For His Service

Enthusiasm isn’t anything that I ever have a problem with having…. Some would say that I tend to be overly enthusiastic about many things.   I can often focus on something sooooo much… that I dwell on it until I achieve it.   Sometimes this is very helpful…other times…not so much. So what is enthusiasm?     Enthusiasm is   a very interesting word. It is actually formed from two Greek words: en = in, theos = god.    Therefore   enthusiasm literally means "God in". For the     believer, this is a very important life message. Whatever we do, if we feel that God is in the effort, how great an effort is then possible! Is this Scriptural?        "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might…"- enthusiasm (Ecclesiastes 9:10). By what means do you generate enthusiasm?    First, since Christians are "indwelt by God", the first source of energy for a task is knowing that God wants you to do ...

Anita Renfroe...wise and funny lady.... enjoy.... Job 12:12 Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old. (NLT) Job 28:28 Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom , and to depart from evil is understanding. (NKJV) Psalm 37:30 The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong. (NLT) Psalm 107:43 Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the LORD. (NIV) Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise. (NIV) Proverbs 1:7 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (NLT) Proverbs 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. (NIV) Proverbs 4:6-7 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. (NIV) Proverbs 10:13 Wis...

Today we spent the day traveling to visit my parents and Russell's parents.  Thankfully, they only live 2 hours away, but that is still alot for an 8 year old child.  There are lots of "How much longer?"  and "Are we almost there?"   Of our 3 kids,two of them are BIG talkers.   John-Michael told his dad, that talking makes the time go by faster... and ...apparently...he really wanted the time to fly because there wasn't ever a quiet moment. :)  Yesterday we went to the Horse Rescue. Gilda, the newest goat rescue, decided to try to run away.  It took us 30 minutes to catch her again.   I suppose it was a very funny site... 10 men and women...trying to catch a goat..that had no intentions of being caught. Sadly, one of the rescue horses, Big Fly, passed away.  It is always sad to lose a sweet horse..especially when you work so hard to save them and give them a sweet new life.

Today was one of those super busy days.  It started with normal mommy duties: breakfast, laundry, making beds, etc.  Then, I had to help John-Michael with  his phonics and reading, Madeline with her paper, and Noah with his logic. Next, I peeled 10 pounds of potatoes and made a  yummy batch of homemade potato soup .. (It had cauliflower, potatoes, onion, chicken broth, carrots, salt, pepper, and a block of cream cheese in it..so good).  One pot was for my friend and her family..and one pot was for my own family. Then,... errands... off to the store... to the bank.... and to a friend's house to deliver the dinner. Next we went to the horse rescue and worked for 3 hours.   We mucked stalls, feed horses, and brought horses in from the cold night.   Finally, it was our turn to come home and to have the soup and salad I prepared this morning.  Now, I am trying to quickly update this blog.  I have still been studying the book of James...u...

Serious posts lately... serious hurts with the people around me..   So what do we need to recharge?  Prayer, God's word, and Laughter...  . There are 42 references to laughter or words that mean laughter in the original language in the Bible.   Here are just a few:     Proverbs 17: 22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,   but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 15:13- 13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful,  but heartache crushes the spirit.  Psalm 4:7   -     You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.         Philippians 4:4       Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.   I do think Laughter is the BEST medicine.  Tim Hawkins is one of my favorite comedians...    Enjoy a laugh on me...well at least on YouTube....

There are many out there fighting to destroy the pit bull breed. They say that the random stories about pitbulls attacking means we must destroy them all.  I guarantee there are more Chihuahuas that bite people than pitbulls.   ...and yes, I have owned both.  Of the people that want to destroy them...I wonder how many have spent any time with an actual pitbull.  I have... From the age of 5-16. or so..... we had a sweet, smart, and yes...gentle... full-blooded pitbull named Eagle.  He was a beautiful red, brindle.  He was a great pet and never attacked, or bit a person... Evil dogs?  I don't think so... Oh, perhaps you think the breed has changed in the last 20 or 30 years...    Let's see.    Five years ago... days before Christmas... we were traveling in middle Georgia..when ....I see a cardboard box moving off the side of a dirt road... Out of the box comes the most emaciated dog... My first thought is how...

Things learned from God's word and the book by ― Paul E. Miller , Love Walked Among Us: Learning To Love Like Jesus   Oh, our sin… our lack of love… how often do we look past the person to the problem.   Why is it so hard to take our eyes off a problem /sin, their hurts..and see the person behind the hurt?   This is n ot so with Jesus. “Jesus looks at people.” Miller explains “Love begins   with looking.” In analyzing the parable of the Good Samaritan, Paul concludes , “ The Samaritan sees a person. The priest and the Levite see a problem. They are too distracted, preoccupied, or agenda-driven to identify with him.” It’s true. We look away when the street beggar walks past our car stopped at the traffic light.    Paul Miller explains… “We might have to pay if we look too closely and care too deeply.” So have you ever associated love with looking? So, does this book give the magic ways to love like Jesus…   “Jesus’ life doesn’t give us a love...

