Preparing for the Greatest Love Gift

 I am continuing to prepare my children and myself for the cross.  The greatest love gift ever given and the victory that comes from the Risen Lord becomes my daily focus.

I go and pull out our banner that reminds us of the road to the cross.  In early parenthood, my husband bought me the book, "Family Celebrations: Meeting Christ in Your Holidays" by Ann Hibbard.  She gives the instructions for making the banner and devotionals for the road to Calvary. We start at the fall and continue through the Bible reading God's redemptive story.  We finish with the victory of the empty grave.

On Easter morning we flip over the banner and go through the house shouting,  "He Has Risen".  The flip side shows Jesus with his hands open wide having conquered the grave.   Praise and Worship music fills the air.

Along this journey to the cross, we also read other books that remind us of the sacrifice that Jesus made for our sins.  Each child was given a book for Easter and they are enjoyed by all. (2011 my personal focus has been on the different personalities of the disciples...how I am like them, doubting and denying)

Since passover season usually arrives during this time, we also celebrate the Feast of Passover, like Jesus celebrated.  We learn about seeing Christ in the Seven Jewish Feasts.  Some years, we fully celebrate the feasts and at other times, we merely read about them.

This year I will read "the greatest story ever told" to Benjamin from his new Bible.  The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name by Sally Lloyd-Jones. This Bible is for ages 0-9, one of the best I have ever used with my children.

As I guide my children to the cross, I will also examine my walk with the Lord.  "Taste and See" by John Piper is helping me see my Saviour in a more intimate way. (This is a re-post from last year so this year I am going through Bread and Wine.)

As we enjoy spring, we also anticipate the EMPTY GRAVE!!!

Last years Seder Meal post - click - Passover Meal

Embracing the Season of Resurrection Life.

Watch What You Ask For

As November closes her doors I reflect back on how the Lord answered my prayers.  Like praying for patience and then having every occasion to learn patience, well November was a month for learning another dimension of thankfulness.  The Lord heard my prayer for a deeper level of gratitude and this month gave me more than enough reasons to offer thanks or to become frustrated and bitter.  As I close the page on this month I believe I walked through to a new level of learning "giving thanks in all things".  My excitement over what God is doing in my heart and circumstances is beyond words.

click on pictures to enlarge them

1) Our 3rd Son was rushed to the hospital because of a seizure - thanks for more understanding on the cause and questions were answered, someone was there when he turned blue, he is fine and was able to continue in college - wonderful doctors

2) Cast boy had his cast removed - healing well, brace will be off the middle of December

3)  Job provision was very low - got a bonus to pay back rent

4) Son and Daughter-in-law turned 27!!!

5) Son and Daughter-in-law healing from miscarriage - God's faithfulness and promises for the future

6) Our fourth son went through oral surgery and did well - provision given for this expense 

7)  I prepared Thanksgiving Lunch and Dessert Party by myself and more than survived - His grace and strength were wonderfully abundant - my first brine turkey turned out great!

8) My mother-in-law, age 95, traveled with my sister-in-law and brother-in-law to celebrate with us

9) We had new and old friends come for dessert, what a joy!

10) No one was hurt and there was a lot of fun at the Thanksgiving football game played by the kids and dads

11) My husband took off two days before returning to his six day a week schedule at work

12) Financial Provision was given that would pay for our Thanksgiving and take care of many future needs - this answer to pray was the most humbling and  planted deep truth in my heart - again how beautiful the Body of Christ and to feel God loves you through His body

I was able to attend the Homestead Heritage Thanksgiving Festival the day after Thanksgiving.  This is one of my joys and is so refreshing after all the company and preparation of Thanksgiving.  I love going back to the old arts and seeing how cheese, bread, candles, soap, brooms, etc. are made and how I could do some of the same. I am going to try to do cheese and soap this next year.  The craftsmanship is amazing and the animals are so enjoyable.  My son was so delighted to experience all of it.

Thank you Lord for walking me through this month.  You have more than answered my prayers for a heart of gratitude. I Thes. 5:18 - "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."  Now I move into the month where I focus on His birth!

One Year: God's Hand - Bravo God

As we enter this week of Thanksgiving, my thoughts go back to this time last year.  We returned from our Thanksgiving celebration to hear that our pastor had suffered a seizure that morning and was in the hospital.  Our thoughts stopped from our celebration to intercede for our young pastor and his family.

The news began to unfold that the seizure was the result of a brain tumor.  This past year, we have prayed and watched this man of God go through many surgeries and chemo treatments.

