Love... on PURPOSE.

Mom's, today would have been Bronner Burgess's 6th birthday. I don't know them personally, but grieved w the entire Rick & Bubba family when they lost their little boy. As I think about all that family has gained & lost as a result of the loss of their baby.. I am headed to hug my 4 babies a little tighter and take a moment to look them each in the eye and make sure they hear me say ...ON PURPOSE how very much i love them. Thinking of mom, Sherri Burgess & what bitter sweet emotions must come with today, makes me STOP, even if its only for an hour... our busy schedules of school parties, and sports, and church, and tv and video games(!!!!!) and purposefully take time to love on them, to listen to them, and to share with each of my babies from (almost) 4yrs to 12... how important they are to me and to the Kingdom of God. They are loved by their Heavenly Father more than I could ever love them. They were created by God...to be USED FOR HIS glory and purposes. However many days that may take. Their lives are intended to be used by GOd. I want them to hear that. To feel a sense of purpose that doesnt come from me--- their worth is not found in what mom wants. Or the dreams of NFL glory dad may have ;) I pray their worth be found in Jesus. All their hopes and dreams be wrapped so tightly in what Father GOD wants for them, that they be BLINDED by faith from a young age. Most of my close friends know how passionately I feel about praying, and praying SCRIPTURE (for scripture is truth and life and the WORD of God, and God cannot lie, therefore, by praying  scripture--the very word of God into our families lives--we are speaking truth and LIFE over them)--so I encourage you to PRAY for your children today--ON PURPOSE. MAKE TIME. STOP. Whatever busy plans your day may be filled with...hug up your children..place your hands on them..and pray. Let your children HEAR their momma (or daddy) lifting them up to daddy God today. We aren't promised another day. You, momma aren't promised another day with that baby you would throw yourself in front of a train for. The, single most important thing you can do for them is not, getting them to the baseball field, or buying them the "I WANT".. or " I NEED" of the day.... the most important thing you can do for your children is to... share the love of Jesus with them. Do it. now.

My prayer today for Logan, Brady Cole, Max and my sweet Kylee--- based from Pslam 63.. Oh you are my God, earnestly, I seek you. My soul thirsts for you. May my children thirst for you as well. May their bodies long for you in a dry and weary land where there is no water. May they see you high and lifted up in the sancturary and behold your power and glory. Because YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE, Logan, Brady, Max & Kylees lips WILL GLORIFY YOU. THEY WILL praise you as long as they live, and in YOUR name they WILL lift their hands. Their souls will be satisfied, with singing lips their mouths will praise you! Because YOU, GOD, are their very present HELP in times of need.. they will SING in the shadow of your wings. Their souls find REST in YOU ALONE....no substance or person, or material possession....only YOU, their salvation comes from YOU alone... YOU ALONE, are their ROCK and SALVATION. YOU, GOD...are their FORTRESS, and as they place their hope in YOU...they WILL NEVER be SHAKEN, IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS I pray!!!                      and once again today... I commit my loves... Strong, determined, warrior Logan.................... Passionate, loving, big hearted servant Brady Cole.................. mighty Prophet with healing in his hands Max....................... and strong willed-- WARRIOR for the kingdom of God, Pastor Kylee Ruth into your MORE than caplable hands... for I, as much as i love them cannot do anything, including parent them, without YOU. Amen.

AFRICA--those of you with concerns...turn them into PRAYERS!!

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. Mathew 28:18-20

How many times have you heard someone speak of a loved ones dying words? Or words someone spoke as left? Can you imagine.. had we lived in the days when Jesus was walking, teaching, preaching, and he was about to leave our presence...I would be hanging on His every word. So why don't we do that now? He GIVES us an instruction book full of LIFE and TRUTH, direction and wisdom.

JESUS LEFT the disciples with specific words of instruction. No grey area...HE TOLD them what they were to do:: ya ready?
1. GO and make disciples of ALL the NATIONS
2. Baptize them (ALL the Nations) in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
3. Teach them to observe ALL things I have commanded.

