Reflections of His Heart- A Womens Ministry Blog

God's Dreams

2011-09-08T15:33:00.000-07:00

Dreams....I have so many. As I draw closer to God through daily time in His word He gives me the desire to do things I never would have thought about on my own. While growing up, I did not enjoy English class and the basic thought of writing any kind of report caused me to procrastinate to the last possible moment. I hated speaking to a group of my peers due to being extremely shy with no inner confidence. However, I did know that God had a purpose for me, something bigger than myself. As a young college student my only goal was to get married and stay home with my kids. That is all I wanted to do. Years later, I found myself as a mother with a full time job and miserable, for this was not my dream. I struggled with the thought of being called to do something more, that this daily grind was not what God had called me to. I started to attend Bible study and for the first time in my life began to study God's Word in depth for myself on a regular basis. It was at this time that the dreams and purposes of my life began to get more clearer and started to be more of a calling God wanted me to fulfill. In 2003, I attended a Women of Faith conference with a group of ladies from my church. In the middle of this conference, as I was listening to a speaker, I felt God say to me, "this is what I have called you to. This is your calling." At that moment, I was overwhelmed at the task, overwhelmed that He would choose me. But at the same time convinced that I had heard His tug on my heart. I may or may not ever speak to thousands as in that arena, but God has called me to be faithful and fill my purpose where I am. The details of how that will be used is up to Him. This adventure between me and my Saviour is a plan in progress, sometimes I doubt I heard Him right, but if I stop my busy life and refocus back on Him, the desire and calling come back in full force drawing me to do the next thing. This blog came out of a time when God was showing me so much in His Word that I just had to share with someone or else I would explode. My last two speaking engagements really brought all of this full circle for me. I went to the platform full of confidence that this is what God has called me to do. I still have lots and lots of dreams left on God's shelf. I just want to stay close enough to Him that He can pull them down from time to time to give me a glimpse into what He has planned. Just a little hint to keep me seeking Him for the next step. He knows if He had revealed the whole plan to a shy teenage girl who hated English, I would have ran for the hills! What has God planned for you? His dreams for your life are so much bigger than you can imagine. Draw close to Him and get a glimpse of what He plans to do through you. Let Him make beauty from ashes or in my case, confidence from self-doubt.
I Cor. 2:9- "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."
Psalm 37:4- "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

Driving Lessons

2011-08-11T08:55:00.000-07:00

Youth camp! Even though I am not a teenager anymore I may just enjoy this week of summer more than they do. It is a chance to rest, relax, and re energize. It is a week for this mom to be able to focus on the main thing, Jesus and my relationship with him. There is no laundry to be done, no food to fix, no beds to be made, no lawn to be mowed. Just time....time to spend loving life and enjoying time spent in His precious word by myself and with others. Being on this camp property makes me feel like home, we are family. During this week, my husband had begun to let my five your old son, Trent sit on his lap and "drive" (camp property, no main roads involved!) back from the services each day. Trent loved this and looked forward to the next time he could "be big" and drive. Yesterday, as we were driving back with Trent at the wheel, a song came on the radio that my son had learned motions to a couple of weeks before at Bible school. He immediately let go of the wheel and began to sing the song complete with motions. We had a good laugh on how easily he became distracted while doing something he had been, only moments ago, begging to do. I found this to be a good picture of how I act sometimes in my spiritual walk. I struggle to keep the main thing, the main thing. Distractions, responsibilities get in the way of something I deeply long to do. How easily my focus gets put on something else rather than the task at hand. My task here on earth is to glorify God in everything. To spend time with him and express what he is teaching me, to others with love. I want to stay on course. I want to accomplish the task. What is distracting you today? Ask God to help you make Him the priority and keep your eyes on the road ahead.
Thanks Word of Life Florida for a great week!
Isaiah 26:3- "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

The Finish Line

2011-07-19T12:21:00.000-07:00

Ten weeks and glory to God I finally made it! I was able to jog thirty minutes straight, completing the program. I feel much stronger physically, but mentally the last two weeks have been tough. I began feeling defeated after not being able to jog what I needed to. There were days I had mentally quit before I even started. I was dreading the morning workout time, frustrated with some Church issues, and struggling to move forward in my ministry purpose. All those things plus some others were ganging up on me leaving an overall feeling of defeat. This frustrates me because I want faith and hope to reign in my life, not defeat. I was praying and praying for these emotions to be lifted. I was pleading for a tangible reminder that I am not in this alone and the daily things that are done for his glory matter. I was longing for a fresh encounter with Him. It was then it happened. First, I received a letter (tangible confirmation)that encouraged me and infused hope. Then this morning before setting out on the dreaded run, I read this scripture. "He(Abraham) staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." Romans 4: 20-21. Those verses were exactly what I needed to give me the motivation and energy to lace up my shoes and hit the road. I am persuaded that what God has promised he is able to preform. My God has been faithful to me. He has lead me this far on the journey, He is not going to leave me now. I am so glad he gives me evidence I can hold in my hand that proves it. Every time I read the letter and the scripture I feel his presence right there with me. Calming me. Reassuring me. I am overwhelmed by his love, and these experiences never cease to bring tears to my face and joy to my heart.

Arguing With Myself

2011-06-30T06:35:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning in protest. The excuses began to flood my mind. "It is too late to start in this Florida heat...One day won't hurt...I just don't feel like it...." Have you ever had a day where you fight a war in your mind before you even get out of bed? I reluctantly got out of bed, and started out for my 16-minute jog , still not in the best state of mind. I lacked confidence that I would meet my goal for the day. "I am just not strong enough, not today." My mind began to negotiate a smaller amount, like maybe I would just run ten, that is not totally giving up, right? Again, myself arguing with myself, as I put one foot in front of the other. I began to ask God to carry me through. I can't tell you which minute exactly he showed up, but as I finished the 16th minute I felt strong enough to go another minute in order to finish my goal this week. It reminds me of the poem, "Footprints in the sand" as I look back I know he carried me. What makes the difference between starting out trying to convince yourself you can make it and finishing strong? Hebrews 12:1b states "let us lay aside every weight(excuse), and the sin (unbelief) which doth so easily besets us, and let us run with patience (hopeful endurance) the race that is set before us." I just love when I find comfort for my weary soul in scripture, it gives me that hopeful endurance I need to run the race. Is there something in your life that you have been giving excuses for or something you lack the confidence to move forward to do? Meditate and memorize this scripture and cheerfully run ahead to finish the race. After all, there is a great cloud of witnesses waiting for you at the finish line.
Romans 15:4 -"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scripture might have hope."
Hebrews 12:1 -"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." KJV Also James 1:3-4.

Running the Race

2011-06-15T11:06:00.000-07:00

The last five weeks I have changed my morning routine to include exercise. The program is called couch to 5K, which you can look up on line to get more specifics. I began slowly with the first day including a five-minute walk, one-minute run and then finishing with five more minutes of walking. At that time, I thought jogging for five minutes would be out of reach. Praise the Lord, I am ecstatically reporting that at the end of last week I ran for nine minutes straight. Today, I am happy to say I ran six minutes, walked five, ran six and walked five again. I feel my body getting stronger. I am finding that if I get up and run, my food choices become better as well. I want to give total glory to God for what has been accomplished. I am half way through the program and feel victorious. Running has so many spiritual aspects or examples to it, but the one I want to focus on today is the way that one simple obedient step leads to more obedient steps. Just as when I make a commitment to run in the morning, other behaviors change throughout the day. I eat better, which gives me more energy, which enables me to keep going all day, which burns more calories, which makes a day filled with victory and makes me want to repeat it. It is a domino effect. I believe the same goes for victory in our spiritual lives. The more we choose to seek God personally ever day, the more victory we have over sin, the more spiritual fruit we exhibit, the more we look like Christ. Another domino effect! The hardest step is the first step, make a habit of seeking him daily and the rest will follow. Live victoriously. Make the choice.
Matt. 6:33- "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and these things shall be added unto you."
II Tim.4:7- "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:"

Accessorizing to the Max...

2011-05-31T08:23:00.000-07:00

My ten-year old daughter loves Claire's. Claire's is a mall chain store that has everything you ever thought of to accessorize any outfit from handbags, to shoes, to necklaces and earrings of all colors, shapes, and sizes. She received a gift card for her birthday and can not wait to spend it. This shopping adventure came to mind while I was reading in the book of I Timothy when I came across the word adorn. Claire's is the perfect adorning shop for a modern day outfit, but I Timothy 2 says that we should,as women adorn ourselves modestly, soberly, without gold and pearls. The next verse goes on to say we should instead array ourselves with good works. What a different kind of accessory store that would be. According to this scripture, My daughter and I should be spending more time looking for good works, purity, and godliness instead of earrings, purses, and shoes. I Peter 3 in the RSV gives the thought that we should be developing the "hidden person of the heart with the imperishable jewel of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." I loved the wording of this verse. I want my daughter to be an imperishable jewel that God views as precious. How do I help make that happen? I need to take her shopping daily in the Word of God and help her pick out a gentle and quiet spirit, a spirit that represents inward beauty and not just outward adornment. I want her to be known by her inward,spiritual beauty not just her outward, physical beauty. I want her life to attract others to Christ. I believe this is the heart of what Paul was trying to convey in these scriptures. I do not only desire it for her but for myself as well. Maybe we should spend a little more time in God's accessory shop, the Bible ....and a little less time in Claire's!
2 Timothy 2:9-10 "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But(which becometh women professing godliness) with good works." KJV
Titus 2:10b "...that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things."KJV
Also Read I Peter 3:3-5

Pretty Feet

2011-05-24T08:20:00.000-07:00

Warning! This blog entry is not for the faint of heart! I long for pretty feet! I used to have pretty young looking feet, but as I get older the young skin has vanished and the not so good-looking rough and calloused feet have emerged. Anybody with me? I know a good pedicure would help but money is tight so I have gone to the store and picked up some self help products in hopes of improving their present condition. I purchased some corn and callous remover, a scrub to help alleviate cracks and roughness, etc. With all these products, I find my new foot routine is taking more and more time just trying to repair what went wrong. Would it not have been easier to prevent the callouses to start with instead of trying to rub and scour them away later? Spiritually speaking, the Bible addresses this topic several places by asking us, as Christians, to "Harden not our hearts".
The Strong's Complete Dictionary of Bible Words says harden has the meaning of being "dry, hard, tough or to render stubborn." Exodus talks about how Pharaoh's heart was hardened toward the Israelites and the Lord. Psalm 95 mentions how the Israelites hardened their hearts to the voice of the Lord in the wilderness which caused their forty years of wandering. Hebrews pleads with us to hear the voice of God today to keep our hearts from being hardened by sin. We must guard against sin, listen for the Savior's voice and exercise obedience in order to keep our hearts from forming hard spots or calluses toward God and His word. As with my feet, our hearts are harder to clean up after the calluses have formed. Save yourself from painful, wasted years of regret by keeping your heart open and your ears tuned to hear his voice, today.
Psalm 95:7-8 "For He is our God; and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today if ye will hear His voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:"
Hebrews 3:13 "But exhort one another daily, while it is still called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."

