Parental Lessons Learned

Acts 2:25-28
'I saw the Lord always in my presence;
For He is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted;
Moreover my flesh also will live in hope;
Because you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
Nor allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
You have made known to me the ways of life;
You will make me full of gladness with Your presence.'


My Mother once told me that when your children are little they step on your toes, and when they are older they step on your heart.
I through the years have found the truth in this statement.
I love being a mom, but I will tell you, it is the most difficult job we women will ever face in life. I have learned so much about myself and about life through my children.
I have come to a better understanding of the heart of God by being a parent. His tolerance, His grace, forgivness, and mercy have become the things which I crave to possess in greater measure than seems natural for the flesh to obtain.
I have learned I do not possess the power to change a heart no matter how the condition of that heart breaks mine. I've also learned that when you parent a child into adulthood it doesn't hurt any less when they stray just because you didn't actually give physical birth to that child. Being a parent isn't about the birthing process it's about the loving process.
I have learned that when your children become adults they don't always recollect the past the same way you remember it, at times bringing laughter and others times tears.
I've realized once we become adults and we're raising our own children we still may not see the things we did in our youth that contributed to some of our own hard places and take ownership instead of passing blame.
I have learned much by being a parent, but I have learned much more by being a child, His child, and it is in His presence He will restore gladness in my heart. I never want to make His heart feel the way mine does today, although I know I have and He has always been there just waiting for me to turn to Him in repentance and desire to once again sit and bask in the warmth of His love for me.
It is in His presence where I find peace.
The greatest lesson I have learned is although I am still a parent and cannot take that responsibility lightly, I'll do it best by being His child first.

Gifts

WOW, Life sure does get busy, doesn't it? I can't believe it's going on two months since I've last written here.

The past few days as we all start to collect those last few gifts to give for Christmas Day my mind and heart has been stirred about the receiving of gifts, and how sometimes we tend to overlook the gifts that are most precious.

Do you remember as a kid, or ever watched as a small child, or even an older child for that matter, is opening the gifts of Christmas, and they open one and immediatly put that gift to the side then proceed on to the next, finally arriving at the last gift and after opening it, looks up and asks the question, "Is that it"? " Is that the last one, really"?

As we approach the day of "Christmas", the day we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, I am praying we would all take some time to evaluate life, and see those gifts for which the Lord has given. Although I am no longer a big fan of the winter season the Lord has impressed upon my heart the beauty and the gift He has given us in this season. The symbolism of the pure white covering of snow that washes over the dingy dirty look when the appearance of life has faded for the season.

If you are one who has previously read my posts, you might recall awhile back my post about the birds. I marvel at this creation of God and the wonder of their life, not only the diversity of their colors, shapes, sizes and characteristics, but amazingly how God cares for them. I watched the other day from my car as I waited for my daughter as the sparrows did this awesome dance in the air. First it was just fifteen or so flying then landing on a rooftop, as several more joined that group, they all lifted up in flight the last following the first as they all swoped down, then back up to land on the utility wire. More then joined in as they all again lifted in unison and dipped and swayed in their flight, as if dancing in the air. By the time they left where I could see them there must have been hundreds of them. I sat there falling in love with the love of our Father all over again.

I seen this display as a gift the Lord gave me the vision to partake in, one I may have missed if given to the hurried schedule we all find ourselves in these days.

Some of the greatest gifts we could ever receive are all around us, in the gloriously blue sky He has used to paint the backdrop of our outdoor world. Even those days that are somewhat gloomy can carry beauty as the other evening we found reds and pinks swirled within what was the time of sunset. The giggly laughter of a small child, the twinkle in the eye of an elderly person when you tell them you love them, the hugs we receive when we so need encouragement.

As we all gather together with our loved ones this Christmas, it is my prayer that we would see the truest gifts of life all around us and we be given the ability to appreciate them for what they are. The greatest gifts, the ones that are from the Fathers heart through His children, given to each other. Embrace someone this season and open your eyes to the wonders that surround us all in the awesome beauty of His creation.

May you know the greatest gift the Father has given us, the gift of His Son, Jesus!

Putting Self Aside

When I looked at the date of my last post it just confirmed for me what my mind and body had already been screaming at me for weeks now.........life has gotten too busy.....slow down. But, have you ever gotten yourself into such a tailspin that you just don't know how to slow down?
What's really crazy is I have been here before and I got better at it and for a very long time I had developed a rhythm, an easy pace if you will. Then sometime this past summer that ol' ball began to roll and it just seems to be picking up speed as time passes by.
One day last week as I was attempting to catch up with some household tasks, I found myself in a stuppor of frustration and I was asking God to show me a way to make this all just slightly easier. I was making suggestions to Him as I cleaned, like if only they would this, or if only they could that, then this might be alittle easier on me. As it was beginning to look as if I could be close to completion I came upon another big mess to clean up, and sarcastically asked, "does this ever end?". I continued on my little tirad....okay....huge tirad about cleaning up after other people. I made the comment half to myself and half to the Lord I suppose being He had been the only one I had been conversing with this entire time...(and not all on a sour note), just how tired I was of always cleaning up someone elses messes. Right after I said those words it was as if I heard the Lord immediatley say to my heart........"You mean like I do yours?"
Talk about being humbled before the Lord!
You see the week previous to this one I had been asking the Lord where that fine line was between being selfless and giving too much. I've really been struggling with staying on task with the duties in my own life while at the same time pushing those things to the side to aid others when their lives have thrown theme a curve ball or two. I was becoming overwhelmed at times and frustrated that maybe I was being taken for granted or taken advantage of or maybe just unable to say no, which has been an issue for me in the past. At the same time praying about being a true reflection of Christ.
Through this one brief moment God not only brought enlightenment but He also answered my question with a renewed joy of serving others.
I now can see that to live like Jesus is to live without limits. I don't recall ever reading or hearing of a time when Jesus refused to help anyone that asked. It is through the giving of our hearts that others will see the reflection of Jesus in us. I am finding that even though I can become tired and weary physically and emotionally God is faithful to His word.

And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Gal.6:9

And whatsoever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men; Colossians 3:23

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run, and not grow weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Throughout this time I also have been dealing with some medical issues. I can see clearly now how by doing these extra tasks God has been the One carrying me, giving me strength beyond my ability, because I was doing exactly as He would have me do.....serve others......witness without words through my actions. Allowing the Lords reflection to shine through. When we truely are willing to set ourselves aside for someone else thats when God shines through us, thats when His strength will carry us to do amazing things we cannot do in our own limited abilities. It's not about making my life easier; it's about fulfilling the purpose for which I am here. To serve, just as Christ said He did not come to be served, but to serve, this too is my call.
I wished I could say I'll never again become frustrated by the distractions or even the messes of others, but I know it will only take me one second of recollection to realize once again the magnitude of what He has done for me....humble I become and willing to put myself aside for the sake of another, just as Jesus has done for me.
I pray this is encouragement to your heart that God sees all those little things we do, and although they may seem little to us at the time, with and through God even those little things can bring huge dividends in reward to others.

