Jan 31, 2013

We Are What We Do...

 
You know it's true. It makes me stop and think about what I do, what I say, what I read, where I spend my money, where I spend... waste my time.

I waste A. Lot. Of. Time.

  American author, Annie Dillard said, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour, and that one, is what we are doing.”  
God gave us some wisdom on how to spend our days...
"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil." 
Ephesians 5:15-16
"Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."
1 Corinthians 9:26-27

I'll be thinking on this and making some changes. January is a good time to break free of bad habits and start fresh.
What are you hoping to change in your habits this year?

Jan 27, 2013

When God Sings me HOME...

Home - Phillip Phillips

God sings to me... sometimes through people you might not expect.
 My God is awesome like that. 
He lives way out of the box we try to stuff Him in.
He says, "What box?" as he laughs.

Lately He has been singing me some sweet Phillip Phillips.
He knows what my soul needs. Some days are lonely and He reminds me that He will make my Home with Him.

Home

"Hold on, to me as we go
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave is stringing us along
Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m going to make this place your home

Settle down, it'll all be clear

Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found"

He and I are on this unfamiliar road together and He reminds me I will never be alone.
No fear, no dragging me down, not when He is so near.
  Thank you Phillip for being sweet Jesus to my ears.
 Thank you Jesus for loving me that much...
knowing music can soothe my soul.

Jan 26, 2013

The Journey Of Less Is More...

God is good.
 More of Him and less of me, is better.
In every situation, no matter the pain or anguish.
He walks the road along side us, carrying us most days. He longs to share our burden.
We don't share most days.
 Years ago I learned my goal as a daughter of Christ had gone wrong somewhere.
 All those years I thought I was supposed to bring souls to Jesus...
 I was not very good at that.
It may have had to do with the way I lived my life... selfishly.

I was to bring Him glory.
Through my life... less of me, more of Him.

 People will see Jesus if I live for Him.
If I stop saying things like, "You need Jesus and then your life will be so much better."  
Jesus doesn't want to be stuffed down anyone's throat.
He is a chosen, choice morsel, when the palate is ready.
He is rich, consumed in small amounts sometimes, especially in the beginning.
 Later, He can be gobbled up when you find a hunger so deep, that you know only He can fill you.
He is a gentleman.
He is patient, unlike us.
He will wait for our hunger.

  I remember learning this through a Godly women.
My pastors wife, after my first husband died. Pastors wives can be a glorious thing. She shared gentle words that made me hunger for her wisdom.
 I learned that I could glorify God through loving others, my family, doing simple acts.
 Tasks I may have complained about, I could turn into blessings and bring glory to God.
 If I grumble about my life, what do I show you? A selfish woman without joy.
I knew the differance between joy and happiness.
I knew becoming a follower of Jesus didn't mean life would always be sweet and lovely.
 It might suck...
People would still leave you, by death or because they didn't love you anymore.
By choice or tragedy.
You would not have a say.
But you could claim joy, that lived deep in your soul.
God put it there, for times like these.
When life got hard, unfair.
When you were attacked.
Joy would be the reminder to you... of who you are.
Of whose you are.

Chosen.
Less of you, more of Him.
More Joy.
Joy will last you a lifetime.
Happiness, but a moment.

 I stopped practicing my Lone Ranger Christianity.
 I started asking God what He wanted me to do today.
Who did He want me to connect with.
  God was working around me. He wanted me to join Him.

  He opened doors when I began listening.
I felt a new hunger for His word.
The books I chose, authors who grew me in Christ, instead of working against my marriage by examples of unrealistic expectations.
He was teaching me wisdom. 
He was replacing fear with trust, in Him, for all things.
 I read the Cost Of Discipleship, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Brother Lawrence, Brennan Manning and  The Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster.
I am still reading these books.
I am a slow learner.

 As American author Annie Dillard said,
“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour, and that one, is what we are doing.” 

The things we spend time in fill us up.
What will the overflow be in our lives?

Then I learned that life wasn't about me.
I had learned my goal was to bring God glory. I was feeling joy, and seeking Him first but somehow I had not learned the “about me” part.
 I'm still learning this part.
I should have understood this when I learned the glorify part, but I am slow and selfish.
I swallowed these words whole, choking them down.
But I kept them down.
 If it's not about me, then it must be about Him. I found freedom.
 Freedom from trying to get it all right in this world, making the right connections, the right friends. The list is long.

