Delighting in the Lord

Siesta Scripture Memory Team

2011-01-01T13:36:00.004-05:00

Hello Blog Friends! It has been quite a while since I have posted but I think it was a good time for a break. I hope to be more faithful to blogging this year.

To start off, I wanted to share the link to our ministry blog to share about Beth Moore's Siesta Scripture Memory Team, her way of encouraging women (and men!) all over the world to memorize scripture and hide God's word in our hearts.

Please be sure to read her instructions via that post as well as her post for the first scripture of the year. I will be sharing my verses in her comments as well as posting them here on my blog. Occasionally I may share a little snippet about what the verse means to me or to my family at this particular time in my life.

So here goes, scripture number one:

"This vision-message is a witness pointing to what's coming. It aches for the coming - it can hardly wait! And it doesn't lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It's on its way. It will come right on time." Habakkuk 2:3 (The Message)

Next Book Review: Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith We Defend

2010-06-30T11:53:00.003-04:00

I am so excited to be reading this new book from Ravi Zacharias! Come back soon for a review!!

Review of 66 Love Letters

2010-06-30T11:20:00.003-04:00

As I began reading this new book by Dr. Larry Crabb I was totally unprepared for its "realness." The quote that begins before the books contents gives a peek at exactly what the premise is for this entire synopsis of the 66 books of the Bible: "We ask, 'Where does God fit into the story of my life?' when the real question is, 'Where does my little life fall into the great story of God's mission?'" by Christopher J. H. Wright. So, there I began this journey through the entire Bible holding on all the way!

Dr. Crabb's intention is to take the reader through the entire Bible assembled just as it is as a journey to God's plan and purpose for His people. I found this to be extremely helpful in understanding the reasoning that God allowed the books of the Bible to be placed just as they are, in the order they are in, in His inspired work. From our introduction of God as the Creator with His eye on every detail of our lives before we are even present on this earth to the wondrous conclusion of His rewards and eternal provision for us in His final love letter of Revelation.

But, even all of this is not the best element of this book. The most exciting thing is the way it is presented as a conversation between the writer and God Himself! Dr. Crabb's discussion with His Creator and Savior leads the reader to understand that God wants to discuss His love letters with each one of us. It also compels us to know that God can and does handle anything that we can ask of Him or question of Him. In keeping great reverence for God while expressing his humanity, Dr. Crabb helps each reader to understand that God will listen to our coming to grips with who we are as imperfect humans with great patience and understanding and will answer us to help us become what He has planned for us all along.

My only disappointment with the book is that I didn't have time to study along with the book and read through each book and chapter of the Bible with it. I plan to use this for study myself and possibly tackle one book each week for the next 66 weeks (adding a few here and there for the longer books of the Bible). Dr. Crabb also gives information in his book for links on the internet to help with a study guide for just such a perusal of God's word along with His book.

I would highly suggest at least reading this book and definitely using it for study later on. It was a life-changing experience for me as I am sure it would be for any God-seeker!

Missing in Action

2010-05-03T12:08:00.002-04:00

Hello to all of my blog readers (the two of you that just happen by my blog through a search engine!!)! I have been extremely absent from blog posting lately. It has been a busy couple of months and doesn't seem to be letting up any time soon. So... will be taking a blogging break until I am off work some in the next month or so.

Explanation: A daughter graduating this year and heading off to college in the fall (many preparations for this that I just don't remember when I went off to school!), children participating in sports, end of the year school programs (yes they all began in April believe it or not!), preparations for women's events coming up this fall, church(enough said there!), work, and preparation for upcoming trips! Whew! I am tired already or is that just left over from prom weekend?!!

Anyway, see you soon back here with some great updates on a book I have finished and need to post about so that I can get a new one!! And in the mean time, let me share a quick "funny" from my youngest, Gracie: Last night, we had a concert of prayer at church for upcoming community events this month and this summer, and other things that have been on the heart of our pastor (my wonderful hubby!). We had finished up the prayer time and like always were standing around talking to friends, catching up on the past week, and laughing together. My Gracie always loves this time and enjoys giving "zingers" to many of the adults standing around.

She walked up to one of our praise band members and announced that she was stressed out. He proceeded to sympathize with her about that and she just blurted out, "I need to go home and lie down for a while!" Well, I wonder who she has been listening to?! (Finger pointing in my direction is prohibited!) :0)

I'm stressed and need to go lie down for a while! Hee Hee! Y'all have a great month!!

God and Man at Table are Sat Down

2010-02-25T16:53:00.004-05:00

I am going back over my Day Four of Week Five study on the tabernacle in "A Woman's Heart, God's Dwelling Place." Today's study reminded me of a song that I will share a little later.

But, one thing that I thought was so awesome that Beth discerned from the scripture was how the Table for the Bread of the Presence was another example of God's reconciliation to man.

We all sit at tables to fellowship and "commune" with one another..getting to know each other better and sharing in so many of life's experiences. I think of the ladies in our class each Sunday night, gathering around tables and discussing the lessons of the week. And not only discussing, but learning more and more about each other and learning more and more about their precious Savior together.

I am so thrilled that God thought enough of us when He designed the tabernacle to put a table there where we could once again experience the sweet fellowship with Him. I love how Beth explained that the table was a representation of God and man coming together in the wood table (wood representing man) overlaid with gold (representing deity or God). It makes me aware again of how we have to be "covered" by His deity to sit in fellowship with Him!

All of this made me remember a very favorite old hymn that I had never heard before doing the Beloved Disciple study and hearing it sung on the accompanying album that came with it. I am including the words in this post along with a link following them to an MP3 version of the song. I so hope that you have a music player that you can listen to it on...this is the best version of it I have heard.

Please reflect on the words as you listen to the music and just picture yourself sitting at the table with your Heavenly Father enjoying a sweet meal of fellowship...a fellowship that will never end! Praise God!

God and Man at Table are Sat Down
Words and Music: Rev. R.J. Stamps.

O, welcome all you noble saints of old,
As now before your very eyes unfold
the wonders all so long ago foretold.
God and man at table are sat down
God and man at table are sat down

Elders, martyrs, all are falling down
Prophets, patriarchs are gathering ‘round,
what angels longed to see now man has found.
God and man at table are sat down
God and man at table are sat down

Who is this who spreads the victory feast?
Who is this who makes our warring cease?
Jesus Risen Savior, Prince of Peace.
God and man at table are sat down
God and man at table are sat down

Beggars, lame and harlots also here;
Repentant publicans are drawing near;
wayward sons come home without a fear.
God and man at table are sat down
God and man at table are sat down

Worship in the presence of the Lord,
with joyful songs and hearts in one accord,
and let our Host at table be adored.
God and man at table are sat down
God and man at table are sat down

When at last this earth shall pass away,
when Jesus and His bride are one to stay,
the feast of love is just begun that day.
God and man at table are sat down
God and man at table are sat down

Enjoy the music at this link!

Fasting and Prayer in the US? No This is Haiti!!

2010-02-24T13:53:00.003-05:00

Haiti Pictures

2010-02-24T13:46:00.002-05:00

Please follow this link to our women's ministry blog to view the latest pictures from our Haiti team.

Haiti and the Tabernacle

2010-02-23T23:16:00.002-05:00

I know..I know..what could these two things possibly have in common? I have been learning so much this week about a place I have never been (Haiti) and about a subject of the Old Testament that has captured my heart..the tabernacle.

Studying this week about the different articles in the Holy Place of the tabernacle and the many lessons they have for all of us and all the happenings as a team from our church serves in Haiti have filled my thoughts and my heart.

Simply, God desires to be with his people...ALL of his people whether they be a group of church members from Gaston county or the beautiful people of Haiti. The Lord had a plan to bring His people back into fellowship with Him and it was for them to wander in the desert with a tabernacle built for His presence to reside with them...travel with them.. and give them a glimpse of His future plan in the person of Jesus His Son.

I've studied about the shelter of the tabernacle and how one of the coverings for it that was visible only from the inside was embroidered with cherubim. The verse that Beth Moore shared with it was "He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." Ps 91:4

I think what little shelter the people of Haiti have and how even now as they experience so many aftershocks that have become so common we don't even hear about them anymore, their shelter can become a trap to them.

I think about our team that has gone there to help rebuild just a little of what has been destroyed and that even while they are there, the small quakes they have had have driven them from these shelters out into the open to sleep even on the ground to feel safe.

I think about what our team has carried there with them..not just physical bodies to work and build and clear rubble and love on the people..but they have carried the shelter of God...their own souls filled with His Holy Spirit...the tabernacle of God...a place where He dwells...to bring a shelter to these people that will not disappoint them like these earthly structures they have for homes and schools. But, the beautiful shelter of the Most High God..His feathers and wings to cover these precious people that need a place of refuge right now. A place where they can run to not run away from because our God will not come crashing down around them but will lovingly enfold them in His wings of love, grace, tenderness, mercy, faithfulness, and, yes, JOY!!

I got to hear precious little voices in their beautiful dialect speaking my name, saying Hello, and asking how I am! And I think of how precious these voices are to their Heavenly Father, their shelter, raised in song to their King in the middle of the night during a scary earth-shaking event of an aftershock.

I think of the beautiful golden lampstand that we are learning about in our tabernacle study and how the oil of the Holy Spirit is the fuel for this light that is the only illumination for the Holy Place. And I am reminded of our team there and the missionaries serving there who have the pure oil of the Holy Spirit within them, their lives aflame with the fullness of hearts that know the faithfulness of a God who has called them to go and carry that flame to the people of Haiti. The beautiful light of Jesus Christ in a very dark place that is the ONLY illumination that will allow them to enter that Holy Place with their Father.

And lastly, I think of how it seems that so many have already forgotten these precious people...replaced on the news with stories of fallen sports heroes, the never-ending debate over healthcare, and an irresponsible company dealing with the consequences of its negligence. That is the way of the world..to draw on the drama of the moment and then toss the story aside..forgotten. But, this one thing I know..God has not forgotten and He is still calling all of us to help and serve and go. He will not forget the people of Haiti and we must continue to pray for them, to send and to serve and to go to them. Bringing His shelter of faithfulness, the light of His love, and the remembrance of His heart for the least of these that He longs to draw under the shelter of His wings.

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands...Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed." Isa 49:15-16a, 23b

A New Opportunity!

2010-02-09T07:53:00.004-05:00

I love to read. It is one of my favorite things to do...and then I love to tell other people about the books that I read.

So...here it goes! I have now joined Booksneeze to review selected books for them and them post my reviews here on my blog.

I am so excited about this! Please come by and visit soon and hear about this new book:

I look forward to sharing it with you!

Through the Fire

2010-02-06T17:26:00.002-05:00

I have been dealing with some very deep issues these past two weeks with my Heavenly Father. A couple of subjects, that are much too lengthy to discuss here (and would probably spark way too much negative discussion on the subjects), have been on my mind a lot this week. One subject that deals with my children and another subject that deals with just me.

They both have made me consider how much Christians judge each other and believe that each one of us sometimes thinks that our choices are the best choices for everyone. Now, when it comes to doctrine and the express intention of scripture, I believe only one choice can be made, but when God offers no set rule for each individual, I believe it is up to that particular person to decide with God’s help what is best for her or him.

As an example many churches choose different styles of worship, yet we all worship the same God and Lord, Jesus Christ. There is no right or wrong way to worship in any of these different styles of music as long as they glorify the Lord. Some I don’t care for and some styles others don’t care for, but I believe that we don’t have any right or place to judge the way another person worships the Lord.

The same can be said for many decisions that families or individuals make as far as the way they will raise their children or the opportunities that many of us choose to participate in, in service to the Lord. I know this all sounds so confusing but I just want all of us that bear the name of Christ to make sure FIRST before speaking or questioning another person’s preferences or even feeling that our preferences are superior to someone else’s.

I know I speak a lot of times before I think and boy do I get myself into some deep pits that way! But, these past couple of weeks especially, people have said things that just hurt…no other way to say it. And of course, I take things to heart so quickly, that I feel as if they are questioning my commitment to the Lord and my commitment to my family. Yes, I fall and fail at times in both of those areas of commitment, but almost never intentionally and never when I really think it through with the Lord’s help. And I am sure that both of the times that I am talking about, the people I spoke with had no intention of hurting me and probably didn’t think another thing about what they said, but what they said still hurt.

So I cover all of this ground to say, please don’t judge others…it is not our place. If you feel that someone is making a mistake, all you can do is share scriptural evidence for the reason you think what they are doing is a bad idea and then just pray with them and for them. God will deal with their hearts and hopefully, if the person is willing, they will make any changes needed (if any are needed at all!).

While all of this was going on, I was going back over lessons from A Woman’s Heart study that talked about the things we do while on this earth and how we build on Jesus as our foundation. Many things can be used on that foundation but only certain things will pass through His judgment of them, through the fire. We had to list things that we do in a normal week and let me just say, once I really thought about it, I was ashamed at how much time I waste doing things that don’t matter a bit in the eternal scheme of things. All of these will be tested, through fire, when the Lord tests the things that we did with our lives.

This all led me back to those things that our family has decided is best for us and that I have decided is best for me as a follower to participate in. I truly believe that I have sought the Lord’s heart on each and every opportunity and that He has spoken peace to me about those decisions. But when others question, I get very defensive and sometimes don’t answer in the right spirit and the Lord has shown me, this week, that decisions that I have made with His help are the right ones for me and the right ones for my family. It doesn’t matter one bit what others think or what they say.

The Lord will test all of this through the fire and those things that I know He helped with in deciding will be built on His foundation with His protection from the fire because it has passed through His hands into my life. So, I ask you this, are you judging others in the decisions that they are making? Are you allowing your preferences and not scripture to help form your opinion of what others are doing with their lives? Are you, yourself, seeking the Lord in those decisions that you make in your daily life? Are you building your life with things that will pass the fire test or will your work be shown for what it is, a waste of precious eternal time? Think about it!

“Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.” ~Philippians 4:6-9 (The Message)

Speak to My Heart

2010-01-25T16:43:00.004-05:00

"Therefore behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak to her heart." Hosea 2:14

As I read back over the first lesson of week 3 in "A Woman's Heart" I was drawn to the response of the Israelites to their God and His requests of offerings. Even as I read back over the prayer I wrote at the end of the day's study, I was wondering in my heart about how our response to God is a reflection of how He drew us to Himself.

I look at my own life and realize how simply I accepted the Lord as a child but then only when I had encountered a "desert" time in my life after seeking my own way, did the Lord truly draw me, "allure" me, "win" me back, "attract" me once again to Himself. I came to understand that I was a whiner like the Israelites. I complained constantly about my circumstances, what I didn't have and what I had "lost" (or thought I had lost) when I turned to the Lord.

But, because of God's great love for me and His compassion in the face of my complaint and my disobedience, He decided to "love" me back to Himself. I came to a stronghold of fear and in the midst of that fear, the Lord showed me tenderly that He wants me to be only His.

I was led to this verse in Hosea 2 because of the subject of this study and the way it spoke to my heart. I truly believe that the Lord took the Israelites into the desert, a lonely, barren, rocky place to quietly remind them of His great love and His faithfulness to fulfill His purpose for them. He was drawing them to Himself by gently feeding them, providing for them, protecting them and loving them while they were there. Yes, He spoke in harsh ways to them at times, but God's heart is in loving His people back to Himself.

I searched in many commentaries to try to gather my thoughts and probably have done a terrible job relaying exactly what my heart is, but this one commentary spoke volumes to me and to the New Testament translation of this scenario:
"The word rendered "allure" signifies to persuade, as in ( Genesis 9:27 ) and in conversion the Lord persuades men, not merely by moral persuasion, or the outward ministry of the word, but by powerful and efficacious grace; opening the heart to attend to things spoken, and the eyes of the understanding to behold wondrous things in the word of God; working upon the heart, and removing the hardness and impenitence of it; quickening the soul, drawing it with the cords of love, and sweetly operating upon the will: and on a sudden and unawares making the soul like the chariots of Amminadib, or a willing people; persuading it to true repentance for sin, to part with sins and sinful companions, and with its own righteousness, and to come to Christ, and to look to him, and lay hold on him as the Saviour, and to submit to his ordinances: moreover, the Lord persuades men at conversion of his love to them, and of their interest in Christ, and all the blessings of grace in him."
http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/hosea-2-14.html

I think just as I did once I had gone through the difficulty of the "desert" trial in my own life, I believe the Israelites, understood what the Lord had done for them by freeing them, providing for them, and protecting them. And there in the midst of the desert they fell in love all over again with their God. And after that work of grace and mercy, who couldn't help but give and give and give some more every day to the God who lovingly brought them back to the place of His covenant with them.

Have you forgotten what the Lord has done for you? Have you lost the fire of that first encounter with Him? Then give...give yourself, give your time, give your talents, give your gifts to Him daily and discover the joy that comes from acknowledging the God that loved you too much to leave you in the desert!

Simple Lessons

2010-01-23T22:38:00.002-05:00

This has been a difficult week this week. It is hard when it seems attacks are coming from all sides and you are surrounded by difficulty, evil, and extremely hard circumstances. That has been the kind of week that has come for us this week. Because of all of this, it has been very hard to discuss any homework this week from "A Woman's Heart..."

But, the Lord in all His goodness, knew what our family would face this week and how we would be tested. I must admit, I did not fare as well as my husband! I thank God for him each day because of his amazing wisdom that I know is a precious gift from God meant to help me out of some of the messes I get myself in! God only be praised for that!

Even as I discussed some of the lessons this week with some other ladies taking the class alongside me, we were amazed at the simplicity of God's teaching. But, amidst that simplicity, comes the task of obedience that can sometimes be the really hard part.

As we were experiencing these difficult times this week, the Lord showed Himself faithful in what I was learning from His word. A lesson on bitterness and His healing of it (day 2), turning my back on the old life and its desires that only lead to death (day 3), seeing God's provision falling fresh every day, clean, white and pure from His hand, revealing His glory in every situation (day 4), and clothing us with His righteousness, able to withstand any attack from the enemy (day 5).

Precious friends, if only you could have seen each and every lesson proved true this week in my family! It is not a surprise that He proves Himself true every time, but that He did so much this week because He loves us and wants us to feel His presence in, around, and through us this week.

Oh praise God in heaven, that He is making this lesson of the tabernacle so real in my life! He wants to be everything to us and He will do that, satisfying every need that we have in this life, if we will only be obedient and come to Him, seeking His holiness and His glory!

I don't presume that my Lord works miracles in my life just to give me a reason to praise Him...He does those as the icing on the cake! I praise Him just for Who He is and not just what He has done. This to me is the secret to having a fulfilling intimacy with my Savior! Yes, He has provided a new life for me through His death on the cross, but He continues to walk with me every day just because He loves me. He could have paid the price and just left me to wander this wilderness of life until I left this world or He comes to take me home with him...but He wants to see the wonder in my eyes and feel the awe and surprise to know that He cares to come alongside me as I face these experiences in life.

I just love Him so! Praise Him with me this week! He not only gives us water to drink, food to eat, clothes that will last, but also His Glory to rely on every day. Gather it with me this week and experience with me the awe of His provision for His children! Great is our God and greatly to be praised!

The Desert is No Place for a Home!

2010-01-18T21:25:00.003-05:00

Picking up again this week with my study of "A Woman's Heart.." I began week two learning of the Israelites in the desert, wandering around while the Lord provided His presence in the form of a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire.

The part of the study that spoke most to my heart was the quote by Beth Moore on p.32: "Their eyes opened every morning to the inside of a tent or to the expanse of the sky. Either view provided a stark, daily reminder that they were a people without a home." Being in the desert was a constant reminder to the children of Israel that they had not arrived yet at the place of the promise. But, at the same time, each day God was present with them in the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire. Both of these being constant reminders of His presence with them and His constant drawing of His people to Himself.

Yes, the desert was a constant reminder that they were not home yet, but it was also a reminder that the Lord had something planned for them that was better than what they were experiencing if only they would hold on: "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Ex. 14:14 (One of my new favorite verses by the way!)

Be still..so hard for us in this day and time. But, I believe when we are still, we are able to "know that He is God" but we are also able to realize that this place where we are living is not the home that He wants for us.

This desert of existence holds in store for us enemies, temptations, deep need, dry, hard places, everything that allows us as His children to know that we don't belong here. And, if we are smart, in our discernment of our surroundings, we realize that by just surviving in the world that is NOT OUR HOME, God is the one and only Lord, our provider, our shelter, our protector, and our deliverer.

