Sunday, November 30, 2014

Today is the day our Lord made...

Good morning all-

I titled this blog, "Today is the day our Lord made," mostly because that's all I can think about.  I woke up this morning with memories of my mom turning forty-nine and in a few short weeks, I will be the very same age.  I remember thinking how old she was when in fact, she probably was in her prime.  I know I'm more tired.  I wear out easily in the evening because I've already put in more work than two teenagers and I know that I can see the signs in my hands and face.  Age has come and with it, I'm one more year to paradise.

The headlines are about Ebola, a young man who was killed by a police officer and a teenager in Ohio waving a toy gun that was killed. There is so much stuff going on that someone could get lost.  People were out Christmas shopping on Thursday and honestly, I heard more horns honking than on any other day of the year.  Families came in for the holiday and children that you once knew are now grown men and women and then there are those that have gone to be with Jesus and you remember them with fondness and a little sadness.  All of these things encompass a day and it is our Lord, God and Savior.  We are His and He has made this day.  It's no coincidence that I woke up thinking about my mom this morning or reading about the policeman that is resigning from his duties to save a city.  This is what was given to us today and we must embrace it, pray for it and work toward putting God first in our lives.

Some might say, "How is God in today?"  Well that's a great question.  He is in the voice of the child at St. Jude fighting for their life.  He is with the young mother who is sleep deprived and wondering when she will ever rest again.  He is with the mother struggling to get their teenager on the right path and He is with the mom who laid her son to rest.  These are the moments we know He is near.  Why?  Because every one of these people is crying out for Him to be with them, just today.  None of these women could look at tomorrow because tomorrow is so uncertain, full of fear and distress.  So instead of looking for tomorrow, they spend time alone asking God to help them today.

So as you wake and read this blog, think of how God made today.  It is still dark in Kansas but I can hear the wind changing directions and the cold coming back once again.  When the sun begins to rise, a new day will dawn and the earth will once again wake.  And in the quiet, I pray you are thinking about all that Christ has done for you.  You are praying for the sick, the confused, the sinner and the saint.  They all need prayer but mostly, I'm praying for you to be in this moment, in today with our Lord and thanking Him for all He has made.  I know that this is sometimes very tough.  I have challenges just like you but it is our Lord that has made us and this day and He has a purpose greater than our thoughts, feelings or wishes.  He has made today to glorify Him!

May your day be filled with memories of how God helped you through a great trial, or how he made you laugh when you wanted to cry.  May today bring you happiness even if you feel sorrow and may you grow closer to our Savior as you pray for others that wish today would never be.  You can be assured, I am praying for you.  I am thinking about every woman, in every country and asking God to show her the way to paradise.  We hold the keys to bringing the next generation to Christ.  How you might ask?  By living each day believing that God put us on this earth and made this day!  Be well my sisters and know I'm thanking God every day for this blog and for you.

And she made a vow, saying, “ Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” (‭1 Samuel‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬ NIV)

This was Hannah's prayer to the Lord for a son.  She lived for that day and prayed.  She would do exactly as she vowed.  As soon as he was weaned, He was given to be raised for God's purpose and out of this Scripture came Samuel.  What would be your vow this day if you had a chance to ask God to deliver you?  Would you ask for a son, food, a house or maybe a job?  Live in today, be sacrificial and love our Lord with all your heart and soul.  It's no coincidence that God answered this prayer and that Samuel was a great prophet in a very tumultuous time in Israel.  We are in the end times, no one knows the hour but we are there.  Let's remember that one of our vows should be to live in today and worship the only God that lives!

The living, the living—they praise you, as I am doing today; parents tell their children about your faithfulness. (‭Isaiah‬ ‭38‬:‭19‬ NIV)

My prayer today:

Hear our cries, O, Mighty, God.  We come to You proclaiming that You are the way and the truth.  We know that You made today for Your purpose and we are here today to live in it and believe that You are God.  The cries of the helpless are being sent to the King of Kings and The Lord of Lords.  Our leaders are following their own devices, the world grows more evil and our children are turning on us but in all of it, You are near.  The sun always rises to the East and sets in the West.  It is our indication that You are mighty and powerful.  The light takes us from night to day and within each morning we hear Your call.  Make us new today.  Give us a spirit that wants to know You more and please make us humble.  Often we want fame for our work but the only fame we should desire is to be in Your presence.  Nothing else matters.  Please forgive us for our sinful nature, help us raise the next generation and mostly, help us to see that You made today and that You are present in it.  Thank you for all the things You do.  I still believe in miracles.  Help us to embrace You like a child, open and loving with no sense of skepticism or doubt.  We look on You today for all things.  Let us have eyes to see and ears to hear and bring revival all over the world!  In Jesus Name I pray.