Less of me, more of Him.
This cleared out the clutter and confusion.
Relationships are what matter. The relationship God grows in me, through His Son and then the relationships we build with others.
Relationships that go deep, challenging each other, holding each other accountable, with grace.

 The bucket lists we write do not matter.
Heaven is going be a gigantic, eternal bucket list that we get to refill every day. We will never run out of options and ideas.
This time, this life, this vapor that is rapidly dissipating... this is what counts.
Everyday I have the choice to sit and be idle or serve my Jesus.
Someone once said, "Choosing Jesus costs you nothing, living for Him will cost you everything." 

I believe that. I want to be all in.
How about you?








Jan 25, 2013

In The Words Of Tolkien...

J.R.R. Tolkien said...

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” 

 “Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate
And though I oft have passed them by
A day will come at last when I
Shall take the hidden paths that run
West of the Moon, East of the Sun."

Where will life take you today, this year, this lifetime?
Are you searching round the corner, seeking a new road or secret gate?
 
 "Little by little, one travels far” 

What we do in this day, this hour... becomes our life.
Let's make the hours
worth living.

Replace fear with trust.
Hesitation with anticipation. 
Unbelief with joy... in the Creator.
Your Creator.

Are you searching the hidden paths and secret gates 
where God is waiting for you?




Jan 23, 2013

The Grandson Of Billy... Glorious Ruin

Glorious Ruin: How Suffering Makes You Free
 What I am reading today. 
The grandson of one of my favorite men wrote this.
 A man who taught me about Jesus as a young girl and influenced me in sharing my faith.
 A man who influenced my little boy to give his life to Jesus at a young age.
 A man who told the story, in a way for the common man to understand... who Jesus was and is and is to come.
The grandson is telling the story too.
The truth about suffering and how it sets us free.

"Christianity is not first and foremost about our behavior, our obedience, our response, and our daily victory over sin. It is first and foremost about Jesus!
It is about His person; His substitutionary work; His incarnation, life, death, resurrection, ascension, and promised return.
We are justified-and sanctified-by grace alone through faith alone in the finished work of Christ alone. Even now, the banner under which Christians live reads, "It is finished." 

So, it's not about me. It's about God.
I've learned this before... but I forget often.'

"God is not interested in who you think you should be or feel. He is not interested in the narrative you construct for yourself, or that others construct for you. 
He may even use suffering to deconstruct that narrative.
Rather, He is interested in you, the you who suffers, the you who inflicts suffering on others, and the you who hides, the you who has bad days (and good ones). 
And He meets you where you are. 
Jesus is not the man at the top of the stairs; He is the man at the bottom, the friend of sinners, the Savior of those in need of one. Which is all of us, all of the time, praise be to God.
Tullian Tchividjian

We have all suffered and will suffer again. 
We cannot escape it, but we can embrace the One who loves us, desires to comfort and deliver us.
He is True, Lovely and mighty to save.
I praise His Holy Name...

and I thank Billy Graham for a lifetime of obedience to his Maker.

Jan 22, 2013

Parting The Waters

 
I just put this book down. It had not left my hand but to collect more tissues.
It is a story of love, tragedy, grief and restoration. 
A beautiful witness to God's faithfulness, among the pain that follows us so often in life.
A mama who fought for her son, never gave up and God chose to restore in His perfect way.
A life changed, but sometimes what we think as disaster, God brings beauty in ways we could not have imagined.
We exchange our view of success, life, accomplishment for God's view.
A perfect, Holy, lifting our hands to God, in childlike joy.
Transformation.
I look forward to meeting Jeanne in two weeks when she will be speaking at a Women's Conference
where I will be a Breakout speaker. 
Testimony... Story is my topic.

I am excited to see what God will do through and for His people.
God is good and I get excited when He involves me in His plans.



"Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.  Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.  
 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, 
 especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Hebrews 10: 23-25







Jan 21, 2013

Mom...

Funny Family Ecard: If a woman speaks and no one is listening her name is probably Mom.

Mom truths, wisdom and smiles.

