tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37665136977566241632024-03-13T23:48:20.520-05:00Led by love, marked by mercy.Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-68858045733547407122017-01-01T15:53:00.000-06:002017-01-01T15:53:34.070-06:00Disclaimer: No Guarentee<div dir="ltr">
Day 1: do the things. <br />
Day 2: keep doing the things...<br />
Day 183: still doing the things?<br />
Day 365: try new things?</div>
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Let me warn you. This post might not make you feel good. In fact I hope it makes you uncomfortable. Don't get me wrong. My goal for this blog is to encourage, speak gently, spread love. But something is on my heart that must be said. </div>
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The numbers on your calendar have no power. 2016 didn't take anything goes from you. 2017 won't give you anything. Just because it is a new year doesn't inherently make it any different than last year. You want different? Check your power source. </div>
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In the note for the study of the book of John that I'm doing (with Bible Study Fellowship. Yes, please ask me more about that!) I read this passage and felt the weight of its truth heavily on my heart.</div>
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"Jesus' reply [in John] 8:34-38: 'very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.' Jesus spoke of a slavery different than the ownership of one human by another. Even today, people may falsely believe they will eventually release their bitterness, gradually eliminate their tendency to deceive or even curtail their habit of criticism. They may promise themselves they will stop their sexual sin. They may believe that as they get older they will become less self indulgent and more generous and disciplined. However, good intentions are no match for the presence and power of sin in people's lives. Sin enslaved and even extends it's control. Every person is driven to obey the impulses that come from our nature. [...] BUT membership in God's family comes through new birth through the Holy Spirit and faith in God's Son. In that relationship is freedom, from nothing God's judgement and sings control."</div>
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So before you make plans for the New Year, check your power supply. In whom are you trusting to make changes?</div>
Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-30034931392194256292016-12-31T06:53:00.001-06:002016-12-31T06:54:50.970-06:00The Blog Awakens<p dir="ltr">(Haha star wars reference.) </p><p dir="ltr">Just a heads up. After 3 and a half years of neglect, my poor little blog is finally getting some TLC. I'm not sure how often I will post or what I will post, but come along and join me for a blogging adventure in 2017.<br></p><p dir="ltr">Happy New Years Eve, friends. :)</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2x2nBPOtPtU/WGeqNw_NzRI/AAAAAAAAQtI/_QhVzEXCQrQ/s1600/IMG_20161225_183545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2x2nBPOtPtU/WGeqNw_NzRI/AAAAAAAAQtI/_QhVzEXCQrQ/s640/IMG_20161225_183545.jpg"> </a> </div>Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-49011991008041840212013-06-19T13:21:00.001-05:002013-06-19T13:21:52.846-05:00Ministry update june 19<p dir=ltr>I know I am very late on this today. But here goes. </p>
<p dir=ltr>I'm not going to lie to you. I'm pretty discouraged right now. It seems to be impossible to get in touch with people. I make a thousand calls, leave a thousand voice mails, and the few times that I get people on the phone they either say no or call me back at a better time. When I do call them back they don't answer that time. I know it sounds like I'm complaining and on some level I am. Just need to vent every once in awhile. Right now I am sitting down praying and searching scripture for something to help lift me up and get me through the next few calls I need to make.</p>
<p dir=ltr>The biggest obstacle right now is figuring the best time to sit down and call people. I know people are busy. I have no hard feelings about that. I'm busy with too. I blame no one but chance. Luckily for me there is no chance for me. Only Gods Providence.</p>
<p dir=ltr>But I will continue to diligently do what God has called me to do. I Will make the calls and I will do it with a right attitude. Only God can bring the partners to me, and only God can bring in the support.</p>
<p dir=ltr>As far as prayer request go, they are pretty much the same as last week. Pray that appointments will be scheduled and partnerships will be made. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.</p>
<p dir=ltr>"Create in me a clean heart, Oh God, and renew a right Spirit in me." Psalm 51</p>
Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-80788480704334204272013-06-14T09:00:00.000-05:002013-06-14T09:00:00.039-05:00Happy Birthday to my Super Hero<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u_Il2nAv6dc/Ubr-HUEk_EI/AAAAAAAACB0/eWJCIODUYhQ/s1600/935858_10151542066439961_327979892_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u_Il2nAv6dc/Ubr-HUEk_EI/AAAAAAAACB0/eWJCIODUYhQ/s320/935858_10151542066439961_327979892_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It's a husband! It's a dad! It's... my best friend. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And today is his birthday. Man, am I glad he was born. :P </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In the last few years, I have been through an aweful whole lot. An Peden has helped carry me through it all. He is sweet, thoughtful, compassionate, gentle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">He loves our daughter so much he might actually explode. I could not think of anyone i would rather have as a daddy to my sweet baby girl. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I love him so much. I don't know what I would do without and there really is no way to accurately portray just how much I appreciate him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Ecclesiastes 4:11-12 </b><i>"<span style="color: blue;">Furthermore, if two lie down
together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can
overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands
is not quickly torn apart</span>."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <b> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>1 Corinthians 13:4-8 "</b><i><span style="color: blue;">Love
is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is
not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is
not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not
rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all
things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love
never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away;
if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will
be done away</span>."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">AND NOW! for pictures. :)<i> </i></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--hNaKMZn7iQ/UbsBUo-N0JI/AAAAAAAACCI/aulrWT-wFGA/s1600/303802_10151300546540677_1967108776_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--hNaKMZn7iQ/UbsBUo-N0JI/AAAAAAAACCI/aulrWT-wFGA/s640/303802_10151300546540677_1967108776_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DBdMW2QpFnE/UbsBUwsUmxI/AAAAAAAACCM/ruAQHO-16Eo/s1600/301456_10150349003804220_782782891_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DBdMW2QpFnE/UbsBUwsUmxI/AAAAAAAACCM/ruAQHO-16Eo/s640/301456_10150349003804220_782782891_n.jpg" width="552" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">August 6 2011</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ygwn1fxL9p0/UbsBVB-ybiI/AAAAAAAACCg/MmOwUPi8eRM/s1600/382316_10151510204570677_1755476248_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ygwn1fxL9p0/UbsBVB-ybiI/AAAAAAAACCg/MmOwUPi8eRM/s640/382316_10151510204570677_1755476248_n.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">February 9 2013</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XgLkfXk4yec/UbsBVxSjmDI/AAAAAAAACDI/LA4pFdFXxF4/s1600/4185_92979074960_1831346_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a name='more'></a><img border="0" height="221" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XgLkfXk4yec/UbsBVxSjmDI/AAAAAAAACDI/LA4pFdFXxF4/s320/4185_92979074960_1831346_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh yeah. I definitely see the resemblance now. :)</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4CiQce2Bnyo/UbsBVR7HYQI/AAAAAAAACCk/aAHXvIEiGyc/s1600/395618_10151302798954537_926594414_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4CiQce2Bnyo/UbsBVR7HYQI/AAAAAAAACCk/aAHXvIEiGyc/s640/395618_10151302798954537_926594414_n.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-icd0MxNChlU/UbsBVZEKMxI/AAAAAAAACCs/DdjQ_HAo_60/s1600/408426_10150473722759469_1316531941_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-icd0MxNChlU/UbsBVZEKMxI/AAAAAAAACCs/DdjQ_HAo_60/s640/408426_10150473722759469_1316531941_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And we wonder where Bekah gets it from. :P</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DKs--IAWlds/UbsBV8pINtI/AAAAAAAACDA/N0KEa8J5MWs/s1600/524646_10151525600589469_454038201_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DKs--IAWlds/UbsBV8pINtI/AAAAAAAACDA/N0KEa8J5MWs/s640/524646_10151525600589469_454038201_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing sweeter</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aI7893lZZX4/UbsBWEMH8yI/AAAAAAAACDE/UuU_MsBYW5w/s1600/558941_10151293331935677_501755897_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aI7893lZZX4/UbsBWEMH8yI/AAAAAAAACDE/UuU_MsBYW5w/s640/558941_10151293331935677_501755897_n.jpg" width="364" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh wow. We were babies. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B_6m3NLRUXs/UbsBWSex-_I/AAAAAAAACDM/T8nraBSlpwY/s1600/559638_4390884962840_1568214836_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B_6m3NLRUXs/UbsBWSex-_I/AAAAAAAACDM/T8nraBSlpwY/s640/559638_4390884962840_1568214836_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is why I love him, ladies and gentlemen.