Just wanted to post our recent family pictures that we had done for you to see. I have them posted on Facebook but not everyone has a Facebook page. Hope everyone is well!
Friday, June 1, 2012
Thursday, May 10, 2012
PRAISE HIM-There's power behind it....
Psalm 149:5-9 (NKJV) says
“5 Let the saints be joyful in glory;
Let them sing aloud on their beds.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
And a two-edged sword in their hand,
7 To execute vengeance on the nations,
And punishments on the peoples;
8 To bind their kings with chains,
And their nobles with fetters of iron;
9 To execute on them the written judgment—
This honor have all His saints.
Praise the Lord!”
When we praise God with our mouth, wow at the opportunity we have to heap piles of hot coals on the enemy.
Ephesians 6:12 (NLT) says
“We are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”
Disease, poverty, demons, spiritual attacks on our family, children, finances, relationships, or whatever…these are our battles…the spiritual battles that go on the unseen world! But our praise, oh our praises…they bring vengeance and punishment on the enemy! Our praises bind the enemy with shackles and iron chains and execute on them the written judgment that God has for them! WOW!!! Just in our praise, we can punish the enemy, we can have vengeance on him, we can begin his judgment day now!
What does your praise do? Is it enough to really punish the enemy? What kind of words are you speaking today? Who are you defeating, yourself or the enemy?
I have been guilty of not living a life of praise. Life gets hard and busy and I tend to fall to the tricks of the enemy with my praise. I have failed to start his judgment but today is a new day. And this word of the Lord has shed new light on what I am changing starting now! I want the enemy to know I am in charge! I control him, not he controls me! I bind him today and I loose the plans of God for myself and for my family! I loose blessings, honor, prosperity, spiritual victory in every area of our lives! We Win!!!
Matthew 18:18 (NKJV)
“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
PRAISE HIM TODAY!
Psalm 150 (NLT)
“1 Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heaven!
2 Praise him for his mighty works;
praise his unequaled greatness!
3 Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn;
praise him with the lyre and harp!
4 Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;
praise him with strings and flutes!
5 Praise him with a clash of cymbals;
praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
6 Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
"Grouch Girls" Blog
I came across this blog this morning and wanted to share it with you all! Very good!
As mom's (and dad's), we are the example as to how our children handle situations and we have to make sure we are setting the correct example and when we see them not doing their best, we must help them have a better attitude! Lord, Help Me to the best example for my children, even in my grouchy moments!
http://raisinghomemakers.com/2011/grouchy-girls/
"Some days are just like that.
As mommies we know full well what it is like to have a grouchy day, so we manage to find mercy for our daughters when they are having the same kind of day. But, what do we do when our daughters seem to be having “that day” repeatedly?
While the world tells us grouchiness is just part of certain growing up years, I have a different perspective and can often be heard telling my daughters,
If finding fault and unbridled tongue-lashings often occur in her days as a youth, you better believe they will occur in her days as an adult.
The brunt of her grouchiness will move from her siblings to her parents to her husband to her children. She will feel discontent and out of sorts because no one truly wants to be like this, but because she practiced such things in her youth, her adult years will be fraught with bitterness.
As mothers, we should not accept grouchy girls as the norm. We must continually strive to teach our daughters to glorify the Lord in all things…our attitudes included.
But how do we foster a sweet spirit and attitude in our young daughters? Here are some ideas:
*Pray for her and over her. This is not a time for condemnation, but rather a time to speak into her life the things you know please the Lord. Rather than pray for her to quit yelling at her siblings, pray for her to continue to learn the art of a meek and quiet spirit. Always give her something to strive towards.
*Praise her when you see or hear good attitudes. Yes, you might embarrass her, but she needs to know you see the good in her and not just the bad.
*Model right behavior. Check your attitude, mama. Do you grouch around the house more often than you smile? Do you laugh? Do you enjoy the girls God has given you? Or are you grouchy too? Sometimes a daughter’s attitude is a direct reflection of her mother’s.
*Get to the root of the matter…if there is one. Not always is there an underlying cause of grouchiness, but sometimes there is and often if that can be addressed, the grouchiness goes away. For instance, our young daughter was upset over a move a few years ago, yet she wasn’t able to express that. Instead she was grouchy. As her mood got worse and worse, I finally realized what was going on and talked through everything with her, only to find my daughter completely changed simply by being able to identify what she was feeling.
