missions trip was to the Crow agency, a Native American tribe in Hardin, Montana. The trip consisted of putting on a Vacation Bible School for the Crow children, preschool to sixth grade. Four days of singing, dancing, crafts, drama's, Bible stories, and prizes! Our last day would be filled with sight-seeing in the town of Hardin.
     Commence nine loooong months of waiting, praying, planning and fundraising (Indian taco's, YUM!).
           Are we there yet?!

Headaches and Nausea : Surprising Turn of Events

Well glory hallelujah and praise the Lord, the two doctors actually talked! I never thought that it could happen, but it did. And I was the one to bring up to the neurosurgeon here in S.D. the possibility of my stomach causing the headaches. Ha!

I awoke with yet another headache, nausea, vomiting episode one morning, and frankly, had had ENOUGH already! After having an amazing time with the ‘Elevate’ children, I just wanted to bag that day and request a repeat of Sunday. A friend left a comment on my status about ‘seeking a new adventure’. Forty minutes later I received the phone call from my neurosurgeon here in San Diego saying he talked to the one in Montana (and we had to beg).

My first appointment since the two doctors talked, they called it 'gastrointestinal migraines'. In the past, stomach medication really didnt do anything for me and migraine medication did nothing or exasperated the problem, sometimes helpign for only a short period of time before quitting.

My biggest fear now; when is the medication going to stop working, since so many have in the past. Holding on to faith that it won't. Hard

Matthew West 'Story of Your Life' Tour w/ Special Guests Josh Wilson and Richard Andrew

"Is this the end, or only the beginning"........ MW, Story of Your Life

The Rivers Edge church, Rancho Cucamonga, CA

I was listening to 89.7 KSGN online one afternoon when I heard Matthew West was doing his 'Story of Your Life' tour (his first stop on the tour!) and making his one and only Southern California stop in Rancho Cucamonga.- Christian recording artist Richard Andrew ,who is worship leader at that church and whom I got to know two years ago, was opening. I thought of how cool it would be to be there but because of the drive and the time it was supposed to start and end, didn't think it was going to be possible. But I prayed anyway.......and God answered!
I purchased tickets online two or three weeks in advance. For weeks I was practically bouncing off the walls (my roommate can attest to that), so excited to get to worship with Richard for the third time. And it would be my second time seeing Matthew West in concert (first time seeing Josh Wilson). When purchasing the tickets, I made a mistake in typing my address and immediately sent an e-mail to the ticket agency. So when I thought they should have been here, they weren't. I panicked, but I did have a receipt I printed on my computer (right b4 my printer died, ha!). That same day I received a phonecall from an itickets.com representative saying my ticket bounced back to them and they would have it for me at willcall. (WHEW!)

What a night He (God) had planned for me!

The two hour drive was excruciating, I don't know how I survived. I could not wait (my dad was jokingly poking fun of my excitement the whole time, the turd! He's lucky I wasnt siting close enough to smack him ;). I feared the seating arrangements. Would their wheelchair seating be waaaaay in the back? If I sat front row, would I be able to understand what was being sung? Most concerts the intruments are wicked loud, and their wheelchair seating (or is it my vision? ha) makes the artists look an inch tall and three miles away. I was saved a seat in the front =) where RE staff led me right to the spot when I got there. I inquired of earplugs, and someone went and got me a pair! Crazy thing was I hardly had to use them. But by the last three songs, even with them in it was hard to hear/understand the words. My ears were STILL ringing! But it was SOOO totally worth it!!!!!!!
I thought I was going to get to sit with RA and his wife Shawn (now worries you two!), and was sad I never did see another RA fan that friended me on FB. Didnt know the people I was sitting around. Somehow, that didn't matter to me. I became lost in the music and stories of the evening.
Richard Andrew opened the evening with three of his songs (too short if you ask me, Haha!).
Take My Will ~ "Take my will, make it Your own. I'm on my knees letting go. Seeking more of You, finding less of me and now I'm free. Take my will, let Your kingdom come, let Your will be done".
Wave A Hand ~ I waved both hands in the air, and got so into it I just about 'wave'd myself right out of my powerchair! I hope nobody noticed (:sheepish grin:)
None Compare ~ My all time fave since the very first time I hear it! I was trying to close my eyes in worship, but at the same time didn't want to take my eyes off of the stage.

Josh Wilson was second to perform. I had heard one or more of his songs before, but tonight his music was better than I remember. Ha, thre's somethignh to be said about hearign live performances of your favorite songs. Wow. Unlike Richard Andrew and Matthew West, it was just Josh Wilson with a band loop pedal.

Shine On Us
Before The Morning
Savior Please
Always Only You
I Refuse
Amazing Grace (Instrumental, with the band loop pedal, which was AWESOME!)

