Flip Flop my Heart!

Well, the big event is over! It's like your wedding, you do all this planning and it's so exciting, but then... it's over. Now what? I know, BLOG! I was so emotional at the first part of the week, I think it was just things coming to an end. Summer is coming to an end, which isn't such a bad thing, I think I am ready for school to start back. It's fun not having to worry about school and schedules so much. But I am so ready for school and schedules now! :) I am also ready for my house to be clean! Yes, I'm ready for school to start! The other is our Stepping Up Bible Study. I have three classes. Two of them are on Tuesdays. Those classes ended last week. The other is held on Mondays and we have sessions 5 and 6 left. I have enjoyed my Bible Studies and the relationships that I have made with the ladies in my class. I know the ladies have enjoyed meeting some new faces as well. That's why in September we will be starting another one! Then of course, the flip flop event for the ladies. It was so good! We had a blast! I will post some pictures tonight as soon as Pat can show me how! The thing that I loved most, was watching how God brought it all together. We decorated the room with patio furniture and used summer/beach themes. Everyone brought stuff that they had and as we started pulling stuff together it was amazing how one person would have just the thing to add a finishing touch to someones stuff that they brought! Then, also, I was so thankful that God took away my nervousness! Beth Moore talked a lot about that in this Stepping Up Bible Study. In the beginning of the week, I really felt like Satan was trying his best to make me nervous and to stress me out, but I kept praying for God to help me overcome it. I had friends pray for me and I read the Psalms. It really worked! By Wednesday, I was getting so excited, because I felt like it was started to flow! Then Sat. am right before it was time to start, I started to get nervous again, but I rebuked it, and Satan! I said, I'm not gonna allow you Satan to do this. I remembered what Beth Moore said, I'm not good enough to mess up God! Hallelujah for that! I was not nervous, I had a great time and we all did. God showed up and blessed us. I am so thankful for Him and for all the ladies that helped me. There were people who helped all during the week and late Friday and was there again Sat. am. I am thankful for all the ladies who attended. I looked back through the pictures and realized what a good time we had praising and dancing before the Lord!~We had our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace! We put on our dancing shoes, and gave him the praise he deserves for he is good!!! We had a great day Sunday after church as well. Our church held a fundraiser event for a man that got hurt at work. His name is Simeon Young. Keep him in your prayers. He is doing well, but still has a long way to recovery. The turnout was outstanding! There were pony rides, face painting, swimming, hay rides and live music. Which one of the shows was my son, Randy and Meagan from church. They worked really hard all last week putting this together and they did great! To see them at 15, being able to do something like that is great! I was so proud of both of them! Again, I am so thankful that they have people in their lives who encourage them and give them the opportunity to serve God. They are young and still have a long road ahead of them in this life, but we all do. So many times, people don't want to trust young kids (or youth)to do things because they feel they're too young and won't be able to accept the responsibility, but if they are never given the opportunity to they won't and will more than likely get discouraged. Then they are more likely to turn to other things and people, who will give them opportunities and it could very well lead them on a path away from God. I pray everyday that my children will love God, believe God and know that HE IS REAL! I thank God everyday for the adults and other children they have in their lives that continue to encourage and support them. I will try and post pictures later. I hope you all have a great day!

The Lord Blesses King Hezekiah

This is the week of Messy Camp at church and boy has it been a week! I feel like a century has went by since I last blogged or led my Bible study class! I'm continuing this study on King Hezekiah. The lessons that I will be doing will take place in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. Something that I learned recently and that has helped me in studying for these lessons, is how the books of Kings and Chronicles go hand and hand. I never knew that until about 6-7 months ago. As a matter of fact, the timeline and the way the Old Testament is set up has become more clearer to me over the past few months. Some of you have probably known that information for a long time but for those of you that are like me, I hope that helps you!

2Chron 32:1

After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself.

Hezekiah saw that they were under attack and he made plans with his officials and military staff to do what was needed to protect their city and their people. (verses 2-6) Look what he tells them in verses 7-8.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.

The king of Assyria threatened the people and tried to intimidate them. He spoke against the Lord and King Hezekiah. He insulted the Lord and tried to convince and scare the people of Jerusalem. But King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, cried out to God for help. The Lord sent an angel who annihilated all the fighting men and the leaders of the Assyrian army. So the king withdrew and went disgracefully back to his own country and when he arrived back, they killed him. God saved the people of Jerusalem. The people of Jerusalem brought offerings to the Lord and gifts to King Hezekiah. He was highly respected by all the nations.

If you read in 2 Kings chapter 20, you'll learn that it was in those days that King Hezekiah

became ill. Isaiah, the prophet, went to him and told him that he was going to die and that he needed to put his house in order. (the Lord had spoken this to Isaiah) Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord,

"Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes."

The Lord sent Isaiah back to tell him these words:

"I have heard your prayer and seen your tears, I will heal you."

He also told him that he would add fifteen years to his life and he turned back time! If you read what happened, you will see that the sign that God gave to Hezekiah would be that he would make the shadow go back ten steps. What a miracle! It is uncertain how God did it, but the

commentary in my Bible said, that it has been suggested, that he reversed the earth's rotation. It went on to say, that since He is the creator, he is the one who is able to make his creation behave any way he chooses! He displayed his power over the natural world. How cool is that? :)

King Hezekiah continued to grow in fame and fortune. He was richly blessed and had the respect and honor of his kingdom. He had silver, gold, spices, armory, shields and lots of other valuables.

"He succeeded in everything he undertook. But when envoys from Babylon were sent to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart." 2 Chron 32:31