According to His Own Purpose

Being the word nerd that I am (and frequently call myself such), tonight I grabbed 2 of my favorite books to jump start my post. Nothing like a dictionary and a thesaurus to get me inspired! ;)

First a word from good ole' Webster himself:
JOY - The emotion excited by acquisition or expectation of good

And my faithful companion, The Pocket Word Finder Thesaurus:
JOY - delight, enchantment, amusement, excitement, glee, happiness, laughter, merriment...

Reading this definition and list of synonyms immediately brought to mind images of my 1 year old niece that my sister recently sent my phone.

Oh how I love that smile. And how I love watching her. She is only 1 and life is GOOD!. ;)

No pressures, no expectations (except an occasional diaper change and some food).

Lots of joy! Delight, enchantment, amusement, excitement, glee, happiness, laughter....

She does not concern herself with bad hair days, skinny jeans that don't fit, or accessories that don't match. She could care less what people think of her. It does not bother her that someone might think she should be doing THIS or should have done THAT. She is confident in her identity and knows who she is....she is her mommy's little girl! :)

And her mommy loves her more than she can ever know.

She is a baby, becoming a toddler, still a little wobbly at times, but pressing forward and taking one step at a time. And when she falls down, guess what? She gets back up.

She is enjoying the simple pleasures of life, discovering new things every day. She finds joy in the moment - a gentle wind across her face tickling her nose, a butterfly landing on a nearby chair, a handful of sand thrown in the air, a field of flowers. Delight, excitement, laughter.

Life may not always be simple, but I pray that today, you can find joy in the moment, and enjoy the simple pleasures that surround you every day. You are your Father's daughter, created according to His own purpose and grace!

It is not what we do, how much we accomplish, who we know, how well we speak in front of a crowd, how much we please someone else or how spotless our house is that makes Him love us. He just loves us. Period.

When we begin to embrace our identity in Him and realize the full capacity of His unconditional love for us (although I don't think that is 100% possible!), we will begin to experience once again the joy as of a little child. And when we do this, we begin to take our place, fitting together like a jigsaw puzzle in the body of Christ, each with our own space, each serving a purpose, each pressing forward one step at a time, each making the puzzle more complete.

"...who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began." 2 Timothy 1:9

(A link to this post can be found on Rachel Olsen's blog and Devotional Carnival. You can also find some fantastic blogs to read, all discussing this month's topic....JOY!)

Proverbs 31 Ministries Writing Contest

I'm so excited! I found this yesterday which led me to here!

I have never been to one of these, but I thought it might be a chance to meet some really great women, get encouraged and linger in the presence of God! So why not? ;) Especially if I get the chance to go for free! ;)

So ....what is it?

Well, click on the links already!! Whadda ya think I posted them for?? ;)

Ok...OKAAAY!! Geeezz! (Wink, wink)

It's a writing contest for Proverbs 31 Ministries Magazine. And the prize is a scholarship to their conference this summer!

Here's one little section by Glynnis Whitwer that caught my attention ;)

"As the director of the writer's track at She Speaks, I meet women every year who are wondering if they have what it takes to write. They might think the dream is foolish ... because who would read what they have to say? But the dream beats so hard in their chest they just had to come to the conference. However, they tenderly protect that dream, even as they put themselves out there for all the world to see.

Is that you? Do you have a dream to write but haven't taken the first step? Or have you been writing for awhile but know God is prompting you to take the next step in your writing journey?

Today, I have the privilege of announcing a contest to help someone take that next step of obedience in their dream to write."

So for all my writer friends......you should check it out! Even if you don't want to go to the conference, it's a great opportunity to get your article published and read by thousands of women who may need to hear exactly what you have to say! I personally LOVE getting their devotionals by email. Sometimes it is just what the doctor ordered!!

Let me know if you plan to enter!

XOXO

A Place Near Him

One of my favorite passages of scripture in the bible is found in Exodus 33. Moses tells God that if His presence does not go with him, then he does not want to go. He then asks the Lord to show him His glory.

v. 18 And he (Moses) said, "Please, show me Your glory."

v. 19a ....Then He (God) said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you....."

v. 21 And the Lord said, "Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock."

God said there is a place near Him....

In verse 21, the word place in Hebrew is MAQOWN, which means: standing place, post, station, city, land, region, place of human abode, etc. MAQOWN originated from the Hebrew word QUWN, which means: to arise, become powerful, to be established, to be fixed, to be valid, to be proven, to be fulfilled, to persist, etc.

I believe there is a place for each of us where we are more near God than anywhere else. A specific place. And when we are in that place, He will establish us there, causing His plans and purposes to persist in and through us.

Also in verse 21, is the word stand. The Hebrew word is NATSAB, which means: to stand, take one's stand, stand upright, be set (over), establish, be stationed, be appointed.

This word is a verb, which conveys an action or a state of being. In that place, we will stand (we must take action, DO something, and BE that which God has called us to be).

v. 22 "So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by."

In that place, the glory of the Lord is so great that we, in our current state, cannot handle it. So much so, that God will have to protect us, lest we be destroyed. He told Moses He would make all His goodness to pass before Him and that He would proclaim the name of the Lord before Him. In that place, God's goodness is revealed! And His name is proclaimed so that all who see it will know that it is Him!

I believe that place has been created by God and is reserved for each of us. In it, is our destiny, our purpose. There, His grace is abundant to do that which He has ordained us to do. There, His goodness is undeniable. There, His glory is all consuming. It is there, in His presence, in that place that we are so near Him, that we are changed, made whole, healed, and set free! It is there, that we are able to give out what He has placed within us.

If His presence does not go with me, I do not want to go.

I pray that the glory of the Lord will be revealed in my life, that I might be near Him and know that which I was created for, that He might establish me in His plans and purposes (not my own) and so that others can see His grace and His goodness through me. That I might find that place....

I pray, today, that you might find that place and that His glory is revealed through you!

