Prayer Request

It seems like just yesterday my daughter, Angie came to me with, "Mom, I believe the LORD is leading me to go to this school."...and so it began. We are now, like it or not, in the need to get "ourselves" ready for her trip. The emotions are ever so varied - incredible highs and horrendous lows, yet through it all God is with us. Please pray for our entire family as we prepare. Please pray for my daughter as she seeks to be "obedient" to her Beloved's Call. God will be glorified in it all!

Bek's Bunnies

Thank you Pat for thinking of Bek and bringing these bunnies over for the enjoyment, not only of Bek, but for me as I see her brighten up when she opens the box. She came over again the other day and the first thing she asked for where her bunnies.

These bunnies used to belong to my friend's granddaughter who now has outgrown them. Thank you Pat!!!

The Everlasting God

Our Guests Stay

Humbled and Amazed

I remember sometime ago the LORD was teaching me about “humility”. I remember reading, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” and “humble yourself in the sight of the LORD and He will lift you up”. As I read and meditated upon what the LORD was sharing with me, I remember thinking, “O no what’s up ahead? LORD help me to humble myself and not to be in the position of needing to be humbled. What’s up ahead? God have mercy.” Yes, this shows you what flawed and warped thinking I have of My Heavenly Father.

The LORD in His abundant grace and mercy has been teaching me some lessons. Yes, things have been moving at the speed of light around here. We have had family from out of the country stay with us. I can honestly tell you that I have had joy and peace in the midst of it all. God has provided stamina and energy to keep up with this pace. In fact, My God has provided all that was needed in order to accomplish His will for this time of my and my families life.

In the midst of this visit I could have been busy thinking of the things that are up ahead, such as “A Young Girls Tea” here at my house, and the preparation for my daughter’s trip to Pennsylvania. However, God in His all-knowing grace did not allow me to think even once about the events of the future, but focused me only on the day at hand (Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 6:34). Now, don’t get me wrong, I am a planner and as such the LORD helped me to sit down before my guests arrived and set dates and plans on paper. Once I did this and set it upon my refrigerator I could go about the day to day busyness without a thought about missing any due dates or events.

One day in the midst of “the schedule” my internet went down. I normally let it work out itself (this has been happening a lot lately). But this day I decided to call my internet provider “interrupting” (so I thought) the “schedule” for the day. My guests ended up visiting with my nephew and his family on their own, while I waited for the internet guy to come by and check my modem. Yes, in my mind this was a glitch in the “schedule”, but God knew what I needed. As I sat waiting for the internet guy I picked up my Bible and the LORD so spoke to me. It was such an intimate time with My Jesus and I. I felt refreshed and encouraged. Then a dear friend of mine called and simply to pray for me. Once all this was done then…a knock at the door – what do you know, the internet guy is here and then my guests came home.

Another day another dear friend called and asked if they could come by my house. As I looked at the chaos around me I hesitated saying yes. This person sensing my hesitation said, “it will only take a few minutes”. I hesitantly said yes. This person came in and spoke to me privately and handed me money – yes money. This person said that the LORD had put it on their heart to bring me this money since before my guests arrived, but they hadn’t been able to get a hold of me. Yes, my friends, humbling indeed. God continued to provide for all-needs as I ventured into these foreign waters.

I could write some more, but suffice it to say that God humbled me. His humbling was gentle and loving. As He taught me these lessons, I always felt loved and encouraged. I always felt His tender touch, His Fatherly embrace.

Through it all I can say that many, many seeds were planted. Many stepped up to the plate and helped and shared with them. Thank you all who helped in so many different ways.

Jesus says, “My burden is light. My yoke is easy.”

Conference

It has been busy, busy, busy around here. I am so thankful for the energy and stamina that My LORD has bestowed upon me. I take nothing for granted, and know that it is His strength flowing through me. In the midst of my busyness, HE swept me away and sat me at a table replete with abundant nourishment. In His love He allowed me to partake of a table that was filled with “SOLID” food for my soul. In fact, this lady I sat with at one of the seminars asked me, “So how do you like the conference?” I, with tears in my eyes, told her that I felt that My Jesus had set this beautiful table and filled it with all kinds of food and pulled up a chair for me and invited me to sit and partake, TO INDULGE.

I and my friend, Laura, got to attend a conference called “WOMEN discipling WOMEN equipping women to minister using God’s Word”. It was held at Grace Community Church and presented by The Master’s College. It was such an overwhelming time (good overwhelming). This Conference was incredible. There was no fluff there; it was all good solid food for the soul. I am still trying to digest all that the LORD taught me there. I am also praying for some stirrings that have been going on in my heart, but were definitely stirred up even more at this Conference.

From the get go this get away was a blessing. My friend Laura and I had an invigorating conversation on our way there. We enjoyed good stirring conversation with nothing to disrupt. Once we got to the Conference and got our materials, we both sat and enjoyed our surroundings and of course going through our wonderful handbook. As we browsed through the handbook I got stuck at the outline for the Seminar entitled “Christian Eldercare: Honor, Hope, and Humility” (look for some of it to be posted on the caregivers blog). I did not pick this seminar, but…when I came to “The privilege of being thought worthy!”…emotions were hard to contain, God was already at work. He had much to teach me this weekend. I gave this example to someone I talked to after the Conference – I had this tool chest fool of tools, however I did not know how to use or appropriate each one of those tools. Now, however, God has shown me and taught me how to use these tools. I am ever thankful for those women that took the time to be students themselves and now are teaching others what they’ve been taught.

