Good God... Filler Up With Living Water

Many days when I text my kids the message transforms into words I had not planned. Having learned how embarrassing this can be, I usually check before hitting send.
Still, words morph into what they desire to be....


I texted my daughter about a website she wanted me to read. It didn't quite make it to website and she replied gunshot?? "No, no... w e b s i t e ", I pounded into the Iphone. Bugger, I can't make this stuff up.


I asked the son what he wanted me to bring him when we visit him at college this weekend. 

I asked what foods he would like me to bring.  It came out what god would he like me to bring. You mean I have a choice?

I corrected it or tried to. It came out good.... What good would you like me to bring?

Third time was a charm.... food. 

Good vs God

Have a good day comes out have a God day.  It's a good choice changes to, It's a God choice. Good things turn into God things. Have a good time becomes, have a God time.

This happens daily and I think it is more than a coincidence, because it reminds me one is much better than the other. 
I desire my kids to have God days, God choices, God things, and God times. 

 Though the words are interchangeable, a God day is so much better than a good day. Don't you think?

My question is,  are we filling our selves up with good or God?

It's a choice we make each day.


God is the best choice to fill us up. Let's fill ourselves with His word, His promises, His blessings.
When we fill ourselves with His Living Water, we will never be thirsty again.


Wishing you a God day, full of God's good things. 


John 4:14 says,
"but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

Circles In The Road...

Recently my husband and I were driving through a rural part of the state. The state I am speaking of is rural to begin with so when I say "a rural part", I mean desolate, without building or man, lonely, forgotten.

We were driving in this area as a short cut, a way to get out of said state. Not naming the state, that would be deliberately hurtful though there might be some head nodding in a knowing kind of way.

Now....

growing up in the metropolitan New York area I was accustomed to New Jersey circles. I am not talking about the circles that are found in the fields of England, thought to be messages from aliens. 

I am talking about the traffic moving kind that New Jersey is famous for.

Other states have tried and failed and leave me baffled as to what drivers are thinking as they proceed to drive in a straight line... through a circle. Last time I checked circles were still round.

That is another blog... for another person. I do not use language that might fill that blog post.

As I was alluding to circles...

As we were driving through this barren land we came upon a circle. The speed limit was 60 miles per hour along this road. So... I was surprised to come upon a circle, without warning, without traffic and clearly without purpose.

There was nothing here but the circle... for as long as the eye could see.

Nada, zilch, niente, nulla, nol

For a minute I thought it was a scene from Blazing Saddles when they created the fake town in the middle of nothing. 

Why in the world was there a circle there? I will never know..... clearly, someone thought something big was coming to this " neck of the woods".

I am still shaking my head.

It did make me think about the path less traveled. 

Do I take the same roads everyday, knowing what is around each bend. The path I am familiar with... where I can stay comfortable.

Do I travel in circles, without purpose, never getting on to the straight path?

Circles are meant to move us along, to push us out into the traffic, where we can follow the direction we  should be moving in.

Psalm 119:35 says, " Make me walk in the path of your commandments. For I delight in it."

Do I walk with God on the path He has prepared for me, or do I create my own path, repeating the same mistakes and wondering why things never seem to change? 

Let's get out of the circle of repeated failures and walk victoriously with the God who has great things for His sons and daughters.

His paths are always straight.

Proverbs 3:6

"In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."

The Gift Of Monday

Why do we grumble about Monday?

When did Monday become the enemy? 

When did we decide that Friday was a good day, a gift and yet Monday was a curse?

Was it when Adam and Eve sinned and had to "work" to sustain themselves?

Was it when we bought into the worlds idea that life should be fun 24/7 and all about me?

 God's word tells us a different story. A story where work is good, gratifying and will produce results that will last, not wither away like Kansas corn in August. Results that will nourish us and produce an inheritance for eternity.

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. —Colossians 3:23-24

And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 3:13

He must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.

Ephesians 4:28

Our Mondays and Fridays are numbered. The Bible tells us our life is like a vapor. A vapor blankets the earth early in the morning, creating a mist most of our eyes will never see. By the time we rise, it has vanished. It is short lived, temporary and gone in the blink of an eye. Our minds do not even consider it.

