WOW, has it really been this long????!!!!

I cannot believe that it has been over a year since I posted anything on my blog.... I really am going to do better. I now also have just recently started a new blogspot www.bethforeydessertsbydesign.blogspot.com. It is going to be all about my dessert creations.

So much has happened since I last blogged. I need more time to "talk" about it than the few minutes I have to spare right now. So, I will be back soon to share all the details.

I will leave you with this, I am definitely an EMPTY NESTER now!!! It is difficult to get accustomed to and has been a very painful process but one that I am confident I will survive! :)

Looking forward to catching up in the next day or two.

Until next time,

Beth

So Much On My Mind....

Hello! I was sitting here thinking about what I wanted to talk about tonight. There are many topics to choose from! I guess the biggest one on my mind is our country, the great USA! What has happened to you oh great America? Where is the fundamentals, the core that we were based on? I am sure that if anyone of our former Presidents, you know, the good old fashioned ones, the ones who were not fully submerged in "dirty" politics, I am sure they would be rolling in their graves if they could see what has happened to the country they loved and believe in. The hope and pride being an "American" envoked.

Have we become a country with no backbone? A country who embraces the enemy but defeats it's citizens? A country who bows to a foreign king but cowers in the face of truth? I just don't understand. I know many people who voted for this administration and I often wonder how long it will take them to realize enough is enough? Will it be when my freedom is taken away from me and my family and those I love? Will it be when my right to have a different opinion, to think for myself is no longer my right? Will it be when I will no longer have the right to read my Bible and pray out loud to God for His mercy on my country? I wonder how long it will take before you say "My God, what have I done?".

I am amazed hat I live in a country that has become more heterophobic than agoraphobic, homophobic and any other phobic you can think of. When did it become ok to discriminate against someone who believes in heterosexuality? It has become no longer acceptable to discriminate against race, religion or sexuality unless of course your thoughts of sexuality are one man and one woman and then, it seems, it is an equal opportunity bash fest.

We are being lied to and deceived and we are acting like pigs going to the slaughter. We no longer ask why or why not. We no longer question whether something is good and/or bad for us, our children, our future. I urge you to stand up for what you believe in. Don't try to be like everyone else. Be YOU! Be the best YOU that God has planned for you to be! Get back to the basics. Sit in your closet of prayer and get back to the basics of your relationship with God. Let Him guide you to renewal of your spirit. Let Him raise you up and restore you.

I know that things look bleak. But God tells us in His word that in the last days He will pour out His spirit upon us and I believe we are in the last days. I believe that He is giving us warning signs to get our houses in order because His return is imminent. I believe He is passing through us. He is passing through His saints. I am seeing the revival of the Lord sweep through my family, my church and myself. I am seeing a rising up of our youth and oh how it restores and renews my soul! Please don't be the one He passes by. Please join us in the revival and let Him pass through you!

I am excited about all that I am learning. All that He is teaching me. The knowledge that I am worth it. That I deserve His love. Wow, how amazing is His love!

Until next time,
Beth

Made In The USA........

I am THANKFUL to be made in the USA! This country so great where we have been proud of our "Christian" faith, our forefathers, our freedom, our love and compassion and on and on the list goes. It scares me that little by little each and every quality that has made us such a great country is being taken away and replaced with America no longer being a "Christian" nation but a "nation of citizens", no longer a nation anywhere even close to being what our forefathers envisioned we would be, we are slowly losing our freedoms one by one and the love and compassion is being replaced with hatred, strife, division, double standards, discrimination and oppression.

It is no longer about democrat vs. republican. Left wingers would like to make you think otherwise. As a matter of fact, when a left winger talks about a conservative American it is almost like they are talking about a completely different race, someone they hate with a vehement passion. I am shocked that the leadership of our country perpetuates this action. When you watch a press conference with the White House correspondent it is almost comical to see this grown man acting in such a immature way as to talk as though we, conservative America do not matter, do not exist, as though we are not worthy to walk in the same vicinity, not worthy to breathe the same air but WAIT, isn't that exactly what they accuse conservative America of??? Isn't that WHY they hate us so much??? Think people, THINK!!!

I beg to differ with anyone who tries to deny that America IS A CHRISTIAN NATION!! Please, DO NOT speak for me!! No matter how many polls they, their community action groups or anyone else may take and no matter how much manipulation may take place to make the results cater to their beliefs, the fact of the matter is that the American people HAVE spoken and WE ARE AND WILL ALWAYS BE a Christian Nation! The majority of America has spoken and the last time I checked, the majority RULES! Please people, PLEASE stand up and let your voices be heard! DO NOT let a small percentage of America that has hardened their hearts and twisted and turned the truth to "fit" what they would like it to be into their lives so that they will not be burdened with guilt, please do not let them take our RIGHT TO BELIEVE IN AND SERVE OUR WONDERFUL GOD!!!

