Who's getting married?

Andy and I said the big "I DO" almost 10 years ago this September. What an fabulous memorable day that was! Let's see... It was raining, once I was in my dress and we were about to leave the house, I decided I had to pee... lol, our limo driver FORGOT to fill up with gas- so we had to stop ON THE WAY;oh... did I mention I was LATE?!!, and my sister tripped on the way up the isle, and Andy and I said our vows TWICE!! LOL 

"Saying our vows twice" LOL

To have and to hold from this day forward,

for better or for worse, 

in sickness and in health,

for richer, for poorer,

to love and to cherish

in sickness and in health,

I DO.

Wow-- two little words.. "I DO" -- and what a BIG.. HUGE deal they are too! If you would have asked me 10 years ago if I'd be where I am today... ummm no. LOL But you know what? I am SO beyond happy that I spoke those two words and married my best friend that day. I love you Andy. xoxox

A few months ago, I had decided to paint this canvas that I had in the art room. I painted it a beautiful aqua-green color and was inspired to write out wedding vows on it. I left the bottom empty because I had the thought of somehow attaching a picture of andy and me there. Well, I decided to hang it anyways-- as is in our bathroom. Our bathroom has a beach theme to it and I thought that it went well. So, I was getting out of the shower and looked up at the painting and thought "You know, that vow doesn't just have to be between andy and me... it's kinda like between husband and wife-- like Jesus and me-- He is my groom and I am His bride." And if you think about it... and read it from a "Jesus perspective" it reads so true... so lets look at this vow::

"I will be yours in times of plenty and in times of want, in times of sickness and in health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, in times of failure and in times of triumph. I promise to cherish you, to take care of you, to comfort you, encourage you, and to stay with you for all eternity."

Now... read it like this...

JESUS will be yours in times of plenty and in times of want, in times of sickness and in health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, in times of failure and in times of triumph.

HE promises to cherish you, to take care of you, to comfort you, encourage you, and to stay with you for all eternity."

COOL RIGHT?! 

There are a few verses in the bible that I absolutely LOVE that I want to share.


Isaiah 62:5 niv "...as a *bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you."  *bridegroom is Jesus


John 3:29 niv "The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice..."

Questioning if you are in fact "HIS" bride? 

"How do I know Michelle?" 

Okay, simple answer here-- you must be born again/ saved ... in english... accept Jesus into your heart. Ask Him... say you are sorry for your sinful living and tell Him you want to live for Him. Ask Him to come inside your heart and help you live an awesome life with Him. 


Your rebuttal... "I don't need Jesus in my heart... I believe in God that'd be enough. I know of God... I say thanks at dinner time, I don't sin... I go to church every Sunday- I even help out. "


Jesus says that you cannot see the kingdom of God unless you are in fact born again/saved. This is not me telling you you can't go to heaven unless you repent for your sins and ask Jesus into your heart... this is Jesus saying this. 


John 3:3-8 niv

³ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.^[a]”
⁴ “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
⁵ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. ⁶ Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit^[b] gives birth to spirit. ⁷ You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You^[c] must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”


John 3:16-20 ncv
¹⁶ "God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life. ¹⁷God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him.¹⁸ People who believe in God's Son are not judged guilty. Those who do not believe have already been judged guilty, because they have not believed in God's one and only Son.¹⁹ They are judged by this fact: The Light has come into the world, but they did not want light. They wanted darkness, because they were doing evil things.²⁰All who do evil hate the light and will not come to the light, because it will show all the evil things they do. ²¹ But those who follow the true way come to the light, and it shows that the things they do were done through God."


Once you make the decision to make Jesus your Lord and Savior of your life- He becomes your Bridegroom-- and YOU become His Bride!!! YOU ARE HIS AND HE IS YOURS!!! HE WILL FIGHT FOR YOU, CARE FOR YOU, SUPPORT YOU, ENCOURAGE YOU, LOVE YOU UNCONDITIONALLY, BE THERE IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH, RICHER OR POORER-HE IS YOUR HUSBAND!!! 


Just as your earthly husband made these promises-- and you made these promises your husband-- when you accepted Jesus- he made these promises with you. 
If you are reading this and #1 say you are not married yet (hang in there) or #2 your husband doesn't act on the above promises... Jesus is your ultimate husband- He is your bridegroom-& He will love you forever.

If you already are born again/saved... awesome!! Please share this with someone-- don't "bullhorn" it - (meaning get on your personal soapbox in the middle of the street and yell at random people)- be gentle- one at a time- share with someone gently... Jesus saved your life, wiped your dirty, mucky, moldy slate clean- whiter than snow-- don't you want others to experience Jesus' grace & love too? 

The ultimate question of the evening... 

Are you HIS bride?

Take care of you :)

He's Got the whole world...

It's been circling around that 2012 is the end of the world-- some are saying December 21, 2012 to be exact.

Are you one of the many people that believe this? Be honest... don't just say no when you really think that it is... say what you mean-- mean what you say. (It says that in the bible too.)