So it is with our lives. 

Today is Monday, a day to witness the grace of Him. 

He has placed us here for His purpose. He has people for us to smile on, to share His love, His kindness, His touch. 

The world around us is in pain. We know the Truth and we do not share it. 

Today, there is something He has for each of us to do. Will we see it or will our selfishness blind our eyes?

Let us not live as the world begs us, running from one mindless activity to the next. Let us be thoughtful of our choices, knowing He has planned good things for us.

God wants us to enjoy abundant life. A life that will leave us full, blessed and content.

The world will leave us empty, hungry for the next good feeling fix.....never filling our soul. 

A day will never satisfy our soul.

Let God be the seal that protects our soul,making it secure and ready to be filled with Him. Only then will we overflow with the blessings He brings us. We will look at Mondays with new eyes, ones that see the truth of each day.... each one a gift.

Hurricane (The Brothers Rinehart Version Video) IN Honor Of IRENE

In Honor Of Irene and all my friends and family on the East Coast.. here's a little NEEDTOBREATH - Hurrincane! My favorite North Carolina Boys. Enjoy.........

Stay In Your Lane

 The camper in the left lane is my target..... Perhaps because I grew up driving in N.Y., in some highly congested areas and respect the person behind me... who would give up his grandma at the moment, to be in front of me.

I get that. I want to be in front too, but sometimes it's not my turn.

Say what you will about N.Y. drivers, I think they are the best in the world. Maybe because we think alike. They understand this is a race. This ain't no Sunday drive and no one is camping in the left lane.....

Driving was always a contact sport for me.(I understand you are shaking your head) It was a race, a challenge, survival of the fittest. 

I loved winning.

Truth, I love winning.

I remember my first time driving out of Manhattan by myself. I was maybe 19 and driving up the West Side Highway on my way to the George Washington Bridge. My goal? Make it into New Jersey and I was golden. It was exhilarating but also terrifying. This was the West Side of Manhattan before The Donald got a hold of it. It resembled Harlem, with burnt out buildings and broken down cars along the side of the road. I knew that if I got a flat, that would be me.... actually me might never be seen again. 

I left my mom in the city, after having a nice Italian dinner. It was February and there was dirty snow clinging to the sidewalks where the sun's touch would never reach. It was dark by the time I left and I had to get from 8th Avenue to the West Side Highway, crisscrossing my way through construction areas and one way streets. If I made a wrong turn and got lost, I was on my own. No cell phone, no GPS, don't think I had a map. No one to ask, not here, not these folk hanging on the corner. 

I knew the way, where to go, but what if?

That was a place I did not let my mind go to. Not an option. 

I did fine and all went well. 

I am thankful I don't have to live my spiritual life like that. 

It's exhausting and lonely. 

No Lone Ranger mentality here. This life may be a race, but I am on a team, not a rogue runner, trying to stay hidden from the bumps in the road. 

I can tap into the One who made me each morning. I can witness His blessings, His protection, His guidance. Better than any GPS I have found. He will never tell me to drive off a cliff, because he thinks it's a gas station.... and I did ask for the nearest gas station.

I will choose the lane that He has provided for me. I will pass when He gives the go ahead. I will recognize that sometimes it is a Sunday drive, and I will enjoy my time on that drive.

I will wave others on and encourage them in their journey. I will not be envious because they are in front of me. They will be an example to me, they will help me on the path, filled with bumps and bad choices that promise to leave me at the wrong exit.

Let's enjoy this trip together and encourage one another on today.

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:

1 Peter 4:8-10

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Trouble At Target

I should have learned by now. I know better. I have done this way too many times. 

It is a problem I have..... walking away from my shopping cart. 

Only to walk up to another persons cart, place my items in it and go about my merry way.

It happened again last night. This time the husband was with me....

busted...

I called his phone, looking for him.

This is why he is not usually invited to large buildings, malls or stores with me.

He is a one man disappearing act.

He could disappear in our back yard, when it was 100 acres and just as easily when it was one third of an acre... really, serious as a heart attack.

That man can disappear in 1.2 seconds... leaving me mystified. 

I know he does it just to drive me crazy.