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-93CdzfzCgQg/UbsBW654lXI/AAAAAAAACDY/Dwzpuu7AxO8/s1600/577368_10150804693487420_295222637_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-93CdzfzCgQg/UbsBW654lXI/AAAAAAAACDY/Dwzpuu7AxO8/s640/577368_10150804693487420_295222637_n.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah he didnt see a lot of me that year. :P</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LR2qLTW4FWc/UbsBWg3ZxeI/AAAAAAAACDg/p3__mlFyccw/s1600/582546_10150963449660677_1981579977_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LR2qLTW4FWc/UbsBWg3ZxeI/AAAAAAAACDg/p3__mlFyccw/s640/582546_10150963449660677_1981579977_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nuff said. </td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XrEORDLojic/UbsBXEsWS8I/AAAAAAAACDk/Rz-Qz8xFQHM/s1600/861598_4596548995238_833342438_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XrEORDLojic/UbsBXEsWS8I/AAAAAAAACDk/Rz-Qz8xFQHM/s640/861598_4596548995238_833342438_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6b9z2EqQcys/UbsBUmgLEgI/AAAAAAAACCQ/EN892gUChzU/s1600/3274_79894120676_6933266_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="412" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6b9z2EqQcys/UbsBUmgLEgI/AAAAAAAACCQ/EN892gUChzU/s640/3274_79894120676_6933266_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">April 18 2009, Senior prom</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KgsuHSBCnlw/UbsBVEIl2rI/AAAAAAAACCo/k4_ySpfK_cE/s1600/373939_10151002070819537_1980835328_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KgsuHSBCnlw/UbsBVEIl2rI/AAAAAAAACCo/k4_ySpfK_cE/s640/373939_10151002070819537_1980835328_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">again... nuff said</td></tr>
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Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-24975716631161356652013-06-13T09:30:00.000-05:002013-06-13T09:30:01.633-05:00LITL: The hardest post I've ever written. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"<i><span style="color: blue;">Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; [...] For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts</span></i>." (Isaiah 55:6, 8-9)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"<span style="color: blue;"><i>And the Lord said to Job, 'Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God let him answer it.' Then Job answered the Lord and said, 'Behold I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice but I will proceed no further</i></span>.'" (Job 40:1-5)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Last night I had a Job moment. I was angry and bitter towards God. I was demanding he give me an answer. How proud and foolish I am. Who do I think I am to demand something from God?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Brief back story. One of our Mixtecan families had their 2 month old daughter rushed to Children's Hospital in Birmingham. She is having seizures, which are getting longer and more intense over the last few days. The doctors she may not survive much longer, and if she does, she will most likely never go home. She will need to stay in a home for disabled children, because half of her brain is underdeveloped. <i>Above: Her tiny hand clings to my friend's finger as she watches over her after one of these seizures</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My church and friends have been praying so intently for healing, comfort, wisdom, the whole package. Last night I reached my wits end. I was angry with God. I wanted him to just hurry up and heal her or take her. The uncertainty was killing me. My answer from Him came much like that to Job.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I realized <b>God didn't owe me anything</b>. He doesn't owe me an explanation. He doesn't owe me an answer. He doesn't owe this baby girl anything. He doesn't owe the mother her child. He doesn't owe the child her health. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">He doesn't owe me my own child or her health. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I was way out of my place to demand anything from God because He is the creator. He gives and takes away, as we sang in church Sunday. He has a reason for what he does, and for no reason do I need to know what it is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My job is not to heal or to judge or to decide or to understand. My job is to pray and to trust and to love on this sweet family and the friends that are ministering to them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"<span style="color: blue;"><i>Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light</i></span>." (Matthew 11:29-30)</span></div>
Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-20704581305163716772013-06-12T10:28:00.000-05:002013-06-12T10:28:12.930-05:00Ministry Update: Follow the Leader<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8BnG_EQTxMM/UbiRkpmfRiI/AAAAAAAACBQ/P8HYiyDbhqQ/s1600/follow.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8BnG_EQTxMM/UbiRkpmfRiI/AAAAAAAACBQ/P8HYiyDbhqQ/s640/follow.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Luke-9-58" id="en-HCSB-25360">"<span style="color: blue;"><i>As they were traveling on the road someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go!”<sup class="versenum"> </sup>Jesus told him, <span class="woj">“Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-HCSB-25360x" title="See footnote x">x</a>]"></sup> have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”</span></i></span></span><span class="text Luke-9-62" id="en-HCSB-25364"><span style="color: blue;"><i><sup class="versenum"> </sup>Then He said to another, <span class="woj">“Follow Me.”</span> “Lord,” he said, “first let me go bury my father.”<sup class="versenum"> </sup>But He told him, <span class="woj">“Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.”</span><sup class="versenum"> </sup>Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house.”<sup class="versenum"> </sup>But Jesus said to him, </i></span><span class="woj"><span style="color: blue;"><i>“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”</i></span>" (Luke 9:57-62)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Luke-9-62" id="en-HCSB-25364"><span class="woj">I have been very encouraged as the summer ministry has taken off with Christian Youth in Action. Although I am not directly involved this year, due to my call to partnership ministry at the present, I am still able to ... nudge, if you will. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Luke-9-62" id="en-HCSB-25364"><span class="woj">I saw a couple of our teens off to training in the last few days. I have also had the privelege of hearing a young girl, friend of a friend, who has been called to ministry recently. She is 12. That is just awesome, especially in the opinion of someone who was also called to ministry at a young age. Jesus does not fool us into thinking his ministry is easy. But those He calls, he also equips. He also rewards them in so many ways.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Luke-9-62" id="en-HCSB-25364"><span class="woj">I have been rewarded lately with being able to spend time and speak with some people who are so instrumental in God's work here in Montgomery. between school teachers, committee members, supporters, and Good News Club teachers, the company I have had over the last week have been great. :)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Luke-9-62" id="en-HCSB-25364"><span class="woj">I have had two meeting since my last update. Both went well, and resulted in some strong prayer partnerships. I am blessed to have God keeping me in these peoples' minds. I made a whole bunch of calls yesterday and so far have scheduled one more appointment. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Luke-9-62" id="en-HCSB-25364"><span class="woj"><b>PLEASE PRAY</b> for God to have his sovereighn hand ofver communication, that he will place people in the right place and attitude to receive my calls. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Luke-9-62" id="en-HCSB-25364"><span class="woj">Pray for the meeting Thursday afternoon, as well as a few tentative meetings that have not been nailed down yet. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Luke-9-62" id="en-HCSB-25364"><span class="woj">Pray for this young girl and her mother as I meet with them tonight. If CEF is where God is leading her, she is very interested in helping this summer. </span></span></span></div>
Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-91393025607372662912013-06-10T09:30:00.000-05:002013-06-10T09:30:02.177-05:00What Direction?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hwLYK9ZATIs/UbU2q5SpSDI/AAAAAAAACAs/cuPV5GarU2U/s1600/macedonia.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hwLYK9ZATIs/UbU2q5SpSDI/AAAAAAAACAs/cuPV5GarU2U/s1600/macedonia.jpeg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"<span style="color: blue;"><i>And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bythinia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying 'Come over to Macedonia and help us.' And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the Gospel</i></span>." (Acts 16:6-10)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I am intrigued by this passage that we studied in Sunday School yesterday. Peden and I have recently started praying over direction in our life. And from I have experienced, god very seldom hides it from you when you ask, "where to, God?" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So this could get interesting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That is all. :P</span></div>
Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-66400540926785739662013-06-05T08:26:00.001-05:002013-06-05T08:40:56.590-05:00Ministry update june 4th<p dir=ltr>I spend a lot of time at Starbucks these days. Sometimes in order to get work done you just need a change of scenery. But work is going well.</p>