*Never allow grouchy responses. You may have to model the correct vocal inflections or have her repeat exactly what you say and how you say it or ask her to try again many, many times, but do not allow grouchy responses. Again, she is practicing. Don’t let her practice the wrong thing.
*Do a character study of the Fruits of the Spirit. Teach your daughter about patience and kindness and self-control and what those words mean. There are a myriad of already put together studies of this kind, but you can do just as well reading through that passage of Scripture and simply talking about each component.
*Realize the fruits of the Spirit are the Fruits of the Spirit and you are not the Spirit. True fruit in your daughter’s life will only come from the Holy Spirit. You can disciple and lead and guide and direct, but ultimately, this is God’s work."
As mom's (and dad's), we are the example as to how our children handle situations and we have to make sure we are setting the correct example and when we see them not doing their best, we must help them have a better attitude! Lord, Help Me to the best example for my children, even in my grouchy moments!
http://raisinghomemakers.com/2011/grouchy-girls/
"Some days are just like that.
As mommies we know full well what it is like to have a grouchy day, so we manage to find mercy for our daughters when they are having the same kind of day. But, what do we do when our daughters seem to be having “that day” repeatedly?
While the world tells us grouchiness is just part of certain growing up years, I have a different perspective and can often be heard telling my daughters,
What you practice now, you will become later.If insolence and complaining are practiced in your daughter’s younger years without restraint, you can guarantee she will struggle with these same things as an adult.
If finding fault and unbridled tongue-lashings often occur in her days as a youth, you better believe they will occur in her days as an adult.
The brunt of her grouchiness will move from her siblings to her parents to her husband to her children. She will feel discontent and out of sorts because no one truly wants to be like this, but because she practiced such things in her youth, her adult years will be fraught with bitterness.
As mothers, we should not accept grouchy girls as the norm. We must continually strive to teach our daughters to glorify the Lord in all things…our attitudes included.
But how do we foster a sweet spirit and attitude in our young daughters? Here are some ideas:
*Pray for her and over her. This is not a time for condemnation, but rather a time to speak into her life the things you know please the Lord. Rather than pray for her to quit yelling at her siblings, pray for her to continue to learn the art of a meek and quiet spirit. Always give her something to strive towards.
*Praise her when you see or hear good attitudes. Yes, you might embarrass her, but she needs to know you see the good in her and not just the bad.
*Model right behavior. Check your attitude, mama. Do you grouch around the house more often than you smile? Do you laugh? Do you enjoy the girls God has given you? Or are you grouchy too? Sometimes a daughter’s attitude is a direct reflection of her mother’s.
*Get to the root of the matter…if there is one. Not always is there an underlying cause of grouchiness, but sometimes there is and often if that can be addressed, the grouchiness goes away. For instance, our young daughter was upset over a move a few years ago, yet she wasn’t able to express that. Instead she was grouchy. As her mood got worse and worse, I finally realized what was going on and talked through everything with her, only to find my daughter completely changed simply by being able to identify what she was feeling.
*Never allow grouchy responses. You may have to model the correct vocal inflections or have her repeat exactly what you say and how you say it or ask her to try again many, many times, but do not allow grouchy responses. Again, she is practicing. Don’t let her practice the wrong thing.
*Do a character study of the Fruits of the Spirit. Teach your daughter about patience and kindness and self-control and what those words mean. There are a myriad of already put together studies of this kind, but you can do just as well reading through that passage of Scripture and simply talking about each component.
*Realize the fruits of the Spirit are the Fruits of the Spirit and you are not the Spirit. True fruit in your daughter’s life will only come from the Holy Spirit. You can disciple and lead and guide and direct, but ultimately, this is God’s work."
Monday, August 15, 2011
Growing up fast!
August 15th, 2011
Wow how time flies!
Today my babies started school.
Brianna started her last first day of middle school as she is now in 8th grade!
Its so hard to believe that next year, she will be in 9th grade!
Kara started 6th grade and Ethan is now in 2nd.
They had a wonderful first day.
I start school on Thursday.
Jeremy starts school on Monday.
And this year, Jaxson will be starting preschool. Right now, he isnt too sure about it.
Anytime he things he might spend away from me, upsets him. Its time.
Although it wont be a complete seperation.
I will be helping with the preschool while I am in school so I can learn with hands on. I am excited. ;)
Just wanted to share this with you all!
Have a blessed day everyone and I pray those who have children in school, that this is the best year yet!
God Bless You all!!
