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From the book: PRAYER, Finding the Heart's True Home by Richard J. Foster. "We pass from thinking of God as part of our life to the realization the we are part of His life. Wondrously and mysteriously God moves from the periphery of our prayer experience to the center. A conversation of the heart takes place, a transformation of the spirit." Pray that God has moved to the center of our
prayers. Converse with God this week with your heart. ~ Frances

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Pick a Name and Pray – We all have people we are asked to pray for. We all have people we pray for just because. We all have people we continually pray for. We also have people who just come to mind and we pray for without even knowing why. With all the names we are given it can become over whelming, so pick a name to focus on each day. Make them special for the day and pray for them in a special way. Get creative with their special prayer person for the day. You could let them know with a text prayer or write them a prayer note. Call them and pray with them over the phone, whatever God leads you to do for that special person He gave you to pray for. Each day pick someone to be your special person to pray for. Pick a name and pray for them all day. ~ Frances

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Power of the Simple Prayer! This came from listening to Joyce Meyers. Prayer should be like breathing, something we do constantly. A constant fellowship with God. Not something we do when we need God, but something we do before we need Him. Prayers of stability, more faith, learning, patience, love…. Pray the simplest prayer of all “Jesus”. Do you believe in the power of His name? Demons shutter and flee when His name is spoken! Believing makes prayer powerful no matter how simple the prayer is. Pray a simple prayer. ~ Frances

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Tongue Depressors and Prayers? I got this idea from my daughter. Write names of family, school teachers, and friends; one name on each tongue depressor. Place them upright in a container on the dining room table. With each meal;  each person at the table will pick one and pray for that person. You can do this at meal time or any time you walk past the container. It is an easy way for children to learn to pray for others. They will learn to pray for someone just to pray for them, not because something is wrong. They will also learn to pray for their siblings when they pick their names! If the kids are old enough to write, have them write the names on the sticks of people they want to add. This will get them to start thinking of people they can pray for. It also is a way to show kids how God will give them just the right name each and every time. It is all God when you see which names are picked at random and why God wanted that person prayed up. Pray tongue depressors! ~ Frances

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Let’s pray to serve the Lord in any way He calls us to serve. Pray Romans 12:11, to not be lazy and to serve the Lord enthusiastically! Where is God calling the church to serve in our community? Where is God calling you to serve? As much as I enjoy my retirement, I know there is no retirement from serving the Lord. He has something for each of us to do even if we cannot leave our bed. I learned this from Miss Fannie who could not get out of her bed even to sit in a chair, yet she was doing a Bible study with the young man who came in to clean her floors at the nursing home. What is another way you can serve the Lord and is one of the most powerful ways we can serve Him? Prayer! And we do not have to leave the bed, our house, or any excuse not to serve the Lord with our prayers! Pray about serving the Lord and He just might be asking you to pray for someone. ~ Frances

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Pray for lessons learned from our failures. First we are to confess our sins when God reveals them to us. Then we are to refocus on God, deal with the problem, and move on to what God wants us to do. Sunday we learned that with each repentance comes stronger faith and with stronger faith, God will reveal what else we are to repent. It is a continuous cycle, never ending, if we want to grow closer to Him. God wants the cycle of sin, repentance, and forgiveness to strengthen us not weaken us. God is eager to give us cleansing, forgiveness, and strength, the only way to lose is to give up. Pray that we will learn from our sins. Pray that we will ask for repentance and grow closer to God. Pray to never give up, but to become stronger in the faith. Pray that we will depend on God with absolute obedience to be sure of the victory He has promised. ~ Frances

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Pray about our choices. Choices we make as a church as well as an individual. The Bible is filled with people making choices, some good and some bad. Moses gave the Israelites a choice of life or death! (Deuteronomy 30:15) During the Lent season we are to reflect on Jesus’ choice of death which gave us life. God is calling us, just as He did Moses, to  tell others about the choice of life or death that Jesus has given us all. He doesn’t want anyone left behind and we are the ones whom He gave the job to. We are to share the Good News of Eternal Life with everyone. Pray about choices, ones we make as well as ones we are called to help others make. Also thank God for sending His son Jesus to make the ultimate choice, to die for our sins and to give us eternal life with Him forever when we make the choice to be forgiven of our sins and accept Jesus as our savior. Choose to share the Good News! ~ Frances

