It's a good day

It's a good day to start a life. Dec 29. Twenty years ago, I said, "I do" to my best friend. It does not seem like twenty years. It only seems like two years..... or maybe a lifetime. I don't remember life without Glenn. He is my rock, my shelter, a gift from my Rock and Shelter.
Last night, I had to say goodbye to a good friend who is moving away. She and her family left today to start life in a new city. Dec 29. A friend of ours put it this way, "You are starting a new chapter but it's all in the same book." Yes, a new chapter is beginning for them, today on Dec 29. It's a good day.

All I want for Christmas...

...my two front teeth!

...is a white Christmas.

...is world peace and goodwill toward men.

These are the sayings. All I want for Christmas... When did Christmas become a "wanting" holiday? Was it big businesses trying to cash in on the holiday or was it a simple act of giving to one another and it was taken over by greed and sin? God did "gift" us on Christmas, with a gift that should shadow no other. But are we satisfied with that at Christmas or do we buy into the frazzle and craziness of the holiday. I would have to say that I don't, but I love giving gifts and buying them. I love to see a smile and surprise on some one's face when they receive. These are material things, things that fade, break and collect dust. There is one Gift that a Giver has blessed us with that will last forever. That gift was given on the day called, Christmas. The Gift came in a tiny package but it has lasted for thousands of generations. That Gift had a humble beginning but is everlasting in power and joy. That Gift is a Gift that we can give to others by telling them. Can you imagine the joy that God feels when someone unwraps His Gift - to see the smile and surprise on a new believers face! May this be what we want for Christmas too! May you give the Gift this year to someone! Merry Christmas!

Cole's Birthday

Oh, I am so late. It was Cole's Birthday on Dec 4. Cole is 8 this year! We have been having programs, baking day, snow storm and I haven't had time to post. Cole is a great kid. He loves to laugh and will make himself laugh over the tiniest things. God knew we needed him in our family and I love him so much! Here are some pictures from his birthday and the snow storm! This is his cousin, Kate. Kate's birthday is the 3rd of December, so we always celebrate together! Cole's cake has a 12 on it because that's his favorite Vikings player, Percy Harvin. Cole did not turn 12~!

Jesus was in the kitchen

This past weekend was a new adventure for me. I helped cook for 15o+ people! The kitchen was at a spiritual retreat and 3 other ladies and I cooked for the group. I had fun and we made a lot of food. You don't get much down time because when you are done with one meal, you start another. Actually you are starting another meal before you are finished with the other! It went well, and I saw Jesus in the kitchen!
Friday night's menu was ham balls, cheesy potatoes, beans with almonds, dinner rolls and ice cream sundaes. I was in charge of making the potatoes in the morning. I made the amount that was designated. The first group that eats is served family style and their potato bowls kept coming back for seconds! The potatoes were yummy! But that posed a problem for the second half of people to eat. It looked that there may not be enough potatoes for everyone! Well, the other cook said that there was potato salad in the fridge, so we could get that if we needed to. But seriously, potato salad with ham balls? We started to dish up plates for the second group. I was on potato duty. I gave everyone one scoop but it so looked like it was going to run out! I sent up a short prayer, "Lord, you fed the 5,000 with loaves of bread and a couple fish, you can make the potatoes last." I was scraping the edges. I just kept praying, and everyone was eying the pan to see if there was any left. We scooped the last plate, someone said stop, that's enough. There were 5 complete plates left - one for each of the cooks!
I looked back just as I was going to sit down and there was the extra plate (remember we had 4 cooks). It was Jesus speaking to me, saying, "I will provide for you, and see, this one is for me!"
I just sent praises to the Lord! I am telling everyone of His Glory! He is my Provider! In this Thanksgiving season, whatever you are going through, may you give thanks too, for His unending faithfulness!
And may Jesus be in your kitchen too!

Points to ponder

Deuteronomy 29:29 (New Living Translation)
29 “The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.

An eleventh-century English monk, Anselm, said,
"I do not seek, O Lord, to penetrate thy depths. I by no means think my intellect equal to them: but I long to understand in some degree thy truth, which my heart believes and loves. For I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe, that I may understand." James A. Boice. Psalms, vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1998) 1149

Today is Grant's Birthday. I can't believe it's been 11 years ago that we received a call at about 9:30 am that we had a son! Glenn was at my folks helping my dad, so we had a conference call with Grant's birthmom. She then told us that we had a son! I couldn't wait to go to the hospital and see him for the first time. He was so tiny- 6lbs 3 oz.! We had a blizzard the next day but on placement day we took the 4-wheel drive pickup to get our son - because nothing was going to stop us - not wind, rain, sleet or hail!

Happy Birthday Grant, I am so proud of you! You are growing into a young man, I can't beleive you are eleven! Time goes by so fast! Love you much!

Harvest

There was smog on the plains today and I am praising God for it! The sun was a grey-white this morning at 8 AM on my way to work. The fog was prevalent, but there was something that broke the stillness - a humming noise. This humming noise is a welcome sound for it has been too silent for too long. The harvest has been shut down because of rain, but yesterday the wind blew! You could hear the hum of combines from far away this morning. The bean dust created a wonderful, glorious smog! I've been praying for the farmers and the harvest. The weather man says that there is a chance of rain for tomorrow night and Wednesday - let's hope he is wrong.

Football Season Won!

Saturday, we had our first snow of the season. The wind blew and it was a "balmy" 37 degrees outside! I was not inside my comfy house, I was attending my son's football game!

This year is the first year my son, Grant, joined a tackle-football league. My husband, Glenn, is helping to coach Grant's team. Glenn is having fun with coaching, and is learning to appreciate the game in a whole new way.
We have had 4 games and now are in the playoffs. I can see improvement every week in the players, not in the area of the score but the team keeps accomplishing techniques. The last game of the season they came up with a win and they won the Saturday playoff game.

