Quiet Reflections

What Makes a Marriage Last?

2012-02-13T13:26:00.001-05:00

What makes a marriage last, grow, and filled with love?

My first response would be a mutual commitment to God and one another, and yet sadly statistics would not back that statement up. Recent surveys show that divorce is just as high in the church as outside the church. And I know plenty of Christian marriages that are not filled with a growing, deeper love for one another.

So what IS the difference?

Keith and I have talked quite a bit about this because we have often been asked how we have maintained such a good, solid marriage. What have we done to grow deeper in love? What have we learned or done along the way that has helped us, not only stay together, but grow together? As we've pondered those questions I believe God has give us insight to share.

First of all it IS all about having a commitment to God and one another! Unfortunately today many do not understand commitment or keeping a promise. So even to use those words sometimes it loses the depth of the meaning. I personally like to use the word covenant. We are in a marriage covenant with one another and God. A covenant that says I will stay beside you, love you, and encourage you no matter what life may bring. It says we are one and nothing but death can separate us. Keith and I decided very early in our marriage that the word divorce or separation would never be an option, we would always work through our differences.

A covenant marriage is about serving your mate, being Christ to them. Putting their needs above your own. It's about praying for one another and with each other. Learning to laugh together. For more on Covenant Marriage click here.

Communication is huge. Learning to talk heart to heart openly and without fear is so important. We talk and talk and talk through those things that we are struggling with. We share our hopes, dreams, disappointments, failures and sin with one another. My husband is not always good at this, and doesn’t really like to talk on about emotions. He often likes to keep things inside, which is total opposite of me who will often just spill it all out. So I patiently taught him how important it was. (OK! OK! sometimes I wasn't so patient) but the point being that we can teach one another what is needed. I was able to, over time, teach my husband it was okay to talk about emotions. And he has taught me that sometimes we need to just let each other process our thoughts and feelings before spilling out all our emotional stuff!

Be content with your role in the marriage. I, as a wife, have learned to be joyful and content in my role as his help meet. Yes it was a long process to get here, and yes, there are days I struggle. But quite honestly the days I fail, the days I try to "rule the roost" I have gone to God and my husband to ask for forgiveness. But I have learned that while I can have a voice, I can have an opinion and I can make decisions God has placed the husband with greater accountability for our marriage and I need to respect that.

Keith has learned to love, cherish and lead our family. But please hear me on this, our husbands will only lead when we let them. I hear so many women complain that their husbands don't lead. My question is always, "Are you letting them?" Ladies we need to be obedient to God and allow our husbands to lead, even if that means letting him fail. God will deal with his heart. God will mold him into the man He desires. I can not be the Holy Spirit in my husbands life. I can not change him, only God can. And like wise Keith has learned that only God can change me. So we have given each other room to make mistakes, to fail and allow God to do a work in us and through us.

Be best friends. I know that seems so elementary, and easy. But we must realize it doesn’t just happen. We have to spend time together, quality time. We have always made family time and couple time a priority. Many couples do well with family time to only fail at setting time aside for themselves. Couples need to continue “dating” throughout their married life. Often those who do not put time into their marriage find that when the kids are grown and gone there are two strangers living in the same house.

Recognize that marriage is HARD work. A good marriage doesn't just happen, you have to work at it. It has to be important enough to you that you are willing to sacrifice daily for the continued health of it. You can't let your children, your parents, or your girlfriends come before your husband. After God he is your first priority. God gave me to my husband to be his help meet and that means to come along side him and help him.

Realize there is not thing as a perfect marriage or perfect husband/wife. We realize that neither of us are perfect, so how could we have a perfect marriage.But we have made our relationship to one another a priority over every other relationship. We have worked hard at it, and not given up. We have stood in the mud together (and most likely threw mud at each other) but then we both help with the clean up.

My husband and I both are committed to our Lord and I know that your circumstance could be different making it more difficult. But as a Christian wife we are still called into obedience to God regardless of whether or not our husbands are Christians. You can read more about this here or here.

Of course there is so much more I could share practically on how we can do these things, but it would be a whole book! Feel free to join me every Monday as I share my Reflections on Marriage

You might also enjoy the story of how we met here.

An Empty Nest Filled with Blessings

2012-02-10T10:42:00.001-05:00

Today as I reflected on my family, my empty nest and what to share God brought to mind my blessings. I am a very blessed woman and mother.

Yes my little boys have grown into men and flown away. They don’t need their momma watching diligently over them any longer. Those two little precious boys once filled my heart with so much love and filled my life with dirt, Legos, cars, trucks, mud, snakes and so many more little boys things. Today they still fill my heart with so much love.

They fill my heart with love and grandbabies, grandpuppies, beautiful daughter in laws and so much more.

So today instead of focusing on the unknown future I want to focus on my many blessings. Instead of looking at my nest as empty I am choosing to look at it filled with blessings.

My nest is filled with two grown sons who love the Lord, their wives and children…and their puppy! It’s filled with young men who desire to pursue God’s will for their lives. It’s filled with daughter in laws who love the Lord and also desire to follow after Him. And it’s filled with three precious grandchildren and a puppy.

My encouragement to other Empty Nester’s today is to focus on the blessings God has given you during this season. I know for some that may be difficult for you are dealing with hard issues like prodigal children, or terminal illnesses. But even in the darkest of times I believe God can help us see even the smallest blessing, if we just look.

These are my blessings…

Join me every Friday for Family Friday!

Purposefully Focusing on Jesus

2012-02-09T11:44:00.001-05:00

As I shared earlier this year the verse I believe God has given me for 2012 is Hebrews 12:1-2 and we have looked at chapters 1-10 so far in order to see what the author says about the One we are to fix our eyes on. The One who is the author and perfecter of faith, Jesus.

Before we move into chapters 11 and 12 I think it would be good to review what we have learned in Hebrews about Jesus. I will not list everything but just a few in order to refresh our memory.

In Hebrews Chapter one we see that Jesus is the appointed heir over all things. Through Him all things were created. He is the radiance of God’s glory, the exact representation of God’s nature. HE upholds all things by His power. Through Him we are purified. He sits at the right hand of God. Angels worship Him. His throne is forever. He loves righteousness, and hates lawlessness. All creation will wear out, it will be changed, but HE will remain the same.

Hebrews two tells us that He suffered death, our death. He is crowned with glory and honor. Through Him all things are brought to glory. Through His sufferings many sons will be brought to glory. HE will perfect our salvation through suffering. He sanctifies. He calls us brethren. He proclaims God’s name to us and puts His trust in God. He became flesh and blood in order to render the devil powerless through His death. HE frees those who fear death and are in slavery. He was made like us in all things, yet remain God. He is a merciful and faithful high priest. He makes propitiations for our sin. He was tempted.

In chapter 3 we see that Jesus is the Apostle, and High Priest of our confession. He is faithful. We see that he was faithful as a Son over His house.

In Chapter 4 we learn that Jesus is a high priest who has passed through heaven and He sympathizes with our weakness. He was tempted and yet did not sin. He is without sin.

Chapter 5 says that Christ did not glorify Himself but it was God who made Him High Priest. Jesus lived His days on earth in the flesh. He offered up prayers and supplications to the Father. He cried out in tears before His Father. He learned obedience from suffering and because He is perfect He is the source of salvation.

Hebrews 6 through 10 we see that our only hope is Christ. He is the only one who will not disappoint. Jesus’s promises are true. (6:9-16) His promises are unchangeable. He can not lie. It’s not that He will not lie, but He CAN NOT.

Our hope in Christ is “A hope both sure and steadfast?” Jesus came to us as a better covenant. Because of Him the law is no longer written on stone but written on our hearts. No longer would an earthly priest be needed. We will know God. We will be His people. Our sins remembered no more.

Because of Jesus our sins forgiven. Jesus, the perfect sacrifice offered Himself freely. His flesh, the veil, was torn so that we could freely “draw near” to God with “hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

This is the Jesus we are to fix our eyes on. Doesn’t it cause your heart to sing in praise? Do you know this Jesus who is described in Hebrews? Have you accepted Him as your high priest?

Jesus came as your perfect sacrifice. He gave Himself for YOUR sins. As a believer have you thanked Him lately? Have you pondered recently what all He has done means in your life?

Take time this week to reflect on the above list. Pray through it thanking Jesus for who He is and what He has done. Then I would love for you to share with me what He has shown YOU!

Join me next week as I have something very exciting to share with you! As I was reading this week in chapter 11 I saw something I hadn’t seen before and it’s SO exciting!! I can’t wait to show you!

Other Blog Post for Living Purposefully!

What Is It Like To Be Married To You?

2012-02-06T12:16:00.001-05:00

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24

Have you ever thought about what it might be like to be married to you? So often we don’t really stop and think about what our actions and attitudes are toward our spouse. We tend to think in terms of “this is the way I am, they have to love me” or “If they would treat me better I might treat them better.” Both of these thoughts are wrong. As discussed in How Should I Treat My Husband we learned that Scripture has a lot to say about how we are to treat one another, and those “one another’s” include our husband.

So in truth how I treat my spouse should have nothing to do with him. I am to be obedient to God and treat my spouse as God tells me. I think today we should ask ourselves a few questions about our actions and attitudes.

We should ask ourselves, “What is it like being married to me?” I challenge you to sit alone before the Lord as you pray through the following questions. Ask God to reveal those things in your life that aren’t honoring to your spouse or to your God. Confess whatever sinful ways God points out to you.

I ask that the Lord would help you work on your own issues — your own “planks” that need to be removed. This is a time to consider the weaknesses you personally contribute to your marital relationship. DO NOT use this time to point out your mate’s weaknesses, but go humbly and honestly before God and ask if there is any hurtful way in YOU and ME!

• Do I speak to my spouse in a dishonoring way so they feel belittled? (You may feel justified in speaking this way to them but the result could be that your spouse will eventually avoid being with you and instead seek to be with others who don’t belittle them the way you do.)
•Do I give them my full attention when they’re trying to communicate with me? Do they feel that what they have to say is important to me? Or am I trying to multi-task?
•Do I have a tendency to lecture or berate them making them feel like a child?
•Do I lose my temper easily? When I am angry do my words tend to be words that could make them feel assaulted? (This could cause them to shut down mentally and emotionally from hearing what you’re trying to communicate.)
•Do I treat “outsiders” with more love and respect than I do my own spouse?
•Do I use cutting humor with my spouse, saying, “I’m just kidding…” and yet my spouse has shown they don’t think what I’ve said is funny? And do I do this in front of others so that my spouse feels humiliated?
•Am I patient with my spouse, bearing with his weaknesses?
•Does my marriage partner ever complain that I act like I am better than them (and deep down I think it’s true)?
•Do I often act irritable or are you hyper-sensitive in your thoughts and actions with them?
•Do I keep bringing up things from the past — things they’ve already asked forgiveness for? (This can result in their feeling that they’ll never be able to escape their past actions with you no matter what they do.)
•Am I living a trustworthy life so my spouse doesn’t need to be concerned that I will violate their trust in me? And do I find ways to show them my trustworthiness? Do I participate in anything that Christ would see as “deeds of darkness” which could bring unhealthiness into my marital partnership? (See: Ephesians 5:11)
•Do I try to be a peacemaker in my home? (See: Ephesians 4:3; Romans 12:18)
•Do I protect my spouse’s feelings and their dignity, in how I speak and interact with them, both when I am alone and when I’m with others? Do I say things about my spouse to others that could hurt their feelings and integrity?(See: 1 Corinthians 13:7)
•Have I become such a serious person that I rarely laugh or try to have fun times in our relationship – times like we used to have before we married?
•Do I make an effort to show that I value being married to them above anyone else?
•Am I a negative person to live with? Do I need to make more of an effort to be more positive in how I interact with my spouse so I don’t drag down their spirits also?
•Do I look for ways to compliment and encourage my spouse when I am alone as well as when I’m with others?
•Am I gracious to my spouse so that when they make mistakes they still feel accepted and loved by me?
•Do I actively participate in making me marriage a better one? Do I show by my actions as well as by my words that I am in partnership with them?

Some of these questions are very difficult because my heart is convicted and I see that being married to me isn’t always a bed of sweet smelling roses. I have a lot of areas where I know that I need to treat my husband better.

There are days it seems too difficult. I must remember that the Lord walks with me and strengthens me. Why is it so hard anyway? It would be nice if I could blame my husband. But I can’t, not because he is perfect, but because I recognize that at all times my actions and attitudes are to bring glory to God regardless of how others might treat me.

If my husband isn’t treating me the way he should it doesn’t give me the right to treat him in a bad way. Yes, that can be hard. I battle my flesh that says I want to give it right back to him. But God’s Spirit is at work in me and I truly desire to be the wife God is creating me to be.

So those times I fail, I MUST go to my husband to ask for his forgiveness…

In the Kitchen: Bran Flax Muffins

2012-02-02T14:20:00.001-05:00

What you will need:

1 1/2 cups Unbleached White Flour

3/4 cups Bob’s Red Mill Flaxseed Meal

3/4 cups Oat Bran

1 cup Brown Sugar (I used 3/4 cup)

2 tsp. Baking Soda

1 tsp. Baking Powder

2 tsp Cinnamon

1 1/2 cups Shredded Carrots

2 Apples, peeled and shredded (I used one large apple and left about 1/2 the peel on)

1 cup of Nuts, chopped

1/2 cup Raisins (optional)

3/4 cup Milk (I used skim)

2 Eggs, beaten

1 tsp. Vanilla

Mix together Flour, Flaxseed Meal, oat bran, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon in large bowl.

Then stir in carrots, apples, raisins and nuts. Stir until batter is moist.

Combine milk, beaten eggs and vanilla. Pour liquid into dry ingredients. Stir until moistened, but do not over mix. (About 1 minute or less).

Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Yields 15 medium muffins.

I like to make both medium and small bite size muffins. I was able to get 12 medium and 22 bite sized.

Turn out immediately onto racks to let cool. Enjoy! They are delicious!

Living Purposefully with Confidence

2012-02-02T10:23:00.001-05:00

The Law, written on tablets of stone, was given to Moses and the people of Israel. A covenant was made. They promised to obey. It would be a promise they would not keep. They could not keep.

Breaking covenant meant death. The death of an animal sacrifice. Sin required a blood sacrifice. The priest would need to offer the blood sacrifice of perfect animals, daily for the sins of the people.

It was a shadow of things to come. There would be a better way. A better covenant. A perfect sacrifice that would be once and for all. It would cover all sin, for all time. To those who believe.

A better covenant. A law, not written on stone but written on our hearts. No longer would an earthly priest be needed. We will know God. We will be His people. Our sins remembered no more.

Our sins forgiven. Forgiven, not because of the blood of animals, but because of the One who came to offer His perfect sacrifice.The One, Jesus, the perfect sacrifice offered Himself freely.

Before, in the shadow of the things to come, man could not enter into the tabernacle. A veil separate man from entering. But Jesus provided a better covenant. His flesh, the veil, was torn so that we could freely “draw near” to God with “hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Heb 10:22)

So the law written on stone could not be kept, but the law written on our hearts can be kept through Jesus. We can have confidence in the One who promised is faithful to keep His covenant. A covenant that frees us from our sins and will no longer be remembered.

Since we have this confidence in Jesus we can endure the struggles and trials of this earth know that we will receive what has been promised. That which is promised is eternal life with Jesus.

So let us not give up, but let us hold fast and preserve to the end.

(see Hebrews 8-9 and Exodus 24)

Other Blog Post for Living Purposefully!

What If He Doesn’t Deserve My Respect?

2012-01-30T10:48:00.001-05:00

Last week we looked at how should we are to treat our husbands.This week I thought we should look at respect. We are to show respect, or honor, to our husband. I think showing respect is an area that is probably the hardest to live out because so much of the culture around us tells us that we should only show respect if it’s deserved. God’s word shows us a different way to live. So let’s look at what God has to say about it.

Respect: the condition of being esteemed or honored:

1 Peter 3:1 and 2 says “In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husband so that even if any of them are disobedience to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.”

I remember reading this verse several years ago and for the first time really seeing the phrase “In the same way”. I had to ask myself “IN WHAT WAY?”

In what way was I to be respectful to my husband?

In order to understand the answer to that question I had to go back to Chapter 2. We are to show honor to all people, love the brotherhood, fear God and honor the king. (v17)

We are to be respectful to those over us regardless of their attitude toward us. Verse 18 says to be respectful to those who are unreasonable, not just to those we are good and gentle.

Wow, that’s a hard one! I mean it’s easy to show respect if someone is deserving but to show respect if they are undeserving why would God ask us to do that?

Verse 19 tells us why. “For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.”

So if I understand that correctly I find favor in the eyes of God when I do what is right regardless of how the other person might treat me. Whoa! Wait a minute! That’s just going to far! I mean the world tells me I have a “right” to be pursue happiness. I have a “right” to live in comfort. I don’t have to suffer under harsh treatment from anyone. So why would God tell me to do something that is just too difficult?

Why? Because as Christ followers we have been called to suffer as Christ suffered. Jesus left us an example to follow. He suffered unjustly when He was ridiculed, reviled, and put to death for our sins. And in the midst of it all He uttered no threats, He kept silent.

I remember asking the question as I read, how can I keep silent through suffering? How can I be chaste and respectful in the midst of suffering at the hands of others? 1 Peter gives us the answer in the last part of verse 23, I am to keep entrusting myself to Him who judges righteously.

So how can I possibly show respect “in the same way” to my husband even if he doesn’t deserve my respect? I am to follow the example that Christ set. I am to live a life of obedience to God and entrust my life to Him. I am to allow God to work in the life of my husband without me trying to be his holy spirit.

Ladies I know this can be a hard one. I learned early in our marriage that my role is not to try and “convict” my husband of anything. I don’t always know what is right, even on those times I am convinced I am! I am called to be obedient to Christ. To live a life of respect to all those God has placed in my life. I can do this because I follow the example of Christ.

Now ask yourself, in light of what I’ve shared I would like to ask us all a few questions.
Is it ever okay to be disrespectful toward our husbands?
It is ever okay to get caught up in “husband bashing”?

Do I find myself talking negatively about my husband in front of others or my children?

Do my words life him up or tear him down?

What about my attitude when speaking with him? Do my voice tones show respect?

Prayer: Father we come to you today and confess that there are times we may have been disrespectful toward our husbands in word and by our actions. Forgive us and help us to show them the proper respect whether or not we think they deserve it. Help us to be obedient in this area out of our desire to please You and do what is right according to Your word. Amen

Also joining On Your Heart Tuesday and Titus 2 Tuesday check them out and be blessed!