Compelled into His Presence

This weekend as we celebrated Easter, we were surrounded by lots of family. We are truly blessed. And yesterday, as we sat down in the restaurant for lunch, Logan (my five year old) grabbed our hands and announced that he would be the one to give thanks for our meal. As he prayed, my sister and I sat in awe and with tears in our eyes at the words coming from his mouth. I know He hears God speaking and he understood what that day so long ago was all about....

God ( Gaaaawwwwd - long and drawn out, Texas style)....thank you for the birds. Thank you for the trees. Thank you, God, for my mom and my Aunt Vicki. (long pause and thinking.......) Jesus, you died for us! (in a loud 5 yr old voice) You died on the cross for our sins! And today you are alive! Thank you, Jesus, for what you did for us! We celebrate You today! Thank You Jesus for dying on the cross! And God (Gaaawwwwd), thank you for our food. In Jesus' name I pray....Amen.

A powerful prayer full of emotion from my five year old. Thank You, God, for my children who love you.

For the last couple of days, I've heard the word compel. I know what this word means, and how to use it in a sentence, don't worry (smile) but, being the word nerd that I am, I looked it up for it's exact dictionary meaning. (And yes, I am still a member of the dictionary.com word of the day club.) There were several definitions but here are the ones I particularly liked:

compel - to have a powerful and irresistible effect, influence, etc

compelling - requiring acute admiration, attention, or respect

I feel like God speaks to me sometimes through words, or a single word. I can hear a word over and over in my spirit, and then it seems that everywhere I look or everything I read the word is there..... and I know that He is trying to tell me something. It is exciting to search for the meaning like a hidden treasure and then feel the confirmation in my spirit when His message is opened up and revealed to me. He is so good and He loves to speak to His children.

So with this word, I feel like God is saying that He requires acute (extremely great or serious; sensitive even to slight details or impressions) admiration (the act of looking on or contemplating with pleasure), attention (observant care and consideration) and respect (the condition of being esteemed or honored) from me. And He wants to have a powerful and irresistible effect and influence over my life, every moment of every day. But I must answer when He calls (no matter what I'm doing at the moment). The Father is jealous of my time and desires my exclusive, fixed, undivided attention.

One moment with Him is unlike anything on this earth. I truly am complete when I am in His presence.

Is He compelling you today? Won't you answer Your Father and allow Him to speak to you this moment? He has secrets to tell and treasure to give.............

Father....I surrender my time to You. Order my day and fill it with Your presence. Let me be sensitive to Your voice above everything. In the midst of my busyness, let me hear Your call and answer without hesitation.........Your love overwhelms me......Thank you for desiring my attention, thank you that You still speak to Your children..........

Happy Easter!

"And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door..........He is not here; for He is risen, as He said......" Matthew 28:2,6

JESUS LIVES!! He is the reason we celebrate!

HAPPY EASTER!!

Complete in His Presence

Finding my way to my quiet place

Reading.

Praying.

Listening.

Expecting.

And then

I feel Your presence

As the weight of Your glory brings me to my knees.

My words seem so inadequate

My lips remain silent,

But my spirit connects

With the One for whom I was created.

Praising.

Worshipping.

Loving.

Being.

Time stands still

And nothing else matters.

I am complete in His presence.

Watching the Wind

Ecclesiastes 11:4

Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
Whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

Footnote from my bible:
Waiting for the perfect conditions will mean inactivity. If we wait for the perfect time and place for personal bible reading, we will never begin. If we wait for a perfect church, we will never join. If we wait for the perfect ministry, we will never serve. Don't wait for conditions that may never exist.

Wow! I was reading through my journal and found this entry from December. Such a great scripture. I think most of the times I've heard this scripture preached, it was in reference to financial giving (sowing and reaping).

But I think, in general, it could be talking about watching or waiting for the perfect time and place - perfect conditions - before "planting" anything - money, time, talents, etc.

Are you waiting for perfect conditions before you do something that God has already told you to do? Am I?

These conditions will probably never exist.

Are you watching the wind? I looked up the definition of wind and here are some out-of-the-ordinary interesting meanings that I found:

• storm, hurricane (ok, this one was kind of expected LOL)
• any influential force or trend (hmmmm....)
• a hint or intimidation (reeeaaaallly?...)

So what things are influencing or intimidating you concerning that which God has spoken to you or instructed you to do?

I also looked up the word cloud and here is what I found:

• a dim or obscure area in something otherwise clear and transparent (interesting....)
• anything that obscures or darkens something, or causes gloom, trouble, suspicion, disgrace, etc.

Is there something darkening or causes gloom, suspicion or trouble to that which God has spoken to you? Something that was clear but has become dim or obscure (confusion?)..... Something that is keeping you from all that God has for you?

It might be a little windy, with a few clouds (and maybe even some rain), just pull your hair back in a pony tail, put on your baseball cap and grab your umbrella........and keep your eyes on HIM. And listen for His perfect timing (which may not have the perfect conditions we had hoped for!).

(Thanks for listening while I preached to myself!) :)

Keeping My Peace

Confession .....

These last few days I am having to remind myself constantly several truths in order to keep my peace . But I am determined.

Our daughter is graduating, financial pressures are looming, I have recently been bumped up to president of the project graduation/senior trip committee with a major fundraiser approaching, and many many other things that could drive me crazy if I let them. But I refuse! :)

I am also reminding myself that I am not perfect, nor am I a Super Hero (although I could think of a few super powers that would benefit me at the moment!!).

Yesterday, I updated my status on facebook with one of my favorite quotes (again) that is also listed at the side of my blog:

The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself (Anna Quindlen).

This quote encompasses many different things for me. One thing in particular is that I don't have to be perfect - which means that I don't have to do EVERTHING myself, because I CAN'T! I can only do what I can do and nothing more. Period. There! Said it! One boundary set. :)

Another thing this quote says to me is that its ok to be myself. No matter what people say or what they think I should be doing, as long as I'm doing what I know God wants me to do, IT'S ALL GOOD. :) I am not defined by other people's opinions of me. Once upon a time, I was totally and completely bound up by trying to please people. Talk about Torture! But my chains have been broken! (Although they do at times try to wrap themselves around my ankles for old times sake).

