Becoming A Woman For All Seasons

Healing of a Nation

2012-01-18T09:38:00.000-06:00

Whom does God love? As a Christian, this is an easy question to answer. John 3:16 says He loves the world and offered himself as an atonement for our sins.

Have we forgotten we are to love whom God loves? From the words of our mouth, we can bless or curse. We can bless or curse ourselves. We can bless or curse others. We can bless or curse our nation. We can bless or curse other nations. Remember, God loves the world.

We don't have to guess whom he loves. If he loves the world, i.e. the people living in the world, then shouldn't we also love the world?

This seems elementary.

How do we love the world? James says that if you see a brother or a sister without food and clothing and you say to them, "Depart in peace. Be warmed and filled." your Christianity is useless. We love by giving.

How do we love the world? Another verse says to bless those who curse you and do good to those who despitefully use you. Why? So it is evident to the world Jesus loves them. There is overflowing power in blessing. It brings God into the picture and he is most definitely not weak.

Paul says we are to pursue love...to do everything in love and to "put on" love. For between faith, hope and love...love is the greatest. To have understanding...to be able to speak in unknown tongues...to prophecy takes a back seat to love.

If you want to see our country healed, pray and bless. If you want to see the world healed, pray and bless. If you want the right person in the White House, pray and bless. Love others in the same manner God does. They may look cruddy, smelly, vile, hateful, disobedient and militant, but if you really want change, then walk in love.

"And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?" So he answered and said, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.' " And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live." But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

Luke 10:25-29 (NKJV)

There is power and a real hope for change when the healing salve of love is applied by our words, deeds, prayers and blessings. This ointment will heal every pox and problem known to man.

Adorably Perfect

2012-01-08T19:33:00.000-06:00

Perfectionism, in its most extreme form, says that anything which is not perfect is unacceptable.

If perfectionists are over the top, then why do we think it important to have our hair and makeup perfect...our clothes, shoes and bag perfect and of course our car perfect. Really what we mean by "perfect" stems from our idea of what we think we should be...what we should look like...what others think of us. We want to be the top of the top in everything we do because that would mean we could accept ourselves as complete.

The Book of James, once my most hated book of the Bible, has since become one of my favorites. James writes that there is a perfect work God does in each of us and it comes through patience. If we are to be perfect as God is perfect, and it is a command, then we are in a world of trouble. But the key is to walk in love as He IS LOVE. If God could be summed up in one word, it is LOVE. That is why James said we are not to judge because judging is evidence we are not walking in love.

We all know the scripture which tells us to love God, our neighbor and ourselves. The entirety of the Bible can be summed up with this one "love" command.

I would have to say that many perfectionists are fearful people, but God's perfect love casts out fear. It is not about the grade you make, the clothes you wear or what others think of you. It is about looking into the Law of Liberty and seeing ourselves for who we are...loved of God so we can love others.

We can accept ourselves because God has accepted us. He didn't short change us in a particular area we struggle in, he gifted us in another. That gift is perfect when God gets his hands on it. It is perfect for the purposes he has in our lives. It is perfect because He loved you enough to specially pick it out like a loving Father picks out just the right gift for his adorably perfect girl.

You see, in His eyes, he saw you through LOVE. Yes, he knew you were not perfect, that is why the perfect sacrifice was made on your behalf. He accepted you because He loved you. If He can accept you, then perhaps you should not see yourself as unacceptable.

God's love is amazing. It spurs on the faint of heart to trust Him when He asks you to do something impossible. His love helps you get out of your comfort zone (i.e. the fearful zone) because you have a loving Father who is cheering you on even when you are less than perfect.

Remember, loving yourself is one of the top three commands God gave!

James 1:4

"But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

James 1:17

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

James 1:25

"But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."

Peace for Anxiety

2011-12-12T09:16:00.000-06:00

We live in a world where being anxious and worrisome is the norm. But there is a cure for anxiety. It is found in Philippians 4:6-7. "In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus." (ASV)

The word "peace" according to www.blueletterbible.org, means:

a state of national tranquillity,
exemption from the rage and havoc of war,
peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord, security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous),
of the Messiah's peace, the way that leads to peace (salvation),
of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is.

Peace comes from God. It comes from a life bathed in prayer and offered with thanksgiving. The peace of God rules over the mind...that is what "passeth all understanding" is talking about. It guards both the heart and the mind where anxiety is created.

Determine to live this day without anxiety. Walk in thanksgiving. Walk in forgiveness. Converse with the Holy Spirit and be quick to respond to His leading. Receive the implanted Word of God. Live abundantly.

Blessings...

2011-11-18T08:44:00.001-06:00

Sleep, ohhh, sleep. So good for the body and ever so good for the soul. The previous night had been too short because I just couldn't get my feet warm. Our first hard freeze was that night and quite frankly, I was too lazy to get up and put my feet into a nice hot tub of water to warm them up...which was my usual method of operation for toasting the tootsies. But last night was different...sleep came on me quickly and this a.m. was not the surprise it had been the morning before.

After a month of spiritual drought my heart this morning was not to wallow in my own dryness, but to go to the well of life and talk with our dear Holy Spirit. With that in mind, I slowly moved from my bed to the bathroom to start getting ready for the day.

"I can talk with you while you clean up," said He.

"So what's on your mind."

"Do you know why I gave you eyes to see, ears to hear, and a mouth to speak?"

Without hesitation or waiting for my response He began to tell me that my eyes were meant to see people and situations the way He saw them. My mouth was to be creative like His was in the beginning when He said, "let there be..." My ears were meant to hear His words so that I would have clear instructions, encouragement to move forward...to know that He loves me and so that my mouth would be filled to overflowing with what my ears had heard.

He completely formed us to be His male and female sons. We are his hands and mouth on this earth. Everything physical we see was meant to be used His way...otherwise, there is no need to see or to hear or to speak. There is no reason to have hands that feel or feet that run.

Perhaps you are like me and kind of...sort of...already know this. Look at what He said in this light. If He gave us a mind to be used for Him, then as a believer we can have the confidence that we can know His thoughts. Not just to struggle...trying to get His thoughts, but actually getting His thoughts. Okay, perhaps this will help. When I have a thought, I usually tell my husband what I'm thinking. My thoughts are not just "tapping into" the mind of God, but hearing what He has to say. He tells me His thoughts as He does you. The key to knowing the mind of God is to listen to what He is saying. We have the written Word and we have His word for us at any given moment.

Learning. There are multiple way to learn. For the visual, they need to see "it". For the auditory, they need to hear. Then there are those who learn best through a hands on approach...experience it themselves. We all learn to see with our eyes, our ears and our mouths. We visualize with our natural eyes. We visualize with what we hear. We visualize with what we experience. Everything is processed through the brain or the mind. Even our bodies react to what the mind is saying to us. So the mind is the engine for the entire body.

When the Word said that we have the Mind of Christ, we can trust this to be true. We have the mind of the God of the Universe. We have so much crammed into our heads about world disorder and chaos from every news channel and Internet news source. We see evil seemingly triumphing over good. Our hearts can be panicked, or we can operate in His mind and filter or separate truth from fear.

The days ahead of us contain lots of unknowns. These days and these times require that we let Him guide our thoughts. Like Noah who heard and then prepared, so must we be. Hear His voice when He says to buy lunch for the guy on the corner who sits there daily with a sign, begging for food. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem no matter how things look. Speak a word of love to the most unlovable person because the Holy Spirit is wanting your mouth to be used for His purposes. And finally, submit your members. As Romans 6:13 says, "Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God."

Sermon Notes from the Holy Spirit

2011-11-03T09:04:00.002-05:00

Faith comes by hearing...doesn't it? But any good advertising campaign will pound you day after day with the same message until, whether it is truth or not, it will become truth for those who have ears to hear. You see it every day as you open up your email and find another heart warming story or a "You need to read this!" in your inbox. Sometimes those emails are truth and sometimes they are not...just empty false words which circulate the Internet from year to year causing near fatal heart attacks to those who do not check out whether they are true or false.

Yet, for those of us who are sceptical, it is within our nature to make sure what we are getting in the mail or email is legit. When we do get the "facts" we are confident that what we have learned is correct.

Isn't is rather humorous (tongue in cheek) that when we read, "by His stripes we are healed," we attach escape clauses just in case it is not truth...for us. It may be truth for some worthy individual we know...some godly saint who has stayed the course and been faithful...oh, but they suffered sickness...so I'm confused!

The funny thing about truth is that it is truth. We know the earth is round and not flat. That is a truth. Those who teach and act as though it is flat we call ignorant or fools...for it is, after all, scientific fact seen in pictures from space, so it is true.

But this one tiny phrase, "by His stripes we are healed," trips us up even though we know it to be "Bible".

Have you ever had one of those obvious moments with God that made a fuzzy truth become a clear truth?

This was the case for me this week, several times in fact, when the Holy Spirit asked me this question. "Do you want to know the truth?" Well of course I wanted to know the truth...especially in the area I was thinking about right before He asked me that question! "Yes." "I am still your healer."

Okay God. For all of those times I didn't see healing and for all of those time I did see healing, I know the truth, and on that truth I will stand.

2011-10-15T23:28:00.002-05:00

I just watched a new ad produced by Ron Paul. Whether you like his politics, if you are pro-life, you need to watch this. Click here for the ad.

Let true freedom ring

2011-07-04T10:24:00.001-05:00

Have we really come as far as women as we believe? Born in the 50’s, a teen in the 60’s and a young woman in the 70’s, I’ve seen many movements of women seeking their freedoms in the working world and even their sexual freedom.

Looking back at the generations before me, there have always been women here and woman there who would rise up and prove that it was not impossible for one to step into her God given destiny. Often as not, as a young Christian, I would read stories about missionaries…women missionaries…who were willing to give their own lives for the sake of the gospel like Annie Armstrong.

But each generation as far back as my grandparents who were born in the late 1800’s until present, was identified by the way women dressed or the lifestyle women lived. Let me give you an example. When one thinks of the roaring 20’s, the first image one has is of a flapper in her above the knee dress…defying the traditions of the day. In the 50’s, it was the bobby socked teen with a poodle skirt. The 60’s and 70’s brought the hippie movement and women who freely gave themselves physically, emotionally and spiritually in the pursuit of “love”. Women were at the core of each movement in each generation whether for the good, or the bad.

The present day woman has once again marked this generation. Yet this period is not known just for the dress or the rebellion of the heart or the desire to be loved, but for the death of unborn children…both boys and girls.

I think it is time we change the way the generations to come view us. It is time to be known as women of courage and conviction…women of strength and resolve to do what is right no matter the cost. It is time to no longer be identified by our dress, but by the clothing of righteousness we wear. No longer to be identified by our breasts, but by the breastplate of righteousness…women able to suckle the next generation of women to follow in our footsteps. It is time to really see who we are in the eyes and heart of a heavenly Father who so absolutely adores us so that we can be His women to bring about real change for our world.

This is the season for godly women to step into visible positions of government, politics, health and medicine, media, finance, social and spiritual arenas paving the way for the women of this world to move into a full knowledge of God in them.

Let us become women of courage like Queen Esther of old, ready to put our all on the line to save…not destroy. I pray for the hearts of women to become supple again…supple to receive from our maker His heart so that true change…true righteousness…true freedom can come to us once again.

2011-06-22T12:10:00.001-05:00

Deception...Death by Abortion...Hope Beyond

2011-06-02T09:40:00.001-05:00

The writer of the book of James says this..."Do not be deceived my beloved brethren, for every good and every perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." To be deceived...to err...to wander away from what is true...

Like lambs to the slaughter are Christians who listen to the theology of the world, for minds must be full of something and hearts must be full of someone and so the struggle begins with each word we hear day after day. Yet James makes it simple. He says "do not be deceived". Don't wander away from what is true.

You see God is love. Everything he has done comes from a heart of love. That is why He gave himself on a cross to pay our debts...out of love. His death was so that we could have life...and give life to others.

Based on that one simple but powerful truth, why then are we deceived? James also gives the answer when he says, "each one is deceived when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed". In other words, we are deceived when we are drawn away by our craving for what is forbidden and baited. Then when we take the bait we head down the path to death.

The desire seems good and the bait has a tasty flavor, but like eating sweetened poison, the end result is death. Death may not be the physical dying of ones self, but rather the physical death of an unborn child. It's sting is beyond any sting which one can imagine. It's memory...for a lifetime.

But being one who has experienced the deception of abortion, I say there is hope beyond the memory. There is joy beyond the memory of the loss. How can this be when deception brings death?

Remember the first part of what James said? "Every good and every perfect gift comes from above..." That child is with the Father of lights where everything is good and everything is perfect. That is the first consolation. The second is this. As a Christian, when we see the deception for the first time and recognize it for what it is, then with repentance (or making a 190 degree turn) our hearts will be flooded with God's forgiveness and healing will begin to take place. For our Father is a good father and desires for us to have good gifts like his unchanging love for us.

There is a further healing which must take place and that is the healing which comes from self forgiveness. God wants us to move forward and not be further deceived. Forgiveness breaks the bonds of self hate. Forgiveness even goes further than the forgiving of ones self and extends to the persons who facilitated the abortion. For you see, God freely forgave us and He wants us to freely forgive ourselves and others.

Forgiveness is simply being "for" "giving". God wants us to give to ourselves and give to those who hurt us and took the life of our child. You might say He is pro-giving. Jesus said to do good to those who spitefully use us. He knew that a heart full of hate and anger would only destroy. He knew that if forgiveness was offered to the hater, the murderer, that not only would release come to the one hurt, but a way would be paved for the hater and murder to receive forgiveness themselves.

God wants a complete work done in all. He loves you and He loves me and He even loves the one who hurt you. So, yes, there is hope beyond. Embrace now, not the deception, but the freedom and forgiveness which comes through the Love of an Eternal Father. Give forgiveness and experience the FULL freedom.

From an Overflowing Love

2011-05-11T09:18:00.000-05:00

I distinctly remember the smell of old wood worn smooth by the countless people who touched the old pews week after week. The rings in the concrete out front which were once used to tie up the horses were still there. The beautiful stained glass windows were a source of entertainment during the long sermons preached at the old church I grew up in. One window was of Jesus, in full color, holding a little lamb. He seemed to gaze down on me each week with love in His eyes and I remember loving to look at his feet and the lamb he held so tenderly.

When it was hot outside, the ushers would take long wooden poles with a hook on one end and insert the hook into the grooves on the sliding stain glassed window and raise them up to create a flow of air. We spent many hours there singing and listening to sermons which for the most part bypassed my little ears. One pastor who filled the pulpit was the hell/fire/brimstone kind of preacher. I don't remember being moved by him either, but the songs touched me.

Even as an adult when my husband and I "moved" into the charismatic movement with a whole new style of music, God seemed to take me back from time to time to the hymns I heard growing up in that old church. Even this morning as I was reminded of the scripture from the Book of James about mixing faith with action, this song was dropped into my heart as yet another gentle reminder from the Holy Spirit.

The joy William Featherston expressed is mine this morning as well. I rejoice for the long awaited rain we had last night. "Thank you Lord! I rejoice in your amazing love. We decree your kingdom come in our hearts, the lover of my soul."

I Love Thee

Lyrics: William Featherston, 1864

Composer: Adoniram Gordon, 1876

I love Thee, I love Thee, I love Thee, my Lord;

I love Thee, my Savior, I love Thee, my God;

I love Thee, I love Thee, and that Thou dost know;

But how much I love Thee my actions will show.

I’m happy, I’m happy, oh, wondrous account!

My joys are immortal, I stand on the mount;

I gaze on my treasure and long to be there,

With Jesus and angels and kindred so dear.

O Jesus, my Savior, with Thee I am blessed.

My life and salvation, my joy and my rest.

Thy Name be my theme, and Thy love be my song;

Thy grace shall inspire both my heart and my tongue.

Oh, who’s like my Savior? He’s Salem’s bright King;

He smiles and He loves me and helps me to sing:

I’ll praise him, I’ll praise Him with notes loud and clear,

While rivers of pleasure my spirit shall cheer.

(Note: William Featherston wrote this when he was 16 years old. He died shortly before his 27th birthday.)