Family Friday: The Journey

2012-01-27T14:33:00.001-05:00

Each path in ~~motherhood~~ life has it’s ups and downs. We journey through mountains, over deserts, along the ocean and through open fields.

We journey through the darkest nights, rain storms, sunshine, fog, and seasons of Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. Regardless of where we find ourselves in the journey we are often unsure of the next step. We have not come this way before. Each road is new, it’s different, and doesn’t always look just like the path others have walked.

Sometimes we feel so alone. Its seems no one else is with us on the path. We’ve lost sight of those who are ahead or those who are walking behind.

A young bride is fearful and unsure how to be a good wife. She looks around and so many seem to have it together. The marriages of her friends seems…dare she think it? “Perfect?” Yet she feels hers is falling apart. She feels afraid and alone.

A young mom hasn’t been able to leave her home for weeks. She doesn’t doesn’t understand how all her friends are able to attend Bible Studies, get together for lunch and stay sane. She is overwhelmed with motherhood. She feels as if she is walking this journey alone.

A mother of a prodigals is desperate for understanding, but she feels as if she is being judged. She spends her day crying and praying.Her heart is breaking. Does anyone see?

A mother says goodbye to her last child and wonders, “what now?” As she looks around it seems that others along this path know where they are going. They are pursuing careers, going back to school for degrees, they are DOING something. She wonders to herself how did they know what to do? She feels alone.

All of us have found, or will find ourselves in the above paragraphs. Some will find themselves in all of them.

I have walked them all. On each path there is something that remains constant, regardless of how we feel we are never alone. Our God walks with us through each stage. With each step we take He is preparing us for the next pathway of our journey.

We must remember that it may LOOK or FEEL like we are alone but others are with us. There are other women on the same path. We only need to look, speak out and be willing to be transparent.

To often the enemy preys on minds, our thoughts, during these times of aloneness and whispers lies. He convinces us that no one would understand, and that other’s lives are perfect. He tells us we alone in our struggling. He wants to keep us alone and silent.

But we must speak out. We must speak truth. Once we begin sharing our struggles along the journey we WILL find that other’s are struggling too. We WILL find that we are not alone, other women are just like us.

So in light of that I think I am going to spend the next couple of Friday’s talking about the “Empty Nest” path. I know it’s called FAMILY Friday, but I believe it fits. I will be sharing with you what has been difficult, what I’ve learned, and what I still haven’t figured out about being a FAMILY and a mom without any chick’s in her nest.

Living Purposefully with Hope

2012-01-24T21:54:00.000-05:00

Have you lost hope? Hope is to believe, desire or trust that things will get better. We hope that our current circumstances will get better. We hope that those around us will accept who we are. That they will love us.

I have learned through the years that sometimes hope disappoints. I remember a period of my life where it seemed that hope after hope there was great disappointment. My circumstances may have changed but at the core of the situation nothing changed. I clearly remember thinking to myself when I was about 15 “there is no hope of anything better than this.”

My hope was that life would get better. That people would change. The object of my hope required putting faith in people to do the right thing, to change. I did not understand then that to put my hope into anything other than Christ would be of great disappointment.

Our only hope is Christ. He is the only one who will not disappoint.

Why would I hope in Christ? While a whole book could be written on the reasons that our only hope is in Christ, I want to look specifically at Hebrews chapter 6–9.

I can hope in Christ because I know his promises are true. (Heb 6:9-16) His promises are unchangeable. (6:17) He can not lie. It’s not that He will not lie, but He CAN NOT. (6:18)

Hebrews 6:18 also says that “we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.”

What hope is set before us? What hope do we have “as an anchor of the soul”? “A hope both sure and steadfast?” (v19)

That hope is Christ Jesus himself. He is our High Priest. He is the ONE who died that we might have forgiveness of sin.

Because of Christ we no longer have to go to a priest to have our sins forgiven. Jesus is able to save forever those who draw near to God through His sacrifice. There is no need of daily sacrifices because Jesus paid the sacrifice once for all our sins when He offered up Himself. (Heb 7:25-28)

So how should we live? We live in the knowledge that we are perfect (positionally) before Christ. We have hope because our high priest sits at the right hand of God and ministers in the sanctuary of the true tabernacle. (8:1-2)

We live in hope because we know that Christ is in heaven making intercession for us. He is holy, innocent, undefiled, He is God. (7:25b-26)

When we hope in Christ we hope in one who will not disappoint. He will never fail us. He will never leave us.

The Christ who lives in us will not disappoint. The Christ in us is the HOPE of Glory. (Col 1:27)

Charles G. Finney once said, “Christ cannot be truly and savingly our hope, in any degree further than He is received into, and reigns, in our souls. To hope in merely an outward Christ is to hope in vain.”

Christ is our Hope. Our only rational expectation is from Him. Expectations placed anywhere else will fail. Christ in us is our Hope of glory. Without Christ in us, we have no good or well-grounded hope of glory.

Christ in the Gospel. Christ crucified. Christ risen. Christ in Heaven.

Christ is our only hope. That is a Christ which is actually present, living, and reigning in us as He reigns in heaven.

To live a life purposefully with hope means that I will take refuge in Christ knowing that He alone will not disappoint.

Would love for you to share how you are living with hope! Feel free to link back to me and leave a comment so I can visit!

Past Blog Post for Living Purposefully!

How Should I Treat My Husband?

2012-01-23T11:33:00.001-05:00

It’s Monday and time to reflect on Marriage! IF you are just joining me or have missed a few weeks feel free to catch up here.

Last week we looked at the symbols of a Covenant and how they reflect our relationships in marriage. The two symbols looked at were the Robe and the Armor. When the robe is being exchanged it is a symbol of putting on the other person as if becoming one. So in marriage we exchange our “robes” and become one flesh.

The Armor shows us that we have a come enemy. Because we are one whatever our enemy does to our partner he does to us. Our enemy is Satan and he desires to destroy our marriages. Together we fight and guard our partners from attacks.

Remember, because we are one with each other and one with Christ then anything I do to my husband I am doing to Christ. In whatever way I treat a brother or sister in Christ it is as if I am doing it to Christ Himself. (Acts 9:1-7)

So then, how should we treat our husbands?

Scripture has a lot to say about how we are to treat one another. You know all those one another verses like, love one another, serve one another, submit to one another, be kind, compassionate, patient toward one another? ALL those verses apply to our husbands too. Lets just look at a few of them.

If at times you feel your husband is your enemy scripture says you are to love him. (Matt 5:43-48)

We are to be “tenderly affectionate” to another and give preference to one another. (Rom 12:10)

Our speech should be edifying toward each other. (Rom 14:19)

Galatians 5:13 we are told that through love we are to be “servants one to another.”

We should not provoke one another. (Gal 5:26)

We are to bear one another’s burdens. (Gal 6:2)

Be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving to each other. (Eph 4:32)

We are to be subjecting yourselves one to another. (Eph 5:21)

So how does your actions and attitude toward your husband compare to just this list? Read over it again and ask God what areas you might need forgiveness or some work in.

As I read over it I am convicted in a couple of areas that I could do better at. I want my attitude toward my husband to bring glory and honor to Christ and as I consider this list I can see I need some improvement. (sigh)

Well my dear sisters I think that might be enough for today! Next week I want to talk about love and respect for our husbands. I think this is an area that is extremely important and most often misunderstood. So I look forward to you joining me next week!

Don’t forget to leave a comment! Let me know what God is showing you in your relationship to your husband! How may I be praying this week for your marriage?

Family Friday: The Nest is Empty

2012-01-20T10:21:00.001-05:00

From the moment I held my sweet babies in my arms I knew there would come a day when they would leave.

Somewhere deep inside my mother’s heart I knew there would come a day when I would no longer be needed. My job would be done.

There were days when I thought that an empty nest wasn’t coming fast enough. The days would pass ever so slowly. Older women, wiser women, would say to me “enjoy every moment, before you know it they’ll be gone.”

I would try to enjoy every moment, to make memories and allow other things to fade in the back ground and pour my life into my boys. Then there were days, moments in the life of being a mom, that I just wish they were grown already.

I loved being a mom. It’s the hardest job I have ever had. But it’s really not a job, it’s a privilege, a ministry, a role of a lifetime. Having your child wrap their little arms around you, and say “mommy I love you” makes the hard times of being a mother melt away.

But they do grow up. They become independent. They leave the nest. They build there own homes, family and life. I knew the day would arrive and quite honestly in the later teens years I was totally ready for them to move out.

As they grow up there becomes this natural pulling away. They become young men. God placed a natural desire for them to want to leave and become “king” of their own castle. It’s the way it should be. It’s what I prepared them to do. As a mom I trained, prayed, loved, encouraged, prayed and prayed that they would grow into responsible godly men.

What I wasn’t prepared for was the void it would leave in my heart. I wasn’t prepared for this season of my life.

My nest has been empty for a year and a half. So why is it hitting me so hard now? Honestly in the beginning it was exciting watching them grow up and move on. There were rooms to paint, redecorate and there was a sense of excitement as they left.

Then the quiet settles in around you. Some days it’s just too quiet.

I wonder, “now what”? There is a feeling that I am no longer needed. A sense of having no purpose.What do I want to do when I grow up? I don’t have an answer. These emotions are new. I didn’t expect them. I wasn’t prepared.

I am unsure of my future. I don’t believe for even a moment God is finished with me. As I seek His path for my life now, in this new season, it seems that more doors close than open. It adds to the feeling of not being needed and dare I say it, wanted.

I draw closer to my God. I listen. I am quiet. I wait.

It’s hard. It’s really hard, the place I am in now. Waiting. Waiting for God’s timing and not rushing ahead of Him. I have done that, rushed ahead, it doesn’t work. I know without a doubt that the safest place to be is in the middle of His will. In His presence. I long for that.

So with a heart that misses being a mommy to my two little boys I wait with a heart of excitement to see what God is going to do.

Are you Mature?

2012-01-17T20:30:00.000-05:00

Therefore leaving the elementary teachings of the Christ, let us press on to maturity… Heb 6:1a NASB

Most adults consider themselves mature. They have grown beyond needing their mother’s milk to survive. They gone from crawling, to walking, to running. They have learned to read and write. They’ve passed from childhood into adulthood.

It would seem silly, and even somewhat disturbing for a grown adult to decide to go back to childhood. To beginning crawling, to want a bottle of milk or begin babbling like an infant. I Think we all would agree that apart from Alzheimer's or Dementia there would be great concern.

But that is what the writer of Hebrews is talking about in chapter 5:12-6:1 where he says

“You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God ” NLT

In the NASB it says “let us press on to maturity” in 6:1. If we are mature in Christ we have moved beyond needing someone to continue to teach us the basics about God’s word and are now digging into the solid meat of God’s word.

Let me ask you a few questions.

“Have you moved from needing someone to teach you what the Word says to gleaning truth for yourself?”

“Are you satisfied to go to church, hear the word preached but not digging into the Word throughout the week?”

“Do you still try to find ways around doing what you know is the right thing to do? Trying to come up with ways that your sin doesn’t seem like sin? Or trying to excuse it away?”

And finally let us look at Phil 3:12-16 which says “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.” NLT (I highlighted the text)

Keep in mind as you read the above that the word perfection here also means maturity. So what are those who are mature to do? We are to press on, to focus, and to hold on. Press on to possess maturity. Focus on what is ahead, what you still can learn. Don’t stay in the milk of the word, for you will become weak and unable to mature.

My dear sisters, let us pray for a desire to live purposefully by pressing on the know God in a deeper and more personal way than today. Let us not be content with milk but let us desire the meat of His word.

Thanks for joining me this week. To prepare for next week please read Chapters 6 –10 and take note of all we learn of Christ. I know it’s four chapters, but get through as much as you can and join me again next Wednesday.

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In Covenant We are One

2012-01-16T15:02:00.001-05:00

This week I will continue with reflections on Marriage as a Covenant. If you missed last week I strongly suggest you read it before continuing. You can find it here.

The idea of covenant started with God. If you look throughout scripture, you will find that every covenant God makes with His people is based on a blood sacrifice. In the Old Testament (Old Covenant) covenant meant the cutting and sacrificing of animals. In the the New Testament (New Covenant) it meant the blood sacrifice of God’s Son.

God never enters into a permanent relationship with man without a covenant. God takes covenant very seriously a study of various covenants made in the Old Testament (Duet 4:31; 7:12; 1 Kings 19; Jeremiah 34:8-22) would show you when you make a covenant with God or man and break it you would die or pay whatever the consequences were.

When we “cut” a covenant with another it carries responsibilities. It’s some of these responsibilities That I want to look at today.

A good example to look at is the covenant made between Jonathan and David. While this is a covenant made between two friends it gives us a good look at the result of the covenant they made. It also gives us a picture of Christ and our covenant with Him. If you are not familiar with this story you can read it in 1 Samuel chapters 16-20.

David and Jonathan make a covenant of friendship because God knit their hearts together. (1 Samuel 20:12-23; 35-42) There are three involved in this covenant. David, Jonathan and God. Each have responsibilities.

Let’s look at David and Jonathan first, for their responsibilities are the same. 1 Samuel 18:4 says “Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt.” Isn’t that interesting? I wonder what the significance of it means?

The Robe: By checking my references and comparing scripture with scripture I find out that taking off one’s robe and giving it to another was a sign of “putting on” the other person. In the New Testament we learn that Jesus puts on our “robe” of humanity so that He could take our place on the cross and so now we can put on His robe of righteousness. Other covenants between man were often made by cutting a finger or arm and mixing their blood, some cultures would even mix the blood and drink it. These actions of putting on the robe or mixing of blood all symbolized the same thing, the two would become one. Check out these verses for more - Galatians 3:26-27, 2 Cor 5:21, Eph 4:20-24, Isaiah 61:10

The armor: The Armor was given to signify that they have a common enemy in the Philistines. We also have a common enemy. Col 1:13 tells us that when we receive Christ we gain Christ’s enemy, Satan. We have a common enemy with Christ and being in a covenant Marriage we also have a common enemy. The enemy is relentless in his attacks on the marriage of believers and the Christian family. So as husband and wife we do have a common enemy.

In Acts 9:1-7 we see Jesus asking Saul “why are you persecuting Me?” But Saul was persecuting the Christians so why would Jesus say “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting”? Because when we are in covenant with Jesus we become one with Him. And by being one with Him anything I do or say to one of His it’s as if I am doing it to Christ.

So lets apply all this to our marriage. We are in covenant with God and our spouse (Of course I am assuming here that both spouses are believers, but even if you enter into a covenant with an unbeliever I believe the responsibilities are the same).

My spouse is my brother in Christ. So not only am I in a marriage covenant with him I am also in covenant with him as part of the family of God. So anything I say or do to him I am doing to Christ. Think about that for a few minutes. How I treat my spouse in my words and actions is as if I am treating Christ the same way.

If I treat my spouse in an unkind or unloving manner, I am treating Christ unkindly and unloving.

If I speak harshly to my spouse, I speak harshly to Christ.

I am sure you get the idea. It is sobering isn’t it.

In a marriage my husband and I are one, we share a common enemy. Therefore, if you treat my husband badly then you treat me badly. IF you hate my husband then you hate me. IF you fight against my husband you fight against me.

We are united as one with Christ in a covenant relationship. We can not be separated.

Oh may God forgive me! I am not the worlds worst wife I am sure – but let’s face it we all battle our flesh! And there are moments that I fail to treat my husband with Christlikeness! Oh God continue your work in my heart so that I might be more like you.

Saturday’s Encouragement: Keepin’ It Real

2012-01-15T22:39:00.001-05:00

Well I am very sorry for being late on this entry. We babysat our grandchildren over the weekend and I didn’t even get a chance to turn on my computer!

This week, being a crazy week I had so little time to read all my favorite blogs. Hopefully I will be able to catch up this week. My purpose originally was to “hug” those women that encouraged me through their blogging in a particular week. What I didn’t realize is that it might be possible to have the same women week after week. So while several of the blogs of last week continued to encourage me this week I do have one to add for this week.

I have actually known this blogger for most of my life. She is the one who led me to the cross of Christ. She helped me see my need of a Savior. This week she wrote a blog on Seeing Color.

I have been mostly black and white my whole life. It’s a constant struggle for me, a battle I often fight. But reading this I was lifted up. I felt like I could feel my very soul saying be free to see the wondrous colors of grace I’ve created for you!

Thank you my dear friend. So go on over and visit my friend Gina at Keepin’ it Real.

A Family Legacy of Prayer

2012-01-13T10:54:00.001-05:00

A five year old stands by the graveside of her father. Tears flowing freely down her face. What happens now?

A woman standing beside the graveside of her husband. She is falling apart inside. What happens now?

Death comes so early to a father of three small children. He leaves his wife and the mother of his children. A mother that will be unable to care for herself let alone her children.

It will take years for her to become strong. To become healthy and able to care and love properly. In the meantime, the children grow up in a world of hurt, confusion and aloneness.

But they have not been forgotten. There are those that fight for them on their knees. They daily beseech God to care for these precious children.

For years they will pray, not seeing or hearing of any fruit for their labor. Some would die not knowing if their prayers were ever answered.

The faithful prayers of grandparents, Aunts and Uncles were taken daily before the throne. A family legacy of prayer being offered up on their behalf.

A God, who is faithful to answer prayers, would watch over and work in the lives of the children. The five year old that once wondered what now would meet her God at the age of sixteen.

At twenty she would fall before her God and surrender completely to His love. She would not know until years later of the faithful prayers of her family. A family that never gave up hope in their God.

To many there were times when this family may have have looked completely lost. What hope was there for such young ones in a world that seemed against them?

What hope? The only hope. The hope of Jesus Christ and the faithful prayers of a family who never gave up.

For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations. Ps 100:5

My encouragement to you today is to faithfully pray for your family. You may or may not live to see them answered, but God is faithful to answer the prayers of the saints. I am thankful beyond words to my grandparents who faithfully prayed, dying before they ever saw fruits of their prayers.

Living Purposefully: Consider Jesus

2012-01-10T13:45:00.001-05:00

So how did your reading and list making of Hebrews 3-5 go? I love reading God’s word and making list. Having a list of who the scriptures say Jesus is will be very helpful! I often pull out lists I have made to review when I forget!

Having a list can remind me of WHO I am according to God’s Word, WHAT He promises and WHO He is. These become critical to remember when my enemy attacks my mind with lies and I can’t seem to remember who or what!

Today is one of those days for me. I am struggling with lies, so lets get into the truth of His word and learn some truth to fight with!!