A Godly Teacup...What would that look like?

2011-02-21T10:17:00.000-08:00

I had such a wonderful time at the 15th annual Victorian Tea at First Baptist Church in Fort Meade on Sunday. This Church's women's ministry has got it together. Thank You Lesha, Carolyn, Vivian and all the others who had there hands in it. God is truly using you to minister in your Church and it is overflowing onto others.
Since this topic is on my heart right now, I thought I would share a couple of thoughts with you from the message I presented to these ladies this weekend.

Teacups symbolize daintiness, elegance, socializing, and good times. The perfect representation of a Women's event. The Bible refers to our lives in several places as empty vessels or can I say empty teacups. Just like our teacups, we choose what we fill our lives with. Things that do not satisfy or the real thing Jesus. I began to think about what a Godly Teacup would look like if it were a living, breathing Christian women. I believe the life would be authentic. She would be the real thing, the only one like it, which would draw people to her. Her cup or life would be clean inside and out. Her life would be spirit filled and powerful. Not perfect. The cup would get cracked or broken on life's journey but she would let her designer bear the burden of repairing her back to a useful state. Which He would do and she would then be even more beautiful and valuable after the restoration. This is the kind of teacup I want to be. As II Timothy 2:21 states, a vessel unto honour,
clean inside and out, and it would be prepared for and useful in every good work the owner has planned for it. What kind of teacup are you? Over the next few weeks we will look at four different cups we can be that keep us from being the teacup God wants us to be, so stay tuned.......
2 Timothy 2:21- "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work."

His Dwelling Place...Clean or Dirty?

2011-01-06T07:46:00.000-08:00

With a household containing six members, I spend a lot of time and energy picking up clothes, cleaning dishes, changing beds, wiping counters. The old saying of a women's job is never done definitely rings true in my household. How about yours?
In my studies I came upon this verse,Exodus 15:2- "The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation; he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation......", Habitation means a place to live in. The verse is saying I will prepare him a place to live in. Right there this got me. There are days in my life and yours as well I am sure, where we spend time preparing a place to live in for our families, but spend little time preparing our hearts to be lived in by the most high.
If we are saved, our hearts are His dwelling place. Is He comfortable there? How much clutter is in the way of His plan? Nothing is more frustrating to me then trying to make dinner when dirty dishes occupy most of the counter space. I am sure He feels the same way when our hearts become cluttered with sin or misplaced priorities. Do you need to do a little spring cleaning to make room for the most important guest of all?Ezra 7:10-"For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgements."

It's a Boy!!!!

2010-12-23T09:05:00.000-08:00

The card was baby blue with one plain announcement on the cover. "It's a Boy!!!", it read. What kind of Christmas card is this, I wondered as I took the card from my dad. Inside it stated Isaiah 9:6, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given..." Then it all made sense, Christmas is about the baby boy Jesus born so long ago. That one statement puts the focus back where it should be. Maybe we should be holding baby showers instead candlelight services. Christmas is about the King of Kings coming to earth to live among us. Emmanuel, God with us.
About a year ago, I remember hearing about a family who had a Christmas tradition that I found interesting. Every Christmas after the manger scene was put out the Mother would take one of the characters in the scene and hide them around the house. The kids would get up each morning to see which piece of the scene was missing and then go looking for it. Once it was found they could discuss that particular character of the Christmas story. When I opened the Christmas card, it made me think of this because the morning of Christmas the character that was missing was the baby Jesus. What a better way to celebrate Christmas than to have the whole house looking for Jesus. What are you looking for this Christmas? Find time to search for Jesus, it is His birthday after all.
Luke 2:6-7- "And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger...."
Matt. 1:23- "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."

Assembly Line

2010-12-09T11:06:00.000-08:00

We had an assembly line, my family and I. The little holiday gift bags had been stuffed with hot cocoa, candy canes, stickers and gum. We were on a mission to finish these gifts from our Church to be taken down to the 75 teachers and staff at our local elementary school. Everyone was called upon to do their part. The four-year old demonstrated his new found talent of using scissors to cut the ribbon. Mom was tying the ribbon to the bags to secure them closed. The seven-year old found her gift in attaching cards that thanked the recipient for all they do. The last stop in the line was the nine-year old whose job was to curl the ribbon and put the bag into the box that would be used for delivery. A family project that ran smoothly for a time until the youngest got board and decided that it would be more fun to do something else with the ribbon he had been given. The seven year old demonstrated her ability to beat every one else at their job and became inpatient, and the nine year old just knew nobody was doing their job correctly or at least the way she would have done it.
It came to me as I was reflecting on this wonderful family moment that this is the way the Church works sometimes. God has called us out to minister to a lost and dying world. He has given us each a special job, also known as our spiritual gift, in order to fulfill this mission. We come together as a family and begin to minister and then somehow in our worthy goal self inters the picture. One may get bored at doing his seemingly uninteresting or under appreciated job. Another decides that their job is more important than all the rest and yet another may decide that no one knows how to do anything and therefore begins to take over every job for themselves or at the very least tells someone else how to do it. Does your church look like this? Is there people not doing what God has called them to and yet others that are trying to pick up the slack and overdoing it? How about you? Where do you find yourself in the assembly line? Are you doing your part? I tend to be the one that does too much. I see something that needs to be done so I step in and do it causing someone else who has the gift to miss out on the blessing of service.
We are called as Christians to be one body with many members with Christ as our leader, each doing the function he has been called to do. I encourage you to find out what your part is and do it.
Ephesians 4:11-12 "And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Read I Corinthians 12

More Than Words

2010-07-19T07:09:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks a ago, my husband was just beginning his sermon with a little story about a dad who was having a discussion with his children. He sat them down and asked them which one of them was the most obedient? He prodded a little further and asked, "Who always does everything their mother tells them to?" Immediately my four year old stands up and raises his hand in the air and exclaims "I do! I do!" Of course, this ruined my husbands joke but got plenty of laughs from the congregation. The most humorous part of the story to me is that shortly thereafter; in the heart of the sermon, I could be seen repeatedly telling my son to get up in his chair because he was on the floor trying to crawl under the pew. It was then that I just had to smile as I remembered his "stand up and be counted" declaration of just a few minutes ago. I began to wonder if my heavenly Father views me like this sometimes. I know there have been times that I have responded to him immediately stating adamantly my allegiance to a certain conviction or thought. I have even committed to something in front of others fully expecting to follow through. I desired to do His will and follow after Him but then I would get distracted and stop thinking of my commitment or get discouraged in face of defeat. I am then caught in the very thing I had promised not to do. This is an age old deli ma. Peter struggled with this when he denied Christ three times after declaring he would not be the one to do such a thing a short time before. Did he just get caught up like we do, in life's hardships and struggles and before he knew it, let the guard down and sin was commited? I want to be genuine in my answers and actions for the cause of Christ. As true followers of Christ, may we be doers of the word and not just hearers only. May we realize when we have stood up to be counted and then failed to follow through. May we not fool ourselves into thinking we are more than what we are. The next time you find yourself in Church nodding your head in agreement to something being said, stop a minute, and truly analyze whether this is an issue you have been obedient in with your actions and not just with your declarations.

Matthew 26:35,75- "Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. (V.75)And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out and wept bitterly."KJV
James 1:22-"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."KJV

Dog Licking Devotion

2010-04-23T06:35:00.000-07:00

"Why do you worship?" During study for my Sunday school lesson this week, this question was asked. I began researching what the meaning of the word worship is and found an interesting illustration I would like to share with you. "The New Strong's Dictionary of Bible Words" says that worship means "to prostrate oneself, to bow down, to fall down flat, to put religion into practice." I went a little further and looked at the Greek and Hebrew words and definitions, when I found this analogy. An example of true worship is like a dog licking his master's hand. What!?! As a non-dog slobber lover all I can say is this picture is not appealing to me in the least, but as I let it sink in, what a great word picture! Dogs lick their Master's hand in complete happiness and contentment, happy for any provision given them. They know their place in relation to their owner. They follow their master with total devotion going everywhere he leads, now THAT IS WORSHIP! Oh, that we would follow Christ with this same sense of devotion, to be totally convinced of His love and provision for our good. To live in happiness and contentment for our God-ordained place in the world so that others would take notice of our complete devotion to our master. I want my worship to be one that puts my selfish will under His divine one. I want to put my religion into practice.
Psalm 95:6-7 "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker, For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand."

Are you a consumer or an owner?

