Thank YOU ... For Really!!!



That Moment When ...



“Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for ALL of you, ... ”

Romans 1:8a NLT

Yesterday was Sunday, October 18th, 2015 and it was also the 3rd day of my 50th year here in the land of the dying. 10/18/15 will also go down in history as the day God taught me that I don't know NOTHING! For Really! 



You see as I give pause to/ serious thought to the fact my one and only daughter, aka MiMi, was able to precisely coordinate and organize more than 70 people from my past and present life to come together to celebrate me in one place and I knew NOTHING about it, defined the moment that I really realized that I don't know JACK / NOTHING. For really! 



Everything that I thought to be happening was so far in the left field of "NOT" that even my spirit man has gone thru a transformation from this. And for the record, that's a real good thing! 

So I am thanking God for YOU, a vital part of this personal shift in my life. This is but one of many results of my 50th Surprise Birthday Party. 



And I want to sincerely thank YOU for loving me,  and participating in the festivities. Needless to say it was BIG heart thumping fun afternoon to say the least. 



I have methodically read every word of every card and have shed many tears of joy. Every gift I received was obviously chosen out of a deep abiding love for me,  and I am truly overwhelmed by God's love expressed thru you. 



Y'all did it. I love you for it and I don't believe I will ever be the same because of "That Moment When ..." 

Thank YOU for loving and celebrating me. I love you too, each of you to the moon and back and back to the moon and back and .... 

And just like The Apostle Paul,  “... I long to visit (with each of ) you so I can (continue to ) bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. When we get together, I want to (always be used of God to) encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.”

Romans 1:10-12 NLT

Humbly Submitted,

Earline E. Blumhagen

a Mess Ministry fleshed out .... 

 

   

Touch Me, I Ain't Scared!

Touch Me Again ... I'm NOT Mad! 

God is soooooo good. As I am in planning mode today, working on several events to include the "Surviving The Holidays" Grief Seminar and Reception here in Orlando on November 7th, a woman of God reached out to me with a sponsorship for 2 people to attend. 

Needless to say she too had a Grief Recovery testimony, as do I. When I reach the end of her message my soul was overflowing with worship for my King.  I found myself singing the lyrics below as I responded to her private message. 

 It got soooooooooo good y'all that I just had to share it with you. I hope you're OK with this ... Actually, even if you aren't I challenge you to pray these lyrics in faith, asking God to "Touch You." 

Little do you know that His touch is the one you've been waiting for. So go ahead  and invite Him to touch YOU even NOW! 

He Touched Me 

Shackled by a heavy burden

'Neath a load of guilt and shame
Then the hand of Jesus touched me
Now I am no longer the same.

He touched me, oh He touched me
And oh the joy that floods my soul
Something happened and now I know
He touched me and made me whole.

Since I met the blessed Saviour
Since He cleansed and made me whole
I will never cease to praise Him
I'll shout it while eternity rolls.

He touched me, oh He touched me
And oh the joy that floods my soul
Something happened and now I know
He touched me and made me whole. 

I'm Earline Blumhagen, the mother of this clan and a Mess Ministry fleshed out. This has been good, but I have to call it a rap for now. 

If you need someone  to pray with you or you just need someone to listen, call or text me at 407.448.1987. God loves you and so do I.  

I Ain't Even Trying To Forgive That ...

It's ALL Grace!!!

This blog post was inspired by First Five ... A Daily Devotional App for Women created by P31. Download it today and Become the change you want to see in others. 

Being transformed like Noah ... You've gotta read Romans 12:2 in your Bible right now because that's how Noah was transformed ... by God's Amazing Grace. Grace manifested through a new mindset, cause folk can make you wanna cuss, fight, walk away, pray down Hell fire bombs and more. But God! 

Grace. It's definitely not typical , it's unmerited, that's why it's called Grace. It's favor ... Favor extended from God to my sinning self. Daily. Can you imagine? 

So when I think of being transformed by God's grace like Noah's drinking self (don't judge me LOL), I think of being thrust in a place of such love and gratitude that I too start extending grace to others, just like my my Daddy who invites me to cry out "Abba Father!" 

All day everyday, to the best of my ability I seek His face for opportunities to BE like Him. So, oftentime as I am aware of God's grace being poured out on me, I actually hear from God on each situation I find myself in. And as He walks with me and talks with me (thru His Word and thru His Holy Spirit), He tells me what GRACE should look like in each situation. 

