As Pastor Chris preached this morning, I kept thinking of the following hymn:

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up his bright designs
And works his sovereign will.

You fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds you so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. De-bone the pre-cooked whole chicken.
2. Cook the onion and garlic with 2 Tbs of butter until softened.
3. In a heavy pot, large enough to hold all the ingredients, melt remaining 6 Tbs of butter over moderately low heat and whisk in flour. Cook the roux, whisking constantly, for three minutes. Stir in the onion and garlic and gradually add the broth and half and half, whisking the whole time. Bring mixture to a boil and simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes, or until thickened.
4. Stir in Tabasco, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Add beans, chilies, chicken and cheese, and cook over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally for 20 minutes. Add sour cream.
5. You can serve garnished with any or all of the following: cilantro, grated cheese, diced tomatoes, corn chips

2. Diamonds or pearls?
Pearls

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Can't remember... I'm feelin' like Dory right now from "Finding Nemo"

4. What is your favorite TV show?
Several shows on the cooking channel and Wretched with Todd Friel

5. What do you usually have for breakfast?
Coffee and cereal

6. What is your middle name?
Karen

7. What food do you dislike?
hmmmm????

8. What is your favorite CD at moment?
anything Keith L. Cooper

9. What kind of car do you drive?
15 passenger van

10. Favorite sandwich?
Ham and swiss on a plain bagel with spicy mustard, tomatoes and lettuce

11. What characteristic do you despise?
laziness

12. Favorite item of clothing?
bare feet

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
Denmark because of an historical novel I read... plus I have ancestors that are from Denmark

14. Favorite brand of clothing?
I don't care as long as it fits

15. Where would you retire to?
With my husband near my family

16. What was your most recent memorable birthday?
Oooooo... My last one when the women of my neighborhood stole me away. We had a blast.

17. Favorite sport to watch?
just about anything in the Olympics and my children playing soccer

18. Furthest place you are sending this?
No where

19. Person you expect to send it back first?
No body

20. When is your birthday?
December 10th

21. Are you a morning person or a night person?
In the summer I am a night person and during the school season, I am a morning person.

22. What is your shoe size?
7-ish

23. Pets?
Bichon Frise named Bear

24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us?
We finally finished the music room for the band to practice in. I'll have to post pics. It looks really neat-O!!!

25. What did you want to be when you were little?
ummmmm.... *gack* another Dory moment

26. How are you today?
Considering I stayed up with my older boys until 1am to finish the flooring and trim and all the instruments, etc. in the music room for the band and then got up early to plug everything in... I'm exhausted, but exhilarated. I had an incredible morning... awed by the sovereign God Almighty, who's purposes can never be thwarted, nor completely understood by my finite mind... but He can always be trusted, as I read through the latter chapters in Job.

27. What is your favorite candy?
Chocolate with almonds

28. What is your favorite flower?
Tea Roses

29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to?
The day we go on our first vacation in 3 years to Durango, CO.
COMING SOON!

30. What is your full name?
Lisa Karen Nielsen Nunley

31. What are you listening to right now?
My husband cooking dinner tonight. Isn't that sweet?

32. What was the last thing you ate?
Peanut Butter crackers

33. Do you wish on stars?
Why would I do that? My God made the stars. It seems more fruitful to pray to the One who made them.

34. If you were a crayon, what colour would you be?
Purple-ish

35. How is the weather right now?
humid

36. The first person you spoke to on the phone today?
Mr. Dave, our painter. He and his wife our painting some of our interior walls and they are such a joy to have around! HIGHLY recommend him to anyone in the NW Arkansas area!!!!!!!!

37. Favorite soft drink?
I don't like soda

38. Favorite restaurant?
Right now, Crabby's

39. Real hair colour?
light brown-ish with blond highlights in the summer. My hair was very light blond as a child. When I lived in Japan as a child, the people use to ask my dad if they could take a picture of me and my sister because we had long and very blond hair. Apparently I have a few grey hairs. eeeeek

40. What was your favorite toy as a child?
A stuffed Clifford, the Big Red Dog

41. Summer or winter?
Both

42. Hugs or kisses?
hugs from people I care about and kisses from my husband and children

43. Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate, now that I am an adult, and vanilla as a child.

