Oh, those nasty thoughts. They float in, and out, and trash my mind, my day.
They cause me to go on and on, about a person, or a situation, until I am angry. Until I'd like to wring someone's neck.
Or worse.
So I have been praying 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. Especially verse 5. "casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,".
And God blessed me with a visual of the last part. That every thought has to go through Him as we speak that verse out. Every thought has to be approved by Him.
So you coffee addicts - here is the visual.
I saw a giant coffee filter that our thoughts are taken through. The filter holds all of the trash, from us, and from satan.
And out comes this Truth. Good stuff. Words and thoughts that are pure, strong, rich, and hot.
Just like the coffee so many of us crave.
Rich and True.
Through God's coffee filter of His Word.
©BL2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Saturday, December 15, 2007
It's Curtain Time!
On a morning a while back, my cat, Selah, woke me at 5:30am! I am a morning person, but I love my sleep, so I can be hard to wake up that early. She persisted in getting herself thrown out of the bedroom!
But I didn't go back to sleep. I think that God uses her to get me up, because he has something for me. Okay, I need to thank my cat for the waking, and not complain! Complaining is not good in God's Book! (See Num 12:1-3, 10-15, 1 Cor 10:10-11, and Phil. 2:14-15. Ouch!)
God blessed me with some visions of a different vein, but I got out of bed, then, and turned on my new soaking CD. Todd Bentley's Marianating. I had listened to a bit, since a sister blessed me with it, but not just laid on the floor, soaking in every note and every word. So that's what I did. Laid on the floor under my favorite afgan, and just let God.
With my eyes closed and feasting, God opened up the Heavens, and I saw a huge, I mean huge, curtain, going straight up from my body. It was a shimmery gold. I saw the top, but was very aware of the fact of how far it really went up. And then it dropped on me!
And a little later, (I'm not really sure how long), I saw myself sit upright. As I sat up, the curtain fell away onto my lap, and I looked around. But the picture of me that I got was like on a work of art that I am blessed to have. It is entitled "Born Again", created by Dean Kermit Allison. It is a little statue depicting the born-again experience talked about in 2 Cor. 5:17. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" It is a statue of a person, standing on some rocks, but leaning back, crying out. The upper body is clear like glass, but at the waist area, there is a peeling away of black, and the black goes on down the rest of the body/legs. And believe me I can feel the pain from the statue.
That is what I saw sitting up from under the veil. Me, but God knew I would know what it meant when He used the picture of the statue. And I heard the Holy Spirit say that "that was my spirit"!
Now some of you reading this will know about the veil. I knew a little about it too, but I learned more, as I dug into my concordance, two versions of the Bible, and other references! Fun!
Most of us know that the veil talked about in most of the Gospels is the actual curtain in the temple that was torn in two from top to bottom. (Matt. 27:51, Lk. 23:45)
But as I looked farther, I hit Heb. 6:19,20. The Message Bible can be so cool. "We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It's an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us, in the order of Melchizedek."
The Amplified Bible reads "...that reaches farther and enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil,"
About half way through the above study, I stopped and said to God, "You dropped it on me, Lord!"
After looking up Heb. 9:3, "But [inside] beyond the second curtain or veil, [there stood another] tabernacle known as the Holy of Holies." And I heard Jesus say, "That's where you've been!"
And one last verse. Heb. 10:20. In the Life in the Spirit Bible (NKJV) it says, "By a new and living way, which he has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;"
His flesh. His presence. His Holy Presence.
If we are willing, if we want it. No. If we need it, have to have it, He just wants to drop His Presence on us. To cover us with His Presence.
It's time to spend time with the Author of the Book. This is a curtain call!
©BL2008
But I didn't go back to sleep. I think that God uses her to get me up, because he has something for me. Okay, I need to thank my cat for the waking, and not complain! Complaining is not good in God's Book! (See Num 12:1-3, 10-15, 1 Cor 10:10-11, and Phil. 2:14-15. Ouch!)
God blessed me with some visions of a different vein, but I got out of bed, then, and turned on my new soaking CD. Todd Bentley's Marianating. I had listened to a bit, since a sister blessed me with it, but not just laid on the floor, soaking in every note and every word. So that's what I did. Laid on the floor under my favorite afgan, and just let God.
With my eyes closed and feasting, God opened up the Heavens, and I saw a huge, I mean huge, curtain, going straight up from my body. It was a shimmery gold. I saw the top, but was very aware of the fact of how far it really went up. And then it dropped on me!
And a little later, (I'm not really sure how long), I saw myself sit upright. As I sat up, the curtain fell away onto my lap, and I looked around. But the picture of me that I got was like on a work of art that I am blessed to have. It is entitled "Born Again", created by Dean Kermit Allison. It is a little statue depicting the born-again experience talked about in 2 Cor. 5:17. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" It is a statue of a person, standing on some rocks, but leaning back, crying out. The upper body is clear like glass, but at the waist area, there is a peeling away of black, and the black goes on down the rest of the body/legs. And believe me I can feel the pain from the statue.
That is what I saw sitting up from under the veil. Me, but God knew I would know what it meant when He used the picture of the statue. And I heard the Holy Spirit say that "that was my spirit"!
Now some of you reading this will know about the veil. I knew a little about it too, but I learned more, as I dug into my concordance, two versions of the Bible, and other references! Fun!
Most of us know that the veil talked about in most of the Gospels is the actual curtain in the temple that was torn in two from top to bottom. (Matt. 27:51, Lk. 23:45)
But as I looked farther, I hit Heb. 6:19,20. The Message Bible can be so cool. "We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It's an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us, in the order of Melchizedek."
The Amplified Bible reads "...that reaches farther and enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil,"
About half way through the above study, I stopped and said to God, "You dropped it on me, Lord!"
After looking up Heb. 9:3, "But [inside] beyond the second curtain or veil, [there stood another] tabernacle known as the Holy of Holies." And I heard Jesus say, "That's where you've been!"
And one last verse. Heb. 10:20. In the Life in the Spirit Bible (NKJV) it says, "By a new and living way, which he has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;"
His flesh. His presence. His Holy Presence.
If we are willing, if we want it. No. If we need it, have to have it, He just wants to drop His Presence on us. To cover us with His Presence.
It's time to spend time with the Author of the Book. This is a curtain call!
©BL2008
Friday, December 7, 2007
Grandkids, cats, and tails
I have to share what happened when my grandsons were home for Thanksgiving.
They are so cute! 4 years old and 2 years old.
The two year old was sitting with me in a chair as we watched a movie with the family. My cat, who they love, and are really good with, was sitting in my lap.
My little grand, reached over and took hold of the end of the cat's tail and just held it.
Two things. One, the cat let him do that. And, two, it was like he was holding the cat, too. Like maybe the cat wouldn't put up with him holding her himself, but maybe just the tail.
Just thought it was cute.
I'm the grandma.
It was cute.
©BL2007
They are so cute! 4 years old and 2 years old.
The two year old was sitting with me in a chair as we watched a movie with the family. My cat, who they love, and are really good with, was sitting in my lap.
My little grand, reached over and took hold of the end of the cat's tail and just held it.
Two things. One, the cat let him do that. And, two, it was like he was holding the cat, too. Like maybe the cat wouldn't put up with him holding her himself, but maybe just the tail.
Just thought it was cute.
I'm the grandma.
It was cute.
©BL2007
Pushin' my way around!
I was thinking about the woman in the Bible, Mark 5, that had the issue of blood.
It says that there was a huge crowd, pressing Jesus from all sides, so as to almost suffocate Him.
And the woman found herself right next to Him? I wonder if she had to push and shove. Maybe she had to be forceful, pushy, rude.
And she had faith. "If only I touch His garments, I will be restored to health." That's so cool. I mean, she had been having this issue for what, 12 years? Hello, I think we all should have been pushy.
My imagination goes nuts sometimes, but since there were throngs of people around Jesus, do you think that maybe there was more than this one woman with a problem, or need of healing? Like maybe several.
Where were they? Didn't they want a healing just as much? But they didn't push and shove, and scrap to get it.
For every one person that actually asks, are there maybe 5, or 10, that need/want a healing, but don't ask?
Or even in our prayer time, do we ask for others, everything, but never anything for ourselves?
God is teaching me to ask. "Ask and you shall receive." I take my Father at His Word. If I ask, I will receive.
So, I'm going to become scrappy. I'm pushing toward the front. I'm going to crawl over to Him. I'm going to elbow my way over. I'm going to grab the hem of His garment, and ask.
I'm going to hold Him to the answer. His Word is our Promise. I'm going to hold Him to it!
©BL2007
It says that there was a huge crowd, pressing Jesus from all sides, so as to almost suffocate Him.
And the woman found herself right next to Him? I wonder if she had to push and shove. Maybe she had to be forceful, pushy, rude.
And she had faith. "If only I touch His garments, I will be restored to health." That's so cool. I mean, she had been having this issue for what, 12 years? Hello, I think we all should have been pushy.
My imagination goes nuts sometimes, but since there were throngs of people around Jesus, do you think that maybe there was more than this one woman with a problem, or need of healing? Like maybe several.
Where were they? Didn't they want a healing just as much? But they didn't push and shove, and scrap to get it.
For every one person that actually asks, are there maybe 5, or 10, that need/want a healing, but don't ask?
Or even in our prayer time, do we ask for others, everything, but never anything for ourselves?
God is teaching me to ask. "Ask and you shall receive." I take my Father at His Word. If I ask, I will receive.
So, I'm going to become scrappy. I'm pushing toward the front. I'm going to crawl over to Him. I'm going to elbow my way over. I'm going to grab the hem of His garment, and ask.
I'm going to hold Him to the answer. His Word is our Promise. I'm going to hold Him to it!
©BL2007
Friday, November 30, 2007
Angels and Transformers
Wow, it feels like months since I have posted. (Maybe it has been!)
Hope that you all were blessed on Thanksgiving and in your family time. We assume so much don't we - that everybody had a "normal" Thanksgiving with all family. Those of you that had tough times, I pray God's Grace on you and in the situations.
When I was at my kids' house not too long ago, I watched the movie "Transformers" a lot. A lot!
And when I got back home and got into my devo time again, I was soaking in Ps. 23. It wasn't one of those times where, "Yeah, I've heard this all before." Or, "I know this all by heart."
I had been thinking about angels and all that they do, much of it, I am not even aware of. But I want to be aware. Not to worship them, but to be so aware of the supernatural that I am living in it.
Well, in Ps. 23, as I really got into it, it was like I was in it. Does that make sense? I know it will to some reading this.
And I got a picture out of the movie "Transformers" when the Autobots were waiting outside of the kid's house - waiting for him to find his grandfather's glasses. (Ya gotta see the movie!)
I saw the same thing in my home, only they weren't the Transformers, they were huge angels kneeling and moving around inside and outside of my house.
I mean HUGE! As big as the Autobots!
The supernatural is that close. And we make those angels to be our size, or the size of the cute little baby angels that we see on cards, or on knick knacks. But these were huge.
I felt such power, but such gentleness, and respect. Not that I am anything great (I am in Christ!), but that's just the way they were.
This is battle. And we are in it. We need to engage with the supernatural and realize that it is at our disposal, to use in the battle. We need to walk in it, because it is already ours if Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior.
Autobots, on! Angels, on! Saints, on!
©BL2007
Hope that you all were blessed on Thanksgiving and in your family time. We assume so much don't we - that everybody had a "normal" Thanksgiving with all family. Those of you that had tough times, I pray God's Grace on you and in the situations.
When I was at my kids' house not too long ago, I watched the movie "Transformers" a lot. A lot!
And when I got back home and got into my devo time again, I was soaking in Ps. 23. It wasn't one of those times where, "Yeah, I've heard this all before." Or, "I know this all by heart."
I had been thinking about angels and all that they do, much of it, I am not even aware of. But I want to be aware. Not to worship them, but to be so aware of the supernatural that I am living in it.
Well, in Ps. 23, as I really got into it, it was like I was in it. Does that make sense? I know it will to some reading this.
And I got a picture out of the movie "Transformers" when the Autobots were waiting outside of the kid's house - waiting for him to find his grandfather's glasses. (Ya gotta see the movie!)
I saw the same thing in my home, only they weren't the Transformers, they were huge angels kneeling and moving around inside and outside of my house.
I mean HUGE! As big as the Autobots!
The supernatural is that close. And we make those angels to be our size, or the size of the cute little baby angels that we see on cards, or on knick knacks. But these were huge.
I felt such power, but such gentleness, and respect. Not that I am anything great (I am in Christ!), but that's just the way they were.
This is battle. And we are in it. We need to engage with the supernatural and realize that it is at our disposal, to use in the battle. We need to walk in it, because it is already ours if Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior.
Autobots, on! Angels, on! Saints, on!
©BL2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Not home
I am needing to apologize to anyone that reads this blog.
Due to family issues, I have been gone way too much.
But tomorrow, these things shall pass. No, I'm not killing a kid, or quitting life!
There is just a release to some extra work that has been going on since July 4th!
To all who read this, I want to ask God for Blessings on your Thanksgiving holidays - with family, friends, Jesus!
I'll write more next week! Yes it's Thanksgiving, but even cooking and cleaning for 13 or so people, is easier than repairing my mom's farmhouse!
Love to all!
©BL2007
Due to family issues, I have been gone way too much.