Practically, many a day me extending God's Grace looks like this: 

1. Me letting them have the parking spot even if I was there first

2. Me returning not only my shopping cart but someone else's too who would have let their cart hit somebody's else's car 

3. Me picking up trash when I didn't put it there ... and they always leave a mess. Grown folk. 

4. Me  leaving a place, thing or even a person in better shape than they were before they "experienced" me, even when I know they don't particularly care for me 

5. Me simply  laughing at my kids or somebody else's kids who tried to play a prank that wasn't really funny, but just ruined my new carpet

6. Me letting a perpetrator know that I have forgiven him or her for an intentional wrong deed done against me, etc.  

Note that when it comes to Me extending Grace, that decision starts with ME, every time. Because, Grace. Grace. God's Grace, His Grace is sufficient for me. Grace, Grace, God's Grace, His Grace will give you the VICTORY! 

God's Grace exuding thru me and extending to others in love. 

Noah found grace in God's eyes (See Genesis 6:6-8 ) because he stood on The Lord's side no matter what "The Street Committee" did or said.

 Noah developed a bold confidence in who God is and every WORD God said. And like Noah, if I want to find grace in God's eye, I too have to learn to trust Him with my EVERYTHING. 

Trust the fact that He is who He says He is ( gotta read The Bible to find out WHO He says He is) and, commit to letting  Him do whatever He wants to do both in and through you. 

It's a serious TRUST factor my friend. 

But why wouldn't I trust Him? He's The ONLY God who made Himself a sacrifice by intentionally allowing His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die on a cross, as if He were a criminal, for you and I ... for ALL our sin. Can you imagine? 

He exchanged His righteousness for OUR sin. I mean really? Who does that? AND, just like He said He would, He actually raised Jesus from the dead to prove to us that He is God. 

 So why wouldn't I trust Him? 

Why won't you trust Him today? 

Besides He's The ONLY way that you can have access to the Grace you need to overcome. And you and I both know that there's something that you need to overcome today. 

So, won't you "Come To Jesus" right now. You can pray to receive his FREE gift of Grace right now! 

Need some help? Call or Text me at 4074481987. 

I am 

#EarlineBlumhagen 

#aWannaBeBlogger

#aMessMinistry personified

#aWiFiPedaler

#OneOfGodsHands

#aPassionateServantLeader

#OnAMission 

LivingAndLearningLovingAndLeading

#WontYouJoinMe

Thanks for stopping by 

Marriage PPOOP, What Is It???

Thoughts from a Teacher, Speaker, Trainer and WannaBe Blogger 

What is Marriage PPOOP? 

Priority/ Permanent/ Oneness / Openness and Purity ... 

These are all qualities that God says should be found and not just found but be VERY much evident in our marriages according to God in Genesis chapter 2.  

Thank you P31 for today's devotion ... It has been a great help to me already. Spurring me to pause and consider the following. 

My marriage to Jon ... How it should reflect my relationship with my Creator, my Heavenly Father, my God, whom I only have relationship with because of Jesus. 

So likewise, my marriage to Jon should reflect my  relationship with God, through PPOOP.  And here are a few thoughts on that. 

1. Jon my husband of 20 years this December should be a top PRIORITY in my life, not an after thought. His needs  and desires are important to me and that should be evident in all that I do. 

2. Our relationship on this side is PERMANENT. I have decided that The "D" word / divorce,  is NOT an option. 

Even though there have been and will be times that we don't like each other on the journey ... I am COMMITTED. We're committed. Just like The Father is committed to me, to us. 

3. We are ONE. We are joined together at the core of our souls. All in!!! Body, Soul and Mind. And I have to consciously, on purpose have the mind of Christ to be able to pull this ONENESS thing off with Jon, because it's natural to be selfish. So God, please help me to understand that this marriage is NOT all about me, but is to be a reflection of Your relationship with Your church / The Bride of Christ. 

4. My natural father, my daddy, the late Rev. L.F. Holmes' favorite song was entitled, "I Must Tell Jesus." In order to tell Jesus everything, there's an genuine OPENESS required, along with a willingness to be vulnerable. And so it is within the constraints of my marriage. 

 Otherwise,  the relationship is only surface when I don't go there ... My personal "War Room"  is vital for this to happen. BTW - if you haven't seen the movie War Room yet, do so ASAP. You'll be a better woman for it. 

5. PURITY ... In thought and deed is a process, as the mind must be renewed daily. 

I am learning to purposely remind myself to think through whatever is of "Good Report"  as the Bible teaches. Many will call you green, but choose to stay focused knowing that this is God's business and He will direct your path if you stay tuned in. 