44. Coffee or tea?
Cinnamon Dolce Latte with an extra shot

45. Do you want your friends to email you back?
Depends

46. When was the last time you cried?
At church on Sunday during communion

47. What is under your bed?
dust

48. What did you do last night?
(See #26)

49. What are you afraid of?
The Lord not drawing all of my children to Himself

50. Salty or sweet?
Yes and preferably together

51. How many keys on your key ring?
3

52. How many years at your current job?
Almost 15 years as a mom (My oldest son will be 15 in November)... and over 16 years as a wife

53. Favorite day of the week?
Sunday. I enjoy going to church with my family and eating lunch with my church family.

54. How many towns have you lived in?
I was a military brat... I have lost count

Hey, if you wanna do this Q&A please do and then let me know so I can get to know you better. My comments still do not work yet... and I have no idea why, so e-mail me at lisa4given@gmail.com

Make sure you watch both of these videos! The first is a video set to "My Redeemer Lives" and the second is their story.

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Behold Him there! The risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless, Righteousness
The Great unchangeable I AM
The King of Glory and of Grace
One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God
With Christ my Savior and my God

Thank you Lord, for giving me a heart to sing praises to Your holy name and for being unchangeable, and faithful, perfect, spotless, righteous, and for counting my sinful soul as free through the shed blood of Christ.

So there I was, propped next to my husband as he lay there with my prescribed canning jar ice-pack full of ice, water and salt, reading a book that has a recommendation printed on the back by C.H. Spurgeon that says, "Peerless and priceless; every line full of wisdom. The book has been preached over scores of times and is, in our judgment, the best thought-breeder in all our library." Why does it seem like he just gave a review of the Bible? Now, I know the book I am writing about in this post is not the Bible and I know you are probably wondering why my husband has a canning jar on his eye. BUT. this book is WOW! and as for the canning jar... comes from desperation when I had serious eye pain and was looking for relief. I realized that the bottom rim of the cold canning jar seemed to fit into my eye most comfortably and brought the quickest relief... as long as I did not freeze my eyeball.

Let me elaborate a tad on why "The Christian In Complete Armour: The Ultimate Book On Spiritual Warfare" by William Gurnall... and no, I have not made it through all 800 pages... is an essential book to not only have in your library, but actually read; even if it is in small doses over many years... because it could possibly cause your brain to hurt a bit...
it will bring you to your knees...--David wilkerson
it will revolutionize your life....--Leonard Ravenhill
It is truly a book for the lovers of sound doctrine!!!...--Me

I read to my husband and did not want to stop, even though my throat began to hurt. When I couldn't read out loud to him any more, I made sure he was comfortable and stole away with the book. Hey, he couldn't read it anyway. And now that he can read without my help, I sneak it away and put it back for him when he gets back from work. I typically mark books up when I read them, but since this is Jon's book and he is still reading it, I have refrained from underlining and folding over pages... oh, how I want to mark that book so I can find quickly what stood out to me. But then, I think I might be underlining way too much of it.

I'd leave you with an excerpt to chew on, but I struggle with what to choose... there are so many. And if such a thick book is too overwhelming, there is The Christian in Complete Armour: Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare. But then, one reviewer says, The daily portions lose the context of the full work, but stand well enough on their own. That makes this devotional an ideal, daily revisiting for those who have read the full set. But for those new to Gurnall, or those ready to move from milk to meat, but wanting small, savory morsels, this devotional is perfect.

You decide... but I say, get them both.

The above video was sent to me by Lauren, the vocalist for my boy's band, VIVIT. She's a sweetheart!