For me the winning is not the important part. I just kept encouraging Grant to do his best and that is all anyone is asking of him. For me the important part is seeing a dad and his son bonding. To hear a son saying, "Thanks, Dad, for coaching me" is a prize. Football to me is seeing my son in a whole new way. He is the center for the team. The center is in charge of the huddle, so he has taken on that role, which is so unlike him.

The team may not have a winning record. The team may not win their bracket in the championship. But my son has already won! And this mom, couldn't be more proud!

What would you do?

Curled up with my coffee and my Bible study, I felt the jolt of the question. It was as if I stepped out in the rain on this cold wet day without protection. It was a wake up call, to me. I have been trying to find answers to life's questions - really trying to figure out where God was coming from. In a sense, trying to figure out why certain things happen in my life and the life of others. And then this question:
What do you think you'd do if you thought you had God completely figured out?
____________________________________________________________________
Wow.
The author goes on to say: "Consider afresh that God was just as intentional about what He didn't tell us in Scripture as what He did. You might say that what is missing and unexplained on the pages of Scripture is in some ways just as inspired as what you find in ink. Who else is so brilliant, so multidimensional and gloriously mysterious that you could spend your entire life studying and never grasp His vastness?"(Beth Moore: Stepping Up A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent)
Wow.
I think sometimes I have to have an answer for everything. I try to figure out why stuff happens. I think that by doing this I am trying to compartmentalize God! I don't want a God that fits in a box! I was putting my God in a box - it was a big one but a box none the less. He already broke out of a box for me. He came into a box(a human body) and broke out of it by overcoming death! I can't shove Him back into a box. If I had God figured out, I am not sure I would worship Him.
This weekend, God showed me, Isaiah 55: 8-9
8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.
9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Wow.
Hallelujah! God is greater than my thoughts and my childish, selfish, mortal ways! God does not fit into any space in which I put Him in. My God is bigger! My God is God! I PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!

What about you?
What do you think you'd do if you thought you had God completely figured out?
____________________________________________________________

Growing Pains!

Sometimes growing hurts. When I was in junior high, I remember my mom would rub my legs because they would ache. She said that they ached because they were growing. When babies teeth come through their gums, they are usually cranky, maybe have a fever, their noses run and they drool. When the teeth pop through, you find the reason for all the crankiness! The little, pearly white teeth are like little buttons on their gums. And soon the babies don't look so much like babies anymore but little toddlers!
Right now, my group of friends is going through some growing pains. It hurts! We are crying, supporting, and questioning why this change has to take place. We are going through some growing pains and its not fun. In fact, it stinks!
God says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jer. 29:11)
We have some friends who are the type of friends that like family. We have invested in their lives and they have invested in ours. We are in each others stories. We laugh and cry together, we share hurts and rejoice together. And they are moving.... They are moving far away, not just across town.
They have heard a call from God to "Go." They have wrestled with the decision. But they are being obedient to their God. We don't want them to go but sometimes our ways are not God's ways. They have a peace about their decision but it's still hard, thus the growing pains. There is a reason for the move that we may never know on this side of heaven, but God knows. And we have to trust Him. We will trust in His promises to get us through the pain, "For I know the plans I have for Brad, Cindy and family," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Maybe God will allow us to see the white pearls someday.

God Can and Will

Yes, don't fall over, I am making a post. I could make excuses about how busy life is, but everyone has busy lives. I guess I feel that I have to have something worthy to say and the last while I haven't had anything to say.... Until today.

The Parable of the Talents 14"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' Matt. 25:14-17


This parable was read to the 8th graders at our school last Wednesday. Each was given $10 at 11:55 am. They were told a donor had given $10 to each of the twenty, eighth graders for Feed My Starving Children and challenged them to grow it. Within a half-hour ideas were flowing to the principal, asking if this was ok and if this was a good idea.

Saturday night, some of girls babysat 24 young children and raised $380. Today, the class pooled their funds and put on a breakfast for anyone to come for a free-will donation. The principal said he hoped for 200 people to come to the breakfast, and if each gave a ten it would grow to $2,000. But our God is bigger! Our God had a different plan. The breakfast that they put on raised over $5,000 for Feed My Starving Children!

When I first heard about the idea, I had no idea how much each person would raise. I thought if they doubled the $10, that would be awesome. But God CAN and God WILL do more than we can ever imagine. God took a little and increased it by twenty-five times!

How does this help at Feed My Starving Children? This week Thurs and Friday, FMSC will be in our community. The community, along with 7 schools in the area, will be packing meals that will be sent overseas to places like Haiti. Each meal costs $.17. Ninety-five percent of all donations go toward the meals. (One person from our town did travel to Haiti and saw some of the actual boxes packed here last year, in one of the warehouses!) If you are in town and want to help, let me know, I will help you get hooked up to the people in charge!

Check out FMSC website: http://www.fmsc.org/

School is for the Birds

Yesterday was the kids first day of school. Three weeks ago we purchased their school supplies.Two weeks ago we got new shoes for school, a couple pair of shorts and some shirts. They had open house on Monday night and brought all their supplies to school, saw their room and met their teachers. To say I was anxious for them was an understatement. I was excited with them for this new adventure of 5th and 2nd grades but I was somewhat overwhelmed to begin the 5th grade homework, getting to bed on time, and getting up ready to go, etc.

All parents and students meet in church to begin the year. There is a skit to introduce the theme of the year, devotions and then the roll call begins. Every teacher calls each student by name and then they walk over to the school together, leaving anxious, relieved and worn-out parents in their wake.

I was anxiously awaiting my sons return home on the bus, when I saw them. A mom and nine baby pheasants crossing my cul-de-sac; a teacher and her class of students. And I heard God whisper to me, "It's ok, I have it in my control. If I care about the birds of the field, how much more do I care about you and your sons."

Ok, God, point taken.

Thanks for caring for me.

Kids waiting for the bus this morning.

Baby pheasants crossing the road.

Giving Hope

I came across this video about a football team in Texas. I hope it will be an inspiration to you today!

The Lake

Every year we go to Big McDonald Lake in Minnesota for a week. We just got back on Saturday. We had cool weather. This is the first time that the temperature did not get above 80 the entire time we were there! We had a cool week but did manage to get in the water for fun, too. We did a lot of fishing!