But tomorrow, these things shall pass. No, I'm not killing a kid, or quitting life!
There is just a release to some extra work that has been going on since July 4th!
To all who read this, I want to ask God for Blessings on your Thanksgiving holidays - with family, friends, Jesus!
I'll write more next week! Yes it's Thanksgiving, but even cooking and cleaning for 13 or so people, is easier than repairing my mom's farmhouse!
Love to all!
©BL2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
Hard Hats and Crowns
Recently, as I have talked with several people, stuff has come up. You know....like stuff.
Like sin.
That word that we don't want to talk about.
Also, I have been reading a book by Craig Groeschel, entitled "Confessions of a Pastor". He gets it all out there.
And that started my brain to cooking.
I was thinking about how we tend to brush stuff under the rug of our hearts, so to speak.
Get a picture. Say we stole a piece of candy at age 6, and by the time we are 30, we are stealing from the office, or from our parents. Ouch.
Or maybe we were shown a nude picture when we were 8, and by the time we are 30 or so, (that age is sticking!) we are into full-blown porn.
Or try this one. What if when we were three, we were made fun of so badly, that from then on we grew to hate ourselves. So that by the time we were adults, we hated ourselves so badly, that we covered up with make-up. Had to have our hair just perfect. Don't want to look bad. As bad as we feel on the inside about ourselves.
So by the time we are adults, we have swept so much under there, that the rug is covering the mountain in the middle of our living room. Like in the movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", where he builds a mountain in the family room.
And along with the dirt, are old pictures. Documents of lies. Daggers aimed at ourselves. Rusted dreams.
And if we allow someone to peek under the rug, they lay it down real fast. It stinks under there. Oooo, compost.
But what if. What if we allowed our Jesus to lift up a corner. And bring His broom and dustpan. Or really get down, with His backhoe loader, and articulated dump truck. Or His waste handler dozer! (Check out the John Deere site - I love it!)
Jesus is sitting in the operator's seat with His hard hat on, moving all of the levers. Picking up a load and moving it to the dump truck. And back for more.
Soon that mountain in the room of our hearts is getting smaller and smaller as we let Him move more out. As we submit to His cleansing. It's not fun. It hurts.
But.
As He gets us closer and closer to where He wants us to be, He gets more and more tender with us. He whispers into our heart and washes us clean.
Gentleness.
Wholeness.
Soon there will be nothing under the rug, but our hearts.
Then He takes the hard hat off, and exchanges it for the crown that He is best known for. The King of Glory meets His Bride.
©BL2007
Like sin.
That word that we don't want to talk about.
Also, I have been reading a book by Craig Groeschel, entitled "Confessions of a Pastor". He gets it all out there.
And that started my brain to cooking.
I was thinking about how we tend to brush stuff under the rug of our hearts, so to speak.
Get a picture. Say we stole a piece of candy at age 6, and by the time we are 30, we are stealing from the office, or from our parents. Ouch.
Or maybe we were shown a nude picture when we were 8, and by the time we are 30 or so, (that age is sticking!) we are into full-blown porn.
Or try this one. What if when we were three, we were made fun of so badly, that from then on we grew to hate ourselves. So that by the time we were adults, we hated ourselves so badly, that we covered up with make-up. Had to have our hair just perfect. Don't want to look bad. As bad as we feel on the inside about ourselves.
So by the time we are adults, we have swept so much under there, that the rug is covering the mountain in the middle of our living room. Like in the movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", where he builds a mountain in the family room.
And along with the dirt, are old pictures. Documents of lies. Daggers aimed at ourselves. Rusted dreams.
And if we allow someone to peek under the rug, they lay it down real fast. It stinks under there. Oooo, compost.
But what if. What if we allowed our Jesus to lift up a corner. And bring His broom and dustpan. Or really get down, with His backhoe loader, and articulated dump truck. Or His waste handler dozer! (Check out the John Deere site - I love it!)
Jesus is sitting in the operator's seat with His hard hat on, moving all of the levers. Picking up a load and moving it to the dump truck. And back for more.
Soon that mountain in the room of our hearts is getting smaller and smaller as we let Him move more out. As we submit to His cleansing. It's not fun. It hurts.
But.
As He gets us closer and closer to where He wants us to be, He gets more and more tender with us. He whispers into our heart and washes us clean.
Gentleness.
Wholeness.
Soon there will be nothing under the rug, but our hearts.
Then He takes the hard hat off, and exchanges it for the crown that He is best known for. The King of Glory meets His Bride.
©BL2007
Monday, October 1, 2007
The Cat and Me
I write about what is around me. And right now, it's my cat. I have written about her before, but this is a different take. She found an old pearl, but not pearl, necklace this morning. She kind of gave me a look, like, "look what I found"! And, "you just gave me string and old toys to play with, but I found a beautiful necklace"! (I know, I can get alot out of her expression!)
She ran with the necklace. She tossed it. She hid it under an afgan. She slept with it.
And as I watched her play with it, I delighted in her cat-ness. How she took it and hid it under the afgan, and pretended that she didn't know where it was, and found it again. She's a hoot.
And I felt Father looking over my shoulder, and reminding me that He delights in me when I am myself, too. When I really tap into the gifts that He put in me, He is delighted.
Even when He is correcting me, which seems to be happening alot lately! Prov. 3:12, "For whom the Lord loves he corrects; just as a father the son in whom he delights."
He delights in me.
So I am going to do my best today, to be and do what He put into me, to be and do!
I'll write! There are other things I could be doing, yes. But when I get writing done each day, I feel satisfied. Because I am being me.
©BL2007
She ran with the necklace. She tossed it. She hid it under an afgan. She slept with it.
And as I watched her play with it, I delighted in her cat-ness. How she took it and hid it under the afgan, and pretended that she didn't know where it was, and found it again. She's a hoot.
And I felt Father looking over my shoulder, and reminding me that He delights in me when I am myself, too. When I really tap into the gifts that He put in me, He is delighted.
Even when He is correcting me, which seems to be happening alot lately! Prov. 3:12, "For whom the Lord loves he corrects; just as a father the son in whom he delights."
He delights in me.
So I am going to do my best today, to be and do what He put into me, to be and do!
I'll write! There are other things I could be doing, yes. But when I get writing done each day, I feel satisfied. Because I am being me.
©BL2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Feeling Blue Answers
I got a fast email from a sister in Christ. She sent the information in answer to my question about "feeling blue".
She and I share children. Her son is married to my daughter!
Thank you, thank you!
Here is what it said.
"If you are sad and describe yourself as "feeling blue," you are using a phrase coined from a custom among many old deepwater sailing ships. If the ship lost the captain or any of the officers during its voyage, she would fly blue flags and have a blue band painted along her entire hull when returning to home port."
It is from a Navy term site. Interesting!
She and I share children. Her son is married to my daughter!
Thank you, thank you!
Here is what it said.
"If you are sad and describe yourself as "feeling blue," you are using a phrase coined from a custom among many old deepwater sailing ships. If the ship lost the captain or any of the officers during its voyage, she would fly blue flags and have a blue band painted along her entire hull when returning to home port."
It is from a Navy term site. Interesting!
Feeling blue
My son left today for another step in his life. He has been down some roads that a mom would not wish, but God is definitely using them for His Glory now.
But I am feeling blue. I am staying busy, and inspired, but blue.
I started thinking about where on earth did 'feeling blue' come from.
Not feeling purple. Not feeling green. (Green with envy! Is that another blog?!)
Okay, I am putting out a plea. I have looked online for awhile and haven't come up with any folklore, or why we say we are blue, when depressed or down-in-the dumps. (Okay, there is another metaphor! Where does it come from?!)
Really. Where does it come from? When we lack oxygen, we turn blue. Is that a clue?
Readers, if you are out there, let me know what you find!
But I am feeling blue. I am staying busy, and inspired, but blue.
I started thinking about where on earth did 'feeling blue' come from.
Not feeling purple. Not feeling green. (Green with envy! Is that another blog?!)
Okay, I am putting out a plea. I have looked online for awhile and haven't come up with any folklore, or why we say we are blue, when depressed or down-in-the dumps. (Okay, there is another metaphor! Where does it come from?!)
Really. Where does it come from? When we lack oxygen, we turn blue. Is that a clue?
Readers, if you are out there, let me know what you find!
Washers, and Dryers, and Unbelief
I was sitting this morning by the window where I spend my first moments (sometimes hours - those of you with a calling to sit at the feet of the Father will understand!) of the day. I saw a pickup truck filled with old appliances, washers, dryers, etc., drive by.
It made me think of the used washer and dryer that my husband got from his mom this last month, during her move. He said that they are for the building that we will build for our business. I chuckled. No, I laughed in annoyance. Yeah, right. We store them in our garage, for how long, until we finally get rid of them? Because like, there's never going to be a building. Huh.
Okay, next on the bunny trail, is to Genesis 18:1. Where Araham had God appear to him with maybe two angels. Abraham, with Sarah's help, showed them hospitality. He showed them where to freshen up, and then they shared a meal. It wasn't just cheese and crackers, but it was the bomb burrito of a fatted calf. (How do you dress and prepare a fatted calf, a whole cow, and get it done in time for dinner?)
As they were eating, they asked about Sarah, and where she was.
Abraham said that she was in the tent. Meanwhile, God told Abraham that the next time that He came around, Sarah would have a son.
Sarah was actually listening in on the conversation behind the tent door. And she laughed. She laughed, not in faith and excitement and wonder, like Abraham did in Genesis 17:17.
No, Sarah laughed in contempt. Scoffing. Yeah, right, I'll have a son. She was well beyond child bearing years.
Abraham laughed in faith and wonder. Sarah laughed in unbelief.
My husband spoke in faith. I answered in unbelief.
Okay, so now I am making a sign for the washer and dryer that says, "For the new building". In faith. In repentance!
©BL2007
It made me think of the used washer and dryer that my husband got from his mom this last month, during her move. He said that they are for the building that we will build for our business. I chuckled. No, I laughed in annoyance. Yeah, right. We store them in our garage, for how long, until we finally get rid of them? Because like, there's never going to be a building. Huh.
Okay, next on the bunny trail, is to Genesis 18:1. Where Araham had God appear to him with maybe two angels. Abraham, with Sarah's help, showed them hospitality. He showed them where to freshen up, and then they shared a meal. It wasn't just cheese and crackers, but it was the bomb burrito of a fatted calf. (How do you dress and prepare a fatted calf, a whole cow, and get it done in time for dinner?)
As they were eating, they asked about Sarah, and where she was.
Abraham said that she was in the tent. Meanwhile, God told Abraham that the next time that He came around, Sarah would have a son.
Sarah was actually listening in on the conversation behind the tent door. And she laughed. She laughed, not in faith and excitement and wonder, like Abraham did in Genesis 17:17.
No, Sarah laughed in contempt. Scoffing. Yeah, right, I'll have a son. She was well beyond child bearing years.
Abraham laughed in faith and wonder. Sarah laughed in unbelief.
My husband spoke in faith. I answered in unbelief.
Okay, so now I am making a sign for the washer and dryer that says, "For the new building". In faith. In repentance!
©BL2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Words and Sludge
I was in a service Sunday, at my regular church. We are pretty free at our church, where if a person receives a 'word' from the Lord, they are free, at the proper time to give it. And it happens every Sunday there. It is such a blessing, as when the pastor finally gets up to preach, he just laughs because the words given beforehand are just what God had given him to preach on. So fun!
And a few days ago, I was talking with someone about giving words of what we feel we hear from God for others. And we had a warning about giving and receiving words from people. We need to operate in God's Wisdom.
And then I get this goofy picture of someone spoonfeeding someone else. A bite at a time.
If it is a true Word from the Lord, as it is tasted, it is sweet. "I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste." Song of Solomon 2:3b.
And "Oh taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him." Ps 34:8.
But what if that word is not from the Lord? What if it is of the flesh? Well intended, but flesh.
I may have written about this before, but it applies here also. I have a mom-in-law that is precious. I love her. She is born-again. But because of things that happened to her in her childhood, she sometimes says very hurtful things, and they seem to be aimed at me or my daughter.
It got so bad that when we would be planning to go see her, I would go through turmoil, because it had started to cause me to dread going to see her. Yeah, I know. Dread is of fear. Okay, I was afraid to see her, for fear of what she would say to me.
It came to a head one day when I was crying out to God. I knew in my heart of hearts, that I could be victorious over this situation, short of putting silver duct tape over her mouth!
God gave me a vision, of me sitting at a table, across from her. She was dipping a huge spoon into a bowl of really nasty stuff. Sludge. And feeding it to me. I was actually watching her do this and willingly opening my mouth to take the bite. I was taking it in.
God told me that I don't have to take it in. I am not required to open my mouth, or even sit at the table with her, clamping my lips closed, getting it all over my mouth.
I don't have to take it in.
But what if it is a good word? A word sent by the Lord to encourage me, to lift me up?
So the picture? Me sitting at a table, across from Jesus. It may be just a picnic table. Wooden, rough. He is dressed in His best warrior's uniform. Beautiful. He looks into my eyes, and picks up the spoon. It's a vintage spoon, old but solid. He dips it into the bowl in front of Him and gives me a bite.
Sweet and good. Goes down like Mom's best pumpkin pie. (Thanksgiving is coming!) Mmmm.....And it does the work that He sent it to do. Even if the word is convicting and correcting. It still goes down well.