So instead of dwelling on all the things that HAVE to be done NOW and all the pressures that come with it, I choose today, to set my mind on things worthy of my attention, things that bring peace to my spirit and praise to my Father, things that really matter.

I will not worry. I will not be anxious. I will trust and put my faith in my Father who is more than capable of handling anything that comes my way.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things. ~ Phil. 4:8

I pray for you today.......peace, love and happiness! It's all going to be ok!! :)

The Tragedy of Life in the Fast Lane

So.

It has been 33 days since my last post.

I WANT to be consistent.

Really, .....I do.

But, MAN, blogging regularly is HARD for me! I can write in my journal, but to actually have time to sit down at the computer and post what I've written....now, that's a different story!

But.... I press on! :)

So, here is something I wrote in JANUARY (smile).....that I was supposed to post in FEBRUARY (sigh) about speeding and life in the fast lane. :)

A parallel was drawn for me by the Holy Spirit between my busy life and that of a person speeding in a car. I guess sometimes I just don't get it, so God has to use something creative to get my attention. Like a speeding ticket. Ya.

Some of the things that happen or can happen when we are exceeding the speed limit in your car are:

1. We often miss important road signs or exits. (Most of our exits off of the freeway are on the right side. If we stay in the fast lane, we may not be able to get over in time to exit.)
2. We use more gas. (Disclaimer: My friend (R.H.) told me that if you go over 65 mph that you use more gas. Not sure if this is true, but it sounded like it made sense...and it worked well for this post so I thought I'd include it LOL!)
3. We sometimes cannot avoid road hazards that could have otherwise been avoided.
4. We are more likely to be in a collision.
5. It is easier to loose control (especially if the weather conditions are bad).

Sometimes we don't realize we are speeding until it's too late - we hear a siren behind us or perhaps we see a fellow citizen pulled over on the side of the highway searching frantically for their insurance card and driver's license. Ah....a gentle reminder that the speed limit is strictly enforced - so we slam on our breaks and set our cruise control, removing our foot from the gas pedal because we do not trust ourselves...and breath a sigh of relief that we didn't get caught this time (except I did).

As God began to show me this picture (after I got my speeding ticket!), He immediately related it to my own life. When we get so busy , living each day hurriedly and frantically, there seems to never be enough hours to complete our tasks. It is easy to become agitated, frustrated, forgetful, distracted......any of these sound familiar? And most often it's because we have neglected the most important thing, spending time in the presence of God.

Some of the things that can happen if we are too busy:

1. We often miss important signs and strategic exits! (God is speaking and showing us things every day! Are we taking time to see? And in troubled times, He often provides for us a way of escape.....a strategic exit! But if we are not positioned to receive from Him, we miss out.)
2. We use more gas! Seriously....sometimes I am worn out before I even leave the house! Where's my phone? My keys? My list? Hurry Hurry Hurry! :) And by the end of the day.....I am ready to DROP!
3. Road Hazards! Often there are obstacles in our path that can be avoided. But if we are too distracted we may run them over, causing some serious damage!
4. More likely to CRASH! We can get so worn down from stress and/or lack of rest that we get physically sick and literally CRASH!
5. Losing control: When our life is out of balance and too busy, it is easy for things to get turned upside down. We may soon find our self trying to steer our way back onto the course God has set for us.

So how do we know if we are "speeding?" Maybe our speedometer is broken and we don't even know that we're about to crash. We must take a look at the things that occupy our time. How much time is set aside for us to get filled up and refreshed? We must go to the Master Mechanic and allow Him to inspect and repair what needs to be fixed! And make sure our cruise control is set to a safe speed limit! :)

(And always make sure your insurance card is in your car..........just sayin)

Beep Beep.

The Elf on the Shelf Moved My Cell Phone

Just so you don't think I'm super organized or something with my magnetic to-do lists ....(see previous post), I felt I needed to confess. Usually, I have to make more than one list, because my first one gets stolen. Yep. Stolen. You know....like the dryer ate my socks, the cat got my keys and the elf on the shelf moved my cell phone. I don't know how these things happen or why they happen to me. But, they do. Crazy, huh?

And so usually, my SECOND list (you know, after the thief cometh), is written (scribbled) on the back of a receipt (found in the floor of my car) or a napkin (Sonic, Taco Bell, Mickey D's...).

But, hey, ....it works.

Don't judge me.

Mom, What's on Your List Today?

It's sad when your five year old asks you from the back seat, "Mom, what's on your list today?"  Seriously, I should buy stock in the magnetic notepads that stick on your refrigerator.


I think it's good to make lists and have a plan. But I also think that sometimes we can get so focused to cross everything off of our list, that we don't allow room in our day for God to move freely. We can feel inconvenienced or distracted if our plans get interrupted or our day doesn't line up with our bulleted list. But what if the interruption is a gentle nudge from the King of Kings, an invitation to put down our list and spend time with the One who created time?

Do we forsake Him in order to accomplish our goals for the day?

What if the distraction is a woman, put in our path by the Holy Spirit, in desperate need of a Savior?

Are we so driven by the temporal things of this life that we neglect the things that matter for eternity?


So often throughout our day God is trying to get our attention. How many opportunities have we missed? How many invitations have we declined?


I was reading yesterday and came to the Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-23). Although I have read this many times and know the meaning with my intellect, this day it became revelation. It's one thing to "know" God's word, but it is another to have Him "reveal" His word to us.