Cole is trying to warm up after tubing with his friends!

Below, Grant is such a fish that even in the cold weather he was in the lake!

I always try to capture a loon with my camera. This one was right by the boat. They have such a neat song. I love the lake!

Below is a picture of a two-year old eagle. Their nest is not far from the picnic table. There are two "little" eagles around the lake. They do not have their white feathers yet. I think he was waiting for supper!

This year Grant was allowed to "drive" the boat, with assistance from Dad.

We caught a lot of fish!

Grant is a very good fisherman!

Cole being very cute!

One day the kids made their own T-shirts because it was raining. We always have to have a picture by this tree.

The Twins Game

My garden is better! The weeds are under control. We have been busy. I don't know if you heard about the 16 inning Twins vs. Detroit Tigers Game on July 3? Well, we were at the game! It was a fun game. We stayed for 15 innings and ended up getting to my aunt's house at 12:48am. The Tigers scored as we were walking to our car, so we didn't miss much.

Here are some pictures from the game. We had great seats! It was bat day and the first 5,000 kids received a bat. Then Grant got a ball during batting practice and a pitcher from Detroit signed it. He was so excited. Some college guys were sitting in front of us. The first base coach tossed a ball to them. Glenn said, "Shucks, Cole, we are trying to get a ball for you." Cole said, "I know", he was feeling a bit disappointed. The guy in front of us, turned to Cole and said, "Do you want a ball?" Cole started to shake his head, no, but the prospect of getting a ball was too great - shook his head yes. The guy gave him the ball. Wow, this guy showed more to my kids than I could any day about being unselfish!

My Garden

I have a garden.

I have a garden not on my property.

I have a garden not on my property, but on a friend's lot next to us.

I have a garden not on my property, on a friend's lot next to us because my husband didn't want to till up his grass.

I have a garden not on my property, on a friend's lot next to us because my husband didn't want to till up his grass until I proved to him that I would weed the garden and take care of it. (I hate when he knows me so well!)

Well, it rained and rained some more and we went camping, and I hadn't looked at my garden for two weeks.... until Monday. Do you know how tall weeds can get in 2 weeks??? I pulled weeds around the plants. Then I took Round-Up to the weeds in my garden, that's not on my property, but on a friend's lot next to us, until I can prove that I can take care of it! For those of you who don't know what Round Up is it's a high powered weed killer! Whatever it touches will be killed, even the two cucumber plants that I sprayed accidentally because they were covered in weeds!

***

I always wondered about weeds. What the world would look like without weeds, before Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. Were weeds just a flower, but after the fall of man grew everywhere you didn't want them to grow? Some weeds are pretty. Before the fall, did thistles have prickers? Some weeds are tall, some viney, some are flowery.

***

Our lives are like a garden. We produce a fruit that is pleasing to our God. But if we don't tend the garden of our lives, weeds grow. We need to stay in the Word, Pray often and be on our knees Picking weeds before they get too big and choke out the fruit in our lives. We can use Round-Up, too, as Christian we need the Fellowship of other believers or a Round-Up of Believers! I have not been using my Round-Up, a prayer group that meets on Friday mornings. Because of LIFE I have missed, skipped for several weeks. But weeds in my life and my prayer partner's lives are calling me. I need Round-Up. Do the weeds ever trick you? Maybe you think they are not weeds at all. When a garden is newly planted, it can be hard to determine if it is a weed. You may have to identify it on the package to determine if it's a weed or a seedling. The Bible can help to point out a weed from a seed. Thankfully God did not leave us alone and sent an Instruction Book.

Hebrews 10:25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Bringing Glory

Psalm 145:10-12 (Amplified Bible)
10All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, and Your loving ones shall bless You [affectionately and gratefully shall Your saints confess and praise You]!
11They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power,
12To make known to the sons of men God's mighty deeds and the glorious majesty of His kingdom.

I came across this passage yesterday. In verse eleven, "They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power." God's power was evident this morning. A thunderstorm in all it's power and majesty came rumbling in. God's power is awesome. The lightning looked like a sharp chalk line lighting the sky. The rain fell and the wind blew, the clouds moved on. But God's power is also in the oriole that comes to eat our grape jelly. The contrast of the orange bird and the deep green grass is power. The laugh and smile of a child is power. An earth created to orbit the sun in amongst billions of stars is power. Blessed be my God who is Almighty Power!
I don't think that I talk about His power enough. I will point out things to my kids, but do I do it enough. Will the rocks cry out because I am not praising Him? Everything that I do should bring Him glory (I Cor. 10:31). He is showing us His glory in a bird, thunderstorm, in a child. Sometimes I am to caught up in what I need to do. At times I wonder, is there more? Then the passage that I read, "Because whatever you do, eating or drinking or anything else, everything should be done to bring glory to God. I Cor 10:31" Today, I am bringing Him glory, and tomorrow and forward, I am going to be more observant.
Humbly adoring Him!

Gold, Silver and Precious Stones

Summer brings a lot of things but in my life it also brings Bible Study. For the past few years, I have been leading a Bible Study in the summer. This summer we are studying Beth Moore's A Women's Heart. There is so much that I am learning and that I can apply in my life, I have been amazed, humbled and convicted.
This morning I was directed to read I Cor. 3:9-15.
9For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

A question was then asked, "What six materials can we choose to build on this foundation(Jesus Christ)?" - gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay or straw. There's a difference as one group can easily be consumed by fire. The next question and activity was the one that convicted me:
List the main ways you expend your energy during a typical week.
Now go back and circle your activities that will stand the test of the fire. Cross out activities you think will burn up.
I made my list. Started crossing out the things that would perish. Are all my activities wood, hay or straw? I had more things that looked as if they would perish than were made of gold, silver and jewels. Wow, what an eye-opener for me. God showed me in this simple exercise, this is a way to examine and make choices in my life. This is the measuring stick for me to use, when I am asked to do something. This tool measures what I am already doing and how it relates to the kingdom calendar. Cleaning/laundry may not last but what I do while completing those tasks might. I can pray for each person as I fold his shirt and the situation that they will be in when they where that shirt the next time. I can vacuum the dirt away and ask God to do the same in my life.
The study goes on to explain:
Works of gold acknowledge that He alone is worthy, that He alone is God.
Works of silver proceed from a heart that responds with inexpressible gratitude for our redemption and the inestimable price paid for our atonement.
Works of precious stones result when children of the royal priesthood, serve and minister as we are fully equipped with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes we are busy "doing" that we forget about what really matters. I needed this reminder. What about you? Make a list - are the activities on the list gold, silver or precious stones or are they wood, hay and straw.