Goodness so much truth, so much to see and learn AND LIVE in these three chapters! Did you see in 3:1 where is said “consider Jesus”? That means to fix your eyes on Jesus which is what we have been doing! Also in verse 1 did you notice what is says about us? We are “holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling,” isn’t that exciting?

So let us continue to “consider” or “fix our eyes” upon Jesus!

In chapter 3 we see that Jesus is the Apostle, and High Priest of our confession. He is faithful. (1-2) We see that he was faithful as a Son over His house. Did you notice who is apart of His house? WE are,that is, IF we hold fast our confidence and boast of our hope firm until the end!! He will be faithful to us if we are stay confident and firm in hope until the end! (5-6) also see verse 14

In Chapter 4 we learn that Jesus is a high priest who have passed through heaven and HE sympathizes with our weakness. He was tempted and yet did not sin. He is without sin. (14-15)

In Chapter 5 we see that Christ did not glorify Himself but it was God who made Him High Priest.(1-6) Jesus lived His days on earth in the flesh. He offered up prayers and supplications to the Father. He cried out in tears before His Father. He learned obedience from suffering and because He is perfect He is the source of salvation.(7-9)

I am sure you are thinking, “but Sharon there is so much more in these chapters!” and you are correct. It’s a great struggle for this student of the word to not want to dig into every “nook and cranny” of these chapters to glean truth. But for this time we just want to look at what we can learn about Jesus. He is the one that we are to fix our eyes on and how can we if we do not know Him.

Remember, for now, we are just gathering information. We are observing the context of Hebrews so that we can better understand how to “lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and run with endurance the race before us. (Heb 12:1-2) I pray that your appetite has increase for a deeper study of His word will cause you to come back at some point and study for yourself all that Hebrews has to teach us.

Before I close for today I want us to look at verses 11-14 of Chapter 5. I was struck what the author says here. They had become dull of hearing so they didn’t go on saying all that could be said about Jesus. The readers of Hebrews, were not new believers for the author says “by this time you ought to be teachers”. But because they had become dull of hearing they were in need of the “milk” of the word and not “solid food”.

So let me ask you, and myself, have we become dull of hearing? In order to live a life purposefully we need to fix our eyes on Jesus and keep them there. We need to be feeding upon solid food and not remain feeding upon milk and the elementary principles of God’s word.

Solid food is for the mature in Christ. How do we become mature? Verse 14 says that those who practice and have their senses trained to discern good and evil are mature.

So let us not be dull of hearing and feeding on milk. May we be purposefully in our study of the Word, putting it into practice and allowing it to train and teach us.

If you are just joining me for Living Purposefully or you've missed a few post I encourage you to click on the below and see how you can catch up. You will also be about to get the link with button to place on your blog for direct access to this series. Thank you so much for joining me!

Marriage is a Covenant

2012-01-09T13:14:00.001-05:00

The study of God being a Covenant God and how I am to live in light of covenant has so impacted my life. One of the area’s it’s impacted the most is my marriage.

From the beginning of my marriage I believed it was a lifetime commitment. That love was a choice to stick it out, for better or worse until death do you part. You work through the hard times, you don’t just give up. Over the years I would say “marriage is a covenant, not to be broken” meaning it’s a promise between a man, woman and God and shouldn’t be broken. Once I studied covenant and what it mean in light of God’s word it took on a whole new meaning.

So before we even go on let me TRY to explain in a few words what covenant means. (the Covenant Study took 12 weeks to explain it, I don’t know why I think I can explain it in a few short paragraphs!)

When became a follower of Christ I entered into a Covenant with God. In the Old Testament every time there was a covenant made between two parties it required the sacrifice of animals. The animals would be cut in half, laid opposite of one another, and the two making the covenant would pass through the flesh. Both parties knew that if either of them broke their part of the covenant God would do to them what was done to the animals. God takes the making of a covenant very serious, it’s not something to be entered into lightly.

Just to be sure we get it I want to repeat that when you enter into covenant with someone and break it their blood would spill just as the animals blood did.

When Christ came to earth He was sacrificed for our sins and we symbolically “pass through” the sacrificed body of Christ into a covenant relationship with God. Christ was the blood (symbolized in the Old Testament by the animals) that was poured out for our sins. When we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins we “pass through” His flesh and blood to God and enter into an covenant with God.

(warning: this may be too graphic for some, but I will try to be sensitive in my description.) In marriage you enter a covenant with your mate. A man enters into a woman and do to the passing of flesh the hymen is broken, spilling blood and a covenant is made. This is why in the Bible they often placed a towel on the marriage bed to show proof of the covenant made between them.

Isn’t that just beautiful? When I understood this I cried. It really broke my heart even more that I hadn’t waited for my husband even though he waited for me. I understood in greater depths what Jesus meant when he said to the woman at the well, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” (John 4:17-18) I also understood better why adulterers where stoned. In adultery they broke covenant with their husbands and deserved death. But that was the Old Covenant and we live under the New Covenant.

Under the New Covenant I am forgiven of past sins because of the shedding of Christ blood. I have entered into the New Covenant with Christ and therefore no longer condemned. I can come to my husband pure and forgiven and enter into a covenant with him. Isn’t that beautiful, do you see what I just sat and cried? Our God is such a gracious, forgiving God. Amen?

So what does it mean to be married? To be in a covenant relationship with my husband. IS it more than just “being married” and living life together?

Oh my dear sisters it’s so much more! I am so excited to share it all with you, but it’s going to have to wait until next Monday! I can’t wait to share with you the responsibilities we have when in covenant.

Marriage is truly is a beautiful picture of a covenant and the relationship with Christ and His bride.

Oh I just can’t wait until next week to share with you!!

Saturday’s Encouragement

2012-01-06T23:40:00.000-05:00

I thought this would be easy. Picking one blog that had been especially encouraging, inspiring or just really touched my heart. But there are so many this week.

Some that brought tears to my eyes, some made me laugh. Some caused me to ponder deeply, to pray and asked to have my heart searched. So I decided that I would allow myself up to three choices for those weeks that it is most difficult to choose just one. :-)

So here they are in no particular order…

Sandra Heska King: A Writer. A Deep Sea Diver.

This week my friend Sandy had some wonderful and inspiring words to share. But today as I read I want you to Roar her words so connected with my heart. How many times have I thought something along this line “I want you to roar. To sink your teeth into the back of my neck and give me a good shake. I want you to throw me on the right path. And growl loud if I stray.”? Or “Could you at least roar loud enough to make it all scramble out of my way?” Oh yes..to have God roar loudly enough for me to hear…to pay attention. I encourage you to go on over for a visit.

Blackpurl’s Knitpickings

Aida has such a lovely heart. Every time I visit her I feel like she has invited me in to sit as she shares her day as a missionary. I learn so much from her and she has encouraged me so often along the way. Her post on Wednesday was most encouraging this week. Her “thought for today” was “I believe that showing gentleness is not the same as showing weakness. It means showing a Christlike consideration for others. That is something I can do.” and as I read this I thought “I can too!” I too need to learn to show more gentleness and consideration for others.

Simply God’s Girl

Tania has such a sweet spirit. Always leaving encouraging comments and writing thoughtful blogs. I think I connect with her because she is a .Grandmother also! Quite honestly it’s been hard to find grandmothers that blog! I’ve only recently “met” her but I can tell you I already love her. Today she shared her heart about wounding a friend, my heart hurt for her. I understood, I’ve been there. I’ve done the hurting and I’ve been hurt. But what I loved to read was her quick sensitivity to the Spirit. Her contrite and humble heart. Her willingness to allow God to use that moment to show her something that needed to be seen. A hard lesson to learn. You are precious my new friend!

Family Friday: Sisters

2012-01-06T08:33:00.000-05:00

Lately I have been thinking a lot about my sister. I have beautiful memories of growing up with her. We were friends, confidants, each others support system, and almost inseparable. Only 22 months apart we were not only close in age, but close in heart.

There were the typical sister arguments over borrowed clothes, whose turn it was to do chores, but nothing so serious that we couldn’t or didn’t make up within the minutes.

We spent a lot of time together talking, laughing, sharing our hopes and dreams, our sorrows and deep hurts. We would play dress up, do each others hair. Play with our dolls, play house. We rode bikes, drove cars and had boy friends.

We shared secrets, although there were secrets that we didn’t share that we probably should have. But I think deep down inside they didn’t need to be shared, we just knew. We understood the hurt, and the pain of the kept secrets locked deep within. It would only be when we were older that we could fully disclose those secrets, to embrace them and each other.

I love my sister deeply and as I think upon our growing up years I choose to focus on the good. The joy of having a sister to be there, no matter what. A sister who really understands, because she’s been there living life with you. A sister who would drop her plans just to be with you because you needed a friend.

Today I miss her. We live miles apart, not because several states separate us, but life has separated us.

It’s been years since I have felt emotionally close to her. I’ve tried. I’ve called. But honestly we only speak about 2 or 3 times a year and that is when I call her. I don’t think it hurts as much as it used to, and quite honestly I don’t know if that is a good thing. It does make me sad.

Sad because I’ve lost a friend. She will always be family, but I miss the closeness that once was. Some will tell me that God will give us spiritual sisters. It is true He does. But it’s not the same. It’s not as if she can be replaced.

Maybe it’s just me. Maybe I have my expectations set too high. I just know that if my sister needed me I would be there. I would drop everything, if possible, and be there for her. My needs, my desires would take second place to hers. Isn’t that what a sister does?

I would call her, just because I wanted to hear her voice. I would want that consistent connection with her in order to encourage, love and pray for her and with her.

As I write this I am thinking I should pursue her more than I have been lately. I should write her notes of encouragement. Call her. Love her, not just in word but in deed.

AND…

I need to continue doing so until God clearly tells me to stop or calls me home, REGARDLESS of whether or not she ever returns a single call or note.

This is love. This is what Christ calls me to do.

Once again I am reminded that I MUST find my worth, my value, my confidence, my security in Christ and in Him ALONE. It is Christ IN me that gives me hope. He alone fills me up with a love that is everlasting. A love that is complete. Others will fail us. They will leave us, if not because of circumstances, by death. They will be distance at times. We will grow apart.

But Christ will never leave us or forsake us. Nothing can ever separate us from Him! Amen? AMEN!

What about you? Do you have a sister? Are you close? What could you do today to begin to reconnect if there is a distance that has grown between you? How might you encourage her today?

If you and your sister are very close I would love to have you share what kind of things you do together to stay close! What are some of your favorite things to do together?

Would love to hear what God lays on your heart?

Living Purposefully with eyes on Jesus

2012-01-05T11:55:00.001-05:00

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:1-2

As I sit and read the above verses I quickly realize that to “lay aside encumbrances”, “to be untangled from sin”, to “run with endurance” I must fix my eyes on Jesus. I must fix my eyes on the author and perfecter of my faith.

Who is Jesus? How well do you know Him? For the purposes of understanding these verses I want us to look at what the author of Hebrews has to say about Him. Let’s go to chapter 1 and 2!

These two chapters are filled with the truth of who we are to fix our eyes on. Did you get a chance to read it? Did you make a list? Did anything really jump out at you? Did you see anything new?

Here is what we see in these two chapters about Jesus.

Hebrews 1:2-5 Jesus is the appointed heir over all things. Through Him all things were created. He is the radiance of God’s glory, the exact representation of God’s nature. HE upholds all things by His power. Through Him we are purified. He sits at the right hand of God.

1:6-12 Angels worship Him. His throne is forever. He loves righteousness, and hates lawlessness. All creation will wear out, be changed but HE will remain the same.

Hebrews 2:8-13 He was made a little lower than angels. He suffered death, our death. He is crowned with glory and honor. Through Him all things are brought to glory. Through His sufferings many sons will be brought to glory. HE will perfect our salvation through suffering. He sanctifies. He calls us brethren. He proclaims God’s name to us and puts His trust in God.

2:14-18 He became flesh and blood in order to render the devil powerless through His death. HE frees those who fear death and are in slavery. He helps descendants of Abraham. He was made like us in all things, yet remain God. He is a merciful and faithful high priest. He makes propitiations for our sin. He was tempted. HE suffered so that HE could come to our aid.

This is the ONE we are to fix our eyes on. This is the Jesus that the Hebrew author wants us to know. In fact in 2:1 he encourages us to “pay attention to what we have heard so that we do not drift away from it”.

We are to know Jesus. We are to KNOW Him, not just know about Him. Do you know who He is? Do you know His character?

Do you know Him because you have experienced Him living in and through your life? Or do you know Him just because you have read or heard about Him?

My challenge to you and myself is to get to know Jesus. Know His character because you have fixed your eyes upon Him. Be single focused with eyes fixed on the One who perfects our salvation.

Lets fix our eyes on Jesus so that we might KNOW Him.

Over the next couple of “Living Purposefully” post I think we should look a little longer at who Jesus is. If you haven’t already begun making a list of who He is I would encourage you to write down what we already have seen and then be ready to add to it. I promise that it is worth taking the time to have a list that you can refer back to that will help remind you who Jesus is. You will know Him not just because of a list that has been written, but because you have studied and seen truth for yourself.

Read Chapters 3-5 and list all you learn about Jesus. Then join me again next week.

Living Purposefully in the New Year

2012-01-03T11:12:00.001-05:00

I don’t do New Year’s resolutions for for a myriad of reasons. But there have been years that God has so impressed upon my spirit a certain verse or verses that I have taken them on as a “theme” for the year.

The last time God clearly gave me a verse for the year was in 2008. It was a year of learning humility and what it means to draw near to God. Quite honestly I believe that has been the “theme” of my life since. Since then it seems my journey has been about drawing near to Him and only Him. To seek Him. To hunger and thirst for Him alone. To abandon myself completely to Him.

I often learn slowly, too slowly. Four years learning to draw near is not good! But what is even sadder is that I know God is not finished with those lessons. I so often forget and need a refresher course. Isn’t God good in that He never tires of our constantly needing reminders? I am so thankful that when I do forget and go running to Him He is not sitting there scolding me about how I should already have learned that lesson. He knows our human hearts and the forgetfulness of our natural man.

All that to say, that even though 2012 bring another verse impressed upon my heart I do not believe I am done with that which God laid on my heart in 2008. Oh if only we could say, “I’ve learned that lesson well and will not need the learning of it again!” But we know better, don’t we?

2012 begins the year with Hebrews 12:1-2. “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

To be completely honest I read these two verses and in both joy and trepidation. Joy because I truly want to learn what are my encumbrances. What sin easily entangles? What does it mean to run with endurance? What does it mean to fix my eyes upon Jesus?

Then there is the trepidation of the unknown. What will it cost to lay aside EVERY encumbrance? What sins will God expose? What sin has so entangled my heart that it makes it difficult to run my race?

Are you ready to begin this journey with me? I can’t promise it will be easy or even fun. But I can promise to walk along with you. Will you walk with me? We can hold one another accountable, pray for each other. We can share what we are learning.

If you are willing to join me please leave a comment so that I know to pray. You can then check back, at least weekly, to see what God is showing us through His word.

I will be listing all the post for Living Purposefully here so that it will be easier to keep track of our progress. You can leave comments here on my blog or on Facebook at Quiet Reflections.

Your first assignment? Read Hebrews chapter 1 and 2! List all you learn about Jesus then come back and share some of your favorite things about Him!

Can’t wait to hear from you!

Who is My Husband Anyway?

2012-01-02T13:57:00.001-05:00

During a recent study on Loving God and Loving Others I began to understand in a much deeper way how I am to love others. We talked about loving our neighbors, our enemies and the brethren.

Jokingly someone asked so who is our husband? Is he our neighbor, enemy or brethren? Is there a different love reserved for our husbands? Well I pray he is not your enemy, but regardless scripture is pretty clear on how we are to treat one another.

So if there is a time when that you feel as if your husband is your enemy how are you to treat him? Do you still have to love him? In Luke 10:30-37 Jesus tells of man who is beaten and robbed. Who is the one who helps him? The one least likely to help, his enemy. In fact the Samaritan goes our of his way to help, and provides for his well being. Jesus then asks which of these were a true neighbor? Of course it was the Samaritan, and we are to do the same.

In Matthew 5:43-44 Jesus tells us that we are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Luke 6:27-28 goes even further when it says that we are to “do good to those who hate you” and “bless those who curse you”. Again we are told to “pray for those who mistreat you.” If he does mistreat you or hurts you, you are to forgive him. (Matt 6)

If your husband is your enemy you are called to forgive, bless him, pray for him and love him.

Our husbands are included in the “love your neighbors” and “love the brethren”. So many times as we study these verses we forget that they need to be applied to them.

Just how are we to treat one another? Including our husbands?

We are to love as Christ loves. (John 13:34) We are to be devoted to one another in love, giving preference to one another. Be of the same mind toward one another. ( Romans 12:10-16) In other words we are to give preference to their needs over our own. And how did Christ love us? He gave His life.

We are to encourage one another and build one another up, not tear each other up. Our words should be words of love not destruction. (1 Thess 5:11) We are to share our burdens. (Gal 6:2)

And of course there is 1 Cor 13 where we are told that love is patient, kind, not jealous and it does not brag or is not arrogant. Love does not act unbecomingly or seek it’s own desires. IT does not provoke or keep records of wrong doing. Love does not rejoice when the other is hurt. Love bears, believes, hopes, endures in all things.

So does it matter who our husband is? No, we are still called to love him. If he is not your brother in Christ you are still to love him as Christ loves. If your husband seems like your enemy? Scripture is clear, you are to love him.

To often it’s easy to forget to apply the “do unto others” to our husbands but real love will treat him better than you treat yourself.

I don’t know about you but there are times this proves quite difficult! And in my flesh, it’s impossible! So we must make an intentional choice to love our husbands as Christ would want us to. We must go to God and pray for the help of the Spirit to give us the desire and obedience to love, not just our husband but all the “others” also.

What about you? Do you struggle to love your husband as Christ commands? Do you treat your husband like an enemy? Why not spend some time praying before God and asking Him to show you those areas where you might be able to show more of a Christ love. Maybe there are area’s that you need to seek forgiveness, from God and your husband?

Again I encourage you to spend time before the Lord and allow Him to search your heart and reveal the areas that you need a greater love for your husband.

Would LOVE to have you share with me how you love your husband!!

Purposeful Living

2011-12-26T11:05:00.000-05:00

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Heb 12:1

I keep hearing a common theme in my heart. It's weighed heavily on my mind since November.

The theme seems to be live simply.
Be purposeful in your life.

It seems 2012 will be a journey of "Purposeful Living". I would love to have you join me as I seek to follow and learn what it really means to live with purpose.

What does it mean to lay aside EVERY encumbrance? To lay aside sin which entangles?
What does it mean to run with endurance? What is the race set before us? What is the race that I am to run?

