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Friday, February 29, 2008

Thank you God for answering my prayers!!!


Is this just the sweetest thing ever?! Oh my goodness. Mom and Dad are still resting and I haven't asked their permission to post his face yet so this will just have to do for now!!
I just have to give a shout to my Abba Daddy for this precious little boy! Oh my goodness. There really are no words. As we watched him come down that ramp last night it was like God was just pulling me in His arms tighter and tighter saying "See my sweet girl, I hear you and I'm answering you!" The emotions were/are just overwhelming!! We laughed, we cried, we screamed, we jumped up and down!! AMAZING!! The funny thing was there were 8 adopted babies on that flight and we welcomed them all but saved our overflow of joy for baby Kenan!
As soon as my dear friends give me the green light I promise to share his sweet face with you. I promise it'll be worth the wait! God is good. If you're praying for something that seems impossible, be encouraged! God hears!! He longs for your to keep on asking. Try to remember that His holy time clock is NOT the same as ours and He will answer you!! And when you get your answer....well the joy WILL be unspeakable and full of glory!!!

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

THE BIG DAY!!!

Tomorrow's the big day!! It's gonna be crazy for me so I wanted to just hop on tonight to ask y'all to be in prayer for my friends as they bring their son home tomorrow!! Their flight leaves Guatemala City at 3:30pm EST and lands around 8:00. I know they have him and I know they went to the courts today for all the final stuff but I haven't heard from them since so I'm assuming all is well. Unfortunately you never know with Guatemala and their adoptions.



Anyway, I'll be hittin the ground running at 8:30am to clean their house and decorate it, then meeting some friends for lunch, then kids come home, then go get my "other" kids, do homework, fix dinner, go to the airport and squeeze that little man!! LAND SAKES I JUST CAN'T WAIT!!!!!



Thanks for praying and I'll try to get some pics up after the big event!! Love to all!!

Monday, February 25, 2008

YAHHOOOOO-JAH!!

What a morning!! Have you ever prayed and prayed and prayed about something and when the Lord answers you just wanna shout?! That's where I am today - in fact this entire week!! My sweet friend and her hubby decided to adopt a baby from Guatemala and signed their papers to get the process started in Dec. 2006. This morning my man and I had the honor of taking them to the airport to go get their precious boy!!! LAND SAKES!!!!

We have prayed and prayed for their family, for the baby, for the process, for so many things and it's FINALLY here! Funny that when you pray about something with no answers it just feels like you're beating your head against the wall. But that's where God seems to do the most work. Jesus told us in Matthew 7 "for everyone who asks receives" but when that doesn't happen on OUR time clock don't you find yourself getting frustrated? Even questioning God if it's the right thing when you KNOW you've already gotten a clear answer. That's where we've been with this adoption process. Frustrated over finding the right child, then over the "system", then over the waiting. Just frustrated. But, oh the growth I've seen! Growth in myself and my man, in my sweet friend and her man, in my other friends who've been praying. God knew when the perfect time for that baby to come home was and THIS IS IT!!!!

The Amplified translation of Matt 7 says that "everyone who keeps on asking receives". That has been proven truth in this situation. We have been asking and asking and God has allowed us to see the fruits of our "labor"! That's what God wants from us. He wants us to keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking! He wants a relationship. Thur. night they will be bringing that baby boy home and you can bet I'll be at that airport ready to welcome his precious little self home!!

If it comes to your mind this week, pray for my friends. Their names aren't important. God knows EXACTLY who they are! Pray that things in Guatemala will go smoothly. They get him tomorrow and go to the courts on Wed so just pray for no glitches in the "system" and pray for the flight home Thur evening. I know they'll appreciate it and I will too! The Father wants us to keep on asking so that's just what I'm gonna do!!!

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Worship and be still....

Battles...

Isn't it funny how once you verbalize something the enemy uses it against you?! Earlier this week I blog about putting on our armor and lo and behold, here he comes, full force.

