Mrs. Sheila

Inside Out

07:51, Sunday, April 15, 2007 .. 1 comments .. Link



This morning, the children and I were on our way to church. Of course service does not start until 10:30, but being in the choir I must be there before 9:00 to get the kids situated and such beforehand and then be off to warm up, to practice, and of course fellowship with the choir and the worship team! =) Now.. I was tired before I even woke up this morning. It has been a busy weekend. And even though it was hard to crawl out from under warm covers and a soft bed, I was excited to be in the House of the Lord this morning. Rightly so, I was very blessed this morning by some AWESOME praise music on our local station KSBJ. One of the songs playing was "From the Inside Out" by Hillsong United. I love Hillsong by the way! They are just simply AWESOME to me... and bless me so much more then I can express. Their true heart to worship, and their contemporary approach just move me! I am very musically motivated anyway! Anyhoo... as this song played.. I was singing along, but at the same time the Holy Spirit was doing His work! Immediately ~ yes I know some of you are not going to like to hear what I am about to say, but dug out my notebook out of my bag, and simply wrote the title of the song down, knowing that H e was going to give me a word. A word that was personal, but yet meant to be shared. Yes... I did it while I was driving!! (SHEW!! Gotta love the quiet roads at 8:30 in the morning!)

When I got to church, got the kids situated, signed in for Choir, and then sat down, the Holy Spirit went back to work! Luckily ~ I usually always have some kind of notebook on me, and a pen! Call it coincidence, but I have learned from experience, to keep something handy as God works his work in me! This is what was shared with me this morning:

What a blessing this morning's drive to church was. The Lord knows just what we need, and the Holy spirit just rises up to the occasion so many times! One of the best songs that I heard was From the Inside Out * Lyrics at the bottom* I was comforted to be reminded that no matter what ... God loves us from the inside out! He truly loves us FIRST from the inside where it really matters! He loves us just because we are. He loves us just because He created us so he could love us! He loves us when we are broken! He loves us when we are needing Him, when we seek Him just for WHO HE is! Amazing! God just loves us!
In a society where much of our lives are judged from the outer appearances, rather then what really matters, I was just comforted to be reminded that HE LOVES ME, the REAL me! The me that many won't give the time of day to because what I say or do does not appeal to them! He loves me , the me that needs to lose several pounds, but yet society looks down on as being weak~ he reminds me that in HIM I am strong! He loves me on my silly days, on my down days, on my quiet days, and yes... on those ROWDY days ~ with or without blue hair! I am just blessed today! I am blessed because I am truly loved! And it is not a failing love, it is an everlasting love! It's not a conditional love, but rather He loves me because HE CREATED ME TO BE LOVED BY HIM!!


I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:23)


God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16, KJV)


As you go about your week... remember God is really truly in love with you!! More then you can ever put into words! May you be blessed, and be a blessing to someone this week!

Dear Gracious Heavenly Father, I lift up each of my brothers and sisters in Christ who may come across this blog entry, and for those who yet know you as Lord in their life. I pray that they begin just remotely feel the love you have for them, and begin to seek your presence in their life. Lord I thank you for your grace and your beauty that you have given us through your death on the cross and your ressurection. You are a mighty and powerful Lord, and I am just so thankful that you have grasped my heart today and have begun a work of understanding that you do truly love us from the inside out! Open our minds and our hearts to accept that love today, to let it begin to multiply within us, and to share it with others. Remind us boldly to stop judging others from the outside in, but rather the way you do ~ from the inside out. Convict us and let us repent so that we can begin to move as a people that you have called us to move as. It is in your precious name Jesus that I pray ~ AMEN!