Summer Vacation

It's summer. Oh, maybe not officially yet but it's summer vacation. We have been busy camping, fishing, swimming, football camp, summer rec and VBS. Maybe this coming week we can take a break but not before a family reunion, a meeting and trip for Glenn, and a Church retreat, oh... and summer rec!

Vacation Bible School program is tonight. Our VBS is put on for the community by a partnership of three churches. The theme for the week is Studio GO. Each night the kids learn about a different Bible story that goes with the theme of the night: Go Lead, Go Risk, Go Tell, Go Obey and Go Serve. I had to come up with service projects for the 250 kids that attended VBS on two of the nights. We broke the four teams down by grades for age appropriate projects and 250 kids served! Pretty cool!

Last night something really cool happened. I needed help to pull off the service projects, so I implored on Chris and his wife, Kathy for help, and a number of my other friends to. They were to take the 3rd and 4th graders around the town and hang door hangers with a message that Christ died for you. While they were back at the church, a man came up to one of the drivers. He had been driving all over town to try to find the red suburban and the green-shirted kids that hung the door hanger on his door. He shook the driver's hand and said, "Thanks". Now we may never know what seeds God planted last night, but God does. We may never know how these simple door hangers will reach out to someone who needs to know that God loves them and died just for them, but God does. The 3rd and 4th graders spread the Good News. They took up the challenge of Go Tell and Go Obey.

Will you do the same?

Message on door hangers.

$1.00 per lawn

My son came home from school yesterday and said, "Mom, I made some posters and I have to go hang them up."

"What are your posters? May I see them?"

"Oh, bud, a $1.00 per lawn is very cheap. I think it would be ok to charge $10. "

"No, mom, a boy in my class is charging $20 per lawn and that is way to expensive. I have to go hang these so that I can get a job and earn some money! I got to get a job."

"Well, I was going to wait until school was out but...."

"School is out, mom."

"Yeh, right, smarty pants, ...some friends of ours wanted to know if you wanted a job washing out his cattle truck. It would be a stinky job but they were wondering if you would want to do that once a week."

"No, I don't want to do that."

"How come?"

"Because I won't get nothing for doing it."

"No, I think they would pay you."

"How much?"

"I don't know."

"Call her."

"I can't she is not home yet."

"I want to know how much it will be. When I picked weeds last fall for them, they paid me $25. "

"There you go, I'm sure that they will pay you."

Later, we were going out the acreage these friends live; my son says for all to hear, "I am going to clean out the trailer once a week and they are going to pay me $25!"

Huh? "Where did you come up with $25?"

"You said it."

"I did not - You said they paid you that before for another job - I didn't say it was going to be $25."

I was thinking about the conversation this morning. I was chuckling about how my son had put words in my mouth that I did not even say! Then it struck me - How often do I do that with God? How often do I take His Word and take it out of context so that it will fit my purposes? How often do I take promises that He as made and say, "Lord you said this___________ in your Word, I'm waiting, Lord."

I'm sorry, Lord, for all the times I have assumed and taken things as I want them and not how You meant for them to be. I am going to try to "listen" more accurately.

Thanks for the word picture you sent me! I get it now.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day, to all the mom's out there! May your day be filled with hugs and kisses, sunshine and flowers!
I am not a fan of corsages on Mother's Day. Having struggled with infertility for a number of years, the corsage was like a badge calling out to me - I am a mom and you are not! I remember skipping church on Mother's Day because it was just too hard! I ached with wanting a child and the reminder that I wasn't a mom nearly did me in!
Eventually, we made plans to adopt a child and there was much peace with that. We finished our paperwork for the adoption on Nov 11, 1997 and were now in a holding pattern until we received that "call." So we did go to church that Mother's Day. I was still childless but had the hope that a baby was going to come soon! After church, I was standing around with friends, all mom's with their corsages on, and me (I'm sure I was the only one) without. The ache consumed my thoughts. Another mom, an older, wiser mom of a friend, came up to me and gave me a hug, said a few words. The tears that had been hidden from the world, started flowing for the world to see. But my pain had been validated and it released all the emotions that were pent up. I will always remember that mom and the kindness that she gave. I pray that I may be that sensitive toward others ( I know that I have failed many times over.)
We took our son home Nov. 11, 1998! I did have a corsage that first mother's day- but I have asked that it be the last. I don't need a badge to wear - I have my sons!

A Link: Sunrises and Eschatology

The sunrise this morning was spectacular! The oranges, yellows, purples, pinks, blues of the clouds lighting the sky appeared just minutes before the sun came up. It was as if they were announcing the arrival of the sun. Then the sun appeared. When it was half way up the horizon, all the clouds turned a luminescent white. Amazing.

I am studying Daniel by Beth Moore. I laid the book down about a year and a half ago because it scared me. Fainthearted by nature, I could not get myself to read about the end of the earth. I guess I felt that I know how it ends- God's side wins - what more do I need to know? But I picked it up again after my husband challenged me to complete the book with him. Can't give in to a challenge.
God is teaching me so much. I am still not sure if I am an Amillennialist or a Premillenialist. Beth Moore repeatedly encourages you to search other commentaries and talk to others. But in the end I just am not sure it's so important to know. But...it is important to be ready, not to stick your head into the sand ( I know that's what I was doing), and to live for Him. He is coming back, Hallelujah, Amen!