It's been a crazy week - lots of stuff going on and that's when he seems to hit the hardest. In fact, I had to leave the gym where my oldest was playing basketball because one of his coaches (who had already gotten a warning from the ref) was just shootin' his mouth!! The "Momma Bear" in me was gettin' all kinds of angry! Best if I just walk away instead of humiliating myself and my son!! ;-)

Anyway, like I said, my favorite part of "armorin' up" is the stand and pray part. This week has been proof positive. Sure, I've been praying, both in my (rushed) quiet time and in my quick little conversations with Him but the point is...rushed! Now the things I've been doing are good things. Things for Jesus. However, my still times have suffered for it. So, it may be a few days before I'm back. I need to "Be still and know."

Love to all - have a great weekend and BE STILL FOR PETE'S SAKE! hahaha

(Thank you Jesus for fixin' spellcheck!!)

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

To all my fellow "Invisible" moms...

These aren't my words but were sent to me by my friend Lisa and I wanted to share them with all of you mom's today. Remember that we may not see the "cathedral" we're building, but oh, those who will admire our workmanship!!

I'm Invisible
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone,or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.' I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England . Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a hair clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything. A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction . But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime, because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree. When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Great Job, MOM!

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Armor up!!

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the FULL armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Eph 6:12-13 (Emp mine)

I remember hearing these verses as a young child and hearing my parents and their friends discussing warfare and it scared me to death! Of course, in my little mind I could only see knights and dragons (the kind of images you get talking about armor). I spent a lot of my Christian life somewhat blind to spiritual warfare because no one around me seemed to be putting on a literal armor so I guess I just never really got it. Thank God for His protection! When God restored me to fellowship with him in my early 20's He placed a girl in my life that would FOREVER change how I saw spiritual warfare. She was in my singles group and had been rescued from the dark world of witchcraft - I mean like animal sacrifices and everything! She really enlightened me to how the "powers of this dark world" are so subtle to luring people in. I had my own "dark" experience while visiting my best friend at her college.

Some girls on her floor had been messing around with an Ouija board (ooo I don't even like typing that word!) and given the way I was raised - in church as a Christian - they were dying for me to come down and get on it. Now, it was taboo to me. My parents had warned me against it, but I'd never actually even seen one so when I got there and they began telling me all the weird things that had been happening my curiosity got the best of me. I don't want to share the details of what happened because I REFUSE to glorify any evil spirit but we'll just say that what happened frightened me to my core! I never touched another one - and never will as long as I live! (neither has my best friend!) So I'm sharing with the single friend about my experience and she just sits there nodding her head the whole time. I can still see her face and remember her words like it happened yesterday. "Yeah, Valarie, that's how they draw you in. They start with something that seems innocent and sweet, even fun and the next thing you know..." Well, I won't tell you what she said, but you get the point.

I share all of this with you today because let me tell you sister's a battle is raging over us!!! A battle to take our lost loved ones. A battle to break up our homes. A battle to distract us from leading the lives God intends for us. This battle is real! I think if God would open our eyes to it, we'd all armor up and get ready to stand. Instead, I think, like I did for many years, if there's no obvious signs of the battle we live life with our rose colored (worldly) glasses on completely naive to the war!

Please know that I'm writing this more for myself than anyone else - as most of my posts are! It's time to armor up! It's time to buckle on the belt of truth (which you can't know if you're not opening the Word to find the truth), snap on the brestplate of righteousness (practicing what we preach), slip on those shoes of readiness that comes from the gospel of peace (can't go into battle without peace in what we're fighting for), strap on those shields of faith (again, if we don't know WHAT we're fighting for, how can we have faith in it?), protect our heads with the helmet of salvation (without salvation thru Jesus Christ we will be defeated!), and pick up our Sword of the Spirit (can't just carry it around, we need to open it to know it!), and get ready girls!! My favorite verse in this passage comes after the description of the FULL armor of God.