Until tomorrow...

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Thanksgiving and forgiveness...

Good morning all-

Recently, I have been thinking a lot about Thanksgiving.  I have to admit it's been around the tradition and not my thought life.  Thanksgiving was a time of great harvest and immense joy.  The Indians had helped the Pilgrims grow food for the winter, which meant imminent survival.  I can only imagine the feeling of joy and thanksgiving.  It was a time that Christians and non-Christians came together for the good of man and it must have been wonderful!

Fast forward to 2014 when food is bought at grocery stores, most men wouldn't know how to farm and many ladies can't cook.  For some, turkeys will be bought already prepared, we can actually buy the whole dinner if we want.  And yet, thousands of miles away, children are starving, homelessness is everywhere and for many today will not represent Thanksgiving.  I get caught up in the dinner, the family and the preparation.  My mom loved this time of year and made it fancy and special, so when I found out my husband wanted to celebrate with his family this year, I struggled with sadness and loss.  The sadness I don't really get but the loss I have a clue into.  This is the time that reminds me of my mom the most and somehow I felt like I wouldn't feel her if I didn't continue her legacy.  Strange enough, I am repenting of that because God is the reason for Thanksgiving and not just today.  We should be on bended knee proclaiming Him as mighty and worthy of praise, instead of worrying that I somehow am letting my parents down.

The years are going quick and I try to hold onto each one tight.  The problem with doing that is that I don't stay in the moment.  What was meant traditionally as Thanksgiving has been lost in material things.  Those people were thanking God for the Indians that taught them how to plant and store food.  Without their help, the Pilgrims would have starved.  God provided their manna for the winter and continues to provide for us today.  We are so used to the abundance in America, maybe it's time we scaled back and thought about the meaning behind why we celebrate and for whom we are celebrating.

My thought life has also gone to forgiveness.  During this time, I need to be forgiving and thankful.  Christ has done a lot for me and although I am the captain of my ship, He steers it if I ask.  So my heart is asking the Lord to remind me of my need for Him, convict me of my sins, and help me be thankful for every thing He has provided for me.  So even though I am struggling with my mind, I know that God is near.  He is prompting me to wash away tradition, respect my husband's wishes, and move toward Him with thanksgiving in my heart.  So at 5:49 am, I proclaim thanksgiving in my heart for my King and Savior.  I am thanking Him for everything I have and for everyone that has entered my life.  But most of all, I am thanking Him for dying on a cross and providing everlasting life.  My heart is full this morning as I confess my sin and as I look toward the God of my heart.

I pray that many will have food this season and that all over the world people will come together putting Christ first before traditions and material things.  I hope that thousands hear the message of His mercy and grace.  I also am praying that we will pray that those that don't know Him will proclaim Him as Lord and Savior this season.  I know that holidays can be difficult, especially if you have lost someone.  In the last seven years, my thoughts have often gone to those that I have lost.  In the same moment, my thoughts have gone to what they left behind, love.  The one thing I have never lacked was love and if I should be thankful for anything this year it should be that I have been loved and know how to love.  My Father is my guide to knowing and loving you too.  If you don't celebrate Thanksgiving, take a moment every day to thank the Lord for this life and if you are celebrating today, don't forget to have thanksgiving in your heart tomorrow.

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— (‭1 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ NIV)

My prayer today:

O, Lord, we come today with thanksgiving in our heart with prayers for the unbeliever.  Please take this day and make it a day of you, celebrating Your mighty power in this sinful world.  We ask forgiveness for our selfishness and need to be celebrated.  Today with our families should be a day of prayer and thanksgiving in our hearts for the rainbows you provide, for the water we drink, for the manna we eat and for everlasting life.  We need You to be in our lives, to light our path and to help us remember that You are the reason for every moment of life.  Forgive us our sins today Lord and help us love the lost.

Until tomorrow...

Sunday, November 23, 2014

How do you witness?