Daniel prophecies (Questioning if this is the right word to use?) many signs of the end times. Many of the signs are seen in the headlines of the news. Does that mean that we are in the end of times? No one knows, not even the Son, only God the Father knows the exact time. I have comfort in that. I don't have to worry about it any longer. I can rest assured that God is in control and I don't have to be!

Thus the sunrise this morning. I have a thing for sunrises. The early morning sky changed with the colors clashing together just like the end of times will have clashing. But.....The Son will come and Believers will be changed - just like the clouds - illuminating, dazzling, white, from the Son.

Oh, what a glorious day that will be!

"Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:

'Now have come the salvation and the power and
the kingdom of our God

and the authority of his Christ.

For the accuser of our brothers,

who accuses them before our God day and night,

has been hurled down. They overcame him

by the blood of the Lamb

and by the word of their testimony;

they did not love their lives so much

as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens

and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea,

because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury,

because he knows that his time is short.'"
Revelation 12:10-12
So REJOICE like the heavens - God wins!

(PS. Lord, thank you for the sunrise this morning - I think it was

just for me.)

Jer 29:11

For I know (to perceive, acknowledge, to perceive)

the plans (to think, plan, esteem, calculate, invent, make a judgment, imagine, count)

I have for you, declares the Lord, יהוה Yĕhovah

plans to prosper ( completeness, soundness, welfare, peace)

you and not to harm (friend of king)

you, plans to give(to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend)

you hope( hope, expectation)

and a future(after part, end).

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Lord, what are your plans?

The Lord declares, "For I know the plans I have for you."

Isaiah 55:8"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.

Psalm 92:5 How great are your works, O LORD, how profound your thoughts!

"Plans to prosper you and not harm you"

Psalm 121:7The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;

Isaiah 32:17 The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.

"Plans to give you hope and a future."

Psalm 62:5Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.

Isaiah 46:10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.

Sometimes it's hard to understand why something is happening. May this bring comfort to you as it did me.

References: biblegateway.com and blueletterbible.org and picture from: wikipedia

Glenn made it home from his trip on Thursday - thanks for your prayers! I asked if I could share some of his pictures from his trip. Here are a few that capture God's magnificence.

Earth Day Recycling

Tomorrow is earth day, I came across some interesting facts in the Argus Leader on Sunday.
"How long it takes items to decompose in a landfill:
3-4 weeks - Fruit peels
1 month - Paper bag
2 months - Cardboard
1 year - Wool sock
50 years - Tinned steel can
200-500 years - Aluminum cans (But if recycled, it can be reused within six weeks.)
550 years- Disposable diapers
20-1,000 years - Plastic bags
1 million years - Plastic jugs
1-2 million years - Glass
1+ million years - Styrofoam"
I was shocked by the time it took for plastic jugs, and diapers. I recycle but I don't consider myself a person that is extreme "green." I'm not sure how they figure the numbers on plastic jugs and Styrofoam because they haven't been around for a million years, I would suppose they take the rate of decomposition and figure from there. I guess it was a wake up call for me. I will recycle what I can and be an advocate for recycling.
I think that God would want us to recycle. Just look at His practices. He does it all the time. He takes the rank, stinkin', used-up, garbage of our lives and makes them new! Then we where a "sign" that says, "Made from recycled materials" so that we can tell the world! Thank you, God, for being Green and not leaving me in the landfill!

Parenting alone?

My husband, Glenn, left this morning for a trip. He is going on an adventure of riding through the Grand Canyon on dirt bikes. I am very excited for him, it will be a once in a lifetime event! But I don't particularly care when he is gone, I am not cut out to be a single mom. Glenn keeps me calm. When I get all worked up, he brings me back to earth. When my strength is zapped, he gives me relief. We always make it when he is gone, but I wonder how many times I will screw up?

God and I had a talk this morning about this. I asked Him to be my Rock when I'm not strong. I asked Him to bring calmness to my soul. So instead of the anxiety that was bubbling up, I have peace. I know that God can help me through anything. I am assured of that. God is my strength! This has really made me realize, this is not a two-some raising two sons - it's a three-some! God loves my boys more than I even do. God can do immeasurably more than I ask or even imagine. I guess I always knew this but...I am learnin'.

picture: http://pdphoto.org/PictureDetail.php?pg=7952

Skunk

We had some excitement in the neighborhood last night. We were just sitting down for supper, Glenn was still at a meeting, and the phone rang. It was our neighbor, she was wondering if we were watching the skunk crossing the middle of the cul de sac. The skunk was right by the fire hydrant, sniffing the ground. It was a rather cute and fluffy creature meandering all over. I was always told that a skunk was rabid if it was out during daylight. With neither husband home, I suggested we call the police, we are in city limits. A friend of mine is an officer, I would call him at

home and get the phone number for the officer on duty.
I was able to get the phone number and with luck, my friend was on duty. The skunk was on the move, walking around another neighbor's house, under his deck, around a tree. Mitch came driving up in his police car. Got his gun out and told the kids to get in the house as they didn't need to be around to see this. He followed at a safe distance and then shot the skunk. The kids raced down to see it, and luckily it didn't smell too bad (we were upwind from it). Then word spread and all the neighborhood kids raced to see it. After my husband came home, he buried it.
But that old skunk got me thinking about sin. Sometimes sin is wrapped up in a cute, fluffy package, it is intriguing to us, but it is rabid in the "Sonlight". Sometimes we need to call someone to help us get away from it, but even when it's dead, it still temps us to look at it. Sometimes to get away from the temptation, the sin needs to be buried.
I know what is tripping me up. At first it didn't seem so bad, but it is rabid. I humbly turn to my Savior and ask Him to kill it, bury it.
Lord, it's me. I confess my pride.
I ask that you purge it from me.
Bury it.
Fill me with thoughts only of you.
Help me to trust in the LORD with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding;
in all ways acknowledging You and You will make my paths straight. (Prov 3:5-6).

Thanks God, you're a life saver!