As a Little Child

2011-04-06T09:06:00.000-05:00

It is the simple things that we so often overlook to thank God for like the ability to breathe. Thanksgiving is crucial to living a full life.

I remember when my nephews and nieces were little. It was fun to hear one of them pray over a family meal. Inevitably, the prayer would be lengthy and detailed, thanking God for everything from the silverware to each and every person they knew, the dog and cat and on and on... We all smiled and had a warm and fuzzy feeling inside, but still generally stopped the prayer after five minutes when you could hear everyone scooting around in their chairs, trying to get comfortable.

Yet, Jesus said that we should be like a little child...for such is the Kingdom of Heaven.

So, let's stir up our "little child" and thank God for everything we can imagine today. I think we will all find ourselves walking a bit lighter, smiling a bit wider and more willing to love others with words of encouragement.

Love you all...

A Closed Hand

2011-03-27T14:33:00.002-05:00

Just about everyone has heard the story about the monkey with his fist stuck in a jar because he won't let go of the food and ends up being captured. Or, how about the farmer who takes his harvest, eats it all then complains about not having seed to sow the following year. Still another story relived in many families is of the overbearing Mother-in-law who cannot release her son to be joined to his wife but continually tries to rule his life.

The monkey, the farmer and the Mother-in-law have something in common...a need to open their hand. The monkey would have been able to get what he wanted by using his open hand to turn over the jar, allowing the food to fall to the ground. The hungry farmer would have had a crop the following year had he used his hands to bag some seed for planting instead of closing his hand around a fork, overindulging himself. And the Mother-in-law would have gained the love and respect of her daughter-in-law had she released her son.

That is what trust is all about. Trusting that God has a way to get that much needed food. Trusting that when we obey His voice to give, he will not abandon us. Trusting that when we need to release a loved one, that it opens the path for God to work. Trusting that every good gift comes from God as we open our hand and release every area of our life, yes even our children...our money...our possessions...our past, present and future to HIM. Believe it or not, everything belongs to Him anyway and as we apply his principles we find that an open hand and heart to God releases the law of multiplication.

Whatever we clutch to, there we will find our heart. In these times when terror and bad news have become the new norm, don't become captured by a closed hand. God's Kingdom is not of this world, but it rules this world we see. If we want miraculous heavenly results, then we must do things His way.

Stress vs. Trust

2011-03-18T23:48:00.001-05:00

Lately, I've had my right eye lid rough and peeling. The peeling was also in small spots on my face but not as noticeable as the eyelid. For several weeks I've talked about stress being the culprit as though it was my vastly important schedule which created the problem.

Isn't it funny that being stressed is somehow the hallmark of doing "important stuff". Even one of our daughters was talking about how both she and I have this eyelid peeling thing going on when we get stressed...a wonderful way to relate with each other.

Last night, I set my cell phone to get up at 7:00a.m., but knew that God was going to get me up earlier...which He did. I can tell you He never sleeps because He was talking to me before my buzzer went off. He told me that I didn't have a STRESS ISSUE, but rather a TRUST ISSUE.

What could I say? Absolutely nothing because as always He was totally right. I was feeling stress, or I was responding to environmental demands or pressures and it was showing up in my body. I suppose I thought there was something "strong" about handling stress, but obviously I wasn't handling it very well. But, God says to cast all of our cares on Him for He cares for us...to not be concerned but trust in Him with our whole heart and to NOT lean upon our own understanding. He says to rest and keep our focus on Him.

Recently, I was relaying a vision God had given me many years ago when we were contemplating bankruptcy as a way out of our financial dilemma. I saw myself traveling down a road on foot and to the left and to the right were ugly weeds which I intrinsically knew represented the troubles in our life. It was horrifying because it felt like the weeds would overtake me. Suddenly the road began to lift like it had hydraulics pushing it up higher and higher. As I looked on either side of the road the very things which were trying to overcome me were now shrinking in size simply from the perspective of being raised up.

Looking forward, I found myself standing before the throne of God. A bright light emanated from the throne and a warmth filled my being. I was seeing our troubles from God's perspective and I realized they were not insurmountable. As Veggie Tales would put it..."God is bigger than the boogie man".

So, today, I start again with learning to trust in a God who can be trusted...who loves me and wants to have His hands forming my life. Well so much for gutting it up and wearing "Stress" as a badge of courage. Perhaps I need to don a different badge which says "Trust" as a reminder of what happens when I let the God of the Universe order my steps. Live and learn...with hope and trust.

Kingdoms of Kingdoms of Kingdoms

2011-02-14T09:59:00.000-06:00

There are many kingdoms on this earth. There is the plant kingdom and the animal kingdom. There are kingdoms within kingdoms. There are man-made kingdoms and then there is THE Kingdom of God.

Each and every day we go from kingdom to kingdom...from the kingdom called work to the kingdom of the grocery store to the kingdom of the gas station to the kingdom of soccer practice and on and on and on. When we think about it, everything is a kingdom of some sort.

Even within ourselves are many kingdoms. The kingdom of our heart. The kingdom of our mind. The kingdom of our emotions and the kingdom of our body. We call ourselves the master of our own destiny meaning we have set ourselves up as the king of self.

It doesn't stop there. Little girls live in kingdoms from the time they are first introduced to princess books. They are simply rulers in training. They prance around in beautiful gowns and wear their tiaras...carry their scepters. They are called by The King of the Castle, "My little Princess".

So, you see, there is really no way of getting around the fact that we live in multiple kingdoms each and every day. Some of the kingdoms are good enough while others like raiding Huns seek to oppress everything and everyone in their kingdom. They attack the kingdom of our minds, our wills, our bodies and even our spirits. If we do not have THE KING of KINGS ruling and reigning within, we can succumb to the tyranny of other kingdoms.

It is no wonder we are are to seek the Kingdom of God first. Why? Because His kingdom is for good and not evil. His kingdom rules over all anyway, so we might as well seek Him first! His Kingdom holds everything together. His Kingdom rules gravity and day and night. His Kingdom can give us His very mind and heart. His Kingdom can make us whole. His Kingdom even gives us the weapons to run other kingdoms off with their tails tucked in terror. His Kingdom is crowned with love, joy and peace. Every other kingdom really looks like crap when you live in His Kingdom. Paul said it like this...

Philippians 3:8

"Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God's righteousness." (The Message)

So, here is the choice we have each day. May we live in His Kingdom First!

Who's in Your Mirror?

2011-02-07T21:43:00.000-06:00

What makes one have low self esteem? As a woman, I can think of literally hundreds of reasons why any one of us would and could have a low self image, but it really makes no sense as a Christian to feel that way. When we think of how God loves us and has formed us in His very image, perhaps it is not as important what our SELF image looks like. After all, He did not make us in our own image, but in His image.

The lie we see here is that we from time to time believe that we actually were formed in our own image. In other words, we search and prod into our deepest being to find who we really are. We read volumes of self help books only to find our selves right back where we first started.

For I can look at myself and point out every thing in my character, my physical attributes etc. which might cause me to feel poorly of myself and roll around in that mire for awhile, or, I can look at HIS image He has and is forming in me.

It has to do with the mirror we gaze in every day. Paul said that we look into a mirror darkly. It is fuzzy and foggy and we can not quite tell who is in the mirror, but then one day we look face to face in the mirror and it is not who we thought it would be. We look and see the image of Christ in us and there is no flaw, only the radiance of his beauty. Then the mirror becomes not an image we can scrutinize and criticize, but an image we can love.

We are told to not judge and that is a foundational principle, but to not judge does not end with others, it ends when we do not judge our own selves. When we judge ourselves we turn the the mirror towards ourselves. When we cease to judge, we see through the mirror, if you will, and begin to see what He sees in others and love like He loves. The tables are turned. Our sight is changed from inward to outward. We then know we were truly made in His image which is far greater than being made in the image of any other woman in the world.

A Day in Your Courts!

2011-02-04T09:28:00.000-06:00

"For a day in thy courts [is] better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God [is] a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good [thing] will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed [is] the man that trusteth in thee."

Psalm 84:10-12

Have problems...need healing? Just one day in His court where one can find mercy and help in time of need...relationship, friendship, correction, direction and more is better than a life lived over three years or a thousand days. For He is our light and our protection. He will give us grace and will not withhold any good thing from those who are righteous...for the one who trusts in Him. Why trust? Because he is a good God who will withhold no good thing from us. Does that mean there will never be suffering or pain? No. But He is still our healer and provider...our help in time of need and if a day in His courts is better than the best the world has to offer, then what would it be like if we spent each day with Him?

"Father, our Abba Daddy who loves and adores us, you are the bread of life and the living water. You will withhold nothing good from us, but like when my Mom said 'It's character building...it will be good for you', I didn't like the process but I know you are looking at the end result...and you are a God who likes to get results! Like clay in the hands of the potter, we submit to you this day for you to mold in us every good and perfect gift so we can be a good and perfect gift to the world. You are better than anything I could imagine as good. You are my light, my healing...my help. May we be life to those who are dying and light to those in darkness. Sanitize us...cleanse us. You are so incredibly awesome and wonderful and we love you ever so much our wonderful God. Love you..."

A Faceoff between the Dogs and the Swine

2011-01-05T09:36:00.000-06:00

Matthew 7:6

"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you."

In teaching the disciples and those who gathered around him, Jesus gave the people nugget after nugget on how to walk in relationship with God and man. They'd never heard anyone, even the priests, teach with such authority and clarity.

Matthew 7:6 almost seems to be a random thought between the verse about "not judging your brother" and "ask and it shall be given unto you". I will openly admit this verse has puzzled me.

Several days ago as I was reading though Matthew, I asked the Father what in the world this was all about. Just to give you a little background, He has been teaching me for over a year now about forgiveness and staying away from judgment. It has been quite a learning process and one which I hope will continue to become even more seated in my life day by day. In any case, as I was reading Matthew 7:5 " Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." it dawned on me that this verse was talking about judgement.

Here's the take. Judgement is an act of a holy God. Judgement against someone is not our job...it is God's. This is totally reserved for Him. He even says in Romans 12:19, " Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." We think of vengeance as something mean and hateful, but when God vindicates, it is just. It is His choice as to whether he lets the person off without punishment or if he corrects and disciplines.

We are not to give the right to judge to the dogs. In scripture, the use of the word dogs to describe someone is never complementary. Sometimes we are the dogs when we growl and howl at the injustices done to us. Sometimes we are the dogs when we want to tear the other person apart with our bare teeth.

When we hurl out our version of the injustice to those we seek to judge we are casting OUR PEARLS. Our pearls of wisdom are not God's pearls of wisdom. For He says to forgive and leave the judgment to Him.

I really love the picture Jesus is painting here. You have the dogs and the swine at each other's throat. Both are dangerous in this scenario. One or both will be hurt by the encounter and nothing of value will come out of the fight. Here is the Cheryl version of this scripture...Don't give the right to judge to an angry man, neither through anger, hurl out your own home spun ungodly wisdom to an ungodly man. He will just laugh at your words, step on them and then tear apart everything you just said, leaving you even more angry.

Once the idea of forgiveness and leaving the judging to God was well established by Jesus' words to the people, He opened the door by telling them to "ask" and it would be given to them!

Perhaps our first need is not to ask, but to forgive and leave the courtroom matters to a just God. Then with a clean heart, we can go boldly and ask for what we want!

2010-12-10T09:38:00.000-06:00

This morning, I read a most remarkable story. It appears as just a few sentences among all of the deeds of the Kings of Israel and Judah. It says this...

"And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band [of men]; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet." ( II Kings 13:20-21)

Elisha had become weak. It may have been from a sickness or perhaps it was simply old age which caused him to die. But even in death, the power of the Lord was upon him. God's anointing had even permeated his very bones. This just blows me over. God gave a man life from a man who was dead!

Even in Christ's death we received life. It was important for him to die so that we might live. To me, Christmas is more about the power of God to bring hope to a dying world. Whatever we face in the future or even today...whatever deaths we experience, may life come from that death.

A dream has to die so that God can raise it up again. Death does not have the final say so. As Jesus said that he came so that we would have life...abundant life...so should we walk in that life. The fate of our country and of our world is not sealed by militants or terrorists. It is not sealed by drug lords or our very own government. The fate of our country lies in our giving life wherever we go and raising the dead. Our words, our deeds and our very bones carry the anointing of the living God. We can expect change as we go and be what God called us to be.

By your very touch, a life can return from the grip of death. So go, and be a life giver!

...and unto me what is mine

2010-12-06T20:27:00.002-06:00

When we read the stories of men and women of old who changed their countries and rose to greatness from humble beginnings, it is inspiring but often not enough fodder to get us moving toward that same greatness. Perhaps not everyone wants to have the burden of greatness on their shoulders. Not everyone wants to stir the waters of controversy. Not everyone desires to change the world, but shouldn't we all, as Christians, desire to see the world changed?

It was just a few short days ago, God spoke to me these words. "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto Me, what is mine." What He was saying was perfectly clear to me. You see, we spend our time making money to feed our families and to pay our taxes...to give to the poor and support ministry throughout the world. We give our calling for none of the prior reasons, but instead to render unto God what is His. This is our passion, even though at times it appears to be more of a headache than a desire, it is the very "thing" that haunts us day after day. It often keeps us up at night or nudges its way into our thoughts when our mind is on something else.

I realize that everything belongs to God, but if we are going to be world changers, it will come by knowing what is God's and what is Caesar's. What has God given us individually which will change the world? Is it a book we are to write? Is it befriending a family so that all will be saved? Is it boldly saying what God wants us to say and risk the anger of others? The list of what God has called us each individually to do is endless. We must render unto Him what is His if we truly want to change the world.

For me, I have my orders. What will NOT change if I do NOT render unto Him what is His? But, what WILL change if I lay it all before Him for Him to infuse it with power? I boldly say, I am a world changer and so are you.

Spiritual Gophers

2010-12-05T20:23:00.002-06:00

Gophers are varmints! They dig elaborate tunnels under crops and fields, eating the roots of whatever plant is growing above. You cannot always see them but you know they are there by the trail of destruction they leave above ground. In fact, from my understanding, they spend most of their lives gnawing away at the labors of man.

Contained within Luke 8 is the parable of the Sower and the Seed. The seed which fell on good ground produced an abundance...in fact the Bible says a hundredfold. Living in corn and sorghum growing country, a hundredfold may not seem like much when you think how many "seeds" are on one head of corn, but without reproduction a cob would be bare. Multiplication is contingent on the richness of the soil in which a seed is sown. In fact, in this story, the condition of the ground is THE most important ingredient to receiving a good harvest.

So, where do the gophers come in? An interesting fact about gophers is that they like to burrow in easily worked soil even though they possess long claws for digging. They are particularly fond of legumes and pose the biggest threat to farmers who grow such crops. Well worked soil, loose and rich was the soil which produced the greatest harvest according to Luke's Gospel. But in this parable, we know the soil was free of varmints.

Spiritual gophers can invade the good soil in which we have planted our seed. Luke 8:15 says this..."But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep [it], and bring forth fruit with patience." I like this phrase, "keep it". It is a picture of one who guards the precious seed planted and guards the soil of their heart so that they will bear fruit in season.

According to soil experts, the key to a successful program is to regularly monitor and detect gophers invading an area. It is like that with our hearts. When we hear the word God gives us and hold fast to that word, constantly reminding ourselves OF that WORD, then we have set up a program to monitor any potential attack as we through patience produce a crop.

Test the soil of the heart to see if there is something which has circumvented His Word and if there is, ferret it out and set a guard in place. The heart must remain tender soil to receive good seed.

Up Out of Debt

2010-12-04T20:22:00.002-06:00

"A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves." (NKJV) This story out of II Kings 4 was about God fearing, prophesying believers who found themselves in debt. The husband had died and the woman and her sons were in trouble, but she refused to suffer in silence. Instead, this woman poured out her heart to Elisha the prophet who asked her "What can I do for you and by the way, what do you have in the house?" She knew what he was really asking, "What do you have in your house of value?" Her response to him was that she had a little oil. (It may seem strange that she considered oil as a valuable commodity, but oil was used for a multitude of purposes in that day from cooking, lighting, medicines, perfumes and anointing. It was a very important household item.)