I cannot believe that we, such a strong and compassionate Nation, fell for the lies of change. As a Christian Nation, we were deceived by someone who stands for and embraces everything the Bible tells us is wrong. As a Christian Nation, how could we have voted in someone who embraces abortion, who believes in the creation of embryos just to destroy them for stem cell research, someone who sits under the council of a hate monger who so desperately hates certain people that he wishes death upon them, someone who uses humiliation and intimidation and bullying to get his way. You dare to stand in his way and he will use whatever resources necessary to tear you apart piece by piece. This is a guy who says "Lord, Lord" but speaks out of both sides of his mouth. Be not deceived people! We MUST open our eyes. It is not too late to turn back to prayer people!

I will no longer be defined by "republican" or "democrat". I believe the entire political system is corrupt and broken and am ashamed at the whole process. We are AMERICANS! Let's act like it! WE THE PEOPLE.......... there is nothing wrong with being conservative. There is a big difference between radical and conservative and simply being conservative DOES NOT make me radical. And just because I do not agree with "left" doesn't make me "crazy" and doesn't make me a radical. There are many people, from all walks of life, all different ages, all different nationalities, all over the United States that are SICK AND TIRED of this and we aren't going to go quietly into the night. We are ready to STAND UP and be HEARD!

Come on my fellow Americans. Let's quit worrying about being "politically correct" and do what's just simply right for a change. Let's take each others hands and begin to fight for our rights. Fight back for our country. Fight back for our reputation. Fight back for our God!

Until next time,
Beth

Day To Celebrate!

Today I am going to Georgetown, IN to celebrate and honor my wonderful big sister, Jackie! Family has always been important to her and celebrating and honoring others has been important to her as well so, today we are going to celebrate YOU! I love you, Sis. I am thankful to have you as my "big" sister! You have been my sister, my friend, my confident and my champion. Sure, we've had our ups and downs like all families do but no matter what life and it's trials have never been able to separate us and for that I am thankful!

Speaking of being thankful, I have so many things that I am thankful that I don't even know where to begin. At times, I feel so unworthy but I am blessed that God considers me otherwise.

I am keeping this short and sweet for today since I have a limited time to get myself in gear and get on the road and we all know it takes me FOREVER to get going! :) I hope you all have a wonderful day. Remember to count your blessings....

Until next time,
Beth

I'm Finding My Way Back Home....

Hello! I was thinking of what to title this post and settled with "i'm finding my way back home" because it seems that in many aspects of my life lately I have been doing just that. Finding my way back home to me is symbolic of my finding my way back to myself, strengthening my relationship with God, redefining personal relationships, getting back to the basics. You get the idea I am sure! I have not intended to be away for so long it just seems easy to say, oh I'll do it tomorrow, then tomorrow, and so on and so until I find that it has been several months and I have lost all my good intentions of blogging and keeping in touch with others.

I cannot/will not promise again that I am "back in the saddle" :) but what I will say is that it is my intention to give this a good faith effort if for nothing more than to have a place where I can write down my innermost thoughts, memories, goals & accomplishments to reflect on at some point in my future. I love to write. It has always been a joy for me to write. I deserve that.... I will accept it.... I will work hard at it.....

Tonight has been a difficult night. There is a situation that the devil knows is a fragile situation and one that is dear and close to my heart and tonight he has used that situation to cause pain and anguish and I am angry. I am angry that he thinks he has won. I am angry that he is sitting back laughing thinking that he has accomplished what he set out to do. I will not give him the victory. I am praying that God will remain victorious in my life and in the life of my family members. Just typing these words and praying as I write, I can already feel the heaviness on my heart lifting. I am starting to feel a peace. I am not going to go quietly! No, I will fight kicking and screaming. I am a mother bear and I will fight for my babes to the bitter end!

I remember a true christian woman once telling me that when you are under attack and the enemy is fighting to turn on the praise & worship and let it blast and the enemy will have no choice but to flee. Because you see, satan was once the leader of praise & worship in Heaven and because he was disgraced and cast out of Heaven he cannot stand to be in the presence of praise, worship & honor to our God above!! Bet you can't guess what I am doing now??!! That's right! I am blaring my praise & worship!!! It has gotten me through many a time!

I am learning so much about my relationship with God. I am so excited and want to share everything I am learning with everyone I know! I am so excited to see what God is doing in the lives of my children and my nephews! They are just mere babes in Christ but you would never believe it if you saw it yourself! God has given each one of them a gift. A true gift. We are having a spiritual revolution going on here people! And it is being led by two 16 year old and one 17 year old boys! How AMAZING & AWESOME is that??!!

