Things I am thankful for....

this seems to be a theme this week, so here goes.

This has been a really hard time for my family, the stress of the house situation still not being resolved, along with many changes in our lives all sort of relating back to that.

If you don't know, we put the kids back in school last week and I am now looking for a job again. Ouch, that actually hurt to type. In spite of all that we still have things to be thankful for

The kids really like licking valley schools - their teachers seem nice. The second day of school Macguines' teacher told the class that the earth is millions of years old and Macguines had the where with all to explain the adult earth concept to his teacher - God created an adult man and an adult earth - I'm thankful that Pastor Dear had just gone over that the Sunday evening before, and that Macguines was listening. When Mac's teacher said that scientists had studied this, Macguines said that if scientists had studied Adam they would have said he was 30, but he was really only 10 seconds old. Good Job Mac!

Everyone is healthy this year and no one has died - this sounds crazy, but the past few years at Thanksgiving time we have had deaths in our extended family, this year everyone is healthy and able to get together and celebrate.

We have somewhere to live - our rental was supposed to be up on November 20th, so the fact that it has been paid for another 3 months is a blessing.

Finally I am thankful we have a God who cares, He is an anchor through any storm, I am learning that more and more.

See you soon ,
Amanda

Joy

Someone asked me to update my blog, this is actually a sort of recycled post, from last fall, but it seemed appropriate. I have added some things in here and there (Jeff - Does this still count as an update?)


A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E

Is it just me, or do people in general just seem really depressed?

I drive around and see people who look angry, sad, or bored. Everywhere I go people just seem down in the dumps.

I think this is really a common occurrence, and having lots of letters after my name hasn't really helped me to understand this.
I can tell you all about the nuero-transmitters in the brain, how dopamine, and serotonin are the major chemical contributors to mood, what natural cures can help(things that produce dopamine, help regulate serotonin, without the use of drugs), MAOI's, SSRI's and a whole lot of other stuff that was developed to help people cope with being unhappy.

OR

I can tell you about Jesus

Does Jesus have joy? I know, you're saying to yourself "Of, course he does, duh." So what is Jesus' joy?

Hebrews 12 says "For the joy set before him he endured the cross" Some people think this is talking about Heaven. I'm not so sure.

The psalmist writes " The joy of the Lord is my strength" What is the "joy of the Lord"?

As a Christian, Jesus is our joy. There is nothing on earth that should get us so down in the dumps that we lose our joy. We are redeemed, captives set free, death row inmates given a full pardon, what do we have to be upset about?

But what is Jesus' joy? He already had Heaven, all of creation is His. We have the joy of the captive set free, but Jesus was never slave to anything.

What is the joy of the Lord? You are. Every time a lost sheep is found, there is joy in Heaven. They throw a big party, Why? Because the joy of the Lord is that He saved you, you are His, you are forever His, and you and He have conquered death.

That's all well and good, but what about when bad things happen in our lives? Do we just white knuckle it through until we can be happy again?
Try James 1:2-4&12" 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
" 12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."

Frankly that isn't always very comforting to me - I want to feel better NOW! Tell you what, let publishers clearing house show up on my doorstep and I will be joyful without all the perseverance. It is easy to get sucked into that kind of thinking.
Some Christians think joy is something they need to work out between them and God - like a contract negotiation - I'll be happy if you.......(fill in the blank). But in the end it is chasing a fantasy that robs us of real joy in a real world with a real savior. Can a person have joy despite their circumstances?

Psalm 126:2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."

Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

David sure doesn't sound defeated...despite the fact that his life was plagued with bad circumstances, and bad decisions. In fact Psalms mention joy so many times I couldn't count them all with the online counter - which has never happened before- but I counted at least 95 times.

So in the end, Joy is a choice. You may not feel like being joyful, but try to turn that frown upside down and see if you don't feel better. Consider the joy of Jesus, count it all joy, and let your heart trust in Him. You may find that even in the midst of trials you have joy - it may sneak up on you if you're not careful.

Goodnight,
Amanda

OSU TICKETS

FYI - I have a cousin, who is a minister, who has

drum roll please................


OSU VS MICHICAN TICKETS for sale

Section 26A on the 10 yard line 20 rows from the field

CALL HIM NOW

His name is Casey Hamilton 344-4879

The book of John

Once upon a time someone told me this was the first book you should read out of the Bible, I didn't really think about that at the time, but when things are looking down rather than up, I find myself reading here a lot.

