I haven't written in quite a while, so I thought, "I can't let my almost 13 year old son to 'out blog' me!"...lol.

Anyway, God has been amazingly good, as if you didn't already know that...hee hee.

His love is so deep! Here is how I explained it to someone recently. It is like standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon and looking down. Your depth of field gets thrown WAY off and you start feeling dizzy! God's love is just like and it is GREAT when you ask Him to show it too you. It is such a rush to just get a peek. Ask Him today, ask often, you will LOVE it and fall more deeply in love with Him. It has given me such confidence in His ability to provide, to care, to answer my prayers that I am overwhelmed with HIS peace.

"The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you." 2Cor. 13:14 (The Message Bible)

An Actual 1955 Good Housekeeping article. 

The Good Wife's Guide

* Have dinner ready.  Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return.  This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs.  Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favorite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.

* Prepare yourself.  Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives.  Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking.  HE has just been with a lot of work-weary people.

* Be a little gay and a little more interested for him.  His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.

* Clear away the clutter.  Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.

* Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc and then run a dustcloth over the tables.

* Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by.  Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too.  After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

* Prepare the children.  Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and, if necessary, change their clothes.  They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.  Minimise all noise.  At the time of his arrival, elimintate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum.  Try to encourage the children to be quiet.

* Be happy to see him.

* Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

*Listen to him.  You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time.  Let him talk first - remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

* Make the evening his.  Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you.  Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.

* Your goal:  Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquillity where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

* Don't greet him with complaints and problems.

* Don't complain if he's late home for dinner or even if he stays out all night.  Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.

* Make him comfortable.  Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom.  Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.

* Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes.  Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.

* Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity.  Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness.  You have no right to question him.

* A good wife always knows her place.

My mom, who is a personality consultant, has coached me well and....well ladies for us "not naturally organized types" the "Maintenance Program" (the staying organized by maintaining our home) is one we will always be trying to figure out. If it is a priority it will get done. However, as my mom puts it, I have just put my priorities on other things. Which she (who is VERY NATURALLY ORGANIZED and I really could have used that personality stuff for her when I was growing up) says that only after the personality insights, she is now understanding better how I think. I put relationships before house work, cooking, or anything else that deals with inanimate objects. If I have someone to do it with me I am more apt to do it than if I must do it by myself. I am in need of MAKING the Maintenance Program a priority in my life. It is between me and my Lord. As He is the one who created me with this relational personality. He is the one who has put passion in my heart for people and it is I who must learn to allow Him to direct that passion, and to keep my spirit at rest in Him when I know I need to "MAINTAIN" the house, the kids, the laundry, etc. As He is also the one who has blessed me with my house, my kids and our laundry.

I did find a comment from a seminar or some speaker once that was a bit piercing to my soul. It went something like this...With more blessings come more responsibilities. Hum, sounds like something my mom would say...lol. No really, I began to realize that with more "STUFF" came more responsibilities. Now that doesn't mean that I am not still working out my salvation with fear and trembling. There is a closet under our stairs that when I think I might need to find something in there, I tremble, every time...lol. But I did do a purge of some un-needed laundry, and a couple of rooms as well as toys, this past summer. This helped some. I know that this summer will be FULL of purging needs and I am praying I have the courage to face them and "Just Do It" (no I do not own any Nikes, but they had a good slogan). One recommendation that was also made was to be sure that if you keep something that it has a home, if not then either

a) you need to make a home for it - be it a basket or shelf or bucket or b) you need to throw/give it away!

I did get rid of a TON of stuff that would have made an amazing garage sale this last summer. I didn't keep it for the garage sale “we would one day have.” Instead I sent it to one of our church’s outreaches to give away or sell it in one of their garages sales. It was WONDERFUL being free of it all! We even had our garage back (till dh moved his office back into the house!)

            I am hearing the prompting of the Holy Spirit in this area again and he is telling me to "Get on the Band Wagon!" I know that as I get rid of the privileges that I really don’t need the responsibility load will be lightened and then I won’t have to be doing chores (hopefully) till 10pm every night to try and “maintain.” I will be freer to have people over as my house will always be ready for them. I will be free to do more without guilt, because my chores are done and my responsibilities are then taken care of. I look forward to the end result of this process. The process is itself not a pretty one, but I know what freedom feels like and I want to be bound no longer!

