tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72043313219298615242024-03-13T03:45:40.146-07:00As for Me and My HouseI am a Christ-follower, wife, mother, daughter, and teacher. While this blog started as something different, it became my place to record my thoughts on life. God has blessed me beyond meausre. My amazing husband, Doug, and I have been married 25 years. We have 1 daughter and 3 sons, Brooke, Blake, Cody, and Dale. Feel free to add your comments, thoughts, and ideas to my posts. I'd love to hear from you!Mrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-77133532233466944802013-08-10T07:45:00.001-07:002013-08-10T07:45:07.855-07:00Blessed beyond measureFor those of you that know me, you know that several years ago God asked me to stretch way beyond my comfort zone when my principal at the time asked me to teach 5th grade. Reluctantly, I agreed. For two years, I taught 5th grade alongside one of my very best friends. Those years brought many challenges and many blessings. I had the privilege of teaching students that I had previously taught in second grade. I also had the honor of teaching new students. Combined, the students of those two years brought much joy into my life, amid the stresses of wanting to give them all that they needed and often unable to give or get them what they needed most. At the end of the second year in fifth grade, I asked to be moved back to a primary grade and taught second grade the last two years.<br />
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When we first taught 5th grade together!</div>
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Fast forward two full years...<br />
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In the spring of this year, God again asked me to move out of my comfort zone and pursue a new teaching position in a new district. (This is big for me because CHANGE isn't something that I easily meet with acceptance.) Striving to be obedient, I applied for several jobs within that district, including second grade, third grade, and fourth/fifth split grade. I was called for an interview. When the principal called to offer the job to me, you guessed it...it was for the fourth/fifth grade position. Again, striving to be obedient, I accepted the position and prayed that God would give me exactly what I needed to be able to reach my new students.<br />
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Since that night, He has been answering that plea over and over in so many ways that I probably can't even remember them all. First, that same evening that I got the call, my friend (the one that I had taught 5th grade with before) called and said that she had just been told that she would be teaching 4th/5th in her school. WOW! God cares so much for both of us that he placed us in the same grade so that we could spur each other on even though we are in different schools in different districts. What a blessing it has been to chat, plan, share ideas, and pray for each other as we embark on this latest adventure in God's plans for our lives! Second, He placed me at a school where the principal obviously loves her students and her teachers and does all she can to support both groups! At the same time, He gave me two wonderful young ladies to work with on my new team. They have been more than helpful, they've been a life-line! Finally, over the last few weeks God has poured out His love on me by confirming the "whys" of placing me with this age. From reconnecting with one of those former fifth graders that is now starting fresh as a freshman in high school to running into a student I had in second and fifth grades at Wal-Mart to being able to cheer for three of my former babies for their performance in a major musical, peace and a renewed excitement for teaching has flooded my soul. To top it all off, within minutes of my twenty-eight students walking through our classroom door, I fell head over heals for each of them. They have a zeal for learning that is contagious. In just three short days, bonds have been built and our classroom family has formed.<br />
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So while there has certainly been stressful moments (like...my little orange flash drive that held nearly all my school files of the last 5 years is lost...AGAIN!), saying YES! to God has produced a peace that can't be explained in human terms. <br />
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My cup overflows as God continues to bless me beyond measure!<br />
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Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. They will <sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NASB-25185b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]"></sup>pour <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-25185C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup>into your lap a <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-25185D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup>good measure—pressed down, shaken together, <i>and</i> running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”<br />
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Blessings,<br />
CindyMrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-2818930278157829452013-03-16T08:17:00.000-07:002013-03-16T08:17:25.790-07:00How forgetful we are!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So I'm sure you've heard it said that elephants never forget! People on the other hand are quite forgetful. I am most likely the queen of forgetfulness. In fact, I often joke with my students about my slippery mind. Sometimes being forgetful can serve us well. Other times it is something that can cause us to fall.<br />
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This past week (well past couple of weeks) have been some the most emotionally and physically exhausting days of my life. My faith in my Lord and in people has been tested. I have found myself literally crying out...shouting out...begging for God to help! My face and eyes have stayed red and puffy from crying. I have felt physically ill from the emotional distress. At one point, I questioned whether God even heard my pleas. I knew in my head that He did, but at that moment my heart felt alone and deserted. During these past weeks, I have spent as much time as possible reading scripture, listening to worship music, praying, seeking counsel from godly friends. While all that helped for brief moments, I still felt like I was in a desert all by myself. So what was the problem?<br />
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Have you ever been completely ready to leave the house, get out to car, and THEN realize you forgot your keys in the house? Or maybe you are cleaning your house and you head into a room to get something and all of the sudden you have no idea what you went in that room for in the first place? Possibly, you are like my mother-in-law who left church one Sunday (like completely left) and then realized she was short one kid? (I don't think I've ever forgotten one of my kids anywhere, but don't hold me to that. After all, I very well could have just forgotten that I did it.)<br />
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What do all those instances have in common?<br />
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In all those cases, you had to GO BACK! You can't get anywhere without your keys, so you GO BACK to get them. You can't remember what you needed, so you GO BACK to the room where you thought of it in the first place. It is frowned upon to forget your child somewhere, so you have to GO BACK to get him.<br />
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This morning, in the stillness of the quiet house, God reminded me that I have forgotten some very important things and that I need to GO BACK and get them.<br />
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First, I had forgotten that I am the daughter of the ONE True KING! The King who NEVER forgets me. The Lord who will NEVER leave me or forsake me. I had to GO BACK and be reminded that "He Himself has said, “I <span class="small-caps">will <b>never</b> desert, nor will</span> I <span class="small-caps">ever forsake " in Hebrews. I had to go back and get my identity! I am not the wife who is too tired to get up and fix her husband's breakfast or the mom who is so emotionally spent that she didn't make it to her son's concert or the teacher who is at the end of her rope because she doesn't know how to reach a suffering student. While all that is true of how I have felt these last few days, it is not the TRUTH about who I am. I am a child of God and THAT is where I should find and rest in my identity. </span><br />
<span class="small-caps"></span><br />
<span class="small-caps">I also need to GO BACK to the things I know. We sometimes get so caught up in being the best and learning new ways of doing things that we forget that the "old" ways worked! Yes, there are some great new ideas out there about running your home or about connecting with students, but sometimes we just need to lay those aside and go back to the ways that have worked for us in the past. I know that the house will run more smoothly if all of us that live here work together and do a little each day. I know that my students are much more likely to learn in they are enjoying the act of learning. I know that my relationship with my husband is the most peaceful and the most passionate when we are intentional about dating each other.</span> I have to GO BACK to what I know works...even if it isn't what others say "should" be happening.<br />
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Finally, there are times that forgetting is good. I realize when we're wronged, it is difficult to 'forget' and most likely we won't ever truly forget. However, when we couple that forgetting with forgiving it goes much farther than trying to forget about it without forgiving. So often in life, people don't even realize how they hurt us. Maybe it is something they say or something they do. Maybe it is something they DON'T say or something they DON'T do. The truth is that we are called to forgive anyway. Jesus said in Matthew 6, "<span class="text Matt-6-14" id="en-NASB-23297"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">14 </sup><sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-23297C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup>For if you forgive <sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NASB-23297c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]"></sup>others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-6-15" id="en-NASB-23298"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">15 </sup><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><strong>But <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-23298D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup>if you do not forgive <sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NASB-23298d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]"></sup>others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.</strong><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> (Emphasis added) Oh Lord, thank you for this reminder. I'm commanded to forgive. It says nothing about whether they ask for forgiveness or not. I'm supposed to forgive! If I live with a spirit of unforgiveness or revenge, then why should I expect my Creator to forgive me for the multitude of sins I commit daily?</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="text Matt-6-15"><span class="woj"></span></span><br />
<span class="text Matt-6-15"><span class="woj">So the challenge is to GO BACK! We will always forget, but the one thing we need to remember is to GO BACK to the TRUTH of who we are in Christ and the truth of what we know works. Will we be able to do this perfectly? Nope! But to borrow a phrase from Lysa Terkeurst, we can make "imperfect progress" by striving each day to do better.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Matt-6-15"><span class="woj"></span></span><br />
<span class="text Matt-6-15"><span class="woj"></span></span><br />
<span class="text Matt-6-15"><span class="woj"></span></span><br />
<span class="text Matt-6-15"><span class="woj">Blessings,</span></span><br />
<span class="text Matt-6-15"><span class="woj">Cindy</span></span><br />
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<span class="keywordresultextras"></span>Mrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-25172834769500188322012-12-27T13:58:00.001-08:002012-12-27T13:59:57.615-08:00Quick Cheesy Mexican Bake<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;">I love to cook! I especially enjoy cooking when I am on a break from school. I don't like to feel rushed. When working, cooking can be a challenge to fix something quick, simple, and yet delicious for my family. Plus, with 3 kids in college and 1 nearly out of high school, our money has to be stretched A LOT! I've been searching for quick, simple, delicious, AND inexpensive meals for our family. While I've found a few, I just haven't found something that I wanted to cook. Hahaha! I guess I'm picky! While I had time off today, I came up with the following recipe. It is all the things I've been looking for! Enjoy!</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;">Quick Cheesy Mexican Bake</span></div>
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1-2 pounds of ground beef (could substitute ground venison)<br />
1 small onion<br />
Ground Cumin<br />
Ground Coriander<br />
Garlic<br />
Chili Powder<br />
Red Pepper Flakes<br />
Chipotle Rub/Seasoning<br />
1 package cream cheese<br />
About 2 cups shredded cheese (I used Mexican blend. Could use cheddar.)<br />
Barilla Ditalini (Could substitute any small pasta)</div>
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Cook pasta according to directions on box. Meanwhile, brown ground beef with the small onion. Add seasonings. I didn’t put amounts because I just eye them to how I think my family will like it. Stir in cream cheese to beef mixture. When pasta and beef are cooked, mix together. Stir in about 1 cup of the cheese. Pour into a baking dish. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese over the top. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.</div>
Mrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-44938526758886574092012-12-27T07:22:00.000-08:002012-12-27T07:23:25.584-08:00Is Believing Enough?It has been way to long since my last post. I would love to have the time to write regularly. That just doesn't seem to be the case. Then, when I do have time, words fail me. Anyway...<br />
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<span class="keywordresultextras">so I have spent the last hour or more typing and retyping, then typing some more. Trying to put my thoughts into words. The words just aren't flowing. I have MUCH I want to say. I have MUCH I feel like NEEDS to be said. </span><br />
<span class="keywordresultextras"></span><br />
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<span class="keywordresultextras"><span style="font-size: large;">BUT</span></span></div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras"><span style="font-size: large;">THE</span></span></div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras"><span style="font-size: large;">RIGHT</span></span></div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras"><span style="font-size: large;">WORDS</span></span></div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras"><span style="font-size: large;">WON'T</span></span></div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras"><span style="font-size: large;">FLOW!</span></span></div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras">For now, I'm sticking with a verse from my morning study...</span></div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras">Psalm 19:14</span></div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras">Let the words of my mouth and <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-14183AD" title="See cross-reference AD">AD</a>)"></sup>the meditation of my heart<br /><span class="text Ps-19-14">Be acceptable in Your sight,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-19-14">O <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-14183AE" title="See cross-reference AE">AE</a>)"></sup>my rock and my <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-14183AF" title="See cross-reference AF">AF</a>)"></sup>Redeemer.</span></span></div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras"><span class="text Ps-19-14"></span></span> </div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras"><span class="text Ps-19-14">The words I have written and rewritten this morning didn't seem 'acceptable' so for now I'll just not write them. </span></span><br />
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(In case you're wondering about the title of the post...that was what I planned to write about. It just didn't happen this morning. Maybe later.)</div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras"><span class="text Ps-19-14"></span></span> </div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras"><span class="text Ps-19-14">Blessings,</span></span></div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras"><span class="text Ps-19-14">Cindy</span></span></div>
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Mrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-17013022597016257552012-06-10T16:29:00.000-07:002012-06-10T16:29:53.649-07:00For these boys I prayedDepending on where you are in the world, today or tomorrow is Blake and Cody's birthday. If you don't know the story of how God blessed us with our family, it's one of my favorite to brag on the faithfulness of God!<br />
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This is a story that begins even before Dougie and I got married almost 24 years ago. I had always wanted a lot of children. When we got married, we waited for children so that I could finish my degree. However, we both agreed that a large family would be great! I prayed and prayed for God to give us many children. I also prayed OFTEN for Him to give us twins! Yes...I prayed for twins...regularly!<br />
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In the fall of 1991, we learned that God was blessing us with our first child. We didn't know and didn't want to know if our blessing would be a boy or girl. We were simply thankful to be given this amazing gift. It wasn't twins, but we couldn't have been any more excited! A couple of weeks later, my sister, Becky found out that she was expecting, too...<br />
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and...<br />
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wait for it...<br />
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she was having twins!<br />
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Have you ever had that moment when you let disappointment and jealousy over someone else getting what you prayed for rule your life? Oh, I was happy for her! And please don't misunderstand me...I was thrilled to be blessed with one baby! However, I questioned God. Why would he give HER twins when I was the one that longed for them?! Why had he not answered my pleas?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUADioNGQKS5mz63z4TSFSXq422_P_SAz11HNLGDVqrxsCcnOKawjZg6GtqApwLgYkkfHtLl22O-BY7MnD2Mj9rHKCnuO3LqEbxpAuKEqbAIptFl-Q9fh0wpI9cJwhV_2c7nJYTjXVTt4/s1600/question+post+its.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUADioNGQKS5mz63z4TSFSXq422_P_SAz11HNLGDVqrxsCcnOKawjZg6GtqApwLgYkkfHtLl22O-BY7MnD2Mj9rHKCnuO3LqEbxpAuKEqbAIptFl-Q9fh0wpI9cJwhV_2c7nJYTjXVTt4/s1600/question+post+its.jpg" /></a></div>