Today, he marched out onto the platform to preach to his body that now has multiple locations and numerous services. He has missed very few Sundays throughout this past year.  As I received the word from God  through this man, I couldn't help but offer up thanks for what God has done in his life and through his life this last year.

Today I say, "Bravo, Bravo God!" for the life of Matt Chandler and the testimony that has covered the world.

You can hear his testimony through many sources.  Just enter "Matt Chandler" in google and page after page will appear. I pray that by my sharing his testimony you will also be encouraged in your journey..I know I have been and still am.
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/11/01/one-year-later-an-interview-with-matt-chandler/

Our Heroes in the Body of Christ

There are just times that words can't express our gratitude.  When we step back in such admiration for our loving God, we can only bow in worship, while saying, "Bravo, Bravo God!"


Watching the Body of Christ be the Body of Christ has been one of the most precious lessons our family has learned through our financial struggles.  Today, I just wanted to show you one of the many   dear friends who has blessed our family through his talent and giving heart.  This man has stood beside us more than once and this time, he took care of our precious four-year-old son.

This is Dr. L.D. Jennings, who has helped to heal our four-year-old's leg.  His talented staff reflects the wonderful, giving nature of our long-time friend.  He entered my husband's life in college, he stood as a groomsman in our wedding and has been at the end of more than one emergency call.  He always extends his talent and resources to bless our family.  He is a lifetime Texas Longhorn fan, who has given us his tickets to many games for our enjoyment.  He has blessed us with time in his lake-front condo to celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary.  The list goes on and on and he has fulfilled so many scriptures as a true friend and a brother. My husband doesn't have a brother, so this man has been one in every sense of the word.

"A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

Benjamin laughing as Stacy uses her "tickle machine" to cut off his "camo" cast.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matt. 5:16

Carey gently placing Ben's leg in position to take an x-ray on the "fancy camera".

"Give and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be put into your bosom, For with the same measure it will be measured back to you." Luke 6:38

                                        Benjamin surrounded by his "angels". Bless them all!!
Isn't the Body of Christ beautiful?  When we all use what God has given us to bless others, then the world sees the love of our Father.  I also thank so many of you for your prayers, your emails, and unspoken gifts that have blessed us beyond measure.  My humble heart can only cry out, "Bravo, Bravo God!"

Leg brace for only one more month...God is good!!!

"Excuse" Pest Being Exterminated!

I recently posted on our "excuse" pests needing extra-strength Raid, on my blog, while leaving a path of destruction behind, in our home and lives.
Today, I want to post an update on this convicting transformation.  I stated that I didn't want to rid our house of these pests through condemnation and that has to first begin with me.  God has so gently lead me through spraying for these pests (excuses) in my own life.  After I finished publishing my post, I walked into the garage to find this antique bug sprayer.  I started to laugh, picked it up, washed it off and put it on prominent display, as a reminder to me.

Romans 2:4 -"Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?"

Kindness - sensitivity and understanding
Tolerance - God's tolerance of mankind when men displays contempt or ignorance of Him
Patience - God restrains his judgment
Repentance - changing our mind regarding our condition, our actions, our sins, our needs

As God is changing my mind by gently leading me to repentance, I am ready to direct my faith toward divine provision and solutions in my life.  As He is eliminating the "excuses," I am able to see His work in my life.

This time of walking with the Lord, as He continues to convict me of my "excuses" has been very precious.  I am seeing new fruit everyday.  My son will laugh when I ask, "is that an excuse?"  He will respectfully reply back, "no, an explanation!"

May you find God's kindness in your journey.  May condemnation never knock at your door.  May this season of thankfulness expand to enable you to see all the qualities of kindness, tolerance and patience of our Lord and Saviour.

Pumpkin Bread Detour

I am not a person who enjoys my course of action to be re-directed.  I love to see things stay on course, but of course, life doesn't work that way.  I am sure God just laughed when I married my husband, knowing that my husband would thrive in detours, while I would become frustrated.


So after I posted "Won't You Be My Neighbor" and had a vision to reach out to our new neighbors....then came the DETOUR!!  Our son broke his leg and my course was temporarily sidelined in order to serve my little man.


God, on the other hand, wasn't frustrated with my detour... He was guiding the path.


I had prayed a selfish prayer that our new neighbor would have a son for my high school son to play with.  After my re-energized vision to reach out, I began to pray for my new neighbors.  Their arrival came over a few weeks.  One day, the grandmother stopped me to let me know her daughter was moving into the house.  Parts of the story unfolded.  She was a single mom and the family had gone through some big adjustments.  Now I had even more to take before the Lord.