(skunk photo - openphoto.net)

Saturday

It's Saturday, the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Can you imagine? What were the followers of Christ doing? They were certainly struck with grief. Was it crippling? Could they function in it? Were they planning? Did they plan how they were going to get past the guards to put spices on his body? Were they paralyzed with fear? Wondering if they would be next? Was all hope lost? Did they blame each other? The news probably circulated that Judas was dead, too. Were they angry? Or were they feeling smug, because they had gotten rid of the trouble maker, the One that made them uncomfortable? No one knew, or remembered that their Lord was going to be raised from the dead in a few hours. We do.
We know that Jesus is coming. What are we doing? How are we preparing? We know that He is coming. We are told that repeatedly in Scriptures. Are we making the most of our Saturdays?
Or...
Are we paralyzed with fear?
Are we planing?
Are we crippled?
Are we blaming each other?
Are we angry?
Are we smug?
Are we so busy "doing" for the Lord rather than joining where He is at?
I am guilty. I think that there are times in my life where I am each of these. I am a planner by nature, always thinking ahead and how I am going to get past obstacle after obstacle. My Jesus is coming and I am acting like one of his followers on that Saturday. I need to be like one of his followers on Monday! Matthew 28:19 (The Message)
18-20Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."
I have a promise that He will be with me. I just need to join Him. Let Him take the lead. I don't have to be paralyzed, crippled, blaming, planing, angry or smug. I just need Him! Praise God! Again and Again! Happy Easter! Sunday is coming, but what are you going to do on Monday?

family fun

Opening Day!

The field was ready - the living room

The bases in place - 2 chairs and a sofa

The players are on deck - Grant and Cole

The bats working - their arms

The balls flying - paper crumpled up into balls
The pitcher poised - the Dad

The game was on - Paper Baseball!

Opening Day of baseball for the Twins!

Posters were made by the boys and we had brats on the grill! Glenn grilled in the garage because there is still snow outside. We sat down as a family to eat and anticipated the coming season for the Twins.

We gorged on root beer floats in the third inning (because the boys had school the next day)! We celebrated the game although the Twins ended up losing. There was a rousing game of paper baseball. Paper baseball can be played in the house as it only has wadded up paper for balls. There are many "balls" as one of the rules is the pitcher can throw the ball at you to get you out! There are home runs when the ball flies into the kitchen but it's a game of fun for boys of all ages!

This is one way that we like to spend quality time as a family: Celebrating the simple and being together.

This post is inspired by the writing project by Laity Lodge Family Camp in the Texas Hill Country. The lodge is sponsoring a Family Fun Time Giveaway at their lodge. Bloggers are encouraged to write a short essay with Family Fun Time tips, and then link to this page: http://llfamilycamp.org/family-fun-time-giveaway.

Morning

The dark bank of clouds was moving steadily across the horizon. Moving at a swift pace, they ranged from wisps to heavy masses of dark. Every once in a while you could see a glimpse of pink. A jet trail behind the clouds tried to give color to the morning but the dark tried to cover it up. Then the sky started to lighten. I knew that the sun would make it's appearance but the dark clouds seemed to get taller in the sky, as if to fight off the inevitable. The dark wasn't organized enough to keep together and bright light started to shine though. Then all at once the sun broke through and a warm glow bathed the trees, grass and birds.
This was this morning. But the Son is coming back and the darkness will not be able to hold together! Praise God! Darkness tries to organize and is in full frontal attack because it knows the end. But the Light will bathe us and envelop us in Love. Praise God!
It's Good Friday next week. The clouds hold no victory. Because Sunday is coming!

Jesus and Satan

My son, Grant wrote a poem in school. I thought it was very good and I asked him if I could share it. Here is his poem:

Jesus and Satan

JESUS

nice, kind

helping, dying, rising

cross, Heaven, hatred, hell

evil, not wise, bad

dares Jesus

Satan

I thought it fit in very nice at this time in Lent.

Have you ever read The Blessing by Gary Smalley and John Trent? If you have kids, you need to read this book. I picked it up from the town library. I am not finished with it yet, but wanted to tell you all about it.

In the Bible, some of the most powerful words to a son was the blessing that was spoken at the end of life ex. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. They spoke words to their sons that were powerful and as parents we should do the same. Isaac's blessing to Jacob was this, Genesis 27:28-29 "May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness—an abundance of grain and new wine. May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you."

A blessing includes:

• Meaningful Touch


• A spoken Message


• Attaching "High Value" to the one being blessed


• Picturing a Special Future for the one being blessed


• An Active Commitment to fulfill the blessing

The book goes on to discribe what each of these look like but the benefits of them is enormous. Some people never get a "blessing" from their parents and the book describes how to live without it (I'm not up to that part yet.) The chapters that I have read so far have convicted me that I as a parent need to give my blessing to my sons, so that they can grow up healthy.

So get the book - and bless your children.

Crisis of Belief!

