Weekend Worship

Had to kick off the new look with some jammin' worship!! Gonna try this at church sometime! ;-)

Bare with me....

Ok, so you can see I'm making some changes. Still not the final product, but I've gotta get busy before my rugrats get home so please just hang on, change is comin'!

The Master Plan

Oh my word. I'm trying to mix up my blog with some interesting background or something and it's TOTALLY giving me a headache. I wish I was techno-savvy enough to do it on my own instead of having to pay someone to do it for me. ;-)

Ok, so I'm at the 2nd chpt of Luke. These familiar words seem strange to read at the end of March with spring in full swing. (made a little rhyme there) However, today the Lord really fell fresh on me with these words in the first 7 verses. Yes, that's as far as we went today. Don't you love that? I'm sitting there reading, ready to knock out the whole chapter and 7 verses in I feel Him say "Wait, let's read that again". LOVE that!

It just blew my mind that Luke goes straight from telling about John's birth to this famous rendition of Jesus' birth. There's no transition about Joseph meeting Mary and questioning her pregnancy, none of that - again, just like a Dr. I can almost hear him saying "Moving right along people, let's get to the GOOD stuff". Anyway, it is amazing to me that people fight so hard to try and disprove the Bible, chalking it up to myths, legends, etc. I mean, Augustus calls a census and Joseph has to go to Bethlehem to be counted. Meanwhile, his pregnant fiance - who's about ready to pop with the Holy Child - has to go along as well. I feel rather certain that Augustus wasn't thinking "You know, I think I'll call for a census so that I can play a part in fulfilling the redemption of mankind". I'm sure THAT never crossed his mind, and yet, it's exactly what he did. It's yet another prime example of God using man - not even "righteous" men/women - to fulfill His holy Plan. Does that just blow your mind? It does mine!

Again, I just love that Lord uses even the story of the Savior of the World's grand entrance - humble as it was - to reassure me that He has a plan for me. That He has a plan for you. Does THAT just blow your mind?! I mean, God uses a Roman leader who wasn't exactly living a righteous life, my guess, to call Joseph to Bethlehem to fulfill the prophecies regarding the coming Messiah. So certainly God can use the circumstances of my life to prepare me for service in His kingdom and can use you too! Does that give you hope? It sure does give me hope!! Anyway, I'm loving Luke. I hope you're enjoying your time in the Word too. There's certainly PLENTY there!!!!

BTW - if anyone has suggestions for making my blog "prettier" by all means, let me know! Thanks.

V

Do you get it?

Oh my word. Small taste of summer this weekend. No, I don't mean sunshine and high temps but I mean 24/7 kids at home! ;-) Just kiddin'! It really was a good weekend except for the WWF Smackdown yesterday morning about 8:00am. Oh yeah, having a 10 and an 8 yr old boy is SOOOOO fun. My mother-in-law is so encouraging to tell me to just get used to it. My hubby and his older brother are 3 years apart so she's been there, done that!

Anyway, coming off my study which ended last week, I've kinda been flipping around not really feeling where the Lord wanted me to land until Monday. So, we're in Luke (we as in the Lord and I - not just my multiple personalities haha). I've studied Luke's gospel before, years ago, and I enjoy it probably the most out of all the gospels. Probably because he's a Dr. and the fact that I spent over 15 years hanging around Dr.'s that I get their mentality. ;-) In fact, I love that Luke starts his gospel by reassuring the readers that he has done a great amount of research (though he didn't mention who funded it - did anyone see the news today? just kiddin) and assures us that many have tried to undertake a written account but he felt compelled to write so that "Theophilus" could be certain of what they had been taught. (just like a Dr.) Theophilus means "one who loves God" so though he may certainly have been a Roman acquaintance of Luke's I like to think Luke was speaking directly to me - one who loves God. (Ok, I'm getting a bit full of myself, don't ya think?! UGH!)