Crabby's Seafood Bar and Grill is where Jon and I went on a date the other night. We had gone there before when they were fairly new, so it was not as crowded. Even though it was crowded that night, the food made the noise worth it. We actually walked out of one restaurant, Bone Fish Grill, before deciding on Crabby's because the music was so blaringly loud and it seemed like there were a lot of drunk people; Plus, Jon and I actually wanted to have a conversation.
Crabby's is definitely a date-night restaurant, but perhaps go early in the evening so you don't hit the crowd. It was so crowded that we had to sit at the bar tables, which is not really Jon and I. But the waitress was excellent!!! Very sweet gal, that, in spite of the busyness in the restaurant, kept up great service with a smile.
For some reason, the bread restaurants serve stands out to me. If they serve yucky bread, it typically sets me up for a meal that I will be disappointed in. Crabby's bread was very good and the proceeding meal was 5 star!
I actually ordered an appetizer and salad for my whole meal because I was not that hungry. Jon ordered a full entree.

So what did I order?
Southwestern Fried Soft Shell Crab
Mind you, I grew up in the summers crab fishing in the Louisiana Bayou with my grandparents, so soft shell crab was fresh cooking within hours of catching it. For those who do not know what that is, it is when the crab sheds its hard exoskeleton and has an edible soft shell for about 3 to 4 days after. It is considered a seafood delicacy. Since I grew up with it, it doesn't bother me, but some may think they are fixing to eat a battered and fried over-sized spider. To me, it was delicious and reminded me of my childhood. I could tell it was fresh. It was served with a roasted corn and blackbean pico with roasted tomatoes, along with a corn Polenta in a tasty cajun cream sauce. It cost $10.
Autumn Harvest Salad
Let me just say that this was one of the best salads I have ever had. WOW!!! And they have a very nice salad selection. The waitress recommended this one and I was not disappointed. It consisted of fresh field greens, perfectly ripe blueberries, pears, feta and a savory honey vinaigrette. It was supposed to have raspberries in it, but it was still delicious even though they were not included for some reason. Perhaps it was a chef call where he thought they were not good enough or maybe they ran out. Anyway, the cost for that salad was $6 and the portion was perfect.

What did Jon have?
Shrimp Alfredo
The shrimp was sauteed in spinach, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and creamy Alfredo sauce with noodles. It came out very hot, well seasoned and YUMMY! The shrimp was perfectly cooked and so were the noodles. The cost was $15.

Dessert?
Ginger Pear and Currant Creme Brulee
I am a big creme brulee fan and have had this dessert in every restaurant that serves it that Jon and I have ever gone to. This was not just good, it was truly the best I have had so far. From the fresh pears and currants to the hint of mint and ginger and the perfect not-too-thin, not-too-thick crunchy-charred brown sugar layer. The cost was $6

I go to the neurologist today to discuss why I am out of remission with the multiple sclerosis. I would sincerely appreciate your prayers. Amazingly, my 6 children have been so awesome through this time. So kind and loving. Pulling together to help out around the house and allowing their daddy and I to go on a date last night to Crabby's. Truly... how can I keep from singing God's praise?

This second one, I have honestly never heard before, but I found it to also speak my heart regarding living what I beleive and standing for what is right even if it costs me everything.

Neil Greenhaw, the man that instructs my children's band on Monday's in our home, sent the following 2 videos to me when he found out about the challenges with the MS. Neil's prayer before they started lessons today included asking God to heal my body of the MS, proclaiming God's always perfect will and timing, and in accordance to His Divine purpose. Jon and I deeply appreciate the witness Neil is to the band.

The first one he sent is the story behind the song:

The second is the song:

I have gotten some of sweetest, encouraging e-mails and phone calls, and drop-ins, and facebook wall-to-wall comments, and videos, scripture, written prayers... wow. humbling. God has so abundantly blessed me with not only His abundant grace and mercy, but with a godly husband, amazing kids, incredible friends.

Praising Him in the storm, by His grace alone.

...God the Son took my punishment. The punishment I deserve. He made me whole. He gave me life and He gave it to me abundantly, even in the trials. He is with me in this valley. I trust Him. He is my Healer, my Redeemer and He is all I need... and I will walk through this valley if that is His will because He really is all I need.

UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They understood and so did I. However, Josh figured out how to block all of those vulgar pics and ads by typing in adblock in Google and downloading it for the server we use. It works. Also, if anything offensive to you ends up on your computer screen while on the internet, you can immediately right click and block it and it will never show again. I like that, because there seems to be various levels of offense to people. For example, some would find it inappropriate to look at African tribal pics where they are scantily dressed in string offensive. Others who are perhaps missionaries to that tribe, would be more focused on sharing the Gospel with that tribe, than adding more string layers to their clothing.