They went to Mardi Gras to do street ministry. It was a life changing experience for them. The pictures are amazing. I am awed everytime I see them. I can see it in their faces even through a picture! I am excited for them and yet sad that I didn't get to experience it with them. I don't want to miss out on another one of these opportunites again!

About a month ago I got to be apart of an outreach that Mesynger did with a women's shelter there in Louisville, KY. This is where my heart lies! They said we all gave so much to them but the truth is, they will never know how much they touched my heart, how much they gave back to me. It was far more than I gave them. They touched my heart to the very core of my heart. We're talking about people who have suffered and are suffering horrific life circumstances that you and I may never be able to imagine but yet they came there that Saturday afternoon with an open mind and a joyful heart ready to receive and yet give the most precious gift they so willing gave, their hearts! WOW! I am forever changed. Wayside, you touched me! Through your willingness to surrender and let God have his way, you gave me the refreshing in my spirit that I truly needed. You have a place in my heart that will never be the same!

I know, I know, this has turned out to be a seriously long post! I will do my best to do better at posting if not on a daily basis at least a more regular basis! Thanks for hanging in there and checking in on me!

Until next time,
Beth

A Quick Link...

Good morning! Hope you all are having a wonderful & blessed week! I am just writing a quick note to post a link I wanted to share. I knew that if I didn't do it now, this 40 year old brain would probably forget by the time I got around to updating later today.

I will give more details in a little bit as to why I haven't been back on to give an update on the amazing spiritual revival were having.

This link I am posting below is a praise & worship song called Overcome by New Life Worship. It is AMAZING & SOUL INSPIRING! I hope that it ministers to you and gives you a refreshing touch of Glory today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sjYWrpNoCs&eurl=http://practicalworship.blogspot.com/2009/01/overcome.html&feature=player_embedded

I pray much love and happiness fills your morning!

Until then,
Beth

God's Spirit Pouring Down On Our Sons & Daughters....!!!!

Good morning! Wow! Do I ever have some wonderful, amazing, awesome news to share with all of you!

We are having a Revival/Revolution here in Whiteland, IN! It is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G what God is doing in our lives! He says in His word that He will pour out His spirit upon our sons and daughters and boy is He ever! I am in total AWE over what He is doing in the kids lives!

Our kids have always been raised on "christianity" but as happens with so many, we didn't stick to it the way we should of, we didn't keep them involved which in turn made it so much easier for us to "slack" so to speak and be "convenient" christians. Let me take you back a few months....

A few months ago, my parents were given some books for Christmas. It was the "Left Behind" series. Taylor was drawn to them and began reading. Soon he was through with books 1, 2, and 3 and was wanting more. We took a trip to library and checked out as many as they had available and he immediately began reading again at a high rate of speed. He was going through them quickly.

I started noticing a change in him. He was back to his "old" self but a new improved version of his "old" self! Before long, Eian was asking Taylor if he could read the books and was wanting to learn everything he could! It was truly AMAZING what God was doing in their lives!

Last Thursday, while we were waiting in the lobby of the heart catherization lab for the doctor to come out and talk to us, Braeden went to his Uncle Rusty and told him he needed to talk to him right then. They went out in the hall and right there in the hallway of Methodist Hospital, Braeden gave his heart and life over to God!!!

Everyday since then, Taylor, Eian & Braeden have been having Bible studies, they are witnessing to their friends and peers, they are reading their Bibles and growing in leaps and bounds! They don't care that the kids are making fun of them. They are excited to be "Jesus Freaks"!!

Their little group is expanding to others. Saturday night Eian & Braeden's cousin, Austin, came to their Bible Study and although he didn't ask them to pray with him that night, he did ask what he needed to do to be saved. Last night while they were getting ready for another Bible study, Austin called and asked the boys if they would please come and pick him up today for Bible Study! And yesterday Braeden shared the gospel with a boy at school and he came to their Bible study last night and Bri attended too! Praise God!!! Today I got a text from Bri telling me she wanted to "talk" to someone she hadn't talked to in a long time. I think maybe she was needing encouragement but the truth is, she is strong and full of love and compassion. I know God will be with her!

The boys will be leaving tomorrow for Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras you say? Well, they are not going to celebrate Mardi Gras - they are going to celebrate God's love, His forgiveness & His hope for eternity. They are going to share the Gospel with the lost and show them there is hope for eternity! I ask you all to join me in praying God will protect them and use them to His Glory!


Do you see the pattern here??!! God has started a REVIVAL in our lives, our homes, our hearts and I am just rejoicing! I am so thankful that even though I messed things up and got in the way so many times God didn't hold that against us. He still loved us and He was still willing to forgive us and pour out His blessings upon us! There is so much more I wanted to share with you all but time is getting away from me and I have so much to take care of today but I just had to share this AMAZING news with you! I promise to keep the praise reports coming!

Until then,
Beth