Sunday Source

Pastor Rickie Rush, of Inspiring Body of Christ Church, asked all the women to wear hats and gloves to service today. To pay tribute how church was when most of us were growing up. I did wear a hat, alas the gloves...not so much. Unlike my younger counter part in the photo from a long ago Sunday.

I didn't know where to even buy a pair gloves. I'm from Iowa and the only gloves, I remember were those to keep my hands warms because the temperature was below freezing--WAY below freezing at that! I will admit, that today it was very nice to see alot of the women, all on the same accord.

The sermon itself hit home-- again. This time about the approach you take in situations. God, being one of them. Do you get all up in His face? Or are you ON your face to worship Him? How do you approach people, situations--whatever else? This made me think of Bear. I'd mentioned him before. The love of my life I thought--and well, that really didn't happen-yet we're now working on civility with one another. Prayer and time passed has helped.

Anyway, one of the many things Bear blamed me for in our on and off and real on and way off and kinda on relationship. was my approach towards him was all wrong. Really? I'd ask for specifics, and receive few. And his approach to me? Whatever I let him get away with because I hoped it would really super duper show him how much I loved him.

It didn't.

Pastor Rush preached on approach-How to check yourself. How you think you may be ready for something, but your approach says other wise. How oppresses you. When you feel the jealousy, envy fear etc, Satan has you in his sights, yet not in control of you. You can push Satan away, thru your approach to worship. I thought of Bear. He was in the sanctuary too today. I wondered what he thought of the Word being preached? If he realized the oppression that branded itself to our relationship back when.

I confident I'll not ever know.

After service, I went up to Pastor Rickie Rush and told him Thank You for the Word today. How it hit home. How the last few Sundays all hit.

Pastor Rush said; "It was you." and stared in my eyes.

I am blessed.

Easter Rise

Grand Easter Service spent at Inspiring Body of Christ Church, with Pastor Rickie Rush, who spoke how we should not let a stone cover our grave. Basically, the stone was moved away from the tomb of Jesus and He was not there. In our lives, the stone is the devil who tries his best to not let you move. To not let you rise up. The devil tries to make you feel hopeless, helpless and isolated from your support.

The sermon hit me. It was how I felt pretty much this past entire week--a week I had off. To enjoy and celebrate my birthday. I did have a good time--yet, something hung over my head the entire time. My time wasn't like I wanted it to be. Due the stone that was over me. The stone I didn't push hard enough to move. As Pastor Rush said, the more the anointing the more the attack.

I understand that NOW. The devil doesn't want us to succeed at what we're called to do. Some times I think I've let God just to to voice mail. That needs to stop. Be thankful with what He brought me through--even if this week. He was with me all the time. Because of Him I am here. Because of Him I can go on.

This Easter Sunday was also an anniversary of sorts. On Easter Sunday 2003, I stepped foot in a church for the first time other than a child to recite a verse or a fan to hear the Osmonds bear their testimony, or even somebody's wedding. I went to church that day because I wanted to. Needed to fill a void in my heart. At my wit's end professionally and still mourned the death of my dad.

Easter Sunday 2006, was my first time back at church after my mitral valve replacement surgery. I'd just gotten the OK to drive a couple days before. Been away for almost two months. He had been in my house, to get me well, then it was my turn to go to His house. It was Resurrection Sunday-for both of us.

And today. The message Pastor Rush delivered touched me. Hit all the way home. I've been called to use the gifts God gave me. No more voice mail. I will listen to message first hand and not run. I'm destined. We all are. Do what you know you should do.

I am blessed.

Sunday Summary

Pickles and peppermint.

Never EVER heard of such a thing until Pastor Rickie Rush, of the Inspiring Body of Christ Church, brought it up as part of his sermon today. Hmm. Pastor Rush showed how tip off one end and then put in a stick of peppermint IN the pickle. Uck. wasn't feelin' that. Yet it was the sweet you try to get to through the bitter. The sermon itself was GREAT--to understand why you're going thru what you're going through. How YOU got yourself there. That hurt, yet true. To find out why and how, ask God to reveal. I about burst into tears. Cause I need aLOT of reveal. :) Very good sermon. I sat beside a first time visitor couple who expected their first baby on May 3rd. Sweet.

I am SO glad I have the week off. Wednesday is my birthday. Hmm. I may have mentioned it. A time or two. Anyway, there's little things I need to do. Things to think about how I get on with this life I have.

Sure, I still reel from the ill fated decisions I made a few days ago. However, I know God is with me. Plus I've learned more about me. That was another part of Pastor Rickie Rush's sermon too: Perhaps your situation is God's way to show you a new way of thought needs to occur.

I can get that. The notes from today will be a definite re-read. The sermon hit all the way home. What I needed, like the chat from yesterday: to get all the way out of my comfy cozy box.

In the meantime, the sun still shines on this Sunday. Kinda windy and a bit chilly, yet could be worse.

It's not.

Gonna go enjoy the rest of the day the Lord has made--well, except for pickles and peppemint.

Wait! I take that back. If the pickles are on a hamburger from the best burger place in Dallas, Burger Island and the peppermint flavor is in a latte: then we're set!

I am blessed.

Sunday Some

Gorgeous almost Spring Day!

However, I AM ticked execs at AIG will receive millions in bonuses. OK--didn't they get a bailout? Word is there are binding contracts. Gee whiz, there is nothing AIG's spin docs can say that will change my mind that these folks bonuses. Didn't their areas start this mess? What about conscious? Do any of those execs have a million dollar's worth of conscious?

I think not.

On to brighter things. Fellowshipped at Inspiring Body of Christ Church today, with Pastor Rickie G. Rush. Great sermon of if we consider ourselves as perfectionists we cannot fill God's expectations of us. Perfectionists are ones for control, combativeness, and criticism--and not in a constructive way. There's something inside of us already that can be triggered, hence we act in a negative way. Yet alot of our own problem is our inability to accept the way God has made us--we compare ourselves to others. Need to stop all of that. At service's end, Pastor Rush mentioned how we women seem to hold on to something so long. Something in our brains, just holds on to a memory, that a man has said good bye to long ago. All in all, Pastor Rush may have had a few thousand folks there, yet it felt he was one-on-one with me.

Lots of stuff on my mind. I shouldn't let this stuff get to me. That's where Satan (who is a liar, by the way) gets his jollies from. Need to be focused and always remember where my strength comes from. There are many good things in my life. Gotta remember all of it. Like the trees in my back yard that began to bloom. Little things.

I could go on and on--but ya know, I feel like starring at the newspapers I'll tie together and recyle. Not sure exactly WHEN I'll tie them together, but I will--maybe after I look at the brackets for the NCAA Men's Basketball Tourney. Sigh. I recall days of watching the Iowa Hawkeyes with my fave basketball player, Steve Carfino. Come to think of it, what ever happened to him? Or maybe after I catch Desperate Housewives---the papers will get tied together, just like the sinkful of dishes get washed.

Love me some Sunday