A Good Swift Kick in the Rear from God!

This past few days I've been hearing a word from God about Priorities... I want to let you in on how I process a word from God...When I am conversing about a certain topic and I find myself talking about that topic a lot... Like it comes up in several conversations in a short period of time, and then I read about it in a book or in the scriptures, I always find that my spirit is pricked and it's something that I need to stop and listen to real hard...Hence the word "Priority" this past week...
I find that I am a very well balanced person... I have a pretty good handle on Home, Work, Church, and family... I recognize when I need to stop and take a break and I also recognize when it's time to take action and get things done...

Well, this Christmas I didn't go home to Mom's house... I honestly didn't think it was a big deal, because I had to work the day before and the day after, so all I had was Christmas Day off and I could just stay home and have dinner in Lake Charles, right? Dana bought all the food and we cooked and had a few friends over and had a nice day... At the expense of hurting my mothers feelings... Now I'll tell you how God shared with me his heart...

Here's my Priorities in a nutshell...
God
Dana
Kids
NEXT FEW CHANGE ACCORDING TO SITUATIONS
CHURCH
EXTENDED FAMILY
WORK

These priorities have become a "LAW" in my life so that I can keep balance and do what I thought was what God wanted me to do to keep sane and live in abundant joy... However, after reading the book "The Shack" I was hit right over the head with another perspective of God's "LAW"... First let me say that we are not under any LAW since Christ came to set us free from rules and regulations... We are now under GRACE... which I seemed to have forgotten...
Well in the book, the main character asks the question..."Does this mean we shouldn't have priorities in life?"... WOW, I was in the tub reading this and I sat straight up in the tub and reread the sentence... "Does this mean that we shouldn't have priorities in life?" This word, Priorities... the word that I have been muttering for days now, Priorities... the word that has lent balance to my life for all these years... Priorities... Priorities... we can't mess with my priorities... Was just thrown under the bus... God took it and said...
NO!!! The problem with having priorities is that we miss an opportunity to show grace... We miss an opportunity to LOVE OTHERS... I MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH EXTENDED FAMILY... Do I still love them, absolutely, I just missed the opportunity to SHOW THEM I LOVED THEM!!

Does this make sense? The book went on to say that God doesn't want our priorities to be like a pyramid with him on top and then everything else listed in order of importance... That way of thinking can not be beneficial because we never know how much time to devote to the top one before the next one gets our attention... INSTEAD, he wants to be like a MOBILE... He in the center and everything else circling around him so that he is in everything in our lives and he shares in every part of our relationships within the different areas of our lives... He is equal, but the center....

I hope I am stating this clearly because when I get a fresh word from God, it's all I meditate on for a few days and I'm a little jumbled as I process it and then speak it, so this is the first time I've tried to write down what I'm feeling, so I may not have it all together yet.. Sorry if it's sounds like mumbo-jumbo... I just feel so relieved that I don't have to live under the "LAW" my own self-imposed law of priorities... I know that Grace is alive and well in my life and I want to share that more than anything else...

So forgive me, MOM, especially, for not coming on Christmas day and know that I've learned a dear lesson from our time apart... I love you all and wish you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Lea Anne

My Favorite Things!

I was looking on line at some other people's blogs and some of them were listing their favorite things... I never really stop to think about what my favorite things are so I thought I would spend a few minutes sharing with you what I like!

My Favorite luxury?
An afternoon Nap! Or a Massage!!!(I prefer the professional type but will take anything anyone is willing to give me..;-)

My Favorite book?
My tastes in books have changed over the years, and although I like a good romance novel... (I used to be addicted to Harlequin Romance novels and had thousounds of them) I now find that I like to read inspirational books from preachers or good bible teachers... I know that sounds like a "Religious" answer, but it is what I choose to fill my mind with now... Things that promote a better mindset and an overcomer mentality... Right now I'm reading "The Shack" and "Becoming a Better You"... I usually have two or three books going at once.. call me ADD...

My favorite Movie?
Light hearted comedies for sure...Overboard... The Family Man... The Family Stone... Back to the Future... that sort of thing... I DON'T like sappy, tear jerking type movies... I can somewhat abide Action films but not when they have too many curse words. So that leaves a lot of movies out...

My favorite scripture?
"Be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold." Nehemiah 8:10...

My favorite topic to discuss?
My current walk with the Lord...What God has been doing in my life and how God is in control of everything... This puts a whole lot of people on edge and so I can tell that some people don't want to talk to me... It's still my favorite thing to talk about.

My favorite food?
Spaghetti or anything Italian... Olive Garden is my favorite.... Then Mexican... I love a good chicken enchilada.. Then Steak... Medium...and baked patato... YUMMY!!

My favorite snack food?
UMMMM.... all kinds.... chips/dip, oreos,

My favorite Coffee?
Eight O'Clock brand... creamer and three equals... Comfort food for me... I even like a cup at night before I go to bed...

My favorite person?
Why you, of course....

My favorite activity?
Blogging... teaching Sunday School... and I guess I could put my job here... I do love what I do...

My Favorite Magazine?
I love any kind of Home interior decorating magazine... I also love Woman's world, or For Women First...

My Favorite Boardgame?
Without a doubt it's Scrabble.... but I love Payday... I don't much like Monopoly...I have to think too hard... I like "Scene It"...