So while my cast boy was healing, God was preparing.  With increased freedom, I made a batch of pumpkin bread and became ready to welcome the family to our neighborhood.  The family arrived with a teenage boy, who loves baseball.  While my house was empty, I took the bread in hand, prayed over my steps and strolled next door.


The woman received me with open arms as I handed her the pumpkin bread.  As I stood on her front porch she began to unfold her story.  Through smiles and an uplifted voice, while fighting back tears at different points in her story, I was able empathize.  Her marriage of 19 years had come to a very ugly end and she was now going through drastic downsizing.  Where she had only worked part time, her new journey requires full time.  Her mother helps since her job takes her out of town for multiple days in a row.


Many of the lines of her story were similar to mine.  The downsizing meant getting rid of items and leaving behind extras not found in a rent home. For her, she is missing her swimming pool and I miss my trees.  We both laughed about how much we really didn't need.  She is giving up her three Christmas trees.


We both smiled at each other with "that is life" and you could hear the determination to go forward.  She let me know they were going to be around for the evening to visit some more. There was a moment to share where we go to church and invite them to join us. What I felt was a "detour" was instead God's perfect timing.  When will I learn that His timing is always right?


This will require an investment of my time in order to cultivate this relationship. I came away THANKING  God that I now had life experiences that could relate with hers.  I look forward to being able to share my Christ as the healer, as I first embrace her as a friend.  I was convicted...everyone has a story to tell, but have I taken the time to listen.

"Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest."Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. "For in this case the saying is true, 'One sows and another reaps.'  I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor."John 1:35-38

I hope you can look up from what you may feel is a detour and see that God knows the path ahead....and maybe, just maybe, the perceived "detour" is  instead His perfect path. Now I need to go make some more bread, there is another neighbor I need to meet!

We Need Some Extra-Strength RAID!

A pest has taken up residence in our home and started to multiply itself through out our dwelling.  At the beginning it was hardly a bother, even laughter encouraged its occupancy.  Besides, who wanted to extinguish with heavy chemicals, we are trying to live with less chemicals.  As we turned our heads, the pest believed it was invisible.  We had encouraged it by purchasing "how to books" for increasing its productivity, even though it was a joke.

This can be bought through Amazon

However, it has been so productive and I am quite sure this isn't what God meant in Genesis when he said, "be fruitful and multiply". We are now having to engage in chemical warfare to rid this pest from our home.

It has devoured our dreams, our productivity, our health, our education, our money and our relationships.  It was so easily allowed to take over our home that we may not know who we are without it.  BUT IT IS TIME TO GO!

...EXCUSES!!

The head needs to come off this pest and our home needs to learn to keep it away!

1. Weight Excuses 
2. Exercise Excuses 
3. Romance Excuses 
4. Lack-of-Excellence-in-Education Excuses
5. Not-Serving Excuses
6. Money Excuses
7. This list could take a whole page so I will stop - it has invaded every area of life

In order for us to want a change, we have to hate the thing that needs to be changed more than the change it will take to get rid of it.  I went to some sources on Excuses....I wanted to become sick of excuses.

Dictionary definition - A reason or explanation put forward to defend or justify a fault 

Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure - Don Wilden

OUCH!!!!

Excuses are the tools with which persons without purpose in view build for themselves great monuments of nothing. - Steven Grayham

A lie is an excuse guarded . - Jonathan Swift

We excuse our sloth under the pretext of difficulty. - Marcus Quintilian

He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else. - Benjamin Franklin

(now that one really makes me want to get rid of our pest)

The bottom line....it comes to destroy what God intended in our life.  We become robbed, dissatisfied, apathetic and lifeless.

DEU 30:11  Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you 
or beyond your reach.

"But Lord," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the 
weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."

I found myself with others in the scripture, which were there for my example.  My extermination will be coated in prayer, because fleshing it out will not bring death to something that has been so easily welcomed into our home.  We will need His strength and being girded up in His Word. There is also no condemnation for those in Christ, so I am not walking in condemnation, but conviction. I will now grab my RAID and spray the pest of EXCUSES!  
Do you need a can of RAID for some pest in your home? (I am not asking you to answer)

Just Your Presence

I heard his wakening voice calling.  I called back, "I am coming!"  He is unable to get himself out of his bed, therefore, depending on us once again, for the normal task most four-year-olds accomplish by themselves.  


He calls back, "I don't need anything, I just want my Daddy." His Dad rushes to his side to bend down and kiss him all over his face as our son lights up in enjoyment...his day has started out right.  Just his Daddy's presence was all he desired.


