Be The Moon

Well the windows of Heaven seem to have opened up and God is pouring out yet another sweet blessing on my head. Honestly, I don't feel deserving. But by His words--He has made me worthy.
My goal in blogging is to put down where I am---and then if people can see me and use me as a sounding board to check themselves--job well done. I get into the most trouble in my life when I am not thinking about what I am doing and not doing. My brain is a jungle, sometimes even I get a little lost. So, thank you for hanging out in the vines with me as we inspect the jungle we call my brain.

Back to the purpose for this post. One of my sister princesses in the land of blogdom has given me a sweeeeet compliment. She has given me the Blogger Reflection Award. How cool is that?
She had some sweet words for me.Thank you Deena. Your writings on Wholly Devoted
have left me inspired and made me think. I really like to think---so thank you very much for cleaning out some of my low hanging limbs.

She shared this about a concert that she went to a while back and I think that we all could stand to remember this truth.

About a year ago our family saw Todd Agnew in concert. My husband bought me a t-shirt that was navy blue and in green it read "Be The Moon". Todd explained his thoughts behind this logo:
The moon has no light of its own; any light it has is a reflection of the sun. As Christians, we are to be reflections of the Son, having no light of our own. Thus, be the moon.

Be the moon---I think that would be something that we could pray each morning as we roll out of bed...................Dear God, please help me be the moon today. Let me be woman that reflects your glory and love. Now-- I know I could always be a better reflection of His love.
Before this post gets too terribly long I need to give the reason this award was born.

"The reason for the title is because this award should make you reflect on five bloggers who have been an encouragement, a source of love, impacted you in some way, and have been a Godly example to you. Five Bloggers who when you reflect on them you get a sense of pride and joy... of knowing them and being blessed by them."

I have already gotten carried away with words so without further to do--here are the five (yes, I have to limit it to five-- but everyone who sticks with this blogging things deserves it) award recipients:

1. I have a long standing friend who is truly a part of my heart. God brought her to me to push me in ways that I will probably not understand fully until I get to heaven. Yesterday in prayer- for one of my menteee's --she knocked my socks off when she brought the heavens down. She made me reflect on the love our God has for us and I am so proud that He gave her to me as a friend. She has a blog called In His Palm -sorry, it is a closed blog, maybe one day she will open it and you can get to know her too. Her name is Tracy..............and I love you girl!

2. The has to go to my girl Dee---she so makes me think and reflect on specific things in my walk with God. Her struggles have mirrored many of my struggles. I am proud to call her my sister and I have grown to love her. She has a few blogs but the one I visit most is Dee's Weight Loss Journey. Yes, that is an issue that I struggle with and she is a great help. Thank you girl!

3. This next one has a blog that you can not leave comments on. Yes, that is a little different. But her reason is just to put out there what God is teaching her and not be concerned how many are visiting and what they are saying. Her name is Ann, and her blog is Holy Experience. She has posted some things that have really made me ponder and be proud that she is my sister in Christ. You can email her if you would like. Her site is peaceful---that is a good thing.

4. The next is Leigh at Speaking Thru Me. She is walking it out on line. She has a women's ministry and a purse ministry. Yes, some of ya'll feel the need to be ministered to in this area :). They have become the object of a drawing over at Iris's place. Yes, if you like them you can order them from her. She uses the profits to help with ministry cost. She posts some great truth and even has a Bible study you can participate with on line by Mr Linky.
Check her out. She is a sweet heart. Make sure you leave a comment when you pop over there.

5. I want to give this next one to a little lady over at Halfmoon Happenings. I have come to look forward to her zany life and her light hearted posts. She is the friend you would love to have stashed in the house next door. She reminds me that I don't have to be so serious and I need to just enjoy life a little more. Bet she didn't know that is why I keep her around. Don't feel like you have to post serious thought provoking post girl---you just be yourself, that is why I like you. Even if you are a little "tired and grumpy today". :)

6. Yes, I thought I was going to follow the rules but....No! I have one last one. Do not go here if you are not serious about your relationship with God. But since I know my regulars are-- I would suggest you go on by and visit Karen at Karen's Ramblings. Her last couple of post were from a book she has written about her life. Read part one and see if you can stop reading. she has encouraged me to move on spiritually. I love that I can claim her as a sister.

BE THE MOON-----it is all about reflecting HIS glory.
And this time I am not going to list any other blogs because I don't want you to think you got an honorable mention. ;) Love ya 'Nise. :) But I have to say there are some of ya'll that are tops on my list and you know it! I need to come up with my own award to give out. Could I call it, Sharon's girls? Not sure what that would look like in a button. Any ideas?

Let me say this because I think it is important. When you get an award sometimes it can almost feel like a burden or aggravation because then you have to turn around and write an long post and pick out five people and hope you don't hurt someone else's feelings when you leave them out. May I make a suggestion?
WHAT IF INSTEAD OF TURNING AROUND RIGHT AWAY AND LISTING FIVE NAMES-- WE TAKE SOME TIME TO PRAY ABOUT IT AND THEN PASS OUT THE FIVE WHEN GOD BRINGS A PERSON TO YOUR MIND. So don't feel stressed, that is not what this award is about.

Personal thoughts.....................

A few days ago I went with Paw Paw to get his pace maker checked out. He has had it for several years and the battery life is coming to an end--- so we will go once a month to have it checked out. It will not go out all at one time because it has a battery back up that will take over for one month when the main battery reaches its end. Paw Paw, was understandably concerned by the whole process because of his age- he will be 92 in August.

As I sat there the technician told us how the pace maker worked. It is a small little device almost half the size of a purse compact. Small wires run from it into the heart. After it has been in the heart for awhile it becomes part of the muscles of the heart. It watches the beat of the heart and if the heart is not keeping up it will beat for it. Or if the heart is beating to fast it will slow the beat down.