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Nine months later (well there about), Brooke was born on June 9. Oh what a jewel! She was (and still is) the prettiest baby ever. She filled me with more joy than I could have imagined! Nine days later, Becky had Austin and Alex. Truly, all of them are miracles! How can anyone look at a baby and not believe in miracles?!<br />
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At the time, we lived in a tiny apartment behind my parents and Becky and her family lived next door to them. When the boys were able to come home, Becky and I spent our days at one or the other house taking care of three babies. I still smile to think about all three of them lined up in the floor of our little living room or propped up in the recliner at her house so we could take MORE pictures! Brooke was a big baby. They were tiny! It made for some great pictures! Man...taking care of three babies was hard, exhausting work!<br />
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God never took away my desire to have twins. However, let's just say that I didn't pray for twins quite as often! ;)<br />
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Fast forward to the fall of 1993. It was November. I had just found out about a week earlier that we were pregnant again. We were so excited. Lots of things were happening in our lives. Brooke was a wonderful little toddler! We were getting ready to build our house. And now, another baby!<br />
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The morning Doug and a family friend was due to dig the foundation of our house, I woke up not feeling well at all. Not only was I feeling worse than I had in the week before (my body has always told me almost immediately when I'm pregnant), but there were other signs and symptoms that something was wrong. <br />
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I called my doctor, and he wanted me to come in for an ultrasound. A close friend agreed to take me to the appointment. As she drove, she prayed for me. As she drove, I prayed. Please God, don't take this baby from us! <br />
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As I said, I was very early along. The ultrasound tech had to do an internal ultrasound in order to see anything. She kept the screen where I couldn't see it. At one point, she looked very perplexed. She looked at me and I could feel myself hold my breath. I could tell she had seen something on the screen that she didn't expect. But what? Oh please God don't take this baby from us!<br />
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Then came her question...<br />
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"Is there a history of multiple births in your family?"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil14QyXVyB8K-oUMURELq040btIbp6r5_Seu2v5tplC42A551P2UUbefUkhRCeYY9PYSiB-Ic3AhQfoO7iQ-Q-IsQJetUcETWDPONdyqjpudrrLBYNv49_lwspLzXPm44KffUKfFkMdnXg/s1600/IMG_4728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil14QyXVyB8K-oUMURELq040btIbp6r5_Seu2v5tplC42A551P2UUbefUkhRCeYY9PYSiB-Ic3AhQfoO7iQ-Q-IsQJetUcETWDPONdyqjpudrrLBYNv49_lwspLzXPm44KffUKfFkMdnXg/s320/IMG_4728.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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(A much later ultrasound.)</div>
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WHAT? Did you say MULTIPLE? Well, yes. My sister has twins. Doug's family is full of twins! Yes, there is a history!<br />
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She turned the screen to me. All that was on it were two itty bitty flashes. She said, "You're having twins!" WHAT? Oh my! Deep breath! Really? Are you sure? She assured me that those itty bitty flashes were two little hearts! Wow! I was speechless! Then...<br />
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OH MY WORD! We have to change the house! Wait...Dougie doesn't even know yet. You know that's not really something I wanted to tell him on the phone. <br />
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As we pulled into the lot where they were digging the foundation, I could see them already digging. Dougie came over to the car. I handed him pictures and told him we were going to have TWO BABIES! (He turned a pale greenish color at first!) The digging stopped. The plans were changed. And our life has never been the same!<br />
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Now, our twins, Blake and Cody, have just graduated from high school and are headed to college. If you were wondering why I started the post with the statement "depending on where you are in the world", it's because currently Blake is serving in the Philippines at Gentile Hands orphanage being the hands and feet of our Lord. That means for the first time ever, Blake and Cody will celebrate their 18th birthday tomorrow apart. <br />
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It has caused me to think on lots of things. But mostly, it has just been a reminder of God's faithfulness in our family's life. I prayed for these boys long before they were ever born, but GOD knew His plans for them even before time began! As I've prayed for them (as I pray for all four of our children) over the years, God has been gracious and merciful to them and to us. He has protected them from things that should have killed them. He has healed their bodies. But most of all, He has saved their souls. They are young men on fire for the Lord! Blake has plans to serve somewhere in the foreign mission field. Cody has plans to serve as a pastor. While they have plans, the thing that speaks most to my heart is that they long to be obedient to the call God places on their lives.<br />
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For now, this momma that prayed so regularly for twins will continue to pray for our twins as they follow God's directions for their lives!<br />
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Happy Birthday, Blake and Cody! I love you both!<br />
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Blessings,<br />
Cindy<br />
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</div>Mrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-35785995874434748152012-02-19T10:34:00.000-08:002012-02-19T10:34:48.935-08:00Hawaiian ChickenI apologize up front that there are no pictures of this wonderful dish. My boys devoured it up before I even thought about getting out my camera. Oh well! I love when they fully enjoy what I cook for them.<br />
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What You Need:<br />
3-6 large chicken breasts, boneless and skinless<br />
1 bottle hickory barbecue sauce<br />
1 can crushed pineapple<br />
1 can pineapple chunks, drained<br />
1 small can mandarin oranges, mostly drained<br />
1 bag frozen peppers and onions mixture<br />
1/4-1/2 tsp. ground ginger<br />
1/2-1 c. dark brown sugar<br />
salt and pepper<br />
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What You Do:<br />
Mix barbecue sauce, crushed pineapple, pineapple chunks, oranges, peppers, onions, ginger and sugar. Pour a think layer into bottom of crock pot. Generously salt and pepper both sides of each chicken breast. Place on top of barbecue sauce layer. Pour the rest of the barbecue mixture over the chicken. Cook in crock pot on Low for about 4-5 hours. (Cooking time will vary depending on your crock pot.)<br />
Shred or cut chicken into chunks. Stir chicken and sauce together. Serve over your choice of rice. We used teriyaki rice.<br />
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Blessings,<br />
Cindy<br />Mrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-18310620037305173052012-02-17T15:28:00.001-08:002012-02-17T15:28:48.154-08:00Beef Tamale Bake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What you need:<br />
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<u>BASE:</u><br />
1 box corn muffin mix<br />
1 can cream style corn<br />
1 can mexi-corn<br />
1/3 c. milk<br />
1/3 c. Mexican Shredded Cheese (I used Kraft's with Philly Cream Cheese in it.)<br />
1 egg, slightly beaten<br />
1 tsp. ground cumin<br />
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper<br />
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Sour cream, optional for topping<br />
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<u>TOPPINGS:</u><br />
1 jar enchilada sauce<br />
1-3 pounds of ground beef (I used 2 lbs, but you could easily adapt for more or less), browned with 1 chopped onion, salt, pepper, cumin, and coriander <br />
1 c. Mexican Shredded Cheese<br />
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What to do:<br />
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees.<br />
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Mix the ingredients for the base. Pour into a greased 9x13 oven-safe dish. Bake for 20-30 minutes until set. Remove from oven and poke holes all over with a fork.<br />
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Pour enchilada sauce over base and spread around to make sure some goes into the holes you made. Add ground beef mixture. Sprinkle with cheese.<br />
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Bake for 20 more minutes. <br />
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It was a huge hit with my husband, Doug! He told me several times how great it was. I also thought it was quite delicious.<br />
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Enjoy! Let me know if you try it.<br />
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Blessings,<br />
CindyMrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-83501575368957717432012-01-16T07:27:00.000-08:002012-01-16T07:27:19.600-08:00Cody (Part 3)If you haven't read Part 1 go <a href="http://cindyandbrooke.blogspot.com/2012/01/our-miracle-son-one-of-them-anyway-part.html" target="_blank">here</a> first. Part 2 is <a href="http://cindyandbrooke.blogspot.com/2012/01/our-miracle-son-one-of-them-anyway-part_13.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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As you can tell from the previous posts, God has definitely had His hand on Cody even before birth! Truly, God had chosen Cody even before the foundations of the earth to use for His glory! You would think that the stories previously told would be enough. But God had other plans for Cody and still does!<br />
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About a year ago, Cody came to me after youth group one Wednesday night and told me that he had been saved. This was a little bit of a shock for me because I truly had believed he had been saved as a young child. Looking back I realize that was just a Momma wanting to believe her son was saved. (There's a story here about our other boys, too. That will have to wait for another time.) He poured out his heart to me. God was speaking to Cody in big ways, yet quiet ways. This time, it wasn't a wish or a hope. This time Cody was a different young man! He changed who he spent most of his time with. He changed his attitude. He changed how he approached situations. Well, let's be real here...God changed these things in Cody! Cody was living to serve his Savior! <br />
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During the summer of last year, our church held its annual Jeru missions focus where we do different types of community projects and block parties...missions right in our backyard! I happened to be in school training during that week. I knew all 3 boys were working on Jeru projects. They were all passionate about participating. As I sat in a training class at my school, my phone buzzed. I looked and saw that it was Doug and knew that he wouldn't call unless something was wrong. His voice sounded shaky. He went on to tell me that Cody had been hit across the face with a shovel during some landscaping work. Okay...pause here. A shovel across the face...I don't know about the images that popped into your mind, but the images I saw that day in my head were horrific! <br />
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Doug told me that Cody was on his way to the ER with the youth minister. I told him I'd be right there. Oh wait...my car was at my dear friend's house where Brooke was babysitting for the most amazing baby ever! (I'm a little partial to the sweet boy!) Jayne (mom of the sweetest baby) came out to check on me and we both left in a hurry to take me to get my car. We prayed on the way. I prayed all the way to the ER. <br />
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The shovel had gone right across Cody's nose...right between his eyes! However, it was a cut that only needed a few stitches. His nose was not broken. His eyes were fine! He didn't have a concusion! Once again, God had protected him. That is just exactly the message Cody shared! (After a little teasing of his cousin/friend who had whopped him across the face with the shovel.) Cody went right back to the missions projects as soon as he left the ER.<br />
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Enough? You would think! However, just a few weeks ago, God once again displayed his mighty power in Cody's life. We were home on a cold night. Cody was in our bedroom with us talking about how bored he was. (Famous last words.) Doug suggested to Cody to go out and start burning the brush pile where Doug had been cleaning out our creek. Within minutes...<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The explosion we heard was so loud it sounded like someone standing in the room with us and shooting a gun. Our house shook from that boom! I yelled to Dougie that it had to be Cody! I ran from my bedroom to our kitchen and Cody was already (within seconds) walking in through the back door. Understand, our back door was quite some distance from where the fire was. He was dazed and weak! I got him on the ground to keep him from fainting. Took his coat off him to see how badly burned he was. His hair was black from being singed, as were his eyebrows and the rest of his facial hair. His hand was badly burned and we could already see where blisters were forming. When he coughed, we could smell smoke and...gasoline! Yep...he had accidentally used gas instead of kerosene. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He kept saying he would be fine. He wanted to take a shower to get the burned hair off of him. The smell of gas coming out when he coughed was most concerning to me along with his hand. When he got out of the shower, his hand was hurting pretty bad and the corner of his eye was tender. The smell of the burned hair and flesh still hung heavy in the air. We headed for the ER.</span></div>
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When we arrived at the hospital, they immediately took him back to assess the burns and any other injuries. Miraculously, let me repeat that...MIRACULOUSLY Cody's lungs were completely clear! COMPLETELY CLEAR! The burn around his eye was already feeling better. However, his hand was hurting horribly. They dressed the burn, gave him something for pain, and cleared him of all other injuries! Praise the Lord! </div>
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Yet again, God had protected Cody from what could have meant severe burns all over his body or even his death! By the very next day, Cody's hand was already healing. He didn't need pain medicine after that morning. </div>
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Last summer God called Cody to full-time ministry! While he is unsure of the exacts of it all, he is sure God has a plan for him to reach people with the Gospel! I don't know what God's plans are. But one thing I know for sure...</div>
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(One of Cody's senior pictures...taken by the VERY talented Rebekah Travis)</div>
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God has had his hand on Cody since before time. He has protected him over and over from injury and death. I'm looking forward to seeing all that God has in store for our Baby B--Cody!</div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-28203A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup>whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-28203B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup>a preacher? </span> Romans 10:14</div>
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Blessings,</div>
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Cindy</div>Mrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-58086981137712939082012-01-13T12:01:00.000-08:002012-01-13T12:48:13.871-08:00Our MIracle Son (One of them anyway) Part 2If you haven't read part 1, please go <a href="http://www.cindyandbrooke.blogspot.com/2012/01/our-miracle-son-one-of-them-anyway-part.html" target="_blank">here</a> first to read about the miraculous beginning of Cody's life.<br />
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Cody was an energetic, loving toddler! He adored the Lion King and Spider Man. He carried a little Simba action figure with him everywhere he went. EVERYWHERE! When he liked something you knew it! When he didn't like something, you knew that, too! He hated getting his hair cut and having his nails clipped. He would scream to the top of his lungs, "IT HURTS!!! MOMMY, IT HURTS!" No amount of consoling would change his feelings on the matter, either. He was a passionate child.<br />
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Fast forward to the spring semester of first grade. At this time, Blake and Cody were 6. (Dale was 5. That means Brooke was 8.) Needless to say, our house was always buzzing. <br />
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We live out in the country on ten acres with a wonderful creek that meanders around our property. There are lots of trees! There are many things for young boys to get into. Our boys were climbing trees by the time they could walk...or at least it seemed that way.<br />
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It was the week of Spring Break. At the time, I worked for a private preschool that was on the same schedule as the public schools. We were all home for Spring Break. This particular day (the Monday of break) was a beautiful day...perfect temperature, sun shining. It was a great day for the kids to be outside playing. The boys often roamed around behind our house while we would go in and out to check on them.<br />
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Late that afternoon, one of the boys (I don't remember if it was Blake or Dale) came running into the house and said that Cody had fallen out of a tree. We raced out the back door and Cody was limping toward the back deck. Just the relief that he was up and walking flooded over us. However, when we got him in the house he couldn't breathe and was crying because he was hurting. He couldn't tell us exactly how he was hurting. He knew his foot hurt, but he basically was hurting all over. <br />
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My parents rushed up to our house. I was trying to soothe Cody and at the same time telling Doug that we needed to go to the hospital. Doug (being the man that he is) said something like, "Oh, he'll be alright! After all, he walked to the house." Doug went outside to see where he fell. When he came back in he told us that Cody had fallen 12 feet out of the tree and another 6 feet into the creekbed. My tiny little boy had fallen 18 feet! My mother and I had decided we would go to the hospital with or without Doug. It ended up that Doug and I took him to Kosair hospital and my parents stayed with our other children.<br />