In verse 13 it says "after you have done everything" and I admit that I used to think that this was after I had tried all of my own efforts in the battle - my last resort - THEN stand. OH BUT WAS I WRONG! (sorry for the yelling! haha) What God is telling us here is that our effort is in putting on the armor! THAT'S IT!! After you have done everything - putting on this armor - then comes verse 18 "And PRAY IN THE SPIRIT on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Do you get that? It doesn't say 'after you get all armored up, you run into the battle and start telling everyone how to fix their lives. Then you go sling the Sword and knock a few of their heads off. Then take that shield and spank them with it.' It says PRAY! Pray for everything. For all occasions. Bringing all kinds of prayers and requests. Be alert and KEEP ON PRAYING!

We're not to be sitting ducks out in an open field waiting for the attack, siesta's! On our own effort we need to armor up - then IN THE SPIRIT pray. Stand, be alert and pray. Don't bury your head in the sand. Don't be naive to what's going on around you. Pray! Know your Word. Know the Truth and pray! The Father will fight the battle for you. You need only "Be still and know" and pray!

Monday, February 18, 2008

Brighter Day

This seemed appropriate for how I'm feeling today! Thank you Jesus that you can bring me a "Brighter Day"!! I never knew....

Remember?

It seems like the older I get, the harder it is to remember things. That's scary considering I haven't even hit 40!! Still, I can go over and over things, even write them down and yet, I forget. Sometimes I even forget where I wrote it. Sad! My kids laugh at me because I look at them and say every name in my family, but theirs!! Including the dog! haha

This weekend I had a gut wrenching call from my mom. Her recovery truly has been a miracle straight from the hand of God. However, she's not treating it as such and not continuing the work she should. (that's a WHOLE other blog!) Anyway, she calls me Sat. crying her eyes out. She kept saying "'Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me...' I can't remember the rest, I can't remember another single word!" My mom is a singer and knows words to most every old hymn and you can walk up to most people and they can at least sing this verse of "Amamzing Grace" so the fact that she couldn't get the rest was just devastating. I told her to get a pen and paper and I'd give her the rest of the song, but she wanted to try to remember it on her own. Pitiful. It just about ripped my heart out.

I know her brain injury from all the trauma she suffered. I know this is most likely a temporary situation, however, it got me thinking about remembering. I know alot of people criticize "bloggy-ville" and that we do this because we think so much of ourselves that we need to share it with others but I'm realizing more and more that I'm grateful for the outlet to journal so many things. I have my personal journals but this outlet allows me to share my life with friends and family who aren't close (geographically) and it's a record of how God has and is working in me.

I pray that I remember. I pray that my mom can remember. Sorry for being a bit melancholy today especially after my "Jesus-jig" Friday but truth be told I'm really not feeling well - been up all night in pain - but God is faithful. Everyone is home today and that makes me happy, I just wish I felt better. BLAH! Anyway, ya'll have a great day and remember....

Friday, February 15, 2008

It's FRIDAY!!!

Did yesterday's blog just about make you wanna barf?! hahahaha My super-impressed man goes "Read your blog today babe, that was sweet." ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I pour my heart out over the WWW and I get "that was sweet"?! Oh well. Par for the course when you've been together 16 years! hahahaha Really ya'll, I'm just teasin'! My man's a sweetie! Love ya babe! ;-)

First let me give a big ole shout out to my sweet friend Melissa!! Today's her birthday so pop over and tell her Val sent you to wish her a good one!! Melissa, I'm just so thankful the Lord has brought us closer the past couple of years. He knew I needed you to keep me in line, girl!! Thanks for being my friend, my prayer partner and my SISTA!!! I love ya girl!! Ok, enough with the love already!! hahahaah Just kiddin'!

My Bible study was last night - the 2nd week - and it's Valentine's day. I had several ladies ask me if I was going to cancel and contemplated it, but my sweet Debra C. reminded me that there were several single ladies in the group so we pressed on!! We had a good turn out and even had a new girl last night!!!! YAY GOD!!!! I just love how God is working in this. I know He's working in me and I have seen Him working in the ladies as well. He's so good that way!!!

