One Speed

Care taking mom 

is challenging me 
to plan our comings and goings 

a little more carefully

You see Mom has one speed 

Constant and S L O W     

You could write a tune to the click of her cane it is so on beat!

The Scripture says that God is faithful....

He does not change...

He is constant and timely  

Today Mom turns 96   

I praise God that she has been a true example of consistency  

As you listen to this song 

please pray a blessing over her life!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?

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Stand

You've prayed

You've cried

You've believed

You've stayed in the Word

You've listened

You've quieted yourself

there is NOTHING else to do!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4Aig91_C8Y

JUST STAND

AND WATCH FOR THE LORD TO MOVE

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Years ago, when I found out that i was pregnant with my 4th child, I wanted to go into hiding. My oldest was 3, another 2 and the youngest was 3 months....I knew that the comments would fly!

4 years earlier i had answered the call to "trust The Lord for my children"...I had dutifully thrown away the pills and gotten pregnant immediately.  But it seemed that as soon as a baby was born it would be only a matter of months and another was on his or her way.

When I was about 5 months along with Emmalie ( whose birthday is tomorrow) I had a day  of "chatting with The Lord" .  It was a day like no other as we talked back and forth.  I remember it as He reminded me that "I had not planned my children BUT HE had had them planned since before the beginning of time.  He knew their names and their number"

He then began to methodically ask me questions like.; " have your pregnancies been good". Have the babies been healthy?  Had we ever gone without a need being met?"  Over and over I had to agree with His faithfulness.   Then He said.."I have tried to bless you but you have let others steal the blessing away by listening and being concerned about what they think or will say"

That stopped me in my tracks!  I had been blaming the "talkers" for my stress and embarrassment when here I was being told that it WAS ME!!  I was letting them own space in my life..steal my blessing!  I had no one to blame but myself!

I remember kneeling on that ratty old kitchen floor and asking for forgiveness.  Immediately I was free!  The burden lifted, my nerves went back under my skin, my antennae disappeared  and my emotions came back in line with the Throne!
I wish I could say I never struggled again but that would not be true!  But I can say I never struggled the same again .  I would quickly run to The Lord as soon as I would catch myself thinking outside of His truths.  His Promises are yes and amen and He never fails!!

Trust Him ~. Won't you?

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It Will Cost You

Cell phone bills used to list "roaming charges"...

those charges added to your bill when 

you are making a call outside of your calling area.

I believe that Christians can get Roaming Charges as well.  

When we take a short cut,  a side trip,  

a vacation, and or an excursion...

when  we step out of His care ~ 

we pay the price.    

Prayerfully we only need to spend 

some time on our knees to get back our footing 

but too often 

the consequences of Roaming are very steep;   

unwanted pregnancy, 

illness, 

no education, 

broken relationships 

etc etc etc.

 STAY CLOSE

DO NOT ROAM!!

LISTEN TO THE HOLY SPIRIT!

"Safe in the arms of Jesus"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYdF45XIl3g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua8UZLJ7tjc

What Would We Do?

without the Lord??

Listen to the choir and sing it OVER AND OVER 

until you are standing in the place 

of 

faith and protection!

**http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytE8um04l24

**http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU8J5l1f5IU

Friends

"Thou oh Lord art a Shield about me 

You're the Glory and the Lifter of my head"

HE is the only one that we can trust
HE is the only one who will never forsake us 
or let us down
HE WILL take care of us and bring us through

Proverbs 2

Psalm 3
Read the Word and 
decide today 
to renew your trust and faith 
in Him

**http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLTEYRt_a9g

**http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMbl35t1H0U

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**You may need to copy the address in your browser
not sure why it is working differently

Waging the War

The Lord says HE wants to fight our battles

Exodus 14:14

Deut. 20:4

Ps. 35

When the battle wages we SO OFTEN want to "put up our dukes"

We want to be involved.

When we are at war we are most vulnerable.  

Remember 2 Corinthians 10:3   

"We don't fight war as the world does"

Eph. 6:12

This is the time to Hide in Him ~ friends!   

RUN TO HIM

Bask in His care, covering and mercy.   

Stay out of the ring!!

Many times we feel the need to speak "righteousness" 

into the situation.   

This may be personally or on a social media of some sort~ 

hoping that others will hear   

that they will be convinced ~ 

(we can't believe that others are not seeing what we are)

when all that really is happening 

is that we are muddying the waters...

stirring things up.

Believe me you will be splashed on.

Brother ~  Sister ~

Please get out of God's Way

You can trust Him

This is the place of perseverance and maturing

So that you will be made complete lacking nothing 

James 1

Silence yourself and Listen

He will guide you

He will tell you what to do

and what NOT to do

again

HE IS FAITHFUL TO HIS CHILDREN!