Good morning all-

This week I was back in New Orleans.  It was for work so it was full of late nights and early mornings.  I normally rent a car but because the meeting was in the French Quarter I decided to cab it.  On my way back to the airport a story unfolded that got me thinking about how I spread the word of Jesus Christ.

This is not about there being a right or wrong way to spread the gospel but it is about thoughtful intention.  We were made to spread the word and this man did just that but if I weren't a believer I probably would have shut him off completely.  He started with, "Are you a believer?" In all my many travels I've  never been asked that question so immediately I was intrigued.  My answer was yes.  He then began to tell me the end times were upon us, stating memorized Scripture so fast I could barely process it and then he told me he was ready.  He talked about Satan being a god which he isn't and then talked about all those that would go with him to hell. Now to put this into perspective it's a 20 minute ride to the airport.  The minute I heard him say they were going to hell, I asked him, "How do pray for those that don't know Jesus?"  His answer was to continue to present Scripture.  I love the word so this isn't a bash but he didn't answer my question.  And to top it off, he said I know you have lots of questions so find a Jehovah witness and they can answer them.  How would he know if I had questions? He wouldn't because I never got an opportunity and on top of that, he never heard my question.

This ride got me to thinking about how I teach the word and how I need to present it to the world.  I am not an authority on the Bible but I am a lover of the word.  I desire to know it and to be able to witness from it but I also know I can't throw it in a conversation without understanding the person I'm speaking too.  I commend the man for having passion for the word but he needed to ask me questions and understand where I am.  Again, I am not in judgement.  I just realized that at any given time any of us could do that and how wrong it was for a believer, so I can only imagine what it would be like for someone that doesn't believe.  As I got out of the cab ride I realized I needed to pray for this man to be able to have wisdom, he already had the passion and for him to learn to pray because we all know prayer helps us see with God's eyes.

I admired this man's tenacity and his willingness to speak of Jesus.  He was very brave, probably braver than most.  After all, I was a paying customer that could have been offended.  I wasn't and I did appreciate his passion and his ability to speak Scripture.  Of course, I'm always like that.  That's why I appreciate Beth Moore and Anne Graham Lotz. They know their stuff!  However, they make us think and they have prayed for wisdom in this fallen world.  I'm praying for my cab driver to know the same thing.  I hope that God reveals himself to this man and many that are like him.  My hope is that every non-believer would know the love of Christ so please join me in praying for the workers and the non-believer.  We need people with passion that can state that Jesus is the savior of the world and we need wisdom to know when and where to speak it.

I haven't stopped thinking about my ride for the last three days so I know it happened so that I would think upon it and ask God what I need to do with it.  I find that it's not what was said but how it was said that could have turned me completely away and yet, the conversation continues to remind me that we need to speak the word and listen to those we are speaking to.  May the Lord of our lives bring forth many that have passion for Him and His word and may many that don't believe find Him in this season.


We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain. But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. (‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭2-13‬ NIV)

My prayer today:

O, Lord thank You for the workers that have passion toward You.  Please take away the religion of things and bring about a transformation that puts You at the center of all things.  There are so many people that don't know You, including Your people.  We come to You today with praise in our hearts and You on our minds.  Lift up Your workers and give them wisdom and understanding.  Help them reach the unreachable and please give them Your words.  We want to know the word better and we need to seek You in every circumstance so please fill our minds and hearts with Your Holy knowledge and help us love better.  Make us teachers not preachers and guide our every step to You.  We come to You today asking for Your will to be on our lives and those little lambs that You are calling right now.  Help us to have passion for Your word and for the sacrifice You made for us.  Give us the words to talk to those that turn from You and help us love You every day.  Take our sins daily so that we can spread Your word and lift us up when we are weary.  For You Lord are the only path to grace, mercy and everlasting love.  I pray for women, men and children throughout the world that they would hear this prayer.  In Jesus name, AMEN.

Until tomorrow...

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Is life causing you to fear?

Good morning all-

As I told you in my last post, I am reading a great book on relationships.  It is revolutionizing the way I look at myself and those around me.  I even caught myself being upset yesterday in my work life and diagnosed that I was feeling disconnected and it brought on feelings of insecurity and withdrawal. Fear causes us to do all kinds of things.  When I was younger, I feared people not liking me and as I grew older I fear for my future.  With each year of my life, as I have really pondered my relationships, I have always feared something.  Some would say that the fear inside me has propelled me to success but after contemplating fear in my relationships, I also realize it has been very destructive.

