GRACE

I have not forgotten you nor this page. I come everyday praying that God will give me a special word for you. He has been silent in this area for a few days. On thing that has been in my mind is how God's grace is so awesome. With God giving Maranda and I the name of our child - Hannah - which means Grace or "Gracious gift from God" - It has painted a new picture of grace on my heart. Grace - God giving Grace - In my case, giving us a gift that we don't deserve. Grace first started with Noah and his family -in Genesis 6:8 "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD."

Recongnize it today...Grace is extended to YOU.

Growing in God's Love - TIM

Prayer anyone?

What's on your heart today? Stress, anger, depression? -or- Peace, Happiness, Joy? Add your prayer requests in the comment section below -

Growing in God's Love - TIM

Glorify God in all you do

Galatians 6:9 "So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time." If you read this verse, and others around it, it saying that we should live to please God and not men - If we live to please Him - then we will reap the beneifts of blessings. -Ask yourself the question - am I living to please God or something/someone else? Am I living to make a spectacle of myself? Am I promoting me or God?

A simple answer - Live life aiming to please God - Live life that directly glorifies God - and points straight to Him. Sometime this may be difficult at our human flesh likes to get in the way. We like to feel successful, we like to feel proud or make others proud of us.

I pray you will have a blessed day today - take it step by step - moment by moment - thought by thought - Glorify God.

Growing in God's Love - TIM

Check out this website it is uplifting
http://www.riversongs.com/Flas/today.swf

Encouraged from the Lord

Do you need a boost? Do you need encouraged? Do you feel alone? I can tell you that God seems to always give us a spark of hope or encourament from someone or something at the right moment. At times in the past few weeks, I've felt like I was alone, tired, defeated, down- BUT... At the point of being low - GOD has always given me a short few words- either to me in a "still small voice" or a song that I've heard - or a stranger out of the blue will tell me to be encouraged. God is so faithful in letting us know that everything will be fine. That He is in control. That He is keeping His eyes upon us.

If you feel that way today - Don't give up - Count this, what you are reading, a sign a message from the Lord. Be encouraged - God is there for you - God has your life in His hand and control. You are not reading this by coincidence.

Who's report will you believe - We (choose) to believe the Report of the LORD!!!! Be encouraged.

Growing in God's Love - TIM

It's a GIRL!!!!

Here is our most current ultrasound - taken today @ 1:30pm (17 Feb.05). Everything looks good to us. We have a doctor's appointment tomorrow morning to hear the results. The technician was pretty confident that we are having a girl. We seen for ourselves and there's almost no mistake - It's a GIRL!!!!!

Now we start serously on our road of naming- I've been praying that God would reveal it to both of us. I feel strongly that names are important to who we are. God spoke to many people in the bible to what the name of their child should be.

A great scripture for today is: Isaiah 59:21 "As for me, this is my covenant with them (the Moores)," says the LORD . "My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever," says the LORD .

I pray only postive words flow out of my mouth- Power of life is in the tongue. LIFE!!

Note from Maranda

God is truly a friend and peacemaker. These last few weeks have tested Tim's and my faith, but we will prevail. We have chosen to walk by faith and not by sight. God's word to us is special and a promise that we will stand on and declare. (See Ezek. 16:6-14)

Tim has been doing a wonderful job taking care of me. He records my blood pressures, cooks me dinner, brings me my medicine, makes sure I am staying in bed, etc. He is taking care of me in sickness and in health. For people who know me I can be stubborn and not the easiest patient. :)

TIm has expressed his concern for prayer for me and I would do the same for him. It is not easy working two jobs and running a whole household almost on your own. I am very proud of the patience and endurance Tim has exhibited. I know he is only doing it through God's strength. Tim and I desire to be the best we can be. We check our hearts everyday and strive to be pleasing unto HIM. We look forward to becoming parents and truly count it a gift. I only pray that we don't make too many mistakes and that our child will truly have a heart after God.

Thanks for everyone's love and support. We love you!

Refresh of Ultrasound

I thought I'd put the first ultrasound picture up
again. Tomorrow I'll have a new one - We go for our
appointment at 1:30pm. Check back...
TIM

LIVE - again I say LIVE!!

Thank you for checking back often - things have been up in the air lately and I've not written. I do appreciate your interest in reading my thoughts and expression of my heart. To start - Maranda is doing good - she had her doctor's appointment today at 11:30 - and I just got off the phone with her minutes ago - The Doctor was very pleased with Maranda and her progress. The doctor anticipated the blood pressure to increase as the weeks go by - Praise to our Lord, God - her blood pressure has stayed pretty much stable (a very good sign). The doctor will continue to monitor her twice a week until our baby/"gift" is born. Thank you for your continued prayers - pray that all will stay stable. Our foundaiton is Jesus.