2007 was an amazing year! So much happened that I thought I would blog it, as this is the first year I could have sent out "Reflections of our Year" with cards but didn't because I just haven't had any time to sit and write until tonight.
Last January God began taking me on a journey. It was difficult and bitter sweet. I learned that I had some hidden pride to deal with. I learned that I needed to ask God if I was to step out and help others, even when they asked. This I like to call this "authorization to assist". I learned last year at this time that when I had done this with someone that the help they requested and I offered was taken all wrong and thought of as being prideful and controlling. Hum, so when I feel the need to help, I've now learned to step back and ask the Lord if I should and then be okay with letting it go if He says no.
In February of last year, the Lord removed the last of my "crutches." Even my hubby was too busy to spend much time with me as the Lord was dealing with his fear and distrust in God to provide. The loneliness began to set in and depression constantly was at my door, hounding me to let him in to mess with me. I did let him in two or three times and it wasn't pretty, the bruises and scrapes I endured from it, not to mention my family having to endure a messy house and no dinners because I was too emotionally crippled to do anything. I went to a women's retreat help for our church's women and rejection and abandonment hit me like a load of bricks and the loneliness set itself high above God. The Lord spoke to me there very clearly that I was in this lonely state because He had placed me there. That it was for me to understand my best friend and where she was at and suffering so I would be able to relate to her situation better. I told the Lord that I would bear it for her, as my heart ached for her heart to return to the Lord. The Lord also stated that I didn't have to be there alone. That He wanted to join me, but that I needed to ask him to come and be with me during my loneliness. It was a time of being in the desert, a parched and weary place, but the company of the Holy Spirit was refreshing and kept me walking and not giving up. During all this my best friend's heart was grabbed hold of by a new understanding of the love of God (for it is His kindness that leads us to repentance, right?). She is nearly back to herself now and we are enjoying our friendship together again!
WOW! What a year!
As a family, we took our first real family vacation. This is the first time off my hubby has taken since our youngest son (now 9 years old) was born. We took two and a half weeks to travel to Texas and back! It was so much fun. Our country is so amazing in its diversity of scenery, landscape and culture. We drove through almost a  quarter of the states! We saw everything from evergreens and forests to mountains, plateaus and desert. I met a brother, a cousin and an uncle in NV that I had never met and also had the privilege of meeting my biological father. At the end of that same month, my hubby and I were flown down for another uncle's 50th wedding anniversary. I met all of their kids (all 7 of them!) and more cousins. It was so exciting and exhilarating. The emotions of myself and others were staggering. In it all, the Lord revealed how deep his love for me is.
As we began our homeschool year number....I need to count....9???? WOW where has the time gone???? We have grown in so many ways!
We are doing well and going at a great pace. The year closed out for us with friends and family, a new outlook on life and a rejuvenated and intimate relationship with the Lord. We definitely have found we've been bitten by the travel bug and know that there are opportunities with our church for some travel around the US. We are prayerfully considering these and asking the Lord for direction in both this and our business. I can hardly wait to see what God has in store for us this year!

Spring is when the sun peeks out
and temps us all to play.
Spring is when the boys and girls
bring flowers and brighten mama's day.


Yesterday my children were bringing me the flowers from outside in to give to mama. It was so sweet and I love those little thoughts and chipper voices "I love you mama." They make such lovely memories. What a wonderful way God has in showing His love for us. However, I was busy checking my email when they brought them to me so I just laid them down on my desk and proceeded to forget all about the flowers.
How often does God try and show His love to me and I just say "Oh that's nice, dear" and lay it aside for what ever seems more important at the moment? I was saddened by this thought this morning when I had to throw the wilted presents away from my sweet, thoughtful children. I am so glad that the Father loves me still and never throws away my thoughts of praise or worship as they are just like those sweet, fragrant flowers that the children bring to us. Take some time today to just worship the Lord and tell Him how much you love him and remind yourself of His amazing love and grace for you!
Thank you, Father, for showing me a glimpse of your love. Show me more of your love for me as I continue to seek you. Help me to appreciate even the small things as you give me this fresh revelation of your love.
Amen.

