Just my thoughts

Jesus calms the storm...

2012-02-29T06:33:00.000-05:00

Reading this am in Luke 8:22-25 Jesus calms the storm.

Jesus leads them out, asked them to go with him, he falls asleep and a storm comes. They are afraid and believe they are going to drown. They wake Jesus up and he hears their cries for help. He calms the storm FIRST, and then deals with them. His first question... "Where is your faith?"

Jesus knew the storm was coming. That was no surprise to Him. God works everything for our good and HIS glory.

So, here we are, followers of Jesus, walking along and singing praise to the Almighty God, and then BAM...... a storm, a feeling of helplessness, a panic, a doomsday, a circumstance that we just were not expecting....... and we cry out, Lord, please help me.... and He does, he deals with the STORM first, and then he comes back asking, "Where is your faith?"

I want to be able to say, "Jesus, I was watching and waiting as you calmed the storm." I want to keep my eyes so focused on Jesus that I don't even see the storm. He's working. He's working for our good and HIS glory. This is why He tells us to be thankful in all circumstances. He knows the outcome, we don't.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
After a storm, as Jesus asks "Where is your faith?" How will you answer Him?

Heavenly Father,
You are my hope, my strength. In Christ alone, I have placed my faith. I know the storms will come, I pray that as I grow deeper and deeper in my relationship with you that when those storm clouds come, and I "feel" like all is crazy, that I can remember to call on you for help and you will help me, that you will deal with the storm first. I trust you Jesus and I am so thankful that you are Lord and Savior of my life. It's in your precious and Holy name, I pray. Amen

War Time

2012-01-31T05:56:00.000-05:00

When I am weak, He is strong.
This morning, I am reading in Psalm 27. Verse 3 "Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident."

I have often said that the 5 o'clock hour is just brutal. Tired mom, crazy kids, dinner needs to be fixed, Dad on his way home. I try and create a peaceful atmosphere, and sacred haven for my husband to come home to...and it's a crazy battle with the kids, the dog, the hunger, etc. Usually this is the block of time where my "make good food choices" goes right out the window....I snack, I eat mindlessly. So, last night, I was ready....I prayed asked God for help, told Him how weak I was, cried out......

Then there was this sneak attack. I was tired, and hungry and as I was making a healthy dinner, waiting patiently for husband to arrive. He arrives safely (Praise the Lord)...his drive is 90 miles one way.
So, he arrives, I start to fix plates, and the kids are RUNNING WILD..... I lost it.
So there, I am healthy dinner and all, screaming..... UGH.
Sacred haven gone, peaceful setting gone..... absolute sneak attack. self-control????? hahahhahahhaha

Going back to this verse:
Though an army (kids, barking dog) besiege me,
my heart will not fear:
though war (kids that are loud, wild, speaking a different language, because they surely are not listening to me) break out against me,
even then will I be confident.

I am SO desperate for Jesus. So desperate. I spend a wonderful time with my Heavenly Father in the morning, and afterwards, I feel loved, confident, strong, I feel ready to go out an love the world, Ready to encourage everyone I see. I am not that same woman at 5 pm. AND God is unchanging, He's the same. He is still in control. I have just obviously lost focus. MY eyes are no longer on Jesus, they are on the mountain, or the war......

Today, before that "crazy" hour arrives and it always does. I am going to make a cup of hot tea, and crawl right back up into my Father's lap, and sit with Him and fill up, so I can go back to the family, he has given me, so that I may love them as He has asked me to. That woman I am at 5pm has a grumpy face and I don't like her too much.

Abba,
I know you love me so much, I just don't really have any idea how deep that love is. I need you so desperately. Please nudge me this afternoon to come to you. I want to love my family well. I don't like when I lose control, I hate screaming. Please forgive me, Lord, wash me clean with the blood of Jesus, give me clean hands and a pure heart to do your will. I need you so much Lord, I cannot possibly live this life following after Jesus without Him. Moment by moment, dependent on God. Lord, I pray in your most precious and Holy name, Amen .

Incase you are wondering, I did speak to both toddlers and apologize for my awful behavior. I explained to the kids that I behave badly sometimes and I need God's forgiveness too. It was a great teaching moment. We ALL stumble in many ways, and our Heavenly Father is right there, with open loving arms, ready to forgive us and wash us clean. PRAISE HIM!!!

Wicked?

2012-01-16T07:26:00.000-05:00

Wicked? Really? Me?

Reading again in Psalm 1 this am. #runtohim study through #hellomorning #maximizeyourmorning #inspiredtoaction

Wicked?? What an ugly word. Morally very bad, evil. Black, dark, evil. ONE sin separates us from a HOLY God. ONE.
James 2:10 "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is GUILTY of breaking all of it."
James 3:2 "We all stumble in many ways."
Proverbs 6:16
Here are 7 things God hates
1. Haughty eyes
2. A lying tongue
3. Hands that shed innocent blood
4. A heart that devises wicked schemes
5. Feet that are quick to rush into evil
6. A false witness who pours out lies
7. And a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Sinner---- one who sins.
We are sinners. We sin. Without Jesus our hearts are wicked, dark, evil. Ugly isn't it?
Lord, we are desperate for you. Without you, we are hopeless. We all stumble. We need a heart change. We need Jesus. We need a Savior. Make us righteous. Cover us with the blood of Jesus. Transform us Lord. We are so lost without you. Lost, wicked, wicked people, full of darkness.
Thank you Heavenly Father that you have forgiven all of my sins. Thank you that your work on the cross paid my debt. Thank you that I have eternal life in Christ. Thank you Lord for the freedom and peace I can have because of your great love for me.
I choose today to live following Jesus. My Lord. My Savior.
Heavenly Father, what a mighty God you are!!! I love you and I trust you. In Jesus' name. Amen

INANITION

2012-01-15T08:30:00.000-05:00

the quality or state of being empty:
the exhausted condition that results from lack of food and water

John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

Reading this morning in Psalm 1... blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. This man is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not WITHER . Whatever he does prospers.
of course, being the word nerd that I am, I looked up wither, shrivel and inanition.
wither: to become dry and sapless, to lose vitality, force or freshness.
shrivel: to become reduced to inanition, helplessness, or inefficiency.
inanition: reread first two sentences.

In Christ, we are that tree, planted, grounded, growing by streams of living water (Jesus). We are always refreshed, always cleansed,continually in contact with the giver of life. and the tree (us) does what it was created to do...it yields its fruit in season.
FRUIT: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control.

Psalm 19:7-11 law, statutes, precepts, commands, fear, ordinances. By them is your servant warned, in keeping them there is great reward.
Psalm 1:3.....whatever he does prospers.
We were created to bring glory to God, created to worship. Why would we ever want to "go our own way"? Psalm 1:6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. The way is JESUS.

Heavenly Father,
you are my great reward. My greatest desire is you. Thank you for your Word, thank you for your law, statutes, precepts, commands, fear, and ordinances. I want to walk closely with you Lord, not taking a step unless you lead, guide and direct me. You are an awesome God, a Holy God and there is none like you. Let my lips praise you and my moments today bring you glory. In the precious and perfect name of Jesus, I pray, Amen

pretty clear cut...

2012-01-12T06:33:00.000-05:00

John 21: 16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"

Read that again...insert your name and your Father's name in the blanks..... Again Jesus said, "___________, son/daughter of _______, do you truly love me?"

Tamela, daughter of Hank, do you truly love me?
MY ANSWER>>>>>>>> YES Jesus, I TRULY LOVE YOU!!!!!!!

Okay, John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command.
Okay, I just said I truly loved Jesus, so if I mean that in my heart, I will obey what he commands.
Matthew 22:36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" (Isn't this so typical, okay, what are the rules, what do we have to do, what's the most important step...give me the nuts and bolts and let's get to this)
Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.

Heavenly Father,
fan in the heart the flame of your Holy Spirit, cause me to fall so deeply in love with you. More today than yesterday. In your precious name I pray, Amen

Frustrated? stuck? there's a reason

2012-01-08T06:27:00.000-05:00

This morning in my devotional by Chris Tiegreen.... he quoted Oswald Chambers "God will never reveal more truth about Himself till you obey what you already know."

WOW...... In those moments? seasons? where we feel frustrated? stuck? and we react out with UGH? SIGH? and we cry out to God to "Fix this"......he responds with "Learn this". He is trying to change us, transform us, and we feel stuck, we want to move forward and he is not allowing us to move forward because we haven't learned what he was trying to teach us. Just like in math class, if you don't get the foundations you can't go further in the book because none of it will make sense.

Why would God "let us out" of a situation/season/moment circumstance if we didn't learn the lesson He planned for us? He's so patient and we are not.

Everything in life, EVERYTHING is about God, and my relationship with Him. He is trying to change me, and most of the time all I see is the great need for Him to change everything else because I am just fine.
HAHA. I am so not "just fine". I am a mess, and in my head I know what I need to do, but if I don't actually do it, I have not learned. So often we hear...apply what you know.
We read a recipe, and we say I know how to cook that....but do we,
unless we ACTUALLY cook it??