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The staff at Kosair immediately took him to a trauma room. They ran x-ray after x-ray after x-ray. He had broken his foot right at the growth plate. He would have to put no weight on it for some time. At that point, we were once again relieved and thankful that his injury, while serious, was so much less than it could have been. The doctors decided that Cody should stay overnight for observation. <br />
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That night, Cody would cry out in extreme pain everytime he moved. Something wasn't right and this Momma knew it! It really makes no sense that I thought something else was wrong when the doctors were saying there wasn't anything else. After all, Cody was going to hurt; he had fallen hard and a long distance. The only explanation is that God prompted me to know something more was wrong. I pestered and complained to the attending physician until he finally relented and said they would do a scan of Cody's spine from top to bottom. He said to me, "I'm only doing this to prove to you that nothing is wrong." I said, "Great! I hope you are right!" Grrrr! That still gets under my skin when I think about it. Anyway, I digress.<br />
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Becky, my sister had come to visit Cody and told Doug and me to go get something to eat. We went downstairs to McD's and came right back to Cody's room. We weren't gone 20 minutes. Becky met us at the door and told us that the doctor had come in and told her that Cody had to lay flat on his back and couldn't move. The scan showed that he had broken his back. I can't even type this without crying. A broken back?! What would that mean? What will they need to do? How can we control his pain? If he moves, will he end up being paralyzed? Oh so many questions. <br />
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Of course, we were praying through all this, but the urgency became even more intense. Cody had to lay flat on his back for several days in that hospital bed until they could make a custom turtle-style back brace. He had so many prayer warriors interceding for him.<br />
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We spent a full week at Kosair's. Cody would come home in the back brace, wheelchair, and a walker. He could not get up at all without the brace. He could not put any weight on his foot so he had to be in the wheelchair. The walker was for moving small distances around the house. We moved his bed into the living room to care for him 24/7. Cody finished his first grade year home-bound. He spent from April through the end of July in the brace and the wheelchair.<br />
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It wasn't until we were past the initial shock of his injuries that we realized how God had protected him the day he fell from the tree. Cody probably didn't weigh 35 pounds at the time. (Our boys have always been tiny. That is until they started getting taller and taller.) He fell 18 feet into a rocky creekbed hitting branches on his way down. He walked to the house on a broken foot and with a broken back. BUT GOD protected him! Cody could have just as easily been killed that day. Beyond the initial fall, Cody could have been paralyzed because of a delay in the diagnosis of the broken back. BUT GOD had other plans for Cody.<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">For He will give <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-15407V" title="See cross-reference V">V</a>)"></sup>His angels charge concerning you, <br />To guard you in all your ways.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Part 3--coming soon.</span></span></div>
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Blessings,</div>
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Cindy</div>
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" class="stLframe" frameborder="0" height="350" id="stLframe" name="stLframe" scrolling="no" src="" style="left: 0px; top: 0px;" width="353"></iframe></div>Mrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-66947375379785731952012-01-08T05:52:00.000-08:002012-01-08T05:52:14.599-08:00Our Miracle Son (one of them anyway)--Part 1The events of this past week have found me pondering on the life of our 'middle' son. Really, Cody shares the first son position with his twin brother. It just happens that Cody was born 2 minutes after Blake, thus the middle son title. As I thought about Cody's life...from the time in my womb until now at almost 18 years old, I realized more than ever that God's hand has been upon him in mighty ways and know that God has wonderful plans for his future. Let's back up to the winter of 1993 or a little before.<br />
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I had always wanted twins and had prayed and prayed that God would bless me with twins! When I was pregnant with our daughter in the winter of 1991-92, my sister was also pregnant. I knew I was having 1 precious baby and I was so thankful! Then, my sister found out that she was having twins! While it didn't decrease my thankfulness for our baby on the way, I must admit that my heart sank! I thought some not-so-nice thoughts. After all, I HAD PRAYED FOR TWINS! I wanted twins. I really thought she got pregnant just because I was pregnant! (Yes--I'm the spoiled baby of our family!) Oh my, the battle that waged within me about the twins! Once our beautiful babies were born, I helped daily with Alex and Austin, while we also cared for Brooke. Those were some difficult but amazing days!<br />
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Fast forward two years to the winter of 1993...November to be exact so really the fall, I suppose. I had recently found out that I was pregant again! What a blessing! We always knew we wanted a large family. Doug and I were so excited! So much was going on in our lives at the time. We had bought land several years earlier and the time had come to start building our house. The night before the foundation was to be dug, I started bleeding. I was devastated even before knowing what was causing it. I worried and fretted all night. I called the doctor and he told me to wait until the morning and see what happened and then go straight to his office. We already had plans for Dougie and a family friend to start digging for the foundation, so he couldn't go with me. A dear friend from church said she would go with me. We waited and she was such an encouragement and comfort. At this point, I was only a few weeks pregnant. (I always knew almost at conception. I was blessed with morning, mid-morning, noon, afternoon, evening, night, and even middle of the night sickness!) <br />
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The doctor had decided to go ahead and do an ultrasound to see what was going on. The technician doing the ultrasound was so sweet. She started the procedure and turned the screen to look at it closely. This scared me to death! Then, she looked at me with a perplexed expression. She turned the screen to me and asked..."Is there a history of multiple births in your or your husband's family?" By this time, my friend's eyes were as big as saucers! I said, "Actually, yes. My sister just had twins about 1 1/2 years ago." The technician went on to point out two teeny tiny blips on the screen. I was so early on that all that was visible were two amazing beautiful, awe-inspiring, blips on the screen. There were TWO heartbeats! I WAS EXPECTING TWINS! <br />
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We rushed to the property where Doug was working and shared the news! He turned as pale as a person can turn. I thought he might pass out! Then, the digging of the foundation stopped! We needed to add more room. :) Isn't God's timing perfect?!<br />
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Fast forward a few months into the pregnancy. Expecting twins in 1994 meant that I was privileged to have multiple ultrasounds unlike with Brooke when I had only 1. During an ultrasound appointment, the technician abruptly left the room. When she came back, she had a doctor with her. Once again, my heart sank! The doctor explained to me that Baby B (Cody) had something wrong with one of his kidneys. He explained that I needed to follow-up with my OB/GYN and also consult with our pediatrician. He then went on to strongly suggest that after those consultations, we come back to the hospital to have selective reduction counseling because of all that the kidney 'malformation' could mean. <br />
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ARE YOU KIDDING ME? YOU WANT ME TO CHOOSE TO REDUCE MY TWINS TO ONE? YOU WANT ME TO CHOOSE TO END THE LIFE OF THIS BABY THAT I HAD PRAYED ABOUT FOR SO LONG?<br />
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(Ultrasound later in pregnancy...2 heads)</div>
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Well, I did talk to my OB/GYN and told him point blank that the only choice to be made is leaving this baby in my God's hands and trusting that God has a plan for him! Thankfully, my doctor completely agreed!<br />
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We continued through the pregnancy, having ultrasound after ultrasound. Each time, the kidney problem seemed to either stay the same or be a little worse. Doug and I took the concern to our church family at the time. Our church family prayed over my sons, even while I was pregnant. When Blake and Cody were born, they immediately started doing tests on Cody's kidneys and other things, as well. Both babies seemed perfectly healthy, except Cody's kidney still wasn't quite developed the way they said it should be. All those "birth defects" the doctors were concerned about...NONE!<br />
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(Cody on left; Blake on right)</div>
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Again, we took our concerns to our church family. This time, the church prayed over Cody. I still get chills when I remember that day. God's power that flowed through those believers was overwhelming! At Cody's next check-up, his kidney showed no signs of any malformation!<br />
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These were the first things God did for Cody. Psalms 139:13 says, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb." God was at work in the life of Cody even before time began. God also had big plans for Cody as he grew.<br />
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Part 2 coming soon.<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" class="stLframe" frameborder="0" height="350" id="stLframe" name="stLframe" scrolling="no" src="" style="left: 0px; top: 0px;" width="353"></iframe></div>Mrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-16263438329105267452011-12-29T07:41:00.000-08:002012-04-02T11:08:21.216-07:00Strong?Over the last 2 weeks, in the midst of the hectic life around me during this time of the year, I've had the time to relax by browsing on Pinterest or by catching up with people via facebook. As we near the new year, I'm noticing a shift in posts and in conversations. While this shift to new things and resolutions can be a good thing, I have been broken by some of what I've read.<br />
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Things like...<br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">You were given this in life because you are</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><strong>strong enough</strong></span> to handle it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Live <span style="color: red;"><strong>strong</strong></span> in 2012.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">God will never give me something <strong><span style="color: red;">I </span></strong>can't handle.</span></div>
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None of those things are wrong...exactly. But each one of them and many more like them lack one truth. You see the emphasis in these things is on the Me/Myself/I. The focus is on what I can do or what YOU can do.</div>
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Have you ever stopped to think about this? I have been...lately especially! Our family, church family, and friends have all endured many hardships over the last year. </div>
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We've seen loved ones die suddenly.</div>
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We've experienced dire financial circumstances.</div>
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We've watched dear friends pack up and move away knowing we will most likely never see them again in this life.</div>
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We've watched children make devastating choices.</div>
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We've watched children make amazing choices...but those choices will affect our family's life forever.</div>
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We've dealt with illness, injuries, and the pain that comes from those.</div>
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We've experienced unfairness at work or at school.</div>
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We've walked with our children through unimaginable heartbreak.</div>
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Really, I could go on and on! This morning while catching up on facebook, God kept impressing on me the FACT that I cannot ever be strong enough. Many of things my personal family has been through this year and in years past would have left us paralyzed if we had had to be strong enough to deal with them.</div>
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">PRAISE GOD we didn't have to be strong enough!</span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: black;">You see God tells us in His Word over and over that HE IS OUR STRENGTH!</span></div>
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Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, <em><strong>for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.</strong></em></div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras">Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, <em><strong>for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go</strong></em>.</span></div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras">Psalm 18:2 The <em><strong>LORD</strong></em> is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.</span></div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras">2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, <em><strong>for my power is made perfect in weakness.</strong></em>” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,<em><strong> so that Christ’s power may rest on me.</strong></em></span><br />
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<span class="keywordresultextras">Philippians 4:13 I can do all things <em><strong>through Christ who gives me strength</strong></em>.</span></div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras">While we are commanded over and over again throughout the Bible to "Be strong.", that strength always comes from the Lord. I'm so thankful that He is my portion and my strength, and that although He calls me to be strong...to hold on...to have courage, He ALWAYS supplies the strength for me to do those things.</span><br />
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<span class="keywordresultextras"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. </span><span class="keywordresultextras"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Psalm 73:26</span> </span></span></div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+73:25-27&version=NIV"></a></span><br />
A current song on Christian radio is a great reminder of the truth that we don't have to be strong enough. God is strong enough for both of us! <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knuHDPbE5es&ob=av2n" target="_blank">Strong Enough by Matthew West</a><br />
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Blessings,<br />
Cindy<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="0" id="stSegmentFrame" name="stSegmentFrame" scrolling="no" src="http://seg.sharethis.com/getSegment.php?purl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D7204331321929861524&jsref=&rnd=1325170887747" style="display: none;" width="0"></iframe></div>Mrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-28434300798544842562011-12-10T12:48:00.001-08:002011-12-10T13:10:57.404-08:00It's Beginning to FEEL Like ChristmasI did it! I finished all our Christmas shopping in just 2 days. I must say that a couple of weeks ago, I was completely stressed about Christmas. The thought of trying to scrape money together to fill our living room with presents for our 4 children stressed me! I found myself dwelling on how we always had done Christmas in the past and how daunting the task ahead of me was for this year. After all, we have Brooke in college, Blake and Cody are seniors, and Dale just turned 16. The money we put out monthly for tuition, school expenses, insurance, food, and so much more is far more than we can "afford" and we usually have more month than money. So to add Christmas presents to that was enough to produce a migraine!<br />
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Then, one evening as I was stressing and browsing Pinterest, I ran across a saying for Christmas giving...<br />
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The idea is that each child receives four...YES THAT'S ALL...FOUR gifts. They can ask for whatever they choose in each category, but they will receive...<br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">Something they want.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">Something they need.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">Something to wear.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">Something to read (or listen to).</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">We sat down with our kids and talked about Christmas and how we needed it to look different this year for several reasons. The first is that Christmas is about the ONE true gift that God gave us when He sent Jesus to be born as a baby in Bethlehem. God has blessed everyone in our family with the gift of salvation. THAT is what Christmas needs to be about. We also explained that money is tight (they already knew that) and we found this new way of planning for Christmas that we hoped they would appreciate. Being the wonderful children that they are, they were all for it! They each made a list in the four categories. What a blessing to get their lists and not feel the pressure of the world to provide them with hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of stuff that in the end will mean nothing.</span></div>
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So two nights ago, Doug and I set out with lists in hand. How great it felt to be able to shop stress free. How awesome to realize our children all asked for things that will help them grow in their walk with Christ. How amazing for God to take us to just the right stores and show us just the right deals! Truly, I've prayed in the past for money to be able to buy more and more. (By the way, His answer to those prayers was usually "no".) This time around I found myself praying for God to lead me to items that would please my children AND would get us the most for our money. I found myself excited once again about this Christmas! We didn't finish shopping Thursday, so I went out this morning to finish. I was able to find perfect gifts for our kids and for our parents. It feels wonderful to be able to say I'm finished! Whew! I'm so thankful I won't need to go out into those crowds again!</div>