*Lyrics to From The Inside Out*


From The Inside Out
by Hillsong United
album: United We Stand (2006)
A thousand times I've failed
Still Your mercy remains And should I stumble again
I'm caught in Your grace
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart and my soul
Lord I give You control
Consume me from the inside out
Lord let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love you from the inside out
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out


My Heart is Grieving

06:25, Wednesday, April 11, 2007 .. 1 comments .. Link

My heart is grieving this morning. Don't get me wrong, I am still full of God's joy just as I was yesturday morning! That is a closeness with Him, that is amazing and I am very blessed to experience. But my heart is grieving for those who will not give God the chance in life that He deserves. He created us.... He has a purpose for us... buy why do we continue to question his plans, our circumstances, and more then that.... HIM?! It is a sad thing when I see and hear other christians who walk around in defeat, when their circumstances have already been defeated?! You may say I don't know your circumstances, but let me tell you something... I have enough of my own! I used to be one of those in worry, in fear, and just completely crushed because things didn't workout like I wanted. But you know what, I wasnt' created to be on this earth to live life for the fullest for ME!! * Insert BIG amen here* I am here for HIM! *Insert a big WOOHOO here* So.. if you are wallowing in self pitty ~ GET OUT OF THAT PIT and start claiming your victory! Here is an exerpt over one of my favorite songs we *sing/shout* at church:

by ~ Hillsong United
The enemy's been defeated
Death couldnt' hold you down!
We're going to lift our voice in VICTORY
We're going to shout our praises Loud!
We lift your name up!
We lift your name up!

So.... get up, start believing that God is the SAME God he was during Noah's time, and get busy in your life for HIM! Put all the things that pull you completely away from him, to the side. It may be hard! But let me tell you something. Once you gain victory in that ~~ You will SOAR! I don't know if you have noticed any difference in my blogs lately, but I can tell you one thing. I HAVE NOTICED a big difference in my life in the last 3 weeks! God is truly working in my life, and I am so excited to see what's around the corner!

God bless you today as you choose to serve Him today, and not self!



The best wake up call!

06:09, Tuesday, April 10, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link
I woke up wi th so much joy this morning. Last night I fell asleep quicly after my prayer, one which was seeking to be able to spend some time with HIM this morning before the crazyness of my day started and it has just been a blessing. He woke up me up fully rested BEFORE my alarm went off, then I got to enjoy laying in a cozy bed listening to the rain WITHOUT falling asleep!  

It is something to wake up in the presence of the Lord. It is even something greater to wake up with the STRONG desire to wake up with the Lord! ~ Be blessed!!

He is Risen.... Don't push him back down!

02:34, Sunday, April 8, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link

                                                                         Picture thanks to allposters.com

It is a glorious day my friends! He is RISEN!! We, as the body of Christ, should still have that giddy excitement that we can only imagine fell upon Mary as she was greeted by Jesus himself OUTSIDE the tomb on that glorious morning! WE should be jumping up and down for joy ~ not what he can do for us... but that we can do all things through HIM... if we just believe. Instead Easter gets tainted with "Easter clothes", Chocolate bunnies, and egg hunts!! Yes those are fu n things... and I have to say we participate in them as well, BUT.... My children can probably tell you the story of the ressurection quicker then alot of adults. They know the REASON we have EASTER! They know what I meant when I told them "Happy Ressurection Day", when they woke up! Sad thing is... that is unusual for young children in this time and day. Please, if you have young children, allow them the oppertunity to get to know Christ one on one!! Show them! Be an example! It will make it easier for them, and it will seem like second nature ~~ LIKE IT SHOULD BE!!! I wasn't given a GOOD role model, I am learning as I go. I struggle with things, but the neatest blessing that God has given me, to show me what I do on a daily basis makes a greater impact then I realized.... is seeing my children begin to develop a deep knowledge and understanding of Who God is... and How He can be in our lives every single minute! Teach them to accept the fact that everyone has a gift that God wants to use in His church ~ his body of believers~ and we don't need to fit into a legalistic box.. that people tend to put God in. The sad part is.. there is a lot of adults who will do that!! And if you do not fit their "bill" of what a GOOD Christian should be, then you must not be a REAL believer.
If you have read this far... thanks! I will be back later with somemore on "The wrong box", as God gives me the words to share. I don't want this to be out of emotion, but out of direction.

HAPPY EASTER 2007!!