I know I don't have all the answers and I surely have so much to learn, but I know God is faithful. I would love to have you join me on this journey in 2012 of "Living Purposefully" and share all God is showing you.

I hope that we can connect and share our hearts this year in a newer way, a deeper way. A way the is purposeful so that we can encourage one another toward a deeper walk with Jesus.

Love you all and can't wait to walk along with you in 2012!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T10:40:00.001-05:00

From my family to yours – MERRY CHRISTMAS. May you enjoy this season as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

You all have been such a blessing to me this year and I thank God for each one of you.

I will be taking a break until the New Year. Join me on Jan 2 for “You Mean My Husband too?”

It’s Just One Moment

2011-12-22T00:27:00.001-05:00

There are those that might say I need to let go.

They misunderstand my heart.

They only see the moment.

One moment of tears. Sadness.

A moment of longing for what might have been.

One moment to remember. To celebrate His life.

To let go would be unbearable. It would mean his life didn’t matter.

For this moment I will embrace the remembrance of what was.

Who he was.

Today I will embrace the parts of me that are because of him.

There will be tears. Sadness. Longing.

Then tomorrow I will move on.

I will move on with a heart at peace.

Filled with joy and love.

Joy because I have hope of seeing him again.

Love because I am sure of his love for me while here.

I reflect on the moment of tears shed.

I understand.

There is no longer the pain of death.

There is life.

His life. Abundant life.

I have let go.

I am now in the comfort of His arms.

Arms of compassion and love.

The arms of Jesus.

Learning to Love in Marriage

2011-12-19T12:38:00.001-05:00

They do not love who do not show their love.
William Shakespeare

I did not marry for love. Oh, I wanted to be loved, needed to be loved. But, I had long lost any hope of ever finding real love. I didn’t understand love. I didn’t really know how to love.

My love was selfishly demanding. I took much and gave little. It was not love. The sad thing is, as I look around at the marriage relationships of our worldly culture, I see it is their definition of love. Couples are divorcing at alarming rates because “he/she doesn’t make me happy.” “I don’t love him/her anymore.” “we just couldn’t work it out.” These are all reasons with a heart filled with selfishness.

If my love was based on selfishness then how has my marriage lasted 28 years? If I did not start out loving my husband, do I love him now? These are questions I am often asked of those who know my story, our story.

The answer is simple and yet complex. We were friends. He loved the woman he saw in front of him and believed in the woman he knew I could be. In the beginning it was hard, but he just kept showing me love. He spoke of love and showed loved. His love was mostly unselfish and undemanding. His love was not perfect, but it was kind, grace-filled and and often put my interest above it’s own. My darling husband modeled real love, Christ-like love, before me.

For my part, God began to work in my heart. Through my husband, godly women and His word I began to see that marriage was a commitment. Divorce was not an option. I could choose to love my husband with a love that was real and based on God’s word.

So I began to pray. I prayed that God would show me how to love. That He would give me the right kind of love for my husband. I prayed that God would grow and develop a love that was Christ-like toward my husband.

That was our first year of marriage. Since that year God has continually answered that prayer of my heart. It’s taken almost a lifetime to see what I see today. Love is a choice we make everyday. I will never be able to love my husband, or anyone, with the right kind of love apart from Christ.

I had made a commitment to God to follow His commandments. To live a life of denying self and following Him. As I grew in my relationship and understanding of God I grew to see that out of obedience to God I must choose to love my husband.

In the beginning it was a choice that I made out of obedience to God and because I had made a commitment before God. Today I don’t have to make that choice any longer for there is a deep, ever growing love for my husband, my friend and my covenant partner. God has and continues to answer my prayer of that first year. God has led me on a journey of not only learning to love my husband but learning to love my Father in heaven!

Would love have you share with me how you have learned to love!!

Continuing on Monday, Jan 2nd I will share what I have learned of love in the marriage relationship. We will also see what Christ says about love and marriage as I reflect upon verses from 1 John, Romans, Galatians, and others.

Don’t forget to join me each Monday as I reflect on the marriage relationship! If you do post a blog along with me please use the button above and link back to me.

My Beloved First Born

2011-12-18T11:27:00.000-05:00

Adam (first born) David (Beloved of God) was born December 18, 1982. I was only 20 years old, barely grown myself. I remember holding him and thinking “now what?”

His first couple of years were difficult. At 3 days old we found out he was born with a VSD– a hole in his heart and ASD- thickening of his heart valve. He slept most the time, and tired easily. We had to measure every ounce that he ate for fear that he wouldn’t eat enough. He was put on medication to slow down his heart rate.

At 6 weeks we rushed him to Winchester Memorial in Va, he was turning blue and finding it hard to breathe. We almost lost him. They sent him Children’s Hospital because he was in heart failure. He would spend 10 days in the hospital while they ran many tests. With more medication and adjusting medication we went back home.

Those first months were hard. A single mom trying to handle it alone. At least I felt alone. But God was always there, watching over my precious little boy. There would be more doctors, more medicines and more trips to Children’s Hospital. I didn’t always see it or understand, but God was always there working things out according to His purposes.

God would provide a husband and a father with that first year. God provided a man to be strong for me, that I could lean on and a father who would adore and love my son. Now his son.

At 2 1/2 Adam would have heart surgery to correct the VSD and ASD. From then on there would be no stopping this precious life! He was ALL boy and there was no slowing him down!

Today he will turn 29. It’s hard to believe that he is grown and now has a family of his own.

Wasn’t it just yesterday I held him in my arms praying over him? Wasn’t it just yesterday that I gave him over to God to watch and protect, to keep my little boy safe?

The last 29 years have taught me much. There have been moments of great joy and great pain. But through it all I have learned that God has a purpose for each of us and He can and does work out the “all things” in our lives according to our good.

Today the heart of my son is strong, and tender. Tender toward those he loves. Tender toward those in need and tender toward His God. He has a heart of gold, even though he often tries to cover it up with a “tough guy” attitude. Those who know him well knows that God has also done and is doing His own kind of “surgery” on his heart so that my son will have a the heart of God.

Isn’t that what we want for our children? A heart that pursues God? I find that my prayers haven’t changed too much since his birth. I still pray that God will watch over him and protect him. I pray that he would continue to grow toward hid Father in heaven.

I am so proud of the young man he is and the man he is growing into. He is an amazing son, husband, father and friend.

I love you Adam David!! I thank God for you!!

Communion: Remembering Covenant

2011-12-15T16:56:00.000-05:00

Since my study of Covenant with Kay Arthur I have not been able to take communion in the same way as before.

Honestly, prior to this study I just thought it was remembering what Christ did on the cross for my sins. Jesus said that we are to do it in “remembrance of Me” then he said “for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Cor 11:24,26)

But it’s so much more than just remembering the cross. When I take communion I am remembering the covenant that I have entered into, through Christ, with God.

A covenant is a solemn binding agreement between two parties. Covenant always requires the cutting of flesh and the pouring out of blood. God through the sacrificing of His Son made a way for us to be reconciled with Him. When we come to God through Christ we are entering into covenant with God through the cutting of the Son’s flesh and the pouring out of His blood.

When we take the Lord’s supper we are doing so in remembrance of the covenant God has entered into with us. Jesus was the covenant lamb and we enter into a covenant with God when we “eat of His flesh and drink of His blood” John 6:53-59.

Communion is symbolic of God cutting a covenant with us offering His Son as the flesh and blood needed for the covenant to be binding.

So Communion should never be taken lightly and there are consequences for those who do. We must examined ourselves before God to judge if we have a right heart to enter into the remembrance of the covenant. I Cor 11:23-34

Communion is remembering the work of the cross, but it is also remembering that you have entered into a binding agreement with God through Christ. You are in covenant with Him and with covenant while there are blessings there are also responsibilities.

Before you take communion the next time ask yourself how is your relationship with God. Are you in right standing? Are you holding a grudge with a member of the body of Christ? Does a brother or sister have something against you? Have you tried to make it right?

God takes covenant very seriously, so should we.

Father I pray that as I prepare for the next taking of communion that I will remember my covenant with you. I pray that it would never become something that we just do because we’ve always done it. I pray that it will be a renewing of my covenant with You so that I might remember that Your Son was and is the covenant Lamb who offered Himself up for me and allowed His flesh to be cut and His blood be poured out so that I might enter into a covenant relationship with you. Amen.

(For further study read Luke 22:14-20; 1 Cor 11)

Seeing Good When it’s Hard

2011-12-12T21:09:00.001-05:00

There are days when it’s hard to see good in all that is going wrong in this world. To see good in pain, suffering and sorrow. To see good in loved ones torn apart by divorce, sin and death.

Sometimes it’s just hard to see the good. But then I am reminded that my focus is wrong. My focus is on this world. My circumstances.

What I need to remember is…

“taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him” Ps 34:8
“But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.” Ps 73:28
“For the LORD is good; His loving kindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations.” Ps 100:5

I need to remember that the Lord is good and during those times when it’s hard I must run into His arms. I must take refuge in Him, in His goodness.

He is trust worthy. His character NEVER changes. NEVER. God is good. He is always good and He is good to me.

He is good to you.

Having a hard time seeing it. Run to Him. Take refuge in Him. Go to His word and read of His faithfulness, His goodness. Taste and see that the LORD is good.

Chewy Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

2011-12-09T08:42:00.000-05:00

Several weeks ago I was meeting a friend at BJ's Wholesale to do some shopping, but before we did our shopping we stopped for a cup of coffee to chat. As we ordered our coffee we took notice of a delicious looking cookie that we just had to try! So we shared a Cranberry Oatmeal cookie and it did not disappoint.

So with our church's cookie exchange coming up I decided I needed to try to bake that cookie!! For the most part I just used the oatmeal on the back of the Quaker Oats and went from there. I like my oatmeal cookies thick and chewy. I have found that the trick to getting a really thick, chewy cookie is to chill the dough before you bake it.

Below you will find the recipe.

1 cup butter flavored Crisco
1 1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup dried cranberries (or other dried fruit if you don't like cranberries)
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup chopped macadamia nuts (or walnuts etc)

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, egg and vanilla until smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt together. Stir this into the butter/sugar mixture. Stir in the oats, cranberries, white choc and nuts, if using them.

Chill the dough for a bit in the fridge and then scoop it, or scoop the cookies onto a sheet and then chill the whole tray before baking them. You can go ahead a bake them without chilling them but they will not be as chewy and will be a thinner cookie. I even chilled one batch over night to finish baking the next morning.

Bake cookies two inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake them for 10 to 12 minutes (your baking time will vary, depending on your oven and how cold the cookies were going in), taking them out when golden at the edges but still a little undercooked-looking on top. This is important: Let them sit on the hot baking sheet for five minutes before transferring them to a rack to cool.

This recipe makes about 5 dozen, depending on the size of cookie you make. I made these with my granddaughter for a cookie exchange. I needed to double the batch. They are delicious!

I thought I would join my friend Gina today over at Keepin' It Real!

Celebrating a Friend

2011-12-08T10:28:00.001-05:00

Today is a very special day. I get to celebrate the gift of my precious friend. She is not only a gift to me, but so many who meet her. So today I would like to share my friend with you.

She is a woman that gives others life. She has such a generous spirit which greets others with a smile, a kind word, or a hug. You are drawn to her as she touches your life with love. The precious love of Jesus.

She has an amazing capacity for spiritual mothering. Her heart for coming along side other women to encourage, love and grow is just what is described in Titus 2:3-5. Many women of various ages consider her their spiritual mother. She has helped women grow from girlhood to godly womanhood. She has helped many grow and even flourish in their relationship with Christ.

She is a beautiful model of a Christian woman. Through her life she demonstrates a life of godliness. A life that will point others to Christ not to herself. She is a picture of pouring grace and encouragement into the lives of others. Her love motivates toward a deeper relationship with Christ. Many have said of her, “I want to be like you when I grow up.”

She is a truth speaker. With grace and love she speaks truth into the lives of those around her. She willingly helps women understand the lies of the enemy and helps them to speak truth.

She is like many of us who are just ordinary women being changed and used by an extraordinary God. What I see in her life is a willingness to be humble, ask for forgiveness, to make things right. She is willing to listen, learn and grow. She relies on the faithfulness of God to change her, to strengthen her for the work He has called her to do. She follows hard after God to serve, love, obey and live for Him in a way that brings glory to His name.

I am thankful that I am able to call her my friend, sister, mother and sometimes daughter. But more than anything I am thankful that she has modeled before me the woman I want to be.

As I write this I am reminded that we all need to take the time to share the impact others have had on us. Not in order to lift them up, but so that they might be encouraged and God be glorified.

I am also reminded that their have been many women who have come into my life that have left parts of themselves in my heart. They have poured life into my heart, for that I am forever thankful.

What about you? Do you have that mentor or spiritual mother in your life that you are thankful for? Have you told them?

If you don’t have one, may I suggest that you begin to pray for one, or become one in the life of another?

Clean Hands!

2011-12-07T14:15:00.001-05:00

A Dirty Bride?

2011-12-06T15:50:00.001-05:00

"O generation, heed the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, Or a land of thick darkness ? Why do My people say, 'We are free to roam ; We will no longer come to You'? "Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire ? Yet My people have forgotten Me Days without number. Jer 2:31-32

A bride dresses in white to show a sign of purity.

She is to be a virgin.

A bride saves herself for her husband.

At an early age she began the process of preparing herself to be a bride.

There was a day when these sentences actually meant something. We have come so far from what it use to mean to be pure.

Is there purity anywhere? Is it even possible?

The church is the bride, but do those around us see a virgin? Or have we become tainted by the culture around us? Our pure white dress has become dirty with the culture we have allowed to touch us.

We should be preparing ourselves to meet our groom. But too often we are running around chasing after lovers.

We no longer worry about keeping our bodies pure, let alone our minds! We are constantly shoving junk into our mouths and minds. Then wonder why trash keeps coming out.

We live as if we have forgotten that we are promised to the groom.

Today I ask myself have I become the harlot instead of a Bride? My groom waits patiently.

My groom loves his bride with an everlasting love. He has sanctified her, cleansed her so that she might once again be the virgin bride. But again she forgets....

Oh Jesus help me to wait for you as a pure virgin waits for her groom. Help me to not grow restless and chase other lovers. Grow in me a desire to be completely holy and desire only You. Thank you for making a way that I might be clean again. I am so grateful that you are a patient bridegroom and that You are even now preparing me for the day when I will be presented to you.

Jesus I pray that when you come for your bride that she would have made herself ready.

"Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready." Rev 19:7

Utterly Deadly Pecan Pie

2011-12-04T08:15:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite pies is Pecan. I have wanted to post this since Thanksgiving but hadn’t taken the time to transfer the pictures to my computer. So Here is my recipe that several have asked for. Hope you enjoy it!

Ingredients

1cup Sugar
1 1/2 Cup corn syrup (I use 1/2 dark and 1/2 light)
4 eggs 1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 - 2 cups pecans, coarsely broken
1 unbaked deep dish pie shell

Directions

1. In saucepan boil sugar and corn syrup together for 2 to 3 minutes'; set aside and allow to cool slightly. I usually wait about 30-45 minutes.

2. In large bowl beat eggs lightly and very slowing pour the syrup mixture into the eggs, stirring constantly.

3. Stir until mixture is smooth and lump free.

4. Stir in butter, vanilla, and pecans.

5. Pour mixture into pie crust.

6. Bake in a 350 degrees oven for about 45 to 60 minutes or until set.

Mothers and Sisters

2011-12-03T09:19:00.000-05:00

I have a drawer full of cards. Cards sent to me by some very precious women in my life. I call it my encouragement drawer. There are days when I forget who I am and that I am loved. Days that I become discouraged. On these days I can open up the drawer and read words of love from these dear friends. I am reminded I am not alone. I am loved. Valued.

Honestly these women have been more than a friends. They have been mothers and sisters often touching my heart on a deeply spiritual level as they have taught me to grow, to love, laugh, cry, celebrate, mourn, wait, endure, to be strong and to be able to show my weaknesses. They have challenged areas of sin, wrong attitudes, wrong thinking and lies I have believed.

They have taught me how to grow deeper in life, and love. They have taught me to love God’s Word. They have walked beside me when times are tough. They have held my hand when I was afraid. Carried me me when I didn’t think I could go on.

I have received many blessings from these treasures in my life. Sometimes those blessings come in the form of a phone call, an email, a text, a note or card (see above picture), a hug, a cup of coffee, lunch, time spent together or just knowing they are there if I need them.

What I have learned the most from these precious women in my life is how to be like Jesus. They always point me back to truth and Christ.

Jesus, while on earth, lived life with His disciples. He taught them, challenged them, walked with them, He encouraged them, shared a meal with them, they laughed and cried together, they prayed together and Jesus offered them love, grace and mercy.

I am not sure what I did to deserve their love but I do thank God for it and them.

God is good to give us family. He doesn’t have to for He IS enough, but He chooses to bless us with those who can touch our heart.

A New Name

2011-12-02T15:53:00.001-05:00

For my beloved’s sake I can not keep silent. I will not keep quiet until her righteousness shines brightly. I desire her salvation to be like a touch that burns. I want my glory to shine in and through you.

I know it’s hard now. I know you have been broken, hurt, and forsaken. The world calls you names and mocks what you believe.

One day soon you will receive a new name. You will be a crown of beauty in the Lord’s hand. You will no longer be called forsaken, unlovable, rejected, or desolate. No you will be called “My delight is in her” you will be called “Beloved of God”.

The Lord delights in you. He will come as a bridegroom for His bride. He will marry His beloved.

Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth, Say to the daughter of Zion, "Lo, your salvation comes ; Behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him." And they will call them, "The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD "; And you will be called, "Sought out, a city not forsaken. Is 62:11,12

A Lament

2011-11-30T10:44:00.001-05:00

My heart is heavy.

Grief rises up and threatens to overwhelm me.

I want to gather you in my arms

and whisper words of truth.

Words of healing.

Words of love.

You do not listen.

You have been deceived.

Deceived by the lies of the world.

The enemy.

You chase after your own desires.

You chase after emptiness.

You have bought into the lies.

The lies that say…

Do what feels good.

Do what is right in your own eyes.

It’s not your fault you were born that way.

So many voices, so many lies.

But you are not happy.

You cry yourself to sleep.

You drown out the pain with parties,

drinking and lovers.

You are chasing dreams

only to find that they elude you.

You find that your dreams do not bring you

the happiness you seek.

My heart breaks as I watch you struggle in your sin.

Making choices that will only bring more pain.

You choose to live in the wilderness of the world.