OBEY: to follow the commands or guidance of ....

We seek doctors....and they give us advice, guidelines
We seek financial planners....
We seek physical trainers.....
We seek advice of family, friends, counselors.....

If we don't follow their suggestions, guidelines, what was the point??
Oh sure, "I know how to do this or that, I know the right way, I know what I need to do"....but if we don't DO IT.....what was the point?

James 1:6-8 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

God is not going to reveal any more truth until I obey what I know. Feeling frustrated? defeated? stuck?
There is a reason, He's trying to change me. Don't be content to KNOW what to do...... Do IT.

Heavenly Father,
Praise you Lord, you are abundantly patient. You love me so much that you will be by my side if it takes me a few days, several months, or decades to learn a lesson. I hear you Lord, I need to apply, walk it out, what I know.... thank you for your Word, your truths. You are so amazing and I am so in love with you.
In the precious name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus, I pray, Amen

I was blind.....but now I see

2011-12-29T06:47:00.000-05:00

This morning, I was reading in Romans. Chapter 9 and 10.
If you are blind...how do you know? If it's always been darkness....how do you know?
Someone opens your eyes....light floods in..... and now you see. Now you see..... and then you know how blind you really were.

Revelation. an act of revealing or communicating divine truth.
Revelation. something that is revealed by God to humans.
Revelation. something that is revealed, especially: an enlightening or astonishing disclosure.

God himself opens our eyes. God reveals TRUTH, and that TRUTH is Jesus. John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

I was BLIND. I was LOST. Living in lies and didn't even know. God has saved me through his mercy. He reached down...picked me up from the sludge and yuck of my life that I thought was okay, and he flooded light in, took the scales off. I can see. I see, I can now see how blind I was. TRUTH.

John 9:25 ..One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!"
John 9:10 How then were your eyes opened?"
John 9:11 The man they call Jesus.

We are all blind until God rich in His mercy, saves us. Acts 9:18 ..."scales fell from his eyes"....
BLIND: sightless, unable or unwilling to discern or judge, having no opening for light.

Romans 9:16 It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.
Romans 10:10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Romans 10:13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

I was BLIND...... praise you Jesus.....now I see. The one fact, the one truth..... I know the name of Jesus, I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord..... this is enough, this is all I need.
Jesus is my greatest desire and I know His name because of His GREAT LOVE for me.
AMAZING GRACE. I was blind, but now I see.

Lord Jesus, you are all I desire. You are TRUTH. You are the way. Please continue to fill me with your wisdom, your love. You are my greatest desire. Thank you for saving me. In your Holy name, I pray. Amen

It is impossible for me to have a need that Jesus cannot meet...

2011-11-09T06:33:00.000-05:00

John 13:34-35 "A new command I give you, love one another. As I have loved you, so YOU MUST (emphasis mine) love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Jesus commands. YOU MUST. Not optional. As a Christ follower, I am commanded to love others.
I can't do that. I. Me, I can't do that, and he knows that. But through Christ, I can do all things.
Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Apart from Christ, I can do nothing. John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

In Christ, I can do all things. Let Christ live through me. Moment by moment is how I get through my day. Step by step. I am to REMAIN in Christ and he in me. REMAIN.... moment by moment.
We read scriptures and automatic think, "well, I can't love her, or him, do you know what they did to me?"
In Christ I can do all things.
The Christian walk is not a day by day keeping of all the rules...... we can't. We are flawed, we are sinful, we are flesh.
The Christian life is living moment by moment in this amazing relationship with Jesus. It's living free, it's life abundant, Jesus lives in me, I am free, moment by moment to live fully alive and present in THIS moment.
But what about.....????? and our "what abouts" are all different, trust him. He is faithful.
There is not one need we have that Jesus cannot meet.

Abba Father,
I love you sooooooooo much, and I want to bear much fruit for your kingdom. I am trusting that as I follow you, you will live in me, and moment by moment I will see you equip me to live out the life you have called me to. Apart from you Lord Jesus, I can do nothing. Father, thank you for the cross, for your mercy and grace. I am in awe. In the precious name of my Savior and King, Amen

I have been redeemed.....

2011-10-10T09:15:00.000-04:00

This morning I came across this HUGE promise...
Isaiah 51:11 "The ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Read again: The ransomed {free from captivity or punishment by paying a price}
Read again: The ransomed {to deliver especially from sin or its penalty}

I was created by a Holy God. I was created to worship my Maker. I am a sinner. My sin separates me from God. He is HOLY, HOLY, HOLY. As a sinner, I was held captive, lost in sin, full of guilt and shame, separated from God.
I cannot save myself. I will never be "good enough" to come before a HOLY God. I cannot save myself. Jesus SAVES. Jesus came to rescue me, I was lost, and held captive.
Jesus paid my sin debt on the cross. That should have been me. I deserved punishment for my sins. I found mercy and grace through Jesus.
Jesus has set me free. Through the blood of Christ, I have been made righteous in the sight of God. I am FORGIVEN. I am FREE!!!!! FREE!!!!! FREE!!!!!!

Abba, I want to spend my days praising you for who you are. By your mercy and grace, I am FREE.
Thank you sooooooo much for sending your Son, to rescue me. I was lost, oh, so lost and now I am found. I am free, I belong to Jesus. The relationship with you is the most important relationship I have. Lord, fill me with your love that I may love others and love them well. You are amazing, Jesus, and I love you and trust you so very much.
In your precious and Holy name, I pray, Amen

Do I despise myself??? I don't think I do...

2011-10-08T12:34:00.000-04:00

Reading from Proverbs this am... Proverbs 15:32 He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding. WOW.
Discipline = self control. He who ignores "self-control" despises himself.

I have been in a personal struggle almost a year. Heavier than I KNOW is healthy. Eat way too much junk. know the decisions I should make, but don't make them. As I make poor choices over and over..... am I acting out against myself. Do my poor choices reflect how I think of myself??

I don't want to "despise" myself..... I cannot ignore discipline and self control any more. I want to make choices that reflect love, caring towards myself. I want to be healthy, but wanting to be healthy and making those choices are two different things. I have to trust, step out...make good choices knowing that if I "heed correction"...I will gain understanding, and as I gain understanding, the choices will be easier to make. As I make healthier choices I will LOSE the extra weight....

I want to be out of this vicious cycle forever.... this cycle where I rationalize every poor choice.
Gotta hold on to that scripture...... Tamela, if you don't despise yourself, treat your body with care....make choices that reflect self control.....

one choice at a time.
Father God, Help me. I struggle daily with food choices. It's easy to make poor choices, it requires discipline and self control to make healthy choices. I want to be healthy. I will cling to this scripture. Trusting your Word and your truth.
In Jesus' name, Amen

"What are you doing, Nanny? "

2011-08-27T08:16:00.000-04:00

I remember calling my grandmother sometimes and she would answer the phone and I would say, "What are you doing, Nanny?" Her sweet answer a lot of the time was "I'm just resting." As a child I had no idea what that meant. Today as a Mom of 5 kids, and a very loud barking puppy, a full schedule, I know what resting is. The bigger question is how do we rest? Our world is BUSY, fast paced, emails, texts, cell phones everywhere, crammed schedules..... How do we find rest? I know we are all looking for it.
Scripture has our answer!!!!! Praise the Lord.
This morning in my quiet time....Psalm 62:1-2 My soul finds rest in God alone.
There's our answer..... we find rest in God alone.

I was at a conference last year and the speaker shared that when you see the word 'soul' in scripture, think "mind, will, emotions"..... okay, so my MIND finds rest in God alone, my WILL finds rest in God alone, my EMOTIONS find rest in God alone. WOWOWOWOW!!!!!!!!

REST: peace of mind, free from anxiety, absence of work or labor
RESTLESS: lacking or denying rest, uneasy, continuously moving, unquiet, pacing, discontented.

So without God, we remain RESTLESS. Scripture states, "my soul finds rest in God alone"
Are you restless? Uneasy? Discontented? Go to God, in God alone you will find the rest you are seeking.

Heavenly Father,
Praise you for your Word and your promises. Lord, my life is crazy most days, two toddlers, a really loud puppy, three teenagers, hectic schedules...... I want to rest in you Lord. Please open my mind, grant me the ability to memorize this truth. At any moment during my day, I can find rest in you. You are an awesome, mighty God, and I pray that all my day would be for your glory.
In the sinless name of my Savior, Jesus, I pray, Amen

Bad storm....the power is out

2011-08-10T09:41:00.000-04:00

Last night I got a text from a friend, "Bad storm, the power is out. I am sitting here in the dark."
This morning in my quiet time, I came across two great verses:
Psalm 119:89 Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

So, I am thinking..... why do we live in darkness? Why are we frustrated stumbling in the dark? Think about the house, when the power is out.... darkness, you can't find anything, it's frustrating, sometimes scary, and you are hesitant to even move, afraid, might fall over something, might step on something, might stub your toe..... we stumble and we are desperately searching for a light source, a flashlight, a candle, a match, a lighter, something, anything, we just need some LIGHT. Sooooo, when we find our light source, do we use it??? or do we continue to stumble in the dark? OF COURSE we use, and we are so relieved when we find it, so thankful, reassured..... it's all gonna be okay now. LIGHT!!!!!