What part of the desert are you experiencing right now..the enemy, lying in wait for an opportunity to draw your attention from Your God? Temptation, showing you a false interpretation of something good that God has to offer? Deep need, making you hunger and thirst for only what God can truly provide? Dry, hard places, that wear and tear on your soul if you don't reach out to rest in the Lord? These were all the things that the Israelites experienced in a concrete way that point us to the unseen ways of the enemy.

But, if we stop to be still, we will notice that God is there all along, protecting us (the pillar of cloud) and lighting our way home (the pillar of fire at night). So, be still, look around you and know that this is not your home but that the Lord is our God and He will lead us safely home through all the difficulties of the wilderness of this world! His name only be praised!

Dwelling in My Praise

2010-01-18T15:49:00.002-05:00

This post is a follow-up of my study on Day 5 of Week One's homework of "A Woman's Heart, God's Dwelling Place." I didn't post my original thoughts on Friday and now I know why.

I was so moved by the thoughts that Beth Moore left us with in the concluding paragraphs of Day 5's homework about not realizing what we lost in the garden...God walking in our midst, God talking to us, God spending time with us.

But even as my heart ached over this thought that the actual glory of God walked, talked and shared with Adam and Eve in the garden, I thought about God's glory being revealed in my life. Yes, I do believe that we will not truly understand the completeness of what that will be like until we are forever worshipping God in the new place that He is creating for us, but I do believe that we can experience here a "taste" of what that will be like.

After going over and over these thoughts in my mind last Friday and worrying over putting them down on my blog for everyone to see, the Lord spoke to my heart about this entire lesson in a simple phrase that I have heard over and over again especially being involved in worship ministry at my church.

Saturday night, I caught a glimpse on my Facebook page of a notice saying that Paul Baloche was leading worship at Saddleback Church in California Saturday night. You have to know that Paul Baloche is one of my favorite worship leaders, so I immediately went to the site so I could watch the worship time live on a feed from their church. They were singing a song that we regularly sing in church and I just closed my eyes and listened to the words and then the song was over and I could hear Paul Baloche sharing from his heart about really believing what the Bible says about God "inhabiting the praises of His people." He shared something about imagining God walking down the aisles of our churches and actually being there in our midst and he asked how we would worship if we could really see Him there. Then, of course, he returned to the Bible referring to God inhabiting our praises and the connection was made for me.

God was speaking to my heart about MY worship of Him and MY praise of Him. Sometimes, as in any church, worship can become something that we do, that we practice, that we work on, and that we mess up from time to time. But when I thought about MY worship and praise being a dwelling place for my God to come and "walk" with me and "talk" with me and "share" with me, it took on a whole new meaning. His glory comes to do just those things, when I choose to truly worship Him, to give Him praise for His work in my life and to tell Him through song and the way I live what He means to ME! And then, there in that place of praise, I do get to sit at His feet and bask in His holiness and dream of what it will be like when it is the real thing.

Oh God, yes I know that this place where I now dwell is not the place where I will sit at your feet literally and soak in Your Glory, but God, thank you for the glimpses of what that will be like, will feel like to make my heart long for You that much more. Thank You Lord for speaking to my heart through so many avenues to bring my heart to a place of change for the better, to a place where I can learn to long for that perfect place of worship...sitting at Your feet..the better thing that Mary chose so wonderfully in Your word. In my heart, I want to continually sit at Your feet and glory in Your presence! Amen

Help for Haiti

2010-01-14T16:18:00.003-05:00

I know I don't have a huge blog following but I did want anyone who may happen by here for some reason to know exactly what they could do to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake. Please follow the link I am providing to Shaun Groves' blog to see how you can help through Compassion International.

And as always, please keep praying. Our fervent prayers will be answered and they are the power of God to those that are hurting and need help. Thank you.

Abram to Abraham

2010-01-14T15:43:00.003-05:00

Ok, so this will be a short post today...I know I say that and then type so much!

I was reading back through my study for today and was thinking about covenant and God changing Abraham's name and then asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. And as I read Beth's words.."God called Abram by the new name He had given him (Gen.17:5), Abraham, and said, 'Take your son...your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there" (v.2 HCSB)...I thought to myself, even as God was making this request of Abraham He was reminding him of His promise.

What I mean is that God had changed Abram's name (meaning Exalted Father) to Abraham (meaning Father of Many) and He called Abraham by this name when He made the request of Abraham to offer his son Isaac. God was reminding Abraham of his promise to make him a father of many nations, to bless many people through Abraham, and to carry this promise through his son Isaac who was born to him in his old age and Sarah's.

I just thought about this and thought, God always gives us reminders of His promises when He calls us to do something that seems impossible or something that seems so hard. The most vivid example I have of this in my own life was when our oldest daughter was scheduled for surgery two years ago the week of Thanksgiving. That morning as we were all preparing to go to the hospital for this very difficult task, the Lord reminded us of His promises. As we looked up driving through our small town, we noticed that God had placed a rainbow in the sky that seemed to begin right where our home sat and stretched out above it. It was as if God was saying, "Believe me..trust me...know that I will do what I said and will take care of Mary Gwen."

One of the hardest things that we had to face as her surgery was drawing closer for us as parents was the fact that things could happen that would cause us to lose our daughter and she may never return home with us. It was the most difficult part of this time in our lives to say to the Lord, "She is your child even more so than ours. We know that whatever happens in her life, Lord You know what is best and You will do it. We trust You to take care of her no matter what happens today during this surgery." It was hard to let go of something so precious to face something so difficult but at that point we knew that we had to trust God for His promises and that He would do what He said He would do.

Exactly the place where Abraham was...God was asking for his son, the son he loved. But there was God reminding Abraham every time He called out his name that Abraham would be the father of many and it would happen through his son Isaac that God was asking him to offer as a sacrifice.

So what precious thing are you holding on to today that God is asking you to give to Him? Is it your child (no matter how old they may be!)? Is it your spouse? Is it your home? Is it your comfort? Is it your time? Whatever it may be, remember that every time God asks for you to give it over to Him, He reminds you that you can trust Him. After all, He understands...He gave His most precious thing to fulfill the promise He made to make a way to bring us all back to Himself so that every time we hear the name Jesus we can be reminded that God will fulfill His promises to us no matter the cost. Praise His Name!!

I Will

2010-01-13T15:12:00.003-05:00

"Remember your history, your long and rich history. I am God, the only God you've had or ever will have - incomparable, irreplaceable - From the very beginning telling you what the ending will be, All along letting you in on what is going to happen, Assuring you, 'I'm in this for the long haul, I'll do exactly what I set out to do,' Calling that eagle, Cyrus, out of the east, from a far country the man I chose to help me. I've said it, and I'll most certainly do it. I've planned it, so it's as good as done. "Now listen to me: You're a hardheaded bunch and hard to help. I'm ready to help you right now. Deliverance is not a long-range plan. Salvation isn't on hold. I'm putting salvation to work in Zion now, and glory in Israel."

~Isaiah 46:9-13 (The Message)

Ok, so this is a short post today. Going through our third day of study in A Woman's Heart, Beth Moore discusses God's purpose to make us a people of His Name. She talks about the people of Babel and how they built a tower to reach to the heavens to make a name for themselves. This was all after God had commanded them to be fruitful and mulitply and fill the earth and they wanted to build the tower so that they wouldn't have to scatter over the earth.

This is all about a plan...God's plan for us. The scripture that Beth shares for Today's Treasure that I have repeated above from the Message and added a couple of verses to says it all to me. God has a plan, He tells us what that plan is, and then He promises to fulfill it. It is fact. And no one can discount the facts that the Bible has already foretold would happen.

The Scripture also tells us that God picked a king who did not follow Him to come and accomplish His purpose. Don't think that God cannot and will not use someone who is not a follower of His to accomplish His purpose. Everything is in His hands and just like the scripture says above, He WILL accomplish His plans..as good as done!

So why do we continue to disobey and try to help God out by trying to do things in what we think is a better way than the way He asks us? (Keep reading the scripture above and you will find the reason...) We are HARDHEADED!!

And for heaven's sake...we are hard to help when we are like this! I sometimes wonder why God keeps putting up with us...with me!

But still (keep reading) there He is ready to help us..holding out salvation for us...making a way...delivering us and for goodness sake, delivering us from ourselves!

So the next time you start thinking of a better plan than the one that the Lord has laid out for you...think again..you just might make a "real" name for yourself in the only place that matters...HEAVEN! As one who walked with God and obeyed His voice and received His richest reward!

This one stepped on my toes...God bless and have a great study the rest of the week!

Trust Myself? Are You Kidding?

2010-01-12T07:50:00.002-05:00

As I continue in my study this week of A Woman's Heart, I realized that I don't trust myself. During the reading for today's study, Beth Moore shares the scripture from Jeremiah that the heart is deceitful above all else. My heart, your heart, everyone's heart is deceitful. The only heart that we can trust is God's heart.

His heart looks out for our best interest, it seeks our holiness and not just our happiness, it truly loves us, it doesn't just seek for pleasure, it isn't turned at the drop of a hat.

I must confess that growing up my heart was easily turned. Until I met the boy that I would marry, my heart could be turned by a cute face, a little attention, a sense of being in control and popular. My heart was deceiving me.

But, then I met the one that I would one day marry and it wasn't then about looks (although he still makes my heart skip a beat!)...he put up with a lot of my mess! He saw something beneath all the immature things that I did...he saw what I could be. That is what eventually won my heart and helped me grow up a lot!

That is the way God looks at us and that is why we trust His heart and not our own when we make decisions and just walk daily through life.

One of the ladies in our class made a comment that she really wanted to finish this study and I shared that I did my study as my quiet time on the days when we had homework. That way, I get to spend that important time with God and I keep my heart in check for that day. Without that, I would be a mess and make so many decisions based on this deceitful heart of mine.

Trust God today..spend time with Him and set your heart straight for the day. Remember that He is pursuing you because He loves you and knows that you need Him to be the best that you can. He sees what we can become and He wants to be the One that we turn to to get us to that perfect place of peace in Him. Trust His heart and He will be faithful!

"Where are you?"

2010-01-11T08:15:00.003-05:00

As my class at church begins a new study this week, "A Woman's Heart God's Dwelling Place," I am going back over the first week of study to post about them here. Beth Moore talks in her introductory video about God asking "Where are you?" of Adam. He was so ready and willing to come and walk with Adam and Eve. One thing I think that we all overlook when we study this passage is that God already knew where they were and what they had done.

As a child, (I am not bragging now!) I rarely got into trouble. I was a "good" kid and tried so hard to please my mom and dad. But, on occasion, I would get with friends and feel a little prideful and want to "show off" and make out like I could do what I want. Then of course, I would do something stupid and silly that I normally wouldn't do. And, I always got caught.

I remember one time in particular that I hid in my room, UNDER MY BED, from my dad! Like he didn't know where I was or what I had done (and of course I don't have any idea what it was at this point!). But there I was anyway, hiding and missing out on spending time with my friends, with my family and especially disappointing my dad.

Yes, I was afraid of consequences but more than that I was sorry that I had hurt my dad. I think some of what Adam and Eve felt that day when God came looking for them was a sense of shame over disappointing God (and yes, getting caught for disobeying too!).

But, what I love about my God is that he still comes looking for us, wanting us, even after we have messed up (so many times!) and not only that He helps us get out of our mess. Adam confesses what he has done and Eve confesses what she has done (both of them trying to put the blame on someone else, I might add!) and what does God do? He provides a covering for their shame! They hid because they were n*aked in the Garden but God provides clothing for them to wear.

So many times, I mess up and yes I am ashamed for what I have done and every time, my precious Father, provides a covering for my shame...He sent Jesus His Son to take that shame on Himself so that I could be pure in His eyes and free from shame if I would only come out and tell Him what I had done!

Rejoice in Him this week.. that God wants to spend time with you, He comes looking for you knowing what you have already done, and He makes a way to cover your shame with His righteousness! Thank you Jesus for making the way for me to come back to God and thank you God for still wanting to have a relationship with me! You inspire AWE in my soul that sets me up for a life of true faith in YOU!! I love you!

Happy Birthday Little Man!

2010-01-04T21:45:00.003-05:00

Today is my third child's birthday...he is turning 9. What a precious gift he is!

He is our quiet child. He can sit for hours "doing nothing" and will be so quiet that you will think..."Where is Alex?" He is the one you almost forget is there because he is so quiet.

He is a thinker, I like to think, a little bit like his mom. I believe this is what is taking place a lot of the time when he is quiet.

He is the most tender-hearted child I know. Again, he thinks about other people, and acts on those thoughts of others. I am so proud of this personality trait!

He is kind...extremely kind!

And he is funny especially when he is not trying to be funny. He comes up with some great one-liners when you least expect it.

And finally, he is just precious! He loves to sing (and raises his hands when he thinks no one is watching), he has the largest deep brown eyes that let you see deep into his little heart, and he tries harder than anyone I know when he plays sports (Jerry Lewis eat your heart out...this is an inside joke in our family..ask me about it if you care!)

Insight into Alex's little soul: When walking around church yesterday talking about birthday plans, etc. Alex informed me that the old MP3 player that his dad gave him would be just fine for his birthday present. This is an MP3 player that Ronnie had before the ipods became so popular and we just had to have one. This is an MP3 player that only holds about 40+ songs and will only play MP3 songs (no MPEG4s, etc.). Who knew he would love a music player so much? We have great plans for next Christmas now I think!!

I am blessed to be Alex's mom and am so thankful to see him grow in the Lord! I pray that his heart stays tender to others and to God's word in his life.

Happy Birthday, Big Al!! Your mommy loves you!

Pondering

2010-01-02T20:28:00.003-05:00

"Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself." Luke 2:19 The Message

I am a ponderer. I think a lot about things..I think a long time about things, sometimes giving them more time than they are worth. But most of the time, I think about important things over and over again. I think this form of meditation comes easily to me for some reason. I guess because most of the time I am afraid to speak about things because I have a tendency to say something stupid instead of something profound. But I like to think I have many profound thoughts.

Like this past Wednesday night, my husband was leading a time of sharing at our Wednesday night service. Again, I remained quiet. I just don't like to get up and say anything in front of people (for the reason stated earlier!). But deep inside I was pondering.

The request was to share how the Lord had shown Himself to those at the service this past year...how He had been real to them...how He had showed up...how His presence had gone with them throughout the year.

I sat with palms sweating, thinking I needed to say something but I never did. But this is what I was pondering...

Only a couple of weeks before, my oldest daughter went for her final visit to the orthopaedic doctor to be x-rayed one last time for her scoliosis. After her surgery which you can read about in an earlier post, she had to be checked after a year and a half had transpired to see how her surgery had affected her scoliosis. If it had not helped, then more surgery could be in the future. As I sat with her in the room, while she waited to be x-rayed, we joked about the lovely attire they provide for the x-ray room! We had been in this position before of waiting. After quite a long period of time and her x-rays were gone over by the doctor, he came in to give us the news. The curvature of her spine had gone down even more than it had before! She was released completely for any future visits! We were celebrating like crazy!

Then not only that, my husband got up at our candlelight service the Sunday before Christmas, to share the conversation he had with our youngest daughter on the way to church that night. She has been quite curious for some time about being saved and accepting Jesus in her heart. As a matter of fact one Sunday she informed me that she wanted to be baptized because she thought it would be fun to swim in church! But, after many discussions, she finally got it and prayed to receive Jesus! What more could you ask for than that!

I not only pondered these things but the many changes that are on our way...Mary Gwen finishing up high school and heading off to college within the year, Matthan heading to high school next year, as always, new things going on at church and the Lord taking us to newer places that we have never been to before, ever changing family issues, etc. and etc.!

I am so glad that God made it alright for us to think about things, treasure them deep inside. It is like He has given me the right to hold on to these memories as small precious jewels in my own treasure box to carry with me forever.

So I say to you, take those precious memories from 2009 and hold them deep inside to help you remember all the ways God has shown Himself to you and has been by your side all throughout the year. I can think of no better way to go forward and look forward to a new year with Him than to remember all those precious ways He has shown up for you in the past. God bless and I hope you all have a blessed new year!

Our Precious Mama Siesta!

2009-12-21T09:46:00.003-05:00

Please read this post from Beth Moore's blog and be inspired. Remember to please keep praying for our wonderful Bible teacher and her family.

Thanks Again Crosswalk

2009-12-16T21:33:00.003-05:00

This is yet another great Christmas poem from one of my Crosswalk newsletters. It is excellent especially for all those "Santa wannabes" out there!

The REAL Night Before Christmas
(By Parents)

'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house
I searched for the tools to hand to my spouse

Instructions were studied and we were inspired,
in hopes we could manage "Some Assembly Required."

The children were quiet (not asleep) in their beds,
while Dad and I faced the evening with dread:
a kitchen, two bikes, Barbie's townhouse to boot!
And now, thanks to Grandpa, a train with a toot!

We opened the boxes, my heart skipped a beat -
let no parts be missing or parts incomplete!

Too late for last-minute returns or replacement;
if we can't get it right, it goes straight to the basement!

When what to my worrying eyes should appear
but 50 sheets of directions, concise, but not clear,

With each part numbered and every slot named,
so if we failed, only we could be blamed.

More rapid than eagles the parts then fell out,
all over the carpet they were scattered about.

"Now bolt it! Now twist it! Attach it right there!
Slide on the seats, and staple the stair!

Hammer the shelves, and nail to the stand."
"Honey," said hubby, "you just glued my hand."

And then in a twinkling, I knew for a fact
that all the toy dealers had indeed made a pact

to keep parents busy all Christmas Eve night
with "assembly required" till morning's first light.

We spoke not a word, but kept bent at our work,
till our eyes, they went blurry; our fingers all hurt.

The coffee went cold and the night, it wore thin
before we attached the last rod and last pin.

Then laying the tools away in the chest,
we fell into bed for a well-deserved rest.

But I said to my husband just before I passed out,
"This will be the best Christmas, without any doubt.

Tomorrow we'll cheer, let the holiday ring,
and not run to the store for one single thing!

We did it! We did it! The toys are all set
for the perfect, most magical, Christmas, I bet!"

Then off to dreamland and sweet repose
I gratefully went, though I suppose
there's something to say for those self-deluded-
I'd forgotten that BATTERIES are never included!

World Missions

2009-11-06T14:26:00.001-05:00

I was doing some research for Ronnie for a sermon on evangelism in the world and I came across this video. We need to get to work!!

Life Changes

2009-10-30T11:18:00.003-04:00

It has been quite a while since I have written (for ALL the many readers I have!). Just to catch any of you up who were worried:

*I have been going back through Believing God again this time with the ladies of my church. We meet Sunday nights from 6:30 to 8:00 and have had an awesome time with this one! I had forgotten how hard this was and how much "remembering" I had to do the first time through. Originally when I went through this Mary Gwen was getting ready to have her brain surgery and I am so thankful that God knew that I needed that study right then. So far, we are over half-way through and are getting to the point of journaling our past experiences with the God that we have come to believe. I am holding on with the chart of my life...what an awesome gift to have for my children!

*I have finished reading Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. I could not put it down and read it in less than a week! I can't wait to discuss this with our Spirit Seekers book club. Awesome read! I have been wanting to read this book for some time and thought it was just too long for right now (Ha! Ha!) Such a REAL story!

*Ronnie gave us all a scare this past week. He finally goes to the doctor after he admitted he had been feeling bad for quite some time. He has found out that he is diabetic along with some other less complicated issues that were probably brought on by the diabetes. More tests left and more decisions to make soon. And I think that within just the last week, we have gotten enough facts, and suggestions to write a complete guide to diabetes! Our friends and church family are so wonderful...you know someone loves you when you have something like this and they want to share everything they know about it!

But seriously, Ronnie and I both believe that this was God's way of getting his attention and our attention as a family to get us to begin a more healthy lifestyle. I think if we continue to keep going like we are when we know in our hearts that we need to make a change, our loving Father will get our attention to "wake us up" and finally do what He wants us to do. Thank you Lord for the wake up call and the forgiveness that follows it!!

*Big changes for my oldest daughter...SAT's, college applications, pageant, and many other very difficult life changes for her. I remember how hard it was to see what was waiting for me in adulthood..life is hard! I see so much strength in her..much more than I ever had and I am so proud that she knows the One that she needs to seek her refuge in.

*Many changes going on in our women's ministry at church...more to come on that later and hopefully in our women's ministry blog. God is so good and He will receive all the glory!

