I'm not really sure how to say this, so I'm just going to come right out with it.
I quit my job, I am persuing music and being a Mom full time.
These past few months I have been so afraid, and that fear kept me from any action. I was talking to some good friends after church Sunday and they so wisely pointed out how we allow ourselves to be spiritually bound by money and bills. Signing a mortgage you can't afford, not managing money wisely, is akin to holding out your hands to satan and saying "put the cuffs on."
While quitting my job might seem extreme to some, I have no doubt that it was EXACTLY what I was supposed to do, I also have no doubt that the Lord will provide for us - and that while we may need to make some changes - they will result in a more fullfilling life and walk with our Lord.
Thank you to everyone who has been praying for us, I am so blessed to have friends like you. I am working on scraping together funds to get some of my music recorded - When this happens I will post it here.
We love you guys!
Amanda
Friday, August 31, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Blog World Disaster
I managed to crash my blog tonight, I think I finally have it up again.
Since I was already working on it I figured I would change the template.
If you notice odd things, it is after midnight :-)
See you tomorrow
Amanda
Since I was already working on it I figured I would change the template.
If you notice odd things, it is after midnight :-)
See you tomorrow
Amanda
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Gardening
Some of you may know that I like to garden. My grandfather and I gardened together when I was a little girl and it has always held a special place in my heart.
This year I decided to try to plant a garden from seeds. I knew that Grandpa had usually been able to plant seeds in the early spring, in the house, and then when the danger of frost had past, plant the new plants outside.
So I planted the seeds, seeds for tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, lettuces, everything that sounded good to me. Everyday I watched this tray of seemingly pointless dirt, watering it, spending hours of my life focused on getting those tiny seeds to sprout. After a couple of weeks the sprouts started, and the plants grew.
Now my garden is grown and I have literally spent hours weeding, watering, adding fertilizer, inspecting and harvesting the plants. Tomorrow we are having stuffed green peppers for dinner, I grew most of the ingredients, and I have to say I am rather proud of myself.
I have wondered why Jesus often used examples of gardening, things growing, to teach.
How do we plant seeds?
Seeds come from full grown plants - you can't take seeds from a baby plant, there is no fruit from which to gather the seeds.
Maybe this is why we are cautioned on not bearing fruit (John 15:1-8)
How do you protect a baby plant from withering up? Keep it in the house and nourish it.
Could this be why we are intructed to lift up one another? Maybe why Paul instructed the churches to care for Timothy?
How about time spent tending those seeds ?
How can we grow a baby plant into a full grown vine?
Galations 6:7-10 "Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith."
Isn't it also true of our own spiritual growth? Time spent tending to our spiritual garden will produce "fruits of the spirit" Galatians 5:22-23
As we approach revival my prayer is for spiritual growth, both for myself and for our church. There are so many seeds to plant.
Goodnight
Amanda
This year I decided to try to plant a garden from seeds. I knew that Grandpa had usually been able to plant seeds in the early spring, in the house, and then when the danger of frost had past, plant the new plants outside.
So I planted the seeds, seeds for tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, lettuces, everything that sounded good to me. Everyday I watched this tray of seemingly pointless dirt, watering it, spending hours of my life focused on getting those tiny seeds to sprout. After a couple of weeks the sprouts started, and the plants grew.
Now my garden is grown and I have literally spent hours weeding, watering, adding fertilizer, inspecting and harvesting the plants. Tomorrow we are having stuffed green peppers for dinner, I grew most of the ingredients, and I have to say I am rather proud of myself.
I have wondered why Jesus often used examples of gardening, things growing, to teach.
How do we plant seeds?
Seeds come from full grown plants - you can't take seeds from a baby plant, there is no fruit from which to gather the seeds.
Maybe this is why we are cautioned on not bearing fruit (John 15:1-8)
How do you protect a baby plant from withering up? Keep it in the house and nourish it.
Could this be why we are intructed to lift up one another? Maybe why Paul instructed the churches to care for Timothy?
How about time spent tending those seeds ?
How can we grow a baby plant into a full grown vine?
Galations 6:7-10 "Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith."
Isn't it also true of our own spiritual growth? Time spent tending to our spiritual garden will produce "fruits of the spirit" Galatians 5:22-23
As we approach revival my prayer is for spiritual growth, both for myself and for our church. There are so many seeds to plant.