As the story continues, she sends her sons to borrow all the jars they can from the neighbors with instructions to bring them back to the house. They lock the doors behind them and begin pouring from the jar with little oil into the empty jars which were borrowed. As they finish pouring into the last jar, the oil ceases. Then Elisha tells her to sell enough of the oil to pay off the creditors and live on the rest!

What an amazing story! The Kingdom of God came right into her indebted situation and not only eradicated what was owed, but supplied enough for them to be cared for. She stepped out of debt and had a pension from God to boot! She was bold enough to ask and wise enough to obey...SHE saw God's Kingdom Come.

We want what we know is in heaven to come down into our situation, but God is asking..."What is in your hand of value that you will give to me?"

The Kingdom of God-"By My Spirit"

2010-12-03T20:19:00.001-06:00

One of my all time favorite verses is Zechariah 4:6. It reads like this..."Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This [is] the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."

Living in the land of the "frontier spirit" we as a people pride ourselves in our ability to overcome adversity. We gut it up. We pull ourselves up by our bootstraps. We stand tall in our own power. We have that pioneer spirit of do or die and we are proud of being proud, if that makes any sense.

But when I read this verse in Zechariah it becomes evident that the Kingdom of God has little to do with human effort and more to do with us being obedient to flow in God's Spirit.

You remember in the beginning when the Spirit of the Lord moved upon the face of the deep and God said "Let there be" and there was? That is and was the same Spirit of God Zerubbabel was encouraged by, the Spirit, the breath of God to do an impossible task of rebuilding the Temple. With opposition from the outside and apathy from the inside, this man was told that MIGHT...the might of armies, POWER...the power of individual human effort would not accomplish the task. Instead, help would come from the SPIRIT of GOD who breathed and the waters stood in a heap before all Israel. Help would come from the ONE who set the stage for all of creation to move from the unseen into the seen.

Like Zerubbabel, I find myself facing the Word of the Lord in my life to do this or that and I say to myself, "How will I do this? I do not have the strength, the quickness, the aptitude to do this God!" But God asks of us to step into His Kingdom life and walk away from the meager help of an army type of strength or the insipid boot strap pulling power and walk in the way of the SPIRIT.

Impossible tasks call for the God of the Impossible, and if you think about it, even those things we think we can accomplish apart from His Spirit are still impossible without him. Like the Pevensies who stepped from the world of the seen into the world of the unseen-Narnia and found adventure, let us find adventure in walking with the Spirit of God.

Kingdom of Forgiveness

2010-12-02T20:17:00.002-06:00

This morning as I was getting ready for work, I was overwhelmed by thoughts of God's great forgiveness for me.

Working in retail, one tends to see the good, the bad and the ugly side of human nature. For the most part, people are kind, but for some reason it is easy to remember those who lashed out over something as meaningless as a $2 necklace.

Several years ago, a woman came into a store upset because the wall cross she had purchased the week before was now on sale and she wanted the clerk to give her some of her money back. The woman behind the register calmly explained that the cross was not on sale when she purchased it and no money would be returned. Angrily the customer stormed out and called the owner of the store complaining about how her purchase was handled. The end result was that the customer received the discount and the clerk was reprimanded. Of all the nice people who entered the store that Christmas season, one woman was remembered above all others, and it was the woman with the "cross".

Having a cross to bear is different than having a grudge to bear. I can raise my hand and say that I too have been like this Cross Lady with the Cross, unwilling to forgive and release what I perceived as injustice.

The crowning touch of God's Kingdom lies in his great love exhibited through His forgiveness for us. Forgiveness shows love more so than any other act besides the giving of one's own life. Walking in the Kingdom of Forgiveness opens doors to change for yourself and others and puts a spring in your step as you release those who have wronged you or someone you love.

Forgiveness may seem a weak gesture and even a foolish gesture as we protect our rights and try to right a wrong, but it is the act of a royal nature. Remember the King who forgave a man the debt he owned? That same forgiven man failed to extend forgiveness to the one who owed him, but instead had him jailed. Eventually, the King learned of the deeds of the forgiven one and reversed his decision.

If there is any act which should be rampant this time of year, it should be the act of forgiveness. God has reminded me this morning of his nature to forgive. This generally indicates to me that I am going to have to walk in forgiveness today. So be it. May God's Kingdom of Forgiveness reign today as you shop for Christmas gifts and may His Kingdom rule in every part of your thought life, the deeds you do and the words you speak!

I Corinthians 1:25 "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men."

Luke 6:37 " Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:"

never forget to laugh

2010-10-15T23:55:00.000-05:00

This has been a wonderful weekend with family. We must never forget to laugh. It's not the time to insert some cheesy poem about how therapeutic laughter is. It is not the time to recount the many memories of childhood nor to remember the goofy stuff we all did. It is the time to just enjoy and laugh and eat and talk and walk away tired but refreshed in the joys of family.

Around us, a Cousin looses her husband suddenly. A friend is still fighting cancer. Another is wondering where the money will come from for the month. A co-worker is tired caring for her two year old who just had life altering surgery. It is not hard to find pressure in our own world with our own friends or our own relatives or co-workers. But interestingly enough, there is strength in laughter. Luke 6:21 says we are happy when we are mourning because we will laugh. Eventually the mourning will cease and the laughter will come as joy births strength again in us.

For some, this is a grieving time. For others this is a rejoicing time. As life cycles and seasons come and go, seize the joyful times and joy in the tough times. Some believe the end of all things is death, but eventually joy will come and death will melt away. Like a winter's covering of snow giving way to the warm earth, life will once again bloom and so will joy.

The Good Mystery

2010-10-02T15:07:00.000-05:00

Last night, the family watched an old "Matlock" show. Mysteries and courtroom dramas intrigue me. Chic Flicks are okay, but I love a good mystery where you have to try to figure out the "who done it". This particular show profiled the South in about the 40's-50's. There was the stereotyped redneck sheriff and of course the prejudiced cross burning bigots. But as is the case with any good mystery, there was also the champions who battled via the courtroom and prevailed over racial blindness and set the captive free.

Awakening this morning, I felt anger toward those who through hate and ignorance judged someone according to skin color, then it hit me. Jesus didn't just come for those whom we deem worthy to merit His redemption! He came for the prejudiced person...for the haters of this world who talk about someone behind their back or plot to ruin a candidate through a smear campaign. He came for those who through hate think their god says to murder everyone else. He came for the holier-than-thou person who sends chills down your spine when they trumpet their own righteousness. He came for the schemers, the haters, the self-righteous, the angry, the adulterers, the murderers, the Democrats, the Republicans, the liberals, the conservatives...in fact, he came for every living soul on the face of this earth who ever was or is to come.

He doesn't want us to stay the way we are. No matter what we stamp as sin in others, God can expose something equally as hideous within us that He wants to cleanse.

Instead of setting our crosses on fire out of hate, perhaps we should let the cross be a reminder that each and every day we are to be crucified in Christ...we are to let the Holy Spirit set our hearts on fire for Him. Then, the hate and bigotry within our own life will give way to the perfect love through HIS live and true change will come. God loves us all even when we act like the devil.

Semi-Temporary Kindof Empty Nest

2010-09-20T09:20:00.000-05:00

The little man is headed for camp! We just put him on a bus with his entire class to go to science camp! He will be missed so much, but as my Mother once commented about her life with a traveling man..."eat what you like that HE doesn't like, and spread out your sewing and crafts knowing you don't have to put it all up until they are headed home." Well, it is not quite the same, but I will have my computer to myself this week, and we can eat more adult kinds of food and have adult conversations without little ears hearing everything being said!

Being an older Mom, the empty next syndrome will not kick in for many more moons...I'll be in my 60's before that happens, but for this week, I will grab hold of the opportunity to get a few things done like getting my book finished. It has been nudged and poked and rearranged and messed with long enough and I'm just ready to get it done. It is one of those books which I believe will free a lot of people from erroneous thinking, but just might anger those who like the religious status quo. It's all about women's freedom. No, it is not a femininazi kind of writing but a book about how God views women. It will definitely make one think outside of the religious box but I can promise you it will be prayed through and self criticized in hopes that this book will be a freeing Word from a Father who adores his girls! I'm not sure just how NEW of a view this is, but I am sure that it will change the way you view yourself whether you are male or female.

In any case, it is time to head to work...but after work...writing!

Forgiveness - A Key to Eliminating Debt

2010-08-18T14:46:00.000-05:00

Just about the time you think you have it down, you find out you aren't as close as you thought. Case in point...several weeks ago during praise and worship, I realized I hadn't totally grasped the concept of forgiveness when Heavenly Dad showed me I needed to forgive those who orchestrated the 9-11 attacks on our country.

If you are an avid news watcher, every day provides ample opportunity to walk in un-forgiveness and anger. We are constantly bombarded with detailed reports of what I call "evil or stupid" acts. They flash across our TVs bringing our blood pressure up above the safe zone. It is not enough that there are "natural" disasters all around...floods and hurricanes, tornadoes and droughts to keep us stirred up, but when you add to these government issues, politics, finances, medicine, social and spiritual struggles, it is sufficient to make any sane person stand on their soapbox and scream down the house!

In a world of chaos, there are non-tangibles which bring peace to our hearts like rest and forgiveness. When we start down the list of those we need to forgive, I'm finding it is equally as important to offer forgiveness to those who around the world have caused death and bondage to innocent people. (After all, His Kingdom is the world.) Hard as that is, forgiveness, I am learning, is a precursor to having our own debts forgiven...remember..."forgive us our debts as we forgive those who trespass against us".

Debt can be deadly and crippling. Financial debt can send a family into poverty or break up a marriage. Emotional debt can keep someone you hate tied to you for life. Spiritual debt creates a life of legalism and the fear of never being enough. Debt of any kind stinks!

Perhaps you recall the story in Matthew 18 of the man who owed a bunch of money. The King, to whom he owed the debt, sentenced this man and his family to be sold as slaves as payment. In desperation, the man pleaded for more time and in an act of total forgiveness, the King not only reversed his sentence but forgave the entire debt.

But, the story doesn't end there. This same man who was forgiven immediately turned around and demanded payment of a few cents from one of his co-workers who as he had done, begged for a little more time to repay the debt. Instead of showing mercy and forgiveness, the man who owed much had the man who owed little thrown into prison. Word got back to the King about the servant's actions, and for a second time the man stood before the King to be judged except on this occasion, he was sent to the inquisitor to be tormented until the full debt was paid.

We have been totally forgiven and our debt have been paid through Jesus the Christ. Compassion and the duty to forgive have been placed in our hands. That same act of forgiveness uttered by Jesus on the cross when he said "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" should be on our lips as well. Just like the man who refused to offer the same forgiveness he had been given, those whom we forgive have the responsibility to forgive as well. We are not the judge, God is. When we give through forgiveness, we place those we had previously judged into God's courtroom. God knows the heart and the purpose for each life and only He can perfectly pass judgement or offer mercy. When we forgive, the windows of heaven open and we receive what Jesus taught us to pray..."Forgive us our debts."

2010-07-19T15:12:00.002-05:00

The Park - Article on Tapestry Talk

The Proposal

2010-07-15T20:31:00.000-05:00

Our Daughter. The Proposal...in Prauge

2010-06-30T00:33:00.001-05:00

Before and After - A Little Nonsense

2010-06-09T16:44:00.003-05:00

Every morning I look at myself in the morning, whether to brush my teeth or to do my hair or to put on makeup and find that I no longer have the face of a 20 year old. Oh for sure, sometimes it does bother me, but for the most part, I'm happy with who I am. I suppose that is because I have a husband who still loves me and doesn't seem to mind the little lines (or big ones) creeping into, OKAY...setting up CAMP on my face.

I've thought from time to time what I would look like if I had a few nips and tucks on the face, just to smooth out some of the lines of time, but after seeing the pictures of some of the rich and famous, I decided once again..."I Don't Think So!".

Of course there are the facial cremes of which I still think are a good idea which promise to smooth the skin. Sometimes I think those internet companies have just taken spackling and puttied in the cracks (i.e. - lines), sanded the corners and given those faces a fresh three coats of paint. But whatever the case, I thought I would give you a look at a great product I used for my hands. I think you can see the radical difference in lines from the before picture to the after picture. The results were immediate and I believe you will be as impressed as I was!

Okay, I did cheat...but only if it were this simple! Oh well! Thank God I am still alive, healthy and loving every minute of this great life!

Rocks, Flowers and Lessons in Listening

2010-05-25T19:51:00.000-05:00

There I was, standing next to the van with two potted plants waiting while hubby went back into the nursery to hunt for the automatic opener for the car. The humidity was a little higher than normal, but the breeze whipping through the large parking lot made the wait rather pleasant.

Just the day before in preparation for the BBQ at our home, I was operating the weed eater and broke one of the windows of our french doors with a rock. Now, here I was standing in a parking lot while my husband was inside searching through the thousands of plants in hopes of finding the lost opener. It appeared the BBQ was turning out to be more expensive than just the cost of the burgers and fixings.

I knew somehow I had to get that pinch out of my gut so right there in the parking lot I asked the Holy Spirit to calm me down. A song whispered in my head and then came out my mouth. The words...the song...which escapes me right now, were like honey in a fresh steeped cup of chamomile tea...soothing and sweet. Almost instantly there was a peace within letting me know we would find the opener.

Within a few minutes, my tall redheaded husband came around the car shaking his head. The opener was nowhere to be found. We opted to go ahead and unlock the car with the key and set off the alarm so that we could at least get the plants out of the wind and we ourselves could sit down and decide what to do. Given, this really wasn't a major but it was one of those minor irritations which would pull more bucks out of our pockets and that just wasn't a very pleasant thought.

Still peaceful, I decided to give it a go and headed back into the nursery to search some more. I remembered the point where hubby was reaching out to help me with one of the plants and began my hunt there. As I put my hand into the planter closest to me, I felt something round and smooth. Pulling the object out, I was joyously excited to see that it was indeed the lost opener.

The BBQ turned out great and we enjoyed visiting with new and old friends around mountains of summertime foods. The flowers perked up the outdoor setting and the spidery window pane was a great conversation piece. And, I did learn something that weekend. The quiet voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to me to be careful around the rocks while operating the weed eater and the same quiet voice of the Comforter singing through me assuring me the lost would be found bore different results. The first calling, I ignored...the second calling I heeded. One cost me more than I wanted. The other cost me nothing but instead gave me a wonderful peace and a deeper understanding of the importance of listening in the "little" things.

National Day of Prayer - 2010

2010-05-06T09:22:00.000-05:00

"The first and almost the only book deserving of universal attention is the Bible. I speak as a man of the world...and I say to you, 'Search the Scriptures."

John Quincy Adams - 6th President

"Hold fast to the Bible as the sheet anchor of your liberties. Write its precepts in your hearts, and practice them in your lives. To the influence of this book are we indebted for all the progress made in true civilization, and to this we must look as our guide in the future. Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people."

Ulysses S. Grant - 18th President

"If you take out of your statues, your constitution, your family life and all that is taken from the Sacred Book, what would there be left to bind society together?"

Benjamin Harrison - 23 President

As we begin another National Day of Prayer, let us hold fast to the knowledge that He is the King of the Universe. His great love for us exemplified in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ should give us confidence as we go before His throne today and ask for help in time of need. He is who we need in our daily lives. He is our all in all. Without Him our world would fall apart and there would be nothing. Let us go before Him and pray, not just today...but every day, for the life of this nation, our states, our counties, our cities, our neighborhood and our own household. Let us also NOT forget to pray for our world and for our brothers and sisters around the globe who are suffering because of their love for Christ. May our lives be laced with love for all and may we have a keen understanding that we should be gentle as doves, but wise as serpents in our dealings with all. May our words be God words and our lives exhibit righteousness, peace and joy so that the world will be drawn to our Lord and know that they are forgiven and loved.

May correction come in our lives gently and may our hearts be willing to accept HIS correction...for His correction always brings hope, life and a new beginning. May we understand that in the most hopeless of situations, He is our hope. When we feel unloved, He loves us. When we feel powerless to change, He gives us courage.