Good for me and nourishing my soul.
So my lesson? Do my best to hear from the Holy Spirit. Do my best to develop that intimacy, so that I really hear His voice. Let Him teach me to hear Him.
And don't take bites from strangers!
©BL2007
And a few days ago, I was talking with someone about giving words of what we feel we hear from God for others. And we had a warning about giving and receiving words from people. We need to operate in God's Wisdom.
And then I get this goofy picture of someone spoonfeeding someone else. A bite at a time.
If it is a true Word from the Lord, as it is tasted, it is sweet. "I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste." Song of Solomon 2:3b.
And "Oh taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him." Ps 34:8.
But what if that word is not from the Lord? What if it is of the flesh? Well intended, but flesh.
I may have written about this before, but it applies here also. I have a mom-in-law that is precious. I love her. She is born-again. But because of things that happened to her in her childhood, she sometimes says very hurtful things, and they seem to be aimed at me or my daughter.
It got so bad that when we would be planning to go see her, I would go through turmoil, because it had started to cause me to dread going to see her. Yeah, I know. Dread is of fear. Okay, I was afraid to see her, for fear of what she would say to me.
It came to a head one day when I was crying out to God. I knew in my heart of hearts, that I could be victorious over this situation, short of putting silver duct tape over her mouth!
God gave me a vision, of me sitting at a table, across from her. She was dipping a huge spoon into a bowl of really nasty stuff. Sludge. And feeding it to me. I was actually watching her do this and willingly opening my mouth to take the bite. I was taking it in.
God told me that I don't have to take it in. I am not required to open my mouth, or even sit at the table with her, clamping my lips closed, getting it all over my mouth.
I don't have to take it in.
But what if it is a good word? A word sent by the Lord to encourage me, to lift me up?
So the picture? Me sitting at a table, across from Jesus. It may be just a picnic table. Wooden, rough. He is dressed in His best warrior's uniform. Beautiful. He looks into my eyes, and picks up the spoon. It's a vintage spoon, old but solid. He dips it into the bowl in front of Him and gives me a bite.
Sweet and good. Goes down like Mom's best pumpkin pie. (Thanksgiving is coming!) Mmmm.....And it does the work that He sent it to do. Even if the word is convicting and correcting. It still goes down well.
Good for me and nourishing my soul.
So my lesson? Do my best to hear from the Holy Spirit. Do my best to develop that intimacy, so that I really hear His voice. Let Him teach me to hear Him.
And don't take bites from strangers!
©BL2007
Monday, September 10, 2007
Who's counting?
The other day I told Father that I was tired of having to go to Him and cry out for Him to repair my broken heart. Why can't I just not get it broken? Why do people always have to hurt me? Why can't I get a grip on getting offended?
James 1:19 blasted me. In the Amplified it reads, "Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry."
I am quick to take offense. I easily get angry. I easily ask 'how many times do I have to do this?'
And the answer? It's about forgiveness. If I don't get offended, I don't need to forgive. Right?
God is working a great work within me. About not getting offended, and not dragging it to the anger degree.
But how many times? How long do I have to do this?
Jesus says in Matt. 18:22, "I tell you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven!"
I guess when my heart is right. That's how many times.
©BL2007
James 1:19 blasted me. In the Amplified it reads, "Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry."
I am quick to take offense. I easily get angry. I easily ask 'how many times do I have to do this?'
And the answer? It's about forgiveness. If I don't get offended, I don't need to forgive. Right?
God is working a great work within me. About not getting offended, and not dragging it to the anger degree.
But how many times? How long do I have to do this?
Jesus says in Matt. 18:22, "I tell you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven!"
I guess when my heart is right. That's how many times.
©BL2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
Cross the Line
I went out to a little room off of our garage the other day to feed our cat. She is an old cat and has been pushed out there to live, because she bites me. Oh, I know. Cats give love bites.
Believe me, she has no love in her heart when she decides to bite me. She has revenge on her heart and she is going to eat meat that day. And the meat is me! Have I said all this before?
Anyway, as I went to feed her, it hit me that she hardly gets out of that room. We open the back door for her to go in and out during the day, but she hardly goes out. Or she might venture out for a while, but then is back in. With all of the huge backyard and sunlight, and fresh air out there.
She stays in that dusty, musty, room letting a fan cool her. When she could have the real thing in God's fresh air.
And I thought how much we are like that. We put ourselves into a box, out of fear, pain, revenge, and never want to venture out into what God has for us.
As our cat needs to cross that threshold, to get to the world that God made her for, we have to cross those lines of fear, regret, past experiences. "But God, the last time I tried to do that, I got hurt."
We have to be willing to step through those hard memories, and as we step through them, we will be free of them. Those spirits of fear, anxiety, dread, will never have a hold on us again. They will never ruin a relationship again, unless we let it. They will never keep us from exploding into what God planned for us.
Just cross the line.
©BL2007
Believe me, she has no love in her heart when she decides to bite me. She has revenge on her heart and she is going to eat meat that day. And the meat is me! Have I said all this before?
Anyway, as I went to feed her, it hit me that she hardly gets out of that room. We open the back door for her to go in and out during the day, but she hardly goes out. Or she might venture out for a while, but then is back in. With all of the huge backyard and sunlight, and fresh air out there.
She stays in that dusty, musty, room letting a fan cool her. When she could have the real thing in God's fresh air.
And I thought how much we are like that. We put ourselves into a box, out of fear, pain, revenge, and never want to venture out into what God has for us.
As our cat needs to cross that threshold, to get to the world that God made her for, we have to cross those lines of fear, regret, past experiences. "But God, the last time I tried to do that, I got hurt."
We have to be willing to step through those hard memories, and as we step through them, we will be free of them. Those spirits of fear, anxiety, dread, will never have a hold on us again. They will never ruin a relationship again, unless we let it. They will never keep us from exploding into what God planned for us.
Just cross the line.
©BL2007
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Take back the land.
Yesterday, I was having my time with the Lord, and found myself wanting to confront some things in myself with Him. Cleaning house in other words. I start most days with Him and cleaning, because when I get into "Please, this and would You that" I guess I just want to start off each day with Him, with a clean slate.
Anyway, I was thinking about Satan. How he comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He is serious about what he wants to do in each life, don't get me wrong. Dead serious.
But I think that we give him way too much credit for stuff. He can only be in one place at a time. God is omnipresent. He can be everywhere at the same time. I know, I don't get it either, but I believe it. Satan is not omnipresent. So if Satan is in Irag, he can't be in Colorado bothering you, himself.
Satan isn't omniscient. He doesn't know everything. It only feels like it. Only God knows everything.
And Satan isn't omnipotent. Only God has unlimited power.
So, how does Satan do what he does? I was asking God this, when I got a picture of the movie "The Wizard of Oz". You know at the end of the movie, where Dorothy and all are before the big head of Oz and he is thundering out his demands. While little Toto, the dog goes and pulls back a curtain revealing who was really behind the Oz.
So is Satan really in a small room, frantically pulling levers, pushing buttons on some machine to control his demons and his people? Pull that lever and out comes some fire. Push that button and zoom, a demon fires a thought.
Probably not, but I don't think he is what we think he is. He wants us to think he is huge and mean. But always remember who he has to answer to. God. Satan was only an angel, he isn't anywhere near the level of God, although he wanted to be.
Yes, we are living in Satan's playground. He owns the real estate. He even tried to tempt Jesus with it, if only Jesus would bow down to him.
Satan has demons, some of who are not chained in hell, to help him. Since he can't be everywhere at the same time, those demons must do the dirty work. They tell us lies, they try to confuse us, they use our words against us, and keep us diseased. I'm convinced that the battlefield is in the mind. (Like Joyce Meyer's book says.)
But. There it is Pastor. The but. But God sent a way. Jesus. Jesus came and lived on this earth to teach us how to live, and to take back what the devil has stolen.
And once we ask Jesus to be our Lord, and are walking with him, we have the dominion back. We don't have to listen to the lies, we don't have to be confused or sick.
The promise? One is James 4:7. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Don't put any little buts on this. "But, Satan tells me this. But he makes me feel like a loser....." Submit yourself and all to God, resist the devil. How? How do you resist all of those credit card apps. Rip them up and throw them away! Resist.
And he will flee from you. Don't add anything, or take anything away from that verse. It stands alone.
He will flee. Take back the land.
©BL2007
Anyway, I was thinking about Satan. How he comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He is serious about what he wants to do in each life, don't get me wrong. Dead serious.
But I think that we give him way too much credit for stuff. He can only be in one place at a time. God is omnipresent. He can be everywhere at the same time. I know, I don't get it either, but I believe it. Satan is not omnipresent. So if Satan is in Irag, he can't be in Colorado bothering you, himself.
Satan isn't omniscient. He doesn't know everything. It only feels like it. Only God knows everything.
And Satan isn't omnipotent. Only God has unlimited power.
So, how does Satan do what he does? I was asking God this, when I got a picture of the movie "The Wizard of Oz". You know at the end of the movie, where Dorothy and all are before the big head of Oz and he is thundering out his demands. While little Toto, the dog goes and pulls back a curtain revealing who was really behind the Oz.
So is Satan really in a small room, frantically pulling levers, pushing buttons on some machine to control his demons and his people? Pull that lever and out comes some fire. Push that button and zoom, a demon fires a thought.
Probably not, but I don't think he is what we think he is. He wants us to think he is huge and mean. But always remember who he has to answer to. God. Satan was only an angel, he isn't anywhere near the level of God, although he wanted to be.
Yes, we are living in Satan's playground. He owns the real estate. He even tried to tempt Jesus with it, if only Jesus would bow down to him.
Satan has demons, some of who are not chained in hell, to help him. Since he can't be everywhere at the same time, those demons must do the dirty work. They tell us lies, they try to confuse us, they use our words against us, and keep us diseased. I'm convinced that the battlefield is in the mind. (Like Joyce Meyer's book says.)
But. There it is Pastor. The but. But God sent a way. Jesus. Jesus came and lived on this earth to teach us how to live, and to take back what the devil has stolen.
And once we ask Jesus to be our Lord, and are walking with him, we have the dominion back. We don't have to listen to the lies, we don't have to be confused or sick.
The promise? One is James 4:7. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Don't put any little buts on this. "But, Satan tells me this. But he makes me feel like a loser....." Submit yourself and all to God, resist the devil. How? How do you resist all of those credit card apps. Rip them up and throw them away! Resist.
And he will flee from you. Don't add anything, or take anything away from that verse. It stands alone.
He will flee. Take back the land.
©BL2007
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Hide and Seek
Holy Moly.
I just got done playing with my kitten. We were playing hide and seek. Honestly.
She'd run and hide, and as I'd walk by, she'd jump out at me. And then I'd run and hide (honestly!) and as she'd show up, I'd jump out at her. And she'd jump up in the air, pretending to be scared! Hilarious!
I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard.
Right now anyone reading this is going, "Umm... should we call someone and intervene?".
Well, we all know how good laughter is for us and have all heard how many times a day a kid laughs, right?
Does anyone remember how good it feels on the inside to just play? To really laugh for the sheer joy of it?
Do you remember how it feels to have fun?
I know, life is really hard sometimes, but I wonder what the Father was doing while my kitten and I were playing hide and seek. Do you think He was standing there, watching, and tapping His foot and looking at His watch? Do you think He was looking on with anger, saying, "Get back to work!"?
Naw, I think He was positively delighted! Remember, He's the one that made cats.
©BL2007
I just got done playing with my kitten. We were playing hide and seek. Honestly.
She'd run and hide, and as I'd walk by, she'd jump out at me. And then I'd run and hide (honestly!) and as she'd show up, I'd jump out at her. And she'd jump up in the air, pretending to be scared! Hilarious!
I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard.
Right now anyone reading this is going, "Umm... should we call someone and intervene?".
Well, we all know how good laughter is for us and have all heard how many times a day a kid laughs, right?
Does anyone remember how good it feels on the inside to just play? To really laugh for the sheer joy of it?
Do you remember how it feels to have fun?
I know, life is really hard sometimes, but I wonder what the Father was doing while my kitten and I were playing hide and seek. Do you think He was standing there, watching, and tapping His foot and looking at His watch? Do you think He was looking on with anger, saying, "Get back to work!"?
Naw, I think He was positively delighted! Remember, He's the one that made cats.
©BL2007
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
This morning I was watching my kitten. She never strays from being herself. She jumps. She runs. She plays....cat and mouse. What else can I call it. She meows. She responds by submission when I growl at her in a cat way. (Yup, I growl at her. It's a technique that my daughter taught me! When she is doing something that I don't like, I growl and keep it up until she submits by bowing her head, closing her eyes, or backing away - it works! Just a little cat tidbit!)
But she doesn't try to act like me. That would be funny. She stays in her cat mode. Because she is a cat!
I find myself sometimes during different seasons in my life, trying to be what I'm not. Whether it's a diva, a model (Ha!), a bookkeeper (those that know me can laugh, but that's what I find myself doing these days, for our business), a grocery store clerk, a sales rep, or whatever.
But what makes my heart sing? It's when I actually sit down and write. And write something that speaks of God's heart and mine.
It's when I do what God made me to do. Sing. Create. Love.
