Saturday, March 14, 2009

Quotations....From Joyce

From the book "I Dare You" By Joyce Myers

True Happiness does not consist of having more and more.
Live to give, don't live to get.
It is not hard to be dedicated to what you love.
Are you daring enough to follow your heart rather than the crowd?
Find a habit of finding the good in people, not their flaws.
Most people fail their way to success.
Safe usually means sameness, but God has created us for diversity and growth.
There is nothing you can do about what has already been done- but you can do something about how you respond.
Life isn't always fair, but God is.
Refuse to risk and you'll never really experience life as it could be.
You will get bored if you don't stir yourself up and do some daring, ot-of-the-box things to keep life exciting.
God has your future planned and He will lead and guide you.
God's will is not that we have a moment, but rather, a lifetime of happiness, adventure, romance, and fulfillment.
Going to church is supposed to encourage you and give you energy and excitement.
You should see yourself as God sees you, not as the world sees you.
Our lives are fragmented because our minds stay fragmented.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Joyce

From the book "I Dare You" By Joyce Myers

I dare you
Check your Motives


One of the best things we can do for our spiritual walk is to sit down and take the time to think about why we do what we do. The more we understand what our true motive are, the better we can work to ensure our purpose aligns with God's. Ask youself these questions and as you think about your answers, write them down in a notebook or a journal so you can come back and reveiw periodically. Ask God to help you fine-tune your motives so He can use you fully.

1. When you think about doing something for God, what do you hope to get out of it?
2. When you tell others what you are doing for God, are you secretly hoping they will admire you?
3. How much are you willing to sacrifice to do God's will?
4. Do you find yourself doing more than it seems you can handle to please people?
5. Do you pray first and then make plans, or plan first and then pray that your plans will work out?
6. Are you willing to stop doing something if God shows you it is time to move on to something else?

Watching the Sunset on the Ocean

In the Keys.. since you couldn't be there, I tried my best to make it be like you were.. :D

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Joyce Myers, "I dare you"

When you were a little tator tot, you would wake up on Saturday mornings to watch.... Fill in the blank. Most of you would say cartoons. When I was a youngin' (like 8 or 9 years old) I would ensure I woke up early to turn on Joyce Myers. Yep. I.Didn't.Stutter. Joyce was (and still pretty much is) my hero. I don't watch her every week like I did when I was a munchkin, but I still love to read her books.

While I was in Florida, I read/skimmed through the book "I dare you" from Joyce herself. It is about Embracing life with passion. What is your purpose in life? How do you know? How will you find out? It is a topic that has been on my mind for a while now... (like, oh, 23 years...) haha*


I looooved the book and highly recommend it. I am going to post some excerpts to share. I would like to think Joyce wouldn't mind. I hope that you enjoy them as much as I did. And hope that you start to love Joyce as much as I do! :D

Daytona!

It was bike week while we were in Daytona.
Yeah for Bakers! We are soooo famous! .... It's not easy being this amazing.. :D
I'm glad we were only in Daytona for a night... I am just not a biker.
Need a wash? I know you read my Geico post... This was a sign while I was in Florida that I needed to make the big switch-a-roo. :D
We love beaches! .. And each other
The closest he got to playing in the water...
Quite possibly the closest I've EVER gotten to the water... :D Yeah sunset!

$15 drinks.... yum.... and ouch....
Tammy's boyfriend came from Tampa to visit! :D
Mark had gator tail for dinner. He loved it. I loved my fish sandwich as well.

Thug Mansions
Sisterly loving
Mark monkeying around
Hey! He's mine!!
This picture is of me pinching the manager's tush. Mark showed this to the cat right after he turned around. This.was.a.first..... I was embarassed.
But it didn't stop me from doing the same thing to the next guy who came along....
This was a piece of plastic from our hotel room. Mark broke it somehow. I think it was from a window. The real question is.... why oh WHY did he bring it to the restaurant with us??? That's slutty

Sweet thirty dollar coconuts
I like him... a lot.....
The monkey coconut wanted a better view of the ocean... wow....
Why did this happen? One might ask that..... Alcohol might have been a factor... :D
Why oh why did we pose with these stupid things?