What are we to fear?  Scripture says it all, we are to fear God.  But does that mean we sit around and wait for the punishment or is His fear really a reverence or respect for who He is and what He has done for us?  I'm not God but I believe we are to fear Him with reverence and respect.  Fear is subjective and many feel fear.  Some fear that they aren't good enough, others fear punishment for sins and others suffer fear of heights, planes, automobiles and germs.  We have all kinds of fears and I'm not trying to make light of them.  My greatest fear is losing people I love suddenly.  I fight it every day of my life and it's probably why I can disconnect so easily.  I don't want to feel the sadness so I prepare for the loss.  How does that help in my relationship building?  Well, it doesn't.  It keeps me from having deep, God inspired relationships and it even sometimes holds me back from the relationship Christ wants with me.

If I fear messing up, then I'm not looking at growing in love and respect with Christ.  I'm focused on my fear of staying in the lines so that I'm perfect in His eyes.  However, I'm not perfect and maybe that is my greatest fear.  Someone wrote yesterday that it is in his weakness that he was able to see how much he needed Christ.  Isn't that true.  When we feel strong, we feel invincible but when we are weak we know that only God can help us.  I look on this and wonder, "Why does God wish to be in relationship with people that fear life over Him?"  Great question, right?  That very thing has been on my mind since I started reading  The DNA of Relationships by Gary Smalley.

We are the sum of our circumstances and those circumstances build fear.  Don't you remember being a small child and being afraid of monsters?  Even as I got older, I would look under my bed and in the closet before I turned off the lights.  Later, I feared death or people being murdered.  Because of this fear, I have never watched a scary movie but if a program comes on about forensic medicine and finding the killer; I'll watch it every time.  Our fears are irrational and yet they become part of our DNA from a small age.  I know that my fear has guided me many times when I should have asked Jesus to take my fear away, give me Holy fear and keep me in His arms, rather than the darkness of my mind. And yet, with all this knowledge, I still fear losing people and not being enough personally or professionally.  What a mess?

Yes, I am a mess but I'm a healthy mess.  I work on looking in the mirror every day and asking Christ to refine me and mold me.  I know that I have fear and I continue to work toward asking Him to remove the fears of this life and provide me with a dose of Holy fear.  Loving Him more than myself means I must be vulnerable and willing to work on me and only me.  I could play the blame game about my life and my choices but where is that going to go, nowhere.  Analyzing my fears and weaknesses gives me more reasons to go to my Father and ask for His help.  I may always have fear and so may you but with time, my prayer will be that the fear that is not of God will be replaced with wisdom, understanding and the love of Christ.  These things are what can propel us to success in life and within our relationships, not the fear of failure or incompetence.

If your struggling with fear, get on your knees and look in the mirror.  Our lives are but a moment but with every breath we have the choice to choose Jesus over our darkest fears.  I have to capture my thoughts every day when it comes to the health and welfare of my husband and sons.  Tomorrow will come but today I can handle my fears with prayer and the power of the cross.  I have authority over the darkness and so do you.  If you are struggling with fears that are making you drown, please talk to a friend, your spouse or pastor.  You may need someone to walk with you.  Don't be ashamed of your fears, face them and find the freedom that only Jesus can provide!

The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. (‭Psalm‬ ‭25‬:‭14‬ NIV)

He gave them these orders: “You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord. In every case that comes before you from your people who live in the cities—whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or regulations—you are to warn them not to sin against the Lord; otherwise his wrath will come on you and your people. Do this, and you will not sin. “Amariah the chief priest will be over you in any matter concerning the Lord, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the tribe of Judah, will be over you in any matter concerning the king, and the Levites will serve as officials before you. Act with courage, and may the Lord be with those who do well.” (‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭19‬:‭9-11‬ NIV)

Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name. (‭Malachi‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ NIV)


My prayer today:

O, Lord, we all come to You with our fears and our petitions.  Right this moment people are fearing the unknown, germs, life and more.  Only You are the all knowing Omnipotent one!  We are vessels trying to find our way in this great journey.  Help us as we adventure into the unkown.  You are more than enough for us.  Replace our fears with Your word, Your sword and Your glory.  We need to be closer to You so that we will have a Holy fear for a Father that has given all.  We are one body in Christ coming to you as weak beings.  We desire relationships but we fear being crushed by them.  Give us the strength to move forward in our fears and to see You in all circumstances.  Grow us like the vine, pruning and making us a great and strong vine while bearing much fruit.  We look forward to today and You washing our fears white as snow.  Be with us today, unite each nation and help women everywhere to see You more than their fears. In Jesus name, AMEN

Until tomorrow...