The Lord really spoke to me today as I read about Elizabeth and Zechariah giving birth to John - ok Elizabeth giving birth and Zech QUIETLY waiting outside - and how the family that had gathered around were more concerned with the baby's name then they were with celebrating the miracle of this baby's birth. I mean, Elizabeth was no spring chicken (well along in years - 1:7) and here she was having a baby - a boy nonetheless - and all they can say is "You don't have any relatives named John.". First of all, the fact that they were going to name him after his father without even asking Elizabeth - Zech was still being quiet at this point - and then when she spoke up they question her and then go check with Zech to make sure Elizabeth hasn't just lost her mind. It seems they missed the point. They missed the REAL reason to celebrate. They missed the REAL victory.

Then as Zech FINALLY gets his voice back and breaks into this beautiful proclamation of the Lord's work, the coming Messiah and the role his precious baby boy would play it was as if I could see the family and all the Jews gathered around thinking about the Messiah. Thinking about how this Messiah would rescue them from the hands of the Romans. Rescue them from their "current" situation. Missing the point. Missing that the Messiah would come to rescue their soul from eternal separation from God. Rescue not just them, the Jews, but all of mankind. Rescue them not just from their situation but for all eternity! They missed the REAL reason to celebrate. They missed the REAL victory.

I started thinking over my life and how short-sighted I've been. How often I've missed it. How often I've focused on my current situation and missed the eternal impact of things in my life. Lord, I'm sorry for being so self-centered that I've missed opportunities to experience your work in my life. Help me to have kingdom vision. Help me to slow down and not allow the enemy's attempts to distract me with circumstances to keep me from impacting eternity. Help me to get it! I thank you for sending Jesus, the Messiah, not just to rescue the Jews but also to rescue me. Not just to rescue us from our circumstances and troubles but to rescue us from eternal separation from You. Thank you Jesus, for being the sacrificial Lamb, for paying for my adoption, for making me Your child! I love you Lord.

Layin' it out....She Speaks

Oh my word! I've been wrestling with this decision but it's time to press on and I need your help!! Sharing God’s truth with love is not only a holy calling but a remarkable responsibility. The Lord has laid it on my heart to attend She Speaks in June, 2008. I trust He will provide a way financially for me to go, and I would like to invite you to be a part of this life-changing conference! Will you prayerfully consider partnering with me through a financial contribution towards a scholarship that will allow me to attend?
As you feel led to join me in this exciting call, there are two ways to participate. You can call Proverbs 31 Ministries at 877-731-4663 and contribute with a credit card, or by sending a check payable to Proverbs 31 Ministries to:

Proverbs 31 Ministries
She Speaks Scholarship
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105

Please be sure to designate the scholarship in my name in order to credit my scholarship fund. You will be receipted for your tax-deductible donation. For more information: www.shespeaksconference.com/index.htm.

The Lord bless you as you pray and give towards equipping the saints for the Kingdom of God! I appreciate your thoughtfulness so much and could not do this without you being a very important part.

Blessings to each of you and I can't wait to see how the Lord shows up and shows off!! HE IS GOOD!!

HE IS RISEN!!

HE IS RISEN INDEED!!!

Have an awesome Easter weekend as we celebrate our Risen Savior!!!

Wow.

This is for the anonymous person who left me the economic info as a comment. Let me say that this blog is my way of honoring my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, which is also the very purpose of my life. I'm so sorry that you left this comment anonymously and I can't tell you personally all about Him and how His plan for our future works out. The politicians, the celebrities, the media, the economy (good or bad) have NOTHING to do with it, really. He is coming for His bride and the reality of that is that it's gonna get worse before it gets better. I know this because He promised it to me in His Word. But Jesus died that we might live a life free from fear. All fear and THAT is the truth. He died that we may have life - eternal life in heaven with Him forever. In heaven gold is what God paved His streets with so money means NOTHING to Him. What matters to Him is your soul. What matters to Him is that you decide to ask Jesus - NOT Oprah or Dr. Phil or anyone else for that matter -into your heart to be your Lord and Savior. He died to cover the cost of your sin and my sin. He loves you that much!! PLEASE let me know who you are! I'd love to share more with you personally. You can link to my email thru this site or just leave another comment. Like the first you sent, I won't post it either.
God the Father is waiting.......

