Vote, Vote, Vote

In less than a week we are having a very important
election in our countries history. We need to get out
there and let our voices be heard.

For me the important issues are:

• My families safety from terror
• The sanctity of life
• Smaller Government
• Less spending, lower taxes
• Less dependants on oil countries
• Integrity of our leaders

and many more but won't list them here.

I think that voting is a responsibility not a

just a right. If you don't vote you have no right

to complain about the state of our country.

You need to be informed about your choices

also. Don't just stick with your party because

you have for the last ? years.

I know a lot of people aren't happy with our

choices but they are our only choices. McCain

was not my first choice but he is the one I will

choose, especially after he chose Sara Palin as

his running mate.

If you are unsure about who to vote for and

what they stand for, here is a web site Focus

on the Family sent me -

http://www.focusvoter.com/

They even help with the collage board and

judges we don't seem to here about.

We Christians have got to take out heads out

of the sand and let our voices be heard. If we

don't speak up for the unborn, etc. who will?

Get out and vote on

Nov. 4th 2009 !!!

Believe God,

Jamie

Fall Color Tour

Well, we finally found

the cord to our camera

(Thanks Dave) so I cac

post our Fall color tour
pics.
After a quick lunch at

Applebees (one of our

favorites) we headed to

"Gene the Pumpkin Man" to get a few pumpkins. That's

Danielle among the pumpkins.

This is Dave, Tyler and

Dani picking out their

pumpkins (Ashley

was away at a youth

retreat).

Then we headed over to Lake Michigan. It was a bit

chilly but the kids loved it. Dani is such a poser, she

kept saying, "Take a picture mom".

This is at the pier

at South Haven.
We walked to the
very end. We had a
great time. I haven't
been to Lake Mi. in
a few years so we
took our time
enjoying it.















Here is Dani
yet again
loving the
camera.













Here is Tyler in
his bare feet
(Brrr). He didn't
want sand in his
shoes. I don't know
how they could
stand it. After the
pier we let them
play on the
playground equipement.






And Dave fed the Sea Gulls a few french fries from the
floor of our car. Yuck. We then traveled back home
the long way, taking lots of detours. It was really
relaxing. Oh, I can't forget that we stopped for a
snack (can you say apple pie) before we headed
home. What a great Saturday!!!


Believe God,


Jamie

Something to think on

Last week I watched a movie titled "The Great Debaters".
Maybe you have seen it. It had Denzel Washington in it and
it took place during the time of the civil rights movement.
Anyway, one of the quotes form the movie was said by
Forest Whittaker, he said (to his 14 year old son who was
attending the local Negro collage), "Son, we do what we have
to do,so we can do what we want to do." Does that speak to
anyone else like it did to me?
I will never forget that quote. It is so true. But I believe that
many people aren't doing what they have to do, they are just
doing what they want to do. How sad is that. I don't believe
that there lives will be blessed in any way by living like that.
How lazy have we gotten in a world that is out for the fun
without the work. No wonder people aren't satisfied with
their lives. Their is no fulfillment without accomplishment.
Their is no peace without doing what God wants you to do
in your life. You might think you are happy but you will not
have real joy without doing the thing you have to do (God's
thing) so we can do what we want to do (Also God's thing).
Anyway, just my 2 cents. Get out their and do want you
need to do.

Believe God,

Jamie

Fall is here

While the world is going crazy and feeling the stress
of the economy I can't but feel at peace by looking out
the window. Fall is here and it is getting really beautiful.
We plan on going on a color tour tomorrow (Tyler is not
thrilled about it at all - he says,"So we are just gonna
drive around and look at trees?") and I'm excited about
it. God's peace and beauty is all around and I can't help
but love Him even more for it.

As you are running your errands this week or if you are
just out driving, stop and thank God for this wonderful
world he created for us. It truly is marvelous!!

Believe God,

Jamie

5 Steps of Experiencing God's Rest - Part V

Step 5 -

Sit Down - He is a faithful and merciful and just High Priest

Hebrews 2:17
17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers
in every way, in order that he might become a merciful
and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he
might make atonement for the sins of the people.

To be faithful to our God, he has to be faithful to you.
There is no one else who will be more faithful to you
than your Heavenly Father. No matter what you do,
no matter what your sin, He is faithful to forgive you.
He has fought for you and He has won.

