In Anticipation...

Tomorrow, thirteen sisters in the Lord are traveling with or meeting me to attend the Beth Moore Simulcast.  I am beyond excited!  Truly!

I attended this event the last two years and was blessed immeasurably...even though I attended solo.  Part of me truly enjoyed that...just a day surrounded by other women, just a day where, at the same time, Jesus and I met.  So blessed.

This year, when I learned the same church would be hosting again, I just began inviting the women, and one by one each began to accept my invitation.  Now, they are coming from all over:  three are traveling over an hour, one from out of state; two are teachers with whom I work; several attend church with me, two from within our community.  All who have needs; some so wounded, one just having lost her four-month-old daughter to SIDS.  All who have needs.

Tonight, on the way from the football game, my fifteen-year-old daughter announced she just felt like she should go tomorrow.  Praise God!

I feel just a bit like Joshua did when he said, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you."   Wonders. Miracles.  I am rejoicing already for what He is going to do for these ladies.

A Gospel Nugget...or two...

I like this one...

It is the Lord who goes before you.  He will be with you; he will not leave your nor forsake you.  Do not fear nor be dismayed. - Deut. 31:8.

Throughout both of the last two evenings, I have sat and listened to two women share tremendous testimonies:  one a newly retired elementary teacher, the other a young adult interviewing this week for a job, both learning to trust Him, to lean on Him, to rest in Him.   As I listened, I was just so blessed and uplifted to witness the growth in faith of both of these women.  These are such powerful times.  God is so mindful.

...the Lord who goes before you...

Earlier today, I received a text from a young Christian wife whose husband is about to fly to Hawaii to work for a while.  Scared, fearful of the many events and troubles in our country and around our world, she asked if I thought he should go.  Oh, my!  The question.  My reply:  "Pray.  Seek His will.  Then, either go...or stay...in His name and take a step of faith, either here or there."  Then, I read this scripture...now, I will share this gospel nugget with her.

He will be with you.

On Sunday morning, I sat and listened to two young women share prayer requests that caused my heart to yearn for answers from God to their prayer requests, both asking for God to intervene in family matters, matters so close that tears filled the eyes as words were sought to explain the dilemmas.

Do not fear nor be dismayed.

I listened through the speaker of my phone as a concerned friend shared a rumor she thought I should know about my daughter.  A lie.  A work of Satan.  This one backfired on him, for through this, both The Daughter and I turned to Him, for comfort, for solace, for answers, for relief.  He was there.  Every time.

I really like this one...

It is the Lord who goes before you.  He will be with you; he will not leave your nor forsake you.  Do not fear nor be dismayed. - Deut. 31:8.

Blessings, my friend.  He is with you.

What a Week!

This week, our church hosted a God-inspired and God-led Vacation Bible School.  What a great time we had!  I was blessed to participate and am rejuvenated to work even more for Him.

Because our children numbers had declined some in the past years, we planned for 30 children...and scrambled and God provided as the 48 showed up for the sessions we had planned. Truly, what a blessing.

At one point, I stated, "Next year instead of my planning, I just need to ask God how many He's going to send to us.!"  Yes!

We began our VBS on a Sunday afternoon, and at 5:45, I still needed one position to fill so we could begin.  Knowing that I could fill the position myself, I was not stressing, just believing that God would provide, when up walked a junior-high-aged visitor, who wanted to know if she could transport a group.  I wish you could have seen my smile at that exact moment, at that exact moment when God confirmed His Faithfulness to me once again.  Yes, ma'am, you may transport!

Many happy moments came out of this week:

• Isaac, a fifth grader, living with his grandmother, who became my right-hand little man.  Whatever I asked, he completed.  Now, may I bless his life as he blessed mine.
• Evan, the 18-year-old, very beautiful, granddaughter, who just recently came to live with her grandparents, who wanted to help in any way she could...put her in the sound room because, of course, she understands technology.  By week's end, I had invited her to my Sunday School class...and she accepted the invitation.
• Jake and Mallorie...a married couple who are now both living for the Lord as Jake just got saved a couple of weeks ago.  They filled in many spots this week...encouraging kids, hanging signs, taking pics, assisting in crafts...just showing up and seeming to have a good time.  I invited them to Sunday School...Jake is planning to attend (Mallorie has a family baby shower to attend...will see her next week!)...Excited, I am!  Yes!
• The Kitchen Crew...the first to arrive, the last to leave.  Feeding all, both physically and spiritually. Always dishing up smiles.  My friends.
• Pastor Kenny, who worked 14 hour days, then came to VBS with a smile on his face every night.  A blessing.  
• This list of blessings could go on and on...and on...

Tomorrow morning, at the request of Pastor Kenny, our VBS'ers will sing special music as they perform one of the theme songs "We Stand," such a powerful song, made so much more powerful as these words come out of the mouths of babes for Christ.

This energy, this synergy must go on, so, yes, of course, I have another event, or two, planned!