A summary of the parable is this:


A certain man was preparing a great banquet, a feast, and invited many guests. As he finished his extravagant preparations, he sent his servant out to tell those who had been invited that all was ready for their arrival. But one by one, those invited began to give an excuse as to why they could not attend. A place at the banquet table had been reserved in their name, a great feast and celebration prepared for them, and yet the things of this world prevented them from accepting the offer. As the servant returned and explained to his Master that all who had been invited declined his invitation, the Master instructed the servant to go into the streets and alleys of the town, and the roads and country lanes and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame to fill the empty places at the banquet table.


A table has been set.


A feast has been prepared.


An invitation with your name (and mine) has been sent.

The King of King has requested that you come and dine with Him.

Many have declined His invitation.


How will you respond today?

A Similar Theme

One of the things God spoke to me for this year, was to be more consistent in my writing and journaling. This morning, as I browsed through January's entries, I found a similar theme woven throughout my scribbled pages.

Here are a few of my titles (with subtitles!)....see if you can figure it out :)

• The Tragedy of Life in the Fast Lane (subtitles: Speeding, Missing Road Signs and Strategic Exits, Fast Forward, Blurred Vision, Avoiding Road Hazards, Cruise Control/Auto Pilot, Out of Gas)
• Catching My Breath (subtitles: A.D.D. - just saying....,Good Gone Wrong, Addicted to Multi-tasking)
• Running in Place (subtitles: Barren Pursuits, Unthinkingly)

....need I go on? :)

Unfortunately, sometimes we (I) have so many small things going on, we miss what God is trying to do. In a sense, we "can't see the forest for the trees".

But, alas! God has a way of getting our attention.

For example....the first title I listed, "The Tragedy of Life in the Fast Lane," was birthed out of a speeding ticket that I received on my way to class one day. Yeah. As I watched the officer walk away in my rear view mirror, God began to speak to me and it became one of those "AHA" moments. Unfortunately it cost me $150.00 and 6 loooooong hours on the internet defensive driving course.

The story developed further when - a few weeks later - I got to school and realized I had forgotten my makeup! Good thing I had fixed my hair and put all my jewelry on. That helped. SERIOUSLY??!

Funny today.

TRAGIC then.

You have no idea.

Ok, okaaaaaay....I'm listening! :)

So I think (just to make sure I get it!), that I will begin a series of posts from my journal on this message that God spoke to me (loud and clear) in January. Feel free to visit again! :)

I leave you with the last sentence from day 7 in my journal....

"In my constant search for something to accomplish, the One with whom all things are possible, often gets pushed to the side, neglected, left out of the equation that can only be complete with His presence."

Thank you, God, that You love me enough to get my attention when I get things a little mixed up. (even if it means I have to go to class with no make-up on). Amen.

Chop, Chop....

Last night I heard a familiar question....

What things in my life are producing good fruit and what things are producing bad fruit or no fruit at all?...And of those things (areas) that are producing good fruit, is it necessary, lasting fruit, characteristic of my Father?

This question once again challenges me to take a look at my life, my habits, my daily activities, ....and evaluate. Evaluate, and then....chop chop. (oh.... my....)

But I thought I had already done this?....

You mean, I have to do it more than once? (smile....)

This may seem a vexing task, but it is ...oh.....so....necessary.

The task itself is tedious, laborsome, and could possibly even hurt. But the results are mucho favorable! :) (if done properly, that is.). The dead or non producing areas are cut away so that a bountiful harvest has room to spring forth from those good fruit bearing areas. :) But even those things bearing good fruit have to be studied, evaluated and pruned, so that any unwanted growth or bitter fruit can be pruned away, allowing new, indelible, abiding fruit to blossom . It's much easier to allow God to do this for me. I'm not very experienced in gardening. :)

I would probably keep all the wrong things and throw away some things that I should've kept.

Not my will, but Yours be done......

You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as [a]presenting all that I AM], He may give it to you. ~John 15:16 Amplified

Seeking

Pulled in so many different directions, it is easy for women today to get lost in the busyness of life, neglecting themselves and their relationship with God. I am constantly having to re-evaluate and re-prioritize things in my life. The New Year proves to be a great opportunity to do this. As Christians, we know that His mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:22-23) and that we have the privilege of starting fresh each day (and boy do I ever need this!!). But the new year seems to be the universal motivation for the official "do-over" or "let's try this again" or "I'll never try that again!! :)

So as I reflect and ponder 2009, I am also giving careful and thoughtful consideration to what goals I will set for 2010. My heart's desire is to draw closer to my God, be more like my Savior, and show others the love and hope that I have received. So in my searching for the right goals for this year, I am first seeking......seeking Him that I might know His will, seeking that I might hear His voice, seeking.......Him.

Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

~Jeremiah 29:13

Get Rid of It!!

With the start of the new year, many people are making resolutions and recommitting to things. But often there are things that we already know God has spoken to us and told us to do. Sometimes we need to make sure we have done those things before we start something new. Whatever has held you back, whatever has caused you to stand still instead of moving forward in God's plans and purposes for your life, get rid of it! Let that be your goal for the new year! (and mine!)

The other day I re posted one of my writings from over a year ago on my Facebook blog page. Click on the link below to read about Moses and what held him back temporarily and see if you can relate!


http://isthatyoulord.blogspot.com/2008/08/please-send-someone-else.html

Be Still

Kitchen cleaned

Laundry folded

Bedroom vacuumed

Supper cooking

I have a million things more to do, but....

I'm learning again, to take time to listen

So now for some more quiet time

As I reflect on God's goodness

And his great plans and purposes for 2010!

Have a blessed day! :))

xoxo

Shelly

"Be still and know that I am God..... "Ps 46:10a

Take time to see.

Nature reflects God's beauty.

Nestled in the trees.

Arriving in the wind.

I feel His presence.

I know He's here.

Breathe in His goodness.

Jesus, lover of my soul.

A Heavy Heart

As I sit here this morning, the day after Christmas, I sit with mixed emotions. First, I am so thankful for and overwhelmed by the love of Christ.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace" Isaiah 9:6.