It's funny that we've been studying Samson and Delilah during this week of love. Samson had it BAD, didn't he? Wow, not the brightest bulb in the room, wouldn't you say? Just another prime example that God can use ANYONE for His purpose. I love that about Him. Also, don't you love how He lays out the Word? Samson's story begins as he's born and then goes looking for a wife. Really. Shouldn't that be a RED FLAG to someone? haha You know he's gonna be a playah! Not that I even really know what a playah is, it just sounds cool to say! (I think I'm a bit full of myself today - now THAT is scary!!)

Anyway, the point here is that God can...! God can do...!! You can finish that sentence with whatever your situation is. You can fill in the blank with whatever it is you need or think you don't have!! Lately, there have been some REALLY great things happening around me and I'm just T-TOTALLY in the mood to celebrate!!! I just wanna go do a "Jesus-jig"!! So tonight I'm going out to do just that! Melissa thinks we're going to celebrate her birthday - but NO! It ain't about you girlfriend!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA Oh my word, I really need to just shut up!!

Ok. Ya'll have a great weekend and go celebrate. Even if there's a storm raging around you, lift up your head, let the wind blow in your hair and shout "GOD CAN"!!!
YYYAAAAAHHHHHOOOOOOOO---JAH!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, February 14, 2008

To my Valentine...

Ya'll are just gonna have to skip today if you're not the mushy type, but I gotta show some love to my man!!! ;-)

Jimmy, why in the world you put up with me I will never know but I just can't thank you enough for following the Lord and sticking with me!! (Guess me tellin' you I'd hunt you down like a dog worked, huh?! haha) Really, you are my love, my joy, my soulmate, my best friend, my partner, my life. I know there've been times when we didn't think we'd make it. Times when we BOTH wanted to just cut our losses and call it quits, but God had bigger and better plans for us and every time the enemy tried to distract us with that garbage His will won!! LOVE THAT about Him!!

I think back over all the Valentine's days we've shared and while there have been some INCREDIBLE ones and some that, well...you know, this one is so special to me! Special because not alot of men would sit home with their kids on Valentine's night so that their mate could go and answer the Lord's call. I don't take for granted one minute how blessed I am to have you. I'm so grateful that the Father saw me and then saw to place you as my earthly prophet, priest, protector and provider. Your crowns will be many, my love!

I'm so proud to be your wife and I love you with all my heart and soul. Happy 15th Valentine's Day Baby! (Aren't you proud I knew that?! haha) Thank you for being who you are. Always remember that I am "Forever Yours".
Me

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Rewards...

We all like to be winners, right? Some of us are a tad more competitive than others, but when it comes right down to it I don't know of a single person that goes into any game, event, whatever saying "Oh boy, I hope I lose this!!" (Unless it's Weight Watchers! haha) The question is however, what is the prize? My son is deep into his basketball season and with tournaments just a few weeks away and his team having a pretty good season so far I can see their focus beginning to shift a little. I see them looking ahead to the tournaments with 3 games still to go in the regular season. How often have we seen this happen in sports? Teams begin to think on the "big" game going into a game with a team that should be an easy win only to suffer a major upset. It happens in sports. It happens in our Christian walk too.

I think sometimes we get so focused on our eternal reward that we lose sight of the fact that God longs to reward us on this earth too. I spent alot of my life believing that God didn't want the best for me. That He was just waiting for me to go one step too far and then He'd zap me with a lightning bolt or strike me dead. IMAGINE?! UGH! Praise His blessed, holy name I'm not that person anymore!! He has shown me that He "who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with GOOD THINGS" (Ps 103:4-5 emphasis mine) really does want the best for me. He's shown me that when I delight myself in HIM, He will give me "the desires of my heart". No, He's not gonna give me that new GMC Yukon (in white please -haha) that I've been wanting, but He'll change my desires to HIS will for me. THAT is a reward!!