Be blessed all, it will be a bit before I post again, we are off to sunny Sanibel for a much needed rest and renewal, mind, body, and spirit!

Missed Blessings

I read a story the other day that has had me thinking. The story was told about a woman who past the same man every day on her way home from work. This man stood on a corner of a busy intersection holding a sign asking for food and stating that he was hungry. The woman past the first day and felt bad for the man but didn't respond. She saw him on the second day and her heart was a bit more stirred and she continued to think about him even after she was home. On the third day she was eating her lunch at work and thought about the man she would more than likely see once again on her way home from work. She decided to make a stop at a near by burger establishment on her way home. As she approached the intersection she saw the man at the same spot, and she pulled over in close proximity to where the man stood and she called out to him telling him she had brought him a burger and fries to eat. At first the man appeared to have not even heard her, she repeated what she had said, and couldn't believe her ears with his response. He had been polite enough when he told her he didn't eat beef, he was watching his cholesterol levels, so that ruled out the fries as well.
How many times do we pray for answers to lifes situations or trials and the Lord answers, yet we pass, because the answer didn't look like we had invisioned it to look. Or we didn't think it was the right answer for us. I really think many times God does send answers to our prayers and we refuse them. So many times when we pray I think we can already have in our minds what the response should be, how it should appear and even when, then when a turn of events happens that changes the situation wether that change is good, bad, or indifferent we turn our backs and walk away not even considering the idea that it very well could be an answer from the Lord. Not always when the Lord answers our prayers do we receive immediate relief. I believe that sometimes answers to prayer can be a process that happens over time.
Just like in the illustration of the starving man, the womans heart was stirred to help him, and he looked the answer to his prayer in the eye and refused it.
The only way we can be in tuned to the way God may be working in our lives is to stay in tuned with Him. He wants us to be an active part of what He is doing in our lives. God doesn't need us to bring blessing to our lives, but He desires us to share our lives with Him, even though He knows all things in advance, it's about the relationship.
1 John 5:14-15 tells us that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
I pray you will go to the Lord today asking for your eyes to be opened to the blessings He brings into your life, and your relationship with Him will become deepened with every word spoken in His presence.
"So will I compass thine altar, O Lord; that i may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of thy wonderous works". Ps 26:6-7

It's Been Awhile

It really has been a long time since I have posted anything here, So much going on through the summer and now that we are back to full-time schooling at home, time is still in short supply.
From Chicago in early spring, She Speaks conference in June, and back to North Carolina in August for our youth mission trip, and started on as a youth leader in Bible study with our Jr. High girls, this summer just flew by. Seems I was just getting ready to settle in and plan some summer family get togethers and realize school planning needs to begin. And that could take a totally seperate post, since we are using brand new curriculum this year. This means lots of planning time. yet, my hope and prayer is that this curriculum will save me prep time in the future and so far we are adjusting okay and Libby seems to be doing good with it.
It has been in these past crazy, whirlwind months, that I so realize my need for the Lord, and just how much He does carry me! "His strength shown in my weakness". And I have to admit, in these past months I have been feeling incredibly weak. My doctor feels it's probably hormonal issues, I mean, well, I did turn the big 50 this year! Yet we are doing several kinds of tests just to be sure. So, if any of you out there do read this...say a prayer for me....would ya?
Gods word tells us, that when we cry out for Him, he is faithful to answer. I have found His faithfulness in this verse. Throughout these crazy hectic months it has been my time with Him that has kept me sane, helped me to balance,and given me an even stronger hunger and desire for intimacy with Him. The more I turn to Him and lean on Him the more I want of Him, the more I desire to be like Him. I wished I could say that throughout these months I have been a patient soul with all that I have come into contact with, but come on, lets be realistic here, I DID mention the hormones right? But, I have found I actually have become more patient than I once was and I take no credit for any of it, It's all Him, believe me...patience has never been one of my strong points. Anyway, I am rambling now because I am tired so my point........I do have one!
Get in His presence! The more you spend time with Him, the more you find you not only need to, you just want to. Prayer time isn't a chore or a struggle to gain your points from God today.....that time becomes like the air you breathe......without it you simple begin to suffocate!
Be blessed all...and in His presence!
Until next time..............

Where Are The Miracles?

" So then, does he who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith"? Galatians 3:5

I listened to testimonies yesterday from some who recently went to Haiti. One objective was universal- each one acknowledged they went there looking for some sort of "miracle", to see the hand of God at work. Although it was also acknowledged they knew they saw the hand of God working here at home, yet they were looking for maybe "bigger" miracles?
Recently I listened to a lecture on "Probability", where the Professor used a deck of cards to prove his point. Although he didn't deal out 10,000 hands in front of my eyes, it had been done previously to test the ideas of randomness. He showed how often, or the probability, of any one particular set of cards to be dealt more than once. Then he dealt out two sets of five cards each. The first set consisted of a ten of hearts, Jack of spades, Ace of hearts, two of diamonds, and a four of clubs. The second hand he dealt was a run of clubs from Ace to ten, which if you know anything about poker you know this to be a straight flush, and very valuable also very rare and something you might tell others about. Yet, would it surprise you if I told you the first hand dealt is equally as rare? The chances of that particular hand being dealt again is just as likely, or unlikely as that of the straight flush. Yet, you wouldn't be excited to receive those cards, even if you did receive them again. Even though the first set of cards are as rare as the second we have determined by the "rules of the game" they have no significant value.
I think the "miracles" of God are a lot like the rarity of the cards received in the game of poker and placed into our very hands, some to be traded in for something better, maybe something a little more significant, something seen less often or more rare. Possibly the greatness or the value of a miracle is determined by our own perception of "a miracle"?
What is a miracle? If we look around us at all creation and all the intricate details God put into His creation, I believe we would come to the realization that we are surrounded by the miracles of God. It is our own perception that somewhere along the journey we have determined these "miracles" to lack the significance we seek after. But, does that in itself make these things any less miraculous?
Have you ever seen a bumble bee? If you have, you have witnessed a miracle! It is a scientific fact that bumble bees shouldn't be able to fly! The weight and the circumference of this bee, according to aerodynamics should be an impossible feat- Yet, he flys'! That is a miracle!!!
When you are at the grocery store right behind the woman who is short a few dollars, that's a miracle! God has strategically placed you there to help! When you witness the woman who has locked her keys in her car and begins to walk home -you could be her miracle!
I don't want to sound as if going to a foreign country on a missions trip is unimportant, not at all, God has told us to go "to the ends of the earth". I would love to be able to go myself. My point is, we can see and witness the miracles of God even here everywhere we go, everyday of our lives. I believe His miracles surround us daily not only in His creation but also in opportunities we most times miss. Maybe we have become just too busy or maybe we have determined the value of what a miracle is based on our own terms. I really believe that if we were to ask God to help us see His awesomeness in our daily lives and to give us a deeper perception of His hand at work, we would then begin to see the value of "All ", of His miracles. We would then see how He wants to use us to be a part of someones miracle, we would also see when he is using others to be miracles in our own lives.
Whether the miracles in our lives are a set of random acts of kindness,or the phone call at just the right time, the check that came in the mail right when the bank account was looking red, or the total physical healing of yourself or a loved one, All are equally as rare and all are equally as miraculous, and all should be enough to tell others about.
Look around you and find your miracle today.......then go tell someone how God is working in your life right where you are.