*And finally continuing to pray for my brother-in-law and his wife who are trying to patiently wait for the Lord's timing in going to get their little baby girl Sierra from Rwanda. It weighs heavy on my heart. Praying that God would allow them to hear news soon so that they can go and get her and bring her home.

Okay so busy times are a constant in this family! I want to get back to the blog soon..I miss writing and am praying for God's direction in that area.

Bible Study Giveaway

2009-09-14T13:08:00.002-04:00

Hey Friends, go to this link to check this giveaway out! Sounds great!

Perfect Belief

2009-09-10T09:43:00.000-04:00

No words to say, just watch.

Long Time Coming

2009-09-01T07:55:00.003-04:00

Well, I have been thinking about this post to my blog for over a week now. I hope to goodness the Lord considers that meditating on His word because that is exactly what I have been doing.

Every time we go on vacation and have new friends with us on Fripp Island, we get a big kick out of the way our friends take to the deer that are all over the island. They are literally everywhere.

Many of them come running when you stop your golf cart because there have been so many perpetrators feeding the deer when there are signs posted everywhere that say not to do it! We would never be included in that group! Even though sometimes, after dark, a golf cart can be seen leaving our rental with leftover bread, muffins, waffles, etc. from the week in ziploc bags to dispose of them in a totally proper way! Like I said, we don't break the law...at least not so that we can get caught!

Enough of that, though...so after our week of vacation, we return home and have until Wednesday to return to any kind of service at our church. Now it is going on over a week since I have spent time together with other worshippers as we worship the Lord, it has been over a week since I have had opportunity to spend time alone with the Lord (so awful since the beach is one of my favorite places to spend time with Him and think on His beautfiul creation).

So needless to say, I came home dry as dust! I sat the Wednesday night at church for our service and just sat amazed at how the Lord was using His word to speak to me..to fill me up...to pour the water of His word over my dry, parched heart.

My hubby has been preaching through John and of all things, his teaching time was on the woman at the well...the Samaritan woman at the well. My absolute favorite scripture story...so much like me. Even before the preaching, I knew something was up because one of our songs was "As the deer" based on the scripture Psalm 42:1 ~ "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God."

A string of thoughts, the deer on the island, the week without spending time with the Lord, the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, and the song...the Lord was speaking to my soul, ministering to my poor little heart that had been so long without Him...He had not forgotten me..just like the woman at the well, He had seen everything I had done and He knew about my life. He knew that I had not spent time with Him, knew how "thirsty" I would be and used my vacation, my hubby, and our worship pastor to minister to my soul.

My heavenly Father, poured His life-giving water over my dry, thirsty soul and helped me to realize why I NEED to spend time with Him. I NEED HIM! Without Him, I forget why I am here, I take my eyes off the prize, I become someone that I don't want to be! He loved me enough to remind me gently, that He misses time with me too..that He cares enough about me to fill me when He knows I need to hear from Him.

Precious Lord, thank you for preparing a time just for me! Thank you Lord that You were thinking of me, when I was neglecting You. Thank you for being patient and waiting for me to "get it!" And Lord thank you for filling me up with the water of life and giving my heart and my soul a long drink from the well of your word. I praise You for loving me that much. Oh how I need You Lord...thank you for being there when I come back to You. Amen!

Toms Shoes: One for One

2009-08-26T13:28:00.003-04:00

While on vacation I had the pleasure of visiting a store that sold Tom's shoes. I had seen the AT&T commercial and wondered if the company was real. After visiting a place where shoes are a precious commodity, I know what a great thing this is that Toms Shoes is doing. I purchased a pair from the store and wanted to share this video with you. Please if you can, purchase a pair of shoes to help a child receive a pair of shoes. One for One is a great thing! And if you purchase a pair you can possibly have an opportunity to be selected to go on a shoe drop. How awesome is that?!! Please watch!

School Begins

2009-08-25T08:13:00.003-04:00

The house is so very quiet as I sit here and write this post. No arguing over the TV channel...no littlest one coming in to cuddle while I finish getting ready for work...no oldest daughter still in a comatose state up in her room...*sigh*

Why doesn't anyone tell you how hard it is to send your kids off into their part of the world back to school. I miss them. As I try not to tear up, I think back on last week, our week of vacation for the summer, at the beach. Maybe I am thinking that is why today is so hard...sure we had spats while there and fusses over certain things...but we were together as a family and had a great time..so maybe that's why today has been so hard.

My oldest daughter begins her senior year today and I just can't believe it. It seems like she was heading off all smiles to her first day of kindergarten just yesterday and now she drives off with her senior girls t-shirt on and celebratory statements written all over her windows to meet a group of other seniors to be escorted to school by their school resource officer from the local grocery store. Our family has experienced so much grace because she has been in our lives and it is hard to see her walk out knowing what will come next fall and how hard that will be.

The other three were driven by daddy to school today and he called to give me an update after dropping them off...they all left with big smiles and happy faces to their first day. Thank you Lord...no crying from them...where does this confidence come from?

But as I think about all of this and how hard it is for me...I think about another Daddy who sent His only Son to a very scary place that was not at all like His home. I think about the sadness in His heart as He knew what this child of His would have to go through before He returned home. I think about the cruelty of the place this Son would visit and how much He loved even those who were so cruel and mean and hateful...and then I am thankful for a Father in heaven who understands my heaviness of heart and holds my hand today as I say goodbye for a few hours and send my babies off. Thank you, Heavenly Daddy, for understanding and for being there for me and for them.

Precious Lord, I ask you to watch over my children today. Give them favor with their teachers, help them to make new friends, help them to be shining lights in a dark place, and protect them from the enemy of their souls. Lord I ask that you especially give each one of them opportunities to be witnesses to all those around them of your mercy and grace and unfailing love. Help others to see You living in them and help that to make a difference in the lives of those who witness their walk with You. I love You Lord and thank you for the sacrifice You made to make us Your children! Amen!

Church Events

2009-08-13T15:09:00.001-04:00

Please click on this link to visit our women's ministry blog to see what exciting things are coming up for women of our church and community.

LPM Summer Study: Weeks 5 & 6

2009-08-10T17:23:00.003-04:00

"When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and cut off all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God. When the Lord your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land he is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!" Deuteronomy 25:18-19

Alright so I finally finished the last two weeks of study about a week late!! Oh me! Right now that is the story of my life...falling behind, rushing to finish, not taking the time to meditate on what is important because there is no time.

I will get to the total sum of what these last two weeks have meant to my soul...they have come at just the right time...God has been good all along but this is the time I needed to hear especially the lessons on resting and not becoming weary and worn out. Yes, the lessons on putting God in the center of my thought closet were much needed but the lessons on hope and focus and resting and pressing on were food for my soul.

Currently, I am dealing with some real deep issues of service and discouragement and I needed to hear the words of Jennifer on becoming overwhelmed and tired and weary and worn out. That pretty much sums it up. The Lord I know is telling me to rest so if only vacation would hurry up and get here. I know one thing this summer has taught me is that we don't need to wait until August to take our vacation. That may sound strange, I mean you should be able to take your vacation anytime and have it work but too much summer before vacation leaves everyone grasping at things to do, waiting, waiting, waiting and becoming so impatient and of course....worn out, tired, overwhelmed, stressed and weary.

Really, I am not trying to sound so negative but I am being honest. The Lord is leading me to make some very serious decisions right now and the word that I am hearing from Him is...rest. Rest is so hard for our family anyway, because we have four kids with all the things that come along with each one of them being in a different stage of life. And believe me, I love the things that come along with having four kids...I love their school programs, projects, church activities, individual areas of passion. It is my most favorite thing in life to be my kids' mom but ministry requires other things along with that and sometimes, it is most worthwhile to my ministry and my family to rest and take a break from things.

I am making a commitment to the Lord that I will not forget that the Lord has given me rest and that He has asked me to do my part in remembering what has made me tired, worn out and weary and setting up markers along the way to help me keep my thought closet focused on the Lord and His benefits and my identity in Him. This will help me keep the enemy of my soul from getting a foothold again and trying to destory me when I am down and tired.

I praise you Lord, that You have been with me through all this busyness and that You have provided for me when I have been weary and worn out. I pray that You will prepare the way for me to rest in You, to seek You with my whole heart, to renew my strength by filling my life with You and my family the two most important things to me. Lord thank you that you help us to see real truth and that You provide for us along that journey to becoming more like You. Help me to rest in You, help others to understand what that might look like, help me to be grateful along the way, and help me to come out on the other side energized by Your power and Your word. I bless Your name Precious Savior! Amen!

LPM Summer Study: Wrap Up Video

2009-08-05T15:43:00.002-04:00

Hello Friends! Here is the final video for the Siesta Summer Bible Study with LPM and Beth Moore. If any of you are still out there, please go visit her blog to see the written down interactives and post your comments here. I have had attacks it seems like on all sides and am only now on week six. I will post when I complete the rest of the study.

Siesta Summer Bible Study (Weeks 5 and 6) from LPV on Vimeo.

Redeemed From the Pit

2009-08-04T21:28:00.002-04:00

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord." ~Psalm 40:1-3

LPM Summer Study videos

2009-07-21T14:28:00.002-04:00

Okay Bible study friends, if any of you are still participating here are the videos that Beth posted on her blog. And while I have finished my study for the last two weeks, our church is in the middle of VBS and with work this week as well as that, it will be later in the week before I can post my answers. So if you still want to participate, you can leave a comment with your answers to this post and then I will update probably on Friday with mine.

Siesta Summer Bible Study (Weeks 3 and 4) -Part 1 from LPV on Vimeo.

Siesta Summer Bible Study (Weeks 3 and 4) -Part 2 from LPV on Vimeo.

A Quick Funny!

2009-07-19T22:10:00.002-04:00

Tonight was the first night of VBS and I just wanted to share a little funny with you.

My fourth child, Gracie, is in the first grade class and I always talk to the kids on the way home from Bible school to see what they have learned. I'm really not checking up on the teachers...only my kids so therefore the questions!

So, I said, "Gracie what did you learn about in VBS tonight?"

She thought about it a minute and of course said, "Well, we learned about Jesus...you know the ANNOYING ONE!"

Need I say anymore, except that's my Gracie!

Soul, Wake Up!!

2009-07-18T15:57:00.002-04:00

"And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:7

Well, because of VBS taking place in our church this week and the fact that I am helping to teach a class, I went ahead and finished my week's worth of study this afternoon.

These 5 days of study have been the toughest so far. I have so many things to deal with in just these 5 chapters. Sometimes, it is hard to look in the mirror at the true self it shows.

Days 1 and 2 were eye-opening. I think of how easy it is for us to become accustomed to things and just deal with them. This is the soul's way of being "politically correct." We come to a point where we give up fighting and just think to ourselves that things will never change so we just need to go along with the way they are. This isn't true at all for those of us who follow Jesus! We don't have to keep listening to the Enemy outside our door and just live with the way things are. Jesus comes into our lives to change them to make them better and to make us more like Him. He turned the world upside down with the changes that He made to the religious leaders way of thinking when He walked this earth. I believe He still wants us to be that way today...and not just outwardly standing up to lies and false teachings but I believe He wants us to stand up to those lies that have become common to us. So common in fact, we don't hear the "lion roaring" at the door!

So, I tell my soul, "Wake up!" And then I tell my soul the truth and demolish those lies that the Enemy tells me. He won't have a place in my thought closet if I don't invite him in. So, it has been hard knowing that a lot of times, I invite the lies into my life or at least allow them to call to me from the doorway so that I open up and am so oblivious that they have even crept into my thoughts. This is where I need help and I have at least come to that place in my life where I realize that I am sliding down that slippery slope of believing the lies and I ask for help from my God and from my husband. He is the wisest man I know! (Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart!)

So this leads right into the next three days lessons: that of strengthening my thought closet and how to go about it. I need prayer, accountability from a friend, and a strong faith to throw out those lies that have encamped themselves in my thought closet. The best way to strengthen this faith of mine is to uphold it with the word of God! (Okay Lord, I am listening...I know I need to really know Your word in my heart!)

The next thing I need to do is the hardest for me...that is to be still and be quiet. For one, it is hard for me to be quiet even when it is quiet because my mind tends to go into overdrive at those times...I am thinking of all the things I need to do and how little time I have to do them in! I have to make myself do this though...even if I need to just read God's word to get my mind going on other things that I at least know are truth!!

I know that if I don't do these things, the next subject Jennifer touches on is right at the door...anger. This is a huge deal for me. Growing up I witnessed many times that it was just the way to act by losing control of our tempers, throwing things, slamming things and of course I took on these attributes myself. I do know that this is not the way to react to things that affect me but it is hard for me to get a handle on it sometimes still.

I really think I am much better about this part of my life than I used to be (at least our doors and cabinets will attest to the fact that I don't slam them nearly as much as I used to!). But just to know that I deal with it, makes it a major part of my thought life and being reminded that I need to speak words of water to those angry thoughts and issues that make me angry has been a great help even in the last few days. And on top of that, my husband is great at "washing" me with the water of the word and cooling me down as well! He reminds me that I need to think through the consequences of my anger and also I need to realize where people are coming from that say things that make me think angry thoughts. When I do this, I usually realize that most of the anger I am feeling is from a pride issue of my own or from misunderstanding. I just don't want to waste my emotions on allowing my Enemy to use them against me!

Thanks for letting me throw everything out there to you! It has been a hard week of my life and my husband's. So many emotions have been running amuck in my hear this week and add stress to that and of course it is just like throwing gasoline on those sparks of anger, depression, etc. The Lord has been there with me though and He is still working on me!

Praise You Lord that You don't give up on me! Thank you for "wasting" Your time to make me what You want me to be. Please be with my Bible study friends as they dig deep into Your word and wait for You to reveal Yourself to them this week! Help me as I struggle, and allow me time to be still to listen for Your voice...there is so much that wants to crowd it out! You are a kind and compassionate friend and I love you very much! Amen!

Jennifer Comes Through for Me!!

2009-07-16T11:27:00.002-04:00

Just when I didn't have anything to post about our study here it is a video from Jennifer Rothschild! Thanks Jennifer and thanks Beth!

Overwhelmed

2009-07-16T11:09:00.002-04:00

Well, I would like to say this post is about how overwhelmed I am to know how much God loves me and what He has done for me...but I am regressing in my progress with my thought life this week. I have had so much to do and with the death of a very important friend, I have just been unable to keep up with study this week.

I know this isn't good for the one trying to lead a group but I just have to be honest and say that I am overwhelmed with too many things coming up that are just floating around in my head telling me..."You will never get this all done!" And right now I am believing it so please Bible study friends and any other friends out there reading this, please stop and say and prayer for me and for my sweet man this week.

This has been his birthday week (the 12th) AND our anniversary week (the 18th) and it just hasn't felt much like one. I guess now I know why more people don't read my blog...too much reality sometimes and not enough funny like some of the other blogs I read. But I am finding that life is just very hard and hopefully after most of this STUFF is done, I can stop and laugh a little. Thank you dear friends! I love you!

I will try to post Bible study stuff sometime before we end everything! In the mean time if you have any insights just post a comment and that should help us all make it through it. Be back soon!

Goodbye Friend

2009-07-13T16:54:00.002-04:00

This has been a difficult week for our church family and for many of us on a personal level. A good friend has risen from his temporary place here on this earth to his heavenly home. Our pastoral care pastor went home to be with the Lord Saturday surrounded by family and friends. Even as I type this, my eyes fill with tears of a great sadness that we all are feeling now that he is no longer here with us.

Our precious friend was truly that...he did everything he could to help people. Yes, this was a big part of his "position" on our staff at the church but more than that, it was the heart that he had for people and the love he had for His Savior that led him to do the things he did. He taught so many of us that knew him exactly what it was to see people as Jesus saw them.

Recently during a Wednesday night service, we viewed a video that I have mentioned here before by David Platt that Ronnie and I heard preached at the Pastor's Conference this year in Kentucky. One of the things that Pastor Platt shared during his sermon was that we need to go outside the camp where Jesus was to reach this world for Christ. Jesus went to the dirty, the desperate and the dangerous. This was exactly what Alan did. He met with anyone and everyone, sat with them, listened to them, drove them places, gave them money, washed their clothes, gave them food, helped them study, and just loved them. As one of those he touched, I understand exactly why Alan was the one that everyone wanted to talk to and share things with...he gave without question, lovingly, and with an open heart that only one who has been saved from the pit can do.

I only heard stories of the way Alan was before becoming a Christian and can I say the only thing that comes to mind...Christ gave him a new life...one of love and caring, quietness, gentleness, meekness and openness. He realized something that a lot of us take our whole lives to understand...Jesus saves us from ourselves and gives us a new life to live for Him completely and totally surrendered to His service. That was Alan.

I got to see him for the last time this past Thursday...time was growing short for him and so many of us wanted to go by and share a little of the love he gave to all of us. He of course noticed us all as we entered his home with so many friends around. He spoke to each of my children and to me. We visited a while with friends and family and then came the time for us to leave to give time for family to share with Alan. As we each went by to give him our love, he spoke different things to our lives because he knew us and he listened to what the Lord would have him speak to our hearts...serving us all to the very end. As I leaned down to hug him and tell him how much I love him, he said simply, "You are a special lady."

That sums up Alan's thoughts to every single person he met on his journey here on this earth...he saw them as special and HE TOLD THEM AND SHOWED THEM!! Alan saw everyone the way Jesus sees them... and not only that, he told them how special they were to him and to the Lord and even further, he went the extra mile to show them how special they were. What a wonderful thing that does for a person in this hard world to hear the tender words, you are special to me! Alan made everyone feel special and by doing that, he went to where they were and brought them to Jesus.

None of us will know how many people Alan touched on this earth until we meet up with him again in heaven but I know one little boy and girl who are very special to me who will miss him greatly. Because you see, my little Alex and Gracie knew they were special to Alan because just as recently as May, Alan made a special trip to a talent show at my kids' school to hear Alex sing, "I Will Rise" and see Gracie dance as he sang. They knew they were special because "Mr. Alan" came to see them and told them how well they did at a time when it was very hard for Alan to do something that the rest of us take for granted. I know they will never forget that...the tears in their eyes this past Sunday as our church family remembered Pastor Alan spoke more than words ever could that they would miss this person who had showed them they were special to him and to Jesus. May we all live lives like that!

We will miss you dear friend! Save us all a spot at the table for when we join you at that great feast we all will get to share together! We love you Alan!

LPM Summer Study: Days 4 & 5 (Week 3)

2009-07-13T16:06:00.002-04:00

"The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace." Romans 8:6

Jennifer Rothschild takes us into the area of control of our thought closet on days 4 and 5 of this week's study. She offers us four snapshots of the Holy Spirit and how the Holy Spirit helps us get control our soul talk.

The first snapshot is that of the Holy Spirit being a counselor for us. I don't know about you but I often need someone just to listen and tell me like it is. The Holy Spirit does exactly that for me. He looks out only for my good and helps me to see myself and those around me like God does. That gives me great perspective on who I really am and the many possibilites of what others may be dealing with in their lives to give grace and mercy when I should. Don't we all need that?

The second snapshot is that of the Holy Spirit representing Christ and the truth of His word in our lives. Whenever I begin thinking thoughts about myself all I need to do is check to see if those things I am thinking match up with the truth of God's word. I think another way of looking at this is to think that the Holy Spirit speaks the heart of Jesus to my soul. When we can understand that Jesus loved each of us so much that He would have died for every single one of us individually if He had to, then we know that there would be nothing in His word or His heart that would speak evil of us or say anything to us that is not true. If what we are thinking doesn't measure up with what God's word says then we need to remove that.

The third snapshot is that of the Holy Spirit being our teacher. I have had the fortunate circumstances in my life of having had wonderful teachers all throughout my school years. I had one teacher who saw that I was placed far behind where my abilites were that she made it possible to get my in classes that allowed me to take extra math classes to get me in the curriculum track that would put me in a class that would challenge my skills. I was so grateful for her teaching in my life and also for her input to help me reach higher goals. The Holy Spirit acts like this good teacher who helps us see our great potential and reminds us to learn the right way to think about ourselves and the right way to live.

The fourth and final snapshot is that of the Holy Spirit reminding us of truth. This was the most helpful for me because I always tend to think of the negative in every situation. The situation that Jennifer shares about the airplane helped me to realize that a lot of times circumstances that we think of in a negative way can be seen exactly the opposite and the way we think of those circumstances can affect our emotions, our actions and eventually our whole outlook. Yes, we all have things that can be negative in our lives, delays, waiting, situations that are difficult, dealing with difficult people, but when we speak God's truth into these situations they can become places of peace and learning in our lives. Think of those areas of negativity and see what truths you can "spy" in them if you look at them through the light of God's word.