As a nation we desperately need to return to our Maker and allow Him to order our lives once again so that peace will return to our land and that we will return to being the beacon of life, liberty and hope to a hurting world. May all those to seek to harm us because of our love of God be blessed today with the knowledge of Him in all wisdom and understanding and that their hearts will be turned to the God who made them.

Save us Oh Lord. You are our only help and our only salvation...we rely totally on you and we love you with everything in our being.

2010-04-27T16:11:00.000-05:00

This morning as I was hurrying around the house trying to get ready to leave for work, I realized I hadn't opened the Bible to read. So, I opened to Isaiah 53 and started reading the prophecy of what the Christ would bear on our behalf. I know this chapter well and can probably quote most of it, but this morning it wasn't as much about being able to quote the chapter, but knowing the sacrifice He took so that I could say YES whenever God told me to do something too hard for me.

It is really quite simple. Say YES when He says to do something, to become someone or to reach out to another human being. Say NO to any voice which says "it is too hard" or "you can't do that". No one paid the huge debt we all owe like Jesus. I think He deserves our YES responses whenever He calls.

Blessings...

Bless You Israel

2010-04-17T23:30:00.000-05:00

Israel remains high profile and a hot topic around the world. As I read the many criticisms about Israel from those who would like to see her wiped from the face of the earth to those who, as I, believe she has the right to stay where she is...I am appalled at the ridiculous demands upon our friend.

Why has there been so much anger over Israel building in their own land? As Nobel Laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel said in his full page ad in the Washington Post yesterday, "It (Jerusalem) belongs to the Jewish people and is much more than a city, it is what binds one Jew to another in a way that remains hard to explain."

He is not alone, Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya’alon wondered why the West Bank should be “ethnically cleansed” of Jews and Jews be forced to withdraw to the 1967 borders, which are indefensible.

Israel, if you are listening, there are millions around the world who believe as our long time friends and as the possessors of that land for thousands of years, that you not only have the legal right to stay, but the spiritual right to stay in your own land.

הִנֵּה אֵל יְשׁוּעָתִי אֶבְטַח וְלֹא אֶפְחָד כִּֽי־עָזִּי וְזִמְרָת יָהּ יְהוָה וַֽיְהִי־לִי לִֽישׁוּעָֽה׃

Isaiah 12:2

"Behold, God [is] my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH [is] my strength and [my] song; he also is become my salvation."

Blessings to you Israel, now and always.

Cut Out of the Will

2010-01-30T14:37:00.000-06:00

She groaned. It was as though the twins within her were jockying for position. Her nights were sleepless. Even her servant girls could not comfort her with pillows, potions and warm concoctions. There was a war going on within her and she was concerned that she would be the next victim in this eternal fight.

It grew worse as the days grew shorter. In desperation, she cried out to God for help.

"Oh God, what is going on within me? I cannot bear this pain any more. Just kill me or save me. One or the other right now!"

She heard that voice she knew so well breathe within her as he assured her there was nothing to fear. For within her growing and wrangling were two nations. Two nations where the younger would rule the elder. The fight, he said, would extend beyond the womb.

Her days soon came to an end and she bore two baby boys. The elder, covered in hair and red...the younger was born holding onto the heel of the first.

As is in many families the first born who was a hunter became the favorite of the father, while the younger became the favorite of the mother. The story is familiar.

There came a day when this mother and her younger son orchestrated a deception to take the first-born blessing from the elder who had already sold his birthright to his brother for a pot of stew. Using the failing eyesight of the father to his advantage, the younger was passed off as the elder and received the elder blessing. When the oldest brother came in to his father for the blessings (to become head of the tribe) all he received was word that he would be a servant to the younger.

If we took this story into our day and time, the fact that they were "attached" coming out would give creedence to a joint headship. But not so in a time where first was first and words had weight and what was said was firm and binding.

The rest of the story is filled with more drama than any daytime soap opera and can be read in the book of Genesis.

As I was reading this story this morning, I had compassion on Esau, the elder brother for he wept bitterly when he went into his father for a blessing. "Not fair" rings out when reading this story, but he HAD despised his birthright according to scripture and Jacob desired to have the blessing of the first born and the blessing of the father more than Esau.

Here was Esau, his daddy's favorite. Day in and day out I am sure the talk from Isaac was about what a great hunter Esau was and what a great Man's Man he turned out to be. For Jacob, who was not the hairy hunter type, the desire to have his father love him in the same manner he loved Esau grew stronger each day.

Esau knew he was Daddy's favorite and the fact he had sold his birthright to his brother was a deal made in private between the two brothers...not between he and his father. So, in essence, Esau would not have to live up to his word because there were no witnesses...or were there.

I thought about my own words and how glibly I have made promises and said words I didn't really mean, not realizing that my witness to each promise and word is my Father. To become so accustomed to just saying whatever meets my needs in the circumstance is not right. To realize that my word, my promises have weight and are not ordinary and light is important.

Perhaps, part of the lesson in this story of two brothers is understanding that our words will have a bearing on the rest of our lives even if they are whispered under our breath away from the listening ears of others. The God of covenant and promise will always hear even if no one else does and it is He, I desire to please...hopefully above myself.

The Mark of our Winter

2010-01-12T09:17:00.006-06:00

Sparkling snow all muddled with tracks.

Dark, wintry skies hang desperately thick.

Children forced to wear big coats and thick gloves.

Ice packed places for kids to scoot.

Old folks all nestled within for warmth.

Homeless huddling in crowded shelters.

Grocery stores buzzing as customers stock their shelves.

Shortened greetings as people rush inside.

Hair standing straight as the winds blow strong.

Hot Chocolate steaming.

The smell of fresh roasted coffee.

People moving faster than ever.

Expectant parents plotting their course to the hospital.

School delays and happy kids.

Snow Days.

Joy of having a nice warm bed.

Friends by the fireplace.

The Blessings of God.

Not poetic, yet this is what I've seen...marking our winter.

2010-01-12T09:14:00.002-06:00

It has been over a month since I last wrote in this blog. However, I am writing in Tapestry Talk, a womens writer's group through our church. You are welcome to visit me there any time. I'll do my best to come over here and post more frequently.

His Salvation

2009-12-09T08:41:00.003-06:00

Psalm 51 was written as a result of King David's loss of the child he and Bathsheba bore out of adultery. It is a gritty, down to earth cry to God, a declaration of His goodness and mercy and a look at the heart of a man who is desirous to move ahead.

As I was reading in this chapter this morning I was surprised when I read verse 12 where David says, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit." (ESV) To be honest, I've always quoted this verse as...restore to me the joy of MY salvation.

Is there a difference between God's salvation and our salvation? Perhaps, you say, that my salvation is really just taking ownership of what God has given me, but I think not. When you look at the Hebrew, all of the extra words aren't even there. It reads something like "Restore(repair or renew) joy(exultation) salvation(deliverance, safety) uphold(to sustain, refresh, revive) willing(nobility, nobleness, noble deeds) spirit (wind, breath from root word meaning smell, touch, quick understanding, accept)

Jesus very name means Jehovah is salvation. All salvation comes from God. Our deliverance is not from the works of our own hands or our deeds, but through a Savior...a Deliverer.

David was saying that what he needed was to be repaired, to be as good as new again with God's joy and salvation so that he would be revived and refreshed, willing to do what God said...to do what was right. Think about this. To be re-freshed is to become fresh again.

David's poor choices with Bathsheba stunk up his life and with the death of his child, he was aware of his need to be re-freshed, like new again. Verse 7 says "Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. " You see, David knew that with God's salvation and his cleansing he would be "whiter than snow".

How excellent is God to not leave us in a state of filth...of half way being cleaned...of having to pay penance for the rest of our life. He makes us whiter than snow. Thank God for HIS SALVATION in our lives. What a good God I serve!

Repentance...Good for Someone Elses Soul

2009-11-29T09:01:00.002-06:00

If there was anyone who was able to express the soulish feelings which came with mistakes, David could. He would say "my soul cries out" or "from the depths of my...". Gut wrenching statements. Every emotion on the table. Nothing hidden or glossed over. This was his trademark if you will of a man who knew how to express himself and his repentance from sin.

If there is anything that I have learned in my years upon this earth, is to admit when you have messed up. Yet, it is still one of the hardest things to do, at least for me. However, whenever I openly admit that I was wrong...that I "sinned"...that I spoke without love, then the joy which comes from the admission and hopefully the repentance is like washing after a day in the hot sun. The stink from going the wrong way is washed away and there is a refreshing which comes like nothing I have ever experienced.

My job in a retail establishment has me listening to country western all day long. Some of the songs need to be flushed in the toilet from whence they came, but there are several which make me cry. One of my favorites is about a father who in a situation cusses in front of his son and then hears his son do the same because the little man wants to grow up to be just like his dad. As the dad feels the sting of his own actions and prays for forgiveness, his son hears his words. Then the story moves to the prayers of a little boy who is pours out his heart to THE Father. When asked by his Dad where he learned to pray like that, the response is that he learned from listening to him.

If you don't think repentance can change your own children and those around you, you are wrong. It is not just regurgitating garbage in order to feel better. It is turning and going the right way. When others see your change, they have the courage like the little boy to do the same.

Perhaps you are a "Dad" to someone you hardly know at work or at church or at the grocery store or where ever you are. Your actions just might help someone else to get a relationship right in their own lives. Like circles in the water, you never know whom you might touch.

A Heavenly Letter

2009-11-17T16:45:00.003-06:00

Oh my children.

You who came from me.

You who grew within me.

You are wonderful each and every one of you.

***

You are so different from each other

And that is good.

***

Did the sun and moon and stars quibble at their differences?

Of course not.

What a ridiculous thought.

***

Did they want to be like the other?

Yet, another NO.

***

They each had qualities for their unique purposes.

***

Oh my children.

You do too.

***

You each have a uniquely crafted purpose from the God of the Universe.

It is as though you received a letter in the mail with a golden seal from Heavenly Places.

When you opened that letter, you were humbled and astounded that the Maker of All chose you for a particular purpose.

***

How awed I would be to be asked to do ANY task the King required of me. How awed I would be if He even asked me to clean His table or just to sit at his feet like Mary!

***

Oh, my dear children.

That letter has come to you. The King of the Universe is requesting your presence at His table...the King's table.

He is asking of each of you a particular task with HIS backing and HIS resources and HIS preparing the way.

Now, go forth and do it. You have the King's permission to go forth.

***

Is it any wonder you were birthed with such a name and each of you has a name with meaning and purpose which lines directly up with whatever He has said to you in that letter with the golden seal.

Your name was not copied from a list of people whom He knew not.

Your name was hand written by your Father and the note penned with care and love to a child He absolutely adores.

***

I suspect as He sealed the letter, His seal was a kiss which could only be opened by you.

He eagerly awaits your response. Oh come to Him and abide with Him this day. Let his soft and kind words lead you to the place next to him.

He will whisper into your ear secrets and you two will laugh and enjoy each other just as two friends do.

Oh come to Him who loves you beyond your wildest imaginations. Say YES...say YES!

2009-11-16T22:59:00.002-06:00

For the joy of the whole earth,

My mind runs into places unseen and unheard.

For the love of you.

Lord of all and Father so magnificent.

Ruler of all.

Maker of all.

It is into your courtroom I find myself

Day after Day.

Seeking Mercy and help whenever I am in trouble.

It is not as I expect.

My judge is my redeemer and the lover of my soul.

My judge has mercy flowing from his robes

and justice is like a garment

made of the whitest linen one could every imagine.

On his feet there is truth and right standing.

In his hands, those hands which were bloodied and pierced...

Those hands beckon me to come to Him.

In the warmth of His embrace I find rest and know

That no matter what my case, He will judge rightly.

Oh, come with me into the courtroom of He who gave it all for you.

In his place there is mercy freely given.

His judgments are right and He seeks to put us on the right road.

Yet, He will walk with us.

He is right beside us.

Oh enter his courts with praise and give thanks.

May thanksgiving be ever on my lips.

Remind me when my lips stray and my heart falters.

Remind me to chase after what You say and embrace your words as life.

Oh, my Lord and My God, how I love you.

Teach me your ways and reveal to me your very thoughts.

How I long to be with you.

May we sit together,

May we run together,

May we fellowship together,

May we laugh together and cry together.

I never want to be anywhere but with you.

You are my all in all.

I love you.

Praises in the Morning

2009-11-15T08:45:00.004-06:00

This morning as I was awakening an old hymn was joyfully flowing through my spirit...to God be the glory great things he has done...so loved he the world that he gave us his Son...who yielded his life in atonement for sin...and opened the life gate that ALL may go in...PRAISE THE LORD...PRAISE THE LORD...let the earth hear HIS voice...PRAISE THE LORD...PRAISE THE LORD...let the people rejoice...O come to the Father...through Jesus the Son...And give Him the glory...great things He has done.

Before I even opened my eyes, the praises of God through this song were ringing in my ears. What a joyful way to come into the morning. It didn't require effort, nor even the use of my natural eyes, just my inner parts ready to praise.

David would often write how he worshipped in the morning hours. He throughout the day would sing and cry out to the Lord. The relationship with His Creator was tight.

The words of the song tell me right as I post...oh come to the Father through Jesus the Son, and give HIM the glory (i.e. - it does not say give ME the glory) great things HE HAS DONE.

It is truly not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of God that we live and move and have our being-that we work-that we relax-that we play-that we minister to others-that we even come to him, it is not our own power or might. Thank you Jesus...Thank you Father...Thank you Holy Spirit...Thank you God!

John Waller: While I'm Waiting

2009-11-13T17:37:00.001-06:00

Many of you might remember the song "While I'm Waiting" from the movie FIREPROOF. This is an awesome story of the "wait" for this young song writer and how he gave it all up...
John Waller: While I'm Waiting

AHHHHEEEAAHHHEEAAA

2009-11-07T14:02:00.003-06:00

Okay, I am just slightly jazzed about the trees turning all shades of warmth and dragging out the old Thanksgiving ornaments the kids have made over the years. I'm even excited about putting out the old decorative candles made in the shape of pilgrims and Tom turkey (who by the way got just a wee bit melted several years ago and looks like he has a crick in his neck).

The view from our window of the trees in varying shades of gold, orange, green and red is awesome. I LOVE FALL!

Last night as we exited one of our favorite restaurants the smell of fall was in the air and it was wonderful. When this season rolls around and I smell that cool evening air I feel like Tarzan pounding on his chest and making that AHHHHEHHAAAEEAAA warbling sound. I do believe it is a power thing with me and I am totally okay with that.

So, with dust cloth in hand, clothes strewn down the hall in pile to be washed and a merry heart, I will usher in the first good cleaning of the fall, complete with decorations and all the fanfare of a new season of hope.

Yes, it is a season of hope no matter how life looks. What may appear to be changing and dying is actually about to put deeper roots down so that when this time next year rolls around, strength will be increased. Yeah for fall. Yeah for God's kind of change!

Things NOT to Ask a Woman

2009-11-03T21:40:00.005-06:00

Having married in our late twenties we didn't immediately try to have children. Even though we were older than most of our friends when they married, we were not in a hurry to start a family. It wasn't until I was about to turn 34 that our first child came along. Three years later came our second and along about 46 number three arrived.

Any way you look at it, 46 is not the same as 26 even though at the time, I could escape being identified as 46.

As many a new Mom experiences those first months with their baby, sleep is a commodity and fatigue is a constant companion. I was no different. Our third did not sleep through the night completely until he was 8 months old so by that time I was very ready to have that first full night in snoozeland.

However, it was somewhere within the first few months after his birth that a dreadful event occurred. I was looking rather haggard that morning as I put him in his carrier and off to the store I went. This was not a store I usually shopped because even though they carried groceries and hardware the smell of stacked fertilizer was more than I could bear. For some reason, this grocer was located in the area where I was running my errands so I thought a quick pop in for whatever it was would lighten my day.

A perky checker was cheerfully ringing up the customer in front of me. Then it was my turn. Her first words out of the box were, "Oh, you taking care of your grand baby today?" To which I responded curtly, "No, this is my son!" End of conversation.