Then...Jesus gives us a promise... " I AM WITH YOU, to the END of the age" FOREVER. He is with me FOREVER.

God spoke to Phillip & I almost  8 years ago and called us to work in the ministy. With our hands to the plow. We have been dragging our feet, no doubt. But our hearts cry is to be used by Him ...whenever...WHEREVER, WHATEVER!! Around that same time, our pastor at the time, intorduced us to the people of Uganda, Africa. He traveled there often and his love and passion for the people of Africa was CONTAGIOUS! Phillip and I knew someday we would go. 2 weeks ago as this most recent ministry opportunity in Uganda presented itself I was really.. I mean really shocked...when God started PRESSING into my spirit..that NOW was the time. I mean I even told him "God...someday... i will go... not now" (HAHA---dont tell God NO!!) THat...pounding in my chest and throat would not go away... i was being DRAWN. Then Pastor Keith began to tell us what the team would be doing. He said Encounter weekened (something our church does in order to the works of the devil, and SET people FREE from the chains that have them bound)... Phillip & I had just helped lead one of these weekends, and I am passionate about this area of ministry. I knew.. right then, I was suppose to go. I didnt say it out loud though!! As Phillip and I drove home... I kept praying that God would speak to Phillip and give him peace with me going NOW..."someday" had come!! As we talked, he just did have peace. and every single time I told God a reason I couldnt "GO" NOW....GOD provided the solution...i mean immediately. The biggest obstacle I could see was the financial obligation. And i KNEW in my Spirit HE would handle that...that HE even WANTED TO SHOW Me--to stretch me... in my faith... HE wanted to FUND this journey HIMSELF...with HIS people. wow. THEN I told Phillip.. "what is frightening to me right now, is I can see it.. i have a VISION of me..there..right now I can SEE it"... about 15 seconds later, I got a text from Theresa from church..she said "How did Rod & Diana do? Do you think anyone caught the VISION?"!!!!!!!!!! CONFIRMATION. In the next weeks i had several other CONFIRMING signs. I'll include a pic of one below... I was BLOWN away walking up to this LITERAL SIGN!! I still needed a confirming word thru scripture though before I would commit. Monday I was feeling especially overwhelmed at the thought of leaving my children for 2 weeks...and heaping all that extra responsibility onto my husband. I even felt ..selfish. It was a sad day. THEN a friend called...Linda Johnson is her sweet name...she said she had a WORD for ME!!! THAT got my attention:: Deu 3:18 ""Then I commanded you at that time, saying: 'The LORD your God has given you this land to possess. All you men of valor shall cross over armed before your brethren, the children of Israel. 'But your wives, your little ones, and your livestock (I know that you have much livestock) shall stay in your cities which I have given you, 'until the LORD has given rest to your brethren as to you, and they also possess the land which the LORD your God is giving them beyond the Jordan. Then each of you may return to his possession which I have given you.' THE LAND for me is Africa, my family, for now...shall stay here, HE WILL take care of them and then I WILL return to them.    THE next day...I struggled with fear.. so I went back to this word...  i mean... i wasnt just struggling...it was almost a crippling fear..and this was THE day I had to give Diana--team leader--my answer... I got this word back out..and just stared at it. Then I kept reading...."'Your eyes have seen all that the LORD your God has done....; so will the LORD do to all the kingdoms through which you pass. (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), DO NOT BE AFRAID of them; the LORD your GOD HIMSELF WILL FIGHT FOR YOU." WOW WOW WOW!!!!! WHat better promise do I need??????