God knows the desires of my heart. I am ever so thankful for this awesome opportunity that He allowed me to have. My prayer is that He would continue to lead me and teach me and show me what is next.

Thank you Jesus!!!

I'm Still Here

No I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth. Yes, I am still here. Lots and lots of changes. Lots and lots of activity around here. Most importantly, I find myself falling madly in love with My Savior Jesus Christ all over again. I just love when He pulls me aside for a time of going deeper and spending quality time with Him (you can read a wonderful and challenging post about “diving deep” by going to Lisa’s blog). I’m not saying that I didn’t love Him or that I had walked away or fallen away, simply that life happens and “everything” becomes routine. But, praise be to My LORD, that He beckons me to come away with Him, to spend alone time with Him. Once I heed His call, “o me, o my – the treasures that await!” I also know that He is preparing me for things, situations, life changes that are up ahead. My Jesus knows exactly what is needful for me.

Jesus loves us so much. He is always waiting for us to COME AWAY WITH HIM. This thought never ceases to amaze me. The Creator of heaven and earth desires to spend time with ME! And when I come to Him - O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the LORD? Or who hath been His counselor? Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto Him again? For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)

No Hands Call

As many of you know, California has a new law, it went into effect July 1st - no hands on cell phones. Our fetish to be always connected seems to be out of control and, apparently causing a lot of distractions on the road. However, this is not a post about this law, yes, once again I’ve been thinking…

What if we had this same desire “to always be connected” to the LORD (we won’t need a blue tooth for this connection). God calls us, beckons us to come and fellowship with Him, to talk with Him, to spend time with Him. Yet we are often distracted by all these fabulous technologies. Yet, to be connected to Our Maker we need absolutely nothing except an open and willing heart. With our heart open to receive, we can continually be connected to Our Master and King and o how glorious this is. He is always available. He is never busy. And, you know what, HE can do abundantly, exceedingly more than we ask or pray for – how good is that! He can actually handle all that concerns us. And when we finish talking with Him, we feel refreshed, renewed and ready to take on the world. He assures us that He will never leave us, nor forsake us, that I can do all things through Him, who strengthens me, and that He will give me all that I need to carry on. This is one conversation that is a win-win.

So pray without ceasing, in all things acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. He is longing to spend time with you – the Maker of this Universe desires to hear your voice and spend time with you, will you answer His call?

Six Word Memoir

My friend, Laura, tagged me on her blog to think of a six word memoir to describe my life.

hummm - well, before I accepted the LORD Jesus Christ in my life would have been: "One life - eat, drink, be merry!"

After God's amazing love and grace was bestowed upon me and He came into my heart to make His dwelling place: "To live, Christ; to die, gain".

The Battle is On

Just when you think, “hey, this isn’t too bad.” It seems as if you are on a nice, leisurely walk through this path called life, when WHAMO!!! The air is taken out-of-you and you are on your face with just enough strength to carry on (brings to memory a line in a song, “when my walk, becomes a crawl.” – and I mean, at times this is literally). The LORD put a vivid picture in my mind about this “walk; this path we are on” – there’s this show called Wipeout (which I’ve only seen the previews, but the picture is there), it is like an obstacle course, but with lots and lots of hurdles to conquer before you get to the end. That’s how this walk is. We have to go through a lot of hurdles (trials, conflicts, adversities, difficulties, impossibilities) in order to get to the finish line. Just when we think, “Hey, I’m getting ahead” – WIPEOUT! Something hits you from where you least expect it or from where the enemy knows it’s going to hurt and sting the most; where the enemy knows that it’s going to suck-all-the-life out of you to the point where you contemplate retreating from this path. Another song comes to mind, “Jesus / lover of my soul / Jesus/ I will never let you go / You’ve taken me / from the miry clay / you’ve set my feet, upon the Rock and now I know / I love You / I need You / THOUGH MY WORLD MAY FALL I’LL NEVER LET YOU GO / My Savior / My closest friend / I WILL WORSHIP YOU UNTIL THE VERY END”.

We are in a fierce battle. Ephesians 5:15-17 tells us, See that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

1 Peter 5:8-11 – BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

John 10:10(a) – The thief cometh not, but for to STEAL, and to KILL, and to DESTROY…

This is the kind of enemy we are up against. These are not the times to relax and have a nice-leisurely walk. We are called to be SOBER, VIGILANT, WISE. We are to walk in confidence that HE, who began a good work in me, will complete it. We need to walk from victory – the victory of Jesus Christ. We need to be fully armed with the armor of God – no other armor or weapon will do. We need to be renewing our mind, not conforming to this world.

1 John 4:4 – Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 – For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Revelation 12:11 – And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Revelation 20:10 – And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.