A Really Good Word from the Word.....

Ya'll, I have had a fresh Word from God placed on my heart this morning and I'm just about to explode with anxiousness, excitement, and anticipation over Him and what He might have to show me, teach me, or reveal to me about this one topic:

PEACE

Let me tell you how God and I got to this Word this morning. Over the weekend, I sensed some "un-peace" around me....and I don't mean necessarily within my family....I mean in just watching others, listening to others, their stories, their faces, their words being spoken, their bodies, their tones, their present turmoil in their life, their unsettledness with something, someone, their lack of patience, their "something is just missing in them" kind of thing. I like the word of "un-peace." Not a real word, but its working for me today.

Another thing that has caused "peace" to be on my mind and in my heart today is this....I have been praying so hard for someone for the last 24 hours. I want them to be flooded with peace today. They have requested prayers from me regarding a situation and event that they are a part of today and along with His mighty presence, I want God's peace to flood them...FLOOD their minds and hearts. I invision peace as a covering over this particular situation. And that vision takes me to Colossians 3:15 and later I'll mention vs 16 because its just SOOOOOO good. Ok...here's the Word ....vs. 15 says.....

" Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."

My first thought is "PEACE RULES!" Oh yes it does. If there ain't peace we know it. How many of us have heard, "if momma ain't happy, noone is happy." If there is not peace in the leadership of the house, or anywhere for that matter, then EVERYONE suffers!!!!! I read in one of my study Bibles that peace acts as a referee. Can't you just see peace the referee watching, checking out the rules, seeing who is playing fairly?? Flags are thrown. Penalties given. But of course, in this watching and checking of players and rules.... Peace wins. Peace rules. Peace will come out ahead every time. Eventually, peace will win. It might be ugly or not even fun getting to that place of peace. Christ's peace will win because it rules when its in our hearts.

My 2nd point of interest from this passage is, we are "called to peace." Ummm...called to peace. That word "called" means that we are called as God's chosen people. With Jesus, we are God's chosen ones that are to show peace. Oh my! How I fail to show peace, feel peace, or even encourage peace. Remember, peace wins. Peace rules.

Ok...Peace rules in God's chosen people. That would be us!! Whenever you need some peace, seek God to fill you up with His presence. Because when we are filled with His presence, the beauty is having a filling of the fruit of the Spirit. So...Go after Him! He can give us that peace over ANY situation where we sense being "un-peaced" or unsettled. He can give you that covering of peace. "Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts....."

And finally, vs 16 out of the Message Bible doesn't need a comment or anything extra by me. It will bless you. Vs. 16 says, "Let the Word of Christ-the Message-have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives--words, actions, whatever--be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way."

And, all God's people said "AMEN!" Oh, how I pray that peace is flooding your lives today. If it's not, then call upon our Father who is the giver of all good things and ask for some peace. And, let God be the run of the house!! I know who can run my house sometimes and it's not Him!

Peace wins! Peace rules! Jesus is the Prince of Peace!!

Have a great day! Find Jesus wherever you go and in all things! He is amazing!
Blessings~

There's just something in the air.....

****30 MINUTES LATER....AN UPDATE****
Took the dog outside and there is fresh roadkill right around the corner. I have come in to light my yummy Fall candle. I will win this battle! :)


Oh my goodness! We live "out" in our town of Jackson and usually as we drive home at night we manage to drive right over the freshly killed skunk and everyone says for the 1 millionth time....."OOOOOOHHHHHH....a dead skunk!" It really is just disgusting. BUT.....

Tonight, I had the beautiful smell of burning wood (hope it wasn't someones home) come through my car as I drove down the road. It just smelled like Fall. Let me say it again for myself as I sit here and try to come up with it .....that burning wood, like a bonfire, smelled just like a perfect Fall evening. I can hear the high school football game from our school in the distance. And it is a perfect Fall evening.

There are no dead skunks to smell.....yet. And its just a matter of time. There is a definate feeling of Fall and I'm just grinning from ear to ear. I hope you have a beautiful weekend doing whatever you plan to do. Get that fun Fall decor out! Nothing too tacky though! Love your families tightly, find some time for Jesus, and enjoy this magnificent change of seasons. I love ya'll to death. Your blogs are such an encouragement to me. Thank you for taking the time to share your hearts when you write. Blessings to all of Blogworld!

Blessings my friends~

TAG! I'm it.....a meme about me.

Ok, another thrilling glimpse into my life....I really hope I can somehow prove to be a little entertaining and funny right now. I do love reading this stuff on ya'll so I'm happy to return the love! Thanks sweet Jennyhope for tagging me. Isn't she just the cutest?!