Our Dependence on God

Today I was reading about the day of the Crucifixion and I thought about all that Christ endured for us upon that cross. Jesus throughout His time on earth was so dependent upon the Father. He was in constant communication with Him. Jesus had never been separated from His divine relationship with The Father. Then here on the cross when the sins of man were poured upon Him, He was apart from The Father! He was in such utter anguish He cried out, "My God, My God, Why have You Forsaken Me?" Matthew 27:46
Many have said he cried out due to the physical agony He must have been in, but I believe He cried out, out of spiritual anguish due to the separation from The Father. We don't know the length of time Jesus was physically tortured but it doesn't matter because The Word tells us, He was "beyond recognition". Throughout the entire time of this physical torture, He endured, never once crying out for them to stop or pleading for their mercy. The Father was with Him. The Father was with Him, helping Him to endure the unimaginable pain they were inflicting upon Him. Helping Him to remain focused on Him, His Father. Yet, in that very moment when Jesus was separate from God, that is when he cried out! The separation was more than he could bare, "Jesus then uttered another loud cry, then took His last breathe." Luke 15:37
This really has me thinking about my own dependence upon My Father and the closeness of my walk with him. In those times when I seek out every avenue of solution about a situation or trial in my life, of my own creation, instead of depending on Him, how anguished is my heart?
How long do I keep myself separated from Him before my spirit cries out for Him? Why do I always return to that place where for whatever reason, I think I have a better solution than He does. He knows me better than I do, He knows all my tomorrows and every single detail there is to know about me.
This reflection has left me with a desire for a deeper dependency on Him in everyday life, that I will develop a more constant connection with Him as I walk through my days.

Lord, help me to see that You and only You are the creator of my life, and You and only You have the divine direction I need. Help me to seek after You in every situation no matter how big or how small, knowing You will never leave me nor forsake me. Thank You Lord for Your Perfect love. in Jesus Name.

Filled to Overflowing

This past week-end I attended the "She Speaks" conference put on by Proverbs 31 Ministries, in North Carolina, and was reminded of how intimately Our Father knows and cares for us. Just the fact of how He orchestrated my daughter Daveda and I going to the same conference without either being aware of the others intentions still blows my mind, yet God wasn't done amazing me with His intimant details.
This was a three day event which began for me on Friday morning bright and early, by 8am I was savoring the last bites of my complimentary, cooked to order, breakfast and off to registration, where I was greeted with so many smiles it made me dizzy!
Not knowing what to expect, I headed to the opening session, "Up Close and Personal", and did they ever peg that title for this week-end. This was just the beginning of God speaking into my heart about just how close and personal He truely is. With Daveda and I signed on for a diverse package of classes of which none coincided, I had hoped and prayed to find someone out of all these women I could buddy up with for a least some of the time, and He was so faithful to hear my heart and sent me a precious new friend from Kansas. We hit it off right from the start and found ourselves to have so many parallels in our lives, this could have only been the work of my Abba, Daddy God. Daveda, also found a friend who oddly enough shares similarities with both of us who is so incredibly sweet and real I couldn't get enough of her. Her sense of humor left my stomach muscles sore!
Which once again only my Heavenly Father knew I went there needing!
The entire group of women who are part of the Proverbs 31 Ministries are the most loving, transparent and sincere women I have ever met and their love for every lady there was contagious. I was so moved by the way these ladies would be traveling through the halls of this hotel and would look into your face and realize that hadn't yet spoken with you and would stop and greet you with" Oh, I haven't talked to you yet, whats your story, and what is God doing in your life? And they didn't say it in passing as if they really didn't expect a reply, they waited for it and they looked you directly in the face with anticipation for your response, and would sit down right there on the floor if need be just to talk with you, just as I can picture Jesus doing!
Within the confines of this hotel the Proverbs 31 Ministries team had set up a prayer room where the name of every lady attending lay upon a table along side the promises of God and His Attibutes, along with a member of their team there at all times praying for the ladies at the conference as well as with any lady who needed someone to come along side her to pray and believe. I was so blessed to pray with and to be prayed for by Melissa, who's heart for God is worn on her sleeve for all to see. We too were found to have similar passions for ministry and found our hearts beating together for leading young girls to a pure lifestyle in such an impure culture. The presence of God was so thick in this room I physically felt hit by "It" the second I entered the room and was so over taken that I lost all resolve like I have never experienced before.
Every session fed me with something new, and God spoke so much to my heart that yesterday in my quiet time with Him I found myself sobbing because I am so full and I don't know what to do with it all, yet I am longing for even more, even as I write this I weep because He has filled me and His desire is to keep me on overload. Not because He wants to overwhelm me with stress, but He wants me full, so full that there is more than enough to give away, yet stay so full that I can hear Him when He whispers in my ear. So full to love someone who is having a bad day and maybe not behaving loveably, so full that I have patience with the child who is having a hard time accepting "no" for an answer. So full that I take the time to call someone who is struggling in their marriage, So full that I can sing while I pick up the mess someone else left behind. So full that I just want more, So full that I want the needle on my spiritual tank to not sway off that "F" even by a fraction.
God also has shown me, one doesn't neccessarily have to attend an entire week-end conference to receive this fullness. All it takes is encouragement from another, to see and hear the heart of God through another human being. Ladies, that is what we are here for, to be the heart beat of God on earth. The Proverbs 31 ladies showed me this, this week-end and it is now my heart to share His love with you.
I will be praying and asking what and where the Lord would lead and have me do with all He has shown me and spoke into my heart through this conference. Would you join me in that prayer, that He would give and I would hear clearly His direction. Allowing Him to open the pathway and do the work and to help me set me aside for His glory.
I am so incredibly greatful for the heart and ministry of all the Proverb 31 ladies and every lady I had the pleasure of talking to or praying with this week-end. It was truely a week-end I will never forget! And if you are one of those sweet precious souls I met this past week-end, thank you for sharing your story with me and your willingness to just be real, you don't know how much you were an answer to my prayers.
Stay close to Him, in His word and in His presence to keep your spiritual tank on "F", the price of filling this tank has already been paid, all you need to do is ask for more!