In his introduction, Matthew West mentioned that this was his first stop on the "Stories" tour, as well as the ONLY So. Cal. stop. COOL! That just made it even more memorable. During his portion of the concert (he just happened to be the last one to play), between songs he played portions of his DVD. (I have watched it two or three times since that night).

Nearly every one of his songs had something that spoke to me

Strong Enough ~

"You must think I'm strong, to give me what I'm going through"

~
The Lord doesnt put anything on us that He doesnt think we can handle. (I often wish the Lord wouldnt think ME so strong, haha.)
~ Phil 4:13 (=D) Just happens to be my favorite verse of all time!
My move out of Montana, health issues, job woes.....all caused me to lose sight of the 'Bigger Picture'.
( Negative "What if"'s....... "Lord, give me a new perspective"
Am I going to decide my life is going to stink from here on out? THIS comment in his video totally and completely hit home for me. This thought is what I've been struggling with since leaving Montana)

Family Tree ~ I have Christs legacy

To Me ~(pain of school)
I was made fun of a lot in school, because of the way I looked, how I walked (or didn't walk). I missed a lot of school growing up even into college because of surgery, doctor appointments, and now these headaches and nausea.

"There are two kinds of people in this world; dream crushers 'Your not able to do it' and dream makers ~ 'Well, you know what? I'm going to do it anyway!'.
I was told I would never live past the age of two. I am now in my my mid-thirties. I was told I would never walk. I did...., but not until I was almost two. I was told I was not cut out for college. I graduated after eleven years earning BOTH an Associate's AND a Bachelors degree. I wheeled on stage to accept my diploma, and as I wheeled off I lifted my eyes and hands to Heaven praising God, knowing it was by His amazing grace that afforded me such an accomplishment.

I lost my digital camera right before the concert , Oh not good!! Mom and dad said they would let me borrow theirs. Last minute I just happened to be looking for something in my purse and lo and behold, THERE it was at the bottom!!! Cool! I was able to take lots of pictures. (Sadly, only a few really turend out. My best picture......one taken with Matthew West.

One Less ~ made me think about my dream for adoption

Your A Survivor ~ Rocked out to this one, about fell outta the chair! (Ohoh oh's)
Told not to try anymore ("Not cut out for college")
Rom 8:37 ~ ...in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Innocence ~ "Love (God) sees perfection"
"Grace can take a broken girl and put her back together"
****God is not done with you yet

The Reason

"Maybe the reason for the pain is so that we would pray for strength. Maybe the reason for the strength is so that we would not lose hope, and maybe the reason for the hope is so that we could face the world and the reason for the world is to make us long for ho-o-o-ome."

The Healing Has Begun
Mercy remebers your name
The tears you hold back, let them fall like rain

The Motions~ (I made this my prayer the first time I heard this song, even more so that night)

"I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything?
Instead of going through the motions

"

In the video, Mattthew West holds up a whiteboard (he had surgery on his throat) ----"the value of this season will no doubt be priceless
God has something to say. To us and through us"

TAKE ME ALL THE WAAAAAAYYY!!!!! (from his song 'The Motions')

Since the concert was late in the evening, and it would be a two hour drive home, we opted to stay in a hotel and drive back in the morning (Mom and dad had a date night while I went to the concert). The concert ended and I was exhausted. But did I WANT to leave?! HA! No. I lingered for as long as I could. ANd I had to hang with Richard once more :D
FINALLY!!! I have an 'RA' t-shirt! Do I get one exactly like my mother's (great story behind how I received that one, I'll never forger 'Tuna and Rice'.)? Or do I check out his different styles? Oh too many choices, I could go for one of each! But sadly, the womens styles didnt fit :'( Too small (crazy to say for this small frame I know!) One shirt stuck out to me. 'Breath = Praise' The Lord seemed to speak as I read those words ~ "As long as I have breath, I have reason to praise Him." Even in light of whatever excruciating circumstances I find myself in.
I showed RA the t-shirt I bought (breath = praise) and he explained it was taken from Psalm 150 verse 6, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord". The "ra" in 'praise' sports his initials with a circle around it.
Did I sleep once I got to the hotel? Heck no! I was too wound up, and had the evenings songs running through my head most of the night.
The devil had me convinced life was over once I left Montana. God seemed to show me tonight He still wasn't done with me yet.

"This is the joy, this is the pain, and all the pages in between. Your finest hour, your weakest moment is where you've been, where you are, is where you're going".

~ MW, Story of Your Life

New Condo!

One week before this past Thanksgiving I was blessed to be able to move into a condominium (=thanks to my aunt and my parents =). We had been looking since it was decided I was moving back to So. Cal., and whilst unfortunately I did not find one in the same complex as my best friend (:'() (believe me, I tried), I did manage to find one relatively close.

