Giving Thanks

When was I thankful today? Was it when my 7 year old started crying every 5 minutes because nothing was going his way? Was it when I took out my Turkey and couldn't find the "bag of contents" and discovered it was still partially frozen? It might have been when my 4.75 year old joined her 7 year old brother in the tears, just so he wouldn't feel alone. Was it when my 9 year old said, "mom, I've been good today right?" Then of course there was the moment my 10 year old decided that he had parental qualities and decided what was best for all of us. I was sure I had "thankfulness" written all over my face when I heard my husband ask..."hey, hon? When will the Turkey be done?"...Oh, yes for all these moments and more I was thankful.

It was a crazy day for the GORDY GANG...but when everything is stripped away and the noise of the day faded...I realized that we are all sinners that have the choice to be saved by grace. I love the verse found in Thessalonians...it says:
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

I don't know where the day finds you...I pray that at some point you are able to pause and Give Thanks to Jesus Christ for who He is...for His Grace and Redemption, because really, when we realize who we are without a Savior...we cannot help but GIVE THANKS every moment of every day.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD!

Wow! What an amazing time in our Country! As a Born Again Believer, I know with all confidence that God is in control of all my tomorrows...He has not changed, nor will He ever change, He does not sleep nor does He slumber. I have friends who call themselves "Liberal Christians" and friends who are "die hard conservatives" I myself was praying for a candidate who would protect life from conception...I just can't wrap my head around women who would chose to kill their children? It bewilders my mind.

I know this, God has established the Governing Authorities, He has called us to submit...Romans 13! I will be praying that our new President Elect is obedient to God's leading...that He acknowledges His Creator and humbles himself to walk in His ways, and that as God's people we will continue to live out loud for THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE and shine brightly for all to see, that they would come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior...Redeemer and Restorer.

It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

Today was one of those Picture Perfect Beautiful Days. Our family went to the pumpkin patch after school...now this is a Gordy tradition going on 10 years. We drove up to the patch, got out of the van, picked out our wagon and walked into the rows and rows of pumpkins. What struck me as we walked was how beautiful they all looked...the sun was shining on their glorious sunrise orange skin...miles and miles of beauty. However as soon as one got close to the pumpkins, another story unfolded. Some were rotting in spots, others were overcome with insects (yuk)...others were falling apart. There were only a handful of real beauties to speak of.
As we continued walking, I pondered the wonder of it all, what seems so beautiful was really a deception to the eye...how much of the world works the same way? The world shows us "beautiful things" tempting us to want and feel as if we need...but really it's a trick of the eye...
The Word of God tells us that we may look on the outside of things, people...but God looks at the heart!
I want to strive to live my life as an example of Jesus...whoa is it hard sometimes...the Bible tells us that the road is narrow, wide is the road that leads to destruction. It seems that the more we walk in the Word, the more we long to be like our Savior...that the things we once thought beautiful will fade and that only the foundation of who Jesus is will remain beautiful beyond description.

More than a Feeling

Are you the kind of person who wants to be liked by everyone, only to feel frustrated when a handful of people just don't seem to click with you? I must confess that I struggle with this from time to time. I want to be liked, no one really wants to be disliked...do they? I have people in my life, for whatever reason that just don't like me...I find myself questioning what I ever did to deserve their "dislike" towards me...then someone grand told me to GET OVER IT and say WHO CARES...very freeing words aren't they? See, here's the scoop...there will always be people who don't like you...for whatever reason...LET IT GO...the good news is this: Jesus told us to come to Him "just as we are"...He is the one worth living for not those around us...If we keep our eyes fixed on Him (Heb 12:2) then we can see that it does not matter if we are liked or disliked...as long as we can keep living a life that exemplifies our Savior~it's all good~ So...love others as you love yourself and live out the Good News of Jesus!!!