I would like to share with you a word that Maranda receieved from the Lord speaking over our child. A promise that it would grow healthy, strong and beautiful. It is found in Ezekiel 16:6-14:

" 'Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood (blood pressure), and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, "LIVE!" Again I say LIVE!!! 7 I made you grow like a plant of the field. You grew up and developed and became the most beautiful of jewels. Your breasts were formed and your hair grew, you who were naked and bare.

    8 " 'Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign LORD , and you became mine.

    9 " 'I bathed you with water and washed the blood from you and put ointments on you. 10 I clothed you with an embroidered dress and put leather sandals on you. I dressed you in fine linen and covered you with costly garments. 11 I adorned you with jewelry: I put bracelets on your arms and a necklace around your neck, 12 and I put a ring on your nose, earrings on your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. 13 So you were adorned with gold and silver; your clothes were of fine linen and costly fabric and embroidered cloth. Your food was fine flour, honey and olive oil. You became very beautiful and rose to be a queen. 14 And your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign LORD.

What an amazing promise - We are standing encouraged and strong on this word the Lord has given us.

I pray you'll be blessed today.

Growing in God's Love - TIM

Reap the blessing

Gal. 6:9 "So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time."

I write this verse today, first for me - but I pray that you will be blessed. I needed the encouragement to know that I have the benefit of doing good. Not to give up and give in - but to let God work in me and give me strength to go on. Last night seemed to be my low - as I drove to clean the medical center - I was exhasted, bad headache - and felt low - I knew God would give me the grace to press on. So today -- God is telling me "Don't get discouraged and give up, I will reap the blessing at the right time..." This spoke life to me - it really lifted me up. In our current steps that we are walking - God is drawing Maranda and me closer to Him. I am so thankful for His apparent sheltering arm around us - embracing us with His fatherly love.

In your situation - what ever that may be - God is there...(even if you can't feel Him) - Don't give up - you WILL reap the blessing.

Have a great day- Thank you for your continual prayer for us. It is means a lot.

-Growing in God's Love - TIM

_______________________________________________

When ever I feel down - I always like to glimpse into the universe that God created - It always amazes and intrigues me of the vast beauty that human minds and technolgy have only scratched the surface. I turn here - HUBBLE- CLICK HERE

Glorify God in all you do

Galatians 6:9 "So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time." If you read this verse, and others around it, it saying that we should live to please God and not men - If we live to please Him - then we will reap the beneifts of blessings. -Ask yourself the question - am I living to please God or something/someone else? Am I living to make a spectacle of myself? Am I promoting me or God?

A simple answer - Live life aiming to please God - Live life that directly glorifies God - and points straight to Him. Sometime this may be difficult at our human flesh likes to get in the way. We like to feel successful, we like to feel proud or make others proud of us.

I pray you will have a blessed day today - take it step by step - moment by moment - thought by thought - Glorify God.

Growing in God's Love - TIM

Check out this website it is uplifting
http://www.riversongs.com/Flas/today.swf

Baby Update - Thank you for patience

Dear all who are faithfully reading these posts,
I appreciate your patience during this time in our lives. I am so grateful for all your prayers. Prayers are powerful. Please, Please continue to pray for us. Here are a few things to pray for: Pray for rest and peace to drape over Maranda's shoulder's - and that her blood pressure will continue to stay at a lower constant. Our Dr. has ordered Maranda to stop her student teaching and focus more now on her health (which is far more important). We are fully relying on God to carry us - shield us - strengthen us - and heal us. He is so faithful. Pray for our baby - pray that growth will continue to stay on a steady course. (We have scheduled a formal ultrasound the 17th of February).

I truly am blessed to know that many are praying for us in this situation. It means so much to me.

I will keep this updated for more information.

I will continue to write more articles on Growing in God - and as I promised a series of "It's the heart that matters..."

Have a blessed day - Thank you, thank you!!!

Growing in God's Love - TIM

The Catepillar

Presented by my good friend, Bill Hodi -

The Life of a Catepillar
A catepillar usually starts on one tree or bush and just pretty much eats what is around him, not going too far. Maybe another bush close by.  As he eats, his body starts to go into a metamorphis and starts to create a cacoon, in which he cacoons himself in.  While in the cacoon, a transformation takes place in his body, his appearance and nature.  