While we were there they put on a monitor to check the battery life. It was fine and it was actually in the process of pumping blood through Paw Paws heart. It was moving the top chambers of the heart and the bottom of his heart was following through and moving on its own. His heart and the pacemaker were working hand in hand.
The technician said that when it comes time to replace the pacemaker they will only replace the device itself and not the wires. The wires are now considered part of the body.

As I sat there watching the computer monitor---- the pace maker beating and then Paw Paw's own heart beating..........the Spirit began to speak to me. I know without the hand of God, my physcial heart would stop beating---period. He has numbered my days and when He says it is time to come home nothing this world can do will be able to keep me here. Hallelujah!

But-- until that day arrives, I can not help but wondering about the beat of my spiritual heart. Is it beating to slow, too fast, or is it beating just right. Am I running ahead of God trying to be responsible for what he has not asked me to do--thus wearing myself out mentally and emotionally?
Or am I not keeping the pace--- doing what I should be doing---- because there are things I want that God does not? I find that the latter has probably been the case for me lately. Only the individual truly knows what God has been asking and if they have been responding with, "Yes sir".

I am one of those who wants to know where I am going and what time I am supposed to be there and what will be expected of me when I get there. You can count on the fact that unless a real emergency comes up...... I am going to be there on time or early. When I don't know where I am going or what will be happening and expected of me---I tend to drag my feet.

I have been doing that a lot lately. The problem with that is that it does not just affect one area of my life--it hits them all. Which then makes me feel pressured to always be doing something.
Unrest...........a clear sign that I am not doing what I should be doing. A sign that I am not keeping pace with the Spirit. If I keep this up the Spirit will step in and give me a little "jump start". And, you can guarantee, it will be a loving swat on my pa toot. It will give my spiritual heart a jump start and the rest of my heart will follow suit.

So I ask you this morning, "How is your heart beating"?
Is it keeping up?
Are you dragging your spiritual feet?

This is a little tid bit from my morning devotion....................ponder this. James 1:4

Not only must our relationship to God be right, but the outward expression of that relationship must also be right. Ultimately, God will allow nothing to escape; every detail of our lives is under his scrutiny. God will bring us back in countless ways to the same point over and over again. And He never tires of bringing us back to that one point until we learn the lesson, because His purpose is to produce the finished product.

What do the lettes in your name stand for?

Saw this over at Debrand Soul Reflections site.
So I thought I would give it a try.
Don't know about the naive---don't think I would label myself that way.

What Sharon Means

S is for Spontaneous H is for Honest A is for Animated R is for Refreshing O is for Openhearted N is for Naive

What Does Your Name Mean?

Thankful Thurday

It is that beautiful day again----Thankful Thursday----and it is a beautiful day outside.
God is good.
I am thankful for the new scripture memorizing program that I found out about on another sisters blog. They send you emails to help you memorize the verses.
This was my first.
The verse is in Job 19:25
"I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end he will stand upon the earth."
Can we all be thankful for that truth? Yes indeed! Come Lord Come!
Next, I would be wrong not to mention the freedom that we enjoy in these United States. While in Texas we showed the children a film about the Church in some parts of China. I am thankful that I can listen to Christian music on the radio and that I don't have to sneak to church when I go. I am thankful I am not having to pray that they don't find out who my pastor and his family are because then they might pick him up and put him in jail.
I thank God for our freedom in America, most of all religious freedom.
Did you like the flag up top? Notice the cross? They said it is an undoctored photo--pretty cool.
I was so thankful last night for a date night with my hubby. We went to church together. It had been a long time since he had been able to go on Wednesday night because of Paw Paw. I fixed his favorite dish--lasagna(we eat at church on Wednesday nights) --and I am thankful for how he enjoys my cooking. It makes me feel good that I can do something so simple to make his day. And all that gives me a thankful heart.
Last--because I don't want to keep you too long.........the number of thankful women is growing! YES!
I want to thank God for-- as some would say, "in my face" showing me that He is intimately aware of my every thought. I was feeling a little bogged down the other day and he was listening. The sad thing is that I was not even directly talking to him about it. I should have been...shame on me. But, you know he is good and he decided to prove his goodness and love in an almost silly way. He used someone else to bless my heart. It is silly I know, but sometimes you wonder if people are really listening to the ramblings of your heart. If they really get you.
Thank you again Karen for listening to God. He spoke and you responded. Way to go girl!
Thank you God........... for your limitless love for us.
We raise our hearts to you because they are yours to have and to hold. From now until we wrap our arms around you in person when we step into eternity.
To borrow an expression,
YOU ARE THE ROCK AND............YOU ROCK!

And for allof those other thankful ladies go check out Iris at Sting My heart--she is a blessing..she really is.

I Rock!

Well, with cheeks that are red, I say.................Thank You--- to Karen over at Karen's Ramblings for my Rockin' Girl Blogger award. I did not know that it existed until I was blessed with it. I was honored to receive it ..........if I had know about it first-- I would have given one to Karen. I so enjoy her blog and she pushes my brain to go places it has not previously gone. I really love that since I love to think and ponder. She stands solidly on The Rock, our rock.

So you can only truly be called a Rockin' Girl Blogger in my book--- if you are standing firmly on the rock. There are a few blogs out there that I truly love to dig into because I get some good meat to chew on. I am not a babe anymore and milk won't do. So here is my list.
You know in order to get this award you have to be a girl--sorry guys, it is a girls award. Something just for us! What fun!

Anyhoo............
The first will go to a girl named Deena. Now she recently took a anniversary trip with her man and the lessons learned while gone were really great. There is no question about what rock she stands on. Pop on over and see her at Wholly Devoted.

The next will go to a little lady that I have really enjoyed getting to know. She is also a rock dweller. This week she is taking a little time of to spend with God. How is that for making sure you are standing on the rock? Her name is Holly and you can visit her over at CrownLaidDown.