Have you ever had a crisis of belief? Not sure if that is the correct way to label it but in my definition, it's where you either believe or don't believe.
I had one this weekend. I was at a Spiritual Retreat called Cursillo. It is a weekend where you listen to speakers, discuss their talks and learn about God. It is a "short course on Christian living." I was blessed to be a table leader, a person that engages with the table to start discussions, etc. A cracked pot if you will (2 Cor. 4:7) leading others.
I was worried about the weekend because I still get really tired yet from the surgery I had in December. The three days are big days and the rest that one gets is not like at home. But I knew that God would sustain me.
By Sat. evening, I was feeling physically sick. I was able to lay down for 10 minutes. I prayed and God helped me, and He did. Sunday morning, my body was dragging, my mind was willing, but my body was exhausted. I was able to ask some of my prayer warriors for prayer.
I felt that God was helping me, but.... I wanted them to keep on praying so that He would continue to help me get through.
I was able to talk to one of my prayer warriors at noon. I was getting by but there were waves of tiredness, just pawing at the fringes. She asked how I was doing?
I said, "God is answering, I can feel that it's working but just keep praying."
She asked me, "Steph, do you believe God?"
I said, "Yes, but just keep praying, it's working but I just feel right on the edge, the prayers are helping, but..."
"No," she said, "Do you Believe God?"
Ohh, now I get what she is asking me -- "Yes."
"Then BELIEVE HIM."
Do I believe that God is who He says He is? Do I believe God can do what He says He can do? Do I believe I am who God says I am? Do I believe that I can do all things through Christ? Do I believe that God's word is alive and active in me?
Do I BELIEVE GOD?
Yes! YES!! YES, I DO BELIEVE GOD!!!!!
Right after this encounter with my friend, I was singing a song. I'm not even sure what the song's title was. But in the song it talked about God's grace and how great it is. One line in the song said, "the weak shall lead the strong." Tears started to pour out of my eyes.
I get it God!!! I get it, --- talk about "Learnin' by Grace!" I had no inkling of tiredness after that. I was completely free! God did amazing things this weekend. I will never forget what He has done for me!
Thank you, Lord, you are amazing! I Love You with all my Heart, with all my Soul, and with all my Mind!!
I praise You for what You have done, what You are doing and what You will do!
Some of you may know that the questions that I was asking myself came from Beth Moore's Bible study, Believing God. If you have never done that Bible Study, I encourage you to complete it. Have your own crisis of belief and go from believing in God to Believing God!!

Do you Write in your Bible?

I would like to take a survey - but I'm not sure how to do that and I would appreciate your explanations anyway.
The question I would like to ask is "Do you write in your Bible?" and why or why not? So add a comment and explain.

Talking Outloud

I've been talking to myself lately.

Yep, I've been talking to myself, but it's not because of the anesthesia or that I'm crazy -- could be debated. But I have been having a lot of negative self talk and I know that the only way to combat that is by talking to yourself. The solution to negative self talk is truth. The past has taught me that my negative self talk can lead to anxiety and discontentment. So where do you get truth? There is only one thing that you can rely on to give you absolute, whole, wonderful truth -- God's word, the Bible. I can worry about a lot of things, little things, insignificant things. The anxious feeling grows and I have to talk myself down. I start talking to myself from the Bible.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Phil 4:8-9
Paul says in the verses just before this not to be anxious about anything:
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Phil 4:6
So... I am going to think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praise worthy and God's peace will be with me.

So... when I mess up - don't follow the Spirit's leading because it might be socially awkward..
1 John 1:9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
I am cleansed, forgiven

So... when I think I can't do it-the task is too great and I can come up with all kinds of excuses...
2 Corinthians 12:9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
God will be glorified.

So ...when I think I can do it by myself....
Psalm 73:26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
God is my strength.

So...when I don't have the courage to do a task...
Joshua 1:9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
God will be with me.

So... when I worry about what other people think of me...
Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
God wants me to do His will.

Truth...think about the Truth.

Can You Lick Your Elbow?

Here is another Supper table discussion.
"Can you lick your elbow? Bet you, you can't."
Mom tries. - (Go ahead my bloggy friends, I know that you are all wanting to try it right now!)
Dad says - "It's impossible, no one can touch their elbow with their tongue."
Son - "I bet Jesus could, He can do anything, He is the Almighty Savior."

We almost tried to tell him that even though Jesus is the "Almighty Savior" when He was on earth he was strapped to the confines of the human body. I want to grow the belief, Jesus can do anything if it is God's will. Our God is a God that can do anything! He can do the impossible and the unlikely. He is the God of miracles. Often we can put Him in a box, because of unbelief. It is a blessing to witness the faith and awe of a child and my job as a parent is to foster that faith. He can make a mountain move if you ask Him in faith.
Go ahead and ask! He probably could touch His elbow with His tongue, who am I to say He couldn't.
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."Matthew 17:20

Holy Ground

Janelle over at http://ihavebeenchanged.blogspot.com/2009/01/holy-ground.html and Chris over at http://experiencingraceandpeace.blogspot.com/ talked about holy ground. Where they meet with God and experience that holy ground. I have a holy ground too. I guess before I read their posts I never thought of it before. But God shows me He is with me every morning. Did you know that the skies show the glory of the Lord? It tells us in Ps 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Isn't that cool. I have a sun room facing east. Every morning I see the "work of His hands." I read His word and am encouraged by His awesomeness. Here are a few of the awesome displays.The picture above was taken yesterday. I had wanted to take a picture on Monday but my camera had a dead battery. I missed the shot but God in all his glory gave be a better picture so I could boast about Him!



Isaiah 45:12It is I who made the earth and created mankind upon it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts.

Jeremiah 32:17"Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.



This one was taken the day after we moved into our new house. What a glorious house warming gift from our God! All Praise and Honor to Him!

Today in church, our pastor showed this video. I thought it was a great reminder of how God has us in his hand! Hope you enjoy it!

Sharing Life

Psalm 139:14-16 (New Living Translation)

14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.


With gratitude in my heart, I want to lift up the birthmother of my son. She choose life! Thank you! Thank you for the gift of life. Thank you for choosing to make an adoption plan.

Tagged

I've been tagged by my friend, Janelle, over at Popcorn-the 5th Food Group, except her blog name is changed and I haven't figured out how to do that! The rules are to list 6 random facts about yourself and then tag 6 others. I'm not sure I know 6 bloggers that haven't been tagged yet but I will do my best.

Six facts that are random:

1. I played all kinds of sports in high school. I was not a super-star but I was an encourager. I knew the plays and could make get the team fired up! I did not go out for basketball my senior year but the coach asked that I be the manager and in the huddles on time-outs ( I think to fire them up.)

2. My junior year in high school, our team went to the state tournament. I was a bench sitter, by the fourth quarter, we were so far behind that the coach pulled the starters. I went in the game, I was playing at the state tournament! The ball broke free, I raced to get it, I landed, my knee buckled, I was done. I was carried off the floor, there was only a minute or two left to play. The senior players were in tears in the locker room, I just thanked everyone for the opportunity to be there, even if I was hurt. They laughed. I ended up with surgery and a torn ACL.