The Remington (reminds me of a stuffed bear I had as a kid with the same name). I prayed for and low and behold got a tennis court, weightroom and swimming pool/hot tub. (Now if it would just warm up so that I could actually USE the pool! I can see it from my livingroom window, and its beckoning!)

The community college is relatively close to the condo, so we advertised for a PCA through the college. A few people were interviewed and found a young gal that I really liked as a live-in. We get along great, and have had fun together. There is a Denney's down the road and we've gone out to eat a few times. Sometimes just the two of us, or on occasion with her fiance' and his friend (we are a riot!). If for any reason I ever needed a back-up, there is another young gal who lives in the same complex who is willing to help when needed. There is even an RN who lives outside the complex but still close enough she could help out if need be. (thank You Lord!)

It's been great so far, the gal I hired as a live-in is also into horses, has a 2 year-old Jack Russel/Blue Heeler mix (named Miley), and goes to church near-by. Miley and Alehe tolerate eachother. On a very rare occasion you can catch them playing.

Lawn maintenance is going to love me - Ah yes, I have managed to tear up the grass with the powerchair on a few occassions now. I had to call home for assistance in getting me out those times too. It had rained, and the ground was extremely soft because of the rain. I did ge to meet a few of our neighbors, however, it was SO nto the way I wanted to be introduced, having to be rescued from the clutches of a soggy wet/muddy lawn. *SIGH*

Come visit me sometime! (pretty please!?)

KSGN's Making A Difference Tour

KSGN - Making a Difference Tour
Richard Andrew, Jadon Lavik, Raymond Gregory
Harvest Christian Fellowship --- Riverside, California

I was hoping to attend in person and was going to, even invited to sit front row until mom and dad had to go out of town on business. Drats. I was gonna get a t-shirt from Richard and have both my mom and I wear them together that night. I invited people to go too, and prayed about certain people going. But watched it online instead, and believe I had almost as much fun.

Raymond Gregory
Although his first song I wasn't crazy about his style or his voice, he even seemed a bit uncomfortable at first, by the second or third song I was really enjoying his music and he seemed to loosen up quite a bit. What a great sense of humor too, even in his music!
"As long as Your on my side, I'll be wealthy" ~ A song lyric of his that really jumped out at me tonight. And when I first heard 'Happily Married' on the radio, I will confess it wasn't a song I particularly cared for, only because I am not (yet, I hope? Hint hint Lord???) But for some reason, tonight it had a different feel, and I responded differently to it. I dunno, can't explain really.

Richard Andrew
Now *here's* the reason I watched tonight, and frankly I couldn't wait! Oh yeah, I coulda watched him aaaaallll night! I made a comment on the tour site about three o'clock this afternoon, going crazy because it was still four hours away! HaHA!
I had to laugh at myself really, I saw Richard up on stage getting ready to sing right after someone got up and said a few words, and I became r-e-a-l-l-y excited "There he is, there he is!" I'm such a nut!
"Knocking On Heaven's Door". God's telling me regarding my future and the plans that He has for me, "keep on asking, Keep on seeking, KEEP on knocking, whatever you do , don't give up!".
As he is singing an acoustic version "None Compare", my all-time FAVORITE song of his, he shares with the audience (I'm sure those online as well as in person) that God was speaking to someone. "He can see you in the valley, He can hear you call His name" Don't know if that was meant just for me, hope someone else got it too, but it still made me smile.
His drummer sure looked like he was having a blast! That was awesome to see! I know I was. I was trying to recline in my power chair while watching but it didn't work. I was sitting up in my chair having a grand ol' time, dancing and waving to his song 'Wave a Hand'. "I'm no longer the man I used to be. Thank God almighty I'm free at last I'm free......!"
I did not want his set to end!!! I secretly hoped he would even sing a new song, but was thankful for what he did sing tonight.I even sang along, I believe to all of them!

Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship got up and gave a brief word just before Jadon Lavik was up to sing. Pastor Laurie spoke about the woman at the well. I have heard so many pastors preach on this. The one line I really remember and that spoke to me was "Jesus didn't point a finger at her failings."

Jadon Lavik
I am a new fan of Jadon Lavik. His music was crazy good! A little country, a little rock...... My most favorite song was "What If". Again, God really got me here. , something he's been speaking to me lately "I couldn't love you any more or less than I do". Other lines in his music that stuck out to me - "I surrender it all to you" and a line from his song 'I Just Want to Praise You' ~ "Daily I'm forgiven, daily I'm renewed"

I still can't believe, watching it online I still had that much fun. I still acted as though I was there in person, even though I was at home, in my room.

The Rivers Edge

"There you found me on the bottom the forgotten and there the Angels came and surrounded all my problems, crying "Holy!" and singing "Jesus Reigns!"