John 15:9-17NLT

"I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you remain in my commandments you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go out and produce lasting fruit, so that my Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other."

Keep praying for us that God will resolve things and that we can move on.

Goodnight,
Amanda

Awesome pictures

This is a advertisement for Donna Dear photography....

Anyone who can make my boys look like this has to be a great photographer! If you would like Donna to take your family Christmas photos this year you can check out her blog at :

www.mydearphotography.blogspot.com

you can also email her at ddear@fbcho.com or call her at at 348-5036

She does all types of pictures(weddings, team pics, family, nature, you get the idea), and would love to take yours!

The Jets Won the Superbowl

Drason coaches flag football on the weekends and his team came in first place, winning the flag football superbowl. I am so proud of them!

Here are pictures of Marshal and Mason lookin' real tough!

AWESOME JOB GUYS ON A GREAT SEASON!

Shake it off

I was watching one of Macguines' football games a few weeks ago. It was so cold the air made your face hurt, the hot chocolate made it bearable, but still it was cold. As I looked across the field I saw moms and dads similarly huddled under blankets and snuggling younger children in their laps, it was time for the big boys to play, and play they did.
I will never understand the male fascination with football - on a day as cold as this I wonder is it even worth it? Does it really matter? But any worth while parent will tell you it matters very much that they learn the thrill of victory and the taste of defeat, that they learn that hard work and heart pay off, and that sometimes even when you work hard and have all the heart in the world, you still lose.
This has been a tough game. The smack of cold shoulder pads combined with the thrumming beat of feet, are keeping the attention of every spectator today; even the smallest children are watching this contest.
I see one of our players has gone down, all the players on the field take a knee and wait until he is back up again. He is one of our star players,and for good reason. He is at every practice, early to the games, he listen to his father's advice and every play he gives his best effort. I hear his dad say "Shake it off, son, you'll be alright." The kid doesn't look so sure, but he marches out onto the field dutifully while his dad shouts encouragements to him. Give him a play or two and he's back as good as ever. This kid truly can shake it off.
A few plays later another kid goes down, this one is no surprise though. This kid is a whiner. Late to practice if he even comes, late to games, you would think to blame the parent but with this kid you know he is the reason he is late, not them. Every other play this kid is laying on the ground crying about how hurt he is. The other kids barely notice, the coach ignores the display. His dad doesn't say a word, he just looks utterly humiliated, his mom looks disgusted. The referee yells for him to hurry up and get off the field so the other kids can play. He picks himself up and trots off, he looks relieved to be able to sit down under a blanket.

"Shake it off"
This is what we tell our boys when they get tackled- when they fall down , when they get creamed by the other team - Shake it off- and we expect them to do that.

Why do we tell them this? Are we being selfish or petty? Are we being mean? OR Are we encouraging them to keep on going?

Because we have a different perspective, we know that next week or next year it won't matter who beat who in the jv tackle football league, what will matter is if they acted like a winner or a whiner.

Macguines' team got beat that day - it was a close game - the kids played hard, they were at the 8 yard line ready to score the winning touchdown when time ran out. Our star player hung his head, he was obviously discouraged, his father offered him a blanket and a few words of encouragement. Life isn't over because of one contest.
What about our team whiner? He was in the car faster than the other players even made it off the field, only concerned about his own comfort, his father had to tell him to go out and huddle with the rest of the team.

It is amazing what you and I could learn from a little bit of football. Try and take a different perspective.

I have heard a lot of complaining today, but our Father offers encouragement and wisdom, as long as your not laying on the field whining.

Shake it off

GO JETS

I'm not sure these turned out any better, I will try to get the individual pictures up tomorrow

Amanda

So you stop believing anything
think you can do this on your own
but it's only in that fated place
you'll realize you were wrong

You can talk to your ceiling
you can cry to your friends
but nothin's ever gonna change
until you get right with Him

Tell me how you're mistreated
how life has got you down
how nothing I say will change it
and make me watch you drowned

I could say I told you so
or try to fix your mess
but in the end it's up to you
and you say you could care less

the casual conversation
lighthearted fun and games
steal away the moments
when your whole life could change

So tonight my heart is breaking
As you go through my mind
and I wonder how you're doing
with the "I'll run my own life"

So I send up another prayer
to the One that I call friend
that someday you'll understand
what it's like to live for Him

But even as I speak your name
the tears begin to fall
I can't explain the way it feels
to love someone who's lost