Challenge

Challenge: a call to engage in a contest or fight
A call to engage in a contest or fight is one of the definitions to the word challenge.
Have you ever engaged in a challenge?
From the time we are little children, we are offered challenges. I think that most of us would look at a challenge as: sitting up, walking, climbing stairs, running, eating with a fork, playing a sport, cooking, not making the laundry pink, changing a tire, going to work, getting up in the morning, going to church, reading your bible and having devotions........these are just a drop of the challenges that we face in life.
Maybe you are facing the challenge of not having a job or having more month than money. Are you facing the challenge of a teenager who has turned away from the Lord? Some might be facing the health challenge of your life.
Whatever the challenge.....know this day that God was in the future of your life and He knew exactly what you are facing. He is Jehovah!
He is:
JEHOVAH: LORD in our English Bibles (all capitals). Yahweh is the covenant name of God. Occurs 6823 times in the OT First use Gen. 2:4 (Jehovah Elohim). From the verb "to be", havah, similar to chavah (to live), "The Self-Existent One," "I AM WHO I AM" or 'I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE" as revealed to Moses at the burning bush, Ex.3. The name of God, too sacred to be uttered, abbreviated ( . . . . ) or written "YHWH" without vowel points. The tetragrammaton. Josh., Judges, Sam., and Kings use Jehovah almost exclusively. The love of God is conditioned upon His moral and spiritual attributes. (Dan. 9:14; Ps. 11:7; Lev. 19:2; Hab. 1:12). Note Deut. 6:4, 5 known to Jews as the Sh'ma uses both Jehovah and Elohim to indicate one God with a plurality of persons.
JEHOVAH-JIREH: "The Lord will Provide." Gen. 22:14. From "jireh" ("to see" or "to provide," or to "foresee" as a prophet.) God always provides, adequate when the times come.
JEHOVAH-ROPHE: "The Lord Who Heals" Ex. 15:22-26. From "rophe" ("to heal"); implies spiritual, emotional as well as physical healing. (Jer. 30:17, 3:22; Isa. 61:1) God heals body, soul and spirit; all levels of man's being.
JEHOVAH-NISSI: "The Lord Our Banner." Ex. 17:15. God on the battlefield, from word which means "to glisten," "to lift up," See Psalm 4:6.
JEHOVAH-M'KADDESH: "The Lord Who Sanctifies" Lev. 20:8. "To make whole, set apart for holiness."
JEHOVAH-SHALOM: "The Lord Our Peace" Judges 6:24. "Shalom" translated "peace" 170 times means "whole," "finished," "fulfilled," "perfected." Related to "well," welfare." Deut. 27:6; Dan. 5:26; I Kings 9:25 8:61; Gen. 15:16; Ex. 21:34, 22:5, 6; Lev. 7:11-21. Shalom means that kind of peace that results from being a whole person in right relationship to God and to one's fellow man.SHEPHERD: Psa. 23, 79:13, 95:7, 80:1, 100:3; Gen. 49:24; Isa. 40:11.JUDGE: Psa. 7:8, 96:13.
JEHOVAH ELOHIM: "LORD God" Gen. 2:4; Judges 5:3; Isa. 17:6; Zeph. 2:9; Psa. 59:5, etc.
JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU "The Lord Our Righteousness" Jer. 23:5, 6, 33:16. From "tsidek" (straight, stiff, balanced - as on scales - full weight, justice, right, righteous, declared innocent.) God our Righteousness.
JEHOVAH-ROHI: "The Lord Our Shepherd" Psa. 23, from "ro'eh" (to pasture).
JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH: "The Lord is There" (Ezek. 48:35).
JEHOVAH-SABAOTH: "The Lord of Hosts" The commander of the angelic host and the armies of God. Isa. 1:24; Psa. 46:7, 11; 2 Kings 3:9-12; Jer. 11:20 (NT: Rom. 9:29; James 5:4, Rev. 19: 11-16).
He is God! He will walk with you during your challenge!!!!

Endure

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Endure: To undergo without giving in during hardship

In our lives we go through challenges that are very difficult, and cause pain. Through all our struggles though, we always have the choice to learn from them. When we are faced with the challenges that are thrown our way we can either give up, or we can press through them and allow them to make us stronger. When I think of the word endurance, I think of a ridiculously long path that I am supposed to travel on a scorching hot day. As I look at the journey I am supposed to embark on it is very easy to become discouraged and weary. I have learned that in order to endure the challenges I face I have to learn how to set small goals for myself so I can see my success along the way. If I do not set small goals and see myself accomplishing them then I easily become distracted and depressed by the large task that lies ahead.