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As I sat down to relax a few minutes after returning from town this afternoon, I felt a peace about Christmas that I don't know if I've ever felt before. God is so good! I'm so thankful for His intervention through, of all things, Pinterest! Now, we will all have this blessed season to enjoy each other without the pressures of MORE MORE MORE.</div>
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"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30284A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup>from above, coming down from <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30284B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup>the Father of lights, <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30284C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup>with whom there is no variation or <sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NASB-30284a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]"></sup>shifting shadow." James 1:17<br />
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Blessings,<br />
Cindy<br />
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<br />Mrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-56635146859063948532011-08-27T18:32:00.000-07:002011-08-27T18:32:44.471-07:00Even in the valley...<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;">GOD IS GOOD!</span></div><br />
Have you ever wondered why you or your family has to go through hard times...sickness...violence...times of many tears and many questions? While I'm not focusing on the why's of our challenges, there have been times this last week that I just stopped and cried out to God because I just don't understand.<br />
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I don't understand why Brooke has become sick again with what appears to be issues with her heart after many years without any complications. I don't understand why my migraines had reappeared full force. I don't understand why Dougie is struggling at work in so many ways. I really don't understand why God allowed Blake to be attacked in a parking lot by a complete stranger. I don't understand!<br />
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Then, in my quiet time, God speaks through His Word to me...words of comfort, assurance, and love. As I'm listening to one of my favorite bands this week, God speaks to me through their lyrics. At just the right time and just the right place, God sent just the right people to minister to my family and to me. It was through all this that I realized I don't have to understand why. What I have to understand is that even in the valley, God is good! He is working all things for the good of His children. No matter what, we're called to praise Him. No matter what we are called to live out our lives for Him.<br />
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So, what do I have to praise God for when I have one child sick and one child hurt? Let me share with you.<br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">I am married to a wonderful, Christian man who loves and supports us through good times and bad! Dougie is a true blessing!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">Protection for Brooke!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">Blake's injuries are minor compared to what they could have been!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">I have a group of prayer warrior sisters in Christ praying for me daily!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">I had 3 days without migraines this week!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">Marsha was near to minister to Brooke's needs when I wasn't there!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">Marsha opened up her home to Brooke!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">Texts, facebook messages and phone calls from sisters in Christ to encourage and let me know they are praying for Brooke.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">A fellow teacher...actually 3...offering their time to cover my class so I could get to Brooke!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">A parent of a student and fellow teacher offering to take my class an extra 50 minutes on her planning so I could catch up!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">God intervening and stopping the attack on Blake!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">Cody and Dale reacting exactly the way God wanted them to react!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">A police officer being on the scene quickly!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">My boys' witness stands firm because they stood firm in the Lord!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">A mom of my boys' friend driving by and stopping to help!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">Witnessing Blake's quick forgiveness!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">Being able to pray with Blake in the hospital!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">Clear catscan of his brain and face!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">The boys' good friends!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">Through everything this week, having opportunities to share how the Lord has worked with people who aren't yet Christ followers!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">A phone call from Cathy at the exact right time when I needed it most!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">Psalm 27!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">A visit from Blake's friend bringing him a card full of hugs!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm sure I've left something out. You get the point, right? Satan has been attacking our family! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><strong>BUT GOD!</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-large;">God knows. He cares. He is in control. He is and will continue to work all things to our good.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">I appreciate and am so thankful for everyone's prayers! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Blessings,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Cindy</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Mrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-20157519026724798762011-07-19T04:42:00.000-07:002011-07-19T04:42:12.422-07:00Gain the world and lose my soul<strong><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">35</span></sup></strong> For <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-24536A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">(</span></strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+8:35-37&version=NASB#cen-NASB-24536A" title="See cross-reference A"><span style="color: #651300; font-size: x-small;"><strong>A</strong></span></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">)</span></strong></sup>whoever wishes to save his <sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NASB-24536a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">[</span></strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+8:35-37&version=NASB#fen-NASB-24536a" title="See footnote a"><span style="color: #651300; font-size: x-small;"><strong>a</strong></span></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">]</span></strong></sup>life will lose it, but whoever loses his <sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NASB-24536b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">[</span></strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+8:35-37&version=NASB#fen-NASB-24536b" title="See footnote b"><span style="color: #651300; font-size: x-small;"><strong>b</strong></span></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">]</span></strong></sup>life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-24537"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">36</span></strong></sup> For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-24538"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">37</span></strong></sup> For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:35-37</span><br />
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I love early morning wake-up calls. No, I'm not crazy (well maybe a little), but I'm not talking about the early wake-up calls of an alarm. I'm talking about those times when God wakes me in the wee hours of the morning, long before most people are up...long before I had planned to get up...even long before the sun comes up. Some time back a dear Christian woman helped me see that those early morning nudges when you really should be sleeping are times when God is calling you to spend time with Him...in prayer and in His Word!<br />
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This morning around 4:30, I was all the sudden awake. I had not been dreaming that I remember. There hadn't been any noises to wake me. I was simply awake. During the hour that followed, God placed so many of my friends and family on my heart. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Friends and family who are facing illness and eminent death of loved ones.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Friends who are agreeing in prayer for an injured young man in Colorado.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Friends who are praying their children home from orphanges all over the world.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Friends who are caring for children who aren't their own, but love them dearly anyway!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Children called to ministry!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Moms and Dads of children called to ministry.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Teachers planning for the upcoming year.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Students who will be placed in the care of those teachers.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Friends and family who are awaiting word on new jobs.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Friends and family praying for God's guidance in choosing a home.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Friends who are struggling with who God really is.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Friends who are longing for a time past when life seemed to be good for them. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Friends and family who seem to have a longing for God in their lives but are still living in the world.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Friends and family who can't see that what they need...all they need...is the Lord in their lives.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So much flooding my mind that the only thing to do was pray. As much as I had to pray about, there was one 'theme' that kept coming back to me. The heaviest burden was for friends who are searching--for peace, for comfort, for love, for answers. God kept bringing these people back to the top of my list.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">After much time just sitting with God in the darkness and silence, I got up and went for my Bible. Since Sunday's Sunday School lesson and memory verse, God has placed on my mind the idea of living for Him versus living for the world. It seems that everywhere I turn, I'm faced with the images and words of people struggling with this. As I searched through my Bible, I found many passages addressing living for Christ instead of living for the world. Then, a image came to mind that has stuck there this morning.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-o5HPmoIVfvUAUItgdVIgflITP3i-W0DDZCjGvuvVQDdkQDJCyFwUAqaOxv0xyC_wJIIt2-L6tjCB5sDqYYxZrzWkD-t7MmDbsVGTthJAjMtPA7nB82C3499eJzi1cHfIm86OMyJ9sJ4N/s1600/fence" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-o5HPmoIVfvUAUItgdVIgflITP3i-W0DDZCjGvuvVQDdkQDJCyFwUAqaOxv0xyC_wJIIt2-L6tjCB5sDqYYxZrzWkD-t7MmDbsVGTthJAjMtPA7nB82C3499eJzi1cHfIm86OMyJ9sJ4N/s320/fence" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yep, that's a fence! As I thought about this image of a fence, I thought about how many times in my life I straddled the fence--one leg on God's side, one leg on the world's side. I remember trying with all I had to live both ways. But it simply wasn't possible. I am either for God or against God. There is no middle ground or room to play with the setup. As Christians, we either are or aren't! As I pondered more on this thought, I thought of areas in my life where this has been a struggle. I thought of areas where my friends are struggling right now as I type and as you read. So many of us have faced, are facing, or will face choices that will define which side of the fence we are on. We have to ask ourselves...I have to ask myself...who or what are we living for.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">When I'm on FaceBook, do I try to sit on both sides...posting nice scriptural things one hour and then derogatory things the next?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">At work, do I try to sit on both sides...praying with coworkers over a need one day and gossiping the next?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">At home, do I try to sit on both sides...encouraging children to keep garbage out of their lives in the morning and then watching a TV show that goes against that encouragement that night?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The list could go on and on. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Today, my prayer is that I will always choose God's side. My prayer is that my friends who are struggling with where they belong find the One true God and live for Him. My prayer is that God will convict when we stray. My prayer is that He will call those searching for peace and comfort to Himself.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRnatPouD-a7H5xvE6DzmRUnyIegURj9hF4kdinyXDPigcOvXb83HFAdKWXd6zRfOF3DNDUrWnI3l3CrP6MtK7wyz2AAy5VwvSRGH4hrTPuCIJhhbBsCBAGTVeNb3io7_PcPVlzmmocNjs/s1600/1-john-2-15-17b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRnatPouD-a7H5xvE6DzmRUnyIegURj9hF4kdinyXDPigcOvXb83HFAdKWXd6zRfOF3DNDUrWnI3l3CrP6MtK7wyz2AAy5VwvSRGH4hrTPuCIJhhbBsCBAGTVeNb3io7_PcPVlzmmocNjs/s320/1-john-2-15-17b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">15</span></sup></strong> Do not love <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30566A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">(</span></strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John+2:15-17&version=NASB#cen-NASB-30566A" title="See cross-reference A"><span style="color: #651300; font-size: x-small;"><strong>A</strong></span></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">)</span></strong></sup>the world nor the things in the world. <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30566B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">(</span></strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John+2:15-17&version=NASB#cen-NASB-30566B" title="See cross-reference B"><span style="color: #651300; font-size: x-small;"><strong>B</strong></span></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">)</span></strong></sup>If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-30567"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">16</span></strong></sup> For all that is in the world, <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30567C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">(</span></strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John+2:15-17&version=NASB#cen-NASB-30567C" title="See cross-reference C"><span style="color: #651300; font-size: x-small;"><strong>C</strong></span></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">)</span></strong></sup>the lust of the flesh and <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30567D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">(</span></strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John+2:15-17&version=NASB#cen-NASB-30567D" title="See cross-reference D"><span style="color: #651300; font-size: x-small;"><strong>D</strong></span></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">)</span></strong></sup>the lust of the eyes and <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30567E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">(</span></strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John+2:15-17&version=NASB#cen-NASB-30567E" title="See cross-reference E"><span style="color: #651300; font-size: x-small;"><strong>E</strong></span></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">)</span></strong></sup>the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-30568"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">17</span></strong></sup> <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30568F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">(</span></strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John+2:15-17&version=NASB#cen-NASB-30568F" title="See cross-reference F"><span style="color: #651300; font-size: x-small;"><strong>F</strong></span></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">)</span></strong></sup>The world is passing away, and <i>also</i> its lusts; but the one who <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30568G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">(</span></strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John+2:15-17&version=NASB#cen-NASB-30568G" title="See cross-reference G"><span style="color: #651300; font-size: x-small;"><strong>G</strong></span></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">)</span></strong></sup>does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thankful for early morning wake-ups,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Cindy</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Mrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-65771763022403198622011-06-30T14:38:00.000-07:002011-06-30T14:38:00.925-07:00Delicious Dinner!I had time to do some experimenting in the kitchen this afternoon. Dinner was delicious! We had an Apple Bacon Meatloaf, Green Beans, and Mashed Cauliflower. Everyone loved the new meatloaf recipe AND the mashed cauliflower. At first, there was a little hesitation with the cauliflower, but the taste won everyone over. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><u><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Apple Bacon Meatloaf</span></strong></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5UCPwFY25n9_Ho77Mezm_E8XdNiXUSteZRV6u5EDuSWPJayNcHaEjCL36WZsv85whYqqrqsC7l5XIOnPnHHTzeEAViwrg0H6OX4qic_EBSZpCRyjc_Jj-jHNc-4LF4SVe1GBTl85Ew3k/s1600/IMG_2088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5UCPwFY25n9_Ho77Mezm_E8XdNiXUSteZRV6u5EDuSWPJayNcHaEjCL36WZsv85whYqqrqsC7l5XIOnPnHHTzeEAViwrg0H6OX4qic_EBSZpCRyjc_Jj-jHNc-4LF4SVe1GBTl85Ew3k/s200/IMG_2088.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
1 1/2 to 2 pounds lean ground beef<br />
1/2 to 1 pound Italian Sausage<br />
2 Eggs<br />
1 c. bread crumbs or crushed herb stuffing crumbs<br />
1 medium Sweet Onion, chopped<br />
1 Gala or Fuji Apple, chopped<br />
6 pieces Cooked Bacon, chopped<br />
6 pieces Uncooked Bacon<br />
1 c. Apple Butter (separated 1/2 c. for meatloaf and 1/2 c. for glaze)<br />
1/2 c. Cinnamon Apple Sauce<br />
6 Tbs. Hickory Barbecue Sauce (3 for meatloaf and 3 for glaze)<br />
Salt and Pepper<br />
