At The Cross I Surrender My Life- Chris Tomlin

We sang this at church Sunday...oh the beautiful words!!

Necessity- the mother of invention.

So I was getting pretty tired of running holding Sebastian's leash. It actually makes my gait off- which means I run less effectively and makes me hurt and weary. (And I am having a terrible time with my right side- from the sciatic. I hurt all night last night.)

So, I decided to try using a belt to hold the handle of the retractable leash- 

Viola!  Perfect!  Put the belt around my waist and off we go- and I did cover it with shirt. I know- vanity!  I probably look a sight with a dog strapped to me. Lol

Well, amen!

Drink!!!!

Lately, I have been saying this A LOT:

"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink".  

Like Christians- you can tell them that Jesus has made you brand new inside.  He has set you free of sin, guilt and condemnation.  There is another way to live instead of  your "self" but from Him that lives within you.  

But they still hold on to their "self" and wallow.  

Jesus is a daily Savior.  He is a moment by moment Savior.   He is everything we need to live this life- in freedom and victory.  THAT'S what He completed on the cross!

But...we hold on to our stuff and won't believe and receive- Him.  

Scott Wolfe "Enought is enough!"

Today I am reposting an email from Scott Wolfe, with InYou Ministries.  Scott is a dear friend and I am honored to be on InYou's board.

"Enough is enough!" God's reply is the same... I come across this feeling and phrase so often in life and in counseling. When we get to the end of our rope, when we're fed up, when we feeling we cannot take any more, we cry out, "Enough is enough!" It's human. Paul and Jesus both faced similar feelings—although much more stressful circumstances! In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus cried out three times to be delivered from death, separation and pain. In 2 Cor. 12:7-8, Paul implored the Lord three times that a tormenting "thorn in the flesh" (a messenger of Satan) be taken away. Without a doubt, they had had enough. The Father's reply to both of them was the same: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” In other words: "My enough is enough." Scripture does NOT say God will never give us more than we can handle. Indeed He does! Neither do the Scriptures say that He gives us trials to make us stronger. No, clearly He allows pain and suffering to have it's perfect purpose of convincing us of our weaknesses. So what is the appropriate response to cancer, marital conflict, wayward children, financial stress or natural disaster? I suggest you name it. Draw a circle around it and cry out, "I can't fix this!" Be real. Be honest. Be what you are in the moment—weak. John the Baptist got it: "He must increase; I must decrease." The Spirit-breathed words from God say it best (vs. 9-10): "Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." You want to be a strong Christian? Be weak. Weak in your dependency on self; strong in consenting to what God has permitted to reveal His strength. ("I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Phil. 4:13) The purpose of problems is perfection (maturity)—coming to full faith that He is enough when we've had enough! Faith must keep expanding until it includes all things, for all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose. What's the purpose? Conformity into the image of Jesus. (Rom. 8:28-29) "Christ in you; the hope of glory [Christlikeness]" (Col. 1:27). Are you well content yet or still crying "enough is enough!" God always heals what He reveals. What's on it's way up is on it's way out...unless we choke it back. He truly is enough of everything you lack. The only way to truly discover this is to experience the lack and let the Father fill you with just enough!

Whether it be a week-long visit to a Kentucky prison or an on-going ministry to a local correction facility, the objective is to present "Christ is Life!" to potentially prepared prisoners. Pray for me and InYou as God leads. I am currently meeting with "Jumpstart" ministryto consider a partnership in discipleship. Board Member & partner in ministry, Rob Nelson invites you to a Marriage Seminar THIS weekend! Click picture for more info. Scott is speaking at Dorman HS FCA tomorrow @ 7 am. Scott & Kelli lead parents weekend in WV, May 5. Pray for me and our Board as we make strategic plans for 2015 and beyond. Pray for me as I revise this proven curriculum in a new 13-week self-study format. InYou offers discipleship-counsel training for $250. Call or email for appointment. Read more info and Purchase your copy online by clicking the cover.

Copyright © 2015 InYou Ministries. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a partner of InYou. Our mailing address is: InYou Ministries PO Box 998 Roebuck, SC 29376

My book came in!