If I can think of any other "Favorites" I'll sign back on... what are some of your favorite things to do? If you don't have a blogger ID, then sign up and get one... It's free and easy I'd like some comments here!!

I love you all.
Lea Anne

Enjoy Whatever You are Doing this Christmas!

And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice in all to which you put your hand, you and your households, in which the Lord your God has blessed you. Deuteronomy 12:7

Whatever you find yourself doing this Christmas season, remember the one for whom the season is about. With all the coming and going, the having to do and doing, all the responsibility that the season seems to bring with it, remember to enjoy it... Sometimes we get caught up in the "Having to do" that we miss the "we GET to do"...
No matter what you do remember that Peace is not dependent on circumstances. Our peace and joy are found in the Holy Spirit.

Signing on the House on Woodside...

We signed all the paperwork for the house today... It's official... We are house poor now... We have a great house, but a huge financial responsibility... I've been praying about this responsibility and although I've had this feeling the last few weeks about whether or not we were suppose to live in the house, I do have a peace that I don't have to know how I'm going to pay for it... Our family will have to do some serious budgeting and stay on track of managing our expenses, but I also don't believe that we will have to manage it on what we currently make. I feel this whole opportunity of how this house came to be, was an opportunity to step up to a new level of faith with God...

It has been my experience with God, that He won't give us more responsibility until we've proven to be faithful with the one he has already entrusted to us. If we aren't responsible with a little, then how can we be trusted with much... That is from Luke 16:10... This was a piece of scripture that the Lord spoke to my heart back in 2004 and I have been praying that I can be a little more faithful today than I was yesterday... The Lord is always faithful and one of the things that I know to be true is that our faith walk with God is strengthened when we put a little action behind our words...

Dana and I stepped out in faith last year in October when we put our house on the market... Then God led us here, now I will journal where God leads us next, and I am excited to share that journey with anyone who will listen...

Go trust God a little more today and see where that faithfulness leads you.

Love,

Lea Anne

College Christmas Party

We had a BLAST at the College and Professionals Christmas Party last night. We had a little music...
A LOT of food....

And a whole lot of FELLOWSHIP!!!

THEN IT GOT NASTY!!! With the dirty santa gift exchange... I thought to save money, we could just rewrap something from home... and bring it... As I was cleaning up in the study, I found my copy of Back to the Future triology... All three Back to the Future movies in one sleek case... That will be good, I thought, then I thought again, "I can't give away my prized possession of Back to the Future!" I love that movie and I just watched it like a week ago on television... But I sacrificed it and it was the gift of the night!!! Here's Keith stealing it from Jason, who was number 4 in the drawing... then

Jason got to draw again... And the battle of the Back to the Future was born....

It was stolen about 15 times throughout the rest of the game...

Not that the other gifts weren't just as fun... Who wouldn't want this black, wood carving, white haired, guitar playing, vodoo doll? (Obviously, the original owner and the new owner is now Allison...)

Other great gifts included, stuffed moose, candles, coffee mugs, towels, shelf liners, a box of tissue (Drew actually stole that one from Paul because he had a cold) who'd of thunk that? ...christmas wreaths, angel plaques, etc..

I hope no ones feelings were hurt with all the stealing.... Candy was the lucky winner of the movie...

So when the fun of the gift exchange was over, we decided to play, Scene it!! It was so much fun and we worked in teams...

We finished the night up around midnight and I have to say we had a BALL!

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

Let it Snow...Let it Snow...Let it Snow!!

To say that It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas is an understatement here is SWLA... It never looks like Christmas... But this morning we were awaken by the sound of snow hitting our roof and it sounded so wierd.. not at all like rain... just a soft "thudding" sound... The security alarm started beeping around 6:15 am this morning because one of Keelea's friends called her to wake her up and tell her there was snow outside... She went out and scooped up enough snow to make this snowman...

I thought it was so cute that I took a couple of pictures of it in different areas of the house... This one is on the kitchen counter...

This is it's final resting place (inside the freezer) because the snow will have all melted away before 11am... I just wanted to share a little Wintery Bliss with you all today...

Have a great day... remember... "This is the day that the Lord has made.. I will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Lea Anne

The Little Faith Test

If you've been following my blog, you might remember when I talked about the "Prayer that Moves Mountains." I've been praying and seeking God's ear about the next step in my life and I think I know what it is I'm to do. This new branch of advertising at KPLC may be the way that brings about the income to pay for the new house.
In Sunday School yesterday, we were discussing how God shows up in our life and how our faith is tested, and I made a comment about never worrying about how I was going to pay for the house once it was built... I just knew we were suppose to build it... (Dana's comment was "That is the VERY THING he has been worried about since we started building).. The difference between Dana and Me is that I don't worry about something past the point of what I know to do... I just "Trust the Lord and do not worry!"
So as I'm praying about the next step with God, he just shows up with a peace that I can't understand and always delivers in His own time....

As we pray for increase in faith, we have to be walking in faith... God takes the tiniest bit of faith we have and makes it grow into something big when we act on it. The Bible says that "God has dealt to each one a measure of faith" Romans 12:3. We already have some faith to start with. When we step out in that faith, God increases our faith. In other words, acting in faith begats more faith...