Okay... so here's how this all came about...

I was getting a massage and the masseuse started talking about his finance being in school and he was saying she was upset & concerned she was never going to get to finish. I asked why and he said "Well you know, because of the end of the world" I responded with "End of the world? What are you talking about?" He said that his finance said that the world was going to end on Dec. 21, 2012. Now, I had heard of this, but really never looked into it. 

Which led me to really think about all this. Think about this...

If God created the universe... and He made everything- I mean everything we see, feel, touch, smell-- it's all His-- it's all God's; and everything is to His glory. So, here's my question (& statement) if this whole "End of the world" stuff is based on Mayan's calendar and "calculations" then you tell me how that brings any glory and honor to God? The world ends just as the Mayans says it was going to (and who are they compared to God Himself?!- There is no one higher than God, no one above Him) and then how does that give ANY glory and honor- credit to God Himself? It's like the Mayans can say "na nanny boo boo- I told you guys there was no God--" and that would TOTALLY defeat the purpose of God's plan.

He is the One who created all and He is the only One that can end it all. Genesis 1:1- In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Jesus doesn't even know the day of His return. Matthew 24:36- "No one knows when that day or time will be, not the angels in heaven, not even the Son. Only the Father knows.

I was reading an article from NASA the other day, and was surprised when I saw & later researched the following to be true  "Their calendar does not end on December 21, 2012; it's just the end of the cycle and the beginning of a new one. It's just like on December 31, our calendar comes to an end, but a new calendar begins on January 1." See how it says "end of a cycle and beginning of a new one"? Ummm everything in life is like this-- without ends, there cannot be new beginnings! Also... it's like the end of the month-- Is July 31st going to come and AHHHHHH we fall off the face of the earth like a waterfall cliff? NO-- of course 

not... that is if Jesus doesn't come back before then! lol

I just wanted to encourage you that God is on your side and He loves you a lot! He sent His Son Jesus to die for you! Romans 5:6-11 nlt- "⁶ When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.⁷ Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. ⁸ But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. ⁹ And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. ¹⁰ For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. ¹¹ So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

If you haven't already... won't you accept Jesus into your heart? It's totally worth it and I mean... you can't go wrong here... who else can die for you and wipe your slate clean- whiter than snow!!?? Who else can save you from God's condemnation?! Who else can restore your your friendship with God on your behalf? Go ahead and ask Him to come into your life, into your heart... He's waiting for you... He hasn't given up on you... He loves you more than you will ever know!!

You see, if the world does in fact end at... BAM... (just kidding) at this very moment-- I know where I will be going... Heaven!! 

Where will you be spending your forever? -Just something to think about...

Take care of you :)

He's got you covered like a chocolate donut!!

What do these yummy chocolate covered donuts have to do with love? Keep reading
to find out... It's totally worth it!! :)

It was one Sunday at church that Andy was preaching on LOVE- and in the middle of the service, he handed out a piece of paper that was folded in half. When we opened it up- it was a letter from "Dad"- a love letter written from God to us. As he read it aloud- it touched my heart & brought tears to my eyes. All of these are scriptures from the bible. I urge you to read them aloud- not just silently to yourself- but aloud. It's amazing- something about hearing yourself actually SPEAK it-- you know, there is life and death in the tongue-- :)

This below is called "The Father's Love Letter":: ENJOY!!!

My Child,

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don't know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad-Almighty God

So... whatcha think?! Amazing right?!! Soooo-- I actually have something else to share with you too. 


Okay, honestly it wasn't until really recent that I was able to actually wrap my entire head and entire heart around this statement & truth... and this is going to sound crazy but... I BELONG TO JESUS! --okay, you are like  "ummm yeah Michelle, we know that..." but REALLY REALLY REALLY I BELONG TO HIM!!! HE LOVES ME!!! I AM HIS!!! I AM HIS BRIDE!!!




Here's a few questions... & I've asked them before, i'm gonna ask them again... 


Do you know Jesus? 
Do you believe He is the Son of God?
Do you know that God sent His Son for YOU- to wash away your sins?
Do you know that Jesus died for YOU?
Have you asked Him to come into your life and live within you?


... He's coming back for you! He's preparing a great and glorious place for you... He WILL BE BACK!!!


SO... what does it mean to answer yes to all these questions? If you have, it means Jesus lives inside you- your heart and He has made you clean. You belong to Him and He intercedes before God for YOU. You are HIS-- You belong to HIM-- NOTHING CAN CHANGE THAT!! HE loves you... He is ALWAYS there for you. 


Just as you get married, and you now are your husbands and he is yours-- Your husband would do anything for you- and if you were in trouble, your husband would say "NO-- she's with me!!" Well, Jesus does that for you!! Jesus says "NO-- SHE'S WITH ME!!"  He is there fighting for you, sticking up for you, giving you encouragement and strength!! 


^{Isaiah 62:5: 5} As a young man marries a woman, so your children will marry your land. As a man rejoices over his new wife, so your God will rejoice over you. 