“The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found.”
Calvin Trillin

Raising a kid is part joy and part guerrilla warfare.
Ed Asner

"There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it." - Chinese Proverb

  "I'd like to be the ideal mother, but I'm too busy raising my kids."- Unknown

 “I know how to do anything - I'm a Mom.” - Roseanne Barr

“It's not easy being a mother. If it were easy, fathers would do it.” - The Golden Girls

“To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power.” - Maya Angelou

If you are a mom, recognize you are one of a kind awesome.
Even when the kids and hubby don't seem to be listening.
They count on you and love you...
and yes, they take complete, utter advantage of you.
Teach, laugh... keep breathing.

 Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching.  They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
 Proverbs 1:8-9 
 

When Life Gets Blurry...Recognize What It Is


This weekend my vision became blurry.
I have God planned things to accomplish and finish in the next week.
Things that I desire to do, for Him.
Things He has given me, for His glory.

I got a nasty cold.
(Convinced it was the little girl on plane who sneezed in my face. Yep, I smiled, she sneezed.)
Feeling.... lousy, no energy.
I received an email response from a submission request. It was to be posted, then they decided the topic was not what they wanted at the moment.
Feeling... dejected.
Didn't worship this week in church. 
See above - cold.
Feeling... down, a bit sad.
Received email about upcoming conference I am part of.
There are struggles here.
Feeling ...  sad over this.
PowerPoint presentation fell apart after many hours of work,
Feeing... bummed.
Talked to hubby about missing kids, dogs, Gray Ghost Farms (our future home).
Feeling.... sad.

Quickly I spoke these feelings to my husband.
I recognized the attack and so did he.
I told him I know my role and will not be moved.
He agreed. We prayed.

Clarification was made between Online magazine and myself.
I understand fully and will submit another topic.
Feeling... thankful for good communication.
Continue email with friend regarding conference.
Struggles are part of life, we will move ahead and God will be glorified.
Feeling... thankful
Offer of help with powerpoint.
Feeling... very thankful

Recognizing an attack is important and necessary. 
 We will not move ahead in our faith walk if our eyes don't see Truth.
Satan desires to trip you up at every opportunity.

Don't believe for a minute he is not active in this world.
If you are growing and moving in your faith with Christ, the evil one is looking for opportunities to sabotage your plans.
Recognize it and call it what is is.
An attack.

Good news...
he doesn't get the win, unless we give it to him.
Instead, give it to God and ask Him to make it right.

The moment I spoke the Truth of the situation, I saw it clearly for what it was.

 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:32

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
Ephesians 6:11  

Is satan attacking you today?
Speak Truth.

Jan 19, 2013

Not You Again...

Psalm 24:1 says, 
"The earth belongs to the Lord. And so does everything in it.
    The world belongs to him.
 And so do all those who live in it. 
 He set it firmly on the oceans.
    He made it secure on the waters.

God values everything He made, earth, man, all of it.
The neighbor who annoys us.
The woman at work who has it all going on.
The one knocking at your door, selling you religion, magazines, best knives ever.
The driver in the left lane, in front of you.
The people of different faith, values, who we don't understand.
We don't have to.
We only need to love. 
Only love.
Big words.
Bigger action.
Love is an action word.

This earth and it's inhabitants belong to God. Let's strive to honor Him today by showing love, not just to the easy to love.

Love God, Love People.

That is the message of the Bible.
Do you believe it?

 

 

Jan 18, 2013

Because You Are Awesome...



 Do more of what makes you awesome.
What is it... that thing that makes you sing inside? When you find your sweet spot, it reminds you why you are here?
It points to heaven.
God gave you that.... you know this.
He gave you gifts,
to use.
For His glory, not yours.
The gifts He gave you... that voice, that instrument.
He didn't give me those.
I've searched.
He gave me other gifts and He expects me to exercise them.

So today, be more of what makes you awesome
and look up
smile
 and thank Jesus.

 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.
1 peter 4:10

Jan 17, 2013

God's Plans For A Wicked Heart....

  Proverbs 16:9 says, "The heart of man plans his ways, but the Lord establishes his steps."

When I think of the heart of man, 
I think of Jeremiah 17:9..."The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Who can understand it?"

Sounds harsh. 
I know.
But wait... read the Proverb again.

The man's heart plans his ways, but it is God who establishes, directs, ordains man's steps.
Man's ways are flawed. 
Since Adam and Eve and that's fact, truth, proven.
Read the Good Book. 
Man wanted his own way and thought himself wiser than God... from the get go. 

The beauty is God gives us free choice.
 He let's us take our own path, dig holes deeper than we can escape on our own. 
We call to Him. He hears. He answers. 