So, why do we jump into our days without seeking God? Why do we bolt from our beds, in a frantic, frustrated attempt to get through our days in darkness. The LIGHT is available. Scripture tells us, "your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path".... we have a source.....why are we not using it?

Abba, Thank you for your Word. Thank you for Jesus. He is the light of the world. I pray that your Word and your truths will light up the path that you have for me. I do not want to spend my days in darkness. In Jesus' name, Amen.

We are starving, Lord, only you can satisfy us.

2011-07-29T08:48:00.000-04:00

Psalm 90:14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. UNFAILING LOVE?? What is that? What does that really mean? unfailing: not failing, or liable to fail, constant, unflagging, everlasting, inexhaustible, infallible, sure, unerring.
God never tires. God is never "DONE". God is never worn out. God never needs to rest. God is never in error. His love is constant, everlasting, inexhaustible, infallible and sure.

I say I love my family unconditionally, but that's really not true. I can love them better when I am rested, refreshed. I am not so apt to snap if I am not tired, or irritated, or hungry, or stressed. I can love better when I feel loved. I am loved!!!!! I can love my family because God loved me first.

How can I be a loving parent? a loving wife? a supportive, encouraging friend, if I am so tired and beat down from my own battles..... I go to the inexhaustible source of love, God himself. I sit. I soak in His presence. I allow Him to fill me with His love, His peace. I get full, sometimes more than full, overflowing with the abundant love of God.

In our busy world, we are running on empty most of the time, We flit from activity to activity, not daring to go deeper in any relationships, because honestly, we just don't have the time or energy. We're just too tired. We run around like chickens, complaining about how tired we are, how done we are, how exhausted and fatigued we are, and we won't dare to trust Him. To stop, to sit in His presence, the Almighty. The source of life. He is our source. STOP.. soak in His presence, let Him fill you with His love.

The people in our life are what matters. We are relational beings. If we are too tired from all the activities to even love the people that God has placed in our lives, we've missed it. Every person in our life has purpose. The ones in our homes, our families are by God's great design. We are to LOVE them. Period. Love them.

We can love, only because God loved us first. So, if you are running on fumes, exhausted, and can't figure out how to become less exhausted. Stop. Sit with God. He knows how tired you are. He sees the struggles, and He is waiting to fill you and satisfy you with His unfailing love.

Abba, Father. I so dearly love you. The more I learn about your character, and your unfailing love towards me. I am desperate for you. The more I know of you, the more I want to know of you. I am falling deeper in love with you, every day. Help me to remember that when I am so tempted to scream, snap, act ugly because I am exhausted, that you are with me, your unfailing love can satisfy me. Thank you Lord. You are an awesome and mighty, God. May I never cease praising you. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray. Amen

For the next eight days.....

2011-06-23T07:15:00.000-04:00

Ready.. GO.. Strip me of me Lord, I am yours. I am headed out now. I am a missionary for the next eight days. Going to Romania. I am in awe of what God is going to do.
Please pray for me, my family, our team, and may God be magnified and glorified in MIGHTY ways~~~
For His Kingdom.

Heavenly Father,
equip me. You have called me, and I have said yes. I am yours.
In the name of Jesus,
Amen

How do you "do" life?

2011-06-20T07:23:00.000-04:00

Yesterday morning I woke up thinking about how we "do" life. Jason Gray has a great song "Better Way to Live". Is the way your life going, working out for you? Are you living the abundant life that Jesus promised in scripture? or have you settled? are you living defeated? in chains?
"This is just as good as it gets"

Am I living life MY way? or God's way? Okay, maybe we don't want to do life God's way, and our way is not working out so great either....so we decide that Uncle "Jim" does life pretty good, he seems set. So we start to do life Uncle Jim's way. Uncle Jim had to make a decision too, how is he doing life?
His way? God's way? Look around at those people God has placed in your life. Everyone is there for a reason, every relationship has purpose. Each of us have to make a personal decision. Are we going through life in charge of ourselves? Or have we submitted to the King of Kings? Jesus is Lord. So as I am thinking through all of this yesterday morning......we head off to worship service.

Pastor David teaches on the two Adams. Which shadow do you live under? Adam~sinful man? or Jesus, the Savior, the King?

There is no decision in life more important than this. Think eternity.

So? How are you doing life? Your way? God's way? Uncle Jim's way? Who are you following? Who is your hero? your role model? whoever they are..... Uncle Jim? Aunt Martha? your Mother? your Father? your Brother? your Sister? your neighbor? some movie star? some athlete? They all have the same decision to make. Their way? God's way?

Like the song say, "All I know is there's a better way to live. We were made for so much more than this."

Abba, I believe you. I trust you. I want to do life YOUR way. I submit. I trust. Praise you Lord for your unending love, mercy, and grace. You love me more than I can understand and you have a plan and a purpose for me that far exceeds anything I could dream up. Take my life and make it yours. In the mighty and powerful name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior, I pray. Amen

UGH~~Monday?? or Wheeeeeee......a brand new day!!

2011-06-13T07:07:00.000-04:00

Good morning! Brand new day. If you woke up this morning, Praise God. He's not finished with you yet.

However, wherever you woke up this morning... God is aware of every detail, every detail of your situation he knows. He knows your hurts, your victories, your battles, your circumstances. God knows AND he cares. He wants you to see Him, call to Him, thank Him, whatever your circumstances are, God is in control. Are you in the place you are in because of personal choices? Are you fighting a disease? Go to God, talk to Him, ask for help, praise Him, thank Him. We all need God.

We don't need more money, better financial pictures, more medicines, more alcohol, more things, more people, more vacations, more TV, more distractions, more food, more treats, more surprises. WE NEED MORE GOD. We need more of God than we can even understand. God is our everything. He is what we need. Not how he can bless us, fix us, help us (and he will). We need God. A relationship. Time. Talking. Listening. Reading. Studying His character. More God. Seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness. More God.

So, your day has started and you are either thankful and excited about the possibilities that lie ahead of you, or you are complaining~~~ UGH MONDAY. Seek God. Just today, seek Him, find Him in today. He's ever present, and you can find rest and peace in Him. Seek Him out, He's closer than you think.

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your truth. Thank you for today, for this moment. Today is a gift from you and I want to live fully alive today. Treasuring every precious moment I have. Thankful for all that you have blessed me with. I position myself today, submissive to your will for my life, I seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus, wherever you send me today. I am ready for this adventure of today, and I am holding your hand tightly. I love you Lord, thank you for all I am in you. In the precious name of Jesus, I pray, AMEN

Are you IN? really IN.... your relationships?

2011-06-10T19:43:00.000-04:00

I woke up this morning in Atlanta. I had some crazy dreams about friendships. Relationships. Being in a relationship, means being active...involved. Gotta go deep.
Can't be surface and shallow. To be in relationship with someone means time invested. We must spend time. TIME with those people we love, those people we care about. Time is valuable and we invest time in those we care about.
God is the most important relationship I have. No one in my life is more important than Jesus. If I say this and I mean this, I must live this. I must choose to spend time with Jesus. Our time, just us, Jesus and I.
Jesus is my friend, my best friend, my everything, and my life needs to reflect that.

Can I cook dinner, wash clothes, text message, update my facebook status, and make sure the kids are not fussing? Yep, I can. Am I spending time, real time with anyone?? Nope.
I can pay the sitter to take the kids to the park. Where is MY time investment? I need to invest TIME in my relationships. That includes my relationship with Jesus. So, I can tell myself that it's ok to have quiet time in the morning after the kids are awake, and the wonder pets are singing in the background, but is that REALLY the kind of time I want to spend with Jesus? I need to be more careful, more protective.

There are some situations I don't want to share. Date night with my husband. Not willing to compromise that. Don't want to share that time with anyone. He is so very important to me, and I want to be fully focused on us when we are together.

I am thankful that Jesus is always available. He never puts me on hold, never is unavailable, and I know he wants to be with me. He loves me, more than I can understand. I want to nurture my relationship with him, because he is worthy. He is my everything. and it's neat, when I take the time to be with Him, he fills me up in such a way, that my love pours out to all those in my life that I love so dearly. I can love better, because I have spent time with Him.

Heavenly Father,
You are my everything. You are my trusted friend, my counselor. Praise you Lord, you are worthy. Thank you for always being there for me. In Your precious name, I pray, Amen

ALL THINGS? Really? ALL THINGS.....