Okay, so I am going out on a limb here and telling the world (or at least it feels that way) that I truly DO NOT have it all together! Some reading my past blogs might think I have it all figured out or you might think that I think I have it all figured out. Well, not so my dear sisters, not so. I am far from having it all figured out. God just keeps pruning and pruning and then when I am thinking there isn't much more for him to prune he shows me another dead branch.
So what is this newly noticed dead branch, you ask? And how does one go about lobbing it off???? Got me on the second question, but the first I can easily answer. The new dead branch is one of distrust. I was raised in a home where the mind set exampled for me was "As a woman I must be strong and not depend on anyone for help. I must never show weakness. I am a woman and as much as it is okay for me to love a man I need not be dependant on one." Etc.
I first want to apologize to anyone who may have read previous posts on my bolg who thought "WOW! She is full of herself!" I never meant to sound prideful. I only wanted to share what God was showing me and doing in me. I am sorry.
Next, I would like to share more of what God is doing and how I am still trying to figure it all out. I try to write here once a month to keep my blog current and have come to this site more times this month not knowing what I was supposed to write. I had no words of encouragement or "wisdom" to offer. I now humbly come and say what has gone on in the past week.
God has shown me my distrusting heart, and that in this distrust I have feared his rejection as well as the rejection of others around me. I have not trusted that His love is unfailing but that, in many ways I have been striving to gain acceptance and love from Him. I still do not know what this trust looks like. I know that He is asking me to walk in the opposite spirit of this but I do not know what trust is. I was not trusted (even though I didn't really give reason to my mother to distrust me) as a kid or teenager. My siblings all gave reason. I was raised as I said above with not trusting others, especially those in leadership. I struggle trusting other women, people, even God.
I am in a trying season right now in which I MUST place my trust in God where the past could easily replay and it is not pleasant. But I hear Him calling to me to just trust Him in what He is doing. That He has it all worked out. I cannot see it. I am totally filled with anxiety over it. I do not want to go back to that situation in the past again. I felt left alone and abandoned by all around me, and by God.
So, I am following my own advice in previous posts, by coming against this attempt of the enemy to pull me into depression, self-pity, and the like. However I would greatly covet your prayers at this time that the Lord would give me a clear picture of what trusting Him looks like and that He would strengthen me to walk in it.
Thank you for letting me be real with you.
Blessings,
Patty T.

