Perfect Prayers

We had a couple of those....:Oh my goodness...God You are just so amazing" moments at church on Sunday.  You know, those times when  the Lord just does something so specific, so "bulls eye" that it's jaw dropping, filling you with laughter, joy and awe.  Love it!

Our leader John had decided to put little strips of paper with specific prayer requests in the offering plates this Sunday.  When it came time for prayer, him and another member, Bob, handed them out, one to each of us.  That's part one.  Part two: A new lady decided to check out our church this Sunday morning.  She related to me that she had been looking for a new church since she just moved to the area.  Part Three:  We have a sign out front on which one of our ladies puts up fun little sayings designed to draw people to the Lord, make them think, and just bring God to the mind of passer bys.

So this new lady drives by our church day by day....and sees our sign...which she loves...and so she decides to stop in for our Sunday service.  Prayer time comes around....John and Bob hand out the little paper strips of prayer requests, and you just have to be amazed at God....the request on the new woman's paper:  to pray for those who see our sign.  I still can't believe that.  How wonderful is our God!?!

So if that wasn't enough to blow you away, lets get to my prayer paper.  Part one:  On Sundays, I usually pick up one of our older members, Rose, for service.  Part two:  As Rose and I got out of the truck and started walking toward the church building we were talking about what we prayed for.  I mentioned that I prayed for strong people to be raised up in our congregation to serve along side out leader in church.  Part three:  Back to the handing out of the prayer request strips....and what's on mine?  To pray that people would be moved to serve in our church..

What?  Is God in control, planning every step, in every moment, putting together the puzzle of our lives, working in each of us and all of us together?  We all know that He is.  But sometimes it is so crystal clear and easy to see.  We need those times.  It's so easy to miss His hand in the daily grind, and the monotony of the day to day tasks.  I love that He gives this little glimpses into His big picture. It's so encouraging.  It's not always that we get to see His plan playing out so clearly.  And I know there is so much more to this picture of His and I can't wait to see it unfold.  

Lord, thank You for Your encouragement.  Thank You that You let us get small glimpses into Your larger plan.  Help us to trust that Your plan is at work and is wonderful.  And I pray that people will be raised up, not just in my church, but in the whole body to serve, to pray, to share their talents and gifts that You have given. In Jesus Name, amen.  

Rolling With The Punches

So many times, in so many ways I've been instructed by the Lord to let Him direct my steps for the day.  Put down my "to do" list and just be available for His purposes.  Well today is a day of testing. And you know what....I think I am doing ok here !! LOL  This is truly a God visiting test of the previously learned material.  LOL  It is actually really peaceful to leave it in the Lord's hands and to just go where He leads.  (okay, partially peaceful...as I still have the little niggling that I need to get some stuff done...but I'm giving that over to the Lord)

A sad situation with a friend, phone time.  Another friend needed a cat crate I have,,.time to dig it out of the attic....two cats who seem to have nothing else to do but to walk ons and or sit on this computer....makes typing this blog really, really difficult...and then of course my mouse decides it wants new batteries and I am forced to use the little finger thing,....which I do not like.  Did I mention the "to do" list?  LOL  Well.......you know what?  I wouldn't have this day be any other way.  It feels so good to let go and let God.  To know I am walking His plan, being His servant.

And I am so glad that I get to share this here.  Please pray for my friend in her situation...the Lord knows the whos and what fors.

Thank You Lord for today.  For the people You put in my life.  They are blessings in so many ways. I thank You that You are at work in the aforementioned situation and that in spite of all that seems awry and dark, You have a good plan for all involved.  First and foremost, I pray for salvation for each.  Lord, I am giving You this day, each moment fill with Your presence in purpose, not just for me, but for each person reading this.  In Jesus holy and precious name, amen.

Kittens

We had a couple of big adoption events this weekend at the kitten and cat adoption center I volunteer at.  And we did really great....15 kitten got furever homes!!  Yaaay.

There were four little kittens though, who did not do so good....they are sweet but a little on the shy side and so they weren't very comfortable in all the activity and noise, and so they did not get taken home....this is a very difficult thing, as it is hard to find people willing to give a little extra TLC to an animal that is so special, yet shy.

Well, I was praying last night for the Lord to find a home for these kittens.  It is a desperate situation for them.  It weighed so heavy on my heart and I found it hard to concentrate on my Bible study. And then I read the "Jesus Calling" for the day.  And the last line.....Lay your requests before Me and wait in expectation."   Oh my goodness!!!!  Thank You Lord!!

