MISSION of Mazes, Messes, Miracles...aMazing Grace

COME and JOIN THE BLOG TOUR...see other's BLOG MISSION by visiting

Becoming Me

I chose this Bible verse to be the Mission of my writing a blog:

Isaiah 61

The Year of the LORD's Favor

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
5 Aliens will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
6 And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God.

You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast.
7 Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.
8 "For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity. In my faithfulness I will reward them and make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples.

All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed."

10 I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow,

so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

=========================================================

MISSION

You may have read Isaiah 61 thinking, how is she planning to do this as her

Blog Mission???

I am hoping that by sharing my life journey, the MAZES I have wandered...the MESSES that I have made or been through...would result in MIRACLES of Christ working in and through me to whomever would pass this way or whichever way I may be led to through this blog world. I would like to share an encouraging WORD along the way to touch others for Christ with the love and compassion that HE shows me daily and HIS GOOD NEWS: if HE can do this for me, HE can do this for YOU! There is HOPE in CHRIST JESUS through HIS aMAZING GRACE!

My original idea was to take one facet of my life journey and reach people going through similar circumstances but I decided that it was more important to share the composite of me, and my many facets just as they honestly are...day by day...experience of the past, present and future,

in hopes that I may do exactly what Isaiah 61 encourages me to BE and DO! For I have been in many of the situations of this chapter...and believe that His aMazing Grace has seen me through them and HE has used many people along my life journey to DO as Isaiah 61 says.

Allow me the humble honor to meet you along the WAY and share what THE LORD is doing for you & for me as we learn from each other! In this way, we will bless each other's life and encourage each other in Christ Jesus through tears or laughter, through pain or gain, through prayer and study of His Word and His transforming power and grace! This is not for me but HIM! I will seek HIM and pray each step along my way of "blogging"!

I would like to use this as an EVANGELISM tool for assisting others but it seems that it is more a Christian fellowship place for me to be blessed by others, as I am away from my HOME Church...it serves to keep me in touch with believing Christian women advancing the kingdom of God through journaling and finding ways to lift and encourage one another along the way through their words, songs, studies, prayers, teachings, and Christian ideas.

It is a venture and adventure together!

The seeds planted along my journey in me and by me will grow a garden I pray and be a sweet fragrance to my Lord Jesus Christ for His Glory! I hope either my writings or comments will do

this for whoever may read Mazes, Messes, & Miracles...aMazing Grace!

I pray that I may bless you as OUR LORD blesses me thru my Mission as we accomplish Christ's Mission TOGETHER!

My Purpose for Living

~Christ Jesus~

BE GLORIFIED

With ALL my LOVE and ALL of me...

I remain Your Servant, Your Vessel

...Use me Lord...

"Mazmagi"

Peggy

In closing of my Blog Photo at the top it reads:

REVELATION 21:4

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

What is YOUR Purpose for your BLOG?

You have all week from July 13th-18th to write one and join us

Be sure to visit BECOMING ME for info to Link your Blog & Mission!

and see the BLOG MISSION TOUR

IF JESUS CHRIST can DO this for me,

bring me through the many MAZES,

fix up or rescue me from the MESSES,

and allow MIRACLES

by HIS aMAZING GRACE...

HE CAN & WILL DO this for YOU!

Just TRUST Him!

or come along with me

through my Blog Adventure

and hopefully you will see-

HE is this & MORE!

MAZE, MESS & MIRACLE MONDAY

IN THE OLAS ALTAS which means "HIGH WAVES" here in Mexico~


Footprints In The Sand sung by Leona Lewis

You walked with me
Footprints in the sand
And helped me understand
Where I'm going

You walked with me
When I was all alone
With so much unknown
Along the way

And just when I
I thought I'd lost my way
You gave me strength to carry on
That's when I heard you say


I promise you
I'm always there
When your heart is filled with sorrow
And despair

And I'll carry you
When you need a friend
You'll find my footprints in the sand
When I'm weary
Well I know you'll be there
Cause I can feel you
When you say

I promise you
I'm always there
When your heart is filled with sadness and despair
Oh, I'll carry you
When you need a friend
You'll find my footprints in the sand
(choir)
When your heart is full of sadness and despair
I'll carry you
When you need a friend

I promise you
I'm always there
When you need a friend
You'll find my footprints
In the sand

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is what the Lord has been speaking to me.

I have always loved this poem:

"FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND"
Without going into specifics so as not to lay blame or shame,

back when I came to Mazatlan in 1996,

-which was my second trip-

this POEM became a reality and a cry to the Lord

in a deep and depressed prayer to God from me.