Blessings!

Patience in the Storm

The last couple of weeks have been a roller coaster ride after my sister, in quite the freak accident, inhaled cleaning chemicals and ended up in ICU for much of that time.  The ride has been much like the one pictured at the right...day by day we had our ups and downs; sometimes, even hour by hour.  For the most part, though, this ride was longer than some roller coaster rides, we have continually made progress, improving, healing.

The response to the prayer requests have been humbling...

Our God who honored those requests has been inspiring...

Through it all, though, I failed a test.  Recently, I was reminded that to be the Christian God wants me to be I should pray for ALL of the fruits of the spirit...yes, that definitely includes patience.  Remember how one obtains patience?

3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also:  knowing that tribulation worketh patience;  4  And patience, experience; and experience, hope; (Romans, KJV)

Hummmm....glory in tribulations?  Glory?  In tribulations?  Yes, I may glory after...but in?  Maybe I have...some...  Through this process, I have so appreciated Facebook (even going so far as to create Janet a page for her UPdates); there, I was able to request prayers and praise the answers, remaining humbled by the response from her many friends, humbled by the answered prayer requests when I would post. Yes, that praise is glory.  Maybe I am learning to better glory in tribulations...?

Now, for that next part...that part about tribulation working patience.  That part I failed, when in my bossiness (well, I would like to think it was because of my caring and inquiring about my sister), I upset a person enough that this person had to hang up the phone before exploding on me.  Right there is where I failed.

The part that bothers me the most?  My testimony in that person's eyes may be damaged.  That shames me.

And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.  (Hebrews 6:11-12)

 At that moment and other moments before, I did not have patience with this person...I was "sluggish." Well, maybe I had some patience (for this occurred  2 1/2 weeks into the roller coaster ride!)...but not with the right attitude.  Maybe that was the problem?  Too tired, too worried, too stressed, I allowed those emotions to override the Christ-like example I should have exuded.

I saw this quote on Facebook this morning...and it spoke to me.  Through the storm, my family has been through the last couple of weeks and during the time to come, during the time of continued healing and plenteous prayers answered, I hope to use the lessons learned, summed up here.  I pulled that above referenced person into my storm...not into my peace.  My prayer is that I be give the opportunity to use that peace more in this storm.

Right now?  I am home.  The storm has lessened, and I need the rest...emotionally and mentally.  Today, I am going to clean my house, doing something "normal" in the lull of this storm just seems important to me.

I pray for you peace...especially in your storms...which are coming...for we need that patience that only He can bestow.  Yes, let's praise Him in the storm.

Sisters Loved by God

Our Children of the Day small group of four is a blessing...to all of us...in different ways.

We met this past Tuesday and before the session was over, one confided, "I nearly didn't come.  I hadn't kept up with the study."  Another shared, "I had to complete three lessons last night to get caught up."

BUT before we left, we were all so uplifted, and one of the above prayed this in our closing prayer, "Lord, I am so glad I came because I have learned so much tonight."  Praise God!  Me, too!

Here, on Facebook, our group has a page.  Few of the others comment, but I receive such a blessing commenting and creating visuals for the scriptures...see above.  So much is packed within a single scripture.  Please...slow down and spend some time meditating on the above scriptures.

Aren't those inspirational scriptures?  Each has spoken to me, each pricking a part of my heart that needs to change.

Now, read today's...

Don't you think God wants us to share who we are, where we are...who we were, where we have been...with others?  Being personal, sharing ourselves creates that "person" for others to know.  Therein, await our testimonies.

Here's my prayer for me today..."Lord, fill me with your wisdom...as you remove bitterness and discontent from my heart, for I have lacked too much of the first and marinated on too much of the last two.  As a friend states, 'Bloom where God plants you.'  Yes, Lord, may I sprout beautiful leaves and spectacular flowers (maybe zinnias and marigolds?), so colorful and enduring.  Lord, may I share those flowers with others today, as I share my life for you."

I have been in a season of testing.  Since I am obviously a slow learner, this testing period has taken a very long time!  As I reflect, though, God has been ever faithful, even when I was failing those tests.  I have, also, noted that these learned lessons were ones I had to experience to truly understand what all He was teaching me.

In the classroom, I attempt to reach all learner types...auditory, visual, kinesthetic.  I always thought I was a visual learner...have to see it to really learn it.  In my spiritual life, I must be a kinesthetic learner...have to do it, sometimes several times, to master the Lord's Lessons.  Fortunately, He has enduring patience and simply retaught, usually in a different manner, when I failed, scoring a much too low grade, working with me until I mastered the objectives.

One of the slowly learned lessons:  Unless God opens the door, that door will remain shut no matter how I attempt to scratch, kick, beat, gripe, moan, groan (notice all those negative words?!).  Really, though, honestly...why would I want that door to open?!  I see that now.  God has a plan that He will see to fulfillment for my life.  No other plan do I want more.  Not my plans.  His plans.