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Relationships and Jesus...

Good morning all-

It's snowing in Kansas and I am loving it.  As I write its pouring from the sky.  It's the first snow and I am so excited.  Every year I wish for one thing on my birthday, snow!  And it came 6 weeks early.  Now that might make some pause but for me, it's the best thing that could have ever happened.  My two huskies agree, the holidays are coming and God is cleaning the earth with white.

I digress though, today is really about Christ and our relationships.  It's hard to fathom that God is really in every relationship but He is. Why would God want to be in the middle of this human mess?  The answer is simple. He loves us.  I am in awe every time I think about this but it's true.  He loves us  even in our sin.  I can't think of the last time I loved someone in their sin, can you?

For quite some time I have been praying for my relationships.  I pray for those at work, at home and for my friends and extended family.  I can get really caught up in my home life but it's in all my relationships God wishes me to pray about.  He called us to love our neighbor.  What does that mean to you?  For me, I realize I am not close to my neighbors.  I don't know their kids, their spouses or their likes and dislikes.  I choose to stay close to home and of course, I have all those wonderful excuses.  I work a lot and I have a husband that likes me close, so many times I stay in my own little world.  But lately, I have been convicted of this behavior.  I also have realized that in my intimate relationships there is much work to be done.

So as I was in prayer this last week, I asked God to show me how to be deeper with my husband and humanity.  He has already given me eyes to see what He sees and then I ask Him to convict me in my personal life.  Well, if you know anything about Jesus, if you ask, He will reveal.  So I began to be convicted that I pray for my children more than I do my husband and it struck me hard.  How could I pray for my children and my friends but not pray for my husband?  That's easy to answer.  Our spouses are the closest to us.  They know our weak spots and those weak spots cause friction and apathy.  And of course, apathy can bring contention because apathy breeds a lack of caring, passion and need.  Doesn't Christ warn of this even in our walk?  Of course, He does.  Unfortunately many relationships are like this.  Mother and daughters, father and sons and brothers and sisters have conflict, which means they don't always agree and that contention builds resentment and tension.  We also have good friends and even in those relationships and the pattern begins and our fears and doubts leak out and become like oil leaking over land. So why do we feel the need to lose feeling, walk away and pout when the truth is right in front of us?

I'm not an expert but I would think the reason we run away is to protect ourselves.  We fear many things and that fear drives us away from people and into ourselves.  This won't help us.  I don't know of a Scripture that says, "Stay to yourself and only take care of you."  No, instead it says leave your jobs and your comfort zone and go out to the people and preach the word.  Jesus took His disciples from their work and their families to spread His word and the good news.

In the next couple of blogs, I will be sharing with you thought provoking methods to help us in our relationships.  I am reading a book by Dr. Gary Smalley, The DNA of Relationships.  This book was recommended by a client this week and it was an answer to prayer.  How do I  make my relationships better?  We can concentrate on what we were called to do.  We should focus on God and our attitudes and reactions to life and loving others. This is the formula to a successful life and in order to walk this journey successfully we must arm ourselves with tools that help us feel success in our relationships.

The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (‭Mark‬ ‭12‬:‭31‬ NIV)

My prayer today:

O, Lord, lead me to You as I seek You to help me to be a better wife, mother, friend and follower.  I seek you to help me be in relationship with others without fear or doubt.  I, like others, fear things that hurt my relationships.  I pray that this fear would be replaced with the confidence to love my neighbor and to be Your woman.  As I sit here and pray I know You are near and that You will reveal to all of us how to love better in a world that is nothing but hurt, pain and sin.  Give us Your passion for the lost and for those that hurt us.  Give us sight so that we will see their pain.  For we want to glorify You in the one thing that is so important to You, relationships.  Help us be one body and one mind in You.  Thank You for showing us how relationships can be and for the forethought to leave us this Scripture. It is always easy to come out of our own problems when we are loving others! I pray this Scripture in Your name.  We love You Jesus.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Does God have a plan for me?