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease 2 loaf pans. Line the bottom of each loaf pan with bread slices. (This will soak up any grease from the cooking meatloaf.) Set aside. Combine meats, eggs, bread crumbs, onion, apple, chopped bacon, apple butter, apple sauce, and barbecue sauce using your hands to mix thoroughly. Salt and pepper to your liking. Mix thoroughly. Separate and put into loaf pans. Mix the rest of the apple butter and barbecue sauce to make glaze. Spread over top of meatloaf mixture. Place 3 slices of uncooked bacon on each loaf. Bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour until cooked through. Switch oven to broil setting. Broil for 10 minutes or until bacon on top is crisp. Let meatloaf rest before moving to serving plate. (Remember, the bread is not for eating. It is soaked with grease. Just discard.)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><u><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mashed Cauliflower</span></strong></u></div><br />
1 head cauliflower, cut into florets<br />
4 c. chicken stock or broth<br />
1/2 container Philly Garlic Cooking Cream<br />
1/2 stick butter<br />
Salt and Pepper<br />
Chives for garnish<br />
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Place cauliflower florets in a large pot. Cover with chicken stock. Cover and bring to a boil. Then, leave covered and simmer on medium heat for 10 minutes. Uncover and bring heat back up to medium high. Cook for about 10 more minutes. Drain. Add cooking cream, butter, salt and pepper. Mix with a hand mixer until desired consistency for your taste. Move to a serving bowl. Garnish with a pat of butter and chives.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoT3oLSaN3Z957dq8qFrZhofNus3EogXoNPkUNkVtMTtuhaX47HYKKizO6yWYsllvSog73OGtAvq5YzUXa8xUtqz3ARWJM6FGjdL0eUy6M1DM6MH94nGKuv_2yidiuK9_yNo0GdmWLs-a/s1600/IMG_2085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoT3oLSaN3Z957dq8qFrZhofNus3EogXoNPkUNkVtMTtuhaX47HYKKizO6yWYsllvSog73OGtAvq5YzUXa8xUtqz3ARWJM6FGjdL0eUy6M1DM6MH94nGKuv_2yidiuK9_yNo0GdmWLs-a/s200/IMG_2085.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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Enjoy!<br />
CindyMrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-6089795815443187742011-06-29T11:30:00.000-07:002011-06-29T11:30:47.575-07:00Answered Prayers...Do We Really Want God to Answer?My pool time is often prayer, worship, and thinking time. Floating around in the cool water listening usually to K-Love Radio. This is a very personal time for me when I'm all alone in the pool. Today while enjoying this beautiful day, a conversation I had last night with a very strong, wise Christian woman came back to my mind. Basically, we talked briefly about our prayers (specifically for our children in this conversation) and whether we 1. really trust God to answer and 2. really want the answer we're praying for. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3q-z3FRAyUaTKFeC1VqzGIT6q1EgBhRiyHmFYfZsnngol0BAlN1dkDBrA-3pn4FdArPgXCja5HXxq5T_ePU_CkHnz9OqXxeZRB7eq5rzRGDnVcSH5JZlFHEwfEV0pqAut5XAIBJkrRVR3/s1600/God+Hears+Prayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3q-z3FRAyUaTKFeC1VqzGIT6q1EgBhRiyHmFYfZsnngol0BAlN1dkDBrA-3pn4FdArPgXCja5HXxq5T_ePU_CkHnz9OqXxeZRB7eq5rzRGDnVcSH5JZlFHEwfEV0pqAut5XAIBJkrRVR3/s1600/God+Hears+Prayer.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Think about it. We all know there are prayers we definitely want answered the way we are praying. When we pray for a sick child (or anyone), we want healing. Of course we want our child well...healthy...full of life. As parents, when we pray for the salvation of our children, we truly want that. After all, it is frightening to think of eternity with us in God's presence in Heaven and our children in Hell being tormented for eternity. That is definitely a prayer I prayed for years. Praise God! He answered that prayer with all four of our children being drawn to Christ and being saved by genuine faith in Christ--His death, burial, and resurrection.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMaeFum0g-k7O4W8OF8FRsqya0q2edF3qpIUZk6eT03K3TsFqLuNGRALtKN26X4a4Mow0mUjauP3uPelGRl8Kj00dLPkcjjYyfH6ZVGk7oMWzkQsyhPz9viGBU9WaICsxG318NFI2SC5r/s1600/Praying+hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMaeFum0g-k7O4W8OF8FRsqya0q2edF3qpIUZk6eT03K3TsFqLuNGRALtKN26X4a4Mow0mUjauP3uPelGRl8Kj00dLPkcjjYyfH6ZVGk7oMWzkQsyhPz9viGBU9WaICsxG318NFI2SC5r/s1600/Praying+hands.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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However, there are other prayers that we pray...and I believe we pray earnestly...that when God answers we start to question His answer. I have prayed nearly daily since my children were young for God to call them to His work, whether this be in ministry or as a lay-minister in his/her field. We all know our mission field is wherever God places us. Over the last year, my prayers have become more fervent. I've prayed specifically for God to call our children and use them for a called-out ministry. I've seen glimpses of answers over the last several months in Cody. I was (still am) excited to see what God was/is doing in his life.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqeTlBj52l-sPuIZCgCSI09AhudCFLogmGx57PdAq7VRpAVZCokEx8EmeWmnbTntHQGKSX5afim7IIvHNlENIYnCDio0Ce9hlIACu9CBI-gXmogLL9ubKx0DKoeXgXZG7nvP7KdBGdNzhZ/s1600/Camp+2011--1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqeTlBj52l-sPuIZCgCSI09AhudCFLogmGx57PdAq7VRpAVZCokEx8EmeWmnbTntHQGKSX5afim7IIvHNlENIYnCDio0Ce9hlIACu9CBI-gXmogLL9ubKx0DKoeXgXZG7nvP7KdBGdNzhZ/s320/Camp+2011--1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago--youth camp. This is an exciting week for the youth. It is plain fun! They get to fellowship with like-minded youth. They build relationships with each other. They are immersed in the Bible. Oh what a wonderful experience youth camp is! However, this time for me this was a week of sincere specific (well I thought they were specific) prayers for our boys. Everyday they were at camp, I prayed something like "Lord, clearly call our boys to your work. Make your calling on their lives so clear that they can't miss it. Send people their way and speak messages just to them so they know without a doubt what you are calling them to." I meant every word of those prayers! I really did...didn't I?<br />
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Well, the day the boys came home from camp, I discovered my prayers had been answered. Praise the Lord! Right? Of course, I celebrated with Cody as he shared that God had placed a specific call on his life to ministry. He isn't sure where he is being called or to what specific kind of work, but he KNOWS God has called him. Then, he says it--something like "Mom, it may be overseas." Was that the answer I wanted God to give him? When I prayed did I think God would send one of my babies out of the United States to minister? Honestly, I hadn't thought of that being an option. Silly of me, huh? Anyway, I had the comfort that maybe that wasn't where he was being called because he had said he wasn't sure where.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1GKJwhVFEU92OyZUqfac5BA4xHx_InBpGW-LeqHfY3fHv2UgABrpSbLqP93XkITeuGh91RZmlaotjihQbbat5AzXvgHtN7i-thgBAM_Gbt5cHGiQ3n-Pv_jelPOJZG5WviDegkNV4HvC/s1600/kids+around+world.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1GKJwhVFEU92OyZUqfac5BA4xHx_InBpGW-LeqHfY3fHv2UgABrpSbLqP93XkITeuGh91RZmlaotjihQbbat5AzXvgHtN7i-thgBAM_Gbt5cHGiQ3n-Pv_jelPOJZG5WviDegkNV4HvC/s1600/kids+around+world.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Then, that same night, Blake needed to talk to me. He had a lot on his mind. As he talked, I found out AGAIN that my prayers had been answered as Blake described several experiences at camp that he believes confirms a call to missions. And while he also isn't sure where, he feels pretty strongly that it could be the foreign mission field. Praise the Lord! Right? Was that the answer I wanted God to give another one of my boys? When I prayed did I think God would possibly send TWO of my babies out of the United States to minister? Frankly, it scares me! <br />
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You might think that since then I've prayed for God to keep them here...where it's safe...where I can see them often...where I can love on their children (I'm sure God is going to give us a BUNCH of grandkids one day...after all, I've prayed for that, too!)...where I will know what is going on with them. Well, that was tempting. Truthfully, that's what I wanted to pray.<br />
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Then, God spoke to me through His Word. <span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Romans 11:29 says"for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." He let me know then and there, that His calling sticks. Then, I found my way to Philippians 4:6-7. <strong><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">6</span></sup></strong> "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-29450"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">7</span></strong></sup> And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." I chose to pray for peace. I chose to pray for God to absolutely use Blake and Cody wherever He calls them. With each day, seeing my boys' passion for the Gospel of Christ, God is giving me peace.</span><br />
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<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Now, I can answer the question "Do I really want God to answer my prayers?" with a resounding YES! I wouldn't want anything less for my children. Each day God reminds me that He has this! He's in control! He is faithful!</span><br />
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<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">“The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.” <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=NASB&search=Psalm 138:8" title="Psalm 138:8"><span style="color: #651300;">Psalm 138:8</span></a> <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/index.php?action=getVersionInfo&vid=49" title="New American Standard Bible"><span style="color: #651300;">NASB</span></a></span><br />
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<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Blessings,</span><br />
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Cindy</span>Mrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-29649894379777272982011-06-28T19:08:00.000-07:002011-06-28T19:08:04.698-07:00Recipes from Our Day of CookingOne of my very favorite things to do with Brooke is cook. We love to create new dishes together. Most come out pretty good. A few have been on the not-so-good side. The great thing about it all is working with my precious baby girl, Brooke! Here are a few recipes from today's cooking adventures.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">(Salad pictured is a double batch.)</div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><u>BLT Salad</u></strong></span><br />
<br />
1 bag of Romaine Lettuce Mix<br />
1 carton grape or cherry tomatoes, halved<br />
3 eggs, hard boiled, sliced<br />
1/2 to 1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled or chopped<br />
<br />
Put lettuce in a large salad bowl. Cover lettuce with the tomato halves. Sprinkle crumbled bacon all over the tomatoes and lettuce. Garnish with the egg slices. This makes a really pretty and delicious salad.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Barbecue Dressing for BLT Salad</span></strong> (good on lots of other things, too)<br />
<br />
about 1 cup mayonnaise<br />
2-3 Tbs. barbecue sauce<br />
1 heaping spoonful honey<br />
1 bunch green onions, chopped fine (I use a manual food processor)<br />
fresh ground pepper<br />
juice from 1/2 lemon<br />
lemon zest from 1/2 lemon (optional)<br />
<br />
Whisk all ingredients together thoroughly. Refrigerate. Serve over BLT salad, on burgers, with fries, or anything else you please!<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Butterfinger Trifle</span></strong><br />
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Butterfinger Cookies (Kroger carries these.), broken into pieces<br />
1 package Chocolate Pudding<br />
2 c. Milk<br />
1-2 cans Whipped Cream<br />
1/2 c.- 1 c. Peanut Butter, melted<br />
2 Butterfinger Candy Bars, crushed<br />
Peanuts (optional), chopped<br />
<br />
Layer the following:<br />
1. Cookies<br />
2. Pudding<br />
3. Peanut Butter<br />
4. Butterfinger pieces and peanuts<br />
5. Whipped Cream<br />
<br />
Repeat layers until all ingredients used.<br />
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Happy Cooking!<br />
Cindy and BrookeMrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-11163773865224048732011-05-01T17:35:00.000-07:002012-04-13T14:29:32.958-07:00When<g_vml_:shape style="height: 4430px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 538px;"><g_vml_:stroke></g_vml_:stroke></g_vml_:shape><g_vml_:shape style="height: 4430px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 538px;"><g_vml_:stroke></g_vml_:stroke></g_vml_:shape>"When your children ask later..." <br />
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This morning's sermon and our life group's discussion on Psalm 77 about moving from depression to <br />
dependence rekindled my desire to pass on the stories of God's faithfulness in the life of our family. Below is a repost of the original post about our Remembrance Stones. The kids are even more grown up now! As I watch each of them grow physically and more importantly spiritually, I'm reminded often of God's faithfulness! <br />
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These stones now will be added to in order to remind each of us in our family that we CAN and SHOULD depend on our faithful Father. "All I have need of His hand will provide. He's always been faithful <br />
to me."<br />
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Original Post:<br />
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As you can see in the picture, our children are growing up...FAST. (This picture is nearly a year old...the boys have changed a lot even in the last year.) Brooke will be going away to college in less than a month now. Blake and Cody are driving now. Dale will be starting high school just a couple of days before Brooke leaves for school. It seems like yesterday they were all babies...oh how well Doug and I remember the days of a booster seat, 2 bulky car seats, and a baby carrier. We have so many stories of their growing up days that I'm sure many of you have heard...probably more than once. <br />
Have you heard the story of the 'car fly' or the story of the diaper incident when we thought Blake and Cody were napping or what about Brooke's rendition of the song "I Shall Not Be Moved" when she was two or maybe the story of how Dale sang the "I Know a Song that Gets on Everybody's Nerves" ALL the way to FLORIDA? We never tire of remembering and sharing stories of our children. If <br />
you are a parent or a grandparent, I'm sure you are the same.<br />
<br />
Many months ago, I started following the blog of a wonderful Christian woman who has a <br />
weekly feature called Memorial Box Monday. (The blog is h<a href="http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #336699;">ttp://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/</span></a> . You can check out her blog and see her reasoning and thinking behind how she does her Memorial Box.) <br />
<br />
Anyway, it got me to thinking. I'm so quick to tell stories about my children and family. I tell my children stories of themselves and our family so that they have those stories to tell their <br />
children, but do I purposefully tell them stories of God and His goodness and His love and His faithfulness so that they can experience it and then pass it on to their children in the future? I had to answer...not nearly enough. As a matter of fact, many times I would tell stories or recount the events in our lives and tell the details of the event and completely leave God out of it. Did I do that on purpose? No, but was it still wrong? Yes. <br />
<br />
Throughout the Bible, we are instructed to teach our children of the faithfulness of God so <br />
that they can and will teach their children. In Joshua 4, the Lord instructed Joshua to use stones as a memorial for what the Lord had done for the Israelites when they had crossed the Jordan. We should in some way be doing something so that we not only remember but pass on stories of God's faithfulness to our kids.<br />
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For example, when Cody was in the first grade he fell about 16-18 feet out of a tree when the branch he was standing on broke. He fell into a dry creek bed. Cody had a major compression fracture in his back, and he broke a small bone in his foot near the growth plate. I've told that story many <br />
times over the course of his life. I remember using words like..."It's AMAZING that he wasn't hurt worse than that." "It could have been so much worse." Both of those statements are true, but the TRUE TRUTH is that God protected Cody during that fall. God kept Cody from landing on his neck. God gave me the strength and determination to demand that the doctors x-ray Cody's back when <br />
they were refusing. God saw us through those days of Cody having to be flat on his back and very still until they could custom make a brace for him. God sent family and friends to minister and care for our family. God saw us through the months of Cody being in a hard-shell brace and wheelchair. Some people may say that God wasn't there or He would have kept Cody from falling. I not only say, <br />
but know that God was there and did protect Cody. Now, it is a story of God's faithfulness that we will share with our children and they will share with their children.<br />
<br />
With that being said, we all know there are so many stories of times when God has been faithful in our lives AND our human minds tend to forget. So how do we make sure that we have those stories to pass on? There are many ways that different families choose to do this. Our family has discussed this for a long time and have had many ideas. <br />
<br />
For now, we are doing a Remembrance Stone Box. We've just started this project. I thought I'd <br />
share some pictures with you. We started with a planter box. We collected flat, smooth rocks from a creek. It was fun to try to find rocks with odd shapes and colors. <br />
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Brooke painted a scripture on each side of the box.</div>
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Then, we took the stones and wrote brief descriptions of times in our family's life when God was </div>
faithful. When we can remember the date, we write the date. The stones are reminders. Obviously there is not room for the whole story. These are reminders so that when we see them we remember the story. We only have a few of the rocks with messages on them right now. We're adding to them a little at a time. As we need to, we'll add rocks. <br />
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The box sits on our coffee table in our living room. (My friend, Dawn, from church knew someone who used their remembrance stones in this way. Thanks for the idea, Dawn!) So now it serves a dual purpose. If someone is visiting our home, we hope it becomes a conversation piece. After all, we have a box of rocks on our table. This will open up the door for conversations about how good our God is!</div>