Monday, August 8, 2011
To Be or Not To Be
“To be or not to be…” The words of one who isn’t sure life it worth living. Is this life not my own? NO! To me, it is not! This life was given to me by God, to be used for God, to show people who God is in my life. There are obstacles that arise in each of one our lives and it’s up to each one of us how we look at them and how we will go about them. Will we let them control us or will we control them. I have not always been the best at the latter part of that…”controlling them” but I am working on that. In the past two years, God has been teaching me how to tell my storm how BIG my God is and not tell God how big my storm is. I have been freed and am being freed still daily from the spirit of worry! You know the one that comes in like a flood and washes all stable things away. You look around and you just aren’t sure when or where or how you can fix the mess it has left behind. But God has taught me that He is the ultimate construction crew. He comes in, dries up all the water and rebuilds faster and better than ever before. So “to be or not to be”…I choose to BE! Worry has no place and when it starts to creep in, I call on Jesus! I remember what great and wonderful things He has done; I remember what He is doing and where He brought me. I remember the chains that He has broken off of me and how those chains will not be passed to those coming after me. There is freedom in that all by itself for me. Knowing that the mess that has been for years is now cleaned up and is not and will not be passed to my kids and the future generations puts a “little water to the eye” as I once heard an old cowboy say. I can hear it now, “what is she talking about?” Well just a short version…the chains of worry, the battle in the mind of what will be next?; the chains of alcoholism and drugs that have haunted my family for years; the chains of abuse that have seemed to creep into the next generation; the chains of bondage that leave you feeling helpless and feeling worthless. Just to name a few. I am FREE!!!! Those are no longer a part of the family heritage of Heidi Marie Smith Ledbetter nor Jeremy B.(shh can’t tell you. Haha) Ledbetter!!! Our kids will not have those demons to battle! Oh and one last chain that probably the biggest…Opinion of Man!!! Just a little FYI, we love each one of our family and friends. You are very important to us and though we value your opinion to some degree, we have come to realize that we cannot base our decisions on where others think or feel what is best for us. We spend lots of time in prayer, fasting, and the word of God and we have to base our every decision of who He is and what He wants for our lives. I (and Jeremy) have spent most of my almost 30years on this earth concerned of what other’s think, what do they want me to do, will they be happy with my decision…blah, blah, blah. It’s exhausting and emotionally draining to be worried if everyone around you like or agrees with your decisions. But wow at the freedom that comes with only depending on God and whether or not He agrees. (If you have always battled with the Opinion of Man, I greatly!!!!!!!! Suggest that you ask God how to get away from it.) Anyhow…. Freedom, To Be… That’s where I am going with all this.
We have embarked on a great adventure in our lives. One of the very many we have had in the last 10 years. (Following God is fun, new adventures around every corner. Some scary but always turns out wonderful.) Jeremy as you know has gone back to school. After the last year of trying to get basic down and trying to head into the medical field of some sort, he is being lead down a completely different road. One that we are very excited about. One that we believe is best for him and for us as a family. He will be changing his focus to Barbering. He will be starting barber school this fall. His goal is to bring back the old time men’s barber shop. It has become a lost art of the past and is slowly dying with the pro’s. Yes big difference from where he was headed but after the past year of school and lots of prayer over the summer, we have realized this is the right road for us. We are very excited as to what the future holds for us. I have also just in the past week decided to go back to school! I am super excited. Never thought that I would be excited about going back to school but I am. And I think that comes from knowing that God is leading and where He leads, I will follow. I start school this month for the fall semester to get my Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. I will be able to teach preschool through third grade. Becoming a teacher has always been in the back of my mind since I was in high school but I have never pursued it much nor though much else about it. I have a good bit of credits and am looking at about 3 years or less left of school. I will be able to take all my classes online with the exception of a few. So this will still allow me to be at home with Jaxson til he starts kindergarten in a couple of years and be involved with the kids at school.
New changes as we round the last corner of this Finishing Season with God. (if you didn’t read the last blog, go!) It’s an exciting time and we look forward to what God is doing and where we are going! We love and thank each and every one of you who are a part of our support team. Thank you to those who pray with us and help us along this path that God has us on! You are vital to us! Please keep us in your prayers as we enter into this arena of our life. God Bless!!