My heart was indeed overwhelmed

and though I wasn't lost- I knew the Lord,

I could not overcome the "rut" I felt my life was in

...and had little hope for living any longer.

It was during Easter week, the week preceding Easter known in Mexico as

"Semana Santa" Holy Week.

I had been to Mazatlan in 1995 as a tourist with my adopted son, and his friend. And felt I had heard the Lord speak to me and call me there. But in 1996 when I returned, I was very burned out, exhausted and hopeless after a very serious medical crisis with our adopted daughter, which I dealt with alone, like a single parent for 6 months of life-making decisions, except for the fact that my church family gathered around me

and that they did much beyond the call of duty.

So when I came to Mazatlan, I was really searching "alone" about what was my purpose for living.

It looked to me like I had failed at everything:my marriage, my job(s), "motherhood"...

I so longed to be with the Lord yet I knew that would not happen if I took it into my own hands again...

I walked along the beach, along the Mazatlan coast many times, but on Good Friday, when I walked, I cried out to God:

"Give me a reason to go on living..."

And I watched as I walked how the waves rescinded and there were no footprints in the sand.

And so I cried out again...

"Look, Lord...not even now, when I'm at my lowest do I see you walking with me. I don't even see my own steps-they are just as washed out as I am, the waves come crashing in against the rocks, rippling along the sand, not leaving a trace of my steps, not even like my favorite poem, so even You have given up on me...

I could walk out into those waves and never be missed, the current will pull me under and someday I'll wash up on the shore somewhere."

Please, Lord, just show me You care! Give me Your Purpose, for me to go on living".  I was very much without HOPE and saw very little purpose left in my life. I saw no resolution for my problem(s), in fact, I was told that I was the problem.

YET

Our Lord was ALWAYS THERE

HE IS ALWAYS THERE!

He doesn't give up on us

He's just waiting for you

to notice how much He cares.

I don't know WHY I decided to share this

except

to let you know

THERE IS HOPE

in Christ JESUS!

HIS PROMISES & HIS WORD

ARE TRUE!

I walked through many MAZES like this one above throughout my life,

I caused many MESSES and many MESSES caused me undue stress,

heartache and desperation,

but I am alive and living for Jesus,

a PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE,

a MIRACLE of

HIS aMAZING GRACE!

FOR
"I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

Tuesday of TRIBUTE to TWINS(Part 3)RACHEL

TWIN TRIBUTE

RACHEL

&

ROSS

2008's GREAT GRADS!

BEAR WITH ME RACHEL...YOUR PART is COMING...Meanwhile

NEVER LET GO...HOLD ON
STAY FULL OF SPIRIT

And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened... and Rachel said, God has taken away my reproach” -Genesis 30:22-23

You were not named after Rachel in the Bible though you are as BEAUTIFUL as she! YOU are named in memory of a precious little Rachel...who resides with the angels!

RACHEL - a name easy to agree upon!

MY TRIBUTE TO

RACHEL RAE

The name Rachel is of Hebrew origin (Rachil) meaning "ewe, a female sheep".

Jesus Christ is known as the "lamb of God" yet many biblical passages shows Him also as our Shepherd. Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own and mine own know me...and I lay down my life for my sheep." (John 10:14). The poor man's one little EWE lamb is a vivid image of a treasure.

So, my little "ewe" RACHEL...YOU are not only a precious lamb but a treasure!Our Lord has called you to minister as a nurse. You have selected this purpose to pursue next year in an accredited nursing program. The 5 characteristics most wanted in a nurse are in your name acroynm below. These are what I've seen exemplified in YOU! How much more your parents, your family and friends must see! So I know Our Heavenly Father has placed these traits in you to blossom and use for His Glory!

R READY for THE RACE, focused & dedicated R RESPONSIBLE

A AMICABLE, AMBITIOUS, ASSERTIVE..........A ATHENA AWARD WINNER

C CARING, COMPASSIONATE, COMMITTED...E EXCELS in SPORTS

H HELPING, HEALTH CONSCIOUS, HOME LOVING

E ENERGETIC, EMPATHETIC, EXCELLENCE

L LOVING & LOYAL & LIKEABLE

RACHEL was selected this year as the recipient of the ATHENA AWARD!

This award goes to an outstanding female athlete in individual or team sports.

Rachel excels in both!