<p dir=ltr>I have had two ministry presentations which have resulted in new partners, and I have two more scheduled so far. I also have two follow up calls within the next week and a couple pushed off in the next month s. I have a pretty good number of referrals to start with, and the list is still growing.</p>
<p dir=ltr>I finally got up with my KCt coach. That was fun. She was very encouraging.</p>
<p dir=ltr>I think the hardest thing so far is voicemails. I have left so many voicemails. It can be kind of discouraging when people don't answer the phone.</p>
<p dir=ltr>My coach says this is normal and that it will work itself out. In fact God even says it will work itself out.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Jeremiah 29:11 "for I know the plans I have for you”  — ⌊this is⌋ the Lord ’s declaration — “plans for ⌊your⌋ welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." </p>
<p dir=ltr>I know that God is already preparing people who will partner with the ministry. He is already expanding the ministry in miraculous ways. He has called me, and he has equipped me. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Jeremiah goes on to say this: "You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.   You will seek Me  and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you” — ⌊this is⌋ the Lord ’s declaration — “and I will restore your fortunes   and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you” — ⌊this is⌋ the Lord ’s declaration. “I will restore you to the place I deported you from.” (verses 12-24)</p>
<p dir=ltr>I must remember to constantly seek Him daily. I must go to him to refill me when I have poured Spirit out on others. I must not be afraid or discouraged.</p>
<p dir=ltr>PLEASE PRAY that I will not be discouraged. Pray that I will continue to be encouraged by the progress God is making.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Pray that I will be able to connect with people at the right time and in the right attitude.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Also prayerfully consider how you can also be a part of the ministry. Or if you know anyone who might be interested in part feel free to contact me.</p>
<div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='http://lh6.ggpht.com/-huM0pDpxIfA/Ua88gZ2JLEI/AAAAAAAACAY/9etnG2xWg9c/s1600/IMG_20130516_142744.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border='0' src='http://lh6.ggpht.com/-huM0pDpxIfA/Ua88gZ2JLEI/AAAAAAAACAY/9etnG2xWg9c/s640/IMG_20130516_142744.jpg' /> </a> </div>Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-14604664124616905942013-06-03T13:57:00.000-05:002013-06-14T06:50:52.358-05:00Believe it or not, it's true. I. cut. my. hair. <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Proof that it takes about ten years for me to recover from a traumatic experience.Let me take you down memory lane. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">2001 I am seven years old. My sister is graduating from high school.
The whole family is gathered at some restaurant for breakfast. I'm
devouring eggs and toast and hashbrowns, etc. Breakfast has always been
my favorite meal. Not much later, my stomach is not happy and I run to
the bathroom. Yep. Threw it all up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">2011. My then boyfriend (now husband) and I frequent waffle house quite a
lot. After months of coaxing, he finally convinces me to try the
hashbrowns. Now, they're one of my favorites once again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">circa 2000.
After a couple of battles with head lice, my mom takes my beautiful long
red hair and chops it to my shoulders. Over the next couple of years it
got shorter and shorter. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">long braids in kindergarten</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IQ3ZH0ow3Vk/Uad6I8-PMsI/AAAAAAAAB9c/s4Fq5xJslgA/s1600/36235_408444520676_3157785_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IQ3ZH0ow3Vk/Uad6I8-PMsI/AAAAAAAAB9c/s4Fq5xJslgA/s320/36235_408444520676_3157785_n.jpg" width="257" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">5th grade school picture. It hurts me to look at this.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and June 1, 2013 After years of insanely long hair, I get my first real hair cut. Not a trim. I donated 10 inches to Locks of Love and then allowed a couple more inches for styling purposes. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I3kjn59Efzc/Uad7SG6lVWI/AAAAAAAAB9s/n9kodLc0Q6s/s1600/IMG_0703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I3kjn59Efzc/Uad7SG6lVWI/AAAAAAAAB9s/n9kodLc0Q6s/s320/IMG_0703.jpg" width="238" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A couple of weeks ago. Yeah, I had no idea it looked like this. Where is my torso?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This is mostly a silly post. <b>But honestly</b>. <b>What "traumatic experiences are you healing from? Not hashbrowns or hair cuts. But real issues</b>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Recently I had my trust betrayed by someone very close to me. While I have forgiven this person, I am still working on displaying that forgiveness in my words and actions because it will take time for mercy to uproot hurt and take its place in my heart. It will not take ten years. :P But it will take time. And only God can make it happen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><span class="text Heb-12-15" id="en-HCSB-30226"><span style="color: blue;"><i>"Make sure that no one
falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs
up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many."</i></span> Hebrew 12:15</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Heb-12-15" id="en-HCSB-30226"></span>"<span style="color: blue;"><i>And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-HCSB-29303a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%204:32&version=HCSB#fen-HCSB-29303a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> in Christ.</i></span>" Ephesians 4:32</span></div>
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Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-83401119477537278452013-06-01T09:30:00.000-05:002013-06-01T09:30:00.521-05:00LITL: Paradise Today and Tomorrow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span class="text Heb-4-1">"<span style="color: blue;"><i>Therefore, while the promise to enter His rest remains, let us fear that none of you should miss it.</i></span>" Hebrews 4:1</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Heb-4-1"> The other day, I turned my bible app on and began listening to (what I thought was) a random passage. But God had something to teach me. As He always does. :P</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Heb-4-1">A little history lesson. Just for a second. When Moses led the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt, under the guidance of God, we all know it was a bumpy ride. There were attacks, long waits, and the constant <i>murmuring. </i>Just the way I hear that word in my head makes it sound annoying. :P I don't know how Moses did it. As punishment for their unbelief and complaining, God declared that that generation would not see the promise land. They would know what it was to rest in the rewards of their long journey. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Heb-4-1">This is the background to this passage in Hebrews. In contrast to the punishment of those Israelites, we can know what it is to rest in God. We can have peace if we have belief. "</span><span class="text Heb-4-9" id="en-HCSB-30022"><span style="color: blue;"><i>A Sabbath rest remains for God’s people.</i></span>" (hebrews 4:9) We can rest in God like he rested after he created the earth. How many times do I let myself get so wound up and stressed out, when it is so easy just to stop. rest. "<span style="color: blue;"><i>Be still and know that I am God</i></span>." (Psalm 46:10) But instead i run around like a chicken with my head cut off and become <b>all too aware that I am human</b>. </span></span></div>
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<span class="text Heb-4-9" id="en-HCSB-30022"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This passage in Hebrews 4 reminded of two things. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Heb-4-9" id="en-HCSB-30022"><span style="font-size: x-large;">First</span>, I praise God for the rest he gives me so absolutely. I don't mean naptime here on earth, but the peace and hope I have in my eternal rest. One day I will know what it is not to suffer. One day I will glory in his presence; I will truly <b>know</b> his glory. (1 Corinthians 13:12)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Heb-4-9" id="en-HCSB-30022">I think of the theif on the cross and the word Jesus said to fill him with hope: "</span><span class="text Luke-23-43" id="en-HCSB-25979"><span class="woj"><span style="color: blue;"><i>Today you will be with Me in paradise</i></span>." (Luke 23:43) When that criminal gave up his last breath, he was greeted by God's glorious face. Wow. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Luke-23-43" id="en-HCSB-25979"><span class="woj">Not only can I have peace and rest from God today, despite the chaos that swirls around me, I can know that I will have eternal rest in paradise "when I get where I'm going," as Brad Paisley would say. :P</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Luke-23-43" id="en-HCSB-25979"><span class="woj"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Second</span>, I am convicted. Don't you love when the Holy Spirit does that? :P Hebrew 4:10 says "</span></span><span class="text Heb-4-10" id="en-HCSB-30023"><span style="color: blue;"><i>For the person who has entered His rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from His</i></span>." In the same way that Jesus says a worker is worthy of his wages (Matthew 10), a worker is worthy of his nap time. :P Ahem. Remember, I said <b>worker. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Heb-4-10" id="en-HCSB-30023">I need to constantly remind myself to be diligent to do the work that God has laid before me. Only then can I truly rest in him. If I come to him for rest, but I haven't been diligent in what he has assigned me, then all I can expect from him is a raise eyebrow and a shooing hand to get back out there. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Heb-4-10" id="en-HCSB-30023">Yes I come to God to be refilled of the Spirit, but in order to do that I must first pour out that Spirit in reaching out to the world. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Heb-4-10" id="en-HCSB-30023"><span class="text Heb-4-11" id="en-HCSB-30024">"<span style="color: blue;"><i>Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.</i></span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><i><span class="text Heb-4-12" id="en-HCSB-30025"> For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword,
penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and
marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart. </span></i></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><i></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Heb-4-13" id="en-HCSB-30026"><span style="color: blue;"><i>No creature is hidden from Him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account.</i></span>" (Hebrews 4:11-13)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Heb-4-10" id="en-HCSB-30023"><b> </b></span></span></div>
Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-54369636359422297932013-05-30T09:30:00.000-05:002013-05-30T09:30:02.406-05:00LITL: Joyful noises... lots. of joyful. noises.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uG1ggt36xLU/Uaa0mxsRYWI/AAAAAAAAB88/xvwXGmAKjK4/s1600/IMG_20130529_210500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uG1ggt36xLU/Uaa0mxsRYWI/AAAAAAAAB88/xvwXGmAKjK4/s320/IMG_20130529_210500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This is my sweet, wise little girl. At the time this was taken, she was telling me very important things that I could not understand. Partly because I don't speak baby and partly because she was speaking in a pitch I almost couldn't hear. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yes my baby girl has found her voice. And it's a big one. I guess that shouldn't surprise me. :P</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But other than making me wish I had earplugs, her ... lovely... voice :P reminds me of something. It reminds me of how beautiful of a creation we are. Yes rotten with sin, but beautiful created. "<span style="color: blue;"><i>Wonderfully made</i></span>." (Psalm 139:14)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bekah is discovering the way her lungs, windpipe, vocal cords, diaphragm, lips, and tongue work together to make range of noises that she can make. Although she is still working on understanding how to make or understand the noises we do, and she is years away from understanding the why of any of it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Then I wonder why myself. Why did God invest such time and ingenuity into such a flawed creature? Biology always blows my mind. Getting down to the tiny little details. the way God perfectly knit all of our piece together to function just the way they do. The way he created our bodies to make sounds and our minds to make language. Our bodies to find rhythm (some not as well as others :P) and our hearts to detect the music all around us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>God is so good</b>. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We are all familiar with the verse, "<span style="color: blue;"><i>Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.</i></span>" (Psalm 95:1) I pray that I will find joy in my Savior every day. I pray that my daughter would know joy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I am also constantly begging God to bless me with his wisdom. I pray that my daughter also would find wisdom in the word of God. "<span style="color: blue;"><i>Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one
another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
with thankfulness in your hearts to God.</i></span>" (Colossians 3:16)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So "<span style="color: blue;"><i>sing to the Lord</i></span>." (Psalm 96:1) Find joy in his wonders, one of those wonders being you. And seek wisdom in his word. Praise him. :)</span></div>
Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-61705424765057726172013-05-29T09:30:00.000-05:002013-05-30T09:03:10.809-05:00Revival Song (Ministry update) <div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>ministry update for week of 5/23</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"You start where I belong: on my knees." I am definitely doing a lot of praying these days. God has blessed me so much just through daily prayer. I know what you're probably thinking. "Duh! Aren't you a missionary? Shouldn't you know all about prayer?" Yes well this may come as a shock to you, but missionaries are humans. :P I have been especially blessed through praying for people. I have a list of all my contacts, family, friends, partners, and prospects. I pray through them about ten people at a time. On various occasions, I have prayed for an individual who later in the day I find out is going through something or in need of encouragement. It does my heart good to be able to say "Hey. I prayed for you today." :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The song I have linked to above is on that I hear on the radio a lot these days. It was inspired by a story the writer heard about a young preacher who went to his pastor and asked what he had to do in order to start a revival. The pastor apparently took a piece of chalk and drew a circle around the man. Revival starts with me. The chorus is something I desire for my own life here and now: <i>"You're my revival song. You start where I belong: on my knees, on my knees. When I am weak or strong you meet me here when I'm on my knees, on my knees."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So be encouraged friend. I am probably praying for you. Even if I don't know you. I believe that God has already prepared people to partner with or be affected by the ministry to which He has called me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>So anyway. Updates</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I finally got the spring newsletter out. Hope that you have either received it or <a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7jujvvphyrlOTRNaTZVN3dvbzA/edit" target="_blank">seen it online</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This week has been much fuller than last. I have made a few encouraging calls, mostly resulting in follow up calls to possibly schedule an appointment. I expect almost all of these calls to result in an appointment, so be praying over the meetings and their outcomes. I know that God will be glorified through every single contact and meeting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I had one particularly encouraging meeting with some friends who are deeply involved with CEF. God used this meeting to greatly encourage me, as well as give me some direction to his people who might be interested in hearing about the work being done in my life and through me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Specific prayer requests for this week:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1. Bekah has been so good with riding along to meetings or letting me spend time on the phone or the computer. I know she isn;t doing this intentionally necessarily, but pray that God continues to bless her with a content and sweet spirit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">2. I am slowly growing my contact base. Be praying for God to cultivate new relationships in order to expand my ministry. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">3. I have five potential ministry appointments. Pray that communication will work out between us and that the appointment dates will be set. </span></div>
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Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-61733744148738853782013-05-27T10:51:00.001-05:002013-05-27T12:12:09.342-05:00Mom in a hurry #2Breakfast on the stove, dishwater running, cat whining for breakfast, washing machine unbalanced, and baby crying for her crinkly toy. Can't find it so I let her play with a cereal bag. (Don't worry. It was clean.)<br />
Happy baby, happy momma. <br />
Baby toy improvisation for the win. :p<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xJKWZnOviQE/UaOBFtORaKI/AAAAAAAAB8M/mXPUUlqZE-c/s1600/IMG_20130527_101746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xJKWZnOviQE/UaOBFtORaKI/AAAAAAAAB8M/mXPUUlqZE-c/s640/IMG_20130527_101746.jpg" /> </a> </div>
Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-69079585548823608192013-05-27T09:30:00.000-05:002013-05-27T09:30:00.036-05:00Savy Shopping: Couponing if you have 5, 30, or 120 minutes. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BG74fwkibVo/UZ6D1Z1RJpI/AAAAAAAAB6c/YjytFZA5SwE/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BG74fwkibVo/UZ6D1Z1RJpI/AAAAAAAAB6c/YjytFZA5SwE/s200/images.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
I'll be honest. The Krazy Coupon Lady does almost all my work for me. GASP! I know. I'm a fraud. You caught me. :P But really, if someone has enough time to keep up with extreme couponing for over a dozen stores, let her. I surely don't. And you probably don't either.<br />
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If couponing seems daunting, here are some easy tips that i think anyone (with as much or as little time as you have) can do:<br />
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<b>IF you have 5 minutes</b><br />
<i>If you are going out to buy a certain something that you need, go to her <a href="http://thekrazycouponlady.com/print-coupons/#top" target="_blank">list of online printable coupons</a>.
