Sunday Reflections 6-12

Sunday Morning

Scriptures

Eph 5:15-18

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

God has a plan for each of us. We were created for a purpose in Him. We need to be wise, and seek out what the will of God is for our lives. Personally I ask God daily because I don't really know long term what his will is. However what really spoke to me is that God has a specific plan. He will use what we have been through, and even our mistakes if we allow him too. There were many trials in my life that I almost did not think I could bare! When I was in the mist of them the tunnel seemed so dark. I would have times where I would feel so alone and ashamed that these things were happening.

Is 64:8-9

But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.

God will bring us to points in our lives to realize that without Him we can do nothing! He will break us, only to bring us out better then we started. In order for God to use us for his specific will, He must teach us. Much like a potter who has a lump of clay and molds that ugly lump of clay into a beautiful masterpiece.

( Our ways are Not His ways)Is 55:9

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

It is so difficult being humbled through those things. Life has many lessons and in those lessons we can not escape . Knowing that God is making and molding us for His perfect will gives me a peace that I will continue to fall, but as long as I seek God and try to obey His commandments He will guide and direct my life. He has the path already made out.....now it is up to me to live it. When I make mistakes God will allow a way for me to escape (if I seek His will not my own). He can even use those mistakes, even though it was NOT the perfect will of God, he can use them to help others.

Jeremiah 29:11-14

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Texas Storm Season and Info

Definition: Tornado -- 1. A violently rotating column of air, in contact with the ground, either pendant from a cumuliform cloud or underneath a cumuliform cloud, and often (but not always) visible as a funnel cloud.

Compared with other States, Texas ranks number 1 for frequency of Tornadoes, 1 for number of deaths, 1 for injuries and 1 for cost of damages. Based on data from 1950 - 1995. Between 1950 and 1995 the state had 7,554 injuries involving tornadoes. This ranks the state number 1 among the States for injury.

Tornados are rated by severity and wind speed using the Fujita scale of F0-F5:

F-1: (73 - 112mph) - Moderate Damage - Roof surfaces are peeled off, windows are broken, some tree trunks are snapped, unanchored manufactured homes are over-turned, attached garages may be destroyed. This house experienced partial roof removal, only on the windward (near) side; therefore, this damage site was rated F1.

The primary tornado season in Texas is from March through June, but tornados can occur in any month of the year.Tornados often form in the southwest part of thunderstorms - next to the part of the storm where heavy rain or hail is falling.

Opening windows will NOT equalize pressure and prevent an explosion of the house if hit by a tornado.

Tornados are not the only weather killers in Texas: Lightning, tornados and high winds take an average of 15 lives each year in Texas alone. 51 people died as a direct result of tornados in the US in 2003.

The latest 4 large killer tornados in Texas:

• May 27, 1997: A twister hits Jarrell in Central Texas, killing 30. Two other deaths from other storms are confirmed in nearby Travis County.
• May 22, 1987: A tornado hits the small West Texas town of Saragosa during a kindergarten graduation ceremony, flattening the community center and church, killing 30 people and injuring more than 100.
• April 10, 1979: Forty-two people are killed and more than 1,700 injured by a tornado in Wichita Falls. More than 3,000 homes are destroyed and 20,000 people left homeless.
• May 11, 1953: A tornado hits Waco, killing 114 people and injuring 597. An estimated 150 homes and 185 other buildings are destroyed.

The word tornado comes from two Spanish words: tronado meaning thunderstorm and tornar meaning to turn.

On the average, a tornado's path is 4 miles long and 400 yards wide but can be as long as 100 miles long and a mile wide

The average tornado travels at a speed of 25-40 miles per hour, but tornadoes have been known to reach speeds up to 70 mph. Winds inside a tornado can swirl at close to 300 mph. They stay on the ground for an average of 4-5 minutes, but they can touch down several times.

Most tornados:

• move from southwest to northeast
• rotate in a counterclockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere
• occur between 3 and 7 P.M.
• are reported to occur most often in the United States

http://tornadostormshelters.com/Facts.htm

Homeschool Happenings ~ Texas History

We are finishing up the year with some History lessons on Texas

Our View ...Stormy Skies

Home Happenings 5-22-11

Good Afternoon!