A world that offers no hope, no love.

Only sorrow, pain and death.

Oh my dear one can you not see?

Can you not understand that you walk in darkness?

Will you not heed my warning?

When will you grow weary of your sin?

How far into the darkness must you walk

before you see truth.

Oh child how I long for you to take my hand

and allow me to lead you to the ONE that offers peace.

He waits for you. He died for you.

He alone can fill your emptiness.

He stands willing to give you grace, love,

mercy, hope and so much more.

His love will fill you to overflowing

and you will have a joy this world can never know.

He offers you life. A life of joy.

A life of sweet amazing grace.

He offers forgiveness.

He offers Himself.

It’s all yours.

You only need to believe.

To have faith.

Reach out and take His hand

Take His gift.

His gift of grace.

The gift of eternal salvation.

The gift of truth.

Can you hear my heart breaking?

Oh how I long to take you to Jesus!

But you are blinded by the lies of this world.

I will not lose hope.

I will speak truth into your heart.

I will love you, pray for you

and maybe one day you will believe.

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling . Matt 23:27

Reflecting upon His Grace

2011-11-29T19:27:00.001-05:00

Today has been one of those days that I needed to reflect on God's grace ...His Favor, kindness and friendship. His gift of Grace is freely bestowed on me.

There are SO many verse dealing with Grace...I can't possibly list them all....but here are a few that touched my heart.

His Grace reminds me that I have been redeemed.

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:22 – 24

…made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.Ephesians 2:5

His Grace helps me when I feel as if I am failing and there is more on my mind than should be.

Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. Psalms 94:17 – 19

His Grace reminds me that I lack nothing to do that which He has called me to do. He will pour upon me all that is needed to do His will.

I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.For in him you have been enriched in every way--in all your speaking and in all your knowledge--because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:4 - 8

The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:14

...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

Today I am thankful for God’s grace that works daily in my life.

Do I Live in the Shadows of Fear?

2011-11-28T10:20:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I was challenged by our pastors sermon as he spoke about Obadiah in I Kings 18:1-16. Our pastor shared how Obadiah was a man who “feared the Lord greatly” but his faith was lived in the shadows. Obadiah was afraid to stand up, come out of the shadows and let his faith be known.

The question that has been ringing in my mind is this, “Has fear moved me into the shadows?” Has the fear of rejection, ridicule, or even retaliation kept you from speaking out about your faith?

Do my friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, or those that I sit in church with every Sunday know that I fear the Lord?

Have I made my faith known?

Do I stand up and speak (in love) against sin or do I hide in the shadows, afraid of what people might think?

Do encourage others in their faith? Do I speak words of kindness and love in order to spur them on in their faith and good works? Do I encourage them to get their eyes back on God instead of their fear of man?

As I enter into this Christmas season I am praying that as Christ-followers we will be bold in our faith. That we will stand with a courageous faith.

I am praying that I will have a faith that is not only courageous but contagious!

Here are just a few verses that might encourage you to stand firm and be courageous in your faith.

We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 1 Thess 5:14

Be on alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all you do be done in love. 1 Cor 16:13,14

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' Isaiah 41:10

Oh Father help me to keep my eyes on you and have a faith that is able to stand up against those who would have me deny you by the way I live. Help me to live a life that openly expresses my faith. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I can speak words of encouragement and love. Forgive me for those times that my actions have denied you before men. Forgive me for those times when I allow fear to keep me from being courageous.

Thankful for 28 years

2011-11-26T09:41:00.001-05:00

It seems impossible that I have been married for 28 years. If I am really honest I never imagined that I would stay married and be absolutely happy about it. Growing up I had no real role model of how a healthy marriage was suppose to be. Society often says that those coming from broken homes are less likely to have a healthy marriage.

Good thing I don’t listen to society! I listen to God and He has had a lot to say to me about marriage over the last 28 years. I am fully aware that apart from God working in me and my husband we could be just another statistic.

But God has shown us…

Marriage is a covenant. A covenant not to be broken except by death. It’s choosing to be committed to one another no matter what life may throw at you.

Love is a choice. You only fall out of love because you choose to. It gets too hard, we stop trying, but love choose to stay and work through the hard places.

You have to laugh. God gave me my husband because God knew I would need to laugh. Keith is the only one who can make me laugh even when I am upset with him.

Neither of us are perfect. We each have areas of our heart and life that God needs to expose and work through in order to mold us into the image of Christ.

Marriage is about growing. It’s a process of growth and maturity. A process that requires grace, patience and a willingness to walk in forgiveness. It’s growing in our relationship with God, with each other and within ourselves.

Marriage is about friendship. Be willing to work at the friendship. Spend time together.Talk about everything, share your hopes, dreams, joys and sorrow. Be life long friends.

There is so much we’ve learned after 28 years this is only a small list. How can one possibly list everything?

I stand amazed as I look over the last 28 years and see all God has done. Our marriage is a result of two people surrendering our wills to God and one another. Not perfectly, but it is a process.

I don’t want to sound as if it’s been easy, it hasn’t been. Anyone who has been married for any length of time knows it takes work, prayer and God. There is a book on my shelf that I have never read, it’s called Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas. I am sure it’s an excellent book. When I first got it I opened it and read this sentence, “What if marriage is not to make you happy, but to make you holy?” I closed the book and put it on the shelf. It’s the best book I never read.

That sentence in many ways has totally changed my thoughts on marriage. What if God intended marriage to make us holy? What better way to life a life of “iron sharpens iron” than within the marriage relationship? Maybe we come into marriage with the wrong expectations? Maybe it’s more about learning to know God together. It’s just a thought.

We still have many more years ahead of us so I am sure there is so much more to learn. More to love and to grow. I have loved being married and I can’t wait for the next however many years God blesses us with.

I think we have an amazing story of how we met. If you haven’t read it you can read it here Thankful for my marriage. It’s a story of redeeming Love.

Giving Thanks for all He has done!

2011-11-23T08:56:00.000-05:00

Today Join others at Word Filled Wednesday to see how others are being filled with God’s precious word.

A Thankful Guest –Meet Mari

2011-11-23T01:40:00.000-05:00

Different times of the year bring different things to mind. In February we think about love, May brings the changing seasons and thoughts of outdoor fun, August reminds us the school is going to start soon, but November is special. In November we are reminded to be thankful. It's not about our plans or what we want, but a time to be reminded of how much we already have.

I remember seeing the old movie 'Pollyanna' in school. If you haven't seen it, the story is about a little girl who chooses to see the good in everything. That movie made a big impression on me, and I've always tried (but don't always succeed) to look for the positive.

I think being thankful is very similar. It seems that no matter what the situation, there is always something you can find to be thankful about.

Do you know who is best at this? It seems to be those who by outward appearances have the least to be thankful for. I've been able to care for several young people who were dying. They consistently thanked God for the way He worked in their life, thanking Him for each new day and the different ways He cared for them as they went through this process. What a reminder to those of us who take so much for granted!

As this month comes to an end, and we start concentrating on the busyness that the Christmas season brings, remind yourself of the many ways God has blessed you and keep a thankful spirit through the year, not just for one season!

Mari is a mom and Grandma. She has been married for over 30 years and works as a nurse at a long term care center.

Every time I visit her she is such a blessing to me – even if I don’t always let her know! I encourage you to visit her too by clicking the link. My Little Corner of the World. While you are there you should check out her other blogs too. She has some delicious recipes to share, I have make quite a few of them and they are always delicious!

Thank you Mari for joining us!

Thankful for HOPE

2011-11-22T08:30:00.000-05:00

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil 1:6

I am so thankful that God has given me the absolute confidence to believe that He WILL accomplish/finish/complete His good work in me. I am so persuaded of this because HIS Word says it’s true. I have also seen evidence of this in my own life.

God gave me hope when He ...

took a little girl without any hope and gave her hope
offered security to one who did not feel safe
made a me clean, spotless, pure when I felt dirty and sinful
took a girl who felt unloved and made her HIS BELOVED
turned brokenness to healing
died for my sins and offered me free grace
revealed truth to me through His words

I don't know where you are today or what you might be going through, but this one thing I do know, and I am convinced of it with all my being.

Jesus is working on YOUR behalf to see you through whatever it is that consumes you today.

It may not be the answer you are hoping for. Your circumstances may seem hopeless, but KNOW- be convinced - that in Christ there is HOPE for all things will work out for our good.

How do I know? Because God can not lie. He can not break a promise. If His word says it you can count on it.

...in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, Titus 1:2

…so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. Hebrews 6:18

Both of these are talking about the hope we can have in the covenant (promise) God has made with His children. When God promises, or makes a covenant, with His people you can rest assured that it will be fulfilled.

I pray today that you will be confident in the knowledge that you are not alone and that you have Jesus working on your behalf to complete the work in you which was started long ago...

We really can be thankful regardless of our circumstances, when we understand that God is working it all out for our good. We just might not see it yet!

Check out Can We Really be Thankful when we hurt?

Can I Really Be Thankful When I Hurt?

2011-11-21T10:54:00.001-05:00

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ. 1 Thess 5:16-18

Yesterday our pastor preached on the above verses and I was struck by something. Something small but what a huge difference it made. I am to be thankful IN my present circumstances not FOR.

How many times have we faced suffering, pain, and trials with the wrong view? We can face some really hard things in life.

How can a parent watch a child make sinful choices and be thankful?

How can a mother watch her child die of cancer and be thankful?

How can a wife be thankful that her husband is having an affair?

How can anyone be thankful for being abused, beaten, abandoned or ______ ?

Oh dear one, God does not ask us to be thankful FOR these things. He wants us to have an attitude of thankfulness while we walk IN them.

But how can I be thankful in the midst of these things when my circumstances threaten to overwhelm me?

We look to God. We take our eyes off our circumstances.

We give thanks to the Lord because He is good and His lovingkindness is everlasting. (1 Chron. 16:34; Ps 118:29; 136:3) Some form of this phrase is found in the Old Testament many times so I think it’s important to look at what God is saying to us.

We can give thanks in the midst of our suffering because we KNOW God is good. We may not fully understand what God is doing, but we can rest in know that God IS good to His children and that He loves us with an everlasting love.

We can give thanks because we KNOW that God always acts in righteousness. I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High. Ps 7:17

We can give thanks because He is our God! You are my God, and I give thanks to You; You are my God, I extol You. Ps 118:28

We can give thanks as a sacrifice of praise. There are those moments in life where it must just be a choice. We choose to be thankful in knowing who God is and knowing He will never act apart from His character. In these times we offer Him a sacrifice of thanks.

Willingly I will sacrifice to You; I will give thanks to Your name, O LORD, for it is good. Ps 54:6

Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:15 Did you notice the word through? The Him there is speaking of Jesus. Through Christ let us continually offer up praise to God.

Our flesh, and our enemy, will want to focus on the circumstances. But choosing to do so you will cause more heartache for yourself.

God wants us to choose an attitude of thankfulness. Not because what what is happening but because of who He is. “But how?” You ask.

It’s choosing to live, walk, believe in TRUTH regardless of emotions or circumstances. God would never ask us to be thankful IN our suffering if it was not then possible to do so. But we can not be thankful apart from the Lord God being center of our focus or our lives. We must be devoted to prayer and in His word.

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving. Col 4:2

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Col 3:15-17

Will you choose to be thankful because of who God is? Will you choose to focus on God and His character instead of your current circumstances? Go to Him in prayer, He will will give you the ability to to be thankful IN all things.

Today I am joining, for the first time…

Thankful for a God who Understands

2011-11-17T13:53:00.001-05:00

Today my heart has been heavy and to be honest I just didn’t want to write a post on being thankful for anything!

I've spent most the day on the verge of tears.

There has been a lot going on. Not just in my life, but those I love dearly.

It doesn’t help that my mind has been focused on self either. I hurt and don’t feel well. There are test to be done, they are an inconvenience. I don’t like them.

I’ve been missing my momma too. I want to just sit and cry on her shoulder and have her tell me it will all be okay. I want to feel her comfort, her support, her encouragement. Not just know it’s there.

Does that make sense? Am I too old to even need a mother? To need a kind of mother I never had? Is it okay that some days I still can mourn that loss?

The lies that are shouting in my mind. It’s been hard to take them captive. It is so easy for the enemy to win when my focus is on me.

When I am only thinking about me I don’t see the goodness God has given. When it’s all about me I can’t see God. I can’t see the hurt and sorrow of others.

When it’s all about me I will never feel like being thankful.

But when I look at HIM I see goodness and my heart can rejoice and be thankful for all HE has done.

So regardless of how I feel or what I think I am going to choose to finish this day rejoicing in a God that offers me grace to face the daily challenges.

I will choose to have a day that is other’s focused, not self focused. I will stand firm with a thankful heart, knowing that my God is sufficient in all things, He is sovereign, Good, Just, a Strong tower, and full of love, grace and mercy toward me.

I will be thankful to a God who understands my sorrow, my hurts, my emotions and He never gives up on me. He will never think I have totally gone crazy, lost it or have fallen. He understands those moments of weakness and His Spirit strengthens me.

How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? … I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me. Ps 13:2,6

Just Being Thankful

2011-11-16T09:36:00.001-05:00

My life has never been my own, I do know this truth. So often I can have a momentary lapse of forgetfulness. I run ahead on the path set before me. Impatient. The walking seems too slow.

I am often just like a child on a path taking a stroll with his parents, I run ahead. “Hurry up I call back!” My Father gentle says, “My beloved you need to slow down. You are missing all I have to show you. And besides you’ve never walked this path before and don’t understand the dangers ahead.”

I know He is speaking truth. I have run ahead before and been hurt. I have found myself in places that seemed dark and scary because I have run so far ahead that I can’t see my Father any longer.

I turn and run back to the safety of His hand holding my hand. I allow my Father to set the pace for the journey I am on. After all He has been here before, He knows what is ahead.

Lead me Father in Your purposes for me.

I realize it’s been a few days since I have written. I hadn’t planned for it to be so long since my last post, but God has had other plans. I’ve had some health issues. Nothing serious at this point. Just a lot of testing. I have found myself thankful for know that my God is in control. I trust that He will give wisdom to those who will read the test, for the doctors and lab technicians.

I am thankful that God is sovereign and that nothing can touch me apart from Him. He watches over me and will never leave me. I am thankful He is ALWAYS here and nothing surprises Him, He is never caught off guard.

You will NEVER hear God saying, “Whoa, I didn’t see that coming!” (lol)

May we find something to be thankful in each moment of the day as we walk with a God who never surprised by life’s little “surprises”.

Thankful He is my Father

2011-11-12T08:56:00.001-05:00

I only have a few precious memories of my earthly father. They are tender moments of him comforting me after a nightmare and feeling secure in his arms, his love.

Those memories, I believe, are what gave me hope deep inside my heart as I grew up. I didn’t always understand the hope that God placed there, all I knew was that I longed to feel the comfort and security of my fathers love once again.

I longed for that which I could not find in any earthly father figure. There were times that in desperation I would cry out, to who I did not know. I wasn’t even sure at times there was anyone to cry out to.

God heard.

Psalms 68:5 says of God “A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, Is God in His holy habitation God makes a home for the lonely.”

And in Psalms 27:10 it says that even though my father and mother have forsaken me the Lord will take me up.

I felt forsaken. Abandoned. Unloved.

My heart would cry out for a father’s love and a mother’s nurturing. I wanted to feel safe, to know I was loved. Oh how my heart longed for a place in a mother’s heart where there was an abundance of love and grace.

It would not be found on earth.

I know my mother loves me with all her being. I know she did the absolute best she could, but she was incapable of nurturing her children. She did not know who to show love.

It would be found in heaven.

The Lord heard my cry. He said to me “seek my face”. And I began a long journey to grow to know my Father in heaven. In Him I found my help, my salvation. I learned to trust and KNOW that He will NEVER abandon or forsaken me. My Father’s love is everlasting and He would teach me His ways and about His love. He would lead me to understanding.

My God. My Father. My Mother. He is all sufficient for me. For this I am thankful!

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Wait for the LORD ; Be strong and let your heart take courage ; Yes, wait for the LORD! Psalms 27:13-14

For more, Read Psalms 27

Cultivate a Heart of Thankfulness

2011-11-10T11:07:00.001-05:00

I have noticed recently that my heart isn’t as thankful as I would like it to be. I have been recognizing a very familiar pattern that I had allowed to creep into my heart. AGAIN. It’s called the “It’s all about me” syndrome.

We are familiar with it, not one of us have lived in the world for long without needing to purge self from the altar of our hearts.

Our world is consumed with self. We hear messages all the time about how we deserve a bigger house, nicer cars, brand name items, luxury vacations, a beach house, massages and the list of things goes on and on.

We believe the lies that we deserve time for self. We should do things that make self happy, satisfied. Do what feels good, what is right to self is the message we hear over and over.

God’s word says that we are to deny self. We are to put others above ourselves. We are to rejoice in suffering.

We must cultivate a heart of thankfulness. But in order to cultivate a thankful heart one must take their eyes off themselves and look at the world around them. We must see through the eyes of the Spirit, not the eyes of the flesh.

When we begin to focus on what we have been given instead of what we think we need our heart will be less likely to focus on the flesh. Or when we begin to look around at others and see what God is doing in their lives, and being thankful for God’s work then we are less likely to focus on self.

My challenge today for myself and for you if you are willing is to try and find things I am thankful for today. Regardless of how hard my current circumstances might be I want to focus on being thankful.

Today I can be thankful for…

…an absolutely amazing husband, friend and covenant partner.

…God who continues to work and move in ways we do not see and do not understand so that His purposes are accomplished for His kingdom.

…God who does not give me what I deserve, which is eternal damnation, but has given me grace upon grace through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus so that I might live eternally with Him.

…another day to serve God.

…God’s grace and that He chooses to use me in His kingdom work.

…the privilege to suffer in order to be more like Jesus.

Oh you get the idea…there is always, always, always something to be thankful for. We must choose to intentionally cultivate a heart of thankfulness.

Don’t forget to enter my GIVEAWAY it ends tomorrow! Details on top of my page!!!

Cultivate a thankful heart today by visiting with others who are thankful.

Giving thanks for a heart that breaks

2011-11-09T11:33:00.001-05:00

Have you ever prayed that God would break your heart with what breaks his? I have. My flesh can be very selfish and self focused. Some time ago I realized that if I was ever going to see people as God sees them then I would need His help.

I pray that I He would give me His eyes to see as He sees. I pray to have His heart so that I can love as HE does. I want my heart to break over those things that break the heart of God.

