My family had to make some choices this weekend that were not popular or even appreciated, but, they were choices that God has required us to make because we are to be holy and set apart, a chosen people.
".....whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things."
Phillpians 4:8
....be careful little eyes what you see....
........be careful little feet where you go.....
................be careful little ears what you hear.....
...........It's a slow fade when you give yourself away, it's a slow fade when black and white have turned to grey....thoughts invade.....choices are made...a price will be paid.
......People never crumble in a day, daddies never crumble in a day, families never crumble in a day.......it's a slow fade....
(Casting Crowns-The Altar and the Door)
I love this song because it speaks to the dangers of compromise which is so prevalent in our culture and our churches.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
a prayer request
My friend and fellow blogger, Tricia, has suggested that we use our "air time" to speak out our burdens and our petitions to the Lord so that we can be not only friends, but also, intercessors for each other.
Novel idea!!!!
So, I will ask that you who are reading this blog will lift me up in prayer for the following:
God has asked me to mend a relationship with an old friend who wounded me greatly.
I, my flesh, has no desire to do this, in fact, this person represents a very difficult time in my life where I dwelled in very dark places. Though God delivered me through that time and through the darkness, this relationship suffered and never got healed. Satan has used this to trip me up time and time again and I need to just give it up to the Lord.
Please pray that I will trust God to get me through this and that I can love her and forgive her, as well.
God has richly blessed me with friends who are godly and who hold me to a godly standard.
I can trust them with all that I am and, still, they love me and accept me.
They are also smart and clever and hugely funny!!!!!
You know who you are....
(hehehehehe)
I love my goon-crew.
Novel idea!!!!
So, I will ask that you who are reading this blog will lift me up in prayer for the following:
God has asked me to mend a relationship with an old friend who wounded me greatly.
I, my flesh, has no desire to do this, in fact, this person represents a very difficult time in my life where I dwelled in very dark places. Though God delivered me through that time and through the darkness, this relationship suffered and never got healed. Satan has used this to trip me up time and time again and I need to just give it up to the Lord.
Please pray that I will trust God to get me through this and that I can love her and forgive her, as well.
God has richly blessed me with friends who are godly and who hold me to a godly standard.
I can trust them with all that I am and, still, they love me and accept me.
They are also smart and clever and hugely funny!!!!!
You know who you are....
(hehehehehe)
I love my goon-crew.
snowy sunday....
WOW!!!!
It is really snowing!
The roads were so bad this morning that we decided not to risk the drive to Richland for church, instead, we invited our neighbors over for an impromtu bible study.
It was really good...I love studying the bible at home with other people.
It really is one of my most favorite things.
I'm not sure where the daughter is spiritually, but, I hope God spoke to her heart and planted some seeds of truth there.
The mom is a Christian, but, unfortunately her husband is not and my prayer is that we can reach out to him as friends/neighbors not as the "christian out to convert him."
We were really blessed.
Then we went sledding and it was great!!!!!
I love snow days.
It is really snowing!
The roads were so bad this morning that we decided not to risk the drive to Richland for church, instead, we invited our neighbors over for an impromtu bible study.
It was really good...I love studying the bible at home with other people.
It really is one of my most favorite things.
I'm not sure where the daughter is spiritually, but, I hope God spoke to her heart and planted some seeds of truth there.
The mom is a Christian, but, unfortunately her husband is not and my prayer is that we can reach out to him as friends/neighbors not as the "christian out to convert him."
We were really blessed.
Then we went sledding and it was great!!!!!
I love snow days.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
A flock of blackbirds....
OK, so Nevada is hassling me to blog, so......
As most of you already know, my daughter, Lacey, is driving, and is doing very well, I must add.
But, as is the case with most young drivers, there are moments of levity that must be shared with the world.
Here is ours:
Lacey was driving to her writing class over Badger Mountain when up ahead we noticed that a very large gathering of Brewster's black birds were sitting right in the middle of the road and in the surrounding orchard on either side of the road.
I pointed out that she should just drive right through them and, being that I like to make every possible moment a teachable moment, I went on to say that if there is a car behind you(which there was) that it was imperative to maintain your speed and NOT deviate from the lane in case a car came from the other direction in order to aviod an animal/flock of birds.