I stood in the door way, having finished my time with my Heavenly Father, thinking isn't that what all Father's want from their children?  He didn't want anything, just to see his Dad.  Did I approach my Father with the delight of just being in His presence or did I go with a list of desires I wanted from him?


My heart burst into song, which poured from my mouth.  My husband lead this song so many times years ago...my heart sang it back to my Heavenly Father.

As the deer panteth for the water

So my soul longeth after thee

You alone are my hearts desire

And I long to worship thee

You alone are my strength my shield

To You alone may my spirit yield

You alone are my hearts desire

And I long to worship thee

May He be your heart's desire today. May you long to just be in His presence...having a childlike heart of joy while resting in His arms.

Cast boy is doing fine, crawling around while I am learning to just take one day at a time.  We go Friday to have more x-rays and another cast.  He should be able to walk with a walking boot soon.  We are planning a cast signing party next week! Thanks for your prayers.

What Kind of Runner Are You?

Years ago, while homeschooling four children under the age of eight, I received these wise words from a friend.  She looked at me and said, "you are a long distance runner."  She went on to expand her observation.  She saw herself as a short distance runner.  She could do anything for a short distance.  She was fast out of the block and could push her abilities to the finish line, as long as the finish line was in view. She was the one who attended all the funerals, weddings and baby deliveries.  She was there to bring the meal or assist, for a short period of time.  She would not sign up for the constant day in and day out assignments...like having home group at her house each week or homeschooling her children, but she ran her short distance race with grace and success.

She saw me, however, as a long distance runner.  I would not be able to see the finish line, and I would have to pace myself.  I would have to keep the goal in mind, but not get frustrated on the long, sometimes mundane course ahead of me.  At that time in life, my race was raising four children, working in leadership in the church, homeschooling and helping my husband start his own business. I was the one with home group at my house every week.

I am sure she has never thought of our conversation again, as she has run her race so well.  I, on the other hand, have rehearsed those words so many times as I see the long distance race before me.  They have encouraged me to pace myself and learn the lessons along the path.

These next few weeks, I have a short distance race with my son in a leg cast.  I have come out of the gate grateful and with full energy.  I have made up songs, carrying him to the bathroom yelling "potty patrol", moved from one thing to another to keep him from being bored, while hearing "momma" more than normal.  I see the finish line in front of me, and "norm" will be back again before the holidays.

On the other side of me, I have had some very long distance races.  Homeschooling only came to completion with four of my children at the time of graduation from high school.  Marriage is also a long run...sometimes the hills can be exhausting and the valleys can stretch your relations, but the union into one comes with a price.  Other losses and disappointments can show their head when you don't expect it, showing that healing doesn't always come overnight...another long distance race.

I am still on a long distance run and I still don't see the goal line, but He does.  He has given me encouragement for this race in His word.  My responsibility is to know that He sees the finish line and He knows the prize that  is set before me.  Ultimately the prize is Him, but along the way, I know He has other blessings in store. I know He is strengthening my muscles, toning me up and preparing me for the next leg of my journey.
"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all,
but one receiveth the prize?  So run, that ye may obtain.
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.
Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
I therefore run, not as one that beateth the air:
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection:
lest that by any means when I have preached to others,
I myself should be a castaway." (1 Corin 9:24-27)




 ¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  Heb. 12:1-3


Blessings on whatever type of race God has you on, either a short or long distance run.  May you see what type of runner you are as you race forward.  May you have His strength to get to the finish line.

Sunday Singings - Shout

My "Sunday Singings" post is dedicated to my grandmother who would take me to "Singings".  Each week I will post a song that spoke to my heart that week.


This song started in my ear on Monday.  I would say it is one of the top songs of the 90's.  I usually feel all forms of praise with this song...kinda how I imagine it will be in heaven.  Shouts of joy, dancing in celebration, and then eventually bowing prostrate before a Holy God becomes my posture of worship during this song.  I am also going through a Bible Study on Genesis...the pictures in this video show His wonderful creation. Genesis 1:1 - In the Beginning, GOD created the heavens and the earth. 


This song introduced Hillsong (Church from Australia) to the world and I can still see all the precious people around me through the years as we worshiped to this song.  My husband usually sat at a black grand piano, praising God through the playing of the keys, as I joined in to worship with our children in the congregation.


My grandmother would have loved it!


Don't miss the video and join in singing - "Shout to the Lord". 

*My little guy broke his leg this week, so we have a new adventure for the next six weeks.(first break out of six children... amazing!)  Our praise is that his leg didn't have to be set and our precious friend took care of him.  New temporary adjustments for our family.