Today my topic is Joy. I know that God has created us all to have His joy and when we walk in that joy there is a marked difference in our countenance. However, so many times we are either "happy", which is based on "happenings" or we are sad. Joy is present whether we are having a good time or not. It is not based on our circumstances. Then why, might you ask, does one struggle so much with walking in Joy when things around them are in chaos? The Lord answered that question for me in the last two weeks. I was wondering why I couldn't get His joy in me. And then it happened, God showed how I was being self - focused. When you focus on you then your circumstances are all you can see and it will steal His joy from you. I began to stop looking at my circumstances and started focusing on looking for opportunities to minister to others. I wanted my joy and I wanted to please the heart of my Heavenly Father. I make jewelry and sell it and I had an open house at my aunt's house. I was very nervous as this is the side of the family that I tend to be the butt of the joke.....often. I knew that the Lord wanted me to walk out my restoration so I did this show anyway. The week before I was very anxiety filled and sought the Lord about this. He reminded me that I was being self focused. I repented of that and then He also reminded me that I was looking into the future with eyes of rejection instead Jesus' eyes. I repented of that as well. I rebuked the enemy for trying to take my focus off of Jesus and rebuked that spirit of anxiety I had felt all week. Then I received God's gracious mercy and forgiveness and I choose to walk in His Joy. Then I prayed and asked God what the sale was really all about. He told me that it really wasn't about whether I sold anything or not but that I was to walk out my restoration and look for opportunities to minister to others. God is soooooo good! I choose Joy and He gave it to me. I choose to look for opportunities to minister and He gave those to me as well. Some were just in the form of serving with out being upset about the inconvenience of the timing. My aunt has a special needs son who is in his thirties and he came out about 40 min. before my open house was to start, and asked if I could help him wrap the gifts he had just come home with for his mom, because he didn't know how to do it. I did, with joy, not worrying about the fact that my stuff wasn't completely set up or priced yet. It was fun, we laughed together and I was okay with "not looking all together" when people started showing up. It was not an inconvenience because I was looking for ways to minister. I also was able to minister to another of my cousins who has just gone through a nasty divorce and her ex is not being very nice now to their daughter. She is hurting and I was able to share the love of Jesus with her and let her know that He wants to heal her hurting heart. It was awesome to see what God could do as I focused on Him and what He wanted me to do. Yesterday I went to the grocery store and as I got out of my car I decided to choose Joy. I wanted to allow the Joy of Jesus to overflow from me to others as I was there, even if I never "spoke" to them. I decided that who ever I made eye contact with I would smile with the Joy of Jesus and let it sink into them. It was fun to give away joy but also there were some sobering moments when I saw people look away as if they didn't deserve to receive joy. How it must break the Father's heart when we turn away His forgiveness and grace. Are you FULL of Joy? Have you turned away God's Joy because you didn't feel worthy to receive it? Have you turned away His forgiveness and grace in areas in your life because of "unworthiness"? If you struggle with forgiving yourself then you are not receiving God's forgiveness. Repent of that un-forgiveness toward yourself, rebuke the enemy for trying to use condemnation on you to keep you from receiving God's love, grace, and forgiveness, receive the forgiveness of God for you, and replace it all with joy!!! God's Joy is a gift for you to receive but you must walk it out to receive the fullness of it. Receiving and gift and opening a gift are two different things. A gift is of no value or use if it hasn't been opened. Open your gift of joy, walk in it. How many people can you make smile today with just a smile from you? Let Jesus put a bounce in your step and make others wonder and even ask you "What is so different about you?" and then seize your opportunity to minister to others and tell them what Jesus has done for you!
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the Law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1-2
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we [ I ] might become the righteousness of God" 2 Corinthians 5:21
"Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10: 22 - 23
In Nehemiah 12: 43 is says "And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away." WOW!!!!! The sound could be heard from far away! They had GREAT joy. This took place as they were dedicating the rebuilt wall of Jerusalem and just after the sanctification of the priests and the choirs singing praises and thanksgiving to the Lord. Get out your praise and worship music, dance before the throne of God, let it be heard from far away. Place walls of boundary up for the enemy (satan) to see that you are set apart for the glory of God and to do His good and pleasing will!

Father I pray a blessing to each and every person who reads this. That you would let these truths sink deep into their soul and take root and grow. I ask that you would water it with your word and bring a sparkle to each eye and a smile on each face that can not be removed. Thank you Lord for strengthening each woman, man and child that reads this and bringing them closer to knowing and experiencing your grace and love to a greater measure than ever before. In your son's name, Jesus, I pray, Amen.

• Do you use a particular "style" of homeschooling? 
• We use a classical line-up with a Charlotte Mason twist. We are pretty relaxed homeschoolers.
  
• How long have you been homeschooling?
• We have been homeschooling from scratch. We are entering our 8th year...WOW it doesn't feel like it has been that long!
  
• Why did you decide to homeschool?
• It wasn't my first choice, but the Lord knew we needed it. It has really helped me to not be so self-focused in life, first off. Our homeschooling choice was directed completely and totally by the Lord.
  
• How would you describe a typical homeschool day at your house?
• We live to learn. Sometimes we just get in the bare basics because the Lord really moved in our devotion/worship time and sometimes we get in a full day.
  