2010-04-17T05:23:00.000-07:00

I heard this question on a Christian radio station in our area the other day and it keeps invading my thoughts. In my Church and community, am I a consumer or an owner? I began contemplating several questions. What is the difference and responsibilities of being an owner verses being a consumer? What position do I want to be in? Consumer or owner of what exactly? The first step in trying to get a grasp on this concept was to get a proper definition of both, consumer and owner. A consumer is a person who uses goods or services for personal gain. These goods or services are not to be resold to someone else. An owner is designed to provide goods or services to consumers. The owner is the person that is invested. So what do these definitions look like in the Church or community? In the Church, the consumer is the individual who comes to worship service and consumes the service. They take what the Church offers them and give nothing in return; whereas, the owner is invested in the Church, they spend time and money there. The owner may consume the worship service but they then "resale" or give it away to someone else during the week in the form of ministry. Our community has these two types of services as well. We can be involved in our community as just a consumer or choose to become an owner. We can go places and enjoy activities or we can take time to invest something in them. For example, we can go to the little league game and "consume" the activity or we can get involved in serving the team in some way. We as Christians can complain about the way our community has excepted evil but unless we share the love of Christ in it we can not move from being a consumer in it to one that owns and is invested in it.
I believe God wants us to be owners in our Church and community. He does not desire for us to meet with Him so we can keep it all to ourselves. He desires to meet with us so we can in turn minister to others. When our cup is full of Him our joy and love will overflow on to others. Are you a consumer or an owner? It is your choice. Will you move from just receiving to giving in your Church and community?

Matthew 20:28 -"The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
Acts 20:35-"Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said,'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Thankful for Walmart

2010-03-26T10:13:00.000-07:00

Thankfulness.....I have come to realize lately by watching my four year old son how this Biblical trait is put into action. He is thankful about everything. Last night, as we were walking out of our local Walmart, he yells out as we pass the greeter, "Thank you for the store. I got new shoes." What!?! I can not remember the last time I even thought about being thankful for Walmart! I may be found questioning why they have so many registers if they are not even going to use half of them? I am also prone to comment (while shopping in the evening) about how I feel as though I am constantly in the way of the next pallet of stock rolling through, but, thankful? NO. If I really gave myself a moment to think about it, I should be grateful. I have everything I want at my fingertips and at one place thanks to Walmart and stores like them. I can not even imagine life on the frontier of early America when pre-planning was a must, and everything was ordered and came in on trains. I am thankful that God gave me Trenton for a daily reminder to be thankful. He sees things to thank people for all the time. He is grateful when I roll the window in the car up or if I roll it down. He is thankful when I ask him to take his clothes to his room after I have washed and folded them. We need to all live in this constant state of mind of thankfulness. After all, even when times are bad, we as Christians have an eternal home given to us not through our own merit. We have a God who listens to us even when we consistently do the same offences. We have the Holy Spirit that guides and comforts. We have hope that when we go through tough times God is there with us, and He has a plan for our good. These are only a few of the things that we enjoy as the children of God. God has been good to me. Why can't I let it show a little more?

Psalm 100:4-5-"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name, for the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 126:3 -"The Lord has done great things for us, And we are glad"

Revival, What is it?

2010-03-19T15:00:00.000-07:00

What is revival? How would you describe it? Has it ever touched you personally or your church corporately? The basic definition that comes to my mind is to say revival happens when God shows up. Our Church is preparing for revival services to be held in April so the word revival has come up a lot lately. I have begun thinking along these lines and wanted to have a deeper meaning of the word and all it stands for. Our Church leadership, as well as myself, want to see something God-sent happen in our Church and our community. The dictionary defines revival as a restoration to use, acceptance, or activity. To impart new health, vigor or spirit or, my personal favorite, to bring back to life or consciousness. I ran across this scripture today in my devotions and it is a scripture that I like to post on the refrigerator door when I am longing to see God move. In Joshua 3, Israel is getting ready to wage war against the people occupying their promise land. Joshua tells the people before they go to war and see God show up on their behalf they must "Sanctify themselves". Sanctify means to be clean or to make clean. If we want God to show up we have to be made clean. I found a couple of quotes about what revival is that have helped to give me a better grasp of what I am praying God will do through a revival.

Revival is....
"The awakening or quickening of God's people to their true nature and purpose."
Robert Coleman
"The sovereign act of God, in which he restores His own backsliding people to repentance, faith, and obedience." Stephen Olford
"An extraordinary movement of the Holy Spirit producing extraordinary results."
Richard Owen Roberts

The word revival is not found in the scripture but the concept is there as early as the children of Israel when they were called to observe three feasts each year. The Feast of Unleavened Bread was a seven day event where no leaven was to be found anywhere. Getting rid of the leaven in the bread became symbolic of getting rid of the sin in their lives and returning back to a right relationship with God.
Do you have any leaven that needs to be taken out? Do you need restoration back to use or activity? Perhaps, your spiritual life right now is non-existent and you need to be brought back to life. Our relationship with God is the place to start. Before we can have a true revival we must wage war on Satan and get right with God. We must sanctify ourselves or make ourselves clean and obedient so that God can do something great and awesome among us. I do not want to be the one who stands in the way of seeing God move. Do you?

Joshua 3:5 -"And Joshua said to the people, 'Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.'"
I Corinthians 5:6b-8 -"Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." NKJV

Running into Clothing Racks

2010-03-11T07:27:00.000-08:00

My son Trenton, who is four years old, has been described by many as "All Boy". Up and running from morning to night, he goes and goes like the energizer bunny. Yesterday, I took him into a clothing store to look at a few things. In this environment, I have learned to continually hold his hand because otherwise he tries to run off. Needless to say, he was not happy with me and began telling me all about it. It is then when we pass a rack of clothes he lunged forward throwing himself into them. He looks up at me and says as loud as he can, "Mom, why did you do that to me?" I immediately reply in disbelief, "I did not do that, you did!" We did this routine one more time before I realized exactly what he was doing. He wanted everyone in that store to think I was intentionally running him into racks of clothes because he did not like the circumstances he found himself in. We left the store shortly thereafter in order to deal with this rebellious activity. During the drive home, I was reflecting on this whole thing when I realized as ridiculous as this scene had been, I had done the exact same thing to my heavenly Father. Sometimes I rebelliously go the wrong way. I make the wrong decision to throw myself into the fire of selfish disobedience. I then want to immediately turn and blame God for the circumstances I find myself in. It is not His fault. It is mine. I choose not to be lead by His all knowing hand. Instead of acknowledging this, I want to cry out so that others may know God has let me down even when He has not. I wonder if His response is like mine to my son. One of disbelief, wondering how we could blame Him for something we choose for ourselves. Just food for thought today. Are you living out the consequences of a sinful choice and blaming God for the hardships you are now enduring? Believe me, when we see ourselves in this picture, it is a hard pill to swallow. Rebellion is not something to be taken lightly. If we do not deal with it, I assure you God will. Make sure to adjust your attitude and actions today to show an obedient child holding tight to the Father's loving hand.
I Samuel 15:23- "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king."
Psalm 78:7-8- "That they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments; and may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not set its heart aright and whose spirit was not faithful to God."
Jeremiah 5:23-25 "But this people has a defiant and rebellious heart; They have revolted and departed. They do not say in their heart, 'Let us now fear the Lord our God, who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season. He reserves for us the appointed weeks of harvest.' Your iniquities have turned these things away, And your sins have withheld good from you."

Strength For The Pilgrimage

2010-03-05T08:32:00.000-08:00

In our Ladies Bible study this week, we read the following verses and I felt God wanted me to pass them on to you. I hope they begin to mean something to you as you mediate on them this week.
Psalm 84:5-7
"Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing throught the valley of Bacca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God." (KJV)
The NKJV translates the phrase "In whose heart are the ways of them" to say "Whose heart is set on pilgrimage." When we truly realize we are just temporarily walking through this earthly journey, we get a whole different perspective on our daily trouble. Not only that, but the the word "Bacca" means weeping. Have you ever felt like you are in the valley of weeping? It is pretty dark down there. Isn't it? But God promises enough strength for every day, including when we find ourselves in the pools of water from our own tears. These verses end by saying those who find their strength in the Lord during their valleys will end in victory when we appear before our God. I can't wait to have my own personal time with my Father in heaven face to face where He can tell me exactly what my valleys of despair have done in my life and the lives of others here on earth.
II Corinthians 12:9b- " My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." (NKJV)

Complaining, A serious offense

2010-02-26T07:50:00.000-08:00

Complaining.....I rarely go through a day without it. We hear it everywhere we go and from almost everyone we know. I am afraid I do it far more than I care to admit. We are not the first generation to complain about everything. It goes all the way back to the children of Israel and before. In Numbers 11, God supplies a story of a nation complaining and the consequences their complaining brought them. Verse 1 says, the people complained and the Lord's angered was kindled. God sent fire among the camp to engulf the ones who were murmuring against him. Israel cried out to Moses and Moses prayed to God to stop the fire. He did. Fast forward just one verse and the congregation began to desire to have meat to eat. They did not want the manna God had supplied but dreamed of the fish they ate while they were in bondage. Verse 10 says, there was great complaining among the people. Throughout their families they were so displeased with their situation that they were weeping among themselves about how they desired something besides what God had given them. Again God's anger was provoked. The children of Israel complained among themselves so much, God took notice and decided to do something about it. He sent quail, so much quail that it encircled the camp on all sides, a days journey in all directions and three foot high. That is a lot of fish! The first thing Israel did was not fall on their knees in thanksgiving that God had supplied. They went to hoard as much fish as possible. Verse 32 says, they gathered all day, all night, and all the next day. This was just another example of how ungrateful their hearts had become. I can just imagine God standing there shaking his head in unbelief that they could not trust his provisions enough to just gather what they needed. After all, he had been supplying manna every day for years at this point. God again grew angry and sent a plague to smite the people before they could even swallow the thing they desired so much. God wants us to desire him above all. When we show little restraint in our pursuit of material things, always looking to the next thing, continually complaining about what we don't have, His wrath is kindled toward us. Can't we just trust him to take care of us? He has for years why would he stop now? Complaining is a hard habit to break. We must take notice of what God has done and develop a thankful heart through reflection on His previous love and care. In this chapter of Numbers, Moses was also found making a complaint, but I believe the difference was that His requests were made to God directly and not everyone else. Israel made their agony known to each other and not to God. Dear friend this chapter hit me hard, God takes our complaining seriously. Death by fire and plagues are serious consequences. Take notice of your murmurings today and notice that you are truly blessed. He is our Father, His job is to see to our needs. Trust Him fully so you can reflect a thankful heart.
Read Numbers 11
Philippians 2:14-15 "Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world."
Psalm 142:1-3a "I cried unto the Lord with my voice, with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before Him: I shewed before Him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knew est my path."