I ask for prayers on their behalf.

I come before You on behalf of these little ones Lord, You know their situation, You created these little beings.  Thank You for working on their behalf, and I wait expectantly for Your solution.  You are amazing, as always.

Genetics

Sunday morning Bible study is going through the book of Genesis.  We worked on chapter 26 this past Sunday where it told about Isaac's dealings with Abimelech, king of the Philistines.

Genesis 26:1-11  A severe famine now struck the land, as had happened before in Abraham’s time. So Isaac moved to Gerar, where Abimelech, king of the Philistines, lived.  2 The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt, but do as I tell you. 3 Live here as a foreigner in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. I hereby confirm that I will give all these lands to you and your descendants,[a] just as I solemnly promised Abraham, your father. 4 I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 5 I will do this because Abraham listened to me and obeyed all my requirements, commands, decrees, and instructions.” 6 So Isaac stayed in Gerar.  7 When the men who lived there asked Isaac about his wife, Rebekah, he said, “She is my sister.” He was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” He thought, “They will kill me to get her, because she is so beautiful.” 8 But some time later, Abimelech, king of the Philistines, looked out his window and saw Isaac caressing Rebekah.  9 Immediately, Abimelech called for Isaac and exclaimed, “She is obviously your wife! Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?”   Because I was afraid someone would kill me to get her from me,” Isaac replied.  10 “How could you do this to us?” Abimelech exclaimed. “One of my people might easily have taken your wife and slept with her, and you would have made us guilty of great sin.”  11 Then Abimelech issued a public proclamation: “Anyone who touches this man or his wife will be put to death!”

Isaac had lived with the same fear, the same doubt of the Lord's protection, and therefore used the same ruse that his father Abraham did when Abraham went down to Egypt with Sarah and again when he lived among the Philistines.

Genesis 13:10-15  10 At that time a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to go down to Egypt, where he lived as a foreigner. 11 As he was approaching the border of Egypt, Abram said to his wife, Sarai, “Look, you are a very beautiful woman. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife. Let’s kill him; then we can have her!’ 13 So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.”  14 And sure enough, when Abram arrived in Egypt, everyone noticed Sarai’s beauty. 15 When the palace officials saw her, they sang her praises to Pharaoh, their king, and Sarai was taken into his palace.
 

Genesis 20:1-5  Abraham moved south to the Negev and lived for a while between Kadesh and Shur, and then he moved on to Gerar. While living there as a foreigner, 2 Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, by saying, “She is my sister.” So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her brought to him at his palace.  3 But that night God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are a dead man, for that woman you have taken is already married!”  4 But Abimelech had not slept with her yet, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? 5 Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘Yes, he is my brother.’ I acted in complete innocence! My hands are clean.”

My first thought was that Isaac saw Abraham do this, so he followed in his father's footsteps...but no, that didn't seem right, I knew Isaac wasn't born when Abram and Sarai went down to Egypt.  And then I checked to make sure Isaac was not born when Abraham went down to Gerar in the second instance.  Just as I suspected he was not.  So where did Isaac learn this little trick?   Seems like a trait passed down from father to son.

Okay, so that is the background to this God visit.  After study we went into service.  It was  a wonderful time of worship.  As usual, our teaching was interesting and gave me some good stuff to chew on for the week.  But it was one of our worship songs that amazed me.  Our worship team sang "The Old Rugged Cross."  I couldn't believe it.  God opened up my heart to remember...and to see.  My Mom used to tell me this was my Grandmother's favorite hymn, and thus had become hers as well.  And you know what, it's one of mine also!  Incredible.  I never met my Grandmother, she died quiet a few years before I was born.

And so as the joyful tears rolled down my face, I realized that in contrast to Abraham's fear and lying being passed down to Isaac, something beautiful had been passed down to me....The love of this sweet old hymn, the deep appreciation for it's lovely words and melody etched in my genetic structure.  How totally cool is that!!

I just love the Lord !!  Thank You Father.

Sharing Songs

Have a blessed Sunday

Follow

I just finished a chapter in our church's Bible study of the book of Genesis that asked us to review Abraham's life and describe the notable characteristics were we saw in him.  For me, it was his desire to obey God and follow Him closely that stuck out.  

