Guest Post by my dd Morgan-Britney...CHECK IT OUT!!

This past week I had the privilege of attending Falls Ceek Christian Youth Camp in Oklahoma. It was a week long camp centered around learning more about Yahweh. I went as a cook/all around helper. I went with a church we have just started attending, so I knew very few of the teens that came. All the teens are public schooled, and they have a very apathetic attitude towards Yahweh and the Bible. It saddened me deeply, but Yahweh lead me past that and to their hearts. Growing up in a conservative household lead me to be judgmental towards others who did not believe as us. I had a lot of pride in my heart, so sure I was doing it the 'right way'. I met others who were judgmntal towards me and my family because we did not/do not cover, or because my shirts were not what they deemed modest. We met many snooty hurtful people. NOT a picture of Christ, as they should be. all along, I was the same way. I never spoke to a public schooled child, never showed an interest in others outside my close knitted community. Sound familiar? One day I said something prideful and judgmental in the presence of my mother. She grasped my arm and sat me down hard. She sat across from me and reminded me I was no better then anyone else. Yahweh loves everone the same, and all my 'righteous' acts were filthy in Yahweh's eyes. I was made pure THROUGH Him, not by my own works. She also reminded me of the circumstances of my birth. I was born out of wedlock to my mother, 16 at the time. I was not wanted when the pregnancy was found out, but my mother kept me. She was the only one who loved me. She reminded me how she nearly married a man who was not a Christian ,until she met the man who adopted me and became my daddy. She reminded me of how my life could be exactly like the ones I judged. My view on life changed. I asked Yahweh to give me His love for people. To teach me to see those as He does. I shed my pride and stepped forward in Yahweh's love. During camp I was given the opportunity to see these teen's hearts. Some are verbally abused at home, others struggling with parents who are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Others have family that are in jail, or father's who are absent. What they need is love, not a judgmental attitude or a snooty look. Being a shoulder to cry on doesn't mean that I agree with their ungodly behavior or let it slide. It does mean I let Yahweh guide me into the correct time to approach them on it. It means I choose to focus on what really matters, their heart. Not their clothes or the way they talk. That comes later. Yahweh always works inside out, and He promises that He will finish the work He begins. As a young girl cried on my shoulder this past week, torn between living with her mother or father, I knew that Yahweh has called me to live a life of love. He wants me to walk as Him. To surround myself with the 'unlovable'. He requires this of you too. So is there someone YOU know that you think when you see "Oh thank you Lord I don't live in HER family!" or " She is SO immodest! "  That girl could of been me. Would you come up to me and share Christ with me? Or would you, comfy in your 'perfect life' ignore me?

-- A quote I love... If I belittle those whom I am called to serve, talk of their weak points in contrast perhaps with what I think of as my strong points; if I adopt a superior attitude, forgetting "Who made thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou hast not received?" then I know nothing of Calvary love. ~Amy Carmichael Check out my blog! http://chocolatgateau.blogspot.com/

Picture time!

Thought I would do a more fun blog post and share pics with you all! Some of mama and the kiddos and even some of daddy if I can find some.. :)

Gabriellia-

Mama

baby boy KianAdley

ZaraLayna

Quentin

Micah

Josiah

JaidenNoah

Zechariah

Isaac

Morgan-Britney

My man..

Misc.. Pics..

taking up the whole pew..

our budding pianist..

Isaac, the human pretzel!

Well, thats it!! Hope you enjoyed all the pictures!! I sure did!! :) 

RuthAnne Michelle

9 years ago today my sweet baby girl RuthAnne went to glory...She was almost 1 month old..She passed away in her daddy's arms..something I am thankful for. His face was the last thing she saw. She knew she was loved..

RuthAnne Michelle

Ruthanne in mama's arms with her twin brother Micah..2 weeks old..

I look forward to the day when I get to hold her again..
I miss you baby girl..someday I will hold you again and make up for all the lost years..

let us kneel & bow down..

Today I attended a bible study that a friend invited me too. I wasn't sure what they would be studying or honestly if I even wanted to go. When my friend told me she would come get me I knew I didn't have any good excuses not to go..
The topic to my surprise was just what I needed. Prayer..something I haven't been doing enough of. Sadly in my walk with Father I struggle with finding time to pray. Also I struggle with wanting too, when I am going through hard trials..I pray those small prayers here and there each day but they aren't the prayers I am sure Father longs for..
I realized just today that my prayers are more about me than about Him..I don't praise Him just for being Who He is.
During the study our leader suggested some Psalms to pray..Tonite I laid across my bed and just began to pray these Psalms. And you know what? Father met me there..He sent His Holy Spirit to comfort me.
I have made a choice to pray and praise Father not because my situation has changed because you know, it hasn't but just because He is a great God, a great King greater than all gods. (Psalm 95:3)
And if it never changes you will still find me praising Him! Just because He is due my praise and adoration..

"He holds the depths of the earth in His hands:
the mountain peaks too belong to Him.
The sea is His-He made it-
and His hands shaped the dry land."


"Come, let's bow down and worship;
let's kneel before Adonai who made us.
For He is our God, and we are the people
in His pasture, the sheep in His care." ~ Psalm 95:4-7    

Adjustment...

It is taking me a longer amount of time to adjust to our new home than in the past..

We had planned to stay in IN and to dig our roots deep down. To carve a place for our children & children's children..and then all of those dreams were surrendered to Father. I was/am willing to go where he directs and do as He says. I am willing to do my best to bloom where He has planted me but I can't say it's easy or some days even much fun.

I still spend moments of time in tears for what we left behind. Perhaps that means I am like Lot's wife who looked back longing for what she had left behind or maybe I am just human and frail. A woman who misses her life as it was in IN and those people there who enriched it.

It's dry here in Tx and I can't help but compare that to the dryness I feel down deep in my soul. I am making a concentrated effort to be in the Word and it's as I read that I can feel the Water of Life pouring onto my parched and cracked heart.
Other times the familiar feeling of despair is in the air..

The old familiar poem "Footprints", I picture that in my mind and the Father carrying me through the valley up onto the mountain.
My prayer has become, "Father change my heart towards our new home and circumstances." Do I believe He will? Yes, because thats just Who He is! He is Faithful!