Grinder's Switch

On The Job Healing

2011-03-17T11:27:00.000-04:00

I don't know about you but I want to experience HEALING here and now. Check out this devotion On The Job Healing to see what it takes to not just get by but to actually LIVE the life God has for you.

When I Don't Measure Up

2011-01-23T22:47:00.004-05:00

As Lysa shared her Super Mom Brownie Failure in week one of this study, I caught myself thinking "Oh, that's a cute story. . . BUT at least you wanted to be a super brownie mom." My contribution has always been to show up and buy the brownies not make the brownies. And if that's the worst you've ever done as a mom, then I got you beat!!

Then God began to show me. . .

Not only am I guilty of measuring my accomplishments and finding them to be TINY in comparison. I am also guilty of measuring my failures and thinking how HUGE they are in comparison.

I shared this thought with my sweet hubby and the words he said to me flew off his lips like he didn't even have to think about it. Which caught me off guard because it has been such a hard lesson to learn for me.

He said, "You WON'T ever be happy doing THAT!"

Well, duh!! That's the point.

I cannot even begin to tell you what a "joy stealer" this has been in my life.

I like the verse Lysa shared from Proverbs 24:16 " For though a righteous woman falls seven times, she rises again, but the wicked are brought down by clamity." (emphasis mine)

Not only can a righteous woman fall, but she can fall seven times. . . and still be called righteous.

Well, I sure have fallen, not just once, or twice, and if the truth be known, way more than seven times. But I keep getting back up and trying again. I guess that is what makes the difference.

I will never be a failure as long as I keep getting back up. And I see my circumstances and shortcomings as a call to action.

Becoming more than just a good bible study girl means seperating my shortcomings from my identity and let Jesus be the only measure of my worth.

Now I say, "You CAN be happy doing THAT!"

It's Not Too Late to be Out with the Old and In with the New

2011-01-03T09:49:00.036-05:00

It's the New Year and for weeks now we've all heard about making resolutions and starting the New Year. . . hoping it will be better than last year! I know that's what I'm hoping for. . . something better. Lord, please don't let it get any worse!

We tend to say, "Well, That's Done!" Make some resolutions and PLOW into the New Year. Only to get to December 26th ready to put that year behind us too ~ because if we are honest it really wasn't any better.

Let me ask, what do you call that? Think about it for a minute. . .

INSANITY!! That's what you call it. Doing the same thing over and over expecting something different.

Here is the truth of the matter: We won't get into the New Year correctly without taking care of last years trash.

You've heard the saying, "out with the old, in with the new."

Jesus even said we can't put our new wine in old bottles. Matthew 9:16-17

And Proverbs tells us that every thing we do flows from our heart. Proverbs 4:23

Therefore there is more to making a New Year successful than plowing ahead with some new resolutions. We've got to clean out our heart.

Let's take a good look at the way we're living and reorder our lives under God. Let's lift our hearts and hands at one and the same time, praying to God in heaven: "We've been contrary and willful, and you haven't forgiven. Lamentations 3:40

This is where most people quit on the road to recovery and freedom. It's fun to look ahead to something new and NOT so fun to look back and examine our life, and why it is the way it is.

If you've never done this. . . then you have your WHOLE life to look back at. That can be pretty discouraging. Overwhelming and painful even. It can stir up emotions that you've spent your whole life trying not to re-live. Anger, hurt, walked out on, and shame to name a few.

BUT if you want some sanity in your life and you want things to be different THIS year. You best bite the bullet, and get at it!

Here are some words of CAUTION though. Don't do it without an accountability partner (a Godly one!). Someone to encourage you to stick with it. Someone who can be truthful with you even if it hurts. Someone to remind you to stay balanced because looking back is not all about looking at the bad. You've gotta see the good too. For me, it was amazing to realize that God was there all along. Even before I knew Him. Guiding the path of my life. What freedom came! When I saw that some of those terrible things that were meant for evil God meant for good. Because that's just the way He rolls. Genesis 50:20 He is no different today than we was then (amen?!).

With all that being said, let me encourage you to stop the insanity. Just because it's January 3rd doesn't mean it's too late. As a matter of fact it wouldn't matter if it was August. You can do this anytime.

Make time to really stop and look back at your life. Get alone with God!

Open up your heart, mind and emotions for a good look. Ask yourself. . . what do I fear or feel guilty about. What or who do I resent? Am I trapped in self-pity, alibis, and dishonest thinking? Have I believed a lies?

Rely on Jesus to give you the courage and strength it takes to really do this.

Analyze your past honestly. Be truthful.

List the good and the bad.

And don't forget this. . . the enemy does NOT want you to do this. So I can almost guarantee you it will be hard. But don't quit. God in His great goodness will bring freedom from our past, hurts, habits, and hang ups. And I don't know about you but I'm READY for something NEW. And so is my Lord. Isaiah 43:19

Here is some Good News to help encourage you:

Once you do this. . . you can keep a short account. It doesn't ever have to be time consuming, or overwhelming again. We don't have to wait years, months, or days to do this. We can live like this moment by moment. Right with God, ourselves and others. Ready all the time for something NEW.

Faith Comes from Hearing

2010-12-31T18:28:00.002-05:00

So faith comes from hearing the message. And the message that is heard is the word of Christ.

Romans 10:17 (NIRV)

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=349510010

Can't wait to listen to the whole New Testament in 40 days. I'm starting tomorrow Jan. 1st.

I listened to the first track this morning just to make sure that it was not a monotone reading that would put me to sleep. It wasn't. Instead, it was more like listening to a drama, and I am so excited to begin.

I may even do it more than once this year if it goes well the 1st time. I am expecting God to do a work in my life through just listening to Him through His Word. Can't wait to just sit still and listen.

My Prayer for 2011

2010-12-30T06:58:00.003-05:00

The ONE THING I desire for 2011 is to be so in Love with YOU Lord Jesus that it will be contagious. Don’t let me miss one opportunity to share how REAL & WONDERFUL you really are. Let me be an eye witness to changed lives.

What If?

2010-12-11T11:37:00.000-05:00

Through this whole process that God and I have been going through... He has brought me to a place of "well... what if?" meaning.... " what if He doesn't make things better?", "what if He doesn't change the way things are?", "what if you just have to go through this WITH Him?"... I have come to the place that I know that I will serve Him and love Him no matter what happens. It is a choice. I have read throughout His Word how His plan that looks like a disaster is really a divine plan of restoration. It has been a place that was difficult to come to ... but now that I am there, it is a great place to be. Or at least I thought so, before this morning. I know God well enough to know that if He couldn't use this to grow me... and to bring me closer to Him... we wouldn't have come here. So... I think that I will just stand up and throw in the white towel. That is the sign of surrender, right??

I know that God is for me.

I know that God loves me.

I know that God wants to grow me.

I know that God has my best interest at heart.

I know that God loves my family more than I do.

I know that God doesn't work the way the world does.

I know that God sees the end... while I am sitting in the middle.

I know that God is faithful.

I know that God is Good.

I know that God has a plan.

I know that God is so totally about His plan.

I know that God doesn't have to let me in on that plan.

I know that God can scoop up my little battered and bruised body and put it up on His big lap and love me back into peace.

I know that the sooner I just surrender and allow God to be God... the sooner the wrestling match will end.

Taken from Somewhere in the Middle. Thanks Lynn, I needed the reminder.

From Jesus Calling by Sarah Young:

2010-12-09T20:29:00.002-05:00

Your needs and my riches are a perfect fit. I never meant for you to be self-sufficient. Instead, I designed you to need Me not only for daily bread but also for fulfillment of deep yearnings. I carefully crafted your longings and feelings of incompleteness, to point you to Me. Therefore, do not try to bury or deny these feelings. Beware also of trying to pacify these longings with lesser gods: people, possessions, power.

Come to me in all your neediness, with defenses down and with desire to be be blessed. As you spend time in My Presence, your deepest longings are fulfilled. Rejoice in your neediness, which enables you to find intimate completion in Me.

What takes a BITE out of Delight?

2010-12-07T06:30:00.010-05:00

Jealousy......Anger........Worry

Today for me it's Worry. Hopefully praying Psalm 37 will help. I will trust in the LORD and do good. I will dwell in this land (right here where He has me - that's the hard part) and cultivate faithfulness. I will delight myself in the Lord and commit my way to Him. I will rest in you and wait patiently (another hard part - I hate waiting). Then it says He will give me the desires of my heart (I don't even know what that is anymore), Trust in Him, and He will do it. When Lord? How Lord? Oh, forgive me for doubting and help my unbelief.

Psalm 55

2010-12-05T23:30:00.004-05:00

God, listen to my prayer. Pay attention to my cry for help. Hear me and answer me. My thoughts upset me. I'm very troubled. I'm troubled by what my enemies say about me. I'm upset because sinful people stare at me. They cause me all kinds of suffering. When they are angry, they attack me with their words. I feel great pain deep down inside me. The terrors of death are crushing me. Fear and trembling have taken hold of me. Panic has overpowered me. I said, "I wish I had wings like a dove!Then I would fly away and be at rest. I would escape to a place far away. I would stay out in the desert. Selah

I would hurry to my place of safety. It would be far away from the winds and storms I'm facing." Lord, destroy the plans of sinners. Keep them from understanding one another. I see people destroying things and fighting in the city. Day and night they prowl around on top of its walls. The city is full of crime and trouble. Forces that destroy are at work inside it. Its streets are full of people who cheat others and take advantage of them. If an enemy were making fun of me, I could stand it. If he were looking down on me, I could hide from him. But it's you, someone like myself. It's my companion, my close friend. We used to enjoy good friendship as we walked with the crowds at the house of God. Let death take my enemies by surprise. Let them be buried alive, because their hearts and homes are full of evil. But I call out to God. And the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I groan and cry out. And he hears my voice. Even though many enemies are fighting against me, he brings me safely back from the battle. God sits on his throne forever. He hears my prayers and makes my enemies suffer. Selah

They never change their ways. They don't have any respect for God. My companion attacks his friends. He breaks his promise. His talk is as smooth as butter. But he has war in his heart. His words flow like olive oil. But they are like swords ready for battle. Turn your worries over to the Lord. He will keep you going. He will never let godly people fall. God, you will bring sinners down to the grave. Murderers and liars won't live out even half of their lives. But I trust in you.

Admiting Wha-wha-Wro-NGS

2010-01-10T22:11:00.027-05:00

Is there really something I can gain from admitting my Wha-wha-Wro-NGS?

God's word says. . . YES!
Take a look.

1 John 1:8-10
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

Psalm 107:13-14
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains.

James 5:16
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

By confessing to Myself and God. . . I stop deceiving myself. . . and making Him out to be a liar. I open myself up to the truth of his word. He promises to forgive me and purify me, therefore I can forgive myself. He saves me from my trouble. He brings me out of the darkness and gloom to light and joy.

By confessing to others. . . I open myself up to the prayers of others, and thru prayer healing comes.

Next post (what do I have to lose when I admit my wrongs)

Freedom Journey Part 1 ~ The Secret Life

2009-07-08T10:49:00.029-04:00

Maybe none of these images reflect your secret. . . but if the truth be told, you do have a secret. . . right???? I did.

This is where my freedom journey began. . . uncovering one secret at a time and realizing I was held captive by them. What a sad state I was in. . . a Christian saved by the grace of God. . . through His son Jesus Christ. . . yet living in captivity and not walking in the freedom that He died for. I'm not completely free yet. . . I still struggle with things, but He has brought me so far. . . and I am not the same person I use to be.

Just so you know, you don't have to be lost to be a captive. You can be saved. We don't even have to be in a stronghold of sin to be a captive. According to Beth Moore in Get out of that Pit, we could just feel stuck, feel that we can't stand up to our enemy, and feel like we have lost our vision. She also states in Breaking Free that a Christian is held captive by anything that hinders the abundant and effective Spirit-filled life God planned for them.