Record Books

2010-02-20T01:26:00.000-08:00

Record Books. Have you ever noticed our society is full of them? Our schools have them. Our sports teams have them. Our Churches have them. The government has them in several different forms, financial and criminal. If they are good we use them, if they are bad we hate them. We try to keep track of everything. Records tell a story of our life, good or bad. We can never really get away from our past here on earth. For the people close to us, we keep records {even though they are not written down on paper} of past hurts and disappointments. Our responses to people are based on what our record of them tells us. We can never be completely unbiased to that person again. If we personally let someone down, it also effects our reaction to them.
This week I became so overwhelmed with how great our God is when I sat and meditated on some verses about God's record books. There is the Lamb's book of life that records our names when we accept Christ as Savior. This book gets us into Heaven, but the book I want to look at is the one God chooses not to keep. Psalm 130:3 says, "If you Lord should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?" Praise God in several different languages that when we mess up and seek His forgiveness, He forgives. He changes the permanent record against us. If He did not pay for our sin and continue to give us a new slate who could stand? Not me, the guilt alone would kill me. Thank God, we can go to His throne and leave it there! He has forgiven me for so much, I cannot help but worship Him. I stand in awe of Him and that makes me want to serve Him more. Who else can or will take our wrongs and remove them as far as the east is from the west? Only our God can completely remove them and give us a fresh start. Our permanent record, whatever it may be here on earth, can be changed forever with God's forgiveness. Turn to Him today and start fresh. He is faithful to forgive(I John 1:9) and dear sister, if He has forgiven you of so much already, fall on your face today and worship Him with me in complete awe. "He has not dealt with me according to my sin." I can stand! He is the lifter of my head. Praise be His name!!!
Psalm 130:3,4- "If you Lord should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you that you may be feared."
Psalm 103:10-12- "He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us."

Soaking in the Word

2010-02-13T06:27:00.000-08:00

I love baths! You know the hot water, scented bubbly ones that you can lay and soak in until your skin wrinkles. There is just something about immersing yourself in warm water that relaxes. A true Calgon take me away moment. Add some chocolate and candles to the mix and it just might be heaven on earth, at least for this mother of three. It is my sanctuary away from kids, troubles, and aggravations.
God's Word should be like a warm water bath. We should be immersing ourselves in it, letting the Word soak through everything in us, changing us. So many times our exposure to the Word is more like a shower we get once a week in Sunday morning service. We move on and never look back, never changing a thing. God's Word was made to permeate us to the very core, changing everything. God promises that His Word will change us if we meditate on it and memorize it. It will take root down deep. Immersion in it causes us to grow in spiritual maturity. It helps us show fruit. It makes us react differently in similar circumstances. It shows us our dirt and helps us get rid of it. God's Word can be our sanctuary from life's storms.
Don't just get a shower of God's Word today, spend some time soaking in it. It will give comfort for the journey and when change comes you will be refreshed.

Psalm 119:9,11- "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy Word. Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
Psalm 119:92,97,133-"Unless thy law had been my delights, I should have then perished in mine affliction. O how I love thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
Order my steps in the Word; and let not any iniquity have dominion over me."
Joshua 1:8- "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

A Very Present Savior

2010-02-06T11:55:00.000-08:00

Last night my son woke up in the middle of the night moaning and crying. As a Mom, of course, I was awakened and immediately went to see what was wrong. I got to his bedside just in time to hold him while he vomited all over the bed. I picked him up and carried him to the bathroom to clean him up. After waking his dad up for help, I took him to the living room and held him to calm him down. Eventually, we again settled down for the night. He, on the couch and mom on the floor beside him. I dosed off a little here and there, but did not get much rest due to the raspy, coughing spells and an occasional bout with vomiting again. While laying there on the floor listening for what need may come up next, I realized, when I am going through an especially hard time in life, all I have to do is call out to Him from my darkness and He promises to come to my aid.
During the long night just before the light shines through, I can picture my wonderful Savior laying beside the bed stroking my head telling me the same things I was repeating to my son last night. "It is okay, I know it is hard and you are miserable. I love you. I am here. It will be over soon. We will get through this together." If you are going through something difficult, please call on Him. Visualize Him sitting beside you comforting and assuring you of His unconditional love. He is there beside you completely anticipating your every need. All we have to do is ask. He wants to deliver us. He is waiting to deliver us. He is our place of refuge. He is our strength, He will sustain us. Praise the Lord otherwise where else would we turn? With Him beside you, you can make it.

Psalm 46: 1 -"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
Psalm 55:22 -"Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you."

Plans and Purposes

2010-01-28T05:29:00.000-08:00

Did you know that God has a plan and purpose for your life? Something He has been preparing you for from the day of your birth. Your parents, Your school life, your upbringing were put in place by Him to give you the experiences you need to fulfill His calling on your life.
While reading God's Word, I came across the familiar story of Joseph. Remember, He was the boy who received the special coat of many colors from his father, and his brothers resented him for it. They hated him because he was a dreamer whose dreams told of his greatness over his brothers. Joseph's brothers hated him enough that they came up with an evil plan to kill him but seized the opportunity to sell him into slavery instead. His dreams as a young boy led him away from his mother and father into a foreign land. Joseph arrived in Egypt and God exalted his faithfulness to Him. Even at the low points in Joseph's life, God's divine plan was at work. Eventually, it was the interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams of famine that exalted Joseph over the land of Egypt. Joseph's dreams he had as a boy came true, when his brothers came to Egypt searching for food. Joseph had the power to give it to them; therefore, they found themselves bowing before Joseph with their request.
If God can use the childhood that Joseph had to fulfill His plan, He can use yours no matter how horrific it may be. He has been giving you the tools you need to minister to others and fulfill your calling.
Who knew that a teenage girl who wrote words on paper as an outlet during a rough patch in her life, but who generally did not enjoy writing at all, would be led of God to write this blog every week. A girl, who would rather do anything than stand and speak in front of her peers, would grow up to want to do just that.
Can you look back and see how God has brought you to this moment in His perfect plan? What has He been preparing you for? If you do not know, seek Him today. Tell Him you want to live out His plans for your life. He will give you a purpose beyond your dreams. Only He knows how He can use it all for your good and His glory.
Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." NKJV
Jeremiah 29:11-13 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." NKJV
Joseph's story - Genesis 37, 39-45

A New Perspective

2010-01-22T06:20:00.000-08:00

God gave me a word picture this week, I wanted to share with you. I had decided to do some weeding in a pretty big flower bed. After a while of bending and kneeling, my back and legs began to ache. I would look back at the seemingly little progress that I had made and felt overwhelmed at the large task set before me. I began saying to myself, "One weed at a time...just think of this little section. Don't concentrate on the flowerbed as a whole, but only one section, one weed at a time." My gaze then fell on the trash bag by my side. That is where I saw progress. The bag of newly pulled weeds was getting full enough to stand on its own. I was again hopeful that the time I had spent and the sore muscles endured had not been in vain.
Sometimes in our Christian walk, we become overwhelmed when we focus on the troubles or temptations we are currently facing. We begin to question, how can I ever get through this? Today, take a moment and reflect on the progress you have made on your spiritual journey by looking for the trash bag of stuff God has helped you remove. God wants us to pursue spiritual maturity. We do that by developing a relationship with Him through Bible study and prayer. He is our Father. He longs to see steps, no matter how small, of progress.
As I look back on my life, I can see areas in my life where I respond differently today when put in the same situation. I still have a ways to go, of course, but progress has been made. Praise God, there has been progress and there will be progress again. Even if the process is painful and overwhelming, God will use it, if we let him, to remove another trash bag of weeds from our lives. Make the effort and get in the flowerbed. Spend the time and pull the weeds. His Word will not return void. There will be a bag of trash taken away!

Isaiah 55:10-11 - "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." NKJV
Philippians 1:6 - "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." NKJV

A Trip to the Chocolate Factory

2010-01-15T08:22:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, I took my kids out to do a couple of errands. I promised them if they would behave themselves we would go someplace special afterwards. I had heard about a chocolate factory here in our area and thought it would be a wonderful treat for them to go in and pick any piece of chocolate they wanted from the freshly prepared treats in the glass case. This sounded like fun to me. After several hours of getting things here and there, we finally made our walk down the street lined with shops to the factory. As we entered the store, I could hear one of them say this is not someplace fun. I replied, "Sure it is, you can pick any piece of chocolate you want. You can have peanut-butter filled chocolate, cherries or peanuts covered in chocolate, or maybe just plain white or dark chocolate." My kids looked around a minute but were not drawn to the glass case of delicious treats but to the freezer style container in the corner with frozen treats like they carry on the local ice cream truck. We left the store with a bag of peanut M & M's for the three year old, a packet of gum for the six year old, and an ice cream cone with chocolate and nuts on it for the oldest. WHAT? Yes, items they could have picked out at the local grocery store. So much for doing something special! They were not willing to step out of their comfort zone and get something different. They wanted something they knew to be good, not willing to try something that might not be good at all. After eating my two chocolate pieces, I assure you they missed a good thing. How we are like that, we love routine. We find security in sameness. Sometimes God challenges our thinking and asks us to move to a deeper place with Him. A place that we would enjoy so much more if we would just give it a try. I challenge you this week, step up to the plate, fear in hand, and do something different in your walk with the Lord. Try getting out a worship CD and sing along. Pray in a different position or at a quiet garden spot. Purchase a new Bible Study by an author you don't know. Serve at a mission or at your local Church. Jesus led His disciples on an adventure. They never quite grew comfortable with what God, in human form, could or would do. Don't grow comfortable or stagnate in your walk with Him either. Something new and different, go ahead pick something from the glass case, I promise, you will enjoy it more than you thought you would.