The urge to expose my stretch marks to this checker were put on "check" (pun intended). I payed for my few items and huffed out of the store more tired than when I had arrived. That okie dokie feeling that morning had burned off with the smoke coming out of my head!

Eventually I blew it off, but here is one thing you do NOT ask or say to a woman. "Is that your grandchild?" In this day and time it may be or it may NOT be their grandchild.

By His Spirit

2009-11-02T09:29:00.003-06:00

Whenever I wrangle within, I pray that God deals with me.

Long term wrangling just leads to anger, depression and bitterness, so I would rather get it over with sooner than later. It is kind of like what Moses through Aaron asked Pharaoh as to when he wanted the plague of frogs to end to which he replied "tomorrow". Well, I do not want to take a page out of Pharaoh's book in waiting to move ahead.

So, God spoke this morning to correct me and now, peace is coming...release is here. His gentle reminder of what He spoke to me many months ago concerning our own children applies in this situation I have been wrangling over.

We as parents love to think we have had a great influence on our children. We like to think that they have hung on every word of wisdom which issued from our mouths. When, in reality, we have both done good and have acted foolishly as well at times. An unkind word spoken in haste. Wrongly sizing up a situation in their lives. Ignoring them when we are busy with another activity.

As HE reminded me this morning, if I want to take credit for the good things about our kids, then I will also have to take credit for the bad things as well. Once again, I realized that I am not God. Our children whether born of us or come to us through our children, are in the hands of God. Oh yes, we are to help guide, but God can do a much better job than we can.

It is a matter of submitting to HIM and letting HIM lead us. The HIGH powered Mothering instinct which God put there for a purpose can get into overdrive and hoard those precious ones who were given to us to raise. The balance can only be accomplished in listening to the perfect Father who made them and knows even the number of hairs on their heads.

As a Mother, I know, at least today, what I am to do. Now, it is time to put time and energy into praying...seriously praying because it is NOT by MIGHT, NOR by POWER (Mother Power), but by MY SPIRIT saith the LORD OF HOSTS.

Whew!

Becoming a Woman for All Seasons

2009-11-01T23:18:00.003-06:00

Having daughters is a trip and of course having a son is a different kind of trip. Each child whether grown or not is a wonderful blessing to our family. The trials have been there with each, but mostly the joys are what we remember.

This evening, I was thinking about one of our daughters in particular and I thought it especially important to expound upon (or is that just "on") her life over the last year.

Perhaps a little background from a mother's perspective might be nice...

She was named at birth and had the beautiful hair coloring of her sister and father.
Her name...given to her by the Almighty carried several meanings. One was that she would manifest Him and that she also would have no judge but God himself. A very big vision for such a tiny little lady so full of spunk, curiosity and an imagination that Disney himself would have loved to have had.

She was so small she had to wear suspenders because slim was just not slim enough. She said "no" when in Kindergarten I asked her if she needed help opening the door because she had to use every muscle in her body just to get it cracked.

She, though sometimes nervous, had the courage to step out and try even if she didn't get what she was pursuing. She had the courage, and her courage gave her favor in the eyes of a special teacher who saw in her a unique quality of being able to make people smile. She had, and still has God manifesting his light in her life.

She had the courage to go overseas when most wanted to stay at home. In her, I saw growth...one more step to becoming a woman for all seasons.

I saw courage as she made harder and harder decisions, and with each new lesson learned, she let her determination to follow God take her to the next lesson. Of course, she is not to her destination as of yet, but then neither are any of us.

Courage is her name. Determination is in her character. Brilliance is her covering. God is her judge.

Sometimes we forget the journey we took to becoming the woman we are today. Sometimes we forget that there were times when others truly did not understand what we were going through and made quick judgements or threw out canned Christian phrases which made us feel small and inadequate.

En-courage means to infuse courage into someone. This may mean that a hard word is necessary, but it generally is followed by the truth of who God made them to be. Not all are prophets, and to those who are prophetic, a word spoken out of season can have the results of cutting off one's limb and walking away before applying salve for healing.

Each woman is different and each has her own personality. This little lady I write about has such a gift, it makes me cry. Whenever I talk with her, she nearly always teaches me something through her relationship with God. She is not where she wants to be, but she is becoming a woman for all seasons.

Remember when you passed from one season to another and wondered how you got through it? Remember how when you ached you thought that season would last for a lifetime, but it didn't? Remember how alone you felt but then found out that you were not really alone? Perspective has come for most of us after we got through the storm. Sometimes it has come during the storm so that we would not give up.

Whatever you are going through today, remember that you are becoming a woman no matter what your age...a woman for all seasons of life.

P.S. - To you, my sunshine, I love you! Remember your call, to manifest Him. Remember, only He has the right to judge you! God loves you.

Comfort

2009-10-28T00:16:00.004-05:00

I find it pleasing in the evening to put on my fuzzy socks and relieve my feet of the confinement of shoes. Within those fuzzy socks, I can spread out my toes, for I have a very wide foot, and wiggle them around until they are comfortably in the position each little toe prefers.

Of all the simple pleasures of life, this is certainly one that is performed each and every day with the same amount of ahhhh each time.

Another simple pleasure is derived from the quiet in the house when everyone is sleeping and my computer beckons me to think and write and type those last words of the day. For I, as a woman feel compelled to empty my tank of words even if they have not been spoken but rather written.

Some live a life of comfort continually doing only what pleases them the most. I shall not judge or misjudge them because I do not know what lies in the hearts of those who live in that fashion. But, I find my own comfort in a cup of tea in the quiet of the morning or snuggling up to my husband as he sleeps. Comfort is in a story before bedtime when our youngest is just starting to drift to sleep and cannot stay awake through more than a page.

Comfort is in knowing that love is mine. Comfort of the love of my husband, a child, a parent brings a smile. Comfort is having the promise that Heavenly Dad loves me and always will. Comfort is being assured He will always be here for me.

"Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you." (NKJV) 2nd Corinthians 13:11

Letters of Love

2009-10-25T09:44:00.003-05:00

The letters we found, most of which we had never seen before, were stuffed inside a box in the back of the closet. They were not in the file cabinet my Father kept as neat as a pin in his office, but were tucked away in a secret place for his eyes only.

But, after my Mother's death, my Father remarried. I distinctly remember the day we moved everything out of his home. He took very little to his new bride's house so the remainder of his possessions were distributed to family and friends. His letters however came home with me.

I put them in our already overloaded garage to be dealt with along with volumes of other paperwork at a later date. The next year was a year of getting a lot of "stuff" out of the garage and that meant it was time to go through the stacks and stacks of my Fathers personal items.

It was a joyous time for me reading each and every letter written between my parents in a time when our world was at war and he was in Pearl Harbor. My oldest two siblings and my Mother and Father made up the family at that time and as I went through all of the pictures, souvenirs from Hawaii and the like, I sensed the closeness and love between them.

I will have to admit, it was a little strange to read love notes between the two, but it was also comforting because the distance between them at that time had not diminish their relationship, but rather stoked the fires of love. It was evident that they had each other on their minds.

Our days demand real time communications, but the art of expressing love through letters should never be lost. Even if those letters must be hand delivered at a later time, there is something soothing and releasing about penning our thoughts down on paper...a lost art which once stoked the love of my parents and probably our grandparents.

God's love letters to us have given us release from bondage, soothed our frustrated spirits and brought us into a relationship with the One who absolutely adores us. There is none who loves us more and who desires good things for us more that He.

His model to us as married couples is one of love. So, revive the art of letters, given to the one you love as He wrote to us, His bride.

Isolation

2009-10-24T22:34:00.002-05:00

Isolation is one of the hardest places to rest. Yet it is in the place of solitude that God can actually give you strength. It seems strange, but I can prove it through the stories of several men of faith.

Take David for example. He was stuck with tending the sheep...an alone kind of existence. Notice, I didn't say lonely, but alone...there is a difference. Now whether or not he was lonely for human companionship, I cannot say, but I know that he learned to communicate with God in that alone place. He learned to hone his talents (rock slinging, writing songs, etc.). He learned to clearly hear the voice of God above the bleating of the lambs and the growl of the bear. He "got" a relationship with God.

It was in that relationship he was able to defeat Goliath, rout the Philistines, and become one of the greatest military "giants" of his time. It was in that alone place he found confidence that the God who called him was bigger than any boogieman (Veggie Tales). Plus, he got the girl!

Think of where he would have been had he not learned to play his harp and sing while tending the sheep? It was that talent which initially put him in front of King Saul. Where would he have been had he not learned in that isolated place to sling rocks? History would have looked a lot different.

So, let's see...alone-ness for David meant...a tight relationship with God, a honing of his talents, great confidence and a fulfilling of his destiny!

Joseph is another example of one who was isolated for a period of time in order for him to acquire the necessary tools to really be God's Man. From being rejected by family and sold into slavery to being lied about and spending time in prison, he was taught at each juncture how to manage the affairs of a great nation. He, like David developed a confidence and a real relationship with God. Plus, he got the girl!

I believe so many people do not fulfill their God appointments because they do not allow Him to put them in a place some like to call a wilderness. Remember, Jesus was lead into the wilderness with purpose. (P.S. The wilderness is not a bad place to be...there is always provision!)

The struggles we all face when we head into that isolated place do not need to be. The wilderness is not the struggle. The struggle is our not giving in to the time of teaching because we see no future value to the whole experience. It is easy to mentally block our hearts and minds to the lessons of God. Remember, His yoke is EASY and his burden is LIGHT.

This is even difficult in my desire for easy-street-peace to think a yoke easy and a burden light when it feels like someone is reaching deep inside and ripping out everything familiar and comfortable.

But no one and no circumstance can tear out the Love of God being poured into all of the dry and empty places of our lives. Seek Him first...then your desires will be a gift of God to you.

I am sure I have never been where some of you are, and I am also certain you have never been where I have been. However, the times of isolation and learning and trusting and honing talents and learning skills are so important in this time we live in. Time is being crunched and I see God training and teaching and equipping in short order. It is either now, or later, but God is saying it is now...because later is too late.

Remember, both of these men of God...David and Joseph...ended up with the desires of their heart plus more than their dreams and visions could contain. Do you REALLY know all God has in store for you...the places you will go and the lives you will impact?

God's desires for you are that you have HOPE and a FUTURE...that I do know.

WallBuilders - Issues and Articles - The Founding Fathers on Jesus, Christianity and the Bible

2009-10-24T00:20:00.002-05:00

WallBuilders - Issues and Articles - The Founding Fathers on Jesus, Christianity and the Bible

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Khaleed: Changing a Muslims Mind

2009-10-23T15:48:00.000-05:00

Khaleed: Changing a Muslims Mind

When You Don't Understand

2009-10-19T23:03:00.004-05:00

Joseph was thrown into a well and sold into slavery by those he was closest to. He didn't understand.

Then he was lied about and thrown into prison. He didn't understand.

Later he was forgotten by the one he blessed with good news. He didn't understand.

He was let down by his own family. His boss who at one time totally trusted him didn't believe he was a man of integrity. And when he ministered, he was totally blown off by the man he helped.

However, even though he probably didn't understand, he trusted God that somehow, in some way, He would bring about the promise...and HE did.

From hated, lied about and forgotten, he became one of the most well known, powerful figures of Egypt. His obedience saved not only his own people, but the land of Egypt. God turned his captivity into deliverance.

My question is this. Is it really important to understand, or just to follow His lead? You have to know His voice yourself because following the voice of another may not be the right choice. There are lots of voices screaming for attention. The voice of despair. The voice of circumstances. The voice of judgment. The voice of a lie.

With all these voices lobbying for our attention, there is only one voice to be heard, and that is the voice of Him who knows all things and can lead us, like a Shepard leads his flock, to understanding.

His voice is heard. We follow. Then comes understanding. He says come...come away with me to a place of rest and refreshment. To the waters and pasture he leads us. We follow. In that place of having already followed Him, there is trust. There, we can get understanding because we first followed Him.

Simple

2009-10-18T00:10:00.003-05:00

This weekend has been a powerful weekend of praise and worship, of teaching and motivating, of story telling and fellowship and of love and tenderness. Pursue was the call. Give Him our all was the promise.

Our speaker last night talked about the Moravians. These mission minded people took with them wherever they went, their Bibles and a coffin. Going into leper colonies and into hard places, they knew beforehand that their lives were an offering to be poured out where ever God's call led.

Their motto tells of their heart, "In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; and in all things, love." And in God's love they went into a world hurting and needy of love and good news.

I've of recent been drawn again to the knowledge that the gospel is simple. Christ's message is simply to love others so that others can accept His love and sacrifice for them. That is it.

2009-10-18T00:09:00.001-05:00

Recently, I was blessed with a computer from a fellow blogger. I cannot say thank you enough. You were a God-send!

Shawlom

2009-10-01T09:03:00.002-05:00

In the few moments I have before resuming the activities of the day, there is such a peace in our household. He reigns and where he reigns there is peace.

When a nation is governed by God's wisdom, there is peace. When a heart is governed by God, there is peace. When a world is governed by God, there is peace.

The wonder of "peace" or "shalowm". It means completeness in number, soundness and safety in body, welfare, health, prosperity, peace, quiet, tranquility, contentment, friendship in human relationships, peace from war and most importantly, peace with God in a covenant relationship.

It strains me to think of any need to mankind that is not covered in this little word shalowm.

Have you ever faced a problem and found yourself overwhelmed, not by the circumstances, but by his peace? Is it not remarkable!

When we lost our first child to miscarriage God whooshed me with His peace and it was undescribable.

Look not for peace in a person or a bottle or a job or in anything else. His peace is the real deal and there is not enough humming or positioning of a body to bring the kind of peace God brings. In those moments of His shalowm peace there is total trust in the God who created every detailed part of your existence and it is awesome indeed.

Is it no wonder that David in Psalm 122 said to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. The rest of that verse says this "they shall prosper that love thee". Now the word "prosper" here means rest, quietness and ease. Something to ponder.

Favorable Love

2009-09-28T06:48:00.004-05:00

Too many Christians are freaking out. Yes, it is our responsibility to speak out against injustice and to speak out for a return to doing what is right in the sight of God, but what I have observed in many believers is panic and fear.

Perfect love casts out fear according to the Word, so is it a lack of understanding God's love which has the Christian community along with many others bubbling over with knee knocking fear?

Yesterday, our pastor talked about the "Mighty Man of Valour" named Gideon who was socially at the bottom of the heap. Yet, God called him to be a man of courage and strength. After testing God, Gideon finally trusted God and life changing events took place for the Children of God.

He saw himself to be the least likely candidate to be chosen to lead a small army to victory using very unconventional methods. Yet, God put him in favour. God saw in Gideon something which He needed to put the enemy to flight...it was trust, and in that trusting of God, he found favour to do mighty deeds...without fear.

Favour is simply being acceptable. Most of those who knew Gideon and his clan would not have put them in a category of "acceptable", but God did. Just as Jesus accepted us and put us in favour with God through his submission to the cross and his resurrection, we can walk in His love and favour.

Perfect love casts out fear. I John 4:18 says this "En el amor no hay temor, sino que el perfecto amor echa fuera el temor; porque el temor lleva en sí castigo. De donde el que teme, no ha sido perfeccionado en el amor." or in English (NKJV) "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."

Simply put, we have favour because of Christ. We have been extended His love so that we do not have to fear. We can walk boldly in His love. Trust Him. Do not fear for the days ahead. Know He has put you in favor. Extend to others His love. Speak when HE says speak. Always forgive. Love never fails.

Kingdom of Peace

2009-09-04T16:37:00.003-05:00

Well, it has been almost a month since I last posted. It was about that time when my computer decided to not work and it is still sitting on the desk...not working.

With that in mind, I have been borrowing time...at various times...just to check my email and making my request for a new computer. Patience is a virtue some say, but patience has it's rewards when hope and faith are mixed in.

These days, God has been challenging me on a daily basis to speak His Kingdom Come over many areas such as finances, media, medical and health, social, spiritual, political and more...and for His Kingdom to come and destroy poverty and injustice. Since His Kingdom is right standing, peace and joy...this is a very good request!