Tonight's the night...

We'll make history, honey you and I ....... OK, sorry for the 80's flashback!

Tonight the Lord is making history in my life. Tonight's the end of my Bible study. It's funny because I'm really gonna miss it but my hope is that these ladies will want MORE!! More of Jesus, more in depth time in the Word, more relationships with one another. We're ending our Spiritual Disciplines study with "worship" - and it's HOLY WEEK - I KNOW!!! God is so amazing! I can tell you that was certainly NOT my plan or my timing, but all glory to Him!! He told me to mix up the order and do worship last and I just kept thinking it was because we all serve in the Music and Worship Ministry at our church - I didn't even pay one bit of attention to the calendar!! He's so stinkin' AMAZING!! I just love that!

So as this chapter of my life ends I'm anxious to see where we go next. I don't believe it's on to leading more and more studies, but I know better than to say "no" to anything!! Been there, done that!! I pray that my heart will be filled with "yes", not just saying it with my mouth but in my heart yes - no room for fear because I have not been given a spirit that makes me a slave to fear (Oh yeah can I get an AMEN!) so YES Lord.

So as I touch up my notes for tonight and prepare my heart all I can do is join the heavenlies "and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 'You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being'." My prayer for myself and for you today is to also "day and night never stop saying: 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come'."

EVEN SO, COME LORD JESUS!!

What are you afraid of?

I told you. The Lord said "Enough with your silly self, girl". Ok, y'all know what I mean.

I haven't blogged much lately about the Romans study with Beth Moore because, frankly, I've been a tad behind. With preparing for my Bible study and doing my study with Sunday school plus my quiet time it's been tough to find time for it all. I really wish I could get paid to study the Word 'cause I could make it my full time job! LOVE IT! But today I listened to one of the lessons and child, let me tell you that y'all need to be listening to it. WHEW!!!

So she's been on Romans chapter 8 for a couple of weeks and we've only made it to verses 15 and 16. "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." Like I said WHEW!! I think this is especially tender to my heart as my sweet friends got to bring home their adopted son recently so being adopted as God's child has been "lived out" for me. I mean, could you write a book on these 2 verses or what?

My favorite line in these verses is "by him we cry, 'Abba, Father'." Beth talked about how Paul was so careful to use both a Hebrew and a Greek word here which we could translate into "Daddy - dear Daddy". She talked about her girls calling Keith a special name and when he heard it he knew that no matter their age they needed their daddy to come be big in their lives. Do you just love that?! Since my earthly dad is gone, I know exactly how that feels. I know that there have been so many times in my life when I've picked up the phone or walked out to his shed and said "Daddy" and he knew he'd better listen up. Most times I just called him Dad but when I said "Daddy" he knew. Sometimes that was all I'd have to say. "Daddy" and he'd just take me in his arms or fix whatever was broken.

Isn't that just what our Heavenly Father does? We cry out to Him "Daddy, Dear Daddy" and He comes and wraps His arms around us and fixes our broken hearts. His Spirit lives in us every day so we have NO reason to be a slave to fear.

Abba, Father, thank you for hearing my cries. Thank you for being there for me even when I didn't ask you to. Thank you for loving me enough to pay the price so that I could be adopted into your family! Oh how I love you, Daddy Dear Daddy!!

Oh my word....

So I've been talking about laughter this week and been trying to see everything in my life with a heightened sense of humor and let me just tell you that the enemy is doing his best to bring me down. Does he get on anyone else's nerves as much as he does mine? UGH! For some reason my body has chosen this week to decide to fight me. Just when things seem to be picking up for me, here comes that ugly lupus monkey hoppin' on my back. I started working out again on a more consistent basis about 2 weeks ago (this is my 3rd week) and have been very careful not to overdo it - which I have a tendency to do - but it seems like it takes every ounce of my strength to just get up. Then once I'm up it's like my body is SCREAMING for me to just lay back down. ANNOYING!!!