Psalm 73:28 -"But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works."
Jeremiah 33:3 -"Call unto me, and I will answer thee and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."

Twas a day like any other....

2010-01-08T13:42:00.000-08:00

As I was reflecting on this old Christmas poem today, God gave me this version instead. I hope it touches your heart as it has mine.

Twas a day like any other, when all through the house,
Not a child was sleeping, not even her spouse.
The clothes were all folded, sitting in the way,
In hopes that someone else would put them away.
The dishes were clean and put up with care,
She was standing there wishing to be elsewhere.
There was a never ending list of chores to dread,
While dreams of purpose danced in her head.
She would give anything to do something that mattered,
and with that her thoughts would start to scatter,
When what to her wondering eyes should appear,
But verses from the Word that made her doubt disappear,
Strength, confidence, love, and joy were all written there,
Forgiveness, peace, dreams, and passion she would wear.
Purpose! Yes, Purpose, it all became clear,
God wants to use her in those she holds dear.
She made a decision at that point in time,
God's word is what she needed her heart to bind.
If Jesus she petitioned to help her through,
Her heart, He could do nothing but woo.
Listen closely, she can hear Him say,
Hold tight to me, and I will lead the way.
Renewed passion and life is what I give,
Something you will rejoice in and be proud to live.

I am so grateful that God uses me, a sinner in the trenches with you, to pour His words out on you. May He get all the glory.
Katrina

"Chalkboard Hearts"

2010-01-02T08:11:00.000-08:00

I love having devotions with my oldest daughter. We will read a devotional story with scripture and pray usually before we go to bed. This time with her gives me insight into what she is thinking. It was during this precious time about two years ago, when she was just six, that she prayed that Jesus would use her heart like a chalkboard and erase all the bad things she had done and make it new again. What a word picture of confession and forgiveness! When we realize that our chalkboard of life is filled, all we need to do is ask his forgiveness and He will wipe the slate clean. Praise the Lord! Have you ever noticed how many things in our daily life give us this spiritual truth. We take a shower to renew and refresh. We wash clothes, dishes and cars to make them clean...to make them useful once again for their designed purpose. We are the same way, we must have clean hearts before God, so we can be useful to his purposes. As we begin a brand new year, let us make sure our chalkboard hearts are clean. Let go of the mistakes of last year and start out fresh and new. Pray with me. "Lord Jesus, I want to be used of you this year. Please help me to continually be seeking a clean heart by asking your forgiveness. Renew my heart for your purpose. Thank you, that your mercies are new every morning, that your forgiveness is sure, and that we can start over every day, hour, minute, if necessary. You have promised to be faithful to forgive, and cleanse! Amen."

I John 1:9- "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Psalm 51:7,10- "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

"A Child, Our Symbol Of Hope"

2009-12-19T08:09:00.000-08:00

Hope, an expectation of things to come. Hope, something we can't live without. We are all hoping for something. Maybe it is a new job, a cure, a new day, a brighter tomorrow. What are you hoping for? The best symbol of hope I can think of is a child. In Biblical times, you were considered cursed if you did not have a child and blessed if you did. No child, no hope, but when a child was conceived, it brought hope. Hope that the curse would be removed and you would be given new life. Children are signs of a bright future, one filled with joy. Look back with me at some stories of hope brought on by the birth of a child. Sarah and Abraham were given hope for the fulfillment of God's promise for a great nation through the birth of Isaac. Hannah was given hope when she conceived Samuel, the child she had yearned and soaked the altar in prayer for. Elizabeth was barren for many years before her baby John was brought into the world. Can you feel the joy and excitement a long awaited baby brought to these women? There were other times when the loss of a child brought great sorrow. Jacob grieved greatly at the loss of his favorite son Joseph at the hands of his brothers. David lost his child and mourned for him deeply. The Shunammite women was promised a son by the prophet Elisha and was given one. He later became sick and died. What great joy, after intense sorrow, was in that house when the child was risen from the dead by Elisha? But the greatest story of hope, was the birth of Jesus. His birth is one that can be celebrated with joy by all. His birth brings hope to my soul. It is personal. This baby brings into our sinful world, the hope for a cure for our wickedness. This child is our symbol of hope, a symbol of things to come, a brighter tomorrow and a heavenly future. This week worship the child that gives us hope.

Ephesians 2:12-13 "that at that time you were without Christ, ... having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."
Titus 2: 13-14 "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed...."
Hebrews 6:11-12 "And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

Who are you searching for?

2009-12-19T06:42:00.000-08:00

My three year old son sleeps in his own bed most of the time, but when he gets woke up in the middle of the night he comes into our room. There is no room for him in the bed so he just lies on the floor and goes back to sleep. Just knowing we are near gives him comfort. One morning this week, I got up early and found him on the floor next to the bed. I left him there and quietly took his sisters to school. A little later, he woke up and looked around and found out I was missing from the bed. He went to his sleeping dad and put a finger on his cheek and turned his head to look at my side of the bed. He then told his dad someone was missing. He went looking. He finally found me in the living room reading. When he found me, he said,"Mommy, I found you! You were missing and now I found you!" He ran to me and wrapped his arms around my neck and gave me a kiss. This is a love relationship. He loves me and I love him. He notices when I am not there and I notice when he is not there. If we truly love others we know when they are missing. We go looking for them till we find them. My thinking took me one step further to my relationship with my heavenly Father. Do I notice when He is missing in my life? Do I go searching for Him or hope He will eventually return? If you are like me, my attitudes and actions sometimes are the best indicator of how much time I have spent with my Father getting His perspective. I challenge you this Christmas season take time to make sure God is not missing in your life, in your celebrations, and in your attitude. If He is missing, go looking for Him. He wants for you to find Him. He will be overjoyed at your return and wrap you in arms of love.

Psalm 63:1-"O God, You are my God, Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water."
Proverbs 8:17-"I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me."

Traditions...What are we passing on?

2009-12-12T05:34:00.000-08:00

Christmas Lights, gingerbread houses, Christmas trees and cookies left for Santa, all traditions passed down through time from one generation to another. Traditions make us feel at home, like something remembered, something familiar. We all love memories of years past. A tradition is the act of handing over a long established action or behavior. Sometimes it is good to have the familiar surrounding us, perhaps that is why we love the Christmas season so much because of all the things we do year after year. One of the great things about traditions is that you can begin a new one anytime you want. As a mom, I can generate the lesson of thankfulness, love, joy or maybe forgiveness for years to come just by incorporating a new family custom. Thinking of all these things made we wonder where or when these activities started. When was the first nativity put out? Candy canes, when did a child first lick this treat with delight? Stockings, were they always hung by the chimney with care? How many of these traditions had spiritual meaning when they began? Have we somehow missed the real reason for these traditions? Do we engage in Christmas shopping and sending cards because it is just what our parents always did or what society expects of us? Thanks to the Internet we can research traditions and find the real reasons in order to again pass down the stories and significance of why we do what we do. Everywhere we look this Christmas season are wonderful things we can use to pass on the story of Christ to others. The Christmas colors green and red stand for eternal life and Christ's redemptive blood. The candy cane has a lot of spiritual representation and can be a great witnessing tool if we just knew the story of how they were created. I challenge you this Christmas season find out why you do what you do. It just might spark a spiritual conversation with someone around you that can be passed on to the next generation. Don't just do it because it is routine. It will mean so much more when you discover the true origin and reason. Don't just sing the carols, think of the words and truly worship the King. The baby in the manger is not a symbol for Christmas, it is our most precious gift. It is the true reason for the season.

Deuteronomy 6:5-9"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when thou sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house, and on your gates." (NKJV)

Is Your Life Precious?

2009-12-05T03:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I spent the day by the bedside of my dear sweet grandmother as her life is drawing to a close. My grandmother led a life that followed the two greatest commandments, to love God and others with your whole heart. She loved out loud and lavishly. Come and take a glimpse inside this room with me. As we look around we can see family and friends holding hands in prayer. We see songs like "How Great Thou Art", "Amazing Grace", and "What A Day That Will Be" being sung as we all await her home going. We are blessed to be here. We hear stories of the night before of her singing with lifted hands and saying she just wants to be with her Jesus. If we step back a little father we can see the most awesome thing of all, look around, there is a room, a hallway, a cafe, and living area (about 40 in all) full of family and close friends who dropped everything in their lives to be here for as much time as possible. She is genuinely loved because she loved genuinely. The stories have poured forth of her love and care for others even from her hospital bed. One of her last hopes and concerns is that all of her family and friends be saved so we can all be together again in heaven. Looking at this scene, I realized, as I hope you do too, that this is love in action. This is what being Jesus to others is. It is a simple card or phone call when there is a need. It is inviting those who have no place to go, to share in your families holiday celebrations. It is caring about others when they talk and being able to share wisdom with kindness. It is following the Holy Spirit's leading when He tells you to do something no matter how small you think it is. A scripture comes to me today, Psalm 116:15 says "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Precious meaning valuable, honorable, rare or prized. All good words to describe my grandmother's life. I want this is to be said of me. Can this be said of you? Do something small for someone today, you never know what a BIG difference it can make.
Proverbs 31:25,26,28,30 "Strength and honor are her clothing and she shall rejoice in time to come. She opened her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. Her children arise and call her blessed. A woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised."