Think about the facts ... I Am, Jon Is, You Are, your hubby is whoever, whatever God says in His Word. You are either Holy or Heathen, but the choice remains yours. 

So,  let God be God and determine to remind yourself of the facts by daily declaring  "I'm a conqueror, I'm victorious, I'm an achiever, I'm a Believer, I won't be blocked, and I won't be stopped. 

Lord teach me to number my days and apply a heart of wisdom to each of them, Lord help me to think pure thoughts today and beyond, and allow me to walk in Oneness with you and my husband today in Jesus name. Amen! 

I am Earline Blumhagen and my response to today's post of in-couragement was inspired by a daily devotional app called First Five created by P31. 

I strongly encourage you to download the First Five App and give it some attention ... Daily. 

Giving God at least the First Five minutes of your day is the premise here and you'll be so glad you did. 

I am Earline Blumhagen

a WannaBe Blogger on a mission to: 

Live & Learn. Love & Lead.

Follow me on: 

FaceBook, Twitter, Interest and/or Instagram 

Websites- 

EarlineBlumhagen.com 

aMessMinistry.com 

GodsHandsAgency.com 

TheWiFiPedalers.com 

How God Uses Twitter

Earline floating in the Dead Sea in Israel 

It was after a morning swim on the last day of an awe inspiring convention. The National Black Deaf Advocates Convention had been very taxing mentally, but oh sooooo good. With a strong end nearing, I decided to put my feet up and skip out on the scheduled business meetings at hand.

Swimming in the Red Sea (or the Reed Sea) in Israel 

Taking time to sit and Encourage myself in The Lord, while intentionally Adorning myself in the beauty of His holiness thru prayer, reading and meditation sounded like a great idea. After all, I have found these TEA times are vital to my mental, spiritual and emotional health.

A GHA Tea Party (see GodsHandsAgency.com) for more Tea Time Photos 

As I gazed out the window of my 7th floor room at The Hyatt in Louisville, Kentucky, I was able to engage in one of my favorite pastimes, people watching.  The only thing missing was a cup of coffee, I knew that that would help settle this moment perfectly in my mind. 

So, I proceeded to gather the coffee, the creamer and the cup for my 3 step process of tried and true coffee making, but I soon discovered that there weren't any cups of any kind available for this now very weary girl. I searched all over my room, to no avail. There were no cups to be found. No Not One!!! Really, Not even ONE???  

Coffee with a friend while in Italy ... The Good Life 

Feeling kinda desperate,  I took to the hall to see if I could spot a housekeeper's cart, and that too proved to be an unsuccessful venture.

That's when I plopped down in my chair, totally disgusted and randomly did something that in my minds eye was a bigtime time waster. I tweeted my frustration.

Thank God I used nice language. LOL Because within seconds I received a response tweet from The Hyatt's concierge/ customer service department offering to take care of my need for a coffee cup.

It was through this process that God reminded me that He's even better and faster than twitter when it comes to answering my calls,  as He answers even before we call, or tweet. As a matter of fact, here's specifically what God has to say about His system.

"I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!"  Isaiah 65:25

Follow me on Twitter 

I remember sitting there in AWE of God's grandiose way of so loving the world, so loving me, in that He continues to give of Himself through teaching and demonstrating His Word through things all around us. Sometimes the things He uses are found in nature, and yet other times they are even found in technology. That's love. Seeking to reach us by any means necessary.  

So what are you tweeting about these days? Have you been FaceBooking about something, ANYTHING that's pressing on your mind, but have yet to take to God in prayer?

He's your friend you know?  And He gets you. He not only gets you my friend, He actually cares about the things that concerns you. Even a coffee cup. LOL

Beach Front in Haiti 

I promise you He does, so go ahead and discuss it with Him today, as He already has a plan in mind, just like He had for for Joseph Scriven. Here's his story. 

Written by: Connie Ruth Christiansen 

Irish born Joseph M. Scriven (1819-1896) was 25 years old, in love and to be married. The day before his wedding his fiance died in a tragic drowning accident. Heartbroken, Joseph sailed from his homeland to start a new life in Canada. While in Canada working as a teacher, he fell in love again and became engaged to Eliza Roche, 

a relative of one of his students. Once again, Joseph's hopes and dreams were shattered when Eliza became ill and died before the wedding could take place.

Although one can only imagine the turmoil within this young man, history tells us that his faith in God sustained him. Soon after Eliza's death Joseph joined the Plymouth Brethren and began preaching for a Baptist church. He never married, but spent the remainder of his life giving all his time, money and even the clothes off his own back to help the less fortunate and to spread the love and compassion of Jesus wherever he went.

