For His Service

So...the last couple of weeks I have been struggling.  When you are in a broken world, with other broken people, you...in your own brokeness, just struggles sometimes to move in the right direction. I have learned that I can not fix myself, but I can delay the "fixing" by TRYING to fix myself... OR I can just go to HIM.   ..which is the only right way anyway.  So, it comes down to trust (faith) ...again... "[To have Faith in Christ] means, of course, trying to do all that He says. There would be no sense in saying you trusted a person if you would not take his advice. Thus if you have really handed yourself over to Him, it must follow that you are trying to obey Him. But trying in a new way, a less worried way. Not doing these things in order to be saved, but because He has begun to save you already. Not hoping to get to Heaven as a reward for your actions, but inevitably wanting to act in a certain way because a first faint gleam of Heaven is already inside...

So...I have been waiting to see the dermatologist...... I have this new "freckle" on my ear. They cut it out today...  So, now I am an artist rocking a bit of Van Gogh. :)    I will know in a couple of weeks if it is anything of any concern... always something...

  Today, my sweet husband went to church with me, gave me flowers, and allowed me time to paint... I painted Colossians 3:12-14 (a verse we are memorizing as a family)...and a bird...just because I love birds!   If anyone is interested in purchasing them, email me RNRPATE@bellsouth.net .. (most of my painting sell for $50 ).  My website is www.scripturepainting.com      GREAT therapy for me...

http://inhonoroftheking.blogspot.com/2011/01/into-his-hands.html Here was our annual update from one of his specialists... http://inhonoroftheking.blogspot.com/2011/07/battle-scars.html Here is the scar from his surgery last month...and the report.. http://inhonoroftheking.blogspot.com/2011/03/linda-dillow-part-4-final-part-hardest.html Here is where I TRY to place John-Michael...out of my hands..into HIS.. Thursday was not an easy day.  We went back to see the surgeon and he said the biopsy on the 2nd tumor was a plexiform (the more invasive kind).  I figured it was..because the surgeon said the tissue looked like it when he was cutting in out...  The problem...he has a lot... 40 or so..more that might be plexiform fibromas.  I showed him one on his shoulder that has grown from pea size to marble size in the last two months.  He said it was probably a plexiform but we should just watch it for now. Pray for him.  Pray for me.  As his mama, i...

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Colossians 3 : 12- 17 "Put on" is literally a dressing term. Used as an idiom, it can also mean to assume the office, manner, character, disposition,...

http://inhonoroftheking.blogspot.com/2010/10/my-heart-is-stolen.html  (You first met her here)... Here is my sweet Olivie' when I FIRST  got her.. I first got her back in October... and here she is today..on her first birthday! Today also happens to be my oldest child's birthday! Noah is 13 today... Here is Noah when he was about two!... Boy...amazing to see them grow so quickly... So, happy birthday to my furry little friend..oh, and happy birthday to you, too..Olivie'.. LOL...

http://notafan.com/ Not a Fan- book   This book is so worth the $10 to get it.  It explains the difference between being a fan (no salvation)... vs being a follower (salvation and joy).  This one book has taught me more and given me more to think about ..more than any other book in the last 14 years.

I LOVE Beth Moore. I love that she is willing to be REAL... I love that she is willing to admit the obvious, we all aren't perfect...unless you are dead.   Only in death are we Glorified..so until then, we aren't..  We just aren't perfect.  This is a video of her talking about being in Africa on a mission trip and needing to use the restroom, but not wanting to use the restroom her husband will be using.  A black out happens, she is scared... and ...well, watch the video and you will see!  John 14 Jesus Comforts His Disciples 1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God [ a ] ; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” Jesus the Way to the Father 5 Thom...

I went at 7 am to meet a friend to get my 5 to 6 miles of running in...this is what I saw on the way.  ..one hot air balloon in the air and two more taking off.  So pretty! John-Michael and Madeline  The two youngest have had fun playing "Guess Who"... Of course John-Michael has to stand up and show off as soon as I get the camera out...  Have a little laughter, having a little work, having a little rest..all with the dearest to me.... that makes a sensational Saturday. John-Michael with me Galatians 5 Freedom in Christ 1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. 2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been a...

As the school year begins, I feel the need to not let daily life be so "daily".   Each day is a gift and I don't want to waste it.  I want to serve as to positively impact others, including my very own family.  I want to laugh as to not let the joy of every day things pass by unnoticed.  I hope the laughter in our home is contagious.  I pray there is peace here..away from the cruelty that can be around us. Yesterday, I went to a friend's house to bath her kids (she is too sick with fighting cancer to do this herself)... Today, I take a meal to a friend who had another surgery to battle cancer.    This is just a little of hard things...in my community..    We live in the land of thorns and thistles...but HE still is sitting on the throne.   We will not every have a perfect life here..but we can have laughter in the midst of the storm.  We can still look for His hand. Galatians 5 7 You were running a good ra...