Being Delightful

2009-11-29T13:40:00.000-08:00

To know my six-year old daughter is to love her. She is such a delight to be around. She is always happy, giggly, and dances to anything that has a beat. Lately, she has been learning Bible verses to recite in her Awana club at Church. A couple of weeks ago she was able to recite seven verses to her leader for a contest they were doing. She walks around saying her verses to anyone that will listen.
As a Mom, who is committed to Christ, it does my heart good when she desires to know God through His Word. I am so proud of her. God says in His Word that we are to delight in His Word. Delight means to take pleasure in and enjoyment from. To rejoice, to love, to consider His Word a luxury, something valuable.
We should long after Him as a deer desires water. Sometimes we see serving God as a chore, but this only occurs when we have gone a few days, months, years without communicating with Him through prayer and Bible study. When a close friend asks me to do something, it is not something I have to do but something I want to do. It is a different story when someone asks me to do something who often does not even act like I exist.
I long to hear from God through His Word. The more I am seeking this the more joy I get from it. Do you desire God's Word? Do you long for Him to speak to you? Get in the Word. He delights in us when we choose to be in a relationship with Him. Just as I delight in my daughter as a Mom, God delights in us. Daughter of the the Most High God, spend some time with your Father and be delightful today.

Psalm 1:2- "But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."
Psalm 119:24- "Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors."
Psalm 37:4- "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

Having it my way...

2009-11-22T10:41:00.000-08:00

"Have it your way!" This is a great slogan for hamburgers, but not so much a motto to be adopted for a way of life. Some of us learn this concept the hard way. Ever lived with or been around someone with this slogan? It can be hard to be thankful in this situation. With three kids, my daily life is a struggle of the wills, everyone
trying to get their own way, including my own. Sometimes the unhappiness is verbal and sometimes it is displayed through actions. To have a happy, Godly home no one can truly have their own way all the time, that is why we must all seek God's direction individually. Satan has deceived our generation into becoming self-centered with materialism and greed. Even when we get our own way, it contains only temporary satisfaction. It is not long before we find something else to strive for. It reminds me of King Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon says he had gained every material possession available. He had houses, vineyards, trees, gardens, orchards, pools, servants, silver and gold. He says in chapter two "Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them, I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure." Having all this, He came to the conclusion that it was all empty. In chapter four, he is so unhappy he wishes he was dead. When you look at yourself only, you miss so much and it is never truly satisfying. We can have our own way, but only God knows how much hurt to others we leave in our wake. True joy and happiness comes from a life surrendered to Jesus. What are you striving for? Money, possessions, approval of others, having your own way, or are you aiming to have complete joy and contentment in Christ. Take it from King Solomon, selfish desires are empty and lead us no where. Focus on Christ, He is the source of joy, happiness and contentment.

Can you think of any other advertising slogans that promote a selfish way of thinking? Post them here or on Facebook at the Reflections of His Heart women's ministry group page. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

I Samuel 12:20-21- "Then Samuel said to the people, 'Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing.'"
Ecclesiastes 2:11- "Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled, and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun."

God's Presence

2009-11-14T08:43:00.000-08:00

My soon to be four year old son is all boy. He runs from place to place usually away from me. He runs round and round the table, the car, or anything else he can get between us. I do not desire to chase him around in circles and, believe me he gets his fair punishment when I finally catch him, but it is of great frustration to me in the moment when I can not relay the seriousness of disobedience. Usually, the easiest way for me to end this cat and mouse game is for me to simply walk away and say "Okay, I am leaving you" and start to go forward, get in the car or go in the house, leaving him behind. He immediately stops his running, looks around to see if I am serious, then runs after me saying, "No, wait Mom don't leave me." He is genuinely scared that I just may do that one day.
The first part of Exodus 33 describes this vary situation. The prior chapter ends with God sending a plague to the Israelites as punishment for the sin of making and worshipping the golden calf. God is still angry with them for their disobedience. He tells Moses I will still give them the land I have promised them but you go on without me. He feared in his righteous anger He just may consume them all together. He was saying I am tired of chasing you. You go in the way of your choice, but I am not going with you. The Israelites, faced with the knowledge of God leaving them behind immediately began to mourn and repent. Moses pleaded with God that His presence not leave them and God granted Moses' request. Is God getting tired of chasing you? Are you tired of running? He wants a personal relationship with you. One based on love. He will not force it on us. He wants willing hearts to follow Him. I pray His presence never leaves me because of my disobedience. I can't imagine my life without Him. How about you?
Exodus 33:3-4- "Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people. And when the people heard this bad news, they mourned....."
Exodus 33:15- "Then he said to Him, "If your presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here."

Grumbling and Complaining

2009-11-07T08:12:00.000-08:00

A couple of years ago, my two-year old son was in the kitchen with me while I was cutting an apple into smaller pieces for him to eat. He was standing there saying, "Apple, Apple, Apple" so I finally got a piece cut and gave it to him. He replied, "Thank you" and starts eating it, but it's not long before he is begging for another piece. I proceed to cut up half of the apple into small pieces, gave it to him and set the other half aside so I can take a couple of bites of cereal for myself. My son then begins to kick his feet and throw his hands in true two-year-old fashion yelling, "Mine, Mine" as he points to the half of apple that I put to the side. I then tell him to eat the pieces he already has and assure him that when he is finished with that, I will give him more. This reminded me of a group of people in the Old Testament that could never be happy or thankful for a long period of time. I often wonder how the Israelites could doubt God when they saw so many miracles like the parting of the red sea, water from a rock, among others under Moses' hands. Then I move just a chapter or two forward and you find them grumbling and complaining all over again about God's lack of provisions. We as Christians tend to act like that with God. We beg and beg or pray and pray for something and God chooses to give us a little of His great wealth of blessings. Instead of taking what He gives, which is always sufficient for what we need, we complain because He is still holding the other half of the apple. What do you have to be thankful about? What has God given you? Enjoy today by just being thankful for the provisions He has poured out and the miracles He has already done. I am pretty sure He has another piece of apple to give you as soon as you have enjoyed the ones you already have.

Hebrews 13:5 -"Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as ye have, for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
Psalm 84:11 -"For the Lord God is a sun and shield, the Lord will give grace and glory, no good thing will be withhold from them that walk uprightly."
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 -"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
See also; Philipians 2: 13-15 and 4:6.

Learning to Love

2009-10-31T06:01:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I just hate when a song gets stuck in my head, especially if it is a song I did not care for in the first place, but lately, the words to the song "Follow You" by the Christian band Leeland keep going through my head. "I'll follow you into the homes that are broken, Follow you into the world." As I continue to ponder on the words, I began to turn them into a cry to God. My hearts desire is for God to use me to minister to others leading me into places where I can see his power transform broken lives.
God has also brought me to think on the verse in I Timothy, "Give me charity out of a pure heart". I struggle, as I am sure you do as well, with loving others without wrong motives. I prejudge others as worthy or unworthy without even totally knowing what I am doing. Why can't I love others like my three year old does? When he sees someone he does not know, he instantly says "Hey", a greeting filled with acceptance. I long to have this pure attitude towards others but at the end of the day, I feel more like Paul when he says the things I want to do, I don't and the things I don't want to do, I do.
It is when these two thoughts collided that God said to me, How can you go into the homes of the broken to minister change if your heart is not full of pure love and acceptance? Jesus is our example, he did not condemn the women at the well or the women that was about to be stoned for her sexual sins. He looked on them with love and acceptance, knowing fully all of their sins. O Father, fill me with your spirit's power to love as you love, to see others as you see, to approach people with acceptance like a child. Help me see others' pain. Help me have courage to grab a hold of them and lead them to you. I challenge you this Sunday look around you and find someone who is hurting and lead them to the alter to pray with a spirit of love and acceptance.
I Peter 1:22 -"Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned (genuine) love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently."
I Timothy 1:5 -"Now the end (goal) of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned."
See also John 4 and John 8.

Holding Everything

2009-10-23T13:53:00.000-07:00

As my son grows up, he insists on doing more and more things himself. When I try to help, he looks up at me with pleading in his eyes and says "But Mom I am a big boy now." At times his stubborn independence emerges to my parental frustration. He does not understand that there are some things little boys three years of age are not allowed to do. He just can not handle the responsibility, but I can if he would just let me help. I must admit there are some days(who am I kidding?) most days that being a Mother, wife, daughter, sister, church member turns me into a juggling clown at the circus, just trying to catch and release in time to get to the next thing. All of this running, trying to be everything to everybody, must frustrate my heavenly Father. He is aware of my needs. He cares. He wants to help guide me when I make choices of what to fill my day with. I must keep my priorities in line, and say no to some of the rest. I must seek him and let him carry me when necessary. What is on your to do list today? Are the tasks overwhelming? Are you emotionally drained? Spend time with your Father, He can carry it. He can hold it all together. With Him in control, how can we go wrong? He wants to lighten your load. Will you let Him?

Psalm 55:22 - "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee:"
Matthew 11:28-29 - "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Isn't God good?

2009-10-16T08:26:00.000-07:00

"Isn't God good?" We ask this question all the time in Christian circles. Possibly, just to remind ourselves and others that He is. But if we look at God's character through the lens of scripture we know He can not be anything but good. Goodness is His very nature. So why do we doubt it? We start to lose faith when circumstances right in front of us, cause us to loose perspective of Him and His goodness. It is much easier to notice Him when He moves in a way we can see. When we notice a miracle in our own lives or in the life of someone close to us. We fall on our knees and say "God is good. He sure came through this time." Is there a time He doesn't come through? Granted there are times He does not answer our request as we ask, but is that the same thing as not being good? If my children got everything they asked for, "O my! We would surely get ice cream for dinner, be able to stay up all night and not learn a thing!" To them a blessing, to parents, a nightmare. Who wants to be around a child that has too many sweets and is long overdue for a nap. That is how our heavenly Father is with us. The no's are for our own good, even though we may not be able to see the picture clearly now in our present circumstances. My God is good and He is good all the time. I will CHOOSE to bless his name in the sunshine and the rain, when He giveth and when He takes away. He promises that he will remove the reproach from His faithful people. He will turn our manna to corn. He will give us realization of the promise. We must ask for His perspective. When our time of testing is over, we must give Him the glory for knowing what is best. Rejoice in Him today, for He knows what He is doing in you and He will be faithful to complete it.