The next is a newer blog for me. I stumbled on her and have stayed ever since. We are at the same spot in life in some areas so I understand her struggles and her growth. Her name is Nicki and she can be found over at Three Girly Girlz .
And girl, I am so happy for you I heard your good news!

The next is new too. His Word Is Life To Me, by TammieFay. Yes, with a name like that you know you'll find her in Mississippi. She writes some good stuff--though not often enough. Let's give her a little encouragement to write a little more. She is also a rock dweller and a sista.

And the last goes to a girl over on a Xanga site. Her site Sunny Susan. She is encouraging and thought provoking--so you know I enjoy her stuff. Thank you for speaking the truth girl. you rock! Keep standing on the Rock that can not be shaken!

There are so many more girls that I could list. Some of them have been with me since the beginning , encouraging me along when the road got rough. They still do.....i love them! They Rock!
Dee of Dee's weight loss journey--I love this girl! Really I do--she is great.
'Nise of Thus Far The Lord has Helped Me---what a heart--you gotta love her!
Sting my Heart.........Iris shoots straight for the heart. But if you try and find her make sure you go to www.ephe2810.com, or you will be in for a shock.
Halfmoon Happenings run by halfmoon girl. Sound unusual--she is :)-- but it is all good. She is great! And I count on her encouragement.


I know I have left many out......I'm sorry, really I am. But I think I was only supposed to mention 5....osps!
You all rock and i look forward to checking my email and seeing that you have left me a comment. Don't stop! You are all great!

That's the one I love--2nd post

Lately I have had some viewers who don't know the power of my God. How He fights for you when you know it and even when you don't. He knows everthing about you and the plans that he has for you are for good and not for evil. There is an evil force that wants you dead and buried. Once that happens all hope is over. But if you are reading this and you don't know Him-----there is still hope.
He wants to give you hope and a future. He wants to fill your heart with his love and fill your emotions with his peace and joy. Who wouldn't want that?
So if you are reading this--don't let Satan lie to you---there is hope!
He loves you more than you could ever imagine.
Here is a video that i found over on another persons blog.
Watch it.
And then if you want more info on the one who is fighting for you.
Let me know---I would love to let you in on the BIG secret.

Do you want to see?

The following is the devotional that I receive from Elisabeth Elliot. This morning I have been seriously thinking about the fact I have been asking God for a few things and maybe I have gotten some of them.

I told Him that I want to know Him. That I want to serve Him. For Him to do what he must to get me where He needs me to be to use me the way He needs to. That is what I am here for. I gave myself to Him as His blood bought servant. My life is no longer my own. I love Him and I want to serve Him out of that love.

I should be seeing some changes take place in my life, right? In me, right? Lately I have noticed a lot of drama going on around me. Honestly, I have the feeling that maybe I am living in a soap opera. And for you who still enjoy them, sorry. I think the soap opera has always been there. But, I don't think I was fully aware of it or even cared about it. I was content to deal with my own life and let others live the life they got themselves into.

And then things began to change. I would hear about problems people were having and I began to care. Sometimes this was aggravating. I wanted to be able to say a simple prayer and walk on. In the past few years the only time that happened was when I was not where I was supposed to be in my relationship with God. My sister even brought this to my attention a couple of years ago. She said, Sharon I can tell where you are in your relationship with God because when you are not "there", you are not as concerned." Ouch!

Recently though, I almost wish I could turn my spiritual eyes off. I have wondered why I have to see so much. It makes life slightly uncomfortable sometimes. Sunday I was feeling very overwhelmed by all that I saw. My first reaction was to run. Run to the things that could give my mind a break. I got in my truck and briefly thought about going to buy a pack of cigs (old god). Then the plan was to go and see a movie. I knew I could go and sit in a theater an forget for awhile. As I left the neighborhood I checked my cell phone which I leave in the truck. One of my girls had called. I felt that familiar tug in my heart. Maybe she needed to talk. Her husband is in a drug rehab program and Sunday was her one year wedding anniversary. I thought, God I don't have anything. I am so empty and I don't want to give her what I am carrying at this moment. But, the Mom in me stepped up to the plate and I called her back.

Over the next 30 minutes the Lord ministered to me through my mentee. I love her. She spoke back to me my words the words that the Lord had taught me. I know the truth and what the word says. It does not change for our circumstances. That is security. How horrible would it be if God said, "Well last time this happened I felt like saying No, but this time why not... go ahead." We are people of truth--truth that does not change with our times.

I began to realize that God has been sharing more of His heart with me lately. I guess I envision that, from my human perspective to be all about glory and the spectacular. But what about the burdens that God carries? What about the lives God is involved with. If we want to become more like Him wouldn't it make sense that he would need to share with us His heart. Don't we do that with our friends? I don't want to be a fair weather friend to God.

I will gladly walk where He wants me to walk. If that means He has to show me the real picture so that I can carry a burden and pray for what is most important....then I will hold out my hands and my heart because I know He will not give me more to carry than I can carry.

So I closed my day with God. I did not did a movie or cigs---just Him!

Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Source: A Lamp For My Feet
Scripture:

The Desires of My Heart

I had been praying for something I wanted very badly. It seemed a good thing to have, a thing that would make life even more pleasant than it is, and would not in any way hinder my work. God did not give it to me. Why? I do not know all of his reasons, of course. The God who orchestrates the universe has a good many things to consider that have not occurred to me, and it is well that I leave them to Him. But one thing I do understand: He offers me holiness at the price of relinquishing my own will.

"Do you honestly want to know Me?" He asks. I answer yes. "Then do what I say," He replies. "Do it when you understand it; do it when you don't understand it. Take what I give you; be willing not to have what I do not give you. The very relinquishment of this thing that you so urgently desire is a true demonstration of the sincerity of your lifelong prayer: Thy will be done.