My desire in blogging this Freedom Journey is to share the keys to freedom that the Lord has taught me. They were not given to me all at one time or in any particular order. But they are all essential to unlocking the doors and setting the captive free from what ever keeps them in bondage. So please pray for me as I begin to share these truths. . . that God would give me clarity of mind, and wisdom about what to share and what not to share.

If you are reading this and you are 'all good', and have no secrets, then these posts won't be of much use to you. But don't go yet. . . stay a while and read along. Maybe you've had that secret thing hidden so long you've forgotten it's even there. I know that sounds crazy, but it's not really! Have you ever put something somewhere 'safe', so that you could find it later, only to forget where you put it? That is what I am talking about. You could have been in bondage so long that you do not even realize it. So hang out and ask the Lord to show you if there is anything that is hindering you from living the Spirit-filled life that He intended for you.

And please remember: God knows your secrets and loves you anyway! Please accept that and trust Him to lead you to freedom.

I have Survived

2009-07-03T10:28:00.019-04:00

I don't know how big your pain is, but I know that God is bigger.

I know that He is big enough to take every bit of pain and anger
that you can throw at Him and love you through it all.

This is not just text book words. I have experienced this in my own life and so can you.

Yes! If you are in pain right now spend some quiet time just letting Jesus hold you in his arms that took the nails for you.

I have NO IDEA . . .

2009-06-18T12:24:00.006-04:00

UPDATE: YaY! I love the color Purple and Butterflies! Gotta get ready to go to Carowinds w/the family. I'll work on it some more later.

What is up with this blog template?????

I'll be back sometime this weekend to try to fix this mess
and post my new memory verse.

A True Portrait

2009-03-20T09:53:00.025-04:00

When you think of Jesus what do you see in your mind's eye?

I used to see that old Sunday School picture of Him with long wavy hair, a thin face, and a Mona Lisa smile. You know the one! To be honest there was a day in my life when I would look at that picture and wonder what all the fuss is about. BUT not anymore because I have met Him face to face. And He has shattered that old view and is showing me a true portrait of who He is.

Let me share it with you:

He is someone who is wise . . . Luke 2:52
He is someone who makes house calls . . . Luke 4:38-39
He is someone who gives purpose . . . Luke 5:8-11
He is someone who forgives . . . Luke 5:24
He is someone who has compassion . . . Luke 7:13
He is someone who heals . . . Luke 8:47
He is someone who can . . . Luke 9:37-42
He is someone who empowers . . . Luke 10:1-2
He is someone who rejoices . . . Luke 10:21
He is someone who is stronger . . . Luke 11:21-23
He is someone who values you & I . . . Luke 12:24
He is someone who longs to draw us near . . . Luke 13:34
He is someone who runs . . . Luke 15:20
He is someone who mourns . . . Luke 19:41-42
He is someone who has zeal . . . Luke 19:45-46

The list could go on for days and He is continuously showing me more of Him.
When I think of Him now this is what I see . . .

Oh Lord,
May I never look away! Fix my eyes on You, and shatter any view I have that is not a true portrait of who You are. You are worthy of all my worship this day, and every day. Amen

WooHoo, I Did It!!

2009-01-09T11:42:00.024-05:00

It is only the 9th day of January and I have memorized my very 1st scripture for 2009. And I am PUMPED! I hopped over to Beth Moore's blog today to find out that she had posted some scripture memory helps for the 3000+ siestas that are on board with this thing. I was surprised to find out that I was already doing some of the things that she was suggesting. She gave an acrostic for scripture memory based on Romans 12:2 and I'd like to share it here. Maybe it will be of some help to someone. You can also go over to LPM blog and listen to the tutorials for yourself.

R ~ READ IT (read it off your index card over, and over, and over . . .)
E ~ EXAMINE IT (examine it for simple ways to help you remember)
N ~ NEED IT (needing it really helps you to remember)
E ~ ECHO IT (say it out loud over, and over, and over . . .)
W ~ WIELD IT (His word is a sword so take it out and use it)

If you read my previous post you know that I decided to memorize this verse with my name inserted into it. I did this because I NEEDED this verse and I wanted to make it more personal. Well . . . yesterday I recited my verse to my son Phillip so he could check me and make sure that I knew it. I didn't get it right at first but I kept ECHOING it until finally I had it. I was so excited, and my boy just smiled.

Later on that evening I did it again and got it the first time I tried. Then I said, "hey Phillip listen to this . . . IF Phillip will set his love upon HIM, HE will deliver Phillip, HE will set Phillip on high because he has known HIS name. Phillip will call on HIM and HE will answer, HE will be with Phillip in trouble, HE will deliver Phillip and honor him. With long life HE will satisfy Phillip and show Phillip HIS salvation. Psalm 91:14-16" Phillip just smiled a big one and my daughter Sara who had been listening yelled, "Do me mommy, do me!" So I did. It was precious! What a great way to get my little ones involved and to speak the word over them.

Since I have it memorized, and I still have a few day left before I start my second verse of the month I'm gonna practice WIELDING IT. My weapon is no longer in the sheath, it is out and ready! So look out mr. devil I think its gonna be a bad year for you!

Another 2009 Giveaway

2009-01-01T09:47:00.008-05:00

Peacemaking Principles

The study includes:

DVD set: This study includes four DVD’s that contain the eight video teaching sessions. Each video session is about 40 mins long.

5 Study Guides/journals Peacemaking Principles on responding to conflict biblically.

Along with any promotional material to advertise the study if you are doing the study at church.

This study sounds Awesome. I had to share so that you could try to win too.

Just go to Laced with Grace to sign up.

P.S. Tuesday Night Gals: GO and sign up ~ who knows this may be where God leads us next.

2009 HOPES ~ DREAMS ~ DESIRES

2008-12-31T17:14:00.110-05:00

Join me for one of the first giveaway's for 2009 hosted by Laurel

It sounds real easy and the prize is a $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com

All you have to do is post about your hopes, dreams, and goals for next year. It can be as general or as personal as you want it to be, AND you have to sign up with Mr. Linky at her place to get your name in for a chance to win.

Have you ever wondered what life was like for Jesus before he entered the public eye? We only know a few things about him up until this point:

Jesus' mother was a virgin
He was born in Bethlehem in a stable because there was no room for him in the inn
Angels announced his birth to Shepherds in a field
He was circumcised on the 8th day of his life in the temple
Wise men from the east visited him bearing gifts
His parents lost him at the age of 12 while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Passover

After that . . . nothing . . . not one word for at least 18 years. Luke tells us that "Jesus himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age." That amounts to 29 years of Jesus' life that we know almost nothing about. I've never thought much about these years of his life until I picked up this book and began to read:

anonymous

Jesus' hidden years and yours

by: Alicia Britt Chloe

I've had this book for a while and just haven't gotten around to picking it up. Now, I know why. There is a time and a purpose for everything, and now is the time for this book in my life. God knew right where to put it. I've been struggling for a while with the blues like nobody's business, and I just could not put my finger on what was causing it. Then I read chapter 6 and discovered part of my problem if not all of it. Please indulge me while I share from this book:

Some struggle with living in the past, others with living for the moment. Personally, my struggle has more often been in living for the future. As an adult, my gaze was always set toward the next step or season or degree or plan or place or . . .
Distracted with daydreams of tomorrow's potential, I often found today's reality pale and tasteless in comparison . . .
Back home in Texas, normally the first "course" at a restaurant was a bright bowl of chips and salsa. The chips and salsa were just fillers ~ something to get past, to get through, to get on with the main course that was not there yet (but was coming!).
. . . I, and perhaps we, have a tendency to think that "main" is out there, not right here. Main is on hold, waiting to appear until after . . . we finish our education or get married or find that dream job or start a family or resolve that conflict or complete that task or get out of debt or retire or slow down or . . .
In moments when I am tempted to treat this gift called time as though it were some unfortunate filler, I hear a gentle whisper from God in my soul: "Child, I am the God who wastes no man's time. To me, every course in your life is main."

Well that was an Ah-Ha moment for me. I think that is really how I have lived the majority of my life. Always striving for the next thing "just around the corner." Like a little kid on the way to vacation in the back seat asking the Father "Are we there yet? Are we? Are we?" Sometimes I have arrived at the very destination that I headed out for only to head out for somewhere else. Or I have arrived only to find out that there is not where I really wanted to be. At times I have gotten so far off of the road that I think I will never find my way back, and I have even forgotten where I was going in the first place.

All of this to say that one of my HOPES, DREAMS, and DESIRES for 2009 is that I will discover how to view every day the same way I think that God views them.

To our God, this course ~ call it transition, further studies, unexpected illness, financial crisis, grief, or a desert ~ is as full of potential as any course ever has been and any course ever will be.

Every course ~ and certainly every day ~ is a gift from God. (Enjoy it while it's hot.)

Proverbs 13:12 says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life." I'm tired of being heart sick. You know what I mean? And I know that part of the cure is making sure that my desire is in step with His. He doesn't have a far off dream for me, He has one for right now in this moment. And that is what I want. Another one of my HOPES, DREAMS, and DESIRES for 2009 is that my family will grow in our walk with our Lord, enjoy this time in our life, and invest in eternal things.

Also I HOPE, DREAM and DESIRE that my best friends (Lynn, Teri, Mary, Beverly, Leigh, Pamela, and Jennifer) along with myself, will have life changing encounters with our Savior as we begin "Jesus The One and Only" in our Tuesday night study. I pray that these encounters will change our families from the inside out for God's Glory.

In 2009 I have also signed up with 2000+ SIESTAS to memorize (or seriously meditate on) 2 Scriptures a month. I have felt for sometime that this area of my walk has been lacking. I have my quiet time and bible study. But this year I really want to commit to washing my mind with God's word. If you think you'd like to join in too, just click the Siestas link above and read all about it.

Well, no matter what you decide to do about the give away or the scripture memory, I pray that you will spend some time thinking about your HOPES, DREAMS, and DESIRES for 2009. Make sure that they are in step with what God desires for you. And God Bless! Happy New Year!

'Twas the Night Before Jesus Came

2008-12-14T21:59:00.025-05:00

'Twas the night before Jesus came
And all through the house,
Not a creature was praying,
Not one in the house.

Their Bible were lying on the shelf without care,
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.
The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.

And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap,
Was watching the late show, while I took a nap.
When out of the east there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.

Away to the window, I flew like a flash.
I tore back the shutters and threw back the sash.
And what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.

With a light like the sun, sending forth a bright ray,
I knew in a moment, this must be the day.
The light of His face made me cover my head.
It was Jesus returning, just like He said.

And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him, in spite of myself.
In the Book of Life, which He held in His hand,
Was written the name of every saved man.

He spoke not a word as
He searched for my name.
And when He said, "It's not here,"
I hung my head in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love,
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With all those who were ready, He rose without a sound,
While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late.
I'd waited too long, thus sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as the rode out of sight.
If only I'd been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem, the meaning is clear,
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call,
We'll find that the Bible was right after all.

~ Author Unknown

2008-09-27T10:55:00.000-04:00

Where is Jesus When You Need Him?

2008-09-20T07:42:00.022-04:00

"What would it be like if meeting with Jesus always required

going to another place, leaving our homes

to go out looking for Him?"

This was a question from my quiet time this morning. Day 20 in "JESUS, 90 Days With The One and Only" by Beth Moore.

Just think about it.

What if you needed Him, or you had something exciting to tell Him, and you had to go looking for Him?

Where would you find Him? at church, or maybe at a friend's house

Could you find Him? you know this is a big place we live in, lots of people everywhere

What if you were at your job and you needed Him? you can't just walk out and go looking for Him ~ do that more than once or twice and you'd more than likely get yourself fired

What if when you found Him the crowd was so large you couldn't get to Him. . . what then?