Prelude to a Promise

06:25, Wednesday, April 4, 2007 .. 1 comments .. Link
As you know, this is "Holy Week" in the Christian community and well... that means me! *giggle*. In my spirit I have been longing to just dig into the Word, read and RE read the entire path of Jesus' feet from time of Palm Sunday through that week, spending time on the Last Supper, and the final moments of Jesus on this earth.

I remember at one time I would cry EVERY Easter. It was tears of sadness but now.. it is such a joyous Holiday for me! Yes I know the death of our Saviour should be sad ~ but let me remind you of something. THAT was just ONE moment of His life. Look at His entire life, and that was just one miniscule moment. Yes it meant more then the rest of His life, and for that I am so grateful, But it is the things, the words He spoke, the lives He touched, that was amazing. The moments on the cross is very powerful ~ and I just sit in AWE when I think of what his onlookers must have thought. If I was in His time period would I be more impacted then I am today? I don't know. Even some not long after that happened began to still doubt whether Jesus was the true son of God. I think in our human minds, it is easy to have doubt but it isn't until we build that relationship with Him, that we truly understand what Grace, and mercy means.

I don't cry at Easter anymore for the death of my Saviour. Instead, I may shed a few tears for those who have turned their backs on Him because they have believed lies that Satan himself wispered so gently in their minds. I may shed a few tears for those who take our Jesus and all that He came to this earth for, for granted. I may shed a few tears because no matter what some may say, they have already judged every Christian for the mistakes of another. What reflection does that have on Jesus? I can't imagine the pain that brings him! We are all humans, and we have to remember that! HE might have been human ~ but he was very supernatural in Spirit!

During the remainder of Holy Week ~ I ask that you join me in reading the "recap" of Jesus' path! The scriptures I am going to list are only a FEW of what you could read.
Luke 22~24

I am going to ask my readers, that if you have other scriptures YOU would suggest on this Holy week~ please, add a comment and ahare!!

May you be blessed as you seek HIS face, His grace, His mercy, and His forgiveness. Remember, you already have His love!

Making Monday Count

06:43, Monday, April 2, 2007 .. 1 comments .. Link

I love Mondays! Did you hear that? I LOVE MONDAYS!! I love the idea of a fresh new week! It is almost as nice as climbing into bed that has sheets that dried out on the lne. It is as sweet as walking into your grandma's house after she pulled cookies out of the oven. It is as exciting as the ride going UP on a rollar coaster with much anticipation! I want my family to love Mondays as much as I do, so I always try to make them just as special for them, as I want it to be for me! I am learning to make the little things count even and especially on Mondays! They get to wear their favorite clothes. have their favorite foods for lunches, dinner is special followed by a ooey gooey dessert! I LOVE MONDAYS!!!

 

Now.. what to do about Tuesdays!



Saturday's Stormy Beginnings

09:22, Saturday, March 31, 2007 .. 2 comments .. Link

I have learned through the years to take the storms with life as they come, and draw even closer to our Lord, and Father in Heaven. Though I have been dealing with children's sickness over the last two weeks, I have learned alot about who I am , where I am, and what I need to do to get to where I am going. We have dealt with everything from all three children having the flu, one of them having a double ear infection, and one with pink eye! I have missed 7 out of 8 weeks due to someone in the house being ill. I have learned that no matter what, God is there! No matter how rough things seem on the outside, it is what happens on the inside that matters most.

Through the time off of school ~ with being home with the sickies ~ I have learned about my priorities, and why it is so hard to keep them in balance on a regular basis. I know what is important to me, but often times I pour more of me into one thing rather then balancing out my time, efffort, and attention. Balance is hard!!

The topic of "storms" came mainly from the weather. We were faced with some severe Thunderstorms this morning. It was a peaceful start actually. I am not one that gets disturbed by the noise, and the strong winds. If only it was easier to apply that to our day to day life. If only it was easier to remember that all the strong winds and thunder that comes at us during the stroms of life were no different then the stroms that come from the weather!! To walk in the same peace of knowing that storms do not last forever!