I was reading in Isaiah 9 this morning this...and of HIS Kingdom there will be no end. His kingdom is peace. The kingdoms of this world are in chaos because of political decisions, but for those of us who are HIS, we can pray for HIS Kingdom to come.

I am not talking about end times, I am talking about being His Kingdom in our neighborhoods and loving people...showing the love of Christ in deeds and speech. This doesn't have to be some spiritual blahbla, but genuine caring.

Kingdoms are usually established by force or rebellion. But God's Kingdom comes by birth...being born into his kingdom spiritually. With this birth comes responsibilities and benefits and those benefits are also responsibilities...and those responsibilities are also beneficial.

So in this time when many are fearful because of press which feeds on fear, know that Perfect Love Casts out Fear. For God has NOT given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.

Pray for His Kingdom to come in the lives of our Government Officials, School Officials and various groups which typically hate us because of our love for Christ. It is okay...God's peace transcends everything said and done. He reigns in our household as the only KING. He is our peace and has broken down every wall of fear. He is our provider not only in times of trouble, but also in good times. He is our protector whether we have an alarm system or not.

If God be for us...who can be against us. He is an awesome God and wonderful in all of His ways...what more can I say. Perhaps this...without Him, where would I be? But with Him, I can do ALL things He asks of me because his life is formed within. Blessing to all.

Remember who loves YOU!

2009-08-08T13:02:00.005-05:00

My head and heart are so full of hours of reading and studying until around 3am this morning. It was hard to go to sleep because my head would not stop. In the course of the struggle to sleep, came the command to sleep, so I did.

My head and heart are still full of questions, yet the answers are coming as I listen and call myself to obey the voice of the One who made all.

The Lord is my helper. He is my rock on which I stand and He is worthy to be praised and honored. His words are final.

When we are called to deny Christ and His commands, the decision is simple. It is Christ all the way. Those who call us to deny Christ do not love us. They do not want for our well being. They want to squelch the One who made all things and elevate themselves above God. They have made a god of themselves very much like the pharaohs of old who told their people to bow down before them as god.

Then there were those like Daniel and Shadrack and his friends who refused to deny their God and were thrown into fiery furnaces and cast into dens to be torn apart by lions. Yet they came through without a scratch and untouched by flame. They came through because they would not deny the God who loved them.

Who loves you? Whenever you face terror or anarchy or a government who tells you that you must bow down to their gods, ask yourself...who loves you? Would not any of you give your life for your children or your spouse when threatened? How much more is Our God willing to give all for you...even the life of His Son...but He did just that.

Remember who loves you!

We Declare and Decree

2009-08-04T23:09:00.004-05:00

When I am afraid
I will call unto you

When my enemies surround me
I will trust in you

For you laid the foundations of the earth
and breathed life into every living thing

You spoke and the earth trembled at your voice
Who can stand against you O God

Who can stand against you

When I am afraid
I can come to you

In the nighttime O Lord
I seek your face

In the daytime O Lord
I look for your hand of mercy on me

I seek your treasuries and all the goodness you possess
There is none who possesses what you have

You say to ask and it will be given in good measure
To you, O Lord I bring my case and my complaint

But when I stand in your presence
I see you have not forgotten me

I see you can do what you will with me but yet
You have afforded me mercy and help in time of need

You are never late
You are always on time

You give super above everything else kind of peace
Within my soul, you give peace that make me want to sing

Your peace puts a lilt in my step and carries me all through the day

Your peace says that when trouble comes, you will always be there
You will never leave nor forsake those who love you.

You will guard us with your right hand and extend a hand of help
to those who put their trust in you.

Nothing by any means will harm those who have solely put their trust in you.
I trust in you O Lord

You are my help
What can man do unto me when you are my defense

No court of man can justly judge apart from you
Within your court O God I come to find justice and mercy in time of trouble.

You routed the enemy without a finger lifted
You caused praise to be in the mouths of those who were outnumbered
Yet you won the battle for them

Honor the Lord with the first fruits of your labor
Honor the Lord with the first fruits of your week

Give him what is due him which is your all
Withhold nothing from Him for in His hands miracles happen.

Though everything around you falls and like Job you cry out in anguish
The Lord will bring you through it all if you put your trust in Him.

He made all and knows the way of man
He knows what is in the heart of man

Trust in the Lord and expect good to come.

When fear is spread like butter on toast and passed around for all to eat,
Trust in the Lord.

When nations fall and the heavy hand of terror grips those at your right hand,
It will not come near you. Just trust in the One who made heaven and earth.

If a sparrow falls...He catches it in his mighty hand,
How much more will he catch you and not let your foot stumble.

Trust in Him and do good. For His mercies are new every morning and great is his faithfulness to you and to me.

Decree healing for our world, nation, states, counties, cities, neighborhood and family. This is a day of decreeing with our mouths what God says to decree without hesitation and with boldness. This is a day to declare and decree that the Kingdom of God come in all areas...finance and medicine, social and spiritual, media and writings of all kind. This is the day the Kingdom of God comes against injustice and poverty. May your Kingdom Come Lord Jesus.

We decree that this nation is truly One Nation Under God...Your Kingdom Come on earth as it is in heaven and give us this day, our daily bread. Forgive us as we forgive those who have wronged us. Lead us down the right path and deliver us from evil because your kingdom reigns, You are the only power...and to you be all glory forever...so be it.

Who Is God?

2009-07-21T13:33:00.002-05:00

In the beginning, God created.

The other morning, I was asking our son what this verse said about God. Of course he went into His grace and so forth which is wonderfully important, but that was not what I was looking for. I told him God created, therefore he is creative.

Totally creative. Making sea varmints out of water and land varmints out of dirt...creating "shine" before making the sun. Very very creative.

The first verse lets me know that our God is NOT boring! Color, shape and form...he is an expert in these artistic elements! So, why is it that we think worshiping Him is like worshipping an old dried up guy with a long beard? Take a look at yourself and see how differently he made you from everyone else! He is amazing.

Let's go to Him with the idea that He is creative. He is creative in supplying our needs! Don't look for the same boring answers to a problem...let Him be creative in your life. Ahh Lord God...you who made the heavens and the earth by Your great power...nothing is too difficult for you!

Howdy

2009-07-20T14:31:00.001-05:00

Please note that I am writing some at www.cotrwomensministry.blogspot.com . Stop by whenever you get a chance. Blessings.

Benjamin Rush

2009-07-16T09:02:00.002-05:00

SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

SURGEON GENERAL OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY

RATIFIER OF THE U. S. CONSTITUTION

“FATHER OF AMERICAN MEDICINE”

TREASURER OF THE U. S. MINT

“FATHER OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION”

http://www.wallbuilders.com

Hope

2009-07-08T12:07:00.002-05:00

Hope is anticipating...usually something good to happen. Faith is the conviction of the truth of anything. Hope anticipates like a child waiting on the arrival of a favorite person. Faith is sure.

I suppose you could say that hope is important, because faith is built from hope. Next time you get in a hopeless situation, remember that nothing is impossible with God. Let hope arise so that faith can come.

It is Simple

2009-07-01T08:30:00.002-05:00

The simplicity of what God wants to do in our lives and the way we try to complicate it all is amazing.

The God whose creation is awesome and still has scientists digging for more because of its complexity wants us to simply trust Him.

We dig for the complexity in God and He wants relationship with us so that He can just simply share Himself with us and all that He has created.

We are such funny creatures...created in His image yet love to complicate things. Simply put, He loves us as any good father would and loves to give to us. He loves time with us. He loves giving us life.

Rejoice in His simplicity of love, faithfulness and grace toward us.

Yawn!

2009-06-11T07:42:00.003-05:00

So, this is what a sunrise looks like! You guessed it, I am not known for my early mornings. Of course during school, I do get up around 6:30 but this morning, that extra hour was lost because we had to get up to get hubby to the airport.

Here I am, very groggy having already read the morning online news from my favorite sources, consumed a apple muffin and a banana, and am about to get out to do some walking/running/walking. If I don't, then I will just crawl back into bed and snooze until noon.

Many people to pray for and many healings to be seen. Between my panting for air as I walk/run/walk, I will pray and thank my God for his great love. Because I am about to fall asleep, I will leave and have the fresh, cool morning air wake me up.

May the wind of God's Holy Spirit blow on you today and may you know his refreshing.

70% Water

2009-06-10T12:59:00.003-05:00

We have already been under three thunderstorm warnings and it just a little after lunch. It was strange when the sky turned dark and the first storm began its outpouring of rain. Lightening and thunder have cascaded across the sky all morning and here we are heading into the afternoon looking like it will continue.

I was thinking about rain and rivers yesterday as I was studying about the river of life. It is interesting to me how wonderful water is...in its various forms...and how necessary it is to life.

Somewhere at sometime I remember reading or hearing that our bodies are made up of about 70% water. There are all kinds of health benefits from drinking plenty of water as well as consequences for not drinking enough water.

We need water spiritually as well. Our well comes from within and springs up to life. I wonder if we get enough spiritual water each day to keep our spiritual man healthy! Just a thought.

Building Kings

2009-06-08T12:18:00.002-05:00

Most of us are not born into a royal family. But, in Christ, we are kings. We are to rule and reign.

Most of us have dreamed of being born into a royal family with the luxury and privilege and power associated with position. But, in Christ, we already are kings who are to rule and reign.

However, in God's Kingdom, becoming a servant is the first step to ruling and reigning. This is not a Cinderella approach of abuse and poverty even though that might actually be the circumstances one is in. No, this is learning first to serve HIM. If we learn to serve God, we will automatically serve others.

The next lesson in king building is to have a close relationship with Him...to see His face. When you look at your spouse you can tell, without words, what they are thinking and perhaps what they want you to do. That close relationship with the King Maker will keep kings remembering that HE is the KING OF KINGS. In that relationship, we hear and are eager to follow His directions. In other words, forming the ability to listen and obey. As the King of Kings, He tattoos upon our minds his very name. A sign of ownership...a giving of ourselves totally to Him.

Lesson number three is concerning revelation. In order to be a good king, revealed truth must be our constant companion. It is God who gives us light. We can artificially make like in the natural, but even that can fail, but God's revealed light...His truth will never fail.

With lessons learned and crowns in place we step into our positions to reign, knowing as He enters our kingdoms, our crowns are cast at His feet.

It is after all HIS kingdom.

2009-06-05T14:42:00.004-05:00

Revelation 22:1

"And he shewed me a pure river of water of life,

clear as crystal, proceeding out

of the throne of God and of the Lamb."

The Greek word translated "life" is Zoe.

It means the "state of one who is possessed of vitality, the absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God, and through him, life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last for ever." (excerpts taken from blueletterbible.org)

Life with God is essential. His is real and genuine life which is active and vigorous. I dare say there is not a one of us who would want anything less than this kind of life. It can only be obtained through the great I AM and his Christ.

This life giving river flows directly from the throne of God. It is not a result of well crafted peace treaties, nor is it obtained through might and power. It is a direct benefit coming from ONE source. Our God has parted rivers, raised the dead and caused the enemy to flee. He can do what no one else can do. He is greater than the armies of men or the hate of the enemy. He rules this world because he is King...He made everything.

Today and every day, He is Lord over this world and King over this country. We declare the Kingdom of God is Here in Our Land.

2009-06-03T13:46:00.000-05:00

"Lord, thank you that this country is one nation under you. You are the only God. You gave your Son for our sins. Did any other god give themselves for us or take away our sins but you? Thank you that we are One Nation Under YOU. Others say we are a godless nation...they are wrong. Some declare we are a great nation under another god...they are wrong. From the beginning of this country, our forefathers declared you were the foundation for our freedom. You are our freedom. In you, freedom dwells. Apart from you freedom is absent and slavery begins. Today, Lord, I decree you the God of all...the God of this country. I bow to you as my God. You have loved me, cared for me, directed me and shown me how to love others. You have shown me to do good to those who hate me and to bless those who curse me. You have shown me that you love all...even if they reject you and curse you. You are the only way to have peace and your peace is beyond words. I love you, God of this Nation. The heavens declare your glory and so do we. May your hand be moved across our great country to urge those who are yours to begin to declare the Kingdom of God be established in our land. Each person becoming what you ordained them to be. Raise up those in leadership areas so that our country can be at peace and your glory can be seen. Bless our leaders who rule and reign with your wisdom, not their own wisdom. Surround them with godly men and women with influence and give them favor to help guide those with position. We love you!"

A Season for Healing

2009-05-29T23:39:00.003-05:00

A time for every season. A season for every time.

Jesus said that it was for this reason that the man was healed. It was his season.

The man at the pool had missed his time, his season, until Jesus came along and then it became the time and season.

There is a river, a crystal clear river which flows from the throne of God. That river makes the Tree of Life continually fruitful. A perpetual healing from the leaves for all nations because of the water of life.

The man at the pool met the fountain of water in Jesus, the river of life, the water of life and healing came.

So, is healing for now? For later? For a season and time? Or is it a flowing fountain of life which gushes from the very throne of God. We in Him and He in us. Perpetual medicine for the nations.

Reach out...touch someone with God's healing.

Sticks and Stones...Words

2009-05-28T14:05:00.005-05:00

Words of wisdom

Words of light

Words of correction

Words of harshness

Words of love

Words of blessing

Words of peace

Words which divide

---

Words that fly like an arrow. Words that lay heavy on a heart. Words that lift one to soar on eagles wings. Words to make one weak in mind, spirit and soul. Words that cross over from Heaven to Earth. Words spoken to tear and not repair. Words spoken to tear and then heal.

---

Sticks and stones do break bones and words can destroy the whole man. Enough of the same words and the prophecy is fulfilled. Enough of a thought spoken and it becomes truth. Whether real or false, words do create. Sometimes they are needed to tear down something in our lives which much be revealed in order for healing to occur. Sometimes they are needed to life up to keep one from slipping further into a pit.

---

Words created all we see

Words created you and me

Words give us hope to live

Words direct us on the right path

Words are powerful, prophetic...

---

We are not all flesh and bones, if that was all we were then words would truly never hurt us. We are created in the very image of God and must have His nature in us for words...no matter how they are spoken...to bring life in us. No matter what is spoken to us or over us in wisdom or folly...in love or judgment...in haste or thought...God can create good. He truly does create crepe' from crap.

Purple Onion Inn

2009-05-21T10:19:00.002-05:00

When I was a child, our family would spend a week during the summers in a place call Eagles Nest in the mountains of New Mexico. My Dad's two sisters both had cabins in the Nest, but my memories are more of the summers spent in my Aunt Stella's cabin.

As I recall, the house and bunk house had at one time been a part of a mountain ranch. We kiddos would sleep in the bunkhouse part...a room lined up with literally rows of bunk beds...very stark. The adults would get the "real" bedrooms. The kitchen had two great big sinks of the variety you would see in commercial kitchens. It was of course our job to wash the evening dishes.

My cousins, siblings and I would line up at the sink and would have the washing chore done in a flash. When we washed the morning dishes, we would be extra fast because the mountains were calling us.

The high places were always the call as we would head out on foot to climb the mountains to a little place we loved to play lovingly called the "Purple Onion Inn". There was no inn there, only the babbling river and a salt lick for the deer. The trees surrounded that place leaving an area of soft grass where we could take our lunches or snacks. We played hide and seek in those mountains and rolled up our pants legs and waded in the stream.

It was so cold and refreshing. The same stream we waded in was the same stream we would drink from. There was never a need to go back to the cabin until we heard the honking of the pepto bismol pink jeep in the distance. Everything we wanted was there in that quiet place. We felt such joy and peace and happiness. We would laugh and talk and play...build little forts in the stream or just use the pebbles to line up the edges of our kingdom.

As I was reading Psalm 23 this morning, I was reminded of this time in my life where I could so well relate this "laying down in green pastures" and "restoring my soul" to that grassy protected place. The great pines stood as a reminder of the majesty of God and how he is always there for us. The quiet waters brought tranquility and peace and a knowledge that there was plenty, even overflowing water to refresh whenever we got thirsty. That is just like God to provide those quiet waters in our tangible lives and also in our spiritual lives through His wonderful Word.