We have embarked on a great adventure in our lives. One of the very many we have had in the last 10 years. (Following God is fun, new adventures around every corner. Some scary but always turns out wonderful.) Jeremy as you know has gone back to school. After the last year of trying to get basic down and trying to head into the medical field of some sort, he is being lead down a completely different road. One that we are very excited about. One that we believe is best for him and for us as a family. He will be changing his focus to Barbering. He will be starting barber school this fall. His goal is to bring back the old time men’s barber shop. It has become a lost art of the past and is slowly dying with the pro’s. Yes big difference from where he was headed but after the past year of school and lots of prayer over the summer, we have realized this is the right road for us. We are very excited as to what the future holds for us. I have also just in the past week decided to go back to school! I am super excited. Never thought that I would be excited about going back to school but I am. And I think that comes from knowing that God is leading and where He leads, I will follow. I start school this month for the fall semester to get my Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. I will be able to teach preschool through third grade. Becoming a teacher has always been in the back of my mind since I was in high school but I have never pursued it much nor though much else about it. I have a good bit of credits and am looking at about 3 years or less left of school. I will be able to take all my classes online with the exception of a few. So this will still allow me to be at home with Jaxson til he starts kindergarten in a couple of years and be involved with the kids at school.
New changes as we round the last corner of this Finishing Season with God. (if you didn’t read the last blog, go!) It’s an exciting time and we look forward to what God is doing and where we are going! We love and thank each and every one of you who are a part of our support team. Thank you to those who pray with us and help us along this path that God has us on! You are vital to us! Please keep us in your prayers as we enter into this arena of our life. God Bless!!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Finishing Season
Do you have a hard time finding time in your day to just get away with God? It seems the minute we roll out of bed, the day starts at a downward roll and we can’t stop til we fall into bed. Then we lay there, thinking of all the things we should have done. You know that long to do list that never seems to end or finished! Well in the beginning of June, Damon gave the word from the Lord that this is the Finishing Season. It’s time to finish up those things we keep putting off for God… You know what I mean…
The, “I am going to start tomorrow with my daily prayer and bible reading.” Yet tomorrow never comes. Or the “I am going to start tithing this next paycheck not matter what.” And then that check comes in and the unexpected bill comes and well we put it off. And there’s the “I am going to start fasting at least once a week.” And that one day comes and goes, and it never crosses your mind til either that night or the next morning. It seems chaos is all around us causing us to miss these little opportunities to receive from God. No time, stress, unorder…all these things are tricks of the devil. And it’s time to stop playing his games! It’s time to start making him play our game and us winning at this gift called life.
I am the world’s worst at putting everything off. Or making excuses. I have a husband and four kids and a house that always needs my attention and I can go on. I never put myself first. I feel weird if I do. Usually ends with a guilt trip and pity party. Haha. But the Lord has been whispering to me and I have to realize that my time with Him isn’t being selfish, it is a time for me to get refreshed and gain focus so that I can be the best for my family and those around me. It’s that time that I need to give Him because I have made Him Lord over my life! If it wasn’t for God, I wouldn’t have my wonderful husband and 4 beautiful babies. Nor the life I have and the breath I breathe each day. So why is it so hard to do what I must do?
And this is what I have come to conclusion…the devil knows how power God is, and His word, and my time with Him. He knows if I spend time with God that my family and my life, attitude, daily disorder, will be completely out of His reach. So he fights with all he has to take it away. And I am done letting him! It’s the finishing season! Its time I take my time back!!! It’s time that I stick to what I am going to do and instead of letting God down, letting the devil down! I can only rise higher when I do the things I have to do! I am on my way to the Land of milk and honey and no more manna!!(read Exodus though Joshua if you never have!)
I don’t want to be comfortable in my walk with God and get to heaven and realize I could have done and had so much more while on this earth! Or even look back at where I once was and wish I was still there. I want to go to church and have the person giving the word out, step on my toes so that I can change what needs to be changed and be challenged to be and do more for God!! Sure I can be a good Christian and just get by…but I want more! I want to see the sick healed, hospital emptied, the blind see and the lame walk! I want to see hair grow back on cancer patients at the touch of a hand because they are no longer sick! I want to see arms and legs grow back and eyes pop back into sockets! I want to see hospitals emptied because they were all healed! And I know that with these miracles, comes great responsibility
In Matthew 17, the disciples tried to heal a boy but cannot. And so they ask Jesus why can they do it. In verse 20 Jesus says, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” But the most important part of this is in found in verse 21…”However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” I don’t want to miss out on what I can be doing for God because of my lack of prayer and fasting! I believe that I can do all things through Christ but believing isn’t enough! I have to spend time praying and fasting!!!
So in this Finishing Season, I am not going to fool around any longer! It’s time to get everything in order and no more procrastination! I don’t know how many opportunities have passed me by before now but I sure don’t want to miss anymore!