For me, I GO June 22, 2011!!! I am excited. I want you, my friends & family to catch my passion!! I have recieved several emails of concern, however. So I want to make a couple of things clear. I GO---because HE TOLD me to. He spoke right to my spirit that day in church... you know the feeling..like when you got saved...did you ever feel that and...just let it pass by WITHOUT going to the alter...or crying out ... I have... and when I realized that that ...thumping...pounding was the HS trying to get my attention.. I NEVER NEVER WaNT TO IGNORE that prompting again. BUT ALSO...its right there...in HIS word....JESUS HIMSELF said to "GO" to the NATIONS...JESUS is LORD of the EARTH and HE died for the sins of people from ALL NATIONS. WE--YOU are to GO whether it is to your next door neighbor, the lady sitting in the pue at church...there...but lost and broken, the drug addict, the prisoner, the orphan, OR to another country---and MAKE DISCIPLES. Its not an option people..ITS A COMMAND. STRAIGHT from Jesus..before His death. We are not ALL evangelist in the formal sense, but we HAVE ALL recieved gifts from GOD, that we CAN USE to fullfill the Great COmmision. SO if HE tells you to DO something...TO GO, TO GIVE, TO LOVE, TO FORGIVE... JUST DO IT. NO FEAR. As we OBEY, we can find comfort knowing that JESUS IS ALWAYS with us.

SO to my friends that are worried about me leaving my family for 2 weeks... please understand... there is a much bigger picture here. HE died for me. and His final words were for ME (and YOU)... I am obeying HIM. HE has every hair on my head counted...he bottles everyone of my tears....and HE loves Phillip, Logan, Brady COle, Max and Kylee.....MORE than I ever could. hear me............ I T R U S T HIM. I trust Him because He loves me. I trust Him because HE has proven Himself trustworthy and I trust Him because HE SAYS to. When I leave this world... I WILL LEAVE BOLDY...having LOVED MUCH, having GIVEN MUCH, and having recieved more ---even if today were my final day---than I could have ever possibly have imagined. My hearts cry...is to BE HIS hands and FEET...to GO wherever HE sends me...to a WORLD...that is LOST. I pray YOU catch that vision. HE is ALL I need. and that is the BEST, nost important thing I can teach my children... I want JESUS to be ALL they need. THEY are watching us.... I dont want them to see mom was too afraid to be obedient. GOD is my protector...my sheild. I TRUST HIM.

and I love you all very much!!

Fundraiser UPDATE:: another 200.00 donation brings my total raised to:::: 1510.00
total left to raise for my plane ticket is 290.00 !!!!!!!!!!
THEN we will be onto raise the additional 1700.00 needed for the trip expenses.


ALSO, my ministry bag will be filled with pens, pencils, erasers and crayons. I have recieved some pencils and a coupl of boxes of crayons. PLEASE GIVE.


and LASTLY, PLEASE cover this entire journey and everyone involved and their families in prayer. From the 9 of us who already have our tickets and our families...to the ones who are still praying for a WAY... to the people in the villages of Lira, Uganda. PREPARE THE WAY LORD....

joellebrooks@hotmail.com 256-558-6625 paypal accepted.

When we GIVE, We Recieve. Im goin to AFRICA!!!! Want to SOW some seeds with me?

Hi friends,

Our family has had so many changes in the last several years. Growing is not always easy... but, Im learning, always worth it---whether its growing in numbers OR growing spiritually!! Most of you know that about 8 years ago while attending Brindlee Mt Baptist Church with the amazing Pastor Ken Galyean as our fearless leader, Phillip and I accepted the call of ministry on our lives. We weren't sure what that meant or where that would take us, but with our whole hearts we cried out "We WILL be your hands and you feet.. SEND US". It has been a common thing to hear us reference movin our family to Africa. We have just known that some day our paths would cross with the hungry people of people outside of the USA.


In June, I AM going to Lira, Uganda for 2 weeks with a mission team from our church, Liberty Church in Arab, Al. I am super excited. Sad, that my sweet husband will not be on this journey with me, but at complete peace knowing he will be here with our children on his very own journey ;).

In Lira, Uganda there is no welfare, unemployment, social security, free public schools, nursing homes, WIC, retirement plans, Medicare, government housing, or food stamps. There is little to no employment opportunities. The basic necessities of life such as food, water, clothing, shelter, education, and medical treatment are almost non existent.