So instead of hammering on heaven's door for something which it is now quite clear God does not want me to have, I make my desire an offering. The longed-for thing is material for sacrifice. Here, Lord, it's yours.

He will, I believe, accept the offering. He will transform it into something redemptive. He may perhaps give it back as He did Isaac to Abraham, but He will know that I fully intend to obey Him.

Tooooo cute!

A friend passed this on to me this morning--hope you enjoy!

Sisters Mary Catherine, Maria Theresa, Katherine Marie, Rose Frances, & Mary Kathleen left the Convent on a trip to St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City and were sight-seeing on a Tuesday in July. It was hot and humid in town and their traditional garb was making them so uncomfortable, they decided to stop in at Paddy McGuire's Pub for a cold soft drink.

Paddy had recently added special legs to his barstools, which were the talk of the fashionable eastside neighborhood. All 5 Nuns sat up at the bar and were enjoying their Cokes when Monsignor Riley and Father McGinty entered the bar through the front door.

They, too, came for a cold drink when they were shocked and almost fainted at what they saw.

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too cute not to forward..............

GIVE US A SENSE OF HUMOR LORD,
GIVE US THE GRACE TO SEE A JOKE,
ENOUGH STRENGTH TO LAUGH & ENOUGH SENSE

TO PASS IT ON~

Make My Monday with Mrs Nufon

Good morning to ya. I hope that ya had a proper glorious Sunday with our Lord. And that yer soul an yer spirit were receiven of sum good refreshen. With all the busyness of this here life ---sum times i'm thinken it would do us sum good ta have the innocent incite of a chile. Then don't ya know if we made to much of lifes trials we could rightly be blamen it on our imaturity. So let's enjoy a spot of the sily and 'member tomorrow ul be taken care of itself.

We Are But Dust

A visiting minister prayed during the offertory prayer:
"Dear Lord" he began with arms extended and a rapturous look on his face, "without you we are but dust..."
He would have continued, but at that moment one very obedient little girl (who was listening very carefully for a change) leaned over to her mother and asked quite audibly in her shrill little voice,"Mommy, WHAT is butt dust?"
Church was pretty much over at that point.


The River

A Minister was completing a temperance sermon. With great emphasis he said, "If I had all the beer in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river."
With even greater emphasis, he said, "And if I had all the wine in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river."
And then finally, shaking his fist in the air, he said, "And if I had all the whiskey in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river!"
The sermon complete, he sat down. The song leader, stood very cautiously and announced with a smile -- nearly laughing. "For our closing song, let us sing Hymn #365, "Shall We Gather At The River."



Who Does What

A man and his wife were having an argument about who should brew the coffee each morning. The wife said, "You should do it, because you get up first, and then we don't have to wait as long to get our coffee."
The husband said, "You are in charge of cooking around here and you should do it, because that is your job, and I can just wait for my coffee."
The Wife replied, "No, you should do it, and besides, it is in the Bible that the man should do the coffee."
With that the husband balked, saying, "I can't believe that, show me."
The wife then fetched the Bible, and opened the New Testament and showed him at the top of several pages, that it indeed says.........."HEBREWS"


I'm thinkin I missed that last little tad of Bible instruction in my time with the Lord. I'm thinken I'll go ahed an stick ta maken our mornin brew---my hubbies hand is a tad hevy when it cums to the grounds.
Now don't cha feel a tad better now that ya were able to show yer pearly whites? Now ya may return to yer wonderin on the web. Ifen the God Lord is a willen I'll be seein ya in this here spot agin next week. Don't forget....GO WITH JESUS!

Posting Frenzy

If it seems that you have missed out on some of my post--that is o.k. I find that when God is speaking I need to let it out. So I have been doing some struggleing like the butterfly trying to get out of the cocoon. I work it all out by talking or I guess you could say writing. Which means lots of posting.
While over on Beth Moore's blog she advised us to go back and read a comment someone left. It was fantastic. I hope you enjoy it like I did.

MEEK ~

"The meek man, is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather, he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He knows he is as weak and helpless as God has declared him to be, but paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is, in the sight of God, more important than angels. In himself, nothing; in God, everything. That is his motto. He knows well that the world will never see him as God sees him and he has stopped caring. He rests perfectly content to allow God to place His own values. He will be patient to wait for the day when everything will get its own price tag and real worth will come into its own. Then the righteous shall shine forth in the kingdom of their Father. His is willing to wait for that day.

In the meantime, he will have attained a place of soul rest. As he walks on in meekness he will be happy to let God defend him. The old struggle to defend himself is over. He has found the peace which meekness brings.

Then also he will get deliverance from the burden of pretense. By this I mean not hypocrisy, but the common human desire to put the best foot forward and hide from the world our real inward poverty. For sin has played many evil tricks upon us, and one has been the infusing into us of a false sense of shame." AW Tozer, The Pursuit of God.

Is that great or what?

My answer to the challenge

I was over at Three Girly Girlz and she issued a kind of chalenge. We were to put the following video on our blog and tell why we love our America.
Now I know some of ya'll just share a Father with me and not a flag--thats O.K.---- because you can celebrate that some of our founding fathers were your spiritual brothers. Like how I gave you a connection?
Our flag stands today because a group of Godly men chose to protect our freedom. And since those days, there have been many other men and women who have stepped up to the plate.

I love that I can get on the web and freely talk about how I love God. I can talk about going to church without fear that someone will show up at our next service and arrest everyone.
I love that I can go to the library or local book store and check out or buy a Christian resource or novel.
And even though we may not agree with everything our president does and says, I love that he says he has a relationship with my God. So I guess I could say that my brother is the President. How cool is that?
If I did this right you should be able to watch a video by Michael W Smith.
Enjoy.

Twists and turns

The path of freedom?

