A little too familiar?

"39And all of these, though they won divine approval by [means of] their faith, did not receive the fulfillment of what was promised,
40Because God had us in mind and had something better and greater in view for us, so that they [these heroes and heroines of faith] should not come to perfection apart from us [before we could join them].
1THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,"

Ok so this passage from Heb 11:39 - 12:1 was one that hit me up side my thick head this week. Now I know we're all familiar with this "hall of faith" but I'm tellin' you that verse 40 never gets that much attention when most preachers hit this chapter. Not to fault any of them, because each of these verses, I believe, is a sermon in and of themselves. However, truth be told, I believe that it's not that I haven't ever heard a preacher preach on it, it's just that my heart wasn't listening. God wasn't ready for me to hear it. Don't you love that about Him?

Jim Shaddix, one of the speakers this week, spoke on this chapter and gave the illustration of a relay race. In a relay the first to cross the finish line isn't always the winner. There has to be a clean exchange, within certain perimeters, the baton must not be dropped or the team is disqualified. So, applying a relay to our spiritual walk and looking thru the "Hall of Faith", the baton has been passed to us. To our generation. I'm afraid that we may be disqualified. I pray it isn't so. I pray that we can be known as heroes and heroines of faith.

Does vs. 40 hit you? God's plan is that these people who are mentioned in the previous verses, ALONG WITH the testimony of OUR generation, will come to perfection. Their faith can't be complete without our testimonies as a generation. That just about blew me out of the water!! I don't believe we can ever cancel out what they did, but we can add to it. My girlfriend always says that she's so glad there's not a book of "Lisa" in the Bible and I feel the same way, but in reality there's one in heaven labeled "Valarie" and I pray that in eternity as God continues to hang the pictures of the "Giants of Faith" in His hall that a tiny portrait of my life may be there. Can you imagine?!

Don't you just love "the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!"? "How unsearchable his judgements, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen."

Y'all have a good one - I'm 'bout to go have me some church in my livin' room!!! Between these verses and my baby in there singing "He knows my name" I'm about to bust!!!
PRAISE YOU JESUS!!!

Oh my word how I love His Word!!

What a week!! I'm "supposed" to be sitting in WV right now visiting with my family but God has other plans for me. After the end of our conference yesterday morning I came home, packed up the kids and headed north. Made it about 60 mi from home - just far enough to be a nuisance - and my car had a little stroke, or heart attack or at this point test are still being run to determine the prognosis! SIGH. So, with a van load of crying kids, crying/annoyed mom, video games, books, luggage, pillows and blankets there I sat....waiting.

My sweet, sweet friend Melissa and her man Steve came to my rescue. See, my love has a truck that physically will hold all of us but add in 3 pillows and blankets that would blow out the bed of the truck and all the Webkins and other various things too light for the bed....well it wasn't gonna happen. So Melissa and Steve gave up their quiet, relaxing evening at home to drive 60 miles up 77N to rescue my family. Is that a good friend or what?! Thanks again guys! I love you both!!

So during that time of waiting and between phone calls to my worried man and mother I got to spend some time processing all the Lord had spoken to me about during our conference. Several of my fellow "Grovers" have blogged about what the Lord spoke to them about thru the AWESOME pastors there, and I've given a few links if you'd like to read their recaps but the Lord wasn't quite finished with me. (as if He EVER will be til I get home!) He gave me a little down time yesterday to sit and process so many things He had spoken to me.

One of the biggest was the responsibility we have to stand on and to stay in the Word. Not just for our own knowledge, though that is important and vital, but for the next generation as well. Dr. Jim Shaddix was the keynote speaker who taught in the morning sessions and let me just tell you....I'm so glad I volunteered to sing. Sure it was hard getting up, getting my family up and dressed to go to church 4 days in a row at 7:00am each morning, but oh my lands the reward far outweighed the effort! I can't tell you how the Lord has used the conference to change my name....again! So many things. So much work to do. But here's the beauty of it...it's not work at all. It's blessing. It's joy. It's life.

Several of the pastors spoke about facing trials and storms and this car thing and spring break being ruined for my kids is a small storm, but I will stand on all things working together for good and I will stand on His plans to prosper me and not bring me harm. I will not get wrapped up in the emotions of disappointment and fear over cost of repairs.... I will STAND! I will run the race and not grow faint! I will soar with the eagles! God is good y'all! He's good all the time! What else matters?

Empowered Church

So I know I said I likely wouldn't be blogging much but I had to pop on and tell you about church. We're having a conference this week and tonight we had 2 amazing speakers - very no I mean VERY different styles but both amazing!! First was Mac Brunson and ya'll he preached from 2 Tim 3. Yes, the very thing I blogged about last week. About not being the vanishing church in the times in which we live. About taking a stand on the Word, not on anything else, but preaching the Word, sharing the Word and doing it like it's all we have!! GOOD STUFF!!