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Praying up Deuteronomy 20:3-4 this week. This is the Cordele First version of the verse, “He will say; people of Cordele First, listen to me! Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Don’t lose your courage. Don’t be troubled or upset. Don’t be afraid of the enemy. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” Just as God was with the Israelites in their battles, He is with us today in our everyday battles. Pray for faith in these words. Pray for courage before stepping out the door in the mornings. Pray that we will not be troubled or upset during the day and know that God is with us. He will win the battle over evil. ~ Frances

A New Path

This year started out with a bang! Truly it started full force in January, this journey with my son.  I am very thankful for it though.  It has definitely been a lot of work and tough times, but I am keeping faith in God and trusting Him to guide me each step.  He has shown up just as He always promises!

It started with a teacher conference.  I knew Jacob was going to be struggling with reading this year, so that was no surprise.  The surprise was when his teacher said he might be on the retention list, WHAT!  I had no idea it was that bad.  That is when our journey began.

I went through several meetings with school staff, teachers, and learning centers all while hearing words like dyslexia to ADHD to dairy intolerance having no idea about any of it.  I am not against medicines but I am not quick to use them either.  I knew this early in the process I did not want to put him on medication for ADHD.  I am not denying there is a problem with his focus and learning ability, just didn't want to put a band aid on a bullet wound.  I knew in my mommy gut that there was more going on with my son then just ADHD.  I knew I was going to be his only voice in this process.  I began to cry out in desperation to God to show me what direction to go, what are you showing me about Jacob in this process, what do You want me to do God.  All of these things went through my head everyday, everyday I was on my knees in prayer about them as well.  I am so glad I took this route slowly! Praise the Lord for showing me what He has.  God has never showed me more then one step at a time during this process and I know its because He is still working on me with my control issues.

I got to point of okay God so you don't want me to use medicine on him right now what do you want me to do???  Shortly after that moment He brought a friend to mind who was posting about how essential oils can help with your family.  I contacted her immediately to ask can essential oils help with ADHD.  That is when I was introduced to doTERRA essential oils.  I was reading all that I could get my hands on about essential oils and was amazed at the amount of people it was helping.  I was ready to try it.

I started small with using the essential oils.  Jacob was also fighting eczema, which was nothing new, but molluscum started in the fall.  After taking him to doctor that fall, I was told it will go away on its own after 6 months up to 1 1/2 years! I saw these little bumps go from about 10 to 50+ in a few months.  I thought there has to be an oil for that, there seems to be an oil for everything else and there was! I used clove oil diluted with almond oil, applied with Q-tip.  There are all almost gone!!!!  So it has been a month and I am happy to say we have about 5 left and they are so tiny!

My second use of the essential oils was for his eczema.  He had horrible patches all over his mid-section.  I began using lavender and meleluca diluted with almond oil and he is eczema free after 2 weeks!  I was sold out on doTERRA essential oils!  I wish I took before pictures, but just didn't think to do that till last week and it was too late cause most ailments were gone!

Next step was to work on his focus ability and figure out what would work best to help him with ADHD.  I started with Balance on his feet and InTune on his spine and neck.  After a week of morning and night use, I thought I was seeing progress but no one else had mentioned a difference.  I prayed again asking God to let me know if I am wasting my time or on the right track.  A day later, after picking Jacob up from his Sunday school, his teacher told me how wonderful he was that day, he was so calm and even lead the group in prayer.  I cried! I knew that was God letting me know I was on the right track!

The next week we all got a cold and it traveled through the whole family.  Jacob got it the worst as usual.  His settles in his chest and he will have a horrible cough and boogers like crazy!!!  I treated all that with essential oils, nothing more!  After a few days he woke up one night complaining his ear hurt.  Another ear infection, I treated it completely with essential oils; meleluca, basil, and lavender drops on cotton ball placed in ear.  It was gone in a day! This stuff is CRAZY!!!!!