Genesis 12:1, 4  The the Lord told Abram, "Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you.....So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed him, and Lot went with him, Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.  

Genesis 22:9-11  When they arrived at the place where God had told Abraham to go, he built and altar and placed wood on it.  Then he tied Isaac up and laid him on the altar over the wood.  And Abraham took the knife and lifted it up to kill his son as a sacrifice to the Lord.  At that moment the angel of the Lord shouted to him from heaven, "Abraham!  Abraham!"  "Yes," he answered, "I'm listening."  

Yesterday morning I was reading my "Jesus Calling" devotional and I'll bet you can guess what it was teaching on.....yup, following Jesus closely!!  Hmmmm, I'm thinking the Lord is trying to tell me something!!  LOL  

God is amazing.  He brings to the forefront of our minds exactly what we need, what He wants us to learn.  For me it was "follow closely."  Not dawdling, not distracted, not foot dragging, half-heartedly....but closely, obediently, paying attention and focused on my Leader.  I wonder what others found God speaking to them when they read the same verses, answered the same question....And that's what just blows me away about the Lord.  With the same Word, the same study materials,  He reaches into each of our hearts and touches the places that need help, guidance, healing specific to that individual..... I love it!!

Thank You Lord for Your teaching, Your Word and Your Holy Spirit.  Thank You for seeing each of us as the unique individuals You created us to be and interacting with us in a way that is perfect for each of us.  You know us perfectly, completely.  Help us to follow You, to keep our eyes focused on You and step where you lead.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.  

Choose Happy

A few days ago I was jogging and as usual I was listening to a Joyce Meyer podcast.  She was teaching about choosing to be glad NOW.  Not in the future when things were different, not when Friday comes or vacation rolls around, not when I have a new house or new car, or new this or that...but in the present moment, right now....choose to be glad.

It's so funny, because just the night before I was talking about this with a friend. Hmmmm...."Godincidence?"  I get so angry and miserable at work sometimes--but that is not what the Lord wants---He wants me joyful, at peace and filled with His light and life.  So I am trying to find things that make me joyful at work (a herculean task to be sure!).  But in spite of my surroundings and the goings on at my work place, the reason I always have to be joyful is that Jesus is always, everywhere, at all times, in all places, with me.  He never leaves me.  So even in the darkest of places, His light and life shine forth.  Every moment sparkles with His love.

This is such an easy realization as I sit here with the Lord in the morning, surrounded by the peace of His presence.  The quietness of the morning, the Word of God open beside me....all this makes perfect sense....but oh when I leave this place....that's when this truth seems to retreat way into the the farthest recesses of my mind...it fades from my conscious thought.  And I hate that.

So, Lord I ask that You help keep this with me.  And I thank You for the teaching You bring to me, day by day....choosing happy, sowing seeds, all of it...each day You work with me to bring about renewal and growth.  Lord, I am a slow learner so I am especially grateful for Your patience.  I love your Lord.

I am going to leave you all with the song by Chris Tomlin that has been running around my mind since I woke up this morning.  I figure the Lord put it there for a reason, so I'll share!!

Seeds

Last night was a typical night at work.  Same people, doing or not doing in some cases, the same things.  My goal has been to make Jesus the focus, and forget about what goes on around me.  I meet with varying degrees of success as you all well know.  But in the middle of it all last night, I felt the Lord say to me...seeds.  Every time I do my job well, and don't complain I am sowing a seed for goodness.

This line of thinking started about a week ago as I watched some of these people doing a little as possible, hiding or hanging out instead of doing their jobs, managers taking advantage of others.  I thought to myself, how sad, they are sowing such dark seeds...someday they will reap what they have planted and it won't be anything good.  They are blind to this and that is very, very sad indeed.

Adversely, as the Lord spoke to my heart last night, when we do what is right, in His honor, we sow seeds of righteousness and will reap His blessing.  How awesome is that.  But if I do my job with a bad attitude I lose that blessing.  What a great way to keep myself in check and on the right track.

Proverbs 11:18  The wicked earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness gets a true reward.

Proverbs 22:8  He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow, and the rod of his anger will fail.

Lord, help me to sow seeds of rightness, to Your glory.  Help me not to have a bad attitude, a haughty attitude, a grumpy attitude, a "holier than thou" attitude....help me to just honor You in all I do.  And help me to share Your love instead of sharing my complaints.  I want to sow goodness with my deeds and my words.  Lord, I also pray for the people at work that don't know You and only know this world....open their hearts to Your love and salvation.  In Jesus Name, amen.