Smack in the middle of the "Hebrews Hall of Faith" is a little nugget that the Lord showed me a few years ago and it truly changed my life. "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that HE REWARDS those who earnestly seek him." Heb. 11:6 emp. mine Now it doesn't say that believing in God brings a reward. Satan believes in God and we know what his reward will be. It's believing AND having faith in Him AND earnestly seeking HIm. He said that if we seek Him, we will find Him and that He is at the door knocking so it's not like we've got to go to the ends of the earth in our seeking. It's going right to the door of your heart, opening it, asking Him in and then giving Him free reign once He's there. THEN you get the rewards. Reward of His Presence in your life. Reward of hope, in spite of life's worst circumstances. Reward of peace in raging storms. Reward of eternal life with Him in heaven. Now THAT'S a reward worth focusing on!!

Monday, February 11, 2008

And the winner is.....

Don't you just hate commercials? hahahaha Before I get to the big winner I just want to thank everyone who entered and I hope that you'll visit my blog again. Not because I have anything profound to say, but because I love hearing how the Lord is moving in my Siesta's in Christ!

So the winner is Dionna!!! Go check out her blog!! YAY!! Now, ya'll be happy for her!! heehee

Now, let me tell you guys that God is still in the miracle business. As if you ever doubted, right?! I do think that sometimes in this day and time we wonder about that, but I'm telling you that He is!! My mom is proof! Also, my marriage is proof! Me leading a Bible study is proof!! There's also been an answer to a prayer that is proof! It's a HUGE one and I can't really give out details, but I can say that God is WORKING people!!! WWWOOOHHHOOOOOOO!!!

If you're in the midst of something that seems impossible. Job situations, marriage problems, kids who won't obey, failing health of yourself or a loved one, whatever it may be, I PROMISE you that God is WORKING.

Yesterday when I got to church my sweet friend Lindsay sang Mandisa's "God Speaking" (I think that's the title, but you know what I mean) and since I have to get there at 7:00am with Jimmy I get to sit thru everyone's warm ups. I used to think that was my time to offer my expertise on what they need, but God let me fall on my face, skinning my knees, elbows, chin, nose and everything else I could on the way! Now I use that time to sit quietly and pray for the person singing, the group leading worship, the band, our music Minister, whatever He lays on my heart but mostly I keep my BIG MOUTH SHUT!!! When she did her warm up yesterday I felt that battle with my old man begin. I began thinking of how this should be done, and where she should stand that would look better, and how she should have them turn on purple lights while she sang because it would match what she was wearing!!! I KNOW!!! Can you believe what a COMPLETE doofus God is working with here?!!! Stick with me. There is a point to this.

So anyway, I stopped right then and there and asked God to forgive me and to NOT let me go back to that critical spirit. Then He gave me a little glimpse into what He had in mind for that song. You know the lyrics "He'll do and He'll use whatever He wants to. To tell us I love you". During one of our services there was a woman who came to the altar with a friend and they were in fervent prayer together - being in choir I have to end my prayers a little early so that I'll be ready to stand - and the woman was obviously in GREAT distress. She was in a RAGING storm!! I have absolutely no idea what it was but her emotions on that altar even got the attention of our pastor. He was coming down the stairs as she was standing to leave and he stopped and called her back to him and he spoke with her, prayed over her and just hugged her like a daddy would do for his hurting daughter. I tell ya, I was DONE!! I have grown to love my pastor more and more each year because He shows me Jesus ALL THE TIME!!!

So the service goes on, the choir finishes singing and I go put my robe away - YES we still wear robes - I KNOW - and my man is waiting for me at the top of the steps. We usually walk outside so we don't disturb people in the service but we were chatting and we just turned and went thru the side doors and started thru the sanctuary. Lindsay was about 1/2 way thru her song and I usually don't stay to listen - I'm on my way to Sunday school - but I heard God tell me to stop, so I did. I looked between the pillars and there was the woman from the altar. Ya'll, bless her baby heart, she was ballin'! I don't mean a little tear trickling down, I mean, full out snot slingin' ballin'! Like I said, she is in a RAGING storm! I felt the Father whisper to me, "You see. It's not about how it sounds or looks. It's not about the lighting. I told Lindsay to pick THIS song to tell THIS woman 'I love you'" Ya'll, I was DOUBLE DONE! I just stood there staring at her and praying for God to give her some peace. I don't know who she is. I don't know what's going on with her, but I know that my God loves her every bit as much as He loves me!! He loves you too!! I promise that if we'll stop and just listen, He will speak. He will move. He will work. Will you slow down enough to hear Him?