As we finish up this week's study of our thought lives let's remember to place God's wisdom at the door of our closets, speak truth to our issues and allow the Holy Spirit to counsel us, teach us, show us Christ's heart and filter everything through the truth of God's word in our thought closets. Let me hear from you and how the Lord has spoken His word to your hearts!

Praise You Lord for the gifts of wisdom, truth and the Holy Spirit. Help me to strain the thoughts that I have through each of these gifts so that I can fill my thought closet with the truth and put Your wisdom as a guard at the door so that my heart and my actions reflect You in my life. Thank you Lord for the friends I have met here online and I pray that You bless them een as you bless me as we continue to seek Your truth in our lives. Amen!

David Platt Sermon

2009-07-13T13:50:00.002-04:00

Thought that some of you might like to hear this. David Platt is a pastor from Birmingham, AL who preached a shortened version of the following sermon at the SBC pastor's conference this year. It is awesome! It will make you get on your face before our mighty God! Let me know what you think.

http://www.sbts.edu/resources/chapel/fall-2007/message-3/

Praise you God for raising up young pastor's who will boldly declare Your word to encourage us, to spark us to do greater works, to light a fire under us to get us out of our comfort zones and to go and tell and go to the difficult places!

Keep on Speaking Lord!

2009-07-10T16:11:00.002-04:00

OK after my last post, I read this in my email inbox...it is an excerpt from a book published by Zondervan. All I can say is, "God, You are so GOOD!" I will share the link after the quote:

"Knowing, reading, and studying the Bible are essential activities — but even Bible study, on its own, cannot take the place of directly experiencing, knowing, and being empowered by God.

Though we are likely to confess that conversion depends on grace, sometimes we speak as if discipleship is built primarily on human effort and natural means; we tend to be deeply suspicious of anything that could conceivably be considered "mystical." So rather than talking about God's empowering presence, we place the most emphasis on being faithful and obedient to what God already has revealed and are deeply distrustful of anything that seems to allow God direct input. I remain an evangelical for sound theological reasons. But shame on us if we go so far in the other direction that we reject the notion of God's real presence in our lives."

Go here to read more from this book on Holiness!!

LPM Summer Study: Days 1, 2, 3 (Week 3)

2009-07-10T15:01:00.002-04:00

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:5

I have actually finished Day four as well but thought it went better with the last days study so I will include it then on Monday. I don't know why I thought I had to share that but anyway, there it is!

I must confess something...this Me Myself and Lies study is not the only study I am working on right now. I have done Believing God of Beth Moore's before but have recently decided to bring it back out not only for myself but because I felt the Holy Spirit drawing it back into my life again to facilitate for our ladies this fall. So, therefore, I am going back through it again this summer to refresh my memory of a few things and get ready to facilitate it. Also, our church is going through the David Jeremiah study on What In The World is Going On. It has been very eye-opening and has helped me to view the world events not just as people events but God events that point to the fact that Jesus is returning soon.

So, needless to say at times I am talking to myself and believing God and waiting for Him to come and get me! I have gotten a little confused through all of this but I am praying that the Lord implants all of this in my heart so that He can use it to continue changing my heart and making me more like Him!

I must say the lessons on wisdom and allowing God to speak truth to my issues has resonated with me in such a deep way. There has been nothing more that I have desired from God than wisdom. I am one of those people that so many think are so very smart and really I am not! (And no I am not dealing with one of my self-loathing issues right now!). It is one thing to know a lot of facts and be able to find out things quickly, but it is yet another to have real wisdom from God, where He uses you as a vessel to speak His word into your life and the lives of others. I want that so much!

I have known for quite some time about the verse above that talks about just asking God for it. But I just haven't asked enough! And like I said before, wisdom is more than just "knowing stuff" like one of my teenagers would say. It is really sensing the workings of the Holy Spirit in your life and allowing that to overflow into your words and actions.

I have heard Beth Moore quote a verse on several occasions that I believe she said that someone at one of her conferences had shared with her about the way she teaches. It is from John 5:39-40 ~ "You dilligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. There are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." I think this person shared this with Beth thanking her for being someone who doesn't just study scriptures but takes them to heart and really believes what they say is true because of the fact that they point straight to Jesus, the One who gives life.

I say all of this to tell you that, I believe that for some time, studying God's word has been an "out" for me...a way to give my mind something to do...instead of a way for God to speak into my life. That is where the power is..seeking Him through His word and praying it over my soul. I believe that is where I have made my mistake of confusing wisdom with knowledge and not seeking the eternal life, the abundant life that Christ wants to give me through the study of His word.

In my heart now, I am praying already for the ladies that will take the fall Bible study at church...praying that the study that we do won't just be something to take up some time, learn a few cool things from God's word and travel on down the same road of just getting more knowledge. I want God's word to be the true book of wisdom in each of our lives where we can use it as a guide for places to see where God spoke life to us...where His word came alive and caused us to be different.

I am so grateful for Jennifer's wisdom and for her discussion on the subject of that and our issues. Why? Because I think it is sinking in finally that when our issues are no longer our focus and when God's word becomes alive to us and we see it's relevance to every aspect of our lives and how His word speaks real truth to our hearts, we win that battle in our mind of lies that we speak to ourselves.

I hope this makes some sense to any of you reading. It was a real revelation to me! Please share any insights you have gotten from our discussion on wisdom and letting God's truth get to our issues.

Precious Lord, thank you for the revelation of your word! Thank you that You still use the words that you allowed men to write for you to speak so powerfully to our hearts and into our lives. Let it penetrate into this heart of mine and into my sometimes overcrowded mind to fill those places with your truth. Lord, please grant me Your wisdom. I know that I will never be as wise as You are, but Lord give me the wisdom I need to be a more careful observer of Your wonderful works and a true counselor of Your word. I pray for my friends who are serving You in various places while going through their study. I pray that you speak powerfully to their hearts and Lord that you give them wisdom to discern Your will for their lives and Your desire for them to get closer and closer to You. I love you and praise You that You are the All-Wise God and that you give freely to those who ask for Your wisdom. Pour it out on us Lord and may we learn to walk in Your ways! Amen!

Me, Myself and Lies ~ Session 2

2009-07-07T15:22:00.002-04:00

Okay so here is the video for our second session together! If you are taking the study with me and you are comfortable answering your questions here as a post to my comments, please answer the four questions Beth shares in her video.

Siesta Summer Bible Study (Weeks 1 and 2) from LPV on Vimeo.

If you missed one of the questions or didn't understand exactly what you are supposed to share please visit the post on the LPM blog for the questions in print at this link!

Here are my personal answers!
1. Oh my, I give this a 10+! Yes, I very much need this study right now in my life. I believe that satan knows that this is a very weak area of my life...my thought life. I am so driven by my thoughts and often react or act on them. I know that satan knows he can keep me in a defeated position if he just gets ahold of my thoughts and my mind. I want to be free in this area so much. This study ahs also been a confirmation for me about a very huge area of conviction from the Holy Spirit to memorize scripture and hide it in my heart. I know that the Holy Spirit is only driving that thought home with me by helping me to see how very important it is for me to know scripture...not just know that it is in the Bible but have it memorized so that when those nasty thoughts try to rear their ugly heads, I can pound them out with the truth of God's word. Praise You Jesus!

2. This statement by Jennifer really stuck with me! I read it over several times to let it sink in. I just kept thinking over and over that I am precious to the Lord and secure in Him...I don't have to be afraid. That is who I am but what I struggle with is my fear and insecurity. They are so very different and I am seeking out the Lord so that He can help me to get rid of the struggle and hold onto the truth!

3. I described worry like this: Going over and over something negatively in my mind.

4. One of my faulty assumptions growing up was this: I assumed that because I had messed up so many times and had not been faithful to the Lord, that He would never be able to use me. I am so grateful that the Lord is helping me to see how useful I can be if I only give my whole self over to Him. He is the one that does all the work anyway!

Thanks for letting me share and I look forward to hearing your answers as well! I love you and hope you all are having a good week! Blessing Abundant To You!!

Soul Talk

2009-07-06T17:28:00.001-04:00

This is an excellent video by Jennifer Rothschild about the words we speak to ourselves! It goes really well with our study! Enjoy!

LPM Summer Study: Days 3, 4, 5 (Week 2)

2009-07-06T16:25:00.002-04:00

"Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression." Psalm 19:13 (NASB)

I have to be completely honest...these three lessons have really kicked my rear end! For two reasons really: one being it is so hard to craft words that describe exactly what I have trouble dealing with in my thought life. I have listened so intently to the Lord and asked Him to show me those areas that are faulty, areas where I need to change my thinking, areas that are the roots of the rotten, poisonous fruits that I am producing in my thought life. I have closed in on some of them and others are still roaming around for me to get a hold of! It is so hard!

And then two, it is so hard to deal with these personal things! The more I wrote out these faulty assumptions in my mind, the harder I knew it would be to post them here for those doing the study with me to see. But, I know that only through coming clean before God and sharing those things, will I be totally free and allow God to get the glory from what satan was trying to use to hold me captive.

I want so much to be authentic so here goes! First, I guess I need to rethink my post on perfectionism. I have found in my life especially, it is a fruit of some faulty thinking on my part that comes from some assumptions I have made about myself and acceptance. I have always felt that I had to be perfect and I am not quite sure why. I think I so wanted not to disappoint my parents that I tried to be the very best person I could be. I never got in trouble in school, I always made good grades. I tried so very hard in everything that I did. It was always hilarious in gym class because I was not a very athletic person, not coordinated at all, but my gym teachers all the way through high school and college said what a great student I was and how hard I tried! That was truthful to a point but it wasn't that I wanted to get better, it was that I didn't want the teachers especially to think that I wasn't good enough.

So, this monster of perfectionism has followed me to my adult years and has at times caused conflict some minor and some that was really hard to deal with. But, along the way, I started noticing those people who are very strong in their faith and who truly are gifted to teach and tell others about God, and how they live on a daily basis. They have faults for crying out loud!! Why didn't anyone tell me about this sooner?!! Yes, those people that I, and so many of my Christian friends and some even who are not Christians, look up to that are such great speakers have failed...their speeches haven't always been perfect...their songs have had mistakes.

Now, truthfully, I am sure that so many of those I am talking about, did not go out intentionally to mess up. I mean really who wants to sing the wrong words or misquote a scripture or even use incorrect English? I am sure no one! But, it is just that fact that this person got up in front of us all and shared from her heart whatever God had gifted her to bring to us and she did it not with perfection but with a realness that just let all of us know that this was God who was using her. I mean let's face it, if we were all perfect, God could just go ahead and take us on up to heaven! Who would we reach if we couldn't make mistakes and use them to let others know we are just like them...we make mistakes, we mess up, we sometimes do the wrong things...but God still loves us, still uses us, and reaches people through us! It is the whole meaning behind redemption! God takes those mistakes and missteps in our lives and infuses them with His power to show the world His love and His forgiveness!

So, now I am working on those bad roots... those roots of insecurity and anger that lead to poinsonous fruit in my life. I am taking them on with the weapons not of this world but those that have divine power to demolish the chains that those roots have bound around our hearts and lives to make us unfruitful or even worse yet...give us bad fruit.

Thanks for letting me be honest with all of you! I am praying for those of you who are away this week enjoying family time and vacations and mission trips! I hope the Lord is implanting His words in your thoughts and His truth in your minds so that you can be fruitful for Him this week in your thoughts and your actions. I love you all!

Precious Lord, please reveal those faulty assumptions that I have stored away in my thought closet! Bring them out into the open so that I can air out a few things and let Your light shine in those dusty back corners where I have hidden them. Thank You Lord for making me work so hard on these lessons this weekend. After these lessons and my husband's sermon yesterday, I am really getting a glimpse of real freedom and what it means in my life. I praise You for using so many things to hit all of this home to my heart...independence day ( freedom day!), Ronnie's sermon, Jennifer's study. Lord all You want is for us to be free and live like it! Please make my mind like Your mind! I know I will never be able to have your thoughts because they are so much higher than mine but Lord give me the stepladder of Your word so that I can reach just a little bit higher more and more as I take each step of faith in Your word and let Your light shine in my heart! Please be with my friends this week as they travel, and share time with family and do mission work! How busy we all are but thank you that You bring us together under the umbrella of Your truth...Your precious Word! Give us all a fresh new word from you this week as we continue to turn our thoughts over to You! Thank you for Your unfailing never-ending love!! Amen!

LPM Summer Study: Day 2 (Wk2) ~ Unchangeable Labels: Fact and Faith

2009-07-01T13:03:00.002-04:00

**Instead of a scripture today, I wanted to share the video from Jennifer Rothschild's blog about this study. She is so precious and the Lord's beauty radiates from within her when she speaks! Enjoy it!

I must be totally honest that today's lesson was very difficult. It was difficult because for one, I had trouble coming up with a fact label that I could use to carry on out through the whole lesson like we are asked to do. I came up with many labels for myself that were factual, like mom, wife, pastor's wife (at that), daughter, teacher, director, part-time employee and even Christian that are all factual but I had a hard time carrying these out trying to get negative "fate" labels for each one.

And of course, as I sit here and type another label comes across my mind: perfectionist! Well, there you go! I needed to start discussing before I landed on one! Okay, so I know, perfectionist is already a pretty negative word anyway. But, then again, some of the factual labels that Jennifer talks about are too: blind, widow, mentally challenged, all can be negative but I really think that is the point!

Yes, perfectionist is a label that fits me...meaning it is truthful but now to think of how I can turn it around to a faith label. The negative is easy...hard to please, looking for errors, quick to point out faults, hard to satisfy. Okay, I don't need to get too caught up in the negativity!

Now to turn it around. I think as long as I don't expect EVERYTHING (or anything for that matter!) to be perfect, I should do well. I can't allow it to make me stressed or those around me to be stressed and I have had the tendency to do that! Sorry folks! But, I do know that there is a certain positive influence that a perfectionist like me can have on things if I don't get too caught up when things are absolutely perfect. Things like always trying to do my very best in everything I do! This makes others feel special...like I put a lot of effort into making things the best they could be because I love them. Things like giving my best to the Lord...I don't think He expects perfection at all from us but I do believe He notices when we put our heart into something for HIS GLORY! (I pray that is always the driving force behind my activity!)

But again, I can't get caught up in the reason for doing things in this perfectionist mode...it can lead to pride and has on many occassions. I want things to look good because it puts me in a good light and also sometimes I get caught up in the planning or organizing and forget the PURPOSE behind what I am doing.

So there you have it! I did come up with a label that worked all the way through and instead of my fact label of PERFECTIONIST leading to a negative fate label of HARD TO PLEASE I need to keep in the back of my mind there amidst my thoughts, the faith label of FOR THE GLORY OF GOD!!

This was a hard one for me so how about you? Any thoughts on your fate or faith labels? What are they and how are they influencing the way you act around others or how they act around you? I think I am getting better (and family and friends, keep your personal remarks to yourself about that!) with the Lord's help. And yes, I realize that I do make mistakes just like anyone else and, for my husband's interest, I am a Cook that can say that I am wrong (an old Fonzie joke there!). So I am trying to focus on the positives of my label and let the Lord work the rest out. Oh and by the way, I will be perfect one day, when my salvation is completed and I am with my Savior forever. Thank heavens I will be perfect in ALL ways by then (no prideful thoughts about myself anymore!)!

Precious Savior, thank you that I don't have to dwell on those negative fate labels but that I can give them over to You and You make them a faith label that will stretch me and make me more like You. My label of perfectionism has many negative connotations but I am so grateful that I don't have to concentrate on them because you have redeemed those negative things and made that into something positive that can be useful for Your glory! Please keep me from prideful feelings as I plan things and Lord help me to be easy to get along with. Help me to always put others before myself and especially You before all of it so that my intent is seen clearly to draw all the attention to YOU. I love you and pray that you will be with all the women who are even this week dealing with their stuff before You and learning how to exchange the lie for the truth! Thank you my Redeemer and Friend! I love you! Amen!

Opening Session Answers

2009-07-01T09:27:00.002-04:00

1 God's glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon. 2 Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening. 3 Their words aren't heard, their voices aren't recorded, 4 But their silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is spoken everywhere. God makes a huge dome for the sun - a superdome! 5 The morning sun's a new husband leaping from his honeymoon bed, The daybreaking sun an athlete racing to the tape. 6 That's how God's Word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, Melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith.
7 The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. 8 The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. 9 God's reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree. 10 God's Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You'll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries. 11 There's more: God's Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. 12 Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? 13 Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. 14 These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar. ~Psalm 19

I know this is a little late for those of you following the study through my blog but I thought I would share my answers here and then post comments for the answers that my study partners provided for those who said it was okay. So here goes!

1. I picked a Labrador Retriever as my breed of dog. I am usually a very good friend and a great family "dog!" I am thinking of my family and my children constantly and I am ready to have fun with them anytime! I am usually quick to forgive and ready to go on with things and I am pretty easy to get along with. However, I can occassionally get a little distracted by a game of "fetch!"

2. Please pray for me, I...need guidance on how to be a good sister to my husband's sister (I only have 5 brothers!) and I need discernment and confirmation on a women's ministry program for our church as well as allowing God to have authority in my thought life. (not sure that is under 160 characters but oh well!)

3. I see many benefits of God's word in this scripture (Ps. 19)! One is that it meets us where we are...it penetrates cold places in our hearts, helps us deal with our "stuff" and gives us a passion for God and it travels those "hot spots" in our lives places where passion sometimes causes us to not think clearly or where anger causes us to lose our heads...His word helps us to keep our heads on straight! I also think it is the best road map for us to follow as we travel this life with our Savior. His word gives us direction, helps us to see how He can work things together for our good, gives us His joy in the midst of great trial, and helps us to understand things that we thought we could never make head nor tails of! But my favorite is that it is a way to find hidden treasure! I believe He wants us to seek Him like we are looking for those diamonds of truth and then He will give us the best He has from His word. I can share a personal testimony on this one...our family went through a difficult time in the last couple of years, our oldest daughter who at the time this began was 15...she had a condition from birth that we only discovered through an onset of scoliosis that required immediate brain surgery. It was so hard because it was so quick and the surgery was scheduled so quickly...we really had no time to work through it in our minds. But she had the surgery and everything since then has been fine...no problems afterward and she has been released for any further follow-up for anything else except the scoliosis which will be checked again in August for the final time. Of course, we were praising God over all of this but He gave us a scripture out of I Peter 1 where Peter shares about enduring suffering while we are here to get the greater glory for the Lord and of course, we have taken this as a family for all of us to know that there will be hard times but they are never for nothing...God is using them to perfect us and bring glory to His precious name! Thank you Lord!

Precious Heavenly Father, please hear our cries to know you more and to understand your word. Give us light for our eyes as we seek Your face through this study. Thank you for the direction of your word and the way it touches those places in our hearts that we try to hide from you and brings us into conviction and also to joy and peace through the truth of your word. We praise you for your wisdom and ask that you grant us that same wisdom to know your word and apply it to our lives. You tell us that we only have to ask for your wisdom and your will freely give it. I pray for my new friend Lord that you will increase her faith to trust you and take you at your word for a job. Lord I ask that you speak clearly to her through your word and even the counsel of friends and family to help her find that which she seeks...a job in which she can not only serve others but serve you where she works. Lord we love you and praise your great faithfulness to us in every aspect of our lives. Guide us as we search for the hidden treasures in your Holy scriptures! Amen!

Jennifer Rothschild on Dr. Phil

2009-06-30T18:46:00.003-04:00

Please visit this link to read more about Jennifer's appearance on Dr. Phil and for more information on her, her ministry, her Bible studies and the LPM Summer Study, "Me, Myself and Lies".

LPM Summer Study: Day 1 (Wk2) ~ Label Makers

2009-06-30T08:37:00.004-04:00

"We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NASB)

As I studied through this lesson last night, I made a quick trip back to junior high. I was a very small, short girl going through many changes. In the midst of all of this, I began liking boys and wanted a boyfriend so badly. But with all the changes going on, my hair took on a life of its own. I wish I had a picture for you but let me just say it was much like a huge brown, curly 'fro. I did everything I could to try to tame it but it was just enormous!

Needless to say, it got quite a few laughs from many of the opposite sex. I wore my hair in ponytails a lot! So, when I finally found a boy that I really liked, I did what all junior highers did then, I had my best friend ask him about me. Wrong decision! Here I was putting myself out there to see if he liked me and what does he come back with? "Well, if she didn't have such bushy hair, I would think about it."