Around the same time that Eliza died, Joseph received word from Ireland that his mother was ill. He could not go to be with her, so he wrote a letter of comfort and enclosed one of his poems entitled What a Friend We Have in Jesus.

Many years later a friend was sitting with Joseph, as he was very ill. During this visit, the friend was very impressed when he ran across his poems, including What a Friend We Have in Jesus. As a result of this visit, almost 30 years after his letter of comfort to his mother, Joseph's poems were published in a book called Hymns and Other Verses. Soon thereafter, noted musician Charles C. Converse (1834-1918) put music to one of those poems: What a Friend We Have in Jesus. 

Well-known musician and revivalist Ira D. Sankey (1840-1908) was a great admirer of Joseph Scriven. In 1875, Sankey came upon the music and words for What a Friend We Have in Jesus. He included it as the last entry into his well-known publication Sankey's Gospel Hymns Number 1.

After Joseph Scriven's death, the citizens of Port Hope, Ontario, Canada, where he gave so much of himself, erected a monument to his life. The seemingly sad and obscure life of one man resulted in so many lives being uplifted, both in his own time, and for many years after whenever the beautiful and comforting words of What a Friend We Have in Jesus are sung.

Earline and Lucinda "Joyce" Ward. A dear family friend. 

What a Friend We Have in Jesus 

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He'll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” ( John 15:13) 

Thanks for stopping by, 

I am Earline Blumhagen  ...  a Wanna Blogger and a Mess Ministry personified.

Follow Me on FaceBook  as I'm trying to Learn and Live. Lead and Love others to Jesus!

A Proud WiFi Pedaler ... doing it afraid at times 

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Life Lessons Thru Death.

My mind raced around all day, missing the details of a mile long to-do list set before me, simply because I thought of "her"  most of the day. Wondering what really happened inside of her. 

She was in her mid twenties when the bottom threaten to drop out, but on a serious note, I don't think that she thought it to be that serious. After all, how could it be? She was beautiful, gifted, active, married with children, and madly in love with Jesus.  A little tired, but who wasn't. She was  "good," at least that's what she told herself and others for years. 

Even as she checked in and out of the hospital almost weekly, she held true to her stance that "all is well" while continuing her busy lifestyle of consistently serving (that can be good) while seeking to always please others (that's not so good), to the detriment of her own self care. 

It eventually caught up with her, as it will you and I, that's if we don't have an "ear to hear."  

So, the year was 1980, January 25th to be exact.  It was a cold, wet and windy day ... both inside and out. I can still feel the chill on my shoulders as I write today from a humid Central Florida in July.

 At the ripe age of 39 years she was gone. Her transition from the "land of the dying" to a place where there's no need for doctors, hospitals, insulin or people pleasing, left me, a lonely, confused, hurt and angry young lady. 

She was my mother, a pastor's wife, the daughter of a control freak, a chronic diabetic, and I love and miss her more than all the words on all the pages of all the books in all the world can describe. 

 

Had momma been living today, she would be celebrating her 75th birthday. Sooooo, I have decided to celebrate my momma's life and legacy by sharing with you a few lessons learned in hopes that you too will be helped.  

Lessons Learned from Momma's Lfe

1. Seek to please God and Him only, and hope yall are OK with that. If not, "Oh Well."

2. Say NO often without explaining. 

3. Work smart and play harder. Fleshed out, to effectively handle my workload, I need the minimum of 3 "vacations" annually. 

4. Eat better than I think I can afford to. Sacrifice other things to make that happen.   

5.  Let folk handle their own business, recognizing that there is a God and I ain't Him. 

6. Walk several miles, the minimum of 4 times weekly. 

7. And last but certainly not least, just BE who God has made me to BE. Often reminding myself of who I am and Whose I am.  

I am Earline Blumhagen, the daughter of the late Rev. Louis F. Holmes and the late Arlie Pearl Holmes, the wife of Jon A. Blumhagen, the mother of Reggie, Melisha and Torin ... a Mess Ministry fleshed out. 

Thanks for stopping by. 

www.EarlineBlumhagen.com

www.aMessMinistry.com

We don't know what causes gestational diabetes, but we have some clues. The placenta supports the baby as it grows. Hormones from the placenta help the baby develop. But these hormones also block the action of the mother's insulin in her body. This problem is called insulin resistance. Insulin resistance makes it hard for the mother's body to use insulin. She may need up to three times as much insulin.

- See more at: http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/gestational/what-is-gestational-diabetes.html#sthash.lNriKndB.dpuf