Upon his answer to my call of his whereabouts, he proceeded to tell me he was putting a jar of peanut-butter into the cart. I quickly responded that I had the cart, looking down and realizing I had no idea what these items were in my cart.

I had not purchased a hair net, strange looking women's underwear, or a bottle of Aqua Net hair spray. 

I released my grip on the cart, looked around and fled the scene. 

That's when the giggling took over. 

When I found Hawkeye he had that look on his face. The "What did you do?!" look.

I have seen that often.

I can't believe I did it again..

and what about the surprised shopper... who by the way, also walked away from her cart? 

Let that be a lesson to her. Stay with your cart people... just like airport security here! 

I probably helped her learn a valuable lesson. One I have obviously not mastered.

Time to get out of Dodge..... heading quickly to the front of the store and trying to look innocent.

The check out gal asked us if we had found everything we were looking for. I smiled and said, "Yes, we found everything, thank you!"... when my husband decides to open his mouth and share some of what had transpired. I gave him the evil eye and he stopped, though the smirking and mumbling continued.

As we walk out of the store Hawkeye started laughing, telling me there had been an older couple walking around and the lady was responding to her irritated husband that she had no idea where it was. He thought they were looking for peanut butter like he was. 

Evidently they were looking for their stolen cart.

I just hope they learned their lesson.

That's my random bit of wisdom.

Always glad to help.

My Prayer List

I have been thinking about prayer lately. I have found myself praying for my son and daughter during the nighttime, when sleep promises to overtake me. 

Praying for their immediate needs, their futures, their future mates, the day to day decisions they make. 

The daughter, a senior. She needs prayer for decisions for graduate school. Where is she feeling led by God? 

The son, a freshman. Also a Division 1 athlete in xcountry and track.

 He has high expectations and demands on him. I pray for his running and his strength, 17 miles is a long way to run on one sunday morning.

 I pray hard. 

I pray for his friendships and relationships.

He has done well, persevered. 

I am thankful, grateful, blessed.

My mind turns to the students I know who do not have parents praying for them. 

A missing part of their lives, one of the most important.

Yet..... I can pray for them.

I have parents who pray for me... still. I had prayer warrior grandparents who prayed for me. What a difference this makes in a life.

I have seen the benefits of prayer.

I am a product of prayer...

I feel called to revaluate prayer.

Who am I praying for?

Do I hold up my small group students, though they are not my small group anymore? Pray.....

Do I pray for the student I know, who has had a very difficult life and is trying to make a better one for himself? He is feeling defeated.

Do I pray for my neighborhood, both past and present?

Do I pray for the boards I have been a part of and loved? These people who give selflessly, for the cause of Christ.

Do I pray for the women I know, trying to raise families, fighting for their children? Pray.....

Do I pray for the small groups I have been a part of and loved?

Do I pray for my church, even though I am not there anymore? 

Do I pray for the church I have not yet found?

Do I pray for the young couple, who travel to far away places each fall and return in the spring? They miss their families desperately and are searching for future direction. Pray.....

Do I pray for the young family who has just moved and taking on new responsibilities? They miss their home, with their friends and church. 

Do I pray for the place I worked at, the women I love there, The babies that are saved? Pray.....

Do I pray for my country, my president, the persecuted church?

The list is endless...

Prayer changes things. I see it everyday... and I am amazed. Amazed at the depth of His love for His people. 

Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving.Colossians 4: 2

Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly] 1 Thessalonians 5: 17

Who are YOU being called to pray for today?

Chosen One Or Self Considerer?

This is my son, whom I love, whom I am well pleased. Whom I delight in. 

He is not a perfect boy, but my eyes see his goodness, his heart, his strength of character, his perseverance, his joy of life.

Does this sound familiar? This is how God looks at us.

If I see the beauty of my son through human eyes, which delight in judgement, point out error and flaw, how then does our creator view us?

He gazes upon us as beautiful, pleasing, righteous, daughters and sons of The Most High. We are His treasure, His jewels, His redeemed, His best and His chosen ones.

He desires to use us today. To transform us, for His good and mighty work.

Will we be ready and willing to step forth and go?

Or will we self- consider?