So I'm dealing with that and then my kids come home yesterday and dad decides to tell them that if they'll go do some yard work (clean up from some of the storms we've had) he'll give each of them $2.00. Now, this is a big deal because we typically don't give them money for doing chores. I know a lot of people have different stands on this but that is our stand. Since this isn't one of their usual jobs though, dad decided to give them a reward for their "labor". Now, first you should know that we live in a cookie cutter neighborhood so it's not like they're going out to clear off 3 acres of land. Second, there's 3 of them so at the most the job should take MAYBE 45 minutes. I tell them to finish up their homework and then head out to the yard and my middle son is sitting on the couch obviously upset. I ask what the problem is to which he replies "Man, I was hoping you'd say he would buy me a new Webkinz for cleaning up the yard". AFTER MY HEAD QUIT SPINNING AND THE PROJECTILE VOMIT QUIT SPEWING (ok that's just a joke) I just sat there. I looked at him and I just started cracking up!! I mean like totally rollin', head down, dying laughing. He starts laughing too. Baby girl comes in and starts laughing too. Oldest comes in going, "What is it? What's so funny? What happened?' (He can't stand not being in on the joke)

So we're all here cracking up. Me laughing to keep from crying and them because they think mom has finally lost her marbles. After it's over I just look at him and say, "Ok you really want me to pay $45 dollars (Webkinz are about $15 a piece X 3 kids) for a job that will take you less than an hour? You're joking right?" To which he starts to cry. There it is. Finally the tears come! Ok. So maybe this humor thing isn't going so well this week. Guess God's tellin me that season has come and gone and it's time to move on. So, I'm anxious to see where we go next. Needless to say, the yard was cleaned up and by the time they finished the job, and between the sassy mouths and the fighting - no one got the $2! So I'm gonna take that $6 and go to Starbucks! ;-) Just kiddin'!!

Keep on laughin.....

So this week I'm gonna keep up with the laughing theme. I think we can all use it. I had an AWESOME weekend. My precious niece came down and spent some time with me. We went shopping and had dinner - just the 2 of us - and it was a great day. We talked and talked and laughed ALOT!! It makes me so happy that in her busy life - with work, college and boys - she can make time to come hang out with her almost 40 auntie!! I love you Rach!!!

So I've been looking at the Word with this idea of laughter a lot this past week and the Lord has been faithful to show me some things that are just hysterical - or at least to me they are. Don't get me wrong. I don't for one second want to take away from the reverence of the Word of God or to dishonor it's holiness - or that of the Father, but He did create the platypus didn't He? Have you looked at that animal lately? How about a sloth? Don't even try to tell me He doesn't have a sense of humor!!

Anyway, I was reading in 1 Sam about Eli. Eli, bless his heart, was basically a pretty good guy, but his boys, well that's a different story. They were corrupt with a Capital C!! Stealing, taking bribes, mishandling holy things, just bad news. And Eli, well he seemed to not notice - or at least not to do anything about it. So his boys decide to attack the Philistines and they know their history well enough to know that if they want the Lord to be with them they need to take the Ark of the Covenant along on this adventure. (THIS is not the funny part!!!) So they take it and the Lord decides it's time to fulfill the little promise He made to Eli that his household would be destroyed. The sons die in battle but even worse, the Ark gets captured by the Philistine army. Again, NOT the funny part.

Ok, now this is where I have to admit I got a little chuckle. A messenger comes back to drop the bomb on Eli that his sons have been killed and, oh yeah, the Ark of the Covenant had been captured too. Here's where it hit me. "When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man AND HEAVY." 1 Sam 4:18 (emp mine, of course) Now admit it. Would you want the fact that you were so fat you fell out your chair and broke your neck recorded in the Word of God for all time?! Come on now, you know you wouldn't!!!! I know I sure wouldn't!! What a way to go out!!! LOL! Sorry, I can't help it.