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Mom ~ on a Roll

At the end of our ladies prayer meeting today mom spoke out:

"There is a place of quiet rest 
near to the heart of God
A place where sin cannot molest 
near to the heart of God."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHGYZKGPxvE

"Just because it's Tuesday is not why we come running.  We come because we CAN!  He's here!!  
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday....this seat is all warmed for me...I took it before anyone else could get it!  
God is so good!!   Near...Here... and Dear"

Well there you go ~ a complete sermon in a few words.
How lovely

If you happen to live near here mom and I personally invite you to join us on Tuesday morning at 9:30, Centerpoint Community Church where ladies come and lay their burdens down.  An place where we pray for healing and encourage each other in the faith.  Come be a part of this body works.

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The Spirit Moves

   Ooooooookkk

My whole blog has disappeared into cyberspace....

Billy Graham’s Prayer For Our Nation‘Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, ‘Woe to those who call evil good,’ but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from sin and set us free. Amen!’

With the Lord’s help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we once again can be called ‘One nation under God!’

A Wonderful Testimony

Years ago I heard a testimony.  
It has become one of my favorites and I have shared it many, many times.
Tonite a friend called and asked if I could find it for her



Please allow me to direct you to it as well.
I urge you to take the few minutes to listen to it and then later listen to it again with all your senses.

God is BIG and does AMAZING things!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8jsUiTuPIA

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The Lighthouse

Thinking about lighthouses.

After hearing a woman share about her passion for these "lights of warning" to ships to stay away from the rocks...

I got thinking 

I'm going to start praying a different way.   
Lord, cause the people to fall on the Rock.

The Scripture says 

"Better to fall on the rock and be broken 

than to have the Rock fall on you and be crushed"  

Matthew 21:44

The Lighthouse used to be a warning Lord

Today I pray that it will become a welcome mat

Like a moth to a nightlight

I pray that men and women's eyes 

will be drawn to the 

Light of Your Salvation

"Bring them in from the fields of sin

bring the wandering ones to Jesus!"

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The Seasons

A friend looking at the back window of my van commented on the "picture" of all my children.
Right under the picture was a sign that read, 
"Jesus is the Reason for the Season".
He said, "I don't get it"
I laughed as I took off the magnetic sign and explained that it had been there for Christmas.

As I pondered on it later I realized, 
Jesus WAS the reason for that season in my life. .. yours too!!

What comfort there is in this reality.  

As I follow after God He brings things, events, people etc into and out of my life.  

He is in control of the seasons of my life.   

As I watch my youngest of grandchildren and all the way up to my mom who is nearing one hundred..

I see seasons, phases, times of incredible busyness 

to my mom dozing and sitting,

 sitting and dozing.  

He reigns over all of it. 

 Recon yourself at rest friend.  

He holds you and sees Every single thing that comes in and out of your sphere .  

You can trust Him

Breath deeply

Determine to rest 

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Looking for Sweet Potatoes

This morning in prayer there was much weightiness.  So many requests, many long term, with seemingly nothing going on.

I was reminded of a story that I think I may have actually shared a while ago.  
The Short of the Long of it is: a young girl, on a LONG bus ride in Nepal, going to visit some friends on what would be our Thanksgiving Day.  
She was in a totally "black mood" as she missed her family, her home, her holiday~ just all of it.  She sat on this LONG bus ride, on this dirt road, for HOURS.... hoping to meet some American friends in a far away city to spend some time together.  
The bus gets stopped (a usual happening) and has the potential of being delayed for HOURS.   She becomes even more depressed.
After a while she decides to just take a walk.  There is nothing around except some guys with guns..and she begins to walk down this rutted dirt road where there is NOTHING.  She just needs to clear her head and get some fresh air.  
Up ahead she sees something on the side of the road and as she approaches finds it's a woman sitting ...with a pot....full of roasted SWEET POTATOES.   

Now the crux of this story is THAT IS the meal that the girl's mom would make for her at home in the states for Thanksgiving!!!  

She LOVES sweet potatoes 

Friend God knows

and just when you can't go on...

not another step...

He sends "sweet potatoes" and shows that 

HE indeed is with you...

HE sees,  

He never makes a mistake and best of all 

He knows what we are made of 

and will send His angels to encourage us 

and give us a "sighting" when we least expect it.

So beloved 

today I pray that the Lord will send you 

a "sweet potato" sighting, 

a clear sign of His love 

and His care for you

He may seem far off, 

but He is as close 

as the mention of 

His Name

JESUS

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Drawing Near

The other evening a friend was telling of her how her walk with the Lord seems to be going to a new level.  She is excited!   She is pondering things that she has not thought of before.  She wants more.... Her appetite has been whet.