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So now, when our children (or grandchildren or anyone who comes into our home) ask later what are <br />
those rocks for, we'll answer with hearts full of love and thanksgiving as we tell of God's faithfulness!</div>
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Do you have a way that your family shares stories of God's faithfulness in your lives? I'd love </div>
to hear your ideas!<br />
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Blessings,</div>
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Cindy</div>
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</div>Mrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-23495244012131474742011-01-20T13:47:00.000-08:002011-01-20T13:47:53.893-08:00Lose all my guilty stains!It has been a while...3 months actually...since my last blog. No excuses, time just gets away from me and other things take my attention. Some things going on with me got me to thinking, praying, praising, worshiping, crying, smiling...the list could go on...so I thought I would put some of my thoughts here.<br />
<br />
I've been reading a book titled <u>Made to Crave</u> recently. It is a wonderful book so far, and I would already recommend it to others. This book brought some things to the surface of my life that my sinful self wants so desperately to keep buried; however, God is whispering to me to cast those cares on Him because He cares for me (1 Peter 5:7). <br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><span style="color: #990000;">~Prayer~</span></em></span></span></div><br />
God has used this book to speak to me about ugly, dirty sin in my life where my physical being and also my thought processes are concerned. It has not/is not an easy thing to listen to even when it is coming from God. BUT...I believe God knows that and that is why He keeps bringing these thoughts to mind. After tears of frustration over my inability to "stick to" lifestyle changes specifically eating and exercise, it's like He finally has gotten through to me that I really am made to crave...He made me that way! <br />
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It is my sin of focusing on food and my physical cravings instead of focusing on Him that has led me to where I am today. He made me to crave...but He made me to CRAVE HIM--not chocolate, not bread smothered in butter, not soft drinks, or anything else. We all know that the more we have of something, the more we crave it. The problem has been that instead of having MORE GOD (studying the Word, praying, singing, praising) when I'm stressed or even when I'm happy, I have for a long time turned to food for comfort and even just because it is there sometimes. How many times have I passed by my Bible when it was "just there" and went to the brownies that were "just there", too? Too many times!<br />
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<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">>SIN<</span></strong></div><br />
Lisa TerKeurst, in <u>Made to Crave</u>, puts it this way, "If we want to truly get close to God, we'll have to distance ourselves from other things." That really hit me! If I want to grow closer to God, I can't continue in a sin that I know is wrong no matter how much society says it is okay. Let's face it, gluttony is a sin! Call it what it is. When we overindulge in food it is a sin. We wouldn't question if drinking too much is a sin or if doing drugs is a sin, but we excuse eating too much as a stress reliever and surely God is okay with that. He's NOT! He can't be...He is Holy! He doesn't like sin! He doesn't view this as less than the others. Oh how crushing to admit that I have been openly satisfied with something that God detests.<br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;">*Confess...Repent*</span></em></span></div><br />
So what could I do? I know He wants more from me and expects more from me. I've been presented with scripture to back up everything that has been running through my mind and heart. The only thing to do, as a Christian, is to confess and repent. I was broken! I needed forgiveness for my lack of caring how I took care of or didn't take care of my body. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:19, "...do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?" From that point of confession and repentance, this verse kept coming to mind. If Christ came to visit me, I wouldn't give him a dirty, unkept place to stay. I would make sure he had the BEST I had! I knew that meant that I had to change my cravings so that my body can be the BEST I can have for the Holy Spirit.<br />
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Then, the question was...how? Isn't God awesome in that He gives us EVERYTHING we need! Since that day last weekend when I was broken, He has shown me that I am not alone. He is with me! Hebrews 13:5 “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” It's a promise, and God keeps His promises! <br />
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<div align="center"><strong><em><u><span style="color: #073763; font-size: x-large;">+ More God +</span></u></em></strong></div><br />
God showed me that I needed MORE of Him. I needed to be consistent with my Bible study and prayer time. I needed to draw closer to Him everyday! Guess what? It's true...the more you have of something, the more you CRAVE it! I crave time with God! That doesn't mean I don't still have temptations. I wasn't promised it would be easy, just that God is always with me. He has also reminded me through so many things, including the <u>Made to Crave</u> book, that not only do I need more of Him, but that He made me for MORE! When I realize and let completely soak in that I am a child of God, He "empowers me to believe that living in victory is sweeter than any unhealthy delicacy." (<u>Made to Crave</u>)<br />
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Next step, turning to God instead of food. Scripture to fight against this sin is imperative! I also had to have a plan for changing what I eat/drink. Personally, I'm using an online program for weight loss that helps me track what I eat, healthy choices in food, and exercise. With those things to track, I had to come to grips with my lack of desire to exercise. Ugh! I have never liked to exercise! This was probably more difficult than the food to start with. Again, my AMAZING HEAVENLY FATHER showed me the way, and He used my Daddy to do it!<br />
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For those who don't know, my parents live with us. I see Daddy everyday. I know him! He has never liked to "exercise" either. He has always been a busy person...always working. But exercise? No way! Over the last few weeks it was becoming obvious that Daddy was taking exercise very seriously! He would walk, work out on a nordic-like machine, AND ride the stationary bike. Wow! My Daddy exercising! If he could do it, then I knew I could, too, AND we could be encouragers for each other. Come to find out, time on that machine or exercise bike are perfect for praying, worshiping through music, and learning MORE about God through listening to books or messages on my little mp3 player. It is amazing! I'm enjoying exercise!<br />
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Today, while working out I listened to Selah (my new favorites, I'm pretty sure) and oh my! The songs just spoke to me. One song after another...over and over...God wrapped me in His love. Great is His faithfulness! It IS well with my soul! Then, "There is a Fountain" played. Praise God for the reminder that I lost all my guilty stains when I was plunged beneath the flood of Christ's blood when He died for me! "There may I, though vile as he (the dying thief), wash all my sins away!"<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfBrQXLYq7Hb_Af3EuojAgkcjXNoVVl9DCj5T4qlOm_14Z0DtmXD7GWUdve75YNy4nJACfH4YsNoGPThIO2BH2xr96aOLFukVDkxRriA7FfsiD37ilFlJ60Q366d6zayuYxSof6RoX4zX/s1600/Hearts+in+praise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfBrQXLYq7Hb_Af3EuojAgkcjXNoVVl9DCj5T4qlOm_14Z0DtmXD7GWUdve75YNy4nJACfH4YsNoGPThIO2BH2xr96aOLFukVDkxRriA7FfsiD37ilFlJ60Q366d6zayuYxSof6RoX4zX/s1600/Hearts+in+praise.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center"></div>What a burden has been lifted! I know that there will be times when I am tempted to go back to those sinful ways. I'm praying for someone to join me so that we can hold each other accountable. God is already answering that! I cannot even begin to express my gratefulness to God for His promise that He is with me always! I don't face this or anything else in life alone. To God be ALL the glory!<br />
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Blessings,<br />
CindyMrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-20067620855698758112010-10-23T09:22:00.000-07:002010-10-23T18:41:07.094-07:00Cindy ♥ Doug, A Marraige Made in Heaven<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBkVQrGR06OCB8L9d3LNTu__k5-ntXNPrXhyphenhyphenYQCtdew9lLsl7d3oeKyNbuODgV-GQv9w3o43SzCvd80Y6xCDR5863jTvUBzgErSWbH-rO2BMrqn7EIrmpnzOgEUrxMlzrRi9SzvLBHHtv/s1600/IMG_3946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBkVQrGR06OCB8L9d3LNTu__k5-ntXNPrXhyphenhyphenYQCtdew9lLsl7d3oeKyNbuODgV-GQv9w3o43SzCvd80Y6xCDR5863jTvUBzgErSWbH-rO2BMrqn7EIrmpnzOgEUrxMlzrRi9SzvLBHHtv/s320/IMG_3946.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I've been promising a post about marriage for sometime. Since I've been thinking A LOT about Doug this week with him working out of town, I thought now would be a good time to go ahead with it. First, let me say up front, I'm not an expert on marriage, but I am experienced. :) Doug and I have been married for 22 years. We have experienced the wonderful seasons where we were on top of the world taking in the views from the highest mountain peaks. We have also experienced the lowest valleys we could have experienced in a marraige and still came out with the rings on our fingers and the promise in our hearts. So while I'm not an expert and will never claim to be, I have lived a gamut of experiences in my married life.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><em>♥ Our story ♥</em></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">I never tire of telling our love story for it truly is a story of a marriage made in heaven by our One True God. Doug and I met at church when we were in early elementary school. I was in first grade. He was in second grade. By fourth and fifth grade, we were 'going together' and holding hands under the hymnal or church Bible. (I don't advocate that for children. :) However, it truly was innocent.) We were best of friends. We talked all the time. We liked spending time together. Our sisters were friends. Our parents were friends. We went to the same church. We went to the same school. We lived down the road from each other. We rode the same bus. In other words, we were able to spend a lot of time together. We knew each other. If anyone asked me at the early age of 10 or 11 who I was going to marry, I could have instantly told them, "Dougie!"</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">In middle school, we would 'like' each other off and on. However, being middle schoolers, we also liked other people, too. We remained close friends, but we were becoming two very different people. Then, one awful day in high school I learned that Dougie would be moving to Texas. I was a freshman, and he was a sophomore at the time. There was no warning. They were moving, and there was nothing I could do. That was a very sad day in my life.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">I went on living, of course. I liked other boys. I know he liked and dated other girls. Then, in December on my sixteenth birthday, I was at a BC basketball game with some friends. One of my best friends came running down the bleachers toward me yelling, "Cindy...Dougie is here. Doug is looking for you!" I thought she was just messing with me. After all, he had moved more than a year before. Why would he be there? </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">I looked up and THERE HE WAS...as handsome as ever...walking toward me. I'm sure my heart stopped beating for just a moment. I'm also sure there was a smile as big as Texas on my face. What a wonderful birthday present! Well, we dated for about a month and then, he just disappeared. I tell him often that he was quite the jerk! I was so hurt! My heart was completely broken. I questioned why God had brought him back into my life (which I truly believed then that he had and I still believe NOW that he had) just to rip him out of it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">Again, life went on. I dated again. This time with the determination that D.F. would never hurt me again. I would give my love to someone else. I enjoyed the rest of my junior year of high school and began my senior year. I was working at what was then Otto Drugstore. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">One particular day in September I was working the cash register up front and got a phone call from my sister. She was at Doug's sister's house. She said that he wanted me to come there when I got off work. I said, "NO!" Later, he called. He was persistent. I told him that he had hurt me enough and that I would not come there to see him. If he wanted to see me, he'd have to come to Shepherdsville. I told him what time I was leaving work. He was there waiting when I went to my car. :) That was September 6, 1987.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">We went on our first official date that day. He wonders why I love Mr. Gatti's so much. That is part of the reason, I would guess. We sat at Mr. Gatti's for hours that day. We talked. He apologized profusely. We talked some more. It was that day, sitting in the party room of Mr. Gatti's all by ourselves, with Doug writing sweet stuff on a helium balloon, that I fell head over heals completely in love with him. Oh, I already loved him, but that day sealed the deal. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">On March 15 of the next year, Doug proposed. We had plans to wait 5 years to get married. I would finish college. He would finish trade school. However, we knew we could not wait 5 years. So, we set the date. August 5, 1989. I still laugh when I think about it. We were just being silly thinking we would wait that long. We had literally been waiting our whole lives for this. In May, we went to my parents and told them we couldn't wait a year to be married. After much discussion, it was decided the date would be changed to August 6 of the same year. There was ONE stipulation. I couldn't say the word wedding until high school graduation was over. (I was graduating valedictorian. My parents were not going to allow anything to get in the way of me finishing what I had started. I am very thankful for that.) I graduated in May, and we planned the wedding in less than 2 months.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKztzc5RokxzdWiFf8DqmEvOncOWVcx8L6ycXChlDtrlefme0SZPJsLeR16pr-FcF5YOCkGTOPU3aJyjp14Vsk5f8e2-UIgnc11zWrERYKBfmBJ_k4GJNvXadDFniidTH0Zttf0ah_LvE/s1600/IMG_3948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKztzc5RokxzdWiFf8DqmEvOncOWVcx8L6ycXChlDtrlefme0SZPJsLeR16pr-FcF5YOCkGTOPU3aJyjp14Vsk5f8e2-UIgnc11zWrERYKBfmBJ_k4GJNvXadDFniidTH0Zttf0ah_LvE/s320/IMG_3948.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">As I think back over the story of our life up to that point, I smile...I laugh...I even get a bit teary eyed at times. When I think of how God orchestrated two separate families...two separate lives...so that Doug and I would be placed together for His glory and our good, it amazes me. You see, none of that story is my doing or Doug's doing. We couldn't have come up with such an outlandish on again/off again thing if we tried. I mean, honestly...Doug's family up and moved to TEXAS and then, what I failed to mention above was that while he was visiting friends in Kentucky, his family decided to move back to Kentucky without telling him. God had to have acted upon my heart to soften it to let Doug back into my life after being hurt. As humans, we tend to build up scar tissue that isn't easily broken through when we're hurt by someone. God had to place me on Doug's mind for him to decide he wanted to see me after more than a year of being away. And to think it all started when we were small children. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Our lives changed on August 6, 1988. We were no longer just Cindy and Doug. We became Mr. and Mrs.! What a wonderful change!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yn2cKzEoDb1vaueYn_aD0PjB4eo-DPnAjmUQoFFvNAt4siDYiy8knbJAuYjfuXqJUIrffBRdsGHPVyFUb4VQP5mCIcnJCTqEfTCgSx2AWjnmwpwgRwUDB09GBkrXiDxIF28Lg9wzPdon/s1600/IMG_3949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yn2cKzEoDb1vaueYn_aD0PjB4eo-DPnAjmUQoFFvNAt4siDYiy8knbJAuYjfuXqJUIrffBRdsGHPVyFUb4VQP5mCIcnJCTqEfTCgSx2AWjnmwpwgRwUDB09GBkrXiDxIF28Lg9wzPdon/s320/IMG_3949.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><em>My insights and thoughts on Christian Marraige:</em></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">1. God has to be first in both of your lives. This will be evident in so many ways. Do you go to church together? Do you pray together? Do you study or discuss the Word together? Are you committed to following God's will for your lives? Are you raising your kids His way?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">2. My husband is second in my life. I am second in his life. This is a lesson we want our children to understand completely. We want them to know that we love them...completely and unconditionally. However, we want them to know that they cannot come between us a husband and wife. Kids can be and will be manipulative if you let them be. Don't allow them to move into the spot where your husband should be.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQMB4e2G-AF-cp2Taoo8t5lkktasA2KgYcywfAOClGRTd_i3GJ55hgbRrp5t90YLh1sJ78Ons1KFfDZzJNNBm0mI6LdgfWM-IwwTJ8zZNJXMgsvh3IUXnEv0k-H8D7Uftz0jIKvFVYQsJ/s1600/IMG_3198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQMB4e2G-AF-cp2Taoo8t5lkktasA2KgYcywfAOClGRTd_i3GJ55hgbRrp5t90YLh1sJ78Ons1KFfDZzJNNBm0mI6LdgfWM-IwwTJ8zZNJXMgsvh3IUXnEv0k-H8D7Uftz0jIKvFVYQsJ/s320/IMG_3198.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">3. When you get married, the focus should change from "I" to "WE". When a couple consistently socializes separately instead of together, trouble is soon to follow. To get to the point of marriage, what did you do? You went out together. Marriage shouldn't change that. If anything, it should make it better. The lowest time in our marriage is when we were both going out with friends instead of together. We invited trouble into our lives by opening a door for Satan to step right into. Why go to dinner with a friend on a Friday night and leave your spouse at home...especially on a regular basis? Think about how often you are spending time with other people away from your spouse. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">4. Friends of the opposite sex is a dangerous and slippery slope to walk. I'm not talking mutual friends where you and your husband are friends with another couple. I mean where the wife is friends with another man that her husband is not friends with or vice-versa. We tend to think that we are super-human and can just be friends and that those friendships will never go where they shouldn't. I'm here to tell you, friends, that you are lying to yourselves. Once again, that opens a door for Satan to step right in.