He takes us in His arms, He soothes our hurts and tears.
He shows us the path he has chosen for us and nudges us in that direction.
This is love.
 The love the Father God of the Universe has for His children.

When we turn to Christ and desire to let him direct our life, our heart changes. 
It begins to beat with a new purpose, one that desires to please God and honor Him with our life.
We will struggle and fail Him with these human hearts from time to time. He will pick us up... hug us hard and point us back to the path he has chosen for us.

God has a good plan for us today. 
No matter where you are. 
No matter how far you have dug yourself into that pit.
 None of us are too deep for God to reach.

Do you hear Him calling to you?
 Look up, reach up and ask Him to hold on to you and show you His plan. 
It is a good plan.

Jeremiah 29:11 "I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, give you a hope and future."





Jan 16, 2013

Wednesday Rewind... Lacrae

I posted this last year and as I read it over I smiled.... Run, don't walk. I've done some of that. Hope I do more this year. Enjoy.


My thoughts for 2012 are "Run, don't walk, to Him." Of course the Him being Christ. Hopefully the capitol H made that clear to you.
Running might describe one as being busy, active, doing..... running around like a chicken, you know the rest.
That is not my goal for this year. Running to Him will hopefully keep me centered to where I fit best, for His kingdom.
Running to Him in prayer, quietness, meditation and direction.
One thing I have learned is to give God the lead and stay in the background.
It reminds me of Lecrae's song, Background.

I know I'm safest when I'm in Your will, and trust Your Word
I know I'm dangerous when I trust myself, my vision blurred
And I ain't got no time to play life's foolish games
Got plenty aims, but do they really Glorify Your name
And it's a shame, the way I want to do these things for You
Don't even cling to you, take time to sit and gleam from You
Seems You were patient in my ignorance
If ignorance is bliss, it's 'cause she never heard of this.


I could play the background
I could play the background
Cause I know sometimes I get in the way
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
And I could play the background, background
And you could take the lead            check out the video below

I hope I can stay in the background this year, trusting God's plan and knowing He is the superstar and I can be a shining light for Him. Wanna play in the background with me?
It's gonna take lot's of prayer, but we can do it.
Take the lead Holy One


Jan 13, 2013

Staying Faithful...

A Post from January 17, 2012

 

Be Faithful In the Little Things

Mother Theresa said, "We are not called to be successful, but to be faithful."

What would our lives look like if we were faithful in the little things? 
In Luke 16:10 Jesus says, 
"If you are faithful in little things you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities."
If we lived our lives believing this scripture, seeing every opportunity from God as an opportunity to be faithful.... Oh my, what would our lives look like?! 

We would be generous, compassionate, humble.  We would be grace.  Is that not a picture of Christ? Is that how we are called to live?
He made it clear and easy to see... if we look to Him in His word. He is not a mystery in that sense.
We are without excuse.
 Why do I not live like that?
Because...
I am selfish and care more about my desires and my needs than yours.
 Simple. 

David Platt say's, "The gospel demands a blank check"

What?
The gospel demands a blank check.
Blank... as in... you are MINE and I have a plan for you. 
Don't be consumed with this worlds stuff. It wont last. Follow me instead.
Jesus said, "Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men." 
Matthew 4:19

"Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moths and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal."
Matthew 6:19

How do we start giving God a blank check today? I suggest we start with the little things. Let us be faithful in what He has called us to do. What does the Bible tell you to do? "Feed MY sheep"
Jesus words.....

Look around you today and see where God is at work and then join Him. Be faithful in the small things of today and He will multiply your hands and the blessing. 
It is not our job to figure out the end product. It is our job to be faithful..... today.


Jan 11, 2013

Word...

                                                               My word is Prayer.
The kind that is thoughtful, slow, quiet, waits, listens and expects to be changed.
Yes, the hard kind.
I know the gifts that come from prayer... but I am still a babe, on mothers milk when it comes to this. 
I falter at the least resistance, weak soul that I am.
But I will continue and remember that God loves our hearts to desire Him, seek after Him.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. - Philipians 4:6

That scripture has seen me through the most difficult days of my life. I wrote it and taped it to my refrigerator and read it throughout the days and nights, many times with my head pressed against it, tears running down my face.
Breath didn't come easy as my mind raced to make sense of the crumbling walls of my life.

