2009 reflections

Okay guys. 2010 is right around the corner. I mean seriously too. Lets see, in... 3 days!

Looking back over 2009, I see several memorable things that happened.

• We got a big garden started
• I had a birthday (does this count?)
• Lyddie was born
• Kayden came home
• First year where my grades in school actually count :)
• The Lord taught me some interesting things
• I've grown in my desire for self-sufficiency
• I sorta-kinda-a little bit- got a VERY small business going (or at least the start of one)
• I started piano again
• I got a harp
• I found my love to play music

I think that covers most of it, but of course I could go on. However, I think that is enough for now.

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nancy Campbell's article

Hey Guys! I found this article from Nancy Campbell, and thought it was very helpful! Hope you enjoy!

www.aboverubies.org

HASTY WORDS

Psalm 31:22, "I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee."

How easy it is to say things in haste! We spout off before we think. And usually when we speak hastily it is out of reaction. We often don't even believe the words we say! But sad to say, we have said them, and words have power! They have power to hurt our husband and hurt our children. Charles Spurgeon says, "Hasty words are but for a moment on the tongue, but they often lie for years on the conscience."

I remember with shame an incident that happened in the early days of our marriage. I felt hurt by words my husband spoke to me and hastily retorted, "You should have married someone else!" Fortunately I have a husband who doesn't let things go uncovered. He came to me a little while later and said, "Do you believe in the power of words?" "Yes," I muttered. "Well, you better take back what you said," he stated firmly. I realized he was right and I had to retract and confess my hasty words.

Hasty words are often words of doubt because we have not given time for faith to grow or to wait for God to move. We often have to wait for God. David cries out that he is cut off from the Lord, but he soon finds that they were hasty words as God had heard his cry all along. We must give God time to answer. His timing and His way is always the best way.

I cringe when I hear folk speaking derogatively against the Lord because things are not going the way they want. Again Spurgeon says, "Unbelief will have a corner of the heart of the firmest believer, and out of that corner it will vent many spiteful things against the Lord if the course of providence be not quite so smooth as nature might desire. Forever be such dark suspicions banished from our minds."

Proverbs 29:20 is also a challenging Scripture, "Seest thou a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a fool than him."

And Ecclesiastes 5:2, "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few." How true it is that the more words we speak the more opportunity to sin. (Read Proverbs 10:19; 17:28)

So, how do we stop these hasty words? James 1:19 says, "Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." Yes, we want to be "slow to speak" but how do we do it? I believe we have to get into the habit of doing it. Each time that someone (especially husband or children) rubs you up the wrong way, shut your mouth. Wait before you speak. If you can't think of anything positive to say, don't say anything. That's what Jesus did. When they accused him, He answered nothing. He didn't even open his mouth. (Matthew 27:13-14) Is that the hardest thing you've ever tried to do? You can do it if you will to do it. And especially as you pray about it and ask the Lord to help you.

Yes, you will fail. But keep working on making it a habit of your life. Some people say it takes 30 days to break a habit. Some say it takes 21 days to establish a habit. However, some habits may take a lot longer. Never despair. Keep trying and keep looking to the Lord who is your source. He lives in you and He is full of self control. (Galatians 5:22-23) Continually ask the Holy Spirit to work in your heart and your tongue. He will work His grace in you.

Proverbs 4:23, "Keep thy heart with all diligence: for out of it are the issues of life."

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

From the pages of my journal- a family blessing

Psalm 128

Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.

The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.

What a psalm! So many promises that God promises us! The family described in that passage sounds like a beautiful family. This is what I want my family to be like; eating the labor of our hands, happy, many children, (-who will be like...olive plants? I'll have to do more research on that one!)

So, if this is what we want to be like, how can we get it? The answer lies in verse 1. Fear. How can we fear the Lord? Proverbs 8:13 describes the fear of the Lord. Proverbs 14:26-27 explains how confident and safe you will feel in his fear.

I think fearing the Lord can also be to have a respect for him. Believe that he will keep his word, and respect him for that.

When I have a family of my own someday, I think I might want Psalm 128:1-4 as my family verse. It's great!

For those of you who have your own families, and children, what does psalm 128 mean to you?

And for the hard question, what do children and olive plants have to do together??? Please my wonderful blog readers, answer me that question!

Tori L.

Just musing

I've been thinking lately about something I could blog about, but could find nothing. I'd think to myself..."I really should update my blog...hhmmm, maybe tomorrow??" That's me. I love to read other people's blogs, and I know others feel the same way about mine.(or do they?) Sometimes a problem I have is not knowing what to write about. I mean, my life is anything but boring, I have plenty of things to blog about, but choosing one, and finding a time to do it is just a little challenging!

So... here is my plea(and an urgent one, mind you!)

Tell me what you want to read more of. Anything! Here are some options (but not limited too) to get you going.

• Daily life
• Random tags, or fun posts that are random(like me!!)
• Pictures of random things
• School thoughts (beware, I may use this to reteach ya'll things! Does Latin sound fun?)
• My view on Biblical topics (which will be better than it may sound!)
• Praise to the Lord
• Recipes
• Links to good videos, or songs, or my favorite blogs! (hhmmm that gave me an idea!)
• etc. etc. etc. etc...........................................(you get the point)

Let me know, by leaving a comment, with more than one option please!!