I find I am in a pondering state of mind.
So many twists and turns in the road .......... which way to turn.
When faced with the turns in the road it can often lead one to want to change the circumstances. The only problem with that thought -- when God gets ready to change a person he orchestrates sets of circumstances
to bring about those changes.
When I elect to change what he has set in motion.......then the tests will have to incur again, just in a different set of circumstances.
So.....I think or should I say, I know that Satan plants "what if" thoughts in our minds and if are not careful we will be off and running.
Running from the purpose God has for us--filled with discontent and unrest.

I am where I am for a reason.
He is molding me into the image of His son.
So that when I grow up in Christ, the head of the church---
I will be fit to fight alongside the King of Kings.

Will I choose to acknowledge the test or will I just see the circumstances of a life and become discouraged and want to move on?
The choice is mine and yours.
Will you stay?
After having done all to stand.......will you stand?
Will you stand?


"The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances."
- Elizabeth Elliot

Walking it out

I need to understand --that is me. I want to know--that is me.
To see others in my life wandering haphazardly........ drives my crazy.
Walking by faith is hard.
Hard when you are looking for evidences of God's purposes and plans to make sure you don't make a mistake--and you can't see anything and don't understand what and why things are happening.
Can I trust God to be faithful to His purpose?
Will the truth of His words make it through all the muddle of our lives?
I need to know that I can trust that what the Bible says fits all circumstances.
That there is not going to be a time in my life when I take something to the Bible and I find, hmmmmm.........nope that does not work.
Sound like I am floundering?
Maybe. Probably not.
I have a friend that is either being tossed about by Satan or she is running from God.
She thinks she knows what has become truth to her.
But, what does the Bible say?
The Bible says that God hates divorce. What if you truly think you made a mistake? What if you think you were looking for a father figure and ended up with a husband instead?
Dear God--how do we encourage your people to believe that You can fix all things?
Do we really know that what You say is flawless?
Psalm 18:30--"As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield for all who take refuge in him."

So God is asking me in my beliefs to get out and walk it out......... on the water.

I stand up in the boat and walk to the edge. The water is rough and the wind is tossing the boat. My hair blows around my face blocking my eyes and stinging my face with its dampness.
Standing by the side of the boat I realize the water is too far down to neatly put my foot over the side of the boat and step on the water. I will have to step up on the seat and jump with both feet. My heart is pounding and the sound of the blood pumping in my veins is deafening.
I see Him, and........ oh how I want to be with Him.
There is so much space between us. Why won't He come a little closer?
He could just give me His hand and help me out of the boat.
And then I hear His voice, "Sharon, I am moving on. You know me and you have heard me tell you to get out and walk. Look into my face and jump now!"
With my eyes locked on His, I bend my knees and leap!
Such fright and peace at the same time...I would have never imagined it.
And then I feel the water.
My bare feet hit the surface and it gives way slightly beaneath my feet, my heart drops......it did not work! But just as I beginning to look down --I realize that there is hard substance under my feet. And my heart soars! Now running, I reach for Him--the object of my faith and hope.
Like a little child--knowing I don't have to ask permission to touch him---I throw my arms around his waist and lay my wet head upon his chest.
"Thank you, thank you for making me prove that it works ...it really works. Help me , help me help others see that they can get out of the boat too.
My friend needs to know that you did not allow her to make a horrible mistake. She needs you in the middle of this storm. Show her yourself in the darkness she is walking through."

Looking up into his eyes, as I speak, I am overwhelmed by the look of love in His eyes. I want to lower my eyes His gaze is so imtimate...but, I find I can't. Instead, to my complete surprise, I rise on my tippy toes and kiss him on the cheek.

This time the kiss was given by one who had not betrayed him.

Thanks for listening and watching what takes place inside my brain.
He is worthy..............I will not turn back or stay in the boat.
Come with me?

As a side note I would like to say that this is not a post about divorce--it is about my faith walk and working out in my life what the Bible says.

Thankful Thursday-----because we can!

“More blessed are those who have not seen and have laid their head on the empty chair in trust and in faith.” Brennan Manning


Above are a few of the things that I am thankful for on this beautiful sunny day.

Today is a day that we as a group of women who love and are loved by THE GREAT I AM --actually stop and share with others the thankfulness that is lingering in our hearts. I love that!

Today I want to proclaim that.......... I LOVE MY GOD.
No matter what is going on around me--I will not stop loving the ONE who first loved me.
He is the one who was, and is, and will always BE.
That screams security for me.
When the storm clouds pass overhead and for a brief moment and block my view of the SON--I will still follow the still quiet voice in my Spirit that bids me to "take up my cross and follow Him".
I have been asking some big things of God.
I am thankful that He has a plan and my prayers are not going into never never land. They are working together with Him to open the heavens and release His glory.
Don't you just love the quote above by Brennan Manning?
I happened on it this morning when I was visited by a new friend.
I will lay my head on the chair---and rejoice and be thankful for the faith that fills my heart.

We also pulled in the first of our watermelon crop last night.
I am thankful this year that God gave the deer other things to eat other than the blooms on our watermelon plants. Keith's guys pulled up to VBS last night and dropped off a load of watermelons so people could take home a free one for their frig. So-- I am also thankful for God allowing others to be blessed by our crop.

And last--I am gladI got to talk to Holly of CrownLaidDown yesterday. Next month we will get to meet while she is on vacation. How cool is our God. If you haven't had a chance, you should stop by her blog--she is a lifter of hearts.
And for more sharing their thankful hearts...... stop by and see Iris at Sting My Heart .

Isn't it great that we can freely proclaim the goodness of our God on Thursdays?
And everyday!

The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee

When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours
in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of
coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in
front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large
and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then
asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the
jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas
between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was
full.

They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the
jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and
poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space
between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to
recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the
important things--your family, your children, your health, your friends
and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they
remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house
and your car.

The sand is everything else---the small stuff. "If you put the sand
into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the
golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy
on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are
important to you.