Teenagers

I love teenagers!
Now, don't get me wrong, I live in the real world and every once in a while have issues with my pre-teen but generally, I love teenagers.
Why? I know, you think I am crazy. No, not crazy....I just think the are part of our society that people take for granted and just think they are a bunch of hormonal, irrational, crazy kids running around. They are all of those things and so much more.
Every Wednesday night, our church halls echo with teens running and yelling. What?!?!?! Do they not understand that this is God's house and we are suppose to be quiet?
Then (at least in our church) we have the challenge of trying to teach a bible study over the incredibly loud music they are playing. If that is not enough they have to yell and scream in the sanctuary for their youth service.
Believe it our not, all these things are actually good things.
I am the Student Liasion for Chardon BOE and have interaction with teens a few times a week. There is a whole lot of energy in the halls of any High School in America.
Teens bring life to your church and community. They need adults to let them know that we are truly interested in them and WHO they are and not there to pass judgement. They help you as a parent to keep you young. They challenge your thinking and you should challenge theirs.
I have some very special teens in my life that I find enrich my life because of who they are.
So this blog is dedicated to some of my favorite teens: Katlin, Meghan, Tori, Brittany, Dave, Jim, and Hannah. Thanks for being a teen and braining joy and a little crazy to my life !

Taxes and other things that are out of my league

Have you ever worked on taxes?
Or should I say.....have you ever worked on taxes and you are not an accountant? I HATE THIS STUFF!
Today, I determined in my mind that I was going to give myself a headache and work in preparing our taxes to send to the accountant. No, never mind that most times I really feel like sending him a box full of stuff and tell him to figure it out.......NO....we cannot do that.....because we have to save a dime.
I handle the finances for our ministry and do a pretty good job. I make sure that everyone gets their tithing reports and all that stuff in time and have only had one mistake over the past 7 years but IT's STILL ALL OUT OF MY LEAGUE.
No on to parenting, my wonderful husband and I are trying to raise 2 God fearing, upstanding, polite children and very often feel that.....I'm out of my league.
I serve the 88sq. miles of Chardon Local School District and.....I'm out of my league very often.
I have been married for 13+ years and there are many days that I feel......I'm out of my league.
I have so many wonderful friends and they all add something to my life but there are times......I'm out of my league.
My husband and I serve the body of believers at Chester Christian Center and....I am often out of my league.
I wonder many nights.....What in the WORLD am I going to cook for dinner?....Out of my league.
I try to help my kids with their homework and YOU GUESSED IT........I'm out of my league......even with the 3rd grader.
No all of this can make a person wonder.........What exactly is My League?
I said all that to say........Ladies, do you ever feel "Out of Your League?" Just remember, the following:
1) Take a minute and step back
2) Breath, sit, and have a cup of tea or your favorite drink.
3) Take time to focus
4) Remember that Father accepts us just as we are and........HE IS NEVER........OUT OF OUR LEAGUE!

How can I keep from singing Your Praise

I guess spring days like today help to make us stop and enjoy nature.

Today, I had to go to the store to pick up some things for laundry and cleaning. I decided to take the back way to Target so that I could take in the sights and leave my window down while I drove.

I cannot wait until spring really comes and I can see things begin to blossom. My favorite is a Cherry Blossom tree. I hope to have two or 3 of them in my yard someday.

Enough conjecture.......This weather does make me want to sing praises to the God who made all of this beautiful land for us to enjoy.

The song: "How can I keep from singing Your praise" came to mind. If you don't know the words here they are:

There is an endless song

Echoes in my soul

I hear the music ring

And though the storms may come

I am holding on To the rock I cling

How can I keep from singing Your praise

How can I ever say enough

How amazing is Your love

How can I keep from shouting Your name

I know I am loved by the King

And it makes my heart want to sing

I will lift my eyes

In the darkest night

For I know my Savior lives

And I will walk with You

Knowing You'll see me through

And sing the songs You give

I can sing in the troubled times

Sing when I win

I can sing when I lose my step

And fall down again

I can sing 'cause You pick me up

Sing 'cause You're there

I can sing 'cause You hear me, Lord

When I call to You in prayer

I can sing with my last breath

Sing for I know

That I'll sing with the angels

And the saints around the throne

You see, no matter what life brings my way, I should always sing His praise because Father is the "SPRING" in my days and nights.