I was going to visit my friend Richard Andrew at his church in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Ironically, its the same city where my dad grew up. It was a great way to sucker....um, talk my parents into going! Come to find out, it was closer to my dad's childhod home than we thought. We had talked about visiting for weeks, maybe even months I dunno, but something always happened....one of us was getting hurt and/or having surgery.
He sends me a message over FB about visiting his church as he is leading worship and sdoing all songs that he had written. I message him back saying I would work on it. His reply ~ "Cool! I'm gonna pray you guys in!" I decide to do the same.
A week ago we were finally able to fit it into our schedule, not the week we originally wanted, but a visit none-the-less. I sent him a message letting him know. The week was not going by fast enough! By Wednesday I wrote on his FB wall-"Is it Sunday yet?", he doing the same by Saturday afternoon, making me laugh. I wanted Saturday to be over in a hurry, but feared Sunday just might do the same if I wished it by too fast. I went to bed early (9PM) because with the 1 1/2 hour drive, I had to get up eaerly to be at service by 10AM, and with these headaches and nausea I have been waking up with for quite some time, I desperately wanted to avoid that Sunday morning as much as I could. Alas, try as I might I just couldn't sleep. I was too excited! I slept, but not that deep sleep that makes it seem like its been five minutes and it's really been a few hours. I felt like I slept for hours and it had only been about fifteen minutes! ARGH! I did this three or four times. Six-thirty came...Finally, Up-An'-At-'Em, I did NOT want to be late! U nfortunately it took me some time to get motivated, as I feared it would. THe headache attacked, btu I was determined it would not keep me from my mission.....worship with Richard Andrew and the folks at The Rivers Edge.
The drive up there took FOR-EV-ER! (my dad even joked about changing his mind about us going....I didn't laugh. THAT was cruel!) I musta looked at my watch every five to fifteen minutes on the drive up("Are we there yet?!") , and I did NOT want to be late!!! I was hoping to catch him before service started, letting him know I was here. I had wanted to sneak up on him and start singing the first line to his song 'Wave A Hand' ~ "Pardon me have we met before? You look familiar but I still can't tell for sure. Can't explain the similarities of what it is that makes ya look like me well....", but I swear he must have told people in his church I was coming because someone had spilled the beans as soon as I got in the door. Uh, well, as soon as I saw him my mind went blank, dang! I guess I was excited? lol! And so was he once he saw me! Ohmygoodness the whole time we talked before and after service he was like a little kid in a candy shop, all excited and animated!
Two things I regret not doing that night. I did not get a picture with MY camera phone (THANKYOU JODY for the picture!!!) and not sitting next to him in the service (but then again i DID tell him I was going to sit front row when he led worship.
He led three or four songs for worship at the very beginning....and I thought that was the end of worship! "WHAT?! Thats IT?! NOOOOOOOO, I didn't comne all this way for three songs!" Haha, my bad. After a few announcements and such, he was back on stage for the second set. Whew! And the second set was nothing short of annointed!
~'Take My Will'
~"None Compare'
~'Cry'n Holy'
Worship got done and I secretly hoped it would have lasted the entire service. I am a worshipper, what can I say?! \o/ I must have had my arms raised in worship the entire time. \o/ My arms are still feeling it!
The messsage. I thought I heard Pastor Debbie Hornsby say something near the end of announcements about preaching on tithing. My first thought was "Oh, great." A touchy subject for me being that I am on public assistance (SSI). Well, at least the worship was good, even if that was all God brought me up here for. Hahahaha, boy was I SO wrong! As it turns out that her husband, pastor Gary Hornsby, spoke on God's promises. I was abundantly blessed by that message. God was speaking to me SO much, I am sure I missed a lot of what was preached because my hand could not write fast enough. It was a bummer they didn't have sermon notes in their bulletin, so I improvised and used the back of an announcement sheet, and then ran out of room so I had to go searching for another piece of paper to write on....found a piece of paper in my Bible and ran out of room on that one too! LOL!!! As soon as the message is posted on their church website I will listen again and post here.
Richard came back on stage and picked up his guitar, started playing only to have a bit of background music for the pastor to close out the service. Dang! I was SO hoping he was going close us out in worship. :'( I couldn't leave without seeing Richard after service. When he asked me what I thought, I couldn't help a huge grin wiping across my face. This day was exactly what the Doctor ordered, and Richard said that he could sense it even during pastors message. Whoa, talk about a huge confirmation to what God was speaking...(I am almost crying while writing this sentence)!
At the end of the service I had another wonderful opportunity waiting for me. I had the pleasure of meeting one of Richards friends in person. See, he introduced us online. And there was a funny story behind the post that started our friendship. The three of us had our picture taken together (YES, I FINALLY have a picture with Richard!).
Mom and dad had a difficult tinme getting me out the door. I coulda hung out with Richard all day! Why couldn't God have put us closer together geographically?! Before I even left the building I got the brilliant idea (or was it God-given) to start praying about when the next time God would give us the opportunity to fellowship together again. As I was getting ready for bed that night, mom mentioned I might ask as a Christmas present to go back and se him at his church again. Uh, Lord????????