There are a bunch of groups on Facebook you can join that are against all those vulgar ads. And yes, I joined some of them; but for now, I am thrilled that we have learned how to block them.

The chapter that keeps coming to mind is 6. Especially:

...6 In it was written, "It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel; therefore you are rebuilding the wall. And you are to be their king, according to these reports.

7 "You have also appointed prophets to proclaim in Jerusalem concerning you, 'A king is in Judah!' And now it will be reported to the king according to these reports. So come now, let us take counsel together."

8 Then I sent a message to him saying, "Such things as you are saying have not been done, but you are inventing them in your own mind."

9 For all of them were trying to frighten us, thinking, "They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done." But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

10 When I entered the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined at home, he said, "Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you, and they are coming to kill you at night."

11 But I said, "Should a man like me flee? And could one such as I go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in."

12 Then I perceived that surely God had not sent him, but he uttered his prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

13 He was hired for this reason, that I might become frightened and act accordingly and sin, so that they might have an evil report in order that they could reproach me.

14 Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these works of theirs, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the rest of the prophets who were trying to frighten me.

15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.

16 When all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God....

C.H. Spurgeon-- When the [hungry and thirsty one] hears of righteousness by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, he leaps at it, and lays hold upon it, for it exactly meets his case...
The hunger now takes another form. The pardoned and justified man now desires to be right in his conduct, and language, and thought: he pines to be righteous in his whole life. He would be marked by integrity, kindness, mercifulness, love, and everything else which goes to make up a right condition of things toward his fellow-creatures. He ardently desires to be correct in his feelings and conduct towards God: he craves rightly to know, obey, pray, praise, and love his God. He cannot rest till he stands towards God and man as he ought to stand. His longing is not only to be treated as righteous by God, which comes through the atoning blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ; but that he may be actually righteous before the heart-searching God. Nor will this suffice him: not only must his conduct be right but he pants to be himself right. He finds within himself irregular desires, and he would have these utterly destroyed. He finds tendencies towards unrighteousness; and although he resists these, and overcomes them, yet the tendencies themselves are abhorrent to him. ... He longs to have the fountain of his being cleansed. He hungers to, "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." He thirsts to be "renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created him." ... The godly man hungers and thirsts to see righteousness in others. At times, when he sees the conduct of those around him, he cries, "My soul is among lions; and I lie even among them that are set on fire." ...He hungers for godly company; he thirsts to see the unholy made holy; and there he cries out in his daily prayers, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." With hunger and thirst he cries, "Lord, end the reign of sin! Lord cast down idols! Lord, chase error from the earth! Lord, turn men from lust, and avarice, and cruelty, and drunkenness."

...The man does not long for twenty things, but only for one thing, and for that one thing by itself. The hunger and the thirst are "after righteousness." The man does not hunger for wealth: he would rather be poor and be righteous, than be rich through evil. He does not hunger after health; though he would wish to have that great blessing, yet he would rather be sick and have righteousness, than enjoy good health and be unrighteous.

He does not even set before himself, as his great object, the rewards of righteousness. These are very desirable: the respect of one's fellows, peace of mind, and communion with God, are by no means little things; but he does not make these the chief objects of his desire ... His hunger and thirst are after honesty, purity, rectitude, and holiness: he hungers and he thirsts to be what God would have him to be....

Oh, to be holy, whether that should mean sorrow! Oh, to be pure in heart, whether that would bring me honour or contempt! This—this is the blessed thirst.

...True, I have to cry with the leper, "Unclean, unclean"; and yet, as a believer in the Lord Jesus, I am justified in him, accepted in him, and in him complete. God looks on me, not as I am, but as Christ is. He sees me through the perfect obedience of the Well-beloved, and I stand before him without condemnation, nay, with full acceptance and favour. The more you think of the righteousness of Christ, the more it will fill you with grateful satisfaction, for his righteousness is far greater than your unrighteousness. ... "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus."... "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
13 Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I will be blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. --Ps. 19