So, heeding my direction, Lacey gritted her teeth and drove right through those birds, who took flight at the very last possible moment and it was lovely to be surrounded by literally thousands and thousands of birds, in fact, I was quite mesmerized....
I was awakened out of my reverie by some loud protestations from Lacey because it was at that exact moment, while my words still hung in the air; "it is important to maintain your speed and not deviate from your lane just to avoid an animal", that a dog appeared in our lane as we emerged from the flock of birds.
I remember yelling something like," ....SLOW DOWN!!!!!!!!STOP!!!!!!!DON'T HIT THE DOG!!!!!!!!"
There was more yelling, something like," you told me not to...."
Then the giggling began which within a few moments evolved into a full-fledged belly laugh....it was great, it really was....and , at some point I explained further that a good "rule of thumb" regarding the hitting of animals was not to hit anything bigger that the car....but, cats, it was OK to hit them.
It really was a surreal experience and as I look back I can't believe I said it was OK to hit a cat, I mean, I like cats....and dogs...and animals!
Being that it is "Sanctity of Life" month brings a certain irony to the situation, doesn't it?
Well, like I said...moments of levity.
As most of you already know, my daughter, Lacey, is driving, and is doing very well, I must add.
But, as is the case with most young drivers, there are moments of levity that must be shared with the world.
Here is ours:
Lacey was driving to her writing class over Badger Mountain when up ahead we noticed that a very large gathering of Brewster's black birds were sitting right in the middle of the road and in the surrounding orchard on either side of the road.
I pointed out that she should just drive right through them and, being that I like to make every possible moment a teachable moment, I went on to say that if there is a car behind you(which there was) that it was imperative to maintain your speed and NOT deviate from the lane in case a car came from the other direction in order to aviod an animal/flock of birds.
So, heeding my direction, Lacey gritted her teeth and drove right through those birds, who took flight at the very last possible moment and it was lovely to be surrounded by literally thousands and thousands of birds, in fact, I was quite mesmerized....
I was awakened out of my reverie by some loud protestations from Lacey because it was at that exact moment, while my words still hung in the air; "it is important to maintain your speed and not deviate from your lane just to avoid an animal", that a dog appeared in our lane as we emerged from the flock of birds.
I remember yelling something like," ....SLOW DOWN!!!!!!!!STOP!!!!!!!DON'T HIT THE DOG!!!!!!!!"
There was more yelling, something like," you told me not to...."
Then the giggling began which within a few moments evolved into a full-fledged belly laugh....it was great, it really was....and , at some point I explained further that a good "rule of thumb" regarding the hitting of animals was not to hit anything bigger that the car....but, cats, it was OK to hit them.
It really was a surreal experience and as I look back I can't believe I said it was OK to hit a cat, I mean, I like cats....and dogs...and animals!
Being that it is "Sanctity of Life" month brings a certain irony to the situation, doesn't it?
Well, like I said...moments of levity.
Monday, January 7, 2008
A question?
My daughter came to me and confessed that she doesn't hear God and this was troubling to her.
She asked, "How does He speak to you?"
I went on to say that He speaks in many ways, and no, it was not an audible voice, at least to me.
I told her how God spoke to me in His word while I was studying or how He would put things on my heart or in my mind to pray.
I shared how many times He used other people to speak truth over me.
My sweetest times with God, I will tell you, is when I am silent and still and listening.
Once, while traveling over the mountains in a tumultuous rainstorm, I saw a rainbow in the distance smack dab in the middle of my lane!.....and as I got closer I kept expecting the rainbow to disappear, because that's what they do, I mean, we all know that it is impossible to touch a rainbow, right?
Well, it didn't disappear and I drove right through it!
It felt like a million tiny bubbles were tickling my skin...I felt like I had been touched by God.
When I looked back, the rain and the rainbow were gone.
And I simply smiled, affirmed that my God delights in His children.
Another time, I was in fervent prayer, wrestling with God, when He wrapped his arms around me and hugged me.
I know this because He told me He was holding me, and He had held me many times when I was a sad little girl missing her mommy.
So, there are my sweetest times with the Lord.
What are yours??
How does God speak to you?
OK, so it was 2 questions.
She asked, "How does He speak to you?"
I went on to say that He speaks in many ways, and no, it was not an audible voice, at least to me.
I told her how God spoke to me in His word while I was studying or how He would put things on my heart or in my mind to pray.
I shared how many times He used other people to speak truth over me.