Forgiven

Yesterday I had a wonderful morning with the Lord.  Study, peacefulness, music, prayer....You know those times where the Lord feels close and your quiet time seems to go to a deeper place.  I was able to take this quiet joy with me throughout my day.  As I drove into work I spent time praying...knowing that I would be tested (as always in my workplace).  It wasn't all that easy, but I was managing to give my negative feelings and thoughts over to the Lord for a good part of my day. But as things got more frustrating and more people were taken away from the area I work in (as the work increased), it was getting harder and harder to maintain that peacefulness I enjoyed in the morning with the Lord.  Oh how I long to keep this quiet heart throughout the day!!

And so.......The hostility I was feeling inside made it's way to the outside and of course through my mouth.  Ugh.  Well, I ended up venting my anger, and then later apologizing for doing so.  As usual, there are problems, but I am to handle them differently and in a godly manner.

But here is the good part.  I didn't spend the time afterward beating myself up or buried under guilt and condemnation....thinking things like God must be so disappointed, how can He love me, etc.  No, I knew and know that He loves me and sees me as His precious child.  I sin, I make mistakes, I blow it big time....but I am still wrapped in His robe of righteousness, living under His grace because those things depend on Him, not on me and He is completely reliable and faithful and loving.  This was a victory for me.  Thank You Lord.

So this morning I come once again to my prayer closet, I open His glorious, and beloved Word, being led to Psalm 32:1-2 through some notes I had taken during the Joyce Meyer conference.  And I see the comforting Word of my Savior and know it is His hand reaching out to mine to draw me back to Himself, so we may continue this journey together again today.

Psalm 32:1-2  Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!  Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!

Thank You so much Lord for Your cleansing forgiveness.  You are so merciful and I am so unworthy but so grateful.  I stand under the shadow of the Cross, and am clothed with a robe of righteousness because of Your love and grace.  Lord, help me to do better.  To glorify You more.  I know You are at work in me and that is enough today.

Psalm 103  Praise the Lord, I tell myself;

    with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.

2 Praise the Lord, I tell myself;

    may I never forget the good things he does for me.

3 He forgives all my sins

    and heals all my diseases.

4 He redeems me from death

    and crowns me with love and tender mercies.

5 He fills my life with good things.

    My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

6 The Lord gives righteousness

    and justice to all who are treated unfairly.

7 He revealed his character to Moses

    and his deeds to the people of Israel.

8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful,

    slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

9 He will not constantly accuse us,

    nor remain angry forever.

10 He does not punish us for all our sins;

    he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.

11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him

    is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.

12 He has removed our sins as far from us

    as the east is from the west.

13 The Lord is like a father to his children,

    tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

14 For he knows how weak we are;

    he remembers we are only dust.

15 Our days on earth are like grass;

    like wildflowers, we bloom and die.

16 The wind blows, and we are gone—

    as though we had never been here.

17 But the love of the Lord remains forever

    with those who fear him.

His salvation extends to the children’s children

18     of those who are faithful to his covenant,

    of those who obey his commandments!

19 The Lord has made the heavens his throne;

    from there he rules over everything.

20 Praise the Lord, you angels,

    you mighty ones who carry out his plans,

    listening for each of his commands.

21 Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels

    who serve him and do his will!

22 Praise the Lord, everything he has created,

    everything in all his kingdom.

Let all that I am praise the Lord.

Psalm 32:8  The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life, I will advise you and watch over you.

Morning Songs

Demonic Harassment, from Mom

God, please protect and guide this child (insert name of you choice) and set angelic forces at work to break up every scheme of the enemy.

Let demonic communication lines be cut.

Let demons become confused and weaken their hold on this person.

Let the person be strengthened in their faith to understand their position in Christ and to trus and obey God's Word.

May this person be able to distinguish between their thoughts and feelings and those of Satan.