It's the song of my heart. It's what God thought of when He fashioned me before I was born.
I'm more at peace and happiest when I follow God's heart for mine.
©BL2007
But she doesn't try to act like me. That would be funny. She stays in her cat mode. Because she is a cat!
I find myself sometimes during different seasons in my life, trying to be what I'm not. Whether it's a diva, a model (Ha!), a bookkeeper (those that know me can laugh, but that's what I find myself doing these days, for our business), a grocery store clerk, a sales rep, or whatever.
But what makes my heart sing? It's when I actually sit down and write. And write something that speaks of God's heart and mine.
It's when I do what God made me to do. Sing. Create. Love.
It's the song of my heart. It's what God thought of when He fashioned me before I was born.
I'm more at peace and happiest when I follow God's heart for mine.
©BL2007
Monday, August 6, 2007
Instructions on using Keys
Yesterday, when I was at church, a church elder preached. Pastor was gone on vaca, so this elder put in the time.
He preached on prayer. Actually, "Why Pray?"
First of all, we are so blessed to have people to fill in so our pastor can go away with his family.
But most of all, we are so blessed to have more than one man that loves God's Word enough to study up. To fill us up.
He and I were talking afterward about his message, and I was overcome at God's plan. God gave Adam and Eve dominion over this earth, but they didn't even get the chance to enjoy it. They gave dominion over to Satan when they agreed with him that they would not die if they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They also agreed with Satan that they would be as gods, knowing or deciding for themselves what is good and what is evil. So they took that bite and in that bite, all of heaven and earth moved. The whole earth and all it held; the future and the past came crashing together in a spiritual and moral death, in that one bite. The physical death would come later. The whole earth, and everything in it, was now under Satan's rule.
But that isn't the end of the story. God so loved this world and all it held. He had lovingly created everything in it. Taken time to design the plants each with beauty, usefulness, (well, there is that one weed....), each animal with such detail and thoughtfulness. But when he designed man and woman, He surpassed anything ever made.
God loved us so much, man and woman, the whole earth, that He gave His own Son to die a horrible death, so that we would not perish.
Jesus came to set us free from the bondage of Satan. He literally took the keys of the Kingdom, that Satan had taken from Adam and Eve, back. He took them back.
And what do we do with the keys? We have them in hand if we are born again. (See John 3:3 - if you still have questions, email me!)
For more than 20 years, I walked around, just carrying the keys. Oh, I'd put them on a key chain that had a WWJD line on it. Or I'd safely tuck them away in the pocket of my purse. They had a special hook by the door that I would hang them from.
But did I use them to unlock and set the captives free? (Is. 61:1-4) No.
Did I use them to preach and teach the Good Tidings? Or to open those bound in their prisons?
No, I just walked around with them. "Aren't these pretty?" I'd ask. "Don't they make a neat sound as they sway from my belt? You know that belt of Truth." "Jesus gave me these." "Nope, no I haven't used them for anything..."
It's time that we as Christians take those keys off of our belts and choose a key and plunge it into the lock and turn it until we feel and hear the lock open.
Prisons opened. People set free. Eyes clear and seeing.
How? Ask God. Read His Word. There are instructions in there on how to unlock things.
©BL2007
He preached on prayer. Actually, "Why Pray?"
First of all, we are so blessed to have people to fill in so our pastor can go away with his family.
But most of all, we are so blessed to have more than one man that loves God's Word enough to study up. To fill us up.
He and I were talking afterward about his message, and I was overcome at God's plan. God gave Adam and Eve dominion over this earth, but they didn't even get the chance to enjoy it. They gave dominion over to Satan when they agreed with him that they would not die if they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They also agreed with Satan that they would be as gods, knowing or deciding for themselves what is good and what is evil. So they took that bite and in that bite, all of heaven and earth moved. The whole earth and all it held; the future and the past came crashing together in a spiritual and moral death, in that one bite. The physical death would come later. The whole earth, and everything in it, was now under Satan's rule.
But that isn't the end of the story. God so loved this world and all it held. He had lovingly created everything in it. Taken time to design the plants each with beauty, usefulness, (well, there is that one weed....), each animal with such detail and thoughtfulness. But when he designed man and woman, He surpassed anything ever made.
God loved us so much, man and woman, the whole earth, that He gave His own Son to die a horrible death, so that we would not perish.
Jesus came to set us free from the bondage of Satan. He literally took the keys of the Kingdom, that Satan had taken from Adam and Eve, back. He took them back.
And what do we do with the keys? We have them in hand if we are born again. (See John 3:3 - if you still have questions, email me!)
For more than 20 years, I walked around, just carrying the keys. Oh, I'd put them on a key chain that had a WWJD line on it. Or I'd safely tuck them away in the pocket of my purse. They had a special hook by the door that I would hang them from.
But did I use them to unlock and set the captives free? (Is. 61:1-4) No.
Did I use them to preach and teach the Good Tidings? Or to open those bound in their prisons?
No, I just walked around with them. "Aren't these pretty?" I'd ask. "Don't they make a neat sound as they sway from my belt? You know that belt of Truth." "Jesus gave me these." "Nope, no I haven't used them for anything..."
It's time that we as Christians take those keys off of our belts and choose a key and plunge it into the lock and turn it until we feel and hear the lock open.
Prisons opened. People set free. Eyes clear and seeing.
How? Ask God. Read His Word. There are instructions in there on how to unlock things.
©BL2007
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Puke it Out
It amazes me that we as people of God, of people of the Redeemed, still live like we do. We still wallow in our muck. Lying in our own waste, and puke. Never rising up and shaking off what Jesus came to set us free from. We all do this.
We all have baggage and the pat answer is 'it's because of sin in this world', but there is more.
Do we want to get set free? Do we ever want to let the Savior - The Great Warrior - set us free?
Or are we afraid to do that? Yes, it's scary. To let everything out and show it to the world. To puke it out and let the world see us with snot and tears and puke streaming down our faces. To see the blackness of our hearts.
We put this beautiful facade on for others to see....crowns of beauty, masks of 'I'm okay'. Costumes of what we want to show to the world.
We must take them off, the masks, the crowns, the costumes. They were put there by us, by the world. They are fake. They are conterfeit.
We must let Jesus take them off, if we are to be the warriors that the Bible says we are. We must, if we want to live our lives above the puke. We must be willing to let God do the surgery.
He came to set us free.
©BL2007
We all have baggage and the pat answer is 'it's because of sin in this world', but there is more.
Do we want to get set free? Do we ever want to let the Savior - The Great Warrior - set us free?
Or are we afraid to do that? Yes, it's scary. To let everything out and show it to the world. To puke it out and let the world see us with snot and tears and puke streaming down our faces. To see the blackness of our hearts.
We put this beautiful facade on for others to see....crowns of beauty, masks of 'I'm okay'. Costumes of what we want to show to the world.
We must take them off, the masks, the crowns, the costumes. They were put there by us, by the world. They are fake. They are conterfeit.
We must let Jesus take them off, if we are to be the warriors that the Bible says we are. We must, if we want to live our lives above the puke. We must be willing to let God do the surgery.
He came to set us free.
©BL2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
Root Canals
Goodness where does a month go? I just got a coffee drink and she asked where I'd been lately - and she finished with the obvious question. On vacation?
Oh, what I wanted to unload on her! No, not vaca. Far from it.
Dealing with a rental property that needs mucho work before it's ready to rent again. And with a dear mom-in-law, and going through all of her stuff with her after a mini-stroke. No vaca.
In many ways some of this is a victory. I am not going as far down as I have in the past when the last straw was the cat playing keep-away, and I'd go ballistic. I've only had one real meltdown and that was when the contractor that is helping us repair the house, pulled up the linoleum in the cupboard under the kitchen sink, and I saw the rot there. When a simple phone call telling me that the dishwasher was leaking would have meant a call to the Maytag guy. I walked away and cried. Each day, my sister and I would go to the Lord, asking for forgiveness for wanting to annihilate the renters, get set free again, and go back to the house and find another clue to this riddle. Another piece to this puzzle. Another repair that could have been avoided, if they had only learned to be transparent and call us. I'm not sure what the picture will be when we get it all put back together.
But I am sure about the good thing that God is doing in my heart. He is making sure that each little remaining piece of anger, hatred, unforgiveness, resentment, blame (thanks Pastor Mike!), etc. is pulled out. It's like a root canal. They have to make sure that each little piece of that tooth's root is cleaned out, because of the possible spread of infection. The dentist says that there is even a stink when they open the thing up.
I'm sure too that when I let God open the thing up in my heart, that there is a stench to God's nostrils. And I'm also sure that if I let Him, He will want to go in and clean every bit of the stinky mess out of my heart.
So use the renters, God. Bring it on. Bring on the whole stinky mess and open up my heart to heal, so I don't stink or offend You anymore.
©BL2007
Oh, what I wanted to unload on her! No, not vaca. Far from it.
Dealing with a rental property that needs mucho work before it's ready to rent again. And with a dear mom-in-law, and going through all of her stuff with her after a mini-stroke. No vaca.
In many ways some of this is a victory. I am not going as far down as I have in the past when the last straw was the cat playing keep-away, and I'd go ballistic. I've only had one real meltdown and that was when the contractor that is helping us repair the house, pulled up the linoleum in the cupboard under the kitchen sink, and I saw the rot there. When a simple phone call telling me that the dishwasher was leaking would have meant a call to the Maytag guy. I walked away and cried. Each day, my sister and I would go to the Lord, asking for forgiveness for wanting to annihilate the renters, get set free again, and go back to the house and find another clue to this riddle. Another piece to this puzzle. Another repair that could have been avoided, if they had only learned to be transparent and call us. I'm not sure what the picture will be when we get it all put back together.
But I am sure about the good thing that God is doing in my heart. He is making sure that each little remaining piece of anger, hatred, unforgiveness, resentment, blame (thanks Pastor Mike!), etc. is pulled out. It's like a root canal. They have to make sure that each little piece of that tooth's root is cleaned out, because of the possible spread of infection. The dentist says that there is even a stink when they open the thing up.
I'm sure too that when I let God open the thing up in my heart, that there is a stench to God's nostrils. And I'm also sure that if I let Him, He will want to go in and clean every bit of the stinky mess out of my heart.
So use the renters, God. Bring it on. Bring on the whole stinky mess and open up my heart to heal, so I don't stink or offend You anymore.
©BL2007
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Gardening with sharp shears
It was spoken over me not too long ago about how Jesus is the True Vine and I am a branch. That as we are vitally united, He pours Himself into me to produce fruit in my life.
It was cool because I got such a physical sense of a filling with His Spirit and His love, pouring into me. But even better, how connected He wants to be with us. Bear with me as I write this out. I think it out as I write.
Anyone that looks at a tree or plant, will see the vine or trunk swelling with growth. And as a branch starts growth, it swells too, because of the sap flowing through the trunk, and into the branch. (I could get all scientific here, but I'm not going to, because I'm not scientific!)
I just 'saw' in my mind a picture of a movie-like shot of a tree all in one motion - growing from a sapling, up into a huge tree, complete with many branches. And into limbs and into the leaves on the ends of the limbs. Whoosh! Growth.
But okay this is nothing new. The vinedresser, the vine, the branches. Ho hum.
I was pulling weeds one day and noticed that many little weeds were growing out of an old cement and brick ledge. (Why can weeds grow anywhere in any conditions, but the plants that we spend money on die with the best of conditions!) Somehow a seed was dropped there and it took root.
There it is. The answer.
The roots. When I coldly pulled the little weed out, a huge long root followed it. No dirt. Just root.
So if a tree or plant puts out strong roots, it will grow, thrive, be able to withstand the storms and winds, and grow up huge and tall.
I love the verse, "For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters that spreads out its roots by the river; and it shall not see and fear when heat comes; but its leaf shall be green. It shall not be anxious and full of care in the year of drought, nor shall it cease yielding fruit." (Ampl.) Jer. 17:8.
The roots by the river. Who is the river? In John 7:37, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink!" Jesus is the River. So if I grow my roots deeply in Jesus, I will not fear when the heat comes and my leaves will be green and not wither. And I will continue to produce fruit in my life. I can even grow roots in the midst of cement and stone and brick in my life (have you ever been between a rock and a hard place?!)
But what about those gardening shears? You use those when you want to increase fruit production. You remove parts that are dead, or hindering true growth. He has removed businesses from my life. He has cut out people that are hindering me from growing. He has removed people that I was getting too tangled up with. You get the idea.
But there are branches not producing anything at all. A tree surgeon calls those dead. Duh. And they take the chain saw and down they come. The tree looks alot cleaner without them and usually within a few years, a new shoot will begin to grow in it's place. Ouch.
First of all it hurts to be severed from our Creator. But, does that mean that if we have come to Jesus, don't abide in Him, but choose our own way, we will be severed off from him? John 15:6 says "If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned."
Ouch, ouch.
Man, makes me want to hug my Vine.
©BL2007
It was cool because I got such a physical sense of a filling with His Spirit and His love, pouring into me. But even better, how connected He wants to be with us. Bear with me as I write this out. I think it out as I write.
Anyone that looks at a tree or plant, will see the vine or trunk swelling with growth. And as a branch starts growth, it swells too, because of the sap flowing through the trunk, and into the branch. (I could get all scientific here, but I'm not going to, because I'm not scientific!)