As far as that whole vening goes, dad says he cannot remember the last time he sasw me so happy..

Sermon - A Simple Thanksgiving

Dr. David Jeremiah – Shadow Mountain Community Church

Everything in my life is filtered through the loving hands of God
Humbled…or hardened?
Beauty in the simplest elements of life
When it’s dark enough, you see the stars
Consistency of God’s blessings dulls our attitude
2 Corinthians 11 – Apostle Paul, great teacher of gratitude
Giving thanks for our FAITH
2Cor. 9:15 – spontaneous praise; Ephesians 1:3
I know Jesus, therefore I am rich
The greatest thing God can do, bring me to Himself
Giving thanks for our FAMILY
2Timothy 1: 3, 5
One day you may wake up and realize the things you so desperately wanted are the things in which you already have
Giving thanks for your FRIENDS
Paul’s Epistles
Philippians 1:4 ; Romans 1:8 ; Ephesians 1:15, 16 ; Colossians 12:3, 4 ; 2Timothy 1:3 ; 1 Corinthians 1:4 ; Phil. 1:3 ; 1Thess. 1:2 ; 2Thess. 1:3
Giving thanks for our FINANCES
Phil. 4:10, 19 – 20 ; Psalm 68:19 ; Psalm 107:21 – 22
What is your perspective? (Book: Paradox of Choice – Why More is Less)
Giving thanks for our FUTURE
Col. 1:12 – 13
I have an incredible future; the BEST is yet to come!
Loss and pain open the door to gratitude

Boundaries

A couple of weeks ago I started attending a singles Bible Study @ Skyline church. My cousin encouraged me to attend (she was thinking dating purposes, me just getting to know people in the church and hopefully close to my age). Anyway, the church bulletin gave the description that it ws going to be on 'When to say yes, When to say no'. Not sure wshat to think, but okay. I get there and it is 'Boundaries in Dating'. Great. "Okay God, I don't know what to think. I will stick with it and see where You lead". Little did I know I just played an excercise in faith.
I was getting some stuff from this study, however, weeks into it and I still was a bit uncomfortable. After all, the only date I had ever been on was a blidn date set up by two mutual friends. That night? Just plain awkward! The next couple of weeks, thoughts were flooding my mind.
Doe God truly have someone out there for me?
Why have I had to wait so long (its got me believing I am to remain single)
My desire - God given?
My disability and all it entails - afraid it scares them off.

Here's where it gets interesting...

The group decides that it is better to start at the first book in the 'Boundaries' series (it goes from everyday relationships...family, friends... on up to boundaries with children). Oh My GOODNESS!!! I am lovin it! I am getting so much MORE from this first book - Boundaries - 'When to Say Yes, How to Say No, to Take Control of Your Life'
So far I am learning about breaking free from others control (how am I supppose to learn how to make decisions...even the RIGHT ones, when you are making them FOR me?!), seeking my own identity, and taking control of MY life. For quite a while now I havne't felt like I have had much if any control.

One week I was sitting in class thinking about the transition "okay, why the switch God?" I swear I heard His response in the back of my head say "It got you in here didnt it?" I almost burst out laughing right then and there!

But seriously, now the hardest part is talking to specific people about what I am learning, and praying they receive it well.

Seasons May Change, But God is Forever the Same

When I first moved to Montana, I thought I would be spending the rest of my life here. A short time and whatever desire I had to ever move back to California...gone. It felt like home....almost immediately.
Hindsight is always 20/20. Looking back at the past year and a half (seems like three) I saw a chain of events that told me something was up. "God is up to something" is what I kept telling myself early on. Landing (and then losing) my first job, my first ...and second staph infection, not being able to find another job, the ups and downs with the house I currently live in. When mom called me one afternoon and told me they were moving me back to Cali, I bawled... for three days. I still LOVED Montana. I still saw myself living the rest of my life here. I thought I was nearing my dream.
Five months prior to all this I was at a rally where we had a speaker and three or so bands that played their music. One of them really stuck out to me; Richard Andrew Experiment. I immediately added him to MySpace. A few months later and he has a Facebook page...added him there too. One afternoon listening to his music and I had to ask myself "WHY do I like his music so much. SOMETHING kept me coming back to it. Then this moving back to California came up---and his music is hitting me A LOT differently. I just happened to see on his FB page he posted a video of him singing a song he wrote at his church, a song called 'None Compares'. It had me resting my head against my computer keyboard, bawling. I came across his YouTube page where he had posted others and came aross 'Fall Apart'. Uh-oh, here we go again! I don't know why exactly (must have been a God thing), but I shared with him my frustration.
Now, I have kept the notiication of his note on my FB wall for some time now, and read his note often. Just a week or so ago I read it and the word 'peace' stuck out to me. God seemed to be telling me it was time to pray for peace regarding my move. Peace, I didn't want it, I was afraid to pray for it for fear it was a "giving in" to my moving back. It took me day and a half. The crazy thing was, once I did I immediately felt it. Whoa! THAT was fast! Where there was once fear, there is now excitement! I am listening to RA's music he gave me when we first met and even THOSE are messing with me :D,

