Thankful during Thanksgiving!

I can't begin to tell you how thankful I am today. I am sitting in my parents home in Hobbs (not San Angelo) by the fire. Most of you know that sitting by a fire is on my top 5 list of things to do. Number one on my list is being with my family. Today there were 14 of us enjoying Ty's amazing fried turkey, Haley's incredible sweet potatoes, my homemade honey yeast rolls and mom's pecan pie and fruit salad. Wow! But the thing I am most thankful for is my health. I have had a rough month but today I feel almost normal. I have put my trust in God and He has been with me through it all. I know that for a season there may be medications and doctors appointments ahead of me but I also know that I am a child of the King of Kings. The Great Physician gets the last word. What are you thankful for this year? I have learned that everyone goes through the seasons of life. But during each season there is still something you can be thankful for. You may feel like you are in your darkest hour but there is something you can rejoice about. If you can see these words that I am typing, you should be thankful for your sight. There are those who would love to see. You may not like your family but there are those who are lonely. They would love to be a part of any family (even yours). I know most of this is so cliche but sometimes we need to be reminded. Take your focus off of what you don't have and put it on what you do have. We are all blessed in some form or fashion. God loves you and He wants the best for you. Thank him for what He has already done for you and thank Him in advance for what He has in store for your future. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I love you !!!

The View From My Seat!!

What a great service this weekend at Cowboy Junction. We are growing like crazy. We almost had 300 in attendance this weekend. We had 30 in children's church Sunday morning and 17 Monday night. That is not including our preschool department, nursery and Youth group. They had 40 in youth last week and 30 this week. WOW! God is moving in a mighty way. Ty's message was so encouraging to all of us. We have to expand our circle. We have to BELIEVE more than we ever have before. We have to allow our faith to grow. We have to get "I can't" out of our vocabulary. I know for me, I have to get control over my thought life. I am reading two books right now. One is by Joyce Meyer, "Be Anxious for Nothing" and the other is by Jerry Savelle, "Thoughts, The Battle Between Your Ears." For me, I am at war with my mind. I can sit back and accept that my thoughts, my anxieties and my fears are just a part of my make up. I was born a "type A" personality and I will die a "type A" personality. But I choose to believe the Word. "For God has not given me a Spirit of fear but of Power, of Love and of a Sound Mind" 2 Timothy 1:7. David writes in Psalm 34:4, "I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all of my fears." I am encouraged by Isaiah 41:10 that says, "Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand." And the last scripture that I read time and time again is found in Philippians 4:6-7, "Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Just like Ty said, we may not be able to control the situations that come at us but we can choose the circles in which we stand. Our faith has got to grow. How does that happen? "Faith comes by hearing the Word of God." BELIEVE for more. Remember that God is on your side and that He has great plans for you. TRUST Him more. He can handle your life if you just give it to Him. Open your heart and allow the circles you stand in to be expanded. Great things are in store for us all. Don't try to do it own your own. Let God fill you and then be willing to pour yourself out. But remember, once you pour yourself out, you need to be filled once again. Spend some quality time with your Father and REFRESH.

Being Transparent!

Is it possible that someone can be too real? It may sound like a crazy question but it popped in my head earlier today. I laughed as I thought about it because the title of my blog is "Keeping it Real." I've always been one to tell all my thoughts, show all my emotions and hide nothing from no one. But in my being real I fear disappointing those who see who I truly am. As a Pastor's wife, I am a leader and one that others look to for advice. When I show others that I don't always have it all together, am I letting them down? If a young lady finds out 20 years into her marriage that her beautiful diamond she has worn to represent the unending love of her husband was actually a cubic zirconia; how would she feel? All these years what she thought was real was actually fake. Does fake only hurt when it is exposed? Is it better to pretend for appearance sake? I live in a glass house and I could pretend that I never had a problem in the world. I could pretend that my children always behaved and that Ty and I never had an argument. But pretending is not who I am. I don't know if it is a blessing or a curse but I don't know any other way than to be real. I talk too much, I share everything and I give my heart away daily. I trust all the time, I care all the time and I forgive all the time . But living in this glass house I often fear the stones that may fly through my walls. I have lived my life in a way that puts me on a platform no higher than those around me. I am not your typical pastor's wife who claims to never have issues. I deal with life's curve balls just like the rest of you. And sometimes I swing with all of my might and I miss big time. I may even fall on my behind. But if there is any encouragement I have for you in this blog, it is that I get back up. I fail often but I try daily. You too, need to be you. Don't be afraid to fall and let those around you see. Just get back up and dust yourself off. I would love to never disappoint another person the rest of my life but more importantly I don't ever want to miss being who God created me to be. I do ask you one favor; please do not put me on a pedestal that I have never chosen to climb. Well, there it is once again. I guess I knew the answer to my own question. I just wanted to know what you thought. Because being me is all I know how to be.