Where does time go?

Remembering when I was "much younger" I used to think "grown ups were weird and 'losing their minds' " when they made the comment, "Where does the time go?" or "Boy time sure does fly by" & "enjoy them now because before you know it, they're (your children) gone."

Now just a few years later and as a parent, it is so true and I giggle to think, "where did ALL that time Go?" because now, married to the only man I ever dated; who shared all of my "firsts" for (almost & very soon)21 years, & have four beautiful girls who's lives are flying by me and looking at my 'little women' with no regrets but wishing I could have MORE time with them all! I pray now more fervently then ever before on their behalf knowing it is time for them to soon fly solo. Life is a whirl wind and my deepest desire is that they really see the importance of "who they are in Jesus Christ"!

Mya. So quick to want to grow up and be totally independent in so many ways. Not realizing time is quickly flying by for her also. I pray for her so much differently - then even just this summer. Her walk to be stronger, to be a pillar or light house & that she continues to give God all the Glory in everything and not be sidetracked with the world's messages, such as, "why are you trying so hard to fit it, when you are meant to stand out?" from one of her favorite movies quotes. :-) She is definitely gifted with leadership abilities, and it will be very interesting to see how the Lord will allow her to be grown. :-) I know God will use her~and is using her. :-)

She is about ready to fly. Where did it go?

Tia. She has grown up very quickly also. She is her own person :-) and her personality stands on it's own - where she is TIA KLUNDT and known for being herself, not any ones, sibling or child. I like that about her. She to is independent and has done quite well with her new adjustments to the new & very large Sr. High school atmosphere. She works very hard at school and puts forth hard work to just BE. :-) She has also blossomed to a beautiful young lady also. :-)

Oh yes I pray for her much differently now. For her to remain faithful to her goals spiritually (especially since she just shared the depth of her desires this year - huge for her since she is VERY PRIVATE!) since she has let me into a very intimate part of her soul. :-). Her convictions are definitely her own -AWESOME - and her whit makes me laugh! It is great to see her back to her old self but with maturity. She is a Joy - just like her names sake & finally healed from a past circumstances, returned spiritually with depth and character.

Faith. Really breaking out of her shell is just begun but she is ready to start a new season of life's wonders with her personality. She definitely has spirit that is for sure. :-) She has a very large calling and gifts of evangelism and quite frankly - it will be intriguing to see what the Lord is going to do with that also. Her and her older sister are so much like one another that it is uncanny, yet where they are different - it's head spinning. Faith has a drive in some areas, that led correctly can be maybe unstoppable, unimaginable. She is on the verge of an explosion from childhood to growing up. Yikes ( in some ways) and "watch out and this could be interesting." :-) Her faith is deep and at times amazing to witness, she memorizes like her daddy and loves bible stories. Her personality sometimes is very 'grown up' and other times still raw - no need to rush it though.

Emily. :-) Very loving and every now and then ornery ;-D. She still has the biggest heart I've EVER seen (I've seen a heart like hers Once before in my entire life)! She definitely blows mine OUT OF THE WATER. I love her compassion beyond compare. Her little life is FULL. She can get under her sisters skin and sadly she is loosing that special age of innocence faster than I care to see - where did all the time go? (I ask again). She wrestles with herself lately much more than I care to experience to the point it makes me hurt. A little edgy maybe. Will she be the next mother Teresa? Will she go to a far off land, or near and minister in what way? Her hands and her heart are still very eager to LOVE in ways that truly humble me. So I pray for protection over her in that area.

Many times I realize that I am truly Blessed from Heaven with the lives given. I also know that they will be "Wonderful Women of Faith" and can hardly wait to see what the Lord will do with their lives. I love them more than words could truly express and I am ready like Hannah to give them to the LORD knowing they truly belong to him, they are given me to take care of for such a short time. Abba where has all the time gone that you, YAHWEH have given to me called "life".

I can tell you where all the time has gone. On bended knees, ever since we discovered of each of their conceptions, imploring that my children would "KNOW - Jesus Christ; the Way, the Truth and the Life, - much more intimately than I with everything possibly way available."

I pleaded that he would allow me to be the pioneer for them, to be the beginning of generations of blessings and released from my generational life without him! And when looking through many areas I ask myself . . . Where did all the time go? Prayer and petition for new life for the children granted to us to be pillars and followers of Jesus Christ - heirs for eternity. Thank you for the Time Father God, my Abba - Thank you!

It isn't always what it seems

You know after reading a lot of scripture this week it amazes me how we as "a people" gripe and complain. About almost everything. It broke and breaks my heart.