I can't stress this enough-- YOU ARE HIS AND YOU BELONG TO HIM FOREVER!!!


So, in the New Testament when it talks about judgement day- where you stand before God-- Jesus is right there interceding-- She is mine and she belongs to me and I love her. I have washed her clean. 


Do not fear about the whole "judgement day"- know that You belong to Jesus and He lives inside you- He's got you covered!! (as we used to say... "got you covered like a chocolate donut") 


Take care of you :)

Permission to reprint: 

Please feel free to copy and paste the text of Father's Love Letter to share with othersproviding you abide by the following conditions...1. You use the Father's Love Letter text in its entirety.2. You do not use it for commercial purposes3. You include the following copyright notice wherever it is displayed...Father's Love Letter used by permission Father Heart Communications © 1999-2011 www.FathersLoveLetter.com

Time well wasted? Nope...

I was watching a podcast from Joyce Meyer today-- and she was preaching some GOOD stuff man!!! I needed to fill ya'll in on some of her preachin' action!!

It's kinda a humbling- scary- yet liberating feeling when you make this HUGE GINORMOUS realization that you have "wasted" your days. What you say? "NO NO NO Michelle-- your days haven't been wasted!! Don't say that" - you say. Well, let me tell you- I HAVE WASTED so many good ones!! 

How and why would I say this? Well... let's start with "HOW"~ How have I wasted my time- my days- my life... being stressed over completely nothing! How in the world did I let things get this BAD?!! I mean seriously? "Oh but Michelle- your life never appeared bad to me!!" AH HA-- but I KNEW. Like how did I let very little tiny thing get to me?! And which leads me to "WHY"- well, why did I let everything get to me? It's easy-- I let the nasty things in and never let it out. Never took DEEP breaths... NEVER took the time to just be-- I was always wrapped up in work, doing over my absolute best, and wanting to be PERFECT all the time. (Being strong for Andy as he took on the pastor life, new job, loosing insurance temporarily, changing positions with my work, taking care of Daisy, dealing with money & living stuff)-- OH and what happened next... MADE MYSELF SICK!!! Really sick & drained and tired and weak... and well... honestly-- left God behind. Need an excuse? I had it... I was busy and overwhelmed--- not only trying my BEYOND best in every area of my "peachy life" --- yeah... everywhere EXCEPT with my relationship with God. I'm sure you can fill in the blanks with your life stuff...

I'm done wasting my days...all of them!! I don't want to live upset, angry, disgusted, stressed, worried and anxious!! I wasted soooo many days being this way... and I am NOT giving in anymore!!! I want God to be proud of me!! I want Him cheering me on "THAT'S MY DAUGHTER!! THAT'S MY GIRL!!!" 

The more I'm in a hurry-- the more I run over people! Think about it... you're in a hurry right... huffing and puffing while waiting in line somewhere. You get to the counter FINALLY- only to find the sales person is new, doesn't know which buttons to push, and needs to call for help. You have 2 choices... 

1. Stay flustered and give her a hard time "OMG, huffing and puffing... in which making their day worse      OR....
2. Be calm- collect yourself- and SMILE!! Even though you might be in a hurry and you are set back... STILL SMILE and YOU say hello!! It might just help... they will take a deep breath, and relax. You never know-- you might have made their day.

When we are in a hurry... we really don't think about the impact of our actions. SLOW DOWN- BREATHE...

My dad was sooooooo right!!! He used to say "Just calm down Michelle, Just callllllllm down". Funny thing... it used to make me soooooo mad to hear him say that. And still after he passed away my mom and Andy used to tell me this too--- in the same way oddly enough... and it stirred up SO much anger in me to hear it. Well... dad was so right!! I really do need to CALLLLLLLLLM DOWN!! lol

You know in Exodus 20:8-11 it says to keep the Sabbath holy... take Sunday OFF-- no hard labor--Spend time with your family, have a movie marathon- instead of hard core cooking-- order a pizza, do something for yourself- yes... something YOU enjoy!!! If God needs to rest- what does that tell you? Doesn't have to be "Sunday"- just make it one special day a week to take a rest and take care of you.

So... I'm not gonna be cliché here- by saying "oh God changed everything" (but He really did) "read your bible" "go to church... blah blah blah..." I'm not going to sit here and preach to you about what you NEED... HELLO? Who am I to tell you? I can only preach to myself and try to share my personal experiences with you to help you.

Keep your life in balance- on purpose! Make an effort to walk a life with patience, kindness & love.

It's up to you ultimately to establish your own personal walk with God. It's not hard to ask Him into your life- Do you know God? Do you understand that He sent His Son Jesus to die for you? Do you know that Jesus died on the cross FOR YOU and for your sins? Do you know that He loves you more than you know and that He's coming back for you? Ummmm... answer yes? Guess what? You have Jesus in your heart and we will totally see each other in Heaven!!! YAY! 

Take care of you :)