World Wide

Hello from rainy Wyoming! I have to say; that today was one of those GREAT days(yes, even though the Vikings lost). We had the privilege of hearing from Sergei at our church. He is from Ukraine. He told us about how he lived his life in rebellion choosing the things of the world, he ended up in prison and it was there that he surrendered his heart to Jesus...I was reminded again about how truly AMAZING our God is and that the POWER of HIS REDEMPTION is AWESOME!!! We are called to live our lives out loud for Jesus, to be light in this crazy dark world...LET'S GO SHINE!!!

Til next time...

Kids Rock

This is Soooo Funny! I laughed so hard, I hope you will too. Someone from Church turned us onto this Very Gifted and Funny guy :0)

Enjoy

Man!

So I tried to fix the way I spelled Portugal twice now...so sorry to anyone from Portugal who may be reading this

Spelling Bee

So, I realized that I DID NOT spell check my blog...you have probably realized the same thing by now...so, enjoy the many errors...especially the way I spelled Portugue

Queen For A Day

Hi Everyone!!! If there is anyone who still reads this??? Car 54 Where Are You???

Okay...This is a before shot of the Rockin' Band that went to Detroit...We had such a blast!!! Way more fun than anyone over 30 should have :0) We played for "Live Karoke"...that was the only way to do Karoke...and then on Saturday Night we played a 2 hour show. There were people who came from California, Texas, Canada, Portugue...and other places just to see Gary and Jesse...

Jesse is the one with long hair...He is a ROCK STAR...he plays with a fan in front of him because it gets hot on stage...so he's playing and his hair is flying and people are screaming Jeeeeesssseeee...Gary has a fan in front of him as well, but it just doesn't have the same effect :0) I have to say that Gary is pretty AMAZING as well...Definately been given some gifts!!!

There may be an mp3 coming or you tube so keep watching!

And remember-when you least expect it- WE WILL ROCK YOU!

Live or Die...That is the Question

Hi All!

Have you ever seen your life flash before your eyes??? Well on Saturday I did! Some friends of mine came down to Iowa to sing and play at SONFEST...it was a blast!!! We drove 4 hours to play 30 minutes...some would call that crazy, we just called it FUN...however on the drive home storms came and the rains were blinding...winds were around 70 mph...but did we pull over...oh no...you see our driver had a "important" event to get back for... Matty D was driving...now he is a great guy...Janel and I were riding...me in the back, and let me just say for a control freak, not a great place to be sitting :-)
We passed cars that were smart and pulled over...the radio reports were to stay out of the storms...but we persevered...I have never prayed harder and I believe Janel had to close her eyes...I have had a good life...but I could not believe that THIS was how I was going to die :0)

The funny part came after we ended up in St.Paul, the storm was over, we survived!...Matt looked at Janel and me and said..."It was pretty bad wasn't it...???" HELLO MCFLY!!!
So...live today as if it were your last...love hard, laugh lots and make your eternal destination secure in Jesus...

Til next we blog again,
Wendy

Fireworks and Freedom

Hey Everyone!

Hope your 4th of July was great...We were in the Forest Lake Parade. It was beyond CRAZY!!! We decided to give beach balls to everyone...they were definitely a HIT:0)

The Gordy Gang (that's us) enjoyed spectacular fireworks over Forest Lake~It was a grand day!!!

...but you know me...I can't help but think of the freedom we celebrate and the great cost of it. We are so thankful and grateful for the men and women who are serving our country as we speak, and for the generations previous who so greatly sacrificed...Words just don't seem adequate...may we never take our freedom for granted!

But even greater still is the sacrifice that took place on a hill called Calvary...where Jesus died for all mankind...Those who place their trust in Him and choose to live for Him...there is NO GREATER FREEDOM than being saved from ourselves.

The word of God says this:
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36

Celebrate the freedom we can have in Christ when He becomes our Savior!!!

Now, I must go and help the chillin's get into bed so that we can all be ready for a Wonderful Sunday at the Brook...