Ask yourself, “Do I really let my heart break for the same things that break God’s heart?” Do I really care about the lost, the brokenhearted, the poor, and the defenseless or am I just going through the motions? Am I too wrapped up in my own life, too busy to notice?”

When you begin to pray for a heart that breaks with God you begin to see the world differently. It’s not about me anymore, even though sometimes I really do try to make it about me. But God awakens my heart to see people as He does, to love them as He does.

Don’t misunderstand, I still struggle ALL the time with my flesh and so often I forget and I must go to God in confession and then pray once more, “God break my heart for what breaks Yours.”

A Scott Krippayne song asks,” God, what breaks your heart, what makes you cry, what will I see if I look through your eyes?” So, what will we see? Ask God and let him open your heart and eyes to what He sees.

So what does break the heart of God?

God’s heart breaks for those who reject Him. Luke 13:34"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it!35"Behold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD !'

"Luke 19:41 When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it,

God’s heart breaks for those who are treated unjustly. Duet 25:16"For everyone who does these things, everyone who acts unjustly is an abomination to the LORD your God

Jeremiah 22:3,5 Thus says the LORD, "Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow ; and do not shed innocent blood in this place. …"But if you will not obey these words, I swear by Myself," declares the LORD, "that this house will become a desolation."

Unfaithfulness, harlotry and adultery breaks the heart of God. Jeremiah 3:6-10 Then the LORD said to me in the days of Josiah the king, "Have you seen what faithless Israel did ? She went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and she was a harlot there.

Hosea 5:4Their deeds will not allow them To return to their God. For a spirit of harlotry is within them, And they do not know the LORD

Hosea 6:10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing ; Ephraim's harlotry is there, Israel has defiled itself.

Sin breaks God’s heart. Genesis 6:6 The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

Psalms 78:40 How often they rebelled against Him in the wilderness And grieved Him in the desert.

These are a few things that break the heart of God. Although sometimes it’s hard and painful, I am thankful that God does break my heart over what breaks His.

Questions that I ask myself. Does my heart break when I see injustice? Sin? Does it break when I see the hungry, poor and broken hearted? Does it break when I see the lost?

If it does break, how do I respond? How should I respond?

I’d like to leave you with the words to the song Broken by 4Him.

I live and breathe
I am alive
Beholding with my eyes humanity
I'm overcome I must confess
By all this hopelessness
Surrounding me
Confronted with the face of desperation
I will not turn my back and walk away
I mourn I weep
For the least of these I'm broken
I hurt I feel
For the homeless until I'm broken
Broken by what breaks the heart of God
I'm throwing caution to the wind
I will not be content with complacency
For God Your heart is my desire
Come fill me with your fire
Lord move in me
Consume me with a passion and conviction
Until I have Your burden for the lost
I mourn I weep
For the least of these I'm broken
I hurt I feel
For the homeless until I'm broken
Broken by what breaks the heart of God

Organic GIVEAWAY!!

2011-11-07T12:13:00.001-05:00

Thanks for joining the first of three giveaways this month! Today I am giving away liquid and bar soap that is made organically.

The soaps are made by my beautiful niece Kristen Miller and her company’s philosophy is simple... to provide you with top quality organic products.

What this means is you get the best while helping to protect the environment. By making our body care products organic we ensure that no harsh chemicals or toxins are ever used. The great news is that our products reduce exposure to these toxins and they help protect the earth by lessening the reliance on pesticides and other harmful chemicals.

I’ve been using this soap for several weeks now and love it!! You can find out more about the soaps here and you can “like” her on Facebook here.

So how do you enter to win? Just leave a comment here on my blog and let me know WHAT CHARACTER OF GOD you are most thankful for!

The GIVEAWAY will be open for 5 days only! Friday I will announce the winner!

Children, A Wonderful Gift!

2011-11-07T11:14:00.001-05:00

I remember the day they were born. Holding them in my arms, I was scared to death. I had no clue how to raise a child.

Why would God give me such precious gifts? Oh how I longed to be a good godly mom! My desire was to raise godly young men.

But what did I know about godly parenting? What did I know about raising godly men? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. There was no model growing up, training that I could pull from.

As they grew older my fears would grow. Fear of failing them. Fear of losing them. And fear of ruining them.

I made mistakes. Many mistakes. I parented in fear, anger, fighting to control them. Would they understand the depths of my love? Would they understand I just wanted them to be men of God? Did they see that I didn’t have a clue what I was doing?

These two precious gifts. Amazing gifts. They taught me so much about love. Unconditional love. They taught me how to lean on my Father.They helped me realize that I couldn’t control anything in my life, I needed to surrender all to God.

As a mom I learned so much about myself. God gave them two wonderful gifts so that I might see HIM. He entrusted them to me so that I might grow up. So that I might know my God is in control and apart from resting in Him and His strength I can do nothing.

Today I am thankful that in spite of being a clueless mother God raised my sons to men that seeks God.

It took a lot of failure and mistakes on my part before I started to get any kind of clue about raising them. I still am amazed that God would use such a broken vessel.

Today they are grown men with families of their own. I am amazed by them. Grateful to God for the work HE did in their hearts and life.

IF it were not for God and the work He faithful did in my heart and the hearts of my sons I am certain they would be totally messed up today! But then maybe not…for God is in the business of taking lives messed up by sin, shame and failure and renewing them. He takes lives that are dead and brings them to a new life.

THANK YOU God for these two wonderful gifts. These gifts are so precious to me. I love them more than I thought was ever possible to love.

Thank you for the work you have done and you continue to do in their hearts and lives.

Thank you for the work you have done in me, because of them.

Thankful For My On-line Sisters

2011-11-05T14:59:00.001-04:00

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Phil 2:1-2

I am thankful for my “on-line” sisters who are like-minded in their devotion and passionate pursuit of knowing God. It brings such joy to my heart to know each one of you and am encouraged by your faith in Christ.

I am thankful for YOU, who I’ve not met face to face, yet our hearts have connected because of Jesus.

I am thankful to you who understand the desire to go deep and look at the heart of issues. To question and have conversations that take place in so many forms through social media and blogging. You understand that we can be REAL and TRANSPARENT in our words. You understand that we DO NOT have to walk alone.

So many of you have touched my heart deeply. We have laughed together and we have wept with one another. We have spent time in prayer and shared our heartbreak together. We have encouraged, lifted up, and even sometimes gently rebuke one another.

You are dearly loved and I thank God for you, my beautiful sisters in Christ!!

Just back on Monday for my first GIVEWAY of the month!!

But, What About God?

2011-11-03T13:37:00.001-04:00

As I have been thinking about all the things I am thankful for I realized that my list is quite long. God has richly blessed me, even in the trials and storms I can see blessings. But something hit me as I was reflecting on my list.

It was about ME! But, What about God? Ultimately isn’t it God to whom all glory and thanksgiving should be given? Is it not He who gives me the blessings?

It’s really not about me at all! Nothing is about me. It’s all God. God’s Spirit living in me gives me everything I need.

So today I want it to be ALL ABOUT GOD!

Today I want to say THANK YOU to my

El Elyon the Most High God. You are the sovereign ruler of all the universe.

El Roi, the God who sees. You are everywhere. You never sleep. I am constantly within your sight. You are always aware of all my circumstances.

El Shaddai, my all-sufficient One. You pour Yourself out for me. You are sufficient. You are all I need.

Jehovah-rapha, the God who heals me of my sin. I am healed completely and forever of my sin. Thank you!

Jehovah-nissi, The Lord is my Banner. You gives victory over my enemy. You provide all I need to fight the battle of my flesh. Because of You, my Jehovah-nissi, I can have victory over my flesh, the world, and the devil.

Jehovah-Sabaoth, the Lord of host. You are the One who delivers and the One who judges. In Your presence I have deliverance. I am safe! Your name is a Strong tower, my stronghold. (Ps 47:7; Prov. 28:20)

Jehovah-tsidkenu, the Lord is my righteousness. This is among one of my favorite names because it tells me I can be right with God. No matter where I have been or what I have done I can have a right standing with my Creator. How? By receiving Jesus Christ as Lord. Because of Jesus and the new Covenant (His blood) God has given me a new heart. Jeremiah 31:33-34 says that God has written His law on my heart, He will forgive me of my sins and remember them no more. I am righteous through Christ. Hallelujah! Oh THANK YOU JESUS!!

You are my Shepherd, my Jehovah-raah who leads me in the path of righteousness, You restore my soul. (Ps 23)

God, You are my Rock, the Shelter in the Storm. I can run to you and be safe.

Thank you God for being a Covenant keeping God. You are trustworthy and You will not fail to keep even one of your promises to Your children.

Thank you Father for being a personal God. A God who wants to be in a deep, loving, covenant relationship with us.

God, I thank you for who you are! You are the great I AM! For there is NO other God beside you!

What about you? What part of God’s character are you MOST thankful for? Would love to hear from you!!

I am also joining in on Thankful Thursday over at Women Taking A Stand.

Thankful for His Love, It’s Everlasting!

2011-11-02T14:38:00.001-04:00

There is an image that the enemy likes to taunt me with even to this day. It’s an image of a little girl almost six years old being left in the back seat with her younger siblings. It was late and very dark. She didn’t know where her mommy was. She was gone for hours it seemed. She felt abandoned. She felt so alone. Her mommy gave her instructions to watch over her brother and sister while she was gone.

But who would take care of her?

For this little girl, and many like her, it would not be the last time she would feel the sting of abandonment. She would grow up without the feeling of being loved, protected or secure. This experience would happen many more times.

I wish I could tell you that she eventually grew out of it, learned to trust, to feel safe and loved. This was not the case. She struggles more often than she likes with feelings of not being worthy of love. Being afraid to love anyone for fear that they too would leave and abandon her.

But then…

…she met Jesus. She came face to face with the knowledge of who He really was and who she was because of HIM.

She learned that Jesus is different. Jesus makes a promise, a covenant.

She learned to take comfort in Duet 31:8 “The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

She learned to believe Jer 31:3 “…I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”

Today I take up the truth that I know and remind myself that God loves me. That He died for me. I remind myself of the cross.

I am thankful that not only has God shown me His everlasting love He has also allowed give me those that have shown deep love to me. They have loved me with the love of Christ.

I am thankful that God drew me unto Himself with loving-kindness.

I am thankful that I can trust Him to never, ever abandon me.

And what about you? Have you felt abandon, unloved, insecure? Have you trusted people who have hurt you, left you or didn’t really love you?

If you belong to Jesus then you too can take comfort dear one that from “…everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him…” Ps. 103:17

If you don’t know Jesus then I invite you to Click Here. I promise that if you are His HE will never leave you!

Thankful for a God who Heals

2011-11-01T06:32:00.000-04:00

Not long ago I came to know my Jehovah-rapha in a deeper, more personal way.

Jehovah-rapha means the one who is your healer. In the Hebrew the word we translate as rapha means “to mend, to cure.” It is translated “to heal, repair, repair thoroughly, make whole.” (Lord, Heal my Hurts by Kay Arthur)

God can and does heal us. He heals physically, spiritually, and emotionally. For many years I had heard that God healed, but I didn’t truly understand what that meant until recently. God has given me a deeper understanding of His power of spiritual and emotional healing.

For this I am THANKFUL!

What He has shown me over and over and over that when things get difficult, when I feel as if I can’t handle life, or my current circumstance I am to run to God. Not walk, but RUN!

It’s not just the running to God that heals, it’s what we do afterwards that matters.

What I need to understand is that if I run to God for answers and then walk away and still do what I think is best, what does it profit me? I need to run to Him and then listen and obey, that is when healing begins.

If you would look at my books shelves you would see many Christian self help books and Bible studies. Books filled with godly council. I read them all. But when it comes right down to it none of them helped me to truly heal. Knowing His word and understanding His character and then being obedient to what He says is what heals us.

Do you get that? Go back and read that last sentence just to be sure.

So often we know the truth of what God says. He says to forgive, to renew our thinking, to love our enemies, to seek Him, to know Him, to walk by faith not by sight and to obey.

For His Word, I am THANKFUL!

But sometimes we behave as if His word isn’t enough. We want more, we want to go to the latest books, our friends, or secular help. Why? The answer to that is dependent on the person. Some think God needs help, some believe what God calls us to do is to hard. Some are unwilling to forgive, to forget, to let go and press on toward healing. Some really don’t want to be healed of their emotional pain.

We will never be fully healed until we learn to run to our Jehovah-rapha where complete healing awaits us. Once we are there, seeking Him I truly believe that is when God often brings others along side of us to help. But we must go to our HEALER GOD first.

God thank you that you are the Great Physician. Thank you for helping me understand that you healed me completely. Thank you for healing our disobedience, broken hearts and our sin. You bind up our wounds, and bring healing to those dark places we’ve tried to hide. Oh my Jehovah-rapha thank you! I am so thankful that You heal and repair me COMPLETELY!

(Is 19:22; 57:17-18; 30:26; 53:3; Ps 147:3; Jer 32:27; Acts 10:38)

At the Foot of the Cross

2011-10-28T15:23:00.000-04:00

I have come to the cross Lord Jesus so many times. Humbled. Broken.

For confession. Cleansing. Healing.

It's not a beautiful cross, ragged and worn.

The comes because You died here. You died for me.

So that I might be free.

Jesus I often find myself here looking at the cross, not wanting to forgot the sacrifice you gave so that I could live.

But as I sit at the foot of the cross I often forget to look beyond to the grave.

You know longer hand on the cross. In your death you took upon my sin, pain, suffering and shame. Then three days later you came out of the grave!

You were victorious over death! Victorious over sin! My sin is gone! I am free!

Jesus you set me free!

So while I need to remember the cross and Your sacrifice there I must also remember to look to the grave.

Because of You I can live in victory over sin and death.

Oh Lord Jesus help me to battle the enemy that would love to see me stay in bondage to sin. Help me to take captive every thought and expose the lies. Show me those areas that I am still in bondage to, those lies I still believe. Strip away all that is not from you. My desire is to be soft clay, molded into the image you created for me. Do with me Jesus as you will...

A Thankful PARTY

2011-10-24T22:06:00.000-04:00

In the past I have spent the month of November being thankful. But for some reason last year I got away from it.

So I’ve decided to pick it up again this year! With a few twists!

I will take this month and blog about what I am thankful for. A couple post on how to be thankful in all things. And other things God lays on my heart dealing with thankfulness. My goal will to post at least 3X a week – although I do want to shoot for everyday…but that might be pushing it. (We will see!)

The TWIST 1) I will have 3 GIVEAWAYS during the month so what for them and how you might participate to earn your chance. I have some great items to give away!! 2) I will be asking so of my blog friends to share their thankful hearts with us!

The party begins on Nov 1, you don’t want to miss it!

If you want to join along please grab the party button on the top right and link back to me and then write a post on whatever you are thankful for!

NOTE: I will try the Mr Linky…but have never done it before so I will see if it works! :-)

Go Big or Go Home?

2011-10-23T16:57:00.001-04:00

When my boys were younger I used to make Applesauce every fall. In fact we had friends that would come over and the fours of us would make enough applesauce for both families to last until the following fall. Or at least we hoped it would last that long!

We were so spoiled on homemade applesauce that we all refuse to eat store bought. It’s just not the same. Not even close.

I’ve been hungry for homemade applesauce. So,Thursday I bought 2 pecks of apples planning to make applesauce on Saturday. It’s just two of us, I thought it would be plenty.

So I am up on Saturday cleaning the apples when my dear husband looks at me and says “no way is that enough! You know the boys are going to want some.” I commented that I didn’t really want to make a ton of it just a little. His reply? “Go big or go home!”

Back to the orchard I went and purchased a bushel for a total of one and half bushels of apples. I pretty much cleaned them out of the apples I wanted. I was a little late in the season!

With the apples all washed I began to boil them, whole. I like to use a variety of Apples. The two I most often use are Cortland and Golden Delicious. This year I also used some Red Delicious, Winesap and Jonagold apples. Bottom line is I never just stick to one type of apple for my sauce. With this combination I didn’t have to add any sugar. It had just the right taste of tartness and sweetness. Delicious.

There are several ways to cook your apples. Boil. Steam. Bake. I have used all three. In fact I usually use all three at the same time so that I can get them cooked quicker.

When the apples look like this they are ready to be processed. One important note. Each batch you cook should have a variety of apples in the pan. Do not cook apples separated according to types. You want a good mix of all the apples in each batch.

I have a manual Food Mill that I like to use. It was passed down from my mother and I couldn’t find any like this on the internet. I did find a stainless steel one. But I really like mine better. You can also find a variety of food mills, even electric one.

My husband always helps in the process as it can get tiring, but great exercise. Well for one arm anyway! :-)

Once you have all the apple pulp grind from the apples you are left with the skin, seeds and stems. Because we live in the country we like to save this and take it out to the corner of our property and dump it for the deer that like to visit us.

Now the fun part! The Applesauce! Oh but first a couple of suggestions. I use the same water as it is already hot and doesn’t require heating up again. When you are finished with the water you will most likely see bits of apples. So that I do not waste any of the apple I pour the water through a fine strainer. Once all the water is strained run this through your food mill.

You will then pour the applesauce into a large bowl. Allow to cool.

Once the applesauce is cooled down a bit you can taste it to see if it needs sugar. If you can the right combo of apples you shouldn’t have to add any. But there have been years that I have had to add a little. I also add cinnamon to mine. Once you have it tasting the way you want it then begin to put into bags to be frozen.

You can also CAN applesauce. I never learn or bothered to teach myself because I really don’t have the space to store a bunch of canned goods. I do however have a very large freezer.

I will usually freeze my applesauce in freezer bags as they take up less space. You can also use storage container that are made for the freezer.

My one and half bushel produced over 17 quarts of applesauce. I might have gotten a bit more but I set some aside for Apple Crisp and eating.

Seasons of Change

2011-10-20T10:53:00.001-04:00

Change. It’s apart of life. Change comes, sometimes wanted other times unwanted.

Change can bring heartache, but also joy.

As I reflect over the last almost 50 years I recount all the seasons of change.

There have been times of Spring when my life seemed to be a time of awakening. A sense of newness. Freshness.

Times of Summer when there was much joy, sunshine and laughter. A time of soaking in all the blessing in my life.

Then there have been times things seemed to begin to die. In the dying I could see such beautiful colors of my life. I think the seasons of autumn are times of great change. Hard changes. Beautiful changes.

Nothing though is as hard as the seasons in my life that were dead, cold and bitter. Winter is always the hardest. With very little sunshine, warmth or visible signs of life. Times I have felt I would just die. Times when it seemed I was forgotten, alone and left for dead inside.

But what I didn’t know during much of that time spent in winter is that inside, deep inside, everything was growing, changing and preparing to break forth into something new. Something beautiful.

