THE SHACK

This is a MUST READ book for all! I was mesmerized by the writer's ability to pull you into the story. At first I thought it was AWFUL due to the the events at the beginning of the book but it truly unfolds into a book of hope, redemption, love.

Here is an excerpt from the book.... Read it and then buy it! I am telling you it is worth it's weight in gold!

The path to God is paved with questions—sometimes frightening and deeply painful ones. While reading The Shack I realized the questions unfolding in this captivating novel were questions I was carrying deep within me. True freedom is born from facing those things we feel we don’t have the courage or strength to face. The beauty of this book is not that it supplies the reader with easy answers to grueling questions, but that it invites you to come in close to a God of mercy and love, in whom we find hope and healing.

Jim Palmer, author of Divine Nobodies

Don’t miss this! If there’s a better book out there capturing God’s engaging nature and his ability to crawl into our darkest nightmare with his love, light and healing, I’ve not seen it. For the most ardent believer or newest spiritual seeker, The Shack is a must-read.

Wayne Jacobsen, author of So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore

It's been a long while....

Things in our life have been a shakin' and a movin' lately.

I have been making trips to Aspen Dental about an hour from home as I am in the process of getting new teeth. :D Oh the smile I will have! This coming Tuesday is the BIG day!

Friday I am meeting with the weight loss surgeon. I am suffering big time with osteoarthritis in my right knee. The ortho surgeon is concerned with two things: weight and age. Too heavy and too young! When I talked to my PCP he finally (after years of hemming and hawing) sent in his recommendation for surgery. Am I scared? Heck yeah but I know that God will be with me through this decision.

I totaled my car on October 7th coming home from the dentist. So we are down to two vehicles. There are inconveniences for us all but we are making it through. James and Travis ride together in the morning, I get Stephen on the bus in the morning and go to work, James gets a ride to the coffee shop, where he works on writing his book until I get out of work.

Please visit James' blog where you can read an excerpt from his newly published book Trainer. He is currently working on Trainer's Revenge and Freedom.

Today work as though....

you are working for the Lord and not for man. This is worship...anything that pleases God. Worship is not just music. Worship is spending time WITH God, doing things FOR God and pleasing Him. Do not work for man as they can not give you eternal life. Work as though you are working for God...give Him your best! :o)

Hugs,
Theresa

Time to say see ya later...but never good bye!

We spent Saturday morning at the cemetery. We purchased three plots and mom and dad's headstone. We set it up to commit dad on Friday at 1 pm. I need to email my pastor with dad's obit and what we want him to share. It will be a small family and friend get together to say our final "see ya's" to my dad. Though my heart is still heavy with sadness I know that the pain is gone. I gave it all over to the Lord to carry for me as I am not strong enough to carry the burden by myself! Thank you Lord!

What is burdening you? Think of what the Bible tells us...

Matthew 11:28-30
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Turn it over right now! And leave it! Do not pick it back up! I know this is difficult to do because we THINK we can do it all! But we can't. Relying on God 100% is what we need to do! It's what I need to do!

Live is busy...how do you slow down?

Some times we get so busy doing "busy" things that we forget to stop and smell the roses. This week while I was waiting at work I noticed that the tulips were up! They were beautiful and I didn't even notice! Now that spring is here I think it's time to start walking at night again just to be able to slow down and breathe in God's wonders.

I noticed two different church signs this week...

God wants full custody - not just weekend visitations.

Spring is the sign of what God can do in a dark and dirty world.

Take time today to spend time with God in His wonderful outside world...a world of new beginnings, new life and fresh air. Thank Him today for all He has given us. Spend time praising Him for the lovely flowers, the fresh veggies that will soon be coming out, the rain that makes thsi wonderful and glorious world green out even more.

Mercy....what is it?

I had a question posed to me by my son-in-law this week asking what is mercy. It's hard to believe that a man of 26 doesn't know what mercy means. Yet that is the way of the world today.

God lavishes us with his mercy! God is embodied with mercy for us all. He is compassionate, forgiving, kind, relieves our pains and burdens, etc.

So what is the difference between mercy and grace? Is there a difference?

One of the definitions of grace is mercy. Other definitions for grace include:
a. a favor rendered by one who need not do so
b. temporary immunity
c. divine love and protection bestowed freely on people
d. the state of being protected or sanctified by God

I have always thought of mercy as a separate entity of grace. Yet looking through the definitions it is part of. Hmmmm, and what else did I not know? ***smile***

When I think of God's grace I think of His unending love, His protection, His finding favor with me (a sinner by nature), and His willingness to die for me. Yet I never considered His compassion, His forgiveness and His bearing my burdens as grace. Learn something new everyday. :o)

So, in a nut shell....God showers you with His GRACE everyday when you walk with Him, by accepting Him as your Savior. His LOVE, PROTECTION, FAVOR, FORGIVENESS, COMPASSION are all yours once you live for Him.

Remember.....these are His gifts to you because you LOVE Him and want to SERVE Him....not because of what He can do for you!

God's Blessings in Disguise?

This week we had a big audit at work. Four days with 1 woman and she was joined 2.5 days by a man so it was considered a 6.5 day audit. Needless to say we didn't do well at all. The manufacturing side glided thru without many issues at all. There were a few observations to make things better but nothing major. Where we fell short was the actually quality side of the audit. Bad is being gentle!

I have been thinking over the past few weeks how we, as a core team, can make some changes. Is this a blessing in disguise? There is a girl that was in the position I am in now that is not happy in her current position. I feel as though I am ready for a change and then this audit seems to have presented that opportunity. I will be working over the weekend on how to present my proposal to my boss and the general manager on Monday.

I ask that you keep me in your prayers for God's guidance and direction in this idea. It's all about Him and I want to be in His will for my life. Just because I want to change jobs within our facility doesn't necessarily mean it's within His will and desire!

I will post next week how it went. :O)

Hugs to all,
Theresa