Oswald Chambers wrote, " If you are truly recognizing your Lord, you have no business being concerned with the how and where. He engineers your circumstances. If you debate for even one second if God has spoken to you, its all over for you. Be reckless immediately, totally unrestrained and willing to risk everything, casting your all upon Him."

These words either terrify or thrill you.

Which is it?

What is your view of God and what do you think He sees when He looks upon your face?

Is it scriptural and true or are you self considering? 

Be reckless and willing to risk it all... for Him.

Look upon the Truth today.

First Day For My Girls

Today is the first day of classes for many of "my girls".  The past four years I have had the pleasure of spending most wednesday evenings with a group of lovely students in a small group setting.

We laugh, share, cry and seek to be followers of Jesus. We read books, study scripture, watch movies, eat delicious, unhealthy foods and talk about their hopes and dreams.

Five of these students graduated this spring and have spent this week moving into college dorms, finding their way along paths that are new to them. Setting up a home away from home, most in cozy rooms with bunk beds.... with way too little space for any college girl's wardrobe.

I love these students, both the college girls and the ones left to work through the remaining years of high school. Soon, it will be their turn and they will traverse these deep waters, wading through times of unease and balancing the new lives they have found themselves in. Where do they fit, who will they choose as friends? How nice to have a choice.

They have made a wedge deep into my heart. 

These are amazing women I speak of. Each one is beautiful, starting with a light given by their creator. They shine brightly because they know whom they belong to. They will choose well and remember what they were created for. They will give generously to their communities as they share the gifts they have been blessed with.

Rise brightly women. You are more precious than rubies to your heavenly Father.

Your value cannot be measured. Your worth, enough to die for. Be brave, be strong and be who you were intended to be... by your Father God.

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies."
Proverbs 31:10

Thanks Chuck

Today is a gift, a blessing, a new beginning. 

I sit in a different chair, in a new office, with a fresh view.

 I read through some devotionals this morning and one is by an old friend of mine, Chuck Swindoll. 

Chuck doesn't know me, but I know him. He has been in my life for years. I have listened intently to his words. I have grown through his teaching, in the form of books and radio. He has mentored me. Funny, how that can happen when he is unaware. 

Maybe a good reminder to us..... 

I really like Chuck. 

I like his name (reminds me of Charlie Brown... and I feel a little like Lucy sometimes)

I like that he was a marine. He knows hardship, pain, perseverance. He drives a Harley. I have always wanted a Harley and have my motorcycle license. I love my husband more than Harleys so I have refrained. 

Today Chuck was speaking directly to me. 

One of the most difficult commands to hear, and one of the hardest commands to obey, is the command to hide. The admonition to go off and be alone, to get away from the public spotlight, to drop back and deliberately remain hidden. This is especially true if you are comfortable in the limelight, an up-front kind of person, one who is obviously gifted with leadership abilities. It's also true if you are a doer. A get-the-job-done kind of person.

You may be a capable woman, whether homemaker or career woman. Then, suddenly, you are snatched from your world of endless activity and effective involvement. God says, in no uncertain terms, "Hide yourself. Get alone. Get out of the limelight. Get away from all those things that satisfy your human pride and ego, and go live by the brook."

chuck swindoll

Some of these words apply deeply to me. The reality is He has plucked me from where I was and all I was involved in and loved doing. 

This may be my time in the desert or the brook. I will look at this as an opportunity. 

God took people He could use to the desert, to prepare them and shape them.

I pray my desert will be filled with wisdom and truth from the God who loves me and has a perfect plan for me.

God gave me an opportunity this weekend. To speak His truth to His people. I am grateful and thankful. I pray He provides more opportunities like this. 

The truth is I want to be used by Him, for His glory.... not my glory.... so I look forward to the quiet He is bringing me today.

Lord God, use me for your glory and may I be a pleasing aroma to you. May people see you, not me when I speak. And... thank you for Chuck. He has been your faithful son for many years. Bless him today! May your truths be my joy and blessing.

Love, your faithful, totally dependent(on you) daughter

What A Difference a Day Makes

Italy

What a difference a day makes, or should I say weekend?