Now I know that this is not the most theologically challenging post you've ever read. I know that it hasn't likely deepened your walk with the Lord, but I hope it will allow you to lighten up - if only a little - even when it comes to the Word of God. I don't mean that we shouldn't take seriously our Sword but remember Ecc 3 "There is a time for everything; a time to laugh". If God didn't want us to laugh at ourselves now and then why in the world do you think He allowed us to create mirrors?! Take a good long look, girlfriends and LAUGH!! I know I do every time I look! Laugh to keep from crying!! LOL!

Ok, I promise that I'll get past this silliness and get back to some seriousness but I just can't promise when that season will come. Until then, when is the last time you had a good laugh? Share it....(as long as it's not at someone else's expense! ;-) )

Weekend Worship

This is the song I was telling you about where the kids just sing and praise - unashamed! We even have a 1st grader singing in Spanish! AMAZING!! I'll post it after we perform it. In the meantime, y'all lift up your hands and praise!!!

What's in a name?

We're doing an amazing thing with our children's choir this semester at church. Each semester we spend the time preparing for either our Christmas musical or our Spring musical. Our Christmas programs each year are awesome but the kids always seem to enjoy the spring musical a little more. (Doesn't everyone enjoy things more in the spring?! haha) Anyway, this spring we're doing "eXtreme Praise" and singing several of my favorites with the kids. "Shackles", "In the Sanctuary", "Adonai", "I Lift Up My Hands", "How Great is Our God". Just to name a few. Let me just tell you that there is nothing more precious than seeing 100 or so kids singing "How great is our God, sing with me, how great is our God and all will see..." You get the idea. PRECIOUS I TELL YA!!

So we're also teaching them the names of God. Elohim, El Elyon, El Shaddai, Jehovah-jireh, Adonia, Yahweh, (man my spellcheck is going crazy over these! haha) just to name a few and they also have to memorize corresponding Scriptures with those names. They get a sticker each week for the verse and all the kids who have their stickers get to attend a skating party. FUN. Anyway, we also have a book that tells them the spiritual meaning of their name and a corresponding Scripture with it. I looked up my name in the book and it meant strength - which I already knew (not because I'm exceptionally strong, but I had seen it before) but then the verse associated with my name was Ecc 3:1. Now, I knew I recognized the reference, but couldn't pull the verse out of the cobwebs in my brain. When I got home I looked it up and here we go...

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." Ecc 3:1

I know. You're just as disappointed as I was! haha Of course I immediately go "Turn, turn, there is a season, turn, turn, turn and a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to be born a time to die..." You know the song, come on admit it. You did the same thing. ;-) So anyway, as I looked thru the "time for"'s guess what I saw? "a time to weep and a time to laugh"!!! DON'T YOU LOVE THAT?! I just talked about it being time for a laugh and then God goes and shows off like that! Sending me on a round about way straight to His Word for me!! LOVE IT!!!

I'm sure most of you saw Lysa's blog about Sumi yesterday. WOW. What an amazing woman. Definitely not the time of laughter for this family. However, as I sat in tears reading her story, I was completely surrounded by the Lord's Presence and could feel Him telling me "See, even in the midst of such trauma, there is laughter". You'll have to pop over and read her story to hear her tell of her little boys finding laughter. Anyway, Sumi, your family is in my prayers and I pray the robin's song will bring a smile to your face!

So today I pray that you will find laughter all around you. Find it in your kids, in your man, in your family, in your friends. If it's not the time for laughter in their lives then just be there for them, maybe even BE a source of laughter for them. Like I said yesterday, if you can't find anything worth laughing about, let me know. Better yet, turn to the Word. There's plenty of things in there the Lord can just crack you up with! He's so good y'all! Laugh OFTEN!!!