"Rachel is the captain of the track team and is a three-year letter winner. She has been to state two years running in the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays. She has been All-Section in 2005, 2006 and 2007, while receiving All-State in 2006 and 2007. She was also captain of the 2007 soccer team and a two-time letter winner. She also played basketball receiving two letters.

Academically, she has been on the 'A' honor roll every year since seventh grade. Rachel has maintained a 4.0 grade point average throughout junior and senior high school and has lettered in academics in 2006 and 2007."

Rachel's Favorite Quote:

"Where there is great love there are always miracles."

After reading through all of Rachel's awards, honors, activities, positions of leadership and services, one can certainly tell that RACHEL has been given great love by parents who believe in her and in ROSS.

BECAUSE THEY BOTH HAVE RISEN TO GREAT EXPECTATIONS!

They have been motivated to go to a new level!

RACHEL & ROSS

had people around them that recognized their POTENTIAL,watered that seed planted with much positive reinforcement and encouragement,listened to their DREAMS,

saw their God given attributes

so that now they both will step forward

and

make those DREAMS a REALITY!

RACHEL'S FAVORITE SONG "If We Are The Body..." was in my Sat. post TSMS so here's another one

LOVE THEM LIKE JESUS!
by Casting Crown

The love of her life is drifting away

They’re losing the fight for another day

The life that she’s known is falling apart

A fatherless home, a child’s broken heart

You’re holding her hand, you’re straining for words

You trying to make - sense of it all

She’s desperate for hope, darkness clouding her view

She’s looking to you Just love her like Jesus, carry her to Him

His yoke is easy, His burden is light

You don’t need the answers to all of life’s questions

Just know that He loves her and stay by her side

Love her like Jesus Love her like Jesus

The gifts lie in wait, in a room painted blue

Little blessing from Heaven would be there soon

Hope fades in the night, blue skies turn to grey

As the little one slips away

You’re holding their hand, you’re straining for words

You’re trying to make sense of it all

They’re desperate for hope, darkness clouding their view

They’re looking to you

Just love them like Jesus, carry them to Him

His yoke is easy, His burden is light

You don’t need the answers to all of life’s questions

Just know that He loves them and stay by their side

Love them like Jesus

Lord of all creation holds our lives in His hands

The God of all the nations holds our lives in His hands

The Rock of our salvation holds our lives in His hands

He cares for them just as He cares for you

So love them like Jesus, love them like Jesus

You don’t need the answers to all of life’s questions

Just know that He loves them and stay by their side

Love them like Jesus Love them like Jesus

Rachel - As a nurse, wife and mother that's what you'll do!

Ross - with your creative side and sales/marketing,

YOU ARE WINNERS!

I BELIEVE IN YOU

and

ALL YOUR GOD-GIVEN POTENTIAL

just

WAITING

to

EXPLORE and EXPLODE

CARRIE & DALE

You as parents have raised them well,

and should be commended also for their excellence !

“Train a TWIN in the way they should go and when they are old they shall not depart from it.”

Proverbs 22:6.

and also

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-8

I AM IMPRESSED & HONORED

TO

CONGRATULATE

ROSS & RACHEL

on a job well...

started

All your accomplishments are but "dust in the wind"

if you just let them

sit on a shelf or

don't use them for a purpose driven life

designed by

the Almighty Father

ONLY FOR YOU

PUT A SMILE ON HIS FACE

GIVE HIM THANKS

& PRAISE!

YOU ARE HIS MASTERPIECE

But YOU have "only just begun"...

Proverbs 11:28 tells us " a life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump;

God-shaped life is a flourishing tree. (Msg)

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. "

Jeremiah 17:7-8

Tuesday of TRIBUTE to TWINS (Part Two) ROSS

ROSS & RACHEL

I've avoided putting your names in this order so you wouldn't be confused with...
as your mom put it "the famous ones" (but I didn't even know them) from ...

Words to I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU...by Rembrandts (Theme Song)

So no one told you life was gonna be this way
Your jobs a joke, you're broke, your love life's D.O.A.
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
And it hasn't been your day, your week, your month,or even your year
but..I'll be there for you
When the rain starts to pour
I'll be there for you
Like I've been there before
I'll be there for you
'Cuz you're there for me too...You're still in bed at ten
And work began at eight
You've burned your breakfast
So far... things are goin' great
Your mother warned you there'd be days like these
Oh but she didn't tell you when the world has brought
You down to your knees that...I'll be there for you
When the rain starts to pour
I'll be there for you
Like I've been there before
I'll be there for you
'Cuz you're there for me too...No one could ever know me
No one could ever see me
Seems you're the only one who knows
What it's like to be me
Someone to face the day with
Make it through all the rest with
Someone I'll always laugh with
Even at my worst I'm best with you, yeah
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
And it hasn't been your day, your week, your month,or even your year...
I'll be there for you
When the rain starts to pour
I'll be there for you
Like I've been there before
I'll be there for you'
Cuz you're there for me too...I'll be there for you
I'll be there for you
I'll be there for you'Cuz you're there for me too...

