Christ the Lord Is Risen Today!! Alleluia!!

My Heart is overflowing with the magnificence of Christ Jesus!! He is Risen!! I want to shout it out at everyone on the street. I ran into Wal-Mart this morning to pick up a last minute thing and I wanted to walk up to the greeter and give her a big hug and say, HE IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD AND HE IS LORD!!!. But I restrained myself and I simply told her Happy Easter. I think I should have maybe done the former. She may have thought I was crazy, but Oh Well. I am going to try harder to let my exuberance for the Lord Shine Out. I would for a rock star or movie star. Why not my Lord Jesus? I hope everyone has an awesome Easter!! For He has Risen!!

Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia!

Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!

Lo! the Sun’s eclipse is over, Alleluia!

Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia!

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia

!Christ hath burst the gates of hell, Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!

Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!

Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!

Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!

Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!

Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!

Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Hail, the Lord of earth and Heaven, Alleluia!

Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia!

Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!

Hail, the resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

King of glory, Soul of bliss, Alleluia!

Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!

Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Alleluia!

Thus to sing and thus to love, Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!

Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!

Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!

Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

But the pains that He endured, Alleluia!

Our salvation have procured, Alleluia!

Now above the sky He’s King, Alleluia!

Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!

Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!

Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!

Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

Small Talk 6 Saturdays!!

Small Talk Six Saturdays is a weekly Meme created by MomDot to engage conversations during the “slower” Blog Saturdays.Every week, those participating respond to a different topic. The response is done in 6; either 6 words, 6 paragraphs, photos etc…

This weeks topic is 6 breakfast food that you love or hate...

#1. Blueberry Pancake or Buttermilk Pancakes yum, yum.....

#2. Orange Cinnamon rolls

#3. Grits==of course, what good southern girl doesn't like grits.

#4. Oatmeal

#5. French Toast

#6. Bacon.

That whole list just makes me hungry. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.

Thanks for everyone who participated in the 10 commandments list. Rebecca Jo and Walking on Sunshine, & The luckiest Mrs. all got the total 10 correct.

I hope everyone has a Wonderful Easter!!

Can You Remember All 10 of God's Commandments?

When driving into work I usually listen to Moody Christian Radio. This morning was no different. While I was crusin' down the I-55, toward Chicago, I was engrossed in the topic this A.M. A Pastor (I can't remember his name) was speaking about, how it seems that the generation of today, does not know the Bible as past generations have. He went on to say that Doctrine students of a recent college class, did not even know all the 10 commandments or where they were located in the Bible.

I thought to myself, "Well I know where they are located, let's see if I can name them." I started mentally counting them off. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7....I got only to 7! I couldn't remember all 10. I started counting them on my fingers out loud. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7....I still could only get 7.

The first thing I did when I went into the office was pull out my Bible from my desk. I looked them up. I can't believe that I couldn't remember all 10. I got the obvious ones, Thou shalt not Steal, Kill and so forth, but I am aggravated that I could not remember all 10.

I am going to write them out and post them on my refrigerator. I'm wondering, can any of you remember all 10? Now don't cheat & look them up first, but leave me a comment, just to let me know which ones you remember, just off the top of your head. Tomorrow I'll post the list of all 10 and the name of the one that got the most right!

Good luck, I know you probably can all remember more than I did. :) I hope you all have a Blessed day. Also the children are coming this weekend. Please pray for continued family progress, with the kids. We have all been doing really well, but bio-mom hasn't been encouraging the blending of the entire family. God is in control I know, and I pray that everyone will leave all bad attitudes at the door. It maybe futile, but I am praying that eventually, we will all truly love one another and get along. I told my Hubby the other day, we have a lot of years ahead of us together with these people. Graduation, ball-games, weddings, births of grand babies. Wouldn't it just be so much easier, if we loved one another? I know that this well not happen without God's help.

I recently came across a woman who blogs and she has 3 step-daughters and 2 nieces just like me. She gets along with the bio-mom. I am planning to ask her what her secret is.

Remember, This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

My Nieces Made Their First Snowman!@!

As you know, I my family recently moved up to Illinois from Mississippi. About 3 weeks ago that is. This past weekend, we had a snow. For those of us who have endured the long Chicago winter, we didn't think much of it. But for my nieces, this was their first substantial snow EVER! This snow isn't that much for those of us who are old hands at Chicago winter weather. But they were so excited. Here's a picture of their first snowman.