 A moving truck, an empty house and hearts..... tender "goodbyes" to dear friends, three cars packed with memories of life in our town.... it will always be our town. 

First stop.... Nashville. 

Two Universities. 

A freshman boy and a full schedule. Team meetings, running miles that will provide pain, blisters and opportunity to encourage and be encouraged. Also, many opportunities for the mama to pray throughout Friday and Saturday night. 

God will provide sleep later.

The senior daughter, in her sweet house looking at her future. What does it hold and how are you to know by the age of 21? No fears daughter, God will show you and it will go well. I have faith and I know the plans He has for you.... He loves you that much.

Good conversations, tears, laughter, a silly dog who sat in a chair at dinner..... only in Nashville. Yes, it was our dog.

Quick goodbyes

Many prayers

Texts to encourage

Trust

A long drive to my new home

Trust

A truck that clearly picked up more boxes of "stuff" along the way.

This is not all mine.

New opportunities to pray, trust, seek, discern, be still, wait...... on HIM.

Today, I could be overwhelmed by it all. But I will choose to be overwhelmed by HIM. 

The One who has given me new opportunities. 

Thank you God for loving me enough to entrust these opportunities to me. 

I am your servant and I choose to seek your face each morning. Your blessings are new each day. Let me not waste my energies on anything but You and your people. 

"Great is His faithfulness, His mercies are new each morning."

Lamentations 3:23

One Last Parting Thought....

I L L

The time has come.. to follow the yellow brick road. This has been a 17 month journey and the last few hours will be the hardest and feel the longest.

I am already tired physically and have much more ahead of me. 

Then there are emotions..... 

How do you sum up the feelings of leaving a community that has blessed me and nourished me and my family for the past 16 years? 

There are no words and sometimes you have to accept that..... and just be.

I want to enjoy the moments with friends, even though there will be a few tears. Tears are good... they remind us how fragile life is. 

We truly need one another. 

 So, I will let them fall and be grateful.

If life is about anything it is the relationships we make, nurture, and watch grow.

I pray God's richest blessings on these friends, this community that I will always consider home.

And one parting thought......... Long Live The Chief !

Cheers to my Illini Community.

I N I

Girlfriends

One of the best joys in life is girlfriends. 

These relationships are unique to any other.

They are unlike husbands and children because we can collect as many as we want and life gets richer. 

Try doing that with the a husband .... definitely not the same result.

Your family takes on that family look. You all resemble each other at some point... usually pointing to the dog. 

That is why I only have tall, sleek dogs. My goal is to look like my dog, not the rest of my family. 

My family is beautiful but if I were to look like my dog, I would weigh 125 lbs and have legs like a supermodel.

Each girlfriend looks different. Some are tall, short, athletic or have their nose in a book. Some are young, yet wise and others have jewels to share through the journey they have traveled. 

They may be loud and proud or the wallflower that I have to push out of her comfort zone. They may be deep into their faith or searching for their path in life.

They each bring a missing piece of the puzzle that frames my life. Hopefully I bring a piece to theirs. 

We look different and yet we are the same.

We need each other.

They are food to my hungry soul.

Life is rich together. The laughter and tears I have shared with friends for the past 16 years ..... well, its enough to get me through the transition looming ahead. Maybe....

The truth is, we girlfriends look alike. We resemble each other in our desire to share life together. The tears, joys, laughter... all that makes life rich.

We need each other.

 We know who will understand us, shaking their head in agreement as we rant or giggle or cry. Sometimes all three happen in one conversation. 

Who else but a girlfriend can enter this world?

I pray God will bless my girlfriends and go before us in all we do. I pray He will protect these relationships and give us moments of joy together. I look forward to sharing life with them ... even from afar. God is faithful and I know he has plans for all of us. Life is rich together.


Ladies, you are in my heart always.... my love for each of you is that of a sister. You make my life rich and there is void that is already stretching the walls inside me. I trust that God will show me the way... a way that keeps the love and beauty that you each hold, in front of my eyes.
He promises good to us who love Him. You are all that is good, so I have faith that we will share many more joys in life.

Be true to the One who created you, in His image. HE has plans for you , and they are good. Seek HIS face everyday and you will know you have spent your day well.
That is my prayer for you.