2011-05-26T09:03:00.000-04:00

Philippians 4:13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Deep breath....sigh.... okay, be real. Be real. I am feeling overwhelmed. Two toddlers, a new puppy, a messy house, piles of laundry, sink full of dirty dishes, messy house. I am in a spin...what I call a spin.
can't really focus, can't really make a decision about what to do next....
This morning, I woke up on the couch. I slept in my clothes, I think EXHAUSTED is a good word to describe me right now. I am tired.
I was talking to a dear friend yesterday.... life is short. All we have are our moments. Right now, is all I have.
If I spend my time regretting yesterday and years past, I lose today. If I spend today worrying about tomorrow, I lose today. Am I fully present, and alive in the moment? Are my children seeing a happy, content, peaceful Mom? Of are they seeing a frazzled worn out rag of a person, that is barely surviving?
Is my life just a ridiculously long list of "to do's" or am I fully alive in my moments?
Yesterday, I actually sent my husband a text and asked him what he was wearing when he left the house? I had talked with him before he left the house and yet had paid so little attention that I had no idea how he was dressed. I was not fully in the moment with him.

What I know, is that toddlers are busy, they are messy, they color on couches, they spill cereal, they are loud, and I can't keep up with them. I am 45. They win, most days. Teenagers are demanding and they need their wants fulfilled yesterday. They text, they Facebook, they have many needs, mostly money.

This is one crazy life.... I am talking CRAZY. I am right where God wants me to be. He has me here for a purpose. I can feel frustrated or I can trust God to get me through the moments.
I am not telling you that because I have, know, believe and trust in Jesus that my life is cool and calm. It's not. Come over, spend some time here in "circus world".... what I am saying is that the only way I can DO life is with Jesus. He is my strength, he is my help. I can trust him in every situation. I am choosing to focus on His power. I cannot do this day without Him.

By the way, LaLa asked for cereal this am, I poured her cat food. Thankfully I noticed before there was milk in the bowl. Lord, HELP ME!!!!! And my little Picasso has taken a black crayon and made a few new additions to the kitchen counter..... Lord, help me love my children well, help me love my husband well. Thank you for your presence and your peace. I choose to have joy in this day, as crazy as it is.
In Jesus' name, AMEN

This moment, and the next...

2011-05-03T07:53:00.000-04:00

This morning in Jesus Calling I read "The Joy of Living in my Presence outshines all other pleasures."
Psalm 16:11 reads "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."

God will fill me with joy as I live in His presence. Living in His presence is greater than all other pleasures. I was created by God, He made me, He made us to experience pleasure. We are wired that way.
PLEASURE: desire, inclination, a state of gratification, frivolous amusement, a source of delight or joy.
Other words for pleasure..... content, contentment, delight, enjoyment, gladness, happiness, satisfaction.

God is in control. I need to learn to be content whatever the circumstances, because in ALL circumstances, God is with me, and God is in control. God. Creator. King. Sovereign Lord. God Almighty. God is with me. God is in control.

Do I REALLY believe God is in control?
Do I REALLY believe God is with me at all times?

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I do!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I believe!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, God is in control. God is sovereign. God is all knowing. God is the most powerful. So, if I am in a situation, a circumstance, God has me there for a reason. He's trying to teach me something. Am I learning? or am I complaining?

Live every moment, this moment, and the next....in the presence of God. God is real. He is with me. He will never leave me or forsake me. God is with me.

Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Heavenly Father,
Fill me with joy as I seek to live in your presence. You are with me. I pray that I go through my day, I will be reminded to seek your presence. You are always with me and you will fill me with joy as I live in your presence. You are an amazing God and you alone are worthy of all praise. In the precious name of Jesus, I pray, Amen

What are we soaking in?

2011-04-20T10:00:00.000-04:00

This morning in Jesus Calling, there is this great sentence: "Let Scripture saturate your mind and heart, and you will walk steadily along the path of life." Do "this" and "this" will happen. I see so much in this one sentence. Earlier this week I cooked some dry beans. First direction, "put beans in 2 quarts of water, overnight, or at least 8 hours". SOAK. These hard, hard, hard dried beans needed to soak. They needed water to soften them. soak: drench, drown, saturate. Let scripture saturate your mind and heart. Saturate: to satisfy fully, to load to capacity, to fill completely with something that permeates or pervades.
To soak in scripture, to saturate my mind and heart. What does that look like? I have such a short attention span, I go from one thing to the next, what does soaking in scripture look like? I want to know, because if I saturate my mind and heart with it, I will walk steadily along the path of life. I really liked the definition of steady: direct or sure in movement, firm in position, not easily disturbed or upset. I can walk through my life steadily. If I am not steady, then I am unsteady, stumbling, and faltering.
Proverbs 24:10 NIV says "If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!" in the Message version it reads like this "If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn't much to you in the first place."

Think of a sponge filled (saturated) with water. What happens with the sponge when it is squeezed (a time of crisis)... what pours out? The thing that was saturating the sponge. So, if I will saturate my mind and heart with scripture (God's Word, His truth, His promises), I will walk steadily along the path of life. In times of crisis, I will not be easily disturbed or upset, because when I am squeezed, God's truth will pour out on the situation..

If I cook another pot of beans, I will need to soak those too, that 2 quarts of water I soaked the first bag in won't work for the new bag, they need their own soaking time. I need daily "soaking" time with my Lord and His Word. Every day is brand new, and I don't know what my day will bring, my Heavenly Father knows exactly what my day looks like, and if I will spend some time soaking in Him, and saturating my mind and heart with His truth, it'll be there when I am squeezed, and even though I get squeezed and circumstances look unsure, I will remain steady.

Heavenly Father,
I desire to drink in your Word, your truth, your promises. I want to be filled to capacity, fully satisfied with your wisdom. I worship and adore you. In the precious name of Jesus, I pray, Amen

They grumbled in their tents

2011-04-13T07:59:00.000-04:00

Wow, with Jesus Calling and Psalm 106 this am, that packed a punch.
Psalm 106:13 But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel.
Psalm 106:25 They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the LORD.
Psalm 106:36 They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.
Psalm 106: 43 Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin.
Psalm 106:8 Yet he saved them for his name's sake , to make his mighty power known.

And from Jesus Calling, apart from Christ, we can do nothing.
Why are we so "bent on rebellion"? We do we insist and fight for our own way? We can have joyful and victorious living in Christ. Is it a better life to sit in my tent and grumble? GRUMBLE: to mutter in discontent. Here are some other words for grumble: bellyache, fuss, gripe, moan, murmur, nag, squawk, squeal, wail, whimper, whine, yammer..... lovely picture huh?

I don't want to be that person. I want to live a joyful and victorious life and I can, in Christ. He must be my focus, I must seek His face always, in every situation, in every routine, in every moment of my day. I must be intentional. Psalm 106:13 but they soon forgot.... sometimes I can't even make it through a morning. I forget. Jesus has saved me, for His name's sake and I need to cling to that, cling to Him. Seek His face.

Okay, it's early and the house is quiet. I am going to seek Jesus today, seek his presence in the routine of my day. I am not going to sit in my tent and grumble. Grumbling. What is the point?

Today is going to be GRUMBLE free, and I am certain, I cannot do this alone. It's not possible. I must seek Jesus to live joyful and victorious. I am "bent on rebellion" and I forget easily, so Jesus is my only hope. and Praise the Lord, Jesus is ALL I NEED!!!!!

Heavenly Father,
Praise you! You are my great reward. You are what I seek. I pray that you will help me today, I would like to be victorious today, would like to be filled to overflowing with joy and peace that can only come from you. Please help me not to grumble. My life is blessed and you have abundantly provided for me and my family far more than I ever could have imagined. Lord, you are worthy of all of my praise.
I am seeking your face, Jesus, in all that I do today. In your precious name, Amen

What am I clinging to?

2011-04-04T07:53:00.000-04:00

This morning I came across this verse in Jonah. Jonah 2:8 "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs."
That is one powerful verse. I started looking at it one word at a time.
FORFEIT. GRACE. CLING. WORTHLESS. IDOLS. This is powerful.

Think about "clinging"... to hold tightly. I think if I am clinging to something, I am using both hands.
Clinging is also having a strong emotional attachment or dependence. So, if I am clinging to "worthless idols" then I am forfeiting "the grace that could be mine".
Okay, why am I clinging to 'worthless idols'? Worthless: lacking worth, valueless, useless, empty, junky, no good, null, vain.
An idol is an object of worship, and objection of extreme devotion, and we were CREATED for WORSHIP. We are wired that way. We are going to worship something or someone.
So, by clinging to worthless idols (holding on tightly with both hands to something that I worship that is useless and empty), I FORFEIT (give up) the grace (unmerited divine assistance) that could be mine????
WHAT???

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

I can continue to cling to worthless idols or I can release those and open myself to RECEIVE God's grace.
I was created to worship, and I want to worship the one true and living God. I am opening my hands, and releasing those worthless idols and I am going to receive the grace.
Worthless Idols? Jesus? Worthless Idols? Worshipping the only one worthy? Worthless Idols? Jesus? Worthless Idols? Jesus.
We were created to worship. We can't cling to two things at once.
You can read that scripture another way: Those who cling to the only one worthy of our worship will receive His grace.