OH LAND SAKES!!!!

Ok y'all it looks like YouTube finally caught up with all my attempts to post this video!!! IS THAT HYSTERICAL?!!! See, the Lord DOES want me to laugh alot!!!
HAAAAAHHAHAHAHAHAHA

My man!!!

Live Simply, Laugh Often, Love Jesus

When I went on our prayer retreat in January the sweet couple who own Apple Hill retreat had these words hanging over their fireplace. At that time I saw it and thought it was so sweet and really didn't give it much thought. However, these last few days it seems to be my mantra. Nicki spoke yesterday about this same topic so our hearts are in the same place. Of course, "God Calling" is sending us there, but the Lord is speaking in different ways to each of us - isn't is GREAT how He does that? Don't you just love that about Him?

I've been thru a lot of changes in the last 4 - 5 years that have driven me to "Live Simply" so lately I feel like the rest of the world is just catching up to where I've been. The Lord knows that it takes a LONG time to get things thru my head, and it's usually the hard way to get there so He's been working on me in this area for quite some time. Believe me, we're not done yet but I know we've made progress PRAISE HIS NAME!! As I sat watching the news this morning, BIG mistake, I couldn't help but be struck by the fact that even the media is talking about cutting back, scaling down, conserving. We all can agree that we're a self-indulgent, self-centered, self-reliant kinda nation - world and we are suffering from that behavior as a result. They were talking about the price of gas going up, the price of food going up, the interest rates going up - not very encouraging at all - but all I could hear was this Voice saying "Live Simply, Laugh Often, Love Jesus".

Like I said the Lord has been working on the live simply in me for quite some time so I'm going to spend some time on the "laugh often". I admit that I LOVE to laugh. I LOVE to make people laugh. I LOVE to hear laughter - even if I don't know the source! I LOVE to hear babies cackle, older people bustin' a gut, teens doing the "don't let me laugh out loud thing" and girlfriends doing the snort!! (Have you ever laughed so hard you snorted? Come on, admit you have! ISN'T THAT THE BEST?!) Makes you laugh just readin' that doesn't it?! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!! I think in this time of war, disease, murder, sex scandals, broken hearts, corruption - you get the point - we all need to laugh a little more. I don't mean just a soft little chuckle but a full on, put your head on your desk, grab some tissues and just crack up!! You know you even burn calories when you laugh!! ;-) If you don't think you have anything to laugh about, PLEASE let me know and I'll give you a TON of material!! Believe me, in this house, there's PLENTY to laugh at!

I love the time just after a good laugh too. You know when you settle down but still have the smile on your face? That's one of the times I feel Jesus the most. I can feel His warm embrace during those moments. I can feel Him whisper "That feels good doesn't it sweet girl?" Don't you just "LOVE JESUS"! I know I do! I can't wait to get to heaven and laugh with Him and love on Him - in PERSON - for all eternity!! Y'all know I'll be snortin' a LOT in heaven!!!! (makes me laugh that "snortin" came up on my spellcheck! see what I mean? JUST LAUGH FOR PETE'S SAKE!)

Go check out my man!

I've been trying since last night to put this video on my blog but it just isn't happening. So go to You tube and this should link straight to the video. If not, type HGBC in the search. When the videos come up choose the one that says "HGBC rhythm section "Tis So Sweet" remix" and check out my man on the drums!

Even if you don't appreciate their style, you have to appreciate the talent these guys have and that they're using it to serve the Lord and His bride instead of themselves!! So if you don't have something nice to say....well you know the rest! HAHAHA Sorry it won't post!

The Burning Hut

A sweet sister in Christ sent me this story in an email today. She didn't write it and I don't know who did - NOT ME - but God told her to send it to me because that's the way He is. On time, every time!!
Enjoy and have a great weekend.

A Burning Hut!