• Do you have a set schedule that you follow?
• I have read Managers of Thier Homes and even set up a schedule by it. I do this each year before school starts and before we start summer (as our schedule is different). I do not live by it religously, it is a guideline for us. It really helps me to see where we need more focus and where I may be wasting time. It also, I have heard, good to have a plan. However, although I plan I try to stay more opportunity focused.
  
• How do you stay organized and on track?
• I have color coded all the kids school supplies. Each child has a color and their pencils, scissors, ruler, pencil box, etc. is in that color or we use a sharpie marker to write their name or mark it some way in that color. This lets me know who left what out and those invisible children (I am sure they visit your house too... you know the ones "Idunno" and "Notme") do not visit too often. I also do 9 weeks of planning at a time (this way if we get off track it doesn't mess too much up in my system). I use color coded file folders or you could use a color coded lable. Each child has a hanging file folder with 9 color folders in it, one for each week. Then on Mondays they are to pull out any worksheets in there and their assignment sheets for the week and place each day's work into the slash pocket folders in their 3 ring binder. They know that when all the work in that pocket folder is complete and the assignment sheet too, they are free for the day.
  
• How much do you spend on homeschool supplies per year?
• On school supplies, only what we don't have left over from the year before. Probably around $25 - $30 for all four kids
• On currciulum, Well it took me the first four years to figure out my style as I just didn't have anyone to mentor me in this area. Now I have learned about each of my boys learning styles and found that some of what I was using worked for some of my boys and others need something different. This year I am thinking I will spend the most at $600 for the year. Next year I am thinking I should be back to my normal $200 - $300 with each year there after being less as I have found curriculum that is good for all my kids (Classical style unit study) and a math curriculum that is NOT consumable.
  
• Is your extended family supportive?
• Yes for the most part. I do not have any family that is constantly on me, however I do not have family that will help, out at the drop of a hat, when I need a helping hand either.
  
• What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
• It depends on their situation. If they are pulling children out of a school system (public or private) then Take it easy, Unschool for a while and learn to just live together. 
  
• For everyone no matter the situation, Do NOT rush into ANY curriculum! PRAY, PRAY, PRAY! Seek the Lord, don't just ask Him, SEEK HIM, for a vision for your homeschool. What does He see your homeschool looking like? Remember that He will be strong in your areas of weakness, yes even in schooling your children. Learn together, and have LOTS of fun! Above all academics teach your children to Love the Lord with all their hearts, mind, soul and strength and teach them how to love to learn.
  
• What are your thoughts about socialization?
• This isn't one I think about much. I am a somewhat social person myself. I understand the need of the social homeschool kid out there. Personally my definition of socialization is "To teach my children how to relate to others of all ages and walks of life so that they can be an effective evangelistic tool in the hand of God."
  
• What are the top 3 homeschool supplies that you couldn't live without?
• 1. My bible. My quiet time with God sets my day. I am not naturally a morning person, but I have learned to be one so that I can start my day in the lap of my Daddy, my Heavenly Father. I have noticed that when I do this my day doesn't always run smoother, but my attitude does.
• 2. My Internet connection. There are soooooo many free resources out there!
• 3. My Magic Bullet Blender..."WHAT?" you say. YUP! My oldest boy has hit 11 and he can run that blend on his own therefore making a quick, healthy and simple snack (smoothy) on his own. AND he can drink a smoothy WHILE he is doing school work. No more interuptions every 10 min. with "Mom I'm hungry, what can I eat???"
  
• Do you have a favourite/favorite book about homeschooling?
• No but I do have a favorite website which has a TONE of articles for every homeschooler at everywalk of their homeschooling life.
• http://www.homeschooloasis.com/article_chart.htm
• Where do you go for support?
• Other than God? My Hubby. He is my biggest supporter and fan. Without him I do not think I would ever make it thru. I also have a couple of friends who homeschool or have homeschooled who can deal out a little insite now and again.
  