The Lord will work out his plans for my life - for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.  Don't abandon me, for you made me. Psalm 138:8

 I seek just the right doors now, learning to lean ever more on Him, waiting now until the doors open.  Yes, I may knock to see if that's His Will.  I am learning that the kicking, beating, moaning, groaning, griping helps no one, especially myself.  Of course.

I have shared this before:  In 1999, I obtained a degree in secondary administration and curriculum.  At that time, I really felt that God would one day open the door to a principal's job.  That door has never opened.  Not once. Nor has any job in any area within those degrees. I have applied.  I have interviewed.  I have kicked, beat, moaned, groaned, griped all along the way.  Much gnashing of teeth.  Tears of frustration.

Why?  My arrogance?  The wrong attitude?  Faith in myself rather than in Him?  A lesson I needed to learn?

The answer:  Yes to every question.

Up to that point in my life, if a door of opportunity opened, I went through it and was blessed richly with promotions, finances, and personal worth.  That ended in 2005.  Every door shut.  The testing time began.  That's so easy to see now.  Not so easy when I was living it!

That's reason for my above prayer:  "Lord, fill me with your wisdom...as you remove bitterness and discontent from my heart, for I have lacked too much of the first and marinated on too much of the last two.  As a friend states, 'Bloom where God plants you.'  Yes, Lord, may I sprout beautiful leaves and spectacular flowers (maybe zinnias and marigolds?), so colorful and enduring.  Lord, may I share those flowers with others today, as I share my life for you."

I want all those negative emotions gone, for they are not of Him.  May we read this scripture again?

The Lord will work out his plans for my life - for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.  Don't abandon me, for you made me. Psalm 138:8

The Lord has The Plan for you and me...today, we rest in Him.

Three years ago, a revival began in me, a zeal to be closer than ever to God, not that I had ever walked completely away from God.  I have always had a relationship with Him.  The hunger to be closer to Him, though, became ravenous.  I have studied His Word more, prayed more, praised more, testified more in the last few years...God is good my friends!  More...that's what I want.  The secret to more?  He opened that very door.  That door I went through.  Yes!

What of your life might you share today?  Blessings!

That One Second

Last night, after receiving some disturbing news about a family member, The Hubby stated, "Strange how life can change in just a second."  Yes.

A little while later, he commented, "We need to pray about this."  Yes.  Life changed again, for we handed it over to Him.

This morning I continued my study of Beth Moore's Children of the Day and found comfort in 1 Thessalonians 1:3:

Faith.  Love.  Hope.

Work.  Labor.  Endurance.

Produced.  Prompted.  Inspired.

Layered within the verse, all these powerful words.  Wasn't Paul such an inspiring writer?

I also appreciated Beth Moore's statement, "Anything God emphasizes, the Devil seeks to exterminate." That faith, love, hope, he may try to rid us of it, but more powerful, though, is that Holy Spirit which resides within us to help overcome any attempts at extermination.  Remember Romans 5:5 - "Hope does not disappoint us because God had poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us."  Thank you, Jesus!  He gives and gives and gives...if we will just ask.  And today...I am asking.  Today, The Hubby is asking.

So blessed we are to have that Presence. So comforted we are by that Presence.  So empowered we are by that Presence.

I pray your life is filled with that Presence.  If your life is missing that Holy Spirit, the presence of that Great Comforter, it just takes that one second when you ask Him to come into your heart...then your life can be so dramatically changed.

Blessings!

A Change of Plans

The last two studies in our Sunday School material focused on a Godly marriage.   While a great topic..and one that definitely suits my class, the topic was just a bit hard for one young lady involved in a potential divorce.  All last week, I just did not feel led to stick with curriculum.  Kept feeling that spiritual nudge...

As I drove to visit with my family over the weekend, I listened to the music, Selah's song "I Bless Your Name" speaking to me.  So, I do what I do...I played it over and over and was so blessed again by Paul and Silas' testimony.  So powerful!

Later, that evening I studied Acts 16 and prepared to share it with my class.  Were we ever blessed!

God spoke to those young people Sunday morning because...Paul and Silas...

• ...even though seemingly supported, confronted the demon, allowing God and not the devil to receive credit His Work in their lives.  What a model for us as we, too, face confrontations.
• ...even though beaten...sang God's praises in the inner dungeon.  What a model for us as we, too, go through tests to remember to praise Him for the trials that He allows to happen to place us within circumstances to do a work for Him.  We have unsaved family, unfaithful husbands, strong-willed children.
• ..even though free...remained for the sake of that jailer's salvation.  What a model for us as we, too, have people in our lives who need the Lord

Then, we listened to the above song and were blessed again via song, for we are all at times in "a prison of our minds."  Often, the mind has such strong walls, refusing freedom...until we speak His Name.

Please, consider spending some time in this chapter...you will be blessed!