Jesus showed us the importance of prayer, on many of the age old pages of the One we claim as our Redeemer.
 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. - Mark 1:35

 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Luke 5:16 

I hope you find a quiet place to spend time alone, with God.
He will meet you in prayer and change you.
The mystery of prayer, the majesty of Jesus and the beauty of God including us in this eternal moment, set apart for His children.

God you are Good.
 

Jan 10, 2013

God Is In The Details... Just Keep Riding


Life Quote typography poster - Life is like riding a bicycle - Retro-style quote art print A3
  To keep moving, you must join others, try new things.
 keep an open mind...
You find a new balance... after a move.
Sometimes feeling like you are on a Penny-farthing bicycle.
Wobbly and easily upset, dumping you without notice.

Last night I went to book club. 
This is still a bit new to me, but a way to meet some interesting women and read some books that I might not choose.
My neighbor invited me. Last night she wasn't feeling well so wasn't going. This gave me pause.. do I go or stay home? I had a lot do do, but my husband encouraged me to go.

Earlier that day I had met with a new friend, who I met through church. A brainy, blonde, who is lots of fun. 
Fun is my middle name.
She is heading up a women's conference at the church and I am a breakout speaker at this event.
I'm pretty jazzed as this is my first opportunity to speak in Wichita.
Woo hoo.

Later that night...
 I ask one of the gals who lives in my neighborhood where she goes to church.
I knew she went, so I wasn't being all that brave.
She mentioned the church that we are attending and, well... it was a moment God reminded me He is in the details.
He cares that I connect with women in my new community.
He knows what feeds my soul.

She had a big smile on her face and quickly invited me to join them for a class they were attending.
My heart was full.
I came home smiling and my husband kissed me on the cheek and smiled that, told you so smile.

Life... like riding a bike, you never forget how and hopefully never tire of it.
Of making new friends, trusting God, one more time.
He is in the details. 
He weaves our lives together, some connections we never see, but still reap the benefits.
He is gracious that way.

Little by little the Penny-farthing bike is being traded for my road bike, the one that is sure of itself, consistent and has a clear purpose.
I see the clear road ahead.

Where do you see God in the details of your life?
His hand is all over us, but do we notice?








Jan 9, 2013

Wednesday Whine....

 Pet Peeves and Things I Don't Understand

Pet peeve...
Why does Facebook ask me how I am doing?
Fb, this is creepy and you (do you have a voice) are over stepping your place in my life. 
You're not my mom, we are not even related, even though we may hang out for long periods of time.
It makes me want to punch you in the face.

Have you noticed that, "I want to punch you in the face" is the new,
"I want to slap you in the head" line? 
It's true.
 Just listen to your kids and seemingly intelligent adults.
  It's all the rage.
People are authoring books with that title... so much for our rich, beautiful English language.
This is not a pet peeve, it's just dumb.

I don't understand...
 how, the first 25 years of my life I weighed 124 lbs and felt 5 lbs over weight.
 If I weighed 124 today, you'd be calling me Twiggy or Mick J. 
How does that work?
Please don't call me Mick... these lips are natural.
 
People that drive in the left lane. Yes, this is my pet peeve, on crack.
If you are in the left lane and I am behind you and you can see what shade of lip stick I'm wearing, maybe you should shimmy on over.
 Geesh..
and you are not the Highway Po Po... even though you think you are.
Don't worry they will get me soon enough, and I'll pay.
Believe me, I'll pay. 

Why can't white women embrace wigs like our sisters from another mister?
I would be first in line for this.
My kids have warned me not to come anywhere near them, looking like Dolly, Cher or one of Charlies Angels.
Ha... I lived that real time.
No repeat necessary.

I don't understand why we resist?
Some days I want to be a brooding brunette, a hot red head or a bombshell blonde. 
For heavens sake, I've been all of those in real life (maybe without the bombshell or hot part, brooding, yes) so why can't we slip it on and off with our moods?
Think of the money on hair care products we would save.
And underneath it all we can be Demi in GI Jane. 
I've been an inch longer than that and loved it
Can you spell freedom? 
Cropped, short hair....
yikes, that is a great feeling.

And... I don't care if you wear sunglasses indoors. 
But... It's dumb.
I did that in high school. 
Had a heart sticker in the corner too.
Yeah, I was that cool.  
That's my Wednesday whine, not what I intended when I sat down here but got giggling over some things and well...
 Should have stuck to prayer.
Check in tomorrow and I'll share what God did for me yesterday. He is in the details and He showed that to me in a sweet way. :)

What are your pet peeves?
Share a few...