Friday, February 8, 2008

HERE IT IS - THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!! - GIVEAWAY

Ok, first of all let me thank each of you for praying for our Bible study! It went GREAT!! The ladies were relaxed and engaged and had a great time with one another. We also had a fresh Word from God even though we were going over some very familiar passages. Don't you love when God does that? So thank you, thank you, thank you for praying and thank you Abba Daddy for showing up and stirring hearts! YEAH GOD!!!

Now to the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!! (I love typing in caps if you can't tell! haha) I know you've heard me mention my "God Calling" a time or FIFTY (see there I go again) and now you can have one for your very own!! All you need to do is leave a comment on this post and I will draw a random name at 9am Monday morning!! If you already have one, enter anyway so you can give it to someone you love. So here we go......






Thursday, February 7, 2008

OH LAND SAKES!

Ya'll I know this may seem a bit selfish - especially today - but I NEED this vacuum! Do you hear me people? I NEED it!! ORECK'S ROCK! Go to this site but don't enter because I wanna win!! hahahaha Just kiddin'! You could win an Oreck XL Ultra!! Can you imagine?!

Good luck and don't forget to check back here for a big GIVEAWAY annoucement!! WOOOO!

Today's the day...

Today's the day! The sun is shining. The tank is clean!! (My favorite line from Finding Nemo!)

Isn't it funny though that this line is speaking thruth? Today IS the day. The sun IS shining here in Charlotte - beautifully I might add. And this tank IS clean! haha I'm prayed up, cleaned up, emptied out and ready to be filled!!! Not filled with water and fish, but filled with the Living Water of the Holy Spirit! Ya'll, I still can't believe this is happening. I mean, I can stand in front of just about anyone, anytime and sing or tell a joke, but speak a Word?! AHHHH! Lord help me!!

Ya'll come back tomorrow for a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! I'm gonna have a give-away and I KNOW you love some free stuff!!! I hope it's something you don't already have, but even if you do, you can always share it with someone else!! (Oh now that's a tease isn't it?! haha)

Ok, so God has been reassuring me ALL WEEK that I don't need to try this study-thang on my own power. I need to make an effort to prepare - otherwise we may just be telling jokes all night (which would be ok with me! haha) - but all I need to do is come to the table! It's not about what I BRING to the table, it's just about having the courage to walk up to it, pull out the chair and sit down! I just about can't hardly wait. I'm headed to the prayer room shortly and to do some last minute things to get ready, but ya'll JUST PRAY!!!!!

Let me share the first couple of lines from my love letter this morning - aka "God Calling". "Trust and be not afraid. Life is full of wonder. Open child-trusting eyes to all I am doing for you. Fear not. Only a few steps more and then My Power shall be seen and known." I KNOW!!!!!! I just about can't wait to see His Power shown!!! WWWWAAAHHHOOOOOO!!
Can you tell I'm a bit excited?! hahaha Love to all and PRAY PEOPLE, PRAY!!!!!

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

QUICK UPDATE

Hey ya'll. Just wanted to pop on real quick to let you know that I just got a call from my sister in WV and it looks like my mom is going home from the rehab center Saturday!! (not at all like the Britney rehab! haha) The Dr. that runs the facility and her team of therapists said that her recovery is nothing short of miraculous!! When she was admitted on Sat. Jan 26th they told us they would do her treatments and would reevaluate in 4 - 6 weeks and take it from there. But God (WOOHOO) had such bigger plans!! Yes that's right, she's going home after 2 - count them - 2 weeks!!! GOD IS GOOD!!! You guys rock and let me just tell you that the Father heard and answered your prayers so THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!

SING IT WITH ME NOW -
God is good, all the time, He put a song of praise in this heart of mine. God is good, all the time and thru the darkest night, His light still shines. God is good, God is good, all the time!
When you're walkin.... OK I'll stop!!

I love you all so much!!

Show some love...