Unchanged - "Your situation has changed, but I(God) have not, My plans for you have not"
New Song - God's challenge to me in the midst of difficult circumstances

The rest of them, lines stuck out to me -

Give Your Life to Jesus - "Hopes, dreams, fears, anxieties, frustrations"
Love All Over the World - " No one understands the path that led me, to losing everything that I held dear, and after watching it all disappear, He's beckoning me near..."
Enough is Enough - "I'm just looking for peace that I don't understand....." Funny how earlier the word 'peace' in his note really hit me.
Chief - Like 'Give Your Life to Jesus', this one just grew on me. lol!



Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future.

I think it Has God Written All Over it.

I know I posted this once already, but I realized I had left out a few details, so the original post might have been a bit confusing to some, if not all.

The past three years I have had PC&D's song 'Rollercoaster Ride of Life' in my mind. The title literally describes how life has been in that time.
I thought I had the job of my dreams just six months graduated from my second college degree. My very first day and a co-worker has an allergy attack to servicedog Alehe and is rushed to the ER(she does not take meds for it). I then started leaving Alehe at home while I went to work (she protested by eating ALL the popcorn off my Christmas tree that my roomies had spent three hours stringing and putting up. She had it down in lesst than two). Weeks later and I am in the ER myself with a nasty staph infection in my lower right leg. In the meantime I am searching for another job. Six months after my first staph infection...it hits again - same leg, but we catch it early. Same heavy medication through an IV instead of the nasty PICC line the threaded through my upper arm to my heaert (yeah, I nearly jumped off the table, it HURT!) Meanwhile I am still searching for work teaching young ones. Because I have a disabiltiy anbd use a wheelchair and because I have a servicedog that acompanies me everywhere I go......I am receiving every lame@ss (pardon me) excuse in the book as to why I am not hired.

God is up to something. It's what I have been hearing for months now. When I started going to church on Saturday nights it was because Sunday mornings I would hopefully be teaching Sunday school here pretty soon, and I have been now since November. The theme for our Saturday night service - "New Beginnings". Was God trying to tell me something?
Never did I think it would include my moving back to Southern California. I swore I would never leave..okay, wait. There are A LOT of things I swore I would never do...leaving California in the first place, teaching, teaching preschool. SHUTTING UP NOW!!! Lesson learned.
A few months ago I went to an outreach a friend of mine helped put together. She knew of a budding Christian artist and invited he and his band to come play, along with a few other budding singer/songwriters. His name is Richard Andrew. I enjoyed his music, though none of his songs spoke to me really. At one point he caught me grooving to one of his tunes (I didnt even know I was doing it!). I had been leaving short messages on his MS page about how much I loved his music. He left a message on mine one day about being thankful for newfound friendships. Then he gets a FB page and of course I had to add him. I am on FB much more than MS anyway. I shared with him one day about my pending move to CA and what I was feeling. He responded with---

Tryna... so sorry to hear about the many struggles you're facing with the pending move back to So. Cal. Sometimes the most difficult decisions are in perfect sync with God's will and plan, so be on the lookout for HIS work in the midst of this season of change you're facing. You will be in my prayers sis. When you get to So Cal be sure to let me know...that's my homebase. We'll hook up and see if the Lord might use me or someone I know to help with your transition (perhaps a job?) No matter what happens, Montana or California, my prayers are will you, and I'm here. "Help is on the way!" ~RA