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play
with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your
spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to cl ean
the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things
that really matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee
represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

My sister-in-law sent me this this morning. It is a good reminder. Just remember that the first golf ball you put in should represent God. Going to spend some time with him now. Talk to ya'll a little later on.

Can we talk?

It's been awhile since we have had the time to really sit down and spend some time just chatting.
How about a little chat?
This is a picture that was taken outside of our classroom in Texas. See the plant behind me? It is Rosemary! When the breeze would blow the air smelled incredible. Felt like I should be standing at a stove cooking something incredible. It was growing everywhere.
And no, I don't wear pink all the time--seems like every time I have my picture taken I am wearing pink. I even wore it yesterday when I had my new drivers license picture taken. You know you can't wear white when you have a picture taken--that is left over from elementary school when they tell you not to wear white when you take school pictures. I did take a good picture btw.

It is good to be home. Last night I went to church for VBS and then afterwards went by to see Lauree and Robert. He is leaving today for 3 months in a Christian recovery program. We are amazed at what God is doing in his life.
I thank God for what He has done in this families life. And I thank God for what He is going to do with their testimony in the future. Thank you for praying.

Yesterday I was having a conversation with Julia about the people who broke into our truck while we were in Houston. She lost her purse just like me, both of our cameras were in our purses. [So- no new pictures for awhile :( ]
We were talking about why the people took our stuff. I reminded her that God has a reason behind everything that He allows to happen. So why did He allow this to happen? I am not totally sure yet. My faith has not been made sight yet. Maybe I will never know. But, He did allow it and so I have a certain responsibility now concerning this situation. What is that?
I am to pray for those who come against me.
So, Julia and I have been praying for them.
Last night she said, "Maybe one day when we get to heaven they will be there, and they will tell us they are sorry for stealing our stuff but thank us for praying for them because they became a Christian because of our prayers. And then we will be friends and love each other."
How cool is that?
That is why I feel like this happened. Naive? I don't think so. We know that God is not spiteful.
So--- He did not sit in Heaven and think I am going to have to teach Sharon and Julia a lesson for leaving their purses in the truck.
He is loving and I don't think that lines up with His character.
What if He knew that the time was running out for our thief's? What if He knew He could trust us with this incident? That instead of hating these people we would act out of love and pray for those who had persecuted us? I know that is a lot of "what ifs"--but I need to know that this is for my good. He promised me that. That if I love Him and am walking in His purpose for my life that all things would work together for my good.
Did I get good out of this?
Well, I got a new set of Pyrex from one bank and a set of neat tools from another. Two good things for opening a new account. Yes, not really worth what we went through.
But, we walked away from this situation with hearts that are not full of fear and anger. We walk away with peace because we kept our eyes fixed on God. Sound like a bunch of spiritual mumbo jumbo?
Not for me. Could God so convict and trail these people because of our prayers that they fall to their knees and repent and be saved?
That is what I am counting on. Not the kind of evangelism most of us have been taught--but if that is the way God brings someone into His kingdom--then I am going to walk by faith and not sight.
Another good thing---my little girl will walk away from this incident without a suspicious heart. She will not live in fear and feel she needs to protect her stuff because her God can not handle it. In all honesty don't we think that way sometimes?
Is it God's job to look out for us and the belongings He gave us? Yes!
My first thought after this event were not the most pleasing to God. I thought, "well God why weren't you watching our truck? I put my trust in you and you let me down."
Did He? No.
It was part of His plan for my life.
The Bible says that He who began a good work in me --He will complete it.
He can only act toward me out of love--because He is love.

Remember that when He touches you--it is always from a heart of love.

Thanks for listening to me as I continue to work out my faith.
As usual--comments welcome.

Tales From The Scales

Wellllllllllll----not doing so well. Is it o.k if I weigh myself this way today?

Can you say, GAIN? That is what happened on the scales behind this computer this week. I guess you could say that I ate my way through Texas this past week.
I took my pedometer with me and used it about four days. I guess since it said I was over four miles each day, I thought I could eat how much ever I wanted. Not a good idea.
So once again it is time to get a grip on my lips and remember my goal.

Hope you had a successful week. But if not--let's get going again.
Back to the............water, not putting food in our mouths unless we are hungry, and for pete's sake---PUT DOWN THAT FORK WHEN YOU ARE SATISFIED--not stuffed.

Make My Monday ----PLEASE!

Good day to you all. I just got back in last nite an today i'll be running all over town trying to get all types of things done. We came back minus sum bank cards and drivers licenses because of sum vistors that decided they needed our stuff more than we did. :( Bless their hearts--we are praying for their salvation before they meet their maker. Yes sir, we really are.
So while I'm runnin---- I thought I might leave you with a little funny.
Have a blessed day and Ill be catchen up with ya rel soon.


KIDS IN CHURCH

3-year-old Reese:
"Our Father, Who does art in heaven, Harold is His name. Amen."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A little boy was overheard praying:
"Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it.
I'm having a real good time like I am."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the christening of his baby brother in church, Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car.
His father asked him three times what was wrong.
Finally, the boy replied, "That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, and I wanted to stay with you guys."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One particular four-year-old prayed,
"And forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they were on the way to church service,
"And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?"
One bright little girl replied, "Because people are sleeping."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin 5, and Ryan 3.
The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake.
Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson.
"If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, 'Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.'
Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, "Ryan, you be Jesus!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A father was at the beach with his children when the four-year-old son ran up to him, grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore where a seagull lay dead in the sand.
"Daddy, what happened to him?" the son asked.
"He died and went to Heaven," the Dad replied.
The boy thought a moment and then said, "Did God throw him back down?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A wife invited some people to dinner.
At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said,
"Would you like to say the blessing?"
"I wouldn't know what to say," the girl replied.
"Just say what you hear Mommy say," the wife answered.
The daughter bowed her head and said,
"Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saying goodbye to TEXAS

It is time to say good-bye to the land of big rock hills, cactus, and wild flowers that make the fields look gold. We have had a great time and I am looking forward to getting home to my own bed.
Thank all of you for your prayers. We welcomed two new members to the family of God this week. A sister and a brother! There may be more but usually we don't find out about it until next year when the parents come back and tell us. Keith witnessed the baptism of one in the river just this morning. That is fast work. Get saved at night and dunked in the morning. Guess that is probably how they did it in the New Testament church.
It is time to go to class so I need to mosey(that is Texas for get moving).
I won't get on line again until Monday. Have a blessed weekend--because you know you are a child of the King--so you already are!
Love you guys!
Thanks for the prayers.