Then Fred Luter spoke on surviving storms. Let me tell you that this man knows a thing or two about surviving a storm. He's the preacher at one of the biggest Southern Baptist church in New Orleans. His church was practically wiped out with Katrina. In fact, he says they only have about 20% of this population back even 2 yrs later. Amazing. Anyway, he said there were 3 things we need to remember when facing a storm - the Promises of Jesus, the Presence of Jesus and the Power of Jesus. His illustrations came from Mark 4 when Jesus promised to take the disciples to the other side of the lake but a storm came. Well all during his sermon I kept thinking of this family and praying for them. Won't you do the same?

I have faced some storms in my life - you have too and if you haven't yet - you will. Just know that when you remember the Promises, the Presence and the Power of Jesus and you are His, the best thing will happen.......Peace!! I'll be sure to let you know how things go tomorrow. Gotta hit the sack and get ready to sing in the morning!

Spring break....

Oh my word. Isn't it funny that for the last 2 weeks I've been looking forward to spring break and here it is Monday at 10:30 and I'm thinking....can't they go to school? HAHAHA Just kiddin'!

It's a busy week with a conference at church that I have to sing at alot and then I'll be leaving Wed. for WV to visit my mom. Not sure how much bloggin' I'll get done this week so hope you have a great one and pop back over when you can!

Weekend Worship

Turn it up and give Jesus a thank you dance!!!

My Tribute

Kelley and I at our 20 yr reunion - we're on a boat thus the wind-blown look! ;-)

My sweet friend Nicki has been leading a Bible study which ended last night and her final topic was friendships and it got me to thinking. So today's blog will be a tribute to my BEST friend!

Proverbs 17:17a says that "a friend loves at all times" and I can say that my best friend Kelley (which is her official title when I reference her) has loved this sometimes unlovable woman at all times! She truly has been a friend to me in every sense of the word. Yesterday was her birthday. It was a "monumental" one and she's the first in our "circle" to turn 39 again (haha) so that makes her older than me! (Sorry girl, but you know I had to get one in! haha)

In either Aug or Sept of 1980 (sorry but I'm too old to remember) I walked in the doors of Lincoln Jr. High clueless to the Lord's plan for me. Clueless that a bond would begin in my life that would last almost 28 years!! (Can't believe that) There are so many things that Kelley and I have been thru. Boys, betrayal (boys and friends), me chasing boys who hit her with rocks ready to beat them up (hahaha), losing friends, college, boys, crazy times, boys (haha), then marriage, kids, parents death, parents divorce, caring for aging parents, so many life situations and thru it all we had each other. Sure distance has separated us but we both knew the other was just a phone call away - sometimes even a plane ride!! (as Kelley flew across the country when my dad died y'all!)

So today as I sit and remember - remember good times (guess they forgot the Colombian coffee) and not so good times (mostly involving boys that broke our hearts - DOGS!) - I honor my best friend Kelley.

Thank you for loving me. Thank you for always being there for me. Thank you for not giving up on me in a time when I wanted to give up on myself. Thank you for never judging me. Thank you for being my BFF before the days of BFF! hahaha I'm so grateful the Lord brought you into my life and that He has sustained our friendship over the years. It has been a gift from Him and I have and always will treasure it! Know that I'm here for you - I got your back girl - always have, always will! I love you Kel! Happy (day after) Birthday!

"Kelley, Kelley, why ya buggin?" hahahahahaha

Pray...

*** edited - I'm not endorsing this book because I haven't read it, but this video is compelling!!

First - hubby's been online doing taxes so I haven't had a chance to blog but now he's done! woohoo for taxes! ;-( haha

Ok, so often people ask us to pray for things or we tell people we'll pray for them but do we? In my life there have been times when my intentions have been very good, but my follow thru - well not so much. But in the last several years I have really started taking my prayer life seriously. I mean, VERY serious. I'll bet we can all think of a time when we have seen the power of prayer. We've seen lives miraculously saved, health restored, marriages reconciled, a lot of BIG things! Even little things too. Answered prayers. I know in my own life, my marriage, my walk I have seen prayer after prayer answered. Sometimes the way that I asked them to be, sometimes (most really) not. His ways are not my ways.

Over the last couple of days I've been thinking about celebrities and prayer. They often flip that word around like it's nothing. They take my Abba, Father's name in vain then turn around and ask us to pray for them. Please know that I don't say that with a judgemental spirit, but from a place in my heart that hurts for them. When all the "Britney" stuff was everywhere I was amazed at blog after blog that I saw and even heard on my local Christian radio station of Christian women praying for that girl. Were their prayers answered - well of course I don't have any idea because I don't know her, but I can say that I haven't heard her name or seen her face on every tv and magazine (at least not as much anyway) so I think in some way their prayers were answered.

Today I'm giving you a link to a very disturbing video. The content of the video isn't at all surprising, but to me what is disturbing is my sister's in Christ (and brothers) buying right into this! Please watch this video and please pray. Don't just say you'll pray, don't think about praying just stop and lift her before the throne and then pray for protection!!!

2 Tim 3:1-7
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth." (emp. mine)

Like I said sister's it's time to get serious about your prayers!!!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=JW4LLwkgmqA