Liberty Church has connected to Bridge of Hope Church, Lira, Uganda for an ongoing relatioinship to win the lost, make disciples, and DESTROY the works of the devil!! Pastor James has been a pastor in Uganda for 21 years, but has recently started the Bridge of Hope Church In Lira. He and his church leaders have a heart for hurting people of Lira and there is presently NO American support reaching out to Lira and the surrounding villages. Together, we will be working in the starting of ongoing educations, employment, child sponsorship, and medical opportunities, as well as life instructional classes, such as marriage, parenting, and financial management though the Bridge of Hope church.


So.. how can YOU help? How can you GO to the hurting people in Lira Uganda? There are a couple of things I need... I have 48 hours to raise the money for my plane ticket, 1800.00. After that I will have till mid April to fund the additional 1700.00. I am not great at asking for help. BUT, I need your help. I will also be taking a 50lb bag of ministry items to be distributed to church members or village people. The items I have chosen are pens, pencils and suckers :) MOST of all, my family also need your prayers. Prayers of preparation, provision and PEACE for my children while I am away. Please pray for the Ministry team from Liberty and for the people of Lira. I am confident that GOd is preparing the way as I type this. I am excited to share the LOVE of Jesus with the WORLD...literally now!!! To hug on those babies and share the mercy and forgiveness of our Savior with the hurting ppl of Lira. God is GOOD and HE IS faithful to us in the midst of our pain and sin. HIS LOVE knows NO BOUNDARIES. I pray you and I learn to LIVE passionately NOW... to LEAVE this world BOLDY.. having given ALL we can to share the love of Jesus with our neighbors and THE NATIONS.


You can paypal your financial donation to joellebrooks@hotmail.com  Choose gift or donation so no fees are incurred.

TO MAIL your donation please email me at joellebrooks@hotmail.com.

If you would like to donate pens, pencils, erasers or rulers...OR suckers.. email or call me and I will pick them up or you can mail to me or drop by my house.

I feel led to tell you that the amount you give... is not whats important here. My hope is that if when reading the inital email you felt that nudging in your spirit to get on board and BE a part of this, that you will PRAY and ask GOD "how?". LET HIM show you. It may be by covering us in prayer, or the Holy Spirit may say "give 10.00", he may say "give 1000.00", you may buy a pack of suckers when your at Wal Mart. No dontation is too small to make a difference here. If there were to be surplus monetarily as far as my goal is concerned, I will be giving that to the ministry to use for other team member or needs in Lira.

God blesses us so that we CAN BE a blessing to others! We are blessed in MANY different ways, I am POSITIVE God will use something He has give you to make a difference.

1800.00 in 48 hours may seem BIG to us...but its NOTHING to God!! Thank you for taking the time to read this and listen. Prayerfully consider how YOU can go and MAKE a difference in Lira. I am SO excited to BE USED by HIM in a COMPLETELY different way...AND I am excited to SEE how God uses YOU to make it happen! Thank you so much for your prayers and consideration! My cell is 256-558-6625 if you have any questions.

Love you all!
Joelle
"If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving—large or small—it will be used to measure what is given back to you."  Luke 6:38 ... there it is.. in HIS word..and He cannot LIE, HE WILL return what you give... COMPLETELY to MAKE ROOM FOR MORE!!! Give of your time in prayer or of your resources, but God is gonna USE this seed!!! Cant wait to see you reap a HARVEST!!!

AND I PROMISE to bring back a picture or 10,000 to show you!! woo hoo!

He Brings it all together

Im no different than anyone else. Some days are just rough. bad.