So just get up in the morning and say... Lord, increase my faith today... but you have to do something that is outside of the realm of what YOU CAN DO ON YOUR OWN, or it isn't a God-sized faith... Trust... and then obey...
Let me know what you are trusting for in faith today...
I love you all,
Lea Anne

DJ's Last Home Game as a Senior

Here is a great picture of what DJ looked like after the game against Many Friday night... It rained the whole game and it was a sloppy mess but that didn't stop them from winning 51-0.... They are going to the semi-finals this Friday against St. James I believe in New Orleans... Way to go DJ!!!!

Coincidence? Or Timing?...

I just had a talk with my general sales manager, AKA, my boss... He has asked me to be in charge of a new component of KPLC called Connections/Classifieds?

Is this the next thing that I'm to be working on?

I'll let you know after I've read God's word and prayed about it...

God's timing is perfect and when we're in tune with the Lord's guidance, we can catch a glimpse of the future plans He has in store for us...

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and a great time of fellowship with friends and family...
I love you all!!
Lea Anne

Knowing What to do next....

I have to say that the actual move was good because we had about 5 people show up from Sunday School to help us Sunday after church.. The weather was beautiful and the fellowship sweet... The first night I woke up a little confused about where I was because the house sounded differently than what I was used to.... But last night was better.

I have felt a little blue since yesterday and I know my spirit well enough to know that it is trying to tell me something... So I have to be still and listen for a while... I'll just ask for prayer from you to help me discern the next step in my walk on this earth.

For almost a year now, I've known what my mission was... Trust the Lord and do the work... from 2 Chronicles... I know I will continue to Trust the Lord, it's just that the work part has changed now... The work I was to do this last year involved building the house. Now that that's done, I have to pray about the next building project the Lord wants me to start.... Help me pray will you?

I want to add what I read in my devotional today as I prepare my heart to hear from the Lord about the next step...

We can't live successfully without right priorities in our lives. Correct priorities are not something we can figure out on our own. We have to be led by the Holy Spirit and have a clear knowledge of God's Word in order to understand what they should be...God is a God of order. We can tell that by looking at the universe. None of it is random or accidental. He doesn't want our lives to be either. His will is that we "let all things be done decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40). And when we pray to Him about it, He will help us do JUST THAT!!

I know that if my life is not in proper order I will not receive the blessings that God has for me. But I also know that if I seek HIM First, all that I need will be added to me.

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33

Installing the Spiral staircase

The hole where the Spiral Staircase goes....

You'll notice that we had to replace the old rickety "homemade ladder" with a nice industrial strength metal extension ladder... This has been how we accessed the media room for months... We are finally at the stage where we can install the Spiral Staircase (of course this entry is delayed as we did this 3 weeks ago.)...

The saga begins....

The parts for the spiral staircase.... SO MANY!!!

The Treads for the Spiral Staircase
The rails for the spiral staircase

the oak treads, and the casing for the handrail

The center support pole.. This has been laying in the garage since we started building the house and I'm surprised it's still straight and in one piece...

Installing each individual tread, spacer, riser, then repeat... tread, spacer, riser, repeat... The instructions suggested that we put 4 on, then stand the pole up and continue the process... Those instructions are SO SMART!!! Now I know why they suggested only 4... That thing is heavy to lift... Well, there was the little CONFUSION on Dana's part that he didn't need the SPACER at the starter plate, (which the INSTRUCTIONS said THREE TIMES to not forget to add the spacer after the starter plate) so after we had installed all the treads, we had to take them all off and add the little 1/4 inch spacer at the very bottom... and then start the process all over again...This time while the pole was already bolted into the floor... That was 20 feet of feeding the treads down the pole, but we survived...

A little crooked, but standing up straight in the hole... This is about 8 hours after we started the process...

This is actually the next day... some of our friends showed up and we wound up talking more than working, then we ordered a pizza around 8:30 pm, our first take out order at the new house... (Papa John's couldn't find our address in their mapquest search, because we aren't officially an address until we get the inspections finished)...

We left the insertion of the rails until we were fresher.... HMMM...

Here's a little clip of Dana actually installing the treads, just for fun...

Hope you enjoyed our first experience with installing a Spiral Staircase...

Love you guys.... Oh, BTW, we MIGHT get to move in this weekend.... I HOPE!!!

A Man in Need

I just had lunch at a Chinese restaurant and when my coworkers and I walked out there was a man that stopped my boss to ask for help with his weekly rent at the motel next door... I have to say that this is an uncomfortable place to be in... The asking for help... and the being asked for help....

What do you do when you need help?

What do you do if someone else needs help?

I suggested that the guy go to the churches to see if they had a benevolence fund... His response was that he wasn't a church going man....
I would suggest that if we find ourselves in need, the first place we go is to the Father, our heavenly Father, who knows of our need but is waiting for us to call out to him for help!!!

Sometimes God allows circumstances to happen in our life that brings us to a place where we are on our knees... and the only place we have to look is up to God... If people run in to save the day, a person will not need to call out to God... So although I didn't give the guy money to pay his rent, I suggested he start with the church... if he seeks God, he will find Him.

Don't forget that He is always there for us...

Opportunity Knocks

I was talking to a friend the other day and she was questioning her decision to start a new career path... She made a comment about the expectation of her current career path not being what her parents thought it would be, and I wanted to set up camp on that topic today... Do you have expectations for your future? I'm not talking about goals, I'm talking about a preconceived idea of what your future will be, or what it should be, or what it is suppose to be now?... All because of what someone else, or maybe even you, THOUGHT you would be doing?