Exodus 34:5- "And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed. "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,..."
Psalm 27:13- "I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."
See also Psalm 34; Heb. 11:6,13

Harvest Time

2009-10-10T09:01:00.000-07:00

Happy fall y'all! Being in Florida after a hot, hot, hot summer,I love the first day I walk out of the house and feel the gentle breeze of autumn. Something about it makes me just take a big breath and savor it. Relief is finally here! I love this time of year. I love fall leaves, hayrides, festivals and pumpkin pies. Maybe it is just the expectancy in the air that family time at Thanksgiving and Christmas is just around the corner.
It is harvest time. Time to consider the blessings and bounty God has brought forth in our lives. The work has been done and we can simply bask in the goodness of our Lord. Harvest and plenty seem to go together. It is a time of thanksgiving for what He has accomplished on our behalf. I just want to encourage you as you sit on the porch or stand next to the kids bouncing in an inflatable and feel the refreshing breeze on your face to remember to thank God for the harvest in your life. One of the definitions of thanksgiving is choir. This took me by surprise but how fitting is that? Let a song of praise erupt out of the faithfulness of your Savior. To all my friends struggling to see the harvest right now, believe him for it. Plowing and sowing is hard work. It leaves you sore, tired, and hurting, but the purpose of it is to be able to have a life worth harvesting when the time comes. Be strong....He will be faithful. As the old hymn says, "We will come rejoicing bringing in the sheaves". Thank God, harvest time is coming!
Isaiah 9:3- "You have multiplied the nation and increased its joy. They rejoice before you according to the joy of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil."
Psalm 126:6- "He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."

My Comforter

2009-10-02T05:29:00.000-07:00

As I am again packing bedding for the family to move, I am reflecting on comforters. Cozy comforters, I have one on my bed I first got at college which is getting worn out and needs to be thrown away, but I just can't move on. We have another one that we got in the mountains one year on vacation that looks more like a patchwork quilt. Of course, we have the pretty ones that make the room look good, but get tossed to the floor at night because they have not been used enough to be broken in.
I started to think about Psalm 23 when it says "thy rod and thy staff they comfort me". I do not really picture a rod and staff being that comforting, so I looked up some word meanings to grasp a better hold on the statement. A rod is defined as a measure of length, club, stick, family or tribe(group of people under one chief), rod of correction, support of life, used for throwing or walking. A staff is a stick or rod used for support, a walking stick, crutch, used to support one's self,to lean, rely or rest on. Comfort means to support, to spread a bed, to refresh, feel encouraged, have courage, take heart. These words make the meaning of this verse come alive to me. When I think of God as my comforter, He is the support I lean on, He is the head of my family, He corrects, He is reliable and I can rest in Him. Just like the worn out comforter I prefer on my bed, we have been through some rough nights together, me and my God. He has always been there to wrap me in his arms and cover me. A quilt is a bed cover stitched in layers. Like a patchwork quilt, my God has been stitching my heart of trust together so that I know when life is hard and I need a good place to rest I can go to him and be safe and refreshed. Now as the fall and winter approach and you find yourself wrapped up in your favorite quilt remember God and what he has done to comfort you. A quilt or comforter can make you nice and warm on a winters night. The storm may rage put God is there beside to comfort you. Take him up on his offer and wrap yourself up in Him today.
Psalm 23:4- "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me.

Got Joy?

2009-09-24T09:14:00.000-07:00

Can you picture joy? What comes to mind? No, really stop and think of a mental picture of joy. Here are a couple of my ideas: a fountain, spring, something overflowing or bubbling up. I have always heard the acronym for J-O-Y is Jesus, Others and You. I would like to suggest a different one as being Jesus Overflowing in You. It is when you are so full of Jesus that you can not help but pour out joy on others. The old song says "Peace like a river, Joy like a fountain". It is something that springs forth not just a slow leak. Joy comes from the inside out, not from circumstances but often in spite of circumstances. Jesus is the source of real joy. Sitting in His presence daily through Bible study and prayer is the only thing that can produce this joy. God wants us to be fountains of pure joy bubbling over onto others, not a trickle of dirty water from a life filled with gunk. When we let other non-holy things start to fill up our spout we eventually begin to spue forth anger or frustration, often on the ones that have nothing to do with the problem. We become like a recreational vehicles' waste valve, when enough pressure is applied, nothing but bad stuff comes out. Nicole Johnson has stated that "Joy catches us off guard. It is a response that wells up in our hearts from love." Any mom or grandma knows what this statement is all about. Are you in love with Jesus? The more in love you become with Him and His Word, the more unexpected joy will overflow in your life. Want pure joy? Spend time with Jesus.
Psalm 16:11- "You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy...."
John 15:9-11- "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you: abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy may remain in you and that your joy may be full."

Walking with purpose

2009-09-19T05:53:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have found myself using a particular phrase that started to make me think about the spiritual aspects of the words. It is the phrase: "Do it with purpose". I would find myself driving behind someone who, lets just say drives slower than I might want them to. I tend to get aggravated and I will say to no one in particular, "Come on, drive with purpose". What I am really saying is drive like you have someplace to go. When I have a destination or goal I want to get there.
I then found the phrase coming up again while walking through the grocery store with my kids yesterday. When we stop in an aisle for a while they tend to all gather in front of the cart and when I ask them to move they tend to not know where to go and slowly walk forward or barely move to the side uncertain of their next step. "Come on guys, walk with purpose" I tell them, but how can they when they do not know where they are going? They do not know what the next item on the list is or what aisle it is on. They have no purpose, no plan of action. Do you know your God-given purpose, something you are setting forth to be or become? Which way are you going? What is your expectant end or hope? If you do have a purpose, do you wrestle with impatience to get to it? Our true purpose in life comes from God. Not having a Godly destination can lead us into some wrong turns and devastating detours that leave us feeling empty, worthless or depressed. If you do not know what your God given life purpose is yet, He is preparing you for it. Ask Him. Seek Him with all your heart.
If you do know God's desire for your life, no more leisure Sunday drives, pursue it. Run after it, act like your going somewhere. Strive towards it everyday,that's what makes life worth living.

Romans 8:28- "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
Jeremiah 29:11, 13- "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. And you will seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart." NKJV

Stuck in a Holding Pattern

2009-09-11T09:45:00.000-07:00

Just before I got married, I had the awesome opportunity to go on a missions trip to the country of Albania. We boarded a plane that had a connection that would eventually get us to the JFK airport in New York City, then on to Rome. Needless to say, that is not how our flight schedule ended up. For some reason, I think maybe weather, we ended up circling the Pittsburgh airport with dozens of other planes waiting to land. Our plane was put into a holding pattern for so long we were running low on fuel and were redirected to land at a little airstrip somewhere in the mountains of West Virgina. I am not sure a plane of our size had ever landed or taken off from here before. When we took off, it seemed like we ran out of air strip before the wheels left the ground, right off the side of a mountain. We now had more fuel and were ready to take our place back in the holding pattern, circling the sky above. Life sometimes gives us holding patterns, places where we seem to be stuck or just for the life of us we can not figure out how to move forward. We may find a period of relief when we stop for gas, but we know it is just temporary. It will not be long before we get tossed back out into the "going no where" place again. I feel like my life has been like this lately. Like a CD player that gets stuck playing the same song. I go to the Lord daily with the same pleas for stability and usefulness. I am waiting for my break in the clouds, for my promise of worth. Friend, if you are in this place with me, stay strong. We must wait on the Lord. He is my life sustainer, my rock, my fortress, my hope and my provider. Draw strength from the children of Israel. They may have wondered forty years in the desert, but God provided for them. They were fed manna (food from heaven) and the Bible says that their clothes and shoes did not get old or worn out during this time. (What!?! No new shoes or clothes for forty years? Now those were hard times!!) I am so thankful for what God has provided for us during our wilderness journey.

Deuteronomy 8:4 "Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years."
Psalm 27:13,14 "I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord, Be of good courage; and He shall strengthen your heart: wait I say, on the Lord!"

Back in the Father's Arms

2009-09-05T05:47:00.000-07:00

Several years ago, when my middle child was two years old, she fell and cut her eyelid on the bottom of a glider rocker. We immediately took her to the emergency room where they put 6 stitches in her eyelid. Because of her being so little, the nurse took her arms placed them by her sides and wrapped her whole body in a sheet where she could not move. My husband and I had to stand there and listen to her scream for us over and over again. We could see her face pleading with us to pick her up, to release her from this horrible situation. It was very hard to stand there and watch this when everything in me wanted to run to her and hold her. This story comes to mind as a picture of how God is with us. When we are going through difficult times, he sees us, he hears us. He is standing there saying, "just a little while longer, child, you can do it." He wants to run to us and lift the burden, but he also sees the big picture. He knows these "stitches" are needed in our lives to help us grow into the person he has purposed for us to be. He will not let us stay there a minute more than we have to. When it is over, he will run to us. He will pick us up and hold us, whispering in our ear, "it is over, child." There is no greater picture of this than when Jesus was dying on the cross and God watched his only, pure and righteous son, take on all of our sin and die for us. God the Father watched waiting for the moment when Jesus, the son, arrived in heaven so he could run to him.
Please know today that God is there. He is watching. He loves you. He is preparing a future for you beyond your wildest dreams. Trust Him. This difficult time in your life God will use for your good if you let him.