I'm thankful today that I did not have to go and look for Him to spend time with Him. He was there when I climbed out of bed and brushed my teeth. He walked with me as I headed for the living room. He sat down with me. . . right there in our spot. In a little while my husband and I are going out like we do every Saturday and work the bus ministry for our church. Jesus is going with us. He's spending the day with us as a matter of fact. And tomorrow we've invited Him to go to church with us. And eat lunch with us. And hang out while we watch the race and nap. And on Monday if things get tough at work, like it sometimes does. . . it's OK, He is there too. And not only is He there with me at work, He's with my husband in his classroom, and He's in school with my children too.

Where is Jesus when you need Him? Or when you just want Him?

Watch ~ Write ~ Wait

2008-09-19T04:02:00.046-04:00

Habakkuk 2:1
I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected.

Those that expect to hear from God must withdraw from the world, and get above it, must raise their attention, fix their thought, study the scriptures, consult experiences and the experienced, continue instant in prayer, and thus set themselves upon the tower.
(Matthew Henry Complete Commentary)

Lord, I so need to stand here and look up, fix my eyes on you, and you alone. Be above my circumstances. You have been with me thus far and I know that you will continue to be. I see not only in my life your faithfulness but in others as well. You are it! All that is needed! I will stand here patiently and watch for what you are doing and saying. And when you speak, my heart wants to say "Yes!" Lord. Yes to what you would have me do, yes to what you would have me to say. Yes Lord, yes!

Habakkuk 2:2-3
Then the Lord answered me and said: "Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.

Lord, I have written the things you've laid on my heart for myself, others, and your church. And I will read it often to remind myself to watch. For I know that you will answer. And your answer will not disappoint. Your ways are right. My hour on the wall is over, but I will still wait on you and watch for you. And when you answer ~ I will run! I will praise you! I will sing of your goodness! I will rejoice in you always! I will tell the world how wonderful you are!

Habakkuk 2:4
Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.

Those that are made just by faith shall live, shall be happy here and for ever; while they are here, they live by it; when they come to heaven faith shall be swallowed up in vision.

(Matthew Henry Complete Commentary)

My faith is in you alone. I will not be proud. Who am I? You will do your good work. That is all I have asked. My faith in you gives me joy! It lifts me above my circumstances into your presence, which is exactly where I want to be. You are Holy. Good. All-powerful. Just. A strong tower and shelter. And in you I will rest all the days of my life.

Let Me Just Say. . .

2008-09-12T04:29:00.023-04:00

God is AWESOME!!!!

My church began a Watchman Prayer Ministry this week. It is a prayer wall, where church members are signed up to pray 1 hour a week. I signed up for 3AM Friday morning, even though I was a little concerned about that time. I usually am up at four anyway because I have to be at work at six. I have every other Friday off so I thought that would be helpful. Four is tough sometimes, but I really could not think of any other time that would be uninterrupted. So I did it. I believe that every hour is accounted for, and if not it is on it's way to being accounted for.

24/7

Well, today I did my first watch and it was wonderful what God did. It started by Him waking me up for my 3AM shift. Really! HE woke me up. I woke up at 2:45 and waited in the darkness for my alarm to go off at 2:50. I lay there and thought. . . I'm so glad I woke up by "myself" (HA! did you get that? I thought I woke me up) . . . now maybe I won't be too sleepy to pray. I have been concerned all week that I was crazy for signing up for 3AM. . . you are going to be sleeeppppy. I looked at the clock and it was 2:55 . . .what's going on? I know I set the clock for 2:50 . . . I better get up. I discovered that I set my clock but did not turn it on. OOPS! THANK YOU LORD, you did wake me up. I could hear Him in my spirit say, "Of course I woke you up . . . I've been waiting all week for this hour." Now, don't think that this is the only hour I've spent with Him this week because it's not. But it is the first time I have ever committed an hour to just prayer and seeking Him.

AWESOME. . . I say . . . just AWESOME!

And all my fears have been put to rest. I was afraid that I would not be able to spend the entire hour in prayer. But you know what? An hour was not enough! It is 4:40 now and my heart is still singing His praises as I write this blog to tell you all (whoever you are) what an AWESOME God I have. He is EVERYTHING to me. And I am thankful that HE led my Pastor and our church to do this. I am so excited I can hardly stand it. HE IS GOING TO DO GREAT THINGS! It's going to be amazing. Many years I have desired to see a GOD THING HAPPEN. You know, like the ones you read about in the bible. The kind where "God did it" and no one can deny it. All they can do is stand there and praise Him, and people (lots of people) come to know Him because of it. Although it was an inconsistent desire, because my walk has not always been consistent, it was a desire none the less. One I think could only have come from Him. And I believe that it is finally coming. He is going to move in a big way. I know this because His word promises that He will, if we will seek Him. He's a promise keeper, you know! He can't go back on His word. I believe if we seek Him . . . He is going to bring "Godly" repentance, which in turn is going to be a witness to the world around us, which is only going to prove His power to a lost and dying world. I think there is a HARVEST coming! YAY! And HE woke me up this morning so that I could be a part of it. WOW! Thank you Lord for your goodness. You are my everything. High and Lifted up!! I will sing your praises all day today.

Today is my Friday off and I was planning to go back to sleep after my watch, but I don't think I can. I think I'll just stay up a little longer and read my devotional for today and see if He's got anything else to say.

Love It! I Just Love It! Time with Him. "Just us" time. I can't get enough of Him.

Talk to y'all later, have a great day!

How to Get Depressed & Discouraged

2008-09-05T06:12:00.043-04:00

1. Don't get enough sleep for days and weeks at a time.

2. When you start feeling a little down, stay away from people and be alone with your own thoughts. Don't help anyone, or be involved in their lives. Before you know it, you'll really start spiraling down.

3. Steer your inner announcer to carry on imaginary confrontational conversations with people.

4. Feel guilty about those imaginary conversations.

5. Feel sorry for yourself and so indulge yourself in too much TV or food (or bad books, magazines, websites, etc.) (or sleep, which is my pitfall).

6. Feel guilty about indulging yourself.

7. If a positive thought or feeling worms its way into your psyche, squash it! Don't let it linger long enough to multiply, and definitely don't dwell on it.

8. Don't let yourself think this is just temporary.

9. Don't exercise any self control over what you think. Make sure to convince yourself you have no control over your thoughts (except for #10).

10. Constantly tell yourself what a loser you are and every time more evidence pops up in your mind, embrace it.

11. Procrastinate. Don't do anything. Freeze, veg-out. Quit. Give up.

12. Feel guilty about procrastinating & freezing-up.

13. Remember, guilt and shame are your friend! Laughter is your enemy!

14. DON'T SING!

15. Stay away from the Bible, especially this, this, and this.

And here, here, here and here.

And under no circumstances believe this or this!

*Taken from Gary's Blog a long time ago. And it has ministered to me often.

Because of certain things going on in my life, this subject has been on my mind for quite some time. I struggle with it. . .my loved ones struggle. . . my friends struggle. I pray today for those who struggle with depression and discouragement. May the God of our salvation fix our eyes on Him, and the Hope that He has placed before us. May He put a new song in our hearts today. And may a lost and dying world see something different in us and want it for themselves!
I love you Lord! You are so good to us, even when we do not realize it. Even your difficult is good. Difficult with you, is better than easy without you! May you get all the glory and honor due you. Amen

He Did This For Me . . .

2008-08-30T04:30:00.013-04:00

I've read the following scripture a zillion times before

but never together, comparing them to each other.

Let me just say - I'm forever changed by it.

Matthew 27:45-46

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour

darkness came over all the land.

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice,

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" —which means,

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Romans 8:38-39

For I am convinced that neither death nor life,

neither angels nor demons,

neither the present nor the future,

nor any powers,

neither height nor depth,

nor anything else in all creation,

will be able to separate us from the love of God

that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Hebrews 13:5
Let your conversation be without covetousness;

and be content with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

"I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

Expect the Test & Dig the Roots

2008-08-22T11:12:00.070-04:00

Luke 8:13
The seeds in the gravel are those who hear with enthusiasm,
but the enthusiasm doesn't go very deep.
It's only another fad, and the moment there's trouble it's gone.

How do I begin to be a woman of substance, and let God's word have 100 fold harvest (maximum impact) in my life?

Notes from Beth Moore Simulcast:
1.Treasure the Wonder ~ August 6th post
2.Protect Your Heart ~ August 15th post

3. Expect the Test
When a season of testing exceeds the season of believing, we are headed toward a season of falling.

Trails are of God to make you stand.

Temptations are of Satan to make you fall.

Learn the word and expect the test. You will be tested on what you have learned.

Should memorize these to help pass the test:

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it. 1 Cor. 10:13 (MSG)

And now, God, do it again — bring rains to our drought-stricken lives so those who planted their crops in despair will shout hurrahs at the harvest, so those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing. Psalm 126:5-6 (MSG)

Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm. He called down famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food; and he sent a man before them — Joseph, sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the LORD proved him true. Psalm 105:15-19 (NIV)

I must cooperate with God's word!

4. Dig the Roots
My roots are as deep as I believe my God loves me. Do I really know how much He loves me?

2 Kings 19:29-31 (focus on v.29 & 30)
Year 1 ~ fruit grows by itself
Year 2 ~ fruit springs up from the previous year
Year 3 ~ you better sow some roots
Take root below and bear fruit above

My thoughts as I have pondered these scriptures:
I'm sorry this post took me so long. I really have been thinking about expecting the test and digging roots. It's just that I don't like tests or digging. Sounds like a lot of hard work to me. Tests are why I did not like school and digging is why I don't like to garden. Who ever said "being a Christian" was easy? There are some who think that getting saved makes the rest of life a breeze. Well, I hate to bust anyone's bubble . . . but that just isn’t true. Which brings me back to why this post is so delayed in its arrival. I hate to bust bubbles. Also, I don't want to say anything to prevent someone from coming to know Christ. So before I begin let me just say: He is worth any test you or I may go through and more than worth any digging we may do to bear His fruit in our lives. So don’t let the subject at hand prevent you from trusting in Him with all your heart. I’d rather go through a trial with Him than have good times and be without Him!

Expect the test, to me implies being prepared, rested up, and studied up. I don’t know about you, but if I waited until the night before the test to go over my notes I knew the outcome wasn’t gonna be pretty. The thing is, we’re out of school now, and the tests of life aren’t scheduled, they come without warning. I heard Chuck Swindoll say once, "if you’re not in a trial right now it’s because you’ve just come out of one or your fixing to enter into one."

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:13

I really like how the Message puts it, "roll up your sleeves . . . put your mind in gear . . . don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves . . . let yourself be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life . . . "

Digging, I said earlier was what I don’t like about gardening. I think my husband loves digging (must be a man thing) because every spring he’s out in the back yard with the tiller breaking up the ground. When I think he’s done enough and we should plant, he keeps on tilling, most of the time until dark. And the next day, I think OK lets go plant, and what does he do? Dig some more. He uses that tiller until he can’t walk behind it anymore because he’s up to his knees in that dirt. And I’m usually irritated because I’m impatient. I want to plant it, and it’s always a fun time with the kids. Then I want to sit back, water it, check on its progress, and EAT! But I know that our garden would not be as productive if he had not put the time and sweat into making the soil soft so that the roots could grow deep and find moisture on their own. This year while everyone’s corn was puny and brown because of the drought ours was tall and green. And we did eat. It was a good harvest.

Now that I think about it those trials we go through, are like that tiller digging up the dirt. They make the ground (our heart) soft so that we can grow deep roots. We can pray, "Lord, spare us from pain and suffering." Although I am beginning to believe, that’s not what He would have us pray. Life is gonna be hard whether we want it to be or not. And like it or not tough times really do benefit us far more than the good times do. Most of the time when things are good we are just like the Israelites, we forget our God and think we can handle our own life.

I think since praying for a life of ease is hardly ever answered with a yes I’m gonna change my prayer.

Lord, take my pain and suffering and soften the ground of my heart. Grow deep roots in my life that I can draw strength from You, so when the rain comes and the wind blows I will not be swept away.