After my amazing time alone with my Father this morning & the excitement of our upcoming weekend of seeing SOULS & LIVES changed forever... I was of course, attacked. ALL d a y  long. I tried to get back up. Its 9pm.. I am pickin myself up. better late than never, right?  :)  I share this to say.. that we all have bad days. When things just come at us from every angle. Even hard core Jesus lovers---cause thats what I AM!!! Thanks momma Jackie for a reminder that came right at the perfect moment. "If we realize that its ALL in his hands you'll Find the PEACE that sweet surrender brings. We may not understand the reason... but i know His promise will never change." He works ALL things out for our good. the pain, doubt, dispair, fear, uncertainity. ALL THINGS. devil.. you lose. "It IS written"..and "IT IS FINISHED" 2 sets of 3...good enough for me.

Surrender.

Read it, recieve it, sing it, Live it!

"Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth. I do not sit with decietful men, nor do I consort with hypocrites. I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked. I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, O Lord, proclaminh aloud your praise and telling of your wonderful deeds." Psalm 26:2-7

A couple of years ago a friend of mine had to speak to a group of young men regarding part of this scripture. She came to me perplexed about what she should share...especially with regards to the "abhoring what is evil" part. So i studied the scripture and we had a great time in the word at work that day!! This morning this scripture popped up in during mine & Phillips quiet time in the One year bible. So, i thought I'd share. :)

My bible has great commentary...so i'll be referring to that as well. When David asked God to declare him "blameless", he wasnt claiming to be sinless--thats impossible for any human to achieve.  Instead, he was pleading with God to clear his name of the false charges made against him by his enemies. What I really see clearly in this is that we can ask God to examine our hearts, trusting Him to forigve our sins and clear the record according to his great mercy!!

Alright as far as unbelievers go... the word says we are in the world but not "of it". We are set apart. But does that mean that we should stay away from unbelievers? I hope you immediately say "no!". As Christians, there are places and situations we DO need to avoid. But, Jesus clearly demonstrated we are to go among the unblelievers to help them. To give them hope and show them love. There is a big difference between being with unbelievers and being one of them. Acting like unbelievers harms our witness for God.  

I want people to see what Jesus has done in my life. And I want them to want HIM. If I am acting like the world....cussing or drinking or partying, gossiping, cheating, stealing, lying...what does that say about my walk with Jesus? If you go to a club are you headed to hell?  If you have a drink out on a date... is that where you have crossed the line? If you cuss... if Jesus done with you? Absolutely not! When I was in high school... at one point I went to a Christian school... a major learning, growing, turning point in my life was being required to memorize this scripture from Phillipians 4:7 "Whatever things are true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." So i memorized it, then, somehow... in my 16 yr old mind...the Holy Spirit brought revelation...that to this day has stuck with me. My husband and I strongly enforce this in our home with regards to media. So...i think "what brings glory to God...what would HE find pleasing?"  If I am using filthy language... does that bring glory to his precious name? If I am out to dinner and have a glass of wine... and a young girl from our youth group just happens to come in and see me... what sort of witness was I to her? Music... that was/is a biggie for me. I remember going home and ripping...(haha that was in the ancient days of tapes) ripping the tapes apart...Janet Jackson, Salt n Peppa, Vanilla Ice,...whatever... it was trash to me. It did not glorify God. Was it sending me to the pit of hell...nah, probably not. Does the type of music we listen to determine our salvation...no...does it completely set the tone for our day...or our mood..for some of us, YES! For me... music ministers to me deeply. Thats how I have always been. So if I was listening to Trisha Yearwoods "How do I live without you".... I really felt that.... I remember having a fight with Phillip..I had rededicated my life to Christ and was only been listening to christian music at that time. We were in the car together and that specific song came on..and within seconds...I found myself in the PIT of despair. "how could I possibly live without him?" But when we fill our minds with word...even thru music...its amazing how those desperate situations just turn right around!!

What we put into our minds determines what comes out in our words and actions. Paul tells us to program our minds with thoughts that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.  Do you have problems with negative thinking, ungodly thoughts? Examine what you are putting in that mind of yours through tv, internet, books, music, CONVERSATIONS. REPLACE that junk  with godly stuff. Most of all Gods word. Read & Pray.... and worship ;) . ASK GOD to help you focus on what is good and pure.