I just 'saw' in my mind a picture of a movie-like shot of a tree all in one motion - growing from a sapling, up into a huge tree, complete with many branches. And into limbs and into the leaves on the ends of the limbs. Whoosh! Growth.
But okay this is nothing new. The vinedresser, the vine, the branches. Ho hum.
I was pulling weeds one day and noticed that many little weeds were growing out of an old cement and brick ledge. (Why can weeds grow anywhere in any conditions, but the plants that we spend money on die with the best of conditions!) Somehow a seed was dropped there and it took root.
There it is. The answer.
The roots. When I coldly pulled the little weed out, a huge long root followed it. No dirt. Just root.
So if a tree or plant puts out strong roots, it will grow, thrive, be able to withstand the storms and winds, and grow up huge and tall.
I love the verse, "For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters that spreads out its roots by the river; and it shall not see and fear when heat comes; but its leaf shall be green. It shall not be anxious and full of care in the year of drought, nor shall it cease yielding fruit." (Ampl.) Jer. 17:8.
The roots by the river. Who is the river? In John 7:37, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink!" Jesus is the River. So if I grow my roots deeply in Jesus, I will not fear when the heat comes and my leaves will be green and not wither. And I will continue to produce fruit in my life. I can even grow roots in the midst of cement and stone and brick in my life (have you ever been between a rock and a hard place?!)
But what about those gardening shears? You use those when you want to increase fruit production. You remove parts that are dead, or hindering true growth. He has removed businesses from my life. He has cut out people that are hindering me from growing. He has removed people that I was getting too tangled up with. You get the idea.
But there are branches not producing anything at all. A tree surgeon calls those dead. Duh. And they take the chain saw and down they come. The tree looks alot cleaner without them and usually within a few years, a new shoot will begin to grow in it's place. Ouch.
First of all it hurts to be severed from our Creator. But, does that mean that if we have come to Jesus, don't abide in Him, but choose our own way, we will be severed off from him? John 15:6 says "If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned."
Ouch, ouch.
Man, makes me want to hug my Vine.
©BL2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
Holy Mud Wrestling
For some reason I woke up early this morning, at 5 a.m.! Not my usual time to wake up. Had a really busy day yesterday in the heat (take heat to mean all kinds - like fire - both outdoor temperature, but also spiritual temperature!) So it was unusual to wake that early.
But it was God calling. With pictures. I love it when He does that. He wakes me and then places visions and pictures in my mind. And then directs where they will go. Like when He loaded the one this morning, I knew what it was about. I love that.
The vision? I saw multitudes of people mindlessly fighting. There was a woman and I knew she was me, even though her hair was cut very short. She was hitting and slapping, like she was bored. With a 'whatever' attitude. It was like a movie in which everything is dirty and dark. There were no weapons, just people fighting, stirring up the dirt and dust, in the mud.
But I felt that it was mindless, ineffective fighting. And I realized that that is the way we fight our enemy, Satan. We have no clue as to his tactics, or his weapons, but we fight anyway. It's like a girly fight. We bring up our fists, open handed, and pummel the offender without really doing any damage.
Jesus didn't go through what He went through on the cross, for us to fight the enemy like we are. He came to earth and did what He did so that we could rally in the victory. So that we could know and do and win the battles like He did.
So how can we become effective warriors?
I believe that we need to study up on the tactics of Satan and his minions. The first place is obviously God's Word. What did Jesus do? How did He take authority? What words did He use?
We have that authority today just like He did then, because of what He did on the cross. He gave us back the keys of the Kingdom. Like He bought us the title with His Blood.
Another place to study is life. As the Holy Spirit reveals Himself in situations, He can teach us if we will let Him. No two situations are alike. That makes it less easy to put things in a box and always minister in the same way. No two people are alike. No two ministry situations are alike either. So we must listen with that spiritual ear. He will tell us. He will guide us.
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. For our weapons of warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds." 2Cor. 10:3,4.
I don't want to wake up from what I think is some dream, or one of God's visions, and be in reality. Fighting like a girl (sorry girls, but sometimes we go there!).
I want to know that when I pray (a huge part of warfare), as I speak out words, that I am praying in faith. Like it is done. Period.
I want to know that when Holy Spirit leads me to talk to someone, that I hear His promptings. I hear His words, not mine. Because His words will hit the mark, not mine.
I want to know that when my arms are around someone in comfort, that they are His arms and it is Him leading the hug and not me.
I want to know that when I speak His Word in faith, that the heavens and earth are turning and changing according to His Word spoken through my mouth!
So, hopefully, when I get another vision from the Lord, it will be one where the saints are battling, all decked out in armor. Using the Sword of the Spirit.
I just got a picture of me again, with full, shiny armor, swinging my huge sword round about, above my head. And it hit the mark. Never returning to my Lord void again!
©BL2007
But it was God calling. With pictures. I love it when He does that. He wakes me and then places visions and pictures in my mind. And then directs where they will go. Like when He loaded the one this morning, I knew what it was about. I love that.
The vision? I saw multitudes of people mindlessly fighting. There was a woman and I knew she was me, even though her hair was cut very short. She was hitting and slapping, like she was bored. With a 'whatever' attitude. It was like a movie in which everything is dirty and dark. There were no weapons, just people fighting, stirring up the dirt and dust, in the mud.
But I felt that it was mindless, ineffective fighting. And I realized that that is the way we fight our enemy, Satan. We have no clue as to his tactics, or his weapons, but we fight anyway. It's like a girly fight. We bring up our fists, open handed, and pummel the offender without really doing any damage.
Jesus didn't go through what He went through on the cross, for us to fight the enemy like we are. He came to earth and did what He did so that we could rally in the victory. So that we could know and do and win the battles like He did.
So how can we become effective warriors?
I believe that we need to study up on the tactics of Satan and his minions. The first place is obviously God's Word. What did Jesus do? How did He take authority? What words did He use?
We have that authority today just like He did then, because of what He did on the cross. He gave us back the keys of the Kingdom. Like He bought us the title with His Blood.
Another place to study is life. As the Holy Spirit reveals Himself in situations, He can teach us if we will let Him. No two situations are alike. That makes it less easy to put things in a box and always minister in the same way. No two people are alike. No two ministry situations are alike either. So we must listen with that spiritual ear. He will tell us. He will guide us.
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. For our weapons of warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds." 2Cor. 10:3,4.
I don't want to wake up from what I think is some dream, or one of God's visions, and be in reality. Fighting like a girl (sorry girls, but sometimes we go there!).
I want to know that when I pray (a huge part of warfare), as I speak out words, that I am praying in faith. Like it is done. Period.
I want to know that when Holy Spirit leads me to talk to someone, that I hear His promptings. I hear His words, not mine. Because His words will hit the mark, not mine.
I want to know that when my arms are around someone in comfort, that they are His arms and it is Him leading the hug and not me.
I want to know that when I speak His Word in faith, that the heavens and earth are turning and changing according to His Word spoken through my mouth!
So, hopefully, when I get another vision from the Lord, it will be one where the saints are battling, all decked out in armor. Using the Sword of the Spirit.
I just got a picture of me again, with full, shiny armor, swinging my huge sword round about, above my head. And it hit the mark. Never returning to my Lord void again!
©BL2007
Monday, June 11, 2007
Bagels and English Muffins
The other day I was toasting a bagel and I realized that after a few days of toasting some english muffins, the timing is different for bagels. Duh!
It's so simple, really, but I asked why. The bagel is fatter than the muffin, so it is closer to the source of heat. It gets done faster.
Simple. But if I spend time closer to the source of heat - my Lord, do I get done faster too? Do I feel the heat and move into where He wants me?
But when I really think about that, that is what I have been doing for the last year. Getting closer to the fire. Letting God do whatever needs to be done in me. And I have grown faster this last year than the whole other 22 or so years that I have been a Christian.
So am I getting done faster? Is He coming sooner now? Yup!
I am getting done faster in direct relation to how close I let Him bring the fire. Make sense?
So what is the fire? By the name of my blog, you can imagine that I have been through a bit of fire, as we all have. But what I mean here is the convicting fire, when the Holy Spirit speaks to my heart and lets me know that a change is a comin'! And He uses certain situations in my life to bring about that change.
Lord, help me to be open to anything that you want to do, or bring about in my heart and life through whatever fire You choose.
It's so simple, really, but I asked why. The bagel is fatter than the muffin, so it is closer to the source of heat. It gets done faster.
Simple. But if I spend time closer to the source of heat - my Lord, do I get done faster too? Do I feel the heat and move into where He wants me?
But when I really think about that, that is what I have been doing for the last year. Getting closer to the fire. Letting God do whatever needs to be done in me. And I have grown faster this last year than the whole other 22 or so years that I have been a Christian.
So am I getting done faster? Is He coming sooner now? Yup!
I am getting done faster in direct relation to how close I let Him bring the fire. Make sense?
So what is the fire? By the name of my blog, you can imagine that I have been through a bit of fire, as we all have. But what I mean here is the convicting fire, when the Holy Spirit speaks to my heart and lets me know that a change is a comin'! And He uses certain situations in my life to bring about that change.
Lord, help me to be open to anything that you want to do, or bring about in my heart and life through whatever fire You choose.
Friday, June 8, 2007
Kings and Queens
I've been reading Esther. Actually I had a gift of a day today. My daughter and I were to travel out of state to an appointment, and she chose, wisely, to call it off.
So this day is a gift and I chose to soak and read. Oh I have stuff to do, but I get the feeling, that I have been lacking in my time with Father. As I got done reading Esther, I asked God "how do I apply this to me, God?"
Next thing I knew I was on my face, on the floor, in repentence before the Father. Repenting of not taking my rightful place in the Kingdom of God. As a real heir of God, my Father. A warrior alongside Jesus. That is my rightful place.
With Esther, she rose up as a child of God, but as Queen alongside her King. To take what was rightfully hers and to save her people. She stepped out unto possible death, to stand in the gap for her people.
How many of us Christians today really do that? Me included. (Yep, I'm the one on the floor.) We are wimpy - we have no idea who we are in Christ. What we have in Christ. What we can do to further the Kingdom in Christ. We have the keys to the Kingdom in our hands if we have asked Jesus to be our Lord, but we don't use those keys to our full authority. What Jesus did at the cross, what He obtained for us, we don't take ahold of.
It's like Daddy drove up in a brand new Jeep Commander (yeah...), got out, and handed me the keys. And maybe I drove it to the post office (all of one mile) and then parked it. I'd keep the keys, but what am I doing with the gift?
This walk is more than a gift. It's a Kingdom! It's a lifestyle, the very act of living. I can choose to live, (or drive my old Jeep - which I love!) or get the keys to the best - God's best.
Okay, so apply this. The best Jeep could be, not fearing where I go, what I want to do for Him, and walking in God's fullest anointing - His highest endowment (thanks Brother Matthew!)
If someone took me to say.... the biggest car dealer around, and told me to pick out any vehicle, what would I pick? If I liked sports cars, (which I don't - I'm a truck woman!) would I pick out the top of the line? Or pick out a good used one because "that's all I deserve", or "I'm afraid".
If I liked SUV's (yup!) would I pick out the best? Maybe a Lexus or a Lincoln model? Or a used older Jeep? (I am very happy with my Jeep - this is just an application!)
When God gives us the keys to the Kingdom, meaning we can have and do all and more than Jesus did on this earth, do we settle for just salvation? (Don't get me wrong, that's huge.) When there is so much more that He has for us in this life, this walk with Him? He came to set the captives free. Yes He came to save us, but He also gave us the tools. The keys, the gifts.
Whoa. Gifts. Like in the spiritual gifts? Whoa.
Yes. Spiritual gifts. Would you make a man or woman a soldier, but not give them the tools or weapons? They would die.
This is getting deep. Didn't see this coming, but I'm plunging ahead.
I am a child of God. And a co-heir with Christ. And a warrior. And I have tools. Weapons. Because I'd die without them. I need them to hear His voice. I need them to know what to say. I need them to see what He sees.
I can 'walk' to the throne room anytime, with my royal robes on, because I rule with Jesus. (Yeah, it says so in the Word - Rom. 8:17) and obtain favor in His sight.
Just like Queen Esther did with King Ahasuerus.
I repent for falling back. For letting fear, shyness, or procrastination, or lies, keep me from doing God's Will.
I have the keys to the Kingdom.
I keep getting a picture of a beautiful queen with her septer, all clothed in beautiful robes, having access to all that a queen would be and have - and it's me!
The highest endowment of His Spirit. That's what we have in Him.
Sounds like I have an attitude. And I do. It's an attitude of repentence, but of knowing who I am.
So this day is a gift and I chose to soak and read. Oh I have stuff to do, but I get the feeling, that I have been lacking in my time with Father. As I got done reading Esther, I asked God "how do I apply this to me, God?"
Next thing I knew I was on my face, on the floor, in repentence before the Father. Repenting of not taking my rightful place in the Kingdom of God. As a real heir of God, my Father. A warrior alongside Jesus. That is my rightful place.
With Esther, she rose up as a child of God, but as Queen alongside her King. To take what was rightfully hers and to save her people. She stepped out unto possible death, to stand in the gap for her people.