Please Continue to Pray for Michael & Family

2008-08-18T08:17:00.000-04:00

Please go here ( Beverly's Blog ) for an urgent prayer need.

Protect Your Heart

2008-08-15T09:54:00.128-04:00

Luke 8:5, 9 and 12
A farmer went out to sow his seed.
As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path;
it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up.

His disciples asked him what this parable meant.

Those along the path are the ones who hear,
and then the devil comes and takes away
the word from their hearts,
so that they may not believe and be saved.

How do I begin to be a woman of substance, and let God's word have 100 fold harvest (maximum impact) in my life?

Notes from Beth Moore's simulcast:
1. Treasure the Wonder (His word) ~ August 6th post

2. Protect Your Heart

The devil takes away the word in order that I may not. . . Luke 8:12
BUT Jesus (the word) came in order that I may. . . John 10:10

That is MY WORD and it's not up for grabs!

The time to move on a word is NOW.

My thoughts this week as I've pondered the scripture:

Let me start by saying that my favorite comment all weekend was "That is MY WORD and it is not up for grabs!" Simply because it met me right where I am and where I have been for a while now. I have not always been here. . . instead I allowed the devil to come and steal what was mine. It's sad, I know...but true. I've grown tired of that. It's mine and he can't have it anymore. Did you hear me? MINE!

His word is MINE!
I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. John 17:14
His life is MINE!
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 1 John 5:11
His spirit is MINE!
We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 1 John 4:13
His wisdom is MINE!
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5
His promises are MINE!
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 2 Peter 1:4

His everything is MINE!
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3

I'm sick and tired of the devil taking what is mine. I want to have life and have it abundantly! Therefore, in order to protect my heart I have determined not to be a wimp any longer. I will stand up and claim what is mine.

Another thing that came to mind this week as I pondered ways to protect my heart was the garden that we planted (TWICE) this year. Yes, we had to plant our garden twice. My husband spent the time to till the soil, buy the seeds and plants, and plant them. The children and I helped. It was a good day. We always enjoy spending time together doing our garden. The next day my hubby went out to finish up some things that were left undone the day before. Much to his surprise all of the plants were gone! Our two dogs had hopped the fence around the garden and dug up everything that was visible. The corn seeds were all that was not bothered. . . only because they were still underground and could not be seen yet by our "sweet" dogs.

Before we spent anymore money or time planting, we had to make sure that our fence would protect our garden. We did not want to take the chance of losing everything again, not to mention what my husband would do to my children's dogs. It would not have been a good thing for that to happen again.

How are you protecting your heart? Are you determined not to let the devil steal from you anymore? Is your fence in good shape? Or does it look like this. . .

Ruined! Do your walls need rebuilding? Does the enemy have free access in your life? What are the walls of ruin in your life? Prayerlessness? Lack of discipline? Procrastination? No time with God? Moral compromise? Lust? Jealousy? Pride? Rebellion? Indifference?

What is it going to take to begin the reconstruction? I think time in the word and prayer is where we must start. Remember to treasure the Wonder. Then confront the enemy and tell him to get lost. Get tired of it. Realize that, in Christ, we have won the battle and start acting like it.

It just so happens that my pastor shared how to be prepared to fight the enemy this past Sunday. Our church has started a prayer wall where someone will be praying for our church 24 hours a day. His warning was to be prepared for battle because this is the last thing that the devil wants us to be committed to. He will stop at nothing to prevent us from being a Spirit filled church. The message was taken from Ephesians chapter six.

First, we must understand what God expects. Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Eph 6:10 Notice whose power we are to be strong in? In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37 Time in His word and prayer will definitely teach us whose team we're on. Secondly, we must know our enemy. Pastor says we have 3 enemies. Enemy #1 is self. If we don't submit to God's word we can really get ourselves into a lot of trouble without any help at all from the devil. Enemy #2 is the world system. And enemy #3 is the devil. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 We need to be able to recognize him in order to stand up against him. Thirdly, we need to understand the equipment that we have to fight with. Ephesians 6:14-20 there is the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, prayer, a watchful eye, perseverance, supplication, and bold speech concerning the gospel.

Then the pastor shared this verse. . . Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. (One day) the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. Acts 19:13-16 Then this week I found this verse. . . The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." Luke 10:17-20

So, I leave you with this, the devil knows Jesus, and Paul, but does he know you and me? Is your name written in heaven? Mine is. And I'm going to protect what is mine. It's MINE and he can't have it. With God's healing I'm gonna stick to the task of rebuilding my walls. And He will restore to me the years that the swarming locust have eaten Joel 2:25

As Beth puts it, "Let's make the devil sorry he ever messed with us."

Join me next time with Expect the Test.

Please Pray

2008-08-12T07:15:00.002-04:00

Please go here ( Beverly's Blog ) for an urgent prayer need.

Treasure the Wonder

2008-08-06T11:38:00.116-04:00

Luke 8:10-11

And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’ Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God."

How do I begin to to be a woman of substance, and let God's word have 100 fold harvest (maximum impact) in my life?

Notes from Beth Moore's simulcast:

1. Treasure the Wonder (His word)

We can never get to the bottom of His wonder.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is God breathed and will equip me.

The same breath that gave Adam life, gives life to me through His word.
I can be competently-competent . . . right now . . . through His word.
His word is a now word, yet it is revealed in His timing for His purpose.

My thoughts this week as I've pondered the scripture:

His word is a wonder! It is timeless, without a beginning or an end. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 The word is about God, His character, His life, and His desire to share that life (Jesus) with me . . . you . . . the creator wanting to dwell with the created.

The thought that He wants me to know Him is beyond my comprehension. To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God. . . Luke 8:10 I seek Him only because He first sought me. I did not go looking for Him on my own, He drew me to Himself. He is a mystery that I will never get to the bottom of. No matter how long I walk with Him there is more to learn, more to know of His wonder. Everyday, He meets me right where I am. A perfect word for my now. Even when I don't understand the mystery I can trust Him because He is truth, and He is trustworthy. One day there will be no more mysteries . . . His word says so. Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, "There will be no more delay! But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets." Revelation 10:5-7 All will be revealed, and I will worship Him in all His glory.

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Now if God's word is a seed, and I want a 100 fold harvest, I best get busy planting some seed. Seed will not grow unless they are planted. God's word must be planted in my life before I can expect a harvest of any kind. Lately I have been hearing God tell me that one of the best ways to plant His word is to speak His word (out loud). Hearing others speak the word is good . . . but if I want maximum impact I will learn to speak it myself. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10:10 I am saved and I am being saved. The church word for that is sanctification. So, if I am being saved . . . then I must not stop confessing with my mouth His word. I don't know about you, but I got some stuff to be saved from still.

A seed will always produce after it's own kind. Corn will be corn. Okra will be Okra. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Galatians 6:7 God's word will be what God wants it to be in my life. And as A.W. Tozer said, "I want ALL GOD has for me, or I don't want anything to do with religion at all." Therefore I must plant a whole bunch of seed. Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 2 Corinthians 9:6

Some other things to know about seeds are:

A seed begins it's growth in secret (underground)
A seed is powerful. It will push through the dirt to get to the light that gives it life.
A seed takes time to produce a harvest.
A seed is persistent. It grows day and night even when I am asleep.
A seed will stop growing without nourishment. Planting is not enough it must be protected and taken care of until harvest time.

And on that last point I will end because that leads us into the second point that Beth Moore made. So, I will be back next time with #2 Protect your heart.

Treasure the wonder, and may God bless you through His word.

Regina

Wow What A Weekend

2008-08-04T09:13:00.020-04:00

Mary ~ Teri ~ Regina ~ Lynn

It was a girls only weekend. No children. No hubbies. Just us, Beth Moore, and last but definitely not least, Jesus. We went to Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in Boone, NC to see Beth Moore's simulcast. According to Beth, there were 70,000 worshipers in 715 locations who were eager to hear what God had to say to them. It was awesome! We had such a good time in the Lord, and afterwards great fellowship with each other. God really blessed us with some girl time. It was a weekend that will not be soon forgotten.

This morning I have spent my time reviewing and praying over all that Beth had to share through God's Word. I know it was a word for me, and since our little Tuesday Night Bible Study group is taking a few weeks off before we start our next study, I have decided that I am going to take each point that Beth shared and study them over the next little while. This will be a first for me in two ways. One, I don't think that I've ever heard a message, and then ventured out on my own to see what else God could say to me. And second, I am going to try to do this online and share it all with you who read here. It is too good of a word to keep to myself. So I pray that God will bless my time with Him, and give me just the right things to share here with you. Will you pray that with me? And please feel free to share your comments here. I learn so much more through sharing with others and what God is saying to them.

To start I would like to share an outline of the weekend to get you thinking. And then after I have spent some time studying and praying I will share each point in detail. So here goes, may the Lord bless it.

Luke 8:1-15 ( click the reference and take the time to read )

1oo Fold Harvest ~ Maximum Impact ~ A Woman of Substance

Treasure The Wonder
Protect My Heart
Expect The Test
Dig The Roots
Stop The Choke
Retain The Word
Press Forth To My 100 Fold

I'll be back next time with Treasure The Wonder. See you then!

Love you in Christ,
Regina

I am not. . .

2008-07-23T22:29:00.044-04:00

I have to say that there was a time in my life when I thought that I was in complete control. I am by nature a very independent person. Mainly because God created me that way, but also because of events in my life, I learned to take care of myself at a very young age. While other children were busy at being just that, I was tending to tasks that most children do not have to concern themselves with.

I remember the first time that I had to be dependent on someone. I had broken my leg, and had to rely on my husband to do alot of the things that I normally took care of. It was not a fun time for me to sit and wait on someone else to do something that I normally could have just done for myself. As a matter of fact, it was very frustrating for me. And I am sure that if I were to ask my dear husband he'd admit to being very frustrated also (with me). It's not easy caring for an independent person, they can be a royal pain.

Since that time in my life I have learned that I am not in control of many things. There are two events in my life that really drove that lesson home for me. Event #1 was giving birth to my first born Phillip. And the second was giving birth to my baby girl Sara. Becoming a parent has definitely rocked my world. All of a sudden I needed to be in control of not one life, but two. Thankfully, by the time Sara came around, I had consented to the reality that I cannot control everything, and life was alot more relaxed. I was beginning to learn that God's got it all under control, and it was meaningless for me to spin my wheels trying to run the show.

By no means am I trying to say that I have arrived at living this truth out in my life. But I can say that the longer I walk with Jesus the more I realize that the show is not about me, it is all about Him. And I am learning to work AND rest in Him. And sweet rest in Him is what I desire most these days.

With all of that said, I wanted to share with you this book that I have been reading. It talks of this very thing. And it has been a great reminder of who He really is, the one and only I AM.

THE STORY ALREADY HAS A STAR, AND THE STAR IS NOT YOU OR ME. And here's why it matters ~ if we don't get the two stories straight, everything else in our lives will be out of sync. We'll spend our days trying to hijack the Story of God, turning it into the story of us. Inverting reality, we'll live everyday as though life is all about you and me.

GOD IS BIG. REALLY, REALLY BIG. And, I am not. Sitting here I feel so small ~ and small feels surprisingly good. So good I begin to wonder why it's so surprising that feeling small feels good. The truth is, feeling small may not be so bad if in recognizing our smallness we come to realize the wonder of God ~ a God who is beyond our ability to fully describe or imagine, yet someone we are privileged to know, love, and embrace.

I AM NOT BUT GOD KNOWS MY NAME

I AM NOT BUT HE HAS PURSUED ME IN HIS LOVE
I AM NOT BUT I KNOW THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE
I AM NOT BUT I HAVE BEEN INVITED INTO HIS STORY
I AM NOT BUT I KNOW I AM

You might be a KOOK if. . .

2008-07-17T21:26:00.051-04:00

I have to tell you this funny story that came up at our Tuesday Night Bible Study at Lynn's house a couple of weeks ago. It's not really my story, but I have not been able to get it off my mind and hopefully Lynn & Teri won't mind me sharing the thoughts that I have had since then.