Why is it so easy to be negative? Why do we complain instead of REJOICE in Christ. It is amazing how much we use the tongue opposite of what the Lord Jesus Christ intended us to use it. Then . . . before we know it YIKES! "What you find on your heart, you find on your tongue, once it gets into your mind the journey's just begun." . . . unknown. That is so true. So I choose to try and read more and put into practice what I have learned from scripture. Boy do I have a long way to go but that is my goal and true desire.

Maybe we should try and have a "Polly Anna attitude" although it is idealistic it is not all that realistic. Ideally it is possibly though because in Christ "All things are possible." We should be lifting one another up like Paul mentioned in scripture. Don't we all really desire that truly? I do - NOT FLATTERY but true uplifting! You know there is some struggles and some suffering but doing good for the benefit of the Kingdom is the best thing ever! Many times we are so quick to tear one another down especially our brothers and sisters - because of our "pet peeves" maybe we should stop petting them so much and we won't get peeved!!! Are we forgetting that we should be living quite differently than the world? Aren't we just temporarily just passing through anyway? I'm a visitor hear on earth and my true desire is to be different than the rest of the world so that when I go home the glory is given all to him.

I like the quote from Henry Ford, "The man who says he CAN'T and the man that says he CAN are both correct~!" Therefore, "I CAN do all things through Jesus Christ who gives me strength" and that includes being positive. I have a lot to do starting NOW. :-) Have a great one!

I Know YOU CAN!!!! :-)

Too weird.

Today was a weird God incidence kind of day. Okay those who fellowship with us every Sunday need to know that Kent and I DID NOT compare notes about the heart! YIKES!!!

Okay Abba, I heard you but I really didn't know that you were going to have Kent talk even louder to me with everything about the Heart!

If that wasn't a message to "speak Lord for your servant (Ana-Maria Rosine Torrez de Klundt) IS LISTENING!!!" I was amazed when we were coming home today and discussing then I asked okay did you read my blog last night? When he said no he hasn't been able to read it for a few days; I know the Lord wants me to hear!

When was the last time something like that happened to you when you had multiple messages speaking to YOU and watch out?

Head or Heart

Lately the Lord has really challenged me and also reminded me of something from memory at the same time. What good does it do to have all the knowledge in the world but have a bad heart. There are three examples to illustrate that question.

No heart, A Whole heart & 1/2 a heart. Yes it is amazing to me. Last night after our precious daughter turned in for the night and let us know she was home safely, I was awakened shortly after all the lights were out. Tossing and turning I finally awoke. I started thinking about "hearts" of man. Scripture shares so much about the heart, which tends to be negative. Jeremiah 17 says "the heart is deceitful above all things who can fathom it" and the gospels reveal "where your heart is there your treasure will be also". Proverbs is loaded with wisdom. But when scripture refers in a positive manner it is connected to those close to Him. See on our own we are . . . well frankly put . . . FULL OF OURSELVES! Ouch! But as I read scripture more, I realize that by his grace I can choose to have NO HEART, 1/2 a HEART or a WHOLE HEART after His heart!!!! Is it hard? YES!!! Is it worth the work? YES!!! Is it worth the transplant? YES!!!

Go to the Old Testament and you'll see these hearts illustrated. Samuel is an text with amazing illustration. Saul - Yikes looks like he may have had a heart but really had NO HEART for God, Solomon almost had it, but gave it up for the pleasures of the world (just read Ecclesiastes) so he had 1/2 a heart for God then realized later in life it seemed meaningless at what he attempted. And then there is David - "the Man after Gods' own heart" just read I Sam. 13:14. not to mention some other men like Enoch and Elijah who were amazing~It is all in the God Breathed, inherent Holy Scripture.

When I place my devotion in him my heart is going through the fire and the dross is being scraped off each and every time. Oh it hurts yet it seems lighter. So much of me is being put through the healing of the transplant; so to speak, but when I read, meditate and try and apply what scripture reveals to me, I see I am his recipient of that open heart transplant, it I needed it. The one who died so that I may have His heart was really young, 33 to be exact. My chest beats with a new heart and the medication I take and will continue to have the privilege to take for the rest of my life in order to fully live is . . . 66 doses -Scripture, administered in small doses daily. I need it in order to live and when I don't, boy I can feel the effects because my body starts to try and reject this wonderfully strong, young and awesome heart. It took almost 18 years for this transplant to take place but now that I have this heart I have much to be Praiseworthy for.

One time when we were going through a questionable rough spot and humanly speaking -thinking we needed way more knowledge to amount to anything for living, a very dear brother, leader friend of ours told us that many "men" (mankind) have knowledge, pedigrees, etc. and still miss the target. Why? Because their hearts are hollow-empty of what truly matters. He than told us that he would choose a man with a heart for spiritual truths over a man with all the Knowledge in the world - any day. Now nearly 20 years later - I want to Thank this brother for his wisdom in what matters most - Truth & wisdom to be A man after God's own heart - Amazing and untouchable because of the presence of Jesus Christ who gave up his life for me and for YOU~!!!