After all that I keep thinking why does he create so much mucus.  It seems so much worse then the rest of us.  This is when I began to hear over and over "dairy intolerance".  As I began to research more and more, I was stunned and how much of the list for dairy intolerance was a dead ringer for problems Jacob was having: seasonal allergies, eczema, brain fog, ADHD, ear infections, poor immune system to name a few things.  He has all of them!  I was stunned! So we are in the process of no dairy for him.  We are going into week 3 now and things are looking great!  I have begun to use essential oils for his seasonal allergies and so far so good!  They are not in full force where we live yet but they are starting.  I am using a combo of lavender, lemon, and peppermint.   Praying the no-diary diet and essential oils will make all the difference for him this year!

We are not at the end of this journey and things on the list have not been dismissed, but I have seen HUGE improvements in him.  I know it has been because of prayer and doTERRA oils.

Want to know more about doTERRA essential oils? Feel free to ask me!  I am early in my learning process but they have been working wonders on our family.  If I don't know the answer I will find out for you! Ready to order some oils now, click here!

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Pray over our homework assignment David gave us this Sunday. Pray about how the Gospel will transform us by renewing our minds. Pray Romans 12:1-2 and all the “RE”’s! Re-surrender ourselves to God. Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS! Remember all the good God has done in our life, not the bad things the world has thrown at us. Rekon (yes the real rekon) to conclude after calculation. Be sure our conclusions are made after we have calculated all the benefits we have in Christ. Reprogram your mind in Christ. What He thinks of us not what others have told us. Replace flesh with Christ. Realize to what Christ wants for our life. Reconcile with those we have conflict with. Resist conforming to the world. Reconsider our place and who we are according to Christ. Recharge by waiting in the Lord and be renewed. Rethink who we are in Christ. Who Christ says we are, the church, the Body of Christ to the world. Refocus our prayers on the Re’s this week. ~ Frances

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Jesus loves and blesses the children, Mark 10:13-16. Pray for the children in our church and in our lives. Pray that we will be Jesus to each one we come in contact with. Allow them to come to you as Jesus did, not send them away as the disciples tried to. Pray for the children going through confirmation as well as the mentors God is calling. Pray for the upcoming mission trips the children will be a part of. Pray for the Sunday School classes and the teachers who are guiding them to know Jesus. Pray about your part in guiding and inspiring a child to know Christ. Pray for your children and taking time to read the Bible to them. Pray that you are doing you part in giving them the gift of love for His Word! Jesus made time for the children, pray that we do as well! ~ Frances

For as long as I can remember, paint I have loved! Sorry that sounds a little like Yoda talking.  "Do. Or do not. There is no try." The Empire Strikes Back

I love paint because has so many uses, transforms old to new, gives new life and purpose to things, create beauty in the midst of ugliness. I have recently got back to my love of paints.  I have been finding old furniture and items to repaint and refinish in a rustic design.  As my son would say, "you like old stuff huh Mom?!"  Why yes I do son!

A long time friend of mine in Newnan has had a booth at Rockin' B Antiques for a few years now.  I have had stuff in there from time to time, but nothing constant.  Well I have decided to go full time with her in the booth business.  Woohoo!  So far its been going great, I am finishing my 4th month now.  With that I figured I would post items here first and if anyone is interested they can contact me before I take items to Newnan. As of now I am going about once a month to bring in new stuff and rearrange old items we have.  So if you see something posted here and are interested, contact me before I head south with it.

First things first: Easter is just around the corner and the way the weather has been for the last few days that is very exciting! Spring is almost here.  These are cute signs for your door.  They make a great way to welcome your guest.  The measurements for these are 12"x 24", not including the ribbon hang. Each door hanger is $38, you can personalize some hangers with an initial for $14 additional cost.

Email me at coleen@coleenverner.com if you are interested!

Easter Chick for new life:

Polka dot egg:

Stripe egg:

The polka dot egg and stripe egg look great personalized!

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Moses sent 12 scouts to the promise land to check things out. The scouts had specific instructions on what they were to do and they didn’t just go for the day and bring a few things back, they were gone for 40 days! After all that time they bring back samples of the bounty of the land, single clusters of grapes so large it took two men to carry.  Yet ten came back saying the people were too powerful and like most bad news, it went through the Israelites like wild fire causing a great rebellion. Yet two stand firm with God saying He will bring us safely into the land. Who can we relate to as a church? Pray that we have the faith of the two who said we will go with God into the promise land. The Lord calls each of us to go into the promise land and share His gift of salvation.  Where is God calling you to go? Mountain T.O.P. with your family? Spain? Honduras? maybe right next door! Pray for faith to go where ever God is calling us to go as a church. ~ Frances