Chicago Pics ! & Kammy !

Missed Blessing

The other day I was driving down a road that I frequently travel on and happened to notice this little house for sale. This place has caught my attention many times over the past several months, when people I know were in the market for a new home I would mention it to them. This time when I past this little place it just struck me odd that it was still for sale, and as I past the thought came to me, "there is someones missed blessing". Even later in the day the thought of that little house came to me, and the thought about the "missed blessing".
How many times do we miss out on a blessing from the Lord due to the lack of our connection to Him? If we aren't communicating with Him, how will we hear His voice, how will we know His direction? Just like this little house, I just can't help but think that this house is the perfect house with the perfect circumstances for someone out there who is looking for a house, but because they are not seeking Him for direction, their blessing just sits there.
In Gods word it says, " Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7

To Be Blessed

Seems like it's been so long since I updated this blog, probably because it has been.
Just haven't had much time for the computer at all lately. Other than researching next years curriculum and doing a less than best effort at keeping up on e-mail.
But this is not a bad thing.
As I have been preparing for not only my speaking at the Ladies Breakfast but also preparing for the two Bible studies to begin this week, I have been spending so much more time in the Word, and in prayer, and reading articles and books on the issues we will be discussing throughout the next several weeks.
God speaks through so many things, but nothing more so than His word and in prayer. It really does help you to see all else through His eyes. Everything becomes more intimate, more personal. When we search the Word out for ourselves, that is when the rest becomes our own, thats when we can claim personal victory for ourselves and not through someone else's revelation. Thats when we can see ourselves for who we really are, and not what the world says we are. When we spend more time seeking Him out through His word and through our conversations with Him, that is when we can see ourselves as a child of the One and Only Living God.

Spend some extra time with Him this week, everything else will wait, and nothing else is more important!

Haven't been on here in awhile, but I am currently in Rockford, Illinois, okay to be specific I quess it's not "Rockford", as my daughter so lovingly just pointed out to me, we are in "Poplar Grove", Illinois! Which is closest to Rockford, which is Northeast of Chicago by about an hour or so. No big trips to the big city though, much too cold yet for me to take on such an adventure. The cold and I just don't get along that well. But, we are having a great time just just spending time with family.

I was reading today in the book of James, when I came to 4:6, it was speaking of "grace". This word seems to have crossed my path quite a bit lately, maybe thats why it caught my attention. When I think about the word "grace", and ponder on the given Biblical meaning of the word which is:

Gods unmerited undeserved favor;

Gods ability in us and for us what we are incapable of doing for ourselves.

Although we speak of His grace and hear it spoken of often, are we really grasping and living in it's true meaning?

Maybe it's forgiveness, or acceptance. In our own power maybe we can't forgive the person who hurt us, or we just can't see how we can accept the choices someone close to us is making in their lives, but if we are realistic and look back where we once were, we will see, that we were not deserving to receive Gods forgiveness and grace. Our Father looks beyond the actions and only looks at who He created us to be.

In Titus3:3-7 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared. He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit. Whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

According to this word, we can "do" nothing to insure grace given to us. If we were required to deserve it, I'm afraid not one of us would receive grace. I quess the thing I'm most curious about is not the "why" of Gods grace but more the "why" of us being so reluctant to give it ourselves. We receive it from the Lord just because of His love for us, yet we tend to make those in and around our own lives "earn" it, they somehow must be deserving. As this scripture says, we too once walked in the lustfulness of sin, and when the grace of God was offered we willingly accepted.

My prayer today is that the Lord would show us in our hearts how to give the same grace He so willigly has given us, to others, not because they deserve it, but just because to do so will bring joy to our Fathers heart, which should be the desire of our heart.

Partakers of Christ

For the past couple months many of us have been hearing all the controversy about Oprah Winfey's worldwide classroom, and her radio program, as well as controversy over many Pastor's or preachers with television ministries, and their speaking out in what they believe to be the truth on the meaning of "eternal life". I've watched a few of the Youtube video's and have read several articles taken from various news columns written by far left, far right and all over in the middle, journalists, I've heard many describe it all as "scary" and/or "unbelievable". I must admit, when I think about what we may face in ten years down the road my heart could begin to beat just a bit faster out of a moment of fear. Then........His words come back to me......
Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?"

Hebrews 3: 14
For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.

The Lord tells us to heed His words, and not to walk carelessly or lay out our own paths for our lives. We don't know what will happen in the days to come.
Our only hope is Him! To have a close walk with Him, hold firmly onto His hand, listen closely to His words.
We can spend endless hours watching and listening to all of the "garbage" out there, and what we hear shouldn't surprise us. So much of what is happening has been foretold to us in His word.
Now is the time we must draw near to Him, know the truth for ourselves through His word, embrace our relationship with Him and His promises.
Read further 2 Timothy 3.

Jesus and only Jesus is our truth and our hope, our answer to any and everything to come today and for all our tomorrows.

May the Love of Jesus bring peace to your heart.

APRIL FOOLS DAY!!!!!!!

Libby got me! Lil snot' put a rubber band around the sprayer at the kitchen sink, and got me good, I soaked myself!

BUT, I had revenge!!!!!!! I greased the toilet seat with vaseline !!!!!!!!!!! tee hee hee !!!

ITS POTTY TIME !!!!!!!!

Thats right, it's potty time! Amazingly, Kammy took all the work out of it for all of us.

Last week-end she was staying with us and she just decided it was time. She came to me with a very serious look on her face, tugged at my sleeve, and then said as plain as could be, "I haf to go potty". She told us she had to go potty every time for the rest of the day! Later I called her Mommy to tell her she'd better pick up a potty chair on her way home. Of course she didn't believe me at first. Here little 22 month old Kammy comes to my house and literally 6 hours later she's potty trained! She has been going in her "big girl potty" ever since last Friday!

The one thing I have learned from being a parent and a grandparent is what a blessing it is to truely realize what is important at this time and what isn't. Taking the time to sit down and play a game is much more important than folding laundry, staying up late to just talk to your teenager sometimes is more important than getting eight hours sleep. Remembering what is was like to be their age, and the things that are important in their world need to be real in our world too, and spending the time letting them know that, know matter what that may entail, is much more important than spending time on our computers or even making sure the house is clean.