Goodnight
Amanda
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
The 20-60-20 approach to life
This is a counseling term that was introduced to me today, so let me explain
The theory is simply
20% of life will exceed your expectations- good things will happen
60% of life is up for interpretation - neither good or bad, just up to you and how you see it
20% of life will fall short of your expectations - bad things will happen
On the surface this might not seem so bad
Put this in reality terms - 3 out of five days will be ho hum, nothing great, nothing awful- just another day
One out of five will be great
One out of five will be terrible
Lets say you read 5 books ? only one will be memorable or remarkable.
Have 5 friends? Maybe one will be a close one
What if I told you that you would have to buy 5 cars before you got a great one? Would you buy a car from me?
When you live for the here and now I guess this is all you have to hope for.
What can the world offer you? hope for one good day out of five, as a way to cope with a life without God.
"John 10:10 The thief cometh not but to steal and to kill and to destroy. I( Jesus) am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. "
I see people everyday that are reaching out for help, they have "hit bottom" so to speak. It breaks my heart that many of them have no Savior, no hope, no trust, no eternal salvation, no light at the end of the tunnel, nothing to look forward to but 1 good day out of 5. As a counselor this is all I can offer them, but as a Christian it is my sincere desire and duty to offer more.
I hope and pray our church will burn with the desire to reach out to those in our community, and those that have reached out to us.
What would life be without faith and hope in Jesus? One good day out of five, and an eternity in Hell.
I think that says it all
Amanda
The theory is simply
20% of life will exceed your expectations- good things will happen
60% of life is up for interpretation - neither good or bad, just up to you and how you see it
20% of life will fall short of your expectations - bad things will happen
On the surface this might not seem so bad
Put this in reality terms - 3 out of five days will be ho hum, nothing great, nothing awful- just another day
One out of five will be great
One out of five will be terrible
Lets say you read 5 books ? only one will be memorable or remarkable.
Have 5 friends? Maybe one will be a close one
What if I told you that you would have to buy 5 cars before you got a great one? Would you buy a car from me?
When you live for the here and now I guess this is all you have to hope for.
What can the world offer you? hope for one good day out of five, as a way to cope with a life without God.
"John 10:10 The thief cometh not but to steal and to kill and to destroy. I( Jesus) am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. "
I see people everyday that are reaching out for help, they have "hit bottom" so to speak. It breaks my heart that many of them have no Savior, no hope, no trust, no eternal salvation, no light at the end of the tunnel, nothing to look forward to but 1 good day out of 5. As a counselor this is all I can offer them, but as a Christian it is my sincere desire and duty to offer more.
I hope and pray our church will burn with the desire to reach out to those in our community, and those that have reached out to us.
What would life be without faith and hope in Jesus? One good day out of five, and an eternity in Hell.
I think that says it all
Amanda
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Comings and Goings
Things have settled down a bit here at home. We are in a period of waiting to see what it is God has in store for us. Pray for us, I have the feeling we are both about to be going through some career/job changes. Drason is leaving for Maine in about a week, pray for this mission trip and for us - I don't know what I am going to do about babysitting for that week.
The boys start school on the 22nd , they are excited to go back - but I miss them already :-(
We had a great evening at Church tonight, the message this morning and tonight tied together well and really hit home. On that note, I am looking for a good devotional book, any ideas?
Goodnight,
Amanda
The boys start school on the 22nd , they are excited to go back - but I miss them already :-(
We had a great evening at Church tonight, the message this morning and tonight tied together well and really hit home. On that note, I am looking for a good devotional book, any ideas?
Goodnight,
Amanda
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Life can return to normal, right?
VBS is over, it was great but sometimes exausting. I can't imagine how tired Sam and Amy must be, a new baby and a week of VBS, I don't think I could have survived that! You guys deserve a major thank you! (and possibly a vacation)
Anyways, here I was thinking we would relax at home this week, not a chance. Drason has football camp this week, and since he is coaching the boys he has to be there, (it is much like VBS except for the tackling.)
I really enjoyed Pastor Wally's message Sunday night, it was a great follow up to the morning message. He hit on some really key points and on the heels of VBS it was a great time to hear that message. (Could it be that God's timing is perfect? hmmm...)
See you later
Amanda
Anyways, here I was thinking we would relax at home this week, not a chance. Drason has football camp this week, and since he is coaching the boys he has to be there, (it is much like VBS except for the tackling.)
I really enjoyed Pastor Wally's message Sunday night, it was a great follow up to the morning message. He hit on some really key points and on the heels of VBS it was a great time to hear that message. (Could it be that God's timing is perfect? hmmm...)
See you later
Amanda
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