An Everlasting Love...

 Psalm 103:11...For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

How beautiful is that?!

The big news of the Bible is not that I love God, but that GOD LOVES ME.  God knows MY name.  His thoughts of me outnumber the sand on the shore.  I never leave His mind, or escape His sight, or flee His thoughts.  He sees the worst of me and loves me still.  He knows me better than I know myself and has reached His verdict...HE LOVES ME STILL.  He loves me with an everlasting love!!!!  This knowledge doesn't make me want to live my life carnally, taking advantage that His mercies are new every morning....NO.  This knowledge humbles me. Fills my eyes with tears, and makes me want to try all the harder to please HIM.  

God is so INCREDIBLE!!!!

'Twas The Month AFTER Christmas'

A girl in our church (Cute Tanya) sent this to me, and it was so 'relevant', I had to share it!

Twas the month after christmas and all through the house, Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.

The cookies I'd nibbled, the chocolate I'd taste at the holiday parties had gone to my waist.

When I got on the scales, there arose such a number!  When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber),

I remembered the marvelous meals I'd prepared;  The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,

The wine and rum balls, the bread and the cheese, And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please."

As I dressed my self in my husband's old shirt, And prepared once again to do battle with dirt...

I said to myself, as I only can, "You can't spend all winter, disguised as a man!"

So, away with the last of the sour cream dip.  Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker, and chip.

Every last bit of food that I like must be banished,  Till all the additional ounces have vanished.

I won't have a cookie, not even a lick.  I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.

I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie.

I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.  

I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore....

But isn't that what January is for?!

Is that hilarious or what?

Faith Mountain Youth ROCK

As I was writing the post regarding our weekend at the Rialto Winter Retreat, it dawned on me that I have not ever written a post about the BEST YOUTH GROUP in the WORLD!!!!  Faith Mountain Youth!!!!!  My husband and I are SO thankful for the young people in our church.  They LOVE God PASSIONATELY.  They are REAL christians.   They truly make us proud!

According to a recent Barna report, when asked to identify the most significant or challenging issues facing their teenagers, the #1 answer given by parents and youth workers, was peer pressure.  (I could have saved them the trouble, and told them that!! LOL)

When I speak to teenagers, I encourage them to TURN PEER PRESSURE AROUND.  Make the 'cool thing' living for God....I am so grateful to say that Faith Mountain Youth Group, well, they have their own ideas about what being 'cool' is!

The cool thing in our youth group is...... being on fire for God, going to youth prayer meetings every Wednesday night, dressing Godly AND cute, going to outreach every Saturday morning, getting together and praying at the church at all hours of the day or night, having ONE BIG clique (if you're attending our church, and your living for God...you're IN!), doing bible studies together, sitting in the front of ANY church service ANYWHERE, whether anyone else is worshipping or not, and worshipping passionately and wholeheartedly!!!

FMT Youth...Your worship, commitment and passion for God is so beautiful.  I wish young people around the world could be exposed to just 1 week with you...I know it would change their lives.  Thank you for being so dedicated.  You'll never know how your worship and faithfulness bless Pastor Bertram and I.  My love for you is so deep and so wide.   Keep being powerful, and striving for more of God's glory.

Rialto Winter Retreat

Ontario Youth Retreat

Late Saturday night (or should I say EARLY Sunday morning...) We returned from preaching a youth retreat for Bro. Bookers church. The location was about 45 minutes from Rialto, in the mountains....it was a really beautiful setting. Snow covered the ground, beautiful mountains and forests, crisp air,... but for this sissy California girl, it was cold!
The retreat was AWESOME. We had a great time!! Michael and Laura Barrier did such a great job putting this retreat together. Their hospitality was second to none!! (They are the most adorable couple...we just love them!!!!) The Barrier's had a great team of chaperones that we really enjoyed meeting and being with.
Saturday I had the privilege of speaking to all the young ladies in a split session, and we had a great time. (What a sweet and beautiful bunch of girls!!)
I want to compliment these young people on their response to the word of God. The altar calls were so powerful...everyone lingered, and God's presence was so real and beautiful. (And the preaching was AWESOME!!!! Good job babe!)

Thank you all so much for everything. We really enjoyed our time with you...you are a GREAT group of young people!!!!!!!!

The Rest of Story

In my last post I mentioned that our family brought in the new year at Conquerors Conference in Arizona. Before I add a new post, I want to join Paul Harvey in 'finishing the story'...

When we evangelized, we had the privilege of preaching for Paul and Debbie Connor in Tuscon, Arizona. We fell in love with them and their sweet family and church. Through the years we have seen them, and every time we are in the same room, we just seem to be drawn to them. This trip was extra special in that they hosted the conference, and we got to see them and spend some time together. This is a QUALITY family and church. I was so touched to see that their kids are full of the Holy Ghost, real christians, involved, and incredible!!!! It was also wonderful seeing the Zomorano's (I love them so much!!) and it was great to see Delman Sansom, and his BEAUTIFUL family!

In this new year, I don't want to miss an opportunity to let people know how special they are...Thank you Paul and Debbie and church!!

Conqueror's Conference Brought In our New Year

We just returned from Conqueror's Conference in Tucson, AZ. We always love spending time with our friends from Arizona. They are really neat people! Conqueror's Conference was AWESOME. My favorite worship leader lead worship (My honey) on Thursday Night, and my favorite preacher preached the Friday Service (My honey). It was INCREDIBLE!!!! It was also really neat seeing my kids involved in this Conference. On Friday night David preached in the 'Young Preacher's Pre-Service' spot, and I was very proud of him. He did AWESOME! Also, on Friday Night, Chantal did a solo with the mass choir....AWESOME!

One of the highlights for the young people, is the banquet on the last night. It was so cute seeing the guys getting up the nerve, and asking the girls Dad, and then approaching the girls! (Brought back many funny memories!!) A restaurant is reserved, and the kids have a great time. This was Chantal's first 'Conference Banquet' date. It was so cute, Chantal's date Andrew was waiting outside of the restaurant with a corsage behind his back when she arrived. (Thank you Andrew for being a perfect gentleman!)

We all enjoyed being with our friends from AZ, making many more new ones, and bringing in the New Year at Conqueror's Conference!