So I ask you, Where is YOUR heart? Let him give you his because it is worth every once!

Born or made . . . I believe born.

• Okay, so I have one whom answered the question that I was inferring about. I gave my very brief answer and now I will try to articulate my reasoning. For a very long time I have truly contemplated this question.
• It has come to me after "a coke a cola with a friend" & reading many things in scripture that I believe that TRUE LEADERS are born. I know there are those out there that believe that leaders are made. Okay. Many great men and women believe that however, I believe they are born because not everyone is meant to be a leader and there are many examples of those who think they are or try to be but they didn't have the raw material to complete that task and it is exasperating.
• You know the old saying, "Too many Chiefs and not enough Indians?" Well are you where your supposed to be?
• Leaders. Yes there is the raw material and it is developed through nurturing, influence, motivation, and spurring on and direction. Leaders are those who have God given abilities. Oh just because one may be a "type A" personality doesn't make them a leader. Or even the most "quiet peaceful phlegmatic" doesn't mean they are NOT a Leader. People can have all the knowledge & education in the world or all the popularity but that still doesn't make them a leader! Loud doesn't mean leader. Passive doesn't mean NOT one either. Look at many individuals in scripture. Just because some are leading doesn't make them a true leader. Example: One leads a group of people because they may have all the pedigrees, scholastic abilities, knowledge and people around them however, there is no leadership taking place. The best leaders I have been around have incredible ability - given by God and it has developed them to be able to bring others along side themselves and reduplicate themselves in a fathomable fashion with the influence they have bestowed on aspiring leaders with raw materials. Leaders are also learners and servers! The have excellent mindedness, with the ability to motivate, formulate, and persevere. It is not an easy task and neither is a person leading with a 'wing it' mentality able to truly lead. Leaders are those who delegate diligently, and groom forth coming individuals with leadership abilities. True leaders have a high standard knowing when to push (with insight) and when to patiently wait. They have the bar of standards high but with a hand reaching down to assist upcoming leaders and followers. Leaders groom other leaders and allow them to learn sometimes when it is through a failure but with the ability to communicate perseverance and endurance. Leaders have focus, and a vision with the ability to cast that vision. They also have an ability to work through imperfections to make their surroundings better, sometime requiring patience and God's timing. They also look for the growth of those around them with out wanting to "impart how smart they art" or "belittling" another because they are "not like me". A leader utilizes others strengths for the whole to a vision of excellence "running a well oiled machine" and working through the growing pains for the benefit of vision for the whole.
• See, not everyone was meant to be a leader or has the ability to even be a leader. There are natural followers, and there are those naturally meant to be leaders who will develop their skills altogether; but in the wrong function one trying to lead or a leader not leading can be devastating as well as exhausting. Many of us have sat under those "want to be" leaders and it is deadly, frustrating and pointless. And we have also been with those whom we have been around who truly are leaders that in time are very well oiled, and running machines. Are there kinks? Sure. But excellence in its' best form is just that ~EXCELLENT~ and we all desire to be around that! Leaders lead and groom other leaders around them to be even better than themselves preparing to pass the baton on at it's proper time. So wherever the Lord is grooming you . . . do it with excellence! We all have "gifts" and "abilities" with in our character so live it to the fullest. Ask & seek him with ALL your heart and yield to him 100% and Watch out (you will FIND HIM)!!!
• It is okay where ever HE has called you and LIVE IT TO PLEASE The one and only true King to the FULLEST with what has been given you - it's okay! If you are a leader please LEAD and avail yourself fully to The Lord Jesus Christ.

Leadership . . .

I believe leaders are born.

Do you agree/disagree? It is okay to be honest. :-)

Leadership part 1

Survey Question. A great friend and I were discussing this so I'll comment this weekend after percentages come in. :-)

Are leaders born or created? Explain.

One of those Days

Have you ever had one of those days followed by another one of those days? I have recently been humbled by God's presence. You know the children's' story "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" by Judith Viorst, well that is what yesterday was Kind of like but it began very good for me, just not for a student. Everything just seemed to go "wrong" late to school, spilt breakfast, melt down after melt down until almost total shut down. :-( I got so frustrated because anything I tried to 'help out with' didn't help; it only made matters worse. "I" tried everything possible until The Spirit reminded me that I forgot the most important thing of all - 'Did you pray?' Yikes, not until the little reminder that He is the only one in total control every time. Good thing I had a beginning that was positive and for once it wasn't a regretful day for me to look back on with mistaken 'reactions of impatience'. The student - well - was only reacting to a long weekend and a bad Tuesday beginning. Then one of the girls had that same kind of day. Yikes. :-(

With much prayer, preparations, prayer and eagerness today was a different day. It just seems like things went so much better. Yes today was one of those days that makes you think, why was yesterday so bad really? Mind set - what was the focus? It is so important for me to keep my mind focused on the Lord and the most wonderful gift of the saving Grace of Jesus Christ. I was beat both days but I am glad he sustained and continues to sustain me with each and every "One of those Days" because one day it may be my last before I go home. Maybe just maybe it is time to remember that when one of those days rolls through it is another great opportunity to share the Love of Jesus Christ so that none would perish. We all need him as our Savior, some just haven't been given the gospel message of Jesus Christ to open his gift freely given to all who will take it.