How many of us Christians today really do that? Me included. (Yep, I'm the one on the floor.) We are wimpy - we have no idea who we are in Christ. What we have in Christ. What we can do to further the Kingdom in Christ. We have the keys to the Kingdom in our hands if we have asked Jesus to be our Lord, but we don't use those keys to our full authority. What Jesus did at the cross, what He obtained for us, we don't take ahold of.
It's like Daddy drove up in a brand new Jeep Commander (yeah...), got out, and handed me the keys. And maybe I drove it to the post office (all of one mile) and then parked it. I'd keep the keys, but what am I doing with the gift?
This walk is more than a gift. It's a Kingdom! It's a lifestyle, the very act of living. I can choose to live, (or drive my old Jeep - which I love!) or get the keys to the best - God's best.
Okay, so apply this. The best Jeep could be, not fearing where I go, what I want to do for Him, and walking in God's fullest anointing - His highest endowment (thanks Brother Matthew!)
If someone took me to say.... the biggest car dealer around, and told me to pick out any vehicle, what would I pick? If I liked sports cars, (which I don't - I'm a truck woman!) would I pick out the top of the line? Or pick out a good used one because "that's all I deserve", or "I'm afraid".
If I liked SUV's (yup!) would I pick out the best? Maybe a Lexus or a Lincoln model? Or a used older Jeep? (I am very happy with my Jeep - this is just an application!)
When God gives us the keys to the Kingdom, meaning we can have and do all and more than Jesus did on this earth, do we settle for just salvation? (Don't get me wrong, that's huge.) When there is so much more that He has for us in this life, this walk with Him? He came to set the captives free. Yes He came to save us, but He also gave us the tools. The keys, the gifts.
Whoa. Gifts. Like in the spiritual gifts? Whoa.
Yes. Spiritual gifts. Would you make a man or woman a soldier, but not give them the tools or weapons? They would die.
This is getting deep. Didn't see this coming, but I'm plunging ahead.
I am a child of God. And a co-heir with Christ. And a warrior. And I have tools. Weapons. Because I'd die without them. I need them to hear His voice. I need them to know what to say. I need them to see what He sees.
I can 'walk' to the throne room anytime, with my royal robes on, because I rule with Jesus. (Yeah, it says so in the Word - Rom. 8:17) and obtain favor in His sight.
Just like Queen Esther did with King Ahasuerus.
I repent for falling back. For letting fear, shyness, or procrastination, or lies, keep me from doing God's Will.
I have the keys to the Kingdom.
I keep getting a picture of a beautiful queen with her septer, all clothed in beautiful robes, having access to all that a queen would be and have - and it's me!
The highest endowment of His Spirit. That's what we have in Him.
Sounds like I have an attitude. And I do. It's an attitude of repentence, but of knowing who I am.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Updates
I am writing this in Denver. The little grands are at daycare because they had a BBQ today and they didn't want to miss. (I had them all day yesterday and we had so much fun!)
The Denver air is unbelievable (except inside where I am doing the oven cleaning thing for my daughter-in-law. I fixed lasagne the last time I was here and it ran over, but that's another story!) The sun is out and it is a beautiful day! And I am all alone enjoying it immensely!
And good news. On my last post, I was going to have to do a back-to-back haul for my husband? I only have to do the one to Denver and back home.
I keep thinking about what it would have been like if I would have thrown a fit when he asked me if I could do the second phase of this haul to Provo. I didn't really want to do it, but I submitted. And believe me when I say that there definitely have been times that I have thrown a fit! But this time, this once, feels so good. Because I didn't throw a fit, but also that I am released from doing the second phase.
Funny. It almost feels like I am growing up. Like I passed a test.
There will be other tests. Of that I'm sure. Some I'll fail, whoo, I even hate to think. But others? I will rise to the challenge. And do it well.
Because the Greater One lives on the inside of me.
My memory verse (thanks dear sister/mentor!) 1 John 4:4, says, "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world."
Says it all. And don't think that I am sitting her all smug because I didn't fail this time. There have been posts where I have puked it out and there will be more in the future.
But just this once, I am going to breathe this in and enjoy the Heavenly air and a victory. And look forward to more.
The Denver air is unbelievable (except inside where I am doing the oven cleaning thing for my daughter-in-law. I fixed lasagne the last time I was here and it ran over, but that's another story!) The sun is out and it is a beautiful day! And I am all alone enjoying it immensely!
And good news. On my last post, I was going to have to do a back-to-back haul for my husband? I only have to do the one to Denver and back home.
I keep thinking about what it would have been like if I would have thrown a fit when he asked me if I could do the second phase of this haul to Provo. I didn't really want to do it, but I submitted. And believe me when I say that there definitely have been times that I have thrown a fit! But this time, this once, feels so good. Because I didn't throw a fit, but also that I am released from doing the second phase.
Funny. It almost feels like I am growing up. Like I passed a test.
There will be other tests. Of that I'm sure. Some I'll fail, whoo, I even hate to think. But others? I will rise to the challenge. And do it well.
Because the Greater One lives on the inside of me.
My memory verse (thanks dear sister/mentor!) 1 John 4:4, says, "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world."
Says it all. And don't think that I am sitting her all smug because I didn't fail this time. There have been posts where I have puked it out and there will be more in the future.
But just this once, I am going to breathe this in and enjoy the Heavenly air and a victory. And look forward to more.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Challenges
I love being home. I cherish the life God has me in right now.
I've had this time before. Just after I became "born again" (John 3:3). I would sit at Lord's feet and read and eat it up and soak and learn. For hours.
Right after that my husband and I moved 2 hours away from all of my dear sisters who had poured into my life, bought a grocery store, and we worked what felt like 24/7. Actually, we were open 7 days a week from 8 am to 8 pm.Yeah.
So during that time, I had no friends, no church, no sisters to hold my hand. I cried alot. We worked alot. Upheaval in our family. But also during that time, my theme song was "What a friend I have in Jesus", because He was all I knew. I asked Him one day why I couldn't get a grip on my life then. To like it, to flow in it. He said that it kept me on my knees. If everything was always great and wonderful, we would run on our little way and forget about Him.
And yes, we built a relationship with a strong foundation. No church, no Bible study, no friends. Just Him and me.
Well, now I have that time back again. Yes, I work, but it is at my discretion, when. So I can soak again. I can go to church again. I can read His Word again.
Back to reality. I just got a call from my husband. He needs me to drive a truck and trailer (with a car inside) to Denver this week. And turn right around and drive to Provo to deliver another car after that! Whew! He invaded my space! My space!
But whose space is it really? Mine? Or Lord's? When I submit (and I assure you, that I could flat out say no to my husband and it would be okay) but when I submit? It is, yes, to my husband, but really? It is to my Jesus. My Lord.
Oh, I can hear some. "You shouldn't have to do that. That may be dangerous." Yeah. I know. It can be scary. It can be a challenge driving with a trailer. (You should have seen me in Chicago!) Backing with a trailer is fun! (I'm being....well you know!)
But I am a firm believer in the verse 1 Cor.10:13. "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."
The Amplified says in the last part, "But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently."
I don't know if driving is a temptation, but the way my flesh felt at first when my husband asked me to do it was. Whoa! But I am a warrior woman. I love that verse because I believe that we haven't even tapped into the reservoir of strength that He has for us.
We can be free to step out and do the uncomfortable, the things that challenge us, because He is faithful to meet our needs. This verse is a promise. A protection. He can be trusted to not let us be pushed beyond our ability.
So, God, I must be able to do this. And more. because I am a warrior woman. I am a child of God, of the Almighty.
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Amen?!
Yes, it will be a challenge. It's not easy sometimes to fuel with a big truck and trailer. It's not easy to park! (I have stories!) It's not easy to switch lanes in Denver traffic! (I have stories!)
But can I do it? Yes. I will submit to bless my husband. Because he is busy and he needs me. And he is blessing me.
Oh wait! Did I tell you that I get paid? And that on the trip to Denver, I can stop for a few days and play with my grandsons? Ha! Oh the challenges.....
I've had this time before. Just after I became "born again" (John 3:3). I would sit at Lord's feet and read and eat it up and soak and learn. For hours.
Right after that my husband and I moved 2 hours away from all of my dear sisters who had poured into my life, bought a grocery store, and we worked what felt like 24/7. Actually, we were open 7 days a week from 8 am to 8 pm.Yeah.
So during that time, I had no friends, no church, no sisters to hold my hand. I cried alot. We worked alot. Upheaval in our family. But also during that time, my theme song was "What a friend I have in Jesus", because He was all I knew. I asked Him one day why I couldn't get a grip on my life then. To like it, to flow in it. He said that it kept me on my knees. If everything was always great and wonderful, we would run on our little way and forget about Him.
And yes, we built a relationship with a strong foundation. No church, no Bible study, no friends. Just Him and me.
Well, now I have that time back again. Yes, I work, but it is at my discretion, when. So I can soak again. I can go to church again. I can read His Word again.
Back to reality. I just got a call from my husband. He needs me to drive a truck and trailer (with a car inside) to Denver this week. And turn right around and drive to Provo to deliver another car after that! Whew! He invaded my space! My space!
But whose space is it really? Mine? Or Lord's? When I submit (and I assure you, that I could flat out say no to my husband and it would be okay) but when I submit? It is, yes, to my husband, but really? It is to my Jesus. My Lord.
Oh, I can hear some. "You shouldn't have to do that. That may be dangerous." Yeah. I know. It can be scary. It can be a challenge driving with a trailer. (You should have seen me in Chicago!) Backing with a trailer is fun! (I'm being....well you know!)
But I am a firm believer in the verse 1 Cor.10:13. "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."
The Amplified says in the last part, "But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently."
I don't know if driving is a temptation, but the way my flesh felt at first when my husband asked me to do it was. Whoa! But I am a warrior woman. I love that verse because I believe that we haven't even tapped into the reservoir of strength that He has for us.
We can be free to step out and do the uncomfortable, the things that challenge us, because He is faithful to meet our needs. This verse is a promise. A protection. He can be trusted to not let us be pushed beyond our ability.
So, God, I must be able to do this. And more. because I am a warrior woman. I am a child of God, of the Almighty.
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Amen?!
Yes, it will be a challenge. It's not easy sometimes to fuel with a big truck and trailer. It's not easy to park! (I have stories!) It's not easy to switch lanes in Denver traffic! (I have stories!)
But can I do it? Yes. I will submit to bless my husband. Because he is busy and he needs me. And he is blessing me.
Oh wait! Did I tell you that I get paid? And that on the trip to Denver, I can stop for a few days and play with my grandsons? Ha! Oh the challenges.....
Friday, May 25, 2007
Willing to let God
Holey Moley, God is Good!
Had a great time with the Lord this morning. I don't know how, but it gets better and better. Everyday there is new refreshing. New things to learn.
I am reading Pat Cocking's book: "Third Heaven, Angels and... Other Stuff". I borrowed it from the church library, but I am going to get my own. It seems like a good reference book to have.
In response to reading a part, I had such an incredible time with Jesus. So pure. So precious.
If we just give time to Him, He is faithful to show up!
I want to go farther with Him. And as I visualize that, I can't imagine Him pushing me away, can you? His Word says that when we seek Him, He will not turn away from us! How about that?! So if I come to Him fifty time a day, He won't push me away? If I come to Him 300 times, He won't ignore me?
How about if we just stay in Him. I'm learning. I still have bunches to learn, but I'm willing. I think that's what it takes.
Being willing.
Had a great time with the Lord this morning. I don't know how, but it gets better and better. Everyday there is new refreshing. New things to learn.
I am reading Pat Cocking's book: "Third Heaven, Angels and... Other Stuff". I borrowed it from the church library, but I am going to get my own. It seems like a good reference book to have.
In response to reading a part, I had such an incredible time with Jesus. So pure. So precious.
If we just give time to Him, He is faithful to show up!
I want to go farther with Him. And as I visualize that, I can't imagine Him pushing me away, can you? His Word says that when we seek Him, He will not turn away from us! How about that?! So if I come to Him fifty time a day, He won't push me away? If I come to Him 300 times, He won't ignore me?
How about if we just stay in Him. I'm learning. I still have bunches to learn, but I'm willing. I think that's what it takes.
Being willing.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Thankful Thursday
Okay, I am following in the footsteps of the famous www.mykissesfromheaven.blogspot.com blog writer to write a Thankful Thursday edition. She is such an inspiration to me. Makes me laugh. Keeps me accountable.
So my first edition of Thankful Thursday belongs to her. I am thankful for her eyes, because they look into God's face. I am thankful for her tears (that frequently come out of her eyes!) for her heart's cry is to see people released from their bondages. She cries over their pain. I am thankful for her hugs (yes I get to hug her in reality!) for in that hug, she wraps me with the arms of Jesus. I am thankful for her laughter, which in turn, I can't help but laugh back! I am thankful for her wisdom which she pours over me, into my life. I am thankful for her encouragement, with which she gives me the strength to go on. I am thankful for her spirit of slap, which she uses with discernment during my memory verse sessions! Keeps me on the path of writing God's Word on my heart.
And she is the one that got me started blogging. Thanks be to God and to her!
So my first edition of Thankful Thursday belongs to her. I am thankful for her eyes, because they look into God's face. I am thankful for her tears (that frequently come out of her eyes!) for her heart's cry is to see people released from their bondages. She cries over their pain. I am thankful for her hugs (yes I get to hug her in reality!) for in that hug, she wraps me with the arms of Jesus. I am thankful for her laughter, which in turn, I can't help but laugh back! I am thankful for her wisdom which she pours over me, into my life. I am thankful for her encouragement, with which she gives me the strength to go on. I am thankful for her spirit of slap, which she uses with discernment during my memory verse sessions! Keeps me on the path of writing God's Word on my heart.