Jan 8, 2013

Five Steps....

Okay... for most of us there are not five simple... or even five incredibly hard, you still look ridiculous in those skinny jeans... steps. My advice. Give it up and go with boyfriend cut Levis or long and lean, boot cut(dark wash of course) Gap jeans, or your favorite $300 pair that still make your butt look big, but that's okay now.
Any who...

This blog is really about

l
l
l
V
THE
SKINNY
ON
PRAYER

Sorry for the trickery.

5 Easy Steps To Prayer

1) It's not easy, so get that out of your mind.

2) It is a daily habit, you will want to find a quiet place where you can talk to God, outloud.
Trust me... out loud is awesome.

3) You don't need fancy words, however you are approaching God... He created the world, you, everything good. He deserves some respect.

4) It's okay, even good to be still with God. It's a conversation and He is pleased when we come before Him. Even if you tell Him you have no idea what to say. Be patient... you will think of things to thank Him for, things you may want to ask forgiveness for. He desires to grow in relationship with us so you may want to ask for wisdom and eyes that see Him in new ways.

 5) Recognize this is a journey, a marathon, not a sprint. Don't be discouraged when you have a bad prayer day, get busy and forget, ignore Him... Come back to your prayer place and pick up where you left off.
God is pleased when we spend time with Him. Through prayer we will come to know God in ways that are not possible any other way. 

My word for the year is PRAYER.
This is not going to be easy... but I want to know Him in new ways this year.
Would you please pray for me?




Jan 7, 2013

Because This Is Just Awesome... Happy Monday


Happy Monday... Is this the most awesome dog toy you have ever seen?! 
Gonna be looking for this toy, oh yeah.
Have a great day and smile big. 
God loves you! 

 
Psalms 50:10-11
"Every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine."  

Proverbs 12:10
"A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal." 



Jan 6, 2013

The Day Of Epiphany

 January sixth, Epiphany, known as Twelfth Day, Three Kings Day.
One of the earliest celebrated feasts of the church. The Greek Orthodox celebrate it in great tradition of diving into waters and retrieving the sacred cross.
It marks the end of the Christmas season, celebrating God in flesh, through His son, Jesus Christ.
It is linked to the visit of the Magi... the Three Wise Men, the Three Kings.
Jesus, the Christ child was revealed to them and through them to the Gentiles... as they were the same.

Epiphany... to show, to make known, reveal.
Oh God, You have revealed Yourself to me. 
May I honor You by sharing You with others, joyfully. 

Matthew 2:1-12
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea. This happened while Herod was king of Judea.
After Jesus’ birth, Wise Men from the east came to Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the child who has been born to be king of the Jews? When we were in the east, we saw his star. Now we have come to worship him.”
When King Herod heard about it, he was very upset. Everyone in Jerusalem was troubled too. So Herod called together all the chief priests of the people. He also called the teachers of the law. He asked them where the Christ was going to be born.
“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied. “This is what the prophet has written. He said,
“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are certainly not the least important among the towns of Judah.
A ruler will come out of you.
    He will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’” (Micah 5:2)
Then Herod called for the Wise Men secretly. He found out from them exactly when the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem. He said, “Go! Make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, bring me a report. Then I can go and worship him too.”
After the Wise Men had listened to the king, they went on their way. The star they had seen when they were in the east went ahead of them. It finally stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy.
11 The Wise Men went to the house. There they saw the child with his mother Mary. They bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures. They gave him gold, incense and myrrh.
12 But God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they returned to their country on a different road.

Jan 5, 2013

Prayer In Music...



Prayer is my word this year. 
I have failed in the meaning of this word, many days.
This year will be different. 
I will stop trying so hard, instead finding the wonder, joy and blessing in it. Communication between the God of the universe ... and me. 
Wow.
Prayer can look like face to floor, tears of joy, sorrow, overwhelmed by grace shown... by Mighty God.
Today it looks like David Crowder...
how can we not find worship, holy praise, lifting hands in prayer to Yahweh.
Pray with me....

Jan 4, 2013

A Word About Comments....