Snow: Something the rest of us have taken for granted, are SO tired of seeing, that something is wonderful and beautiful to someone else! How marvelous is that? I guess it all depends on your perspective. I hope everyone had a great day! Rejoice in the Lord!

The Greatest Commandment is to "Love One Another!"

Adolescence is a hard period in life, especially for girls. Boys do not seem to really strive on the acceptance, of their peers, that girls do. But thankfully, we grow up and leave all that childish behavior behind us. (Most of us that is) Some of us go to college and others start a job and/or family. We grow as people, (or we should!) and hopefully become productive members of society.

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to observe that this isn't always the case. Let's just say, I was quite surprised in fact, to find out that this was not the case. My sister had her 20 year class reunion, and well, it seems some things never change. Within an hour of the festivities Saturday night, one of Those girls, had posted on Facebook, some not so nice pictures of girls at the reunion. There were not so nice comments made under the photos. I can't believe it. Aren't we all supposed to "love one another"? Even if we aren't all bestie, best friends, is it really necessary to put unpleasant material regrading a classmate (or anyone for that matter) up on the Internet for the world to see? I mean we are all supposed to be grown up right?

I just keep thinking, of the girls that were unfortunate enough to have their pictures posted, they were at one time, friends of ours. We rode the bus together, we went to youth group together, we played softball together, we dreamed together, and then life happened. We all have circumstances that effect the way we look today. Stress, is a real thing. Depression is a real thing. These things can all cause our appearance to drastically change.

I do not understand why people have the need to bring others down to make themselves look good. I have never understood that need. But truthfully I must admit, that to myself, I may have been thrilled that the Prom Queen looks old, or well you get the picture. I am ashamed of this fact. I just refuse to participate in mean girl behavior. I wouldn't want someone to do that to me, so I choose not to do it to someone else. I am going to try to do better. I vow to try to always look beyond the surface, to the beauty that everyone (everyone!) has on the inside. We are all "fearfully and wonderfully made" Psalm 139:14; and we are "all created in God's Image" Genesis 1:27. It should make my life easier.

This is a venting post and I apologize. I just had to get this out and said. If we all would just look at people beyond the surface of a person, to the heart on the inside, the world might just be a better place!

So a thought would be, if we choose to make fun of someone, are we in a sense making fun of God? After all, He created everyone of us. It's something to ponder.

Thanks for letting me vent! You guys are awesome.

Secret Keeper Girl and The Steve Fee Band!!!

This weekend was an awesome weekend at our church. Friday night we had the Secret Keeper Girl Fashion Show and then last night we were surprised at the worship service, to have the Steve Fee band!

As you know we go to church on Saturday nights. Our church has 3 services, and that is the one we choose to attend. We attend Harvest Bible Chapel and it is pretty awesome. It's a big church though and we are just now starting to feel comfortable.

Friday night I had tickets to go to the Secret Keeper Girl Fashion Show. I had tickets for myself, bio-mom, my 2 s-daughters & their half-sis, and my 2 nieces. I figured it could be an opportunity for all of us to bond with one another and it would be a step in blending the family. (I guess I was wrong) I had spoken to bio-mom about this event several times and even gave her an info sheet from our church. I thought all was well. Guess what, No phone call, no nothing, just a no show. But GOD is ultimately in control of this entire situation and me and my nieces had an awesome time! God uses everything to HIS Glory. I know this. I praise God for His wisdom and compassion in every situation.

I have this little booklet that I got at our church book store. Freedom Through Forgiveness. By James MacDonald. (He's our Pastor) I have to pull it out from time to time and read it. It is so worn, (I've had to read it a lot) It's very on point with how we need to have forgiveness in our hearts. God forgives us and we MUST forgive others if we are to live fully in God's Will. It goes on to say that forgiveness isn't a feeling, it's an action, a choice, an act of will! It's a great little booklet and here's the link if you would like to pick one up. Walk in the word is our pastor's ministry. I can not allow someone else's hang ups, or the fruits of the injustice I may feel to destroy my joy that I feel in the LORD.

These are the fruits of unforgiveness:

#1=Bitterness

#2=Wrath

#3=Anger

#4=Clamor

#5=Evil-Speaking

#6=Malice

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice" Ephesians 4:31

So even though I or you may fill hurt from time to time or for some on a daily basis from past hurts from our childhoods or whatever, We are commanded to forgive. And with forgiveness comes forgetting. This is the really hard part. I ask God almost daily to take away from me a thought that pops up in my head regarding a past hurt. satan, loves for us to be in discord with one another, doesn't he.