If you want to know more about the Finishing Season, you can go to www.theramp.org and click on media…go back to June 12th’s message and watch every Sunday until today to see what God is saying. Or you can call the Ramp office at 205-921-0909 to get the messages on cd’s. It’s a great word!
Thanks and have a blessed day!!!!!
May God give you the grace to dig into His word daily and uninterrupted! I pray that you have a deep hunger for God and His word in your daily life! I pray that you are blessed beyond measure as you begin this journey with God!
The, “I am going to start tomorrow with my daily prayer and bible reading.” Yet tomorrow never comes. Or the “I am going to start tithing this next paycheck not matter what.” And then that check comes in and the unexpected bill comes and well we put it off. And there’s the “I am going to start fasting at least once a week.” And that one day comes and goes, and it never crosses your mind til either that night or the next morning. It seems chaos is all around us causing us to miss these little opportunities to receive from God. No time, stress, unorder…all these things are tricks of the devil. And it’s time to stop playing his games! It’s time to start making him play our game and us winning at this gift called life.
I am the world’s worst at putting everything off. Or making excuses. I have a husband and four kids and a house that always needs my attention and I can go on. I never put myself first. I feel weird if I do. Usually ends with a guilt trip and pity party. Haha. But the Lord has been whispering to me and I have to realize that my time with Him isn’t being selfish, it is a time for me to get refreshed and gain focus so that I can be the best for my family and those around me. It’s that time that I need to give Him because I have made Him Lord over my life! If it wasn’t for God, I wouldn’t have my wonderful husband and 4 beautiful babies. Nor the life I have and the breath I breathe each day. So why is it so hard to do what I must do?
And this is what I have come to conclusion…the devil knows how power God is, and His word, and my time with Him. He knows if I spend time with God that my family and my life, attitude, daily disorder, will be completely out of His reach. So he fights with all he has to take it away. And I am done letting him! It’s the finishing season! Its time I take my time back!!! It’s time that I stick to what I am going to do and instead of letting God down, letting the devil down! I can only rise higher when I do the things I have to do! I am on my way to the Land of milk and honey and no more manna!!(read Exodus though Joshua if you never have!)
I don’t want to be comfortable in my walk with God and get to heaven and realize I could have done and had so much more while on this earth! Or even look back at where I once was and wish I was still there. I want to go to church and have the person giving the word out, step on my toes so that I can change what needs to be changed and be challenged to be and do more for God!! Sure I can be a good Christian and just get by…but I want more! I want to see the sick healed, hospital emptied, the blind see and the lame walk! I want to see hair grow back on cancer patients at the touch of a hand because they are no longer sick! I want to see arms and legs grow back and eyes pop back into sockets! I want to see hospitals emptied because they were all healed! And I know that with these miracles, comes great responsibility
In Matthew 17, the disciples tried to heal a boy but cannot. And so they ask Jesus why can they do it. In verse 20 Jesus says, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” But the most important part of this is in found in verse 21…”However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” I don’t want to miss out on what I can be doing for God because of my lack of prayer and fasting! I believe that I can do all things through Christ but believing isn’t enough! I have to spend time praying and fasting!!!
So in this Finishing Season, I am not going to fool around any longer! It’s time to get everything in order and no more procrastination! I don’t know how many opportunities have passed me by before now but I sure don’t want to miss anymore!
If you want to know more about the Finishing Season, you can go to www.theramp.org and click on media…go back to June 12th’s message and watch every Sunday until today to see what God is saying. Or you can call the Ramp office at 205-921-0909 to get the messages on cd’s. It’s a great word!
Thanks and have a blessed day!!!!!
May God give you the grace to dig into His word daily and uninterrupted! I pray that you have a deep hunger for God and His word in your daily life! I pray that you are blessed beyond measure as you begin this journey with God!
Friday, July 1, 2011
Faith
I recently came across this word that God gave me a couple of years ago and thought I'd share it with you. :)
Mark 4:30-32
30 Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? 31 It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds,
32 but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.”
The word tells us that we need to have faith like a mustard seed. Matthew 17:20 ...“I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”
All we need is the faith the size of a mustard seed. It's the smallest seed you can plant but yet it grows larger than any other plant. Our faith, the size of a mustard seed, can produce results larger than we could ever imagine. Something so small produces the largest results with the correct amount of ingredients. God is the perfect ingredient to our faith. Have faith today and let God began to grow something amazing in your life today!! Wait for it...Wait for it. :)
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