That one interaction has led to a constant worry over my looks and sometimes I feel like they are just not good enough. It is alright to have friends tell you that you look fine or people that love you to tell you that but way back in your mind you hear those hurtful labels that people put on you at a particularly hard time in your life. It is a constant struggle to stay out of a pit of labels that others put on you.

Just this morning, I got a call from my hubby...he's returning from spending a couple of days with our youth group on a mission trip in Alabama. Last night, they got to do a concert for a local juvenile prison for some of the worst offenders that are too young for adult prison. As part of the concert, our youth pastor shared the plan of salvation and several of them accepted Christ. And just thinking about that after this lesson, I wondered what kind of labels have been in their back grounds put on them by people who were supposed to love them or put on by themselves: No-good, never amount to anything, bad kid, loser, hopeless, worthless, stupid, who would love you, who COULD love you...they probably have many more that I could never share on here.

But for those who took the chance to change last night, for those who heard the voice of a savior, for those who chose to believe that there is a way to be different, for those who accepted payment for their sins...they have new labels now. They are MINE (says the Lord), they are loved, they are accepted, they are redeemed, they are free, they are chosen, they are delighted in, they are rejoiced over with singing, they are sheltered and protected by God, they are valuable to God, they are welcomed to draw near to God and so many more things!

I am so glad that in this scripture I will share below that part of the change in not listening to labels put on us, God tells us to take captive those thoughts that do not jive with the knowledge of who Jesus is. For these kids that have made mistakes in their lives and are captive right now, they have the authority as children of the Most High to take those things that are lies, those labels that no longer speak truth about who they are, they have the power to take them captive, crush them, and change them for something else...the truth of God.

So what holds you captive today...what label do you wear that has a hold on you? Take it captive by the power of Christ, crush it in His name and change it for something else that speaks truth to your soul. The Lord already sees you as His with all the rights and benefits of that relationship so don't let the devil steal that from you. Agree with the truth of God's word and let the Lord lift your head today!

Precious Father, thank you for this wonderful report that so many accepted you last night in a place of captivity (literal and spiritual) and now have the freedom that comes from knowing You and being Your child. Thank You Lord that you only speak good things to our souls, things that are filled with Your love and Your kindness. Lord I pray that even today, those kids that made that very important decision last night are feeling the truth of what they have done, wash over them this morning anew. Make it fresh for them every day of their lives. Remind them that You love them very much and that You never gave up on them even when others may have. Lord I pray that you fill their hearts with the blessings from knowing You and that You show them Your precious favor even there in a place of confinement. It doesn't matter to You any more what got them to the place where they were last night...Lord it may have been in Your plan to place them there so they would hear Your truth and become Your child. Praise You Lord that all things do work together for good to those that love you and are called to Your purpose. Shatter strongholds in their lives today and from this day forward and replace them with the strong power of Your grace and mercy. Lord thank you for Your never ending love that never fails to speak truth to our hearts and minds. Be with my Bible study friend today and help her to feel the truth of who she is in You wash over her mind! I love you! Amen!

LPM Summer Study: Day 5 ~ What Does Truth Sound Like?

2009-06-29T12:37:00.003-04:00

"Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart." Proverbs 3:3

Okay, what is it with the conviction of memorizing scripture? Here it is again for me to memorize it! I get it Lord...I will memorize scripture!

But really, simply, I was so amazed to hear that calling myself a name brings reproach on the name of God. I had really never thought about it that way. You think of others saying bad things about you as sin but when you tell yourself bad things, it is the same. I don't know why this was such an eye-opener for me!

I don't want to insult God or demean anything that He has done. That is what I am doing each time I think those harsh words about myself! I am just amazed that I haven't thought about it like this before.

One thing that this all brought to my mind was the scripture that I shared above. Growing up, one of the best things that I could do to help study for a test or get ready for an exam was to write things I needed to know over and over. I wrote them down on paper and the more I wrote them down, the better I remembered them and the more they would come back to my mind as I took the test.

This scripture says to write kindness and truth on the tablet of your heart and of course the Bible is a collection of kindness and truth from the mouth of God. So I am committing to learning scripture again...but this time with this avenue of doing that...writing it down...over and over again! I have never been a good journaler (I sometimes find it hard to write here on my blog as well!) so now I have a use for all those unused journals that I have. I will fill them with scriptures and as my hand writes them on the paper, I pray that God's finger will write them on the tablet of my heart!

What about any of you...how do you memorize scripture? What makes it really stick in your mind? Oh and just for my information...do you memorize the Bible reference as well or just the verse itself?

Precious Heavenly Father, write your words on my heart! Ingrain them in my brain! Inscribe them in my soul! Lord, I need your word and sometimes I don't have it with me so I pray now that you keep me ever mindful of memorizing your word. I want your word to speak truth to me when my mind tries to tell me lies. Praise you Lord that you give us the ability to know your word and apply it to our lives. Bless my Bible study friend today as she searches those recesses of her thought closet for any name-calling going on there! Replace it with the truth of your word and the graciousness that comes only from the Grace-giver! I love you Lord! Amen!

LPM Summer Study: Day 4 ~ Something Else to Think About

2009-06-29T11:16:00.004-04:00

"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." Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Jennifer Rothschild makes the most profound statement to my heart in today's study: "Worry is fixating or meditating on what if rather than what is." My thoughts are a constant steady stream of what ifs! Many of them are highly personal...relating to family, husband, my life but I am sure that many of them are similar to what you might be thinking as well.

I will share though that the theme of most of my what ifs is my fear. I deal with it on a daily basis and I am not sure why it has such a grip on my heart at times but it does. I know I give it the air time in my thoughts that it has so I am committing to getting rid of it in my thought closet.

One thing lately that I have dealt with in the area of fear is a focus on the church study that we are doing right now, What in the World is Going On by Dr. David Jeremiah. It is an excellent study with so much information that it can be overwhelming. I start thinking of all the things that are going to happen...we know they are from God's word and I get so fearful of the things to come. I worry of course about my children the most. I know that times will only get harder for my children in this world and the direction that it is taking to completely silence the Christian movement. I know how hard it will be for them to remain strong in their faith and the constant pressures that will come against them as things worsen. I worry that my faith won't be strong enough to stand the test. I worry for the church and the persecution that has started already and how very difficult it will get before the end comes.

These are not what ifs but realities that scripture teaches will come but God doesn't just give us the view of these times without telling us the end of the story. Yes, all these hard things will come, these what ifs will be realities but we do have a hope that God will be the final victor in all of it. He gives us all a greater glory than what we have in this life and if things do get hard, He will stay all the closer to us. He will never forget us, leave us, or turn His back on us. (Jesus faced that in our place on the cross!) He will offer us His patient endurance to travel this road we are on and do it well if we will just trust in Him.

I know this probably has gotten way off track from what the study is discussing but I couldn't help but draw a parallel between the two studies I am working on right now.

I just pray that as you read this, your mind is going through those what ifs that your mind tends to dwell on and is replacing it with the what is from God's word! What is, is that God has our best interest at heart and He will do for us what is best...and in the end we will stand with Him as more than conquerors when all of this is over and done. Because remember, Jesus said "It is finished" on the cross. All that we need is completed and we can trust God's heart for the rest!

Precious Lord, thank you that You answer every what if in our lives with Your truth, what is! I praise you that even my fear is subject to Your power and authority! I place the truth of your word and Who You are in the center of my thought closet today. I pray that your truth, purity, loveliness, justice, and praise will cover everything in my thought closet. Satan tries to keep a place there and corrupt everything there with lies but I place the shield of faith over that whole place because I can trust who you are and what you can do. You fight in my place and those fights you fight...you win!! Praise You God for victory that I may not see yet but that I know is coming...There Will Be a Day!! I love you! Amen!

LPM Summer Study: Day 3 ~ The Soundtrack in Your Thought Closet

2009-06-29T09:14:00.002-04:00

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer." (Ps 19:14)

Alright, well I knew that I meditated on things...yes, I did! I knew it because it seems like my mind never stops doing it! There is no "down-time" in my mind but the sad thing is that I fill it with obligations, plans, overwhelming events, insecurities, failures, and occassionally a prayer or two! Yes, my mind it seems goes on and on like the Energizer bunny! Sometimes I sit at night in bed trying to fall asleep because my mind is wandering here and there and I just want it to shut down. If it only had a button like my computer to put it in hibernate mode for heaven's sake!

So, I was very interested in getting to the meat of today's study (that is, Thursday, June 25's study!).

I thought it was very interesting that the Hebrew word for meditate means "to converse with oneself!" Why I talk to myself all the time! Now we have a opening to do that without worrying about people looking at us funny! But seriously, I needed to hear that we need to meditate on God's wonders and His word.

I must say, that, without thinking negative thoughts of myself, the Spirit has convicted me in latter subject of meditation...God's word. At the convention this year, I was amazed at one of the speakers, David Platt when he first came out to give his presentation on the great commission, missions and evangelism. Before he spoke a word of his own, he recited from memory the last three chapters of the Psalms! I was amazed and everyone else was too. When he finished, everyone cheered and praised God. I'm sure that some of it was from the fact that he had memorized that much scripture but mostly it was because of the subject of Praising God with everything that we are and everything that we have!

Then God spoke to my heart and said, "Why can't you do that?" I memorize everything else...cute quotes that I hear on the news, statistics that for the most part aren't really that important, of course, all those numbers floating around (SS, phones, addresses)! So why can't I memorize scripture? Well, the truth is that I don't work at it! I don't do that thing to hide God's word in my heart where I need it most...where it can speak to those negative thougths I have.

I must be honest...I got to the part of the homework where it said things you can focus on from God's word and I began to sweat thinking does she want us to actually quote scriptures here? And then I thought, it is hard to meditate on what you don't KNOW! Yes, I know God's word is true and I know that I can trust it but am I doing that by just reading it and not committing it to memory? What about you?

Precious Lord, fill my thoughts with Your Word today! Help me to recall verses that I may not have memorized exactly but that I know are true from Your word. Lord thank you for the conviction that fell so heavily on my heart and the encouragement that my husband felt the same way as I did about committing Your word to my memory and therefore to my heart. Your word does tell us that the mouth speaks what the heart knows...Help me to commit your word to my heart so that it flows from my mouth just as easily as those things that are not so important in my life. Give me a sharp mind and clear thoughts to learn Your word and Lord I am just not going to say make it easy for me...because I know that what I work hard at, You will bless and will become more precious to me. Through the fire my weakness is made strong from a favorite choir song...I say please Lord fire up my heart with a hunger for Your word on my lips and on my heart! Continue to guide my Bible study friend as she studies this subject and Lord speak to her heart in a fresh way today to commit herself to You and rely on Your word! Thank you Lord for the conviction because I know You are still working on me and haven't left me to my own desires and thoughts! You are the great God and the Only Wise God...I praise You in my heart and in my mind today! Amen!

LPM Summer Study: Day 2 ~ Your Thought Closet

2009-06-29T08:19:00.002-04:00

Well, today will be the day for the marathon of posts! I am getting caught up from my week at the convention and not having a very good internet connection and really not much time to post as I began my study of MML. (The convention was actually very good this year and there was very little that I felt that we could miss!)

Day 2 lesson really hit me hard. Yes, I have that dark closet where I go to think those destructive thoughts about myself. I am so trying to replace them with the thoughts of God. This will be a hard one for me! His ways are so much higher and His thoughts are so much higher that it will be quite a climb but here is how I am travelling it:

"I am a horrible mom."
"Commit and Rely!"
"I will never be good enough."
"Commit and Rely!"
"I don't support my husband enough."
"Commit and Rely!"
"I am useless."
"Commit and Rely!"
"I am so afraid."
"Commit and Rely!"
"I can't do this."
"Commit and Rely!"
"I will never be able to change."
"Commit and Rely!"
"I am not smart enough."
"Commit and Rely!"
"I am so lost."
"Commit and Rely!"
"I don't matter."
"Commit and Rely!"

I could go on and on but God's word has an answer for every dark thought that we have...His light that brightens those places and opens our eyes to see ourselves as He sees us...as His child!

Why is it so hard for us to believe sometimes that God loves us? I know I see all the ways that I fall and fail and that is where my focus is but God doesn't leave us there. He picks us up and carries us when we have fallen. He LOVES US!!

Precious Lord, thank You that You only have good thoughts of me...Lord that You only think of "high" things for my life. Lord I ask that you help me along this journey to looking at myself like You look at me. I don't seek to be prideful but to be filled with Your grace so that I can give it away. Lord I claim my thoughts for You today! I take them captive to the truth of Who You are in my life and Lord Who You have shown Yourself to be to me. You are the Faithful One and My Precious Redeemer and My Rock that is higher than I! Hide me in Your wings today and let the shadow of Your presence be the light of my eyes as I look to those places in my life that You want to change! I love You Lord and pray for my Bible study friend today as she seeks to follow you and change her way of thinking about herself. Help her to view herself through Your eyes! Thank You Lord that You don't leave us on this journey alone but that You follow along with us and speak to God on our behalf, encouraging us as we go! I love you! Amen!

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." Proverbs 16:3

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

LPM Summer Study: Day 1 ~ Not So Well With My Soul

2009-06-27T21:59:00.002-04:00

I am praising God today for finally getting started on my study and posting of this new study, "Me, Myself and Lies" by Jennifer Rothschild. I have struggled for so long with my thought life and hope to gain some freedom from my precious Lord with some of the things I have dealt with in my mind. This has been a struggle and stronghold for so long and I am seeking to loose those chains around my thoughts about myself.

To begin, first we had three questions to answer with our study group or on our own before beginning the study. A wonderful Christian friend that I met through the connect posts on the LPM blog and I are working through this together and we have begun this journey that I hope will bind our hearts together in the Lord these next few weeks.

The third question is the one that piqued my interest and my thoughts the most. We had to read The Message translation of Psalm 19. I have read this chapter many times but never from this version and one thing really stuck out to me from it. Verse 6 in most versions talks about the sun and is comparing it to God's word. "That's how God's Word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, Melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith."

I have in my own life sensed a coldness in my faith and I have tried to overcome it most times on my own and of course none of that works! But, how convicted I was to read these words and know that God's Word will melt that ice of my heart! I have become a person sometimes just going through the motions and not REALLY LIVING! I want that abundant life and want to feel the warmth of my faith in God in my heart! I am praying for that very thing through this study. I wrote in my journal for the beginning of this study after meditating on this scripture: "His Word penetrates the cold places of our hearts to give us a passion for Him and it also travels those "hot spots" (scorching deserts) of our lives, those places of great passion or great anger to calm us...feed those passions that are from Him while helping us to keep our heads on straight and our anger in check." Oh how I want this to be what my life is like! I want His passion to run through my life into everything that I do so that I am not just going through the motions!

Well, if that wasn't enough, I began the first day's study and got through to the scripture from I Corinthians 15:10: "But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect." God's grace determines who I am, not my feelings or my thoughts about myself. Praise You God that I don't have to live like I feel but what I know to be true because of Your grace! And this grace to ME was not without effect! It takes root in the depths of that coldness in my heart and makes me different, makes my thoughts different, gives me passions and desires for my Lord, to serve Him and live for Him. It also affects those around me if only I let His grace pour out of my life. This is so freeing for me! His grace makes me who I really am nothing from my mind or my mouth!

Praise you Lord for this word that you have spoken to my heart and not only to my heart but to my mind. Your word is so very true and trustworthy and practical and common sensical! (is that a word?!) Thank you Lord for Your offer of freedom..please ingraft it in my mind tonight even as I sleep and help it to sink in to my very bones so that I never have a doubt about your thoughts to me because of the grace that You alone have provided! Thank you Lord for my precious new Bible study friend! I pray that you bless her tonight whatever she is doing and wherever she is. Give her Your peace and speak You words to her heart even as she rests in You tonight! Bless us as we travel this road together and give all of us fresh insight into what You would have us to learn from Your word. I love you Lord with all my heart! Speak to me Lord along the way! Amen!

Beth Moore..You So Funny!!

2009-06-15T16:16:00.002-04:00

Get a laugh out of this one with me! Hope to see you at the Simulcast! Click on the link to the right to see the details!

An Important Message from Beth Moore from LWEvents on Vimeo.

Beth Moore Simulcast, Oh My!!

2009-06-09T14:19:00.002-04:00

Please visit the following post on the Lifeway All Access blog about the simulcast in August...and then just take a looksee at the title of my blog!

I am beside myself with excitement!!

A Woman Inspired Conference

2009-06-04T10:53:00.002-04:00

Thought I would pass along the word about a great online conference for women...A Woman Inspired touches on various subjects of women's ministry and encouragement. This conference coming up next week discusses a lot of online subjects and how they can be used for ministry to women. There are some great speakers and the price is only $12.95!!! Click on the button below and read all about it!

Resolution Conference

2009-06-03T20:51:00.001-04:00

My friend Leigh Gray of Speaking Thru Me Ministries is having a conference this September in Illinois. Don't know how many of you out there are near that area but I wanted to pass along the info in case you want to attend. Here it is:

Me, Myself and Lies - LPM Summer Bible Study

2009-05-30T20:09:00.004-04:00

Hello all Ladies in Blogworld! I will be taking part in a summer Bible study with Beth Moore online...it is a study by Jennifer Rothschild called Me, Myself and Lies. I am posting a link here to all the information on Beth Moore's ministry blog (just click on the picture of the workbook!). Please if there is anyone out there who would like to join me in an online group, let me know. Leave a comment after this blog post with your name and email address so that I can get in touch with you personally.

I'm trying not to open this up to ladies at my church in general because we are already working on a church-wide study most of the summer but I really need this study personally. I deal with so many mind and thought issues in my walk that I need something to help me out. So if you would like to join me, let me know! I know it will be great!

What It's About

2009-05-30T16:11:00.002-04:00

Today was the ending to a very strange baseball season for our 8 year old son. We had some problems with the league this year and games on days that we usually aren't used to playing on...(Saturdays were usually the norm and we had week night games this year), and finally we have had some really strange weather her the past couple of weeks so it has made the last couple of games and the tournament hard to fit in before summer is upon us!

And I don't know what it is about sports but it makes the adrenaline rush in even the mildest-mannered people! It seems like conflict abounds at times and you wonder what in the world people are thinking when they say or do the things they do. I know many of you (all three of you who read my blog!) who have ever had kids participate in any kind of sport know what I mean.

But still we love for our kids to participate because my husband and I know it is good for them to have some kind of physical activity and also to learn to play on a team and of course it's all about the fun...right?!!

We had a single elimination tournament today (all in one day again because of the strange weather) and finished just a little while ago. My husband has helped coach our son's team with the help of another coach and some other dads who pitched in where they were needed. And even after all the difficulties we have had this season, it was all worth it after the two games today.

Alex is our quiet child...you know the one who can sit for hours on end by himself and you almost forget he is there...but he surprised us by really loving sports. He normally doesn't like for people to stare at him while he is doing something and for those of you who have ever seen him in children's choir you know what I mean!

Alex's team played a really good team first today and as every kid on our team got up to bat, many of them got really good hits which was awesome in itself considering we had several that had never played before at all and a lot of young ones that this was their first year of coach pitch. After all the great playing and wonderful improvement from so many of the players, our team won their first tournament game and went on the the final round (there are only a handful of teams!).

Alex had a hit every time at bat during that first game and actually came running in and scored a run during one of the innings smiling from ear to ear! This was so wonderful for all of us because he has come such a long way this year!

I know now that I've lost many of you...admit it...you think I am just bragging on my kid! Well, yeah..just a teensy bit but there's more!

The second game was played almost immediately after the first game for us and the second team came to win...they were very good and had some really great hitters and outscored us by quite a bit. So needless to say...we lost the tournament. But I do say all of this though...it was so worth it to see the kids on our team play. They had actually learned so much during this difficult season...they learned how to really hit the ball, how to decide where the play was at each batter's turn, how to be ready all the time because you never know where that ball will go, how to listen to the coaches somewhat (they are all kids after all), and most of all how to have fun.

That was the best part...that they knew what it was all about...not just winning although everyone likes to win..it's fun and you get to cheer alot about being champions, etc. But our kids left with smiles on their faces because they had played well...they had improved drastically from the beginning of the year and they had beat a team no one expected them to beat to make it to the final game.

