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!!!

She Speaks

Hey ya'll. Lysa TerKeurst is giving away a scholarship to the She Speaks Conference so go to her site and enter to win!! As part of the "official entry rules" I'm supposed to write about why I'd like to go to this conference. All I can say is that I've wanted to go for some time because I feel the Lord is calling me to more than just leading worship. I have no real idea where to go next or what exactly He's called me to but I've known for quite some time that this conference would be more than just a little "notch" in my know how!! If you know what I mean! haha

I've had several friends go and tell me what an impact it had on the direction of their ministry and I can only hope the same would be true for me, so pick me Lysa, pick me!!!!! ;-)

Thank you Jesus!!

Woohoooo!! My computer is back!! Thank you Jesus!! Know that I say that with sincerity and not flippantly. I know there are some that think this bloggy world is ridiculous but I have truly missed keeping up with all of you and having you peek into my life.

So, my little computer person just finished and I've got to go over to the prayer room at church at 9:00 so I can't tell you all that the Lord has been doing in me now but I promise I will sit down and update. I will tell you that in the last 10 days or so, I have felt His REAL Presence in my life greater than ever before. Ya'll, our Abba Daddy wants His princesses to know that He loves us, unconditionally, He hurts when we hurt and He will protect us, comfort us and see us thru EVERY situation we face!! He is faithful! It's not what He does, it's part of who He is!! I love ya'll and I can't wait to sit down and catch up with you!!

BROKEN...

My computer is broken, my heart has been broken, my spirit has been broken. Broken. Such an ugly word. Thoughts that come with things that are broken usually are ugly as well.

However, God the Father, the Great Restorer, the Great Healer, has put the pieces of my heart, the pieces of my spirit and soon the pieces of my computer (haha) back together!! I'm in the library now because I've been anxious to share with you so many things, but I'll be back up and running on Thursday!! PRAISE GOD!!

My mom ended up suffering "multiple" strokes (in the words of the Dr) all over her brain. She has been moved to a rehab facility and God has been so faithful to answer your prayers. Her life was spared because of them. Her gross (major) motor skills were spared. Her speech is slurred and she has difficulty swallowing as well as her fine motor skills (the ability to use a fork, pen, etc) have been affected but the Dr.'s believe with rehab she should be able to return to a mostly independent life. God is good!!!

My heart was broken when I had to leave her to come back to NC. My daughter heart was torn, but my momma heart broke into a million pieces! Watching my babies tell her goodbye not sure of the future, watching them cry for miles down the road - well, you can just imagine. God filled my van with His love and compassion for us and we just turned on the praise music and sang our little hearts out!!!

I only have a few minutes left on this computer but I wanted to thank each of you for taking my family and I to the Father's throne and I pray that He will reward each of you with showers and showers of blessing!! I'll be back in a few days and I have missed you all terribly!!! Thank you again for your prayers and thoughts! You were heard!!

Leigh - I'll be in touch soon! I miss you girl!
Nicki - THANK YOU SO MUCH for the sweet card! I'll blog more about the retreat later!! God was faithful on the mountain!
Heather - I'm praying for you and I'll be in touch as soon as my computer's back on!
Tracy - Girl, hang in there - God has a plan for that sweet baby girl of yours!!! Lay her at His feet!!
Love to each of you and I'll be back soon!!
God is good all the time and all the time God is good!!!!!

PLEASE DON'T SMOKE!!!

Just a quick update on my mom. I'm still in WV - it's almost 1:00AM Tues - and my mom is still in ICU. She was a smoker as a teen and into her early 30's and now suffers from COPD among multiple other issues. Her inability to move oxygen in and move carbon dioxide out has led to her having high blood pressure and now has caused her to have multiple mini-strokes. We know of at least 3 since 2004 and are awaiting MRI results for a possible 4th.

So please pray first for ANYONE you know that smokes. BEG them to stop! Pray for the Lord to empower them to turn away from this stronghold the enemy has on them! Second pray for my mom to be able to breathe and get her blood pressure under control to prevent further damage to her brain. Third pray for me as I'm going to have to head home later today and it's really going to be hard for me to leave. Also for traveling mercies.

Sorry this is short and sweet but I'm totally exhausted!! Thanks for the prayers! I feel them. May the Lord bless you and yours for taking the time to lift up my family and I! May He be exalted even in times that seem to make absolutely no sense to us!!!

Weekend Worship

This song just makes me happy and He is good ALL THE TIME!!! Have a great weekend and thank you so much for your prayers. I'll try to update after I get to WV.

Update - He's STILL/ALWAYS Good!!

Ok, here's the latest. Mom's still in the ICU and things aren't improving as well as we all hoped. As she is becoming more aware of what's happening she's also becoming more and more afraid. In fact, she asked the nurse to call one of us to come in. THAT hurts. God, please settle my mom. Please be her constant companion now more than ever. Let her feel Your Presence in a REAL way right this minute. Settle me too, Father!

I was going to blog about my "God Calling" today but I'll just share a couple of lines so that you can know how sweet our Abba Daddy is to me! This was His love letter to me today.
"Does one worrying thought enter your mind, one impatient thought? Fight it at once. Love and Trust are the solvents for the worry and cares and frets of a life. Apply them at once." I told you He was sweet! Don't you just love Him so much? I know I certainly do!!


So many things are happening I don't understand Father, but I do know that You are good. I do know that Your mercies endure forever and I do know that Your plans for me and for my mom are plans that will not bring us harm. I ask that you be more near to us today than ever before. Lord I pray that by the blood of Jesus I will overcome all the enemies attempts to sit in fear and worry! I trust You, Abba Daddy, and I know You are in control. Guide the Dr's and nurses that are taking care of mom. Give them wisdom and understanding and the proper treatment to make her better. No matter the outcome I will turn back and give You praise for it all!! I love you Father and it's in the name of Your Son, my precious Savior Jesus I ask all these things. Amen.