 Hi friends,
A comment about comments.
Many of you have left them.
Know that I have read them and welcome them. As long as they are appropriate :)
I have responded to some and others have slipped by. My apologies.
I appreciate each one of you taking the time to share your thoughts, struggles, blessings.
This is the best part of writing a blog... sharing life together.
We are having some problems of late with comments.. appearing and disappearing.
Please know that I have not deleted them...
Keep commenting and thanks for your patience.


Jan 3, 2013

My One Desire... For My Sweet Loves.

This was a post from last summer.... worth reminding myself of my role as mama and My One Desire... with these precious souls.
This is my friend Aslan... from Narnia

Remember when your babies were born and you dreamed of what they might become? 
Night club dancer, lawyer, circus star. 
I resisted the urge to say cowboys. Oops.
Okay, maybe these were not in your top ten.

You saw your girl or boy, married, living down the street from you.
 Enjoying Sunday dinners, going to church together. 
Be honest... 
you were hoping for at least two of the three. 
If they live down the street you can skip Sunday dinner with them. 
Just mosey down after dinner (why waste time calling on the phone?) and suggest a game of gin rummy or spoons (what?)
I am sure they will be thrilled. Wink, wink.

To be honest, my brain did not spend much time pondering where they might live.
My brain was in the "I hope I make it through the day" and "Kid, I hope YOU make it through the day"mode.
I've asked my husband more than once why we didn't have more kids. He shakes his head and smiles.
He says I had something to do with that decision.

What would become of these little ones?
I knew early on that these children were not mine. 
I had been given an opportunity to develop them, show them Christ.
I reminded myself to tread lightly on the path God would open to them.
The blessing was all mine, but I had to hold loosely, letting their hearts go where He called.

Kids seek their parents for guidance and I did not want my guidance to be selfish or self seeking. 
Hmm, that is not an easy task.
 God has a plan for each member of our family. He would not be checking in with me for a thumbs up.
" Okay God, I'm good with that."

God has given me a radar, for my selfish heart.
I recognize quickly when I suggest something that benefits me, not necessarily them. 

Today, my 18 year old son will board a plane and fly to Australia. A five week mission trip. 
I am excited for him! He will turn 19 in the outback. It will not be his first birthday spent in another country but it will be the first celebrated without family.
That's okay.
The people with him are part of his family now.

We will celebrate the boy when he returns.

The daughter is a brand new college graduate, with a real job. She also has a house she is responsible for, a lawn to water and mow and bills to pay.
She steps up quickly. At 4 yrs of age, my friends would comment on how mature she was. Maybe it was the contrast between moms silliness and daughters seriousness. 

The daughter and the son have been living under the same roof this summer. It is mostly sweet, accept when the boy acts 18 and forgets to be gentle with his sister.
Yesterday, she told me she is going to miss him.
Today he told me that he is going to have a few moments during the next 5 weeks when he is a bit homesick.
This took me by surprise.
 I told him he should miss us, and more than "a bit"
(He talks like his dad, many times his commentary has an English or Irish accent, 
sometimes both.)  

My husband is neither English or Irish. He is Italian and my conclusion is both boys are a bit off.
I kinda love that about them.


Do
Have
One 
Desire
For 
My
Kids.

                           And.. the beauty is that every child can have this gift I desire for my own.
 It is not something they receive because they are 
smart, 
beautiful, 
can hit a ball out of the park,
rich,
run fast or
 sing well.

 It is because they are a child made in the image of GOD.
The person who has a mensa brain. The person who will never graduate high school or go on to college. 
The person who will play in the Symphony. The person who will never leave her mamas home.
God gave them all equal ability to see HIM.
No worries in this department.
God has it covered.

This desire I have for them is to know Jesus, and seek Him in all their life.
This is all I want and every person can do this. It is called a childlike faith. 
Not to be confused with a childish faith.

“It isn't Narnia, you know," sobbed Lucy.
 "It's you. 
We shan't meet you there. 
And how can we live, never meeting you?"
"But you shall meet me, dear one," said Aslan.
"Are -are you there too, Sir?" said Edmund.
"I am," said Aslan. "But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.” 
― C.S. LewisThe Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Today I say goodbye to my lovelies and I put them in the care of my Father.
 He knows the plans HE has for us. 
I claim Him as my Fortress, my Rock, my Comfort.

I hope you have this desire for your children today.
Lay the burdens down at Jesus feet. He has a plan bigger than you can ever imagine.