</i> Skip right to the section that brand (or the couple of brands you might
be willing to buy) might be. If there is one, click on it and print.
(You may need to sign up for a newsletter or install a coupon printing
program on your computer. This take five minutes, tops, and you can just
send the emails to your spam folder if you wont read them.I never do.
:P)<br />
For example, the other day I needed trash bags. I scanned the list for Glad and Hefty coupons. I found:<br />
<a href="http://coupons.target.com/" target="_blank">$1/1 Hefty Trash Bags at target.com</a><br />
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<i>You can also go to <a href="http://thekrazycouponlady.com/" target="_blank">the main page</a> and search what you're looking for, to find where the best deal might be</i>.<br />
If I needed baby wipes, I searched in the search bar "Baby wipes" and got <a href="http://thekrazycouponlady.com/search/?q=baby%20wipes%20more:pagemap:article-name:baby*wipes%20OR%20more:pagemap:article-description:baby*wipes&cx=partner-pub-0377954072285118:2362796650&ie=UTF-8&cof=FORID:10&filter=0&sa=Search" target="_blank">these options:</a><br />
baby wipes for $0.80 at target, posted May 12<br />
Gerber baby food and Huggies wipes as low as $0.25 at Harris Teeter, posted May 7<br />
Huggies babies wipes, as low as $0.50 at target, posted April 13<br />
and
the list goes on. Coincidentally only huggies came up, but this is
based on the most recent sales that store have come out with. You would
go to the most recent and most helpful post you find, and print/shop
from there.<br />
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<b>IF you have 20 minutes:</b><br />
On
Sundays and Wednesdays, Krazy Coupon Lady updates the newest sales and
coupon matchups. This includes a list of all the new sales from a store<b>'s </b>weekly
ad, as well as any past newspaper coupons, and current online coupns
that match up. A symbol is placed next to the best stockpile prices.<br />
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Krazy
Coupon Lady is based out of california, which determines the stores she
keeps up with. This includes, all the drug stores we have around here:
CVS, Riteaid, and Walgreens.<br />
Superstores like Walmart, Target, Kmart, and Staples.<br />
And
these grocery stores: Albertsons, Carrs, Dominick's, Genuardi's, HEB,
Kroger, Pavilions, Publix, Randalls, Safeway, Shop-Rite, Tom Thumb,
Vons, Whole Foods, Winco.<br />
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<i>By using the "Find My Store" tab on the home page, you can go straight to a list of all the recent article for that store.</i> This pretty much means that the only store i keep up with myself is Winn Dixie. I go through the add that comes out on Wednesday (Publix and Winn Dixie are the only ones that don't come out of Sunday), and for each item on sale I skim my coupon binder and the print coupons page to find a match. I also make sure to check for any Winn Dixie coupons that line up with Publix sales, because Publix accepts competitor coupons.<br />
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For example, The Publix add came out yesterday (I am writing this on Thursday, May 23). So i would go to the article for that weekly ad: <a href="http://thekrazycouponlady.com/category/publix/" target="_blank">"Publix Coupon Deals: Week of 5/23"</a> and skim the sales that follow. They look something like this:<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong itemprop="itemOffered">Surf Laundry Detergent, 100 oz $7.99</strong></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span><em>Buy One Get One Free</em><br />
Use $1.00/1 Surf Laundry Detergent from RP 4/7 (exp 6/2)<br />
<span style="color: teal;">Final Price: $3.00 each, when you buy 2 </span></span></span>
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</span><div class="coupon" id="coupon_987126" itemprop="offers" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Offer">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><input class="btn-save" type="checkbox" /><strong itemprop="itemOffered">Ronzoni Healthy Harvest or Garden Delight Pasta, 9-16 oz $1.49</strong></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span><em>Buy One Get One Free</em><br />
Use $1.00/2 Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Boxes from SS 4/28 (exp 6/1)<br />
<span style="color: teal;"><img alt="" src="http://3.thekrazycouponlady.com/wp-content/themes/thekrazycouponlady/images/Stockpile-149.jpg?543550" />Final Price: $0.25 each, when you buy 2 </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">
<input class="btn-save" type="checkbox" /><strong itemprop="itemOffered">Kraft Anything Dressing, 16 oz $2.85</strong><br />
</span><span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Buy One Get One Free</em><br />
Use $0.25/1 Kraft Dip, Dressing or Recipe Mix from SS 4/21 (exp 5/20)<br />
And use <a href="http://coupons.target.com/" target="_blank" title=" $1.00/2 – Kraft Salad Dressing, 16 oz, limit one coupon or offer per guest, Target Coupon – (target.com)">$1.00/2 – Kraft Salad Dressing, 16 oz, limit one coupon or offer per guest, Target Coupon – (target.com)</a><br />
</span><span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img alt="" src="http://3.thekrazycouponlady.com/wp-content/themes/thekrazycouponlady/images/Stockpile-149.jpg?543550" />Final Price: $0.43 each, when you buy 2 </span></span></span> <br />
etc.<br />
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<i>I typically check the stores I frequent either sunday or wednesday. I copy and paste any sales that interest me into a word document. And then when I am ready I print the word document and collect my coupons for the trip. Usually takes me a half hour/week tops. </i><br />
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<b>IF you have 2 hours</b> throughout your week (does not have to be all at once)<br />
then you may be interested in learning how to keep a full on coupon binder. I have a 4 in binder full of baseball card holder pages and sheet protectors. It can hold hundreds of coupons, sorted relatively by the aisles or sections they are typically grouped in at the store.<br />
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I learned everything I know from the book <a href="http://pickanothercheckoutlanehoney.com/" target="_blank">Pick Another Checkout Lane, Honey</a>. This book is published by the two women who created the Krazy Coupon Lady Blog. If you're interested, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=pick+another+checkout+lane" target="_blank">the book sells on Amazon</a> for about $12 new, $8 used, or less than $5 for kindle. I found it quite worth the money.<br />
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Like I said, you will need and hour or two throughout the week to keep the book up to date. I normally break this down into fifteen to thirty minutes tasks on various days, such as weeding out expired coupons one day, clipping my coupons while bekah takes a nap, or browsing the <a href="http://thekrazycouponlady.com/" target="_blank">KCL blog </a>now and again while I'm nursing.<br />
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I've been told I should give lessons. LOL. Honestly, the effort I put in pays for itself in ways like a year's supply of shampoo and conditioner for around 10-15% of retail price. And that's saying A LOT for me. :P<br />
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<b>I hope this has been helpful. :) Good luck, krazy coupon hopeful. :P</b><br />