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This Prayer Corner is inspired from news I’ve gotten this past week about a couple of friends; the C word, “Cancer”. It keeps coming up with new developments as well as people who are on the mend. Surgery and treatments that take their toll on the patient as well as the family and friends standing by wondering what they can do. PRAY! Friends asking for prayers during surgery and during treatments to come. We all know someone who has been affected by cancer. PRAY! Join together as a church and pray a group prayer for those we know as well as those we don’t who are facing the cancer battle. Pray they will show others Christ in the midst of their own struggle. Pray for God to reveal to us what we can do to ease the burden through meals, cards, visits, driving to treatments, the list is unlimited with God. Be open to do as God calls! Most of all PRAY! Pray with them in person, over the phone, with a note or card, in your home alone, this too is unlimited! With God there is no limits so PRAY for God’s unlimited will to be done. ~ Frances

MIA...

Wow, just realized I've been MIA the month of Jan! Where has the time gone???  I think I just wanted to recover from busy holiday season.  I tend to withdraw every January, some of it due to weather and other from the busy season.  

If you are in the Atlanta area, you definitely know what I mean by weather withdrawal. It's been a nutty winter thus far.  Last week in particular with the snow and ice storm that hit.  I got catch in the millions that were trying to head home that Tuesday.  I was only 10 minutes from my house but couldn't manage to get there.  I had to re-route after an hour because the bridge was closed that I have to travel over to get to my house.  After it was all said and done, 7 1/2 hours later I arrived at the bottom of our drive.  I was so happy to be home!  Praise God for great neighbors, who cared for my kids while I was trying to get home.  

(These pics are all from the following day.)

During that trip, God showed me a lot about Himself and myself.  First He revealed to me how much of a control freak I am.  For me that moment looked a little like when you scrunch your face up and say "Really, me???"  That should have been an even bigger indicator for me it is an issue.  I had NO control for those hours, my family, my car, those around me, the weather, bathroom breaks, food, the list goes on.  I was totally cool the first hour, I think it was because I thought surely it wont be long and I'll be in my safe haven, home with my kids. Second hour was another story, I could feel the anxiety building, when I finally saw that no matter what direction I am going there is more and more traffic, loosing more and more control.  I wanted to scream!!!! I can't do anything to help my kids, myself, or even those around me.  I'm going nowhere fast.  My insides were about to explode! I have never reacted like this, but I guess because I have never been in a situation like this.  

After a while I could hear God whispering to me, calm down, calm down, calm down.  When I finally heard Him, I thought, "Wow, how long had He been saying that to me and I was too busy throwing a tantrum to hear Him?!" Then Philippians 4:6 came to my mind, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."  That is exactly what I began to do...pray and give thanks.  

I prayed for safety for those around me and myself, for the kids who are stuck at school, for the teachers who are also there, for those who's car maybe isn't in the best shape, maintenance wise or those who needed gas, bathroom, food, medications, with kids in the car who had the same needs, but we know those needs for kids are elevated, for those who's heat may not be working at all or maybe it stopped the day before and they haven't had a chance to take their car in to get repaired or don't have the money to do it at all.  You get the idea, I took my mind off myself and thought of others and began to intercede on their behalf before our Almighty God.  

When you do that, it really is a powerful moment because what follows that is thanksgiving, because you then realize how fortunate you are in that situation.  My kids were able to get home safely, my neighbor was home to care for my kids, my car's engine is working wonderful, my heat in my car works, I was able to stop and have access to bathroom, gas station, water, food along my way home, many lost control and had accidents, many got stuck with no help. 

My anxious heart was calmed by God, the Holy Spirit brought scripture to my mind (John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.) This is an amazing reason why you should read the bible and memorize scripture.  The Holy Spirit will give you what you need in those moments to rely on God for your help.  This experience is also proof when said the Word is alive, it truly is alive and living. When I began to obey scripture by not being anxious, and in every situation use prayer, with thanksgiving, by giving it to God, He freed me in those hours.  I began to see beauty all around me, perfect strangers helping each other, showing love for one another, the pure white snow He provided, He created.  I also noticed birds.  Sounds a little weird, but I saw them everywhere as I was creeping on the highway.  Even once I returned home, the next day we saw them all in our yard, though out the day.  