Well, One of those days may end up being the best one yet and getting to share Jesus.

Red Neck Cookout :-)

Hey Ya'll, What has a gun, gills, legs, hooks, hunters and shells all have in common? They are all used for & in a red neck cookout. :-) We were invited to a fishfry/cookout tonight that ended up pretty interesting. When we arrived our host said we had been invited to a true Red Neck Cookout, had we ever been to one before? "No, what is that?" was our reply with a smile. Well we were going to have Bass, Catfish, Dove (freshly shot today) and frog legs along with some fix'ins. It was GRRRRReat! I liked it all, I wish it could be said of all the meat it "tastes like CHICKEN". The fish was great, the dove was seasoned and bacon wrapped, the frog legs -yummy actually (although I laughed really hard when they brought us over some to "try" because it was the lower half of a frog and I giggled at the sight). Fresh fruit, salads, corn bread, and taters along with many homemade icecream, pastries and desserts to melt your buds right off your tongue! Anyone leave hungry and you alone deserved to be "shot", for sure (just kidding) but it was an excellent time.

We laughed, shared stories of "bein' kids" and only the good Lord's protectin' us - (how any of us ever servived we wondered), enjoyed the outdoors, fellowship, the laughter of kids playin' and jumpin' on the trampoline, four wheelin', motor cycles, and a type of football toss, not to mention a hatchet toss target, all we would have needed was to have "granny and Jedd Clampit" roll by to invite us to their "cement pond". :-) The Red Neck Cookout ended up being a shot gun fun time while exposing our past memories and watching our children create their own! :-)

By the way - I loved my very first solo ride on a four wheeler with three others gals on three four wheelers on the dirt road while Emily giggled to share with her daddy that "Mommy drove her own four wheeler Daddy!!!! All by herself! ;-)" It was a great Labor Day (started 1882-83 in the state of New York). All Praise to God and all his creation which was an Out of this world country experience to add to our family's memories! Thanks to those of you we spent our 2008 Labor Day with Ya'll made us feel very welcome and we enjoyed our time with you - another memory with friends we can call family.

What was your Labor Day 1 September 2008 like? Hope you enjoyed your friends/family like we did today. :-)

Fall Fest - YEPPIE!!!

Yesterdays are fond! And "yesterday" was no different. Our Fall Fest was AWESOME. The family at RCC pulled together and gave with all they had and it showed with an over abundance of LOVE! I love it when that happens. Yes I was able to be "Ana crazy" - and did an obsticle course that was so amazingly fun (also funny to witness as I rolled over the huge 'hills')!!!

The vision was cast, we came together and lived the vision out. It was so rewarding to see how everyone pulled together from the backbone unseen to the visuals everyone worked together and shared the love of Jesus Christ to the community giving a family day for FREE to a world that always charges something because "there are no free lunches". Oh to reach out and serve was blessed all day. The gospel was shared in every way.

Advertisements with "no catch". smiles. laughter. meal. wagon pull ride. pony rides. blow up fun activites. children friendly duck pond, balloon darts, facepainting, dunk tank. Pie eating. World Renown Juggler and Gospel quartet brought in all with one come goal - Win - Build - Send for Jesus Christ! It was so refreshing to see all ages come together and smile hearing the message of the Gospel unashamedly and boldly. PRAISE HIM for he gave a picture perfect day. I loved it All!

But my favorite was when our line for the facepainting was very long and it was time to "close" temporarily to go to a main session. The last little boy was given the your the "last one" cut off, so to move along. When I happened to look up between children being painted and smiling I witnessed something wonderful. The "last one" let a few more children step in front of him so that they could get their faces painted while he was still the "last one" before closing. I could only smile and think and then pray for him, "Lord, Bless him because our desire was to give to this community out of Love be not charging one penny to any one. He gave your love be allowing others to come first - therefore bless him abundantly for his very unselfish attitude!" It made me make sure to smile, paint, and bless each little one that allowed me to paint their faces knowing that one little one "got it" and shared love to others also. For everyone who helped Fall Fest - Yeppie~!!! Good Job good and faithful servants - your hard work and Love showed.