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<br />Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-53577003996895838772013-05-25T09:30:00.000-05:002013-05-25T09:30:00.626-05:00Savy Shopping: I love Publix...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">yes I do. I love Publix. How 'bout you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It's nice to know that I still got it. Yes, after a four or five month hiatus, I finally caught up on my couponing. Lucky for me, the first weekend I did so, there were three inserts in the paper.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I made a few stops this week but by far, my most profitable ones were to publix and (shocker) walmart. Publix is almost always a good trip but walmart is sort of finnicky on the their coupon policies. But this week, the favor was on my side. :P</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I got everything pictured here for little over... drum roll... the suspense is killing you... $4!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">True story. Here is the break down: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u><b>Publix</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u><b> </b></u>Bought 2 boxes of Kelloggs Corn Pops (my favorite!) @ $3.99</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Buy One Get One free</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> also used 2 <a href="https://www.kelloggsfamilyrewards.com/en_US/promotions/coupons/login.html?referring_source=kfracquisition2013_permissiondata_3_display_cpa_ron&utm_source=permissiondata&utm_medium=display&utm_content=cpa_ron_couponrewards10_&utm_campaign=kfracquisition2013" target="_blank">50c/1 coupon</a>s that both doubled</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">for a total of $1.00 each </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bought 1 package of Nuk Pacifiers (for my picky baby. :) 0-6mo size) @ $4.59</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> used 1 $1.50/1 publix baby club coupon</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> and 1 <a href="http://www.nuk-usa.com/promos/newsletters/landing/nuksavetwooff.aspx?utm_source=M4M_March2013_Newsletter&utm_medium=M4M_March2013_Newsletter&utm_campaign=M4M_March2013_Newsletter" target="_blank">$2.00/1 coupon</a> from <a href="http://nuk-usa.com/">nuk-usa.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">for a total of $1.09</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bought 1 schick hydro silk razor @ $8.99</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Used 1 publix baby club coupon for a free hydro silk razor</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">for a total of FREE</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bough 1 schick hydro silk shaving gel @ $2.00</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Used 1 <a href="http://www.coupons.com/coupons/?pid=15493&nid=10&zid=yn07&plid=ESCRSS3024&crid=GN201211-n3&varb=473&cid=17803006&afsrc=1" target="_blank">Free schick hydro shave gel WYB 1 schick hydro razor coupon</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">for a total of FREE</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Total before coupons: $25.92</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Total Spent: $5.44</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>For 79% Savings!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And like I said, my purchase at walmart was pretty much the cherry on top of the sundae. But I don't like cherries, so more like the cookie crumbles on top of the frappuccino. :P<b> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u><b>Walmart:</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bought 2 Boxes of Folgers Instant Coffee Crystal Packets @ $1.00</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <a href="http://bricks.coupons.com/Start.asp?bt=wg&tqnm=wd4mcsl48898396&o=111785&c=KF&p=WCOixTJK" target="_blank">Used $1.50/1 Folgers item</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For a total of -$1.00</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Which means I pretty much made money.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>So the total spent for both trips was: $4.44</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>And the total saved was: $23.68</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>For a total 84% Savings! :) </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To keep up with sales and coupon matchups I follow <a href="http://thekrazycouponlady.com/">thekrazycouponlady.com</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You should too. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Stay tuned. On Monday I will post and easy guide to couponing is you have 5, 20, or 120 minutes in a week. </span></div>
Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-78068350360856317912013-05-22T09:30:00.000-05:002013-05-22T09:30:00.144-05:00Spring ministry newsletter.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-53E3Xe9VlYo/UZZf8wxCPrI/AAAAAAAAByw/z-d_54HTycM/s1600/IMG_20130517_114853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-53E3Xe9VlYo/UZZf8wxCPrI/AAAAAAAAByw/z-d_54HTycM/s200/IMG_20130517_114853.jpg" width="200" /></a>Sadly Trouble can't write. Because if she could, she could have helped me fix all 150 newsletters. But oh well. After much labor and only minute procrastinating, here it is. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7jujvvphyrlOTRNaTZVN3dvbzA/edit" target="_blank">Spring 2013 Newsletter</a> </span></div>
Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-37043212237698677682013-05-21T23:11:00.001-05:002013-05-27T12:11:52.824-05:00Double standards make me sad.Its sad when I have to unfollow a feed of daily encouraging Scripture because the comments section is less than encouraging. People say Christians are hateful and ignorant? What about when other people hate us? Why is it okay to beligerently insist that my belief is stupid, unfounded, and horrible but if I just look at you funny, its an intolerant hate crime? Double standards make me sad. (Deep breath)<br />
If it makes you sad, chin up, my friend. Share with me this encouraging Word: No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn’t know what his master[b] is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father. If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. <br />
John 15Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-89534215579517720662013-05-21T11:57:00.001-05:002013-05-21T11:57:21.741-05:00Mom in a hurry #1<p>My deoderant fell behind the dresser today. So I used my husband's. Now i smell like a freshly showered man. Not all together unpleasant.</p>
<div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JJ9F2144f7A/UZuncCopkEI/AAAAAAAAB58/_fK5DqRRXrE/s1600/IMG_20130521_092157.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border='0' src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JJ9F2144f7A/UZuncCopkEI/AAAAAAAAB58/_fK5DqRRXrE/s640/IMG_20130521_092157.jpg' /> </a> </div>Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-39367062586384144102013-05-20T09:30:00.000-05:002013-05-20T09:30:01.308-05:00I'm no supermom.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DvgeITvwVa8/UZYgNIF6CxI/AAAAAAAAByg/KFHI30jxY4U/s1600/417936_10151637944770677_157634296_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DvgeITvwVa8/UZYgNIF6CxI/AAAAAAAAByg/KFHI30jxY4U/s200/417936_10151637944770677_157634296_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But I sure do try.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Motherhood has a funny way of making you feel like the strongest person in the world... and the weakest. All at the same time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The other day, Motherhood through me a rough play. And what did I do? I ran from it. Then I ran back to it. And past it. And kept on running. But then I stopped, turned, and walked back. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For those of you that might be confused, let me clarify. When Peden came home, I had had enough. I was frustrated, angry, and almost to tears. SO, like the God-sent gift that he is, he took our beautiful, but stubbornly screaming daughter and let me go for a run. On the positive side, I ran the fast mile I have run in a year. On the negative, I didn't find what I was looking for. I didn't even know WHAT I was looking for. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But when I finally found myself back in my own driveway, I slowly walked back to the back yard. I sat on the back porch and stared at our vegetable garden, filled with God's amazing and (potentially) delicious creations. I watched a mother mockingbird bring food to her baby. (Yeah totally not making that up.) I came through the back door and stepped over the laundry I haven't finished. Past the dirty dishes, through the nursery, where blankets and books are scattered. Past our bed, stripped of sheets and covered with yet more laundry. After I made my way into the shower, as I scrubbed the frustration and the frown lines off of my face (I wish), I figured it out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I didn't need to run. Leaving wasn't what made me feel better. Coming back was what I needed. I needed it to be new again. Even if for just a second. Not perfect. Just new. Sort of. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Matthew 11:28 <span class="text Matt-11-28" id="en-HCSB-23488"><span class="woj">“<span style="color: blue;">Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest</span>.</span></span><span class="text Matt-11-30" id="en-HCSB-23490"><span class="woj">" <b> </b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Matt-11-30" id="en-HCSB-23490"><span class="woj"><b>And when you've run away, come back and do it again. </b></span></span></span></div>
Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-87111136328194561822013-05-18T10:38:00.003-05:002013-05-18T10:38:36.729-05:00Notes from last night for those that missed it.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dEe3qErk-sI/UZegSea3cTI/AAAAAAAABzA/3hr2xau3Ubw/s1600/IMG_20130518_103629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dEe3qErk-sI/UZegSea3cTI/AAAAAAAABzA/3hr2xau3Ubw/s200/IMG_20130518_103629.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">5/17/13 lesson and notes by Savy</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">2 Kings 1</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">v 1-8 : Ahaziah was apparently tailgating during football season. fell out of a window (or off a balcony). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">send messengers to his home town to inquire of a Philistine god</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Elijah meets them and pretty much says, "Oh yeah go ask that other god. because there's no God around here, right?" loving the sarcasm, dude. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ahaziah knew by the description of him that this was Elijah (the bad news bear, according to Ahab.) :P</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Acts 19:13-15 "<span style="color: blue;">I know Jesus and I recognize Paul, but who are you?</span>"<b> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Does your reputation precede you? Do people know who you and whom you follow?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">v 9-12: Elijah is completely confident that God has his back. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Matthew 17:20 "<span style="color: blue;">If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain 'move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.</span>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Do we live with such confidence?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Point made in discussion: Elijah did not start out with such confidence. When he was living by the brook, he probably lacked confidence when it started to dry out. When he saw the state of the widow's kitchen, he probably only had a little confident.<i> But through faithful obedience he saw the wonders of God, and thus his confidence grew from his faithfulness. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">v 13-16: catching flies with honey or vinegar :P</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">verse 11 tells us that the second cheif "<span style="color: blue;">took in the situation</span>" (HCSB) and then answered. His answer, however, was met with destruction. The cheif who came in humility truly understood the situation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>In what way have you misunderstood a situation God put you in and it resulted badly? Did you come to him differently the next time?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">v 17-18: "<span style="color: blue;">according to the word of the Lord</span>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>How strongly do we believe the word of the Lord? Do we live like it?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">2 Peter 1:4 "<span style="color: blue;">By these [His glory and goodness, verse 3] He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires</span>."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Jeremiah 29:11 "<span class="text Jer-29-11" id="en-HCSB-19647"><span style="color: blue;">For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the <span class="small-caps divine-name" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>’s declaration—“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope</span>."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Matthew 11:28-29 "<span style="color: blue;"><span class="text Matt-11-28" id="en-HCSB-23488"><span class="woj">Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.</span> </span></span><span class="text Matt-11-29" id="en-HCSB-23489"><span class="woj"><span style="color: blue;">All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.</span>"</span></span><span class="text Matt-10-29" id="en-HCSB-23447"><span class="woj"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Philippians 4:19 "<span class="text Phil-4-19" id="en-HCSB-29460"><span style="color: blue;">And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.</span>"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Romans 8:37-39 "<span style="color: blue;"><span class="text Rom-8-37" id="en-HCSB-28153">No, in all these things we are more than victorious</span> <span class="text Rom-8-37">through Him who loved us.</span><span class="text Rom-8-38" id="en-HCSB-28154"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>For I am persuaded that not even death or life,</span> <span class="text Rom-8-38">angels or rulers,</span> <span class="text Rom-8-38">things present or things to come, hostile powers,</span> <span class="text Rom-8-39" id="en-HCSB-28155"><sup class="versenum"></sup>height or depth, or any other created thing</span> <span class="text Rom-8-39">will have the power to separate us</span> </span><span class="text Rom-8-39"><span style="color: blue;">from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!</span>"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">2 Timothy 1:7 "<span class="text 2Tim-1-7" id="en-HCSB-29815"><span style="color: blue;">For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment</span>."</span></span></div>
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Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-6877053857455251332013-05-18T09:30:00.000-05:002013-05-18T09:30:00.732-05:00LITL: Love has a new address.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c-uO_LPBOZs/UZBOhDRk2ZI/AAAAAAAABg8/mWLtZ7wiR5E/s1600/sunlight1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c-uO_LPBOZs/UZBOhDRk2ZI/AAAAAAAABg8/mWLtZ7wiR5E/s200/sunlight1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="top-1"><span class="text John-1-14" id="en-HCSB-26059">"<span style="color: blue;"><i>The Word became flesh<sup> </sup></i></span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><i><span class="text John-1-14">and took up residence<sup> </sup>among us.</span> <span class="text John-1-14">We observed His glory,</span> <span class="text John-1-14">the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father,</span> </i></span><span class="text John-1-14"><span style="color: blue;"><i>full of grace and truth</i></span>." (John 1:14)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text John-1-14">I am here to tell you what love is all about. Twister. That's what. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text John-1-14">I
have two dear friends. Like sisters. I have known Hallay since she was
born and Hannah since she moved here from New Orleans in 2005. We have
worked together. I've even taught them in classes. Now I feel like they
are teaching me. Or at least reminding me. (But more about that later.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text John-1-14">Because this isn't about Hallay and Hannah. Or about me. It's about Jesus and the example that he set for us to follow. As John says, Christ came down and lived among us. he didnt yell down to us from heaven, "Hey! y'all down there! (Because he wouldve had a southern accent.) I love you!" He didn't get in a bus and just pick us all up, haul us to the pearly gates. He came down to us messy, unreliable humans. He became like us. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text John-1-14"> Love is sitting with someone's kids at a rickety folding table in a tiny rickety kitchen. Its eating some sort of leftovers you don't recognize because it's the most sincere way she can say thank you for driving her across town to the doctor's office. Love is considering leaving your stroller on the curb so.can fit a woman's Wic, two kids, and tandem stroller in your car so she doesn't have to walk two miles home from the store in the heat. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text John-1-14">Love is moving in next to families who need the love of Christ without a second glance at the neighborhood, the crime rate, or the state of the apartment. Love is letting in as many kids as can spill in your door to play twister.