Oh, I have needed Russell this week.  I have been saddened  and heart heavy for various friends..various situations (divorce, cancer, broken relationships, broken bodies, sick friends, etc).  It is hard for me to let go of it, meaning...if you tell me something...my heart breaks with you.  ...to an extent that I sometimes can't sleep ..can't think about anything else, because I want to help you, solve your problems.   I know I am not God, but too often I try to "OVER stretch" ...over seek..what I can do...taking on friends' problems as my own.   (Character flaw I have had for as long as I can remember). Add to that ..one of my own  children who has during the school day as I try to homeschool:  thrown books down, stomped feet, slammed hands, refused to do lessons, said work was completed (wasn't)..etc..  After two days of that, I felt hopeless.   Then, my hero comes in.  He says he will take this chil...

I lost over 5 pounds and have kept it off..even though I am back to eating 4 small meals a day.  Juicing is done... but not over.  I will choose to juice each day as it is a quick and easy way to get extra vitamins in my diet and the diet of my children. I am trying to eat mostly veggies.  These collards and onions for dinner.  They are really good.  I think your taste buds get retrained when you are on  a fruit/ veggie juice only diet...which is a good thing. There are many butterflies passing through my yard. They love the lantana. Goldfish enjoying a sunflower in my yard I think the near 100 degree temps have been just too much for the red eared sliders.  I haven't seen any of them in over a week, but they have gone missing before...only to show up later.  The fish are still beautiful and active.  I always enjoy looking outside and relaxing.  The hummingbirds are still always around...so funny.  The...

Here is the first juice..oranges, pineapple, apple, 2nd juice was Kale, oranges, lemon, grapes..  SUPER... cucumber... FABULOUS! 2nd juice... Finally....dinner... all veggies..no meat.. peas, collards with tomatoes, yellow squash, onions, and tomatoes... Certainly my favorite part of the day.  After day 10, I will continue eating veggie meals only and not introduce gluten-free carbs (crackers, chips, breads)...for at least a few weeks.  

Today was good.  I helped my sweet husband cut the grass.  Also, I ran two miles.... felt pretty good!  So..on to the Juicing..  I have more friends that have watched "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead".   It is entertaining and interesting....even if you think you will NOT  ever juice..   The first juice was carrot, oranges, cantaloupe, green apple, and a few grapes.. It was pretty good!  juice one juice one..all juiced up... 2nd juice..all juiced up... celery, part of a lemon, spinach, apple... pretty good Dinner... black beans, jalapeno peppers, salsa, cucumbers, green leaf lettuce, red bell pepper...YUM! I went an bought a scale 4 days ago.  I have lost 4 lbs in those 4 days... The weight gone...great... eczema hasn't been itchy...no longer bleeding.. fabulous!

 juice this morning  The juice that   I had this   morning was kale (Also know as Mother's armpit), grapes, a peach, half orange, half lime, 4 celery stalks.. . Not bad.. 1st drink John-Michael had to get those bunny ears in.. Madeline and Noah chose to have one..Here is Madeline showing hers off and John-Michael just showing off... Here is a  close up on the first drink..before I stirred it. Noah...just woke up..having his juice this is what was in the 2nd juice Beets, strawberries, peach, apple... 2nd one..not a good as 1st Veggie Collards for dinner..YUM!! Kale with ginger.... YUM!!   Yes, eating collards and Kale for dinner...a real treat after juicing all day...  My eczema is getting better.. No longer red... no longer bleeding.. and I have 5 days to go.  Let's see how it is then.. I have ran at least 2 miles a day for the last three days... and I feel pretty good!

 Here are the things that went into my first juice, spinach, orange, peach, kiwi, a little pineapple, and a  little peach.  All three children asked for it..and drank it! :)  How is it that I can't get the youngest to eat any of this...but he will drink it in a green juice? Madeline and Noah try it Here is the finished 1st juice of the day... (green..not bad)... The 2nd juice was cucumber, honey dew, grapes, oranges and 1/2 apple.... yummmmmy.... This is the 2nd one..all juiced up Dinner was veggie chili... so happy to have it!  I feel fine...not so tired like the first two days.  My eczema  hasn't changed yet..but I am only on day 4 of 10 days. ... We shall see...