Good morning all-

Well, the time is ticking away and we are already in the middle of November.  I don't know about you but the time change here has really been hard on me.  I find myself waking up earlier and going to bed earlier.  Not the pattern I was really hoping for this season.  I guess I am just going to have to adjust.  However, there is something good about waking up at 4:30 am, I have already prayed and now I am writing the blog.

I'm sorry I have not been as faithful about writing.  I go through periods of not knowing what to say.  Maybe I'm seeking wisdom or maybe I feel like what I have to say doesn't really matter but either way, I haven't been very faithful lately.  Obviously, that is what I prayed about today.  I am going to ask God to give me the energy and creative juices to continue this blog with passion and vision.

Last year, I gave a speech to my employees on vision.  I wanted us to capture a vision for the future and implement it with all our energy and passion.  I wasn't sure what would happen but my team became inspired and so did I.  I have thought about the vision every day, even when I didn't want to think about it.  That vision along with prayer and Jesus has propelled my company to new heights.  I couldn't have done it with out dedicated people and I am so thankful for them.  I have to say there were times of despair and lately, times of great jubilation but never have I forgotten that God has a plan for me and this company.

On top of running a company that has doubled in size this year, I have two boys who are both on new adventures.  My oldest is still seeking full-time employment with student loans lurking at his door and my youngest is trying to find a part-time job and navigate his first semester in college.  And to top it off, my husband and I have just completed paperwork for him to become an owner of a business. Now if that isn't vision, I really don't know what is.  The molds are set but the true question in all of it is, "What is Jesus going to do?"  That's the question I have repeatedly asked myself for the last couple of months.  Will I be faithful?  Are my boys strong enough to trust that He has a plan for them?  But more importantly, will we listen to His voice when He calls will we bend to His will for our future?  These are all the questions I contemplate and then I wake up this morning and one of my favorite passages is on my tongue, Jeremiah 29:11.

I wish there was a concrete road map of what we are to do with our lives.  I wish I knew what event would be my finest moment or my biggest failure.  I wish I understood the meaning of what my purpose is and how Jesus will use me for His army and probably most importantly, I wish I knew the future of my husband and sons.  Well, as you all know, I don't have a road map and therefore, just like you, I must pray for my direction, trust in God and walk daily doing the best job I can.  I must repent because I'm sinful and I must ask for trust and forgiveness every day.  Those are the things that I know to be true from Scripture, everything else is one step at a time.

Jeremiah 29:11 has been a passage I have prayed every year of my life.  It comes up at least two to three times a year as my guiding passage.  I guess you could call it my "go to."  I really believe with all my heart that we were placed on this earth to glorify God and that each of us has a journey mapped with winding roads and steep mountains.  I also believe that we will have to traverse rough waters and humble ourselves before a God we can't see.  It's part of a plan that doesn't include me thinking about my journey but participating in it.

So needless to say, we will be praying Jeremiah 29:11 today. That is my prayer for my family and I hope that you pray it with me.  God is faithful, we might not be able to see His vision for our individual lives as clear as we can see His vision for the world but it's there.  He has painted us a road map to Him, our sacrificial lamb and when I look upon that vision all my other goals, thoughts and feelings move to the sideline.  For He has given His life so that we may have eternal life.  If you don't know Jesus, ask Him into your heart.  He has a plan for you; I promise and so does He.  Not everyone will hear his calling but for those that do, we are part of a vision that was cast thousands of years ago and to date, no one can disclaim it!

Be well my sisters and join me in praying Jeremiah 29:11.  He has a direction for you, are you ready to take it?

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. (‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬ NIV)

Thursday, November 13, 2014

What if you were in an earthquake?

Good morning all-

Yesterday as I was talking to my co-worker the floor began to move and a ten story building began to sway with me being at the very top of it.  I think the most amazing thing was the swaying of his door and the feeling of, "O, my God this is significant."

It was significant.  It was again affirmation that our God is ever present and that the world is a very unstable and changing place.  Hundreds of years ago the earth shifted and changed.  The earth dispelled itself of great beasts and froze beyond any freeze we have ever seen.  That just reminds me of how Kansas went from 73 degrees to 30 in a matter of hours.  The weather, the earth and all its inhabitants are part of God's amazing creation.

There are things I just haven't experienced and there are things I'm yet to experience. I have never seen manna falling from the sky or watched a bomb explode in my neighborhood.  Those would be truly scary and impactful events.  Although, I can say, I've seen a tornado wash over land spreading damage as it goes.  And now, I have experienced a 4.8 earthquake on a ten story building and once again I was reminded of God's overwhelming power and His beautiful creation.

