Be the message

I get so tiered of encountering mean Christians. Look, we can't continue to be a bunch of babies, that go to church 3 or more times a week and have no idea how to represent God out in public or towards others. The fruits of the spirit are Love, joy, peace, patients, kindness , goodness, faithfulness, self control. If you are a Christian, then all those should be real attributes of your daily self. All the fruits come out of love and if you learn how to walk in love, think more about what you can do for others instead of yourself, you'll have so much joy, you won't know what to do with it.  John 13:34 , A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

I remember reading a quote from an early Latin writer named Tertullian of Carthage,I know very little about Tertullian , which is why I included a link to wikipedia but I do remember him being quoted as saying, "That the one thing that converted him to Christianity was not the arguments they gave him, because he could find a counterpoint for every argument they would present but rather it was what they demonstrated something I didn't have. The thing that converted me to Christianity was the way that they loved each other,"  Now that saying so much and I often think, If he encountered some of the people i know would he feel the same or would he walk away with his counterpoints?

Folks, please don't just give preach the message be the message.

I love you and have a very blessed and wonderful day.

Anna Marie.

Superman Live here....

Keep Silent, Keep Sweet, Keep Steppin

I love this poem so much. As a child I was given this poem to memorize by my great Aunt Opal.  She was always such a wise women.


Keep Silent - Keep Sweet - Keep Stepping
Keep silent when rumours about you are stirred
When friendship is hurt like a broken winged bird
When clamours your heart for it's right to be heard

Keep Silent - Keep Sweet - Keep Stepping

Keep sweet when provoked by some petty affair
By those whom you love or your loyality wares
When the milk of your spirit is curled with care

Keep Silent- Keep Sweet - Keep Stepping

Keep stepping when other folks hinder your way
When your weary and tired at the close of the day
Too footsore to run, too weary to pray

Keep Silent- Keep Sweet - Keep Stepping

Keep silent and you'll save yourself needless regret
Keep sweet and you'll have the whole world in your
debt
Keep stepping...God's spirit is within you,over
you,underneath you,and all around you... the truest
friend you've met

Keep Silent- Keep Sweet - Keep Stepping

Unknown

Released.....

God is soooooooooooo Amazing! I just got a call that was so refreshing.

Have you ever had something on you heart for a long time but for whatever reason, you sit on it, instead of taking to the Lord? I am guilty. For over a year, I've been holding on to the familiar, staying in my comfort zone but because I was not where the Lord wanted me, my comfort zone, was in no way comfortable. The Lord had given me specific instructions about a certain situation and I basally did some but not all of it. Guess what... it doesn't work that way. It's either all or nothing.

"See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse -- the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known" (Deuteronomy 11:26-28). 

About four month ago, the conviction was so strong on the matter, that I just broke down and went to the Lord and asked for forgiveness and to please grant me the strength to follow through. Also about that time, we started a study on Prayer in school, it was such a magnificent study. It taught the when, how, why, the ins and the outs and so much more. I started applying it and our life as a family, started to change in big ways. I've always prayed but nothing like I do now.  Along with my new prayer life, came even more revelations about myself and everything around me.  What Ive learned, I've not only applied to my life but have been sharing with others and my children. I have to say for the first time, my children now pray openly, with me and by themselves. I can't tell you how amazing it is to hear them in their room, off to themselves, talking with the Lord. Of course, when you have an amazing prayer life, you ushering in an amazing praise Life as well. We, get our Praise on in the Patterson household. lol

So, tonight I received a call and the call, completely released me of all the Lord showed me to move away from. I know they thought I was absolutely bonkers because I busted out laughing, even caught myself off guard but I couldn't help it. It was a serious, WOW moment. This last month, the Lord has really been working , moving, showing out on the behalf of me, my families and friends. He has also been using me to minister, pray and be of service to those in need or just need help, doors have been open, networking continue to fall in my lap.  JUST WOW! Lord I Praise You!!!

I am more than thrilled to embark on this next leg of my journey. I'm so excited ! The kids start school, in a few weeks and I'm finishing up my last few classes, to only start school back up, when they do.We will be traveling and studying together. I plan on enjoying every min of it because the Lord, will surely be with us on every single leg of our journey. I have to say as well. I'm excepting great things to happen as we go as well.

Tonight, I've been release, Praise God and will keep my eyes from now on where they were supposed to be all along, on The Lord and His perfect will in and over our Life.I want what the Lord has shown me is to be mine , if I life of full service to Him.