The Scripture says "If you draw near to Me I will draw near to you" James 4:8

 Its as simple as that. 

Friend  

~ give Him time ~

Let Him have more of your day

Be intentional to bring Him to thought more often..

(a friend sets his watch alarm for every 15-30 mins ~ 

just to be mindful of His Maker).

Draw near...open the Word more,  share more,   read more.   Gather with friends and enjoy Godly fellowship.   Join to pray and do Bible Study.  
When you choose Him first YOU are the one who gets blessed.  Your face, your testimony and your overall countenance will show something's different!

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A Beautiful Sound

While  S L O W L Y walking mom into church this morning I heard the sound of running feet headed in our direction.  A mom had just dropped off her 3 children to meet their grandparents at church.  These kids were not trudging in, begging to stay home, reluctant or headed to the play ground...they were GOING to CHURCH!!

I mentioned to mom "what a beautiful sound"!!  

"How lovely on the mountain are the feet of them that bring good news"
You have to hear it and own it before you can bring it.

Father

May we be swift in our coming to You

Teach us how to push everything out of the way,

 how to remove obstacles and any thing/one that would  keep us from Your Presence

Renew the Joy of our Salvation

Give us the "want to" to replace the "have to"

Thank You for your Patience, Perserverance and 

Amazing Grace!!

YOU alone can do this

We entrust ourselves once more 

to the 

ONE AND TRUE GOD

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Seabiscuit # 2

"Will he race"
"No not that one.."
"Why are you fixing him?"
"Cause  I can"
"Every horse is good for something.  He can either be a cart horse or a lead pony and he's still nice to look at."
"You don't throw a whole life away just because he's banged up a little."

Need I write any more?

As I watched this movie I just heard over and over the truths of God.

  NO ONE is worthless

thus

EVERY ONE HAS WORTH!

repeat this over and over to yourself   say it when you go out of your home..to work...to the market.  Say it over and over until you believe it for yourself
AND
everyone else you meet.
God has never and will never make junk.
we often are the product of our past.but God has a future in store!.
Will you be the patient one?
will you give a good word over and over
will you give more chances.

Everyone needs a hero..someone who believes in them

BELOVED
you are
SPECIAL!!!



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When Blessings Become Burdens

Mom became totally overwhelmed tonite when going through her many Christmas cards.  She cried as she asked me what she should do about all the people who were "trying to schedule her and get her to do things". 
"Mom what do you mean?"  She points to the cards and says   "all these dear friends, they want me to write back to them and I cant.  It's just too much."

After an hour of talking it through, with prayer, she settled down.   

I reminded her that ALL the cards were simply blessings.  

No one was expecting anything in return.   

Isn't it true that sometimes when God just wants to bless us we become overwhelmed with our own perspective on the situation.
We make more of "it" than it is.  We surmise, put our own personal spin on the situation and often just like mom we become overwhelmed because we think "we owe"

Beloved ~ you owe nothing ~ and if you did you would never be able to repay.  
God is Good.
He gives good things
He only waits for our love and obedience and while He is waiting He continues to love us and be Good.

Receive it, bask in His goodness    Let Him lavish His love on you!

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Deuteronomy 28:13

"The Lord will make you the head not the tail, 

if you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God 

that I give you this day 

and carefully follow them, 

you will always be at the top, 

never at the bottom."

I have been praying for a word concerning a project that I am involved in...it is a good project but that truly means nothing unless it is a project that the Lord is "backing"

Thus the praying.

When we KNOW* that the Lord is in something it does not matter what the situation looks like, sounds like etc.  

God is in it!!

When the Lord gave Rich and I the mandate to "trust Him for our children" there were MANY times that we reminded Him that "this was His idea ~ not ours!" And it was that exact fact, that I KNEW without a shadow of doubt that it was HE behind that Word, that kept me from "falling off the cliff"   

I knew that I knew. (because, believe me, other wise our family size would have looked MUCH different!)

Friend do you seek the Lord?

Do you listen and get your guidance from Him?

Just because He has always led you a certain way does not mean it can't change.  David inquired of the Lord over and over again...and God over and over again did something different!

Don't lean to your own understanding friend

Ask...listen...wait... 

He WILL ANSWER!

*KNOW  It took 3 months for me to become convinced that the Lord was asking me to "trust Him for our children".  I fought it on every level.  

I am SO THANKFUL that HE had His way!!!

His ways are not our ways ~ His plans have supernatural purpose!