The seasons of our lives come and go. Each one brings changes. As I look back I realize I have survived many changes, many seasons.

As I sit before the Lord today and reflect over my life I am fully aware that change is coming. Again. The beauty of it is that every season before hand has prepared me for the season I am about to enter.

I feel it, God is working and the season is about to change.

I wonder, what season we are about to enter? I wonder where we are going? What is God doing?

I don’t know. I only know that the season is about to change in my life. And while I would prefer Spring or even summer it really matters not.

For as I look back I can see, I KNOW, that God is always there working in me, changing me, molding me, refining me to be more like Him.

What about you? Think back over the seasons of your life. Do you see God in each of them? Do you see the changes He created? Can you rejoice in each season of change? Even the winters?

Our God is good in all things. He is good to us, His children.

Keys of the Kingdom

2011-10-19T10:11:00.001-04:00

John 20:23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

Join others at

Encouraging Words Wednesday

Loving Your Pastors

2011-10-14T11:35:00.001-04:00

Pastors, Elders, they are leaders of the church, with a difficult task. They are called, by God, to feed His sheep. They are accountable for the spiritual well being of the flock given to them by God.

They are CALLED. CHOSEN. ANNOINTED.

They are to be appreciated, esteem, loved, encouraged and worthy of honor. I Timothy 4:5 says that “The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.”

David recognized the importance of honoring God’s anointed. Several times Saul was delivered into David’s hand and he could have easily killed him, after all Saul was trying to kill David. But Saul was God’s anointed. David would not stretch out his hand against the one God had anointed to be king. (1Sam 24)

As I read 1 Thess. 5 yesterday I came to verses 12 and 13. Twice I read those verses. I wondered aloud, “God have they always been there?” (don’t you LOVE the Word of God!!) I read them a third time, slowly, and allowed them to sink in.

And then I thought…

“How many times have I NOT appreciated those men who have diligently labored over me. How often have I sat idly by and listened to others destroy the character of a Pastor or Elder? How often have I even voiced my own criticism of the leaders?”

Over 10 years ago I remember being so convicted by my critical words spoken against my pastor that I went to those I had spoken critically to and went to my pastor and begged forgiveness. I wish I could say from that point on I never did it again, but sadly I can not. I can however share that the Spirit convicted me each time and I would humbly go before Him in confession.

Today I hold him in high regard. Today, although we are in a different church, and he has retired, I look at him with great respect for his diligent service to the flock God gave him.

Since that time I have been very careful about my thoughts, speech and attitude toward those God places in leadership. The pastors in our churches are anointed by God. They are chosen by God to preach and teach His sheep. Because they are God’s chosen then I have a responsibility to humble follow the direction they lead. I must trust God in who He has called to lead.

Does it mean I will agree with every decision or path we take. No. Does it mean I will never have moments when I might be TEMPTED to criticize? Of course not. But what God is calling me, and you, to do is “appreciate those who diligently labor among, you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.” 1 Thess 5:12-13

But WHY should I?

It’s simple- God says so and if we don’t it’s sin. (Yeah I know some will not like that answer.)

We do this not because they are perfect and will always make the right decisions. We do this because they are God’s chosen. God has called them to lead the church and he calls us to live at peace. Again I refer back to David who would not even stretch out his hand toward God’s anointed, even though Saul was trying to kill him and God had departed from Saul.

October is Pastor appreciation month, although I for one think we should show appreciation to our pastors every month, why not use this time to send a note of encouragement.

Then through out the year remember to honor him, support him, encourage him, love him. There are so many ways you can do this, be creative! Send a card, a text, or an email and tell him thanks. Let him know what he means to you, to your spiritual growth. PRAY for him.

I would also ~~encourage~~ challenge those of you who tend to be critical of your pastor, to begin praying for him. Confess to the Lord your sin against His anointed. Go to your pastor and confess to him. Then purpose in your heart before the Lord that you will support, encourage and love those God has placed in leadership.

Oh and by the way, I truly believe this goes for their wives also. Don’t forget their role in the lives of their husband as together they minister to the body.

Every Woman….

2011-10-13T00:18:00.000-04:00

I know it will come as a total shock to some, but I don’t have it all together. I am not perfect. Not even close.

I apologize to those of you who think I am. You must think I am, for so often when I fall you gasp and point. You whisper behind my back. I don’t get a second chance. There is no grace.

You see, I am human just like you. I have feelings and emotions that sometimes gets the best of me and I behave badly. I have hurts and failures that cause me to think wrong. I make mistakes, say the wrong thing or say it at the wrong time in the wrong way.

If you would take the time to know me, to sit with me and allow me to share my heart you would see someone different.

But you would have to sit and listen without prejudice and with grace.

You would then see a woman who is just trying to do the very best she can. A woman who desires to follow God, live a life obedient to her Lord. She is praying that God would create in her the woman He created her to be. You would see a woman who loves deeply and wants to be loved in returned.

Oh I know that sometimes I can put up a wall that seems unbreakable. Sometimes it just goes up out of habit, I don’t mean to keep you out. I bet if you smiled or gave me a hug it would some tumbling down.

But then you have your insecurities too. What if I would reject you? Could your heart handle it?

Every woman has insecurities. She has walls that have been built. Hurts that keep them from reaching out with loving arms. Forgiving arms.

We need to have arms that will embrace our sisters. To love them and take the time to know them. When we see a sister fall we need to help her up not push her over the edge. And while we might laugh at that statement the sad thing is we all know it happens.

Lets all take the time to know one another better and assume the best of one another. Let’s choose to love, to forgive, and offer grace.

As women lets love one another as Christ commanded. Let’s love others as we would want them to love us.

Let’s walk hand in hand and help each other to become the women God wants us to be. To be the women we want to be.

Let us remind one another who we are in Christ. That we won’t always behave perfectly but our Father in heaven does see us as holy through His Son Jesus. And let us remind each other that we are a work in progress and our Father in heaven has promised that He will finish the work He began.

Will You Stand in the Gap?

2011-10-12T00:06:00.000-04:00

Today I ask myself, am I willing to stand in the gap? Am I willing to die to self and follow God no matter where He leads, no matter what it requires? God is looking for righteous men and women who are willing to stand in the Gap and rebuild the walls broken by sin.

Are you willing?

Today I am joining…

Encouraging Words Wednesday

Photo credit: www.agefotostock.com

Joy in Trials? Really

2011-10-07T16:52:00.001-04:00

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

I remember a time when I had questions about having joy. How can one have joy in the hard things in life? How do you walk through life with great joy regardless of your circumstances. I didn’t understand. There are those that tried to explain it to me, but my mind seemed blind to understanding.

I would always ask “how does one have joy when a father dies and leaves his 24 year old wife with 3 children under the age of five? Where is the joy of watching your mother try to destroy herself? Or a child being abused? How can you have joy as you watch a father beat your mother?”

Many of the answers I received where something along the line of sin being in the world and you just have to get beyond those things, forgive those who hurt you. I remember some saying that I needed to forgive God! REALLY? As if God has ever done anything that needed to be forgiven of! Where is that in scripture? It’s sad to recall all the well meaning answers and advice that is not based on truth, or bits and pieces of truth.So what is the answer to having joy under trials, temptations, distress, stress and so on?

Here is what I have learned. This is what I know. No, you will find nothing new, but what I realized today is that I have forgotten what the past has taught me. I needed to be reminded. Maybe you need the reminder too.

What I failed to understand then is that it is impossible to have joy in your suffering. There is nothing joyful about suffering, pain, sorrow, distresses or tribulations. I was trying to find joy IN my current circumstances. The object of my joy was all wrong. Nothing about the tribulation or suffering itself can produce joy.

I CAN NOT produce joy on my own. Oh I can put on a happy face, look all bubbly on the outside and TRY to look joyful. But that is not joy and it WILL NOT last.

The object of my joy must be God, and God alone. God, a covenant keeping God and Father in Christ. I need to look to the God of my salvation. I need to remember that He is Christ, the One who pardons iniquity, transgression, and sin.

He, GOD, is the object of my joy.

Joy can never be produced by me or by my circumstances. Joy is the product of the Spirit and it lies in the spiritual. Now so there is no misunderstanding, I am not talking about the joy I felt on my wedding day or the day a child is born or something good happened. I am addressing the joy I am to have that is mentioned in James 1:2 when it says, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,”

What I am talking about is that deep sense of joy knowing that no matter what comes your way you KNOW you will walk through it. You know that it will not destroy you. We can have joy because our focus is not us (ME) at all. My focus is God.

During trials and suffering I am to look to Him and what I know He is doing. He is a covenant keeping God and I know that He does not seek to destroy me but seeks to grow and mature me into His image.

I can also have joy in my trials when I consider who my God is. He is covenant God, the Father of great mercy, the God of all comfort and salvation, who pardoned my sins, clothes me with the robes of righteousness and garments of salvation, and accepts me in Christ. Being mindful of these things should bring great joy and gladness. In Christ there is always a reason for joy because of his person, blood, righteousness, and sacrifice for me.

God is not asking me to be joyful that I am suffering. He is asking me to find joy, to be joyful in knowing that He is testing my faith in order to produce endurance. I need to allow God to grow it in me with all joy. He assures me that when my endurance is fully developed I will be strong in character and ready for whatever God has planned.

Joy is a product of the Spirit of God not our circumstances.

Have You Died Today?

2011-10-05T06:56:00.000-04:00

In order to bear much fruit for our Lord we must first die to self.

(John 12:24)

Today I am joining…

Encouraging Words Wednesday

Photo credit: LauraJane Photograhpy

Have I Failed to Obey?

2011-10-02T18:18:00.001-04:00

In my mind the questioned formed. It required a response. It wouldn’t be ignored.

He wouldn’t be ignored.

Is there something I have failed to obey? Has God directed me to a place that I have refused to go? Has He asked me to do something that I have not done?

This morning our pastor shared that “unless you obey the last thing God told you to do God will not give you the next step. Those who do big things for God’s kingdom must learn to obey Him at all times.”

For about 19 months I have felt like I have no real purpose. Nothing “to do” for God. Real or imagined I have felt as if God has stopped speaking to me. I’ve been stuck, struggling to try to figure out what God wants me to do. What is His purpose, His plan? I’ve heard nothing.

It’s been a hard place, but even so God has given me times of sweet manna. Women who have come to me and shared how much I have ministered to them, how much this blog ministers to them. God has also encouraged and strengthened me through His words as I have studied.

But there must be more…

More of me that He requires. A greater obedience to His call to “Love God and Love Others” a thought that He has had on my mind for some time now.

I don’t know. I have no answers. All I know for sure is that He is God, there is no other. I KNOW He has not and will not ever leave me or forsake me. Regardless of what my circumstance are or my emotions I can stand firm knowing His word is true and I can trust in His promises.

So again I must ask myself the question. Is there something God has asked me to do and I have failed to be obedient? Is God not allowing me to take the next step until I obey it?

I can not honestly answer. I don’t know if there an area of disobedience. But I am willing to ask God to show me. I am willing to ask Him to help me to be obedient at all times, in all things.

And while I am asking I want to ask God to help me learn total dependence on Him. For if God is going to use me, and there is no real doubt that He isn’t, I must learn that whatever He calls me to do I will not be able to do it apart from Him. I will need to learn complete and total dependence on Him for everything. I must learn to die to what I want or what I think needs to be done. I must die so that He can live.

I don’t want to think I have disobeyed in any area, but I won’t know until I ask God. So this is my prayer…

Dear Lord, My desire is to live a life of obedience and be in the center of Your will for my life. Reveal to me any disobedience in my life and in my heart. Show me those areas in my life I still have not surrendered completely to you so that You might live free through my life.

How about you? Will you join me in praying to God that He might reveal those areas that you have yet to obey Him completely?

More Than I Can Handle?

2011-09-22T16:35:00.001-04:00

There is a phrase that is often quoted when someone is going through major trials. It usually goes something along this line “God will not give you more than you can handle.” I am not sure where it originates from although Mother Theresa is noted for saying “I know God will not give me more than I can handle I just wish He did trust me so much.”

This phrase is quoted by Christians and non-Christians alike. I am sure it is meant to encourage the one who is currently struggling. But I am a bit confused at just how is it encouraging to anyone. After all if I am going through something that is extremely difficult and I feel as if I am about to go under somehow that quote is suppose to make me feel better?

More often than not I imagine it makes the person feel as if maybe they aren’t doing something right. Maybe they aren’t strong enough? Or their faith is weak? Maybe they lack trust? You’ve just told them God wouldn’t give them more than they can handle and yet they feel as if they can’t handle their circumstances, so it must be some kind of weakness or failure on their part, right?

Some of you are thinking right now “wait, but doesn’t God’s word say that?” Doesn’t it say he will never give us more than we can handle”? No it does not. No where will you find the phrase. And furthermore when we use it to try and comfort someone we are in danger of misrepresenting scripture and give someone a skewed view of God.

But what about the verse 1 Corinthians 10:13 you say? When questioned it is the verse most are referring to saying that it says God will not give you more than you can handle but will provide a way out.

To read that verse in context is very important, in fact we should always read a verse in context. In verse 7 Paul is talking about not being idolaters, or act immorally as their forefathers did. He is warning them not to fall into sin and then says

“No TEMPTATION has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape, so that you will be able to endure it.”

The verse following 13 says “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” Paul is telling the church that God will not allow you to be tempted to the point that you can not turn from it. We will be tempted but God will always make a way for us to flee from sin.

Besides if God didn’t give us more than we can handle then why rely on God? According the the phrase quoted I should be able to handle it right? We know that’s not true, and yet we go on repeating the phrase. Some will say “well of course we can’t handle it apart from God. God won’t give us more than we can handle with Him.” Really? But how am I suppose to know what you meant by the quote, especially if I am a new believer or non-believer?

If we want to encourage someone who is currently under heavy trials and suffering maybe we should just be there, give them a hug, pray with them and for them. Then remind them of truth, remind them of what James says “that the testing of our faith produces endurance” “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial.” Or 1 Peter where Peter reminds them of the sufferings of Christ and in 1:13 says, “prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” and the says in 4:12 “beloved do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which come upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you”

If you read Hebrews chapter 11 you will find a whole list of people who faced things I am sure they felt they couldn’t handle, and yet by faith they endured through the various sufferings that God allowed in their lives. Why did he allow it? Why does He allow us today to go through more than we can handle? Apart from the suffering we can face to due to sin God allows us to face various trials in order to test our faith. He wants us to learn endurance. He wants us to learn that His grace is sufficient.

My encouragement to you today if you are feeling overwhelmed with your sufferings is to remember that Jesus never expected you to handle them. It is only through His sufficient grace that we can endure. Here is the joy of our trials, Jesus is with us, He wants us to allow His strength to shine through our weakness. He is teaching us endurance and making our faith stronger.

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake ; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor 12:9-10

Bottle of Tears

2011-09-19T09:57:00.001-04:00

A bottle of tears. Tears that come from deep within. From places long forgotten. Hidden.

Tears that come from loss and hurt. Painful sorrow. Broken dreams.

Tears long held back from flowing. Tears that must come in order to cleanse the soul. To free the pain.

They come unexpected. Once released they threaten to overcome. They can not be stopped but must be felt.

Tears cried and collected. Collected by God who comforts and heals. He understands each tear that falls.

Gently and tenderly He allows the tears to flow. He knows they are needed, that they are good.

Once cried, He will wipe the tears of His dear child and collect them in a bottle so that they will no longer be forgotten, but free

Free from they depths of where they were once hidden and forgotten.

Inspired by Ps 56:8: You have taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?

Jesus, I am THANKFUL

2011-09-15T11:58:00.001-04:00

Jesus, I am thankful for your love, grace, mercy and forgiveness.

You fill every longing with all of who you are.
You use me in spite of my weaknesses.

Jesus I am thankful that when I am down, You will lift me up.
You encourage me when the dark clouds roll in.
You send friends to give that needed hug.
You have given me my sisters to walk this journey with.

You listen when I need someone who will understand.

When I am rejoicing over life, You rejoice with me
When I cry and I am filled with sorrow, You comfort me.

I am so thankful that you see me as Your Beloved daughter.
That You discipline me when needed so that my heart might be right before You.

Thank you Jesus, for You have redeemed me.

The Joy of my Heart

2011-09-14T09:19:00.001-04:00

I was praying through Psalms yesterday and was struck anew by the realization that our joy comes from knowing God and obeying His word.

We are reminded that it’s God’s commandment that make us wiser than our enemies.

We also read that we can have more insight than our teachers and understand more than the aged. Our feet will be retrained from doing evil.

How?

God Himself will teach us. It’s His word that gives us understanding. His word shines brightly so we can see the path before us.

It’s God’s WORD that brings joy to the heart!

Is God’s Word the joy of your heart? Do you find joy in obeying His commandment? His precepts?

Spend time today praying through Psalms 119:97-112 and ask God renew your joy for his word so that His word would be a sweet taste, sweeter than honey, to your mouth!

Today I’m joining….

Don’t Lose the True Gospel

2011-09-06T13:10:00.001-04:00

John sends a letter to the church. A church that is in danger of being deceived.

A church that is in danger of losing sight of what the gospel of Christ has already accomplished.

As I read this letter it’s easy to hear the depth of John’s love for “the lady and her children”. You hear his desire for them to stand firm, to abide in the truth that they have been taught. It brings joy to his heart that some are them continue to walk in truth. He encourages them to keeping walking in love for one another. Walk according to the commandments that they have heard from the beginning.

Why does he encourage them to abide in truth? To love one another? To walk in His commandments?

For the same reasons we need the reminders.

There are those among us who want to deceive. They do not acknowledge that Jesus came in the flesh. They do not abide in Christ. They preach another gospel.

There are those that come among us, sent by our common enemy in order to deceive us from the true gospel of Christ. They do not have God.

John warns them the watch that they don’t lose what has been accomplished already by Christ among them. He wants them to receive their full reward, and not to forget the TRUTH which abides IN them.

John goes so far to even say that they should not receive or even greet those who do not bring the true teachings of Christ. Be careful who you allow to fellowship among you. Make sure they are walking according to the truth of God’s commands.

What about us? As I read this one thought that came to mind was WHO do I allow among me? What “preachers” “teachers” or “authors” do I allow in my home?

Do they preach the truth? Is it a watered down gospel? Is is a grace only gospel?

Watch yourselves, be careful that you don’t allow someone to come in and draw you away from the true gospel of Christ.

Read I John 1:-1-13

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A Face to Face Joy

2011-09-02T15:27:00.001-04:00

While reading 2 John I came across verse 12 which says “I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.”