Everything is unpacked and we are settled in our new home. It still doesn't feel like home, but I know with time it will. Finding a church home has been a bit challenging. We have been plugging along with school and will hopefully finish by the end of June. Austen had the privilege of going to work with dad on Saturday...he really enjoyed it! I think it is so important to teach our kids a good work ethic when they are young. We personally make it a part of homeschool so that our kids learn skills of being out in the community.

We have faced some trying times in this season of our life...but have felt the peace of God. Moving away from a place we lived all of our lives was one of the hardest things I have done!

Wayne is the best provider and is working hard in his new job here in Texas. The biggest blessing is for him to work alongside of a godly man who loves the Lord!! The Bragg family has been such a encouragement to us! Austen is exited about getting his permit and learning to drive, (not so sure I am... lol). Blake has made some new friends in the neighborhood and is adjusting very well here.

Ok..I know ya' ll have been wondering about this Texas weather... and how we are adjusting to it. Well, it has been fairly mild thus far but this is storm season and we are under a Tornado watch this evening. The night we got here, we had a hail storm...that was interesting!! I think it was fine until I had to drive to the into Dallas in it! I was so scared! I will say though the heat beats the rain back home. Ya, the heat is hot and at times uncomfortable but sunshine is so much better then a dreary day back home.

Well, I suppose...I need to go finish the cake I am making to take to the Braggs for dinner.

Have a GREAT weekend!

Home In Texas

We made it safely to Texas. It was quite the journey but the Lord blessed our trip! We have been here for 2 weeks now. There is plenty to get done, and not a whole lot of time to be on the computer. I hope to share some things soon ;)

Blessings,

Brandie

Short and SWEET!

I have been very busy with home life. As some of you may know,

we will be making our BIG move to Texas next month.

While I am very exited about our new adventure...I am also struggling

to leave those I love. We have never been away from our family, so this will

be difficult for us. I know God has great things planned for us in Texas.

Wayne will be working alongside of a man that LOVES the Lord!

In the next several weeks we will be preparing and tying up lose ends here.

I know Wayne is leaving a wonderful position at Rostchy Inc. He is forever grateful

for the company and how good they have been to us as a family.

Love To You All

Until Later....

Time Together & Memories Made

Loved being with Family
Blake,Grandma, Shelby, and Brandon


Being Silly

Shelby brushing uncle Waynes hair with her new barbie brush

Blake & Shelby

Brandon

PRIME RIB dinner...YUM!

At the Dinner Table

Aunt Kim, Brandon, Blake, Austen, Mom, and Wayne



It really was a special Christmas with my in-laws! They are such a blessing to me. Bryan makes his annual traditional Prime Rib. The kids spend time together playing and opening gifts. For me, it was a special time with my MIL. She always makes the Holidays special, and takes into thought every gift she gives. I especially LOVE the traditional Jammies we all get.

Thank You Mom for a SPECIAL Christmas...we LOVE you!!!

Austen- Monkey Jammas

Blake- Truck N Car Jammas

Wayne- The Grinch Jammas

Me- Penguin Jammas (so cuddly and warm)

I got a vanity mirror, and new set of pots n pans!! It is what I needed and I was delighted to get things I need and can use ;)

Night

I have been thanking God for things in my life that I do take for granite. The Lord is good.


May we not lose the true meaning of this time of year, and may we remember those who are less fortunate. Share the good news, share the HOPE we have in Christ.





Blessings to all ;)
night
Brandie

Hmmm..It is way to late to Blog!

Today I have been in a fog. Hubby came home tonight,

Hmm why are you down? And of course...I said

"I don't know"...lol

Do you ever feel like the conversation in your head just won't leave you alone?

Akkk! All these thoughts, then the prayer request that make my heart heavy.

Hearing that my grandma spoke to my mom brought on different emotions.

I just felt like I was in such a battle. I have not really been able to focus

on any one task today. I have muddles through school with the boys. Austen is still struggling in math, so we started doing it together. It was around noon and I was already tired and wanted

to nap. So I slept until 5 :O......ran like mad to get dinner done.

Now it is 12:10 and I am finally tired enough to go to bed!