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

The song from Mr Roger's Neighborhood has been ringing in my ears lately.  Not because I hear it on the television anymore, but because the message still rings clear.

In a world of high technology we can fall short on knowing our neighbors.  It is easy to come home, drive our cars into a garage, pull down the automatic garage door, to hibernate until morning calls us back out to our labor.

One year, our pastor called the leadership of our church together to speak from his heavy heart.  As we all gathered into the room, we knew he meant business.  The first question from his mouth was, "How many of you know your neighbors?"

You will not believe the answer.  We were the only couple in the room who not only knew our neighbors on both sides, but even the neighbors down our street and around the corner.
His second question was, "How many of you know any non-believers?"  The response back was even more troubling.

He was horrified, even though it confirmed what he was afraid of.  So, with intense passion, he started to shut down programs at the church.  No one was allowed to be at the church for more than two events per week...we were to be out....meeting our neighbors.  We were to be out getting to know pre-Christians.

The transition was very easy for our family at that time.  Our first four children were young, their involvement was outside the home with pre-believers, and our outgoing nature made the assignment easy.

Fast forward years later.  The teen years hit, schedules filled the calendar, life happened and taking time to meet and care for our neighbors started to vanish from priority.

Today, I am baking pumpkin bread....the loaves will be delivered to the neighbors.  Someone is moving in next door, and two different households are single women. There will be time to have a friendly chat and ask the Lord to open the doors to a continuing fellowship that He has ordained.

Mark 12:33
To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

To my blogging friends...thanks for visiting my neighborhood on blog-sphere...thanks for being my neighbor. If I could send you pumpkin bread through the internet, I would.  Instead, just know that you are loved and appreciated.  Have a wonderful fall day and enjoy your neighbors!

Sunday Singings

Some of my grandmother's music that was left to me!

When I was a child I would attend "singings" with my grandmother.  "Singings" were gatherings of  people  from everywhere to the church, tent, or courthouse to sing "gospel" music.  My grandmother had a beautiful alto voice.  She knew the Stamps Quartet music backwards and forwards, as well as the hymns.  In later years she branched out into "contemporary" Christian music which she lead or performed in the "singings".


Before God called her home she called to let me know the songs she wanted sung by my husband at her funeral.
The week before her death I walked around my home singing the old hymns, hearing my grandmother's voice, knowing heaven was preparing for her arrival.


This week our home school community lost two mothers, leaving behind children and another young home school student.  The mother's lost their battles with cancer and the student went home to be with the Lord after a wreck.  Our close friends watched their elderly mother enter glory after her struggle with cancer.


So on Sundays I am going to post a song that spoke to my heart during the week.  The post will be dedicated to my grandmother, who is singing her lungs out in heaven.

This week's song is "Home Free" by Wayne Watson.  This is the song that God comforted my heart with when He gentle ushered my Aunt into heaven, after her struggle with cancer.  I don't know this woman, but she represents all the women I know who have had the Ultimate Healing and are "Home Free". *Please if the video is too much, just close your eyes and listen to the words...they are a healing balm.

When Headlines Are TOO Close to Home

I threw the paper on the table to read it, not a common thing for me. I usually bypass reading it.   There, on the front cover, my past and part of my future stared at me.  In my post for Mommy Piggy Tales, I recorded my memory of the shooting from the University of Texas tower (Siblings and Recorded History Event)

Today, the headlines... a gunman again. The only fatality this time was the gunman, in contrast to August 1, 1966, when Charles Whitman stationed himself at the top of the tower.

The second headline also hit my heart.  Poverty rates for kids rising.   As God is pushing my heart to see the poverty that surrounds me, I flipped the page to continue my reading.  My own story is so similar and laced within the quotes of the interviewed representative.

"They are typical, long-term unemployed," said Lynne Sipiora, executive director of the Samaritan Inn, a homeless shelter.  "They've blown through their savings.  They've borrowed from everyone they can.  They've gone from family member to friend, and now they're just out of options."
"They're homeless, but in a million years they didn't think it would happen to them," she said.  "We've got people right now who used to be regular donors."

I sat at the kitchen table, soberly wading through all my thoughts and emotions.  We are not homeless, but one month of lack of income can put us there.  We still have food in the pantry....for this week.  I know I don't have resources to give, but I do have hands and feet.  My future calls me to get involved.

My prayer...."God, you promise to use everything for our good. May you use my trials to continue to make me sensitive.  May you use my hands and my feet to take your good news to the community around me.  May I hear the cries of the hurting and not close my heart.  Give me courage, that word you had me write across my mirror, to be obedient to your calling."