Four jobs I have had:
1. Waitress in high school and college and made some GREAT cashola!
2. Taught aerobics back in the day during late college years...had a class at 6:00 AM that just totally kicked my tail....not bc of me the teacher just the time!
3. Yes ma'am...a travel agent for a short time....I can get you anywhere!
4. Cardiac rehab at the hospital....helped patients recover and heal after bypass.

Four movies I could watch over and over:
1. Lets see...Passion of the Christ...cry every time.
2. Dumb dumb "Vacation" movies
3. Stepmom with Julia Roberts (that was big right after I became a momma)
4. Meet the Parents was a great belly laugh at the time

Four tv shows I like to watch:
1. Anything of fabulous, high quality reality content. Bachelor, Dancing with the Sars
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. Whats the show called with Sally Field and that crazy family?? Sunday nights??
That show I really like. A bunch of very different people that all really love each other.
4. Love to catch reruns of "Friends!"

Four places I have vacationed:
1. My favorite beach on planet Earth...DESTIN!
2. Cabo San Lucas (too far away for me to leave my babies)
3. Colorado (wish it wasn't so far...would love to drive out there)
4. NYC....just too much fun!

Four of my favorite dishes:
1. Nothing too specific here...MEXICAN anything!
2. a great steak
3. any kind of fish
4. really any kind of chicken...and I love me some good veggies...my family won't eat them.

Four places I'd rather be:
1. The mountains of Colorado
2. Destin
3. NYC
4. Oh, to walk where Jesus walked!

Four websites I visit daily:
1. my church for the daily devotion
2. all these FABULOUS blogs...ya'll encourage the socks off of me!
3. news sites
4. and yes, people.com (I'm sorry!)

Ok, thats it for me girlfriends. I won't tag anyone. I'm just glad you stopped by!
Have a great end of the week. Fall has arrived in west TN and I'm all but jumpin up and down to get outside with my praise music and do some walking!! Love ya'll.
Blessings~

Uncover, because He has you covered....

Well...I'm a little confused on what day it is because we have had "Fall break" at the kids school and I couldn't tell you if it was Sunday, Monday or Tuesday. And for those of you that care...HSM2 is on in the background at home....yes, boys are watching it and finding out for the 400th time what happens between Gabriella and Troy. Do I feel the love out there for those that are still lovin High School Musical 2??!!!

Let's see..I think its Monday night....what?! My kids aren't watching Monday Night Football?

Ok, let me get going here. I just keep coming across something in Bible study that I want to pass on to you. VERY COOL STUFF AHEAD!

Let me get focused here. "Uncover, because He has you covered."

Let me say or remind you that God is your friend. Whoopdi-do you might say. But, let me qoute John 15:13...."Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Yes. Jesus is our friend. He laid down His life for us. That is the ultimate friend.

You might be thinking.... "What makes a really good friend?"

1. someone that knows my "stuff." The personal stuff.
2. someone that I can small talk with.
3. someone that I completely trust.
4. someone that loves me no matter what.
5. someone that helps me in difficult times
6. someone that jumps up and down with me in good times.
7. someone that is always there for me.
8. someone that knows my voice. knows my thoughts. knows my heart.
9. someone that corrects me.
10. someone that encourages me.

Well, this sounds like a best friend and it sounds like my Jesus!! I just sometimes am in awe of His love for me.....I'm just a mess and He still loves me. He is my best friend. But, do I give Him my best? Hmmmmm.....

In order for me and Jesus to be close....we gotta spend some time together. It's always my fault when I'm not drawing near to Him. He doesn't go anywhere...its all me. I know that my Jesus does all those things mentioned above regardless of my presence towards Him and sometimes that just makes me too sad. In order for me to feel like I'm giving Him my best, I gotta put Him first. That means putting Him first before I think of my earthly friends. I can promise you I fail at that more than I succeed right now.

I need to spend time with Him in ALL things....not just the big stuff when the s*&!t hits the fan. I need to be with Him in ALL things....big and small. There is usually more daily stuff that is small than there is big. Where is He during all that? He is right there my friend. Remember that. Acknowledge that. Love that.

Our God is a "with God." He is with us always. I want to be a "with Fran" and be with Him always. I need to bring it all to Him every day...that big stuff, that small stuff and everything in between. I need to uncover so much stuff to Him so we can talk about it, cry about it, jump up and down about it, talk about it again, share my heart about it, listen to Him about it. Once I uncover all that stuff.....He and I are rockin and rollin and being the best of friends because we have spent some intense time together . But, if I never uncover it, lay it before Him, we are just skimming the surface and that "best friend" friendship isn't there.....I haven't done my part.