My sweetest times with God, I will tell you, is when I am silent and still and listening.
Once, while traveling over the mountains in a tumultuous rainstorm, I saw a rainbow in the distance smack dab in the middle of my lane!.....and as I got closer I kept expecting the rainbow to disappear, because that's what they do, I mean, we all know that it is impossible to touch a rainbow, right?
Well, it didn't disappear and I drove right through it!
It felt like a million tiny bubbles were tickling my skin...I felt like I had been touched by God.
When I looked back, the rain and the rainbow were gone.
And I simply smiled, affirmed that my God delights in His children.
Another time, I was in fervent prayer, wrestling with God, when He wrapped his arms around me and hugged me.
I know this because He told me He was holding me, and He had held me many times when I was a sad little girl missing her mommy.
So, there are my sweetest times with the Lord.
What are yours??
How does God speak to you?
OK, so it was 2 questions.
we don't have a prayer....
I absolutely love it when God speaks in themes....
All around me are the voices of affirmation telling me that God is speaking to them, as well, and it is so sweet.
God has burdened my heart; we, the Church, the Bride of Christ, have forgotten how to pray fervently.
My goodness, I was talking to a friend today about this idea and we got on the subject of a mutual friend's daughter who is deaf and needing coqulear(spelling?) implants and my friend suggested that God could heal her!!!!!
Heal her?????
It never even entered my mind to ask for that.
What is wrong with me is what is wrong with a lot of Christians who are not accustomed to this idea.
I mean, we hear stories of the miraculous but do we really believe God would perform miracles in our lives???????
Do we think we are worthy of God's blessings?
Do we have "deep-water-faith" in the "shallow-end"?
I'm as guilty as anyone, but, God is moving in me and showing me that He has a more excellent way, He delights in us, and He wants us to give everything to Him; our joys, our sorrows, our devotion, our selfishness, all of it.
He promises to finish the work for us, to never leave us nor forsake us, and He asks that we endure to the end and to live boldly...for Him.
That is my desire.
I heard it said that God will not bring revival to the church, but to homes, one family at a time.
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
So. what does that look like????
I think knee pads are in order, cuz we're gonna need it.
All around me are the voices of affirmation telling me that God is speaking to them, as well, and it is so sweet.
God has burdened my heart; we, the Church, the Bride of Christ, have forgotten how to pray fervently.
My goodness, I was talking to a friend today about this idea and we got on the subject of a mutual friend's daughter who is deaf and needing coqulear(spelling?) implants and my friend suggested that God could heal her!!!!!
Heal her?????
It never even entered my mind to ask for that.
What is wrong with me is what is wrong with a lot of Christians who are not accustomed to this idea.
I mean, we hear stories of the miraculous but do we really believe God would perform miracles in our lives???????
Do we think we are worthy of God's blessings?
Do we have "deep-water-faith" in the "shallow-end"?
I'm as guilty as anyone, but, God is moving in me and showing me that He has a more excellent way, He delights in us, and He wants us to give everything to Him; our joys, our sorrows, our devotion, our selfishness, all of it.
He promises to finish the work for us, to never leave us nor forsake us, and He asks that we endure to the end and to live boldly...for Him.
That is my desire.
I heard it said that God will not bring revival to the church, but to homes, one family at a time.
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
So. what does that look like????
I think knee pads are in order, cuz we're gonna need it.
Monday, December 10, 2007
I'm baaaack!!!!
Hey...
I'm baaaaaack!
I just arrived from Ramona CA where I along with 9 others from here and Puget Sound served as a disaster relief recovery team.
It was hard work, to be sure, but very very gratifying.
We served on the La Jolla and Rincon Indian "Rez" where we cleared 15 burned out sites along with one house that had been decimated by a flash flood.
What was amazing to me was the peace that these resilient people exhuded from their very pores!
They are very spiritual....and some even have a saving knowledge of God and His Son, Jesus.
We had wonderful conversations with the people...we talked about their heritage, their beliefs, about Jesus, about their lives.....it was wonderful.
I tried to get a little momento from each work site to remind me to pray for these folks even after I get home.
I got Red Oak pods from Chuck and Patsy's place to remind me of their beautiful oak tree that survived the fire; I plan on placing these in my yard to remind me of new life.
I hiked down into this canyon below the trailer park that we cleared where I gathered rocks for the team to take home as reminders of our trip.