We were going over our week's study and talking about The Holy Calling of the Priesthood and how God expected His priesthood to obey very specific guidelines. For instance they had to be between 25-50 years old. They could not shave their head and they had to keep it covered. They had to marry a virgin of their own people. They could not drink. Leviticus 22:31-33 tells us that if the priesthood did not live every word that God commanded that it would bring shame to God's holy name. Later in the study we were asked to answer a few questions:

What do you deliberately avoid for the sake of purity?

How do others know you are set apart to God?

If you have children, what habits toward purity are you helping instill in them?

Here is where the funny story comes in. Teri shared with Lynn that as she was working on her study that week she remembered one of the 1st times they ever met. They were at another mutual friends house just sitting around talking and she reminded Lynn of a conversation that they had, then she told Lynn that her 1st impression was, "What a kook this woman is! All she ever talks about is God and stuff." I can't even tell you how funny we all thought this was. I guess for you to understand completely you have to know the history of Lynn & Teri's friendship. They met at this mutual friend's house . . .Teri thought Lynn was a kook. Then. . . Lynn started Tuesday Nights at her house. When they first started it was just the three of them, then they invited me. Teri has admitted that, in the beginning, she really did not want to come. Since then Teri accepted Christ as her Savior. YAY! What a blessing it was that God allowed me to be there that night when Lynn led Teri to the Lord, and to watch Him begin a love relationship with her. I have to say that often times when she shares what she has learned reading her bible I get a little convicted. I think that I had fallen into that rut of forgetting "my first love" with Him. Just being around Teri rekindles that love in me for my Savior. She is excited and growing . . . the old has passed away right before my eyes and she has become a new creation. God is so good. Anyway that is really what made the "kook" thing so funny. Because now. . . Teri is a kook . . . just like the rest of us. If you can't beat 'em . . . join 'em . . . right!

So you might be a KOOK if . . . you talk about God all the time . . . if you go to church all the time . . if you read your bible all the time . . . if you pray . . . if you tithe . . . if you ask forgiveness when you realize you've done something wrong . . . if you are submissive to your husband . . . if you pray for your enemies . . . if your co-workers don't tell dirty jokes, or cuss around you . . . if no one gossips with you . . . if you won't let your children watch everything that comes on the TV . . . if you have rules and you expect your children to obey. . . if you . . . well, you finish the list.

A kook is someone regarded as eccentric or crazy and standing out from a group. And in case you're like me (not very smart) and you needed to look it up . . .

An eccentric is a person with an unusual or odd personality.

Do people think you are crazy? Do you often feel like you don't fit in? Compared to others are you unusual or odd? Are you in the world but not of the world? If so, take heart. God calls you to be a light in this world. And although we must walk inside this world, we must not let the world walk inside us. We can't hide our light under a bushel. So if others think you're a kook, then I'm sure God is well pleased with you.

2008-07-14T20:40:00.025-04:00

Thanks to Nancy Douglas at

Olive Leaf Ministries

I have won another

Bible Study Give Away.

Can you believe it?

Nancy, Thank you so much for your generosity. I have truly been blessed by reading your blog and I cannot wait to read this bible study. I pray that God will bless you and all that you do for His great purpose in your life.

Love In Christ, Regina

Random Thoughts of God's Goodness

2008-07-12T15:43:00.019-04:00

Sorry I've been out of touch since we went to Disney. The first week we were back I was exhausted!! Since then, I have been just enjoying some quiet time with my hubby after work while the children have been at VBS. To be honest, I've had writers block the past few weeks and I can't seem to get over it. So I have decided to just share some random things that I have learned in our Tuesday Night, Beth Moore study on the The Tabernacle. So here goes. . .

Jesus is My High Priest that meets my every need.

Hebrews 10:11-12 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, . . .

I just can't even begin to tell you how that one scripture has ministered to me. Beth asked, why was it significant that our Great High Priest "sat down"? And all of a sudden I got so excited I could hardly stand it. Do you get it? HE SAT DOWN. . . it was finished. . . there was nothing left to do. . . his work was done. After I read that, it seemed that I could not and cannot stop thinking about it. To live in that truth makes striving, worry, and fret fade away. And rest come so much easier.

He is able. . .(duh), and He lives to intercede for Me :-)

Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

I don't know about you but I've got some "uttermost" that needs some healing. It's "that thing" that I just can't seem to shake on my own. I'm just unable to beat it. But He isn't. . . He is more than able! That's good to know. And there I have another reason I can just rest in Him. Can you picture it? He "sat down" at our Father's right hand and He is conversing with our Father about me (or you).

The 1o Commandments = The Ministry of Death BUT was glorious. How much then should the Ministry of Life be even more glorious!
Corinthians 3:7-18 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious. Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

All I could think here, is how much more my life should reflect His glory because I am not under the Law but have been ministered to with the Life of Christ. Moses' radiant glory faded from his face the longer he was out of God's presence. Unlike Moses, who had to come down from the mountain where God's presence was, I have the very Spirit of God living in me. How much more then should my life reflect His glory? That's a tough question to answer. . .but one that deserves my attention.

Well, there you have it, the random thoughts that have been rolling around in my head and most definitely been doing a work on my heart lately. I want so much for Him to continue to teach me and make all of those truths that I knew in my HEAD be real in my HEART. Because until they find their way to my heart I'm afraid their not worth much. He is so good, and I really believe that He is doing great things in our little Tuesday night group. I am so thankful that He lead me to it and is allowing me to be a part of it. He has blessed me so much through it! If you feel led to, please pray for us as we finish this study on the Tabernacle. God is really at work in all of our lives.

We made It!!

2008-06-25T13:05:00.010-04:00

After driving all night with NO sleep. We spent the day at Animal Kingdom because check in was not until 3pm. The kids were very excited. And we were very tired. We stayed until we could not stand it anymore. Then we turned in early (4pm). The kids were upset but they quickly got over it. Phillip's last words were: "Are we not gonna eat dinner. . . I'm hungry. . .z z z z z z z z z." And we did not hear another word until the next morning.

We are having a great time and can't wait to tell everyone about our adventures. See you soon.

2008-06-20T08:57:00.001-04:00

Gone to Disney

A Wonderful Sabbath

2008-06-08T14:13:00.004-04:00

It all began with my quiet time this morning. I arose early to just have some time alone with My Lord, before everyone else was awake. It was wonderful. He grows sweeter with every passing day. I learned that God has called me to be His worker. He has assignments just for me, and that most of the time, what He has called me to do, will be way out of my league. It is something that I cannot do. If I were able to do it in my power, then where would be the glory for Him, who is the only one worthy of any glory?

Then it was time to wake the house for church . . . get this . . . they all got up . . . we had breakfast without that rushing feeling. And off to church we went. On time and ready to worship. I have to wonder if that had anything to do with me getting up 1st alone with God, is that what made the difference. Anyway, my son read Ecclesiastes chapter 2 on the way to church and we learned that working for the things of this world is like chasing the wind. It was a good read and I think my son really got it.

In Sunday School, we had some awesome praise reports from several members. It really was a time of praise. Some of those with praises are not yet out of their storm, but God has been faithful and worthy of their praise through the storm. Here are some of the main points from today's SS lesson 1 John 5:1-12 :

Genuine Faith obeys God and overcomes the world.
God's commands are not burdensome. He has given them to us to protect us and keep us. They are a sign of His love for us.
My relationship with Jesus is what will grow my faith.
Faith is a firm conviction of what God says.
The blood is what delivers us from the penalty of sin, and God's word is what delivers us from the defilement of sin.

Faith is necessary. Without Faith there is . . .

no salvation (Eph. 2:8-9)
no justification (Rom. 3:28
no access into grace (Rom. 5:2)
no living (Rom. 1:17)
no standing (II Cor. 1:24)
no walking (II Cor. 5:7)
no fighting (I Tim. 6:12)
no overcoming (I John 5:4)
no pleasing God (Heb. 11:6)

And that was just Sunday School, we haven't' been to the church service yet. Where we learned that we are "Shaped to Serve." Hey wait a minute, isn't that how I started my day with the Lord. You know it never fails when I am into His word that He uses my church to reinforce what it is that He is trying to teach me. Here are the things that shape us to serve.

our Spiritual Gifts
our Heart
our Abilities
our Pesonality
our Experiences

Did you know that God is glorified when we bear fruit (John 15:8), God works in us to do His good work (Phil. 2:12-13), God's word equips us to do every good work (II Tim. 3:16-17), and that God gave Himself (died & arose) to redeem us from lawless deeds, and purify us so that we could be zealous for good works.

Are we willing to be interrupted in order to serve? Some barriers to that willingness are:

self centeredness
perfectionism (waiting for the perfect time, or perfect words)
materialism

Are we grateful? Some barriers to being grateful are:

comparing and/or criticizing
wrong motives

Well, if you're still with me thanks for letting me share. This was a Wonderful Sabbath for me. My Lord is a great God. I am so thankful that He chose to pursue me. I so want to be all that He wants me to be. I pray that you also had a great sabbath with your Lord.

Trading Places

2008-06-07T21:12:00.020-04:00

I have always loved the story of Jonathon & David. Today it became even more special. In 1 Samuel 18:1-4 you can read where Jonathon made a covenant with David and sealed it by giving David his royal robes, his armor, and even his sword, bow and his belt. Now Jonathon was the heir to the throne . . . but he gave his attire to David. And in return he took David's . . . a simple cloak, which likely still reeked of sweat and sheep. To top it off this covenant was based on Jonathon's love for David, not on David's love. In essence Jonathon was saying, " I will become what you are, and you will become what I am, with the result that our souls are knit together as one."

Now, I could hardly contain myself because I had already read this:

Revelation 19:11-13 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

Did you catch that? He . . . Jesus . . . was wearing a robe dipped in blood! That was MY robe He was wearing. Wow! He traded places with ME just like Jonathon did with David. He took my stinking garments and gave me His royal attire. Weapons and all! And that's not all He traded places with me not because I wanted to but because HE wanted to. I love Him! Don't you just love Him?

Now as if that was not enough to just set my heart ablaze . . . get this . . . David might have experienced a moment of pride until He looked at Jonathon standing there in David's worn-out robe. So there you have it . . . the remedy for pride . . . just keep your eyes on the one that traded places with you.

Well, I think that my heart has been changed forever. To think that He traded places with Me. I should be wearing the worn-out clothes, and I should have hung on that cross. But see I did not have what it took to defeat death and the grave. So He traded places with me so that He could defeat death, and spend eternity with me. What love . . . I can't comprehend it at all . . . that He would trade places with me.

1 John 4:10 This is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

I'll end with this post with these questions, only because I had to ask myself the same thing this morning.

What am I doing with the royal robe that He gave me?

Do I put it on everyday?

Or do I leave it hanging in the closet?

Am I using the weapons He gave me to live in victory?

And one more thing occurred to me . . . He traded places with ALL who sinned.

I know this because His word says:

John 3:16 "For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life."

He traded places whether we wanted Him to or not, and it is up to us to accept the gift and receive the promise of Heaven. I pray that you have done that. He is an awesome Savior. My life will never be the same since I trusted Him. If you have not trusted Him would you please consider it? Let me know if you make that choice. I would love to talk to you about it. He loves you enough to trade places with you, there is no greater love than that my friend.

The Ransom Money

2008-06-06T21:50:00.015-04:00

Exodus 30:11-16

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the LORD, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them. This is what everyone among those who are numbered shall give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs). The half-shekel shall be an offering to the LORD. Everyone included among those who are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering to the LORD. The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when you give an offering to the LORD, to make atonement for yourselves. And you shall take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shall appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of meeting, that it may be a memorial for the children of Israel before the LORD, to make atonement for yourselves.”

Ransom ~ the price for a life

As I read the above verse today in my studies I got to the word ransom and thought . . . WHAT? Who can determine the price of a life? How will they know how much to give?