He is truly wonderful, ......my counsellor, ......my God ... my heavenly Father, and from whom all my peace comes. And He is the reason for this season and the true meaning of Christmas. He is the reason I am here today. Without Him, I am nothing. Without Him, I am incomplete and life has no meaning. Because He was born, because He died, and because He lives today, I have hope and love and the promise that no matter what tomorrow may hold, my future is secure.

But there are so many who do not know Him.

For so many, this Christmas, the greatest gift of all is left unopened.

Deceived and fooled by the temporary pleasures of this world, people reject and push away their only hope for true happiness and eternal salvation. They reject the One who loves them more than anyone else, the One who will never leave them, the One who knew them before they were even born, the One who gave everything so that they might live.

My heart grieves for the lost today.

Family and friends.

Young and Old.

And those whose names I do not know.

My heart grieves for those who are deceived today.

Grieves for those who have accepted the lies as truth.

Grieves for those who have chosen the temporary in place of the eternal.

Grieves for those who are searching in all the wrong places and will never find what they are looking for.

Grieves for those who have left the greatest gift they will ever receive, unopened.

As one who loves to give gifts, I cannot imagine how Jesus must feel. It gives me so much joy in giving someone a present and watching them receive it, open it, and know that they truly love it! A gift that cost me a little time, money and effort. But to give your life, everything you have, and to be rejected. My heart breaks.

So today, I pray.

I pray for those who God has placed on my heart, those who I love and those who He loves even more. And I remain thankful for all that He has already done and all that He said He would do.

And though my heart is heavy, my soul sings.

Sings of His goodness and faithfulness.

Of His mercy and lovingkindness.

Of His Grace.

Thank you, Jesus, for all the gifts that You have given me.

Thank you for those you have called me to pray for and who will one day cry out to you and accept your gift of salvation.

Your love is amazing.

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:24-26

As I sit and stare at my neglected blog (sigh....), I am reminded of the reason I started it in the first place. Then, I see my title and subtitle, and realize how they reflect where I am today.

Is That You, Lord?

....Hearing His Voice Above All the Noise

I can't tell you how many times lately I have questioned whether what I was hearing was God or not God. Wondered if I heard Him speak, or if it was just me.

How many times will I travel this road?

How many times will I find myself parked in this same spot?

Same mountain, different hiking boots.

Stop.

Take a drink.

Listen.

Yes, Lord.

How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord! (Ps. 84:1)

Forgive me for replacing my time with You with things, personal goals, to do lists, appointments, etc etc....

Teach me Your way, Lord, and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart. (Ps. 86:11)

As I was reading one of my books tonight, a prayer by Lysa Terkeurst became my own....

Lord, may nothing separate me from You today. Teach me how to choose only Your way today so that each step will lead me closer to You. Help me walk by the truth today and not my feelings.

Help me keep my heart pure and undivided. Protect me from my own careless thoughts, words, and actions. And keep me from being distracted by MY desires, MY thoughts on how things should be.

Help me to embrace what comes my way as an opportunity....rather than a personal inconvenience.

And finally, help me to rest in the truth of Psalm 86:13, "Great is Your love toward me."

You already see all the many ways I will surely fall short and mess up. But right now, I consciously tuck Your whisper of absolute love for me into the deepest part of my heart. I recognize Your love for me is not based on performance. You love me, warts and all.

Have mercy, that's amazing.

But what's most amazing is that the God of the universe, the Savior of the world, would desire a few minutes with me today. Lord, help me to remember what a gift it is to sit with You like this.

FAITH - Part 1

It has been a while since I last posted! I have started back to school this semester, so not a lot of time to blog!

I have recently started going through a bible study course on Faith by Kenneth Hagin so I thought I would post a few scriptures and paragraphs from my first lesson.


But without faith, it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. ~ Hebrews 11:6

Notice particularly the first part of Hebrews 11:6: "But without faith it is impossible to please him..." If God demands that I have faith when it is impossible for me to have faith, then I have a right to challenge His justice. But if He places within my hands the means whereby faith can be produced, then the responsibility rests with me whether or not I have faith.

God has told us that without faith it is impossible to please Him, but He has also told us how to get faith. If we don't have faith, God is not to blame. To blame God for our lack of faith is nothing but ignorance. If we lack faith, we are to blame.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. ~ Romans 10:17


In every gospel of Jesus Christ, there is provision for every need - salvation, deliverance, safety, preservation, healing, and soundness. Whatever need you have, the faith to receive your answer comes from hearing the Word of God. As you determine to feed upon the Word continually, you will see your faith grow to be able to receive the wonderful promises God has provided for His children.

..

Your Word Have I Hidden in My Heart...

Your word I have hidden in my heart,

That I might not sin against You.

Psalm 119:11

I was reading a blog this morning that I follow from time to time, and the author is challenging her readers to memorize Ps. 139 by the first of the year. This just so happens to be one of my favorite Psalms so I thought I would take the challenge! It is so important to have the Word of God hidden in our hearts! Memorizing and meditating on scriptures are ways to make that happen! :-)

PSALM 139 (NKJV)

1 O Lord, You have searched me and known me.

2 You know my sitting down and my rising up. You understand my thought afar off.

3 You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.

5 You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.

7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?

8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

9 If I take the wings of morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 Even there Your hand shall lead me.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me," Even the night shall be light about me;

12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.

14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.

19 Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God! Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.

20 For they speak against you wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain.

21 Do I not hate them, O Lord, who hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?

22 I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;

24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way of everlasting.

Hope is the Thing With Feathers

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

by Emily Dickinson

VOTE!!

GO VOTE!!!!

GO VOTE!!!!

GO VOTE!!!!

and remember....

"Righteousness exalts a nation." Proverbs 14:34

A little something

I was reading in one of my books last night that I've read over and over again, and thought I'd share a couple of short paragraphs with you that seem to go along with our current bible study lesson.....