My City?

My city was chosen for me at birth.  The capital of the State of Texas is Austin and I entered in the population records in 1961.  I remained a citizen for 38 years. I prayed for the city.  I loved the city. I graduated from the city's namesake high school.  I was a true, blue native of the city, enjoying all of its benefits. Then, in 1997, God changed my heart and revealed His new plan of our leaving the city.

Like a word out of the story of Abraham and Sarah, we didn't have a clue where we would go, just the general location.  We stepped out with multiple words of confirmation to the large Metroplex of Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas, in August of 1998. This was a new adventure. All seven of us had left behind our birthplace and my husband and I could pick our "new" city. (I realize God is the one who really picked the city)

Not having a clue about any of the areas around the Metroplex, we decided on a small city, just miles from DFW airport and I fell in love. We bought our dream home and settled into the small community.  Our sixth child was born at home in this city... he is probably the only person who has this city's name on his birth certificate since there aren't any hospitals in this city.  It was beautiful.  It had all new buildings...most weren't older than 10 years.  It had a sense of community.  It had walking trails that allowed you to walk throughout the city without ever getting on the roads. Our children participated in sports in this city and they all received extreme favor. I truly loved it!!

 I would pray for the city when it went through disasters...the latest being the Mayor killed her daughter and herself, but I never had my spiritual heart tied to this city....just my physical heart!

God then took away my dream city. He placed me somewhere were I didn't want to be!!!  I didn't like the new city!  I didn't want to engage in the new city!  I was counting the days to move away, while scoping out where I wanted to live next.

Then, I stepped into a training seminar for school mentors and was educated on poverty.  God totally "Yanked" my heart with this verse.  It was apparent that what I thought I was there for and what God had in mind were two different things. The instructor quoted:

"Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare."  Jer. 29:7


I wanted to yell out loud..."NO, THIS ISN'T MY CITY...BUT YES, I FEEL I AM IN EXILE!!!"  
What is He telling me?...OH, NO!!!, was He calling me to care for the city I just hated living in?  Was He going to use my exile to bless this city and possibly me?  MY welfare relied on the welfare of this city?

Now I don't want to get into a discussion on the interpretation of this scripture....this is what my spirit was telling me and the seminar trainer continued to instruct on the needs of the city.

YANK NUMBER TWO!!!!
Isaiah 58:9 - 
"Then you will call, and He will say, Here I am, If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, And IF you GIVE yourself to the HUNGRY, and SATISFY the DESIRES of the AFFLICTED, then YOUR LIGHT will SHINE in the darkness, and YOUR GLOOM will be come  LIKE MIDDAY!" (capital words are the ones that shouted to me)

I left the meeting convicted.  This week we went to our church campus in our city, instead of driving to the city I would love to live in. (we have three different campuses and ten services each Sunday under one church)

I will volunteer in the schools in my city.  I will drive this week through my city and pray!  I will walk the University campus and pray.  I will say "yes" to my city!  I will allow the Lord to open my eyes and heart to the city where He has placed me! Our landlord called for us to sign another year's lease, so I will be here at least one more year.

I don't know all the facets He will reveal to me, nor do I know how my heart will react.  I do know that once again it is time for me to pray for my city!!
Do you pray for your city?  Are you concerned for the welfare of your city?  Please share how God has used you in your city.

Open My Eyes

" I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened,

so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, 

what are the riches of his glory of His inheritance in the saints."

Ephesians 1:18

"Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."

Ps. 119:18

This goes beyond mere reading and mere studying and mere learning.  

This is seeing of wonder.

And the wonder wakens faith and sustains faith.

Fix your eyes so the Son and ask for light.

Taste and See - John Piper

Kids Are Like Kites

My fall semester is ending in a three-week test like my son.  I have ripped apart the footstool, painted the wood, sanded down the rocker and started painting.  My calligraphy is going slow....need to practice more. I read through the aromatherapy book...interesting, will need more time for that study.  I also read through the new authors I was exploring.  My favorite by far was reading through parts of "Forever, Erma" by Erma Bombeck.

There is just something to be said about reading the wisdom of seasoned women.  I found some interesting things in the younger writers' books, but they really left me with, well, you haven't lived long enough yet!  Erma made me smile, cry, nod my head and a desire to set with her over a cup of tea.  There is such  truth to scripture saying the "older women are to teach the younger women", and yes, I now find myself in the category of older women, but I still have so much to learn.