Tori L.

Radiant Purity Conference

This weekend mama and I went to a Radiant Purity Conference, together. We had a great time! The Mally's did a great job, and so did the leader of my group, Abby. She was a wonderful encouragment to me, and I hope we can keep in touch. The whole conference was a really good reinforcement to me, and a great encouragment! This is called a chalk drawing, and Sarah Mally drew it in about 30 minutes. It was amazing to watch her draw, she wasn't even careful and look what she made! It was beautiful!

This is a skit some of the leaders did on stage.

Here is Grace Mally and Sarah Mally(behind the flowers) playing a harp duet. They are very accomplished musicians.

This is Abby, my group leader, who was a wonderful encouragment to me. Thanks Abby, for listening to our endless questions! (This isn't a very good picture of either of us.)

This is Sarah Mally, the beautiful young woman who leads the Conference. Thanks Sarah!

This is Grace, who is a Very sweet young lady, and such an encouragment! Thanks Grace!

This is the church we went to have the conference.




It was an awesome conference. I hope they do one in NC sometime!

This is Grace's blog.... www.tomorrowsforefathers.com . I'm sure she'll be posting pics. soon as well!

Tori L.

Here's this weeks prayer requests!!

1. There are so many marriages that Satin is attacking, with divorce become the end result, we need to pray for strength against Satin's attack and that marriages would stay strong in God's power.
2. The church bible drill is this Wednesday! (eeek) Please pray for the participants to have courage, and not be frightened.
3. My grandparents are coming to town. Pray they will have a safe drive.

Praise

1. We had an awesome time on vacation!

Shalom,

Tori L.

Here are the requests I got for this weeks prayer list.

please pray for

1. Kayden Beasley(Callie and Katie's brother) who's in China waiting for his family.
2. Upcoming Bible drills. The Church Drill is on March 25, at Coats Baptist Church. The associational drill is April 4Th, and the State Drill is April 25Th.
3. For our men & woman that serve in all branches of the military and for their families. Also pray for those families that have lost loved ones during the war on terror, that God would grant them peace for their loss.
4. The Wilkie's baby, (baby Wilkie). Pray that everything will go smoothly in the delivery.
5. We'll be safe on our Vacation!

Praise

1. Mr. and Mrs. Beasley have gotten appointments to be finger printed for the adoption!!
2. Mr. Anthony Beasley(Callie's daddy), and Mr. Parrish(Callie's Grandpa) both have birthdays in March! They are on the 24Th and 13 respectively. (I bet Mr Anthony hates it h ow I just told all my readers about his birthday!! Be sure next time you see him to sing happy B-day to him!!! :] )

Please include these in your prayer list for this week!

Please also get your requests in for next week's prayer\praise list!

Email them to me at anchoredinElShaddai@yahoo.com !

Thank you!

Shalom,

Tori L.

Prayer Challenge

I don't know how many of you are doing the Monday Prayer Challenge, but for those who are, or for those who would like to pray for others, I have come up with something to help you.
I had the idea last night, and started putting together thoughts in my mind for an e-newsletter concerning prayer.
What I need all my readers to do, is think of prayer requests they have, that they do not mind sharing with others. You may also do this with praises, and thanks to God. Then, e-mail me them at,
anchoredinElShaddai@yahoo.com

At the beginning of each new week, (particularly on Mondays), I will write them all down, and do a post on all the praises and prayers I got through the week. I think it will be an encouragement for us to see how God is blessing the other, and also to pray for each other.

When you email me the requests please just label the email either "prayer", or "Praise". Go ahead and write down as many requests as you like!


Feel free to write down prayer requests for others, but make sure you have their permission, if it's personal to them.

If you'd like to share a request me with me you don't want published, please say so in the email.
Leave a comment with any questions!

Praying for you,

Tori L.

The I Am

Exodus 3:14 (13-15)
And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, " Thus you shall say to the children of Israel. 'I AM has sent me to you.' (nkjv.)
The Jewish people view God's name as being very precious. They believed the name YHWH (Yahweh)was very sacred, and should not be said aloud. So they made a substitute. The put the word Adonai in instead, which means "my Lord".
When you look in your Bible, you may see the word LORD, in all capital letters. This stands for YHWH, and when translated into English, means, "I AM WHO I AM." This is a very powerful name, showing that God created everything, even the highest star, planet, or galaxy, it's all in his divine palm. He has every hair on your numbered, and he knows you better than you know yourself!
God wants us to talk to Him, and call him by his name. He tells us in the new testament that we can call Him Abba, father, or daddy. He wants us to know him as an awesome father. Not just some vague God, or mystical spirit. He longs for us to get to know Him. However, He will not force this relationship. He wants YOU want to talk to him. He wants YOU love him. He wants YOU trust him, always.
Is God the I AM, in your life? Do you trust him, to take care of you? The God who made the universe, all the way out into space, and beyond forever, cared enough to make YOU. Just think about that. He has always been, and will be forever. He made the galaxies, the stars, the planets, the ocean, the land, He is the creator!! And He wants to be your daddy! Talk about an honor! Won't you let him, take care of you? He tells you to cast all your cares upon him, because he cares for you!! He loves you so much! Won't you love, and adore him back?? Is He the I AM in your life??


Tori L.