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Stanley on Peace

How to Experience Christ's Peace

John 14:27-31

"My peace I give to you” (John 14:27). Jesus spoke these amazing words just hours before His crucifixion. His peace isn’t dependent upon external circumstances, but rather, it transcends them. Although He gives His peace to every believer as a gift, our experience of it is related to our faith in the following truths:

• God is in control of everything. Without this assurance, the world is a scary place.
• He loves me and will see me through every circumstance, no matter how difficult or painful it may be.
• To have Christ’s peace, I must surrender my life to Him. When I hold onto my ways and plans, I’ll experience turmoil.
• I have a limited perspective and understanding of my circumstances and God’s purposes for allowing them. His goals for me are greater than my immediate comfort.
• The Lord promises to work all things out for my good. He is continually working to transform my character into Christ’s image.
• I must live in sync with God, walking in the Spirit and promptly confessing and repenting of sin.
• Scripture is my foundation for peace. It increases my trust in the Lord’s goodness, assures me that He keeps His promises, and reminds me of His sovereignty over every situation.

Sadly, many Christians live their whole lives without consistently experiencing this incomprehensible peace. Perhaps faith and submission are the most challenging issues. But only as we surrender control of our lives to Christ and trust in His plans for us will we discover tranquil rest for our souls.

Charles Stanley

Seabiscuit

"He's so beat up its hard to tell what he's like"

"He just needs to learn how to be a horse again"

"I can't help feeling that they got him so screwed up running in a circle that he's forgotten what he was born to do"

These are  a few lines from the movie.   
They just reminded me how so many of us were before coming to Christ.
We were made in the Image of Christ and then we were robbed.  Satan, the world and our flesh spent years beating on us and making us go in circles ~ and we forgot~  who we were and what our purpose was and what we were made to do.

Then someone rescued us  He made a way...He loved us SO much that He gave His life so that we could live.

Friends  NEVER give up praying for someone.  There is no situation too big for God.  There is no place that a person can go that God's love cannot find them.   

Remember where you came from and pray ~  pray like you  have never prayed before ~ for the souls of your family, your neighbors, your co workers.
Time is short and people have forgotten what they were born to do.

Jesus hears and answers prayer

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The Census

I was struck by a "blurb" in my Bible Study

"A census of a nation's armed forces was a way to assess ones strength, to boast in ones might, or to prepare for further military campaigns.  God wanted David to do none of theses things"

Why do you suppose?

Matthew 6:31-34

31 Therefore take no thought , saying , What shall we eat ? or, What shall we drink ? or,Wherewithal shall we be clothed ? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 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.


This is so contrary to our lifestyle on planet earth or at least in middle class USA.  We plan, we build, dream, work and plan some more 

Friends I'm afraid we are wasting our time if we are not seeking The Lord first.  It is all Futile!

But so often that's just how we live OUR lives..just as if we owned them!  
Let's remember, once again, we are not our own. We have been bought with a price. 
He sees, He knows and He has a perfect plan that most assuredly will look different than the one we try to put in place

So friends~ 
Hold your life, your days, family, friends, work etc etc loosely. As the song says "He gives and takes away".  
Blessed be the name of The Lord

Contented~

The Mark

Do you have "THE MARK" on you?

His Mark?

What might that look like?

Galations 5:22+23

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.  Against such things there is no law."

Are these traits, these "fruits" visible in your life.  

NO  

Truly I want us to look and ask the hard question.  

If the Spirit in living in us these traits should be visible 

and active in and through us.

Take the words one at a time and "unwrap" them...

Be honest with yourself and God.  

Be pro active.  

Practice and be intentional.  

HE will help you succeed.  

More of HIM and less of me.

Contented

Happy New Year

I'm Back!!

Thank you for giving me a little breather.  I so appreciate the notes that I have received they have been So encouraging to me!

New year 2013. 

My wish for  you this year

I wish for you hours a day with NO Internet 

                    That your spouse will see your eyes, your children will have your undivided attention and  that Jesus will have access to your heart 

I wish for you a table where you meet together regularly for family meals. That you will connect daily with the loved  ones around you to interact, laugh and listen

I wish for you a well spring from the Word. 

That you will take time to "drink it in"and be Full

I wish for you friends. Friends that will stick closer than a brother.  

Remember it's not the number of friends but the quality of the friendship

I wish for you contentment....to be happy ~ just cause  

I wish for you a sound mind and a tender spirit

I wish for you TIME

I wish for you focus

I wish for you    hugs and kisses and arms to hold on to.

health and happiness    

Jesus and deep contentment

be intentional this year   ~   DO IT

acts of kindnesses  gotten and given

Father we need YOU to give us the grace to make these things happen.  We realize we are so often our own worst enemy.  Help us to walk the walk Lord.  Grant us success in living our lives for You ..in Word and Deed make it all count.

We are Yours Lord

Blessings