Some may answer that question with "Well of course! I live in America, duh!" I am not speaking of freedom of speech or anything 'constitutional'. I am speaking of true freedom in Christ. Now others might answer "Yes, I know Christ as my savior so I have this same freedom." Okay, you are getting closer, but how many of you understand that with Christ comes authority? Jesus told us that He gave us the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions with out getting hurt (that was Patty's paraphrasing).
What are your scorpions? What are your snakes? What areas that you know you should be a victor in that you feel you are not conquering? Is it anger? Or maybe passivity? maybe you struggle with apathy? Or fear? What ever it is Jesus said He has made you MORE than a conqueror. You are victorious in Him. Here are some tools that might come in handy in the war zone. They are gifts given to us at the time of our spiritual birth, yet so many of us are either unaware of them or we know they are tools but are unsure as to how use them. Or what to use them for. I liken it to having given a tool box and either never opening it so you don't even know what is in there or opening it but never getting instructions on how to use what is in there. Therefore you grab a wrench to hammer in a nail. Although it might do the job, working under grace, it may not be the best tool to do the job and it doesn't always work well. Also it is VERY important for you to speak out loud, yes out loud, these things as the enemy cannot read your mind and he must know that you mean to evict him today. You must let him know that you are NOT his playground any longer. Also there is awesome power in the spoken word; I think we have all witnessed this before. How many times has praise from your mouth motivated your husband or child to do something that nothing else has? Or just the opposite how many times out of anger or frustration have you said something that you didn't really mean but now you cannot take it back and it takes time and work to make things right again? Well then, there is my point with the spoken word. Show the enemy you mean business and God too. What is spoken aloud is a commitment, what if we never "spoke" our wedding vows? How would anyone know that we really meant what we thought? Even your fiancé wouldn't be sure, would you if your fiancé only thought their vows on your wedding day? God wants to know your commitment to Him.
Here is the first tool
Repent - Ask God to forgive you of your sin of fear, anger, apathy, passivity, depression, etc. Did I say depression? Yes, I too have dealt with this and it was hard to understand how it was a sin. Well let me explain. It wasn't depression itself so much that was the sin as the fact I was allowing it (yes it is a spirit that was hovering and influencing me) to control my attitude and life. I asked God to forgive me for allowing the enemy in this area. Now before someone gets angry at me let me also explain that there can be physical causes of depression and you must ask the Lord to speak to you about whether you are struggling with this physically (hormonal imbalance or otherwise) or whether it is spiritual. Don't just take the easy way out however; if God is truly telling you that it is spiritual be willing to get into the fight. Remember that where you are weak God's strength is able to shine the most. Fighting a war is not fun to most people, but it is crucial to the Christian.
Your next tool is...
Rebuke - Tell the enemy (fear, depression, etc) that you have had it with him. Serve notice on him today. Let him know that you know the power that is within you is greater than he. Remind him that Jesus has given you all authority over the enemy and you will no longer let him play you like a set of chess pieces. Tell him he is through and send him to the foot of the cross to await his judgment. Do this by the power and authority that is invested in you by the blood of Christ Jesus your Lord and Savior!
Third tool...
Receive - This can be the toughest for some. Receive God's forgiveness. You have been forgiven and now you must forgive yourself to seal it.
Last but not least, infact I would say this one is extremely important...
Replace - Jesus spoke of the house that the 'bad guys' come in and wreak havoc then when made to leave come back to check on the house only to see it has not had anything to replace what was there and then they bring in 7 times what was there to begin with. Well, the enemy sometimes leaves and lets us alone without much fight because he knows if he just lays low for a while he can come back with 7 of his friends and make it more miserable for us than ever. All because we forgot to replace him. Now that your 'house' is cleaned up, replace that fear with love, power and a sound mind. Replace that apathy with a boldness to be not only an example but to speak the truth where ever you are. Replace depression with the Joy of the Lord till it overflows like a mighty river to everyone around. Replace passivity with a determination to accomplish what God has given to you to do and not to give up because it seems like it may be too difficult or others may oppose you.
Be blessed my sisters and brothers in the Lord. Put on the full armor of God. Take the gifts He has given you and take out the enemy. Take back the territory that the enemy has stolen and give it back to the Lord ten times fold! Hold the Lord's standard high and let the enemy know that you mean business and won't stand down!