And she is the one that got me started blogging. Thanks be to God and to her!
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Nasty day - Trashy thoughts
Whoa. One of those days again.
You feel like the legion is inside of you. Every five minutes, you are declaring "and bringing captive every thought in obedience to Christ." And minutes later, again, you catch yourself thinking those same trashy thoughts.
Like, what is going on here, Lord? Why can't I get a grip on this, and feel free today?
Because Satan is a thief, coming to steal my joy today. And because Father God needs to know where my heart is.
I'm learning to not internalize all that happens to me. Pastor got a good word for me last October about that.
I'm learning to ask God for forgiveness, and ask for help. "Lord, I'm sorry. Help me."
That's the best prayer. Especially for days like today.
For the Nasty, Trashy Thought days.
You feel like the legion is inside of you. Every five minutes, you are declaring "and bringing captive every thought in obedience to Christ." And minutes later, again, you catch yourself thinking those same trashy thoughts.
Like, what is going on here, Lord? Why can't I get a grip on this, and feel free today?
Because Satan is a thief, coming to steal my joy today. And because Father God needs to know where my heart is.
I'm learning to not internalize all that happens to me. Pastor got a good word for me last October about that.
I'm learning to ask God for forgiveness, and ask for help. "Lord, I'm sorry. Help me."
That's the best prayer. Especially for days like today.
For the Nasty, Trashy Thought days.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Violent Prayer
Letting go is part of the battle. And also praying violent prayers for our loved ones.
It used to scare me when I would pray, "Lord take them where they need to go, to get to where they need to be with You". And even now, I admit, I feel a twinge when those words come out. "What if they die? What if they get hurt? What if....?"
Is their life right now so wonderful, as they might be abusing themselves, hurting themselves, and others? No. So what could be any worse? I know that this sound harsh, but as I have gone through addiction recovery with one family member, and other things in a marriage, don't I know that God wants the best for them? Don't I know that God wants no one to perish, but to come to repentance and to the knowledge of the truth?
And how do I think that He will do that? Will He let them perish? The Word says in 1 Tim. 2:4, "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." And in Acts16:31, "The Lord is not slack concerning His Promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (Thanks to my mentor who keeps the spirit of slap ready in my memory work - Kidding!)
But reality? God loves them more than I do. Reality? His plan for them is better than mine! (Yeah, I admit that my plans could be a little vindictive!) Reality? God's Mercy endureth forever.
So, pray, ask, obey, let God, and let go.
It used to scare me when I would pray, "Lord take them where they need to go, to get to where they need to be with You". And even now, I admit, I feel a twinge when those words come out. "What if they die? What if they get hurt? What if....?"
Is their life right now so wonderful, as they might be abusing themselves, hurting themselves, and others? No. So what could be any worse? I know that this sound harsh, but as I have gone through addiction recovery with one family member, and other things in a marriage, don't I know that God wants the best for them? Don't I know that God wants no one to perish, but to come to repentance and to the knowledge of the truth?
And how do I think that He will do that? Will He let them perish? The Word says in 1 Tim. 2:4, "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." And in Acts16:31, "The Lord is not slack concerning His Promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (Thanks to my mentor who keeps the spirit of slap ready in my memory work - Kidding!)
But reality? God loves them more than I do. Reality? His plan for them is better than mine! (Yeah, I admit that my plans could be a little vindictive!) Reality? God's Mercy endureth forever.
So, pray, ask, obey, let God, and let go.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
His Presence
Mother's Day came and went. I went to church. Had a great time with God. With my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
Took my mother-in-law out to do her shopping, her heavy stuff. God taught me some stuff that day, but that's a whole other blog! We met my hubby and we three went out to eat. Wonderful meal. Good time.
Took her home and put away her goods. She was so appreciative. Had prayer.
And found my way home.
At home, I was a lost puppy. Something wasn't right. Something felt so wrong.
But I know. I missed my kids. I missed their shadows on my doorstep. I did see two at church, but so short a time. One is almost in another country he's so far away. And another and his family are a long ways away too. They all called - don't get me wrong. They are wonderfully thoughtful. Always good. But there is something about their presence. Their touch. Their hugs. Their presence. I was missing their presence.
How much more must God feel when we don't turn to Him. When we read His Word, but don't give into the tug on our hearts. We can be reading His Word, and brush Him aside and say "Not now, I'm reading." We can be doing a good thing. Of the Lord. But if we don't acknowledge him, it's for nothing. It's meaningless.
Some who will read this will wonder what is wrong with her. But some will know. Some who sit at His feet. Who lie in soak mode. Who crawl up on His lap. Some won't understand. But some will.
Maybe a year ago or so, I was visiting my son at Teen Challenge (he was a student there - no not staff - he was a cocaine addict and dealer). We found ourselves in church and during a wonderful worship time, I heard Lord say, "I've missed you," into my heart.
Where had I been? I had been wallowing in my own pain. In my anger. Not even pulling on His robes. Not even looking His way. Walking away on my self-made lonely road.
But He welcomed me back. Just as when my kids can come home? I will welcome them with open arms and say "I've missed you!"
Took my mother-in-law out to do her shopping, her heavy stuff. God taught me some stuff that day, but that's a whole other blog! We met my hubby and we three went out to eat. Wonderful meal. Good time.
Took her home and put away her goods. She was so appreciative. Had prayer.
And found my way home.
At home, I was a lost puppy. Something wasn't right. Something felt so wrong.
But I know. I missed my kids. I missed their shadows on my doorstep. I did see two at church, but so short a time. One is almost in another country he's so far away. And another and his family are a long ways away too. They all called - don't get me wrong. They are wonderfully thoughtful. Always good. But there is something about their presence. Their touch. Their hugs. Their presence. I was missing their presence.
How much more must God feel when we don't turn to Him. When we read His Word, but don't give into the tug on our hearts. We can be reading His Word, and brush Him aside and say "Not now, I'm reading." We can be doing a good thing. Of the Lord. But if we don't acknowledge him, it's for nothing. It's meaningless.
Some who will read this will wonder what is wrong with her. But some will know. Some who sit at His feet. Who lie in soak mode. Who crawl up on His lap. Some won't understand. But some will.
Maybe a year ago or so, I was visiting my son at Teen Challenge (he was a student there - no not staff - he was a cocaine addict and dealer). We found ourselves in church and during a wonderful worship time, I heard Lord say, "I've missed you," into my heart.
Where had I been? I had been wallowing in my own pain. In my anger. Not even pulling on His robes. Not even looking His way. Walking away on my self-made lonely road.
But He welcomed me back. Just as when my kids can come home? I will welcome them with open arms and say "I've missed you!"
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Word in warfare
Okay, I know I said yesterday that I was going to be away from blogging, but I felt this was too good.
I was at Bible Study last night and we prayed for an upcoming service.
That the words would be whatever God wanted. If He wanted a bowling ball to crash into someone's heart, so be it.
But if they needed to be dusted with a feather, bring it on.
This morning as I thought about it and continued to pray, it hit me. God can use the same 'word' and hit someone with a bowling ball and then flit on someone with a feather. Same word. Same time. Different ministry!
Cool, huh! Very efficient, God. Fun!
I was at Bible Study last night and we prayed for an upcoming service.
That the words would be whatever God wanted. If He wanted a bowling ball to crash into someone's heart, so be it.
But if they needed to be dusted with a feather, bring it on.
This morning as I thought about it and continued to pray, it hit me. God can use the same 'word' and hit someone with a bowling ball and then flit on someone with a feather. Same word. Same time. Different ministry!
Cool, huh! Very efficient, God. Fun!
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Absentee blogger
I am expecting to be off blogging for a bit. I am trying to meet some deadlines with my writing. I have never entered contests before, so it might take abit of time to do this. But I am excited about it.
I should get some feedback - even if I don't win anything. That would be good to have.
So pray for me! I have written a long time, but never prepared anything for entry.
Fun!
New steps!
I should get some feedback - even if I don't win anything. That would be good to have.
So pray for me! I have written a long time, but never prepared anything for entry.
Fun!
New steps!
Monday, May 7, 2007
Warfare Dreams
A few nights ago, I had a dream.
I was in my bed (actually it was bigger and nicer - I like this dream!) I was in my room (you guessed it - it was my room only bigger and better! God's always telling me to dream big!) I was sleeping on my right side and felt a nudge on my back waist. I rolled over, in my dream, and saw my son sitting to the side of the bed.
And then I woke up! (End of bigger bedroom!) But still felt physically the nudge on my back.
I stayed awake and prayed for him - it was about 1:30am - until I felt a release - about 2am.
And as a mom, I wondered what was going on with him. What was he struggling with. Or maybe was he witnessing to someone. Where he lives it is 5 hours difference.
This morning I got the answer. My son has stepped out to go to school for cinema and filmmaking. As a Christian. Stepping out into Satan's playground. He and a group of other students were getting together soon after that time to start a group of Christian men and women that are going into that industry, to pray - to focus on what lies ahead.
And they needed prayer cover. A mom should have known that. I was praying, but for school. 'Help his mind. Help him grow. Help him learn. Protect him."
What I really needed to do?
Get out of bed. Put on my armor like in the previous post. And fire the Word of God into the battle.
To not tiptoe around. Stand and stand firm. Yes, on my son's behalf, but speaking God's Light into that Darkness.
Running into the battle. Shields up. Shields of faith. Raising the sword up into the forces ahead.
Alongside Jesus. The great Commander. The King of Kings
I was in my bed (actually it was bigger and nicer - I like this dream!) I was in my room (you guessed it - it was my room only bigger and better! God's always telling me to dream big!) I was sleeping on my right side and felt a nudge on my back waist. I rolled over, in my dream, and saw my son sitting to the side of the bed.
And then I woke up! (End of bigger bedroom!) But still felt physically the nudge on my back.
I stayed awake and prayed for him - it was about 1:30am - until I felt a release - about 2am.
And as a mom, I wondered what was going on with him. What was he struggling with. Or maybe was he witnessing to someone. Where he lives it is 5 hours difference.
This morning I got the answer. My son has stepped out to go to school for cinema and filmmaking. As a Christian. Stepping out into Satan's playground. He and a group of other students were getting together soon after that time to start a group of Christian men and women that are going into that industry, to pray - to focus on what lies ahead.
And they needed prayer cover. A mom should have known that. I was praying, but for school. 'Help his mind. Help him grow. Help him learn. Protect him."
What I really needed to do?
Get out of bed. Put on my armor like in the previous post. And fire the Word of God into the battle.
To not tiptoe around. Stand and stand firm. Yes, on my son's behalf, but speaking God's Light into that Darkness.
Running into the battle. Shields up. Shields of faith. Raising the sword up into the forces ahead.
Alongside Jesus. The great Commander. The King of Kings
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Feel Like a Warrior
Last night – I don’t remember if it was as I was going…………I do remember. I was snuggling up to Father God and acting like a daughter. The little girl thing saying whatever – I really don’t remember – but snuggling up to Him.
But I remember greeting my Brother – Jesus! And right away, I was not the daughter, but the warrior alongside. I immediately felt like a warrior and I felt like I was dressed or suited up like a warrior. I felt the armor on. I felt it.
And our eyes met – Jesus was putting on his gloves and giving instructions to the army – us.
There was a definite sound of weapons clashing. Getting weapons readied for battle. Noises of swords, of shields, of helmets being cleaned and made ready. Swords clashing in practice forays. Warriors and angels testing their strength against each other. Stretching out. Driving the sword into the air – piercing the thickness. Piercing the darkness with the light of the sword. Helping each other put on the breastplates. One in front of the warrior and one in back – putting it in place - the warrior focusing on Jesus’ Words of instruction as if in a trance.
And many warriors moving in almost a dance of warfare, moving their shields and swords from side to side. Almost a planned pattern or dance step, like my grandson calls his ‘skills’. (He’s four!) Like a routine of movement only for war. Thrusting the sword into the air with the left arm and the other arm, hidden by the shield, bringing it alongside his or her chest or side – taking a huge step ahead in a lunge. Eyes focused on what lies ahead. Always alert and listening to Jesus’ instructions. Always attentive to Him and His needs and Wisdom.
Ready – but even as the warriors are moving and practicing, they are also aware that they are already in the battle. Not just readying for it, but in it.
It’s almost a time warp thing. Preparing, but in, at the same time. And moving with confidence in the knowledge that the battle is already won. But no matter. The warriors still move about in faith and obedience and perseverance. Always moving – always in tune with Jesus. Always in the battle, but totally aware that they are victorious because of Him. But never giving up. Never giving in. Never stopping.
When there are wounded, many gather around. Bringing their swords up and around and building a hedge round about them. Calling out Jesus’ Name. And He comes – to each wounded warrior – to look into their eyes and speak words of comfort. Laying a hand on their wounds and healing each one. Sometimes the wounds are far too bad and Jesus takes the wounded with Him and keeps them with Him – always helping them by looking into their wounds. And He covers them with His robes of Righteousness and Healing.
And when the wounded are ready, he holds out a hand to each one and pulls them up – not in their own strength – but in His.