I want to talk about those plans that we make for ourselves that leave NO ROOM for opportunity... Are you so set on the path that you think is what you've always wanted that you are not open to opportunity?... Do you leave out all aspects of spontaneity in life that could bring you into a better future that God may have laid out for us before we were ever born because it would change the PLANS you may have made for yourself? If you have a relationship with the Lord and you diligently seek direction from Him, He will always lead you to a path of good.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity.

or...

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

I want to challenge you to not focus so much on the expected future career choices or lifestyle you think you want, as to focus your attention on God and trust that He leads us everyday down the path that He has already laid out for us... The path that is full of opportunity to serve Him and to be used by Him as He leads us to the place He has laid out for us... That is what our today should consist of... Looking for opportunity to serve the Lord in the little ways that please Him... and not to worry about the final resting place of our lives... If we only look at that place, we will be sure to miss out on all the little things that will bring blessing to our life today...

I hope you are walking the path of righteousness and peace...

Isaiah 32:17 The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.

An actual conversation with the plumber...

Scenerio One...

plumber ... So, Dana, were you going to put an access panel in the Master Bath Shower?

Dana... No, I told you I wasn't putting a panel there.

plumber.... Well, we seem to have a problem with the valve being turned off and I can't get the water to turn on... I think I need to take the wall off behind the shower to get to it.

Dana... Can you take the shower valve off and stick something down the wall to turn it on?

plumber... Let me try... I'll call you back...

Scenerio Two....

plumber.... Uh, Dana, I installed the pot fill behind the stove and it was wide opened and water ran all down the back of your stove...

Dana... What!! Can you take the stove out to the garage and dry it out?

plumber .... It just ran down the back of the stove....

Dana... That just so happens to be where all the electrical elements are in the stove!!! Just set it outside and let's try to dry it out...

A day in the life of trying to finish this house... So much for the plumbing inspector giving us the okay to move in this weekend....

I'll keep you posted...

W.W.J.D.

I may have stepped on a few toes in the last post but I have been trying to understand those who say they are not happy.... Some of them are married and some are single... Some have families and some have no one... Some are saved by faith in Christ and are so far away from the Lord and some are lost and are still so far away from Christ... And in every situation, they have all expressed to me in some way how unhappy they are...
So I ask you this, are you obeying the commands of the Book of the Law?
Are you doing what Jesus would do....W.W.J.D.?
If you are willfully not obeying the rules layed out by God as a benefit to us, then you won't be happy... You may have a shortterm form of happiness, but not the sustaining peace that living an obedient life in Christ gives you...

So start there, examine any area of your life that isn't being lived according to the righteousness of Christ and start there.... START THERE!...

And see if our Lord isn't good...

"God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work? (2 Corinthians 9:8)

Happiness... From God's point of view!

Psalm 119
The Word of God

1 Happy are those who live pure lives, who follow the Lord's teachings. 2 Happy are those who keep his rules, who try to obey him with their whole heart. 3 They don't do what is wrong; they follow his ways. 4 Lord, you gave your orders to be obeyed completely. 5 I wish I were more loyal in obeying your demands. 6 Then I would not be ashamed when I study your commands. 7 When I learned that your laws are fair, I praised you with an honest heart. 8 I will obey your demands, so please don't ever leave me. 9 How can a young person live a pure life? By obeying your word. 10 With all my heart I try to obey you. Don't let me break your commands. 11 I have taken your words to heart so I would not sin against you.

What an appropriate word from God about Happiness!!! I could type until my fingers fell off and I wouldn't say it as eloquently as the Word of God.... If you want to be happy, live a pure life and learn the commandments of God and DO THEM!!!!

Pure and simple....

What if you don't know the commandments of God?

LEARN THEM!!! There is NO EXCUSES!!!

Start with Deuteronomy... That is the book that was given to Moses on Mt. Sinai by God's own hand... You know... The Ten Commandments... Start there and see if your life isn't IMMEDIATELY TRANSFORMED INTO HAPPINESS!

God Blesses Faithfulness... It doesn't necessarily come in material blessing, although that does happen, but it comes in a Peace of Mind that you can't get on your own... Only God can give you peace...

I love you and I love the Word of God when He gives a timely word in my quiet life... Enjoy and may God Bless!

Give your cares to Jesus today and live free and happy.

Digging a little deeper on the Topic of "Are you seeking Happiness?"

I wanted to touch again on the subject of happiness and ask a few more questions. Maybe I will actually start writing that book... Freedom through Obedience...

I talked to a friend last night who is facing serious marital problems... To the extent that she may be leaving her husband and filing for divorce...
Now I want to ask this question and I would love it if you would answer...

Is marriage suppose to bring us happiness?

If we are married and aren't happy, is it the marriage or the person we're married to that makes us unhappy?

Believe me, there is no judgement here for people who have gotten divorced, I'm just trying to figure something out... What I haven't figured out is that when people get divorced, and start dating someone else who in most cases is divorced too, and those people are the most wonderful people in the world... What went wrong in their previous marriage that caused a divorce? So again I ask this question...

Is marriage suppose to bring us happiness?