That place, as a kid, was a place of restoration. When we heard the sound of the horn, we would run back to the cabin because the table had been set before us with a bounty of food for the hungry. Though the bears would roam around after dark looking for something to eat, our table was always full of good things even in the presence of danger.

I do not remember us fighting because the restorative "Purple Onion Inn" and it's surroundings was just the medicine to help us as we ran back to life and dishes and chores. But, at night, we would put marshmallows on coat hangers and roast them in the fireplace. We would play games until we were all too sleepy to keep our eyes open and then rest would come upon us until morning came and another day began.

In this time of chaos and fear and trouble, there is a place of refuge for us. That place is in our God who provides for all we need. Though our minds dead end with solutions as to how we can survive, God's ideas are endless. In that place of rest and peace, find the solutions from Him as He directs and corrects us on the path to take. He will provide in unusual and interesting ways for you during this time. Simply trust...simply rest...Psalm 23.

Moment of Praise

2009-05-20T15:50:00.000-05:00

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. He is always there because He said, "I will never leave you or forsake you". He is awesome in everything He does. His creation sings after a rain as the earth is replenished once again. The sky after a dust storm is bright and the blues and whites clean as though it had gone through a washing.

There is nothing I see on a daily basis which is void of God. Each blade of grass and each breath I breathe is a reminder of His presence. He has sent His angels to watch over His Word. Agree with God, I say...agree with God. His Word created the universe and set the stars and sun and moon in place. Everything has purpose and He has told us the purpose for each planet, each animal He has created.

His ways have not been cloistered and hidden from us. He is obvious so that we can grasp His infinite wisdom and creativity. He skillfully made mankind into two...male and female. He then joined them back together as husband and wife and taught them how to become one once again so that in everything, they operated with the power of two and with the mind of one...the heart of one...the love of one.

He is wonderful and awesome and full of majesty. He is also my ABBA...my Daddy who loves me and loves the world and those in the world. He spent time, energy and love creating good things for us to enjoy. Those "good things" are for us because He loves us and wants us to know His goodness.

How awesome He is...how wonderful his ways. He is full of mercy and tenderness like a parent is for a new babe. He is full of discipline and out of His discipline, His love is expressed. For no parent who loves their child would let them go without discipline. He corrects us and then sets us on the right path so that our feet do not stumble over the mistakes and errors and sins. The path is smooth. He frees us from the chains of the past and sets us on eagle's wings so that we can fly above all the distress of the day. He shows us how to love so that when we are being treated badly, He can step in...in our stead.

How lovely are his ways and how awesome are his deeds. There is none like our God, though others try to exalt themselves above him...they were not there when the world was created. But He is above all. He is God of this country despite the words of those who say differently. This is a nation under one God. He inspired the founders to use his thoughts and his words to create our government. He is the God who created male and female. He holds both in his love and neither is more loved. He is the God who made us of all colors...the rainbow of the earth so that we could be unique and show His creativity. He is the one who settled peoples in their lands so that they could flourish. He is the one who has gifted us with special talents so that his kingdom can be established. He is the ONE...the only ONE who is worthy of our praise, adoration, honor and obedience. He is God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Finding Rest

2009-05-12T09:20:00.003-05:00

Rest. In a world of rushing and anxiety and stress, God is saying, "rest". How can we rest when everything around us is in shambles! How can we rest when we are facing finals and we don't know what we are to do in life! How can we rest when sickness is zapping every ounce of life from our bodies! Tell me, how can we rest?

He makes us to mount up on wings as eagles. He makes us to run and not grow weary. He makes us to walk and not faint.

When I was a child, I flew in my dreams. No other dream gave me such a feeling of freedom than to fly above everything. Yet, on HIS wings, he takes us to the highest places of the wind where the currents can carry us and with wings outstretched, we can soar on the winds of the Spirit of God.

Jesus told Nicodemous that the Spirit goes where He pleases and unless he informs us which He often times does, we have to rest in the current of wind He blows in the direction he so chooses. He gives us true adventure where we do not know for sure what is ahead as the unseen wind of his direction moves us in ways we never thought possible.

It is not by might (strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army), nor by power (strength, power, might) , but by my spirit (wind, breath, mind, spirit).

Find rest today in HIM.

Prayer to Praise

2009-05-07T16:04:00.002-05:00

Well, another week has passed since I last blogged. So much has happened. So much has changed in our neighborhood and our nation.

To begin with, our neighbor's son was badly injured in a 4 wheeler accident which bent him in half. He is in good spirits...operations have been performed and he is currently in a body cast. Many of the neighbors have rallyed to help in whatever way possible.

His bathroom is being gutted today to get ready to transform it into a handicapped bathroom. Friends are watering the lawn and cleaning house and transporting clothing to this young high schooler's Mom where she is vigilantly standing by.

It is like a high school reunion at the hospital as his friends as well as their families come in and out of his room. The doctors have proclaimed that he will be paralyazed from around the waist down, but one friend of the family who is a doctor as well, said that he had seen an almost identical case where the patient fully recovered and walked.

Some say..."We don't want to get his hopes up!", but that is not what needs to happen. Without hope, faith has nothing to stand upon. I say...get hope up and see healing. What is impossible for man is possible for God. So, there are many of us believing for a full recovery.

You may think this is random, but I just got a new pair of running shoes. I don't run, but I am now. Today it was about two blocks...tomorrow three or more until I can run like the wind...so to speak. If you my blogging buddies are runners - marathon or block runners...run for Cole...the young man who was hurt. And when you run...declare healing and thank God for being a difference maker in his body.

Today, someone paid off their home. God is at work ordering things in the financial realm for them. What will happen tomorrow...I do not know, but this I do know...he will be healed.
---
As to our nation, today is the national day of prayer. Pray.

Pigs, Rest and Trust

2009-04-30T12:11:00.002-05:00

Wow, it has been a week since I posted! So much has happened in that time. Every news agency and every person is talking about pigs. The swine flu has a lot of the world on pins and needles. Masks are being worn by many and some schools here in Texas have closed their doors until further notice.

We had a talk with our youngest about this whole swine flu in hopes that THIS might actually get him to quit chewing on his fingernails. As a parent, you take any opportunity out there to try to get them to quit bad habits and this was my opportunity.

I know this seems trivial, because there have been deaths reported and as of this morning, 11 states have indicated they have cases in their states.

And here I am...like you, wondering how in the world can one mother wash enough, sterilize enough, instruct enough to keep her family safe. But as I am saddened by the hardship and loss this has caused, I am restful knowing that the same God who protected me from who knows what just weeks ago, is still there and on watch.

The children of Israel were protected in the land of Goshen when the plagues hit Egypt. I am also reminded of a book which I think is out of publication now called "None of These Diseases". The author's name escapes me right now, but this book talked about the reason for the dietary and cleanliness laws which the Israelites were commanded to follow were for their own safety and well being. It is an interesting book and if you can find it somewhere, it would be worth getting.

Stay clean, but for health sake, trust God. He is the difference maker. Stay in rest because in rest we hear Him speak and what He says is surely important.

We are all blessed...so are you...no plague shall come near our homes and families.

Jessica's Thoughts

2009-04-22T14:39:00.009-05:00

It was a long day. The type of day where every minute seemed like an eternity, where when you looked at the clock it just folded its hands and stared back at you in defiance because it refused to move any faster than it chose.

This would best describe what Jessica's day had been like...every single agonizing moment...long and tedious and on top of all that, her back hurt like crazy from sitting too long. The seats were hard and she could barely feel her bottom. "Where did they get these seats? From a torture chamber!"

Angry at having to take the final she pinched herself to inflict some pain on her already numb legs because she was just one point shy of what she needed to be excused from the test. Her Mother had nagged her to do some extra credit, but she was too busy with Nic talking on the phone and texting her fingers off. That didn't work out well either. All of that time and effort and now even Nic was out of her life.

Jessica hated that her Mother was right. She hated more the idea of not doing well on this test and possibly falling short of what it would take to be one of the top five students in her class.

Her mind was full of more than answers, it was full of questions as to what her future would be like now that things were so tight and her parents didn't have the money to help her with college. Somehow, she thought that she and Nic might get married and he would take care of her, but now, he was holding someone elses hand and kissing someone elses lips and it just stunk. She had her future planned, but now her life was just a puzzle thrown on the floor...in a hundred pieces.

At last, the test was done and a wave of relief rolled over her. She still felt a little nauseous and her hands were a bit clammy, but as she stepped into the sunlight filtering in by the big bay window next to the Library, she began to relax. "It's done. It is finished and there is no turning back now. At least I'll graduate," she thought.

Last test...last day. Last time to be in this place she had called her second home. Four years of her young life seemed so many, yet her future lay ahead and if she would just give it into God's hands, she would find her way one step at a time.

Jessica was a Christian and really believed in God, but she had NEVER been in such a scary place before. She felt so alone. Earlier that year she had walked away from her group of friends because of a promise she made to God that she would give Him her all. She wanted a new life instead of the life her old friends had of partying and drinking and getting high. They didn't seem to have a handle on life either, instead, they just anesthetized themselves every weekend. She missed hanging out with them, but she was slowly making new friends.

As she strolled down the hall to exit the building, she began to talk to God.

"God help me. I don't know what to do now!"

"I will...just trust me."

"I do trust you, but what do I need to do?"

"Trust."

"Things are so complicated, how can I just trust?"

"Things are simple child, just trust. Throw yourself in my arms and let me show you my perspective on your life. Let me show you my plans for you. But even as you know my plans, you must still trust me and stay in this place with me so that you will see what I see."

"Can I sit in your lap?"

"Yes."

"Don't leave me!"

"I'll never leave you child. I'll always be right here."

"Thank you!"

"You are so welcome."

So many of our young people are going through changes as they approach the time when high school seniors are preparing for graduation. Like Jessica, some have decided to follow God into a questionable future knowing He is a difference maker. Pray for our graduates that they will turn to our wonderful God for help and direction...for witty ideas and vision.

"Thank you for these who are about to graduate from high school. Father, you love them so very much and have a plan for them. Bring them to a place where they can see your hope and your future for them. Protect them as they go through the celebrations which are soon to begin so that no life can be lost. May this new class of graduates follow hard after you and may they make a godly difference in our world and nation."

A Scary Face

2009-04-20T12:42:00.004-05:00

Several days ago, I took our son to a birthday party. The birthday boy and our son are not in the same class at school but are in fact a couple of years apart. So all of the kids attending were younger and the little man was the oldest.

It was grand fun, but when the crew got back to the party room, he was seated next to a screamer. Not only were the adults reeling from ear vibrations that would take down a building, but my little man was obviously irritated!

I looked at the faces of the parents all around me and the face of our hostess. The stress and irritation lines present in all parents from time to time were deepening as the blonde bombshell of a kid pierced our ears. Finally, I got up and went over to the child and leaned down where no one could hear except him and said, "That is enough. No more screaming. Do you understand?"

He looked at my scary face and realized this women whom he did not know meant what she said. "Yes Maam." However, as is the case often with children, he changed his behavior and decided to start tearing up the plastic table cloth and throwing it at the kids around him. I took my scary Mama face back over to the table and held out my hand. He looked up at me and without a word said on either end, he put the pieces of torn plastic into my hand.

Did he become the model child at that point? No, but I felt like I had been all the buttinski I wanted to be.

On the way home, we asked the little man if he enjoyed the party and he said with a resounding tone...yes. However, he was mindful that the kid who yelled in his ear during the party was a bit like he was when he was "little". Now he knows what it is like to have your ears blown up by the screams of a child.

On another scary note. I think I had the same face on with a checker at a store today. Oops...she was only doing her job and I was too scary with my face. I was wrong. Scary faces need to be used sparingly.

Easter Break or is it Brake or Broken?!

2009-04-13T17:20:00.002-05:00

Today, the little man was home all day. This, my dears, was a preview of the summer! It was a battle of the wills to say the least. After he shed some tears and my "I don't understand you" level had totally play out, it was time to bring out the softer side of parenting and make a chocolate milkshake.

Some might say that that is bad parenting, but by this stage in my life, others opinions of my parenting doesn't hold much water especially from those who do not have children. Frustration needs a moment to calm down and cool down and it just sounded good to me and to him.

Eventually, everything got better as the truce flag went up and we began to work together on the projects which had to be done. I was back on the computer trying to write an article, and he was yelling from the front room for me to repeat what I had just repeated and show him once again that which was highlighted in yellow on his research sheet.

This was the part of the project where parents were "invited" to help their children find resource material. Well, there is just enough of the teacher in me to want to show him HOW to find it and then let him see if he can follow instructions. I could tell he wasn't keen on using his last day of Easter Vacation doing school work, but since this part was due tomorrow...well, you know the rest of the story. I will give him credit for daily working on his facts sheet over the last week, but the final three questions seemed like pulling teeth...my teeth!

I pulled out every snack which was healthy I could think of...apples with peanut butter, grapes, fried chicken from the night before reheated, and avocado dip with healthy chips. He opened up to me during that snack fest some of his hurts and after we finished with some of our goodies sat down and prayed together.

He is the "pray in my head" kind and I am the most verbal pray-er who likes to "lay it all out" kind. But, with the white flag unfurled and flying free, I did not impose my ideas on him but rather prayed for him that his talents would be given to God and he would not be intimidated by anyone. I did have to ask him periodically if he was finished praying because silent prayers are well...silent!

All is well and all is ready for school tomorrow. He...the little man...is a great young man. I am really thankful for the kids we have...our two daughters and our son. As God told me the other day..."If you want to take credit for the good things in your children's lives, then you have to take credit for the bad things in their lives as well." I'll pass. I know that every good gift comes from God and they are most certainly good gifts.

A Kiss From God

2009-04-07T18:44:00.004-05:00

It was before the little man was born...years before when the girls were small. We had taken them both out of the private Christian school they had attended and decided to home school. The decision made was not because we WANTED to take them out, but because we did not have the money to keep them in private school at that time.

On top of the financial pressure, we were experiencing many changes within the extended family which were equally as difficult. I was not handling the change very well and so desperately needed a Kiss from God in my life and a new perspective!

Now, a Kiss from God is sometimes the smallest of gifts which unexpentantly come into our lives. Oh, I suppose it could be something major, but whenever someone is overwhelmed with life, it doesn't take much to refocus when God whispers in their ear "I Love You Child". The Kiss is the gift.

As a homeschooling Mom, I desperately needed a computer. It was a unspoken request but a deep desire which only God knew. The Kiss came from my Dad along with a computer. The whisper came into the ear of my earthly Father from my heavenly Father. That is just like Heavenly Dad.

Nonsensible Sense

2009-04-03T10:07:00.002-05:00

This is random.

But just a few moments ago I went to the dryer to check on a load of dark clothes. When I opened the dryer door, my glasses totally steamed up...obviously the clothes were not dry! Then, I noticed little rolled up pieces of paper all over the clothes. So, with fogged up glasses, I tried to pick out the paper before restarting the dryer.

So much for glasses to help me see.

On the next check, I wonder what else was drying apart from the clothes? Hopefully there wasn't any gum in anyone's pocket....eeeuuuuwww!

Live Life

2009-03-29T22:29:00.002-05:00

Trust when you don't feel trustworthy.
Love when you don't feel loved.
Hope when you have everything to loose.
Obey when you can't see how it will matter.
Listen when you want to scream.
Touch when you have no feeling.
Rejoice when you've lost it all.
Praise when others fail you 'cause God won't.

Why?

Dead were raised to life.
Sickness was transformed into Wholeness.
Blind eyes were opened.
Seas were parted.
Enemies were defeated.
Lands were restored.
Debt was cancelled.
Food was multiplied.
Sin was forgiven.
Forever life was given.
Overcoming power was instilled.
Thinking was transformed.
Multiplication was expressed.
Peace was poured out.

Life...live it.

Father of Modern Education---Should Mold Christian Character

2009-03-28T11:55:00.002-05:00

Czech theologian Jan Comenius was born this day in 1592in Nivnice, Chzechslovakia. He was an educator of the Bohemian (or Moravian) Brethren. As today, that region was marked by war, and Comenius believed the only way to bring peace was through education. He designed a plan for educating every province and country, which he presented in The Great Didactic (1632). According to Comenius, education should be more than just learning facts and languages, it should mold Christian character and should be marked by observing the physical world. He is called "the father of modern education".