Once the transformation is almost done, he then struggles to get out of the cacoon to be set free.  If you help him out and cut the cacoon so that he can get out, the butterfly will not be totally formed and will have small wings and a fat body.  He will not be able to fly and will still be hanging out with the other catepillars.  But when you let it struggle out of the cacoon, that struggle is forcing the fluid from its body into his wings, thus allowing him to fly when he gets out of the cacoon.  When he gets out, he will then fly off the branch and cross pollinate with other flowers, plants, trees, etc.  His territory has just been expanded to a much larger area and will take the nectar and pollen from one plant/flower, to another.  

The moral of the story is that we are like the catepillar when we are baby christians.  We eat what is near us and don't wonder off too far.  As we start growing, God will start to develop and mold us into a beautiful butterfly.  But, in order to become this beautiful butterfly, we must go through the cacoon phase, which is allowing God to change us and mold into His image.  When we go through the struggles in life, God is building His character in us, thus creating something more beautiful than we started out looking.  We can then take what we learned and developed to other people, (cross-pollination), and help them go through their cacoon phase.  But if God stepped in and pulled us out of the cacoon too early, we would not become the butterfly that He wanted to create.  We will be deformed, and not fully functional to do God's perfect plan in our lives.

Hear the Baby's Heartbeat Below

Click the audio post below - You will hear the strong healthy heartbeat of our baby. These were recorded while in the hospitcal over the weekend. Please pray for Maranda and us - Maranda's blood pressure is staying elevated -which is not good in the long run for her and our baby. Please pray that this will go down. Thank you! Prayer is important. Growing in God's love (and character) TIM

Click here to Hear Baby Heartbeat

Get a Grip Wrap up

Today marks the official start of my new position - We will see how the day progresses - It can only be good. God is involved. I am expecting great things and am excited about this opportunity learning and expanding my skills. Continually keep me in your prayers and God leads me on new paths to set my feet.

As this week wraps up - I pray that God blessed you with encouragement on Getting a Grip on Life. Focus in our life is important and seems hard sometimes to find in our busy pace. A great verse in the Word is Matt. 6:33 "Seek FIRST His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these other things will be added unto you." Seek Him FIRST - then all the rest will fall into place.

Next week I'll be writing about - "It's all about the heart" - God wants us to be real - not foney's with putting on a 'show' for others. What are your motivations - Why do you do the things you do? I will expand further next week.

Have a great weekend - Relax...Get a Grip... Be blessed.

Growing in God's Love - TIM

Get a Grip on TIME

The word 'TIME' has many meanings. When you hear the word TIME, does your mind instantly think - I don't have enough of it... or I can't seem to get anything done during the time of day...?

God has set TIME in motion from the very beginning of creation. God made the sun to rise in the beginning of the day - then set in the night to end the day. God set the clocks - God gave us the hours in the day...

One meaning in the Webster dictionary for TIME is: "An appointed, fixed, or customary moment or hour for something to happen, begin, or end."

Our TIME is appointed by God - He has a plan for us each and everyday. In this somewhat lighthearted topic of getting a new grip on life, I encourage you to get a new grip of TIME. Don't waste the day, don't waste the hours. God has fixed our day to have something to happen - BEGIN or END.

As this day progresses - Don't lose focus on your TIME. Get a new grip on life - Grab on to time. Don't despise it.

Our life is fastly changing with our child on the way--TIME will be an issue that we must face and realize that God is in control.

Be Blessed Today!!
Growing in God's Love - TIM

***Tim's Tech Tip Today***
Some sites I frequent on the web - Moore to come...
www.jasonupton.com
www.morningstarministries.org
www.worshiptogether.com

A New Grip - Test and Trials

God is so worthy to be praised - so awesome - so magnificent - so great!!! In the midst of our trials - He is there prodding us along - telling us - I am here - I am making you pure and fresh - molding us into His perfect character. He peels back our human desires and human flesh to reveal His perfect creation. We are made in His likeness - we like to clutter that up with our stuff - He is straightening it all up to His perfect perfection.

In my trials and troubles I say to myself -- Stop being stressed and overwhelmed - realize that God is testing my character and producing a better me. As much as that seems difficult -- I have a deep down sense of peace and calmness.

James 1:2-4 says: Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. NLT

So I say get a new grip on life - know that GOD is producing excellent fruit in you to feed to others.

Be blessed today
I've realized that after two weeks of writing - God seems to be testing our word. What I write here on this page is usually what I've been tested in. Which is a great thing!! Our WORD is important.

Growing in God's Love - TIM