So, think about it.... Jesus and the fact that He laid down His life for you, He thinks of you as a friend, a best friend, and He loves you beyond meausure.... lay before Him ALL your stuff. Let Him minister to you and help you as that best friend does. It takes time. It takes effort. It takes energy.

He is awesome. He is my relief. He is my refuge. He is my joy. He laid down His life for me. For me. For me!!

Uncover it all, my friend. He has you covered! He covered you on that cross. Uncover it all, friends. He's the bestest friend ever. And you'll never be the same.
Blessings~

A Girl and Her Man!

I am SO very sorry Kim. That sweet girl over at Connorcolesmom tagged me with this I think on Monday and I'm a little tardy with my description of me and my "oh so amazing man!" He really is the best thing a girl could ask for. He balances me and keeps me in line and knows how to love me just the way I love to be loved. We've been together a long time and I love him even more today. So...here goes the fun!

1. Who is your man?? Billy Harold Thomas Jr, AKA Chip...I'd go by Chip too!

2. How long have you been together?? Married for 13 yrs this past August. The only day in August it rained, so I believe in rainy day wedding luck!

3. How long did you date?? We dated a whopping 5 months before we got engaged. We were engaged 11 months before the wedding....an ETERNITY!

4. How old is your man?? Let me think...I'll be 38 so he will be turning 39 on December 5th. He looks good too!

5. Who eats more?? I can eat the heck out of chips and dip....He eats the heck out of meat and potatoes!

6. Who said I love you first?? I bet he did. I don't think I would have had the nerve too. And I'm sure I promptly replied back "I love you too honey!"

7. Who is taller?? We are both tall, but Chip is 6"2. I'm 5"9.

8. Who sings better?? ME ME ME ME!! Well, actually I think I can sing really really good but I probably can't. I just sing all the time and I don't think I give him the chance to sing.....in the car anyway. You don't see him sing at church either. Maybe its a man thing. I don't know.

9. Who is smarter?? He is with financial stuff and big decisions. I smoke him when it comes to daily living and juggling a million things at once.

10. Whose temper is worse?? Mine oh mine. Chip is so patient and even tempered. Not fair.

11. Who does the laundry?? Mine oh mine. That would be all me. He will help fold clothes at night when I can't see straight anymore. He's very sweet about helping out around the house. He's actually a better cleaner than me. He's got some OCD issues.

12. Who takes out the trash?? All Chip

13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?? Looking at the bed, he's on the right.

14. Who pays the bills?? Mine all mine.

15. Who is better on the computer?? Definately me.

16. Who mows the lawn?? Chip and he loves it.

17. Who cooks dinner?? Well, if you call it cooking that would be me. He is a mean griller though.

18. Who drives when you are together?? My car, I drive. His car, he drives.

19. Who is the most stubborn?? That might be a toss up and could go either way!

20. Whose parents do you like the most?? What kind of question is that??

21. Who kissed who first?? Man oh man...that would be all him.

22. Who asked out who?? He was after me from the get go and asked me out. I cannot remember where though?? I'm glad he won't read this!

23. Who proposed?? He did and it was precious. His dad owned a radio station in my home town and Chip taped a "commercial" that would play while we were in the car on our way to the movies. We had pulled in the parking lot and all of a sudden I heard his voice on the air say "Hey Fran, its Chip........" And the rest is history. The cool thing is he told several of our friends and my family to "listen" to the proposal. I was shocked....in a good way. I still have the tape of the commercial.

24. Who has more friends?? Maybe me.

25. Who has more siblings?? I have two older brothers and he has an older sister.

Well, now ya know about me and my man. He's the best thing on this planet. I'll even show you a little picture of my guy. I love you Chip. Thank you for your love and being the daddy to our 3 most amazing kids. Who could ask for more?!

I hope you love what you're doing....

Hello friends...
Ya know everybody, I had a weekend that was totally crazy! I have 3 boys that are 11,9,6. They all 3 play baseball and one is even playing football too. They absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE what they are doing. They are allowed to play one sport at a time. What's so bad about that?? Nothing, but one child is overlapping with football. That is just for a couple of weeks. So...we play baseball in the Fall....travel ball at that, so it means A LOT of baseball in one weekend. And, did I say that they LOVE, LOVE, LOVE what they do??!

So, as I watch their enthusiasm over what they do, it has made me question......

Do I love what I do?? Do I have the same enthusiasm that my children have??

