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dancingwithjoy
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Name: Chelsea
Birthday: 10/22/1982
Gender: Female
Interests: I enjoy the Word, dancing, reading, hiking, biking, the great hobby of eating, singing/music, interior design, art, working with kids, hanging out with friends and family and loving on my husband.
Expertise: Seeking God, singing, dancing, children and eating....not eating kids!
Occupation: Education/training
Message: message me
Member Since:
2/16/2006
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| Brandon is in the hospital after having H1N1 w/ phenomena.. His right lung is toast but the left may be able to heal, though his dr have made it clear that he probably won't live. He also has a blood clot and his kidneys are trying to shut down. Brandon is in his 30s with a wife and little girl. Last night they began the roto-bed, which will be the last intervention prior to death.
Please pray for a miracle.
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| My brother's friend got the swine flu at the end of October and ended up in the ICU since then on a respirator with acute respiratory distress syndrome. At this point they are not sure if he will make it and could use all the prayers he can get. He has a wife and little girl. This is the link to the website http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/brandonlagerquist
Please pray for a full recovery and for God's glory to be made known in this situation.
Blessings,
Chelsea
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| This is a true story from my friend Lynn. You see these sort of things in inspirational movies but this happened in our town because of the faith and perseverance of a real person. Enjoy!
A typical day in the life of Mrs. Hare, substitute teacher
Last Thursday, I subbed for a second/third grade class that was tough. They talked out. Rowdy, they shook one another by the collar, gave piggy-back rides during math class, and made faces. I got tuckered out fighting fires all day.
The teacher had been out sick several days. The other second grade teachers assured me that there'd been a series of subs, but none had returned [alive]. Given no sub plans, I was winging it as best as I could.
"What's up?" I asked God. "What am I doing here?" I prayed all morning. I asked for God's presence to show up in that room. I put on the armor of God. I quietly spoke to the evil spirits and told them that they could not speak or operate while I was there. I asked God to send angels. I prayed the blood of Christ over that class. And then I asked for a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit.
I gave constant feedback to the class. Determined, they continued to be rude and disruptive. In spite of everything, it was clear I was losing the battle. Relentless, I continued to pray.
And then a funny thing happened. After lunch, I read the final two chapters of the novel Because of Winn-Dixie to the class. In the story at that point, we stumble upon a scene where 10-year-old Opal is reunited with her big, ugly, happy dog, Winn-Dixie. It is a dramatic scene, which I read with great emotion.
Now comes the good part. A character was humming a hymn in the story. So I asked, "Does anyone know what a hymn is?" No one knew. (One girl suggested that it's another word for "he.") I told the class that a hymn is a song that people sing; it's about God. It's a form of worship, and we can get into God's presence as we sing.
On the last page of the story, the characters sang a hymn together. I read that aloud, and began to sing "Amazing Grace." To my surprise, the whole class joined in! We sang every verse. I mean, I was praying in my heart, "Lord, show me more!" And He did. We sang, "When we've been there 10,000 years...we've no less days to sing God's praise." And yes, we even sang, "Praise God, praise God, praise God, praise God!"
After we finished, I looked up. You could hear a pin drop. You can't fool this crowd. It seemed like they were saying, "That was the real thing." I felt the Holy Spirit in that room. I am not even kidding you.
Later that afternoon, the counselor came down and did some problem-solving with the kids. We discussed options that kids had when things didn't go their way. Soon, one at a time, the spirit of repentance came over that class. Several kids turned to me and apologized to me for being rude & disrespectful. I surprised myself by beginning to cry. The kids saw the tears. I think that the tears were God showing up. Normally I would be embarassed by that, by somehow this time was different.
It is amazing to me how open kids' spirits are when you give them the chance.
No wonder God says you must be like a kid to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Don't ask me what I wanna be when I grow up. I'm just gonna stay a kid, later get to heaven, and skate right through.
I'm gonna write a sequel. "Because of Winn-Dixie.... a bunch of 7- and 8-year-olds experienced Christ one crisp October afternoon." Love, Lynn
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| 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I read this a couple times today before noticing the word dwell. Ah crap. That word makes all the difference. Boastful, I though to myself on the first read through, "Yea, I 'qualify'...." Humility gave pride a swift quick the second round. See, more than dwell in the shelter of the Most High, I visit. I dwell in my home, I visit the grocery store. I dwell in my home because it is mine, it keeps me safe and holds all that I possess. I live there. I go the grocery store when I need something. Now, I don't expect on this side of heaven to ever say, "yes, I constantly dwell in the presence of God," because even Paul (who through the Holy Spirit wrote a good portion of the New Testament) said "not that I have already obtained it (perfection) but I forget what is behind me and press on to lies ahead of me. Even Paul had to repent, forgive himself, dust himself off and move forward."
But I raise this "dwelling vs visiting" point because the rest of the psalm which speaks of God's awesome covering and protection is based on dwelling in Him. If I dwell in His presence, then the promises that follow apply. Or better put WHEN I dwell, then the promises that follow apply.
So the objective set forth is to be interactive with Jesus all day....not just when I am brimming over with frustration and self-pity. What's that look like? Probably a bit different for each of us, but giving thanks and lifting up praise as we go along the day and praying with and for those around us as needs and opportunities present themselves.
Enough for now, there are babies to tend to.
Psalm 91
Security of the One Who Trusts in the LORD.
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the L ORD, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” 3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. 5 You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day; 6 Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. 7 A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But it shall not approach you. 8 You will only look on with your eyes And see the recompense of the wicked. 9 For you have made the L ORD, my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place. 10 No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your tent. 11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. 12 They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and cobra, The young lion and the serpent you will trample down. 14 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. 15 “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 16 “With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation.”
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