Soooo, I've been thinking about FOUNDATION'S lately...What with this crazy weather we've been having. The Tornado's and the Floods. It has been amazing to see the homes covered by water or completely gone from the winds. I started wondering how it is in our lives...where does our foundation lay? This life is filled with unknown moments and unexpected events. Jesus is talking about this in Matthew, Chapter 7:


The Wise and Foolish Builders
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Matthew 7:24-29

Just before this passage, Jesus had been talking about the "Narrow and the Wide gate" and about how our lives should bear fruit if we are rooted in Him. So I write this with hope, because even though we do not know what tomorrow holds, Jesus does and the Bible tells us that He has overcome this crazy world in which we live....so lets lift up our heads, fix our eyes on Jesus and lay our foundation in the strength of our Savior!

A Little Rough

Hello to the one who reads this :0)

I just purchased a "Rocket" which is a personal blender system...I was so excited to come home and make a great smoothie!!! I made something alright, but it was not smoothie :0(

So, I am looking for help from any of you health nuts that have some great and fun recipes for smoothies...this is not a profound blog, nothing deep about it, just want some good eats!!!

Please be in prayer for Steven and Mary Beth as well as their children in the time of this unexpected and tragic loss of their beautiful little girl Maria. Be praying for their son Will Franklin who was driving the vehicle that hit his sister. This is the video that the Chapman family posted on their website...it was taken just 2 months ago.

Rainy days on Monday...

Yes, it's raining outside...but I couldn't help but think of these lyrics to a Mercy Me song called BRING THE RAIN...The rain can be hard to endure but it's life-giving...I know so many who are facing circumstances they would have never dreamed...circumstances that are not anyones choice to face...but Paul reminds us to be joyful in the good and bad (1 Th 5:18)...and Jesus tells us that He will never forsake us! (Heb 13:5-6)


I can count a million times
People asking me how
I Can praise You with all that
I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings
You glory And I know there'll
be days When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to
praise You Jesus, bring the rain

I am yours regardless of the clouds that may
loom above because you are much greater than
my pain you who made a way for me suffering
your destiny so tell me whats a little rain

Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
is the lord God almighty
is the lord God almighty
I'm forever singing

To all the Marvelous Moms!

Brad shared this at our staff meeting...Very Cute! It should put a big smile on your face. Keep running the race moms-We are leaving a legacy for our little dreamers...Enjoy your day!!!

May Day

So, I realize that a good blog is one with many updates and thoughts...I like to keep things simple, you know, one or 2 really great thoughts a month :0)
I will try to do better!

So here is a survey for you...There was a study recently where "they" found that receiving a compliment was just as good as receiving a gift of money in the work place. They have found that the brain responds the same...HUH...So~ Would you rather receive a nice compliment from your boss OR a nice gift card, or bonus???

I know my answer what's yours???

Ultimate Dad Song by SCC

If you know me at all, you know Steven Curtis Chapman is my FAVORITE artist. Jeff and I saw him in concert back in Feb of this year. Enjoy the song and spend a few more moments with your little girls :0)

We arrived at church the other day by 8am, my husband had been there since 7. As our 4 yr old daughter got out of the van she heard her daddy say hi to someone, she couldn't see him yet but she went running and said..."that's my daddy's voice, I know my daddy's voice" She ran with abandon to her father. I thought to myself as I veiwed this moment that we as children of a Heavenly Father should be just as thrilled to "run" to the call of His voice. There is a little book in the Bible called Zephania and in vs 17 it says this; The Lord Your God is with you, He is Mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. How cool is that?!? Our God is singing over us in every aspect of our lives...New day by New day.



How great would it be to pursue the heart of God in such a deep way that we know His voice?
The book of John, in the 10th chapter, talks about how Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and how the sheep respond to Him because they know His voice!


Let's run with hearts that are free and abandoned of fear. God tells us that we can approach him boldly and with confidence. That is a tremendous promise from a Living, Personal Savior.