As I go into today, I know God is real.  He is very present and He is who He said He is.  He told us there would be rumors of war, earthquakes and many plagues before His return.  The earth is shifting and the power of that shift is being felt in Kansas.  War is happening and men and women are suffering for others mistakes.  It is part of the plan and we have a way to impact that plan.  Our prayers are heard far and wide. They span from Russia to the Middle East and to the tip of Bermuda.  They are powerful, insightful and passionate.  They can change events without even knowing it.  Our God is a God of power, mercy and love.  You don't have to be scared for He is everything you will ever need.

If you don't know Jesus today, I'm asking you to take Him in.  Ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit so that you may know Him.  The events that have been written are true.  Everything that has happened can't be explained but the one thing that can is Jesus.  He was our Father's sacrifice to the world.  We are stubborn, hard-headed people that believe we have more knowledge than our God.  Repent of that and let Jesus in.  I felt His power yesterday and so did Kansas.

Be well my sisters and think upon the glory of our God.  Thanksgiving and Christmas are approaching and we need to remember those that are less fortunate than us.  Reach out to someone in your community that needs your help and make a difference.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. (‭Psalm‬ ‭24‬:‭1-2‬ NIV)

My prayer today:

O, Lord, how powerful You are.  As I sat in a building high above the ground, the earth shook and a building began to roll like the waves.  I was in awe and a little afraid.  It reminded me of Your words and the power it took to create a world that is ever changing.  Often, I fell Your power in the wind, in the sea and in the smile of a child.  You are God, everlasting.  I come to You today asking You to guide lost souls to Your well, may they take a drink and know the power of the cross.  We unite as one body, Your body and ask that people would move toward You during these times of war, weather disasters and powerful shifts in the earth.  We look forward to Your coming and thank You for reminding us of Your great and awesome presence in our lives.  Please provide food and shelter for the homeless but more importantly give them Jesus.  In Jesus name I pray, AMEN.

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Day by Day...

Good morning all-

Well as each day rolls by, I'm wondering when the fall will be here.  It was 92 yesterday and the mighty winds were roaring from the South, once again reminding me that everything including fall is on God's time.  Yesterday was a hard one for me.  I watched a young man have to pack his possessions and move from my home because he couldn't follow the rules.  It was heartbreaking when everything was packed and it only took an hour.  He had four boxes, a guitar and his clothes.  It all fit in one very old car.  Everything he owns was in that car and it brought tears to my eyes.  If only I could have saved him from himself.  And yet, only God can.

I thought of many things yesterday fast-forwarding to when Austin leaves in May and the tremendous loss I will feel and of course, Hunter won't be far behind.  They are men now and they will be leaving me to take care of themselves.  They too will only have a car full of possessions along with a computer and bed but as I walked into Trevor's room this morning, I know I will feel empty when they leave.

I have felt empty many times in the past seven years.  The first was when my brother died and then my parents.  I know what it's like to pack up peoples possessions that are left behind and realize most can be stored in a 10 x 10 shed.  So why do we want the days to fly?

I have asked myself to slow down and be at peace with God.  I have told myself over and over to live for today but sometimes I feel myself and everything around me speeding up and then I collapse on my bed, fall asleep and ask Jesus to let me just live in today.  No one knows when tomorrow will come and their possessions will be packed by someone else.  Of course, on that day I will either be in a nursing home or up in heaven.  So as I write, I want to focus on the God that loves me.  I want to sit and remember that today is special.  I want to be in the moment instead of looking at yesterday and I want to glorify God with my words.  He is our Maker, waiting for us to sit by Him and say, "Lead me Lord day by day."  So as a woman that can feel the time ticking, I will sit still and ask my God to lead me day by day and I will ask that for all of you too.  Time passes quickly, by my age, my mother was a grandmother.  I'm not yet but I am on my journey asking God to show me His power, His love and His mercy.

So if you all feel like the world is spinning a million times per minute, slow down, smell a rose and say, "I'm just going to take my Father's hand and walk day by day."  Live in today and tomorrow will come soon enough!  Be blessed my sisters and pray that women everywhere would know the power in living in today!

They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob. (‭Psalm‬ ‭24‬:‭5-6‬ NIV)