Know matter who or what may ever walk into their lives as they grow, we are and always will be the ones who hold the greatest influence on our children and our childrens children. We ought to take that very seriously. If our children have witnessed us on our knees in conversation with our Lord, if our children have witnessed us reading and studying our Bibles, if our children have witnessed us being light and truth in a dark world, they too will seek those things.

Just like Kammy did going on the" big girl potty". I look forward to the day when she looks up with her beautiful brown eyes, and says' "I want Jesus".

Forsaken So We Could Live

Since I have come to know Christ as my Savior I've always thought I understood the "why" of the cross, until, that is, I read this...... This so moved me and has brought such a clearer understanding of the depth of God's love, I just had to share. I hope it touches your heart as well.

Enjoy and may God richly bless you.

Forsaken So We Could Live Tuesday, March 25, 2008

I was one of seven people who each spoke at our church's Good Friday service on one of the seven sayings of Christ on the cross. I chose, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?"
In my more skeptical days, I viewed the question as odd -- almost ammunition for the cynic. Why would Christ, if he were truly God, need to ask God about anything? Also, why would an all-powerful God have been in such a vulnerable position?
I now realize that these questions are no more unique than the basic misunderstandings of Christianity and Christian doctrine that give rise to them. But interestingly, this utterance of Christ that was once a stumbling block for me has now become a powerful reinforcement for my faith.
I used to wonder how the crucifixion, no matter how much physical suffering Christ endured, could cancel out our sins. After all, other human beings have experienced similar physical punishment. But I was completely unaware of the spiritual wounding that was involved. The Scripture tells us, "The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?"
But Christ was spiritually separated from and abandoned by God. To atone for our sins, he took on our sins, and God cannot look upon sin. We cannot begin to comprehend the agony he experienced in this separation after he had enjoyed infinite bliss with the Father and the Holy Spirit in eternity past.
After having lived a sinless life, the full force of mankind's accumulated sin was heaped upon his human soul. All the spiritual forces of darkness were joined together in their collective hatred and fury in one last effort to defeat the conqueror of death because if they failed, death would be defeated forever.
Human beings had no power either to comfort or deliver him; the Father wouldn't because he had to allow him to complete his redemptive work. At that moment, Christ was the loneliest man who ever lived. Yet consider this staggering irony: At no time was Christ more perfectly in his Father's will. And through it all, he never renounced his Father, referring to him as "my God, my God."
Although we sometimes separate ourselves from God, he will never abandon us this side of eternity. Witness the prodigal son. And consider the martyrs who died joyfully because even in their death, though hated and persecuted by men, God did not abandon them. Ignatius, waiting to be thrown to the lions said, "Let me be food for the wild beasts, if only God be glorified." Christ, unlike the martyrs, did nothing to deserve his abandonment.
Skeptics should note that the Gospel writers never would have invented this potentially embarrassing saying of Christ because it suggests Christ's powerlessness to deliver himself from his own predicament.
But I believe the statement is only comprehensible in reference to God's Triune nature: Christ's nature as both fully human and fully divine and God's salvation plan for mankind.
Christ's question to the Father on the cross shows not that Christ wasn't God but that he was also a distinct divine personality in the Trinity and also fully human. If he had not been fully human, he could not have taken on our pain. Nor could he have died. If he was not God, he couldn't have lived a sinless life or wiped away our sins.
Evangelist John Stott wrote: "We are not to envisage God on a deck chair, but on a cross. The God who allows us to suffer, once suffered Himself in Christ, and continues to suffer with us and for us today. I myself could never believe in God were it not for the cross. In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it? Our sufferings become more manageable in the light of His. There is still a question mark against human suffering, but over it we boldly stamp another mark -- the Cross, which symbolizes divine suffering. The cross of Christ is God's only self-justification in such a world as ours."
Despite his indescribable suffering, Christ would not rescue himself, precisely because he was a co-conspirator in the salvation plan, which required him to fulfill his prophesied substitutional sacrifice.
As Bishop Fulton Sheen observed: "Every other person who ever came into this world came into it to live. Christ came into it to die. Death was a stumbling block to Socrates -- it interrupted his teaching. But to Christ, death was the goal and fulfillment of his life, the gold that he was seeking."
Christ died forsaken by God so that his people might claim God as their God; he endured abandonment so we would never be abandoned; he tasted hell so we'd never have to taste it ourselves; he endured loneliness so we'd never be alone.

What an awesome God! I just loved that part where he says "that at no other time was Jesus more in the will of God than on the cross". Even though He was in agony physically, mentally, and spiritually, He was" in the will of God.

Sometimes I think we get caught up in a misconception that everything has to be all perfect and pretty looking to be in the will of God, when just maybe being right in the middle of a painful situation is exactly where God is at work within us and/or others!

This article was written by Jim Limbaugh ( I don't know if he is any relation to Rush)

Thats My King !!!!!

I heard this once at the "Just Give Me Jesus Conference", and it so touched my heart! It truely describes our Lord and King, Jesus!
Click....Turn Up The Volume.....Be Blessed!

That's My King

I think at one time or another we have all thought our contributuion to the building of Gods Kingdom, to be insignificant. We may even think the same of some of the disciples that followed Jesus, that we don't hear much about, such as Andrew. We don't read about the great speeches he may have delivered, or the thousands he brought to the Lord. But, what stands out to me is in John1:40-42 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him was, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which translated means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas" (Which is translated Peter).

I would imagine even Andrew didn't realize the significance of what he was doing when he brought his brother, Peter, to see Jesus. We've read about Peter's impact on leading thousands upon thousands to Christ, but we don't hear much else about Andrew. Yet the way I see this, is that Andrew did indeed lead thousands upon thousands to Christ, and then some. "He brought Peter", and I am sure, although it's not written, Andrew continued to lead others to Christ. Another point that stood out was, Andrew found "first his own brother". I see this as instructive to us to seek and lead those in our families as priority. Not that we are not to lead another to the Lord when or if the opportunity arrises.

I found this point about Andrew refreshing and fitting to our study with "Made to Count".

No matter how insignificant we may think our actions to be when we are seeking to serve others for the building of Gods Kingdom, we don't know God's plan. Andrew had no idea the ministry Peter would come to when he asked him to come meet Jesus, any more than we do when we do the same.

Not one of us is insignificant in the eyes of God, nor our actions when we are serving Him.

As we approach the Easter celebration, I pray many of us will step out in boldness and ask another to "Come meet Jesus".

Libby is now an Official Babysitter!!!!!