Dont snub the sinner... love them. You were once them. The difference between you and them is Gods grace. He saved you. Dont wallow with them in their pit either though. Show them the HOPE of Jesus LIVING  thru you...in action and in deed. "Every saint has a past and EVERY sinner HAS A FUTURE"!!

Ppl...mostly women seem to be encouraged by my facebook status alot of times. I get lots of messages regarding them. Most of the time my statuses  are lyrics to a song I am listening to that day. I keep it on almost all day. It helps me, lifts me up. encourages me. it creates an atmosphere of worship in my home...at all times. I love that. It can make me dance & shout while Im cookin... or bring me to my knees to a place of praise or humbleness.  About 2 weeks ago, I heard Kylee screaming in the dining room.. I walked in to find she had turned up the worship music that was on... she was sitting in a chair with her arms raised..as she shouted "Jesus...Jesus!!"" wow... took my breath away for a moment. Jesus IN--Jesus out. Garbage IN--garbage out!! Think about what you are feeding your mind..but dont forget to monitor what your young children are puttin in theirs.

Glory glory Hallelujah , He reigns...and all the POWER of darkness..CANT DRIVE OUT A SINGLE WORD!! ~~~ Rita Springer... what I am worshipping to right now. satan has NO power over the TRUTH THAT IS word of God. Read it, recieve it, SING IT.... LIVE IT!
Love, j.

One Month to Live

Good morning! No, I havent been literally given one month to live. :) It is the name of a series by Kerry & Chris Cook we are beginning tonight in our Fusion Group. I read some in our guide yesterday. And it got my attention so I thought I would share.

Your time on earth is limited.
"No matter how much this idea makes you squirm, its a fact. No matter WHO you are, how young or old, what measure of success you've attained, or where you live, mortality remains the great equalizer. With each tick of the clock, a moment of your life is behind you. Even as you read this paragragh, seconds passes that you can never regain. Your days are numbered and each one that passes is gone forever.

If you're like us, you may be tempted to view this reality as harsh and unwelcome, to let it overwhelm and even paralyze you. But thats not our purpose in writing this study series-just the opposite. Rather than inhibiting us to play it safe, we're convinced that enbracing our time on eath as a limited resource has incredible power to liberate us. For most of us, if we knew we only had one month to live, we would live our lives differently. We would be more authentic about who we are and more deliberate about how we spend the time we have. But such contrast begs the question: What keeps us from living this way NOW? We invite you to take the One Month to Live Challenge."

Above quotation from Kerry & Chris Shook

My life is so full. It just is. I am trying to learn and grow in God's word, trying to be everything my husband needs... he is precious and deserves so much more than I seem to be able to mustar up each day... (that is actually true for my husband and my Father God), 4 kids... wow.. I mean homework, sports, dance, baths and food, and trying to teach them the things of God, while also teaching them the things of the world... "dont ever try drugs..and this is why...." or answering questions like "mom, what is a lesbian?" So far this year my 2 oldest sons have bombarded me with questions...bullying,  racisim, sexuality, heaven , hell, puberty, politics, why people lie, what happens when we die, how mom's and dads can walk away from their children beause of drugs, if God is sitting in the clouds... you name it...we've just about been there in the last 12 month. They live in the world... they are not called to be OF IT. I want to lay their foundation  TIGHT in Jesus. This takes TIME. and if I had 30 days to live...wow. I can just imagine me. haha.. it really just made me LOL... I would be making videos and writing to them ... my head spins now as I type this... thinking of all the things I would want to teach them and make sure they knew.. not my point of view, but how Jesus sees it. Parents have such a HUGE job. And I feel like 90 % of mine lately is just spending time listening to their questions and doing me very best to point them in the right direction. That is the part of my life that I do find fullfilling. Training them up in the word and the things of God...because Gods word promises me that if I do that... then they WILL NOT depart from those truths all the days of their lives. NOW, that says to me that whether I live 30 days or 50 years.... that my babies are covered. Perfect? no. will they stray? probably. will they sin? absolutely. Will they be tempted to give up or turn their backs on God because they are hurt or offended? I certainly hope not...but if they do.. they know where to come... when they are broken or confused, I am certain with Logan and Brady Cole, at this point they have a foundation of where to take their brokeness.