His last line to me was a portion of lyrics to one of his somngs I listened to on his YouTube page and just happeened to put in a message to him about what spoke to me in that song. Since the decision was made that Iwould be moving back to California, NOW his songs are hitting me like they weren't before. A LOT of them! He wrote in his note about the possibility of God using him when I get there, i think God is already using him. And i hope/pray God keeps on using him.
When I first heard I was being moved back to Cali, I was distraught, trying to figure out where God was in this whole mess. I believed He had the power to change the situation. Instead of changing the situation, I believe He is changing ME! I am actually excited about starting a "New Beginning" so to speak. (Quick, somebody take my temperature!!) I didn't want to pray for peace about moving if that was His will. But again, I did it because I felt He was asking me to.
Growing up I had a dream of living in a beautiful, spacious place such as Montana. I saw my moving here fifteen years ago as a step toward that dream. We lived in Corvallis Montana on forty acres with horses, dogs, chickens, cattle (they weren't exactly ours but we rented to the owner who eventually gave us one calf in exchange for rent. THE first calf born on our property. Dad named him Norman....until we found out later it was a girl. Then it beame Norma, who eventually bore us a Norman). I said at one point if I never got that again it would be okay (I think I might of fibbed just a bit). I've been giving it to God, He can do with it what He wants.
A couple of nights ago I had an interesting dream. Now, lately I have been forgetting my dreams as soon as I wake. What I do remember never makes sense(stress dreams from what I've heard from a friend). I gave it to God. Anyway, this particular dream I COULD remember. And it was sweet! I remember receiving a gift from my parents (I think, its the only part I can't remember). It was a greenish blue butterfly clock to hang above the fireplace mantle, Only it was in large sections. When I awoke from the dream I had part of a song running through my head---

In Your time, in Your time
You make all things beautiful
In Your time....

Girl Bonding

Ohiodawa and I had a random hang-out session last night. She was agoign to makes something for dinner for the both of us, but I beat her to my part becaus I was hungry early, and when my stomach is hungry, it's rarely patient. Good ol' microwave.

I saw something sitting on the table and was curious as to what it was. Upside-down it looked like an old fashioned cellphone- big and klunky. I turned it over and read on the front "Pass the Pigs". Ohiodawa proceeded to explain the game to me and then got me into playing a few rounds with her. The rules were insane, or should I say the person who made them up is insane. Something about 'Pig-outs (no score), snouter, piggy-backs, and who knows what else. It turned out to be fun, as it reminded me a lot of how my dads side of hte family plays a dice game called "Chicken". With PP though, the dice are tiny, and shaped like pigs. I think I managed to win a round or two. I kept telling myself "Okay, one more roll than I am sticking with what I got". Ha, yeah right!" I just love to push my luck I guess. To see how the game works, go here

After a rousing game of Pass the pigs, we sat down to watch a t.v. show called Jon and Kate Plus Eight. I found a great way for me to somewhat satisfy my kid fix. This show chronicles the adventures of a family of multiples. In this case, this family has a set of twins plus sextuplets. The show basically chronicles their adventures as a family.

There are so many t.v. shows I never watched until moving into this house! - American Idol, Scrubs, Grey's Anatomy, So You Think You can Dance, America's Next Top Model, Law and Order, CSI, Top Chef, Hells Kitchen, and another fashion/design show I can't think of the name. There are a slew of other shows I am sure.

During the JKPE marathon, someone decides to break out the Fuzzy Navels she has in her section of the fridge. She offered to share one and I oblidged. We were the only ones home, and would be for a while yet, otherwise it wouldnt have happened. I thought the only alcoholic beverage I like is red wine. But oh wait, now that I think about it there was a wine cooler (just okay, not great) a few months ago. Wine, I sleep just fine (that's the reason I like it)however after the FN, I had a night of numerous strange dreams. I can't even rememer them now. Guess I won't be doing those again anytime soon.

Ahh, the memories.

Stoked!

Last year a friend of mine from Chi Alpha told me about a short term missions opportunity that she was going to do. She then tried to persuade me to do it myself. However, at the time, I didn't think there was a way for me to do it. Finances, things going on with my disability. I really didnt give it much thought. And so we just said...maybe next year.
Well, next year came around and more of the same. My mother and I were even thinking about checking out a spina bifida conference in Arizona. But then Chi Alpha came a few days later, low and behold our Missions Minute just happened to highlight Joni Earikson-Tada's Family Camp. When a video was shown about it, I wept through the entire thing. I think God was trying to tell me something. So at the break in Chi Alpha, I had to get more info. I really felt like this was something I was supposed to do.
I decided I would pray about it for a couple of days before mentioning it. My friend and her mom are going, so we thought it would be cool if we went mother/daugher style. My dad might be talked into going too. But speaking of praying about it beforehand, I think it was only three days before I brought it up that mom and I should do this instead. Besides, I found out later it was only an hour from where my parents live. It didn't take any convincing on my part at all. They thought it would be a great vacation as I haven't had one in a while. Only, I have a strange feeling it could turn into so much more.
So much more because of all the short term missions/ spring break XA trips I took while still a student. So much more because finding and keeping a job has been difficult, if not impossible. So much more because the past year or so has been phyically and emotionally trying. So much more because in seven days time I have had as many people tell me in so many words that they felt God is up to something.
In the meantime, since I had made the decision that I wanted to go, I have been praying almost daily for differnt aspects relating to the camp. Specifically for one instance in which we will be placed with a family and get to do all the different activities with for the duration of the five-day camp (us STM's go a day early for training). Just this morning as I was getting dressed God brought to mind a way to interact and connect by asking their sibling what it was like to have a sibling with a disability - since I have a brother who does not.
I will kill myself if I forget to bring a camera. You can bet there will be plenty of bloggiing about the trip afterwards. My friend and I are getting together tomorrow after church to talk about it.

