The Things I Can't Fix

I have spent a lot of time at the hospital over the last couple of days. I look at my dad and think about who he is and the character that he possesses. Even when he feels the worst, he still manages to crack a joke and flirt with the nurses.

I have talked a lot about my dad over the last couple of months in passing, but I feel like today is as good as any day to talk more. My dad is wonderful. Now don't get me wrong, my mom is great too, but today is about dad.

I can think of so many occasions of just dad and I. When he took me to my first Disney movie, when he taught me how to shoot a basketball, when he taught me how to grill things. So many memories flood my mind, but the best memory is remembering his love of God and how he placed that above all other things.

As many of you know, for my dad's age, COGOP members would probably say he is still a babe in Christ. My dad became a christian about 14 years ago, after sitting on the bench with my mom for around 17 years. That is a long time to sit and not give into God's power! But my dad said he knew when he was 12 that God had a plan for him. My dad will sit and tell you of several occasions when he should have passed away, but that he knew that God had his hand of protection over him, and he survived. My dad has always been a great role model and a great dad. My dad taught me how to work and how to love and how to try and love work. My memories of him make me smile and make me look forwardto the times we will have to come.

Today he is still in the hospital. He is in pain, but he is making it. He is strong! I am so thankful to all the prayers that have been sent up and for the prayers that are continually floating there. Please when you pray, pray not only for my dad and my family, but also pray for the surgeon and his team who will be doing the transplant. God is in control, and we will wait patiently until he see fit to give dad his organ.

Much Love

ASU REDWOLVES

I am still not completely in love with the idea of ASU being the RED WOLVES, but isn't it strange how when they changed their identity, it changed their confidence. A friend of mine made a comment just this week that isn't it strange that the RED WOLVES scored more points in "1" game than they did the entire time I was in college. IT'S true!!! Needless to say though, I am excited about what is going on there. Coach Roberts is an amazing coach and has an amazing coaching staff. IT is so great that ASU has a Christian Head Football Coach, who encourages his players to pray and to dedicate themselves to something more than football. God is faithful to us and he is faithful to ASU FOOTBALL...IT's time for a RED WOLVES 1st DOWN!!!!!

Just a thought

Things that inspire you are all around, but true JOY comes when you least expect it. I have definately had my trials over the last year, but in every instance, God has given me things to inspire me and keep me moving forward, but I sit and think about all of the things that I have tried to create for myself and it is no wonder I was not finding Joy in them. God gives us joy when we quit trying to rule over our own lives.

So in this journey of spiritual maturity, we walk this path trying to develop the skills we need to be successful, but all to often we try to take our own path which is usually a detour. I hope that learning about myself will help me to limit those detours. Lord help me to widen my dimensions to see your end result. Help me to not try and rush through life, but to enjoy it as it comes along. Lord help me put my inadequacies behind me and bottle up those fears which bind me from what I want to accomplish in you and in life. Take time to put you first so that I will have nothing to be sad about later. You have a plan in me and I am your perfect creation.

Be Blessed
LaCinda

Today

Today is another day, not like yesterday cause it has already passed. I was just thinking about how life changes in the blink of an eye and for what reason changes happen, we'll never know. One thing, I've learned lately, is that you have to be open to the changes that God has for you. If you are constantly trying to make your life what you want it to be and miss the bigger picture, it will often blow up in you face. I trace back to the beginning of the year and see doors that God tried to open for me that I quickly closed due to fear. What struck that fear in me? Was it that I had neglected my relationship with Christ and therefore could not hear his discerning voice, or was I just being a stubborn child? I hate to say that it was probably the first of the two but honesty and truth are very important to me and so therefore I have to admit my fault. I had began running my own show which always causes problems. Lord help me that my today's and tomorrow's will be more about you and that I will never hesitate to hear your voice. Thank you for remembering me and always taking me back and making my life better than I deserve.

Love

All because of JESUS

Free - All Because of Jesus: From the album We Shine

Giver of every breath I breathe
Author of all eternity
Giver of every perfect thing
To you be the glory

Maker of heaven and of earth
No one can comprehend your worth
King over all the universe
To you be the glory

I'm alive, bacause I'm alive in You

It's all because of Jesus I'm alive
It's all because the blood of Jesus Christ
That cover's me, and raised this dead man's life
It's all because of Jesus I'm alive

Every sunrise sings Your praise
The universe cries out your praise
I'm singing freedom all my days
Now that I'm alive

It seems I hear this song every morning now, and luckily it sticks with me. Since Wednesday night, I have really tried to ponder exactly where my patience level is. As stated at church, it is okay to be angry, but it is how we harbor that anger that makes a difference. And even this morning as I was driving in traffic and I wanted to yell at the people, I took into account that I can't do anything about what they are doing and do you know that it helped!