Heavenly Father,
I worship you and love you. You are what I crave. I am thankful for your love, mercy and grace. Please help me, speak boldly for you. Please show me those 'worthless' idols that I hold on to, I want to release them and worship you and you alone. I pray this in the mighty name of my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Rebellion

2011-04-03T07:12:00.001-04:00

Having three teenagers, I have gotten an up close and personal look at what rebellion looks like. God has used these situations to very clearly point out what MY rebellion against Him and His way of life looks like.
We want our own way. All the time. and when we don't get our own way, we get mad, we get ugly, we rebel and we seek to find another path that will get us our own way.
When I tell one of my teenagers NO, it's for their own good, discipline for instruction, discipline that is a consequence for a wrong choice, or disobedience. They get mad, they rebel and make the situation even worse. Anger, run the other direction. Submission is not easy. It's humbling. To simply accept the consequences of our behavior is not easy. We want to fight that. We want our own way so bad that we cannot see how the NO might be for our protection, how it might be what is best for us. God sees. He says NO sometimes, because what we want is not the best for us. So, when he says NO, do I submit and say "okay, I'll wait, I'll listen, I'll learn from this" or do I rebel, go my own way, find another path, and say "well, fine, then this is what I will do."
We see "NO" as a disappointment, and really they are opportunities to learn, and to grow, to become more mature as we wait and trust.
Rebellion may start slow, just one little step, but it quickly gains speed and before you know it, you are running full sprint away from those who love you the most. We are so desperate to get our own way.
How am I going to live my life? My way? God's way? Am I going to listen to His instructions? Heed His warnings? or am I going to go my own way and do what I want to do?

Obedience brings blessings. Every choice we make matters, and every choice we make has a consequence. I am all about blessings. At this point in my life, I am thankful for God's wisdom, His abundant love and His instructions for me to live a successful life. Rebellion is foolish. I see this in my teenagers, and God uses their rebellion to show me so many times, my own rebellion. Thankful, he is patient. His love is unlimited.

Heavenly father, forgive my rebellion. Forgive my sins. Please help me walk obedient through today. I know that your No is for my protection, and when you say No, you have something better down the road. I pray that I can learn to say "okay" to your No's and be patient, be still and trust in your plan for me.
In the mighty and precious Holy name of my Savior and Lord, Jesus, Amen.

EMPLOY.... to devote to or direct toward a particular activity or person

2011-03-28T07:42:00.000-04:00

This morning I was reading in my Max Lucado, Daily Devotions Bible. It's a Bible that you read each day's worth of scripture and it's broken into 4 sections, Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs. There is also a little section of thoughts from one of max Lucado's books.
So, today, this is what I grabbed. "He resisted the undertow of the people by anchoring to the rock of his purpose: employing his uniqueness to make a big deal out of God everywhere he could."

Yesterday, at church, our preacher talked about not being ashamed of Jesus. He shared with us this verse:
2 Chronicles 16:9 "For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him"

Okay. It's 7:17 in the morning. My day is barely going. How am I going to go through this day? Is it going to be all about me? or all about God? a little of both? It's MY choice. I can go my way, my will. Or, I can choose God's way, His will. If I only have THIS moment, how do I live it? Do I make THIS moment, all about me? or all about God? I want to be about the work of God. I want to be involved in Kingdom business. I want to be so crazy, over the top in love with Jesus and expressing that through my daily life that people say, "What's with her?"
Obsession with self.....singing the "Me, me, me, what about me?" song all day long is a dead end path. When I focus my life, my efforts, my attention on God it leads me into an open free, spacious life. I am focusing on His Kingdom, His agenda. My life is crazy, I have 5 children, three of them teenagers, and two toddlers. My husband works long hours and our schedule is full, like most everyones. So, that scripture tells me that God searches the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. LORD, strengthen me!!!!! I am fully yours.

"It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of an overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone." Ephesians 1:11 (The Message)

Everyday I can choose what I want to talk about with my husband, my children, my family, my friends and those people in my community. I can talk about weather, TV, news, reality TV, the economy, what's on sale at the grocery store, my new shoes, etc. But today is ALL I get and I don't want to miss an opportunity that God has for me. So today I'm choosing to tell people how much I love Jesus. Today, I want others to know the peace that I have found in Christ. I have opened my heart to Jesus, I have received His extravagant gift of Salvation. I am forgiven and free. I have given Him full access to transform me. I have committed my life to following Jesus and doing life His way. I am IN, both feet, never turning back. I am excited about every new day that God gives, it's an adventure, far beyond what I could have ever dreamed. I am thankful for my Savior, and thankful for God's Word and His promises. I have eternity to look forward to. My hope is in Jesus.

So, back to today, here, this moment. It's now 7:33. I am choosing to take this uniqueness that is ME, and make it all about Jesus. He's all that matters. Today, I am sharing, I am skipping, I am singing: I love Jesus and he loves me. Is there anyone that you can share with today?

Heavenly Father,
I am so thankful for your love. So thankful for my relationship with Jesus. So thankful I have a mouth and a heart that wants to praise you. Lord, enable me to be BOLD for your kingdom. In the mighty and powerful name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior, I pray, Amen

It's okay to hit the pause button

2011-03-22T16:58:00.000-04:00

The other day in my quiet time, I came across the verse from Proverbs 4:23 "Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts." HOW I THINK?? really?
I have said "I don't know what I was thinking" before, and I have said "I just didn't think".
Makes me wonder if I THINK about what I am doing or saying, or do I just do. Do I act without thinking?
Do my actions get me to my goal?
I found this great sentence the other day: Discipline is the bridge that takes us from our goals to accomplishment.

Why do I do what I do? I need to stop and THINK. Take a break from the action. PAUSE.
A pause is a break in the action. I can pause, and think about my actions. Think about my choices. Think about what I am saying. Think about what I am doing.

Pause. Why am I so stressed? Pause. Why am I so angry? Pause. Why am I so upset? Pause. Why have I eaten an entire bag of cookies? or chips?
Pause. What's truth? What is really going on in this moment?

I have control of my actions, and my words. I can choose NOT to engage. I can choose NOT to continue. Pause. Stop and think. Do these actions get me to the goals I have set for myself?

THOUGHTS>>> WORDS
WORDS>>>> ACTIONS
ACTIONS>>>>HABITS
HABITS>>>>CHARACTER
CHARACTER>>>DESTINY

Proverbs 4:23 "Be careful how to think; your life is shaped by your thoughts"

Heavenly Father,
I will choose to stop myself when my actions, and thoughts are running on a path that seems out of control. I know that a pause in the moment can help me focus on truth and what is really going on. I refuse to be caught in a pattern of habit, or "this is just how I am". I want to move into all that you created me to be. In the precious name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

I don't know or as my teens say "IDK"

2011-03-18T15:11:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, it's really hard to admit that I just don't know what to do. Teenagers. Money. Marriage struggles. Toddler issues. Weight gain. Sadness. Grief. Life. Sometimes I find myself faced with situations that I just don't know the next step to take.

I have been doing a Bible study at the church over the last several weeks. "Wising up Whenever Life Happens" It's a Beth Moore study and it's been amazing. Most of the study she is pulling scriptures from Proverbs.

Proverbs 4:7 "Wisdom is supreme; therefore great wisdom" James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

Wisdom is living wise. Living smart. Wisdom is "good sense". Wisdom comes from God. It doesn't come easily though. I have to go after it. I have to want it.

God wants to help me. He wants me to cry out when I don't know how to deal with the teenager issues. He wants to give me wisdom. I have to be humble, I have to drop to my knees and cry 'Lord, I don't know what to do; please help me. You created them. You have a plan and a purpose for their lives and you have to help me. Equip me to be godly parent." He answers these prayers.

Psalm 84:12 "O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man (or woman) who trusts in you"
My Heavenly Father loves my children so much more than I do. I love them dearly, ok, some days I don't like them so much...but I do love them, and as much as I love them, God loves them WAY more than I do.
He will help me. I just have to be willing to admit, I don't know what to do. I don't know which way to move. Please help me. and he does.......

Heavenly Father,
you are faithful and you hear and answer prayers. Lord, I am asking, please give me wisdom and discernment to parent these children of yours that you have gifted me with for such a short period of time. I am thankful for your words and your truth. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Arrayed in a robe of righteousness..

2011-03-17T15:13:00.001-04:00

This morning I found this great verse: Psalm 34:19 "A righteous man may have troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all." So, I got to thinking about what is a righteous man? well, for me, what is a righteous woman? Righteous: acting in accord with divine or moral law, free from guilt or sin, morally right or justifiable, genuine, excellent, moral.

Well, us humans really don't like to be confronted with our depravity. We say things like, "I am a good person." Compared to who? There is God, he is the only one who judges. We are not good. Scripture tells me, in Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure, who can understand it?"
I am NOT GOOD. I am a mess. Sin separates me from God. God is Holy, Holy, Holy and he cannot look at sin. So, who is righteous? Scripture tells me, Romans 3:10 "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Okay, so I am sinful, depraved and a mess. Can't get a day right on my own if I try. So, who is righteous?? Psalm 34:19 is a promise, a righteous man may have trouble, but the LORD delivers him from them all.
Romans 3:22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

I BELIEVE!!!!! I BELIEVE!!!!! I have received Jesus into my life, I have submitted. He is my Lord and Savior. I BELIEVE. Through faith in him, I am made righteous in the site of God.
Isaiah 61:10 'I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness."