I try to think...do I go through life like that? Do I live my Christian walk like that? There will be some wins and some losses in my life as I live each day for the Lord but do I always remember that deep down it's how I win AND lose that matters? Do I try my best ALL the time...even when satan tells me that there is no way to win? Do I not let the losses get me down but help me to see where I can improve in my walk? And do I always remember what it's about...having fun and I don't mean silly fun but a real blast with my Lord who I have listened well to and who encourages me each step of the way?

As we sat at Alex's favorite place to eat, McDonald's (he got to pick because he played so hard) he said it all..."You know it doesn't really matter if you lose or win but if you have fun playing!" Thanks Alex for reminding us of what it is all about! I love you Big Al!

Blog Break

2009-05-09T16:10:00.003-04:00

I haven't written in a while for the most part because I have been very busy with a large women's event at church and other church activities. For those of you who actually read this blog, here is a link to the site we have set up to share our women's events. Hope you enjoy it!

www.flintgrovesbaptistchurchwomensmi.shutterfly.com

In Memory

2009-04-13T17:22:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow will mark the 13th anniversary of my father's homegoing. I have had him on my mind a lot lately. Like I said before this time of the year reminds me of him so much. His favorite verse was 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

My daddy knew this in the deepest parts of his soul because I have heard many family members talk about how he was before he was saved and I saw the life he lived afterwards. I was born the year after he accepted the Lord and I saw no evidences of the "old" man that he was. The Lord had taken that away from him in a single moment.

I was checking my email this morning and found this video posted on Tangle that a little girl sang for her daddy's celebration of life. It is my intent to share this in honor and memory of my dad who didn't show a lot of affection all the time but when he told me that I was beautiful...he got that smile in his eyes too! I love you and miss you Daddy!

Minister's Wives

2009-03-25T15:48:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to share a link with you to give you an idea of what life is like for minister's wives all over the country. This was posted on Beth Moore's blog and compiled from hundreds of comments that she received to an earlier post about the difficulties of being the wife of a minister. There are three separate videos...be sure to view all of them...interesting and heartwrenching and humorous all at the same time. I especially like the one comment, "Sometimes sheep bite!" I think that is my favorite! Oh boy!

Here is the link: http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/2009/03/life-of-ministers-wife.html

Daddy Kisses

2009-03-16T13:39:00.003-04:00

This is the time of the year when I especially miss my dad. His birthday fell on March 1 and the day he went home to be with the Lord fell on April 14 (of course there is always the joke that he left just in time to miss filing his taxes!). But I read an excerpt from a Bible newsletter that I receive by email this morning that made me think of him and gave me a little inspiration for the day.

In Luke 15 we find the story of the prodigal son who comes home to his father after spending all of his inheritance on wild living and partying. When he returns home repentant and vows to ask his father to just make him a servant, his father comes running to him, throws his arms around his son and kisses him over and over again to show how much he was missed and how glad the father is to have him back.

My dad was never a very "touchy" person. He didn't hug a whole lot and very rarely did he kiss me growing up but the day of my wedding, I have a picture that I cherish of my daddy giving me a kiss on the cheek. I know his heart was heavy that day because I was his only daughter and I was getting married at the age of 18 (just graduated high school and heading off to college in a month). But there he was, giving me away and sealing his blessing with a kiss to send me off with this young man. I look back on that kiss as just that...a blessing.

Then I think back again to the prodigal son story and the kisses that the father lavished on his son who had returned. And I see a connection...a poetic description of what our heavenly Father does every day. We come to Him with our mistakes and failures of the day and instead of scolding, He lifts us up, wraps His arms around us and lavishes us with His kisses...those touches of blessing in our lives throughout the day.

Things like a friend coming to hug you when you are hurting and praying for someone special, a friend sharing a God-moment with you because you have been facilitating a Bible study that has meant so much to both of you, a husband sending a short little note to remind you that you are special, a baby girl running back to the door as she heads off to school just to give you a kiss and hug and say, "I love you, Mommy!"...a whole group of people ready to get finished with what they are doing at church and go home that stop and take the time to pray for you and your husband...a friend who shares his story at a retreat that reminds you that God still changes hearts...and simply, birds chirping on a cold rainy day knowing that spring is just around the corner.

God chooses to send His kisses to us all throughout the day in so many ways! Have you looked for them today?

Precious Heavenly Father, thank you for your kisses of blessing in my life...Your reminders to me that I am special to You and that Your desire is to delight me with Your goodness. I am so blessed...please help me to always be mindful of each and every blessing You provide so that I never grow cold to Your love for me. Thank You most of all for the biggest blessing of life, being able to call You Father because of the sacrifice that You made to send Jesus to take my sin on Himself. Jesus, the most beautiful name of all names..MY Savior! I love You! Amen!

Broken Into Beautiful

2009-03-14T20:09:00.005-04:00

She smiling on the outside

But she's hurting on the inside

It's getting hard just living anymore

And the shadows she has clung to

Painful things she has been through

Have left her feeling worthless Lord

But You change worthless into precious

Guilty to forgiven

Hungry into satisfied

Empty into full

And all the lies are shattered

And we believe we matter

When You change broken into beautiful.

We live with accusations

Sometimes heavy expectations

that tell us we can never measure up.

But You repeat with mercy

That in Your eyes we are worthy

'Till at last we see how much we're loved.

But You change worthless into precious

Guilty to forgiven

Hungry into satisfied

Empty into full

And all the lies are shattered

And we believe we matter

When You change broken into beautiful.

words and music by Gwen Smith, Sue Smith, and Chad Cates

Lord, thank you that what You take hold of in Your hands can never be called unworthy, ugly, empty, or worthless! Thank you for helping me to see my worth in You! All those that sit in judgement will have to answer to my Daddy! Yes, Lord! Not being ugly or conceited but today I needed to know that I am special and it doesn't matter if anyone else believes that in my life (although I have one special person that tells me that all the time!) but I KNOW that You Precious Savior believe that because You paid for me to be Yours! I love You Jesus! Thank you because every year at just about this time, when I remember the year dad came to be with You and we celebrate the real reason for Easter, You remind me that even if I were the only one, You still would have come...FOR ME!! I praise You God Almighty for revealing Yourself to me everyday! Hallelujah and Amen!!

A Great Sadness

2009-03-12T07:58:00.002-04:00

Please review the following article and pray, pray, pray for our country. I think many of us knew this was coming...

http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0%2C1703%2CA%25253D168919%252526M%25253D200726%2C00.html?rss=20090312

Precious, Holy Father, how grieved yourheart must be over the complete lack of respect for the life you have created. Life in its smallest form in the need of the most protection has been utterly passed over to the "science" of it all. God You provide the solution for all of this...a turning of our hearts back to You. Please use all of us that call ourselves Christian to speak out against something that can only be called murder. Please God, help us...help us to seek Your face, Your will, help us to stand up, help us to really live in this life You have given us and not just coast along with no regard for what is happening around us. Help our President who calls himself Christian to see how much this decision that he has made goes against everything that he SHOULD believe if he is a follower of You. Change his heart, change him...the same plea we all should make...change us and make us more like You! Amen.

You Have Laid Your Hand Upon Me

2009-03-06T08:01:00.002-05:00

A little more than 17 years ago, my oldest daughter was born and for me the first experience of motherhood was amazing. I really felt like the Lord had given me something to do that was so wonderful and great and worthwhile in my life by giving me a daughter to raise.

Needless to say, my hubby was not quite on board. He was worried a lot, nervous about the baby, and couldn't see why I was so extremely happy all the time...He felt like our life was over. We still laugh about that today!

But one precious memory was brought back to my mind today as I read through a very favorite portion of scripture of mine. Psalm 139. It speaks to my heart every time I read it and today was no different.

My devotion was on David today but the scripture helped me to see a new picture of God in my life.

The verse I am talking about says, "You hem me in-behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me." (vs. 5)

The first couple of nights we were home from the hospital with MG were very frantic for my husband. Our little girl slept through the night from the first time we brought her home and he couldn't understand why. Because of his great distress over this wonderful thing that any parent would be happy about, he constantly kept watch over our little one through the night.

One particular thing he would do would be to watch her breathe in and out...in and out...in and out. But sometimes it was a little dark in our room with the bassinet at the end of the bed and he couldn't see if she was breathing or not so he would lay his hand over her little back and feel the rise and fall of her body as air was drawn in and exhaled. It was a gesture of protection and careful watch over something precious.

How wonderful to know that our heavenly Father lays His hand on us...He knows if we are breathing but His is a hand of comfort...a hand that says, "I am here." His hand is a hand of blessing and offers His protection over our lives. We are His children and He wants to be sure that we know how much He loves us and is watching over us and is checking to see if we are breathing in and out His word every day of our lives.

Precious Father, thank you for Your hand of protection and comfort. Thank you for the peace it gives us to know that You watch over us, that you lay Your hand on our lives and bless us with Your presence. Keep us ever mindful that even though we don't always see the evidences of Your hand in our lives we can trust that you are there with Your hand covering us and letting us know that you will never leave us or forsake us. I praise You for speaking to my heart today and giving me a glimpse of what a loving heavenly Father You are! Amen

Speak Lord for your servant is listening!

2009-02-23T16:41:00.003-05:00

God's Word makes me giddy! Yes, it does! This week could have been a real downer but God reminded me of a few things that have lifted my spirits:

God sees and hears and already knows what we will go through in this life and because He loves us so much, He provides for those times even before they happen. Like causing certain studies to be taught and words to be preached that He knows we will need to hear.
God provides the strength we will need when instead of rushing head on into a situation, He helps us to see that waiting is the right course to take. I tend to be very emotional when first introduced to a stress or difficulty in my life. But, God has showed me that if I wait on Him instead of the situation, His strength will be provided during that waiting period. And not only waiting but putting my focus on Him, it will give me those wings so I can fly over the difficulty and get the true perspective that He has to show me that I can rise above the situation and see eventually how His hand was at work all the while.
God gives His forgiveness freely to us, so how can we not forgive others? I think back over my life and realize all the terrible things I have done and ways I have failed and yet, He gives His forgiveness over and over again. He never gives up on us and never turns His back and says, "Alright you have really done it this time...you are no longer mine!" It is in my heart as a worldly person to give up on someone when they have been given opportunity after opportunity but because I have the Spirit of the Living God in my soul, I can never give up on ANYONE! God does miracles everyday...like saving someone like me!
God chooses to speak to us through His word...AMAZING! Why is it so amazing? It shouldn't be but God I think loves to see our eyes brighten as we finally get it...it finally sinks in and we get it! God's Word says of itself: "It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11) What are those desires and achievements? Changed hearts, restored lives, eye-opening experiences where we see God's hand move in the everyday, encouragement, teaching, fellowship among the believers so that we can share with each other the miracles that God is doing in our lives THROUGH His Word!

Beth Moore shared a portion of a favorite Old Testament story of mine, that of Samuel. I Samuel 3:1-10: Samuel is sleeping near the ark of God (God's presence among His people) in the temple and he hears someone call his name. He thinks it is Eli the priest. But Eli says he hasn't called him. It happens a second time and then the third time, Eli realizes the Lord is calling Samuel and he instructs Samuel how to answer. Samuel goes back the third time and the Lord calls him again, "Samuel! Samuel!" Samuel answers the Lord, "Speak, for your servant is listening!"

Oh that I would answer the Lord every time I sit under the teaching of His word, every time I read His word, everytime I pray...speak to me Lord, Your servant is listening!

It sounds simple enough but of course, sometimes, it is hard to hear what the Lord has to say. We don't want to change our actions, we want the other person to change...we don't want to have to work for anything, it is too hard!... we realize that sometimes there is loss in the message and we want to hold on...we know there could possibly be suffering and we want to be comfortable...whatever it is, sometimes it is hard to hear from the Lord. But we need to realize that whatever it is the Lord is teaching, showing, pointing out, drawing attention to in our lives, it is for our good and will accomplish His purpose. How I want my life to accomplish His purposes! "Speak to me Lord, your servant is listening!"

Praise You Lord that you don't just give us a good book to read with good stories but that you choose to show us how to live through your word. It is living and will address every issue of life today and many years into the future. It never ages or becomes obsolete. Your word is forever true and speaks to every situation of our lives. Thank you Lord that You choose to show Yourself through Your word, You choose to encourage us through Your word, You choose to make us new, different, restored, redeemed through Your word! Nothing surprises You and we are never out of Your sight. You prepare us for the battles that we face on a daily basis through the teachings of Your word! You supply everything we need through the relationship that we have with You through the instruction of Your word! Thank you again for choosing to speak to us when we listen. Help us to keep our ears open for that voice that calls our name and may our answer always be, "Speak Lord" Amen!

Worshiping Like David

2009-02-17T12:57:00.003-05:00

My heart is so full as I write these words for my post today. I am looking back over what seems like a very small experience I had this past weekend but it has touched my heart every time I think about it.

First let me say, that many times things happen in our lives that can be such a blow to our faith and are satan's attempts to ruin God's ministry through His people. Satan just loves to use very petty things, things that would never matter in any other situation, except at church to cause such turmoil because we let him. These small things lead to larger things that continue to grow until they are way out of hand. This is another stress of being in ministry because a lot of times, minister's and their wives are aware of these attacks and sometimes our only resource is to pray that hearts will be changed and the Lord will give the victory in those situations.

With all of that heavy stuff being said, I have relived a very small moment this past week over and over again to remind myself how things should be with the Lord and among His people.

This weekend, we were riding around in the Burb (that's Suburban for those of you not in the know) and of course three of our kids were with us. Alex has recently been sprung from his booster seat in the car because he is eight now and he sits in the very middle of the back seat usually by himself unless we have everyone with us. This day he was in the back by himself and Matthan and Gracie were in the two captain's seats in the middle with Ronnie and I up front.

We always listen to music and this day was no different. We had the radio cranked up and I had put our drama cd in the car to listen to one of the songs on it that I just love, I Will Rise (the Travis Cottrell version). It is just good knowing that the victory is promised to all of us that know the Lord. Love it!

Well, we were all in the moment of listening to the song, singing along on parts we knew and riding along. Then it happened, it was almost the end of the song and we are singing I will rise over and over again and Ronnie asked me to look in the back seat.

There was my precious 8-year old boy with his face upturned to the sun shining through the windows, head leaned back and hands lifted up...the face of an angel, just singing his heart out, I will rise, I will rise, I will rise!!!

Why is it such a shock when we see pure worship? I think because we don't witness it enough even with all of our worship services and times of praise together. This was pure praise and true worship that I witnessed in the face of my son. Yes, he was enjoying the song, but it was more than that because my Alex knows His Savior. He was sharing from his heart, his song of praise to the King and I got to see it. It put a lot of things in perspective for me.

Like...sometimes we make things so difficult. Jesus says that we should come to Him like a little child, why? Because they take things straightforward, simply, no complicated thoughts, no discussion, just pure belief and pure worship. Children just understand that God has something that they need and they believe that because He loves them, He is giving it. Since they need it, they accept it and no more problem. It's that simple.

I also learned that we sometimes think too much of ourselves and not others and definitely not the Lord. How does this affect me? How will my life be changed? What disruption does this cause to MY plans? Everything is about ME. My son wasn't thinking about himself right then...he was thinking about this beautiful song that was written as a celebration of our Savior and he was singing it to the Lord for all he was worth.

12 Now King David was told, "The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God." So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. 13 When those who were carrying the ark of the LORD had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. 14 David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, 15 while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.
16 As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart.

20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, "How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!"
21 David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD's people Israel—I will celebrate before the LORD. 22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor."
(2 Samuel 6:12-16, 20-22)

What a great example of the kind of worship that David had...my son with complete rapture singing for the Lord and we got to witness it. I pray that we all are this undignified in our worship of the Lord...not caring who sees or what they say...only knowing what the Lord has done for us and celebrating it!

He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Mark 10:14-15

21At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure."

Luke 10:21

Precious Father, thank you for reminding me how I should praise you and serve you...with a heart and soul full of rapture, basking in Your goodness and taking the form of an undignified joy that doesn't care what anyone else thinks but only what You think! Help me to praise you like Alex and may the light of Your glory fill my face, my eyes, my words, my actions with who You are to all those around me so that they can share in my joy and worship You along with me! I praise You Father! Amen!

Miscellaneous

2009-02-10T22:34:00.002-05:00

Just a few miscellaneous thoughts as I sit here and Ronnie sits in Tennessee:

1 ~ On a funny note, does any one else sound really stupid when they leave a message on someone's answering machine? I have been trying to call a certain person to discuss an upcoming women's event at our church and of course, I leave messages. What do I say on that thing and what do I sound like? I think it must sound like..."Hello this is Norma Bowers, I think so and so told you about me or asked you about our event coming up...oh, and my number is ..............and I just wanted to try to get to talk to you about our women's event...it is a festival of tables and we have women of our church sponsor a table to decorate to a certain theme and...oh, I don't have to tell you all of that!! I just wanted to see if you would give me a call back or you could just email me back...I hate for you to have long distance charges...we would love to have you come and I saw on your email that you would be interested...and (*click*). Oh I am just so goofy!

And yes, that was about what it sounded like! Maybe now I know why she isn't calling back...she is running away..very far away!

2 ~ My sister-in-law posted on her blog tonight about Family Night at their house. It is an important thing to have time with family doing fun things together. They had backwards night at their house wearing clothes backwards, eating dessert first, eating under the table, etc. Just one thing...at my house this is a normal occurrence! Yes, someone either has their clothes on backwards, sends some food to the floor, or tries to nibble a little on that dessert before eating the "real" food (ahem...does the chocolate on my upper lip give me away?!).

3 ~ My son had to do a project for school (over the holidays...but of course, we felt sorry for anyone having to do homework of any kind over their break from school...so we said we will help you later...BIG mistake, HUGE!!). It was a study of one of his family names (last names or his first name). Did I suggest that he do something simple like his own first name and do everything centered around him...well, no!! We did research on my mom's maiden name because she is from the small town that we are now living in. I thought it would be neat...NOT!! After about two days on the internet doing research...I was ready to quit. I have never been so stressed out over something that didn't matter a hill of beans to MY FUTURE!! Future Tip: Let the kid do the simple thing OVER THE HOLIDAYS!

4 ~ On a serious note...I am praying for a friend tonight. I am asking for God to show His mercy through me and I am sometimes just not a mercy-giver. I think I am not doing enough for my friend. I pray but I feel like I should do more. I am not sure what that is. Like I said, I am not necessarily a mercy-giver. Help me Lord...help my friend. That is all He needs to act...the cry of a heart seeking Him. Helps us to seek You Lord!

5 ~ How exciting is the story of Esther!! I have been blown away already by the beautiful story and the many lessons it has for me about faith, fear, beauty, and the mind of a smart woman! Lord, help me to be like Esther! I need some of that stuff they call "gumption!" I am seriously lacking in it! Give me some Holy Gumption to do what You have called me to do when the timing seems bad, when the circumstances are just not right and when everyone seems to be against me! You are my Deliverer and Sustainer! I love you Lord!

Hopefully I can shut this brain of mine off for a while and get some sleep!

Precious Savior, help me tonight. Help me to know how to be a true friend, to laugh over those sweet family moments (even if they were over 150 years ago in the D...... family!), help me to latch on to the times that I have like tonight when it is quiet and my heart is open to hear from You. Speak to my heart Lord Jesus! Help me to rest in You tonight and have a joy-filled day tomorrow. Thanks for the many miracles today and the ones that I know You are working on...Yes, You are always working even when I don't see it. I love you for your constant-ness! Priase You Lord! Amen!

Life, Abundance, Restoration!

2009-02-06T12:53:00.003-05:00

I must apologize...until recently, I never realized how very negative my posts sounded. I am not a very good humor person...I don't tell jokes very well and it is hard for me to share something funny in a post...it just isn't in me. I am serious by nature and I guess when I am discussing something especially about my Jesus, it is very serious to me. But, it can come across in a very negative light nevertheless.

So with that in mind, I wanted to share something so joyous and heart-filling that I can't hardly get my fingers to type fast enough!

I was reading through some scriptures as I went through my Bible the other day for my study and I came across one scripture that I do have memorized...John 10:10 - "The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; (okay that isn't encouraging!) I have come so that they may have life, and have it to the full (now we're talking!)."

I have had a lot of "stealing" going on in my life lately and a lot of "destroying" it seems like and even in a sense some "killing." But my God trumps every act of the devil every time.

He showed me through His word that when the devil steals, He gives back abundantly, when the devil destroys, He restores and when the devil kills, He raises it back to life!