So, for about two weeks I have been using Beth Moore's study on the book of James.   Why?   I need the accountability.  How am I getting that?   ..I have to get these weeks work done...because I am leading two groups of women each week, as we go through this study.  That's the same reason my children attend Veritas Classical School each week.  They need to know that their Veritas teacher said that they must complete the work by Tuesday (the one day a week they attend school).  Anyway, back to James.  James is a book that most believers have read quite a few times.  It was written by Jesus' half-brother.    John 7:5 records James as an unbeliever.  However, by the time we are in Acts (Acts 15:13 to be exact).... we see that not only is James a believer is Jesus as the messiah, but he is the leader of the church in Jerusalem.   Beth points out how Luke 2:40 and Luke 2:52 tell that Jesus grew in wis...

This week I learned that you have to smash an apple BEFORE you feed it to a horse.  They aren't capable of grinding big pieces.    Thankfully I learned that BEFORE any horse choked. :)  I learned that some race horses are all white...after I walked  HUGE Jester to the arena.  ( I thought they were all black or brown).  I learned that few police horses  have a retirement plan; they are generally destroyed/ put down.... few are rescued and live out a normal horse life.  (So glad Haze is one of them)  I learned that Tebow isn't a full sized- horse, but a pony.   Go back a couple of "updates" and you can read about him.    http://inhonoroftheking.blogspot.com/view/timeslide#!/2012/01/blog-post.html  I learned that Stallions aren't nearly as laid back as their "fixed" counterparts... No pun intended. (Although Jackson was a pretty laid back before he was gelded). ...

  Man, why didn't anyone ever tell me how hard parenting would be...especially when one of  my three kids could really care less what my rules are...or what my expectations are.  This one child just wants to have fun.  If fun is wrong, the that child will have the fun..and be wrong...pay the fine, penalty or have the disciplinary action doled out later...but it won't stop that child for doing the "wrong thing".  That is EXHAUSTING!  Since I have a 13 year old, 11 year old, and 8 year old....... I will be parenting for awhile.  I wish I had found a college kid that needed a mom..lol...  Kind of like this kid.   He seems smarter and nicer than the average college-aged kid.   Here is one of his videos on how to get a girlfriend... I think he is pretty much on target.  Heeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyy?? That's what I need!!!! Kids that don't need parenting.. LOL... (Now I hear ..."MOM, he shot me?"... gotta run...pretty su...

So, are there any MOMS out there?   If so, do you ever feel like your parenting days will not ever be over? LOL... I have a 13 year old, 11  year old, and 8 year old..so at best... I have 10 more years of this.  And... I homeschool all three of them...and teach at the school they attend one day a week ..where they take their exams over what they have studied.   Some days are  harder than others.  I found this video today...it is a little crude..but it made me laugh.   It helped me see the little victories I can see today. Enjoy..and laugh!

Lobo from 9 months ago Here is Lobo (the white horse) and Scout the black stallion playing horsey-knuckles.  What I mean is they are just biting at each other for fun...not mad... just have fun.   Here is Lobo from about 9 months ago....   You can read his story at Cheryl's blog (the owner of the Horse Rescue here in GA)  http://dailynewsatsavethehorses.blogspot.com/view/timeslide#!/2011/08/lobo-gwinnett-county-animal-control.html     Now, Lobo is one of the SWEETEST horses you will meet... come see him if you are in Georgia...  Save the Horses   1768 Newt Green Rd.    Cumming , GA 30028 jackson is looking to see where Lobo went .... is he coming back to eat his hay? LOL....

 Catching up... John-Michael wanted to play laser tag for his 8th birthday!  He "battled" his older brother and his best friend.   He was able to seek him out and tag him a few times. Here is one of the latest horse rescues... I think they have settled on the name Tebow... because he looks like he should be counted out, but he is getting a second chance because of the people at www.savethehorses.org      He was being starved to death... I don't know why the owner didn't give him away or go to a Hay Barn where you can get donated hay... ..If you want to donate to Tebow, please go to the above link. A rescue in florida is trying to help SEVERAL pregnant yet starving mares.. If you want to donate to them, here is their website..  http://www.floridahorserescue.com/Hidden_Springs_Horse_Rescue/How_to_Help.html The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. – Proverbs 12:10 .