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions.
One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, 'God! How could you do this to me?'
Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! 'How did you know I was here?' asked the weary man of his rescuers. 'We saw your smoke signal,' they replied.
The Moral of This Story: It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because Jehovah is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons help from Jehovah.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers (and sistas), when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." Jam 1:2

Welcome Kenan

One week ago this precious little man rolled down the airport ramp and into my heart and the hearts of everyone who meets him. It's so amazing to actually put your hands on an answer to prayer and every time I see this sweet face it just blesses my heart to know that my Abba Daddy heard me and answered. There were times when I doubted, even questioned my own faith during this process, but He was faithful!!
I know it's not the best picture (I took it with my phone) but since mom and dad gave the green light I just had to share his sweet face with you and let you see the joy of Jesus shining thru his momma too!!! I love you Traci!!!

MEET BABY KENAN!!

That's grandma on the left - she's welcoming big sister home!!! Isn't he a darlin'? I just can't keep my hands off him when I see him. I can tell you that Auntie V is his favorite so far!! ;-) Next to mom, dad and sissy that is!!

Facing a giant...

"Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways', declares the Lord." Isa 55:6;8

Can anyone else relate to the peace found in these verses? I'm SO glad that His thoughts are not my thoughts, or my ways His ways! Let me just tell you that we'd all be in a heap of trouble if it were so! SCARY!!

This past week has been an emotional roller coaster for me and in the midst of it, my man encourages me to sign up for the "She Speaks" conference. I've been wrestling with God over whether I need to go to this or not - mostly I've been thinking NOT - but He keeps putting it in my path. So, I registered, knowing that He will have to make it happen. We absolutely DO NOT have the funds available for me to go, so if He wants me to go, He'll have to speak to some people to make it happen. Don't get me wrong, I want to go and know there's so much I can learn from the people there (mostly about writing more than speaking), but I'm just totally surrendered to His ways on this one! I'm asking Him to either swing wide the doors or seal it shut!

So, back to Isaiah. When I look back on my life, I see the Lords hand all over me! He's protected, provided, guided, loved, forgiven me more than I could possible believe. Each time there were trials I can see His faithfulness to me regardless of mine to Him! So, as I prepare for battle, yet again, I trust Him. I trust that when I seek Him and call on Him, He will be near. I can lean on His ways! They've been proven to me over and over again. Like I said a few days ago, ARMOR UP, then stand and pray!! That's where I find myself. Standing in front of a "Goliath" ready to pray! Not ready to swing the stones til He directs but praying!!

Where's the grace?

My heart is very heavy this week. After the elation of last week - isn't it just like the enemy to try and knock is off our mountaintop?

A sweet member of our Bible study gave us a verse(s) from Rom. 15 on unity. Little did she know how prophetic her casual mention of this passage would be in my life!
"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." Rom 15:4-7

As Christians sometimes we have a really hard time accepting one another. Let's be honest. You know it's true. Don't misunderstand, I'm not saying we have to accept behaviors, but accept each other. Why is it when a member of our "body" messes up - even if it's someone in a leadership role - we have such a hard time allowing them to be human? Why is it when someone we consider to be a spiritual "powerhouse" drops the ball or just loses their focus we get in an uproar? I know that leaders are held to a higher standard - I really get that - however, they have this sin nature that they wrestle with just like the rest of us.

Why is it we have such a hard time extending grace? This is my prayer for the week. More grace! Grace to those under my roof. Grace to those in my "circle". Grace to those in my life. When I think about the grace God the Father has extended to me - WOW! I mean, let's get real here. There was a time in my life when I COMPLETELY turned my back on Him. A time when I mocked Him, when I REFUSED to give Him control of "my" life and yet...He looked on me in love and FORGAVE!! Truly amazing grace!

Take time this week to show some grace. It'll change your heart! It's changing mine!!

Don't you just hate unexpected storms?

Father God, I will praise you in this storm! You are in control and holy and righteous and just. I trust you regardless of how high the waves crash!
Abba Daddy - I know you hold my tears in your hands and I will praise you!