Libby passed the Red Cross Babysitting class today !!

Yeah Libby!!!

Now, she's just waiting for the calls to come rolling in!!!

Angels To Watch Over Us

Matthew 18:10

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that, their angels in heaven continually see the face of my Father who is in heaven".

My daughter called me yesterday all excited to share with me once again something amazing my 22 month old granddaughter, Kammy had said. This time though she was more surprised by the content than her ability to say the words. She said they were sitting in the living room watching "Nemo", when Kammy said, "Mommy look" as she was pointing up to the ceiling. Her mom looked up and asked "what"?, Kammy answered, "the angel, Mommy, look the angel"! "The what"? "What did you say"? She again pointed up and said, "see her"? "See the angel mommy"?

My daughter said she wanted so much to see the angel, she continued to look up even after Kammy seemed to lose interest, as if this angel was someone she'd seen before and was use to its' presence.

I later shared with my youngest daughter that we shouldn't be surprised, God's word speaks of each of us having a guardian angel, sent to watch over us.

I believe when we are yet still very young and our time since we have walked along side the Lord in the heavens, before being sent to earth, has still been quite short, we still have the ability to see the heavenly things upon the earth. As we grow older and experience more of this world, we somehow spiritually distance ourselves, and lose the ability to see.

As I grow closer to the Lord, I can only pray I regain the ability to see the heavenly things while still here on earth. Then again, everytime the Bible tells of someone being visited by an angel they appearred frightened, because the first words the angel would speak would be, "don't be frightened"! Maybe that too, was due to being older. Gods' word says we must come to Him like a child. Kammy sure didn't speak as if she was the least bit afraid, she sounded happy that the angel had joined them for their evening of watching "Nemo"!

Being the Favorite

Its' always been fun when the whole family gets together and the girls start to tell their stories about when they were little. I will hear about things that I never even knew happened back then !!!! But the thing that I have always found the most humor in, is how they will each joke about how "they're my favorite". And they'll argue between them on their proof of just how they know that they are indeed "the favored daughter"!

Yesterday I had recalled one of those times and it just got me to thinking about how God does that very thing. We know that God is not a respector of persons and loves us all the same, yet comes so close and so deep into our hearts that we get that feeling that we just know we have to be His favorite. I couldn't pick one of my girls over another even if I tried. My relationship with each of my girls is so very unique, and I enjoy a multitude of things between them, yet my love for them is uncomparable.

I hope that each time I spend time with my girls I do make them feel like they are my favorite, because I know what that feels like. When I sit down in the quiet and call out to my Father and He hears my voice and He comes to me, I feel special. I feel like He has ears only for my words at that moment, that He has all the time in the world, and it's all mine, for as long as I choose to sit with Him. I know he has an open door policy at all times and at any time I need Him or even just want to sit with Him when I don't need anything except Him.

Once a Mom, we are always a Mom, no matter how old they become they are still your little girls, how precious the moments.

I can't help but think, this is exactly how God feels about all of us, no matter what we do, no matter how old we become, in His eyes we are all His little children, each one His favorite!

How many sheep did I feed today?

This is a quote from Chilly Chilton's blog,


see, here's the problem...
“blah, blah, blah”
Yeah: talk.
we can say it, think it, blog it, sing it, quote it, preach it...but do we, each and every day, LIVE IT?

If all of us would grasp on to this truth and make the change within ourselves we would soon be living life the way its really meant to be. Jesus told Peter, "feed my sheep". That was meant for us also. How many sheep are we feeding in a day?
You can read the rest of his blog by linking onto his site from my list below.
Its a convicting message we all need to hear. I'm praying the conviction in my own heart stay strong to seek out the lost sheep, and not just talk about it any more.
How about you?

Captivating

To cap-ti-vate, according to Webster is to fascinate, enrapture; (to delight in).



His love "captivates" me,

Brings me to a higher place,

Where I can see,

Hear and touch His grace,

His love "captivates" me.



These past couple of months the Lord has brought me to a greater understanding of who He is, and just how intense and deep His love.

Many times in the past I've made the declaration, "I surrender all to Him" and His plan for my life, and although at the time I believed every word I spoke. I've come to the realization that I was merely speaking the words. To live for His plan, means I had to let go of my own dream for my life. Amazingly, I found freedom, and such an overwhelming peace in the letting go, I have found myself "captivated"!!!! Wonderfully and beautifully captivated!!!!!!!

The Beauty of the Lord

During praise and worship at our church we sing a song called "The Beauty of the Lord".

"Jesus Your love has come one step closer,

I will trust, You will never let me go

Jesus Your love has won me over,

All my trust has found no other.

I will declare the beauty of the Lord

Nothing compares to the beauty of the Lord

Jesus Your love takes my breath away

Now, I'm living everyday for the beauty of the Lord

Jesus, Your love it takes my breath away."

This is one of my favorite worship songs, although I have to be honest, I love every worship song! When I sing these songs, they are not just songs to me, but prayer from the depths of my heart! The first line of this song, states that the love of Jesus has come "one step" closer. What does that mean? I believe if we are praising Him, we have indeed "come one step closer"!!

Through His word, we know, when we seek Him, we will find Him, when we find Him, He will not release His hold upon us.

Next, we sing that the love of Jesus has won our hearts and our trust is placed in only Him! Read those words again. His love, and His trust, has taken "first place" in our lives!

If we truely absorb the meaning in these words, there can only be but one result; It will take our" breath away", then, We will declare the beauty of the Lord!

To be in His presence, in His grip, and most assuredly in His heart, how can we not see just how incredibly beautiful He is!

I pray that you will recognize His beauty today and His beauty will remain with you always!

God Speaks

"Hear Me with Your Eyes" and "See Me with Your Ears"!

This is the message that came to me repeatedly for months as I prayed. Initially, I thought it was in reference to all of God's creation, that we see Him through these things. Not that I dispute that in any way, I just think we've come to say it so much, instead of grasping the true essence of the meaning, it has just become cliche'. "We see God in the trees, the sky, and the stars"! And, we do, but, I just knew God was speaking to me to seek the greater depth of His words. I prayed for clarity! "Hear Me with your eyes, see Me with your ears". I prayed for understanding! "Hear Me with your eyes, see Me with your ears". I prayed for God to show me what He meant! Still, the words I would hear remained the same.

As the days turned to weeks and weeks to months, life went on, bringing with it the joys, and the struggles and heartaches of this life, and I just surrendered the "knowing" to God, knowing He would reveal the meaning in His time and not a second sooner. In the meantime I had begun facilitating a study on the prayers of Jesus, and had been praying about the" hearing of His voice", as well as grieving in my heart about the loss of a young man to suicide. I continued to think about this young mans family and how they must be feeling, and asking God to use me to be somehow, a beacon of light to them.