Oh my word - IT'S HAPPENING TOMORROW!!! AHHHHHHH!

Ok, I'm better! Ya'll know that Prov 3: 3-4 are my verses for this year - or maybe you didn't know that - but anyway the Lord has laid LOVE on my heart this year. Funny how my first big test of that love came with my momma!! Just a touch of history, but my mom and I have had a VERY rocky relationship all of my life. Enough said. Anyway, this year I'm trying to love not just Jimmy and my kids more, not just my brother and sisters and their families more, not just my "circle" of friends more but to really show God's love to every person I come into contact with! Even the person who takes my parking place - right Leigh?! hahaha

Today my "God Calling" was powerful, people, POWERFUL! (I'm gonna make an announcement on Friday so stay tuned....) It was speaking of dwelling in the Presence of God and, well, it'll be best if I just share it. "Think of the multitudes, who thronged Me, when I was on earth, all eager for something. Eager to be healed, or taught, or fed. Think as I supplied their many wants, and granted their manifold requests, what it meant to Me, to find amid the crowd, some one or two, who followed Me just to be near Me, just to dwell in My Presence. How some longing of the Eternal Heart was satisfied thereby." Do you get that? Notice that the "Eternal Heart" has caps. That means the Heart that was satisfied - meaning there's a longing there TO BE satisified - was God's. His Heart was satisfied - need to be satisfied - with the one or two who just wanted to be near Him for who He is!

I don't know if that hits you like it did me but I certainly never thought God NEEDED anything! Truth is - as we think of needing "things" He's got that one covered. What His heart's need - His heart desires is for us to be the one or two. For us to long to dwell in His Presence not just for something, healing, teaching, feeding but just to be there! WHOA! Do you get that? The Creator of the Universe - the Most High - the Alpha and Omega - God Almighty wants, needs, desires to have YOU in His Presence! Just to be near Him!

Listen to how today's devotion ends. "Comfort Me, awhile, by letting Me know that you would seek Me just to dwell in My Presence, to be near Me, not even for teaching, not for material gain, not even for a message - but for Me. The longing of the human heart to be loved for itself is a something caught from the Great Divine Heart. I bless you. Bow your heads." Ya'll that's really what God wants me to do. Love HIM more! Love Him for HIM!! Sure, I have the honor of taking my needs, my fears, my hopes and dreams to Him, but how often do I just be near Him?! It's time girls! Take some time today to just crawl up in our Abba Daddy's lap and be near Him. Feel His breath. Smell His sweet aroma. Comfort His heart. BE THE ONE OR TWO!!!

Addendum - I know I talk alot about this book and it is derived from Scripture but please know that it will NEVER take the place of Scripture in my life or in yours! It's a refreshing aspect into God communicating with us, but please don't make it your Bible! It certainly isn't mine!!!

Monday, February 4, 2008

The final countdown!!

Do you remember that song? I really don't except for that one line! haha That's where we are today! 4 days til the Bible study begins!! WOOHOOO!! AAAAAHHHH!!

So like I said the enemy is busy, busy, busy! Last night a friend whose intentions were TOTALLY pure reminded me of a sometimes ugly side to leadership. The side where people expect you to do Jesus' job. People with some misplaced focus suddenly think that because you're "leading" things that you have all the answers. I hadn't really spent much time asking the Father to guide me with this because of all the other insecurities I've been giving Him! haha Anyway, while I was glad she brought it to my attention, it did give the enemy a little crack in my armor to slip thru and I had a VERY restless night last night. Thankfully, Abba Daddy sent me a sweet little love letter this morning! He's so good that way!

Please know that my "God Calling" is not my substitute for being in the Word, however, after having this book for over a year and seeing how the authors used the Word in it, I do read it EVERY morning!! So, what's the title for today? "Drop Your Crutch"! Here's a few lines. "Just go step by step. My will shall be revealed as you go. You will never cease to be thankful for this time when you felt at peace and trustful, and yet had no human security. When human support or material help of any kind is removed, then My power can become operative. Never limit my power. It is limitless." I KNOW!!! I about flipped!!! Is that funny or what?! He's so good to me ya'll!