I wanted to share a whole load of scriptures here with you but like I said my fingers can't type fast enough. So, as an overview, as far as life, look no further than the book of John. It is the book of "life." It has more than 40 verses that talk about life including the one that I have shared above. And also the one where Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth and the life; no man comes to the Father but by Me." God gives us life when He gave us Jesus! Please read through this whole book of the Bible..it won't take long and with a red pen mark every time you see the word life and let is just wash over you what God has done. The devil can't kill that life ever!

Then God gives us abundance...He gives us life TO THE FULL! He doesn't hold anything back. He doesn't just save us but He gives to us out of His abundance...He gives us grace, mercy, joy, peace, and His provision for every thing that we will do when we belong to Him. Let the devil just try to take that from us...he can't!

Finally, over and over again, the devil will try to destroy us...to destroy anything godly in our lives and a lot of times he gets our assistance in the matter! We don't follow God's ways or listen to His voice or turn our eyes from evil and the devil will walk in and destroy every good thing or at least try to.

Remember the Israelites in the Old Testament? God promised them from the beginning that He would bless them, make them into a mighty nation, and give them the land He had provided them. All throughout the Old Testament though, they disobeyed, turned from God, followed other gods, listened to men instead of God, followed their own ways and didn't look to the Lord when they should. But time and again, He tells them that He will restore...almost 60 passages in the OT talk about the Lord's restoration of Israel as His chosen people including all those things that they were promised. You see, God never goes back on His promise, even when we are disobedient. He will restore what we think has been destroyed or taken from us. The devil can't do enough to change that. God sent Jesus as the ultimate restoration of what has been lost or taken from us through our own acts of disobedience. Even though we sin, God sent Jesus to give us back what our sin and the devil had taken...all we need to do is believe Him!

Please choose to believe God today that He will give abundantly, He will give you life, He will restore what has been lost. Turn your life over to Him today, confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead and you will be saved!

Praise you Lord for your goodness..your provision, your life, your abundance, your restoration...you give it all to us and I am grateful! I praise your name for Your mighty acts on my behalf and for every other person on this planet. I pray that many will come to know You and be saved! Praise you Lord! Amen!

*As I was typing this post, I received a call from a friend who is hurting and needs the Lord desperately right now. Please lift her up when you read this. The Lord knows who and all of that but just lift her up with me that God will make Himself known in her situation and will give life, abundance, and restoration! Thank you!

A Short Funny!

2009-02-05T22:36:00.002-05:00

This afternoon as we were returning home from Sam's making our monthly run for things we buy in bulk, our Alex started complaining about hurrying home to do you know what.

Ronnie explained that if he hadn't drunk all the water that he had with him he wouldn't have to go so badly.

To which Alex replied, "Dad, God wants us to drink lots of water so we don't get dehibernated!" It was quiet for a moment as we let that sink in and then we all looked at each other and busted out laughing. That is Alex...he is always funny when he isn't trying to be and not so funny when he is (following in the footsteps of his mother!).

I am sure that there is some deep meaning that I can attach to this little slip of the tongue but to save my life I can't think of one...you know sometimes things are just funny and thank heavens for that!

Praise you Lord for giving us the ability to laugh and enjoy life! I can't think of anything better than hearing my kids laugh and all of us joining in. I love you Lord because I am sure you were laughing with us! Amen!

The Pink Patrol!

2009-02-03T17:08:00.003-05:00

Hello Everyone! Just to let you know that Beth Moore's daughter Amanda has gone to the hospital to deliver her baby girl. Please keep this whole family in your prayers!

My Battering Ram

2009-02-02T17:25:00.002-05:00

Well, I am a short way into the study of Esther and already the Lord has begun a fresh work on my heart. I must say that a big portion of the things that I struggle with are not so much things that I do that I know aren't right (although those are many) but it is a constant barrage of thoughts that cause me to struggle in my walk with the Lord. Can I get an AMEN?

As I talked with a friend today, I basically went on a rant about something that I have had the hardest time with lately and that is discouragement. It is just like the devil to kick you when you are down and he has had a huge amount of help from me in that area.

I constantly go through conversations in my mind and discover things I "should have said" or things I "should have done." I delve into all the emtions and suggested or hidden meanings behind the "way" someone said something or what I thought they actually meant by what they said. All of this takes place in this well of my mind that tends to the negative. I am working on it. I am trying to memorize scripture and trying to keep scripture going throughout my mind during the day to keep me from thinking these negative thoughts.

I must admit that the cause of my discouragement is ME! Yes, I can say that it is because I am not appreciated or because people don't miss me when I am gone for a while or because I am not recognized for the things that I do. And what is the main subject of each of those reasons..."I." I think this reminds me of a certain scripture that describes the foe that I fight with every day...Isaiah 14:13ff says "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of the assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." Too many I's for me! This is the rant of the one we call satan or the devil. We can always claim that the devil made us do it...he makes us like we are...but in reality, we choose how we act or react and I have chosen poorly here lately.

My focus should never be on the "I" but on the "Him!" I only get discouraged when I listen to the lies of the devil and not the facts of my God. (I'm going to brag on myself here...so excuse me and close your eyes if you don't want to see it!) I am chosen by my God, I have been called to my purpose in this life...loving my husband, children, family, women's ministry, singing for my King, showing His love to all those around me (even the ones in the grocery store!), I am well-loved by my Savior and He gave His life for ME, I am royalty and a delight to my Father! Who needs to be discouraged when you can say all those things and KNOW they are true? And just to let you in on a little secret...You can claim all those same things if you belong to Jesus!

How much I love Him! I can say with Job..."I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I MYSELF will see Him with MY OWN EYES - I, and not another. How MY HEART YEARNS WITHIN ME!!" (Job 19:25-27)

Oh Precious Father, thank you for the promise that I can count on that you will stand in the end and that I will see you with my own eyes. I will see the one who gave His life for me. No matter what I go through in this life and the discouragement I face from my own thoughts, You Lord have conquered them all already. I so long for the day when my only thoughts will be for You! I want that to be now...help me Lord! I can't wait to see the One who died for me. Lord my heart is Yours as my daughter so beautifully sang this past Sunday. I want my heart to be totally yours and my thoughts to be focused on You and who I am in You. Thank you for the constant encouragement of Your Word and from the washing in Your word that I receive every day. I bless you Lord for Your awesome acts in my life. I love you and I say, my heart longs for You! I need You and You are there! Amen and Amen!!

What 'Cha Think?!

2009-01-21T13:24:00.003-05:00

Hey, let me know what you think about the new blog look. Leave me a comment!

I wanted something new and this was so cute! Click on the link at the top left of my screen to take you to the page where these cute backgrounds are made.

More to come....

Shame on Me!!

2009-01-15T15:31:00.002-05:00

Okay, I know it has been a MONTH since I have posted. I have been so convicted to not write anything at all. The Lord has been dealing with my heart on such deep levels this past holiday season. It has been hard and my heart has hurt. I have come to realization of many things that it means to be in the ministry. So many that I could never list them here and give any amount of due diligence to them of explanation or exposition.

With all of that said, I am writing to say that I am searching my heart to know what to do with my blog. I love writing so much and I just have not had time...at least not the amount of time that someone like me needs to write something that isn't just making a list to say I wrote something down. I am amazed at the amount of writing that some women do on their blogs and wonder where they find the time to do so much. I need to start getting up at 5:00 am but with our desk and computer in the bedroom I am not sure that my hubby would be very supportive of that.

Anyway, I have been working on the new Esther study and I hope to write some here each week during the study so that I can keep in touch with the ladies taking my class during the week and encourage them as they go through it with me. What a great study for women!!

I know that there aren't a large number of people who read this (maybe 2 or 3) but if by some chance you happen to drop by here by accident or by a search please answer this for me:

Beth Moore did a survey of 400 women to ask them to list their top 3 reasons why it is tough being a woman. Please if you are reading this, I would love to hear from you! I hope to share my answers in the next couple of weeks for my class so stop by and look for my answers. Click on the comment label below and drop me a line to let me know YOUR answers and if it is alright to share them anonymously. I think we need to encouarge one another and knowing that we are not the only one dealing with a certain problem, emotion, difficulty, stronghold in life, is a great encouragement.

I love you and thanks for still reading! I hope to pour it all out soon! God bless you!

My Baby Shower

2008-12-15T07:36:00.003-05:00

(Alright, no I am not expecting a baby!)

About a month ago, I had a conversation with my hubby about my birthday. Financially, things have been very hard for us for the past few years and we just have not had the money to spend on things. So, I shared with Ronnie that I didn't really want anything for my birthday...that I would like to help someone or an organization with any money that we would spend on my birthday. I didn't think about it any more after that.

Then, a friend of mine from church was planning a day for our church to provide music for a local Christian music store/coffee house. It was planned for Saturday, December 6 so I told her that several of us from our family would help with the music. We all had some things we could sing for the evening so she put us down.

Well, without my knowing, Ronnie and she were planning behind the scenes a surprise party for me to coincide with that night to give us an excuse to go there and for me to be surprised. Ronnie also planned for those that attended to provide gifts for a baby shower that would be donated to our local Crisis Pregnancy Center.

I later found out the shock that ran through our church when many members got emails that read something like: Come to Norma's surprise baby shower! I am sure that many gasps of amazement and surprise were heard all over Gastonia when those emails were read!

Well, everything went off without a hitch. I had some strange feelings that weekend but nothing dealing with the night of singing so I was definitely surprised! I walked in to find many friends welcoming me to my baby shower/surprise party, loaded with gifts for the babies at the center. I was so humbled and my heart was filled to the brim.

I am ready to do this again next year. It was in my memory, the best brithday I have ever had. Please don't think that I tell you all of this to make something out of myself to you. I just want to open your eyes to the many ways that we all can do our part to help those around us. I will never see on this earth the moms and babies that were helped from those simple gifts of love from my family and friends, but I do know that the Lord sees it all and will use those things to maybe help a mom make a very difficult decision to keep her baby. All because someone cared enough to provide baby supplies for her to make it easier for her to say yes to being a mom.

Precious Father, I love to call you that! I am filled with wonder at how you work things out to accomplish Your will. Thank you for so many who love me enough to be a part of something as strange sounding as a surprise birthday/baby shower that would provide supplies for these precious moms and their babies. Only because you have showed us the right way to love others around us can we do anything like this. Lord, I don't understand why so many don't do things like this so often. It feels so good!! You not only give us ways like this to help others but You provide so many blessings through what we might think is a sacrifice. Thank you that nothing is really a sacrifice for You because of what you have provided already and what you have planned for our future. Lord make me more like you every day so that things like this are commonplace for me and not something I work on once or twice a year. Help me to realize that I am never more like You than when I give, especially sacrificially. Thank you for allowing me to have a small part in revealing Your glory to the world! I love you so very much! Amen!

He Carries Us In The Desert

2008-12-02T12:02:00.002-05:00

Well, it has been a while, but our women's group just finished our Fall Bible study on the Psalms of Ascent, Stepping Up and it has now become one of my favorite Beth Moore studies. I went through the study first by myself preparing to facilitate it at a later date and of course the Lord gave it to me at just the time I needed it. Now having gone through the study with a wonderful group of women, it means even more to me!

I did want to share one small thought that brought back memories of my dad and how God is the ultimate Father. In studying Psalm 131 and discovering several scriptures that relate how God is like a parent to us touched a tender part of my heart. One of the scriptures that Beth Moore shared was Deuteronomy 1:30-31: "The Lord your God who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did in Egypt, before your very eyes and in the desert. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place."

There were so many things that I got from this scripture but the thought of a Father carrying his son in the desert was what really touched my heart. I thought back so many years ago when I was a small child, the Wizard of Oz was one of my favorite movies and it would come on every year around the holidays or family times and I would love to watch it. However, the witch scared me to death! I would hide or close my eyes when she came on the scene. Of course, my parents would explain to me that the witch wasn't real and she was just an actress playing a part and made up to look ugly and mean. That didn't work for me!

Well, I loved the movie so much that my parents decided to take me to a place in the mountains that was themed around the movie. I can't remember what it was called but it was something like The Land of Oz. While we were there, I was enthralled with all the characters and loved the woman playing Dorothy. But, like everything, there has to be an evil element and there, as a live person, was the Wicked Witch!! I was terrified because all my thoughts and movie watching had come to life!

Before I tell you what my dad did, I must explain one thing...he had a terrible back. He had several bone spurs and deteriorated discs and walked all the time with a limp. But my precious daddy picked me up and carried me through the rest of the Land of Oz! He knew that I was so scared and felt like I couldn't walk around with that witch there so he made a way for me to see the rest of the place and not be afraid any more.

How wonderful, this memory I have of my daddy! But even more, my heavenly Father carries me through times of difficulty. The scripture that I shared says that He carried His children in the desert. He didn't just carry them but He carried them through the desert!

I don't know what any of you are going through especially at this time of year with the financial situation looking like it does. You may have lost someone recently and will be going through the holidays missing that precious family member or friend. You may not know where your next paycheck is coming from if it comes at all. You may not know how you will provide for your children this Christmas. There are so many things that cause us to worry and feel like we just can't go on. But, our Father who loves us so much, carries us through all of it. All those dry, desert-like times...times when we turn our backs on Him...times when we forsake our commitment to Him...times when we feel attacked and surrounded on every side that He carries us THROUGH them!! This world won't be easy but to know that my Father cares for me so much that He would carry me through the desert of loneliness, dry times of not feeling like my prayers are going anywhere, times when I am so hungery and thirsty for His word, times when I feel attacked and surrounded by the enemy...He carries ME and He will carry YOU if you know Jesus as your Savior!!!

I could just praise Him from now on for that one word of His today! God you are so very good!

Precious Lord, thank you for carrying me...thank you for lifting me up on your shoulders and taking me through those times when I feel like I will not make it. Thank you God for making me your very own child and then never leaving me for the rest of my time here on this earth. It is so very hard! Precious loved ones do die, financial struggles trouble us from every side, loneliness is always threatening to cut us off from others, times when we don't hear from you Lord...are all so hard to take but thank you that we don't face these things alone. This same scripture says that You go before us, You fight for us and then you carry us through these difficulties. Praise you Lord that we can trust You to do what you say, that we can lean on you when it gets so hard and then when we can't walk any further in our own strength, You come in and carry us! Thank you Lord for lifting me up out of the worry pit that I put myself in sometimes. You are so very good to protect us with your love and the power of your salvation. You are the ultimate DADDY! I love you with all my heart! Thank you Jesus for the word of God that speaks to my heart! I praise you forever! Amen!!

Turkey Recipe

2008-11-25T15:47:00.005-05:00

I just thought I would share a wonderful recipe that my son Alex came home from school with today:

Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe

You put the turkey in the stove. The temperature is 10,000 degrees. When you get the turkey you need to take out the guts from the turkey. When you are done cooking you need to take off the feathers. Before you put the turkey in the stove, you need to cut off its head. Enjoy!

(Ronnie and I are a little concerned about the phrase "cut off its head" but I guess he notices at least that it doesn't have a head when we eat it!!)

I know I have been absent here lately but it isn't because God isn't speaking into my life. He has been at work in so many ways. I hope over the next few weeks as we end up this year, I have some time to just sit and reflect on some of those things here with the handful of those of you who actually read my blog!

I so admire those of you who actually write in their blogs more often than every other week. I don't know how you do it! Well, if I don't stop by tomorrow for some reason, I hope all of you have a very Happy Thanksgiving, praising God for His goodness to you!

A Link You Might Want to Check Out!

2008-11-03T15:34:00.002-05:00

Please click on the highlighted words, Come What May and please read about the new movie coming out. I have not had the time to watch the entire movie but want to see what you all think. You actually can sign up through this webpage and watch the entire movie online in segments! You can't beat a good FREE movie!

If you choose to watch it and have the time to do so, please post a comment here and let me know what you think. I want to try to watch it with the hubby...yes, we are still doing the Love Dare. It has gone from what I thought was simple stuff to meddling in my life!! Ha! It has been eye-opening and I hope to post something on it very soon!

And, by the way, GET OUT AND VOTE TOMORROW if you haven't already done so!

Halloween Pix

2008-11-01T14:43:00.008-04:00

Just wanted to share pictures from our fun Halloween night! Gracie and a couple of friends at the end of our time at our church Fall Festival. This was the cap event of the night because Gracie was SUPPOSED to be a Princess and wasn't allowed to do this air-filled jumpy thing until it was time to go so she would stay beautiful. By the way, she said to her daddy, "Why does everyone keep saying 'You're so beautiful Gracie!'?" To which her father answered with a "Well, then how about, 'You're UGLY!'" and she immediately said, "Hey, I am not!" A little full of herself I believe! Maybe we need to be something more humble next year like a peasant!

The Ice Princess (and please don't make the mistake of calling her a Snow Queen or Christmas Barbie or anything lame like that! She is an Ice Princess!!)

Here is Luke Skywalker (better known as a Star Wars Clone Trooper..but please don't tell Alex, he really thinks he IS Luke Skywalker...long story but evidently they don't make Luke Skywalker to sell at Party City only Anakin Skywalker and he turns into a bad guy!)

Here is Palamalu, a Pittsburg Steeler player (be advised his wig was worn for the same purpose at least three years ago...doesn't it look good for having been used three years as a toy after the original Halloween use as a Palamalu wig?!! Sorry if I misspelled that name...I'm only the mom not the football expert!)

Anyway, we did have a fun time and it was packed!! People kept coming and kept coming. It was great and everyone looked like they were enjoying themselves.

"Steeping in the Lord"

2008-10-27T13:21:00.002-04:00

Oh my thoughts have been pricked today by several occurrences over the past few days. I often get a certain scripture or section of scripture on my mind and just think, think, think on it. I have come to find this meditation makes my mind open to promptings of the Holy Spirit that I wouldn't otherwise pay attention to or feel related to me. In other words, I would think that all sounds nice but doesn't really relate to me.

This past week, I attended a music conference at Hickory Grove North in Charlotte and sat in on several very good sessions and participated in wonderful times of worship that I just really needed. In one of the sessions, one of the speakers shared the story of Mary and Martha...one that I have studied many times and read about. This is one of those scriptures that I just go over and over again in my mind but at this point in my life when things are so busy in our church and in my ministry, it was especially needed. The teacher, Glenn Packiam, was excellent. He was teaching on learning not to lead. Boy how I needed to hear that! He discussed the need of a Sabbath rest from leading and doing and being so busy. I am terrible at this! Remember I told you before, my mind is constantly thinking of things that I NEED to DO!!

Anyway, Glenn shared that Martha was busy and Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus. When Martha complained (like we all do that are in leadership!) that Mary left her to do all the work herself, Jesus told her that what Mary had chosen was essential and it would not be taken away from her.

Let me just share several things the Lord has laid on my heart as I have studied several things about this time that we sit with the Lord.
1. During the Beth Moore simulcast this past summer, she taught on the parable of the sower and spoke on how the seed that falls on the hard ground cannot penetrate and is taken away and eaten by the birds (Satan). What a great parallel to this scripture! Mary's heart was tilled and fresh and open to recieve the words of Jesus while Martha's was hardened by worry and busyness. That essential ingredient of God's word was tilled deep in Mary's heart and I am sure that she carried it with her until she left this world. Satan has no power to remove that seed that the Lord plants in our lives unless we are not open to hear it.

2. I have always been so jealous that I didn't know what Jesus was saying to Mary while she sat at His feet. I always wonder why God chose certain things to tell us and not tell us in scripture. This is one of those things that I just want to know. But I am sure that part of God's reason behind it is that it is a personal word for each one of us. A tender blessing from the heart of God that He speaks only to our hearts when we choose Him over the busyness of this life. Thank You Lord for speaking personally to my heart!

3. Finally (for now!), the Lord led me to a quote from the Beth Moore study I am going back through right now called Stepping Up. It is on the Psalms of Ascent in the Bible. Beth Moore is discussing blessing and being blessed in Psalm 128: "Blessedness describes the condition of a person who reveres God, steeps her life in Him, and follows His ways." P. 99 Stepping Up Oh how I love that phrase, "steeps her life!" Yes, I started feeling a little thirsty and wanted some good sweet tea but then I thought about what that word steep means: "to soak in water or other liquid, as to soften, cleanse, or extract some constituent, to wet thoroughly in or with a liquid; drench; saturate; imbue." When I think about Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus, that phrase just fits. She is steeping herself in that wonderful liquid (Jesus is the Water of Life) extracting all the negative, sinful parts of her life and filling herself up with that wonderful water, saturating herself in Who He is, letting Him fill every part of her life.