Let this person recognize demonic presence and not be confused but willingly seek godly counsel and help.

from me:

This was Mom's writing on people who are being harassed or oppressed by Satan and his minions. As Christians, we like to think we are immune from this kind of thing, but I believe we have an even greater target on our back and need to keep our armor on so as not to come under his influence. Many loved ones you have may be in bondage to sin, to anger, to addiction, sexual sin.....wherever these kinds of things are present, you can be sure there is a demonic activity at work and these statements or something like them, prayed and spoken in faith in Jesus Christ and in His name will break the hold and influence of any power or principality.  Pray especially against spiritual blindness.   I know my Mom got these statements from somewhere---a book I believe, but I am not sure which one.  I think we need to persevere in our battle for those we care about....to follow through until we see them set free and serving the Lord.  Prayer, fasting---all weapons in a spiritual battle.  Mark 9:29  He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”  Satan is a defeated enemy, but he still creates a lot of problems, heartache and destruction.  But we are stronger in Jesus Christ.   Revelation 12:11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.  Fight the good fight.  We are more than conquerors through Him that loves us.

Demons, from Mom

Not a subject I would usually put here.  This blog is all about God's touch on my life, the times He speaks His presence and love into my day.  But my Mom's original intent when she penned this journal was for it to be shared with all---family, friends, strangers---and so I will include this excerpt here even if it's out of the norm for my blog.  I know God has a plan and purpose for everything and we do need to know our enemy.  God is always teaching, always loving and always sovereign.

From Mom:

Demon is a fallen angel.  Lucifer was his name.  Isaiah 14:12-15  How you are fallen from heaven O shining star son of the morning!  You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world.  For you said to yourself, 'I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God's stars.  I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north.  I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.'  But instead, you will be brought down to the place  of the dead, down to its lowest depths.

Demons are what are called "principalities and powers."

Angels are God's messengers, ambassadors, they are from God.

Demons torment people, possess them and lead them from God and His truth.

Mark 5:2-5  Just as Jesus was climbing from the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit ran out from a cemetery to meet Him.  This man lived among the tombs and could not be restrained, even with a chain.  Whenever he was put into chains and shackles--as he often was--he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles.  No one was strong enough to control him  All day long and throughout the night, he would wander among the tombs and in the hills, screaming and hitting himself with stones.

Acts 13:6-12  They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.  Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?  Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.”  Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.  When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

There is conflict in the invisible world between God's loyal messengers (angels) and the demonic hosts.

Angels ascend to the height of spirituality.  Demons reach the depths of hatred, bitterness, perversion, torment people, possess them, lead them from God and His truth.  Christians have the Holy Spirit within them, thus they have the power over all demons.

1 John 4:4  But you belong to God, my dear children.  You have already won your fight with these false prophets, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 

Luke 10:19  And I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them.  Nothing will injure you.  

Note:  snakes and scorpions are symbolic of spiritual enemies and demons, power over which Jesus has given His followers.

Demonized--to be possessed of a demon, act under the control of a demon.  (I am going to list the verses you can reference here rather than type them all out)
*Matthew 4:24, 8:16, 28,33, 9:32, 12:22, 15:22
*Mark 1:32, 5:15-18, 5:2-5
*Luke 8:28,36
*John 10:21

Exorcisism--is the commanding "in the Name of Jesus Christ" (Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth) to come out of an individual accomplished through he Holy Spirit by the spoken word.

All spiritual warfare waged is victorious only on the basis of appropriating the provision of the Cross and Christ's blood.

From me:

This is a heady subject and too extensive and intensive of a study for a small space.  I will list the Scriptures Mom included in her journal if you would like to do more study on this topic.  It is my opinion that while we need to be informed and learned in this area, our main focus should always be the victory we have through Jesus Christ.  We are not to become fearful, and obsess over this topic or these beings.  As we are told by Jesus, we have the power over them, and in 1 John we are told greater is He who is in us.  Those thoughts should always come to mind when facing the enemy, in our lives or in the lives of others.  Prayer and fasting are important weapons in this battle.

Ephesians 6:10-18  A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.  For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.   Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.  Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.  In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Scriptures to check out for more info:

Unclean spirit:  Revelation 16:13, 14   Mark 5:2, 7:25, 1:23   Luke 8:27-29
Possessed:   see * references given above for Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Exorcisism:  Acts 19:13
Victory:  Colossians 2:15
Demon:  Matthew 17:18   Luke 7:33   John 8:48
Demonic:  James 3:15
Demons:  Deuteronomy 32:17   Psalm 106:37   Luke 9:1, 10:17   1 Corinthians 10:21
                 James 2:19   Revelation 18:2
Lie:  Numbers 23:19   Psalm 89:35   Colossians 3:9   James 3:14   1 John 2:21
         Revelation 21:27
Lied:  Acts 5:3-4

Letting Go

There are some things in life, in my life that don't belong.  At the Joyce Meyer conference this weekend Joyce spoke on de-stressing our lives.  One of the things she addressed was examining our lives to figure out what was bearing fruit and what was not.  What activities does it seem like God is in, which are He blessing.  Is He using me here, in this area or is it dead and unfruitful?