(A Divine Confrontation by Graham Cooke)

It is easy to be joyful when things are going well for us. However, real joy does not depend on what is happening in a positive way. Real joy comes from the lord and is a source of great strength to us in time of trial and difficulty. The fruit of joy grows in poor circumstances in which we need to rejoice in the presence of God and His eternal promises.

The fruit of patience grows in troublesome situations in which we want to strive to take shortcuts or avoid difficult things instead of allowing the Lord to teach us to persevere in trust. God uses people and events to develop His character as well as His gifting in us.

We must learn how to enable the oil of the Holy Spirit to come between us and prevent the tension from becoming a friction. We get overheated through lack of oil. lack of grace, and lack of the fruit of God's nature in our hearts. Be challenged about this aspect of our walk with God. Learn to see other people through the eyes of God. When encountering difficult people, practice the grace of God. Develop the fruit of His nature. As you do, opportunities will open up for you in the nature of God.

There is always tangible success for us in these situations. Nothing may change in the circumstances, but something may change in us. Alternatively, our circumstances may change in many ways as the favor of God is poured through our chosen behavior. We must learn to respond to God and not react to circumstances.

Session Two

Holding Onto Hope

It was great to see everyone after skipping a week! We started out with breakfast (as usual!). We had some kolaches, donuts and a yummy fruit and cheese platter (thanks Theresa!). Then on to our 15 minute craft session.....

As you can see, we are a fun group of girlies! ha ha

We made masks of all sorts and personalities :-) Aren't they lovely??!!

Of course mine had bright neon pink feathers and glitter! :-)

After our craft, we talked about our masks and why we wear them, where we wear them, and who we wear them for. And we posed the question, does our mask better represent who we really are, or the person we'd like to be? Sometimes its easier wearing a mask so that we don't have to be honest about our feelings. Sometimes we even prefer others to wear their masks so we don't have to hear about their problems. Larry Crabb warns against this attitude: "Church is too often a place of pretense and therefore a place without hope. When brokenness is disdained, where the real story is never told, the power of God is not felt. Where brokenness is invited and received with grace, the gospel comes alive with hope."

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 says "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Life can be a mess sometimes! And things aren't always perfect or the way we planned them. But according to this scripture we don't have to lose heart even in the midst of our difficulities! And there is usually a greater purpose and larger perspective to whatever it is that we are going through that God is trying to show us. Not that He causes our suffering, but for some reason, He allows us to go through it at times.

Two "Principles for Living" found in Session 2 were really good this week!......

~Often in the midst of suffering or struggles, God sets a fork in the road. Your choices at these critical crossroads will set the course for your future.

(Often we try to avoid things that send us reeling into difficulty and stress, but we do get to choose how to respond to them! p.22)

~Your life can send a powerful message of the amazing relationship a person can have with God. Even when you're spiritually and emotionally weak, God can use you to redeem the lives of those around you.

(So your ministry doesn't stop just because you are having some difficulties in your life! We can minister through our pain and hurts to help set others free and receive healing!)

At the end of our meeting, each lady was given a gift to remind her of the harvest waiting for her, just as Naomi, too, will receive a harvest in our story.

This Friday Session 3 is Signs of Hope. Hope to see you there!! :-)

Happy Fall!

I haven't had time for crafting lately, so I thought I would just repost this card from last year! I made it for a friend as a Happy Fall greeting :-) So once again, Happy Fall my friends!

And hopefully I'll be able to find some time to make something new, especially with the holidays right here upon us! Anyone have any extra time out there to spare? Maybe you could put it in an envelope and send me just a little...... :-)

Canceled

Sorry girls! We have to cancel, or actually postpone, Session 2 for this Friday (tomorrow). The kids have been sick and we don't want to spread the germs! :-) So have a great weekend and I'll see you next Friday!

glitter-graphics.com

Session One Homework

Just a quick reminder for those of you attending the Famine to Fairytale bible study at my house. Don't forget to set aside some quiet time this week for the Taking it Home section on pages 17-18. The introspective questions as well as the offering questions to take to God will help you make the most of this study. Also, remember, it is important to write down thoughts, feelings, and key insights that God reveals during your quiet time. There will be time for sharing on Friday for those who are interested in doing so.

Our craft for Session Two is going to be really fun! We are going to make a mask! We will have only about 10-15 minutes to create, so be thinking about what you would like your mask to look like. I will have the masks and supplies available for you to decorate with, but if you have something specific you would like to bring to decorate your mask, please feel free to do so! I can't wait to see our different personalities reveal themselves in this activity!

Have a great week! :-)

"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together." Ps 34:1-3

Famine to Fairytale - Lesson #1 - When Tragedy Strikes

This morning was our first bible study. We had a great meeting! As we invited the presence of the Lord into our midst, the Holy Spirit took over and became our facilitator! We shared some personal time getting to know one another better, eating, having some coffee, and making a collage of our dream vacation! (See pics below) Then we dove into our lesson and discovered how we each relate to Ruth or Naomi in some way or another. We were reminded of God's faithfulness and His desire for each of us to fulfill His purpose for our lives.

An exerpt from Lesson 1:
The story of redemption is captured well in fairytales. Since girlhood many of us have dreamed of living a fairytale. We long for adventure and the thrill of being claimed as royal brides. That yearning in our hearts is natural because we were created for a real-life fairytale. In fact, we're destined to find freedom from bondage through the King's love - a scenario not entirely unlike Cinderella's story.

Sadly, the original paradise God created for us is now lost for a time. When the Enemy deceived Adam and Eve and they rebelled against God's perfect plan, we became slaves to sin and struggle. But through Jesus we have a way out. Still, even after we come to faith in Jesus, we still must wait for the final "happily ever after" ending that God promises.

Real life is messy, and is at times filled with tragedy. Life's pain and heartaches seldom make sense to us, and can leave us wounded, discouraged, and disillusioned. As we walk the path of tragedy and triumph with Ruth and Naomi, let's consider how their story relates to our own.

One of our favorite scriptures for today was:

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

A few pictures from this morning:

Princess Theresa & Princess Linda :-)
Princess Shelly & Princess Stacey :-)
Our vacation collages!

