Tombstones, Hope and Joel Osteen

I have let this blog go way too long, so here's a post:


Just write on my tombstone, "She was a prisoner of Hope." Not a prisoner of  her past or living another day would be much too hard. Not of a prisoner of her accomplishments as only the Lord Jesus can take credit for those, not a prisoner of her beautiful children, grandchildren, husband or family for they are what they are by God's grace and mercy. I am a prisoner of Hope in Jesus that He takes all things and works them to my good, He takes flawed things and makes them beautiful.
Joel Osteen says this:

"Return to your fortress, o prisoners of hope, even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you" (Zechariah 9:12, NIV) Zechariah 9:12 says that we should be prisoners of hope. It's easy to give up. It's easy to get discouraged. But God wants us to be so full of hope, so full of expectancy, that we just can't help believing for the best.

When you're a prisoner of something, it's like you're chained to it. You can't get away from it. I know people who are prisoners of fear, prisoners of worry, prisoners of doubt. You've heard them. "Nothing good ever happens to me." "It's never changing, Joel. It's just been too long."

They are chained to despair and discouragement. Break those chains. Become a prisoner of hope. No matter how long it takes, no matter how impossible it looks, your attitude should be: "I just can't help it. I know it will work out. I know I will overcome. It may be taking a long time, but I know this too shall pass. It may be difficult, but I know that means I'm close to my victory." Joel Osteen

The Dance, by Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley (My review before the review)

I may have to interrupt this regularly scheduled program to finish Dan and Gary's book, The Dance.
Yes, it's Sunday morning and I thought I had my make-up on, ready for church but no, I couldn't resist another chapter from Dan Walsh's (Word Weaver of Volusia County Group) book that he wrote with none other than Gary Smalley. Well, of course the tears fell and now I am recommending that we all just stop and take a "fiction vacation." Let the world go away and read this book!
I had wondered how Dan was going to intermingle the lessons that Gary wanted to portray in a novel, and I must say he did it in a wonderful way. A way that is making me want to read some of Gary Smalley's books on marriage that I missed along the way.

Of course the picture in my mind of Uncle Henry could only look like Gary and the hunkie dance instructor,(sorry Dan it isn't you:)) well I don't know his name but he was on Dancing With the Stars one season.
I am loving Miss Audrey and finally by page 254, Jim is starting to grow on me. I know that this book will bring healing to many people.

http://www.amazon.com/Dance-The-Novel-Restoration-Series/dp/0800721489/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365939871&sr=8-1&keywords=the+dance

Amazon describes it in this way and I describe it as a must read:

Jim Anderson is a successful businessman, and his wife, Marilyn, is the perfect wife. And why wouldn't she be? He gives her everything she needs. That's why Jim never expected to come home one day and find Marilyn gone.

After 27 years of marriage, Marilyn has had enough of feeling unloved and neglected. She wants to experience some measure of happiness before she's too old to enjoy it, even signing up for dance lessons, something Jim would never do. What will it take for Jim to finally become the man Marilyn needs him to be?



Combining the literary talents of bestselling author Dan Walsh and the relationship expertise of bestselling author Gary Smalley, The Dance is the first novel in The Restoration Series. Readers will get caught up in these flawed but sincere members of the Anderson family as they rediscover genuine love and start a transformation that ultimately affects all of them.

A two milkshake week and Tenth Avenue North

It may have been a two-milkshake week. When the week has been especially hard, I sometime feel like I have to treat myself to a second Chick Fila chocolate milkshake. With Easter being a day where Amber ended up in the ER for about eight hours I had a feeling it might be one of those weeks. It did continue to be an up and down week although Easter and the Lord rising to new life should’ve been enough to get me through. Regardless of how our day starts off we can always end it with Jesus. Amber ended up being in the ER again yesterday for the third time; if she isn’t on the IV she is throwing up and nauseous. Finally they gave her a referral to a specialist so we pray that this is the very best for her in Jesus name.


Zechariah 2:5 "For I," says the Lord, "will be to her a wall of fire round about, and I will be the glory in the midst of her."

Got troubles? Remember these verses, Romans 8:28 and of course my new favorite: “He won't brush aside the bruised and the hurt and he won't disregard the small and insignificant, but he'll steadily and firmly set things right.” Isaiah 42:3

Many families and mothers especially will identify with the words to this song by Tenth Ave. North; they have done it again. Put the cries of many hearts to music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zulKcYItKIA

I’m Tired, I’m worn
My heart is heavy
From the work it takes to keep on breathing
I’ve made mistakes
I’ve let my hope fail
My soul feels crushed by the weight of this world
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise from the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn
Cause I’m worn
I know I need to lift my eyes up
But I'm too weak
Life just won’t let up
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left


Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise from the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn
Cause I’m worn

My prayers are wearing thin
And I’m worn
Even before the day begins
I’m worn
I’ve lost my will to fight
I’m worn
Heaven come and flood my eyes

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise from the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn
Cause all that’s dead inside will be reborn

Though I’m worn
Yeah I’m worn. (Song by Tenth Avenue North)

Guess I’ll be having another milkshake soon.