And as the enemy is pushed back, a cheer goes up! A cheer of celebration and another warrior is welcomed into the army.
So the process begins all over again. Practicing, listening to the Lord of the Army, focusing, moving in the Spirit, learning, always in the battle.
And as Jesus speaks His words of wisdom, each warrior speaks them out in praise and adoration. Practicing them also, but using them in the battle. In worship of the Victorious, but in obedience.
Entering the battles, into the foray, swinging their swords in a huge swoop. Charging alongside their Leader.
And as the warriors run alongside Jesus, He looks back at each one. With a glint in His eyes. And a grin on His face! And with His sword raised up and forward. Hair flowing all about him.
Are you ready?
But I remember greeting my Brother – Jesus! And right away, I was not the daughter, but the warrior alongside. I immediately felt like a warrior and I felt like I was dressed or suited up like a warrior. I felt the armor on. I felt it.
And our eyes met – Jesus was putting on his gloves and giving instructions to the army – us.
There was a definite sound of weapons clashing. Getting weapons readied for battle. Noises of swords, of shields, of helmets being cleaned and made ready. Swords clashing in practice forays. Warriors and angels testing their strength against each other. Stretching out. Driving the sword into the air – piercing the thickness. Piercing the darkness with the light of the sword. Helping each other put on the breastplates. One in front of the warrior and one in back – putting it in place - the warrior focusing on Jesus’ Words of instruction as if in a trance.
And many warriors moving in almost a dance of warfare, moving their shields and swords from side to side. Almost a planned pattern or dance step, like my grandson calls his ‘skills’. (He’s four!) Like a routine of movement only for war. Thrusting the sword into the air with the left arm and the other arm, hidden by the shield, bringing it alongside his or her chest or side – taking a huge step ahead in a lunge. Eyes focused on what lies ahead. Always alert and listening to Jesus’ instructions. Always attentive to Him and His needs and Wisdom.
Ready – but even as the warriors are moving and practicing, they are also aware that they are already in the battle. Not just readying for it, but in it.
It’s almost a time warp thing. Preparing, but in, at the same time. And moving with confidence in the knowledge that the battle is already won. But no matter. The warriors still move about in faith and obedience and perseverance. Always moving – always in tune with Jesus. Always in the battle, but totally aware that they are victorious because of Him. But never giving up. Never giving in. Never stopping.
When there are wounded, many gather around. Bringing their swords up and around and building a hedge round about them. Calling out Jesus’ Name. And He comes – to each wounded warrior – to look into their eyes and speak words of comfort. Laying a hand on their wounds and healing each one. Sometimes the wounds are far too bad and Jesus takes the wounded with Him and keeps them with Him – always helping them by looking into their wounds. And He covers them with His robes of Righteousness and Healing.
And when the wounded are ready, he holds out a hand to each one and pulls them up – not in their own strength – but in His.
And as the enemy is pushed back, a cheer goes up! A cheer of celebration and another warrior is welcomed into the army.
So the process begins all over again. Practicing, listening to the Lord of the Army, focusing, moving in the Spirit, learning, always in the battle.
And as Jesus speaks His words of wisdom, each warrior speaks them out in praise and adoration. Practicing them also, but using them in the battle. In worship of the Victorious, but in obedience.
Entering the battles, into the foray, swinging their swords in a huge swoop. Charging alongside their Leader.
And as the warriors run alongside Jesus, He looks back at each one. With a glint in His eyes. And a grin on His face! And with His sword raised up and forward. Hair flowing all about him.
Are you ready?
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Angels
I have an angel where I live. His name is Joe.
Really. He has glasses, wears work clothes, wears a ball hat, and is my angel!
He drives a lawn mower. And he mows my lawn.
But he is a real live angel. Because every spring, he lets me go out in my large yard and rake all of the leaves from my many flower beds into the lawn. And then he just mows them up.
We did that this morning.
I used to rake an area, bag it, take it to the dump's leaf and grass area and go back to work at our grocery store. What used to take weeks to complete, this morning only took 3 hours!
Yeah, I know he is flesh and blood, and if he read this? He would deny the angel thing.
But there is just something about Joe.
Maybe someday I'll write on some supernatural stuff with angels, but today?
I have an angel and his name is Joe!
Really. He has glasses, wears work clothes, wears a ball hat, and is my angel!
He drives a lawn mower. And he mows my lawn.
But he is a real live angel. Because every spring, he lets me go out in my large yard and rake all of the leaves from my many flower beds into the lawn. And then he just mows them up.
We did that this morning.
I used to rake an area, bag it, take it to the dump's leaf and grass area and go back to work at our grocery store. What used to take weeks to complete, this morning only took 3 hours!
Yeah, I know he is flesh and blood, and if he read this? He would deny the angel thing.
But there is just something about Joe.
Maybe someday I'll write on some supernatural stuff with angels, but today?
I have an angel and his name is Joe!
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Watching and listening
I am in the dining room - the west window is open and I am first and foremost so aware of a wonderful cardinal outside singing it's heart out. So beautiful. It seems that the other birds outside stop singing when the cardinal starts - like they are listening. And then there are other bird twitters when the cardinal is quiet.
It is a Sunday - early evening - beautiful out. But so very quiet - a hint of the breeze every once in a while but except for the birds and the table and chair creaking when I move, it is so quiet. I hear the light tinkle of a small wind chime that I just put outside, and then softly the large chime bongs as if saying, "I am still in charge!" So pleasant.
Inside, it is getting dimmer, so the light is on - making the room seem warm - cozy. The old table that I am writing at and the old chairs are badly in need of refinishing, but somehow, that nick, that chip, tells a story. There are scratches, glass rings, wear and tear. And the sounds as you lean against the table are timeless and comforting.
I look at one end of the table and all of my Bible study stuff is there. Notebooks open, books piled, notes scribbled - precious stuff. I leave it out because it is easier for me to grab at a verse or two each day. I love studying, but it takes a Mack truck to drag me there! It backs up, beeps three times, and dumps me out! Once I'm there I don't want to leave.
But when my hubby comes home, I will gather it all up and shove it somewhere (not too deep - I want to continue!) because that is also the end of the table that he sits at to do his bookwork after he comes home from a haul. I wonder if, when he sits down, he feels the anointing! Because it is the Holy end of the table!
And now I hear kids outside. Laughing, yelling. One last game, one last bike ride, before the day turns in.
The shadows are moving lower on the buffet. And a dove or a pigeon (correct me you bird knowers!) coos - almost in a soothing, end of the day - settling in. Settling us down, quietly - saying it's time to draw in - to tap into this Peace.
Deep sigh.
It is a Sunday - early evening - beautiful out. But so very quiet - a hint of the breeze every once in a while but except for the birds and the table and chair creaking when I move, it is so quiet. I hear the light tinkle of a small wind chime that I just put outside, and then softly the large chime bongs as if saying, "I am still in charge!" So pleasant.
Inside, it is getting dimmer, so the light is on - making the room seem warm - cozy. The old table that I am writing at and the old chairs are badly in need of refinishing, but somehow, that nick, that chip, tells a story. There are scratches, glass rings, wear and tear. And the sounds as you lean against the table are timeless and comforting.
I look at one end of the table and all of my Bible study stuff is there. Notebooks open, books piled, notes scribbled - precious stuff. I leave it out because it is easier for me to grab at a verse or two each day. I love studying, but it takes a Mack truck to drag me there! It backs up, beeps three times, and dumps me out! Once I'm there I don't want to leave.
But when my hubby comes home, I will gather it all up and shove it somewhere (not too deep - I want to continue!) because that is also the end of the table that he sits at to do his bookwork after he comes home from a haul. I wonder if, when he sits down, he feels the anointing! Because it is the Holy end of the table!
And now I hear kids outside. Laughing, yelling. One last game, one last bike ride, before the day turns in.
The shadows are moving lower on the buffet. And a dove or a pigeon (correct me you bird knowers!) coos - almost in a soothing, end of the day - settling in. Settling us down, quietly - saying it's time to draw in - to tap into this Peace.
Deep sigh.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
I'm back!
I'm back after having to complete a fuel tax return and extra bookwork.
I tell God - 'I am an artist - a writer. I don't have time for the business bookwork. I am not built this way. My mind doesn't work this way.
God tells me back - 'Do it anyway. You can do all things through Me. You must be faithful in the little.'
Hmm. God is teaching me to be obedient both to Him and my boss/husband.
And I can be. That feels good.
So why wasn't I obedient when hubby asked me to take keys to an old car we have parked in our lot, so when he drove home after a long day of driving/loading/unloading he could have loaded his gear into the car and driven home.
Instead - you guessed it. I didn't get it done and he had to walk home (it was very late!). Only two blocks or so, but.
Five minutes was all it would have taken.
I'm still learning. About submission. Love. Giving of myself. Unselfishness. Obedience.
And you can bet if it had been me walking home I would have been muttering the same things that he must have been!
But don't worry. I'm forgiven. By both. I asked my Father/Bridegroom for forgiveness and He has already forgotten.
I asked my hubby/boss for forgiveness and he has forgiven, but I'm not sure he has forgotten!
That might take ...well we'll figure that out!
Love you all - God keep you. Never give up. Jesus didn't and we won't either!
I tell God - 'I am an artist - a writer. I don't have time for the business bookwork. I am not built this way. My mind doesn't work this way.
God tells me back - 'Do it anyway. You can do all things through Me. You must be faithful in the little.'
Hmm. God is teaching me to be obedient both to Him and my boss/husband.
And I can be. That feels good.
So why wasn't I obedient when hubby asked me to take keys to an old car we have parked in our lot, so when he drove home after a long day of driving/loading/unloading he could have loaded his gear into the car and driven home.
Instead - you guessed it. I didn't get it done and he had to walk home (it was very late!). Only two blocks or so, but.
Five minutes was all it would have taken.
I'm still learning. About submission. Love. Giving of myself. Unselfishness. Obedience.
And you can bet if it had been me walking home I would have been muttering the same things that he must have been!
But don't worry. I'm forgiven. By both. I asked my Father/Bridegroom for forgiveness and He has already forgotten.
I asked my hubby/boss for forgiveness and he has forgiven, but I'm not sure he has forgotten!
That might take ...well we'll figure that out!
Love you all - God keep you. Never give up. Jesus didn't and we won't either!
Monday, April 16, 2007
Dancing
What a beautiful morning. I love the way the sun moves it's way through the trees and down the street.
I am so blessed to have this time. What an incredible soak time this morning. I lay there (on the floor!) in my jammies and let God. Yeah. That's it. Let God.
But then as I listen to the music and the words, the music gets to me. I can't help it. I have to get up and dance. I can't keep still. So I get up (ooo...easy...gotta let those old bones find their way!) and dance - with Him.
I have wondered about when I'll have to quit dancing. My spirit says always, but my body? But Lord has assured me that when I am in the nursing home, that when I have soak time (because I will never give that up), as I close my eyes, I will be dancing with Him and it will be ever so much the same as now! My feet will move with His and we will dance!
Cool, huh.
I am so blessed to have this time. What an incredible soak time this morning. I lay there (on the floor!) in my jammies and let God. Yeah. That's it. Let God.
But then as I listen to the music and the words, the music gets to me. I can't help it. I have to get up and dance. I can't keep still. So I get up (ooo...easy...gotta let those old bones find their way!) and dance - with Him.
I have wondered about when I'll have to quit dancing. My spirit says always, but my body? But Lord has assured me that when I am in the nursing home, that when I have soak time (because I will never give that up), as I close my eyes, I will be dancing with Him and it will be ever so much the same as now! My feet will move with His and we will dance!
Cool, huh.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
The first one!
The is the first post to my new blog.
I don't know what this will flow like, but I'm going with it.
I write every morning almost, but this is a little more intimidating!
What do I want to do here? I want to speak my heart. I want to speak God's heart.
When I write He flows through me and that is what this site will be about. His voice through me.
I'll share my past, my struggles, my thoughts, my goofiness.
Like last night I was praying my good night prayers - "God bless....and... and angels round about us all." And then I wondered, "what does that look like?" Angels round about us.
Is there angel on the rocker next to me? One on the other chair? Maybe one hanging out on the corner of the bed dangling a foot over the edge, checking his/her nails. Or one standing on guard at the foot of the bed.
One in my closet? In my shoes? Oh no.
Okay that was funny! Got a good visual - had a great laugh.
Not sure what the angels were doing - but one thing I know for sure. They were and are round about me.
A host. I'm so blessed!
I don't know what this will flow like, but I'm going with it.
I write every morning almost, but this is a little more intimidating!
What do I want to do here? I want to speak my heart. I want to speak God's heart.
When I write He flows through me and that is what this site will be about. His voice through me.
I'll share my past, my struggles, my thoughts, my goofiness.
Like last night I was praying my good night prayers - "God bless....and... and angels round about us all." And then I wondered, "what does that look like?" Angels round about us.
Is there angel on the rocker next to me? One on the other chair? Maybe one hanging out on the corner of the bed dangling a foot over the edge, checking his/her nails. Or one standing on guard at the foot of the bed.
One in my closet? In my shoes? Oh no.
Okay that was funny! Got a good visual - had a great laugh.
Not sure what the angels were doing - but one thing I know for sure. They were and are round about me.
A host. I'm so blessed!
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