The day of the funeral as I listened to the accounts of family and friends of what could possibly have happened to bring this boy's life to such a traggic end, my heart wrenched in agony for what his final moments must have been like. As I looked around I watched and listened and I could literally feel the heaviness in my heart begin to grow. For this young man to be in so much pain, and to feel he had no one to turn to and to believe he had no other way, still just breaks my heart.

For several days after, I desperately prayed for this family and their loss. It didn't make sense to me and I questioned why such things have to happen. For days upon days I prayed and I heard nothing, then this began to frustrate me as well. I was asking God, "why can't I hear you?" "Won't you answer me, tell me something, anything?'

Two weeks after the funeral and four weeks into learning about the way Jesus prayed, it happened........revealation!!!

I was driving along this driveway to my moms place, which looks something like a park, with lots of trees and wild animals. (By wild I am referring to the sort such as chipmunks or squirrels, not like bears and coyotes!) As I was admiring the prettiness of the snow, untouched on the ground, layered upon the bushes and covering the branches on the trees, something caught my eye! I stopped the car, when I saw the brightest red cardinal sitting up in a tree, who was then accompanied by another. I felt the Holy Spirit well up within me as I watched even more beautifully, bright red cardinals join these initial two. As I looked around, they were everywhere, about fifteen to twenty birds some sitting and some fluttering from tree to tree! I was so excited, even as I yelled out to Libby to "look" , "see them?" I also began to pray, thanking God for such an awsome sight! Still looking into the trees, I noticed the cardinals weren't alone! There were more birds, beautiful birds, black, white, and red! I still don't know for sure the species, but I think maybe they were woodpeckers. My heart was beating so fast and so hard, the way it does when you know the Holy Spirit is speaking to you, and it came back to me;" Hear Me with your eyes"! I cried out, "Oh, Lord give me understanding, I want to hear what You are showing me in this"! I felt the Lord telling me to take in all He had placed before me, to really look at what I was seeing. I was in awe, seeing all these brilliant colors dashing through the stillness of the cold, the dead of winter, where everything appears lifeless. It was as if God had taken Spring and set it right down into the middle of Winter!!!! Right in the middle of what appeared to be desolation, came life, exquisite and stunningly beautiful life!

This all happened so quickly, yet I realized, when a little old man was trying to get into my car, freaking the day lights out of Libby, that I had been blocking the drive. I proceeded on my way, though the Holy Spirit was still speaking to my heart. This vision I had taken in and Gods voice stayed with me the rest of the day and throughout that night. Although I believe this is one of those moments that God will continue to bring me back to, to reveal new things for a very long time, maybe even for the rest of my life. I believe what He was telling me right then was three things. One: Just how incredibly personal our God is. God knows my love of birds, He knew those birds would attract my attention. And, He knew my heart had been troubled. Two: No matter how desolete anything or situation can appear, underneath or inside is life. And God will bring newness and color into even into the darkest of circumstances. We may not understand or even see it happen, but I know God will bring something good out of that traggic situation. Third: God longs to speak to us in many ways, not just when we go to church or during praise and worship, or during our daily prayer or devotion time. God wants to and will speak directly into our hearts, if we will only keep our eyes open to hear Him. I think sometimes we kind of keep God in a box of our limited expectations, believing He will only speak to us as others do, when we are active in conversation. Although, I know God does speak at those times, I know now it's not the only time He speaks. He truely does speak to us in so many ways, He knows our hearts, our hurts, our ways. He knows exactly how to speak to us and when, if we will only keep our eyes open to hear!

Also, I experienced the love of God in a new way that day, in a way that I really don't think I could describe no matter how hard I tried. Since then, I have seen God speaking in several circumstances and situations, through people He has placed in my life, through books I am reading, Not to mention through His word and through prayer. The list of ways He speaks to us is literally endless.

I'm still praying about the second part of His message to me, "See Me with Your Ears", although I think maybe it's similiar to the first part, I'm going to keep an open mind and an open heart, not to mention eyes and ears to however the Lord would choose to reveal. I don't want to ever keep Him in a box of my own limited expectations again!

Mirror Image

The tool we use to check the reflection of our outer image is the mirror.

The tool we use to check the reflection of our inner image is God's Word!

How's Your Reflection Looking?

1Corintians 13:12

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face;

now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I have been fully known.

Gods Perfect Rest Awaits Us All

"To be Almost in the perfect will of God is to miss it completely".

Sometimes I think we miss the will of God just due to our own lack of patience. Or, maybe it's more that we really don't believe God's working in our lives, in all areas.

Why do we find it so hard to just rest in Him? Trusting that His word speaks truth, that He does know everything there is to know about us and all that is going on in our lives?
"Control", we hear of this issue right from the very beginning with Adam and Eve. God had been very clear with His instructions to Adam," you shall not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat from it, you will surely die." Yet, Eve later reaches right up into that tree and picks an apple (or whatever fruit is was) and bites into it! How this must have grieved Gods heart! God knew from the beginning His plans for them, His perfect plan! We don't know how the outcome would have played out if Eve had not taken the fruit that day, but God does! He knows the perfect plan He has prepared for each of us.
I can't help but wonder how different many things in my life may have panned out if I would have rested in Gods plan instead of me taking control.
The only way we will ever find it within ourselves to "rest" in Him, is to stay connected to Him. Continually listening for His voice to give us our directions and He will give us direction! He didn't leave Adam and Eve hanging out in the "Garden of Eden", just winging it, trying to figure everything out for themselves. No, He gave them directions. Just as He did then, He still does today, with us. If we would only listen, and trust, and rest in Him. Relinquish control!

I pray you find rest in the Lord today. No matter what may be going on in our lives, our Father knows and cares, and simply waits for us to come to Him to put His perfect plan into action. He does the work and offers us "rest" in all things!
May His peace "rest" upon you, and His love saturate your soul and bring joy to your heart!

Hearing the Voice of God

YI just want to share God's faithfulness and how He knows and speaks directly into our hearts.
For the last couple of days my heart has been very troubled about a situation, and this lead me to a place where I was questioning if I had been hearing God's voice correctly! It just didn't seem as if the situation was the way God intended it to be. Yesterday, I continuely sought the Lords heart on whether I was in error, I began to doubt, and as the day progressed this doubt escalated, then I began to get confused, and my heart was even more troubled.
Last night before going to sleep, I got "still", before the Lord, and simply asked if I had heard Him, and were my actions pleasing to His heart?
Then, this morning I received this in an e-mail-


Of course you've heard from Me. Of course you've walked with Me. Of course you've adjusted and made changes according to My Word and according to My ways. But I'm saying and telling you today there is more, there is new, there's greater, there is a furtherance, there is a completeness and there is more victory than ever before." Shine, shining, a light. (tongues) "Yes and it will all fit in just right. It's not up to you to make sure that others turn in special ways but it's up to you to turn yourself up into more of My ways. Adjustments. It's all in the Book, it's all written out. Pre-planned, pre-described." "So hold fast to the call that I've placed within you. Don't quit. Don't give up. Don't give in! But press out. Press in and press over into that which I have called you to."