 

~~~~~~~~
Movie Review:
Facing The Giants

I loved this movie. To be honest, I was very hesitant to watch it. I had read another review  ~ from a fellow blogger~ and now that I have seen it for myself I wish I wouldn't have given so much credit in my mind to that review! So.. I have to give my own!
This is a good movie for the entire family! The girls / ladies are all dressed modestly, Christ is the focus, and it helps to increase faith, hope, and strength! Definately a watcher!!

 

~~~~~~
Song Review:
Rush of Fools "Undo"
Listen to it here: Undo

 

Have a blessed Saturday!



Who I am

02:15, Friday, March 30, 2007 .. 9 comments .. Link

The hardest part of "moving" is getting the chance to get to know your neighbors. I thought that I would make it a bit easier for those who come across this blog to actually see who I am.

Here I am in action:

My name is Sheila and I am living a dream life of being a servant of the Most high, a wife to an incredible husband, mom to three great kids, preschool teacher to an awesome class of 3 & 4 year olds, writer, singer, and just a normal woman!

My beauty is not physical, but through the grace and mercy of our God in Heaven, I am a work of  his wonderful handmaking. The beauty others see in me, is simply the beauty of the Lord. God has given me plenty to say, and through Him, I am learning to express that. Bare with me as I share along my journey.

I will be posting some of my back blogs from my old blogger. Sit back, enjoy!

 

~~ Can you see that picture?~~



The Ultimate French Toast Casserole

10:06, Wednesday, March 28, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link

The Ultimate French Toast

After years of trying what seemed easy, and others called "fail proof" ; I think I have developed the ultimate french toast casserole!This needs to be prepped the day before, to endure a good quality and consistency throughout the entire casserole.

Ingredients

Casserole
1/3 of a loaf of Amish White Bread*
4 eggs
1/2 cup of milk
1/2 cup of sugar
2 TBS Cinnamon
dash of nutmeg

Topping
3 tsp of butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 TBS Cinnamon

Cube the bread into 1 to 2 inch cubes. In a bowl wish eggs, milk, sugar, and spices. Add bread cubes to egg mixture and coat well. Spray a casserole dish with non stick spray and add mixture to the bowl. Set in fridge until the next morning. Pull out about 30 minutes before your ready to put in oven to allow dish to warm up. Top casserole with brown sugar and cinnamon. Cut butter into small squares and place ontop of sugar topping. Bake in a preheated 375* oven for about 30 minutes.

* Amish White bread~ You can use any good sturdy bread like french bread, a bagget, but refrain from using store bought bread, it isn't sturdy enough.



I GET to be a blessing

06:05, Monday, March 26, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link
It is so exciting to be able to see when we can actually be a blessing to someone. A blessing, that reaps no reward other then doing what is right! Today, I am sitting with my mother in law until my sister in law and her husband get home from their trip to Reno. I get to bless her by making sure all of her needs * that I can possibly meet* are met. She is a precious woman! I am going to make sure I bake her favorite dessert while I am there today. :)

The ill twin from last week is well, now the other one is under the weather. I pray this passes quickly without effecting the princess of the family.

Well, this is a short entry, but I must move forward in my day. Have a wonderful day in the Lord, and may His love shine through you!!

Completion

10:01, Sunday, March 25, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link
Completion: The true test of your testimony

Testimony: An account of your life, given all checks and balances, minus the with drawls. What will your testimony say about your life? More importantly what does your life say about your life in Christ?

I was faced with a reality today that I do not want to face. As soon as I do though, God himself can take me to the next level, though I have shame and dislike about what my testimony does say.

I was explaining to my husband about the length of services on Easter Sunday and the fact that the choir will be singing in both services, which puts Easter dinner a tad later then normal. As soon as I said that, I made the comment how we have missed seven out of the last eight weeks due to someone being sick. He looks at me, and says "You never finish what you start.", meaning that I have "quit" on the choir, which I haven't. ( FTR: He was really kidding)

That was painful to hear. I was resentful, angry, hurt, and then ashamed. My first retaliation was "I can't help it if everyone was sick!!" It was dropped, and nothing more was said.