I am involved in a few things.  This blog being one.  I help set up the bulletin boards at church.  And of course caring for the kitties at the shelter.  A few other things as well.  Like most people, I have a plethora of things I do, things I love to do.  But something Joyce said struck a chord deep within me. She taught that if we are trying to get out from under overload in our lives, we may need to rearrange, change or even eliminate some things from our schedules.  And immediately a ministry I am involved in came to mind, and also the thought that this ministry, although I am passionate about it, is not for this time in my life.  That is the reason God has not caused it to expand or be fruitful.  This is something I love, I feel strongly about and want to help in.  But I believe the Lord is changing my direction in this area....leading me to step back from the stress of failure in this endeavor and work in the areas I am comfortable in, time-wise.

This visit was all about listening for the Lord's timing.   There are many things in all our lives we want to be involved in, good, worthwhile things.  But if those doors aren't opening, if nothing seems to move in a certain activity...perhaps it's time to sit at the Lord's feet and listen for His direction.  Is this ministry something I am to be involved in?  Is it for another period in my life?  Am I to go in another direction with this ministry?  These are the questions I am seeking answers to right now.

These verses seems to be coming up a lot lately.  It's quickly turning into a favorite and every time I look at it something different pops up!

Matthew 11:28-30  Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you.  LET ME TEACH YOU, because I am humble and gentle and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke fits perfectly and the burden I give you is light."  

Jesus, teach me.  Lord, I pray You would continue to show me Your plan.  Lead me in the way I should go.  Just because something is good, does not mean it's something that is right for me to be doing.  Lead us all in Your perfect will for our lives, day by day, week by week....into the abundant life and future You have for us.  I don't want to be outside Your will in any part of my life.  Help me to have a listening heart.  And thank Your for giving me permission to step back from things....to to not feel guilty if I am not able to do certain things, or choose to do something else.  You are in control.   Lord, let everything I do be a blessing to You and bring You glory.

He Loves Me

Ahhhh, going away, a mini-vacation.  Always a nice break from the everyday routine.  I was blessed to be able to attend the Joyce Meyer conference in Hershey, Pennsylvania over the last weekend. And it was wonderful.  The message....."Overload...Getting Unplugged" or "How to Deal With Stress." Nothing I need, right LOL.  Not too much anyway.  Hahaha.  Something she said, a definition of peace she had heard was "a quiet heart."  What a beautiful way to look at and experience peace.  I imagine living in that state...wow, how phenomenal would that be.

I have quite a few "God Visits" from the weekend that I want to share.  As usual God used music to reach my heart and give it a hug.  We left Thursday morning, so Wednesday was was filled with the usual running around, crazy preparing, packing, last minute shopping.....that accompanies a road trip vacation.  I didn't wake up feeling that great, but okay I can deal with it. I spend my time with the Lord, then get moving to get going to get running.  The first thing I do is break my closet door!!! REALLY!!  Are you kidding me Lord? Of course this inspired a mini melt down.  Here I am with a thousand things to do and I break a door. Ugh.  So my attitude went down hill from there.  I am all set to go spend time with the Lord, hear a great message from Joyce and I am felling so distant and fractured from the Lord.

Israel Houghton and the New Breed was the band on hand to lead us in worship that weekend.  So what do they open up with......"I  Am A Friend Of God."  I love that song!  It's felt like my heavenly Father was just reaching down and taking my hand in reassurance.

How precious is His love toward us.  How tender His care.  I so needed it at that moment, and really I didn't even realize it.  Yet when the Lord reached out to me, I was enveloped my His love and acceptance.  It's funny, we've been studying Genesis in Sunday Bible Study and we are with Abraham and Sarah right now...Abraham was imperfect and at times fearful, following his own way, but yet God called him friend. And through that song I got the same message of friendship and love from Jesus.


Thank You Lord for loving me even at my most unlovable, even when I don't feel it, even when I feel like I don't deserve it.  You are ever faithful.  I thank You for this marvelous weekend of teaching and fellowship.  I just praise You today.