I have always loved the way John writes and shares his great love for “the brethren”. He loves them deeply and so often shares how he longs to be with them, face to face. It’s a love based on Christ. A love that desires to see the other keeping the faith, sharing the gospel and loving God. It’s a love that spurs one another on toward the work of Christ.

I am feeling that way myself today. I love to write down my thoughts, feelings and emotions, but so often when something really heavy is on my heart I find it difficult. I really want to connect and share with a dear sister through written word but so often I find the pages so very empty.

I mean it is JUST paper…there is no face, no smile or heard laughter.

To me, it’s the same in today’s ever growing “social media” relationships. Don’t get me wrong I love to hear what God is doing in the lives of my on-line friends. I have found it’s a great way to stay connected with one another, sharing pictures and what we are up to.

BUT…

A heart full of love pours itself out more freely face to face, than by words typed on a screen or on a page. There is a joy that is felt deep in one’s heart when hearing from a precious friend, face to face. To be able to share the works of Christ in our lives, or the latest lesson, trial or joy we have learned from.

The real joy of TRUE friendship, one based on a common faith, is complete when we are able to hear from a sister in person. To see her face gives one great joy!

Don’t misunderstand my words, or my heart. I have some amazing sisters in Christ that I have met on-line through blogs, Facebook etc… and they have touched my life in very special and profound ways. I hold them dear to my heart.

And yet, at times, I need that face to face sharing with a sister who gets me, who understands and hears my heart. Sisters who really love me in spite of a momentary loss of my emotions, thinking etc..

We understand one another. We love deeply with the bond of Christ. So today, my dear sisters, my heart is longing to see you face to face…

How Do We Live?

2011-08-31T10:37:00.001-04:00

This week I started studying the book of Jude. It’s only one chapter long, but oh the truths that are spoken! It’s packed with wonderful, delicious truth on how we are to live a life so that God’s love can bless us.

Jude writes a letter to the beloved of God, contrasting those that are ungodly to those who are called God’s beloved. As I made my list of all the characteristics of God’s beloved and how we are to live, here is what I found.

Verse 2, we can receive more of God’s mercy, peace and love.

Verse 3, we are to defend the truth of the gospel that God has given us. It’s unchanging truth.

Verse 20, build our lives on the foundation of our holy faith. Pray as we are directed by the Holy Spirit.

Verse 21, Live in a way that God’s love will bless you. Wait for the hope of eternal life that is ours in His mercy.

Verse 22, Show mercy to those who may be wavering in their faith.

Verse 23, Rescue those on their way to the flames of judgment. Show mercy without being contaminated by their sin.

Verse 24, in God’s glory we can be kept from stumbling. It is He who will bring us into His presence innocent of sin and with great joy.

Verse 25, live a life that brings all glory to God through Christ. All glory, majesty, power and authority belongs to Him now and forever.

After studying this I realize I need to pray through those areas of my life that aren’t where they need to be. How about you?

There is so much more to this small book, I encourage you to study it for yourself. Look at how the ungodly are described and ask yourself if there are any areas that you need God’s grace and mercy in.

Today I am joining…

Picture credit: LauraJane

When Surrounded by Enemies

2011-08-25T14:05:00.001-04:00

But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head. Psalms 3:3

Read Psalms 3:

Can you imagine what it might feel like to have your enemies all around you? That feeling that someone is out to get you, ruin you or even kill you?

Have you ever felt yourself slipping down toward discouragement or depression?

Have you ever found yourself in great distress and feeling completely alone that all you can think about is fleeing?

Maybe you have been betrayed, forgotten and just wanted to crawl into bed, pull the covers up over your head and stay there.

I have found myself in one or more of these places. It is hard when we get to a place where we feel surrounded, and attacked by our enemies. It’s even harder when we feel as if all our friends have forsaken us.

But we are not alone…not really. David had also found himself in this very place. He was in great distress, his enemy surrounded him, including his son Absalom. He had to flee.

He was grieved over his son’s rebellion toward him. So grieved in fact that he was hearing the lie of another enemy. The lie that said God will not deliver him.

At that moment David had a choice. He chose to look toward his Father in Heaven. David reminds himself of three things. God would protect him, God is his glory and it is God who will lift his head.

David cried out to God. David knew the one who would sustain him, protect him and lift his heard. Do you?

May we also cry out to the ONE who raises us from despondency and discouragement.

May we remember the ONE who is a shield of protection around us. The ONE who has power over our enemies.

We can remain composed, and on solid ground in the midst of distress when we realize our source of strength comes from the glory of our Lord.

Dear Father, help us to cry out to you in those moments when we feel surrounded and oppressed. Remind us that You and You alone can lift our heads. You are the source of our encouragement and strength.Amen.

To Mother’s with Prodigals

2011-08-24T20:14:00.001-04:00

If you are currently struggling with a prodigal child, or what I like to call a spiritual wanderer, then my dear sister know that I understand how difficult it can be.

No one, nothing, prepares a mother’s heart if your child decides to follow his own way instead of Gods.

Trust me when I say that I understand how in the midst of the heartache and heartbreak, of watching your child continually make wrong or sinful decisions you can feel alone.

You feel as if no one understands. It’s where the enemy wants you. If the enemy can get you to isolate yourself, believe the lies he whispers in your mind, then he may be able to convince you there is no hope.

In Christ there is always hope-there is always victory.

Be brave my dear sisters and be willing to take a risk to seek out other sisters who can help you walk through this in truth. I say take the risk because -It is a risk. There will be those who do not understand, who will judge. But there will also be those who will put their arms around you, pray with you, speak truth and just love you through it.

I want to encourage you to go to God. I fully understand that during this time you might want to stay away because of the pain, the guilt and the shame you feel.

Beloved sister, please know it is the enemy. God understands your pain, He knows the hurt you feel for your child.

I've been reading in Ezekial about a Father who is angry over the sin of His children. They have turned away from Him and have chosen wickedness and continual evil. As I read these chapters (especially 4-6) I got a real sense of God's broken heart over the sins of His children.

There have been warnings. There have been opportunities for them to turn from their sinful behavior, but they choose sin. Chapter 5: 13 says that His wrath will be appeased. He will withdraw from them, He will have no pity.

Then in chapter 6:8 God says "however, I will leave a remnant". Isn't that just like God? He always gives mercy, hope and a way for His children to repent! But what struck my heart the most was in Chapter 6 verse 9 it says "I have been hurt by their adulterous hearts."

I don't believe that this is the hurt of an angry righteous God, but the hurt of a Father who loves His children.

A Father who grieves over the sinful choices of His children.

A Father who sees that His children are choosing other things over Him.

So beloved, I know God understands the heart of a mother when she grieves over the sinful choices of her children.

So go to Him...allow him to hold you in His arms and comfort you with singing (Zep 3:17) Take refuge in the shelter of His wings. (PS 61:4)

During my season of heartbreak over my children...I spent ALOT of time in the Psalms.

It was a soothing ointment for my breaking heart. My prayer is that you to will find comfort.

Psalms 25:15-21
My eyes are continually toward the LORD, For He will pluck my feet out of the net. Turn to me and be gracious to me, For I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; Bring me out of my distresses. Look upon my affliction and my trouble, And forgive all my sins... Guard my soul and deliver me; Do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You.

Ps 34:22
The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.

Beloved sisters, there can be joy in this time of deep pain. Go before God, cry out to Him...allow Him to teach you how to walk through this with joy and a peace that only comes from His Spirit dwelling in and through you. And go to a sister who will understand, who will pray with you and encourage you through.

But what about my child you say? They are in the hands of God the Father. They must make the journey to God, you must pray.

I love you....I am praying for you.

updated post of original post 6/7/07 titled A Hurt God Understands.

Midnight Thoughts…

2011-08-19T12:08:00.001-04:00

I lie here awake.

Thoughts wondering to places they should not go, asking questions only You can answer.

Am I enough? Does my life bring You glory? Am I the woman You want me to be?

I wonder if I am too caught up in the things of this world. Am I caught up in me and my selfish desires?

He calls me to die, willingly.

I am willing.

I want to die to my selfish desires, my needs, my wants and the things this world tells me I have a right to.

My lips say I am willing to die.

Is it truth?

Does my life live out the words my lips speak?

Many say “Do not worry! God loves you and we live under grace!”

It’s true.

He does love me. I do live in His grace. But I am still required to die. I must nail self to the cross and die.

If I do not die how can He live fully in me? When even the smallest parts of self are allowed to live there will be turmoil.

Self will make itself known. Every part of me must die.

He must live fully in me. He desires all of me. He will not be satisfied with only the parts I lay down, He requires total surrender. He requires me to lay down every part of me. It must be sacrificed in order to be a pleasing aroma to Him.

Oh Jesus if only it could be a once and done nailing of self to the cross. If self would just die for good! Here, on earth it is a daily sacrifice, a daily willingness to lay down self. A daily choosing to die and follow You.

I am so weak…You are strong…Your grace is sufficient.

My Prayer: Give me a true willingness to die to all that I desire so that Your desires from me are my desires. Help me to remember to choose each day to nail self, my flesh, to the cross and allow you to live through me. I want to fully live a life that is pleasing to you, that brings glory and honor to you.

I must decrease….You, Jesus, MUST increase in my life.

One of THOSE days…

2011-08-17T13:23:00.001-04:00

Welcome to my blog post that was visited by the most readers. It was a close one, but still won by 1 visit! I am linking up with Shanda for The Best of 2011!

Today has been one of those days that I just feel melancholy. It’s on these days that my thoughts can quickly go wrong. I felt as if I needed my sister. I have wanted to talk to her, but she doesn’t return my calls or my text. On a normal day this wouldn’t effect me, but today it just made me sad.
I cried out to God…
Then I heard these words playing from my CD…
“With my whole being I embrace my God, He sets things right even when I am weak. I will shout out loud “He is in charge of me. Everything is right between God and me.”
The next song…

“It’s the blessings from the Hand of God…I am sheltered in the hands of the almighty God.”
Then…
“Thank you God for knowing me and accepting me so. .. You care about the messes and the twisted side of me but in the end it’s the finished part you see.”

These songs began to minister to my heart. Music and words of truth penetrated my soul. In my heart I then heard these words.

“Oh LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up…where can I go from Your Spirit?…How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast the sum of them!” (Ps 139:1,7,17)

My dear sister in Christ ministered to my heart through her music. My God ministered to me through His word.

“You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high; I cannot attain to it.” (5,6)

O, Father how precious are your thoughts toward me! Thank you for reaching down today and filling my spirit with Your love.

The CD is from my dear friend Sue Duffield titled LOL

Today I am joining…

Encouraging Words Wednesday

I Will Not be Easy Prey!

2011-08-11T16:09:00.001-04:00

I have failed over and over to be the woman I want to be. I have made poor choices, trusted the wrong people and followed the wrong crowd. I have been stubborn and have wandered off thinking I knew a better way. I have worshipped other things and people, committing spiritual adultery. I have been angry, jealous, prideful, and hurtful. I have lied. My thoughts have been impure. I have gossiped, been judgmental, and critical.

Apart from Christ I most likely would be on the street, a prostitute, a junkie and homeless. I would be lost, alone, afraid and have no reason to live.

Does that sound harsh? Am I painting a worse picture than my reality warrants? I, better than anyone, understand where I have been, what I have been and the possibilities of where I could have ended up.

My enemy takes such joy to remind me too!

He loves to walk me down the lane called “remember who you were”. He loves to try and convince me it’s still who I am. Oh and when I blow it, when I forget, when I slip and fall he rejoices! He does the “victory dance”.

Far too often in the past I have watched him dance all over me and I have believed his lies. He is good at seducing my flesh and reminding me of what I was.

I have been weak. When we are spiritually weak we are easy prey. Too often I have walked around like a sick, injured little lamb forgetting where I am and whose I am.

Do you know what I have learned? Do you know what I now understand? It doesn’t matter where I have been or even who I am today. It’s really not about me at all!

All that matters is who HE IS. All that matters is that HE lives in me! HIS Spirit is in me. I NO LONGER have a heart of stone but I have a heart of FLESH! (Jer 32:40)

My enemy has NO power over me. Do you understand what I just wrote? OUR enemy has NO POWER over us if we have Christ Spirit living in us.

As a believer I DO NOT have to be easy prey. I CAN have VICTORY over my flesh!

How do I know? Because this who lives IN me…

El Elyon the Most High. He is the sovereign ruler of all the universe.

El Roi, the God who sees. He is everywhere. He doesn’t sleep, He is always aware of all my circumstances.

El Shaddai, my all-sufficient One. He pours Himself out for me. He is sufficient. He is all I need.

My Jehovah-rapha, the God who heals me of my sin. I am healed completely and forever of my sin.

Jehovah-nissi, The Lord is my Banner. He gives victory over my enemy. He provides all I need to fight the battle of my flesh. Because of Jehovah-nissi I can have victory over my flesh, the world, and the devil.

Jehovah-Sabaoth, the Lord of host. He is the One who delivers and the One who judges. In His presence we have deliverance. We have safety. His name is a Strong tower, our stronghold. (Ps 47:7; Prov. 28:20)

Jehovah-tsidkenu, the Lord is our righteousness. This is among one of my favorite names because it tells me I can be right with God. No matter where I have been or what I have done I can have a right standing with my Creator. How? By receiving Jesus Christ as Lord. Because of Jesus and the new Covenant (His blood) God has given me a new heart. Jeremiah 31:33-34 says that God has written His law on my heart, He will forgive me of my sins and remember them no more. I am righteous through Christ.

The Lord God is my Shepherd, my Jehovah-raah who leads me in the path of righteousness, He restores me soul. (Ps 23)

Yes sometimes I forget WHO lives in us. I forget that HE promises to fight my enemy, watch over me, protect me, deliver me, heal me, sustain me and I forget He is enough!

BUT I am praying that I will no longer be EASY PREY to my enemy for while I may momentarily forget I now understand (at least better than I did) WHO lives in me and the victory I can have because of who HE is.

God Father I pray that I will daily remember that You are my Strong Tower. Help me to remember that You have given me a new heart and Your Spirit live in me. Oh Father I desire to live in the knowledge of WHO YOU ARE!

He is Good, I rest

2011-08-10T18:54:00.001-04:00

Psalms 116

I love the LORD because he hears and answers my prayers. Because he bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I have breath! Death had its hands around my throat; the terrors of the grave overtook me. I saw only trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the LORD: "Please, LORD, save me!" How kind the LORD is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! The LORD protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and then he saved me. Now I can rest again, for the LORD has been so good to me. He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. And so I walk in the LORD's presence as I live here on earth! I believed in you, so I prayed, "I am deeply troubled, LORD." In my anxiety I cried out to you, "These people are all liars!" What can I offer the LORD for all he has done for me? I will lift up a cup symbolizing his salvation; I will praise the LORD's name for saving me. I will keep my promises to the LORD in the presence of all his people. The LORD's loved ones are precious to him; it grieves him when they die. O LORD, I am your servant; yes, I am your servant, the son of your handmaid, and you have freed me from my bonds! I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD. I will keep my promises to the LORD in the presence of all his people, in the house of the LORD, in the heart of Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!

Father thank you for your precious word. Thank you for the reminder that you are good, you are good to me. You are merciful and you hear me when I cry out to you. In this knowledge I can rest regardless of my circumstances and regardless of what is going on in the world around me.

Today I am joining…

Encouraging Words Wednesday

Remind Me Again Who I am?

2011-08-09T15:39:00.001-04:00

There are many days that I forget who I am. It’s easy to believe the lies others have whispered in my ears.

Lies like, You will never be enough. You aren’t pretty enough. You are a failure. God can’t use you. You aren’t lovable. You are stupid. No one really likes you.

Then there are those who ignore you or laugh at you. They speak lies about you and gossip about you. They make fun of you, stomp all over your emotions and just plain hurt you.

What is even harder, I think, is when it come from family, Christians or those who are suppose to be our friends. The enemy sees and hears this and just loves to use it all against us.

This is my battle, my struggle. As I grow closer to my God and understand who I am in Him and who He is I do find myself growing stronger. I am able to stand on truth, on the truth of who I am in Christ.

But my dear sisters it’s hard. It’s hard because it’s everywhere. It’s in the world and in the church. Our enemy is loving it too!

I pray that you hear what I am about to say! Please believe me when I say that we all struggle with this. We all forget from time to time. Don’t let others or our common enemy let you think for even a moment that you are weak or immature in your walk just because you need a reminder of who you are!

We NEED reminders. I NEED REMINDERS!!! I have dear sisters who will remind me of who I am in Christ. They remind me of the woman I am becoming and if I need it they will even remind me how much they love me!

It is OKAY to need reminding. It’s okay that we forget! God will remind us when you forget! He will remind us through His word, His people, through so many things.

Just today my thinking began to go all wrong and just at that time the radio played “Remind Me Who I am” by Jason Gray and I was reminded. I was reminded that I am loved by my Father. I am His beloved. He does not ignore me nor does He forget me.

Trust me when I say that our Father does not mind us running to Him and ask, “Father remind me of who I am. Remind me that You love me.” What parent wouldn’t delight in reminding their child of how precious they are, how loved they are and no matter how often that child needed reminding we would gladly tell them.

I am the one He loves and He delights to remind me. I belong to Him, I am His Beloved daughter. This is the truth I will stand on.

It Should Have Been Me…

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He had no sin and yet took on my sin.

He took on my punishment - my death.

It should have been me on that cross.

It wouldn’t have been enough.

My heart was wicked, my flesh sinful.

His heart was beautiful, pure, and spotless.

He was without sin.

He was God incarnate.

Only He could save me.

His sinless, pure heart was needed.

Only He could take my wicked heart and give me a new heart, a clean heart, one that is pure, righteous and holy.

Now written on my heart is His ways, His words, His love!

He put His Spirit inside me! His very SPIRIT LIVING in side ME!

Because of HIM

My heart is new, longer a slave to sin.

I gladly live as a slave, a bond servant to righteousness, His righteousness.

He who knew no sin became sin for me so that I can live in righteousness

He now sees me as righteous and without sin.

Hallelujah!

(Jeremiah 17:9; 30:40; 31:33-34; Ezekiel 36:26; Romans 6:18; 2 Corinthians 3:3; 5:21)

Gladness

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Worship with gladness, sing with joy! this comes as a much needed truth in my life at the moment. I am reminded that it doesn’t matter how I feel, what is going on in the world or what circumstances I find myself in I can Worship with LORD with gladness. I can CHOOSE to go before Him and SING!

Today I am joining…

Encouraging Words Wednesday