Sometimes in the quietness from an emotional slap in the face, comes the harsh reality we do not like to face!

Even if my intentions are not to be a quitter, apparently my actions speak that I am. One of the hardest things for me as an adult Christian is breaking the habits that were formed as a child. One of my biggest strongholds is inconsistency.

I want to be known as a rock; someone who loved her Lord and Honored her Father in heaven, not just boldly but CONSISTENTLY! My husband has an odd since of humor from a tenderhearted sensitive woman's point of view, and though he may only have been "kidding" his profound statement HAS made a huge impact in my life.

There are plenty of things (habits) that I have started but never completed. Sometimes we have to try something new to even see if we like them. We all have "UNFINISHED" business to tend to at times.

But God used these words to show me an area of my life that is being hindered and that is my relationship with Him. I have started bible studies and never completed them, said one thing and done another. God has moved powerfully in my life and though I could list a million things that he has changed in me, I will tell you one thing. The impact my life could have on another's would be 1000x's more powerful and effective if I were to allow God to work until completion is achieved in many areas in my life. My time on this earth is numbered, just as yours. What a sad day it would be if I didn't stop letting the enemy defeat me and my testimony by in completion.

Now I have purpose, a mission if you please! God has promised as we accept Christ we are a new creation. We are completed only by our covenant in Him. Every day is a new day, and His mercy is new in the morning! Through the Mercy of our Father, the Power of the Holy Spirit, and the Might of our Savior I shall be complete! The words of my mind, my heart, my mouth, and my hands shall be completed! ~ Hallelujah!

My Priority is my mission

10:08, Thursday, March 22, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link

My Priority is my misson

Funny, how circumstances begin to work in your life either molding you into a new person, or bringing out something that God has created in us to begin with that just has to be nourished and fed until it could come forth. That is what indeed is happening in my life latley.

Priorities are things that we put our utmost effort in completing to the best of our ablilites. Some may say that their relationship with Christ is their priority, yet struggle with finding even 5 minutes to pray. Some may say their spouse is their priority but yet, their spouse is lonely because they are off persuing other "dreams". What we truly put the most of our time and effort in.. is what we are persuing. It could be our careers, materialistic things, even being a people pleaser.

I am not perfect in this, and that is what is working on me at this moment. Those imperfections of saying one thing, but my life showing another is just almost embarassing. How many times have I said that my family is a priority over my job, but yet... when it comes to staying home with an ill child, or even tending to an ill elderly person in our family I feel guilt about missing one day. I am not so good at what I do that I can't be replaced. Why do I strive for perfection in the eyes of man ~ when I know in my heart it is what I truly put priority in my life that God will view. Shouldn't it be him? Shouldnt it be my family? Most definately.

This week has been a learning experience for me to understand that I CAN'T please everyone, and my family will come before work without the guilt that I have felt for letting others down this week. If you have felt let down by my lack of "responsibility" at work this week, I can't appologize, but I can ask you to look at my priorities. What does this week say about them? I FINALLY put family first, without neglecting the instant needs of my children, my other family, and even the basics of preperation for my classroom. This has been a good week for me. I have learned that I can do what is right for me, and if others have issues with it... that isn't mine to fix. I can't fix what someone thinks of me, and for once.. that is okay! I have struggled with people pleasing for many years, especially when it comes to my career. No matter where I have worked I have always FELT guilty for missing. I am not one of these who miss just because. Usually if I am not there, there is a reason.

I can surely say that I have learned alot about me this week, alot about Him, and His purpose for us, as well as .. how easy it is to judge someone for not living to our expectations of them. I think the only expectation I have of others is this: They are human! Things happen!

~~~ If you are readin this... please say a prayer for my Mother In Law. She is in the Hospital with a cracked hip bone. I will know more later on. ~~~

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Inside Out
My Heart is Grieving
The best wake up call!
He is Risen.... Don't push him back down!
Prelude to a Promise

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