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?

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......

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!!!!!

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!!!

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!!