Referring back to why I put this song on this particular blog, I thought about it and it goes back to what I've said in previous blogs that no matter what we are going through, we must praise him and give him all the glory. The verses of this song inspire me. Giver of every breath I breate, Author of all eternity, To you be the GLORY!!! I'm alive because I'm ALIVE IN YOU! Lord when I'm not patient continue to work on me for it is all because of you that I have life!

I will not be moved!

"Will Not Be Moved" By Natalie Grant

I have been the wayward child, I have acted out. I have questioned Sovereignty, And had my share of doubt. And though sometimes my prayers feel like, They're bouncing off the sky. The hand I hold won't let me go, And is the reason why...

I will stumble, I will fall down. But I will not be moved! I will make mistakes. I will face heartache. But I will not be moved! On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand. I will not be moved!

Bitterness has plagued my heart, Many times before. My life has been like broken glass, And I have kept the score. Of all my shattered dreams and though it seemed, That I was far too gone. My brokenness helped me to see, It's grace I'm standing on.

And the chaos in my life, Has been a badge I've worn. Though I have been torn, I will not be moved

I am the singer of many songs, and in many ways, songs are what speak to me. I love that God gave us words like this that we can relate to. In many instances, we hear these words, but sometimes it takes a special song to make them make sense.

Luke 4:1-13 "Jesus and the Devil"
1When Jesus returned from the Jordan River, the power of the Holy Spirit was with him, and the Spirit led him into the desert. 2For forty days Jesus was tested by the devil, and during that time he went without eating. When it was all over, he was hungry. 3The devil said to Jesus, "If you are God's Son, tell this stone to turn into bread." 4Jesus answered, "The Scriptures say, `No one can live only on food.' " 5Then the devil led Jesus up to a high place and quickly showed him all the nations on earth. 6The devil said, "I will give all this power and glory to you. It has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7Just worship me, and you can have it all." 8Jesus answered, "The Scriptures say:`Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!' " 9Finally, the devil took Jesus to Jerusalem and had him stand on top of the temple. The devil said, "If you are God's Son, jump off. 10-11The Scriptures say: `God will tell his angels to take care of you. They will catch you in their arms, and you will not hurt your feet on the stones.' " 12Jesus answered, "The Scriptures also say, `Don't try to test the Lord your God!' " 13After the devil had finished testing Jesus in every way possible, he left him for a while.

Oh to be like Jesus and say "I will not be moved". The devil pressed every side and tempted Jesus in every way. What should be noted is that JESUS WAS TEMPTED!!! HE just knew a God that was bigger than the devil. We often think that the grass is going to be so much greener on the other side, until we realize just what we had to give up to have that green grass. Oh God, help me to stand strong and not be moved. "I am pressed but not crushed, persecuted not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed!!! I am blessed beyond the curse, and your Joy is going to be my strength!

I hope that this is helpful to someone!

Love!

I am every man...or woman!

"Every Man"

I'm the man with all I've ever wanted All the toys and playing games. I am the one who pours your coffee, corner booth each Saturday. I am your daughter's favorite teacher,I am the leader of the band. I sit behind you in the bleachers. I am every man. I'm the coach of every winning team, and still a loser in my mind. I am the soldier in the Airborn facing giants one more time. I am the woman shamed and haunted by the cry of unborn life. I'm every broken man, nervous child, lonely wife.

Is there hope for every man? A solid place where we can stand.

In this dry and weary landIs there hope for every man. Is there love that never dies.

Is there peace in troubled times. Someone help me understand. Is there hope for every man.

Seems there's just so many roads to travel, it's hard to tell where they will lead. My life is scarred and my dreams unraveled. Now I'm scared to take the leap. If I could find someone to follow who knows my pain and feels the weight. The uncertainty of my tomorrow, the guilt and pain of yesterday.

There is hope for every man. A solid place where we can stand. In this dry and weary land.

There is hope for every man. There is Love that never dies. There is peace in troubled times. Will we help them understand? Jesus is hope for every man.

He is hope for the hopeless and strength for the weary.

Isaiah 40:28-31

28 The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Wow!!! God is the EVERLASTING GOD!!!! He is HOPE for every man. I think it is so funny when we reach our last straw...we are there all to often, and we are hopeless. Who do we truthfully turn to? Do we turn to God first? Do we turn to him after all of our other venues have let us down? I love that he will not grow tired or weary, and that he has understanding that no one can fathom. I want to turn to God I want for him to be my hope. When I'm down he lifts me up and he renews my strength. Many of life's journeys take us down paths that we never thought we would be on. We find ourselves scraping the barrel to get through or telling ourselves that we will change what is hendering our lives tomorrow. When we do that we are not trusting God, we are putting him to the side which is what most often gets us in the situations we are in. Thank you God for being my hope and loving me when I am unlovable. You are strength beyond all measure!

Love you guys!