The birds were not even phased by all that was going on around them, actually seemed to not worry at all. My ultimate message from God, "Chill out Coleen, I've got this!" :)

Matthew 6:26-27 Look at the birds in the sky. They don't sow seed or harvest grain or gather crops into barns.  Yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Aren't you worth much more than they are? Who among you by worrying can add a single moment to your life? 

Matthew 6:33-34 Instead, desire first and foremost God's kingdom and God's righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore, stop worrying about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.

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Praying Daniel 10:12 for 2014. Third “gain understanding”. Daniel never topped learning because he never stopped seeking understanding. Pray for continued learning, seeking, so we can understand what it is God is calling us to do. So we have an understanding of God’s love and mercy in order for us to share it and bring others to His family. Daniel became a product of his own prayer in Daniel 2:20-21. “He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” Pray Proverbs 2:3-5 and search for the hidden treasure. Find the knowledge of God! (most of this came out of Beth Moore’s Daniel study.)  Fourth “to humble yourself before your God”. We often talk about whether we can trust God, but our concluding question is, “Can God trust us?” Can God trust us with power, insight, and influence as He did Daniel or will our pride get in the way? C.S. Lewis wrote, “Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.” We can’t ignore pride, we have to deal with it because our minds are pre-set on pride. Daniel set his mind to humble himself before his God. Pray that we will pray this same prayer each day of our lives because God wants to trust us. (most of this came out of Beth Moore’s Daniel study.) ~ Frances

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Pray Daniel 10:12 for 2014. First “do not be afraid”. Don’t let fear stop you from responding to or daring to approach God. Dare to draw near to God and hear His voice. Nothing is easy about encountering God’s glory, but oh the rewards! Live a Daniel life; out there and exposed to God’s glory. It will quicken every nerve ending. It will not be a pain free life and it’s not the safe at a distance life, but it is a life most alive and abundant! Pray for a Daniel life, free from fear and bold enough to approach the one who loves you the most, God! (most of this came out of Beth Moore’s Daniel study.) Second “set your mind”. Pray to “set our mind on things above, not on earthly things” Col 3:2. Pray not to remain double minded and half hearted with our beliefs. Pray to make up our minds, to cease wavering back and forth and blending into our environments. Pray today; I’ve made up my mind, Lord. I’m in and in I’ll stay.  (most of this came out of Beth Moore’s Daniel study.)  ~ Frances

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2014 is here! Did you make any resolutions and resolve to make a change this year? What are you going to change? Your body? What about your soul? When you join a gym, why not join a Bible study as well. When you feed your body with good food don’t forget to feed your soul with the Bread of Life! His word!  Resolve to grow closer to God this year. Resolve to know who Christ is and know His voice when He calls. Spend time with God and enjoy a healthier soul as well as body! Make a total resolution to change your body and soul. Resolve to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37 ~ Frances

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Beyond Opinion by Ravi Zacharias talks about how Christians can be the one responsible for people going away from Christ instead of bringing them to Christ. How? When our words and actions do not match. I know someone who was not only pushed away from the church, but also away from Christ because of a Pharisee act of members in a church. Are we a Pharisee or a Christian? Are we legalistic or loving? Are we following the rules or following Jesus? Pray that God guides us in the truth, not the law. Pray that as a church we will not worry so much about our rules as we will someone’s needs. From the book, “If we don’t come to terms with the crisis times in which we live by presenting the beauty and the distinctive message of Jesus Christ, we will fail our time.” Pray that people see Christ in each one of us through our words and actions, not a Pharisee. ~ Frances

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Merry Christmas! Our greetings reflect the joy of the season. But what about when our joy isn’t there or it is starting to deplete with all the goings on of the season? Go to the reason for the season. Go to the source of joy, God’s grace. God’s grace gives us the power to enjoy life no matter what is happening. Take a time out with God and power back up. Pray about the reason for our joy and why we are celebrating. Pray for God’s grace to be filled back up and to push out all the things the world says we are to be doing for the holiday. Pray for ears to listen to what God is telling us to do at this time which is to celebrate His Son’s birth! To worship God and thank Him for His love for us. His love that came to earth just for us. Prayer is the way we plug into our power source to the joy God has for us! Be merry in His joy! ~ Frances