Here I go again being happy

Elijah made his first, sugar free chocolate pie today all on his own. Didn't ask for help, didn't want help when I offered, loving these moments. His pie turned out quite lovely ... I'd share a picture but it's almost gone and I had absolutely nothing to do with it because I think PIE, all PIE is yuck! Arianna, on the other hand has gone garden crazy, she is driving me crazy( in a funny way) looking over everyone's shoulder, so she can collect the grounds, peels, skins or seeds of anything you may be eating or drinking. Did I mentions, she has talked gardening, non stop today? Oh no, well guess what, SHE HAS TALKED GARDENING ALL DAY. lol and Miss Tiara, is the best hang out buddy ever. I love our little sneak out mother and daughter days.She is always such a pleasure to be with and very humorous to boot. So her and I spent the day taking care of errands and tying up loose end before we take off. Then to have all three of then in class with me tonight along with one of my besties, was just the icing on the cake( cake, which is also yuck,lol). From start to finish this day has been good.

I know, I know, here I go again, being Ms. Positive Pansy, AGAIN but I ask, what do I have to be sad about? I could have wrote this instead:

Today I woke up and was still so sleepy, but i somehow managed to pull myself out of bed anyways. I made breakfast but manged to somehow ruin my favorite muffin dish, baking eggs for breakfast. I'll never ever be able to replace that pan, because it's discontinued. Then I had to drag my son out of the bed so we could go have the truck serviced and it cost me and ARM and a LEG..................

I don't care to even go on folks with all that negative stuff and although there is truth to all situations I typed. I only care to dwell on the events of the day that will bring about continued joy in my life, I see it as a much needed maintenance plan, if you will. The word of God says "Love life, and see good days" (1 Peter 3:10). I happen to love my life in all it's ups and downs, in all it's ins and outs I simply love my life. Many years of my past were spent in the down dark doldrums of life. I don't know if you know what a Doldrum is but it's a dull, listless, depressed mood: causing one to be low in spirits and I represented myself so very well. When I finally had enough, I started to climb up and out and upon doing so I found myself in valley. While I was climbing, I couldn't have told you what I was after, where I was going or what I was going to encounter, when I got there( where??) but I can tell you I was seeking, longing for something different. I felt as though, something or someone was calling me. Battered and beaten, I landed in My Valley ( another blog) and finally it was there, while living in a Salvation Army, age 25 I had my first real and audible, encounter with the Lord. Yes, I've been in church all my life but I only knew of God, as if He were a friend, of a friend, of a friend. Even then my first real encounter left me hope in the form of a small flickers of light that came and went which each passing breeze. One day I'd see it, the next I didn't and it went on that way for years but I never let go, even though in the back of my mind, I still had the enemy, attacking me at every turn. One of the biggest lies, he had me believing is that, I wasn't good enough for God for all my efforts, in the end I was still hell bound. Praise God I've always been a fighter and a stubborn one at that.lol I started saying to the devil, most times with tears in my eyes..." So what, I may not make it but I can at least help others make it( WOW RIGHT? but that the enemies job to place doubt 2 Corinthians: 11).

Ok, now this was not intentionally supposed to be a long blog but things flow out or I feel compelled to share,lol . So let me close it out. I just wanted to make this point, For years I allowed the enemy to steal my joy and notice I said. I ALLOWED it. When I finally caught on to something not being right, the peices just weren't fitting together.The life I was at least trying to live( lukewarm), wasn't inline with what the Bible said, or The God I claimed to be serving. I myself was not a true representation of God but I did a dandy job of representing my life as a listless wonder. When I started seeking after the Lord, regardless of my life , situation or circumstance, My Life Changed! I became Happy without effort, even when my day is full of effort. I asked the Lord for joy and He indeed gifted it to me and it's up to me to maintain it daily.  


As of late, I've been attacked because of always being happy. I've been told everything from, it's not real, I'm hiding something, I'm mocking others,It's annoying, to the latest... It's demonic( OUCH! and that comes from those who say they also love the Lord, ekkk!). The truth is, my daily life is extremely busy, no matter what time I go to sleep, if I go to sleep, my day starts at 4:30 a.m. I'm always on the go and have a constant mountain of work on and off the field. I'm almost always sleepy, most days wake up achy because I fall asleep at my desk, on my floor while studying and get up with crooks and whatnots,lol This does not include, school, homeschooling, and helping friends , family and prefect strangers in need... or... Dat ta da daaaa... Ministry. but you know what? I love every min of it and I thank and Praise god for choosing me and He knows better than I , the plan of my future and that just keeps me HAP HAP HAPPY!!! 

 Please never ask me to change ( not that i would for you anyways,lol, just being honest), I love who the Lord is making me and how he is using me.


Be blessed ,