Isaiah 43:25
I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions,
for my own sake, and remembers your sin no more.

God doesn't remember your sin any more, why should
you. You know the saying,"I'm a sinner saved by grace."
Well, which are you, a sinner or saved by grace?
I say you were an old sinner, you got saved by grace and
now you are a king & priest seated next to royalty himself!

So let's finish this by saying -
Sit Down - Because the Word has everything covered.
Sit Down - If you knew what to do it wouldn't be a trial.
Sit Down - Obey Jesus and shed the cares of this world.
Sit Down - Saying (with praise) what God has said in His Word.
Sit Down - He is a faithful and merciful and just High Priest.

If you are interested in hearing more on this subject you can
contact Kenneth Copeland Ministries ( www.kcm.org) and look
for the the series "The Blessing of the Lord - It maketh rich".
I got all the points and scriptures from that series. It was an
excellent teaching.

Now go and live your life in God's rest.

Believe God,

Jamie

5 Steps to Experiencing God's Rest - Part IV

Point # 4 is:

Sit Down - Saying (with Praise) what God has said in His Word.

Psalm 91:1-2
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the
shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge
and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."


Hebrews 4:14-16
2 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone
through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly
to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have
one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet
was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace
with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace
to help us in out time of need.

We need to find out what the word says about our situations
and start saying what the word says, not what our mind (worry)
or circumstances say. Our words have power and we can either
speak life into our situations and life or we can speak death.
It is your choice. If I were you I would choose LIFE. So let's
put these steps into practice.

Sit Down - Because the Word has everything covered.
Sit Down - If you knew what to do it wouldn't be a trial.
Sit Down - Obey Jesus and shed the cares of this world.
Sit Down - Saying (with praise) what God has said in His Word.

The last part is still to come but you need to start somewhere
so start with one at a time. Get in your Bible to find the answers
you need. Don't forget to come BOLDLY to His throne in prayer. He
loves you and wants the best for you. God Bless!

Believe God,

Jamie

Fireprooof

We went to see "Fireproof" on Saturday and really loved it. If you
go to see it don't forget the tissues. It is a very moving movie.
I pray that peoples lives will be truly changed by it. Get out there
and support worthwhile movies like this.

Believe God,

Jamie

5 Steps to Experiencing God's Rest - Part III

Step 3 is -


Sit Down - Obey Jesus and shed the cares of this world.

John 14:1, 27
1 Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also
in me.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give you
as the world gives. do not let your hearts be troubled and do not
be afraid.

This can be a very hard thing to do. Especially if you have lived
in worry for most of your life. But if God tells us to trust Him and
not be troubled or to be afraid, then He has given us the ability to
do it. Have you heard the saying, "Let go and let God". Can you trust
God enough to take you hands (mind, control, etc.) off the situation
or problem. You won't have peace unless you do.

II Corinthians 10:3-6
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world
does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapsons of the world.
On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We
demolish arguments and every pretention that sets itself up against
the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to
make it obedient to Christ.
6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once
your obedienc is complete.

I Peter 5:7-8
7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be self-
controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a
roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Do be the one that Satan devours because you refuse to let go of
your worries. God will take your cares and He will take care of it.
He will be your Care Taker!

So -

1. Sit Down - Because the Word has everything covered.
2. Sit Down - If you knew what to do it wouldn't be a trial.
3. Sit Down - Obey Jesus and shed the cares of this world.

Believe God,

Jamie

5 Steps to Experiencing God's Rest - Part II

I left off talking about step one:

1. Sit Down - Because the Word has everything covered.

So now on to step two:

2. Sit Down - If you knew what to do it wouldn't be a trial.

James 1:2-8
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many
kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith developes
perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be
mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks
wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding
fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe
and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown
and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive
anything from the Lord, 8 he is a double minded man, unstable in all he
does.

I know that this scripture is very familiar to most of you but if you didn't
really read it go back and read it again.

Know the question we should be asking during a trial is not "Why Me?"
or "What am I gonna do?" What we should ask is, "Lord, what do You
want me to do?"

So if you want to experience God's rest you need to:

Sit down - Because the Word has everything covered,

Sit Down - If you knew what to do it wouldn't be a trial.

We have three more steps so keep checking back. God Bless!

Believe God,

Jamie