I have a robe of righteousness...... God did this. Only through my faith in Jesus can I be back in good relationship with God. My sin separates me from God, but through Christ, I am forgiven and free.

Abba Father,
I pray that I can gain a better understanding of who I am in Christ. I know that I have been redeemed. I am yours. Use me Father for your Kingdom. In the name of my Savior, I pray, Amen.

There is a manual!!

2011-03-13T20:18:00.000-04:00

This morning I sent my text message scripture from

Colossians 3:16 (NIV)
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."

I went pretty deep into a few words in that scripture.
LET, DWELL, ADMONISH, and RICHLY. I had some great thoughts, just not enough time, so we got ourselves ready and we headed out to worship service.

Thanks to "daylight savings time", the clock in the car is now wrong. My phone automatically updated. The car did not. :(
So, I set out to change the clock. I start pressing buttons, have no idea what I am doing, just punching buttons. So, I ended up on some screen, with a whole different set of options, setting the clock is not one of them. I am thinking to myself, oh great, now what have I done? I sigh and feel defeated and frustrated and put off changing the clock until later..... Then it occurs to me, there is a manual. Yes!!!! A manual, so I check the manual. An instruction manual, made by the people who created my car. It's a very thorough, detailed, instruction manual. It tells me everything I need to know about my car.

I was ready convicted with the fact that God has given me an instruction manual for my life. It's the BIBLE. God's word, very thorough, very detailed and if I will spend the time and read it, the instructions are there. I was created by God, and who better than Him, would know the best ways for me to operate.
I have my Bible with me at all times now. I am working on digging, learning, allowing the Word of God to dwell in me. I need the word of Christ in me. I need it to be so much a part of who I am that I cannot separate myself from those truths.

For years, YEARS, I say.... I did not check the instruction manual. I knew where it was, I carried it with me if I went to church, but I never read it. So, as I went through my days, my months, my years, I fumbled, pushed buttons, found myself on different paths.... Paths I was not intentionally looking for....but lost none the less...and the same response came out of my mouth, "Oh great, now what I have done?" I grew tired of fumbling, tired of making mistakes and then trying to dig my way out of the rubble. So, I am at a point where I am seeking instruction. Seeking wisdom from my Creator. He knows how I work best, He has given me some life instructions...I just need to read and listen. Listen and Obey. Like I tell the toddlers: "Listen with your ears, obey with your body". God's word if applied to my life is transforming. Thankfully, God is so patient with me as I learn to do life His way.

Abba Father,
Praise you Almighty God. Your Word is powerful, and if I will spend time in your Word, it will be transforming. I want to do life your way Heavenly Father, I have made enough messes all by myself. I seek your way. Thank you for being patient with me. Thank you for your abundant love. I offer this prayer in the precious name of Jesus, Amen.

Confession time...

2011-03-12T06:42:00.000-05:00

I woke up this morning just "ill as a hornet" as my momma says. In my mind Saturdays are a BIG day. Family time. Many hours, Let's pack the schedule full. For those of you who know me, you know this is true. If I see a blank page on my calendar, my first reaction is NOT, "oh good, I have a day I can rest". it's more of a response, "a whole free day?, really, what can we do?" I tend to get a little crazy after I say the sentence, "There's nothing on the calendar today".
So, I sat down with my journal, my pen, and a hot cup of coffee and I confessed my frustration to God. I know God is working on me. He wants me to see something. So, I had to ask him to show me, help me. I was admitting how frustrated I was. God is so faithful, so good.

I have a devotional "Jesus Lives", it's also by Sarah Young. (She wrote Jesus Calling). I went to the section for thankfulness. The text scripture I sent out this morning is Psalm 118:24.
{This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.}

DAG!! that was fast Lord. Scripture clearly does not say "This is the day that Tamela has planned".

My day may not look like I want it to look. I may have a whole day planned or nothing planned. I need to rejoice in today regardless of what it looks like because this day, TODAY, is a gift from God.

So, I am thinking deeply about the word REJOICE. Here we go: to give joy to, gladden. Gladden is a good word too, agree with, content. This scripture tells me, "let us rejoice and be glad".

I have a CHOICE.....it's always a choice. I get to choose how to behave, how to act, how to speak.
I can rejoice and be glad, or I can be displeased and be joyless, sad, and unhappy. That paints a pretty picture, huh?

Today may not look like what I think it should look like. That's ok.... I have an actual calendar event (please don't laugh)....that is on my calendar every day.... here is what the event says.
"KEEP ALL PLANS TENTATIVE....I KNOW GOD'S PLANS ARE FAR SUPERIOR".
I am not joking, it's on my calendar, every day.

With the help of Jesus this morning, I have worked through my frustration, and a second cup of coffee. The sun is up now, and my family is all still asleep. They will wake up and have no idea I was even in a bad mood this morning. Praise you, Father. I am choosing to rejoice in this day.

Abba Father,
Praise you! I have a new day, I have breath in my lungs, I am alive and I am ready to skip through this day, holding your hand tightly the whole way. You are my reward. There is none like you. I will rejoice in this day. You are a mighty God. Thank you for the abundant blessing of answered prayer this morning. In the perfect and sinless name of Jesus, I pray, Amen

Fruit? or NOTHING..

2011-03-11T08:17:00.000-05:00

Today I pulled a sentence from Jesus Calling. "By walking close to Me, you can accomplish My purposes in My strength."
Hmmmm... God's purposes.
I was created by God. He has a plan for my life. Jeremiah 29:11. {For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.}

But, this is MY life. My ambitions, my dreams, my plans, my purposes, my goals, my life, me, me, me.
My life is all about me!!! Nope, it's not. My life has a purpose, much bigger than what I dream it to be.
Ephesians 3:20 tells me that God works in my life way more than I could ever imagine, to accomplish his purposes.

God. The creator. The Almighty. God. God has a plan for me. So, because I believe that God is sovereign and in control, and has seen my life from beginning to end, and has a plan for me..... why would I even begin to think I know what my life is about? I can't see into tomorrow, and I know that I am not in control, so if I know these things and believe these things, why would I continue to spin my wheels, making my life all about me?

IN Christ, I am fully alive, and the Word of God tells me that if I will remain in Christ, and Christ in me, I will bear much fruit. {John 15:5} Apart from Christ.... I can do nothing.
I read that a few different ways... I can do nothing. I CAN do nothing. I can DO nothing. I can do NOTHING. A life without Christ~~~ DID NOTHING.
I don't want to get to end of my life, whenever that is...and have missed my opportunity, missed my purpose. God has a plan for me. God. He has a plan for me that is far greater than I can dream up for myself, so what do I do?

I choose, I want, I desire to live for God's purposes. I must die to myself to live for Jesus.

Abba Father,
I want to serve your purposes. I know you will accomplish your purposes through me, with your strength. I want to bear much fruit. Equip me, Lord. Thank you for loving me more than I can even understand. In the precious and Holy name of Jesus, my Savior and Lord, Amen

Word?

2011-03-09T07:52:00.000-05:00

Slow start to this am... Got two great verses early in my reading from Jeremiah 32: 17, 19. God is sovereign, God is in control. I can rest in that. Deep rest.
Ventured on to Psalm 130:5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.
Yesterday in my Bible study class, we discussed some verses from Revelation 19.
Specifically, verse 13 says "He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God."

Of course, I went to the dictionary and looked up the word "word"... and there are so many definitions. I pulled two out.
word: the expressed or manifested mind and will of God.
word: promise, declaration.
Moving on, I looked back to John 1:1-2 "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. verse 14 "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, and who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Coffee buzz or serious brain overload. Jesus is the Word. I reread Psalm 130:5 and instead of word, I inserted Jesus. "I will wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in Jesus I put my hope"

I have heard believers say, "You need to be in the word every day", and they are talking about reading the Bible (the written word of God).... then I thought, I need to be in the WORD every day. I need Jesus every moment. In Jesus, I put my hope.

Abba Father,
In you alone I will be satisfied. I want to know you more. Please Lord, continue to open my eyes to the truth of your Word. In the precious name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Whatever the circumstance... I have a choice

2011-03-07T09:46:00.000-05:00

This morning was so all over the place. I started out reading in my "In Touch" magazine by Charles Stanley. Living above the circumstances. The scripture references were Philippians 1:12-18.
Paul is writing a letter and he is IN CHAINS. Literally chained. I started thinking about chains. I think of it as a negative word: restrained, confined. Not free to do what I want to do.

Paul was in chains preaching the Gospel of Jesus. He was right were God wanted him, and Paul chose to preach, not to focus on his circumstances but to focus on God.