I Peter 1:6-7- "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it be tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Deuteronomy 8:2- "And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what is in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.

Mom, I just want to smell the candy

2009-08-29T06:46:00.000-07:00

All three of my children were given candy bags to take home with them from Bible school, you know the ones where they can not possibly eat all the goodies in a week let alone a day. My three year old, Trenton wakes up each morning asking if he can have something out of that bag for breakfast. Of course like every good mom, I tell him not for breakfast, maybe later. It was on one of these days shortly after this conversation that I came back into the kitchen and found him standing on a chair, with the bag of candy in his hands. Realizing he had been caught, he turned to me and said, "Mommy, I am not going to eat any candy, I just want to smell it." He then puts the bag to his nose and sniffs. He then says, "Oh, Mommy this candy smells good." I just had to laugh at this point.
I started to think about our Christian walk and how many times I get into further trouble because my first thought was only to get close enough to "smell the candy".
I get close enough to my temptation to smell it and then find it in my hands unable to resist indulging myself further. The Bible says to flee temptation, in other words, to run away (as fast as you can, no looking back). The Bible also says to make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its desires or longings. I do not believe that Trent's sole intention of holding that bag was to smell the candy. Do you? Maybe our intentions are not pure either, even if we try to convince ourselves that they are. It is sort of like going to look at the dessert table, but having no real intentions to fill a plate. Ask God to show you today the temptations that are in your life that lead you into further wanting of something and ask him to help you run away from them, no looking back.

Romans 13:14 - "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provisions for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts."
Galatians 5:16 - " I say then: Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."

2009-08-29T06:42:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, sorry it has been a while. The family is finally moved to Florida. Kids are enrolled in school, and life is settling down to as normal as we are going to get for now. Please pray God leads us to a Church to minister to soon. He is an awesome God and we are believing him for BIG things to come. Thanks

Crazy Mornings and My Unbridled Tongue

2009-07-24T11:54:00.000-07:00

Another day, another morning, my job is to get everyone out the door and myself to work on time. Why does this period of time have to be such a struggle for me? This morning was no exception. My son, the youngest refused to get dressed. I am only half-dressed when my oldest daughter tries to take her 1-year old puppy outside to do his business. He of course, weighs more than her and takes off chasing after another neighborhood dog. I then implore my middle child to take a handful of dog food outside and help her sister get the dog inside,she proceeds to take her sweet time in doing this. By then the dog has run up the street and out of sight. Mind you, I am still half-dressed and trying to blow dry my hair, when I have to throw clothes on to make sure the kids do not disappear also. I decide we will let the dog be for now and hope he returns before we must leave. So I rally everyone inside and begin to do my hair again, when my oldest comes into the bathroom to enquire whether we are going after the dog or not. By now I am totally frustrated, so I reply "No! We are going to move from here soon and we can not take him with us so I hope he gets lost!" She turned around with a look of defeat and left the room. That is when God got me, with the thought: What if I reacted like this in anger to you over something out of your control? My words need to speak love and life to others. We did find the dog and apologies were offered, but I still wish I would have responded to her in a different way.

I Corinthians 13: 4,5 "Charity suffereth long, and is kind, charity envieth not, charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil."

Romans 5:5 "...because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

To know Him is to Love Him

2009-07-16T11:51:00.000-07:00

Remember the story in Matthew that Jesus told about the master who gave his servants the talents. He gave the first servant five talents, the second two talents and the third servant one talent. The master went away for awhile and then returned. When he called the servants back to him, the servant who began with five had gained five more, the servant with two added two more, but the servant who received the one talent went and hid it in the ground. He had no gain to speak of.
This last servant used the excuse that his master was a harsh man and proceeded to bury his money in fear. I look at these verses and wonder how much this servant actually knew the master or perhaps he just did not truly understand what was being asked of him. I also think about how many times we do not do anything for God out of fear that it might not be good enough or we may possibly fail.
The good news is we can know our God intimately. We do not have to wonder what he wants us to do. He does not want us to serve him out of fear, but of love. If we are approaching our God on a regular basis to get to know him, this fear of him being a harsh God, who is just waiting for us to fail so he can punish us, will go away. To know him is to love him. Our God loves a broken and willing heart, one that desires to be obedient in using our talents to please him.
Is there something God is leading you to do but you have been afraid to step out?
Get to know him more and the desire to please him will out weigh your spirit of fear.
Matt. 25:14-30: The parable of the Talents
II Timothy 1:6,7- "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Words of Encouragement

2009-07-10T06:15:00.000-07:00

This week God has been showing me how important it is to use my words wisely. Have you ever noticed when God wants to get your attention about something in your life, that particular topic shows up everywhere? So this week, I have heard a devotional on the radio, read an email devotional and been exposed to this topic of how powerful our words can be (good or bad) in my daily Bible study. "Okay, Lord, I get the picture, somethings got to change!" Our words can be a great encouragement to others. Meditate on these verses with me and ask God to show you some ways to put them in practice today.

Proverbs 25:11- "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver."
Proverbs 15:23- "A man hath joy by the answers of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season: how good it is."
Isaiah 50:4- "The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary."

God has placed beautiful words of encouragement in you, don't miss his blessing, give them away today!

The Smelly Cattle Truck

2009-07-02T11:12:00.000-07:00

One day this past week my girls and I were traveling down the interstate in our car, when we all began to smell this horrid smell. My oldest immediately brought her hand to her mouth and nose and said, "Yuck! What is that smell?" I began to look around for the source because by this time I am trying not to gag myself. It did not take me long to identify the cause of this bad odor. It was a cattle trailer, you know the ones that have holes down the side that transport live animals from here to there. I quickly moved to the other lane in hopes of passing the truck and putting this whole smelly situation behind us. Ironically (God ordained), later on this week in my Bible study I read 2 Corinthians 2:14, which states that through us the fragrance of our knowledge of Christ is diffused in every place. My mind went directly to that livestock truck where a fragrance was definitely being diffused in every place. It made me stop and think about my relationships with others on a day to day basis. Am I leaving a pleasant "smell" behind? One that directs them to my knowledge of Christ or do I leave everyone in my wake wishing they would never have to deal with me again? The only way to change how we react to circumstances and people is to be exposed to God's Word, which can remove our old stinky, smelly sinful nature and cleanse us from the inside out. It is in this daily transformation of dying to self that I can become a diffuser to others of the intimate knowledge I have of Christ. My friend, open up His Word today and decide to spread around a sweet smell to others so they can see Christ more fully through you. Oh, and one last thing avoid the cattle trucks!!!
2 Corinthians 2:14,15 - "Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?

Fiery Furnace

2009-06-25T12:38:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had one of those days? Weeks? Years? Unfortunately, I am afraid if you are breathing you know what I am talking about. A time when God has put you through a period of testing in order to help you grow more like Him. Recently, I have been living one of these maturing times in my own life. To be real honest, there are days that I just do not know how much more I can take, but I am finding comfort and strength in the Old Testament story of the three friends of Daniel: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They were thrown into the fiery furance because of their stand for God. Their faith led them to tell the King that if this was their punishment that God could still deliver them if he choose. This statement enraged the King enough so that he set the furnace seven times hotter than ever before. They refused to bow down and were thrown into the furnace completely clothed with hats, coats and socks. Jesus showed up in the furnace with them and when they were taken out, they were victorious. They had been through the fire. The heat was hot and intense but they did survive. God did not get them through by the skin of their teeth. When they came out not only did their clothes not get burned, they did not even smell burnt, not one hair was singed. Glory to God!! When I am exposed to this fire of worldly troubles, and I feel like God is silent, I must choose to believe his promise that He is there with me. I may feel as though when God is through, I will be a mess and have black soot all over me. My hair may be singed to the roots. When I am tired and weary, it is then, I must remember that God promises that when he has accomplished what He needs to, He will run to me, pick me up and say that is enough dear child. He will then polish me off and present me as pure gold with no hint of the fire that has refined me. So if you are stuck in one of those days, weeks, or years, this is His promise to you and me, Cling to it today.

Daniel 3:27 "And the princes, governers, and captains, and the kings counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them."
I Peter 1:7 "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."

Our Dirty Sheets

2009-06-20T10:34:00.000-07:00

My husband and I have tried for a while to help our middle child stop wetting the bed at night, but to no avail. We have tried not giving her liquids after six (which is almost impossible since we both work till six each night!). I have tried waking her up a couple of times a night to have her go, yet somehow she is still wet in the morning and this just leaves me exhausted. We let her wear pullups for a while, but have stopped doing that in hopes that if she feels wet in her bed she will get up and go. This has not worked either, since she is a very sound sleeper she sleeps through it all. Do you know that the chore of changing sheets and washing them everday gets really old, really quick??? Can anyone relate?? Anyone in charge of laundry or dishes surely can. I am really lucky however that she has a set of bunk beds, so she has a double set of all bedding so the top bunk remains unmade while the bottom bunk gets changed everyday. It was one of these mornings, when I called her to the laundry room once again to trade her dirty sheets and comforter for the clean ones that I had just removed from the dryer that God spoke to me. In my Christian walk how many times do I do this to Him? I go to his throne of grace and mercy and ask to trade my dirty sheets for clean ones. Sheets that are only cleanesed through His precious sons' own blood. His response to me is "I love you and here is your clean slate of forgiveness, your new sheets, to start over. Could he possibly be thinking as I do about my daughter? "You are getting old enough to know better. When are you going to quit doing this? Surely you have matured beyond this point, yet here you are again, asking the same things as yesterday." I am truly greatful that he has provided me with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to help to convict and guide me. The more time I spend in his Word and under his Spirit the more mature I become in my Christian walk. My actions become more and more like him and less like my sinful nature.
Lamentations 3.22-23-"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not, They are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness."
I Corinthians 3:2- "I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able."
Thank goodness for his daily dose of mercy and grace or I would be sleeping in one stinky bed.?