As I continued, I discovered that God told them what the ransom would be for their life. He told them all to give a half-shekel rich and poor alike when giving this ransom as atonement for their sins. The rich should not give more and the poor should not give less. Sin is Sin! And the payment for it must be the same. This is a truth that I've know for years but today as I read it in this context it really spoke to me. Christ had not come yet to be the final sacrifice for sin, but God still set the standard for being rightly related to Him. Everyone was on level ground. The rich. The poor. The young. The old. The prostitute. The slave. The priest. The leader. The follower. The price was the same.

I had to wonder . . . what if someone did not have a half-shekel? What then? Would they be plagued with some kind of sickness? I don't know if everyone had a half-shekel to give that day. But I know that today everyone has access to the ransom for their soul. Jesus is that ransom. He gave His life (died), that I might live. He paid the price for my sin. All I had to do was acknowledge what He died for me. It was free and available to me, for the taking. And it is free to anyone who wants to accept His payment for their sin. We are all on level ground when we stand at the cross.

I am so thankful that my atonement is not dependant on me or my efforts. All can come, all can have the life that Christ offers. The forgiveness. The freedom. Access the One and Only God of the Universe.

He is what I want. Oh Lord, you are precious to me! You have hemmed me in, and laid your hand on my life. You went out before me, and you have come in behind me (Ps. 139:5). My days have been of no surprise to you. My trials have not caught you off guard. You have purposed them for my good. Some of them are even what led me to you. You have been with me and I lack nothing (Duet. 2:7). I cannot go a day without you. You are what I desire. I love you Lord.

2008-06-02T06:20:00.001-04:00

Check out MY Man's new blog: Exchanged Living

2008-05-30T21:51:00.006-04:00

There is no way this pitcher could ever be used to hold water again.

That's the point.

Where have you been? Where are you right now? Do you wish that you could have written the pages of your own story?

My story would have been written without goodbyes or loneliness, without a sick mother, without a broken family, without betrayal, without unmet needs, without poor choices and the consequences of those choices. If I sat here long enough I could probably continue for days, but I think you get the picture.

I am thankful that I am not the author of my days. What a boring life "my" story would be. What a boring person I would be. If it were not for my brokenness, I am convinced that I would not even know my Savior. Why would I have needed Him, or even wanted Him if there were not a thirst. If my pitcher could hold its own. The thought of it makes me cringe. Would I have dreaded those days if I knew that they were going to lead me to the Eternal One. The Only One who I will never have to say goodbye to because He will never leave me. He heals all my diseases, and brings wholeness to my family. He meets all my needs, and covers all of my poor choices with His grace and mercy. Oh, I would not change a single day. The pain is worth the gain that I have experienced. What an Awesome Author He is.

And get this. . .my life may look like this pitcher all broken and cracked. And it may seem useless. But it is filled with living water and even though is seeps out the cracks and can't hold it own, the source is eternal. I'll never run low or thirst. And maybe, just maybe some of that living water that is seeping out of my brokenness will seep into the cracks of another.

This post was inspired by a post on Bring the Rain titled The Past and The Pitcher. Please take the time to hop over there and read the story that goes with the picture of the pitcher. Also take the time to read the posts that follow that one that is dated May 23rd. This family has been through alot of brokenness recently and covets your prayers.

Kelly

2008-05-26T00:34:00.002-04:00

I've known Kelly and her family for a long time now. She was just a tiny little girl when I met her. Now, she is a beautiful young lady who is on fire for God.

Kelly has been called by God to be a missionary. This Friday she leaves for a 2 month mission trip in Serbia. Please pray for her safe travel, and for God to do an eternal work through Kelly and the others that are going with her. Also remember her family (especially mom), they will miss her dearly.

If you would like to give Kelly a word of encouragement or keep up with her, and what God is doing you can visit her blog: Ichthus.

Be careful what you ask for. . .

2008-05-23T10:13:00.026-04:00

When I look at my life, I have to say that I have been really blessed. For the most part. . . I've been able to get what I want out of life. God has blessed me with a wonderful husband, children to die for, good health, a good job, a beautiful home, 2 cars, and lots of extras. Life's been good. Dreams are coming true, and the future looks promising, even with a few uncertainties that are lingering over the horizon.

Why then, do I hunger for more? Why, when one dream is achieved, another one comes along to take its place? It never ends, and to be honest, I am growing weary of it. Round and round I go, never achieving true satisfaction. It always seems to be just around the corner.

We've all heard the old saying, be careful what you ask for. . . you might just get it. Well, last night as I did day 2 of our new Tuesday night bible study, Beth Moore said, "Isn't it frightening that we could finally talk God into giving us all we desire?" That statement alone without the light of God's word on it may sound absurd, because I would love to have ALL that I want, and as a matter of fact I want it RIGHT NOW. But let's shine God's light on it, shall we. . .

Psalm 106:15 And He [God] gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.

Here is what the Geneva Study Bible has to say about "leanness of the soul":
The abundance that God gave them did not profit, but made them pine away, because God cursed it.

Whoa! Did you get that. . .their dreams coming true only made them pine away, it did not satisfy them. Life has taught me that getting all that I want will never fill me to the measure, only Jesus can do that. I want to be fat, (never thought I'd say that, especially since I am currently on a diet and have lost 13lbs.), and full with all that God has to offer me. If I want something that is going to cause my soul to be lean, then I pray that God would quench that desire in me quickly. Life is too short to be filling it with things that do not satisfy. God is pursuing me, chasing me down to give me His best, and by His grace, I'm gonna turn and run to Him. I want it. . . all of it. . .everything He has to offer. This world has nothing for me. And He has everything. So let me just say be careful what you ask for. . . He might just give it to you.

Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

I am so full on this lesson I can hardly contain myself. God is so Good!

I Won The Prize

2008-05-19T09:41:00.014-04:00

I won Beth Moore's book,
David: 90 Days With A Heart Like His
from Elaine's blog.

Thanks Elaine. I enjoyed your study of David, Fighting to Win.

I am more equipped to run the race and win because of your faithfulness
to share what God was teaching you.

The enemy will surely suffer loss now that we know his schemes.

Philippians 3:14

I press on toward the goal to win the prize
for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Beth Moore said "I was full of bull. . ."

2008-05-16T12:37:00.023-04:00

Tuesday night at bible study we watched Beth Moore's study on "Who do you Trust?" My friend, the Beth Moore junkie has the listening CD's AND the Video DVD's of this. Since I am being groomed by my friend to be yet another BM junkie I had listened to this lesson before. But Tuesday night I learned something new and I wanted to share. Here are the main scriptures that Beth shared for the foundation of this lesson:

Isaiah 26:3-4 (NKJV)
You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.

AND

Deuteronomy 1:28-33 (KJV)

Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there. Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them. The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes; And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place. Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God, Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day.

There are 2 evidences of distrust or unbelief in God. They are an ailing heart and a spewing mind. Beth asked us to take an evaluation of ourselves and identify where our hearts are ailing and our minds are spewing. She said that usually our ailing heart comes from a "secret pain". And examples of a spewing mind are: worry, fear, vain imaginations, anger, and so on. I am sure that there are more ways to spew than that, but these were the few that she named.

Beth asked us to answer some True/False statements. Here they are:

T or F Deep down I don't trust anyone.
T or F I tend to trust anybody.
T or F There is only one person on earth that I really trust.
T or F I don't trust God.
T or F I only trust God.
T or F I trust God in most things.

Then Beth began to comment on each statement. I'm just gonna be real with you here because that's my new thing that I think God has been telling me He wants me do.

I answered True to the first statement. "Deep down I don't trust anyone!" I'm sorry if that offends anyone, especially my friends, but it's true. For many reasons that I won't go into, I approach all relationships with some amount of distrust. That's just me, who I am (at this moment, but God is still working on me). Beth said that, because I answered true, I needed to let God heal me here, or I will develop a cold heart in order to cope with a cold world. Because, lets face it, some people are just not trustworthy, and when you have been betrayed or let down. . .IT HURTS!

I have to ask myself, can God really do a work in and through my life if I have this constant wall built around myself, refuse to trust people, and be real with them? Besides, am I trusting "the wall I built" to keep me protected? It is a wall built by me. . .and if I'm not mistaken the word of God says that my only refuge is in Him. So I definitely have some healing that needs to take place concerning trusting others.

At this point in the lesson I'm thinking. . . I'm with ya, Beth. . . been there, done that. . . I need to let God heal me. . . He is healing me. . . slowly but surely. . . I see Him working.

Then. . . she got down to "true or false, I only trust God." And Beth said, "If your answer was true to I don't trust anyone. . . AND true to I only trust God. . . You are Full of BULL."

And I thought, "Whoa! What did she say??!! She just said, I am Full of BULL!" Now at this point I was shocked and ready to do what Beth tells us to do sometimes. . .Go home and tell God on her. . .

"God, did you hear what she just said to me!! God, can you believe what she just said?"

And in my spirit, before I could even get off that couch and go home, I heard my Lord say, "Yep, I heard her. Did you hear her, Regina? It's true. . .you need to think about it and talk with Me about it. I have some new things to teach you, about yourself, and about Me."

Wow! That is scary, because anytime God speaks He calls me to a crisis of belief, where He expects me to adjust my belief, and OBEY Him. So that I can experience Him.

(learned from Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby)

Today, in my journey of faith, this is where I am. I am experiencing a crisis of belief and I am adjusting my thoughts and beliefs to line up with what God says is really true. I'm not sure yet what it is He is calling me to obey. But I am sure that as I make these adjustements, He will show me where I need to obey Him.

Remember our main scripture Isaiah 26:3-4, and Deuteronomy 1:28-23.

I've got my "secret pain" held out before my Lord, and he is saying, "after all I've done for you. . .you can't trust me with "this THING?" And I am saying, "I want to Lord, oh please help me with my unbelief!"

Blog readers, we've gotta be real. First with God, and then with others. Otherwise the pain that we go through in this life is all in vain. And I just really do not want to go through "this thing" for nothing! Do you? God can turn our ashes into beauty. A beauty far beyond our imagination.

If we are going to trust God like we say we do then there are only two kinds of situations that we can find ourselves in:

1. Situations in which we will see God's goodness immediately. OR

2. Situations in which we will see God's goodness eventually.

Now, sitting here healthy and happy while all is going well in our lives this makes perfect sense and is easy to remember.

So here's the challenge: Remember it when you are in the storm of that secret pain and your heart is broken. Or when God has asked you to just trust him with "that thing" that you just can't figure out how to fix. Or when he has asked you to be real with others about "that thing" that you've been going through so that others may be healed like you have been healed.

At this moment. . .this is where I am. Trying to keep my mind stayed on Him. How about you? Are we up to the challenge?

The Angel's Hushed Their Singing Tonight

2008-05-12T21:29:00.007-04:00

Several weeks ago during AWANA at our church the pastor came and shared a story with the children. He gave an invitation to accept Jesus as their Savior and several children including my beautiful, spunky Sara Bug went forward to do so. When the night was over Sara's leader brought her to the car and told us what she had done. My husband and I talked with Sara and decided that she really did not know what she was doing because she could not even remember what she prayed nor did she know what sin was. Sara has always admitted to loving Jesus and wanting him to live in her heart, but understanding our need (her need) for a Savior had just not come yet. So my husband and I decided to wait and pray.

Well. . . tonight let me just say that the Angel's in heaven hushed their singing to listen to the most precious conversation I have ever had. My spunky little girl told me that she was afraid and when I asked why she began to remind me of things that she has done that she knew was wrong. She was afraid that she could not be good enough to go to heaven. And I got the privilege of sharing Jesus with my daughter. She got it! She understands now that no one is good enough that is why Jesus had to die. She prayed the sweetest prayer asking Jesus to forgive her, and thanking Him for going to the cross for her. And then ran to the living room to tell her daddy what she did. In the morning she wants to tell her big brother, and on Sunday she wants to tell the pastor. And I'm just praising God for letting me be there when she did the most important thing she will ever do. It was precious. . . and like I said I'm sure the angel's hushed their singing because. . .