I know some of you may not be believers in Christ Jesus, but as we enter into this Holy Week, celebrating Christ death and resurrection, KNOW this, HE wants to forgive us for all of our sins. Every little thing you can think of that you do, that you may think, "God can never forgive me for this" YES He can!!! All you have to do is invite Him into your heart and ask Him to forgive you of all your sins. Please know that once you do this, you aren't going to miraculously be perfect, (After all, we are all human) We will sin every day, we will hurt those we love, we will fail, but how wonderful to know that Jesus still loves us and will forgive us, if we just ask! He really makes it so simple. I will be happy to talk to you further about this is you wish. Just let me know.

Wow, that little bit certainly took a direction I didn't foresee. Isn't God awesome. He can turn anything into good. I mean anything!!!!

And as I mentioned we had the Steve Fee band in concert at church last night. They were amazing. I have a clip here you can get a little sample of them. The song is It's all because of Jesus Hope you enjoy it. Just click on the link here. I can't get the video embeded in my blog. Sorry! Amber usually helps me with this computer stuff and well, she's not here.

I want to start something new this week. Starting today I will do God Answers Prayer Sundays. I saw this on a wonderful blog I love to visit Lions, Tigers, and Boys, Oh My! and I love it. I want to become a stronger prayer warrior and I want to pray for you. God calls us to pray for one another and lift each other up to Him.

Please leave me your prayer request. I hope you all have an awesome week! I love hearing from you, so please leave a comment.

In Christ Love, Renee

Small Talk 6 Saturdays!!! 6 Lies? Oh My!

Small Talk Six Saturdays is a weekly Meme created by MomDot to engage conversations during the “slower” Blog Saturdays.Every week, those participating respond to a different topic. The response is done in 6; either 6 words, 6 paragraphs, photos etc…

This weeks Small Talk 6 Topic is......6 of the worst lies you've ever told.

Wow, let me think. I try not to lie very much these days, I am a pretty blunt person. What you see is what you get. I guess I probably lied the most when I was in college. I could never lie to my Mama, she always saw through it. Basically my life has always been an open book. But here goes.....

#1. I was of legal drinking age at 18, but when I was 19 the age became 21 and we were not grandfathered in. I was no longer legal. I used my roommates ID to get into a club.

#2. Did the cat really run away? or did he mysteriously disappear? Maybe I had something to do with that disappearance, or maybe not. I'll never tell.

#3. Officer I didn't mean to speed, I was praying and really talking to God, I didn't notice the speed limit. That didn't work, but I tried.

#4. Oh, I love that piece of art! My MIL has a piece of art (?) that's questionable! lol, and I have said that it's very nice. ha!

#5. Yes I can tell you've lost some weight. I mean, come on, I don't want to discourage someone and when they ask you and you said NO I can't tell. How mean is that. Sometimes a little white lie is.....well not OK, but you know.

#6. When I was 5, the little boy down the street said to me "I'll show you mine, if you show me yours" I said OK! I saw his, but he didn't see mine. I think I was in total shock, Wow what is that thing anyway?

What a hard post to do. I am so glad that I am no longer insecure and that I feel the need to lie. Age does give you a certain wisdom and I feel empowered with the strength and knowledge that I am Woman!

Once Again, This Could Be The Year!!

I am forever optimistic. I just know the Chicago Cubs are going to make it to the big dance this fall. The biggest dance of all the World Series. Never mind that I say this every year. This year is the year. I can feel it in my bones. Ha! That may just be arthritis. :)

My neighbor down the street has his Cubs flag flying. He has a big flag with a (W) on it for win they win the game. Life is good.

We are really big Cub fans in our neighborhood. So much so, that back in the fall, the house right next door to us was for sale and one of the people that looked at it had on a Chicago White Sox cap. Nope, they can't be moving on our street can they. The kids were concerned. But they didn't buy it and it's still up for sale. I guess if they had moved in we would have gotten along just fine, except maybe just a little rivalry.

I know there are so much more important things happening in the world today, but it's good to just sit back and welcome Opening Day. Go Cubbies!!!

On a more serious note, I have a couple of prayer request. My new blog friend Sarah, is asking for prayer regrading her day tomorrow. You can find out more by clicking on her link. Also, my friend and neighbor, Nikki, had surgery today. She had a lymph node removed. They are going to have to do a biopsy on it. Also please continue to lift our kids up in prayer as well. My sister has been released from the hospital. Thanks for your prayers!

Go Cubs Go!!