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">5. Work to make your marriage the best it can be. What have you done for your husband today? What have you done today that says "I love YOU" without using the words?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisf6rv9OmGNZ6Te7b5Rv0FTyLeONTuMI_Eg1waw61c12yVL4Lm_RAD7ZBNmRYqUw70NMM_Fvyrs01jZ5leXskPcYXmTh9n4OzIIgNAkNUK7OaqoubHENqzsamd-IwXKalgTcL2jj-XpKDZ/s1600/IMG_3191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisf6rv9OmGNZ6Te7b5Rv0FTyLeONTuMI_Eg1waw61c12yVL4Lm_RAD7ZBNmRYqUw70NMM_Fvyrs01jZ5leXskPcYXmTh9n4OzIIgNAkNUK7OaqoubHENqzsamd-IwXKalgTcL2jj-XpKDZ/s320/IMG_3191.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEMHxczAj6HI6QnzqDtg5FvD5ucWTiYCcmNeEki_oPxy6J3qX2_aTMhvoHj2qglGc5Eu5FZi1q3g80JuQpUekUSz2eutfziInCC4HLZQO5Yt-_6jkB-M0VsyPS_TUwdaPaWqwOaqWfOqP/s1600/IMG_3193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEMHxczAj6HI6QnzqDtg5FvD5ucWTiYCcmNeEki_oPxy6J3qX2_aTMhvoHj2qglGc5Eu5FZi1q3g80JuQpUekUSz2eutfziInCC4HLZQO5Yt-_6jkB-M0VsyPS_TUwdaPaWqwOaqWfOqP/s320/IMG_3193.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="color: purple;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">6. Learn early to say, "I'm sorry for _____________. Will you please forgive me?"</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">7. Learn how to forgive even when it hurts.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">8. Play together. Again, what did you do before you got married? You had fun together. Why stop?</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">9. Hold hands. :)</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">10. View your marriage as a FOREVER promise. Divorce is not an option. God is an amazing God that can heal hurts, give peace, calm fears, and in the process SAVE marriages. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg775IOgkW-WFn09cvQZcPvzLtLLGLpJrMQ4fJNXt3_6wlrYr5VQLUW2FVE9mErGewM5OJD-f8H7D0cDrdxfP-w3N5H5dmBziM2eGuOi3MU8Uv_A42nrwuIgGguY0MwfSfX-7MF4LVmDVjv/s1600/F-Family-37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg775IOgkW-WFn09cvQZcPvzLtLLGLpJrMQ4fJNXt3_6wlrYr5VQLUW2FVE9mErGewM5OJD-f8H7D0cDrdxfP-w3N5H5dmBziM2eGuOi3MU8Uv_A42nrwuIgGguY0MwfSfX-7MF4LVmDVjv/s320/F-Family-37.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">I've often wondered why our story had so many twists and turns before we finally figured out we belonged together. After 22 years of many highs and some very low lows, I think it's because God knew what we would experience and was preparing us for the times ahead. He was preparing me for future heartache and for future healing. He was preparing Dougie for how to be the wonderful godly husband he is today. God was teaching us about forgiveness and persistence. You see, God knew that without this we would have given up on our marriage ten years ago. God knew what we needed, when we needed it. I'm so thankful for God's provision and protection over our marriage. How exciting it is to know that my marriage to Dougie is truly God-given, God-ordained, God-orchestrated...absolutely</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><em>♥ a marriage made in Heaven! ♥</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUxsIyzJBxQEMdCDAgGSObPhfglt__HAKmY4M4sen3kVvkWUSBS5cQSH-iYtktXna9YsijV4HBTRKx0-RPuztnEoEZ_1eqy_GZO-8BIwkRPXMK5gKsHPwon08PcRft7dONeeVJztH-GEWy/s1600/IMAG0065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUxsIyzJBxQEMdCDAgGSObPhfglt__HAKmY4M4sen3kVvkWUSBS5cQSH-iYtktXna9YsijV4HBTRKx0-RPuztnEoEZ_1eqy_GZO-8BIwkRPXMK5gKsHPwon08PcRft7dONeeVJztH-GEWy/s320/IMAG0065.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Blessings,<br />
Cindy<br />
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</div>Mrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-4779967159900001752010-10-09T05:00:00.000-07:002010-10-09T05:00:43.727-07:00Had it not been...Don't you love when God speaks to you? Isn't it so exciting to be reading in God's word and feel like...no, KNOW that He is speaking directly to YOU?! Don't you just get giddy when what you are reading hits home so hard that you know that God put you in that passage on this day so he could whisper sweet things to you? Our God is so amazing! He never ceases to amaze me.<br />
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This morning, I was continuing my study in Psalms. (I love Psalms! Who doesn't?) Anyway, I'm up to the Psalms of Ascents that were said/sang as the people traveled to Jerusalem and to the temple. Most of these Psalms are quite short. Usually, I study 2 to 3 a day because of their length. However, this morning, Psalm 124, which is only 8 verses, struck me so that I had to stop after reading it several times and share it with you.<br />
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It is a "Song of Ascents, of David" that is 8 verses. It talks about Israel's past. But...my oh my, when we take this and apply it to our lives...when I take it and apply it to MY life...WOW! Here it is...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong><em>Psalm 124</em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong><em>"Had it not been the Lord who was on our side,"</em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong><em>Let Israel now say,</em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong><em>"Had it not been the Lord who was on our side</em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong><em>When men rose up against us,</em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong><em>Then they would have swallowed us alive,</em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong><em>When their anger was kindled against us;</em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong><em>Then the waters would have engulfed us,</em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong><em>The stream would have swept over our soul;</em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong><em>Then the raging waters would have swept over our soul."</em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong><em>Blessed be the Lord,</em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong><em>Who has not given us to be torn by their teeth.</em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong><em>Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the trapper;</em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong><em>The snare is broken and we have escaped.</em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong><em>Our help is in the name of the Lord,</em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong><em>Who made heaven and earth.</em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">Read it again! Truly I understand this is an account of how the Lord saved the Israelites from destruction. However, has he not done the same for us as believers? Does he not do the same for us day after day? </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><strong><em>What if the Lord was not on our side?</em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I can not imagine living my life without God on my side...in my life. I can't fathom going through the daily grind without Him. I certainly can't begin to imagine facing life's biggest challenges...a sister who fought cancer, health issues of parents, raising children and all the issues that go with that, financial problems, tragedies in life that we don't have the answers for.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">As David says, "Blessed be the Lord!" Or thanks be to God for not turning us over to our enemy or giving us over to ourselves. Our help truly is in the name of the Lord! Amazing...the Lord of Lords, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and End, the ONE who created EVERYTHING...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><em><strong>HE IS ON MY SIDE!</strong></em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><em><strong>DO YOU HAVE HIM ON YOUR SIDE?</strong></em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">Blessings,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">Cindy</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Mrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-5054115291971898912010-10-04T07:12:00.000-07:002010-10-04T13:51:24.935-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJ9UlBcT2kbDCFEL8d4BIUhaDaXRqTugeZD9zplLTMpTXaJqXJZr0rkDi3x3bxw7ieFaX1LKIah_QBKGSIi13FBrS82g7foLLKHshhPnYWgMaWGeeHTbVVV0IbkUi3AaO01XKvS55ZaEc/s1600/question+post+its.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJ9UlBcT2kbDCFEL8d4BIUhaDaXRqTugeZD9zplLTMpTXaJqXJZr0rkDi3x3bxw7ieFaX1LKIah_QBKGSIi13FBrS82g7foLLKHshhPnYWgMaWGeeHTbVVV0IbkUi3AaO01XKvS55ZaEc/s1600/question+post+its.jpg" /></a></div>There are many times in our lives where there seems to be many more questions than answers. It seems to come in cycles in my life. Things are going well...or at least not bad...and then situations or circumstances seem to mount up all at once until there is a mountain...or even a mountain range...of problems or unanswered questions right in the middle of my path.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnIko0sNr4eIlpqaGUmvuT2G1hyXiePcvEQc5lkIbLCPlOJqLC_T9gdzaHnrARh7O-CioxmcbRBxWBfTJ2uiL3R9Pd68175AxCy6BixCXy0AldZZiMtVq-XSJY-LTQFXAxvCwY4AKuKK_/s1600/mountains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnIko0sNr4eIlpqaGUmvuT2G1hyXiePcvEQc5lkIbLCPlOJqLC_T9gdzaHnrARh7O-CioxmcbRBxWBfTJ2uiL3R9Pd68175AxCy6BixCXy0AldZZiMtVq-XSJY-LTQFXAxvCwY4AKuKK_/s1600/mountains.jpg" /></a></div><br />
When I get to this point, I find myself asking the same questions over and over. Why is this (fill in the blank with any given circumstance) happening? Why is my family having to endure yet another hardship? What have we done to deserve this? Why? Why? Why? My emotions start to simmer. Then, they start to bubble a little bit more. There are times that they get to a boiling point...this doesn't necessarily mean angry...just not controlled. When I get to this point, I may cry if you look at me or say, "How are you doing?" Have you ever been there? Sometimes I think I'm the only one, and then I reason that surely I'm not.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Thankfully, I have someone who loves me unconditionally.</span></strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Thankfully, I have someone who knows me better than I know myself.</span></strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Thankfully, I have someone who knows my circumstances and</span></strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">knows what I need before I even utter a word.</span></strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Thankfully, I have someone who will listen when I cry out to Him.</span></strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Thankfully, I have someone who doesn't turn His back on me...</span></strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">even when I have these bouts of emotional turmoil.</span></strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Thankfully, He gave me a guide to help me through not just the hard days, but everyday.</span></strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Thankfully, I have someone who has ALL THE ANSWERS! </span></strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">During the times when I have more questions than answers and my emotions threaten to control my life, I have my Lord to comfort me and He gave us the Bible as our guide to live by everyday...on the rough days and the great days! </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">The Bible is full of words of hope and comfort. It's full of words of wisdom and reproach. All of which we need during the times in our life when things aren't going the way we think they should be. I've been reminded over the last week or so of the importance of reading and meditating on and yes, memorizing scripture as I've studied Psalm 119. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Psalm119 is 176 verses that tell us over and over that the Word of God is vital for our lives. (If you have never or haven't lately truely studied it, I'd suggest it.) There are several familiar verses that many of us memorized as children. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>Psalm 119:11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against you.</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While other verses are not as familiar, their strength is mighty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>Psalm 119:73 Your hands made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Psalm 119: 97-98 O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever mine.</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Psalm 119:136 My eyes shed streams of water, because they do not keep Your law.</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">(This one jumped out and slapped me in the face this morning.)</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I could go on and on. Just this ONE Psalm...one 'chapter' in the Bible...FULL of ANSWERS...because it tells me I should be searching for my answers in God...in the Word. That is where all the answers are found. I am so grateful I have Him. I can't imagine living one day without Him. My heart aches when I see people searching for answers in the horoscopes or through a psychic reading. They will not find the answers there. Our only hope is in Jesus Christ.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So although I'm going to face problems today and every other day just like anybody else, I'm going to cling to the promise of this worship song...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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In Christ alone my hope is found<br />
He is my light, my strength, my song<br />
This Cornerstone, this solid ground<br />
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm<br />
What heights of love, what depths of peace<br />
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease<br />
My Comforter, my All in All<br />
Here in the love of Christ I stand<br />
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In Christ alone, who took on flesh<br />
Fullness of God in helpless babe<br />
This gift of love and righteousness<br />
Scorned by the ones He came to save<br />
'Til on that cross as Jesus died<br />
The wrath of God was satisfied<br />
For every sin on Him was laid<br />
Here in the death of Christ I live<br />
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There in the ground His body lay<br />
Light of the world by darkness slain<br />
Then bursting forth in glorious Day<br />
Up from the grave He rose again<br />
And as He stands in victory<br />
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me<br />
For I am His and He is mine<br />
Bought with the precious blood of Christ<br />
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No guilt of life, no fear in death<br />
This is the power of Christ in me<br />
From life's first cry to final breath<br />
Jesus commands my destiny<br />
No power of hell, no scheme of man<br />
Can ever pluck me from His hand<br />
'til He returns or calls me home<br />
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand<br />
(Townend/Getty)<br />
Blessings!<br />
Cindy<br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em></em></span>Mrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-63989025192784200352010-08-16T18:10:00.000-07:002010-08-16T18:10:06.211-07:00And she's off...<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1_wosAEhdSELxhe5OzEKaBLrDy5WTJtHKoI4eXddU9C8k1_pRgT-QoSBm_rZ0ZCs6Kk6wLvLwIqLRuoWIrS1OSKox2hN2vxF-kHPJprdmZl7Ijs9gnj-Uc5_x-3kBbIcbVPV15LFej9U/s1600/IMG_3358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1_wosAEhdSELxhe5OzEKaBLrDy5WTJtHKoI4eXddU9C8k1_pRgT-QoSBm_rZ0ZCs6Kk6wLvLwIqLRuoWIrS1OSKox2hN2vxF-kHPJprdmZl7Ijs9gnj-Uc5_x-3kBbIcbVPV15LFej9U/s320/IMG_3358.JPG" /></a></div><br />
(I know I promised a blog on Christian marraige. I will get to that. It just happens that I didn't get to it before this MAJOR event in our family's life. For now, this is what is on my mind; so this is what I need/want to write about.)<br />
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Last Friday, we moved Brooke to Campbellsville University. All of us went to help her get settled. I'm sure we were quite a sight as all six of us paraded into her apartment/dorm. It was a day full of a wide spectrum of emotions for everyone in our family. Most of all though, it was a day ordained by God in Brooke's life for her to transition into this new phase of her life. I want to share the day with you through pictures.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVZcE-dLItcJ6QFUexpzRC0rcWuyVtircDTrA_ZLDDDod-OxvbO33U-dxL-MwnEp99B03D5UpoWu4LecZfqFSXeBi0L4hYWFxzluBUoIHqmXB84twrVCFPBTLlAp1Et4BRyzfKbUkmYGU/s1600/IMG_3295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVZcE-dLItcJ6QFUexpzRC0rcWuyVtircDTrA_ZLDDDod-OxvbO33U-dxL-MwnEp99B03D5UpoWu4LecZfqFSXeBi0L4hYWFxzluBUoIHqmXB84twrVCFPBTLlAp1Et4BRyzfKbUkmYGU/s320/IMG_3295.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Brooke and I spent the morning taking care of last minute business around Shepherdsville. Then, she came home and finished cleaning her room. This may just be the cleanest her room has been since she moved into this particular room. (I didn't, however, take pictures of the dust she left behind.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01zMwTvxKPGHRUp9AXe9ggrPib7y40FTwFxe8h_iaqIkqoPkdzQAr_PIxoZZaKHTYbKXMucFXJESKXkTGk9irFcJX9YQYWoqf-uAIRBVIlT-gE4cvWp3Fwrh3vCWEfVFZau7WAmBCiKwL/s1600/IMG_3296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01zMwTvxKPGHRUp9AXe9ggrPib7y40FTwFxe8h_iaqIkqoPkdzQAr_PIxoZZaKHTYbKXMucFXJESKXkTGk9irFcJX9YQYWoqf-uAIRBVIlT-gE4cvWp3Fwrh3vCWEfVFZau7WAmBCiKwL/s320/IMG_3296.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Getting a big hug from Daddy! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">There were a couple of times throughout the day that were more difficult than the rest of the day. Leaving the house Friday morning was one of those times...for all of us. While we were...and are...so excited for Brooke and what is to come for her, just the thought of how different our home will be without her here everyday was hard to take in.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I had the time of the trip there to gather my thoughts and get a hold of my emotions. I spent the hour plus a few minutes mending Brooke's 'quiltie' that she has had since she was born. It is literally worn out! It was a great distraction for me. I must admit that I am not a seamstress, though, and I did not get it completely mended by the time we arrived at Campbellsville University.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">We spent the first hour at CU buying Brooke's books. OUCH! We were able to get all used books except for 2 or 3. Still...OUCH! Praise God for used books, though! I can't imagine how much it would have been if we had to buy all new...and I did not even bother looking at the new prices.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Brooke was able to check in with her RA around 1. Brooke and Gayla took care of all the business of moving into the dorm, while Blake, Cody, and Dale carried all of Brooke's stuff up to her room. We worked for hours...about 6...arranging and rearranging and rearranging again. Doug made a couple of trips to the store for things we forgot or didn't realize she would need. [Just so you know...when you buy lamps, you really should consider buying light bulbs, too! :) ] Brooke organized and decorated. It was fun to watch her and help her. It was such a blessing to have the whole family there working together to get everything accomplished for Brooke. (There were stressful moments, too...but a blessing still!)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Once all was finished, Brooke's room looks great! It's very Brooke! She still wants to add some posters and such, but she can do that as she finds posters that suit her.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">We had a few minutes to just relax before heading out to dinner and a little bit of shopping. I am so thankful for how close our kids are. Although they have their moments when they fight and fume, they truly enjoy each others' company. I loved watching them cut up and have fun with each other!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Hard work leads to hungry boys! We all headed to Pizza Hut for supper. Again, it is just a wonderful blessing watching our kids love each other.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Then it was time...time to take Brooke back to her apartment/dorm/room (I'm still not sure what to call it) and head home. UGH! I was not ready for this. I had done so well all day. I could feel the prayers of all of my wonderful friends and family lifting us up. But then, I could feel it. I was on the verge of not being able to hold it all together. The boys all said their good-byes/see you laters and headed to the truck. Doug and I stayed in the living room with Brooke. Doug led us in a prayer. It was a beautiful moment of the three of us snuggled together praying for God's peace and protection. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">God is so good and He is faithful! While I have had times of tears over the last several days, I have also had wonderful peace about Brooke being at CU. We firmly believe God has led Brooke to CU and has a plan and a purpose for her being there. Knowing that means that we will praise Him even when we're missing her.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm clinging to Philippians 4:6-7...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Blessings,</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Cindy</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Mrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-40194142303303248582010-07-20T10:38:00.000-07:002011-05-01T17:24:18.202-07:00"When your children ask later..."This morning's sermon and our life group's discussion on moving from depression to dependence rekindled my desire to pass on the stories of God's faithfulness in the life of our family. Below is a repost of the original post about our Remembrance Stones. The kids are even more grown up now! As I watch each of them grow physically and more importantly spiritually, I'm reminded often of God's faithfulness! <br />