Doing the Captain Morgan pose
looooooooove him

Fun on the playground! :)

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Dolphin Lovin

this is in the keys! czech out the dolphins!!!!

GEICO

I'm going to make out with this gecko. You know those crazy annoying commercials for the insurance provider? (i.e. "Watching me" song) or the cavemen thing. Either way, I always thought it was just a commercial. I never really believed that it would make THAT much difference to make the big switch.
Two weeks ago, I went to Geico.com... FIFTEEN MINUTES later I realized how much money I could be saving! Wow wow Wee Wow! Here's how it went down: I called my insurance provider (American Family) to see if they could match or beat the price. They couldn't, but they did 'find' some more discounts they could give me to try to convince me to say. I'm pretty price sensitive. so I chose Geico. All I had to do was call Geico. They set me up over the phone. And I was IMMEDIATELY insured. Then I called American Family. And officially told them I was donezo.
It was one of the most painless processes I have been through. I really expected it to be scary. I have been with American Family since I was 16 years old. Wow Wow Wee Wow. I did tell them I would czech with them periodically to see if they could beat the price. I didn't even have to wait until the end of an insured cycle thing. It was pretty SAAAAWEET! :D
Here is the run-down:
Original Charge from American Family: $145 per month
Price American Family offered with discount: $122 per month
Geico Price: $85 per month
Total savings (original American Family vs. Geico): Saving $60 per month!
WaaaaO0o0o0oHo0o0o0o0o0o0!!!!
Here is the link: www.geico.com
DO IT
I love that stinkin gecko

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Devotion....

This is from one of my Christianity.com daily devotions... I looooove them....

"'O man of little faith,' Jesus said, 'Why did you doubt me?'" Matthew14:33b (TLB)

Devotion: My daughter has struggled with fear her entire life. We first noticed itwhen she was a baby. She would hold her breath when we carried her downa flight of stairs. Then, at the age of five, she passed out whileriding the Ferris wheel at the state fair. Her fears sometimes hinderher from even participating in life--from being an active contributor tosociety.

Over the years, my heart has broken for her as I've watched her holdback from doing the things she really wanted to do. Playing it safe onlyleft her depressed. She lived most days looking at the world from behinda wall of safety glass, longing to be free. She'd often ask the samequestion, "Mom, why can't I be full of faith instead of fear?" My answerwas always the same. "You are full of faith. You just let fear crowd itout."

Freedom came when Peyton decided that she didn't want to live withregrets any longer. She pushed through her fear by exercising her faithin God. In doing so, her life is now marked by joy, peace, adventure,and courage.

Let me ask you, how many times have you wanted to do something, plansomething, or even dare to dream something, but were too afraid? Youknow deep within that your torment isn't right. You know you're missingout on life and opportunities, but you're too scared to do anythingabout it.

Those of us who live with anxiety are living below the mark of what wewere created to be. Worry and its accompanying emotions are not andnever were part of God's plan for His children. Yet thousands live thisway each day.

I've often wondered about the eleven disciples who stayed in the boatinstead of stepping out onto the water like Peter (Matthew 14:33). Didthey live with regret? I don't know. They did, however, miss an amazingopportunity to walk on water with Christ! Sadly, most people stay in thesafety of the boat their entire lives and then wonder why life seems soempty, miserable, and dull. They go through life missing opportunitiesbecause they're afraid to really live the way God intended. What'sChrist response to all of this? He asks "Why do you doubt me?" (Matthew14:33).

Doubt was the disciples' trouble. When Peter threw one leg over the sideof the boat, nobody believed he could walk on water. I can almost hearhis friends calling out, "Peter? Have you lost your mind? You can't dothat!" And yet, while that thought was still fresh on the minds of hisfriends, Peter was already doing it. He was walking on water!

Is there someone in your life planting doubt in your heart and mind oversomething you're already doing? If so, don't listen. Don't look back.Keep your eyes on Jesus and your faith will enable you to walk on water.Exercising your faith is key to courageous living. Like Peter, we arethen able to step out of the boat into a world of possibilities.

Dear Lord, I'm ready to get out of the boat by trusting You with myfears. Be visible before me so that my faith will be strong and doubtwill flee. In Jesus' Name, Amen.