I am very excited to read the book I just ordered!  I am including a photo of the front and back.  It says the author is Francois Fenelon but Jeanne Guyon and Michael de Molinos also are included. 

Running- Royalty, Resurrection and Righteousness

So I love running...very much!  But since I ran the marathon a year I haven't really wanted to run A LOT.  I've managed to get my miles in each month but still dealing with sciatic in my right leg (feels like my whole right side) and just a busy schedule (3 studies here at my house in the last year) I didn't have the heart to REALLY run.  But I am feeling ready to at least train for a couple of half marathons this year.  I don't want to over do it- because well- running is not my life.  I like being and staying healthy through diet and exercise.  It also helps me to stay emotionally healthy.

But my life is Jesus.  He is my Life.  He is Everything to me.  Yes, being as physically healthy as I can be is important to me because I am His temple.  He lives in me.  Without Him, I am and have nothing.  My hearts desire is not just my intimacy with Him but others know Him and have intimacy with Him.  This is why I am here .  This is why He created me- died for me and gave me His life.  To live His life in and through me.  And one way He does that is- through running.

I love spring!  Spring is an awakening NOT just to the earth but IN ME!  I love seeing everything open up and come alive- declaring the glory of the Lord!

Just this morning He spoke to me about the colors of spring.  Christ was crucified, died and buried in spring.  He is a King.  Look at the Purple DeadNeedle, how beautiful and majestic.  Like a King dressed in his finest garments.  Purple is color of a King.  
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamium_purpureum

Look at the Daffodil, my favorite flower.  Every time I smell it, it says "Alive! Alive!" to me.  Yellow represents Resurrection- a new life!  Christ our King was crucified, dead and buried but He ROSE to give us LIFE, His life!

And white- this Bradford pear is a brilliant white against the blue sky.  It stands out!  Almost takes your breath way- and doesn't what Christ accomplished through His death and resurrection take our breath away?  Righteousness!  Now, because of Who He is and what He has done for US- we have His Life and His Righteousness!  We are made right with the Father.  Through and through! What a priceless gift!

2 Corinthians 5:21

 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Long day but....

Boy, oh boy, I've had a long work day but just being able to sleep with my doors and windows open with fresh air- worth it!

Running Trails with my Boys!

What could be better than trail running with my boys?  Not much!

I sure love those boys of ours and I really appreciate that they will still run with me. 

Beautiful Sunday!

Hormone Tea

Last month I decided to make my hormone tea again. I had not made any in the last few months. 

And boy, was I experiencing my emotions going up and down also I was having more back pain, cramps, headaches and heavy periods. 

Enough is enough!  

So, I made more tea. Now this tea has about 20+ herbs in it. I bring it to a bowl for a bit then let it sit overnight to cool down. 

I can really tell a difference this last month. I drink a small glass before I go to bed every night. That's all.  The emotional roller coaster and physical pain has lessened A LOT!  

Thankful!

Rejected! Again.....

In the discipleship counseling we do our desire is others come to know lies they have believed- messages received from others in their life- and exchange those lies for the truth.

I am pretty honest with others about what my core lie is- in other words, messages I have received and believed from others in my life- and mine is that I am- gulp- unacceptable. So therefore, every time in my life I have felt rejected by someone I do whatever it takes to make myself acceptable.

Your core lie could be that your unlovable or unloved, or you have no worth or value or you are insecure or insignificant, or like me- unacceptable.

But now- through knowing what the lies are I exchange the lies for the truth of what God says of me. I then experience Victory and Freedom!

Now, when I am rejected by someone I simply go to my Father and ask Him to speak Truth in me.

"Starla, I will never reject you. I have made you acceptable. Others may reject you but I never will. That's a promise."

Well, if I am acceptable to my Father- amen! So be it!

Still abiding...moment by moment.

You know what's really cool?  To read a blog I wrote over 6 years ago about a great work God was doing in my life and KNOW He is still doing that great work- 6 years later.  That's how God works- when He starts it He keeps it.

http://vinejohn15branch.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2008-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2009-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=1