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These stones now will be added to in order to remind each of us in our family that we CAN and SHOULD depend on our faithful Father. "All I have need of His hand will provide. He's always been faithful to me."<br />
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Original Post:<br />
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As you can see in the picture, our children are growing up...FAST. (This picture is nearly a year old...the boys have changed a lot even in the last year.) Brooke will be going away to college in less than a month now. Blake and Cody are driving now. Dale will be starting high school just a couple of days before Brooke leaves for school. It seems like yesterday they were all babies...oh how well Doug and I remember the days of a booster seat, 2 bulky car seats, and a baby carrier. We have so many stories of their growing up days that I'm sure many of you have heard...probably more than once. Have you heard the story of the 'car fly' or the story of the diaper incident when we thought Blake and Cody were napping or what about Brooke's rendition of the song "I Shall Not Be Moved" when she was two or maybe the story of how Dale sang the "I Know a Song that Gets on Everybody's Nerves" ALL the way to FLORIDA? We never tire of remembering and sharing stories of our children. If you are a parent or a grandparent, I'm sure you are the same.<br />
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Many months ago, I started following the blog of a wonderful Christian woman who has a weekly feature called Memorial Box Monday. (The blog is <a href="http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/">http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/</a> . You can check out her blog and see her reasoning and thinking behind how she does her Memorial Box.) <br />
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Anyway, it got me to thinking. I'm so quick to tell stories about my children and family. I tell my children stories of themselves and our family so that they have those stories to tell their children, but do I purposefully tell them stories of God and His goodness and His love and His faithfulness so that they can experience it and then pass it on to their children in the future? I had to answer...not nearly enough. As a matter of fact, many times I would tell stories or recount the events in our lives and tell the details of the event and completely leave God out of it. Did I do that on purpose? No, but was it still wrong? Yes. <br />
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Throughout the Bible, we are instructed to teach our children of the faithfulness of God so that they can and will teach their children. In Joshua 4, the Lord instructed Joshua to use stones as a memorial for what the Lord had done for the Israelites when they had crossed the Jordan. We should in some way be doing something so that we not only remember but pass on stories of God's faithfulness to our kids.<br />
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For example, when Cody was in the first grade he fell about 16-18 feet out of a tree when the branch he was standing on broke. He fell into a dry creek bed. Cody had a major compression fracture in his back, and he broke a small bone in his foot near the growth plate. I've told that story many times over the course of his life. I remember using words like..."It's AMAZING that he wasn't hurt worse than that." "It could have been so much worse." Both of those statements are true, but the TRUE TRUTH is that God protected Cody during that fall. God kept Cody from landing on his neck. God gave me the strength and determination to demand that the doctors x-ray Cody's back when they were refusing. God saw us through those days of Cody having to be flat on his back and very still until they could custom make a brace for him. God sent family and friends to minister and care for our family. God saw us through the months of Cody being in a hard-shell brace and wheelchair. Some people may say that God wasn't there or He would have kept Cody from falling. I not only say, but know that God was there and did protect Cody. Now, it is a story of God's faithfulness that we will share with our children and they will share with their children.<br />
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With that being said, we all know there are so many stories of times when God has been faithful in our lives AND our human minds tend to forget. So how do we make sure that we have those stories to pass on? There are many ways that different families choose to do this. Our family has discussed this for a long time and have had many ideas. <br />
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For now, we are doing a Remembrance Stone Box. We've just started this project. I thought I'd share some pictures with you. We started with a planter box. We collected flat, smooth rocks from a creek. It was fun to try to find rocks with odd shapes and colors. <br />
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Brooke painted a scripture on each side of the box.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi829u21yN63UKUzMusNLxWnAqnOH93LoU1ei8c3Du0P49sMFxemAWbOwE2yczAdgNIVG-uun0ufASwIq9Ps-LO0OEHR1o7WyAwSmZY9T19q2QMcmpmjTuvAzsr4usf1G1jKI1wbZVTajt/s1600/IMG_3176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi829u21yN63UKUzMusNLxWnAqnOH93LoU1ei8c3Du0P49sMFxemAWbOwE2yczAdgNIVG-uun0ufASwIq9Ps-LO0OEHR1o7WyAwSmZY9T19q2QMcmpmjTuvAzsr4usf1G1jKI1wbZVTajt/s320/IMG_3176.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEaMFGtLjrsaE7dUFFoe-btYMP7bthIBe8zeHuL-93_NiI6NyV-jFcUfkbXI2IHVuRWcIA5CJOp6cOXmND1S_4L97SlpFockGe6RPzVsagudIrXBh0DIzvErF8Jhv2_0zxHzHBhB9HK64/s1600/IMG_3177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEaMFGtLjrsaE7dUFFoe-btYMP7bthIBe8zeHuL-93_NiI6NyV-jFcUfkbXI2IHVuRWcIA5CJOp6cOXmND1S_4L97SlpFockGe6RPzVsagudIrXBh0DIzvErF8Jhv2_0zxHzHBhB9HK64/s320/IMG_3177.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: left;">Then, we took the stones and wrote brief descriptions of times in our family's life when God was faithful. When we can remember the date, we write the date. The stones are reminders. Obviously there is not room for the whole story. These are reminders so that when we see them we remember the story. We only have a few of the rocks with messages on them right now. We're adding to them a little at a time. As we need to, we'll add rocks. </div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: left;">The box sits on our coffee table in our living room. (My friend, Dawn, from church knew someone who used their remembrance stones in this way. Thanks for the idea, Dawn!) So now it serves a dual purpose. If someone is visiting our home, we hope it becomes a conversation piece. After all, we have a box of rocks on our table. This will open up the door for conversations about how good our God is!</div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;">So now, when our children (or grandchildren or anyone who comes into our home) ask later what are those rocks for, we'll answer with hearts full of love and thanksgiving as we tell of God's faithfulness!</div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: left;">Do you have a way that your family shares stories of God's faithfulness in your lives? I'd love to hear your ideas!</div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: left;">Blessings,</div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: left;">Cindy</div>Mrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7204331321929861524.post-62537690554995588452010-07-16T07:37:00.000-07:002010-07-16T07:37:26.921-07:00But God...As I was reading this morning in Psalms after my study in 1 John, I came across some of my favorite words in scripture...<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Over the years, as I've studied, read, and listened to the Bible being taught, some of the words that always send chills through my body or grab my attention the most are...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">BUT GOD...</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Now, I'm not talking about the way we use the phrase in our sinful whiny ways. "But GO-O-O-D-D-D! That didn't go the way I wanted it to go. Can you fix it please?" or "But GO-O-O-D-D-D! I always try to do the right thing and it seems that bad things are always happening to me." or "But GO-O-O-D-D-D! I only went here or did that one time. Why should I face the consequences?" or "But GO-O-O-D-D-D! You didn't answer that prayer just the way I had planned or wanted you to." I'm sure if you close your eyes and listen, you can hear the voice of a child screaming, "But Dad!" Well, sometimes we're the same way with God. However, I digress...that is not the wonderful <span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>BUT GOD</strong></span> I'm talking about today.</span> You'll have to excuse me, because just thinking about those little GIANT words, gets me so excited!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">There is no way I could give you an exhaustive list, but I want to share a few <span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>BUT GOD</strong></span> instances from the Bible. These are so encouraging! When we're tempted to whine and complain and dig deeper into our own pitiful pity pit, we should stop and think...<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>BUT GOD</strong></span>!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> Genesis 45:6-8 (New International Version)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. 7 <span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>BUT GOD</strong></span> </span>sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOxuTsHozXxMdTnratClwi0nSofAQzvjukVR5CtZruL6CzCUyOiysSV9EnceGxlxP-iPPA70m2NrIH-0OssthgOWXOBiAPVGWfv01l76W2Z1JvF0ihUqKPH3mCkcCddqNdSJnA4VGByWi/s1600/corn+field.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOxuTsHozXxMdTnratClwi0nSofAQzvjukVR5CtZruL6CzCUyOiysSV9EnceGxlxP-iPPA70m2NrIH-0OssthgOWXOBiAPVGWfv01l76W2Z1JvF0ihUqKPH3mCkcCddqNdSJnA4VGByWi/s320/corn+field.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrN7BIP4mf8j0cE1cC_ls-jI5NHkoBksju7DZ2i7RfMEdA5PY4rTQoYCSoN0NApxKaVCy-xWoyB-25GuEOVcnhRFCYrYylLLSNwlG2T4n6LX4H6H7XHZoFTjt2LqJD5BA_m9YOCTyh5rGr/s1600/drought.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrN7BIP4mf8j0cE1cC_ls-jI5NHkoBksju7DZ2i7RfMEdA5PY4rTQoYCSoN0NApxKaVCy-xWoyB-25GuEOVcnhRFCYrYylLLSNwlG2T4n6LX4H6H7XHZoFTjt2LqJD5BA_m9YOCTyh5rGr/s320/drought.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>BUT GOD...</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Are you in a time of financial famine, perhaps? Is there a drought in another area of your life? Been there, done that...would have bought the t-shirt, but didn't have the money. Dear friends,</span> <span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><strong>BUT GOD</strong></span>! <span style="color: #0c343d;">If He can save a land and people from famine that had lasted 2 years and was going to last 5 more years, He is more than capable of delivering us from our hardships, too!</span> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Psalm 73:26 (New International Version)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">26 My flesh and my heart may fail, </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">BUT GOD</span></strong> is the strength of my heart </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">and my portion forever.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKalT3aQk8ehdsNyOtxQbRERh6fJKFUp4hGVIyryhAZexZh5WWCpHt0r0Cv0H8GXyuL539ZrDWYTX770_fHDa2j54oeaWqICB7RBPBhTukeozkKh0LsepIJSMBN4Rx4vv0GlzUWA39U6iM/s1600/storm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKalT3aQk8ehdsNyOtxQbRERh6fJKFUp4hGVIyryhAZexZh5WWCpHt0r0Cv0H8GXyuL539ZrDWYTX770_fHDa2j54oeaWqICB7RBPBhTukeozkKh0LsepIJSMBN4Rx4vv0GlzUWA39U6iM/s320/storm.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3NldUTjEpAjRbzJVmnZ1ZC-svI_FQl21H9JkxVp29GPTbgZxg1bmsmnhfXDbs8WQHQ7_K-7Zu0FYZwJwHeqTIwLU2djrG_mm22OFQ3nlr-FiRlU8ibONTlbQg-gtT0QOR0rBy4iCJ2MA/s1600/rainbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3NldUTjEpAjRbzJVmnZ1ZC-svI_FQl21H9JkxVp29GPTbgZxg1bmsmnhfXDbs8WQHQ7_K-7Zu0FYZwJwHeqTIwLU2djrG_mm22OFQ3nlr-FiRlU8ibONTlbQg-gtT0QOR0rBy4iCJ2MA/s320/rainbow.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #0c343d;">God doesn't promise us sunshine and rainbows every day of our life. We aren't promised a life without sickness or pain. Our flesh may fail us in many ways...we may get sick or we may be tempted by fleshly desires that lead us toward or to sin. We may find ourselves in that pitiful pity pit where we allow our emotions to control our lives.</span> <span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><strong>BUT GOD!</strong></span> <span style="color: #0c343d;">When our strength comes from Him, we are more than able to get through anything.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Romans 5:7-9 (New International Version)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">BUT GOD</span> </span></strong>demonstrates his own love for us in this: <em><span style="color: purple;">While we were still sinners</span></em>, <span style="color: red;">Christ died for us. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">How exciting is verse 8?! Do you understand the full meaning and depth of what it is saying? To help us get the picture of this love we need to go to another</span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><strong> BUT GOD</strong></span>...<span style="color: #0c343d;">this time it uses</span> <span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><strong>BUT THE LORD.</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Isaiah 53:9-11 (New American Standard Bible)</div><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">9b Because he had done no violence,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">nor was there any deceit in His mouth.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">10a BUT THE LORD was pleased</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">to crush Him, putting Him to grief;</span></span><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1klb37bjRUua95gpWg64jaWLY_K4ULrdTFMYprWjfQqz2hmltUnpTJb1q_MFnb8zRbC-dYyW2NUInBsSEXzjwsZKxrB77VFlijMx8MjKY-uODEp6zTLsUfw3TXeaVUrFUOjnSzmpW6dqQ/s1600/Jesus+Cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1klb37bjRUua95gpWg64jaWLY_K4ULrdTFMYprWjfQqz2hmltUnpTJb1q_MFnb8zRbC-dYyW2NUInBsSEXzjwsZKxrB77VFlijMx8MjKY-uODEp6zTLsUfw3TXeaVUrFUOjnSzmpW6dqQ/s320/Jesus+Cross.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: small;">Wow! God loves me and you so much that He was willing to have His son, Jesus Christ, put to horrible, cruel death as a substitute for my sins and your sins. Not only was God willing, but Isaiah tells us that it pleased Him to do this for us. Because Christ died in our place, we only have to believe in Him as our Lord and Savior...believing...not just with our heads but in our hearts...that He died a cruel death on the cross in our place, was buried in a tomb, and was raised from the dead three days later to accept that substitionary atonement for our sins. That is so amazing to me!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: small;">I'm a sinner! You're a sinner! <span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><strong>BUT GOD! BUT CHRIST!</strong></span> Now, I'm a forgiven sinner who God calls His child! WOW! Just WOW!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">1 John 3:1 (New American Standard Bible)</span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">1a See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">So, the next time things aren't going our way or our path gets foggy or rutted, let's stop and think...</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>BUT GOD...</strong></span></span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-large;">>is my salvation</span></strong></span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-large;">>is my refuge</span></strong></span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-large;">>is my hope</span></strong></span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-large;">>is my strength</span></strong></span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-large;">>is my help</span></strong></span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-large;">>is my deliverer</span></strong></span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-large;">>is my _______!</span></strong></span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">(You fill in the blank.)</span></strong></span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Blessings,</span></div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Cindy</span></span><strong><br />
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</span>Mrs. Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521594404098847729noreply@blogger.com0