Theme song from "FRIENDS"
*********************************************************************

But since you were born before this show started...YOU deserve THIS TRIBUTE!!!

Ross & Rachel

Though we don't really know each other that well because as you were growing up,
I was here in Mexico, as I said...and as this song so beautifully says "I'll Be There For You".

I was not "there for YOU" but YOUR Mom & Dad have been there for you and always will be.
But more than they, and all your wonderful family...JESUS will be there for YOU!

And I have a special line of communication with HIM and HIS WORD through prayer,
so in that way, I have been there for you!

Though the years from Kindergarten to 12th grade have now gone by, and it would seem that because we have not really spent time together or communicated much that I don't know you all that well. But that isn't so. I do know your mother and father, your grandparents, your aunts and uncles ... and because of them, I know YOU! What I didn't know, I recently learned by reading about YOU both. I'm sure that by knowing them and reading about you that I still have much I could learn about YOU! I will try my best to convey the truths I have learned in this

TRIBUTE TO YOU

Let me draw a comparison! Just like I wrote above about YOU

we don't know Our Heavenly Father.

So He sent us HIS SON, Jesus Christ.

Much has been written about Him

from different points of view.

But the Holy Bible

was written so that we might learn

HIS CHARACTER

to be like HIM

in ALL we do

because

we were created in HIS IMAGE!

I can READ HIS WORD & should daily

TO KNOW HIM BETTER.

But if I don't stay in touch

through PRAYER & FELLOWSHIP,

I will loose out on knowing HIM better.

I will miss out on a chance of a lifetime!

The time will pass

before my eyes

like it has with you

and

it will be time "to graduate"-move ahead!

I will have to depend on what I can read

to catch up quickly.

But

as if I had been there each year!

MY TRIBUTE

TO

ROSS

Your name is Scottish or Gaelic in origin for either males or females.

There is much more history on it as a last name (like your cousins).

It's meaning is "headland, cape"or "bluff, cliff".
A place in Scotland has that name.

It may also be derived from the Gaelic word for "red".

There are 4 variants of the name: Rosse, Rossell, Rossiter, Rosston.

Ross was a popular male name in the 1990 census.

Perhaps that's why when your mom's work had the contest

to name the other twin

ROSS

was chosen!

R Reliable, Responsible or Reasonable

O Observative for creative objects & Optimistic

S Sales oriented and knowledgeable; takes a Stand

S Sports minded and active

That's who you are, from what I can see!

Your Favorite Quote:

"Stand up for what you believe in

even if it means standing alone"

Your Favorite Song:

Rock/Grunge

"Fall on Me" by Fuel

I posted this last Saturday,[though it wasn't a big hit I'm sure it's because it wasn't understood or the style others like]but I liked it and posted it! And it doesn't matter 'cause it's your song
and as your quote says

"STAND"

By the way, there is only

ONE HOMECOMING KING

2007-2008

Senior class

with the great name

ROSS

You have chosen to attend University of Wisconsin Stout (where your mom went) with a unique major: Packaging. Here's what you wrote:

"I chose my major because it is a unique major. I have a creative side to me. I have always been interested in drawing, creating objects such as cartoon books, posters, ceramic and paper containers. I have a basic mathematical aptitude that can partner with my creative side and sales ability. For the past couple of years, I have taken a lot of interest in packaging and design. My high school marketing teacher is a Stout graduate so she planted the seed. Through my high school class in Marketing, I realized I could combine my creative abilities with my interest in marketing and sales. I learned that designing/producing packaging for a product is a fundamental factor to the success of marketing a product."

I guess for me, from your own words,

THAT says it all.

You are a hard worker and you have vision. You are creative!

I BELIEVE IN YOU!

May God grant YOU the desires of your heart!

Once more, I am going to break to tell you MORE about the other

TWIN of my TRIBUTE

at my next post

SO

STAY TUNED or COME BACK SOON

for

(PART 3)

on

RACHEL

RACHEL & ROSS: I BELIEVE in YOU!