So I want to share one of her treasures....just in part.
Erma is talking to a woman who is mourning her daughter leaving home.  The daughter is 24!  She writes this piece encouraging mothers to know when their job is over.

"I see children as kites. You spend a lifetime trying to get them off the ground.  You run with them until you're both breathless...they crash...you add a longer tail...they hit the rooftop....you pluck them out of the spout.  You patch and comfort, adjust and teach.  You watch them lifted by the wind and assure them that someday they'll fly.
  Finally they are airborne, but they need more string so you keep letting it out.  With each twist of the ball of twine, there is a sadness that goes with the joy, because the kite because more distant, and somehow you know it won't be long before that beautiful creature will snap the lifeline that bound you together and soar as it was meant to soar - free and alone.
   Only then do you know that you did your job".

Thank you Erma...I passed my three-week test.  Thanks for the advice on parenting, empty-nest, marriage, holidays, housekeeping, family, friends and aging. Thanks to so many seasoned women who share their wisdom daily through their blogs. May we all learn to pass the baton to the younger generation as we release our kites!

I WaS ObeDienT?!!!!

I was obedient and submissive, as in, I was sitting down, while standing up inside.

Our financial situation has continued to be a challenge.  As all commission earners know, you have good 

and bad weeks.

We, however, have been on a downhill slope of...how low can you go?

My husband in his creative wisdom called to ask about doing some research group.  He has done these in the past and it is fast and easy money.  They are a source of energy to him since he loves people.  Anywhere where he can meet and engage with people, even for free, well, he will be there.

I, on the other hand don't enjoy this kind of venue.  I have to have a purpose in meeting people!

I am a more one-on-one person, not strangers, where I am suppose to engage in conversation...

well, lets just say headache and throw up!!!

My husband  signed me up for one of these groups.  The money would pay for a week of groceries with 

supposedly, very little effort on my part.

After agonizing, complaining in my own personal way, completing the homework the group had assigned me,

I begrudgingly drove to my appointment.

Everything that could go wrong went wrong...as I repeated to myself...I am being submissive!!!!

The traffic backed up in two places making my arrival questionable.

The traffic meant my son wouldn't be picked up in time by the person getting him

The drive back would mean 5:00 traffic....make the journey 3x's more

I got into the parking garage...couldn't find the elevator, found it....needed to go to the bathroom....

well, that would have to wait. I was going to be late and late meant ZERO money.

Breathlessly, I walked in, gave my name and set down.

Within 5 minutes the nice lady announces that all our "early bird" names will go in to a drawing for more money

Remind you....I was the last in the door.

GUESS WHO WON???

I got quiet as the lady beside me congratulates me and starts a friendly conversation.

We explain our homework to the mentoring lady.

They start to call out names to continue in our research project......

my name isn't called????

I knew I had done something wrong and like I told my husband....there wasn't grace on this!!!

Would he have liked to go to a sewing class and answer questions?

The nice lady gets up to announce that they had too many, therefore, after 10 minutes we would be

released with full pay!!!!

Can you say humble pie???  Me, who now had a headache, had complained, belly-ached, reminded God 

I was being a obedient and submissive wife...........wouldn't have to do what I was scared of.

Shoulders down, head down, I walked out with more money than we had anticipated and started to

ask forgiveness.

As I slide into my car seat, I turned the radio on to hear Amy Grant's

"Better Than A Hallelujah"

It is His kindness that leads us to repentance.   

He could have made me set through that group for two hours, fight hours of traffic home and I wouldn't have received the correction.  I would have justified in my own "stubborn" head that God had another way of providing and that wasn't it!!!!

Instead...He blessed me through my "sin" and I came out humbled.

What a loving husband I have that he forgave me for my "stubborn" heart and a God who always forgives!!!

I WILL NEVER FORGET!!!

I am sure you are like me and you will never forget the morning of September 11th, 2001!!!

My prayers go out to all the families affected by this tragedy and thanks to all that have sacrificed since that day!!!

She Nailed Him - Jael

Artemisa Gentileschi - 1620

On my way to Gideon, I became enthralled with Jael, just one chapter before Gideon's encounter with God.

I get lost with this woman and what she accomplished.  As I went to Bible commentaries, I become more interested and I quietly listened for the lesson that was being voiced in my spirit.

Many of us know the story and yet, I never remembered her name.  As I see Deborah immortalize her in her victory song, Judges 5:24-27, I started to look at this unconventional woman of God.

She doesn't appear to be the example we usually place before us as a Godly woman.  Most of us will never be known, or do we want to be known, as a murder.  Yet, she is called "blessed of all women in the tent."  Now, I would be honored with that title.