I am not a marriage expert, by no means, but I do have a great marriage and want to help people who are suffering in their marriage... Just this week I talked to two people who are getting a divorce and I don't think that divorce is the answer to the unhappiness we feel in marriage... or life for that matter.

I would even go out on a limb here and say that selfishness is a lot of the reason for divorces today... You don't start off selfish, but after years of feeling like your needs aren't getting met, you start to think, "I deserve to be happy... I deserve to be loved better... I deserve.... ______________ ,Whatever, you fill in the blank... I call this attitude, the spirit of rebellion... It is when you 'By God, won't do anything more for that spouse, until he/she does something for you.' This is pure and simple rebellion and then you are left with a whole bunch of resentment toward the person you are married to... The person you've vowed to love, honor and cherish til death do you part... The person who is most likely the father/mother of your children... How is this person so much more different now than when you married them? I would be interested to hear how you feel about this and if you would be kind enough to share on this blog what you are feeling. Or email me directly at lwood@kplctv.com I'd love to pray for you as you are dealing with these feelings... Thanks for letting me dig a little deeper...

What was I thinking?

I have just finished CLEANING this humongous house and it took me 2 hours to mop the media room... 2 HOURS!!! I had a friend that helped with the windows in the kitchen and she worked for 5 hours and only finished 3 windows.. Oh my goodness.... I need help!

The Measure of A Man is not By Popular Vote

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968) Civil rights leader

Last night the word of God was so relevant for today... We are back in Ecclesiastes 4 at Thursday Night Amplified and there was a section in it that spoke directly to the Presidential Election!
Here, I'll post it here and let you read it yourself....

13-16 A poor youngster with some wisdom is better off than an old but foolish king who doesn't know which end is up. I saw a youth just like this start with nothing and go from rags to riches, and I saw everyone rally to the rule of this young successor to the king. Even so, the excitement died quickly, the throngs of people soon lost interest. Can't you see it's only smoke? And spitting into the wind? Ecclesiastes 4:13-16

Now I'm not trying to rationalize if God thinks Obama is the bomb or not... I just know that he won the popular vote... he did come from rags to riches, he did rally the youth to support him, and wasn't he quite eloquent in his speeches?

Money didn't win this campaign... (although more was spent in this election than ever before) Because if that's that case, the McCains are loaded and could have thrown more money than necessary to win... It was the popular vote that won this election for Obama... The law of the land is "Majority Rules" right? Well, in reading this scripture I was just amazed at how God tells us that popularity has a way of wanning... The excitement dies quickly, and when people lose interest what happens then?
The only way this nation is going to change for the better is if, WE, as individuals, rise up and do something to help it... We can not just sit back and do nothing and hope that someone in Washington does something... We have to work in our areas of influence and strive to be a better person than we were yesterday and instill hope in people today so that they can be better tomorrow... This isn't the time to sit... It is the time to stand up for what you believe in and tell others of that hope that is in you... As Christians, we need to boldly profess that Christ is our Lord and King and our President and the leader of our life and it doesn't matter who the president is in the White House, without us, he wouldn't have a nation to lead...
So stand up today for what you know the Lord is telling you to stand for...
And always.... go in peace....
Lea Anne

Fasting and Praying

Dear Lord, Thank you for this day. Thank you for my being able to see, to hear, to speak, to move about this morning. I'm blessed because you are a forgiving and understanding God. You have done so much for me. I have witnessed your hand of blessing, your miraculous power in my life and the lives of those I love, and you just keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for your forgiveness. Please keep me, my family, and my church family safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a positive and Christ-focused attitude and plenty of gratitude. Please clear my mind of distractions so that I can hear from you and please direct my steps today. Thank you so much, in Jesus' name, amen.

I was called into a season of Fasting and Praying for 2 months before we left for Ukraine and I sensed the presence of the Lord in a mighty way during that time... If we are honest with ourselves, we sometimes lift up our requests to the Lord but we don't have the substance to do more for our prayers like fasting and getting on our knees in submission... We just want God to answer our prayers without any hard work on our part... I thank the Lord for the blessings he's brought to my life and I know that the Lord will continue to bless us... Staying faithful is a daily task... It's not something that Dana and I take lightly... It's something that requires action on our part... We don't just sit back and wait on God to do for us, we Pray and seek the Lord first and then act in faith that he will supply the answer.

"...while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He instructed me and said to me, 'Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding'" (Dan 9:21-22).

Yes. We. Can.

I have to say that I wasn't prepared for the outcome of last night's election... I was at the station answering phones to receive the votes from the precincts in SWLA and I went home around 9:30 to finish watching the national elections... At 10:30 our news station just announced that McCain had won Louisiana's electorial votes and then in the next breath... NBC network broke in to say that Obama had been declared the 44th President of the United States of America... I just really didn't believe he would win... Immediately, I started to think, Yes... We.... Can....

It doesn't matter if I voted for him or not, he is my president and we are all American's... Red, White, & Blue.... It isn't just red or blue.... We are all three colors... we are all colors... and we have to be united....

I love my country and thank God that I live in the land of the free and the brave...

God Bless America! And God Bless Barak Obama!

I'm so Full, I'm Overflowing...