Love is sacrifice. Jesus sacrificed comfort and safety. He sacrificed food and shelter. And I bet heaven doesn't accustom you to constantly being covered in dirt but he did it. For me. For you. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text John-1-14">Hallay and Hannah are moving into Hopper Gardens to live among some of our newest dear friends. This people group is descended from Aztec culture, and speak an oral language nothing like Spanish. They are a barely reached people as of the present, but we are working to fix that. :) Hallay and Hannah are living out a direct example of Christ that many of us applaud from our comfortable seats. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text John-1-14">Love didn't applaud. Love came down to me and moved in next door.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text John-1-14"><span style="font-size: small;">Now this part is about Hallay and Hannah. They are taking on the ta<span style="font-size: small;">sk that God has given<span style="font-size: small;"> them to be the light of Christ to a people group hardly reached before. If you have never</span></span> heard of the Mixtecan people, they are descended from the Aztec culture of southern Mexico. <span style="font-size: small;">Most of them do not speak <span style="font-size: small;">Spanish, but rather an<span style="font-size: small;"> oral language mu<span style="font-size: small;">ch, much older than Spanish occupation of Mexico. The<span style="font-size: small;">ir understanding of religio<span style="font-size: small;">n <span style="font-size: small;">is largely a mixture of pagan worship, such as ancestor worship, and the <span style="font-size: small;">Catholicism that the Spanish brought. Hannah and Hallay are moving into a<span style="font-size: small;">n apartment complex<span style="font-size: small;"> that is home <span style="font-size: small;">to</span> many mix<span style="font-size: small;">tecan family our church has had the blessing of reaching out to. They <span style="font-size: small;">plan to help keep the children caught up with school over the summer, as well as involve the families in various activities.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dadldvnIqSc/UZA-hWcyWHI/AAAAAAAABgs/-NL7mp667k0/s1600/417840_10151590339864469_1534273145_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dadldvnIqSc/UZA-hWcyWHI/AAAAAAAABgs/-NL7mp667k0/s640/417840_10151590339864469_1534273145_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you are interested in helping these Mixtecan families and their children to learn to know the love of Christ, then tune in to what's going on with the Every Tribe Project. You can like them on facebook or follow their updates on their blog, <a href="http://everytribeproject.blogspot.com/2013/04/tis-almost-time.html">http://everytribeproject.blogspot.com/2013/04/tis-almost-time.html</a>. </span></span></b></td></tr>
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Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-73191530873764126112013-05-16T09:30:00.000-05:002013-05-16T09:30:02.062-05:00Clean slate protocol. (Warning. Dont read if you havent seen the new irom man movie.)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zn9K9PrkTHo/UY8nytOQYgI/AAAAAAAABgc/meZM3om4JRI/s1600/article-2314188-19770A6D000005DC-351_634x315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zn9K9PrkTHo/UY8nytOQYgI/AAAAAAAABgc/meZM3om4JRI/s200/article-2314188-19770A6D000005DC-351_634x315.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Last weekend my husband and I went to see the new iron man movie. (Fantastic, hilarious, heart wrenching, the whole package. :) Pepper's life is put in danger by Tony's obsession with the iron man suits.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">THIS IS WHERE THE SPOILING BEGINS. In the end, Tony initiates what Jarvis calls the clean slate protocol. All the remaining suits are destroyed, in order to show pepper that Tony is letting go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Everyone brings baggage along the way in life. But when two people start traveling that way together, the quaint little stationwagon starts to get a little crowded. You start cramming in traumatic life experiences, bad teachers, past bullies, old relationships, the childhood dog that passed away. And don't get me started on the extra trailer behind just for all the sets of parents.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I mean come on! You haven't left any room for the kids to form complexes of their own along the way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Before Tony and pepper could truly enjoy their life together, they had to let go. <i>Pepper had to learn to trust Tony</i> (although that didn't exactly go the way he planned), and <i>Tony had to learn to move on from things he couldn't fix or explain. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1 Corinthians 5:17 reads "If anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come." This refers to a new relationship with Christ in which he tosses all your old baggage to the curb. He step on the gas and never looks back. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When you begin to walk life with someone here on earth, you have to do the same thing. But, unfortunately neither of you in the relationship are Christ. So not only do you have to toss out the other person's baggage, but you have to TOSS OUT YOUR OWN. Pepper couldn't initiate the clean slate protocol. Tony had to do it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Initiate the clean slate protocol. throw out your baggage. Let it go. Trust. You will form new baggage along the way. Together. I guarantee it. :P</span></div>
Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-48118629956759756162013-05-15T07:39:00.002-05:002013-05-15T07:39:30.339-05:00Love Triangle: me, my family, and my job. <div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When my daughter smiles at me I feel the same way as when I walk into a YMCA and kids run up and hug me. All i have to do is watch her sleep and it thrills me. Thrills me as much as telling kids stories from the Bible that show them how much God loves them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Does it make me a bad mom to say that I love my job as much as my family? :P</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Strangely these were the thoughts that kept me persevering through the doubt that I could a wife, mom, and missionary all at the same time. God has called me, and he is able to and will equip me. :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So yeah. Ministry. I have a confession to make. Hopefully no one will hate me for it. In the flesh... I am extremely lazy. :( Monday, I slept until mid afternoon, and once i lost that big chunk of the day, it was so hard to resolve myself to anything, whether it be exercise, cleaning, or making calls. However, I did meet with a friend to practice my ministry presentation. Not only did I have a great run through, even while caring for the baby, but she is also considering partnering and spreading the word. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So yesterday i resolved myself to getting up at six am. yikes!And I was actually quite productive. I didn't get as much as wanted done because of a praticularly needy baby that day but still. I made four calls, left two messages, and got one really great response. Following up on that response in the next couple of days. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Unfortunately my KCT coach cancelled our first call because of health issues, but i am looking forward to our first call next week. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So over all not a terrible start. :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Romans 8:28</span></i></span><span class="text Rom-8-28" id="en-HCSB-28144"><span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.</span></i></span><sup> </sup></span></h3>
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Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-11718492569638251772013-05-13T09:30:00.000-05:002013-05-13T09:30:01.072-05:00My new journey, my new self. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I pray for the patience of job and the wisdom of solomon. And what does God give me?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"A daughter. Isn't His sense of humor funny that way?" :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I drafted this months ago and just rediscovered it. LOL. I think it was a conversation between my husband and I while I was pregnant. But while I have you here, I guess I would like to say a few words in honor of mother's day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I once saw a poll in Parent's magazine about whether or not a woman should use a picture of just her kid(s) as he picture on a social network. Many women said that that entailed losing one'sidentity or that they were more than just a mom. Boo, I say. There was one mother however who voiced my feeling better than I probably even understood them at the time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She said that having her daughter had permanently changed her. That he daughter was an extension of her own identity. In the movie "A Time To Kill," Matthew Mconahey's (sp?) character calls it "life beyond her own." I know exactly how this feels.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I have been preparing to return to ministry with a large portion of time. I haven't got a breast pump or arranged for babysitters, because I have always imagined doing ministry with her in tow. And she doesn't interfere. She feels like and extension of my arm. A natural part of me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I love my daughter and the way she has changed me and my life. :)</span></div>
Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766513697756624163.post-80286487323237238402013-05-10T09:30:00.000-05:002013-05-10T09:30:02.332-05:00LITL: An odd prayer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8iea7LnYfFs/UMuJesCfSSI/AAAAAAAAAyw/bdNjZqEDSaU/s1600/sunlight1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8iea7LnYfFs/UMuJesCfSSI/AAAAAAAAAyw/bdNjZqEDSaU/s200/sunlight1.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The other day, In my quiet time, I was reading Ephesians 3. One verse in particular stood out to me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><i><span class="text Eph-3-12" id="en-HCSB-29262">"In Him we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him<sup>. </sup></span></i></span><span class="text Eph-3-13" id="en-HCSB-29263"><span style="color: blue;"><i><sup class="versenum"> </sup>So then I ask you not to be discouraged over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory."</i></span> Ephesians 3:12-13</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Eph-3-13" id="en-HCSB-29263">Paul is speaking to the church in Ephesus of the great power and blessings that God has for those who believe. Obviously we should be bold in revealing to others the mystery of the gospel, the birth, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the free gift that is salvation. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Eph-3-13" id="en-HCSB-29263">So in response to this verse relating to being bold, what did I do? I prayed for meekness. I prayed for God to help me to be timid. For those of you who know me, this is a God-sized request. :P</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Eph-3-13" id="en-HCSB-29263">But I am not saying I'm shutting up. God has areas in my life in which I needd to be bold to share, like Paul. But that is easy. What God is truly breaking me for is to be able to discern when to be bold, and when to step aside and let someone else speak. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Eph-3-13" id="en-HCSB-29263">Be in prayer. This won't be easy for me. But I am already seeing the blessing God is bringing about through it. :) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Eph-3-13" id="en-HCSB-29263">Strangely, I think God will show something in order to teach us the exact opposite.</span></span><br />
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Savannah Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049595331307233664noreply@blogger.com0