If I had 30 days to live... I think I would give more. My time, my posessions. I would sleep less. I would immerse myself in the word. and spend every possible moment making sure my husband and my children knew how very special they are to me...and to their Father God, and dearly they are loved. I would listen more and speak less. I would pray over each of them every night and listen...not rush thru the process. I would try one more time to share the love of Jesus with my dad & with my sister Kelly. I would wrap my arms around each of my sisters and just love on them. They are so precious and I am so excited about where God is going to take Cindy & Victoria and the women of God He is raising. I would hug my father in law more. I constantly find myself pulling away from him. Im quite sure this is b/c of my "daddy issues". But despite his faults, and we all have them... he loves my children... he is a present person in their lives. I would forgive my mom 70x7, for the past and for every future hurt I have lived  in fear of.... and just leave it at the cross once and for all of eternity. I would give Phillip that wet, sloppy 5  second kiss every day, several times a day.. that he keeps harping on me about...that even as I type this... i just dont get why that has seemed like an imposition to me?? I would tell my friends.. and I am over the moon to say that list is more than I can count now, how very much they matter and what a difference they have made in my life. My "prayer warrior list" (...the people that I call on in time of need has gone from 2....to more than I can count in the last year!!! I have to stop before I ask for prayer now...and ask God "SHOW me which of my girls YOU desire to come along side me right now"!! wow!!)

Im sure theres more... but, thats what I would do. And as I typed a couple of those things.... well, all of them really but..if Im honest, a couple stung a little more than others........ I thought... WHY OH WHY...would I wait until I was given such a prognosis of 30 days?? What in the world am i thinking?? Forgive NOW, Love NOW, EMBRACE NOW. GIVE NOW. SERVE NOW. SHARE JESUS NOW. TODAY. What am I waiting on? Working in the medical field for more than 10 years, I know...we aren't all given a number...in fact very few of us are. One day we dont wake up. Its over. All those things..your list...goes undone. I have watched hundreds of people die. I wonder how many of them left this world with "what if I had done this? or "sure wish I had hugged that person one more time" I do think very few, probably none lay dying and wishing "sure woulda been nice to have worked one more day or made a little more money here". The things that last...are our relationships. And for some of us, those relationships are draining so we dont invest...our time or energy. We dont nurture those relationships at all, let alone deliberatley.

So Principle ONE of the One Month to Live series is to Live PASSIONATELY. How am I going to put that into action over the next week? To me Passion & surrrender go hand in hand. I am going to deliberatley SURRENDER myself to my Father every day and pray HE guide me in overcoming that big ole list.

So...here's praying my friend...that my life and YOURS is not only FULL of things to do and places to go... but that it is FULLFILLING. That the dash - between the year we were born and the year we go to be with Jesus represents love & surrender & JOY & sharing the love of Jesus with the world...starting with the people around you!. In the precious name of Jesus I Pray! Amen.

"Looks like tonight the sky is heavy ..feels like the winds are gonna change...
beneath my feet the earth is ready I know its time for Heavens rain..
Its gonna rain
Its LIVING WATER WE DESIRE
FLOOD OUR HEARTS WITH HOLY FIRE
RAIN DOWN
My heart is dry, but im still singing

My heart is heavy, feels like its time to DREAM AGAIN
I see the clouds outside and YES IM ready ..to dance upon this barren land."!
Its LIVING WATER I DESIRE
FATHER FLOOD MY HEART WITH HOLY FIRE."

What I worshipping to right now. and the cry of my heart. Jesus I need you.