In celebration of Fall (my favorite time of the year), at the end of the meeting, each lady was given a small pot plant for herself and one to give away. :-)

There is still time for you to join us! If you haven't registered for a bible study yet, and think that this one might be for you, come on over! Call the church, leave a comment here, or send me an email and I'll get your book ordered!

Next Friday, Lesson #2 is HOLDING ON TO HOPE. See you then!

Have a great weekend!

So I said I would post again before our first meeting....looks like I'm barely sneaking this one in! Our first meeting is tomorrow morning at 10:00 am at my house (and for obvious reasons, I won't post my address or phone # here!). I think everyone knows how to get to my house, if not call the church and ask for my cell phone number. Or just follow the smell of coffee and cinnamon streusel muffins........

See you in the A.M.!

:-)

Famine to Fairytale - Women's Bible Study

Starting Friday, Oct 3, I will be doing a Women's Bible Study entitled "Famine to Fairytale" (Gene & Elaine Getz). It is a study of Ruth and Naomi and their path to redemption. The study is from the Women of Purpose series which highlights ordinary women God used in extraordinary ways. Any ordinary women out there dreaming of extraordinary things? :-) Pick me, pick me!

Here is a paragraph from the back of the book....

Both incredible women, the intertwined stories of Ruth and Naomi teach us so much about how God can bring incredible joy out of tragic circumstances. From the opening scene in the book of Ruth, filled with famine and tragedy, to the almost fairytale ending, we see the real life struggles. Real life is messy, and these women are far from perfect. Yet, their faith and devotion through the pain and tragedy of life led each to experience unexpected joys, and the blessings that God was longing to give them. In the same way, God has unexpected joys for each of us today!

The bible study is only 6 weeks long so shouldn't be that hard to complete (even for those of us who have a hard time staying on task and FINISHING things!!). :-) If you can't attend the meetings at my house, but would like to get a book and follow along with us, let me know! Each lesson has icebreakers and/or a craft (and you know I LOVE crafts!), so hopefully we'll learn some things AND have some fun! And of course, you know I'll be posting pics. :-) It will be a great opportunity to get to know not only Ruth and Naomi, but each other and perhaps discover some things about our own selves!

So let me know if you are interested! I'll post an update before our first gathering.

Changing the subject a little........you know those moments where you just feel soooo close to God? Like He's right there with His arms wrapped around you? Like your heart is going to explode because it's so full and you can't stop smiling? This morning while driving into town was one of those moments for me. As I was enjoying the beautiful, beautiful Fall weather, it was almost like I felt Him get in my car with me! Thank you, God, for allowing me to feel your presence today. Thank you for spending this morning with me. And help me to know beyond a shadow of a doubt, even when I can't feel your presence, that You are with me. And thank you for FALL!!! I know heaven must be like this. :-)

Have a beautiful day!

Final Hurricane Update! (hopefully!!)

I am late in posting this, but we had our electricity restored Saturday evening. So only 8 days without power! We are definitely blessed, it could've been a lot worse! The guys working on the lines worked so hard for us! But there are still people here without power and of course, all of those who lost their homes and loved ones. I'm not sure when the island will be open for the public. From what Ihave heard and the pictures I've seen, there is not a lot left in many areas there. It will take a while to rebuild, but I know they will. All we had was a big mess in our yard to clean up. Shawn finally paid a couple of his guys to come over this weekend and help finish. Here are a couple of before and after pics of our front yard:

before the storm
after the storm
before the storm
After - You can see the corner of our house in this one. So glad the tree fell away from us!!

Beginning the clean up....


I had to show this picture - this is part of my living room - notice the extension cords running through the middle of the floor? When we got home, Shawn was set up in the camper in the front yard with the generator hooked up - all he had hooked up was the refrigerator and the TV with the Directv (which explains the cords!!). I was like, you have to be kidding me!! As long as he had cold food and satelite, I guess he thought he was doing ok!

And this was our temporary home for a couple of nights! The generator was sitting on the four wheeler because we had to keep taking it from the water well to our house! We stayed in the camper just to have hot showers and also it had a propane stove to cook on.

We attemped to take a walk/ride to the river behind our house, but found the road cluttered with downed trees and fallen limbs, plus the river flooded the back half of our property so this was as far as we made it!

I also wanted to include these last 2 pictures of some of the beautiful skies we got to enjoy while at my sisters in the hill country!

After every storm, a new hope shines through. Sometimes the end of one thing can be a beautiful beginning to another. I pray for beautiful new beginnings and hope for all those who lost so much during this time.

**Wednesday Update**

We made home with little drama late yesterday evening. We left my sisters about 1:00 pm and headed to McDonald's for lunch! We then ventured to their local WalMart to stock up on some canned items and basic necessities. My brother in law also let me take his extra large cooler to fill up with ice and cold food items (lunch meat, milk, etc). At the checkout, we were told that there was no ice! I knew my cold food would not fare well on the trip home without ice. So I desperately said a small "please God" under my breath and as we were walking out the door we saw 3 bags that had just dropped from the machine! So Taylor grabbed them and I went to pay! Coincidence? Good timing? Whatever.....God is good :-) The challenge now was fitting everything into my Tahoe! It was already filled with the ice chest, blankets, pillows, luggage, and kids! But my kids were so great, putting potatoes and cases of water under their feet and helping me to organize everything to make it fit! So we began our journey home.