This is only a portion of the message I received but, it's the most revelatory to the situation, and to reveal that God does hear the cries of His children.

I think we tend to give into the schemes of the evil one without even realizing it. I see now his attempt to discourage me and to keep me bound in something that was just attempting to keep my focus away from God and His plan to use me for His purposes.

My prayer, I ask that any and all who would happen upon reading this blog would be encouraged and their hearts made lighter, knowing our Daddy in heaven does know everything about us including the condition of our hearts. I ask that eyes be opened to the schemes of the evil ones attempts to hold us back. I ask Father, teach us what it is to be in consistant conversation with You and open up the meaning of "hearing You with our eyes and seeing You with our ears". Help us to take You out of our little "boxes of expectation", thinking You only speak in one way, continue to show us all the many ways You choose to speak directly into our hearts. Expand our hearts for more of You, and less of self.
ummmmm........Your love Lord is ever so sweet.....help us to be a clearer reflection of You.
In Jesus Precious Name I ask these things...................Amen

Under every burden, God will slip His hand-

Every gulf of sorrow, His great love has spanned.

Into every heartache, God will pour His balm;

Ease the pain and anguish, bring a blessed calm.

I find it so refreshing yet at the same time, painful when through lifes circumstances, God gives us a glimpse into His heart.

When we are actually able to understand how our actions or even the lack of them sometimes must make Him feel.

Why is it that we have Him and His word so readily available to teach us Godly wisdom at anytime and in every circumstance, but we still choose to learn lessons the hard way? Like the lesson in 1 Samuel when the Israelites demanded a new king and God told them through Samuel of what would come upon them, yet they continued to demand things be their way. Even though they were told what their actions would bring and just how difficult this would make their lives and the lives of future generations, they refused to listen to the words of Samuel. So God gave them what they wanted, King Saul.

They then lived through year after year of disobedient and foolish leadership and warfare.

This is exactly what we do when we make choices to follow our own paths and our own ways instead of seeking the Lord's guidance. Not only do we suffer the consequences of our own choices, we grieve God's heart. I believe it so saddens the heart of God when He has told us He has every answer in every situation, and we don't come to Him. Then we find ourselves in the middle of dispair and turmoil and want God to fix it!

Sometimes I have to wonder if we have changed much at all since the days of Saul the King.

Just my own "thinking out loud"!

My prayer is that all of us would learn from those who have gone before us, and that we seek after Godly wisdom. God promises,"if we ask, He will give", lets take Him at His word, and let our minds be focused on bringing joy into the heart of God with the choices we make.

Closer Walk

The MPact girls went to see Casting Crowns last night at EMU! For Libby, this was her first concert, and she loved it! All the girls had such a great time.
I was moved to tears when I looked around and witnessed not only Libby but many of our girls bowing in prayer and raising their hands in praise! I thought to myself, "this is what it's all about". Leading, leading the next generation to the floor of the throne. Their message was so strong, and right to the heart! I loved that!
I believe we are at a time when we really do just have to quit fooling around with "being Christian". We need to realize, our walk is being viewed by those around us. Yes, we stumble and we fall, we are fleshly. Our Father promises to brush the dirt off as He helps us back up.
But, I believe all of us need to be more mindful of our day to day actions and how we treat those around us. This topic came up in the car on our drive home last night. One of the biggest mission fields placed before us in this life we are given is with our own families. How we treat those closest to us. How we treat our spouses, our children, or our brothers and sisters. If we would take just a few minutes each day asking ourselves, "If this were my last moment with him/her, how would I treat them"? Would I be kinder, gentler or more forgiving? I think we tend to take those we are closest to for granted more easily than those outside of our family circle. But, I believe this is where the true reflection of our walk can be seen. We all put on what looks good to go out among our friends and others in the world. I think all of us need to step back and take a true look at ourselves, and ask ourselves, "what does my true walk look like'?
How can we say in one breath that we love Jesus, and speak in hatred at another in the next?
Let today be a new beginning, by showing the love of Jesus to all and in all we do. Not only will those in our own family be changed but those outside of the family circle will see and be changed also. Let today be the beginning of a closer walk with Jesus.

The Thing(s) We Give

Luke6:38-"Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
So many times when I've heard this verse quoted, it's in reference to the giving of money. Not that I think the giving of money is a bad thing, I just think we've taken the depth out of this verse.
When we read this and immediatly think of the giving of money, we take away ourselves, our personal selves. The giving of "us".
I believe this is the depth of this verse. Sometimes I think it's just too easy to give money yet never have a real change in heart about the giving of ourselves. When we give of ourselves it becomes personal, from the heart, from our depths. Whether that means spending time with an elderly person, someone who is ill, or just lonley or not lonley or sick or older! When Jesus hung on that cross He gave Himself, when those nails pierced His hands and feet, He gave Himself.
I believe this is the true essence of this verse in Luke. To pour out Christ like love to others, no matter what circumstances or trials we may find ourselves in. To give of ourselves from the depths of our hearts. How ever deep our realization of God's love for us, we are to pour out to others. When we become faithfully true to this verse, the Lord returns back to us multiplied.
I pray we are all recipients of the multiplied blessings from God.

So wherever you go today, look around, open your eyes and ears to the voice of God and share of yourself.

Geography Night.

We are finally ready for Geography Night!!! It has been over a month of researching, studying, drawing, gluing, stenciling and painting any and everything about India! All but the food is done and ready to go. I think Libby is excited about this, being homeschooled she doesn't get many opportunities to show her work. Of course this is a "family project" and we have all played a part, even dad! Dad has been our map maker and our pillar builder and of course he will get the duty of carrying all of this stuff into the church to set up Monday. For any who might read this and want to come, all are welcome. Passports will be given for your adventure, as you pass from one country exhibit to another you will receive a stamp or sticker. There will be foriegn treats to taste from many countries. It's being held at Christian Fellowship Church @ 6711 Pilliod Rd, Holland, Ohio. If you need directions give me a call. It's real easy to find, out by Spring Meadows.
Hope to see some of you there!

With all this cold outside...I pray you spend time in the warmth of Jesus!