Tmorrow is a new day..... Lord be my guide!
~Bran

Motocross...Fun Day With My Boys

Clark County Fair Grounds

Motorcross Season 2010

Personal Lessons

It was a blast watching the boys ride today!

They had the whole track to themselves. Joey Lancaster

gave them personal lessons. Wayne even was able to come for the last hour

of the lesson. We are looking forward to a few more practices this month.

Teaching Our Children The True Meaning Of Christmas

The stores are full of shoppers, hoping to find that perfect gift, and houses are decorated with

Christmas Deco. You can feel it in the air, and hear the excitement in your children's voices.

My kids love this time of year. My concern is do our children truly

know the meaning of Christmas? For them is it giving OR receiving?

Here are some ideas to help teach our

children that the TRUE JOY comes from giving.

1. Visit a Homeless Shelter & Bring a gift

2. Make Christmas Cards and take them to a retirement home.

3. Get a group together and go sing at a old folks home

4. Get a Giving paper from a local mall for a needy child and have your children pick out the gift to give.

5. Help a local food bank gather food .

I Can........

20 Cans of Wisdom

1 Why should I say I can't when the Bible says I can do all

things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians

4:13)?

2 Why should I lack when I know that God shall supply all my

needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus

(Philippians 4:19)?

3 Why should I fear when the Bible says God has not given me a

spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2

Timothy 1:7)?

4 Why should I lack faith to fulfill my calling, knowing that

God has allotted to me a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)?

5 Why should I be weak when the Bible says that the Lord is the

strength of my life and that I will display strength and take

action because I know God (Psalm 27:1; Daniel 11:32)?

6 Why should I allow Satan supremacy over my life when He that

is in me is greater than he that is in the world (1 John

4:4)?

7 Why should I accept defeat when the Bible says that God

always leads me in triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14)?

8 Why should I lack wisdom when Christ became wisdom to me from

God and God gives wisdom to me generously when I ask Him for

it (1 Corinthians 1:30; James 1:5)?

9 Why should I be depressed when I can recall to mind God's

lovingkindness, compassion and faithfulness, and have hope

(Lamentations 3:21-23)?

10Why should I worry and fret when I can cast all my anxiety on

Christ who cares for me (1 Peter 5:7)?

11 Why should I ever be in bondage knowing that there is liberty

where the Spirit of the Lord is (2 Corinthians 3:17)?

12 Why should I feel condemned when the Bible says I am not

condemned because I am in Christ (Romans 8:1)?

13 Why should I feel alone when Jesus said He is with me always

and He will never leave me nor forsake me (Matthew 28:20;

Hebrews 13:5)?

14 Why should I feel accursed or that I am the victim of bad

luck when the Bible says that Christ redeemed me from the

curse of the law that I might receive His Spirit (Galatians

3:13, 14)?

15 Why should I be discontented when I, like Paul, can learn to

be content in all my circumstances (Philippians 4:11)?

16 Why should I feel worthless when Christ became sin on my

behalf that I might become the righteousness of God in Him (2

Corinthians 5:21)?

17 Why should I have a persecution complex knowing that nobody

can be against me when God is for me (Romans 8:31)?

18 Why should I be confused when God is the author of peace and

He gives me knowledge through his indwelling Spirit (1

Corinthians 14:33; 2:12)?

19 Why should I feel like a failure when I am a conqueror in all

things through Christ (Romans 8:37)?

20 Why should I let the pressures of life bother me when I can

take courage knowing that Jesus has overcome the world and

its tribulations (John 16:33)?

Dr. Neil Anderson, Freedom in Christ Ministries

Character Trait~Loving

Loving:

To be devoted to, kindly care for, admiring of; Genuine love includes the qualities

of self-sacrificing and commitment to one another.

Verses:

Colossians 3:14

Galations 5:22-23

1 John 4:7-11

John 3:16-17

John 13:34-35

John 21:13-17

10-26-10

Today's Character Trait~ Merciful

Mercifiul:

Graciously forbearing and forgiving; kindly withholding punishment due to

an offender; compassionate

Verses:

Luke 6:35-36

Luke 15:11-24

Matthew 5:7

1 Peter 3:8-9

Titus 3:4-6

10-25-10