To keep this long 6 hour trip (normally 3.5 hours) short, I will spare some minor details. :-) The trip did end up taking a few hours longer. There was not really a lot of traffic, but electricity was of course still out all along our route home, so none of the traffic lights were working. This meant treating them all as a 4 way stop and even when there's not a lot of traffic, things can back up quickly. So we rolled our windows down and turned up our music and enjoyed the nice, cool breeze that God sent our way to replace our air conditioners! Coincidence? Good timing? Whatever....God is good :-)

As we traveled, there were a lot of trees down, signs blown over, tin roofs lifted in spots, but nothing like we are seeing on the news for Galveston, of course. (The kids took pics of the long gas lines, etc, I'll try to post another day.) All in all, we are so blessed. When we arrived at home, some cleanup had already begun, but our yard was still such a mess. There is a huge oak tree across our driveway and lots of big limbs down. But we were told yesterday by a sheriff that we could not burn anything yet so we'll just have to pile it for now.Shawn pulled the camper next to house and hooked it up to the generator. We stayed the night in it last night because the windows are still boarded up, but tonight we will stay in the house. We'll have to take showers in the camper (if we want hot showers, and I do!), and also cook in the camper on the propane stove. Our house is all electric, and the generator won't run everything at once. So we'll just live between the 2 for now! Oh, and my sister said that she saw on the Internet yesterday that we will have power restored by October 5. What????? Yikes.

Is it true we are only 2 days away from Fall???? This is my most favorite time of the year. I can't wait to buy some colorful mums for my porch and make a new wreath for my door, but for now, I'm going to have my 2nd cup of coffee. Have a wonderful blessed day!!!(I'm not editing this since they are turning the generator off for now, so be forgiving!!)

Another Update

Today is Tuesday and we are still not home. Still no gas, no food supply, and no electricity! But we are going to head for home in the morning anyway. The kids are so homesick and ready to go! So today we will pack, go buy some food to take home, fill the ice chest, and fill up our gas tank! Hopefully we can get going about 6:00 am to avoid some traffic!



Here is a pic of our front yard that Shawn sent to my phone after the hurricane. You can see a tree down, lots of limbs and our windows all boarded up with plywood!

Off to prepare for our camping trip! :-)

**Hurricane Update**

Saturday hurricane Ike kept inching closer and closer to us so about 3:00 pm we decided to evacuate. By 3:45 we were packed and in the car! We went to my sisters house in the hill country near San Antonio. Shawn stayed behind at a friends house so that he would be able to check on our homes asap and also be available to work. We waited anxiously for news on our home as reports of damage and destruction kept flowing in from the news, text messages and phone calls. Finally, Shawn was able to reach our property to find our home in tact! We had trees and debris down in the yard, but no major damage to our home, just a lot of clean up. We are very blessed. A lot of our friends and family were not so lucky, having trees through their homes, roofs torn off, businesses destroyed, etc. I cannot imagine living in Galveston right now, they need a lot of prayer. We also have some friends in Baytown whose church received major damage. I was told last night that there is a possibility our electricity will be out for 2 weeks to a month. And with us living on the outskirts of the city limit, we are usually some of the last to have it restored. With hurricane Rita, we were without electricity for 2 weeks. Also no school of course for this week, and we find out Friday if there will be any next week. And with the outages and shortages of gas, it will be hard to continue running the generators. Hopefully we will be getting gas in the next couple of days. The kids and I are still in San Antonio. They are asking that Texas evacuees not return until Tuesday. So we plan to hang out here again today and leave early in the morning. Hopefully we can leave early enough that traffic will not be too terrible. I plan to shop for food before leaving the area, since almost all 0f our stores are closed and the ones that are open have long lines out the door and a lot of empty shelves. Please continue to pray for those who found tragedy in the midst of this big storm. Pray for hope, healing, peace, comfort, restoration, and salvation- that many would draw near to Jesus during this time. When I get home, I will give another update possibly with pictures and more details.

Preparing for Ike

Today we are preparing for hurricane Ike and watching lots of news on the TV! We should start seeing tropical storm force winds around noon tomorrow (Friday) if the storm stays on track. We are boarding up our windows and have removed everything from our porch and yard that we could. Now it's just watching and waiting! So say a prayer for us! Minimal damage, trees falling AWAY from the house, no flooding, and NO TORNADOES!!! We will be getting absolutely no sleep tomorrow night since the strongest winds are supposed to begin between midnight and 2:00 am! I'll update when I can! After the last hurricane, we were without electricity for 2 weeks!!

My little man started back to "school" today (Parent's Day Out). So I have been a little sad and lost this morning! I didn't even have my first cup of coffee until 10:30! I have also been browsing through old pics on my computer and found the file with the ones from the day he was born. I wasn't even looking for them and there they were! There were some of my sister and my mom holding him (they were in the delivery room with us) and when I saw them I just got all warm and fuzzy inside thinking about what is to come!! My sister's baby girl is due in December and I can't wait for that to be me holding her in the picture!

I've also been thinking about my friends from highschool and how much I miss them! What got me started was finding out that one of my best friends from long ago is finally getting married! I am so excited for him and his soon to be bride! I got an email from him this morning and it made my day!

One of my BFFs (more like a sister!) D sends out some encouraging emails/prayers from a book entitle It's Never Too Late to a group of us girls. The last one said..

It's never too late....to wonder.
Look with innocence.
Drink with your eyes.
In people.
Ponder it.

So this morning I have been wondering, pondering, thinking, reminiscing, and all of the above ....as I often do! Sometimes it just lingers longer and invites your emotions in to places you haven't visited in a while. :-) And then there's the what ifs, the whys, the could've beens, (in the words of D).... and today. Where our life is at this very moment.

She ended the email by saying exactly what I would say to you today....

Let's take some time to wonder...about the difference we can make in our life, our family's life, a friend or a stranger's life.Let's take some time to wonder...what can I do to make today more pleasant; is there something I have control to change about me that could make me more pleasant; Let's wonder...let's ponder...let's do.I pray today that you will wonder a little.I pray today that you will see the mystery and enjoy it.I pray that you relax today, breathe today, sing today and dance.


I am so behind on blogging but now that summer has come to an end, maybe I can steal a few moments to write. Hopefully I'll get some first day of school pics of all the kids up on the family blog this week (or next....).

And hopefully I can share some things on here that God has been speaking to me these last couple of months.

Have a wonderful day!