Thankful Thursday

Well, today is not going to be my normal Thankful Thursday post--but we are to be thankful for everything. So here is my list--all the way from Texas!

First, I am sooooooo glad that we get to come to Mo Ranch for a week of work and fun.
It is beautiful here and peaceful--what more could you ask for?
Second, I am thankful that my husband and I both enjoy some of the same things.
While we are in Texas there is something that we both enjoy going to get--beef jerky.
If there is anyone out there that does not do meat--ya might want to skip over the rest of this post. While we are here we head down the road to a small place called, Garven Store.
Each year we do not consider our trip complete until we are back in our vehicle with our little brown bags. I learned last year to never, never put my jerky in a zip lock bag-----I lost my jerky to moisture. :(
Back to the store(a picture is below).
Garven Store, is one of the oldest remaining convenience stores in Texas. This family business has been here since 1932--it's over 70 years old.
No only is their BBQ great, but their jerky is fantastic, incredible, and taste bud awakening good.
How is that for a commercial?
When I told them that I was going to post about them on my blog--
THEY GAVE ME TEN DOLLARS OFF!
Now--- I can certainly be thankful for that!
So, if you have a hankerin' for sum great jerky
visit
www.garvenstore.com.
You'll be thankful you did!
Now I feel like I just did a info mercial. :)

For more thankful Thursday visit Iris--our hostess- over at Sting My Heart.

P.S- that is my man waiting patiently to open the door for me while I finish taking my pictures.
Isn't he sweet?
Oh, and those are my knees you see with the jerky--not a great plate presentation--but then I was not waiting to get back to a plate! :)

The Watermelon Story

I included a picture of me ready to go to the river --so you can see I did not spend the whole afternoon on my computer.
I have never told a story on line but I will try and tell it like I told the children. Excuse all punctuation errors. I can't see your faces but eye contact is very important as well as the use of my hands. Yes, when I am talking and teaching you should watch out for "the hands".
And I must give credit to Child Evangelism Fellowship--the story came from them. They have incredible tools to use when teaching children. Enjoy--and don't forget you will now be responsible for telling the story.



Looking out over the acres of corn, John wondered why he had even come back for a visit. In disgust he turned and headed back to the farm house.
As he entered the house his aunt met him and said, “I’m glad you are back. I baked your favorite pie.” He was happy, but as he reached out to take it his aunt told him that dinner was soon. Maybe he should go on up and wash up and they would have some after dinner.
Upstairs looking out the guest window, he started thinking of his visit to the farm two years ago. There had been a boy named Andy--he wondered if he still lived across the way. To excited to wait until dinner he ran down the stairs and asked, “Aunt Laura, do you remember that boy that I played with last time I was here? His name was Andy.
His Aunt looked surprised, just then Uncle Jim came in and answered his question, “Of course we remember Andy, anyone who knew him would welcome him into their home.”

“Last time I was here Andy and I had so much fun together. He was real cool, and we had a great time playing ball and swimming in the creek. Did you know that I almost drowned and Andy saved my life, asked John.”
“John, you did not tell us about that,” his Aunt was shocked.
“Andy also helped me in other ways, Aunt Laura. I was pretty upset my parents just dropped me off here. I thought maybe they didn’t want me around anymore. But, Andy told me how cool ya’ll were and how wise Uncle Jim was. He told me that Uncle Jim had told him the secret of the watermelon. And he was going to tell me, only his mom called him home and the next morning I had to leave.
“So you never learned the secret of the watermelon,” his Uncle Jim asked.
“No, and Andy said it had changed his life.”
Picking up a watermelon John’s uncle said, “Come on out to the porch and I’ll tell you the secret.”
Sitting in his old rocker Uncle Jim told John that only a few years ago he had sat in the same spot with Andy and told him the secret.
As they sat there Uncle Jim told John about God creating the earth. And how when he finished creating all the plants and animals that maybe he looked around and did not find anything to have a relationship with, so He made Adam and then Eve. He put them in a beautiful garden and told them they could have free reign over the whole garden and all the creatures---but, of the fruit of the tree of good and evil--they could never eat its fruit. Now things were fine for a while and then one day Eve met up with an old snake. This snake began to tell Eve lies and she listened. Not only did she listen but she ate of that fruit and then she gave some to Adam. She let a little seed of curiosity be planted in her heart by the devil himself and sin was able to enter the world.
“Do you see this seed from the watermelon? Is it bright and light or is it dark and black?”
“It is black,” said John. “Well, just like these seeds are all over the watermelon, sin spread all over the earth. The Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. That is found in Romans 3:23.”
John thought, “That means I am a sinner too.”
“When we eat the watermelon we spit out the seed and get rid of it, but we have no power to get rid of sin. Can you tell me what is covering the seeds in the watermelon?”
John said, “The red part.”
“That’s right! That reminds me of the blood of Christ. You see, God knew that there was nothing we could do to get rid of the guilt of our sin. And sin can never get into heaven. So God sent his son, Jesus, to earth to die on the cross for you and me. He came and lived a perfect life and then he died a sinners death so that you and I could go to heaven when we die. Because of his death it is possible to have our sins forgiven so we can be with him forever.
In the Bible there was a king whose name was David. He had done some horrible things and he felt really bad about them. He called out to God and admitted what he had done and then asked Jesus to wash him and he would be whiter than snow.
You see the white part of the rind? It reminds me that when Jesus forgives my sin, my sins are washed away and my heart becomes white as snow.”
“Andy believed on Jesus , would you like to too? “
And John could do was nod his head saying, yes.
So John sat right there and said a simple prayer admitting to God that he was a sinner. And that he was sorry, and he believed that Jesus had died for him. He asked God to wash away his sin and make him white as snow.
When they finished John jumped up and asked if he could go over to Andy’s. He wanted to tell him that now they were both Christians.
Aunt Laura asked John to wait they needed to tell him something.
John sat down not sure why they were both so serious.
“John do you remember telling us about your accident at the swimming hole?”
John nodded, yes.
“Well last summer Andy went swimming down there but he didn’t have a friend go with him. He got into a little trouble and with no one to save him, and he drowned. We all miss him very much, he was a very special young man.
But, we are also happy that we know he knew Jesus.
That reminds me we haven’t finished the story. Many people do not know what happens before that watermelon starts to grow. Not long before you see the first little watermelon there is a beautiful flower on the vine. It is gold like the gold streets of heaven. The Bible says that the streets are made of pure gold, and that is where Andy is right now. He is with God--the God who love him and who loves you.”
“He’ll be glad to see you again one day,” said Aunt Laura.
Uncle Jim leaned forward and pushed both halves of the watermelon back together.
“What color do you see now, John?” “All I see is green,” said John.
Uncle Jim told him he was right and that the Bible tells us that we are to grow in our knowledge of God. One way to do that is to read the Bible. The more we know about God and His word the better we are able to turn away from temptations.

