On The Job Healing

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

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

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

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

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?

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:

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?

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

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

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

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

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 . . .

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

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!!

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

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

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

'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

Where is Jesus When You Need Him?

"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?