Last night was a great time of worship, Bible Study and Fellowship at Thursday Night Amplified... I can't really describe how my heart feels after singing a few songs of praise and worship, but it starts to pound and I just feel full... Have you ever felt that way? Just full of the spirit... I'd love to share it with everyone I encounter because it is what brings me peace and joy. Thank you, God, for filling me with your spirit.. For hearing my prayers and for loving me...
Last night we talked about compromising our faith... How just little steps away from God's righteous path can lead us to destruction... The only way we can know how to live a righteous and pleasing life is to read the instructions left to us in the Bible... It is our owners manual for life.... It is our guide... It is the heart of God... If you want to live a life of joy and peace and walk in wisdom, do what the Word of God says to do... It works...
Have a great day...

A Season of Reaping what we've Sown

I have been studying the life of Solomon and yesterday my spirit was pricked about how faithful God is to reward those who sow a seed of faithfulness... David was said to be a man after God's own heart, and his whole 40 years as King, there was war... Solomon, on the other hand, started off as a man of integrity, but wound up following after his own sense of power and prestige and lost his focus on God, but he had peace in his whole 40 years as King... God was rewarding David's years of faithfulness, and he will also reward us for our faithfulness. If you'd like to know what happened to Solomon after all his years of sowing for himself, take a look in 1 Kings 11... What seeds are you planting today that will generate a harvest of reaping tomorrow... It's the law of God... You reap what you sow... Are you sowing good seed or bad seed?....

Getting Carried Away

I'm still figuring out where this new feeling of compassion is coming from for the brokenhearted... I know in the past when I've felt a little depressed or sad, I knew I could call on the Holy Spirit to comfort me... I remember the poem called Footprints... Do you? It was about how when things were going good in a person's life there were two sets of footprints on the sand, but when things were tough, there was only one set of footprints.. The walker asked God why that was and God's response was, "I was carrying you!" (or something close to that)

We do not have to beg the sun for light, and we don't have to beg the Holy Spirit for comfort either. He is comfort... We simply have to separate ourselves from anything that separates us from Him... We have to pray that when we go through difficult times, He will give us a greater sense of His comfort in it.

Is there some sin that is separating you from receiving the comfort of God? Ask Him to reveal it to you and have the courage to turn from that sin today. This is not about feeling better, it's about knowing our savior is there, carrying us through the difficulty and wanting to be a comfort to us... And then, because we do this, we do feel better...
I feel better already!
Lea Anne

Comfort the Brokenhearted

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. Isaiah 61:1

I am definitely being stretched by God here... I am not one to be very sensitive to other people and I'm usually a very "tell it like it is" person. After my heart was broken last Wednesday night, I've been re-evaluating my purpose for the moment... I feel like I've been called to reach out to hurting people... I have to call upon the Lord for the strength and ability to do this, because it doesn't come naturally... I do know the voice of the Lord and I will just have to submit to it.... I pray I can offer a little comfort to someone today... I pray you too, will see someone in need today...

Noticing the Needs of Others

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. Psalm 62:5

Last night I had the privilege of going to supper and prayer meeting at church. I did what I normally do and I stopped to say Hello to my friends or slowed down to speak to people on the way to my table. It was a good time to fellowship around the table with my church family... However, right before the prayer meeting started, I noticed a guy that was sitting at a table all by himself, and I couldn't help but notice he was crying... I just asked him to join our table and he did, but he was still crying... This was a little uncomfortable because being the fixer that I am, I just wanted to fix whatever was wrong with him, and be comfortable again... That didn't happen right away. We had the devotional and went into the prayer time and as we all prayed out loud, when it was his turn, he just said, "God, just be with me." His prayer was interrupted as the pastor called the group back into corporate prayer, but I couldn't just leave it there.
After the prayer time was over, I just asked him, How can I pray for you right now?
He was able to open up somewhat, and I can't say that I even offered a solution to his problems, but I did pray for him, and I'm still praying for him...
His whole burden was that he wanted to be around family... He just needed to be with his brother...
We can't always depend on our family, or our friends and loved ones to be there for us when we just need to be comforted... But we do have an advocate for us in Jesus Christ. Tell God all about your needs and everything that is in your heart. Don't worry, He won't be surprised or shocked. He already knows. He is just waiting to hear it from you.
Although we are the hands and feet of Jesus and if we look for opportunities to hug someone or sit with someone who is lonely, and just be there for someone, that may be what gets them through another day...Only God will relieve him of his burden...But we can notice and pray... Look to ONLY God today to relieve you of your burden...
Notice someone today.

A Prayer that Moves Mountains...

So Jesus said to them..."For assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20

What prayer would you like to boldly pray in faith and see answered? What would you like to see accomplished in your life, or in the life of someone you know, that would take a prayer of great faith? Ask God to take that seed you have and grow it into a giant tree of faith so you can see these things come to pass.

Is there someone in your life that needs Jesus? Pray that you can be so bold to talk to them about your Lord and Savior... He is who everyone needs to overcome an addiction or a dependency on something that has a stronghold on them... It is only Jesus that can help... Once we start being Jesus to our lost friends and loved ones, they will want to know more about him... Start being Jesus to them today.

If you are in a situation that requires GREAT FAITH... Pray that God will give you an opportunity to trust him a little more than you do today... Our faith grows as we see answered prayer... Write down something you want to see happen today and then pray for it...