3. Our first home had bats. After insulating the attic, I was taking clothes out of the laundry shoot, out plopped a bat! It hissed at me! I ran from the laundry room, into the connected bathroom. Only one problem, there was not another exit from the bathroom except from the laundry room with the big bat! I covered my head with a towel ran through the laundry room, upstairs to my bedroom to call Glenn at work. He came to my rescue. He came home and got the bat, by this time it was crawling under the bathroom door! It was a big bat too! It had a wing-span of at least 2 feet!!!! -- that could be an exaggeration!

4. When I was growing up, I wanted to be a teacher. I choose to go to school for social work instead.

5. I do not have a good memory for numbers - unlike Janelle --I will transpose numbers, make them up or just come up blank when I am telling a story and numbers are involved.

6. One time when I was little , I was complaining about supper. My dad told me if I didn't like it, I could just hit the road. I went upstairs and to my dad's surprise, I packed my little snoopy suitcase and was ready to "hit the road." When asked where I thought I was going, I replied, "Grandma's House."

There you have it - 6 random things. I now tag: Hope42day's Blog, Brenda at Wanderings and Whatevers , Miriam (tagged now twice) at In His Grip, Cindy at Steps In A Journey ! I will look forward to reading your posts!

Scoopin'

It's blowing outside, it's snowing outside, it's close to a blizzard outside! My kind of weather! I love to be all snugly warm when it's cold outside and have my family safely with me! I love snow -- I don't say that out loud to many people, because your walking on a limb to say that where I live! Not many people like snow or cold. My husband doesn't! He says I only like snow because I don't have to scoop it! I do scoop..... sometimes! (hee, hee) I haven't been able to as of late because of my surgery. We have had a lot of snow since Dec 17, too!
Scooping snow is hard work, especially if the wind blows. The drifts become very hard and heavy. Keeping your driveway clean can be difficult when it snows, then blows, then snows... you get the picture.
Sometimes in our life we need to scoop out stuff that piles into our hearts. It can be easy when the "snow" is light and fluffy. It does not take much effort - just time. Then again we can be bombarded with "snow" and the wind blows making it hard and heavy. It takes work to clean out the "snow". Or maybe you just drive over it, ignore it but then it gets packed down, can turn icy. You can try to forget about it but the bumps and ruts remind you that it's still there. It's better to take the time and clean off the "snow" when it first comes. God is the only deluxe "snow remover." When He takes care of your "snow" it's gone, there are not any piles left over! Nothing is too hard for Him.
1 John 1:9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Who do you want to see in heaven?

"Who do you want to see in heaven, Dad?"
This was the question from Grant posed to Glenn at the supper table last night. We were talking about when Jesus comes back what will He do. Where will we live? Who did we want to see? "Elijah or Moses?"
We started to list off a bunch of people - Elijah, Moses - want to ask him how it was to part the red sea. Noah - What was it like to build such a huge boat. Jonah - what was it like in a fish? I said the people that I wanted to see in heaven were Glenn, Grant and Cole! They kind of blushed. Glenn said he wanted to see his mom again. But most of all we all agreed we want to see Jesus.
Who do you want to see in heaven? It's a good question. It's a question of action not of passivity. If you know someone that does not know the Lord, it's time to tell them about salvation. Who do you want to see in heaven? Does everyone you know, Know the Lord? Tell them in 2009! Don't wait. Who do you want to see in heaven?

Writing and Truth

I like to write, but I am not very good at it. I think my Grammar teacher would cringe at my run-on sentences and the use of my commas! I stand in awe of writer/bloggers such as Jennifer at http://gettingdownwithjesus.blogspot.com/ and Chris at http://experiencingraceandpeace.blogspot.com/ ! I could really talk myself right into not blogging at all. Sometimes even commenting is hard for me, I doubt myself as to if I am really an encourager to the person I am commenting to.
I struggle at times with negative self-talk. I know the devil does not want me to succeed or make a difference in life. I know that the negative self talk comes from him. Several years ago, I was crippled by this self-defeating attitude. A friend pointed this out to me, and I will not ever be the same. I must listen to Truth. Truth says that I am worthy. Truth says that I can praise my Lord with humble sincere offerings. So I lift up my writing to the Lord and ask Him to bless it and always be apart of it, as He is in my life. Therefore, I must always keep Phil. 4:8 in my mind: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." This verse helps me when I am filled with anxiety and doubt.
So why did I join "High Calling Blogs"? I joined to be challenged. I joined to be a part of a community. I joined be a better writer/blogger. I may not ever be published, but in this small blog on my side of the world, I hope to praise God and be an encouragement.
One of my favorite songs is by Casting Crowns called the "Voice of Truth". This song showed me to live with Truth, many years ago. May you be encouraged to listen to the Voice of Truth!

Oh,what I would do to have

the kind of faith it takes

To climb out of this boat I'm in

Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone

Into the realm of the unknown

Where Jesus is,

And he's holding out his hand

But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me

Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed

The waves they keep on telling me time and time again

"Boy, you'll never win, you'll never win."

But the voice of truth tells me a different story

the voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"

and the voice of truth says "this is for my glory"

Out of all the voices calling out to me

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh, what I would do to have the kind of strength it takes

To stand before a giant with just a sling and a stone

Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors shaking in their armor

Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me

Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed

The giant keeps on telling me time and time again

"Boy you'll never win, you'll never win."

But the voice of truth tells me a different story

the voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"

and the voice of truth says "this is for my glory"

Out of all the voices calling out to me

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

But the stone was just the right size

to put the giant on the ground

and the waves they don't seem so high

from on top of them looking down

I will soar with the wings of eagles

when I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus

singing over me

But the voice of truth tells me a different story

The voice of truth says do not be afraid

And the voice of truth says this is for my glory

Out of all the voices calling out to me (calling out to me)

I will choose to listen and believe

(I will choose to listen and believe)

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

I will listen and believe

I will listen and believe the voice of truth

I will listen and believe

'Cause Jesus you are the voice of truth

And I will listen to you..

oh you are