Here is a summary:

• God has Deborah prophesy to  Barak that the victory will be won, but it will be at the hand of a woman. (Judges 4:9)
• Jael invites the "enemy" Sisera into her tent.  She hides him, provides milk and a blanket...leads him to believe she will protect him (Judges 4:18)
• She doesn't stop to pray, or it isn't mentioned, she doesn't go to ask counsel of her husband (she knew he would not approve) she just takes matters into her own hands (in no way am I saying don't ask counsel from husband, nor to go against his will.  I am just stating what happened in scripture) (Judges 4:21)
• Because the women of her day set up the tents, she was familiar with the tool she used to defeat her enemy
• She nails him to the ground!!!!  Scripture is very graphic in how she did this....not a dainty, gentle, woman doing this!  A courageous, strong, determined, and confident woman.
• She meets Barak at the tents entry to bring him to the death of the enemy (Judges 4: 22)
• Judges 5:6 goes on to tell us "in those days, the days of Jael, caravans ceased and travelers kept to the byway"....she was known for her defeat and there was caution used from then on
• She is praised in scripture not for her submissive or gentle virtues, but for her heroism through a gory act that freed her country of oppression!! (Judges 5:24 - 27)

These passages brought up a lot of questions and thoughts.  God does things His way...not ours.  He called a prophet to lay on his side naked and a woman to kill a man with a peg.  How many times do I put limits on God...surely that couldn't be God?  How many times do I have the skill and the peg to nail the enemy and yet I don't want to get my hands dirty?  How many times has God called the powerless to defeat the powerful and yet, I am still waiting for another confirmation?


I was amused that her story is between Barak and Gideon.  Barak wouldn't go into battle without Deborah and so God gave the victory to a woman.  Gideon obeyed after countless confirmations, questioning, and hiding in the dark to accomplish his mission.  Here, in the middle of them both, was Jael...she invited him in, she took the peg and Nailed the problem to the floor.
Oh Lord, may I have the spirit of Jael and nail the enemy to the floor!!!!
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" Eph. 6:12.

My Mistakes, His Ultimate Plan

" What a relief to know that God's established plans from the beginning of time cannot be interfered with by my mistakes."

Patsy Clairmont - I Second that Emotion

How "powerful" I make myself when I believe my decisions can alter God's plans.

How "small" I make Him when I think I have knocked "history" off-track by my failures.

(my response to the above quote)

Patsy's comment has rung in my ear as the enemy dragged me through past years of failures, trials and mistakes recently. The enemy knows what hurts my heart as I read an e-mail from a distant friend expressing her excitement over her adult children's achievements.  She had no idea that when sharing one of her child's accomplishments, the enemy would inflict a wound upon my heart.  Her son had achieved a "dream" that one of my sons and I had just recently cried over.  Mistakes and bad decisions my son made had erased that "dream" from his reach.

Another friend expressed her gratefulness over coming to the end of their mortgage, setting them up for financial freedom in their early 60's.  My heart sank as our "dream" for this life milestone was swept  from  our reach because of mistakes and job situations, after 28 years of paying for a mortgage.  We now find ourselves without the "American Dream", living day to day in temporary housing.

(These are small examples of greater trials and challenges, but the solution to all accusations are the same)

As the enemy came to throw these accusations into my face with "See, your mistakes have messed up life," I had to choose to hear the "Truth".

Did my sin cause some of the consequences? YES

Is My God greater than my sin? YES

Did my sin or trials change His established plan? NO

God didn't leave His throne when the mistakes and trials came!

He still has a plan for my family and me, and He will complete it!

I silence the lies, the regrets, the tears and the condemnation the enemy has slapped upon me with the "Truth".

Phil. 1:6 - "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you WILL PERFECT IT until the day of Christ Jesus."

Romans 8:28 - "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose."

II Corn. 12:9 - And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power to be perfected in weakness". most gladly. Therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Eph. 3:20 - Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works within me.

Jer. 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wealth and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope.

The scripture reveals the "Truth". I need to thank Him for all the things He has kept from me.  My "dreams", if fulfilled, could have led to other trials that God prevented from happening.  I  rest not in the accusations of the enemy, but in the peace that My God is in control and loves my family and me, even with all of our mistakes.

I hope you are encouraged that no matter what has come into your life or will come, our God is in control and will see you through, to bring beauty from your ashes. I look forward to watching the transformation in my life.  I hear the Casting Crowns song, The Voice of Truth ringing in my ears, instead of the enemy's accusations.  I hope this encourages you to SILENCE the voice of the enemy in your situation.