My sweet friend Melissa blogged about the churchwide study we're doing on Joshua and I've been so mixed up lately with all this stuff with my mom that I don't know if we were supposed to do it last week, or the one to come, but I did mine last week. Then in our new music ministry Sunday school class we talked about it, THEN my little "Completely Loved" devotional book talked about Joshua again this morning. (Think maybe God's trying to tell me something?!) We're all familiar with Joshua's story but the thing that has spoken fresh to me this time around is how Joshua got the plan for Jericho and DID IT! There was no pause mentioned - and if he did I believe God would've told us that - there was no committee formed - there was no "I'll pray about this and get back with you" - NO EXCUSES! He turned to the people and said "Ok ya'll here's the deal! You 7 priests grab the ark - you 7 trumpet players grab those ram horns and get ready to march!" Then the other thing that hit me was the Israelites actually DID IT!! The generation of whiner-schnitzels had all been knocked off in the wilderness and these new young'uns knew that if God said "Jump" they'd best be askin' "How high"!!

That is where God has been speaking to me. So much of my life was/is spent in disobedience. Even when by the world's eyes I was doing everything right - there was still disobedience. However, the Father, ever so gently, (well most of the time! haha) took me by the hand, led me to the altar of sacrifice and told me there were some things I needed to lay up there and kill! I'm so grateful He did! His patience with me is unbelievable! His gentleness takes my breath away! His kindness brings me peace! Ya'll He longs to set us free! Free to love! Free to live! Pray for me this week that I'll not allow the enemy to distract me! Pray for the ladies coming to the study - for their hearts to be made ready. Thanks ya'll!! Have a good one!!

Friday, February 1, 2008

Restoration

Ok, I have a little time this afternoon so I thought I'd pop on and tell you a bit of what the Lord has been doing in me. I've shared how faithful He's been during this time with my mom and how I've felt closer to Him than ever before, but you all know that does NOT make the enemy happy.

This Thur night is the kickoff to the Music Ministry's Ladies Bible study that I will be leading so needless to say, the evil one has been busy reminding me what I'm not. I'm not worthy, I'm not educated, I'm not adequate, I'm not....you get the idea. The Lord knew this battle in my mind was going to happen and He sent a sweet little Southern Bible Teacher (ya'll know who I mean) to give me the tools to FIGHT that battle. Every time he whispered a "you are" I stood and raised my hand and said "Thank you Jesus, I'm not that person anymore"! Every time he wshipered "you're not" I said "Thank you Jesus that I can do all things thru Your Power!" In the past I just sat there and let him play his little games with my mind and it kept me in so much bondage, you just wouldn't even believe it, but ya'll the freedom!! The freedom to know that in Christ I can!! The freedom to know that I'm changed! The freedom to know that I'm His!!!

I had said earlier that I felt this year would be a year of restoration and you just wouldn't even believe how many times the Lord has confirmed that to me. Scriptures read, prayers prayed, even radio dj's talking about it! Amazing! In fact, I'll share a good one with you. I went on the Apple Hill Prayer Retreat last weekend. (Came home from WV on Wed and left Thur morning - my husband ROCKS!!!) While we were there one of the leaders - Dona Goforth (amazing woman!) - prayed with me and she said "Thank you God for restoring us"! Now I had not spoken with her AT ALL about restoration and I know that some would just call that conincidence - but why would God give her those particular words? Because He just wanted to whisper a sweet little "I love you" in my ear!!! Don't ya'll just love when He does that?!

So, here I am facing another giant. A giant I've never faced before. One that has me shaking in my shoes!! But PRAISE GOD I've got the victory!! Ya'll, God has worked thru so many details, and so much "junk" to bring me to this that I KNOW He's got something BIG for me! I don't know if a single one of the 20 women who signed up for this will get one thing out of it, but I know that I'm going to! I already have! I just pray that the Lord will use this donkey to speak His truth! Pray for me, pray for the ladies who are coming. More than anything, start living in victory!! Start living in FREEDOM!!!