You have not because you ask not....James 4:2

Ask for it...

I love you guys (and girls;-)

Behavior Modification Day Number 2

You may be asking what am I trying to modify about my behavior?

I went to a Women's Conference on Thursday and was able to attend a seminar called "Light My Fire" which was a seminar for "Big Girls"... Did you know that it is totally legal to flirt, date, and seduce your husband? I know that as a married woman I have the right to do that, but I don't always take advantage of that right... So I decided that I would not only start trying to be a little more pleasant towards Dana, but I would try to be a little more pleasant looking... Does the picture at the top remind you of any one? Unfortunately, that's me, at home... UUGGHH!!

It's not that we don't have a great marriage, but whose marriage couldn't stand a little more intentional effort poured into it? I am going to do a little work on myself, because one of the things the speaker mentioned was about how we present ourselves to our husbands... It's like we put on our best clothes, do our hair and makeup, and put our best face forward for everyone else, but when we get home we look or dress like something the cat dragged in... She also mentioned how we should maintain our nails... both fingers and feet!!! This is where I drop the ball big time and never get a manicure or pedicure... I always thought I was being frugal in not spending the money... I never looked at it as a way to entice my husband? Do men notice things like that?

How beautiful are your sandaled feet...how beautiful you are and how pleasing... (Song of Songs 7..)

And one more thing she mentioned, we should have a fragrance about us that will remind our husbands of us... and I don't think "bacon grease" is the fragrance we should shoot for... Although this is quite tantalizing...

Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out...(Song of Songs 1:3)

One other thing she spoke about was speaking a word of encouragement into our husbands... Telling them how handsome they were, or how strong they were, and she used scripture to emphasis the need to do this as well...

My lover is radiant and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand. His head is purest gold; his hair is wavy and black as a raven. His eyes are like doves by the water streams, washed in milk, mounted like jewels. His cheeks are like beds of spice yielding perfume, his lips... his arms... his body... his legs... his appearance... his mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely. This is my lover, this my friend... (Song of Songs 5...)

Well, I always like to share when something I've heard or read has touched me in a way that makes me WANT to be a better person, and this was something that I've actually already started to implement... I'm on DAY 2... I'll let you know how it turns out...

Timing is Everything

Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. Ephesians 4:25

When a wise woman speaks, she knows that timing is important. When things need to be said that are difficult for the hearer to receive, timing is everything. Certain words cannot be uttered with any success if the person listening is not open and ready to hear them. It's important to discern that, and the only way to know for certain when to speak and what to say is to pray about it in advance.

I've been praying for three people specifically this week who I want to speak to on a deeper level, but I don't feel the timing is right yet. I would ask that you pray for me to be able to discern when that time is...

When a wise woman speaks, she tells the truth.
When we don't speak the truth, we hurt others as well as ourselves. Do you know someone today that is living in a state of denial? Are you praying for that person? You may be the right person to guide them into a new way of living by speaking a word of truth into their life. I pray you are bold enough to speak into someone's life today. I challenge you to go to God's word and ask God to reveal the words He would have you speak.

Remember, we are here to serve others and to help others and I pray that you are where you need to be in right standing with God so you can bring some abundant life giving words to someone else...

Live free today from the burdens of your sins... Acknowledge that you are a sinner, Believe that Christ can save you and Commit your ways to serving Christ.
It's as easy as A...B...C.... You can live FREE today.

Just pray...
Lea Anne

Thursday Night Amplified

WORSHIP

BIBLE STUDY

FELLOWSHIP
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15

The most important words we can speak are ones that explain our faith to anyone who asks or who will listen. We must be able to give a reason for the hope we have within us. We have to pray that God will help us become bold enough to clearly explain our faith in God.

Last night was a great time of Worship, Bible Study and Fellowship at Thursday Night Amplified. The College Department has started a group that meets on Thursday Nights at 7pm to give an alternate meeting time over the traditional Sunday Morning Bible Study at 9:15... For some reason, college kids don't like to get up early on Sunday mornings... I can't imagine why?

We are studying the book of Ecclesiastes and it is amazing how relevant that book is to today's situations. Last night we talked about corrupt court systems... Anybody???? And how God allows us to be TESTED in our faith by choosing the right way out of a temptation. God will test us, but do not be decieved because God DOES NOT TEMPT us... That is from Satan alone... I hope that when you find yourself in a test by God, that you will pray for the guidance that only He can give us and choose the right way... He is so proud of us when we choose to live right. Have you faced a temptation lately? Temptations are an opportunity to do the RIGHT thing... Go out and find what YOUR right thing is today... I hope you pass the test!!

I was touching base with you to see how everyone was doing today? I've had a good week and a lot is getting accomplished at the house. The tile was being put down yesterday in the kitchen and once that's done, it'll be smooth sailing to finish... We picked out the hardware for the cabinet doors and drawers and that was quite an undertaking... I don't know if you've been down the hardware aisle at Lowes lately, but there are a lot of choices...

I'll post pictures when I get a chance to go take them.
I hope you all have a great day...
Lea Anne

I'll Let You in on a Real Conversation between Me and God

I'm going to let you in on a Conversation...