We Need a Miracle!

My house was listed as being for sale a few days ago. They'll be putting up a sign in a few more days. Financially, things are not going well for the owsners, my parents.

Dad built a spec house a few years ago in hopes of selling two years later. They recently canned the realestate agaent who listed it because the house was not getting enough interest. Houses aren't going very fast in the market right now anyay, but still, this was ridiculous.











Someday I hope to look back on this situation and see God's hand.


Now I think I'll go listen to some worship music to help put me in a better mood.

Artichoke

Live Search Images: Artichoke


Krysty, Rael, Amanda, and her mom were intrigued by my vegetable choice for tonights dinner. With my mother being in town, she has made a few meals in our kitchen. Tonight, I had what was left over from the other night(I can never seem to eat the whole thing!).

I grew up on artichokes basically. What you do is peel the leaves (the pointy thingies) off of the heart (the best part). Some people dip them in butter, but IM grew up dipping the ends in mayo and scraping the inside of the leaf with my teeth. Yum! Then, you scrape the inside of the heart (grasslike stuff, YUK) and slather the inside with mayo and pepper, Then eat the whole thing. Quite good.

The fun part is trying to get the leaves into the pot m,om sets aside. A lot of times, we tend to miss. Oops, what a mess!

WOW! The song Speaks Truth!

Friends are Friends Forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them..... Lyric from Michael W. Smith's song 'Friends'.

Quite a while ago I wrote a post about friends. A while later, I wrote one about getting sucked into creating a MySpace page. Who would have thought that one of my friends from childhood would find me by searching MySpace after creating a page of her own. I haven't had any contact with her since, oh I don't know, thirteen years or more. It was absolutely awesome as one night I had been praying for friends I had lost contact with, and just happened to mention in prayer that it would be incredible if I could somehow come in contact with many of them once again.

Jenifer and I grew up in the same neighborhood. She and her family had just moved into the neighborhood prior to us meeting. The two of them were wandering the neighborhood when her mom saw me and convinced her daughter to introduce herself to me. I remeber I brought her to church a few times, and hten there wa the time we sang worship songs ain the raqetball courts in El CAjon, whuile waiting for my mom to get doen with her tennis game. Even after a couple of years and a few moved on both of our parts,we still managed to keep in touch. I can't remember exactly how we lost touch (it was either before or after my move to Montana), but as with other friends I have lost touch with...it absolutely killed me inside, and I have not stopped praying for them when the Lord brings them to mind.

This is the second time it has happened. I wonder if Melanie and I will ever meet again......

First Friday

So I went gallery hopping last night with a group of friends from Chi Alpha. Friday nights, the city of Missoula (and I have heard others too) puts on "First Friday" The first friday of every month all the art galleries in downtown Missoula stay open late. Some serve refreshments, and everything is free. I was actually having fun.

When it comes to art...I just don't get some peoples ideas. I would be a horrible art critic. Or a good one, I dunno. Like one piece, just a skinny block of misshapen metal. There was another piece that cracked me up. Some sort of animal covered in ladies pumps (sorry about the picture quality, hands were shaky). My first thought was "Holy shoes Batman!"There was a jacket made of pure beeswax, interesting. By far my favorite piece was an oil painting of a man riding a race horse. the interesting thing about the painting though, the wheels were painted on the horses middle so it looked like the man was sitting in the wheelchiar on the horse. Check it out here. Okay, so is the man in his wheelchair pretending/daydreaming he is on a horse? This painting brings me back to the days I used to ride, dang do I miss it. There is something about getting out of my wheelchair and on the back of a horse...I'm free.
We went to a coffee shop called The Raven. I remember going to The Raven after our Chi Alpha meetings which were then on Wednesdays and we were called University christian Fellowship. I haven't been to the raven in so-o-o- lo-o-ong. Just before we arrived at the coffeeshop, I saw a bright yellow sign on a telephone pole announcing an auction for Raven memorabilia. The Raven is closing :'(. I remember going there after Chi Alpha.or after church and hanging out playing games or playing pool with a nice hot cup of chai tea.

So wehen I finally retired for the night, I crashed, and hard. I guess I should havbe brought Alehe after all. Oops, my bad.