“I was not happy when I got here, said John, but now I am so glad I came this summer.”
“We are glad you are here too. Soon your Mom and Dad will come to pick you up and you must promise me that you will spread the secret of the watermelon to other people.”
In a few days John’s parents got there to pick him up and John was happy to see them and to tell them his little secret.

The Watermelon Story

The morning was my first session to teach.
Twenty four kids--9:00 in the morning and I have them for 25 minutes. I love to teach. I am pretty passionate about the whole thing. The biggest issue of course is making sure I am out of the way so that the Holy Spirit can talk to whom ever I am in front of. That is a pretty powerful thought. Someone may be hearing straight from the mouth of God-through your mouth. Hmmmm-that will blow your mind.

Today I shared the secret of the watermelon.
A story about a boy visiting his aunt and uncle out in the middle of nowhere. He is bored.
So his uncle sits him down to share a very important thing that will change his life.
The story in it's totality is heart breaking --but a life is changed.
Sometime I will sit down and write it out.
But if you could have seen the little faces locked into mine. And felt the move of the Spirit in the room--it was awesome.
And then a little later we went down by the river to have our morning devotions. I have about 8 girls in 4th and 5th grade. We talking about salvation and about being in Christ and The Spirit being in us. Some pretty good stuff. We used a sponge to show how the Holy Spirit is in us even though we can not see Him. We soaked the sponge in water and then squeezed it. We talked about how others can see the Holy Spirt in us when bad things happen but we respond in a Godly way.
So are people seeing the Holy Spirit in you today? When you are squeezed, and pushed and shoved----what comes out?

Isn't our GOd great?
I was blessed this morning.
I pray you know today how blessed you are.
Love ya!

We have internet!

It is Sunday morning and we are on the last leg of our journey. We are only one hour from our final destination. Keith is driving and I am trying to snag some pictures without disturbing the flow of traffic. At each scenic point Keith would ask, Snap, snap? and I would respond," yes, yes or no, no". Yes, we are a little silly.
Our conference grounds is on the Guadalupe River. It is crystal clear and very cold. This is a little section of the river on the way in.
We made it...Mo Ranch! It's like coming home. The week will be casual and more laid back then our conference at the end of the summer. In other words I will get into my bathing suit and float down the river--because no one cares what I look like. That is a good thing!
This is our classroom for the week. It is called the Cow Barn--because it used to be one. The guy who owned this place way back had a lot of money and the place was used for weekends and hunting trips. All the animal places have been turned into classrooms. We will have 24, 2-5th graders this week.
Our theme this week will be about the creation of the earth and us and the relationship that the creator wants to have with us. I will be teaching the morning sessions. Then Mom and Dad will take over with a Missions story and Bible stories. We will have crafts, play time and river time. At the river we give the kids little projects to do and games to play. I will take more pictures later and post them. I am going to try and not spend too much time on the computer this week. So enjoy the pictures of my week.

My brother the computer man!

On the left(our left) of the president is my little brother, David. He lives in Chattanooga, TN and just happened to be having lunch when the president came in for lunch. So this is his nice little memory. My brother and the president--how many people can say that?

The real reason I am mentioning him is that he has some web sites he is running-- and I thought I would take a moment to share about one. He asked me to post about one of his sites that I have already signed up for . Here is his explanation to me of his web directory Link Grotto.

Well, web directories are a catalog of sites submitted by blog owners, which are then organized by subject-based categories and sub-categories. That said, web directories are important for several different reasons. Directories help people find other websites and being that directories are human edited they are usually relevant to what people are looking for. Secondly, because search engines deem a site as popular by the number of people that link to it, getting listed in a directory provides more links pointing to your site, and search engines will add that link to your popularity score.

From the computer man--my brother---

I hope my explanation was not too confusing though, in retrospect I think it was. LOL
I should have just said: "A healthy blog needs plenty of links. Come to the www.LinkGrotto.com and get a fee one."

If you have a little extra time pop on over to Link Grotto and list your blog. It helps him out and it is free.
Thanks for your help! You are sweethearts.

Have a great day!