Oh how I want that to be what others say of me! I want to choose that most essential thing that won't be taken away from me! Steep yourselves in the Lord's goodness today..see Who He is...fill yourselves up with the very essences of Him and let it spill out like a sweet offering to those around you today!

"Precious Lord, fill me up! Let me sit at Your feet today and drink in the filling presence of You in my life! How much I miss out on when I just rush through this life and pay no attention to steeping myself in You and in Your word. Thank You for speaking to my heart through so many different avenues this past week and helping me to realize that Your word is alive and active in my life. You are using it to fill my heart and replace all the worthless things that I try to store there. Please Lord don't ever let me just go through life never seeking Your face and Your word for MY life! I praise You for teaching me with a gentle word that is meant only for me and no one else. You are my precious Lord, the lover of my soul Who seeks me out and tenderly draws me to You! I love you Lord and I steep myself in your unfailing love today! Amen!"

The Bridge

2008-10-25T20:42:00.002-04:00

I am sure that many of you have seen this movie before but I had watched it a long time ago and it was recently sent to me again through email and I wanted to share it here on my blog for those who may stop by!

Get out the kleenex and remember to thank God for His sacrifice for YOU!!

Please Vote!

2008-10-25T12:31:00.002-04:00

This video was posted on my Facebook page. Please realize how important it is for all of us to vote during this election season. Go out early and vote...but vote. The future of America depends on all of us standing up for what we KNOW is right.

The Hand of Mercy

2008-10-06T16:41:00.004-04:00

The question startled me at first, "Are you having an affair?" I read through a devotion posted on a pastor's website about the adulterous woman in the Bible. It intrigued me because a couple of years ago, I actually played the adulterous woman in our church's Easter drama. I made it past the jokes played on me (I am the senior pastor's wife at my church!) and had my first taste of acting. I am not sure how good I did but it did make me think.

Then this question again, "Are you having an affair?" I read on to find that yes, I have had an affair at various times of my life...I have cheated on my Savior, Jesus! I have ignored my commitment to Him at times and sought out other things to meet my needs and desires in the form of church commitments, my children, this computer, and even my husband.

I started thinking about the ways I am cheating on my Lord and I felt guilt and shame for the choices I had made and the REASONS I had made them. They were the easy way out, things that fulfilled me (or so I thought), things that made me feel important, things that built me up. So, as I sat thinking on these things and feeling that strange feeling of the child caught in the act, I sat down to watch the video for my class at church this week. I always try to prepare ahead and re-watch the video from the class that I have prepared back this past winter.

These are the words from the song that I heard:
Stand in Awe
By Travis Cottrell

I’ve seen the lightning blaze the heavens, heard the thunder’s deaf’ning roar,
And I’ve witnessed beauty so astounding, that I’ve marveled and adored
At my Maker’s ways, Oh what a mighty Lord!

Yet, there’s a reason more compelling, that I seek to give Him praise,
It’s not His power or His glory; it’s His love that came to save,
How He searched for me until I found His grace!

I stand in awe of One so holy; I stand amazed before His majesty
And soon I find myself no longer standing
But bowing down in His glory, knowing I’m unworthy,
Till His hand of mercy, raises me again to stand in awe!

Soon our labors will be ended and all our pain shall be erased.
Soon every question that we’ve harbored shall be answered while we gaze,
Through the joyful tears, on His wondrous face!

We stand in awe of One so holy; We stand amazed before His majesty
And soon we find ourselves no longer standing
But bowing down in His glory, knowing we’re unworthy,
Till His hand of mercy, raises me again to stand in awe!

Then, I knew in my heart, that even though I had forsaken my Lord, He had not turned His back on me. As a matter of fact, when the world around me would just as soon tear me to pieces, my Lord holds out His hand to lift me up and make me new. He only asks one thing of me..."Go and sin no more." I know that I will fail again but even after asking me to not sin anymore, He gives me the ability to do better next time...to choose the right way...to turn my heart back to Him again...to be the faithful one that my Lord can count on...to bring Him delight over my choices and decisions.

I praise You, Holy Father for Your faithfulness to me when I am unfaithful to You. Thank You for Your hand of mercy when I am so undeserving. Thank You for taking me back again and again and never turning away from me but looking at me with the love in Your heart. I do stand in awe of Who You are...of Your goodness to me and Your constant care for me when I fall and fail. When I think of what You have done for me, on my behalf, taking MY SIN, MY UNFAITHFULNESS, MY WAYWARD HEART and making it NEW...I am amazed! I love You with all my heart!

Can't Wait!

2008-09-30T08:22:00.002-04:00

I just wanted to share a little about the new study from Beth Moore! Enjoy!

Please visit this webpage to view the trailer or longer preview of her new study on Esther.

Had to Share!

2008-09-18T13:35:00.001-04:00

I ran across this on another blog and was blown away by it! Travis Cottrell was recording for his Christmas cd with some of his friends! WOW!

Travis' Christmas CD from on Vimeo.

Mountain Pix

2008-09-13T13:52:00.002-04:00

Recent Happenings

2008-09-13T10:14:00.006-04:00

Well, I know it has been a while. I am sorry for the handful of you that actually READ my blog! I have felt like I have been in one of those hamster's wheels and unable to get out to do anything but run, run, run!!

I like to say I have been busy for the Lord but that would be untrue. I have been running around like a nut because of school starting, soccer starting, many women's events all planned very closely together (OK that one counts!) and having four kids with homework that all need help with their math (only two of them are in luck with that ~ the ones in 1st and 2nd grade!).

My husband reminds me that I did minor in math in college but my goodness that was almost 20 years ago! And believe me, math is not like riding a bicycle, you DO forget it if you don't use it! I found that out when my 16 year old came in asking for help with her pre-calculus class. Oh yeah, I remember those function things, but don't ask me how to solve any problems dealing with them. Really, I did understand some of it after looking at for about 30 minutes and the two of us eventually figured it out but I need some warning to be prepared for things like that!

Anyway, along with all of these happenings, we have had several other things going on as well. Our family plus one (Krue) took a small vacation to a friend's mountain home over Labor Day weekend. I had planned to blog some while there but hubby didn't bring the computer. I am glad though. We just spent time together doing exciting things like sleeping in late, working on puzzles, visiting a local fish pond to fish and getting very "into" gem mining. Now that was exciting! We didn't know those beautiful gems were buried under things that looked like any other rock! We had a couple of them cut and they are beautiful. We have several more that we want to get done some day. Now we look at those gem mining places a lot differently! It was fun though and everyone was excited to see what we had!

The kids did catch fish and then the fish proceeded to bleed all over us and fling blood everywhere. Mary Gwen's Krue suddenly ended up quite a good distance away while this was going on! I had to be closeby to take pictures or I probably would have been a good distance away too!

Finally, we did visit a beautiful site while we were there. We drove down to the Linville Falls and walked to the small falls area and then some of us that were a little more brave took the trek up to the upper falls viewing area. It was beautiful! I will put some pictures in the next post.

Did I say finally? We did play putt-putt while there too. Believe it or not, this was the kids' favorite thing that we did while there. Just ask them! It was funny because it was in the mountains and lots of hilly holes where someone had to chase their golf ball as it rolled down the hill and plopped into the little streams running through the property! But we all made it and had a little fun along the way as well! Lots of golf club guitars being played and a WHOLE lotta cheatin' going on!

After all of this, I had a women's retreat planned for the first weekend in September. It was just awesome! Our ladies had a great time and it was so much fun to plan. We went through the Beth Moore study Loving Well and learned a lot about loving those people that are very hard to love. A few of us took a day trip to the local spa and were pampered enough to last us for another year before returning again next year. The rest of the ladies came up on Friday afternoon and did the study with us and took part in the Great Scavenger Hunt Friday night! It was great fun to see women digging in bushes for things that I hid! And yes, I was laughing at them! That's the most fun part of planning these things...I get to watch everyone else participate! Congratulations Group 5 for winning the hunt and figuring out those clues! All of the ladies were great sports even if some of them had worked all day and we were up till past midnight! I love you all!

My last adventure took place with my hubby in Gatlinburg, TN. We traveled there to attend a pastor's school (Timothy+Barnabas) hosted by First Baptist Church of Woodstock Georgia and Pastor Johnny and his wife Ms. Janet. It was a great time! We had meetings for the wives while our men were in meetings to learn ways to be humble. The women get gifts after every meeting and I came home with lots of goodies! We also had door prizes that were real Diamonds!! Of course, I didn't win anything but it was a lot of fun anyway! Something just doesn't seem right about that...men being taught on humility and the women being offered diamonds! It is always fun to meet new pastors and their wives and Pastor Johnny and Janet are the best at loving us all while we are there. We always feel very special after attending!

Most importantly, God has spoken to my heart in so many ways through all of these activities! I only love Him more and more because He knows what I need when I need it. He spoke to me through spending time with my family...I really do have the very best kids in the world. He spoke through the beauty of His creation...those wonderful falls crashing down and the majesty of the mountains, the coolness of the breeze, the refreshment of the rain! He spoke through other beautiful women who have been through so much and found that the Lord always meets them where they need Him the most...He never forgets us! He spoke through confirmation of His word that has been rolling around in my head for the past year!! To think that He thinks about me that much...that He would speak through someone else to my heart to tell me...Yes, you are on the right path! Oh how I love Him! He is my strength, my joy, my refreshing rain, beauty in all its fullness! God you are my very special friend, my Redeemer, Savior...the Love of my Life!

Leigh Gray's Giveaways

2008-09-09T17:30:00.003-04:00

Hey Everyone! I know it has been a while but I have been so very busy with lots of things I will share about soon. In the meantime, please visit my friend Leigh Gray's blog for lots of giveaways this week! She came and spoke at our retreat a couple of years ago and we had a blast! This is the link so click on it!!

Also here is her blog address. Go by and read it! She is a great teacher of the word!

The Time In Between

2008-08-28T21:35:00.004-04:00

This song has really touched my heart tonight. It not only speaks of the time in between Jesus birth and His burial in a tomb being so important because of what He did for us but it also speaks about that time in our lives and how we use it.

I so want to honor God with my life! I want that dash in between those two dates for me to make a difference for God and His kingdom. I want to make a difference in the lives of those around me here and those I go to share with around the world. I thank you God for the sweet reminder of that very precious time in all our lives when we decide to really live for you and make you the most important thing in our lives. Praise you Jesus for your giving up of yourself and letting Your love for us take you to the place where you purchased our lives back through Your precious blood. I love you with all that I am!

Choose song #11 or just listen through the whole album. This is a great cd!

"Lame In Both Feet"

2008-08-27T23:31:00.003-04:00

Well, I have done it again. I have failed this week at being a "good" mom. How many times now? Too many to count!

Of all things, my daughter had a need and instead of just listening to her need, I got upset over something selfish. No explanations necessary...she needed something and I turned it around on her in a negative way. Why is it that women seem to be so good at these kind of things? Lord, help me...help us!

I apologized to her and hugged her but sometimes I feel like she is still thinking about it. I know I am...What could I have done differently? Why did I lash out like that? What is wrong with me? Sometimes I just don't understand myself. I know it is that same old thing of the battle going on inside of us all but I must admit, this time, that is just an excuse for me.

I see her pictures scroll on my desktop and I wonder why I was blessed with such a precious gift? This child that sings like an angel, loves music, seeks to include others, doesn't worry too much what others think that she gives up part of who she is to impress, doesn't care about the name brand stuff, gets good grades, takes care of her brothers and sister, learns wonderful life lessons from a very very hard time in her life...and on and on! (I won't mention the room thing...it has gotten better too so there is another good thing!)

As I was doing my quiet time one day this week, I had the story of Mephibosheth from 2 Samuel 9 and another background verse from 2 Samuel 4:4, He was the grandson of King Saul who had been dropped as a baby and was made lame in both feet. This is a dear story of how King David sought him out to bless him even after all that Saul had put him through only because of Mephibosheth's father and David's good friend, Jonathan.

As I read through the story though, it seemed to constantly be brought up that Mephibosheth was lame in both feet and this is the phrase that we are left with at the end of the story of Mephibosheth that he dined at the king's table for the rest of his days and that he was lame in both feet. Why so much emphasis on that? Now we are talking in earthly terms here, but David was the king and he invited Mephibosheth to sit at his table and to dine with him and David restored all the land that Saul had once owned to Mephibosheth that was rightfully his.

Yes, this reminds me of the redemption story of how God invites us to come sit at His table and he restores all those things that we thought were lost to us. But, Mephibosheth was still lame in both feet. He wasn't miraculously healed and I wonder why?

Could it be that he stayed in that condition to remind him of the acceptance of someone that he barely knew who took him in even though he was maimed? someone who never mentioned it to him once? someone who didn't care that he had this deformity but only saw him for what he was as a person, the son of his very good friend.

I see myself, yes, as a Mephibosheth, lame in both feet (that constant stirring of pride and lack of self-control in my life) that hinders my walk. And it hinders it in front of my children. But, God doesn't constantly throw it up in my face...He is patient with me to offer me another chance to show that I am growing up some in Him.

I pray that one day, I am healed of this terrible thing that rears its ugly head in my life. I know I won't be a perfect parent but I know that the Lord can change me and make me new and different. But for right now, I will keep limping knowing that God accepted me in spite of my infirmity and loved me because He knew I couldn't get rid of it on my own...and this will be a reminder of how great is His mercy and how powerful is His grace. I just pray that I show THAT to my kids!

Precious Lord and Savior, Jesus, forgive me this week where I have failed You especially in the rearing of my children. I lost my temper and let my pride get in the way of what I should see when I look at these precious gifts of Yours. I am going to be courageous and ask that You please remove that from me. I know this is one of those difficult lessons that will probably hurt in the learning but I would rather You "break my legs" (as Beth Moore would say) than to let this go on in my life. You show such great patience with me, please help me to give that same patience and grace to my kids. Help me to be an example of what God can do in a life that is totally yielded to God. Help me to use this mistake of mine as a teachable moment especially with my oldest daughter so that she knows that we all need to ask for forgiveness even if it is from our own children! God help me as I limp around in this life and always make me aware of where I came from and where You have brought me. All the horrible things that You have saved me from. And now I ask for Your help again to remove this unholy thing in my life and make me more like You. Only You can do it and as bad as I am, nothing is too hard for you! Bless my children and help them to be lights that shine for You where they are. Thank you for blessing me with these beautiful reminders of Your love for me. I love you dearly with all that I am!

Update: Why Missions?

2008-08-27T07:46:00.005-04:00

This is an update to the post that I shared a couple of days ago. I am sharing a button that will take you to the site with the information that I shared about the Uzbekistan family in the last missions post. It has all three posts on this precious family with a ministry to their homeland and other areas where the church is persecuted for its beliefs.

Please join with me in praying for this family. Ronnie heard the story and immediately thought of our missions day coming up in October. He is in the process of talking with this family to see what the feasibility is of bringing them here to speak to our church that Sunday. If nothing else it is another contact to help us all see how important it is to support Christians all over the world for the work that they do to reach groups of people that we may never be allowed to see face-to-face.

They have two websites related to their ministry: http://www.revivalsport.com/ and http://www.houseoftreasure.org/. The first is in Russian but I had my translator on my computer translate it to English. It was just a right click and then picking translate from there. It is a sports ministry that they are part of and the other is an English website that has just been set up for them.
As you read their story, please consider what you can do for this family. If nothing else, please pray for them and for the possibility of their travel here. It is exciting to hear how God is working in the world!

Why Missions?

2008-08-22T23:24:00.002-04:00

Many people always ask why we would go to other countries to share the Gospel when there are so many here at home that need to hear the Good News. Besides the fact that Jesus commands us to go, there are stories like this one below that really hit home with those of us who have gone to other countries and have seen the great need there. Please read this story and the linked story to it within the copy of the post for the first part of it to see what I am talking about.

The Lord commands us and we MUST GO!!!

Freedom and Slavery

2008-08-21T23:19:00.002-04:00

Please read what was really on my heart today in my post on our Girlfriends Blog! It contains one of my very favorite texts of scripture. I love you all!

Electrical Shock!

2008-08-21T10:52:00.002-04:00

Okay, so today is a really weird post. I am sorry for those of you who really enjoy serious posts but this is just too funny not to share.

Ronnie and I both have very strange dreams but only rarely can I remember mine. I guess I will have to try that practice of writing specifics out right after I wake up to try to remember more of what actually happened in my dreams. Well, I must say that whatever Ronnie ate last night (Olive Garden?) gave him a winner in my book for strange.

We have been having some problems with lots of lights burning out at the same times in various places around our house. So, that must have been on his mind when he dreamed this...

Ronnie and I talking to each other are discussing the problems with the lights in the house. We try to figure out the cause of the blown bulbs and try different things...putting in different bulbs, different people putting in different bulbs, different people turning on and off lights, etc. Well, the only bite we seemed to get was when I would turn on and off the lights.

So we tried to run along that strain of thought and I went throughout the house turning on and off lights. Nothing happened this time when I tried it. So, I was getting ready for church for a women's meeting no less and I had several things in my hand including the new mascot for our women's ministries...the rhino. As I walked out of the room, I reached for the switch and the lights popped as they went out. I tried the switch again and nothing happened. All the lights were blown on our ceiling fan!

Aha! Now we had something real to go on. So I tried other lights in the house and every time I carried that rhino, the lights blew out. Oh the power!! The doctors later found that there was some electrical impulse that ran through my body when I carried the rhino!

Ronnie tells the story much better than I do but I just thought of the great connection between the dream and things going on right now with our women's ministries. That rhino represents our new women's program, Girlfriends Unlimited. This program has filled me with great excitment just like that electricity...and I hope that it travels out of me and affects those around me with that same excitement!

Ok, so that's a stretch but I just had to share the dream portion and I wanted to get some illustration out of it! But, I am excited about our new women's program and I know that it can be a great tool for our church to reach out to women of every generation and every background with the love of Jesus. There's nothing more POWER-ful than that! So go out this week and SHOCK someone around you and tell them about our new women's program and let's all get excited about it!

Precious Lord, thank you for this program and for the women that it will reach. Help us to use it all for your Glory! I love you and praise You for giving us the opportunity to be a part of a great tool to reach women of our community. Spread the fire among us as we seek Your will for our church and our women's ministries! I love you Lord! Amen!

Praising Him!

2008-08-20T08:29:00.003-04:00

Sorry for the delay in posting the results from yesterday but here they are:

Mary Gwen has been cleared by the neurologist!! We are praising God that the MRI showed no syrinx (tumors) in her spine at all except for one small sliver of space.

Dr. Dyer said, "Is there any reason for me to see you again?" (talking to himself) and then he said, "I would love to see you again but I really don't need to." We were all smiles!

Of course, each time we have gone to the office there, we have been playing around and joking, making light of things when they are so heavy. It seems like each time we did that, we got some hard news to take. But, thank the Lord this time, it was all good!

It brought a whole new meaning to freedom for us! Mary Gwen fought the good fight through all of this and God blessed us all with freedom from fear of this thing in her body.

Now, for the thanks and great appreciation: We could never have made it through this without the prayers of our family and friends. You have all been a part of a miracle in our eyes and we love you all very much. We have been blessed to be part of our church family and have so much support.

But God be praised! He is the one who did this! He is always good and we would have felt that way no matter what the outcome. We have seen Mary Gwen grow so much in her faith over these past few months and for that we are grateful and know that the pain and difficulty were not in vain.

Like Ronnie preached on Sunday...God's ways are not our ways but they are good all the time!

Precious Lord, we praise You...we lift up your name...You are worthy to be praised! Thank you so much for seeing us through this long journey and for making the way for our family and especially for Mary Gwen. Thank you for the seeds of faith that You have planted in her young heart to know You and trust You no matter what. Please help us all to be examples of your faithfulness and your trustworthiness in our lives. Thank you for the hard things and for the fruit that you have provided in our lives through it. You are an awesome God and Your praise will forever be on our lips! I love you precious Savior, Redeemer, Friend and Most Holy Lord! Amen!

Prayer Please

2008-08-19T09:01:00.004-04:00

Good Morning Everyone! I am just itching to write a real post but I come this morning asking for something from you for any of you that read this early today.

Mary Gwen goes for her hopefully final MRI after her surgery last November. This is to determine if she will require any further treatment or visits to check the success of her surgery.

Please say a prayer for her and for Ronnie and I this morning. This is an exciting day for us. Please pray that God's provision will be clearly seen for our family, that our faith will be strengthened and that we will all be able to handle whatever the outcome with much grace. I love you, my friends!

God is so very good to us; we will forever praise His Almighty Name! Have a blessed day and look for a post later for the results.