He loves to hear the angels as they sing

"Holy, holy is the Lamb"

(Holy, holy, holy is the Lamb)

Heaven's choirs sing in harmony

Lift up praises to the great "I Am"

(Hallelujah, Hallelujah)

But He lifts His hands for silence

When the weakest saved by grace begins to sing

And a million angels listen as a newborn soul sings

"I have been redeemed"

The Girl I Used To Be

2008-05-11T00:00:00.001-04:00

She came tonight as I sat alone,
The girl I used to be…
And she gazed at me with her
earnest eye and questioned reproachfully:

Have you forgotten the many plans
And hopes I had for you?

The great career, the splendid fame,
All the wonderful things to do?

Where is the mansion of stately height
With all its gardens rare?

The silken robes that I dreamed for you
And the jewels in your hair?

And as she spoke, I was very sad
For I wanted her pleased with me…

This slender girl from the shadowy past
The girl that I used to be.

So gently rising, I took her hand
And guided her up the stairs

Where peacefully sleeping, my babies lay
Innocent, sweet, and fair.

And I told her that these are my only gems,
And precious they are to me;

That silken robe is my motherhood
Of costly simplicity.

And my mansion of stately height is love,
And the only career I know is serving
each day in these sheltered walls
For the dear ones who come and go

And as I spoke to my shadowy guest,
She smiled through her tears at me.

And I saw the woman I am now
Pleased the girl I used to be.

Author Unknown

He's the LILY of the valley. . .

2008-05-09T13:09:00.007-04:00

Song of Solomon 2:2-3

Like a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters.
Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods, So is my beloved among the sons.

I sat down in his shade with great delight, And his fruit was sweet to my taste.

There is always a "lily" in the valley.
I need to focus on the "lily" and not the valley.
Discouragement comes from focusing on the past or future and not the present.

2 Corinthians 4:8-10
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

I am blessed if I can turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones.
The cross was a triumph! Not a tragedy.
Victory comes through defeat.
Healing comes through brokenness.

Jesus is the LILY of the valley.

2 Corinthians 1:20
For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

There are no disappointments if my will is buried in God's will.
A no to my request, is a big YES from Him to His best for me.

Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

God's power is at work IN me. Even though my circumstances may not change. He is changing me from the inside out, so the way that I look at my circumstances is different.

Father, tough times are coming. I see them on the horizon. Please help me be prepared to fight the enemy. Help me keep my focus on You, the Lily of my valley. Bury my will in yours. Whatever happens ~ use it to do a work in me and in my family. An eternal work. A work that brings glory and honor to You. I have to admit I'm afraid looking at that "giant". He is dressed for the fight. Help me to remember that I am yours and that you will fight my battles if I will just let you. You have been faithful to me thus far. Thank you, Lord. I love you!

Garden of My Heart

2008-05-03T13:57:00.019-04:00

The garden of my heart. . . was weary. . . and in need of refreshment.

I let Jesus the Master Gardener revive me.

The Master Gardener brings to every garden. . .beauty and joy!

Even the threat of winter. . .

cannot dispel the promise of His coming spring!

He asked me, "Are you ready to get real. . . and get healed?"

"Are you ready to be pruned?" And I said, "Let the work begin! Work in me. . .Your will. . ."

"Pruned for Your Glory!"

He asked, "Is your garden gate open to receive Me?"

"Are you finally ready to tear down the walls that you've put up. . . to keep others out. . . but yourself locked in?"

"Are you willing to let Me plow up the hard ground of your heart. . .

and plant Myself in you. . . so that you can thrive?"

And I said, "YES!"

I AM ONE too. . .

2008-04-30T17:58:00.032-04:00

Last night at bible study Beth Moore was explaining the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant (which applies to us today). She said that in the days before Christ that God primarily worked through external events. For example. . .the burning bush. . .parting the red sea. . .making water flow from a rock. . . making a whale swallow Jonah. . . you get the picture! All of these things are external manifestations of God at work. Also He worked through people like Moses, Abraham, Joseph, Esther, Daniel, and so on. . . BUT. . . there were really only a few people who were filled with God's Spirit. Everyone else depended on those few to be a voice for God. Well. . . . . that brings us to now. . . after Christ. . . after Jesus shared the Last Supper with His disciples. . . after He was crucified. . . buried. . . and rose again. . . . . The New Covenant. Now God primarily works through His Holy Spirit which He has given freely to all believers. Isn't that awesome!!! He has deposited Himself into our heart. He took the law on stone tablets and transplanted them in to the hearts of men. God's main priority is to do a work in our hearts. Then Beth said, "Don't get me wrong and think that God does not preform miracles today, because He does. . . I am one." That got me to thinking. . . and you know what. . . Me too!! I AM ONE too!! A MIRACLE of God that is. So here are some things I've been pondering today.

My dad tells me that the first time that he saw me I was surrounded by doctors and was bouncing on the hospital table like a basketball. When I was born my lungs were collapsed and I could not breath. The doctors told my dad that if my lungs did not inflate quickly that they would have to do surgery and manually inflate them. My dad said that He went and prayed and I began to breath on my own. I AM A MIRACLE of God.

When I was maybe 4 or 5 our family was going to the beach for vacation and we were involved in an auto accident. The other vehicle rolled over. My dad rescued the people from that car. No one was injured. I AM A MIRACLE of God.

Somewhere between age 6 and 9 my mother was diagnosed with a mental illness. She was in and out of the mental hospital numerous times after that. I took on the parental role early in my childhood. I was afraid to leave her side and felt like it was my job to take care of her. I AM A MIRACLE of God.

Our kitchen caught on fire several times in my childhood but never amounted to anything really, really serious. My dad was always able to get it under control and no one was ever hurt. I AM A MIRACLE of God.

My parents separated and divorced when I was about 11 or 12. My dad was awarded custody. My mom was not well enough to take care of me. She would be well, then have a relapse, be well, and relapse. I had to tell a judge which parent I wanted to live with. I told the judge my dad because I knew deep in my heart that my mom could not take care of me. I got to visit her on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month. For a long time (many, many years) I lived with the guilt of that. Now as an adult I know that the judge did not base his decision on what I said. He really did what was best for me. I AM A MIRACLE of God.

Soon after my parents divorced and the custody battle was over. My dad and I were at church and I accepted Jesus as my personal savior. I don't remember praying a prayer. Although I may have. What I do remember is this urgent feeling that I needed Jesus to be my Savior or I was going to die. I AM A MIRACLE of God.

My dad worked swing shifts and at a very early age I had to stay by myself when he worked 2nd and 3rd shift. I AM A MIRACLE of God. One time he did not have anyone to take care of me. We lived too close to the school for me to ride the bus, and he took me to school early in the morning probably 6:30am and left me sitting in the dark by the school door so that he could go to work. It was still dusk and I was only there for maybe 15 minutes until someone got there to open the doors, but it felt like forever. I AM A MIRACLE of God.

One day I was at home alone while my dad worked 2nd shift and I was feeling kind of sad and lonely. I was watching the 700 Club. I think that is what it was anyway. And the preacher on that show was praying for people who had called in with their request. I was sitting on the floor watching and crying and all of a sudden that preacher began to pray for what he said was a "young girl sitting in front of the TV crying with beautiful blue eyes." He said that he "did not know why she was crying but that she was very sad," and he asked, "that God would heal her." I thought to myself. . . that's me. . . I have blue eyes. . . YES God heal me, heal my broken heart!!! I AM A MIRACLE of God.

Later in my teen years 15, 16, 17 I got away from God and fell into peer pressure, and doing my own thing smoking, drinking, drugs. When I was 16 I was in a car accident where I broke my arm, busted my mouth open, and totaled a friends car all while I did not even have a drivers licences yet. I lived to tell about it. I AM A MIRACLE of God.

Two days before I turned 20 I married my husband now of 18 years. He did not know Jesus as his Savior at this time, which was not a concern of mine because I was not in God's will. We were married 3 years before our pitiful attempt of being happily married drove us to the feet of Jesus. He was saved and I was in love with my savior all over again. This time forever. He did AND is doing a BIG work in both of our lives. I just have to say. . .WE ARE A MIRACLE of God.

One day my husband and I were running late for work and we were the first to drive up on the scene of a fatal accident between a drunk driver and a gravel truck. If we had been seconds earlier we would not have been able to avoid it. WE ARE A MIRACLE of God.

One day my first born (about 2 months old), and I were ran off the road by a driver that went to sleep at the wheel. He drove all the way down the drivers side of my car. A few more inches over and it would have been a head on collision. No one was hurt. WE ARE A MIRACLE of God.

Shortly after my husband & I started going to church my mother had a big relapse with her mental illness. Now that my brother & I were grown up it was our time to take care of her. Let me just say that it is very difficult to take care of someone who doesn't admit that they are sick and thinks that everyone is against them. God has taught me very much about trusting in Him through all of this. And over the years has healed a deep wound in my life where my mother is concerned. I AM A MIRACLE of God. Also I need to add that I don't think that I ever told my husband about my mother before we were married. At times my mother was very mean to him but my beloved husband has always been there for me. HE IS A MIRACLE of God.

I could go on and on. I have so much baggage, and so much bondage that I don't even feel free to share here because I would not want to dishonor any of my loved ones. So you'll just have to take me at my word when I say that My Lord has rescued me from many a pit therefore I AM A MIRACLE of God. And get this. . .God's word says. . .

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16.

Did you get it. . . inwardly we are being changed!!! That's the New Covenant. God's promise to me. God in me doing a good work. Praise Him for He is good. Sing to Him a new song. Give Him honor and glory. Rest in His shadow. Shout the wondrous works of Him who loves me and is especially fond of me. Why me Lord? What is it that you saw in me that made you love me so? Your mercies are new every morning ~ thank you!! You are my everything!! Oh Lord, may all that I experience in this "short" life draw me closer to you, so that I may know you. Be a wellspring of life in me just overflowing so much that I can't help but get you all over those around me. I love you Lord Jesus. Bless your Holy name. Amen.

This is my bible. . .

2008-04-25T07:10:00.054-04:00

I had a Sunday School Teacher once who every Sunday made her class hold up their bible and repeat after her:

"This is my bible, the inspired living word of God."

And then she would teach us God's word in Spirit and Truth. You could not come away from her lessons the same person you were when you walked in the door. She taught with such passion it was obvious that she had walked with our Lord that week. Her passion was definitely contagious in my life. When I sat under her teaching I realized that I wanted what she had. I desired to know Him the way that she did. And her influence changed my life forever. I will never be the same. My bible is my most prize possession. God's word really is alive and active. You cannot sincerely seek to know Him through His word and not be changed.

During a recent Tuesday Night Bible Study that I attend we all sat and talked about how the Bible tells us about Jesus from beginning to end. From Genesis to Revelation. What was for told in the Old Testament came true in the New Testament. And what has not yet come true will be because what God says. . .God will do! He is a God of promise and cannot break His word to us. Cut the Scriptures anywhere and they bleed with the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

Think about it. . .