The rose quartz rocks were everywhere...they absolutely sparkled in the sun....they will remind me of the sparkle in the eyes of those we served; Fred, Chuck, Patsy, Glenda, Chase, Mitzi and her family, the unnamed.
Bruce picked up a stump from a burned Oak tree; he is going to cut it up and make plaques for each of our team as a reminder of the healing hand of God over difficult circumstances and how He can take a tragedy and use it for good.
Everytime I go to a disaster situation I wonder what God will show me...
I think, for me, it was just that they need workers...people who will show up, under the age of 60, and work their very hardest until the work is done.
I love the like-mindedness of the group: we are here to work...period!
There is no glory...just sweat...and sometimes tears.....
Pretty simple....and this is my lesson: ministry doesn't have to be grand to be good, it doesn't require an agenda...just obedience.
I think, too, that God used this time to show those around me that He is faithful.
Thank you, Father, for your strength to do the work and for your faifulness to this child, and thank you for my friends who stepped in to watch over my family while I was away.
My encouragement to you would be this:
GET INVOLVED!!!!!
Disaster Relief needs young people to serve and work hard and make a difference in a disaster.
75% of those involved are senior citizens!
They need workers.....with strong backs...and a strong resolve just to serve.
I think the disaster here in our own state is a great way to start!
Our team was already called out while we still in CA!!!!!
They need workers!!!!!!!
It's intense, but so worth it.
As a parting gift you'll receive some lovely yellow t-shirts and a yellow hat that nobody looks good in....tired muscles, sore backs, achy feet.
Remember the words of Jesus:
"Whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cool water to drink, truly I say to you he shall not lose his reward."
Matthew 10:42
I'm baaaaaack!
I just arrived from Ramona CA where I along with 9 others from here and Puget Sound served as a disaster relief recovery team.
It was hard work, to be sure, but very very gratifying.
We served on the La Jolla and Rincon Indian "Rez" where we cleared 15 burned out sites along with one house that had been decimated by a flash flood.
What was amazing to me was the peace that these resilient people exhuded from their very pores!
They are very spiritual....and some even have a saving knowledge of God and His Son, Jesus.
We had wonderful conversations with the people...we talked about their heritage, their beliefs, about Jesus, about their lives.....it was wonderful.
I tried to get a little momento from each work site to remind me to pray for these folks even after I get home.
I got Red Oak pods from Chuck and Patsy's place to remind me of their beautiful oak tree that survived the fire; I plan on placing these in my yard to remind me of new life.
I hiked down into this canyon below the trailer park that we cleared where I gathered rocks for the team to take home as reminders of our trip.
The rose quartz rocks were everywhere...they absolutely sparkled in the sun....they will remind me of the sparkle in the eyes of those we served; Fred, Chuck, Patsy, Glenda, Chase, Mitzi and her family, the unnamed.
Bruce picked up a stump from a burned Oak tree; he is going to cut it up and make plaques for each of our team as a reminder of the healing hand of God over difficult circumstances and how He can take a tragedy and use it for good.
Everytime I go to a disaster situation I wonder what God will show me...
I think, for me, it was just that they need workers...people who will show up, under the age of 60, and work their very hardest until the work is done.
I love the like-mindedness of the group: we are here to work...period!
There is no glory...just sweat...and sometimes tears.....
Pretty simple....and this is my lesson: ministry doesn't have to be grand to be good, it doesn't require an agenda...just obedience.
I think, too, that God used this time to show those around me that He is faithful.
Thank you, Father, for your strength to do the work and for your faifulness to this child, and thank you for my friends who stepped in to watch over my family while I was away.
My encouragement to you would be this:
GET INVOLVED!!!!!
Disaster Relief needs young people to serve and work hard and make a difference in a disaster.
75% of those involved are senior citizens!
They need workers.....with strong backs...and a strong resolve just to serve.
I think the disaster here in our own state is a great way to start!
Our team was already called out while we still in CA!!!!!
They need workers!!!!!!!
It's intense, but so worth it.
As a parting gift you'll receive some lovely yellow t-shirts and a yellow hat that nobody looks good in....tired muscles, sore backs, achy feet.
Remember the words of Jesus:
"Whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cool water to drink, truly I say to you he shall not lose his reward."
Matthew 10:42
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