Joyful Words

2009-03-25T09:27:00.003-05:00

This morning I woke up thinking that a merry heart does good like a medicine. Was God saying something to me...I take it that way. There is something quite invigorating about having a joyful heart. In fact, the word "heart" really describes the inner man; the mind, the will, the heart, the understanding. Joy seems to open the mind to clearly hear and understand. So, here are some verses I was reading this morning which are joyful, merry hearted verses from Romans 1:16-17.

It says this...

"It's news I'm most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God's powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else! God's way of putting people right shows up in the acts of faith, confirming what Scripture has said all along: "The person in right standing before God by trusting him really lives."

Live the life of being saved. But saved from what? Saved from the penalty, power, presence and the pleasure of sin. In other words, having the ability to freely make right decisions to trust God and to walk away from doing what is wrong. God's rescue plan! Joyful words for sure!

2009-03-23T22:55:00.002-05:00

"For the time is now, says the Lord. The time is now to come to me. For I am your burden bearer. You cannot handle this life on your own. I gave myself for you and paid the price so that you could have the freedom to choose me.

For I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly. I want life to pulsate through every part of your being. I want you free from debt and transgression.

Those things which have you in a cycle of bondage needs to be broken. I have come that you might have life and that life I have for you is NOW.

You have wondered what you must do to merit this wonderful life I have come to give you? You have wondered if you have been "chosen" or "not chosen". I will tell you. To all who freely want to come and drink of the water of life I bring to you...it is yours. I did not ask if you merited it, did I? I did not say it is for a select elect...a select few. For I HAVE chosen you to be mine. From the foundation of the earth I chose you, now it is your turn to decide if you want me and the life I offer.

It is free and I want you to have it...take it...it is yours."

By My Spirit

2009-03-22T08:59:00.001-05:00

This morning as I woke up, this kept running through my mind...it is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord. This is out of the book of Zechariah, chapter 4. This was concerning a man named Zerubbabel whose name means "sown in Babylon". He was the grandson of King Jehoiachin (a descendant of David) who lead the first colony of the Jews to their own land after being held captive in Babylon.

This Word which was given to Zechariah has been a constant companion to me for many weeks. Zerubbabel was not going to achieve what he was called to do by Might...strength, might, efficiency, ability, wealth, army, force, nor by Power...strength, power, might, but by the Spirit...wind, breath, mind, spirit of the Lord.

This was the word given about rebuilding the house of the Lord. This was a time when the captor gave the captee whatever they needed to complete the task. Think about this, a man born in captivity is given favor along with others to get God's purposes accomplished.

As I mull over all of the ways in which our liberties are being compromised, and our freedoms are at risk of evaporating like a mist, I am reminded that God's plans will not be accomplished man's way, but God's way. His Spirit in us, leading us and turning us whatever direction He so chooses will make the changes this country so desperately needs.

All the power and might of government. All the armies in the world cannot stop God and His plans. Our job, is to get into the flow of what He is doing. It takes the pressure off just doing what He says...

Spring Break

2009-03-17T20:40:00.003-05:00

This week is Spring Break. What Spring Break actually bring us is a teaser of what the summer is going to be like. A bored kid and way too much TV. The battle has already been fought over the TV with new rules like...NO TV TILL AFTER LUNCH.

I must preserve my morning of exercise and reading, studying and writing. That means, that the little man also has to fill his morning with other things like legos (which he dearly loves), and reading, which he sometimes loves and sometimes hates.

With the weather turning lovely now and not too hot, this is such a good time for a kid to get outside and catch some exercise and a few rays...however, we have raised an indoor kid.

I think this is partially the case because of the lack of children his age to play with on the block, and his interest in building and creating space ships, planes and other interesting devices which are indoor activities.

This summer, I think he will be old enough to help me out in the yard, and believe me, our yard needs a lot of help. I can barely push the lawnmower, so I know it is beyond his abilities, but sweeping the grass and cleaning out beds might be just the trick. Somehow, I think that he just might be pretty mad at me for dragging him out to do chores, but, oh well...ya gotta start sometime.

He is a great kid and we are very blessed to have him. This year, I hope will be a lot of great firsts for him since he is resistant to change. Last year, he went to lego camp and had a blast...perhaps this year he needs to go to an outdoor camp...probably more Vacation Bible Schools, of course some yard work, and outdoor time with friends.

But for the time being, we must get through Spring Break. He did have way too much TV yesterday since I was throwing up and (the other stuff) most of the day. It was all I could do to make a waffle for him (the batter was already mixed) and take a shower.

Today, thankfully, I am batting 100 again and can keep the TV to a Spring Break minimum. Wow, there are so many lame programs out there...not even funny...just stupid.

For those who are re-cooping this week, have fun. For those of you with kiddos at home, just wait. School is just a week away and then you can get back to your routine and hopefully recover from the "break".

Random Thoughts

2009-03-13T11:21:00.002-05:00

I am often amused...actually on a daily basis as I get into my email and am inundated by stupid commercials on the side bar.

One of the funniest is a picture of some girl's lips which have been photo shopped to look like the plastic lips I used to get as a kid. So pouty lips are important? You've got to be kidding.

Okay, I will have to admit that I did try some of that orange smelling stuff that was supposed to puff away the wrinkles around the lips. It burned like the dickens and did exactly what it said. Unfortunately, that area looked red, kind of like I had just drunk a big gulping glass of red koolaide.

Haven't tried it since.

Apart from the huge lips are the awkwardly dancing men and women who are trying to get your attention for some bank or real estate company or maybe it was about credit score. Actually now that I am talking about it, I really don't remember exactly what they are trying to get you to do. It is annoying.

This is random, but my thoughts today on post.

Encouragement?!

2009-03-08T16:30:00.002-05:00

Hebrews 12:5-6 says...
"And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you," because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." (NIV)

"Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, but don't be crushed by it either.
It's the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best. At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God." (Message)

Contrary to popular belief, a word of encouragement is not always warm and fuzzy.

Sometimes I Hate Being an Encourager

2009-03-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

Long ago, when someone told me that I was an encourager, I thought it was all about giving someone a good word. There would be a few tears and a hug or two, and we would part both feeling a little lighter. The feeling inside would be grand because "I" had done this great deed for God. Hah!

But here lately, things have changed and I've found that encouraging is not always telling a good word that makes everyone feel warm and fuzzy and quite frankly it stinks. I've liked being the one who tells someone the wonderful plans God has for them, but lately, I've been the one who has had to tell several someone's that yes, even though God has wonderful plans for them, they must do some changing or discipline is right around the corner.

Now, I'm the one who offends with my words and makes people mad.

The strange thing is that part of what I see for others is the good, but when the "change" or the "discipline" word is thrown in there, all they see is the "bad".

We all, including myself, have been so coddled in our Christianity and have not wanted to hear the hard things which must be spoken at times. I do not like doing this and it is so much against my nature that it hurts like the dickens.

Personally, I've received a lot of good words in my life but they have not always moved me until something tough is spoken. That speaks of the stubborn will I possess which is not always a good quality.

As I've been going through the book of Ezekiel and the book of Hosea, I see those tough words intermixed with the soothing words and both have spoken to me. I don't always like what I hear, but without the disciplining words, I would be melting in the slosh of good wishes.

I suppose the other part to this is that I do not want to miss God in the words spoken or written. To hurt someone with the wrong words just kicks me in the gut.

All in all, it is not about me being right, it is about God getting his word out to someone so that they can become all that they are meant to become. This has not been fun and since I am one step away from whining, I'll stop.

A Tilled Heart

2009-03-07T13:45:00.000-06:00

A fresh clean heart is what I want

A clean heart

A just heart

Justice, not judgment

A soft heart, not a heart of stone

Sow justice, reap kindness

Break up the un-tilled ground

It might take a chisel

It might create sweat

The ground is hard

Scorched

Lifeless.

The sun has become it's enemy

because there is no rain

and the seed withers and dies.

Still, I must break up the fallow land

Because this is the place to plant

This is where my heart is

Such as it is.

Break up the fallow ground

With whatever tool can be used

It may be hard and unyielding

But the land must be prepared

It must be prepared for the rain to come

Without preparation the rain will only be a flood

But with preparation, the earth will receive.

Prepare the hard ground says the Lord.

For the ground is your heart, and the tools

You will use are my tools.

It is not by might, nor by power,

but by my Spirit says the Lord of Hosts.

Supernatural tools to make the heart soft

and ready to receive seed.

It only takes a moment.

A moment here and a moment there

But it only takes a moment.

It is time to seek the Lord

He will come

He has promised to come

To rain on the tilled heart

A heart of flesh.

Gone is the heart of stone

The heart with law chiseled into it

Rigid and hard.

The rain has come and the heart is prepared

The heart of flesh and blood

The heart anew and from God

A heart ready for rain

For the fields are white with harvest

A ready heart has been prepared

For it is time to receive the rain

and prepare for harvest

Till the land though it is hard

Until the rain comes.

For it is not by might,

Nor by power,

But by my Spirit says the Lord.

Hosea 10:12 "Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD Until He comes to rain righteousness on you."

Do What You See Me Do?!!

2009-03-04T10:22:00.002-06:00

There is/was a particular television series which brings out the anger in me. Masked in humor, the message of having sex with anyone is blatantly obvious. There are no morals and absolutely no limits. As far as I am concerned, there is no redeeming value to this entire series.

...

With that as a backdrop, I found myself this morning popping off to a wonderful person about them watching this series. We left each other with a distance between us...that distance was my anger.

...

To work it all off, I did my Tae Bo and kicked and punched the air until I started crying. I continued to do my exercises, crying to God and asking His forgiveness for all the junk we as Christians allow to enter through our eyes or ears.

As you probably can guess, God began to convict about the movies I owned and watched. The rest of the workout was body only because my spirit was moved to immediately check the videotape/DVD drawers and cull out whatever the Spirit moved me to dump.

...

He then brought me to this verse in Philippians concerning what we are to put our minds on...

...

Philippians 4:6-9

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren,

whatever is true,

whatever is honorable,

whatever is right,

whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely,

whatever is of good repute,

if there is any excellence and

if anything worthy of praise,

dwell on these things.

The things you have learned

and received

and heard

and seen in me,

practice these things,

and the God of peace will be with you."

...

We are like a book. We teach others by what they see in us. Paul boldly said to the Christians at Philipi to PRACTICE what they learned, received, heard and saw in him. He was their example. This is probably one of the most intimidating statements I have ever read because there is so much personal responsibility involved.

...

However, in Christ, I don't want to do wrong...I don't want to cause others to stumble...I don't want to walk in ungodly anger...I don't want to walk in judgment, instead I want to, by my actions and love, show others a picture of Christ in me.

I have a ways to go!

Celebration

2009-03-03T12:09:00.002-06:00

We, as a family, are in the midst of a 30 day birthday blowout. Brothers, children, great nephews and others are celebrating another year of living.

Celebration is such a wonderful part of living. As I write this, a friend from many years ago will be buried in a few hours and our daughter will be rejoicing in her birthday. Two very different kinds of birthdays are being celebrated today.

For our friend, those who loved him will be saddened with their loss, but will be celebrating his new life with Jesus. Our daughter will celebrate her life in Jesus here...on this land called Texas which she loves.

It is like this. We all are born, and we all live for a period of time. Within that period on earth, we can choose to live abundantly or our own way. We can choose to accept the sacrifice of Jesus and live life God's way which is an over the top kind of living, or we can choose to reject His free gift and take our chances on life now and later.

For our friend, he lived, chose life in Christ, and seamlessly moved from life to life the way God intended. For our birthday daughter, she too has chosen life and lives that chosen life in the flow of where God leads...sometimes with a fight and sometimes willingly, but she knows it is His abundance which gives her the life worth living.

So, today we celebrate life!

The Exercise Queen

2009-03-02T10:48:00.003-06:00

It was Tae-Bo again this morning. The kicking, boxing and stretching was rather invigorating!

No gym membership and high dollar water for me...just a tape (Yes I know I need to update to a DVD!) and my nifty exercise outfit. You would not be impressed at my appearance while I am sweating to the driving beat and the 5-4-3 counting of a little tiny ripped gal with all the garb of an exercise queen.

This morning, I added a new piece to my ensemble...my Isotoner dark navy blue gloves. Yes, I do think they not only add a bit of punch to the outfit, but give me the look of a real, honest to goodness boxer. Laugh if you will, but they at least keep my long fingernails from digging into the palm of my hand as I throw those punches.

The outfit is not complete without the thin grey sweatpants, the "3 on 1 b-ball tournament" shirt, my red fuzzy socks which add the padding to my tennies which are a bit shy on the arch support, and of course, my Isotoners. As you can well imagine, I try to close the door to the living area as I proceed to air box and air kick the make believe boxing bag.

Surprisingly enough, I do get good results even without the boxing bag, but there you have the no budget workout with results.

Abraham Lincoln's Ten Guidelines

2009-02-28T17:42:00.000-06:00

Abraham Lincoln's

Ten Guidelines

“You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.
You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.
You cannot further brotherhood of men by inciting class hatred.
You cannot establish security on borrowed money.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away man’s initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.”

Whatever Your Need is...

2009-02-26T16:28:00.000-06:00

For those who are weary, there is rest. For those who are lonely, there is companionship. For those who are hungry, there is sustenance. For those who are thirsty, there is drink. For those who desire God, He is here. For those who need a Miracle, He is here.

Whatever your need is, God loves you and He is here.

She Has Forgotten

2009-02-25T16:07:00.003-06:00

America has gone her own way. She has called for a king so that she can be like other countries. She wants to be fed, clothed and coddled, but she does not want to put forth any effort. She delights in what is wrong and abhors what is right. She has looked to her lovers to take care of her and has diligently gone after whatever is easy and pleasing in her eyes.

She has looked to government to sustain her and her hope she has sought from a man. She has said, "He will give us our food and secure our jobs so that we can continue to do what we want without consequence." She has robbed from the poor making them slaves to the "man". She has left her first love, the one who gave her liberty. Instead of thanking and praising Him, she has said leave us alone...stay out of our schools, stay out of our courts, stay out of every part of our lives.

But still, there are those who remember their Creator...the One who gave them their liberty. They remember that it was He who gave them rain in due season and caused their crops to grow and be productive. It was He who preserved them through hard times. It was He who caused the "earth (to) respond to the grain, the new wine and oil."

He, the One who created all things is calling. He is calling for us to come back to Him...our first love. In these times, He will call us into the wilderness if necessary so that He can speak tenderly to us. It will be in the wilderness that He will again bless us and make the Valley of Disobedience, a door of hope. In that day, He has said, that He will call us his bride and we will call Him our husband once again. No longer Master, but Husband.

In that day, the names of her "idols" will be forever gone from her lips. She will no longer invoke their name for her needs to be fulfilled. God will respond.

(Taken in part from Hosea 2)

2009-02-17T11:24:00.002-06:00

Aren't you just thrilled to read the predictions for the next few years. From hope to delayed hope to no hope...and what will be next...who knows!

A firm believer that what you say you probably will get, I remember an obituary several years ago in our local newspaper. Actually, my husband was the one who noticed it and read it to me.

It went something like this. "The funeral for Chuck and Amy Smith will be held at Clearwater Baptist Church, Saturday at 3:00 p.m. Chuck served for 30 years in the U.S. Navy and retired in 1997. His bride, Amy taught Sunday School at Clearwater Baptist Church until her demise. The couple would have been married 50 years this coming September. One friend remembers the Smith's commenting on several occasions they wanted "to go together". The Smith's were killed in an automobile accident this past Wednesday on South Park road at the F.M. 305 intersection by a drunk driver."

Sobering to say the least! So it is with what we say, for our words are creative either for good or for bad. I love the scripture in Proverbs 15:30b "a good report maketh the bones fat." Or how about Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things."

It is not just what we say, but also what we think. What is God's word on hope. For He gives us a hope and a future. What is His word on forgiveness...we are to forgive. Believe God's report before you buy into what the world says or what unproductively comes from other's lips. Believe His report!