I can do the same thing. I can choose to rise above the circumstances, the chains that keep me restrained, confirmed (whatever that looks like for me). God has me exactly where he wants me, and I am here for a purpose. After the message yesterday at church, am I serving God's purposes for my life? This life that I call mine, is no longer mine. I gave it up to follow Jesus. It's not what I want, it's a desire, a passion, a longing to do what God wants me to do.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever. Yep. same Jesus. Jesus from the pages of the Bible, yep, same Jesus. The Jesus that helped me find a potato this am with only minutes to spare, yep, same Jesus. He is sooooooooooo in the details of my life. The Jesus that is my Savior and Lord, yep, same Jesus.

Abba Father, please show me today how I can serve your purposes for my life. I pray that you will help me not focus on the "chains", the circumstances, but to focus on you and on your mighty power. Here am I, Lord, send me. In the mighty name of Jesus, I offer this prayer, Amen

Problems..... Ever have those?

2011-03-05T06:25:00.000-05:00

Been in JOB the past two days and have not been able to put in words all that God has shown me. It's RICH. Will get back to those meaty chapters later. I read 32-37 and it's so good, so very good.

This morning, I started with Jesus Calling. The very first sentence says "Make friends with the problems in your life." I certainly have problems in my life, and some of them are repeat offenders. Sometimes, I even say out loud, "Here we go again". Where am I going with these? and if they bring such frustration, why am I still dealing with them?

Scripture reference this am: Romans 8:28 "And we know in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." ALL THINGS?? yep, scripture says, all things. ALL THINGS!!! and notice again, who is working.... GOD works.

So, a problem arises.....maybe a new one.... maybe an old one that I keep seeing. What is my response?
Grumble? complain? throw my hands up? sigh? stomp? slam doors? cry? In all those responses.....my focus must be on the problem.
I need to choose to thank God for the opportunity he has given me to trust him.
God is sovereign. If a problem comes to me, he's aware of it, and he's going to use it to change me.

Often times, I will pray, "Lord, just change him, change her, make them see this, make them act right, make them straighten up" When I reach the point in the problem where nothing is changing, nothing is different, and I am spent, my cries for help sound something like this, "I am SO TIRED of this"; "I am so frustrated with this situation"; and then I realize, it's me...God is smiling, he's got his highlighter on me, and he's doing some work.

Today I am going to choose to thank God when problems arise, because they will. When I recognize a challenge, I will pause, thank God for whatever it is that he has allowed, ask Him to show me and help through, because I know he is using it to change me, little by little.

Abba Father, praise you for whatever this day brings. Lord, I trust you and I want you to change me, in all the ways you know that I need so much help. Thank you for loving me the way that you do.
It's in the precious name of Jesus, my Savior, my Lord I pray, Amen.

I am a work in progress~~

2011-03-02T07:38:00.000-05:00

Psalm 23 (MSG)
God, my shepherd! I don't need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I'm not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd's crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I'm back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.

This morning I started with the 23rd Psalm. What an amazing passage of scripture!
Verse 3: he restores my soul. I sat there for a bit.
HE restores my soul.
He RESTORES my soul.
He restores MY soul.
He restores my SOUL.

At the beginning of this month, I was at a women's retreat with my CBS group. The speaker taught us to think {mind, will and emotions} when we read/hear the word soul.
So,
I reread: HE RESTORES MY MIND, WILL AND EMOTIONS. I don't have to accept, "well this is just the way I am." God is constantly working, constantly refreshing, recharging, reviving, and rejuvenating. God restores. All those bumps, bruises, scraps, all the damage that has been done, through my own choices, through the lies of Satan, through the thoughtless words of other people. All the damage, I don't have to accept it, don't have to settle with "well this is as good as it is". God is working. God is restoring my soul!!!!!!!!!

Abba Father, PRAISE YOU. Your love is so great. Thank you for loving me, thank you for loving me enough to not leave me as you find me. Lord, I am yours. You are my great reward. I have put my trust in you. Thank you for your Word, your Truth. What an awesome God I serve!!!! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Notice who is giving.....

2011-03-01T07:30:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 26:3 NCV
You, Lord, give true peace to those who depend on you, because they trust you.

In the NIV the scripture reads "You will keep in perfect peace, him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."

Why would I settle for false or imperfect peace?? Why would you??
Peace is a state or tranquility or quiet, freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions, harmony in personal relations. Yep. Yep. Yep. I want that...all of that, and I want it perfectly.
AND scripture tells me I can have it.
Here's my role in this: TRUST GOD!!!!!!! DEPEND ON GOD FOR EVERYTHING!!!! KEEP MY MIND ON GOD!!!!!!
Okay. Got it. I can trust God because I know him. I have a personal relationship with Jesus. :)
The more I trust God, the more I depend on God, the more I depend on God, the greater the peace, and it's Him that is the giver. He gives the peace, I don't have to seek it, make it, find it, I am told, very clearly, TRUST GOD, keep your mind on Him. He is the peace giver.

I am choosing peace. Perfect peace, true peace. It has only one source. Praise you Lord.

Abba Father, you are my reward, I will trust you, I will depend on you for all that you have for me today, In you, I will have peace, true peace, perfect peace. In the Holy name of Jesus, I pray, Amen

Just a moment....

2011-02-27T22:54:00.000-05:00

Wow..what a weekend. God's truth just poured in. So many amazing things I have been pondering.
I had a professor in college that used to say, "I hope this is a good moment in time for you".
Moment in time. Yep, that's all we get...moments. Tomorrow is not promised. Actually the next hour is not promised.... so all I have, really, is THIS moment. Our days, our lives are moments of time built on each other. Moments.

I have some real issues with myself that I am facing. Some huge character flaws. I am seeking God's help. He is my source for help. Today, I journaled a prayer, word for word from a prayer book, and the section was titled "Asking for Help". I reread the prayer tonight, and one sentence stood out. "Help me to experience the wealth of each moment". {WORD NERD ALERT}... I looked up the words, experience, and wealth. Experience is defined as 'the apprehension of an object, thought or emotion through the senses or mind'. Wealth is defined as 'abundance of valuable resources'. Time is a resource, so I thought about how I spend my time. What am I doing with my time? How are my moments spent?
The word apprehension, I have always seen as negative, but I saw another definition. Apprehension can be defined as the seizing or capturing, and the ability of apprehend understanding.

In my prayer, I am asking God to help me fully experience the wealth of each moment. I want to fully seize and capture the moment, experience it through all 5 senses, and in my mind. Can I FULLY experience my moments, if I am stuck in my past, or fretting about my future?

In this moment, here is what I know as truth:
God is sovereign.
God is in control.
God sees all.
God knows all.
God knows how I feel, what I think, and how I am experiencing my moments.
God calls me to be aware of His presence in every one of my moments.
The most important aspect of every moment I have is the person with me. I am to love them as God loves them, I am to see them through eyes like God sees them.

So, now I see the conflict, I am greedy with my time. Greedy with how I want to spend my moments. I think about how much activity we cram into the same block of time. The world cries out, more, more, more, and I attempt that, and I am left empty, frustrated and irritated.

Going to put an end to some unhealthy habits... I am choosing to fully experience the moments God has gifted me. I am going to be thankful in all circumstances. I can choose to experience all that I think, feel, see, hear, touch, smell, and share, fully engaged in the present. Here and now. This moment is all I have, and praise be to God if it is His will that I get another moment.

Abba Father, truly and deeply I cry out, please help me. Lord, I want to fully experience the life you have for me. Anything I have planned is far less than the great and mighty things of your Kingdom. Lord, you are all that I need. Help me, Father. In your Son's perfect and Holy name, I pray, Amen.

Text scripture: James 1:19-20

I am a disciple of Jesus!

2011-02-25T07:12:00.000-05:00

Wow, just to even type that seems BOLD. It's the truth. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. That means I accept the teaching of Christ as absolute truth and I want to assist in the spreading the news about His truth.
Romans 10:9-10 "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." Verse 15 tells me "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Jesus didn't save me so I could use my feet to simply live my life as if it were mine. I am to use my feet to GO!!! I must share this amazing news.
How can I really point people (those in my family, those in my community, those in the nations) to Jesus if I don't tell them the REAL ways that Jesus is working to transform my life.
I have to be bold and share. My words and my actions have to be the same.
It's easy for me to say "Trust God", "Pray about this", I have to mean this, I have to DO this. My actions have to back up what I am saying.

So, as I wake up every day and step out into the world, interact in those relationships God has given me, I have to speak out, I have to tell people HOW Jesus is working in my life.

People need Jesus. People are hurting, desperate, alone, hopeless and angry. I have Jesus. I know Him. I love Him and I love talking about all the things he shows me, all the things he is teaching me, all the things he is getting me through. I have the same struggles as other people, BUT I have Jesus, and that makes ALL the difference.

I can't keep this to myself (hence the blog). I want to share!! God has been very busy in my life over the past 6 years and I can't keep it in. I want to share the details. I want to praise Him for the changes, the peace, the forgiveness.

My "mission field" is the person in front of me.