In Genesis, He's the breath of life. . . In Exodus, the Passover Lamb. . . In Leviticus, He's our High Priest. . . Numbers, the fire by night. . . Deuteronomy, He's Moses' voice. . . In Joshua, He is salvation's choice. . . Judges, law giver. . . In Ruth, the kinsmen-redeemer. . . First and second Samuel, our trusted prophet. . . In Kings and Chronicles, He's sovereign. . . Ezra, true and faithful scribe. . . Nehemiah, He's the rebuilder of broken walls and lives. . . In Esther, He's Mordecai's courage. . . In Job, the timeless redeemer. . . In Psalms, He is our morning song. . . In Proverbs, wisdom's cry. . . Ecclesiastes, the time and season. . . In the Song of Solomon, He is the lover's dream. . . In Isaiah, He's Prince of Peace. . . Jeremiah, the weeping prophet. . . In Lamentations, the cry for Israel. . . Ezekiel, He's the call from sin. . . In Daniel, the stranger in the fire. . . In Hosea, He is forever faithful. . . In Joel, He's the Spirits power. . . In Amos, the arms that carry us. . . In Obadiah, He's the Lord our Savior. . . In Jonah, He's the great missionary. . . In Micah, the promise of peace. . . In Nahum, He is our strength and our shield. . . In Habakkuk and Zephaniah, He's pleading for revival. . . In Haggai, He restores a lost heritage. . . In Zechariah, our fountain. . . In Malachi, He is the son of righteousness rising with healing in His wings. . . In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, He is God, Man, Messiah. . . In the book of Acts, He is fire from heaven. . . In Romans, He's the grace of God. . . In Corinthians, the power of love. . . In Galatians, He is freedom from the curse of sin. . . Ephesians, our glorious treasure. . . Philippians, the servants heart. . . In Colossians, He's the Godhead Trinity. . . Thessalonians, our coming King. . . In Timothy, Titus, Philemon, He's our mediator and our faithful Pastor. . . In Hebrews, the everlasting covenant. . . In James, the one who heals the sick. . . In First and Second Peter, He is our Shepherd. . . In John and in Jude, He is the lover coming for His bride. . .

And In the Revelation, He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords He is, He is!!

A Father's Love ~ is Measureless

2008-04-21T21:24:00.016-04:00

Thank you, Abba Father for your measureless love. I pray that I will be able to grasp exactly how deep & wide it really is for me. Fill me with the understanding and awe of it. May I learn to rest in the truth of it. I love you Father! Amen.

Empty Spaces. . .in my homework

2008-04-18T09:35:00.030-04:00

It's MY Friday off. I could not wait for it to get here. Usually, I get up and go have lunch at the school with my kids & Jonathon. That's right I eat 3 times. First with Sara, usually something very small (fruit). Then, with Jonathon I eat lunch and before that is over it's Phillip's lunch time, and when he is done we have ice cream. This has been a treat that we have enjoyed every since I started getting every other Friday off. I always missed the chance to visit my kids at their school because of my job and now God has blessed me with that opportunity.

But today. . .it's MY Friday. . .and like I said I could not wait! I needed some ME time, and I became very aware of that need Tuesday night at bible study. We just started another Beth Moore series called "Measureless Love", and it was time to share what we learned during our homework time the week before. Basically we were to spend time thinking through a few questions about measuring up:

Who are we trying to measure up to?
Who are we trying to measure up for?
Who are we trying to measure God by?

As I did my homework that week the first question came pretty easy to me. Since being a mother (8 almost 9 years now), God has been teaching me that I spend my days trying to live up to "my idea" of the perfect mother, perfect wife, and perfect christian. Because of my past I set the standard for those things so high that defeat was always at my back door. This makes me exhausted and empty. When I got to the second & third question I had a more difficult time answering my homework because. . .time is not my friend. . .thus explaining the empty spaces on my homework sheet that became very obvious to my bible study friends when I was not sharing very much. This is why I could not wait for MY Friday, I had made an appointment with God. I needed time to ponder these questions and allow God to speak to me and to fill me. Let me just say God showed up this morning (thank you Jesus), and helped me answer those questions.

In Ephesians 3:14-19 Paul prays for me to *be strengthened in my inner being so that *Christ may dwell in my heart, *and that I may have power to grasp the love of Christ *so that I may be filled to the measure with the fullness of God.

As I pondered those verses it occurred to me that all of my "measuring up" may come from my past experiences with the people in my life but the root of my problem is ME. I am my worst enemy.

2 Corinthians 10:12-13 tells me it is not WISE for me to compare myself to ANYTHING but the field God has assigned to me.

Beth Moore brought our attention to the word field. Get this. . . the Hebrew word for field is kanna~a reed, a measuring rod. Our word is canon, which is the Bible. So what is the field God has assigned to me?? His word. . .of course. That should be my measuring rod. Not past experiences, not others, not even my idea of who I should be. No one has got it all together, not even Paul did (Philippians 3:12). So why in world would I ever expect to have it all together?? You know, or maybe you don't. . .we are a messed up people that's why we needed a Savior.

Here is a truth I need to sink deep into my heart: GOD IS NOT MESSED UP! He does not have a "love tank" that I need to fill up. HE IS LOVE!

I don't need to do anything to merit His love. He loved me before I was even born and could do anything. I realized this morning for the first time I think that my focus lately is all wrong. I have been discouraged because I have felt like I haven't been doing much for God. God is not interested in me doing something for Him. He can handle things just fine without me. He desires a relationship with me and out of that will flow a life of doing.

Beth Moore says "God does not condemn me, Satan does. God convicts me so I can see my error, surrender to Him, pucker up and kiss it good-bye!" So that is what I am doing this morning. . .the last question of my homework.

What are you kissing good-bye?

I am kissing good-bye the idea that God has a "love tank" that I need to fill up for Him to be happy with me. And I am going to replace it with His Measureless Love for me. Because when I look outward it easy to become discouraged. And when I look inward it seems hopeless. But. . . when I put my hope in His love He delights in me, and there is hope, encouragement, and victory. And I am going to rejoice in the fact that I've got my eye on the goal (JESUS), I'm running towards Him, and I AM NOT going to turn back. PRAISE THE LORD :-) !!!

What if. . .

2008-04-16T11:54:00.001-04:00

What if we treated our Bibles like we do our cell phones?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
What if we used it as we traveled?
What if we used it in case of an emergency?

Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we never have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill!

Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)

2008-02-11T16:55:00.000-05:00

40+ Reasons Why I Love You. . .

2008-02-08T08:31:00.000-05:00

for all the "firsts" we've had together (too many to count)
for all the "firsts" we have yet to experience
for all the laughter :-) we've had
for all the tears we've shed
for all the fights
for learning to fight "for us" not against us
for all the make-ups ;-)
for being passionate about the things you believe in
for not being afraid to say what you are passionate about
for telling the truth even when it hurts
for the time we had together before children
for having beautiful children with me
for loving those children with all your heart
for the time we will have together after our children are grown
for raising those children to love & trust the Lord
for being at all of their doctors appointments (except 1. . . where Phillip & I both cried when Sara got her shot) we missed you being there that day
for going to a job everyday that I consider to be one of the most difficult jobs there could ever be
for caring about all of your "other" children at that job
for being so transparent and honest at that job that it sometimes comes back to bite you (which may I say is no fault of yours)
for being a summertime "stay at home" dad ~ your children will always remember the good times
for crying at sappy movies
for needing me
for wanting me
for long drives to nowhere in particular
for taking walks with me
for making me "slow down" and smell the roses because life is too short to sweat the small stuff
for bringing me "free" flowers (because I feel guilty if we spend $$ on them)
for loving the Lord
for desiring to be the man that God wants you to be
for sharing this journey of faith with me with all of its ups and downs
for believing that God will finish what He has started in us
for hocking your table saw to buy my study bible for Christmas
for knowing me & understanding me
for believing in me
for trusting me
for encouraging me
for loving me unconditionally (a true Christ likeness in you) especially considering I can be very unlovely at times
for dreaming "big" dreams with me
for being my very best friend
for looking at me today the same way you looked at that blue eyed 16 year old. . . you made me feel beautiful then and you still make me feel beautiful

And because you've known me now for 22 years and if you weren't going to like me you would have done it by now.

I love you Jonathon Dean, you are my Grinder's Switch! Today is 40 years and counting. The BEST is yet to come. . .

Jeremiah 29:11-14 "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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

who me? . . . religious?

2007-10-05T09:49:00.001-04:00

I read the following post at Gary's Blog and I thought it was just awesome. What would you say if you had to explain to someone what it meant to follow Christ? (Be sure to follow the blue links to see what God has to say!!)

Well, I could say I was religious but that wouldn't necessarily tell you anything. One definition of religious is, 'conscientiously faithful.' So I used to be religious about rock and roll. And beer. Or I could be religious in the sense that I was Jewish or Muslim or Buddhist or Protestant or Catholic -- but those are all different religions, so you still wouldn't know what I meant. Almost all those religions have to do with what I have to do to qualify to get to God, to go to heaven. Christianity is different.

It's about what God did for me. I ran my own life and could NOT qualify for heaven. I deserved to be punished for running my own life. Running my own life is not right, and running my own life is not good for me. I think it's kind of like God owns my life, and it's a big crime if I steal it from him to use it for myself. But God loves me and doesn't want to punish me, so Jesus, a person and God, took my punishment for me. When I believed that -- accepted that -- personally, for me, from him, then I was set free. Rescued. Plus, I get this personal relationship with him. Religion didn't rescue me. Being religious didn't rescue me. A person, Jesus, rescued me. So, since it's possible to be religious and interested in God -- and yet still run your own life, without ever being rescued by Jesus -- some people want to make sure you know what they mean, and they say, "I'm not religious, but I do have a personal relationship with Jesus."

For me it's like being married. It's not the ring that makes me married, or the paper at the court house, but it's the relationship that I have with my husband. It's a relationship like none other. That's my relationship with Jesus, close and personal and by far the most important one I have!

remembering 9/11

2007-09-11T14:58:00.000-04:00

My pastor sends out an email weekly called the Shepherd's Heart. Today he sent and extra one in memory of 9/11. Here is what it said:

Could not have said it better! Read this from my friend Dr. Mike Hamlet, Pastor of First Baptist Church, North Spartanburg.

9/11

Today is the 6th anniversary of one of the worst days in American history. This is one of those times that you can always remember where you were when you first heard about the crash at the World Trade Center. In so many ways life changed for us on that day. There are so many things that we no longer view in the same way.

9/11 taught us a lot of things but there are a couple that stand out in my mind.

-The first is that we are completely dependent on the Lord. Terrorism is real and it feeds on fear. But we serve a God that is greater. II Timothy1:7 says, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and a sound mind." We do not have to live in fear because we serve arisen Savior.

-Secondly, we live in a world that needs to hear the gospel. The world is desperately looking for an answer and that answer is Jesus Christ. He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the father but by me." We have the answer!

As believers we must not focus on our fear but focus on our faith. We have a greater opportunity to share the gospel than any people in history.

Today the media will probably focus on that which is bad. They will continually remind us of the fact that it is a dangerous world. They will encourage us to live with our heads down. But we have a story to tell! We have every reason to look up. When we are focused on Him, we live with a confidence and an expectation of what the Lord is going to do next.

Mike Hamlet

Along with this I would like to leave you with this scripture from God's Word and tell you what I learned from 9/11.

Psalm 31:14-15 (NKJV) But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me.

A lot of people lost their life that day, but many were spared also. When I read that verse I have to ask, "Why me Lord?". Among all of the feelings I felt that day, I would have to say that was the most predominate. Why am I given another day or even the next breath? Every second is a gift from the Master. He is sovereign and my times are in His hands. My prayer is that I won't miss His purpose for my life. And that "fear won't be my focus" but instead my faith will.

What did 9/11 teach you?

2007-08-17T12:25:00.001-04:00

She spoke often of her "hometown" which, in her act she called Grinder's Switch. I watched a documentary on her once and they said when asked what Grinder's Switch meant to her she replied, "heaven on earth."
Instantly I adopted this as my own. My husband & I liked the idea of referring to our home as Grinder's Switch, our little piece of heaven on earth. We still call it that even after 17 years of marriage. We've had good times and bad times, with the good out weighing the bad. To us our home is a place of comfort, and acceptance. A place to live, learn, laugh and to be loved. We are not perfect by any means and of course God is still working on us. (Philippians 1:6)

One day I'll go to my real home in Heaven to be with my Savior. When I die, life will have just begun for me. I pray that I finish well, and won't be ashamed. Really though my only hope is in Him who died for me, because without His sacrifice for my sinful self I would not have that "Eternal Home" to put my hope in. Until that day Grinder's Switch will do for me. Because of His mercy & grace I can enjoy "heaven on earth".