I "do" many things....I have scaled back tremendously....we cannot do 100 things for the glory of God, but here is a list of some of the things I "do" on any given day.....

1. family up and out the door
2. house picked up and put up before I head to work
3. run errands for family and kids
4. get kids from school and begin homework
5. get kids to extra-curricular activities
6. hopefully remember dinner
7. finish up school work
8. ready for bed
9. lots of laundry
10. oh, yes, my JESUS!! He should have been 1st on this list!

Ya see, with this list of "things to do," I want to LOVE every aspect of my day. I want to LOVE all of it. I've been blessed with a wonderful life and in turn I pray for God to show Himself BIG to me throughout the day....I want to walk side by side with Him and praise Him, love Him, spend time with Him, and show gratitude for these blessings.

I have added "enthusiasm" to my prayer list. I pray that He fill my heart with an abundant love that reflects enthusiasm for Him. Enthusiasm in ALL I do. For He, is my love, my life, and my Savior. I pray that He fill my tank every morning, every afternoon, every evening. I just love Him so much and I want to be enthused in life.

So, here is a picture from the weekend AFTER 10 baseball games and a football game. I was enthusiastic that it was over because I was exhausted! Yes, it was a lot.I loved on my family when it was over because I saw them love life and love what they do and they encouraged me. They really blessed me.



Do you love what you do?? I sure hope so! Life is just so much better filled with Him and lovin what you do!!

Things that make you go hmmmmmm......

I think that is the name of a song from clearly the '80s, but I can't come up with it or who even sang it. I wish I could have it as an option to click on and listen because we all love a good "blast from the past!" Maybe I'll add it once I do extensive research and find it. :)

Ok, I've seen so many of ya'll do something similar to this over the months that I entered blogworld and I too want to give it a try. Could be good or could be totally stupid. Its causing me to be still and really think about many, many things that make me go hmmmmmmm. So, forgive me if its completely stupid or if I seem to be all over the place. I tend to do that easily. I'm praying for some clarity as I type this now. Feel free to move on to the next blog if you wish.

Here is a list of things that make me wonder or go hmmmmmmm.
1. Very important one here, but why is McDonald's coke so much better that anyone elses? Do they get different more fizzy, carbonated coke than other places? If I'm dying for a real coke, then why is McDonald's the ONLY place to go?? Truly, there is no other coke better than McDonalds.

2. According to my 9 yr old who HATES thunderstorms, why do they come in the middle of night and totally mess up your sleeping pattern or even where you are sleeping?? Because we are known to have kids coming down to our room at the slightest sound of that middle of the night thunder. Can't get 'em up for school though. Lord, will you please move thunderstorms to 10am?

3. Why can I not go to sleep at night without taking a shower or bath first? There is something weird to me about crawling into bed with all that daily grime on me. I know....its probably strange. Needless to say, between morning hygiene and nightly hygiene, I'm one clean girl.

4. What will heaven be like at our 1st glimpse when we die?? I have been stuck on this thought lately because of deaths surrounding me. What will we see?? What will Jesus look like?? There are millions of people all over the world dying at one time. What does the "process" look like. I just wish someone could come back and share with us a glimpse of heaven. I know scripturally what Revelation says, but I want to hear it from someone. Just so curious.

5. Why can't I go to the grocery store and just buy one of everything?? I always need so many things, but I manage to scoot in and out with the minimum. I can't just go in there and get all of it. I think I have issues with grocery shopping. Maybe because I can't stand it. I have 4 others to feed other than myself and they are all very different in their eating habits and I can't stand it. Of course its their fault and not mine. :)

6. Why can I not manage to get simple things done around this house?? Its not hard. Its not even that time consuming. Yes, I work and that usually becomes my excuse. But, if I don't clean out some drawers, ya'll may have to visit me at the "home." I don't know why this is even coming up again. I have been battling this crazy thing since Summer. Hmmmmmm....Lord, let me do this on Friday when i'm not working. Please Lord give me the strength, focus, and desire. PLEASE LORD!

7. Lastly, why do I still love all the reality shows all over tv?? I will watch all that stuff on VH1, MTV, CMT.....you name it. I'm almost 38 yrs old. Am I trying to keep from really growing up??? I sit and watch and feel like I am one of them.....age wise. I'm SO not. I love reality tv. I think I might need to move on.
But, I'll wait til after February and my birthday.

Hmmmmm......I know this was huge, mind blowing stuff. I think these are all quirky things that make us who we are. And thank you Jesus for all the quirky things you poured into my DNA. I really do kinda like myself. Actually, I love my relationship with Jesus and how He can do an "Extremem Makeover!"