Abba Father,
Praise your Holy name. Lord, your Word tells me in 1 Thessalonians 5:24 that you have called me and you are faithful and you will do it. Lord, equip me to share, let me be bold for your Kingdom. It's in the precious name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Text scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Why do I do what I do?

2011-02-23T07:26:00.000-05:00

This morning my text message scripture comes from 1 Samuel 2:3 (NIV)
I am inserting my name to make this really personal for me.
Tamela, "Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the Lord is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed." For the Lord is a God WHO KNOWS.
HE KNOWS. HE KNOWS. HE KNOWS. God knows me better than I know myself. God knows my heart, my Spirit, God knows why I do what I do. 1 John 3:20 "For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Psalm 139:1 O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.

I don't know why I do what I do. I don't remember stuff so well anymore. God has been with me since my beginning. He has been there for everything, he has seen every circumstance, every situation, every temptation, every trial, every danger, every misfortune, every everything. He KNOWS why I react like I do. He knows why I feel, think and act certain ways in certain situations. I don't.

My soul (mind, will and emotions), have taken several hits over my 44 years. I don't remember all of those blows. God does. He knows.

My deeds (something I do) are motivated by something. What are my motives? A motive is something; a need or a desire that operates on a will causing it to act. So, I am acting, responding, reacting on my will? or God's will?

AND BY HIM DEEDS ARE WEIGHED.

We are always in conflict. Spirit led? Flesh led? God's way? My way? I want to be Spirit led. I want to respond in the spirit of the Living God. I do not want to react in the flesh.

Abba Father, I choose today, to submit to your will for my life. I don't know why I do what I do, and there are so many times during the day that I am so frustrated with myself. Lord, Jesus, help me.
As you weigh my deeds Lord, I pray you see deep in my heart a desire to please you and a desire to live in submission to your will for my life. In your Son's perfect and sinless name I pray, Amen.

I have a decision to make

2011-02-21T07:27:00.000-05:00

This morning I was reading in Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. The text message scripture is Philippians 2:14, "Do everything without complaining or arguing, " In Jesus Calling she mentions that criticizing and complaining are "sister sins".
I had a visual picture of Thing 1 and Thing 2 from the Dr. Suess book, A Cat in the Hat.

Let's see. I can go through this day, this 24 hour block of time that is a gift from God, and I can be displeased, joyless, sad, unhappy, and unsatisfied. UGH~~~ NO THANKS. However, if I am not aware and mindful of my thoughts and words, I can choose to complain, criticize and argue my way through this day, I can be guaranteed of a day full of misery, completely joyless and Satan will be simply tickled that my day is so completely rotten.

So, now I am seeing, I have a decision to make. I can pause, get control of my mind and choose to be thankful in all circumstances ( 1 Thessalonians 5:16 ) I can choose to be thankful. I want to be conscious of all that I have, all that I have been blessed with. I choose JOY (thanks Bridget). I want a day full of JOY, and I can have it. So, I have decisions to make, hundreds, maybe thousands during my day.

Do I choose to be thankful, or do I choose to complain, argue and criticize? Those little "joy swipers", complaining and criticizing don't have power unless I give it to them. My words are power.

I have made a decision. I am trusting Jesus. I am going through this day, moment by moment and I am going to be thankful for whatever comes to me today.
Right now, in THIS moment, I am thankful for the quiet, God's Word, his truth, his promises, my Lord and Savior, a sleeping baby, hot coffee, no school, and an amazing evening planned with friends. This is the only moment I have, this one, this is the moment I am in, so right here, right now, I am thankful.

I am such a word nerd.

2011-02-19T07:53:00.000-05:00

Spent some time this am thinking about anxiety, and worry. Was drawn to a word in my devotional: fretfulness. This devotional said that if we allow our anxiety to dominate us, then fretfulness will become a way of life. Immediately, I thought that "fretfulness" sounded like a really weak word. Fret can be a noun or a verb. Here are some synonyms for fret as a noun:
DITHER, FLUSTER, FUSS, HUFF, LATHER, POTHER, STEW, SWEAT, SWELTER, SWIVET, TIZZY and TWITTER. I don't like the sound of any of these words either.
Fret as a verb means to eat or gnaw into, corrode, fray, rub, chafe. I also found that the Old English word was FRETAN. The meaning: to devour. Yikes. ( See 1 Peter 5:8, for a big clue)

In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus tells me DO NOT WORRY. Actually, in those 9 verses he tells me three times DO NOT WORRY. So, I can either trust what he is saying, believe him and choose NOT TO WORRY, or I can spend my day "fretting". How can I trust Jesus? I can trust him because I know him. I can trust him because I spend time with him. I can trust him because I read His Word.

We do not put our trust in someone we don't know. PERIOD. If a stranger came up to me and said, "I will be happy to babysit your kids today, take off." ummmm, no thanks. I don't know you so I surely would not trust you with my children. However, when my mother-in-law comes to town and says, "can I watch the kids?".... Yep!!!! Thank you, I know her, I trust her, I have spent time with her, I know her ways, her character. I leave my kids, no worry, no anxiety. They are in her care.

In this passage, verse 33, he tells us to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness. I saw this as Jesus saying, spend some time with me, get to know me, understand and believe that I am who I say I am, and my promises are true. Get to know me, really know me, so you can trust me, once you trust me, you can let go of all that anxiety you carry. I look at anxiety as a bunch, just a big ole wad of "what ifs"

I don't like anxiety, I don't like the way I feel when I am anxious. I am choosing to trust and believe in the solid promises of a mighty God. A God I trust, a God I believe in, a God I have given my life to. If I have trusted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, for my eternal security, how can I not trust him with my day to day stuff?

Abba, Father thank you for your truth. I am choosing today to trust fully in you, knowing you are trustworthy. In your Son's precious and Holy name I pray, Amen.

I only have today

2011-02-18T07:26:00.000-05:00

Am I thankful? or am I bemoaning my circumstances? The truth is I have today, just today, just this moment, tomorrow is not promised or guaranteed. I looked up the word bemoan. It was defined as " to express deep grief or distress over, to regard with displeasure, disapproval or regret". 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells me to be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
I am seeking God's will; I don't see anywhere in that scripture that I can bemoan any circumstances. God's Word, his truth is telling me to be thankful in all circumstances. So, for today, since that is where I am, and today is all I have, TODAY, I am choosing to be thankful. I am choosing to focus on the great works of God, and how profound are His thoughts (Psalm 92:5) I serve a mighty God, a Holy God, a righteous God. I choose to use my words and my time that He has gifted me today to praise his Holy name.
Abba Father, fill me with your Spirit, let all I think, do and say be an overflow of you.

2011-02-16T14:01:00.001-05:00

When people ask us, "How are you doing?" and we respond.... "Fine" and in our hearts and minds we are thinking "but not really" as the rest of the sentence.....

What we need to be asking our friends is "How's your heart?"
So, with that as a lead in.... the other morning in my quiet time, I was reading about PEACE. The word I found as an antonym for PEACE was WAR...
So, I went a little deeper and if we don't have PEACE within, then we have WAR.
So, now go with me, look at all the ways the world offers us peace.
Vacations, massage, drinks, drugs, sex, shopping, bath luxuries. So the scripture I was reading was talking about the peace that Jesus gives, not the peace that the world offers. John 14:27

The offers of the world are "quick fixes".
the vacation ends, the massage is over, the drink runs empty, the drugs wear off, the sex ends, the shopping mall closes, and the bath water runs cold. So, the substitute peace is gone... and we have to go seeking again.
The peace of Jesus is the only TRUE peace. We must be seeking him for our peace, otherwise it's not the real thing, and if we don't have peace, we have war.

Another go at this...

2011-02-10T13:55:00.000-05:00

I am home today. The baby is sick, bronchitis again. It's raining and gray outside. So inside, I sit with two toddlers. One is asleep and one is fascinated with his piece of gum. I keep wondering what is all the craze about blogs??? So, I emailed my dearest friend in the world, and asked her 'What are blogs?' Her reply, "they are like internet diaries...I can't believe you don't already have one"....
So, I am thinking, I love to talk, I love to journal, and I love to tell stories. My favorite subject is talking about Jesus. Next in line to Jesus, is to tell the crazy real life stories, that come from my immediate family.
I have 5 children. The oldest is 19, 17, 16, 4 and the baby is 2. The shenanigans that we live are so comical, most days. So, I think, having a blog will give me an outlet to share.. I have no idea if anyone else will ever read this, but I will find pleasure in writing, well I guess in this case, typing.
So, there. I have blogged. I guess. So new to this, we'll see how it goes.

well, now what do I do?

2011-01-13T22:40:00.000-05:00

Not exactly sure what has happened, or how I have managed...but I now have a twitter account and a blog. Not even real sure what to do with a blog. Are these for me? how do other people know I have a blog? what is a blog? do they really care what I have to say? I have always wanted to write...writing is like blogging, no paper though, or pens, just me and my thoughts... why would anyone care what my thoughts are???? we'll see, not sure where this will go?