To see how this plays out, you have to know a little of the background... Almost a year ago, when Dana and I were thinking and praying about whether to put the house up for sale, I was led to a verse in Amos... It said,

Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? Amos 3:3

This struck me as a word from God about how Dana and I had to agree completely on the next step we were to take together, or it would be in vain... then we decided as a couple to sell the Prien Lake Rd house and build the Woodside house...

So it's been about a year since that prayer and the other day, I was doing my Beth Moore study and I was led to a scripture in Amos... It immediately rang a bell in my head about the scripture from last September and I turned to the passage...
This is the passage that jumped out at me.

Therefore, though you build beautiful stone houses, you will never live in them. Amos 5:11b

Now this is where I have to chew this around a little... let's think about it for awhile... I'm letting you in on how I process a word from God...

As I am thinking back over the last year, I use my journal as a guide, to see how the Lord has talked to me throughout this whole process... Did he ever say to me that I would LIVE in the house he has allowed us to build? I remember in 1 Chronicles 28:9-10 he said this....

9 “And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately.
Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord
sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will
find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. 10 So take this
seriously. The Lord has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong, and do the work.”

He did say to be strong and do the work, and this...

Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly. 21 The various divisions of priests and Levites will serve in the Temple of God. Others with skills of every kind will volunteer, and the officials and the entire nation are at your command.”

So I feel like He definitely called us to go ahead and build the house.

Then in my Journal I wrote on 9/3/08... Someone called about buying the house today... Could this be your will Lord. To sell it before we ever live in it?

I write things that I don't remember praying sometimes in my journal, and that's what I wrote about not living in the house. I wrote this BEFORE I read the scripture this past week from Amos 5:11b...

Therefore, though you build beautiful stone houses, you will never live in them...

So did God ever say we would live there?..

So what do I do now?...

I wait....

I wait on the Lord....

I keep doing what I know the Lord told me to do until he tells me to do something different... I keep building until it's finished, (which according to Dana, will be about 6 weeks) and I wait to see where the Lord will lead us next... Do you want to wait with me? I'll keep you posted on my conversation with God and when I hear a new word...

This verse could have been preparing my heart to receive a new word from the Lord, or it could have been a test to see if I cared more about the house than I did about the Lord who gave me the house to build... It's all about priorities...
Will I be able to sacrifice this house before I ever live there if that is what the Lord was asking me to do?

I don't even have to think about it.... YES!!! I know that if the Lord doesn't give me THIS HOUSE, it's because He has something better... You may be thinking, what's better than a new house? I can think of many things... A house that is free and clear of a mortgage... or a house that is in a new country... or a house that is in the heavenlies...

Our lives are like dust... here today and gone tomorrow... so if we don't take everyday as a gift from the Lord, we miss out on our purpose in life... To know God better... That's what I want more than a house...

I'm not saying this is set in stone(no pun intended)... we may very well be allowed to live here, which would be wonderful in my mind... I'm just putting my thoughts out there for you to see how God and I communicate... I'm letting you in on a little of my journaling...

If you don't journal, maybe you could start... It's a great way to remember what you think on and to see answered prayer...

Until the next post...
Go in peace, Lea Anne

Introducing.... The Media Room!

The reason we haven't had any pictures of the upstairs media room, is because we've had to use this rickety "Home-Made" ladder as a means to get up there... I haven't really wanted to climb it, so I haven't taken any pictures.... However, they installed the railing on the baluster yesterday and I had to show you how pretty it was... So here is the adventure of braving the ladder....

The approach is cautious...
I'm half-way up and it's hasn't fallen yet....

I've made it to the top and isn't the slate blue color beautiful?...

I actually have to put the camera down and hold on with both hands in order to get from the top rung onto the landing... All this while balancing the rickety ladder underneath me... It was quite entertaining... However no one was there to see me... AH!!! the media room at last.... We have a full shower, wet bar and will have a 103 inch projection screen television placed over the window at the end... Surround sound and booster upstairs.... I know my most used phrase after we move in will be "Turn that DOWN!!!"
Up close shot of the baluster.... The wrought iron will match the iron on the spiral staircase that will be installed after the flooring goes down in the kitchen... I can't wait to have a real staircase leading up there...
The beverage center.... Dana freaked out when he found out how much ice makers were. Needless to say, we don't have an ice maker upstairs...But we will have a mini-fridge, microwave and coffee pot!!! What more can a MAN ROOM need than that.... (oh and don't forget the bathroom!)
For an afterthought, this media room turned out pretty good... We thought we would utilize the empty space above the garage and I'm so glad that Dana will have a room all to himself...

I'll post more later....

Take care.

Lea Anne

Lordy, Lordy Look who's 40!

Today is Dana's 40th Birthday. I hope to inspire you with a bit of wisdom or fun. Dana is the funniest guy to be around... He is always laughing or giggling about something and to hear him watch television, you would think it was a comedy club. He brings a ton of joy to my life and I couldn't imagine life without him.

When the girls and I are on a trip and Dana isn't with us, they are always saying... "If Dad were here, he would say..." this, or that, or "it isn't as fun when Dad isn't with us."

He truly is a joy to have around... So I just wanted to send a shout out to all in blog land to say "Happy Birthday, Dana!"

Enjoy your day.

I love you,

Lea Anne

And...You Decorate My Life...

Keelea, Big, Bold and BLUE

Chateau de la Barre

(House of Witness)

Ooooh, la la (my spa bath)

Ashton is bright and Orange